Alright, let's begin with
the Scripture Reading, I guess,
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and then we'll begin
with a word of prayer.
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I believe it's in Romans 8:26.
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I got the older
version of David though.
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It was rather fortunate.
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He's in his forties now and
has more grey hair than I knew
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that he could have.
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I can say that
because he's not here.
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Romans 8:26, and it says this:
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And I begin with
a word of prayer.
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I'm going to kneel.
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I just invite you to bow
your heads and then we'll begin
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this morning's message.
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Father, thank You for
this privilege to come
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into Your presence.
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God I'm praying that You
would condescend to this place.
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That you would first and
foremost live in my own heart,
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and that You would speak
to the hearts of those who are
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present, and that You would
live in their hearts as well.
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Lord, this is an important
topic, and I just pray that You
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would keep me from
getting in the way of that,
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and that You would do
Your word justice today
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through this instrumentality.
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Jesus use me. I'm
Yours, is my plea.
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And I ask this in
Jesus' name, Amen.
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Turn to Jeremiah, Chapter 31.
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We're going to be
discussing the two covenants,
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and the beautiful God
of those two covenants.
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And it wasn't just
for the Israelites.
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It applies to us, and there's
some valuable lessons from the
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old covenant that I
fear we still need to learn.
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Jeremiah, Chapter 31,
and I'll begin in Verse 31.
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Easy text to remember.
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So God here is saying that there
was a problem with this original
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covenant, and He
says, I'm making a new one;
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not like the old one
whenever I took your fathers out
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of the land of Egypt.
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My covenant, which they broke,
though I was a husband to them.
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So what is this covenant
that God made with them?
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And what was the problem?
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It seems to me as
though there's a problem with
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the people, not the content.
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But let's look here and see.
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Turn with me to
Exodus, Chapter 19.
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This is the old
covenant defined.
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Exodus, Chapter 19,
and I'll begin in Verse 3.
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Exodus, Chapter 19, beginning
in Verse 3. It says this:
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God says these are
things that we're going to
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be expecting of you.
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The people say, No problem!
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All that You
have said, We will do.
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Skip then now to
Verse, I believe 21, Verse 21.
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So God tells Moses to go
down to the people, warn them,
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don't come onto the mountain.
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Don't even touch the mountain.
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Anyone who does is
going to have to die.
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And he can't even touch
them when they're killed.
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They had to be shot
with an arrow or stoned.
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So He says, Go
down and tell them,
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don't come on the mountain.
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He comes back up to God
and tells Him the people said,
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All that You
have said, we will do.
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God says, Go back down now.
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This is Verse 21. It says:
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Moses is confused by this
though, because God literally
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just said that, and he
already told the people that.
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And so he says:
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Something about what God
is about to do is so important
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that God wants Moses with
the people when it happens.
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Now what's the very next
thing that happens in Scripture?
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The Ten Commandments at Mount
Sinai in Exodus, Chapter 20.
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It's the very next
thing that happens.
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So God wants Moses
there when it goes down.
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Skip now to Exodus, Chapter
24, beginning in Verse 3.
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Exodus 24:3. Moses is
given the Ten Commandments.
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He's also given all the
other laws that God would
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have for the people.
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He comes down. He's
communicating these things
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to the people. And now Verse 3.
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This is Exodus
24:3. Now read Verse 7.
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Three times in Exodus 19
once, and twice in Exodus 24
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God lays the requirements
of God before the people,
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and they say, All that
You have said, we will do,
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we will do, we will do.
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We got it. No problem.
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All that the Lord
has said, we will do.
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Well, I have a very simple
question for you this morning.
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Did they? No. In less than
40 days they were running laps
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around a golden calf
in pagan revelry, right?
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Just an absolute madhouse.
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They did not. They said
they would. They did not.
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This is why Moses then...
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Hollywood does this.
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Every time I read
this passage of Scripture
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I see Charlton Heston.
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Anyone else have that?
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The internal images
of Charlton Heston with
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his big gnarly beard?
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And he comes down
from the mountain.
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And what does Moses do with
these two stone tablets when he
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gets to the base of
the mountain and sees this
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debauchery
happening in front of him?
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What does he do? He throws them
down to the ground and breaks
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them signifying what the
people themselves have done.
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Right? Moses just doesn't have
like a self-control problem.
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The people have
broken the law of God!
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They've
transgressed the covenant.
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This is why Jeremiah,
whenever God is speaking in
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Jeremiah 31, says what He says.
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My covenant which they broke,
and then He uses this endearing
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matrimonial language,
Though I was a husband to them.
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I was the love of their lives.
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Now if you go to
Deuteronomy, Chapter 4,
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it defines specifically.
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Some people want to contend
with this idea of what the
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covenants are and aren't, so I'm
just going to read the text to
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make sure that that's clear.
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In Deuteronomy 4 that covenant
that we're talking about is
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indeed the Ten Commandments.
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Deuteronomy 4.
I'll read Verse 11.
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Deuteronomy 4:11. Moses speaking
to the people here recapping
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the history of what's happened
right before his death. He says:
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Just in case there's any
questions, the terms of that
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covenant was the Ten
Commandments, but the real issue
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here is that the people seem to
be quite confident of the fact
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that they got this.
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So go back to Jeremiah 31
and let's hear about the terms
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of the new covenant then.
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What is this thing?
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What does God have in mind?
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And what is He going to
do in response to the people
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failing in the covenant?
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How does He address the people
who have failed in the covenant?
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I'm going to re-read
actually, in Verse 31,
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and then I'll
read down to Verse 34.
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Jeremiah 31:31-34. Again:
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This is the
definition of the new covenant,
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and it's found in
the Old Testament.
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That can't be overlooked
or neglected. Verse 32.
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This is amazing! This is
absolutely amazing because God
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is speaking to a people
who have transgressed His
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covenant perpetually.
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So moving on here, the
law no longer is going to
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be outwardly imposed.
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It's going to be
inwardly inscribed.
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But it remains a part of the
human experience nonetheless.
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So notice, the law does not
disappear in the new covenant,
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something else changes.
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The covenant doesn't end.
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What changes is the
onus of who is making sure
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that the people keep it.
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God is now promising to empower
these people to keep the law
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instead of them promising to
keep it in their own strength.
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Are you
understanding the difference?
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So it's not a matter of the law
is gone, it's that the issue was
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they were self-confident
that they could keep the law.
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God says, I have a better idea.
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All that the Lord has said,
we will do; God ends up using a
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bunch of I will's in
the new covenant to define
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the terms with the people.
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Also, we assume that when we
don't keep the law that we're
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cast off and can't
be God's people anymore.
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Anyone ever felt that way?
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Maybe you don't want
to admit that publicly,
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but I certainly have.
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When you break the
covenant, you assume that
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God is done with me.
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And He should be done with me.
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And I don't
stand a chance anymore.
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But yet in the very
context of the new covenant
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again being given to
covenant breakers, God says,
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Your sins, and your
lawless deeds I have no
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intention of remembering.
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God has no desire to remember
their sins anymore, and He says
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that they will be My
people, and I will be their God.
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Their sins and their lawless
deeds I will remember no more.
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It sounds a little too
good to be true, doesn't it?
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Can God actually
forgive me? is the question
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that we wrestle with.
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Well, in Revelation, Chapter
12, the reason why we ask this
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question is because the
Devil himself is referred to as
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the accuser of the brethren, who
stands before our God accusing
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them day and night.
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But he's not just
standing before God accusing us,
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he's found access in
here, too, hasn't he?
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And that voice of shame and
condemnation that we contend
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with isn't coming from Jesus.
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It's coming from the
accuser of the brethren.
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Because if he discourages you
from believing the things about
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you that God believes,
you'll never be the person that
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God desires you to be.
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It's the belief of God that
makes us into children of God
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and the people
that we should be.
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But when we don't
believe that God believes in us,
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and we take hold of our
own unbelief towards ourselves,
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or what we do is we actually
project our unbelief upon God,
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that we think that God
looks at us in the same way
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that we look at us.
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But according to the new
covenant here, that is not the
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way that God looks at us.
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And that should be
encouraging to us this morning.
00:13:27.14\00:13:28.87
It's certainly
encouraging to me.
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So the question then is, if God
has no intention of remembering
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your sins, why is it then
that we insist on reminding
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ourselves of our sins?
00:13:38.75\00:13:40.72
If God has no intention
of remembering your sins,
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why won't you let it go?
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That's the question.
00:13:49.19\00:13:50.53
So go with me to
Hebrews, Chapter 8.
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This gives some more insights
into the situation of what
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transpired in the new
covenant, and what was wrong
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with the old covenant.
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Hebrews, Chapter 8.
00:14:01.50\00:14:02.84
This chapter is
dynamite, by the way.
00:14:04.74\00:14:07.04
Hebrews 8, and Romans
8 are full of good stuff.
00:14:07.08\00:14:09.44
Romans, Chapter 8. I'm
going to begin in Verse 6.
00:14:09.48\00:14:13.18
Romans 8, I'm
sorry, Hebrews 8:6.
00:14:13.21\00:14:16.79
Now this is awesome because
no longer is the covenant based
00:14:30.33\00:14:33.23
upon man's
faulty promises to God.
00:14:33.27\00:14:36.17
It's now based upon
God's faithful promises to man.
00:14:36.20\00:14:40.08
No longer all the
Lord has said, we will do,
00:14:40.11\00:14:43.55
which is doomed for failure.
00:14:43.58\00:14:45.08
Now it's all that I have
said, I'm going to do in you,
00:14:45.11\00:14:49.25
through you, and for you.
00:14:49.28\00:14:50.85
It's a better covenant
built upon better promises.
00:14:50.89\00:14:54.99
And through the
hands of a mediator.
00:14:55.02\00:14:57.66
You're not
walking this path alone.
00:14:57.69\00:15:00.60
This is the beautiful
encouraging promise from God.
00:15:00.63\00:15:02.96
I didn't finish the
verses. Alright, Verse 7.
00:15:03.00\00:15:05.17
Alright, we've got one of
those pejorative sayings here
00:15:09.90\00:15:12.37
that if it ain't
broke, don't fix it. Right?
00:15:12.41\00:15:14.64
So if there was nothing wrong
with the original covenant,
00:15:14.68\00:15:17.35
God would never
have made a second one.
00:15:17.38\00:15:19.51
But then He says what
the issue was. He says:
00:15:19.55\00:15:21.95
And then He begins
to quote Jeremiah 31.
00:15:25.35\00:15:28.39
Paul actually
quotes Jeremiah 31 twice;
00:15:28.42\00:15:31.06
the new covenant
twice in Hebrews.
00:15:31.09\00:15:32.66
In Hebrews 8, and I
believe in Hebrews, Chapter 10.
00:15:32.69\00:15:35.26
He kind of likes that text, too.
00:15:35.30\00:15:36.63
So I feel okay
whenever I overuse it;
00:15:36.67\00:15:38.13
in like every one of my sermons.
00:15:38.17\00:15:39.93
Alright, skipping
down to Verse 12, He says:
00:15:39.97\00:15:42.40
That's closing out
Jeremiah 31 that he's quoting.
00:15:47.78\00:15:50.25
But here it is in Verse 13.
00:15:50.28\00:15:52.01
So it's not the terms of
the covenant that's at fault,
00:16:04.36\00:16:07.03
it's the self-confidence, and
self-righteousness of the people
00:16:07.06\00:16:10.97
who made the agreement.
00:16:11.00\00:16:12.43
And Ellen White blows this
thing up here in a few slides.
00:16:12.47\00:16:17.64
She says this first of all
in The Faith That I Live By,
00:16:17.67\00:16:20.08
111.2. She says:
00:16:20.11\00:16:23.04
When you tell God, All
that You've said, I will do,
00:16:40.90\00:16:44.77
you don't leave any room
for God to do what He does.
00:16:44.80\00:16:47.87
Now this does not mean
obedience doesn't happen
00:16:47.90\00:16:50.97
in the human experience.
00:16:51.01\00:16:52.34
There's a fine balance
you have to walk in this.
00:16:52.37\00:16:54.18
But too many times we
find ourselves in old covenant
00:16:54.21\00:16:57.75
experiences, which, by
the way, always end up in,
00:16:57.78\00:17:00.98
you know, failure and stuff.
00:17:01.02\00:17:03.08
And we continue those paths.
00:17:03.12\00:17:07.72
And I don't really
understand why we do that.
00:17:07.76\00:17:09.26
But in Exodus 19 and
24, the Israelites did not
00:17:09.29\00:17:12.66
recognize their nothingness.
00:17:12.69\00:17:14.63
And in turn they were
not in a place to receive the
00:17:14.66\00:17:17.80
righteousness of
Christ, which is a problem.
00:17:17.83\00:17:20.57
Now in From
Eternity Past, Chapter 32,
00:17:20.60\00:17:23.91
it's called the Grace of
Christ in the New Covenant,
00:17:23.94\00:17:25.94
or in Patriarchs and
Prophets, Chapter 32,
00:17:25.97\00:17:28.21
it's called The
Law and the Covenants.
00:17:28.24\00:17:29.58
She makes this amazing point.
00:17:29.61\00:17:31.68
It's a really good chapter.
00:17:31.71\00:17:33.05
You should read all of it.
00:17:33.08\00:17:34.42
It's not that long.
00:17:34.45\00:17:35.78
But she makes the point that
you wonder, Well, why did God
00:17:35.82\00:17:37.15
make this covenant with
the people if He wanted to make
00:17:37.19\00:17:39.09
this covenant with the people?
00:17:39.15\00:17:40.49
Like, did God make a?...
00:17:40.52\00:17:41.86
She basically says, first of
all, that the new covenant and
00:17:41.89\00:17:44.36
the covenant that God made with
Abraham were the same thing.
00:17:44.39\00:17:47.00
There's no
difference between them.
00:17:47.03\00:17:49.23
And so then you
think, Well, wait a minute.
00:17:49.26\00:17:51.10
Why would God make a reasonable
covenant with Abraham,
00:17:51.13\00:17:54.30
and then make an unreasonable
covenant with the Israelites,
00:17:54.34\00:17:57.04
and then realize His folly,
and then go back to making a
00:17:57.07\00:17:59.74
reasonable covenant in
Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36?
00:17:59.77\00:18:02.58
The Bible says, I am
the Lord, I change not.
00:18:02.61\00:18:06.31
So what is the issue then?
00:18:06.35\00:18:08.15
She says that the reason...
00:18:08.18\00:18:09.88
So the covenant that God made
to Abraham was a covenant that
00:18:09.92\00:18:13.82
Jesus would be
his righteousness.
00:18:13.86\00:18:16.06
The Bible says that he believed
God, and it was accounted
00:18:16.12\00:18:19.93
to him for righteousness.
00:18:19.96\00:18:21.30
Now, that covenant that God
made with Abraham at that point
00:18:21.33\00:18:24.27
in time, no blood was shed then.
00:18:24.30\00:18:26.53
The blood that would ratify that
covenant was shed at Calvary.
00:18:26.57\00:18:30.94
So from the time He makes
this covenant until the covenant
00:18:30.97\00:18:33.88
is ratified in blood, there's a
big chunk of real estate, right?
00:18:33.91\00:18:37.58
There's a lot of time that
lapses from one to the other.
00:18:37.61\00:18:40.25
Well, in that intervening time
the Israelites came out of 400
00:18:40.32\00:18:43.85
years of an appeasement
based religion and paganism.
00:18:43.89\00:18:48.62
They completely
lost sight of God.
00:18:48.69\00:18:51.06
And she says specifically that
because they lost sight of their
00:18:51.09\00:18:55.93
need of a Savior, God had
to allow them to make this
00:18:55.96\00:18:59.93
self-confident covenant, so
that they would crash and burn,
00:18:59.97\00:19:03.44
and see their need of Jesus.
00:19:03.47\00:19:05.31
That's what she says.
00:19:05.34\00:19:07.18
And so there was blood
that was shed right away
00:19:07.21\00:19:10.91
at the old
covenants at Mount Sinai,
00:19:10.95\00:19:12.71
because the
blood was shed there.
00:19:12.75\00:19:14.45
So why are there these
two chronological terms,
00:19:14.48\00:19:16.79
new and old, because
the new covenant is really
00:19:16.82\00:19:19.09
the original covenant.
00:19:19.15\00:19:20.49
So why is it not called the old?
00:19:20.52\00:19:21.86
Because the blood at the
base of Sinai was shed first,
00:19:21.89\00:19:25.09
which is why it's
referred to as the old covenant,
00:19:25.13\00:19:28.50
or the original... Not
the original, but the first
00:19:28.53\00:19:31.90
chronological ratified covenant.
00:19:31.93\00:19:33.97
The new covenant is
not something different.
00:19:34.04\00:19:36.00
It's going back to the original
that He made with Abraham.
00:19:36.04\00:19:38.31
I know it sounds kind of
confusing, but here's the point.
00:19:38.34\00:19:40.58
God made a
covenant with Abraham.
00:19:40.61\00:19:42.94
That's the new
covenant that we're given in
00:19:42.98\00:19:44.61
Jeremiah 31, and Ezekiel 36.
00:19:44.65\00:19:46.48
And the point of both of those
covenants is, which is the same
00:19:46.51\00:19:49.58
covenant, Christ is our
only hope of righteousness.
00:19:49.65\00:19:52.59
And He had to let the Israelites
crash and burn because they
00:19:52.62\00:19:56.32
did not see their need of Jesus.
00:19:56.36\00:19:58.53
And God Himself is allowing
a lot of us to crash and burn
00:19:58.56\00:20:02.70
right now because we haven't
seen our own need of a Savior.
00:20:02.73\00:20:05.30
We're having the same
problem this year, right?
00:20:05.33\00:20:08.74
However many years later we are.
00:20:08.77\00:20:11.14
So God's missional quandary.
00:20:11.17\00:20:14.51
God has an issue. Go
to Ezekiel Chapter 36.
00:20:14.54\00:20:18.48
Ezekiel Chapter 36, and we're
going to begin at Verse 22.
00:20:18.51\00:20:25.89
Ezekiel 36,
beginning at Verse 22.
00:20:25.92\00:20:28.62
Shots fired. God
has a problem here.
00:20:43.17\00:20:47.34
God intended for the nation
of Israel to be the evangelists'
00:20:47.38\00:20:51.75
who would reach the world.
00:20:51.81\00:20:53.15
His intention was for the
Israelites to be the messengers
00:20:53.18\00:20:56.28
to allow the rest of the
world to know and to see,
00:20:56.32\00:20:58.55
through their
example and teachings,
00:20:58.59\00:20:59.92
Hey, you can be saved, too!
00:20:59.95\00:21:02.52
This is what God intended
for the nation of Israel.
00:21:02.56\00:21:05.93
But the Israelites really didn't
understand, appreciate, value,
00:21:05.96\00:21:09.96
or succeed in any of that.
00:21:10.00\00:21:11.90
The surrounding nations
are blaspheming the name of God
00:21:11.93\00:21:15.54
because of the people of God.
00:21:15.60\00:21:17.97
Paul says
something very similar.
00:21:18.01\00:21:20.68
And I believe he's quoting
from this verse in Romans 2:24,
00:21:20.71\00:21:23.85
and he's speaking
to the church, you all.
00:21:23.88\00:21:25.61
And do you know what he says?
00:21:25.65\00:21:26.98
He says the name of
God is blasphemed among the
00:21:27.02\00:21:29.68
Gentiles because of you.
00:21:29.72\00:21:33.25
The name of God is
blasphemed among the
00:21:35.92\00:21:38.33
Gentiles because
of you; church folk.
00:21:38.36\00:21:42.63
Now this is a problem for
God, because He's missional.
00:21:42.66\00:21:45.27
He wants people to be saved.
00:21:45.30\00:21:47.04
And the very people He employed
to tell people that they could
00:21:47.07\00:21:49.60
be saved are making them
want nothing to do with God.
00:21:49.64\00:21:53.94
Bad religion is keeping
people from being saved.
00:21:53.98\00:21:59.05
This is a primary issue that's
keeping many of our young people
00:21:59.08\00:22:03.18
from standing for Jesus.
00:22:03.22\00:22:04.75
They're leaving our churches in
droves because of bad religion.
00:22:04.79\00:22:08.42
And they're not
finding it from televangelists.
00:22:08.46\00:22:11.89
I've had to spend so much time
in my experience in ministry
00:22:14.56\00:22:19.93
undoing the harm
caused by bad religion.
00:22:19.97\00:22:23.41
And what I love about
Ezekiel 36 is that God Himself
00:22:23.44\00:22:27.14
has a beef with it.
00:22:27.18\00:22:28.51
Maybe you've been
hurt by bad religion.
00:22:29.11\00:22:30.98
Guess what? so has God!
00:22:31.01\00:22:32.91
And if you've got a
beef with it, so does He.
00:22:32.95\00:22:35.15
That's good news for you today.
00:22:35.18\00:22:37.52
That means that Jesus has
nothing to do with the harm
00:22:37.55\00:22:40.82
that was done
to you by religion.
00:22:40.86\00:22:42.42
That's what it means.
00:22:42.46\00:22:43.79
The way that God fixes this
problem of bad religion is by
00:22:43.83\00:22:47.93
infusing good religion
into the people of God.
00:22:47.96\00:22:50.37
And when the people
of God look like Jesus,
00:22:50.40\00:22:52.73
you'll never believe it.
00:22:52.77\00:22:54.10
Unbelievers kind of
find an interest in Jesus.
00:22:54.14\00:22:58.04
Who knew? So that's what
God is looking to happen.
00:22:58.07\00:23:02.44
But then the question is, Well,
um we've really not been very
00:23:02.48\00:23:07.12
good at that, so how are
you going to achieve this?
00:23:07.15\00:23:09.88
Because if that's the case,
this crisis is going to remain.
00:23:09.92\00:23:12.79
Well, thankfully He
continues in Verse 24.
00:23:12.82\00:23:15.36
Ezekiel 36,
beginning in Verse 24. For...
00:23:15.39\00:23:17.93
And I'm going to
read through Verse 27.
00:23:17.96\00:23:19.29
And we're a filthy
mess at this point.
00:23:27.80\00:23:29.30
All the things that you're
running to right now to escape
00:23:33.98\00:23:36.64
from
responsibility to God, God says,
00:23:36.71\00:23:38.28
I'll deliver you from that.
00:23:38.31\00:23:39.65
All of the things that you're
running to; any idols that
00:23:39.68\00:23:41.85
you may have in your experience.
00:23:41.88\00:23:43.22
I'll cleanse you. I'll
deliver you from your idols.
00:23:43.25\00:23:45.15
The He says in Verse 26:
00:23:45.19\00:23:46.69
Amen? That's a promise.
00:24:00.37\00:24:02.54
So God isn't just saying,
you know, you get another
00:24:02.57\00:24:04.84
chance, and go get 'em.
00:24:04.87\00:24:06.21
There are ten I will
statements in Ezekiel 36,
00:24:06.24\00:24:09.78
starting with Verse 22.
00:24:09.81\00:24:11.31
I will, I will, I
will, I will, I will.
00:24:11.35\00:24:15.65
He replaces the we
wills of the people
00:24:15.68\00:24:18.15
with His own, I will's.
00:24:18.19\00:24:19.85
He takes onus of responsibility
for what's to come.
00:24:19.89\00:24:23.09
So God didn't want the Ten
Commandments to be something
00:24:23.12\00:24:26.26
that we believed, He wanted
it to be part of who we are;
00:24:26.29\00:24:30.17
the very essence of who we are.
00:24:30.20\00:24:32.00
Because it's the
essence of who He is.
00:24:32.03\00:24:35.77
But we tell people
about the validity of the law,
00:24:35.80\00:24:38.94
and we completely
divorce that from who God is,
00:24:38.97\00:24:42.04
and who we were meant to be.
00:24:42.08\00:24:43.78
It just sounds like legalism.
00:24:43.81\00:24:45.45
And Ellen White said that the
people, the Adventist people,
00:24:45.48\00:24:49.05
the people outside of Adventism
say this about Adventism,
00:24:49.08\00:24:52.59
that they preach the law, the
law, the law, and not Christ.
00:24:52.62\00:24:55.26
That was the problem.
00:24:55.29\00:24:57.26
We believe in the
validity of the law, Amen?
00:24:57.29\00:24:59.26
But the way that that works is
something that should be inward.
00:24:59.29\00:25:03.26
I don't care what you have
on the walls in your churches.
00:25:04.63\00:25:07.20
I don't care what cross
stitches you have in your house.
00:25:07.24\00:25:09.94
If nothing is going on in
here, it's not helping God
00:25:10.01\00:25:12.67
in His missional quandary.
00:25:12.71\00:25:14.04
Are you understanding?
00:25:14.08\00:25:15.41
And so the Ten Commandments
should be the essence of who
00:25:15.44\00:25:17.45
you are, not ten stuff
that you're supposed to do.
00:25:17.51\00:25:20.55
When it's part of who
you are, you do it naturally.
00:25:20.58\00:25:23.28
And God Himself is the
One that makes that a reality,
00:25:23.32\00:25:25.85
and empowers you not
only to do it, but to love it.
00:25:25.89\00:25:28.39
Does that make sense?
00:25:28.42\00:25:29.76
That's what God's intention
is with the new covenant.
00:25:29.79\00:25:32.39
So then the wall
was not the problem that
00:25:32.43\00:25:34.66
needed to be changed.
00:25:34.70\00:25:36.03
What needed to be
changed was the people.
00:25:36.06\00:25:38.97
We were the problem
that needed to be changed.
00:25:39.00\00:25:41.70
And the laws relevance remains.
00:25:41.74\00:25:43.91
Now, continuing in Ezekiel
36, picking up in Verse 28,
00:25:43.94\00:25:47.24
and I'll read to Verse 30.
00:25:47.28\00:25:48.61
The provision of God
comes with the call of God.
00:25:59.85\00:26:02.52
Sometimes we feel that we
can't be the people of God,
00:26:10.33\00:26:13.94
and we've got that
Romans 7 quandary, right?
00:26:13.97\00:26:17.07
God's going to deliver
us from our uncleanness.
00:26:17.11\00:26:20.11
He's going to do all of this
stuff for us, but we just don't
00:26:20.14\00:26:22.68
feel like we deserve that,
or could actually have that.
00:26:22.71\00:26:26.08
But God reassures us here
in this passage that we can be.
00:26:26.11\00:26:29.42
He's making these promises again
to a disobedient, ugly people
00:26:29.48\00:26:33.39
with stone cold hearts.
00:26:33.46\00:26:35.52
Now why would God make a promise
to someone that He didn't think
00:26:35.56\00:26:39.49
it was possible? Right?
00:26:39.53\00:26:42.50
He knew it was
possible. Now Verse 31.
00:26:42.53\00:26:45.93
The amazing long suffering,
and provision of God will lead
00:26:56.21\00:26:59.45
people to repentance.
00:26:59.48\00:27:01.28
Romans 2:4 says, The goodness
of God leads to repentance.
00:27:01.32\00:27:05.22
When God treats you this good,
in spite of how awful, selfish,
00:27:05.25\00:27:09.56
and evil that you've
been, it does something to the
00:27:09.59\00:27:12.86
human psyche, doesn't it?
00:27:12.89\00:27:14.60
It breaks your heart.
00:27:14.63\00:27:16.26
This is what God
intended to take place to draw
00:27:16.30\00:27:18.53
us closer to Himself.
00:27:18.57\00:27:20.24
God would do that for me?
00:27:20.27\00:27:21.84
Yeah, but I'm dirty. Right?
00:27:21.87\00:27:24.51
I have idols. I
have a stony heart.
00:27:24.54\00:27:27.81
I don't obey. Guess what?
00:27:27.84\00:27:31.75
God's goodness towards us
is not based upon what we do.
00:27:31.78\00:27:35.75
It's based upon who He is. Amen!
00:27:35.78\00:27:40.06
The goodness of God is not
conditional in the sense of God
00:27:40.09\00:27:44.03
will only show love
and acceptance to people
00:27:44.09\00:27:46.29
if they do something.
00:27:46.33\00:27:48.30
God only, ever, always thinks
thoughts of love towards you.
00:27:48.33\00:27:53.03
Always! He can
change the behavior.
00:27:53.07\00:27:56.54
That's not a problem.
00:27:56.57\00:27:57.91
It is a problem,
but He can handle that.
00:27:57.94\00:27:59.64
But what He needs is you.
00:27:59.67\00:28:01.01
And the only way that He's
going to receive you is if you
00:28:01.04\00:28:03.55
know who He truly is.
00:28:03.58\00:28:04.91
Does that make sense?
00:28:04.95\00:28:06.28
So some here may be
getting a little bit ancy.
00:28:09.55\00:28:11.45
Yeah, but what do we do? Right?
00:28:11.49\00:28:14.52
There's bound to be something
that I'm supposed to do.
00:28:14.56\00:28:16.59
Well, there is.
The I will's of God are
00:28:16.62\00:28:20.93
dependent upon your I will.
00:28:20.96\00:28:23.30
Here's what I mean by that.
00:28:23.33\00:28:25.37
I will cease trying to
appease God by my deeds.
00:28:26.80\00:28:30.17
I will stop avoiding the
conviction of the Holy Spirit.
00:28:30.21\00:28:34.21
I will choose to
believe the things about
00:28:34.24\00:28:36.81
me that God believes.
00:28:36.85\00:28:38.18
I will yield my will, my power
of choice, my desires to the
00:28:38.21\00:28:41.82
One who's given all for me,
and who desires my happiness.
00:28:41.85\00:28:45.69
The I will's of God of the
new covenant are dependent upon
00:28:45.72\00:28:48.76
your I will's. That is true.
00:28:48.79\00:28:50.46
And that's the hardest
thing that we can do, isn't it?
00:28:50.49\00:28:52.59
The I will's of God are, again,
dependent upon your I will.
00:28:52.63\00:28:56.36
God is asking us to lay down
our old covenant experience of
00:28:56.40\00:28:59.63
I will's into rest in His.
00:28:59.67\00:29:02.67
This is what God
is asking of us today.
00:29:02.70\00:29:05.47
Yielding your will, and choosing
to receive Christ's spirit of
00:29:05.51\00:29:09.54
surrender is the hardest thing
that you can do in human flesh.
00:29:09.58\00:29:12.81
I thought math was hard.
00:29:12.85\00:29:15.88
This is way harder.
00:29:15.92\00:29:17.25
Science was harder than math.
00:29:17.29\00:29:19.02
But anyway, this is way harder.
00:29:19.05\00:29:21.02
For me to actually yield
my preference and my choice
00:29:21.06\00:29:24.23
in any given moment of
temptation is quite difficult.
00:29:24.26\00:29:26.83
But all I'm really doing is
receiving from Jesus His spirit
00:29:26.86\00:29:31.53
of surrender so that
I then can surrender.
00:29:31.57\00:29:34.27
Does that make sense?
00:29:34.30\00:29:35.64
But it's what's going to lead to
our happiness and our victory.
00:29:35.67\00:29:39.84
And so if you see that this
process is actually going to
00:29:39.87\00:29:42.58
lead to success, you're
probably a little more prone to
00:29:42.61\00:29:44.68
give it a try, aren't you?
00:29:44.71\00:29:46.05
Again, she says, What
is justification by faith?
00:29:47.22\00:29:50.19
It's the work of God to lay
the glory of man in the dust,
00:29:50.22\00:29:52.95
and doing for man
that which it is not in his
00:29:52.99\00:29:55.52
power to do for himself.
00:29:55.56\00:29:57.43
And when men see
their own nothingness,
00:29:57.46\00:30:00.50
then they're prepared
to be clothed with the
00:30:00.53\00:30:02.56
righteousness of Christ.
00:30:02.60\00:30:03.93
You have to
recognize that you've got
00:30:03.97\00:30:06.40
nothing to offer
but you. That's it!
00:30:06.43\00:30:09.40
I think I just stole my
thing from the slide, sorry.
00:30:09.44\00:30:12.77
We have nothing
to offer God but you.
00:30:12.81\00:30:15.98
The best thing you can
offer God is you: ugly, broken,
00:30:16.01\00:30:20.42
hypocritical, whatever.
00:30:20.45\00:30:23.32
If you bring what you have
to God, He can do something.
00:30:23.35\00:30:26.32
God can do something with
something, but He can't do
00:30:26.35\00:30:28.19
anything with nothing.
00:30:28.22\00:30:29.56
And if you choose to give
God permission to do for you
00:30:29.59\00:30:33.76
what you can't do for
yourself, which, by the way,
00:30:33.80\00:30:35.83
involves confessing that
and repenting of our self-will,
00:30:35.86\00:30:40.17
then He can work with that.
00:30:40.20\00:30:42.64
All the resources of omnipotence
are at our disposal, we're told.
00:30:42.67\00:30:46.27
But one of the things I love
about Jesus is that your piety
00:30:46.31\00:30:49.68
doesn't impress Him, and your
dirt doesn't discourage Him.
00:30:49.71\00:30:53.21
This is what I love about Jesus:
that His love for you is at its
00:30:53.25\00:30:58.05
zenith no matter what you do.
00:30:58.09\00:30:59.42
Does that mean that He approves
of the bad things that we do?
00:30:59.45\00:31:02.39
No. But does it mean that
He is going to stop loving
00:31:02.42\00:31:05.26
us if we do them? No.
00:31:05.29\00:31:07.13
God's love for
you is unchanging;
00:31:07.16\00:31:08.50
obedience or disobedience.
00:31:08.53\00:31:10.73
If you had a meter, a love meter
of sorts, it's at its zenith
00:31:10.77\00:31:15.50
all the time, regardless
of the decisions you make.
00:31:15.54\00:31:19.17
Our actions don't change that
for the worse or for the better.
00:31:21.74\00:31:25.35
Now, oh man, go back.
00:31:25.38\00:31:27.42
This is what Ellen White...
From the Andrews Study Bible
00:31:27.45\00:31:29.48
actually, on the
comments of Ezekiel 36.
00:31:29.52\00:31:31.72
It says that God will move His
followers to obedience through
00:31:31.75\00:31:35.09
the power of His Spirit.
00:31:35.12\00:31:36.52
And this is a unique declaration
about the obedience as a result
00:31:36.56\00:31:40.66
of God's working in
humans through the Holy Spirit.
00:31:40.70\00:31:43.53
Thus obedience is not our
achievement or performance,
00:31:43.57\00:31:47.14
but a what? But a consequence
of letting God work in us.
00:31:47.17\00:31:51.97
Alone we are not
able to follow Him.
00:31:52.01\00:31:54.28
Power to overcome evil, live
in harmony with His commandments
00:31:54.31\00:31:58.51
comes from a
source outside of us.
00:31:58.55\00:32:01.68
Only the Spirit of
God can transform hearts
00:32:01.72\00:32:06.12
and enable people to observe
His laws and instructions.
00:32:06.15\00:32:08.99
And I love this one.
00:32:09.02\00:32:10.36
What God
requires He also provides.
00:32:10.39\00:32:14.93
Many people in our church are
wrestling because we at times
00:32:14.96\00:32:20.24
have uplifted the expectations
of God at the expense of how
00:32:20.27\00:32:24.27
God enables us to
walk in those expectations.
00:32:24.31\00:32:26.68
We forget the
most important part.
00:32:26.71\00:32:29.74
Man, I can't wait to tell people
all the stuff that God expects.
00:32:29.78\00:32:33.45
And they walk away.
00:32:33.48\00:32:34.82
And so the person that
receives the message thinks,
00:32:34.85\00:32:36.32
Wow, um, oh man, this is bad.
00:32:36.35\00:32:43.79
Right? Like this is going to
be the response of hearing what
00:32:43.83\00:32:46.33
God expects without telling
people the way in which God
00:32:46.36\00:32:50.37
enables you to
do what He expects.
00:32:50.40\00:32:52.57
Are you
understanding me this morning?
00:32:52.60\00:32:53.94
Please do not give
one instead of the other.
00:32:53.97\00:32:56.77
Because it sets our
people up for failure. Right?
00:32:56.81\00:32:58.67
We read John 14:15, If ye
love Me keep the commandments.
00:32:58.71\00:33:02.38
Which, by the way, in the
Greek is not in the imperative.
00:33:02.41\00:33:05.11
It's not. It's a promise.
00:33:05.15\00:33:07.12
And He explains in the
very next verse how it happens.
00:33:07.15\00:33:09.45
And I will pray to the Father,
and He will send you another
00:33:09.48\00:33:11.95
helper, the Spirit of
Truth, who's going to enable you
00:33:11.99\00:33:14.39
to keep the commandments. Right?
00:33:14.42\00:33:16.49
Make sure you don't tell
people what Gold expects without
00:33:16.52\00:33:19.16
telling them how He enables
them to do what He expects.
00:33:19.19\00:33:21.80
It causes severe
psychological damage.
00:33:21.83\00:33:24.77
I'm serious as a heart attack.
00:33:24.80\00:33:26.40
I was just talking
to someone this week.
00:33:26.43\00:33:27.77
It's crippled them.
00:33:27.80\00:33:29.14
Last generation theology
has crippled them because
00:33:29.17\00:33:31.34
they're hearing
all of what God wants.
00:33:31.37\00:33:33.07
He wants an end time
spotless righteousness.
00:33:33.11\00:33:35.24
But they're not being told that,
yeah, God does need us to stand
00:33:35.28\00:33:38.08
with spotless righteousness
at the end of time,
00:33:38.11\00:33:39.98
but God provides
that righteousness.
00:33:40.02\00:33:42.32
And we're actually going
to cover that this evening
00:33:42.35\00:33:44.12
on what that looks like.
00:33:44.15\00:33:45.49
That God is day by day
making us into the person
00:33:45.52\00:33:47.42
who could stand then. Right?
00:33:47.46\00:33:49.42
It's the day to day decisions
you're making you should fear,
00:33:49.46\00:33:51.49
not what you're
going to be then.
00:33:51.53\00:33:53.46
What you do now makes
you into who you'll be then.
00:33:53.50\00:33:56.03
And so day by day we're
surrendering our will to God,
00:33:56.06\00:33:59.13
and being
transformed into His likeness.
00:33:59.17\00:34:00.50
And there will be a
time when we're not going
00:34:00.54\00:34:01.94
to need a mediator. Right?
00:34:01.97\00:34:05.07
I digress. So, this is
from Christ's Object Lessons.
00:34:05.11\00:34:10.15
As the will of man
cooperates with the will of God,
00:34:10.18\00:34:13.18
it becomes what?
omnipotent, all powerful.
00:34:13.21\00:34:17.89
Whatever is to be done
at God's command may be
00:34:17.92\00:34:21.26
accomplished in God's strength.
00:34:21.29\00:34:22.99
And then she says this:
All His biddings are enabling.
00:34:23.02\00:34:27.13
Everything that God
asks of us, God provides the
00:34:27.16\00:34:31.30
means necessary to do.
00:34:31.33\00:34:32.87
Two good examples of
this: John Chapter 5.
00:34:32.90\00:34:35.17
So there's a man at
the pool of Bethesda
00:34:35.20\00:34:37.41
who's a helpless case.
00:34:37.47\00:34:39.01
In fact the most helpless case.
00:34:39.04\00:34:40.54
He's been an
invalid for 38 years.
00:34:40.58\00:34:43.68
His legs are spaghetti noodles.
00:34:43.71\00:34:45.88
There is no chance for him
to support his own body weight.
00:34:45.91\00:34:49.22
And as this man is in this
condition, Jesus strolls up to
00:34:49.25\00:34:52.52
this guy and asks him a
seemingly obvious question.
00:34:52.55\00:34:55.09
He says, Do you
want to be made well?
00:34:55.12\00:34:58.13
And your response could
be pfffff... Do I want it?
00:34:58.16\00:35:01.13
Of course I want to be
made well! Look at me! Right?
00:35:01.16\00:35:04.13
And then he gives this
story of all the reasons for why
00:35:06.00\00:35:08.17
he can't be made well.
00:35:08.20\00:35:09.54
My situation isn't conducive.
00:35:09.57\00:35:11.37
No one cares about me.
00:35:11.41\00:35:12.87
And internally
there's a whole lot of shame.
00:35:12.91\00:35:14.94
Because we're told in Desire
of Ages, he's in that condition
00:35:14.98\00:35:17.35
because of a lifestyle of sin.
00:35:17.38\00:35:19.15
Not that all people in
that situation are because of
00:35:19.21\00:35:21.72
a lifestyle of sin, but he was.
00:35:21.75\00:35:24.02
So he's feeling a whole lot
of shame and unworthiness, too,
00:35:24.05\00:35:27.22
that I'm not
worthy of being made well.
00:35:27.26\00:35:28.92
I don't deserve to be
healed, because look at what
00:35:28.99\00:35:31.49
I've made of my life.
00:35:31.53\00:35:32.86
Jesus doesn't give him the
time of day on the pity party.
00:35:32.89\00:35:36.80
Then He tells him one thing.
00:35:36.87\00:35:40.47
Rise, take up your mat and walk.
00:35:40.50\00:35:44.04
Some could view that as taunting
or insulting if they didn't know
00:35:44.11\00:35:49.18
who it was that
was asking the question
00:35:49.21\00:35:50.65
and giving the command.
00:35:50.68\00:35:52.11
But this is what Jesus
knew about this situation,
00:35:52.15\00:35:54.88
and why it wasn't taunting.
00:35:54.92\00:35:56.25
Jesus knew that by giving the
command, in the command itself
00:35:56.28\00:36:00.79
was the power to
obey the command.
00:36:00.82\00:36:02.59
Remember, the word
of God imparts life.
00:36:04.03\00:36:06.43
The word of God has
the ability to create.
00:36:06.49\00:36:08.83
So built within the
framework of the commands of God
00:36:08.86\00:36:12.70
is power from God to
walk in these commands.
00:36:12.73\00:36:15.57
And so Ellen White comments
on this in Desire of Ages, 203.
00:36:15.60\00:36:18.77
Well, first of all, the guy
does take Jesus at His word.
00:36:18.81\00:36:21.88
And by taking Jesus at His word
he's running around the temple
00:36:21.91\00:36:25.68
like a five year old boy;
jumping and leaping around,
00:36:25.71\00:36:29.48
because he has been made well.
00:36:29.52\00:36:31.52
She says in Desire of Ages, 203,
that he took Christ at His word.
00:36:31.55\00:36:37.86
And that in acting upon
His word he received strength.
00:36:37.89\00:36:41.53
And she says our souls are
palsied, and of ourselves we are
00:36:41.56\00:36:46.84
no more capable of living a
holy life than was the impotent
00:36:46.87\00:36:49.34
man capable of walking.
00:36:49.37\00:36:51.24
But she says that by
believing what Christ has said,
00:36:52.97\00:36:55.78
and leaning our wills in the
direction of the word of God,
00:36:55.81\00:36:59.61
we receive power from God to
do that very thing that seems
00:36:59.65\00:37:03.39
impossible, that
seems ridiculous. We can't.
00:37:03.42\00:37:06.59
Through Christ's strength
we can do what He commands.
00:37:06.62\00:37:09.89
And it just makes sense really,
because when we do this thing
00:37:09.92\00:37:12.56
of lifting up what God expects,
at the expense of how enables us
00:37:12.59\00:37:15.20
to do it it leads to two
responses: 1. I'm a loser,
00:37:15.23\00:37:18.43
or 2. God is unreasonable.
00:37:18.47\00:37:20.14
Neither one of those is going to
lead to people sticking it out.
00:37:22.24\00:37:24.71
I'm a loser. I tried in
my own strength; I failed.
00:37:25.97\00:37:29.34
There must be
something wrong with me.
00:37:29.38\00:37:31.88
I'm a defective model.
00:37:31.91\00:37:34.32
I might as well
throw in the towel.
00:37:34.35\00:37:35.88
Or, God is just mocking me.
00:37:35.92\00:37:38.42
He's telling me to do stuff
that He knows that I can't do.
00:37:38.45\00:37:42.22
And if that's the way
that He's going to roll,
00:37:42.26\00:37:43.59
I want nothing to do with Him.
00:37:43.63\00:37:44.96
This is the picture that we
paint in the eyes of our young
00:37:44.99\00:37:50.27
people, and our members when
we do not share the power of the
00:37:50.30\00:37:54.14
gospel to transform the life.
00:37:54.17\00:37:55.70
When we do not communicate
the ministry of the Holy Spirit,
00:37:55.77\00:37:59.47
and how He makes us
what we were into what God
00:37:59.51\00:38:01.78
intended for us to be.
00:38:01.81\00:38:03.14
That's actually what we're
going to cover this evening.
00:38:03.18\00:38:04.58
Now, there's this
amazing section of
00:38:04.61\00:38:08.22
The Great Controversy.
00:38:08.25\00:38:09.95
It's in pages 72 to 75.
00:38:09.98\00:38:11.59
I'm not going to read all of it.
00:38:11.65\00:38:12.99
But this is talking about
the Waldenses when they were
00:38:13.02\00:38:15.76
Bible workers preaching
the message of righteousness by
00:38:15.79\00:38:18.03
faith in individual homes. Okay?
00:38:18.06\00:38:20.36
And I hope you've got
your listening ears with you.
00:38:20.40\00:38:22.43
This is again, 72 to 75.
00:38:22.46\00:38:24.03
But I'm just going to kind
of skip through different areas.
00:38:24.07\00:38:27.40
They, the Waldenses, saw that
under the guidance of pope and
00:38:27.44\00:38:30.74
priest multitudes were vainly
endeavoring to obtain pardon
00:38:30.77\00:38:34.98
by afflicting their bodies
for the sin of their souls.
00:38:35.04\00:38:38.65
We still wrestle with penance
in our own movement, don't we?
00:38:40.12\00:38:43.49
In different fashions.
00:38:43.52\00:38:45.35
Have you ever had those
moments when you disappoint God,
00:38:45.39\00:38:47.79
and your immediate instinct
is to go do something in service
00:38:47.82\00:38:50.16
for God just to kind of get
yourself out of jail? Right?
00:38:50.19\00:38:55.63
We still have this
penance system in our minds,
00:38:55.66\00:38:58.00
because we feel so unworthy of
the love of God; that He would
00:38:58.03\00:39:01.40
never just take me back
because He loves me nonetheless.
00:39:01.44\00:39:04.54
Like I need to do something
to show God that I'm worthy
00:39:04.57\00:39:07.64
of being taken back.
00:39:07.68\00:39:09.01
And our motives are okay
in that sense, but the method
00:39:09.04\00:39:13.18
certainly isn't going to work.
00:39:13.21\00:39:14.72
That love is already ours.
00:39:14.75\00:39:16.18
God didn't send
Jesus to convince Him that
00:39:16.22\00:39:20.32
He needed to love us.
00:39:20.36\00:39:21.69
God sent Jesus
because He loves us, period.
00:39:21.72\00:39:25.46
That's all of us. Taught to
trust their good works to save
00:39:25.49\00:39:29.53
them, they were ever
looking to themselves,
00:39:29.56\00:39:32.17
their minds drawing
upon their sinful condition.
00:39:32.20\00:39:35.37
Seeing themselves
exposed to the wrath of God,
00:39:35.40\00:39:38.41
afflicting soul and
body, yet finding no relief.
00:39:38.44\00:39:43.04
Thus conscientious souls were
bound by the doctrines of Rome.
00:39:43.08\00:39:47.38
Thousands abandoned friends
and kindred and spent their
00:39:47.42\00:39:50.12
lives in convent cells.
00:39:50.15\00:39:51.52
By oft repeated fasts, and cruel
scourging, by midnight vigils,
00:39:51.55\00:39:56.39
by prostration for weary hours
upon the cold damp stones of
00:39:56.42\00:39:59.73
their dreary abode, by
long pilgrimages, by humiliating
00:39:59.76\00:40:03.53
penance and fearful torture
thousands vainly sought to
00:40:03.57\00:40:07.07
obtain peace of conscience.
00:40:07.10\00:40:09.04
Oppressed with the sense of
sin, and haunted with the fear
00:40:09.07\00:40:12.71
of God's avenging wrath,
many suffered on until exhausted
00:40:12.74\00:40:16.88
nature gave way, and without
one ray or light of hope they
00:40:16.95\00:40:20.85
sank into the tomb.
00:40:20.88\00:40:22.85
These people died
without hope, and without Jesus.
00:40:24.12\00:40:27.32
And they worked
their guts out in religion
00:40:27.36\00:40:30.13
from stem to stern.
00:40:30.16\00:40:31.49
They're in our
churches; same situation.
00:40:33.70\00:40:37.07
People in this room
are wrestling with the very
00:40:37.10\00:40:39.73
same thing right now.
00:40:39.77\00:40:41.60
Look what she says
in response to that.
00:40:41.64\00:40:44.87
Jesus died as a sacrifice
for man because the fallen race
00:40:44.91\00:40:49.28
can do nothing to
recommend themselves to God.
00:40:49.31\00:40:52.35
The merits of a crucified and
risen Savior are the foundation
00:40:52.38\00:40:56.62
of the Christian's faith.
00:40:56.65\00:40:58.02
The dependence of the
soul upon Christ is as real,
00:40:58.05\00:41:00.79
and his connection with Him
must be as close as that of a
00:41:00.82\00:41:03.69
limb to the body, or
of a branch to the vine.
00:41:03.73\00:41:06.49
It was his, the Waldensian's
greatest joy, to give hope to
00:41:06.53\00:41:10.67
the conscientious sin stricken
souls who could only see a God
00:41:10.70\00:41:14.80
of vengeance
waiting to execute justice.
00:41:14.84\00:41:18.17
And again, that belief structure
is happening here too, isn't it?
00:41:18.21\00:41:23.48
It's just a human nature thing.
00:41:25.28\00:41:26.92
I'm not bagging on
the Adventist church.
00:41:26.95\00:41:28.35
Don't misunderstand me.
00:41:28.38\00:41:29.72
This is my church!
I'm not going anywhere.
00:41:29.75\00:41:31.49
But this is the
type of stuff that we all
00:41:31.52\00:41:33.89
wrestle with, isn't it?
00:41:33.92\00:41:35.26
We're still wrestling with the
full concept of Protestantism.
00:41:35.29\00:41:38.76
And with quivering lip,
and tearful eye did He often on
00:41:38.79\00:41:42.20
bended knees open to His
brethren the precious promises
00:41:42.23\00:41:45.37
that revealed the
sinners only hope.
00:41:45.40\00:41:47.10
Thus the light of truth
penetrated many a darkened
00:41:47.14\00:41:50.34
mind rolling back the
cloud of gloom until the Son of
00:41:50.41\00:41:53.51
Righteousness shown into the
heart with healing in His beams.
00:41:53.58\00:41:56.95
It was often that the case
of some portion of Scripture was
00:41:56.98\00:42:00.25
read again and again, the hearer
desiring it to be repeated as if
00:42:00.28\00:42:05.05
he would assure
himself that he'd heard aright.
00:42:05.09\00:42:08.72
Is that, is that
really what God thinks of me?
00:42:08.76\00:42:12.36
Read that again, please.
00:42:13.36\00:42:14.76
It especially was repetition
of these words eagerly desired.
00:42:18.70\00:42:22.40
The blood of Jesus Christ His
Son cleanseth us from all sin.
00:42:22.44\00:42:26.37
1 John 1:7. As Moses lifted up
the serpent in the wilderness,
00:42:26.44\00:42:30.35
even so must the son of man
be lifted up, that whosoever
00:42:30.41\00:42:33.65
believeth in Him should not
perish, but have eternal life.
00:42:33.68\00:42:36.95
John 3:14, 15. The assurance
of a Savior's love seemed
00:42:36.99\00:42:41.72
too much for some of these poor,
00:42:41.76\00:42:43.76
tempest tossed souls to realize.
00:42:43.79\00:42:45.69
So great was the relief that it
brought, such a flood of light
00:42:45.73\00:42:50.00
was shed upon them that they
seemed transported to heaven.
00:42:50.03\00:42:54.24
Their hands were laid
confidently in the hand of
00:42:54.27\00:42:57.27
Christ, and their feet were
planted upon the rock of ages.
00:42:57.31\00:43:01.31
All fear of death was banished,
and they could now covet the
00:43:01.34\00:43:04.85
prison and the burning stake
if they might thereby honor
00:43:04.88\00:43:08.35
the name of their Redeemer.
00:43:08.38\00:43:10.02
So what prepares people to
stand in the time of trouble?
00:43:10.09\00:43:12.55
An encounter with the undying
love, and acceptance of God
00:43:12.59\00:43:17.83
in spite of your
brokenness, in spite of your
00:43:17.86\00:43:20.33
weakness and otherwise.
00:43:20.36\00:43:21.70
And when someone's willing
to love you at your ugliest,
00:43:21.73\00:43:24.13
you're willing to
give all for them.
00:43:24.17\00:43:25.50
In the secret place as the word
of God was thus brought forth
00:43:27.77\00:43:30.77
and read, sometimes to a single
soul, sometimes to a little
00:43:30.81\00:43:33.78
company who were
longing for light and truth.
00:43:33.81\00:43:35.48
And often the entire
night was spent in this manner.
00:43:35.51\00:43:38.75
So great would be the wonder
and admiration of the listeners
00:43:38.78\00:43:41.98
that the messenger of mercy was
not infrequently compelled to
00:43:42.05\00:43:45.22
cease his reading until
the understanding could grasp
00:43:45.25\00:43:48.26
the tidings of salvation.
00:43:48.29\00:43:50.06
Because it seems so far
from being accomplished,
00:43:50.13\00:43:52.63
they just needed a moment.
00:43:52.66\00:43:54.00
I just, I just need a moment.
00:43:54.50\00:43:56.40
I need some
time to process this.
00:43:56.43\00:44:00.17
Often words like these would
be uttered: Will God indeed
00:44:00.24\00:44:07.88
accept my offering?
00:44:07.94\00:44:10.11
Will He smile upon me?
00:44:10.15\00:44:12.28
Will He pardon me?
And the answer was read,
00:44:12.31\00:44:17.55
Come unto Me all ye that
labor and are heavy laden,
00:44:17.59\00:44:20.59
and I will give you
rest. Matthew 11:28.
00:44:21.46\00:44:24.46
Faith grasped the promise,
and the glad response was heard.
00:44:26.70\00:44:31.10
No more long
pilgrimages to make.
00:44:31.13\00:44:33.54
No more painful
journeys to holy shrines.
00:44:33.57\00:44:36.87
I may come to Jesus just
as I am, sinful and unholy,
00:44:36.91\00:44:40.98
and He will not spurn
the penitential prayer.
00:44:41.01\00:44:43.88
Thy sins be forgiven thee.
00:44:43.91\00:44:46.11
Mine, even
mine, may be forgiven.
00:44:46.15\00:44:49.28
A tide of sacred joy would fill
the heart, and the name of Jesus
00:44:49.32\00:44:53.39
would be magnified by
praise and thanksgiving.
00:44:53.42\00:44:55.92
These happy souls returned
to their homes to diffuse light,
00:44:55.96\00:44:59.63
to repeat to others as well as
they could their new experience.
00:44:59.66\00:45:03.26
They had found the true
and living way, and there was a
00:45:03.30\00:45:06.23
strange and solemn power in the
words of Scripture that spoke
00:45:06.27\00:45:09.34
directly to the hearts of those
who were longing for truth.
00:45:09.37\00:45:13.04
It was the voice of God, and it
carried conviction to the hearts
00:45:13.07\00:45:17.01
of those who heard.
00:45:17.05\00:45:18.75
This is what the
gospel should do.
00:45:20.05\00:45:22.88
This is the type of response
that you should see when the
00:45:24.19\00:45:27.36
gospel is preached.
00:45:27.39\00:45:28.72
Because we have people in our
own ranks that are in bondage.
00:45:28.76\00:45:32.46
We've got to help these folks.
00:45:34.50\00:45:36.16
We're not getting
to heaven alone folks.
00:45:37.53\00:45:40.50
We need each other.
00:45:41.07\00:45:42.40
We need to know the gospel for
ourselves so that other people
00:45:42.44\00:45:45.74
can know the hope that we have.
00:45:45.77\00:45:47.11
A Bible study friend of mine's
experience; a woman we pulled
00:45:47.88\00:45:51.71
out of the Adventist Reform
Movement, she was in the life
00:45:51.75\00:45:53.65
of bondage and miserable.
00:45:53.68\00:45:55.78
Because what they do is bag
on the Adventist church for not
00:45:55.82\00:45:59.05
following all of
thus saith the Lord's.
00:45:59.09\00:46:00.59
For not following the Spirit
of Prophecy as they should.
00:46:00.62\00:46:03.36
But then they themselves are not
following the Spirit of Prophecy
00:46:03.43\00:46:06.33
as they should in the
way in which they share.
00:46:06.36\00:46:08.33
They're tyrants! And this
woman with... That was her first
00:46:08.36\00:46:12.40
exposure to Adventism.
00:46:12.43\00:46:13.77
And she's had years of misery,
years of tyrannical misery,
00:46:13.80\00:46:19.47
because she's never going
to be good enough for God.
00:46:19.51\00:46:21.58
All they keep talking
about is the fact that you'd
00:46:21.64\00:46:23.68
better get it right.
00:46:23.75\00:46:25.08
You'd better get it
right because the day is coming
00:46:25.11\00:46:26.45
when, no Jesus for you!
00:46:26.48\00:46:28.45
You've got to fight
in your own strength.
00:46:28.48\00:46:29.85
You've got to
fight in your own armor.
00:46:29.88\00:46:31.22
And you'd better be
good enough to make it.
00:46:31.25\00:46:32.59
Which is not the way that Ellen
White describes this process.
00:46:32.62\00:46:36.19
Us being without a mediator;
the role of a mediator was to
00:46:36.22\00:46:39.69
transfer sin from outside the
Sanctuary into the Sanctuary.
00:46:39.73\00:46:43.03
That's all! Jesus says He'll
never leave you nor forsake you.
00:46:43.06\00:46:46.33
He doesn't stop loving you.
00:46:46.37\00:46:47.70
The difference is there's no
need for sin to be transferred
00:46:47.74\00:46:50.81
into the Sanctuary
for the beloved of God.
00:46:50.84\00:46:52.61
They're sealed, they're ready,
and the work has to be finished.
00:46:52.64\00:46:56.04
Do you understand me?
00:46:56.08\00:46:57.41
Jesus is cleansing the Sanctuary
that can't be continually
00:46:57.45\00:47:00.18
dirtied while He's cleansing.
00:47:00.22\00:47:01.98
But God is preparing His
people to stand in that day.
00:47:02.02\00:47:05.05
It's not a crap shoot.
00:47:05.09\00:47:06.42
I just don't know, I
just hope that then I'll
00:47:06.45\00:47:08.56
be someone different.
00:47:08.59\00:47:09.92
You're going to be
then who you are today.
00:47:09.96\00:47:11.93
So take advantage of
those decisions you have today.
00:47:11.96\00:47:14.73
Receive from God the
grace of God for today,
00:47:14.76\00:47:17.40
and ask Him to make you
who you need to be today.
00:47:17.43\00:47:20.54
And if you're doing
this every day you'll be who
00:47:20.57\00:47:23.37
you need to be then. Amen?
00:47:23.41\00:47:25.94
Ah, it just frustrates me!
00:47:25.97\00:47:27.38
Anyway, so this lady when
I explained to her the stuff
00:47:27.41\00:47:30.18
I'm telling you right
now, she literally stopped.
00:47:30.21\00:47:32.95
She put her head on her
kitchen table and she cried.
00:47:32.98\00:47:37.32
And she cried, and cried,
and cried because for the first
00:47:37.35\00:47:42.76
time in her life she saw that
she could actually be saved.
00:47:42.79\00:47:47.40
We can't do this to people!
00:47:50.17\00:47:51.63
It's torture. It's abuse.
00:47:52.90\00:47:54.90
If it was done in any other form
than spiritual, you should go to
00:47:54.94\00:47:57.97
jail for something like that.
00:47:58.01\00:47:59.47
What she came to see is that
she could find rest in Jesus,
00:48:04.95\00:48:08.68
but rest is not inactivity.
00:48:08.72\00:48:10.62
Don't get freaked
out by the word rest.
00:48:10.65\00:48:12.82
That's why a lot
of us are so anxious.
00:48:12.85\00:48:14.59
We hate that word
because it sounds like
00:48:14.62\00:48:16.76
I don't get to do anything.
00:48:16.79\00:48:18.13
I don't get the
ownership of what happens.
00:48:19.49\00:48:21.26
You shouldn't
have any ownership.
00:48:21.30\00:48:22.63
If you did you'd be
in the same old covenant
00:48:22.66\00:48:24.00
problem you had before.
00:48:24.03\00:48:25.37
Resting in Jesus is choosing
to receive His faithfulness,
00:48:25.40\00:48:30.51
His surrender, His
peace, and His rest.
00:48:30.54\00:48:34.08
We need rest, you all.
00:48:34.11\00:48:36.01
We're Seventh-day Adventists.
00:48:36.04\00:48:38.71
We believe in rest.
00:48:38.75\00:48:40.42
Some of us keep two days.
00:48:40.45\00:48:41.78
We sleep on Sunday,
too, don't we? Right?
00:48:41.82\00:48:44.15
We believe in rest.
00:48:44.19\00:48:46.22
My friend calls it the Adventist
day of rest because then you can
00:48:46.25\00:48:49.72
like sleep in, because you have
to come to church on Sabbath.
00:48:49.76\00:48:51.93
But rest is not inactivity.
00:48:51.96\00:48:54.33
You actually do more when
God is working through you.
00:48:54.36\00:48:57.53
The people who have rest
in God are the people who do
00:48:57.57\00:49:00.84
the most work for God.
00:49:00.87\00:49:02.20
So don't be
afraid of the word rest.
00:49:03.47\00:49:05.01
It's not inactivity.
00:49:05.04\00:49:06.37
Now Romans, Chapter 8... Oh my!
00:49:06.41\00:49:09.98
Romans, Chapter 8...
I want to be a good boy.
00:49:10.01\00:49:13.05
I want to be
under sixty minutes.
00:49:13.08\00:49:14.42
Pray for me, would you?
00:49:14.45\00:49:15.78
Romans, Chapter 8,
beginning in Verse 3.
00:49:15.82\00:49:17.82
We're almost there.
00:49:17.85\00:49:19.19
Why only three slides?
00:49:19.22\00:49:20.56
I've got plenty of time.
00:49:20.59\00:49:21.92
Romans, Chapter 8.
I love this text now.
00:49:21.96\00:49:25.56
After giving this
background, this is the beauty
00:49:25.59\00:49:27.76
of Romans, Chapter 8.
00:49:27.80\00:49:29.13
I'm actually
beginning at Verse 1.
00:49:29.16\00:49:30.50
Jesus had a nature like ours.
00:49:55.82\00:49:57.59
It could have fallen.
00:49:57.63\00:49:58.96
And He overcame
sin in the flesh.
00:49:58.99\00:50:01.10
And you know how? By
continually abiding in God.
00:50:01.13\00:50:05.53
By continually yielding His
power of choice and decision
00:50:05.57\00:50:08.24
to God, and by continually
receiving from God power
00:50:08.27\00:50:11.67
to do the right thing.
00:50:11.71\00:50:13.04
He said, Of Myself I
can do how much? nothing.
00:50:13.07\00:50:17.01
Jesus was totally
dependent upon God.
00:50:17.05\00:50:19.55
So when you get yourself
in trouble, it's when you say,
00:50:19.58\00:50:22.22
I got it. I need to. I ought.
00:50:22.25\00:50:25.25
That's what leads
to our ineptitudes.
00:50:25.29\00:50:27.59
We need to recognize that
I know that God wants me to
00:50:27.62\00:50:30.26
obey, and expects me obedience
of me, but I also have to be
00:50:30.29\00:50:33.56
humble enough to
acknowledge the fact that I'm
00:50:33.60\00:50:35.06
not capable of that.
00:50:35.10\00:50:36.43
And I'm going to have to
come to God to receive it.
00:50:36.46\00:50:38.53
That's the difference.
00:50:38.57\00:50:40.20
Are you understanding?
00:50:40.24\00:50:41.57
We're not downplaying obedience.
00:50:41.60\00:50:42.94
We're actually
uplifting obedience,
00:50:42.97\00:50:44.31
because this one
is actually possible.
00:50:44.34\00:50:45.67
This is the only gospel in
which obedience is possible.
00:50:45.71\00:50:49.34
We're lifting up the law.
00:50:51.51\00:50:52.88
We're lifting up
the God of the law.
00:50:52.91\00:50:54.25
We're not downplaying obedience.
00:50:54.28\00:50:55.85
We're explaining the process.
00:50:55.88\00:50:57.42
And by not giving practical
education to our people,
00:50:57.45\00:51:01.76
by theorizing them to
death we're killing them.
00:51:01.79\00:51:04.69
We, we're killing our church
members by not giving practical,
00:51:04.73\00:51:10.03
line by line instruction
on how to live holy lives.
00:51:10.07\00:51:12.90
Don't downplay the
expectations of God.
00:51:12.93\00:51:17.01
Uplift how God enables you
to do the expectations of God,
00:51:18.61\00:51:22.58
and uplift the loveliness of
Jesus who made that possible,
00:51:22.61\00:51:27.72
and this process
will be successful.
00:51:27.75\00:51:30.49
Continuing... So Jesus
overcame sin in the flesh.
00:51:30.52\00:51:33.89
He condemned it in the flesh.
00:51:33.92\00:51:35.26
And here's why in Verse 4. So...
00:51:35.29\00:51:37.43
God wants you to walk in
obedience to the commandments.
00:51:44.43\00:51:46.77
But the only way that's possible
is by acknowledging your
00:51:46.80\00:51:49.50
ineptitude, and by recognizing
that Jesus alone is sufficient.
00:51:49.54\00:51:53.07
Jesus succeeds so that
you could keep the law.
00:51:53.11\00:51:56.38
So obedience is
something God wants.
00:51:56.41\00:51:58.21
But this is how
it works. Verse 6.
00:51:58.25\00:52:02.32
Now, some of you may be
thinking, that, yeh that's all
00:52:17.17\00:52:20.37
well and good, but that
can't be talking about me.
00:52:20.40\00:52:23.74
Because you don't know my story.
00:52:23.77\00:52:25.91
I've done some
really dastardly things.
00:52:25.94\00:52:28.64
I'm an awful person.
00:52:28.68\00:52:30.25
This cannot apply to me.
00:52:30.28\00:52:31.75
The promises of God apply
to everyone else, but not me.
00:52:31.78\00:52:34.55
And there are people in our
own church that feel this way.
00:52:34.58\00:52:37.95
And they are not bad
people for feeling this way.
00:52:37.99\00:52:39.79
They need to be loved, and
encouraged, and overwhelmed
00:52:39.82\00:52:42.96
with the loveliness of
Jesus, and the acceptance
00:52:42.99\00:52:46.03
as listed in the gospel.
00:52:46.06\00:52:47.63
But God anticipates
this type of response.
00:52:47.66\00:52:51.80
And do you know what
the very next thing is
00:52:51.83\00:52:53.17
that's in Scripture?
00:52:53.20\00:52:54.54
It's Ezekiel 37
and the dry bones.
00:52:54.87\00:52:57.51
Some of you may
be thinking that has
00:52:57.54\00:52:59.44
nothing to do with this.
00:52:59.47\00:53:00.81
I beg to differ. Oh, contraire
mon frere, I would say.
00:53:00.84\00:53:05.11
Read with me,
would you? Ezekiel 37.
00:53:05.15\00:53:08.22
Valleys were always
places of discouragement.
00:53:13.92\00:53:16.02
Very similar to Ezekiel 36.
00:53:53.26\00:53:54.96
This is what many
false revivals look like.
00:54:10.48\00:54:13.68
A whole lot of noise,
a whole lot of action,
00:54:13.72\00:54:16.42
but it's lacking
the power of God.
00:54:16.45\00:54:19.29
And so he continues. Verse 9.
00:54:19.32\00:54:22.26
I venture to say that what the
Seventh-day Adventist church,
00:54:44.88\00:54:47.25
the remnant church of God needs
right now is this very breath;
00:54:47.28\00:54:51.25
the outpouring of God to give
us strength to be an exceedingly
00:54:51.29\00:54:55.52
strong and big army
to finish the work that
00:54:55.56\00:54:58.63
He's asked us to do.
00:54:58.66\00:55:00.00
When God gets a hold of
people and transforms them
00:55:44.84\00:55:47.34
everybody takes notice.
00:55:47.38\00:55:48.91
This is why God said, And
then all the world will know Me
00:55:48.94\00:55:52.11
when I'm hallowed in
you before their eyes.
00:55:52.15\00:55:54.38
That's what it looks like.
00:55:54.42\00:55:55.82
This is what God wants to give
to everyone in this room today.
00:55:55.85\00:55:59.82
If you've been wrestling
with the expectations of God,
00:55:59.85\00:56:03.22
but haven't gotten
where you wanted to go,
00:56:03.26\00:56:04.89
there's good news for you today.
00:56:04.93\00:56:06.90
It's called the new covenant.
00:56:06.93\00:56:08.86
It's the covenant
He made with Abraham.
00:56:08.90\00:56:10.90
It's the covenant He
longs to make with you.
00:56:10.93\00:56:13.13
Remember, He's your husband.
00:56:13.17\00:56:15.54
Maybe you've been a perpetual
breaker of that covenant.
00:56:15.57\00:56:20.38
Maybe you feel as
dead as the bones in the
00:56:20.41\00:56:24.88
middle of the valley.
00:56:24.91\00:56:26.58
There's good news for you today.
00:56:26.61\00:56:28.48
There's a God in heaven who's
creative powers know no bounds,
00:56:28.52\00:56:33.52
and who loves you more
than His own eternal existence,
00:56:33.56\00:56:36.79
who has what's necessary to
make you what you need to be.
00:56:36.83\00:56:40.46
But the big variable
today is what will you do with
00:56:40.50\00:56:44.40
the promises of God?
00:56:44.43\00:56:45.97
What will you do
when He asks you to rise,
00:56:47.24\00:56:50.17
take up your matt and walk?
00:56:50.21\00:56:52.54
Will you believe Him?
00:56:52.57\00:56:54.98
Will you act upon His
word and receive strength?
00:56:55.01\00:56:58.11
His encouragement and
His appeal to you today is,
00:56:59.61\00:57:02.12
Please take Me up on My offer.
00:57:02.15\00:57:05.15
I will also let the house
of Israel inquire of Me to do
00:57:05.19\00:57:10.26
this for them, He says.
00:57:10.29\00:57:12.16
That's available to you.
00:57:12.19\00:57:14.20
If this is something that you
would like to partake of, I just
00:57:14.23\00:57:17.90
want to invite you to stand
with me as we close in prayer.
00:57:17.93\00:57:20.20
Oh Father, I thank You
that the love of Jesus,
00:57:28.61\00:57:31.38
that the love of the
Father know no bounds.
00:57:31.41\00:57:34.88
That You're willing to do all
that is necessary to transform
00:57:34.92\00:57:38.09
our lives, but You need
access, You need permission.
00:57:38.12\00:57:41.82
You need permission
from us at the heart wound,
00:57:41.86\00:57:49.30
and at the will level.
00:57:49.33\00:57:50.70
And I just pray that we
would take that seriously today.
00:57:50.73\00:57:54.64
That we would recognize that
responding to the promptings
00:57:54.67\00:57:57.31
of the Holy Spirit, that
responding to the conviction
00:57:57.34\00:58:00.21
of the Holy Spirit is not
something to be afraid of.
00:58:00.24\00:58:03.14
And that if God is asking
something of us, with the asking
00:58:03.18\00:58:07.82
is the power to do, both
to will and to do according to
00:58:07.85\00:58:12.12
Your good pleasure.
00:58:12.15\00:58:13.49
God our wills need help.
00:58:13.52\00:58:15.42
We are not like Jesus.
00:58:15.46\00:58:17.09
We are so independent.
00:58:17.13\00:58:18.93
We are so self-sufficient
that we do not realize how
00:58:18.96\00:58:22.26
desperately dependent upon
You we are for any good thing.
00:58:22.30\00:58:26.20
I pray that that
would change today;
00:58:26.23\00:58:28.70
that we would see our own
nothingness so that we can be
00:58:28.74\00:58:31.61
clothed with the
righteousness of Christ.
00:58:31.64\00:58:34.34
Forgive our sin of independence.
00:58:34.38\00:58:36.71
Forgive our sin of unbelief,
which is what the Spirit
00:58:36.75\00:58:40.18
came to convict us of.
00:58:40.22\00:58:41.55
Of not believing the things
about us that God believes.
00:58:41.58\00:58:44.45
Save us, Oh God, I pray.
00:58:44.49\00:58:47.62
Cover those sins
with the blood of Jesus.
00:58:47.66\00:58:50.33
And I prophesy
to the breath today.
00:58:50.36\00:58:53.26
I'm praying that You would
send that breath to revive us,
00:58:53.29\00:58:56.80
to awaken us, and that there
would be an exceedingly great
00:58:56.83\00:58:59.97
army ready to
finish the work that You've
00:59:00.00\00:59:02.54
laid out for us to do.
00:59:02.57\00:59:03.91
And I ask this in
Jesus' name, Amen.
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