We welcome all of you
tonight from around the world
00:00:23.85\00:00:26.82
for 3ABN's Week of Prayer.
00:00:26.86\00:00:29.79
Yesterday Pastor
Lomacang, he laid the foundation
00:00:29.82\00:00:33.86
for this week's presentations.
00:00:33.90\00:00:36.43
But tonight we begin the first
of the seven topics that were
00:00:36.46\00:00:39.57
determined by the
General Conference for this
00:00:39.60\00:00:43.04
annual Week of Prayer.
00:00:43.07\00:00:44.41
Tonight's
presentation is titled,
00:00:44.44\00:00:47.18
Making God's Word Our Own.
00:00:47.21\00:00:49.54
And it will be presented
by someone that's very dear
00:00:49.58\00:00:52.58
and precious to me,
and that's my wife Shelley.
00:00:52.61\00:00:55.05
But first I've been asked to
pray with you for today's Focus
00:00:55.08\00:01:01.29
on Prayer, which is the world
outreach of media ministries.
00:01:01.32\00:01:07.86
The Seventh-day Adventist church
has a long history of media
00:01:07.90\00:01:10.47
based communication.
00:01:10.50\00:01:11.93
There are many Adventist media
ministries today that come in
00:01:11.97\00:01:16.54
the form of
print, radio, television,
00:01:16.60\00:01:20.08
and, of course, internet.
00:01:20.11\00:01:22.08
Some are directly funded
by the church while others,
00:01:22.11\00:01:25.65
like Three Angels
Broadcasting Network,
00:01:25.68\00:01:28.28
are supporting ministries
that rely on donations.
00:01:28.32\00:01:31.45
With regard to print, Adventists
operate numerous publishing
00:01:31.49\00:01:37.56
houses worldwide, printing
magazines, tracts, and books.
00:01:37.59\00:01:43.10
And we should remember
these ministries in our prayers,
00:01:43.13\00:01:46.80
and also remember our
Adventist Book Centers.
00:01:46.84\00:01:50.51
With regard to Adventist
radio, there are ministries of
00:01:50.54\00:01:55.14
shortwave, AM, FM,
satellite, and direct to home
00:01:55.18\00:02:00.38
radio transmissions.
00:02:00.42\00:02:01.75
And, of course, we need
to remember our own personal
00:02:01.78\00:02:05.05
3ABN Radio, and
3ABN Latino Radio.
00:02:05.09\00:02:10.33
The television ministry
of this Adventist church is
00:02:10.36\00:02:14.10
greatly multiplying.
00:02:14.13\00:02:15.96
It's amazing to consider that
3ABN will be celebrating its
00:02:16.00\00:02:21.10
28th Anniversary this month.
00:02:21.14\00:02:23.81
We are no longer a
single network reaching every
00:02:23.84\00:02:29.04
inhabited continent of the
world, but in addition to 3ABN
00:02:29.08\00:02:32.85
there is 3ABN International,
3ABN Proclaim, 3ABN Latino,
00:02:32.88\00:02:39.09
3ABN Russia, Dare to
Dream, and the Sunbeam Channel.
00:02:39.12\00:02:44.23
Naturally, in today's high-tech
society media ministries have
00:02:44.26\00:02:49.76
to include the Internet.
00:02:49.80\00:02:51.70
And there are numerous Adventist
ministries on the Internet.
00:02:51.73\00:02:56.14
And we can certainly attest
that our 3ABN website is indeed
00:02:56.17\00:03:01.41
making a dynamic impact.
00:03:01.44\00:03:03.31
So let's lift all of the
worldwide Adventist media
00:03:03.35\00:03:09.62
ministries before
the throne of grace
00:03:09.65\00:03:11.45
and pray for God's blessing.
00:03:11.49\00:03:14.06
Heavenly Father, we come to You
in the name of Jesus to lift up
00:03:16.42\00:03:23.26
all the work that You are
performing Lord, around the
00:03:23.30\00:03:25.57
world through the
Adventist media ministries.
00:03:25.60\00:03:27.74
Father, we thank You for
today's technology that makes it
00:03:27.77\00:03:33.04
possible to reach the
world's most remote areas.
00:03:33.07\00:03:36.21
We pray that You will
give people ears to hear Lord,
00:03:36.24\00:03:39.71
what the Holy Spirit has to
say through all of this Christ
00:03:39.91\00:03:43.45
centered programming.
00:03:43.49\00:03:44.92
And we pray Father,
that You will anoint each
00:03:44.95\00:03:47.56
ministry and their staff.
00:03:47.59\00:03:49.39
Lead them by Your good
Spirit, and cause them to do all
00:03:49.42\00:03:52.96
for the glory of Your name,
presenting the undiluted truth.
00:03:52.99\00:03:56.70
And we ask that You will
increase their territories,
00:03:56.73\00:04:00.00
and magnify the
impact of these ministries.
00:04:00.04\00:04:02.74
Father we also pray that
You will speak to the north,
00:04:02.77\00:04:06.61
to the south, east, and the
west, and bring in the funds
00:04:06.64\00:04:09.94
necessary to successfully
proclaim Your three angels'
00:04:09.98\00:04:13.31
messages across the world.
00:04:13.35\00:04:14.68
And Lord, we thank You for
the privilege of participating
00:04:14.72\00:04:18.89
in Your work of salvation, and
pray that You will give each of
00:04:18.92\00:04:22.99
us a generous heart toward
the lost and the suffering.
00:04:23.02\00:04:26.03
I also pray Lord, that You will
anoint Shelley this evening.
00:04:26.06\00:04:30.93
Anoint her mind, her
mouth, and her message.
00:04:30.97\00:04:33.77
And Father we
thank You for the answer
00:04:33.80\00:04:37.34
to the prayer of faith.
00:04:37.37\00:04:38.71
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
00:04:38.74\00:04:41.54
Tonight's study topic will
be, Making God's Word Our Own,
00:04:41.58\00:04:48.75
and it will be
presented by Shelley Quinn.
00:04:48.78\00:04:51.45
But first we're going to enjoy
special music coming from the
00:04:51.49\00:04:55.22
Pillars Hymns CD, the
Pillars Hymns Choir singing,
00:04:55.26\00:05:00.90
Jesus Is Coming Again.
00:05:00.93\00:05:03.60
Amen! Amen! He is coming again,
and we are standing on the edge
00:07:57.81\00:08:07.65
of the promised
land. Would you agree?
00:08:07.68\00:08:09.32
He's coming soon, but we have
to remember that just like the
00:08:09.35\00:08:14.79
Israelites of old stood on
the edge of the promised land,
00:08:14.82\00:08:18.93
they did not get God's
permission to enter, did they?
00:08:18.96\00:08:24.70
Why? Because of their unbelief.
00:08:24.73\00:08:28.27
So what is important for us is
to remember how faith operates
00:08:28.30\00:08:35.34
through the word of God.
00:08:35.38\00:08:37.71
And tonight we're going
to be talking about how to
00:08:37.75\00:08:41.32
benefit from its power.
00:08:41.35\00:08:42.68
When I was considering this
message, I thought of Psalm 119.
00:08:42.72\00:08:47.69
And the psalmist in
that particular psalm says,
00:08:47.72\00:08:51.73
Oh Lord, I am greatly afflicted.
00:08:51.76\00:08:54.96
My soul is in the dust.
00:08:55.00\00:08:57.33
Oh Lord, plead my cause.
00:08:57.37\00:09:00.64
Be my defender. Redeem me, Lord.
00:09:00.67\00:09:04.27
Revive me
according to Your word.
00:09:04.31\00:09:08.78
Our topic tonight, as determined
by the General Conference
00:09:08.81\00:09:12.75
is, Making God's
Word Our Own; Learning to
00:09:12.78\00:09:17.65
Benefit From Its Power.
00:09:17.69\00:09:19.32
Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we
come again in the name of Jesus.
00:09:19.52\00:09:24.39
And Lord, we thank You
for this year's emphasis
00:09:24.43\00:09:28.53
on revival and reformation.
00:09:28.56\00:09:30.43
And we thank You Father,
for this Week of Prayer's
00:09:30.47\00:09:34.60
emphasis on Your word.
00:09:34.64\00:09:36.60
And I pray right now Lord,
that by the power of Your Holy
00:09:36.64\00:09:41.48
Spirit You will
speak to Your people.
00:09:41.51\00:09:44.31
Get me out of the way Father.
00:09:44.35\00:09:46.01
And I ask in the name of Jesus
that He will be our teacher,
00:09:46.05\00:09:51.22
and that You will give us ears
to hear what the Holy Spirit
00:09:51.25\00:09:54.39
has to say. In
Jesus' name, Amen.
00:09:54.42\00:09:58.03
You know, time is life.
00:09:58.06\00:10:02.10
How we invest our time
is how we invest our life.
00:10:02.13\00:10:06.23
And if you want to get a
finger on your spiritual pulse,
00:10:06.27\00:10:12.01
the easiest way to do it
is to see, and ask yourself,
00:10:12.04\00:10:16.41
How much time am I
spending in the word?
00:10:16.44\00:10:18.58
How much time am I
spending in prayer?
00:10:18.61\00:10:21.12
Why should we invest our time
in search of the Scriptures?
00:10:21.15\00:10:27.26
Well, I was thinking about this,
and here's some of the things
00:10:27.29\00:10:32.06
that the Bible says
about the word of God.
00:10:32.09\00:10:34.90
It is perfect, it is eternal,
it's living, powerful, awesome,
00:10:34.93\00:10:39.20
it's righteous, it's
truthful, it's dependable,
00:10:39.23\00:10:42.20
it's inexhaustible,
and it's full of wonders.
00:10:42.24\00:10:47.34
It occurs to me that this
description is not only for the
00:10:47.38\00:10:52.15
written word of
God, but for the living
00:10:52.18\00:10:54.38
Word of God, Jesus Christ.
00:10:54.42\00:10:56.35
Because in the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with
00:10:56.38\00:11:01.39
God, and the Word was God.
00:11:01.42\00:11:03.43
He was in the
beginning with God.
00:11:03.46\00:11:06.09
And by Him all things were made.
00:11:06.13\00:11:09.66
Nothing that was
made was made without Him.
00:11:09.70\00:11:13.44
And in Him was life; and
the life was the light of men.
00:11:13.47\00:11:18.01
And the Word became flesh,
and made His dwelling among us.
00:11:18.04\00:11:23.35
Revival comes from renewing
our focus on Jesus Christ,
00:11:23.38\00:11:29.42
and on the word of God.
00:11:29.45\00:11:31.55
Jesus is the living Word.
00:11:31.59\00:11:34.16
The Bible is the
written word of God.
00:11:34.19\00:11:36.86
But I want to tell you it
is alive and active as well.
00:11:36.89\00:11:40.30
God's word has creative power.
00:11:40.33\00:11:43.13
By the word of God the heavens
and the earth were created.
00:11:43.16\00:11:47.90
Everything that we
know came into existence
00:11:47.94\00:11:52.54
by the word of God.
00:11:52.57\00:11:54.34
In the beginning
God created all things.
00:11:54.38\00:11:59.25
And the miracle of creation
is wrapped inside His word.
00:11:59.28\00:12:05.02
But let me tell you something.
00:12:05.05\00:12:07.32
All of your potential is
wrapped inside of God's word.
00:12:07.36\00:12:13.13
The God who created something
out of nothing by His spoken
00:12:13.16\00:12:17.83
word, can transform
you by His written word.
00:12:17.87\00:12:22.34
God's Word has
life giving power.
00:12:22.37\00:12:25.47
It brings spiritual life.
00:12:25.51\00:12:27.48
1 Peter says that we are born
again, not of corruptible seed,
00:12:27.51\00:12:32.18
but incorruptible
through the living word of God.
00:12:32.21\00:12:37.09
And one of my
favorite parables that Christ
00:12:37.12\00:12:40.12
told about the word...
00:12:40.16\00:12:41.49
I'm just going
to read this to you.
00:12:41.52\00:12:42.86
It's Mark
4:26-28. Listen carefully.
00:12:42.89\00:12:47.80
He said, This is what
the kingdom of God is like.
00:12:47.83\00:12:51.07
A man scatters
seed on the ground.
00:12:51.10\00:12:53.60
Night and day,
whether he sleeps or gets up,
00:12:53.64\00:12:56.14
the seed sprouts and grows,
though he does not know how.
00:12:56.17\00:13:01.18
All by itself the soil
produces grain; first the stalk,
00:13:01.21\00:13:07.82
then the head, then the
full kernel in the head.
00:13:07.85\00:13:12.35
And it works the
same for you and I.
00:13:12.39\00:13:15.22
When we have the word of God
in our heart; first it changes
00:13:15.26\00:13:21.96
our thoughts, then
it changes our actions,
00:13:22.00\00:13:26.07
and it changes our habits.
00:13:26.10\00:13:28.67
You know that Jesus said in
Luke 8, when He was telling the
00:13:28.70\00:13:34.28
parable of the sower, that
the word of God is the seed.
00:13:34.31\00:13:40.52
And it is the seed of
the miracle transformation
00:13:40.55\00:13:45.25
that is in God's word.
00:13:45.29\00:13:46.96
When we were at ASI this
last year, I met a young man,
00:13:46.99\00:13:51.69
and he had been
brought up as an atheist.
00:13:51.73\00:13:55.16
His parents were atheist's.
00:13:55.20\00:13:56.97
He married an atheist.
00:13:57.00\00:13:58.40
And it just so happened
God arranged for him to move to
00:13:58.43\00:14:04.11
Montana for a
short time to work there.
00:14:04.14\00:14:06.51
And guess who were the
first two people that he met
00:14:06.54\00:14:09.08
and became good friends with?
00:14:09.11\00:14:11.41
Two young Adventist men.
00:14:11.55\00:14:13.82
And they were constantly
telling him that their faith,
00:14:13.85\00:14:18.72
their beliefs, were based on
the Bible and the Bible only.
00:14:18.75\00:14:22.19
So this man, thinking
that they were deluded,
00:14:22.22\00:14:25.56
went and bought a Bible.
00:14:25.59\00:14:27.66
Because he loved his friends,
and he wanted to save them
00:14:27.70\00:14:32.47
from their error, if you will.
00:14:32.50\00:14:35.07
And as he read the
Bible from cover to cover,
00:14:35.10\00:14:40.54
from Genesis to Revelation,
what do you think happened?
00:14:40.58\00:14:44.21
God transformed his life by
the creative power of His word.
00:14:44.25\00:14:52.55
And this young man
accepted the Lord as his Savior.
00:14:52.59\00:14:57.26
Then he had to go
and tell his wife.
00:14:57.29\00:14:59.49
And he was so
worried about sharing this
00:14:59.53\00:15:02.33
information with his wife.
00:15:02.36\00:15:03.83
But when he went to her he said,
Do me a favor, read this book.
00:15:03.87\00:15:10.41
And she sat down and read
it, and guess what happened?
00:15:10.44\00:15:14.34
She became an
Adventist Christian.
00:15:14.38\00:15:17.71
Then, horror of horrors,
he had to go tell his father,
00:15:17.75\00:15:21.68
who was a professor, a
very high intellectual man
00:15:21.72\00:15:26.96
who made fun of Christians.
00:15:26.99\00:15:28.89
And he said, Dad I know you're
not going to believe this,
00:15:28.92\00:15:31.63
but I've read this book,
and there's something here.
00:15:31.66\00:15:36.56
Please read it for me.
00:15:36.60\00:15:38.30
His father read the book.
00:15:38.33\00:15:40.67
What do you think happened?
00:15:40.70\00:15:42.80
He became an
Adventist Christian.
00:15:42.84\00:15:45.87
And then, now he
has to tell his wife.
00:15:45.91\00:15:50.81
But the point of this story,
and the bottom line is that all
00:15:50.85\00:15:55.22
became Christians by
reading the word of God.
00:15:55.25\00:16:00.06
God has designed the
potential of the harvest to be
00:16:00.09\00:16:05.29
wrapped inside the seed.
00:16:05.33\00:16:07.76
And it is the same in the
natural realm; the potential of
00:16:07.80\00:16:14.37
the harvest is in the seed.
00:16:14.40\00:16:15.90
If I plant corn here
what am I going to get?
00:16:15.94\00:16:18.11
If I plant wheat here,
what am I going to get?
00:16:18.14\00:16:21.58
Why? Because the potential
of the harvest is in the seed.
00:16:21.61\00:16:26.38
And it is the same for
you, it is the same for me.
00:16:26.41\00:16:30.82
The potential,
all of our potential,
00:16:30.85\00:16:33.66
is wrapped inside God's word.
00:16:33.69\00:16:36.29
Please turn to
James 1:21, James 1:21.
00:16:36.32\00:16:44.53
While you're turning there, I'll
just explain to our watching
00:16:47.97\00:16:52.24
audience the reason I'm not
holding a Bible in my hands.
00:16:52.27\00:16:55.24
This is the word of God that is
written in here, but the reason
00:16:55.28\00:16:58.58
I'm not holding a Bible is
because I'm nursing two torn
00:16:58.61\00:17:02.92
ligaments, and a double fracture
that's still not quite healed.
00:17:02.95\00:17:06.69
And it's just a
little too heavy for me.
00:17:06.72\00:17:09.36
James 1:21, James
writes, Therefore lay aside all
00:17:09.39\00:17:15.66
filthiness and overflow of
wickedness, and receive with
00:17:15.70\00:17:20.60
meekness, with humility, the
implanted word, which is able
00:17:20.64\00:17:28.18
to save your souls.
00:17:28.21\00:17:31.28
The word of God
has saving power.
00:17:31.31\00:17:35.58
And, you know, the Apostle Peter
told new Christians that they
00:17:35.62\00:17:41.59
should desire the milk of
the word and grow thereby.
00:17:41.62\00:17:46.26
What is the milk of the word?
00:17:46.29\00:17:48.26
It is the basic
fundamentals of the word.
00:17:48.30\00:17:50.93
We would call it our
28 fundamental beliefs.
00:17:50.97\00:17:54.47
That is the milk of the word.
00:17:54.50\00:17:56.97
But the book of Hebrews tells
Christians who've been in the
00:17:57.01\00:18:01.94
family for a while, basically
the writer's saying, Grow up!
00:18:01.98\00:18:07.22
You shouldn't just
be living off the milk.
00:18:07.25\00:18:10.89
Now it's time to get in the
solid food of the word so that
00:18:10.92\00:18:16.09
you can discern
between good and evil.
00:18:16.12\00:18:19.56
And the solid food of
the word is the advanced
00:18:19.59\00:18:23.06
principles of godliness.
00:18:23.10\00:18:24.93
So here's my question: Are
we progressing in knowledge
00:18:24.97\00:18:30.91
and spiritual power to the
degree, or as rapidly as we
00:18:30.94\00:18:39.75
have the privilege to
because of the word of God?
00:18:39.78\00:18:42.75
I have, Mollie
Steenson always tells me that
00:18:42.78\00:18:47.12
I have a merry
heart, a Mary's heart.
00:18:47.16\00:18:50.49
And I'm speaking
of Mary and Martha.
00:18:50.53\00:18:52.89
I love, Jill like you,
I love to sit at the feet
00:18:52.93\00:18:58.77
of the Lord and study.
00:18:58.80\00:19:00.94
I love the word of God.
00:19:00.97\00:19:03.17
But you know what?
00:19:03.20\00:19:04.54
We live in a
Martha world, don't we?
00:19:04.57\00:19:07.78
And so often I find myself,
like Martha, in the kitchen,
00:19:07.81\00:19:12.05
as it were,
rattling the pots and pans.
00:19:12.08\00:19:14.58
You can be in ministry and
get so busy with everything that
00:19:14.62\00:19:20.82
you're doing for the Lord
that you allow it to rob you
00:19:20.86\00:19:24.73
of your personal time.
00:19:24.76\00:19:26.29
And you know that as well,
John, that when we are in the
00:19:26.33\00:19:30.93
ministry, we've got to
really protect the time.
00:19:30.97\00:19:34.80
Because we can be so
busy doing what's good,
00:19:34.84\00:19:38.94
that we're not
doing what's best.
00:19:38.97\00:19:40.98
But we need to be like
the Berean's of Acts 17.
00:19:41.01\00:19:45.91
And we need to, the Scripture
says, that they received the
00:19:45.95\00:19:51.85
word of God with readiness,
and they searched the Scriptures
00:19:51.89\00:19:55.39
daily to prove that it was true.
00:19:55.42\00:19:58.09
So Paul would tell us, Let the
word of God dwell in you richly.
00:19:58.13\00:20:04.90
That means we
have to meditate on it.
00:20:04.93\00:20:07.67
That means we
have to abide in it.
00:20:07.70\00:20:10.91
And to abide in God's word means
to be living in God's word.
00:20:10.94\00:20:18.51
And I always tell
people, believing in
00:20:18.55\00:20:22.38
means to be living in.
00:20:22.42\00:20:25.45
So tonight what we want to
look at is, how do we abide
00:20:25.49\00:20:30.89
in God's word
to make it our own?
00:20:30.93\00:20:33.26
And I've got seven
points that we're going to...
00:20:33.29\00:20:35.76
Hopefully we'll get
through all of these points.
00:20:35.80\00:20:38.70
Let me begin with 1. To make
God's word our own we must plant
00:20:38.73\00:20:46.47
the seed in good soil.
00:20:46.51\00:20:49.34
And that is a heart
that is ready to receive.
00:20:49.38\00:20:53.52
Turn to Hosea 10, Hosea,
the first book after Daniel.
00:20:53.55\00:20:58.89
We've got to have a heart that
is ready to receive the word.
00:20:58.92\00:21:05.29
And not just go to the word
with a stony heart, but we need
00:21:05.33\00:21:10.17
to look at what Hosea said
in chapter 10, and verse 12.
00:21:10.20\00:21:15.70
Because this is the beginning
of making God's word our own.
00:21:15.74\00:21:20.81
Hosea 10:12 says: Sow
for yourself righteousness,
00:21:20.84\00:21:29.02
reap in mercy; break up your
fallow ground: for it is time to
00:21:29.05\00:21:36.49
seek the Lord, till he comes
and rains righteousness on you.
00:21:36.52\00:21:42.20
How do we break up the fallow
ground of a heart that's maybe
00:21:42.23\00:21:48.14
hardened in some area?
00:21:48.17\00:21:50.01
We go before the
Lord confessing our sins,
00:21:50.04\00:21:54.14
and asking for forgiveness.
00:21:54.18\00:21:56.51
And we know that
anytime we confess our sins,
00:21:56.54\00:22:00.98
He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins,
00:22:01.02\00:22:03.35
and cleanse us of
all unrighteousness.
00:22:03.39\00:22:05.65
To break up the fallow ground
we enjoy the joy of repentance.
00:22:05.69\00:22:12.79
I remember once when, Joe, we
were talking, and I talked about
00:22:12.83\00:22:16.77
the joy of repentance.
00:22:16.80\00:22:19.77
And he said, What?
00:22:19.80\00:22:21.70
Here is why
repenting is so joyful.
00:22:21.74\00:22:26.11
If I am headed in the wrong
direction, away from the Lord,
00:22:26.14\00:22:31.01
and I stop and I confess my
sins, it is God who gives me the
00:22:31.05\00:22:37.49
power to turn around and return
to my loving Heavenly Father,
00:22:37.52\00:22:42.46
who's got His arms
open wide to receive me.
00:22:42.49\00:22:45.99
There is true joy in repentance.
00:22:46.03\00:22:48.90
And then we need,
before we even open the word,
00:22:48.93\00:22:53.47
to pray to be filled
with the Holy Spirit.
00:22:53.50\00:22:56.84
Because the word
of God is spiritual,
00:22:56.87\00:23:00.91
and it is spiritually discerned.
00:23:00.94\00:23:02.91
It is the Holy Spirit
who will guide us into the
00:23:02.94\00:23:07.78
truths of God's word.
00:23:07.82\00:23:09.32
Pray for a desire
to read God's word.
00:23:09.35\00:23:13.66
I pray daily, Oh Lord, give me
an unquenchable desire for Your
00:23:13.69\00:23:19.36
inexhaustible word, Oh Lord.
00:23:19.39\00:23:21.96
And then before I even
open the Scriptures I'll pray,
00:23:22.00\00:23:26.23
Lord sanctify me by this word.
00:23:26.27\00:23:29.90
Your word is truth, and I want
to be sanctified by this truth.
00:23:29.94\00:23:34.64
Jesus said something that
I'm going to read to you from
00:23:34.68\00:23:39.91
the Amplified in Mark 4:24.
00:23:39.95\00:23:43.08
He said to them, Be
careful what you are hearing.
00:23:43.12\00:23:47.82
The measure of thought and
study you give to the truth
00:23:47.86\00:23:51.76
you hear will be the measure of
virtue and knowledge that comes
00:23:51.79\00:23:56.67
back to you, and more besides
will be given to you who hear.
00:23:56.70\00:24:03.00
Let me tell you something.
00:24:03.04\00:24:04.67
Any time you see that
word hear in the Bible,
00:24:04.71\00:24:07.84
the word is more than listen.
00:24:07.88\00:24:11.48
It is a dynamic word, and
it means that you are to put
00:24:11.51\00:24:17.72
into action the
words that you are hearing.
00:24:17.75\00:24:22.19
So the second point is this:
to make God's word our own,
00:24:22.22\00:24:27.76
and benefit from its power.
00:24:27.80\00:24:29.66
Go to the word with the
purpose of getting to know
00:24:29.70\00:24:34.07
your Heavenly Father,
and His plan of salvation.
00:24:34.10\00:24:37.64
Please turn to John 17, John 17.
00:24:37.67\00:24:42.74
The Bible is the primary way
that God communicates with us.
00:24:42.78\00:24:48.42
And I have coined my
own acronym for the Bible.
00:24:48.45\00:24:54.39
The B I B L E is the best
instructions by love's example.
00:24:54.42\00:25:01.36
And when we go to the
word of God we need to
00:25:01.40\00:25:05.57
take off our filters.
00:25:05.60\00:25:06.97
Because some of us have been
brought up believing that God
00:25:07.00\00:25:10.31
is just ready to zap us.
00:25:10.34\00:25:12.87
That He's up standing, He's
standing in front of His throne
00:25:12.91\00:25:16.31
looking down at the world,
and He is ready to punish us,
00:25:16.34\00:25:21.85
and judge us for
all of our error.
00:25:21.88\00:25:23.99
Take those filters off.
00:25:24.02\00:25:26.19
Go to the word to understand
the loving heavenly Father.
00:25:26.22\00:25:31.96
John 17:3. If
you're there, John 17:3.
00:25:31.99\00:25:37.43
Jesus said, This is eternal
life, that they may know You
00:25:37.47\00:25:46.17
the only true God, and Jesus
Christ, whom you have sent.
00:25:46.21\00:25:53.48
If you will go to the word of
God, not to answer the Sabbath
00:25:53.52\00:25:57.59
School Quarterly questions,
not to just argue doctrine with
00:25:57.62\00:26:02.09
someone and have your reasons
ready to defend your purposes.
00:26:02.12\00:26:10.77
But if you'll go to the word
of God to get to know the Lord,
00:26:10.80\00:26:15.90
to have a deeper
understanding of Him.
00:26:15.94\00:26:19.11
And when Jesus
said, Know Him; this is
00:26:19.14\00:26:23.38
eternal life to know Him.
00:26:23.41\00:26:24.75
It's not an intellectual
knowledge, but it's living
00:26:25.11\00:26:29.38
in fellowship with Him.
00:26:29.42\00:26:31.29
And as you begin to
see how He loves you,
00:26:31.32\00:26:34.69
you'll fall in love with Him.
00:26:34.72\00:26:37.03
We love Him
because He first loved us.
00:26:37.06\00:26:40.46
And it will
increase the vitality of your
00:26:40.50\00:26:43.06
relationship with Him.
00:26:43.10\00:26:44.50
You know, recently over the last
number of years, God has really
00:26:44.53\00:26:51.81
been changing my focus on grace.
00:26:51.84\00:26:55.24
He's been helping me
understand what grace is.
00:26:55.28\00:27:00.52
And I recently read
through the Old Testament
00:27:00.55\00:27:04.79
with a new filter on.
00:27:04.82\00:27:07.26
I was looking
for the God of grace.
00:27:08.72\00:27:11.16
And it is so amazing how
different, even the book of
00:27:11.19\00:27:15.93
even the book of Leviticus.
00:27:15.96\00:27:18.33
I loved studying
the book of Leviticus.
00:27:18.37\00:27:22.07
It is filled with God's grace!
00:27:22.10\00:27:25.31
And what we have to recognize is
that grace comes to us because
00:27:25.34\00:27:32.55
God's heart wells, and
overflows with love for us.
00:27:32.58\00:27:38.39
And from that overflowing
there is a grace pipeline.
00:27:38.42\00:27:42.52
He is the giver of
every good and perfect gift.
00:27:42.56\00:27:44.99
And that grace comes down to
us through the grace pipeline.
00:27:45.03\00:27:48.36
And faith is the faucet.
00:27:48.40\00:27:50.97
It's how we tap
into the grace pipeline.
00:27:51.00\00:27:53.30
And prayer is how we
open that faith faucet.
00:27:53.34\00:27:58.71
And trust is the
relationship, or the foundation.
00:27:58.74\00:28:02.58
For the prayer of faith
relationship is the foundation
00:28:02.61\00:28:06.25
for trust, and love is the
foundation for relationship.
00:28:06.28\00:28:11.65
So the more we understand God's
love for us, the greater our
00:28:11.69\00:28:17.36
relationship will be.
00:28:17.39\00:28:18.73
The greater our relationship
the more trust we will have.
00:28:18.76\00:28:22.20
The more trust we have the
greater the prayer of faith.
00:28:22.23\00:28:26.03
And the... when we have that
prayer of faith, we are tapping
00:28:26.07\00:28:30.11
in to God's pipeline,
through that faith faucet,
00:28:30.14\00:28:35.14
to receive His grace.
00:28:35.18\00:28:37.51
And grace is more
than just unmerited favor.
00:28:37.55\00:28:43.52
It is the divine
power of God for salvation.
00:28:43.55\00:28:47.92
His three greatest
gifts of grace prove that.
00:28:47.96\00:28:51.73
Do you know what His
three greatest gifts are?
00:28:51.76\00:28:54.46
Jesus Christ: For God
so loved the world He gave
00:28:54.50\00:28:59.10
His only begotten Son.
00:28:59.13\00:29:01.24
The Holy Spirit that He
promised to all believers.
00:29:01.27\00:29:06.37
And the word of God.
00:29:06.41\00:29:08.41
All Scripture was given by God.
00:29:08.44\00:29:11.85
It was God breathed.
00:29:11.88\00:29:13.52
And what we want to do
when we go to the Bible is look
00:29:13.55\00:29:18.42
for this God of grace.
00:29:18.45\00:29:19.99
Grow in grace,
and in the knowledge
00:29:20.02\00:29:23.32
of our Lord and Savior.
00:29:23.36\00:29:25.06
Now the third point.
00:29:25.09\00:29:27.13
To make God's word our own, we
have to go to the word to learn
00:29:27.16\00:29:32.47
who we are in Christ.
00:29:32.50\00:29:34.64
In 2 Corinthians 5:17 the Bible
says that we are new creations;
00:29:34.67\00:29:41.28
that the old is gone and the new
has come if you're in Christ.
00:29:41.31\00:29:46.35
Well, how well do you
know your new identity?
00:29:46.38\00:29:51.92
Do you know who
you are now that you've
00:29:51.95\00:29:55.72
become a child of God?
00:29:55.76\00:29:58.99
What an exalted privilege
it is to be a child of God.
00:29:59.03\00:30:03.97
And yet so many of us
walk around with defeat
00:30:04.00\00:30:08.40
and discouragement.
00:30:08.44\00:30:10.01
God has predestined
all who are in Christ to be
00:30:10.04\00:30:16.44
conformed to His image.
00:30:16.48\00:30:18.71
Turn to 2 Corinthians 3:18.
00:30:18.75\00:30:22.75
We want to go to the word
because in the word we see a
00:30:22.78\00:30:28.82
reflection of who
we are in Christ Jesus.
00:30:28.86\00:30:33.60
We learn this new
identity that we have.
00:30:33.63\00:30:37.37
And as we meditate on the word,
and apply the word of God to our
00:30:37.40\00:30:43.04
lives, we will be changed.
00:30:43.07\00:30:45.57
2 Corinthians 3:18 says
this: We all, with unveiled face
00:30:45.61\00:30:53.08
beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord,
00:30:53.11\00:30:58.32
are being transformed into the
same image from glory to glory,
00:30:58.35\00:31:04.73
just as by the
Spirit of the Lord.
00:31:04.76\00:31:08.56
What is that saying?
00:31:08.60\00:31:10.27
We go to the word of God and
there as in a mirror we see the
00:31:10.30\00:31:17.24
reflection of God's
love, of Jesus Christ,
00:31:17.27\00:31:22.38
and who we are in Christ.
00:31:22.41\00:31:25.38
And as we look at this,
and we're praying to the Lord,
00:31:25.41\00:31:30.35
Sanctify me by this word.
00:31:30.39\00:31:32.29
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit.
00:31:32.32\00:31:34.49
The Spirit will lead us
from one level of God's glory,
00:31:34.52\00:31:38.73
which is His
character, to the next.
00:31:38.76\00:31:42.46
Christ in us is our
hope of glory. Amen? Amen!
00:31:42.50\00:31:48.00
So as we learn our identity in
Him, and the only way to do that
00:31:48.04\00:31:54.11
is by living in His promises.
00:31:54.14\00:31:56.61
We begin to understand
that God's plan of salvation is
00:31:56.64\00:32:01.65
absolute total
dependence upon Him.
00:32:01.68\00:32:05.59
That's why salvation is a
gift, a gift of God's grace.
00:32:05.62\00:32:10.93
There's nothing that we
can do to save ourselves.
00:32:10.96\00:32:15.46
Now to make God's, 4. To make
God's word our own we need to go
00:32:15.50\00:32:22.27
to the word giving God
permission to renew our minds.
00:32:22.30\00:32:27.94
God's word brings increased
light and understanding.
00:32:27.98\00:32:33.55
Psalm 119 says, The entrance
of Your word brings light;
00:32:33.58\00:32:38.52
it gives
understanding to the simple.
00:32:38.55\00:32:41.76
Turn to Romans 12
please, Romans 12.
00:32:41.79\00:32:46.93
As the word of God enters
our heart it sheds His light of
00:32:46.96\00:32:52.63
understanding into the
confusion of our darkness.
00:32:52.67\00:32:55.27
And it shows us the way out.
00:32:55.30\00:32:57.54
God's word is a lamp to our
feet, and a light to our path.
00:32:57.57\00:33:02.04
Romans 12:2. Paul writes
and says, Do not be conformed
00:33:02.08\00:33:11.75
to this world: but be
transformed by the renewing
00:33:11.79\00:33:17.33
of your mind, that you may prove
what is that good and acceptable
00:33:17.36\00:33:24.53
and perfect will of God.
00:33:24.57\00:33:27.30
Be transformed by the
renewing of your mind.
00:33:27.34\00:33:33.17
First of all you'll
notice that is a passive verb.
00:33:33.21\00:33:37.55
Be transformed means
somebody else is going to
00:33:37.58\00:33:39.91
do the transformation.
00:33:39.95\00:33:41.82
But the renewing of
our mind comes by going
00:33:41.85\00:33:45.99
to the word of God.
00:33:46.02\00:33:48.82
The Bible says that He sent His
word to heal us, to save us from
00:33:48.86\00:33:55.30
our
self-destructive way of life.
00:33:55.33\00:33:59.67
Turn over to John 8 while
you're there please, John 8.
00:33:59.70\00:34:04.44
And we're going to talk
about the liberating power
00:34:04.47\00:34:09.14
of the word of God.
00:34:09.18\00:34:10.51
Now I'll bet if I say John
8:32 that all of you can almost
00:34:10.55\00:34:17.65
can quote that to me.
00:34:17.69\00:34:19.15
Know the truth and the truth
shall set you free. Amen? Amen.
00:34:19.19\00:34:26.76
Not so fast. Not so fast.
00:34:26.80\00:34:30.77
That is what John 8:32
says, but there is a qualifier.
00:34:30.80\00:34:38.14
You cannot separate
John 8:31 from verse 32.
00:34:38.17\00:34:44.41
The qualifier is this: Jesus
said to those Jews who believed
00:34:44.45\00:34:49.38
Him, If you abide in My
word, if you live in My word,
00:34:49.42\00:34:57.73
you are My disciples indeed.
00:34:57.76\00:35:00.76
And then you
will know the truth,
00:35:00.80\00:35:04.43
and the truth
shall set you free.
00:35:04.47\00:35:06.23
The religious people of
Jesus' day, they knew the truth.
00:35:07.77\00:35:14.18
They knew the word of God.
00:35:14.21\00:35:16.08
They memorized. The Pharisees
memorized the Pentateuch.
00:35:16.11\00:35:20.22
Now that's some memory.
00:35:20.25\00:35:21.85
But they missed
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:35:21.88\00:35:27.52
They weren't living in His word.
00:35:27.56\00:35:31.09
It was head knowledge
and not heart knowledge.
00:35:31.13\00:35:35.86
In His first letters to the
Corinthians Paul wrote these
00:35:35.90\00:35:42.97
astonishing words: He
says, We have been given
00:35:43.00\00:35:49.54
the mind of Christ.
00:35:49.58\00:35:52.35
You have been
given the mind of Christ.
00:35:52.38\00:35:58.22
Can you say that? I have
been given the mind of Christ.
00:36:00.96\00:36:07.40
Does that make you
feel strange to say?
00:36:07.43\00:36:09.90
You know, even though
we've been given this mind,
00:36:09.93\00:36:13.74
we're not drawing
on it as we should.
00:36:13.77\00:36:15.54
The Bible records His
thoughts and His wisdom.
00:36:15.57\00:36:22.54
The word of God is a reflection
of the mind of Christ.
00:36:22.58\00:36:28.82
God endowed His word
with life-giving power,
00:36:28.85\00:36:34.32
a creative power,
that will reproduce the
00:36:34.36\00:36:38.29
mind of Christ in us.
00:36:38.33\00:36:40.20
And the more word that
you have in your heart,
00:36:40.23\00:36:44.00
the more word that you
are putting into practice
00:36:44.03\00:36:47.87
day by day, the more you will
operate by the mind of Christ.
00:36:47.90\00:36:53.34
We should have
the mind of Christ
00:36:53.38\00:36:58.71
and conduct our lives by it.
00:36:58.75\00:37:01.28
And if we do we
will be led by the Spirit
00:37:01.32\00:37:05.42
of self-sacrificing
love and humility.
00:37:05.45\00:37:08.92
Now the fifth point: to
make God's word our own.
00:37:08.96\00:37:14.46
We should go to the
word to develop faith.
00:37:14.50\00:37:18.83
What brings faith?
Faith comes by hearing,
00:37:18.87\00:37:23.51
and hearing by the word of God.
00:37:23.54\00:37:27.01
When we receive His word,
we need to plant His promises
00:37:27.04\00:37:33.15
in good soil, plant
His promises, in our heart,
00:37:33.18\00:37:36.79
and apply His instruction
through daily practice.
00:37:36.82\00:37:42.06
Remember hearing is dynamic.
00:37:42.09\00:37:44.66
It means that we are
putting it into action.
00:37:44.69\00:37:47.73
The vitality of our Christian
life directly relates to
00:37:47.76\00:37:55.67
the number of promises
that we have in our heart.
00:37:55.70\00:37:59.74
Little word, little faith.
00:37:59.77\00:38:03.55
Little faith,
small expectations.
00:38:03.58\00:38:09.35
God wants you, He wants
me to increase the measure
00:38:09.38\00:38:16.83
of our expectations.
00:38:16.86\00:38:19.06
Because the measure we use
will be measured back to us.
00:38:19.09\00:38:23.06
That is the way faith operates.
00:38:23.10\00:38:26.30
And aren't we wearied by
our limited expectations?
00:38:26.33\00:38:31.07
God wants to fill us with
love, with joy, with peace,
00:38:31.11\00:38:36.44
and expected
hope in His promises.
00:38:36.48\00:38:40.28
He wants to fill
us with His power.
00:38:40.32\00:38:43.15
God wants more than anything
for you to trust His heart.
00:38:43.18\00:38:47.72
Because trust is the
foundation for faith.
00:38:47.76\00:38:51.89
Proverbs 3:5, 6 says,
Trust in the Lord... with what?
00:38:51.93\00:38:56.53
...all your heart; and lean
not on your own understanding.
00:38:56.56\00:39:01.10
In all your
ways acknowledge Him,
00:39:01.14\00:39:03.07
and He will direct your paths.
00:39:03.10\00:39:05.27
So if we're not leaning
on our own understanding,
00:39:05.31\00:39:08.51
what are we to lean on?
00:39:08.54\00:39:10.28
The word of God;
God's understanding.
00:39:10.31\00:39:15.95
And this is so important because
without faith it is impossible
00:39:15.98\00:39:21.82
to please the Lord.
00:39:21.86\00:39:23.19
So how do we fill our hearts
with Scripture to develop faith
00:39:23.22\00:39:27.10
and make God's word our
own, so that we will really
00:39:27.13\00:39:30.80
benefit from the power?
00:39:30.83\00:39:32.60
Well, it requires
more than a casual reading.
00:39:32.63\00:39:36.04
We need to let the
word become our focus.
00:39:36.07\00:39:41.11
We need to let the
word become our prayer.
00:39:41.14\00:39:45.31
And we need to let the
word become our confession.
00:39:45.35\00:39:48.52
If you will read the
word during your prayer time,
00:39:48.55\00:39:53.82
you will find that
it leads to prayer.
00:39:53.86\00:39:58.46
I can't pick up the word
and read without praying.
00:39:58.49\00:40:02.96
It's like a conversation;
God speaking to me,
00:40:03.00\00:40:07.67
and then I'm praying to Him.
00:40:07.70\00:40:10.71
Sometimes I'm praying
for an answer, and I'll say,
00:40:10.74\00:40:14.51
Lord, I don't understand this.
00:40:14.54\00:40:16.28
You want, Your 're speaking to
me, but I don't understand how
00:40:16.31\00:40:20.38
to put this in practice.
00:40:20.42\00:40:21.75
Sometimes I am
claiming a promise,
00:40:21.78\00:40:25.49
and praying it back to Him.
00:40:25.52\00:40:27.36
You know, we can stake our
claims on the promises of God
00:40:27.39\00:40:32.29
if we're in Christ.
00:40:32.33\00:40:33.66
Because all of His
promises are Yes and Amen,
00:40:33.70\00:40:36.97
if we're living in Christ Jesus.
00:40:37.00\00:40:38.83
And claiming a promise is just
recognizing your right to it.
00:40:38.87\00:40:43.57
As children of God all
of His promises are ours.
00:40:43.61\00:40:49.21
But to really plug into God's
power source, and benefit from
00:40:49.24\00:40:56.52
the power of God's word, we
need to make God's creative word
00:40:56.55\00:41:02.56
our own by praying
those promises back,
00:41:02.59\00:41:07.00
thanking God when
we find something,
00:41:07.03\00:41:09.66
praying it back to Him, and
then also by confessing it over
00:41:09.70\00:41:14.30
our life as an
affirmation from Scripture.
00:41:14.34\00:41:17.61
Let me give you an
example: Philippians 4:13,
00:41:17.64\00:41:22.24
and 2 Corinthians 12:9.
00:41:22.28\00:41:25.51
You can take those two
Scriptures and you can confess
00:41:25.55\00:41:29.95
that over your life when
you're having a difficult time,
00:41:29.98\00:41:32.55
and you can say, I can
do all things through Christ
00:41:32.59\00:41:36.89
who strengthens me.
00:41:36.93\00:41:38.26
He infuses me with His power,
and His grace is sufficient,
00:41:38.29\00:41:43.16
for His power is made
perfect in my weakness.
00:41:43.20\00:41:46.27
Now I have to tell you a story.
00:41:46.30\00:41:48.70
That is so powerful to do when
you're really down in the dumps.
00:41:48.74\00:41:53.27
But we were out in California a
few years back, and I had done a
00:41:53.31\00:41:57.65
Friday night meeting, and I was
to do three meetings on Sabbath
00:41:57.68\00:42:01.72
at a very large church,
about a thousand people.
00:42:01.75\00:42:05.72
And I came home Friday
night and evidentially had food
00:42:05.75\00:42:10.26
poisoning or a
stomach flu, and it was bad.
00:42:10.29\00:42:13.73
The next morning I got
up and I washed my hair.
00:42:13.76\00:42:17.50
I was so sick I
could hardly stand up.
00:42:17.53\00:42:20.64
And I remember sitting there
and I'm trying to do something
00:42:20.67\00:42:23.44
with this
naturally curly hair of mine.
00:42:23.47\00:42:25.41
And I'm sitting, and I
kept saying, I can do all things
00:42:25.44\00:42:28.91
through Christ
who strengthens me.
00:42:28.94\00:42:30.31
I can do all things through...
00:42:30.35\00:42:31.71
Honey, I can't do this!
00:42:31.75\00:42:34.42
And so J. D. had, on
about a thirty minute notice,
00:42:34.45\00:42:40.49
J. D. had to prepare his heart.
00:42:40.52\00:42:43.29
I said, You're
going to have to go,
00:42:43.32\00:42:45.49
and you're going
to have to speak.
00:42:45.53\00:42:47.20
He said, But
they're expecting you.
00:42:47.23\00:42:49.73
And I said, It doesn't
matter who they're expecting.
00:42:49.76\00:42:52.33
If the Holy Spirit
doesn't show up there's not
00:42:52.37\00:42:55.34
going to be a blessing.
00:42:55.37\00:42:56.71
And I know you're
filled with the Holy Spirit.
00:42:56.74\00:42:58.71
But we do want to
make God's Scripture,
00:42:58.74\00:43:04.65
His promises our own.
00:43:04.68\00:43:06.48
In 1996 God led me
to three Scriptures
00:43:06.51\00:43:10.25
that changed my life totally.
00:43:10.29\00:43:12.79
The reason I'm in
ministry today is because of
00:43:12.82\00:43:16.06
these three Scriptures.
00:43:16.09\00:43:17.43
And that is Isaiah 55:11, which
God is speaking and He said,
00:43:17.46\00:43:23.77
My word does not return to
me void, but it accomplishes
00:43:23.80\00:43:28.34
the purposes
for which I sent it.
00:43:28.37\00:43:30.91
And then Jeremiah 1:12.
00:43:30.94\00:43:33.38
He tells
Jeremiah, You are correct.
00:43:33.41\00:43:37.58
I am watching over
My word to perform it.
00:43:37.61\00:43:41.55
And then Romans 4:17 that says,
God gives life to the dead,
00:43:41.58\00:43:47.79
and He calls things that are
not as though they already were,
00:43:47.82\00:43:53.13
as though they already existed.
00:43:53.16\00:43:55.73
And we can do that as well.
00:43:55.76\00:43:58.40
As we return God's word to Him
in prayer, it won't return void.
00:43:58.43\00:44:04.34
Because we are building
a faith and a trust in God.
00:44:04.37\00:44:11.01
And it begins to accomplish the
purpose for which He sent it.
00:44:11.05\00:44:15.55
He's watching over His word
to perform it; just waiting for
00:44:15.58\00:44:20.56
someone who will
accept His testimony by faith.
00:44:20.59\00:44:24.23
And we can be like God.
00:44:24.26\00:44:27.06
God knows the end from the
beginning; we can know it, too,
00:44:27.10\00:44:32.53
because it is written.
00:44:32.57\00:44:33.90
And we can call things
that are not as though they
00:44:33.94\00:44:37.64
already were by faith.
00:44:37.67\00:44:39.97
So speaking God's word over
your life goes beyond claiming.
00:44:40.01\00:44:45.71
It's a confession, a word of
faith that says we agree with
00:44:45.75\00:44:51.75
God's wisdom and His counsel.
00:44:51.79\00:44:53.56
And as we confess His word,
we're confirming that the word
00:44:53.59\00:44:59.53
of God is our life source.
00:44:59.56\00:45:03.26
It causes us to exalt
God's wisdom above human
00:45:03.30\00:45:08.67
wisdom and opinion.
00:45:08.70\00:45:10.14
It causes His way of thinking
to become our way of thinking.
00:45:10.17\00:45:14.61
And as we plant God's promises
in our heart, and put them into
00:45:14.64\00:45:20.25
practice we're
validating His testimony.
00:45:20.28\00:45:24.29
One day I was talking with
someone about this and they
00:45:24.32\00:45:30.86
said, You know, when I say these
things I know they're not true.
00:45:30.89\00:45:35.43
And I said, Remember you're
calling things that are not
00:45:35.46\00:45:39.43
as though they already were.
00:45:39.47\00:45:40.94
This is God's
plan for your life.
00:45:40.97\00:45:42.80
This is your destiny.
00:45:42.84\00:45:45.64
God has predestined
you to become like Jesus.
00:45:45.67\00:45:48.88
And they said, So you're
telling me I just need to
00:45:48.91\00:45:51.78
fake it until I make it?
00:45:51.81\00:45:54.25
And I said, No, no, no.
00:45:54.28\00:45:55.78
I'm telling you you need
to faith it until you make it.
00:45:55.82\00:46:01.92
Faith it until you make it.
00:46:01.96\00:46:05.79
There should never be a
word that comes out of our mouth
00:46:05.83\00:46:09.56
that is not spoken in faith.
00:46:09.60\00:46:10.93
And when we hear our own voices
declaring the wonders of God's
00:46:12.73\00:46:18.31
promises it will
re-program our thoughts.
00:46:18.34\00:46:21.58
You know, they have a
saying... I used to...
00:46:21.61\00:46:23.85
I went back to college.
00:46:23.88\00:46:25.21
I wanted to get a
masters in Computer Science,
00:46:25.25\00:46:28.08
and I took three programming
languages in the same semester.
00:46:28.12\00:46:31.45
Not a good idea. I
can't tell you how often...
00:46:31.49\00:46:35.09
If anybody's a
computer programmer you know.
00:46:35.12\00:46:37.79
There's a syntax, and every one
of them has a different syntax.
00:46:37.83\00:46:41.53
And sometimes you
separate clauses by a period,
00:46:41.56\00:46:44.80
or by a semicolon.
00:46:44.83\00:46:46.23
And so often I would be at the
computer lab till 3 or 4 o'clock
00:46:46.27\00:46:51.17
in the morning with some loop;
something that just keeps...
00:46:51.21\00:46:54.21
And I couldn't figure it out.
00:46:54.24\00:46:55.58
And I'd have a period
where a semicolon should be.
00:46:55.61\00:46:58.65
But we have a saying
that garbage in, garbage out.
00:46:58.68\00:47:06.65
If you program a computer
with bad code, it's going to do
00:47:06.69\00:47:12.49
what I was sitting
there watching it do.
00:47:12.53\00:47:15.60
It's going to spit
out nothing but garbage.
00:47:15.63\00:47:18.57
It won't do the
action, or perform the activity
00:47:18.60\00:47:23.41
that you want it to do.
00:47:23.44\00:47:24.77
It has to be good
code that's going in.
00:47:24.81\00:47:29.31
When we sit and watch worldly
television, when we are reading
00:47:29.34\00:47:36.12
worldly magazines, what are
we putting in our mind? garbage.
00:47:36.15\00:47:43.36
Garbage in, garbage out.
00:47:43.39\00:47:45.89
But when we put the word of God
in our mind, it reprograms our
00:47:45.93\00:47:51.43
thoughts and His word
becomes our testimony,
00:47:51.47\00:47:54.24
our source for truth.
00:47:54.27\00:47:56.07
This helps us plug
into His power source,
00:47:56.10\00:47:59.41
and put His word into practice.
00:47:59.44\00:48:02.01
And, you know,
practice is very important.
00:48:02.04\00:48:04.21
Faith requires faith
actions, because faith
00:48:04.25\00:48:08.38
without works is
dead; it is stillborn.
00:48:08.42\00:48:12.95
So we have to be doers of the
word and not just hearers only.
00:48:12.99\00:48:17.33
Now 6. To make God's word
our own we must go to the word
00:48:17.36\00:48:22.73
to plug into His power source,
to develop the divine nature.
00:48:22.76\00:48:29.50
God's word has
transforming power.
00:48:29.54\00:48:33.07
Jesus said in John 17:17,
in the garden one of His last
00:48:33.11\00:48:38.08
prayers to the Lord,
and He said, Oh Lord,
00:48:38.11\00:48:40.42
sanctify them by the
truth; Your word is truth.
00:48:40.45\00:48:45.95
What does it
mean to be sanctified?
00:48:45.99\00:48:48.82
It means to be set
apart for God's purposes.
00:48:48.86\00:48:53.23
It means to be
set apart from evil.
00:48:53.26\00:48:57.20
Turn to Hebrews 1.
00:48:57.23\00:49:00.37
When we come to the word we want
00:49:00.40\00:49:04.24
to develop the divine nature.
00:49:04.27\00:49:09.24
But the word of God has
more than sanctifying power.
00:49:09.28\00:49:16.18
It has sustaining power.
00:49:16.22\00:49:18.99
And I love this
verse: Hebrews 1:3.
00:49:19.02\00:49:22.82
I'm going to read
it from the Amplified.
00:49:24.03\00:49:27.00
Hebrews 1:3. He, speaking of
Jesus, is the soul expression
00:49:27.03\00:49:33.67
of the glory of God.
00:49:33.70\00:49:35.04
He is the light beam, the out
rain, or radiance of the divine.
00:49:35.07\00:49:39.51
He is the perfect imprint
and very image of God's nature.
00:49:39.54\00:49:44.51
Stop right there. That verse,
that first part of that verse,
00:49:44.55\00:49:50.32
forever changed the
way that I read the word.
00:49:50.35\00:49:53.62
Because I grew up believing
that Jesus was full of grace
00:49:53.66\00:49:59.26
and mercy, and that
God was full of ready to,
00:49:59.29\00:50:04.40
just damnation and judgment.
00:50:04.43\00:50:06.30
And when I got to
that I thought, Wow!
00:50:06.33\00:50:09.50
Christ is
exactly like the Father!
00:50:09.54\00:50:14.98
Everything Jesus
was, the Father is.
00:50:15.01\00:50:19.21
As loving, and compassionate,
and non-judgmental;
00:50:19.25\00:50:22.72
that's who God is.
00:50:22.75\00:50:24.79
Jesus was the very image of God.
00:50:24.82\00:50:27.86
But that verse goes on
to say that He is upholding,
00:50:27.89\00:50:31.93
and maintaining, and guiding,
and propelling the universe
00:50:31.96\00:50:36.36
by His mighty word of power.
00:50:36.40\00:50:41.77
He will uphold and
maintain your spiritual life
00:50:41.80\00:50:47.91
by His word of power.
00:50:47.94\00:50:49.64
He will propel you
by His word of power.
00:50:49.68\00:50:53.42
That same creative miracle
working function that was in His
00:50:53.45\00:51:00.89
word to uphold all
things, is how He upholds you.
00:51:00.92\00:51:05.59
Now turn to 2 Peter,
because this is one of
00:51:05.63\00:51:08.73
our primary verses.
00:51:08.76\00:51:10.93
God causes the miracle
working function of His word
00:51:10.97\00:51:16.67
to reproduce
Christ's nature in us.
00:51:16.71\00:51:20.74
This is one of my favorite
verses in all of the Bible.
00:51:20.78\00:51:26.01
And someone will say, You
say that about a lot of verses.
00:51:26.05\00:51:29.48
But this is right up at the top.
00:51:29.52\00:51:32.52
2 Peter 1. We're going
to look at verses 3 and 4.
00:51:32.55\00:51:37.99
And it says, His divine power
has given to us all things.
00:51:38.03\00:51:43.90
How many things? All
things that pertain to life and
00:51:43.93\00:51:49.50
godliness, through the
knowledge of Him who called us
00:51:49.54\00:51:54.48
by His glory and
virtue. So let's stop here.
00:51:54.51\00:51:58.08
God has already supplied every
thing that we need for a life
00:51:58.11\00:52:04.19
of Godliness through
our knowledge of Him.
00:52:04.22\00:52:08.12
And it says, Who called
us by His glory and virtue:
00:52:08.16\00:52:11.93
Verse 4: by which, by this glory
and virtue, have been given
00:52:11.96\00:52:18.17
to us exceedingly
great and precious promises:
00:52:18.20\00:52:22.67
so that through
these... Through what?
00:52:22.70\00:52:27.64
...through His exceedingly
great and precious promises,
00:52:27.68\00:52:32.55
you may be partakers
of the divine nature.
00:52:32.58\00:52:37.19
You partake of the
divine nature as you
00:52:37.22\00:52:42.89
partake of God's promises.
00:52:42.92\00:52:45.16
There are thousands of
promises in the word of God.
00:52:45.19\00:52:49.40
And let me tell you something,
every commandment of God
00:52:49.43\00:52:54.40
is also a promise of
what He will do in your life.
00:52:54.44\00:52:59.77
Because God will cause you to
be all that He calls you to be.
00:52:59.81\00:53:04.85
Everything that He requires
of us He empowers us to do.
00:53:04.88\00:53:08.82
Because He works in us to will
and to do His good pleasure.
00:53:08.85\00:53:12.89
So it goes on and says,
that through these you may be
00:53:12.92\00:53:18.53
partakers of the divine nature.
00:53:18.56\00:53:21.10
You know, does that just
excite you just a little bit
00:53:21.13\00:53:25.27
to think about going to the
word of God, looking for His
00:53:25.30\00:53:29.10
promises and saying, Wow, Lord!
00:53:29.14\00:53:31.84
As I partake of this
You're going to do a work in me.
00:53:31.87\00:53:35.91
By the creative power of
Your word, and Your Holy Spirit,
00:53:35.94\00:53:40.82
You are going to
make me like Jesus.
00:53:40.85\00:53:45.65
Hallelujah! That
makes me so excited.
00:53:45.69\00:53:49.42
And as we proclaim
these promises over our life,
00:53:49.46\00:53:53.80
letting them be our testimony,
we will develop a faith
00:53:53.83\00:53:58.73
that believes we're partakers,
and we will be transformed.
00:53:58.77\00:54:03.61
7. To make God's word our
own, we need to go to the word
00:54:03.64\00:54:09.58
for power to overcome evil.
00:54:09.61\00:54:11.58
It said there in 2 Peter 1:3, 4,
not only do you become partakers
00:54:11.61\00:54:17.65
of His divine nature,
but we overcome the evil
00:54:17.69\00:54:22.69
that is in our hearts.
00:54:22.72\00:54:25.03
In drawing near to God, and
putting His word in our hearts,
00:54:25.06\00:54:29.13
we can escape the
clutches of the Devil.
00:54:29.16\00:54:32.60
Ephesians 6 talks
about the armor of God.
00:54:32.63\00:54:36.04
And it says that the
sword of the Spirit is what?
00:54:36.07\00:54:39.77
the word of God. Do you realize
that is the only offensive
00:54:39.81\00:54:44.21
weapon in that whole list?
00:54:44.25\00:54:47.18
So just as Jesus did in
the wilderness, when he was
00:54:47.22\00:54:53.02
forty days of temptation,
he drew out that sword,
00:54:53.05\00:54:56.83
the word of God, and He said,
It is written, man shall not
00:54:56.86\00:55:02.16
live by bread alone, but
by every word that proceeds
00:55:02.20\00:55:06.37
from the mouth of God.
00:55:06.40\00:55:07.74
So we need to have
that weapon available.
00:55:07.77\00:55:13.04
Turn to 2 Corinthians
10, 2 Corinthians 10.
00:55:13.07\00:55:18.38
The word of God, think of
it like this: the Bible is the
00:55:18.41\00:55:24.09
sheath that holds the sword.
00:55:24.12\00:55:27.52
The sword that we draw
out, the sword of the Spirit,
00:55:27.56\00:55:33.13
is that promise that we have
hidden in our heart that we can
00:55:33.16\00:55:38.90
speak at a time of need.
00:55:38.93\00:55:41.17
And 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 says
this: The weapons of our warfare
00:55:41.20\00:55:47.31
are not carnal, but
mighty in God for pulling down
00:55:47.34\00:55:51.38
strongholds; casting
down arguments, and every high
00:55:51.41\00:55:55.45
thing that exalts itself
against the knowledge of God,
00:55:55.48\00:55:59.82
bringing every
thought into captivity.
00:55:59.85\00:56:03.32
So as we go to the word of God,
we will be armed to bring down
00:56:03.36\00:56:09.30
those strongholds in our mind.
00:56:09.33\00:56:11.53
We have to quit leaning
on our own understanding.
00:56:11.57\00:56:15.00
We must lean on His word.
00:56:15.04\00:56:17.37
And as we plant His word in our
heart, and confess it with our
00:56:17.41\00:56:20.81
mouths we will be changed.
00:56:20.84\00:56:23.08
He will cause us to
operate under the influence
00:56:23.11\00:56:26.08
of His understanding.
00:56:26.11\00:56:27.45
He plugs us into His power
source, and He gives us the
00:56:27.48\00:56:32.35
strength that we lack.
00:56:32.39\00:56:34.36
A loving God will empower us
to do all that He asks of us.
00:56:34.39\00:56:39.93
And as we step out in faith
actions, the Holy Spirit will
00:56:39.96\00:56:45.67
empower us to put His
word into into practice.
00:56:45.70\00:56:48.00
Let me tell you something.
00:56:48.04\00:56:49.84
The same God who created the
world by His word created you.
00:56:49.90\00:56:55.98
God has a passion for you.
00:56:56.04\00:57:00.02
He puts such a value on you
that you are worth nothing less
00:57:01.88\00:57:08.62
to God than the price
that He paid to redeem you
00:57:08.66\00:57:12.43
with the precious
lifeblood of His Son.
00:57:12.46\00:57:15.50
You don't have to be fearful
in going before the Lord.
00:57:15.53\00:57:20.54
He desires to give
you an abundant life now,
00:57:20.57\00:57:24.47
and a life of glory
throughout eternity.
00:57:24.51\00:57:28.34
So hold fast to the word
of God, and make it your own.
00:57:28.38\00:57:32.68