Hello, I'm
Dwayne. And I'm Lance.
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And we'd like to welcome
you 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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As we're going to
continue in this episode,
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our discussion
regarding cultural expressions
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specifically in
the area of fashion.
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I just want to kind
of highlight the ideas
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that we've been
touching upon thus far
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and we'll bring
Dwayne into the discussion.
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We started out by,
obviously, highlighting a verse
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that you're going to
read in a few moments.
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But then we looked
at modesty as well,
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so we looked at this principle
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that we cannot be
both at the same time,
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we cannot simultaneously
be friends of the world
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and friends with God.
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If we're a friend of the
world, we're an enemy with God.
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And if we're a friend of God,
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then we're an
enemy of the world.
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And so this fundamental
principle kind of feeds into,
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infuse our
decisions in our expressions.
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And when it relates to fashion,
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we've talked a lot
about modesty as well
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and we're going to kind
of talk some more about that.
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We also talked about this idea
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and we reminded our
listeners and our viewers
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about a principle in 1
Corinthians 6:19 and 20,
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the idea that our
body is a temple of God
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and that He
desires us to glorify Him
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in our body and in our spirit.
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In fact, we were
bought with a price,
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the verses say there.
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And because of that,
we're not at liberty to do
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what we want to
do with our body.
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And we talked about it
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in the context
of the recreation.
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And now we're talking about this
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in the context of
cultural expression.
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So share a little bit more,
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read that verse
for us from 1 John.
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And then, you know,
continue to touch upon
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these subjects of modesty,
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and how we can
apply the principle
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and acknowledge the fact
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that although God
allows for expression,
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God allows for individuality,
God embraces, and desires,
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and has created beauty,
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there are still
guidelines that He gives us
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so that we don't
go to either extreme
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or we don't end up engaging
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or indulging in
destructive behavior.
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Sure.
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In 1 John 2, the
Bible says in verse 15,
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"Love not the world,
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neither the things
that are in the world.
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If any man love the world,
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the love of the
Father is not in him.
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For all that is in the
world, the lust of the flesh,
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and the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life,
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is not of the
Father, but is of the world."
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And so it is that
Christ was pointing out
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that worldliness,
you know, these things,
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lust of the
flesh, lust of the eyes,
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and the pride of life,
they are not of the Father.
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They are not connected to God.
They are completely worldly.
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They are from beneath.
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They only belong and
are connected to the things
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of Satan.
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Well, when we think about this,
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another point
to consider is why.
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Why should I make these changes?
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Why should I even,
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you know, attempt to
take heed to these counsels?
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And by no means, do we,
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you know, we do have
to guard against legalism,
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we do have to
guard against pharisaism
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And I think there is something
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that's clear that
guards against it.
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I like the words that Jesus used
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of the reasons why
He served His Father.
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Because when Jesus
lived on this earth,
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He is the Son of God.
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But when He lived on this earth,
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He functioned as
the Son of man as well.
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And He was
willing to humble Himself
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and be a servant.
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Well, the Bible says
in John 8:29, Jesus said,
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"And He that sent me is with me.
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The Father hath
not left me alone,
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for I do always those
things that please Him.
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And Jesus' life of being
a servant unto His father
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was based off of
a love relationship
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where all He wanted to
do was please His Father.
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This is important for us
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to understand
as children of God.
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Our desire is to please Him.
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The Bible likens us
being married to God.
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And when you
think of a marriage,
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and I'm married and, of
course, you are as well.
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May 25th of this year,
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I'll be privileged
to have been married
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to my bride for 18 years.
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And I praise the Lord
for it. Hey, you got me beat.
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And, you know,
it's beautiful, man.
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I mean, I love
talking about family.
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That's another
thing that I'll hope
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we can get a chance one day,
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you know, really talk about
is the true knowledge of self
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of understanding ourselves
as husbands and fathers,
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you know, in the home
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because there's a
lot to be said on that.
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But I will say that, you
know, my love for my wife
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is of such a nature
that I love doing things
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that put a smile on her face.
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I actually enjoy it.
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I mean, I actually get a
lot of enjoyment planning
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and putting
together surprises for her
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and all those type of things.
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And never did I
have to feel like,
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"Oh, man, I got
to please my wife
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or I got to stop doing this
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because this
might hurt my wife."
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I mean, back in the
days, you know, I can say we
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because, you
know, I know your story.
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We were players.
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I mean, we were
individuals that did not know
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what it meant to
just stay with one person
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but, you know,
can kind of go around
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and be with this,
that, and the other.
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But when I met my bride
and when I met my husband,
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you know, Jesus,
when I met the Lord
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and entered into a
relationship with Christ
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and experienced the
power of transformation,
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and then I met my wife
and got married to her.
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I didn't feel like, "Oh,
man. I can't commit adultery.
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I got to stay faithful.
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I mean, those
were the last things
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on my mind.
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All of my "I got tos
turned into I get to."
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I get to stay faithful.
I get to please my wife.
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I get to do these things.
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So it is that
this is what happens
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when an individual, you
know, loves their spouse
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or in this case, loves God.
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When you love God,
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you want to do the
things that please Him.
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You want to do the
things that can make Him happy
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and put a smile on His face.
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That's right. It's important.
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So it's from that context,
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this is why we
obey these councils
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that we're talking about.
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We obey these councils
because God is making it clear
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that, "Listen, I love you Lord,
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and that's why I do
the things that I do."
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Well, when we think
about this dress or fashion
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and all these things,
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God gives us counsel in His word
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because we love Him,
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we want to do the
things that please Him
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and we don't want to do
the things that displease Him.
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So this is the reason
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why we're going over the subject
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of biblical
principles for fashion
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in comparison to worldly.
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Well, we covered
modesty in brief.
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We covered it, you
know, things like the cuttings
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and carvings and so on.
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But another item that
really has to be addressed
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when it comes to hip-hop culture
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and generally the
fashion culture at large
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is adornment.
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You know,
adornment as it relates to,
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you know, a lot of the
jewelry and these type of things
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which is very much a part
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of not only just
simply hip-hop culture
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but it's connected to
what's typically called
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the pride of life.
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You know, this is
where everybody gets to show
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as has been stated in
times past the bling, bling.
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You know, this is
where everybody gets to say,
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"Look at my big fat
ring, my neck chain, earrings,"
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or whatever else
they like to wear.
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And the question is,
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what does God
say on this matter?
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What counsel does the
Lord give as it pertains to,
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you know, adornment
and all these things
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as it pertains to jewelry?
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Well, the Bible
gives us several verses.
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Now, for our viewers,
what we want you to do is
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you want to grab your
pen and paper at this point
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where I'm going
to give a few verses
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that we can take
down and review them
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in our spare time reading.
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But there is one
verse that I'm going to,
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kind of, hone in on
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and really see what God is
saying to us on this point.
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A few verses that we
could consider is, number one,
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1 Timothy 2:9.
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We read that earlier
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and it did talk a
bit about jewelry.
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1 Peter 3:3 as well.
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I definitely would
like to encourage you
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to do a comparison
of Revelation 12:1-4,
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and then also Revelation 17:1-5.
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And you'll see that
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when you look
at that comparison,
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they're both talking
about symbolic churches,
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but one is adorned with
things that are natural.
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The other one is adorned
with a lot of the artificial.
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Then, of course,
Genesis the 35th chapter,
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Exodus the 32nd chapter,
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Isaiah 3:16-26
which is really profound,
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Hosea 2:13.
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But then there's Deuteronomy 7.
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Now Deuteronomy
7, I have to admit,
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this text of
scripture got my attention
00:08:36.98\00:08:39.61
because I remember
years and years ago,
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you're talking over 20 years ago
00:08:42.28\00:08:44.59
when I came into the
church, 23 years to be exact.
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My elders, I had
mentors and they would...
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I love jewelry
especially silver.
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Silver was my thing.
00:08:52.76\00:08:54.10
I mean, I didn't like
gold or anything else.
00:08:54.13\00:08:56.06
I didn't like wearing wood stuff
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but I loved silver.
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So I would have silver
rings, silver earrings.
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I mean, if people look closely,
00:09:01.04\00:09:02.37
they could still see
the piercings on my ears,
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you know, neck
chains, all of it.
00:09:04.27\00:09:06.51
And I remember when my
elders were studying with me,
00:09:06.54\00:09:09.41
they were trying to show me
00:09:09.44\00:09:10.78
that God did not want His people
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to adorn themselves in this way.
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So I said, "Well, you know,
you all need to prove that."
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And they said, "No
problem." So we sat down.
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And I mean, they
pulled out every Bible verse,
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every historical reference.
00:09:24.59\00:09:26.83
They pulled out all
sorts of inspired quotes
00:09:26.86\00:09:30.77
from inspiration
Spirit of Prophecy.
00:09:30.80\00:09:32.27
I mean, just a
ton of information.
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We studied for three hours.
00:09:34.64\00:09:36.20
And I remember at
the end of it all,
00:09:36.24\00:09:38.27
they said,
"Dwayne, what do you think?"
00:09:38.31\00:09:40.58
And I was like,
00:09:40.61\00:09:41.94
"Well, I really
appreciate all this information
00:09:41.98\00:09:43.75
but I still don't get it."
00:09:43.78\00:09:45.25
And you know, and
I was making it clear
00:09:45.28\00:09:46.61
that I don't see what they see.
00:09:46.65\00:09:49.05
But there was one verse
that did catch my attention.
00:09:49.08\00:09:51.42
It was Deuteronomy 7:25 and 26.
00:09:51.45\00:09:55.72
And when I looked at this,
00:09:55.76\00:09:57.13
I said, "Wow, this
is pretty interesting."
00:09:57.16\00:09:58.83
And here's what it says.
00:09:58.86\00:10:00.30
In Deuteronomy 7, and
just the background real quick,
00:10:00.33\00:10:03.63
you know, God was instructing
the children of Israel
00:10:03.67\00:10:07.14
that when they
overcome a nation,
00:10:07.17\00:10:09.07
when they take over the land,
00:10:09.10\00:10:10.51
that God was telling them
what to do with the things
00:10:10.54\00:10:13.94
that they come in
contact within the land.
00:10:13.98\00:10:15.91
So not only were the
people destroyed or any of that
00:10:15.94\00:10:18.31
but there were also things
00:10:18.35\00:10:19.68
that were
possessions of the heathen.
00:10:19.71\00:10:21.12
And God was giving them
instruction on what to do
00:10:21.15\00:10:23.42
with these possessions.
00:10:23.45\00:10:24.82
Well, in verse 25,
here's what the Bible says.
00:10:24.85\00:10:27.42
It says, "The
graven images of their gods
00:10:27.46\00:10:31.46
shall ye burn with fire.
00:10:31.49\00:10:34.83
Thou shalt not
desire the silver or gold
00:10:34.86\00:10:39.73
that is on them."
00:10:39.77\00:10:42.77
Now let's pause
right there. Yeah.
00:10:42.80\00:10:45.74
It just... this
is... I don't know.
00:10:45.77\00:10:47.64
Some people might read this
00:10:47.68\00:10:49.01
and think it was just
a single fold instruction
00:10:49.04\00:10:51.71
but it was actually twofold.
00:10:51.75\00:10:53.38
The first instruction
was the graven images
00:10:53.42\00:10:56.52
that you come in contact with,
the various statues, the idols.
00:10:56.55\00:10:59.55
God says, "Burn
them down with fire."
00:10:59.59\00:11:01.92
But I don't know about you,
00:11:01.96\00:11:03.46
I know you've been
to Chinese restaurants,
00:11:03.49\00:11:05.79
Indian restaurants
00:11:05.83\00:11:07.16
and have you ever been
00:11:07.20\00:11:08.53
in the Chinese
or Indian restaurant
00:11:08.56\00:11:09.90
and seen a little idol
00:11:09.93\00:11:11.47
that's typically on
the counter of somewhere?
00:11:11.50\00:11:14.37
What is, I would have
to say 100% of the time
00:11:14.40\00:11:18.37
on those idols?
00:11:18.41\00:11:20.41
Yes, jewels or
money, or something,
00:11:20.44\00:11:22.81
some kind of
adornment of some kind.
00:11:22.84\00:11:24.21
Absolutely, you know,
00:11:24.25\00:11:25.58
you usually going to
see a ring, a neck chain.
00:11:25.61\00:11:28.38
There's something
that's going to be on them
00:11:28.42\00:11:30.25
outside of the money.
00:11:30.29\00:11:31.62
And that is what we
typically call jewelry.
00:11:31.65\00:11:33.89
Well, notice what
the verse says again.
00:11:33.92\00:11:35.82
"The graven images of their gods
00:11:35.86\00:11:38.33
shall ye burned with fire.
00:11:38.36\00:11:40.53
Thou shalt not
desire the silver or gold
00:11:40.56\00:11:42.86
that is on them."
00:11:42.90\00:11:44.57
Well, what's the
'them'? It was the graven image.
00:11:44.60\00:11:47.24
So what's the silver
and gold that's on them?
00:11:47.27\00:11:50.01
That's the jewelry. Yeah.
00:11:50.04\00:11:51.37
So God is saying, "The
silver or gold that's on them,
00:11:51.41\00:11:54.61
I do not want you to desire it."
00:11:54.64\00:11:56.81
Then it goes on to
say, "Nor take it unto thee,
00:11:56.85\00:12:01.08
lest thou be snared therein,
00:12:01.12\00:12:03.49
for it is an
abomination to the Lord thy God.
00:12:03.52\00:12:06.55
Neither shalt thou bring
00:12:06.59\00:12:08.09
an abomination into thine house,
00:12:08.12\00:12:10.03
lest thou be a
cursed thing like it,
00:12:10.06\00:12:12.16
but thou shalt
utterly detest it,
00:12:12.19\00:12:14.13
and thou shalt utterly abhor it,
00:12:14.16\00:12:16.10
for it is a cursed thing."
00:12:16.13\00:12:19.33
So God's word, I mean,
00:12:19.37\00:12:20.70
when I looked at
all of these verses
00:12:20.74\00:12:22.30
and saw the weight of scripture,
00:12:22.34\00:12:24.67
the Bible emphatically speaks
00:12:24.71\00:12:26.04
that God does not want
His people to adorn themselves
00:12:26.07\00:12:28.41
with these various
articles of jewelry.
00:12:28.44\00:12:30.21
He does not want it.
00:12:30.25\00:12:31.58
It was not His
will for His people.
00:12:31.61\00:12:33.15
When I looked at
this verse in particular,
00:12:33.18\00:12:34.82
it just kind of brought it
home in a very powerful way.
00:12:34.85\00:12:37.89
And so it is that
we must understand
00:12:37.92\00:12:39.65
that God wants to make it plain.
00:12:39.69\00:12:42.22
"I have a design for My people."
00:12:42.26\00:12:44.03
It's not that He
doesn't want us to be adorned
00:12:44.06\00:12:46.49
but it's what we
are adorned with.
00:12:46.53\00:12:48.13
So now let's look at 1
Peter 3 and let's consider it.
00:12:48.16\00:12:51.10
In 1 Peter 3, while
God does not want us
00:12:51.13\00:12:54.57
to adorn ourselves
with the artificial,
00:12:54.60\00:12:57.21
there is something
that He does approve of.
00:12:57.24\00:12:58.97
And let's notice
what the Bible says here.
00:12:59.01\00:13:01.54
In 1 Peter 3,
00:13:01.58\00:13:03.48
notice what it
says in verses 3 and 4.
00:13:03.51\00:13:07.72
Well, I guess we can go
ahead and look at verses 1 to 4.
00:13:07.75\00:13:11.32
"Likewise, ye wives,
00:13:11.35\00:13:12.69
be in subjection
to your own husbands,
00:13:12.72\00:13:14.62
that, if any obey not the word,
00:13:14.66\00:13:16.69
they also may
without the word be won
00:13:16.73\00:13:18.66
by the
conversation of the wives,
00:13:18.69\00:13:20.60
while they behold your chaste
conversation coupled with fear.
00:13:20.63\00:13:24.50
Whose adorning let it
not be that outward adorning
00:13:24.53\00:13:28.04
of the plaiting of the
hair, and of wearing of gold,
00:13:28.07\00:13:31.01
or of putting on of apparel,
00:13:31.04\00:13:32.71
but let it be the
hidden man of the heart."
00:13:32.74\00:13:35.48
So we're talking
about an adorning now,
00:13:35.51\00:13:37.31
that's different.
00:13:37.35\00:13:38.68
"Let it be the hidden
man of the heart in that
00:13:38.71\00:13:41.85
which is not corruptible,
00:13:41.88\00:13:43.55
even the ornament of
a meek and quiet spirit,
00:13:43.59\00:13:48.39
which is in the sight
of God of great price."
00:13:48.42\00:13:52.19
This is a value system
that God is trying to put
00:13:52.23\00:13:54.50
towards His daughters
and towards our sisters
00:13:54.53\00:13:57.93
is that while we
put these things on,
00:13:57.97\00:14:00.67
many a times,
we're trying to look good
00:14:00.70\00:14:02.37
in the sight of others.
00:14:02.40\00:14:04.07
But God says there
is a kind of adornment
00:14:04.11\00:14:06.17
that looks
beautiful in the sight of God.
00:14:06.21\00:14:09.28
And that adornment is
a meek and quiet spirit.
00:14:09.31\00:14:12.45
And this is what the Lord wants
00:14:12.48\00:14:13.82
to bring to our
attention of biblical adornment
00:14:13.85\00:14:16.52
in comparison to a
lot of these artificials.
00:14:16.55\00:14:18.89
And I think, you know,
this point needs repeating
00:14:18.92\00:14:21.66
because in a previous
episode, you showed this point
00:14:21.69\00:14:25.09
from a different
perspective from the sanctuary.
00:14:25.13\00:14:27.46
And we saw that all
of the precious jewels,
00:14:27.50\00:14:30.60
all of the gold, all
of the expensive items
00:14:30.63\00:14:33.97
were inside the sanctuary.
00:14:34.00\00:14:36.34
And if you are just a passer
by and looking at the sanctuary,
00:14:36.37\00:14:39.97
it was kind of
draped and outwardly covered
00:14:40.01\00:14:42.44
in very common things.
00:14:42.48\00:14:45.28
It didn't look like something
that you wanted to go in
00:14:45.31\00:14:47.85
because there were, you
know, millions of dollars
00:14:47.88\00:14:49.92
worth of goods inside.
00:14:49.95\00:14:51.29
It looked like just
some kind of common tent,
00:14:51.32\00:14:53.76
you know, with low
grade drapings on the outside.
00:14:53.79\00:14:59.13
But when you
peel back the layers
00:14:59.16\00:15:00.76
and if you got a
chance to go inside,
00:15:00.80\00:15:02.30
you saw all of
this immaculate beauty.
00:15:02.33\00:15:04.90
So here again, it's
really the character
00:15:04.93\00:15:08.60
that are the true riches.
00:15:08.64\00:15:10.61
And the outward adornment
is supposed to be neat,
00:15:10.64\00:15:14.54
you know,
beautiful, still clean,
00:15:14.58\00:15:17.48
and something that you desire.
00:15:17.51\00:15:19.91
But the adornment is
supposed to be inward.
00:15:19.95\00:15:25.59
And so it's
kind of in the world,
00:15:25.62\00:15:28.12
it's kind of the opposite
00:15:28.16\00:15:29.89
where the inside is
kind of not really a concern.
00:15:29.92\00:15:32.63
It's the superficial,
it's what you present.
00:15:32.66\00:15:34.60
And there's more
concern in all this energy,
00:15:34.63\00:15:36.50
and money, and devotion
00:15:36.53\00:15:37.87
put into how we
present ourselves outwardly.
00:15:37.90\00:15:42.10
And really we're broke
down, and hurt, and miserable,
00:15:42.14\00:15:45.87
and struggling inwardly.
00:15:45.91\00:15:48.68
And there is no amount of money
00:15:48.71\00:15:51.05
that you can
spend to address that.
00:15:51.08\00:15:52.68
And this is why God
wants to take our minds off
00:15:52.71\00:15:54.82
of being what's
typically called men pleasers.
00:15:54.85\00:15:57.02
You know, and this can
apply to both men and women.
00:15:57.05\00:15:59.05
You know, we don't
want to live a life
00:15:59.09\00:16:01.42
where we're constantly
trying to please those
00:16:01.46\00:16:04.13
whom we come in contact
00:16:04.16\00:16:05.49
with more than we're
trying to please God.
00:16:05.53\00:16:07.86
God wants us to understand
that He should come first.
00:16:07.90\00:16:10.37
And Jesus spelled it out
in very forceful language.
00:16:10.40\00:16:12.97
One time, Jesus
was giving counsel
00:16:13.00\00:16:14.50
about the
qualifications of discipleship.
00:16:14.54\00:16:17.67
And He said in Luke 14,
00:16:17.71\00:16:19.97
something that is
pretty strong language
00:16:20.01\00:16:22.11
but He was trying
to get a point across.
00:16:22.14\00:16:23.78
And this can
happen, and I'm thankful
00:16:23.81\00:16:25.85
it's happening in many
lives including my own,
00:16:25.88\00:16:27.82
and I'm sure yours.
00:16:27.85\00:16:29.18
But the Bible
says in Luke 14:26,
00:16:29.22\00:16:32.02
when Jesus was giving a counsel
00:16:32.05\00:16:34.56
as it relates
to being a disciple
00:16:34.59\00:16:37.26
and what is involved,
00:16:37.29\00:16:38.63
He said something in verse 26
00:16:38.66\00:16:40.16
that if you read it
just for face value,
00:16:40.20\00:16:42.50
you would almost
think to yourself,
00:16:42.53\00:16:44.10
"Did He just say
what I think He said?"
00:16:44.13\00:16:46.03
Which is this, it says,
"If any man come to me..."
00:16:46.07\00:16:48.77
Luke 14:26, "If
any man come to me
00:16:48.80\00:16:52.54
and hate not his
father, and mother, and wife,
00:16:52.57\00:16:58.35
and children, and
brethren, and sisters, yea,
00:16:58.38\00:17:02.38
and his own life also,
he cannot be My disciple."
00:17:02.42\00:17:07.26
I mean, you read
something like that,
00:17:07.29\00:17:08.62
you're thinking, "Is
Lord promoting hatred?"
00:17:08.66\00:17:11.63
You know, He just said,
00:17:11.66\00:17:12.99
if any man comes
to me and hates not,
00:17:13.03\00:17:14.36
does not hate his father,
mother, brother, sister...
00:17:14.40\00:17:17.17
Well, we know the
Bible is very clear.
00:17:17.20\00:17:18.83
The Bible tells us that,
00:17:18.87\00:17:20.20
"Children, obey your parents
in the Lord, this is right.
00:17:20.24\00:17:22.04
Honor your
father and your mother."
00:17:22.07\00:17:23.61
So by no means
was Christ saying,
00:17:23.64\00:17:26.04
"Do not love your parents."
00:17:26.07\00:17:27.48
But he was making a point.
00:17:27.51\00:17:28.88
And this is why
we have the Bible,
00:17:28.91\00:17:30.75
and this is why you
have to compare account
00:17:30.78\00:17:33.55
with account to get clarity.
00:17:33.58\00:17:34.92
Scripture is always the
key that unlocks scripture.
00:17:34.95\00:17:37.05
So when you compare Luke
14:26 with Matthew 10:37,
00:17:37.09\00:17:42.29
you get some clarity.
00:17:42.32\00:17:43.66
So notice.
00:17:43.69\00:17:45.03
In Matthew 10:37,
speaking on the same vein
00:17:45.06\00:17:49.23
of what we just
read here in Luke 14:26,
00:17:49.26\00:17:51.50
let's notice the
switch of language
00:17:51.53\00:17:53.10
that I think will
make it more clear.
00:17:53.13\00:17:55.34
One verse, Jesus says if
any man hates not father,
00:17:55.37\00:17:59.21
mother, brother,
sister, yea, even his own life,
00:17:59.24\00:18:01.28
he can't be My disciple.
00:18:01.31\00:18:02.71
But when you
look at Matthew 10:37,
00:18:02.74\00:18:04.71
it says, "He that loveth
father or mother more than me
00:18:04.75\00:18:11.19
is not worthy of me.
00:18:11.22\00:18:13.19
And he that loveth son
or daughter more than me
00:18:13.22\00:18:17.43
is not worthy of me."
00:18:17.46\00:18:18.79
So what Christ
was trying to teach is
00:18:18.83\00:18:21.40
that if you're going to
be a true disciple of Christ,
00:18:21.43\00:18:24.13
it's not that
God does not want us
00:18:24.17\00:18:25.63
to love mother, father,
00:18:25.67\00:18:27.00
brother, sister,
or son, daughter,
00:18:27.04\00:18:28.60
or even our own
lives, but He says,
00:18:28.64\00:18:30.34
"But when you love
these things more than Me,"
00:18:30.37\00:18:33.98
that's when it's a problem.
00:18:34.01\00:18:35.34
And the reason why is
00:18:35.38\00:18:36.71
because that's how
sin came into this earth
00:18:36.75\00:18:38.31
in the first place.
00:18:38.35\00:18:39.68
It came as a result of a man
00:18:39.71\00:18:41.22
who loved his wife
more than he loved God.
00:18:41.25\00:18:44.09
When Adam saw
that Eve fell into sin,
00:18:44.12\00:18:46.55
he had a choice.
00:18:46.59\00:18:47.92
He didn't have to
join in sin with her.
00:18:47.96\00:18:49.29
Eve was
deceived but Adam wasn't.
00:18:49.32\00:18:51.29
And Adam could have made
00:18:51.33\00:18:52.99
an intelligent or
more intelligent decision
00:18:53.03\00:18:55.13
by saying, "I'm going to
stand on the Lord's side.
00:18:55.16\00:18:57.20
I will not sin against God."
00:18:57.23\00:18:58.83
But his commitment
to his wife was stronger
00:18:58.87\00:19:02.67
than his commitment to the Lord.
00:19:02.70\00:19:04.81
And as a result of that,
00:19:04.84\00:19:06.24
it birthed sin into
this entire planet now
00:19:06.27\00:19:09.54
of which we are still
inflicted and affected
00:19:09.58\00:19:11.61
by it today.
00:19:11.65\00:19:12.98
Christ wants to
solve this issue.
00:19:13.01\00:19:14.48
He needs to raise up disciples.
00:19:14.52\00:19:16.08
He needs to raise up
workers that will go forth
00:19:16.12\00:19:18.32
and give the straight
testimony to the people
00:19:18.35\00:19:20.36
so that we can be a
people prepared to meet our God,
00:19:20.39\00:19:22.86
for He is coming again.
00:19:22.89\00:19:24.23
But at the same time,
00:19:24.26\00:19:25.76
Jesus says, "But you cannot
put even family before me."
00:19:25.79\00:19:29.80
Well, when it comes
to fashion, many a times,
00:19:29.83\00:19:32.73
family and even
strangers can come before God
00:19:32.77\00:19:36.74
because God's
word can be very clear.
00:19:36.77\00:19:38.87
God will say, "I don't
want this type of adornments.
00:19:38.91\00:19:41.44
I don't want this
and I don't want that."
00:19:41.48\00:19:43.21
Not because He's
trying to punish us
00:19:43.24\00:19:45.41
but actually He's
trying to do something else.
00:19:45.45\00:19:47.62
It's found in John 15.
00:19:47.65\00:19:50.05
In John 15,
00:19:50.09\00:19:51.42
the reason why Christ
gives all of these counsels
00:19:51.45\00:19:54.69
is because the Bible says
something beautiful in John 15.
00:19:54.72\00:19:58.79
And this is why Jesus
makes these statements here.
00:19:58.83\00:20:01.26
He says in John 15
00:20:01.30\00:20:03.53
and we are considering verse 11.
00:20:03.57\00:20:06.37
It says, "These
things have I spoken unto you
00:20:06.40\00:20:10.67
that my joy might remain in you,
00:20:10.71\00:20:14.41
and that your
joy might be full."
00:20:14.44\00:20:17.55
The reason why Christ
gives the instructions
00:20:17.58\00:20:20.02
and the counsels
that He gives in His word
00:20:20.05\00:20:21.95
is not to take away
our joy but to enhance it,
00:20:21.98\00:20:24.72
and to preserve it, to
make sure that it remains
00:20:24.75\00:20:27.19
and does not go away.
00:20:27.22\00:20:28.56
This world is
fickle, it is deceptive,
00:20:28.59\00:20:31.19
and it is sinful.
00:20:31.23\00:20:32.56
And even if we experience
any type of good feeling
00:20:32.59\00:20:35.93
from the world,
it's always temporary.
00:20:35.96\00:20:38.10
And that's why you
got to keep feeding it.
00:20:38.13\00:20:39.73
And I remember that in
hip-hop culture, it's like,
00:20:39.77\00:20:42.60
you know, you can go
on that high for a minute
00:20:42.64\00:20:44.31
while you're
listening to that song
00:20:44.34\00:20:45.67
in the club bouncing your head,
00:20:45.71\00:20:47.04
dancing, and
expressing yourself.
00:20:47.08\00:20:48.94
But it was like
once the music came off,
00:20:48.98\00:20:50.55
you almost hated your life.
00:20:50.58\00:20:52.08
You know, sometimes, you
literally were not happy.
00:20:52.11\00:20:53.92
You would have to go back home
00:20:53.95\00:20:55.72
and you needed
the thrill, the drug
00:20:55.75\00:20:59.09
again to turn the music on
00:20:59.12\00:21:00.86
and blast the beat or
whatever, to take our minds away
00:21:00.89\00:21:03.69
from the realities of our world.
00:21:03.73\00:21:05.59
There is a way that
God functions by this
00:21:05.63\00:21:08.10
but it's more long lasting.
00:21:08.13\00:21:10.00
It is more fulfilling.
00:21:10.03\00:21:11.73
There are sins in the world
00:21:11.77\00:21:13.10
that we need to get
our minds away from.
00:21:13.13\00:21:14.64
But God gave us
a beautiful medium,
00:21:14.67\00:21:16.24
it's called sacred
music, not hip-hop music.
00:21:16.27\00:21:18.77
It's called prayer,
00:21:18.81\00:21:20.14
and not these false
forms of meditation.
00:21:20.18\00:21:22.24
It's called praise
and thanksgiving to God
00:21:22.28\00:21:24.61
who is worthy rather than praise
00:21:24.65\00:21:25.98
and thanksgiving to
man who is very unworthy.
00:21:26.01\00:21:28.68
It is even dressing in
ways that we can honor God
00:21:28.72\00:21:32.35
and receive the benefits
of health, true happiness,
00:21:32.39\00:21:37.46
being able to
represent ourselves
00:21:37.49\00:21:39.09
as children of the Most High God
00:21:39.13\00:21:40.83
in comparison to
looking like some of the things
00:21:40.86\00:21:43.40
that are connected in this world
00:21:43.43\00:21:44.77
that represents thug
life, gangster living,
00:21:44.80\00:21:47.97
and literally harlotry.
00:21:48.00\00:21:50.07
God is saying when
you follow My counsels,
00:21:50.11\00:21:53.07
this is how My
joy remains in you
00:21:53.11\00:21:56.24
and that joy will be full.
00:21:56.28\00:21:59.21
And now what we want to,
00:21:59.25\00:22:00.85
you know, stress is
that there is no expectation
00:22:00.88\00:22:04.62
that people are
going to all of a sudden
00:22:04.65\00:22:06.55
hear some of these things
and then just dress correctly.
00:22:06.59\00:22:09.79
Right, there's ton of
education that you need.
00:22:09.82\00:22:11.16
And do talk
correctly, all this stuff,
00:22:11.19\00:22:12.53
yeah, there's lots of education.
00:22:12.56\00:22:13.90
And God is not
saying, "Do all these things
00:22:13.93\00:22:16.16
that I want and then come to Me,
00:22:16.20\00:22:18.30
you know, and clean up
your act and then come to Me."
00:22:18.33\00:22:20.27
I remember when I
first came in to the church
00:22:20.30\00:22:23.84
when I first started
visiting and participating
00:22:23.87\00:22:26.94
in church services, the only...
00:22:26.98\00:22:32.55
You know, the only
clothing that I had,
00:22:32.58\00:22:35.25
that I thought
was like church worthy
00:22:35.28\00:22:38.22
was the same clothing
00:22:38.25\00:22:39.89
you would wear
it to like a club.
00:22:39.92\00:22:41.32
You know, it was
like a club clothing
00:22:41.36\00:22:43.02
or maybe you would
go to a job interview
00:22:43.06\00:22:44.59
or go to court.
00:22:44.63\00:22:45.96
You know, that's
the best I could do.
00:22:45.99\00:22:48.83
And so I literally had maybe
like one or two pair of pants,
00:22:48.86\00:22:53.34
you know, some
borderline work boots,
00:22:53.37\00:22:56.67
and you know some sweaters,
00:22:56.71\00:22:59.17
you know, I had
a bunch of clothes
00:22:59.21\00:23:01.11
that I would never ever
wear right now to church
00:23:01.14\00:23:04.71
under any circumstance,
00:23:04.75\00:23:06.35
unless you know my house
burned down, I had no clothes,
00:23:06.38\00:23:08.62
and I just had to go to church.
00:23:08.65\00:23:10.09
So that's not what we're saying.
00:23:10.12\00:23:12.55
We want people to understand
00:23:12.59\00:23:14.16
that although we're laying
out all of these standards
00:23:14.19\00:23:16.83
and the bar is set very high.
00:23:16.86\00:23:19.29
When God sets a standard,
00:23:19.33\00:23:20.66
He sets it very high
because He is the standard.
00:23:20.70\00:23:23.90
But He doesn't
leave us there and say,
00:23:23.93\00:23:25.50
"Well, just get your way up here
00:23:25.53\00:23:26.94
and then
everything will be okay."
00:23:26.97\00:23:28.87
He says, "Listen,
acknowledge your condition,
00:23:28.90\00:23:32.34
acknowledge your situation,
00:23:32.37\00:23:33.84
acknowledge your
need, independence.
00:23:33.88\00:23:36.91
And I will do
all of these things
00:23:36.95\00:23:39.95
through you and in you
that I'm calling you to do.
00:23:39.98\00:23:43.39
You don't have to do it.
00:23:43.42\00:23:44.75
All you have to do
is cooperate, choose.
00:23:44.79\00:23:46.52
And I will teach you,
guide you, instruct you,
00:23:46.55\00:23:49.29
hold your hand
literally and to be where I am."
00:23:49.32\00:23:53.36
Now this is an important
point for the church now
00:23:53.40\00:23:56.87
because we have to
understand that Christ...
00:23:56.90\00:24:00.64
You said it
earlier, Christ meets you
00:24:00.67\00:24:02.90
where you are and
then He brings you up.
00:24:02.94\00:24:05.11
Well, the truth
of the matter is,
00:24:05.14\00:24:06.47
is that, that means some people
are going to come to the church
00:24:06.51\00:24:08.64
and they're going
to wear miniskirts.
00:24:08.68\00:24:10.01
Some people are
going to come to the church
00:24:10.05\00:24:11.38
and their cleavage
is going to be low,
00:24:11.41\00:24:12.75
or their clothes
are going to be tight,
00:24:12.78\00:24:14.12
or the brothers might come
00:24:14.15\00:24:15.48
and they may look thugged out
00:24:15.52\00:24:16.85
with super baggy clothing
hanging off their back side
00:24:16.89\00:24:18.75
or otherwise.
00:24:18.79\00:24:20.12
What we have to
do is understand,
00:24:20.16\00:24:21.52
this is where this
person is at right now.
00:24:21.56\00:24:23.73
They need love and
they need education.
00:24:23.76\00:24:25.59
And then through those mediums,
00:24:25.63\00:24:27.10
they will be brought
up to God's standard.
00:24:27.13\00:24:29.00
But we should meet them
and love them where they are
00:24:29.03\00:24:32.33
and accept them where they are.
00:24:32.37\00:24:34.17
It doesn't mean you
have to put them in office.
00:24:34.20\00:24:35.87
But if they want
to come to church
00:24:35.90\00:24:37.34
to hear the message of God
00:24:37.37\00:24:38.71
that they may come to know
Him and live up to His standard,
00:24:38.74\00:24:41.01
we should not do
anything that hinders that.
00:24:41.04\00:24:43.51
And shame on many
people in the church
00:24:43.55\00:24:45.48
that have done that.
00:24:45.51\00:24:46.85
They literally will
put down an individual
00:24:46.88\00:24:48.75
because they're coming
in looking like the world.
00:24:48.78\00:24:51.45
And we forget,
"Well, wait a minute.
00:24:51.49\00:24:53.29
You are like the
world and Christ came down
00:24:53.32\00:24:55.79
and He was able
to minister unto us
00:24:55.82\00:24:57.89
and to bring us up
now to His high ideal."
00:24:57.93\00:25:00.03
So this becomes a lesson for
us in the church to understand,
00:25:00.06\00:25:03.40
"Meet people where they
are, just don't keep them there.
00:25:03.43\00:25:05.73
Love them enough to
tell them the truth,
00:25:05.77\00:25:08.07
but at the same time
exercise wisdom and discernment.
00:25:08.10\00:25:11.27
There's times and
places for these things.
00:25:11.31\00:25:13.48
You know, how
are you going to go
00:25:13.51\00:25:14.84
and tell somebody
how they should dress,
00:25:14.88\00:25:16.21
you don't even know
their name yet, you know.
00:25:16.24\00:25:17.68
Some people do that.
00:25:17.71\00:25:19.05
You're coming to
church, "Young man,
00:25:19.08\00:25:20.42
you look like a thug."
00:25:20.45\00:25:21.78
It's like, my name is Dwayne.
00:25:21.82\00:25:23.45
You know, let's
get to know each other
00:25:23.49\00:25:25.72
and maybe through relationship,
00:25:25.75\00:25:27.09
eventually, you can
tell me I look like a thug
00:25:27.12\00:25:29.22
and I need to
change, and I'll accept it
00:25:29.26\00:25:30.99
because you're
meeting me where I'm at.
00:25:31.03\00:25:32.59
So this is also a point
of education for the church
00:25:32.63\00:25:35.20
that even though God
has a blessed high ideal
00:25:35.23\00:25:37.80
and He enables us to live
up to every ray of light of it,
00:25:37.83\00:25:40.80
He meets us where we are
00:25:40.84\00:25:42.17
and He's patient
with us where we are.
00:25:42.20\00:25:43.81
And we have to
be able to do that
00:25:43.84\00:25:45.61
even with our
brothers and sisters
00:25:45.64\00:25:47.01
that might come to the church
00:25:47.04\00:25:48.38
demonstrating the street fashion
00:25:48.41\00:25:50.15
of hip-hop culture.
00:25:50.18\00:25:51.51
And eventually, in God's timing,
00:25:51.55\00:25:53.35
He's going to
give us wisdom to know
00:25:53.38\00:25:55.38
how to call them
up a little higher.
00:25:55.42\00:25:57.95
That's right.
And this is the key.
00:25:57.99\00:26:00.76
God is not
interested in alienation.
00:26:00.79\00:26:04.13
God is not
interested in pushing people out
00:26:04.16\00:26:06.33
and only
accepting those who qualify.
00:26:06.36\00:26:08.96
He is eventually going to
have to judge the world, right,
00:26:09.00\00:26:12.73
and separate
those who have accepted
00:26:12.77\00:26:16.10
from those who have rejected.
00:26:16.14\00:26:17.97
But no one is qualified.
00:26:18.01\00:26:20.48
No person,
whether accept or reject,
00:26:20.51\00:26:22.84
is qualified to get
what God is offering.
00:26:22.88\00:26:25.55
It is what was
referred to as the grace of God,
00:26:25.58\00:26:28.88
it is the gift of eternal life
that He is offering everyone
00:26:28.92\00:26:33.32
who's worthy of death.
00:26:33.36\00:26:34.96
You know, the wages of sin
as we looked at in Romans 3,
00:26:34.99\00:26:39.69
or Romans 6 rather.
00:26:39.73\00:26:42.33
But we have to
look at this concept
00:26:42.36\00:26:47.44
and not isolate
these independent things.
00:26:47.47\00:26:50.31
We've been talking
about a lot of subjects
00:26:50.34\00:26:52.57
through the
course of many episodes.
00:26:52.61\00:26:55.04
And it must be stated
that these things are not...
00:26:55.08\00:27:00.75
These aren't checklists.
00:27:00.78\00:27:02.65
It's not, "Do this and
then you get to this level.
00:27:02.68\00:27:04.65
And then do that and
then you're at the next level.
00:27:04.69\00:27:06.02
Do this..."
00:27:06.05\00:27:07.39
When we embrace God
and we embrace Christ,
00:27:07.42\00:27:10.09
we receive Him completely.
00:27:10.13\00:27:13.50
We receive all of His counsel.
00:27:13.53\00:27:15.56
And He's slowly but surely,
00:27:15.60\00:27:17.30
as we are into
His marvelous light
00:27:17.33\00:27:19.03
and escape from
this world of darkness,
00:27:19.07\00:27:21.10
we begin to embrace the truth.
00:27:21.14\00:27:23.27
And that truth is
complete, the truth is whole.
00:27:23.30\00:27:25.97
And God begins to introduce
these subjects and themes
00:27:26.01\00:27:28.84
as we continue.
00:27:28.88\00:27:30.65
So I want to
encourage you to persist,
00:27:30.68\00:27:34.15
come back, invite a friend.
00:27:34.18\00:27:35.98
You need to continue to join
us with these various episodes
00:27:36.02\00:27:39.79
because we're going to be
going into some very important
00:27:39.82\00:27:42.59
and increasingly
practical subjects,
00:27:42.62\00:27:44.93
because we have to understand
00:27:44.96\00:27:46.49
that although
there's the world out there
00:27:46.53\00:27:48.60
and all of these culture
00:27:48.63\00:27:49.96
and all of these
standards out there,
00:27:50.00\00:27:51.33
God has a higher standard
00:27:51.37\00:27:52.70
and He wants us
to come up to it.
00:27:52.73\00:27:54.07
But we have to
accept and not reject.
00:27:54.10\00:27:56.20
I want to encourage you
to remember Proverbs 2:6
00:27:56.24\00:28:00.61
which encourages us and tells us
00:28:00.64\00:28:02.74
that "It is the
Lord that gives wisdom
00:28:02.78\00:28:05.25
and out of His
mouth comes knowledge
00:28:05.28\00:28:06.92
and understanding."
00:28:06.95\00:28:08.28
God bless.
00:28:08.32\00:28:09.65