Participants: Pr. J.D. Quinn
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000909
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01:00 Hello, friends, and welcome to Thompsonville, Illinois,
01:03 the largest little city in the world. 01:06 Where the world is being impacted by the axle 01:08 that God has set up here in Southern Illinois 01:11 and truly the lights of the Lord Jesus Christ 01:13 are going out in all directions 01:15 like a spoke on a bicycle wheel. 01:17 And we thank you for tuning here tonight 01:19 to receive of God's grace and of God's kitchen 01:23 the bread of life that He's baked for you tonight, 01:25 so join us as we began our meetings 01:27 another night of "Where Are All His Miracles." 01:29 Let's sing our theme song 111, "It Took A Miracle." 01:33 Let's all stand together as we sing our theme song 01:41 My Father is omnipotent 01:45 And that you can't deny 01:49 A God of might and miracles 01:54 'Tis written in the sky 01:59 It took a miracle 02:04 To put the stars in place 02:09 It took a miracle 02:14 To hang the world in space 02:19 But when He saved my soul 02:25 Cleansed and made me whole 02:30 It took a miracle 02:34 Of love and grace 02:41 Though here His glory 02:43 Has been shown 02:45 We still can't fully see 02:49 The wonders of His might 02:53 His throne 'twill take eternity 03:00 It took a miracle 03:05 To put the stars in place 03:10 It took a miracle 03:16 To hang the world in space 03:21 But when He saved my soul 03:26 Cleansed and made me whole 03:32 It took a miracle 03:36 Of love and grace 03:43 The Bible tells us of His power 03:47 And wisdom all way through 03:52 And every little bird and flower 03:57 Are testimonies too 04:02 It took a miracle 04:08 To put the stars in place 04:13 It took a miracle 04:18 To hang the world in space 04:21 What's the greatest miracle? 04:23 But when He saved my soul 04:29 Cleansed and made me whole 04:35 It took a miracle 04:39 Of love and grace 04:47 Amen. 04:48 Let's bow our heads for prayer. 04:50 My gracious Father in heaven, 04:51 what a blessing it is tonight to know that 04:53 we are all miracles in the hand of a loving God 04:59 who sent His Son to die for us 05:02 and by that death and resurrection to give to us 05:06 not only the blessing of a new life 05:08 but the miracle of His love and His grace, 05:11 living that spirit filled life now, 05:14 living that life where Jesus is seen and then Father 05:18 when this life is over, when Jesus comes 05:20 we'll all have the joy of eternal life. 05:23 We pray Your blessing again tonight on Your man servant 05:27 as You've chosen to be the instrument 05:29 through which heaven speaks to our hearts 05:31 and those who are watching and listening to this program, 05:34 Lord, may they also find in Your written word 05:37 and in the power of your Holy Spirit 05:39 the miracle that can happen in their lives 05:41 and what we shall receive we thank You 05:43 and we give You the glory in Jesus' name we pray, amen. 05:47 You maybe seated. 05:49 Once again we like to thank those of you 05:51 who are joining us, whatever medium you use, 05:53 whether internet or television or radio 05:56 or however you're listening even by a CD 05:58 if that is in fact or DVD, 06:00 however you've received a copy of this message. 06:02 We thank you for taking the time to tune in 06:04 to listen to God's voice and tonight, 06:07 we have a wonderful line up, we've been blessed every night. 06:09 Can you say amen? Amen. 06:10 Last night Pastor Hal Steenson lit the pulpit on fire, 06:13 I could still smell the smoke. 06:15 And but we had been so on fire by the Lord, 06:18 thanking God for His blessings. 06:20 Each night we've had presenters 06:21 that have come to this pulpit filled by the spirit of God 06:25 and we have not been disappointed. 06:27 And tonight we're gonna thank the Lord 06:29 not only for the instrument He's chosen 06:31 but for the growth that we've seen and our elder, 06:35 Elder J.D Quinn who is the husband of Shelley Quinn. 06:38 J.D Quinn is a part of our 06:39 pastoral department here at 3ABN. 06:41 I must say he has a pastor's heart. 06:43 Amen. 06:44 I mean, I've met a lot of people 06:46 that may even have the position 06:47 but he's got a pastor's heart. 06:49 One who has life that is easy 06:52 and one who is easy to approach 06:54 and one, if you ever need prayer, 06:55 he's one that would love to pray for you. 06:58 So if you ever call our pastoral department at 3ABN, 07:00 you are allowed to get Pastor Hal Steenson 07:02 and also J.D Quinn and Pastor Richard Pinero 07:05 and Pastor Jose Medina and others 07:07 who will fill in and let you know 07:09 that the Lord loves you and cares for you. 07:11 But tonight we'll have our scripture reading 07:13 by Donnie Shelton 07:15 who is a member of the Thompsonville 07:16 Seventh-day Adventist church, 07:18 I said Donnie, not Danny Shelton 07:19 and he's a an evangelist also. 07:21 Up until a few years ago 07:23 the only place he knew was Southern Illinois, 07:24 but now God has taken him around the world 07:26 blessing his life. 07:27 After him we'll have 07:28 a wonderful musical piano selection 07:30 by Michael Settle 07:32 and the song he'll play is entitled "Something Beautiful," 07:35 and after him God's man servant Elder J.D Quinn 07:38 will bring to us tonight the bread of life. 07:41 Donnie, come and bless us right now. 07:49 Well, good evening, brothers and sisters. 07:51 Anybody need a miracle tonight? 07:53 Well, you came to the right place, amen. 07:56 You know, God's universe is full of miracles 07:59 but the good news is there's always room for one more. 08:02 And this might be the miracle that you need tonight, amen. 08:06 Let's turn our scriptures if you are writing this down, 08:09 we're gonna be in Romans 12:1, 2, 08:12 Romans 12:1, 2, it says here, 08:15 " I beseech you therefore, brethren, 08:17 by the mercies of God, 08:19 that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, 08:23 holy, acceptable to God, 08:25 which is your reasonable service." 08:27 And verse 2 says, 08:29 "And be not conformed to this world, 08:32 but you transform by the renewing of your minds 08:35 that you may prove what is that good 08:38 and acceptable and perfect will of God." 08:42 Amen. 09:00 And He made 09:02 Something beautiful 09:09 Something good 09:13 All of my confusion 09:18 He understood 09:24 All I had to offer Him 09:28 Was brokenness and strength 09:33 Yet He made something 09:37 Beautiful out of my life 09:41 He made something beautiful 09:45 If there ever were dreams 09:48 That were lofty and noble 09:52 They were dreams at the starts 09:56 And the hopes for life's best 09:59 Were the hopes that I harbored 10:03 Down deep in my heart 10:07 But my dreams turned to ashes 10:10 My castles are crumbled 10:12 My fortune turned to loss 10:17 So I wrapped it all in the rags up my life 10:23 And I laid it at the cross 10:31 Something beautiful 10:36 Something good 10:41 All of my confusion 10:46 He understood 10:52 All I had to offer him 10:57 Was brokenness and strength 11:01 Yet He made something 11:06 Beautiful of my life 11:13 Yes He made something 11:17 Beautiful of my life 11:34 Amen. Praise God. 11:38 Thank you so much, Michael. 11:42 You know that's what we're talking about tonight 11:44 something beautiful transformation. 11:54 Well, first of all I just want to thank the Lord Jesus Christ 11:59 that I'm here. 12:01 Everybody here has a story to tell. 12:04 Hello precious people, you were here last night. 12:09 We're all miracles and we're gonna go in tonight, 12:13 we're gonna just kind of get an idea of how that works. 12:17 I want to welcome first of all 12:19 my local brothers and sisters in Christ. 12:23 I love each one of you 12:24 and what's absolutely fantastic is that I know you love me too. 12:29 Amen. 12:30 And so consequently if that's what God is all about, 12:35 you know, because I'm sure that there's people that are lonely. 12:40 Because they don't know that there's somebody out there 12:44 that's bigger and better than everybody. 12:48 Somebody that won't let you down 12:51 and that's who we're gonna be talking about tonight. 12:54 Also I want to welcome the people 12:55 that have televisions is watching us, 12:58 that have radios is watching us 13:00 and having streaming internet. 13:03 Welcome. 13:04 Amen. 13:06 Where Are All The Miracles? 13:08 That's what we're talking about. 13:10 I know that Hal has talked about it, 13:12 Shelley has talked about it, 13:14 Johnny has talked about it, 13:17 C.A has talked about it 13:19 and Cheri Peters have talked about it. 13:22 And we've got Jim Gilley is gonna talk about it. 13:25 And Danny Shelton is gonna talk about miracles. 13:27 And I have no doubt that anybody here 13:30 sitting in here could be up here talking about miracles 13:33 because we are a miracle. 13:37 Have you witnessed a miracle in your life time? 13:40 I know that I have because I witness them daily. 13:42 I have the distinct pleasure and it's an honor 13:47 that I work into 3ABN pastoral staff. 13:49 Amen. 13:50 We have people that call in everyday all over the world, 13:53 all over the world 13:55 and they have issues that they're dealing with. 13:58 It is our responsibility to do the very best that we can do 14:02 using the talent that God has given us 14:04 to lift them up as an encouragement. 14:07 Some people after sharing what their issues are 14:12 can't wait to call back in a couple of days 14:17 with a success story. 14:21 Success story could be something small 14:24 like having their rent paid, 14:26 to we've had people just called from Africa 14:29 and I want you to listen to this 14:31 that have been cured from AIDS. 14:34 Doctors don't seem to be able to do it. 14:37 But Jehovah Rapha can, amen. 14:44 But that's not what I want to talk about tonight. 14:47 What we're gonna be talking about tonight 14:49 is the power of God 14:51 and how He changes each one of us into a new creation. 14:58 So we're gonna talk about a miracle of transformation. 15:01 We all do this. 15:03 We didn't accidentally become born again. 15:06 There is a way of going about it. 15:10 Now if you are lucky and this is where I messed up, 15:15 you start life, you are good little boys and girls. 15:19 If you're fortunate enough 15:20 to be bought up into a good family, 15:23 you learn about God 15:25 but man there's some place in there 15:27 that you kind of go left when you should have gone right. 15:31 What I did wrong was that 15:37 I took a wrong turn 15:39 and it took me a long time to find my way back on to-- 15:43 to find my back on where I was supposed to be. 15:45 But anyway I want to go with the definition of a miracle. 15:49 "It's an effect or an extraordinary event 15:51 that surpasses all known human or natural powers. 15:55 As God manifesting His supernatural power, 15:58 it happens when God enters to the scene or circumstances 16:02 and exerts his divine power overruling suspending 16:05 or modifying the ordinary course of nature." 16:08 And I like one right here, 16:11 "It's a priority service gift from God 16:14 that comes in different packages." 16:16 Now as I was saying while ago 16:18 what I was hoping that would happen to J.D Quinn, 16:21 I wanted to shortcut, most people want the shortcut, 16:24 we want that Damascus road experience. 16:27 I didn't read the small print 16:32 that after Paul was blinded nearly 16:35 had that thought in his side for the rest of his life 16:39 that he went and spent three years studying, 16:45 I didn't say that part. 16:47 I just went okay, Lord, here I am, 16:49 if you are real just get it done with, 16:52 knock me off my feet, I'm a believer. 16:55 Very few people have the opportunity 16:58 of having that particular road to follow. 17:01 Most of us do it the old fashion way. 17:05 The old fashion way is that it's a progression, okay. 17:12 Let's talk about transformation. 17:14 Transformation is to be radically changed, 17:17 radically changed. 17:18 Radically changed, it means this. 17:20 You are going in this particular direction here 17:23 and radically you're turned around 17:26 going the other way. 17:28 Now that's what radically changed me, 17:29 because lots of times wherever I said 17:31 I was took a short left or a right 17:34 whenever I should have gone the designated way. 17:37 You know, you kind of skew off 17:40 and you kind of like it 17:41 because you are thinking for yourself. 17:44 But the thing about is you are not following the path 17:48 that God has destined for you. 17:50 Amen. 17:51 You know, anyway 17:53 for us to be transformed into the image of Jesus, 17:56 we must experience God's power in our life. 17:59 And that's why it's called a miracle. 18:01 Amen. 18:02 No human power could achieve this. 18:05 Transformation of the sin nature being recreated, 18:07 a new creation in Christ is a miraculous event 18:11 that takes place in people's life daily 18:14 around the world. 18:16 So bottom-line is, 18:18 God is still in the miracle working business. 18:23 Transformation of the sin nature 18:26 to the nature of Christ. 18:29 It isn't like we were just talking about while ago 18:31 we're on the spot lightning fast transformation 18:34 but it is developmental, step by step. 18:39 And it happens as we set the feet of Jesus 18:42 learning from Him, receiving His love 18:44 allowing Him to cloth it with a robe of righteousness 18:47 and then going out to share our testimony 18:52 of His mercy, love, grace. 18:55 In other words His power to change. 18:58 That's when the rewards are really present 19:03 whenever you can take the gift that He gave you 19:08 and you incorporated into your own heart and your own mind. 19:13 And then you are excited to pass it on to someone else. 19:17 Amen. 19:18 Oh, now you talk about it, 19:20 we can sit and we can talk about cocaine, 19:22 we can talk about meth, 19:23 we can talk about all the supposedly highs of the world. 19:27 But those are downers. 19:29 The greatest high in the world 19:32 is whenever you can take what the Lord has given you 19:34 and if you haven't been there don't knock it 19:38 because I'll tell you, 19:39 it'll take you some places that you've never been before. 19:41 Amen. 19:43 And it gives-- it's a passion 19:46 and you really want to get out there and I mean, 19:48 I know people out here that are evangelist. 19:51 I know there's people out here 19:52 that don't thank their evangelist 19:54 but they evangelize everyday in their own backyards. 19:56 And so anytime that you do something that's wonderful, 20:03 you'll be blessed by it 20:05 but not only will you be blessed by it 20:07 but someone else will be blessed by it. 20:10 Go back to Romans 12:1 and 2. 20:14 I don't know, I'd like for you, 20:16 I know lots of people take notes. 20:18 I've got lots of scripture here tonight, 20:20 so we're gonna fly through a lot of scripture. 20:22 But this where we need to begin right here. 20:26 Thank you Brother Donnie for sharing this. 20:29 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, 20:31 by the mercies of God, 20:34 that you present your bodies 20:36 a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, 20:38 which is your reasonable service. 20:40 And do not be conformed to this world, 20:43 but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, 20:46 that you may prove what is that good, 20:48 and acceptable, and perfect will of God." 20:51 So we're gonna be transformed by the renewing of our mind. 20:55 Boy, is that supernatural? 20:57 Because I mean each one of us, 20:59 everybody has a mind 21:02 and you don't know what's going on up there, 21:05 but boy, I'll tell you, 21:07 once you are infused and you are renewed. 21:12 Somebody here's the new sheriff in town, 21:15 and boy with that new sheriff in town, 21:18 you get lots of respect. 21:21 If people don't respect you 21:23 the most important person in the world respects you 21:25 and that's God 21:26 and number 2 is your own self 21:28 because you knew where you came from. 21:32 Nobody knew you when you were down in the gutter. 21:35 But, boy, when you were pulled up you know, 21:37 now you feel good about feeling good 21:39 because you know the trip that you took. 21:42 And nobody else can appreciate that. 21:44 How can Satan tells stories that just frightened me. 21:48 Our roads went different whenever we were young men. 21:51 And, boy, I'll tell you those pills couldn't get him 21:56 and I mean this is... 21:59 Mark would like to get a hold and see what he did there, 22:01 you know, I mean taking all these pills 22:02 and everything and still walking good. 22:04 But anyway the word transformed 22:07 in the Greek language is metamorphoo, 22:12 metamorphoo which means to be radically change 22:15 for us to live according to God's will in a sinful world. 22:19 We need a complete metamorphosis, 22:21 a radical change in our mind, 22:23 in our nature, in our character. 22:26 We need a total renewing of our mind 22:28 by the power of God's word and the Holy Spirit. 22:32 We need a miraculous metamorphosis, 22:34 the miracle of transformation that only God can achieve, 22:40 only God can achieve, not mankind, 22:43 not the newest drug that's on the market, only God. 22:48 It's a change, it's an alteration, 22:50 it's a conversion. 22:53 What is metamorphosis? 22:55 Here again, you're gonna know 22:57 by the time you leave here this evening 22:59 that a metamorphosis is the transformation. 23:03 Transformation is the development process 23:05 involving the conspicuous and relatively abrupt changes. 23:08 It proceeds in distinct stages. 23:12 A moth change in appearance, character, 23:14 condition and function and in the physical realm 23:19 normally we think of what 23:20 when we talk about metamorphosis. 23:26 We think of butterflies, 23:30 one of the best courses I ever took in college was entomology. 23:34 One of those classes you know that I was just taking 23:37 because it look like it was fun. 23:38 I want to just take just-- 23:40 I wanted it just to because 23:41 I could just see myself just running through 23:43 you know my little net, 23:45 with my little net, catching butterflies and bugs 23:48 and whatever. 23:49 You know but boy, I learned names like Carabidae, 23:52 Scarabaeidae, Lampyridae, you know, 23:54 Muscidae what is your ordinary housefly 23:57 but I learned all this stuff. 24:00 But what I really like was the butterfly 24:04 and what we're going to talk about tonight 24:07 is the monarch butterfly. 24:09 Beautiful bright orange you know 24:11 with all the black streaking through it. 24:13 Everybody knows a monarch butterfly. 24:17 What I want to attempt to do 24:20 by the grace of God it'll be done 24:23 is take the developmental stage of that monarch butterfly 24:28 and draw an analogy of us in our metamorphosis. 24:34 Okay, so we're coming from two different sides 24:38 but we're coming in the middle because God had a plan. 24:42 He has systems and it all makes sense, 24:47 if you can look at the big picture. 24:53 Monarch butterflies the female butter, 24:57 the female monarch is very picky 25:02 about where she lays her eggs. 25:04 This is a miracle right here 25:06 because the monarch butterfly can only lay eggs 25:11 underneath a milkweed leaf. 25:16 Now if it laid an egg under an oak leaf, 25:20 poor little monarch, he's not gonna make it. 25:24 But there's a miracle in itself to me. 25:27 I mean if somebody had to be in charge of, 25:28 you just didn't evolve into, you know, 25:30 I mean there is trillion milkweeds 25:34 and they finally found an egg that lived. 25:37 Doesn't work like that. 25:38 I mean He knew from the very beginning, 25:39 He mean God. 25:42 The eggs are laid singly 25:43 and germinating on the underside of the leaves 25:45 are small about the size of a period on your typewriter 25:48 you know, and then from the egg comes a caterpillar, 25:52 so small at first that it can barely be seen. 25:58 Now I'm miracle, we just saw the monarch, 26:02 our miracle is yours and my miracle 26:04 transformation begins when we are born again, 26:07 by the power of His spirit 26:08 and by the word of God. 26:10 John 3:5 Jesus answered, 26:12 "Most assuredly I say to you 26:15 unless one is born of water and the spirit, 26:17 he cannot enter the kingdom of God." 26:20 Found in 1 Peter 1:23 26:23 I like that 1, 2, 3 26:25 these are easier for me to remember 123, 26:28 "Having been born again, not of corruptible seed, 26:30 but incorruptible, through the word of God, 26:33 which lives and abides forever." 26:35 So you are not exchanging bad seed for bad seed. 26:38 He's taken you from the corruptible seed 26:41 which we were and perhaps are, you know, 26:47 and He just put some good seediness oil. 26:53 Now the caterpillar only has one responsibility, 26:59 eat, eat, inch along, eat, inch along, eat, inch along, 27:06 that's his responsibility. 27:09 It would seem to me that when we're first born again, 27:13 we're all feed to because 27:15 that caterpillar has 8 legs 16 feet 27:22 and they are really clumsy too. 27:25 But here we are now you know, 27:28 I think that... you bet 27:31 so weird little baby Christians, 27:33 we're clumsy, we're curious 27:36 and our job is to eat, eat, eat. 27:41 And we start off by feeding on the milk of the word 27:45 as we just inch along. 27:47 1 Peter 2:2, "As newborn babes, 27:50 desire the pure milk of the word, 27:53 that you may grow thereby." 27:56 Mathew 4:4, "Man shall not live by bread alone, 27:58 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." 28:02 So what does this mean? 28:03 It means that we're learning who we are in Jesus Christ. 28:06 We are learning, who we? 28:08 Do we have a identify crisis or not, 28:10 that's what we're learning 28:12 as we're starting of as baby Christians. 28:14 Is there something to this? 28:16 I mean there's people, I remember, boy, 28:18 when I first read, my first Luke, 28:20 my first King James. 28:21 I read through there 28:23 without inviting the Holy Spirit 28:24 to come in and be my God, 28:26 to be my comforter, to be my intelligence. 28:30 I couldn't understand it. 28:33 So I mean but I sure do understand today. 28:37 But I'll tell you what I'm no longer on milk, 28:40 I'm eating meat. 28:41 Amen, but it was a developmental process, 28:46 just didn't jump in there one day and start, 28:47 oh, I want a T-bone of word to God. 28:51 Now certainly I started with that little old milk, okay. 28:56 2 Corinthians 5:15, 28:58 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, 28:59 he is a new creature, old things have passed away; 29:02 behold, all things have become new..." 29:06 Part of my transformations from-- 29:09 from drinking milk to progression 29:14 was Shelley Quinn my little precious wife 29:18 wrote a book called Exalting His Word. 29:20 On page 136 it says, 29:22 it's got a new creation in Christ relates to past. 29:25 Now this is an affirmation, 29:26 she took three scriptures and gave her affirmation. 29:30 But then you pray this over your life and listen here, 29:35 I'm a new creation in Christ Jesus. 29:38 I do not dwell, J.D does not dwell on the past 29:41 for God is doing a new thing in J.D. 29:44 I released J.D's past and I press forward. 29:47 J.D's all nature has vanished. 29:50 And now only my J.D Quinn's new Christ like nature exists. 29:55 Everyone of us ought to be saying that out loud 29:58 because you know 29:59 the power of life and death is in the tongue 30:02 and so we've got good stuff is going in, 30:06 then there's good stuff is going to come out. 30:08 But if you're gonna sit here and say poor me, 30:10 well, I don't deserve this, I don't deserve that, 30:12 you know I had-- 30:14 I got whipped too many times when I was a kid, 30:16 you know, I mean this is programming your mind. 30:20 You need to find out 30:21 that you're a new creation in Christ. 30:22 Then hold on because you're gonna go on trail, okay. 30:26 The caterpillar faces a challenge as it grows, 30:29 their skin cannot grow with them. 30:32 So their progression remember, 30:37 they're eating, eating, eating 30:39 so the outside skin gets to be too small 30:41 but miraculously God has set things up 30:45 so that underneath the old skin there's new skin 30:48 that's a little bit bigger. 30:50 And so what happens is as he goes along 30:53 he ditches that-- 30:54 he ditches that the old skin and a new skin. 30:57 He does this five times, 31:00 so I mean this little dude's eating 31:03 and then by the time that he gets through eaten. 31:05 There's a caterpillar now he go went from a dot 31:09 that can barely be seen, he's two inches long. 31:13 It took 9 to 14 days to get that two inches long. 31:18 As Christians we undergo 31:19 a similar molting process as we grow, 31:21 we're admonished to put off the old, put on the new, amen. 31:28 Ephesians 4:22-24, 31:32 Ephesians 4:22-24, okay, 31:36 "That you put off, concerning your former conduct, 31:38 the old man which grows corrupt 31:40 according to the deceitful lusts, 31:41 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 31:43 that you put on the new man 31:46 which was created according to God, 31:48 in true righteousness and holiness." 31:50 So your spiritual destiny 31:55 is the death of the old life in the flesh 31:57 and the beginning of a new life in the spirit. 32:00 Amen, developmental one step at a time, 32:04 process, process going milk, eat-- 32:07 drink more milk, 32:09 you know drink more milk of the word, amen, amen. 32:15 Let's get this straight. Thank you, Shelley. 32:21 Now when the caterpillar becomes full grown, 32:24 he leaves the milkweed, plant and he finds a safe place, 32:29 oh, what a word the pupate. 32:33 I didn't make that word up, 32:37 forgive me if I am saying it wrong 32:39 but it's called pupate. 32:43 The pupate is that's the development stage 32:45 between the last larvae form and the adult form. 32:48 So anywhere some place in there, there is a pupae, 32:52 okay, so unlike moths who have cocoons 32:57 and there's a sermon in itself because we've been told 33:02 that we're not supposed to stay in that cocoon. 33:05 We're supposed to get out and fulfill our destiny 33:08 as men and women of Jesus Christ. 33:12 So what happens now is that it makes a silk like mat 33:16 and then it attaches its last two legs, 33:18 Remember it had eight legs. 33:20 Now this is an insect, insects have six legs, 33:23 well, now all of a sudden it makes sense 33:24 for those other two legs limp. 33:26 He's attaching those to that little mat 33:29 and then he just hangs down there. 33:32 Well, now lot of people think that he's taking a vacation, 33:36 well, he's hanging there but he's not lots of stuff 33:38 that's going on right there. 33:40 And they called this the chrysalis 33:43 and they're about an inch longer. 33:44 Chrysalis is a casing. 33:49 And inside this chrysalis the caterpillar 33:52 is undergoing major changes. 33:56 He's growing, he's being transformed from that pupae, 34:04 from that egg into that caterpillar 34:11 and to a beautiful butterfly, amen. 34:16 What a miracle, what a miracle. 34:19 And God designed that 34:21 so that we could just look and enjoy that. 34:24 But at the same time, He's working on us. 34:28 So the chrysalis age for the Christian is 34:30 when we really learn to die to self, amen 34:35 and acknowledge that our real life 34:36 is hidden with Christ in God, 34:39 Colossians 3:2, 3, 34:41 "Set your mind on things above, 34:42 not on things on the earth. 34:44 For you died." 34:45 The old man died and you're live, 34:48 your real life is hidden in Christ Jesus. 34:53 So we need to learn to be still and to know 34:57 that God is indeed in charge. 35:01 We need to know that we can trust Him. 35:03 We need to know that He equips us 35:06 with everything that we need. 35:08 I want to say that again because this is humongous. 35:13 We have to learn to be still and to know that He's God 35:17 and that we can trust big word right there 35:21 because nobody can trust anybody, 35:24 but we can trust Him to equip us 35:29 with everything that we need. 35:31 Wait a minute here, 35:34 you mean that I show up and I listen, 35:39 and I know through faith that your God, 35:42 and I place my trust in you 35:44 and that you're going to take care of me. 35:47 You're going to enable me to take the next step. 35:51 I didn't say it, this is what the Bible says. 35:55 This is what inspired man said 35:58 they got their inspiration from God Himself. 36:02 Hebrews 13:20, 21 "Now may the God of peace 36:05 who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, 36:07 that great Shepherd of the sheep, 36:09 through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 36:11 make you complete in every good work to do His will." 36:14 To align our will with His will. 36:19 You know, we pray about this all the time in pastoral. 36:22 Brothers, let's get on the same page 36:23 because for something to happen, 36:26 we've got to align your will with His will, 36:28 otherwise you know we can just sit here 36:31 and pray till the cows come, 36:33 because you are not on the same page. 36:35 So here it's saying you know that by us 36:38 cooperating with Him that the wills become as one. 36:43 Amen. Amen. 36:46 So it's a wonderful comfort to our faith. 36:50 Lots of faith, lots of comfort. 36:54 Little faith, little comfort. 36:58 Philippians 2:13, 37:00 "For it is God who works in you both to will 37:03 and to do for His good pleasure." 37:06 It's consequently not your brothers and sisters, 37:09 it's not by ourselves. 37:11 We give Him permission 37:15 so people that are looking for miracles, 37:19 you just got a glimpse of it. 37:22 Turn it over to Him. 37:25 It's said up here if we learn to be still know 37:27 that He's God trust Him and everything 37:29 we need will be there and but the great-- 37:32 the great news is, 37:33 is that we don't have to do this by ourselves 37:36 because we can't do it by ourselves, 37:38 we're just little old babies. 37:41 So he turns around, 37:42 he takes over and then we blossom. 37:47 And then as we share our faith with other people they blossom. 37:51 Amen. Amen. 37:55 So we have to cooperate rely totally upon God's power. 37:59 The power of His word and the spirit 38:00 to get us to the next stage 38:02 of our Christian development growth. 38:05 Now step five dramatic changes 38:08 occur inside the chrysalis, the case. 38:12 Remember, chomp, chomp, chomp, 38:14 chomp, chomp, chomp. 38:15 Well, wait a minute 38:16 as he's flying around as a little butterfly. 38:20 He's not out there chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp, chomping, 38:22 he's going to flower to flower so something's got to happen. 38:26 He's got to create a beak that he can suck that juice, 38:32 so this is what happens there. 38:34 This is what happens inside that chrysalis. 38:38 I mean these are just things 38:39 that who would think about this? 38:41 I mean, I don't think about stuff like that, 38:44 I've never in my life thought about chomp, chomp, chomp, 38:47 then all of a sudden, you know, 38:48 you turn around and here's a beautiful butterfly 38:50 over here sucking nectar out of the flower. 38:54 Hence 9 to 14 days transformation 38:56 from caterpillar to butterfly is complete 38:58 and that little old baby creepy insect 39:01 that we saw before now becomes a beautiful flying insect. 39:05 Miracle? 39:06 Yes. 39:07 Did it happen that fast? 39:09 No, developmental, step by step. 39:14 As we are hidden with Christ in God, 39:16 His ways become our ways. 39:19 We begin to graduate from the milk of the word 39:22 and by the power of the Holy Spirit, 39:23 we're trained by practice get that, 39:28 you don't just grab it and then you sit on it. 39:32 We got to practice, so we get what we-- 39:35 we absorb what we got 39:37 and then we go out in practicing 39:39 and I know that if you are on the fire for the Lord, 39:42 you can't wait to do that. 39:44 Now you don't know everything. 39:46 But your passion, it'll make up the difference for the things 39:52 that you don't know and you'll find out 39:54 because then you become very honest with yourself 39:56 because you don't want to disappoint you savior. 39:59 I don't know that answer 40:00 but I'll sure find out 'cause I want to know 40:03 and so then there's that development 40:05 so you know you could just see how you just grow. 40:11 Psalms 34:8, 40:16 I like this because it threw me off, 40:19 "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good." 40:21 Taste food, so that's where my mind went 40:26 but He's talking about taste here means no J.D, 40:30 you got to experience it, so taste here means, 40:33 oh, experience and see that the Lord is good. 40:38 "Blessed is the man who trust in Him." 40:42 My goodness I know that I'm blessed 40:49 and I know that I'm blessed with beyond my wildest dreams 40:54 because I guess that my faith must be wild, 40:58 made beyond my wildest dreams you know and I'm still a baby. 41:02 So this is gonna be exciting by the time this is over. 41:06 And if I'm a baby, 41:07 there's people out there that are babies too. 41:11 But you got to jump on the wagon sometime or the other 41:14 because the secret of this is, 41:17 is that you don't have to do it by yourself. 41:20 Even if you had to do this by yourself, 41:22 I don't know if I could carry all that load. 41:25 Even as a young man I couldn't carry the load. 41:29 Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing, 41:32 that He who has begun a good work in you 41:36 will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." 41:41 What a promise. 41:43 I started my walk and I'm not gonna be dumped. 41:50 He's the Author, He's the Finisher. 41:53 So you know we're a team, we're partners. 41:57 I'm getting excited because this is about Him, 42:02 He's the pilot you know 42:04 I remember whenever I was young, 42:06 is God your co-pilot? 42:09 Well, we sure dumped that. 42:12 You are the co-pilot, 42:13 He's the pilot and it went right over my head, 42:19 I thought well, I'm glad that He's my co-pilot. 42:23 You know but that when you're on the milk, see. 42:29 The chrysalis suddenly cracks open 42:34 and out crawls the monarch butterfly. 42:40 His little wings are tiny. 42:42 They are crumpled, they are wet. 42:44 They're extremely vulnerable to predators 42:46 because they're not yet able to fly. 42:50 So he is clinging to that empty chrysalis as his pumps, 42:57 what they call hemolymph through his body 43:00 and that is insect blood. 43:02 But-- 43:03 And then as that goes through 43:04 and it feels a monarch's body wings 43:06 they began to get larger 43:10 and then after about an hour 43:14 after he comes out of that chrysalis, 43:16 the monarch wings are full size dry 43:19 and ready for flying. 43:22 Wow, in our lives... 43:26 as the miracle of spiritual transformation is in process, 43:29 we're also vulnerable to a predator. 43:33 I'll tell you who that predator is... 43:36 Satan. 43:38 Some people take the easy way out calling to evil one. 43:43 He's bad, he's a bad dude. 43:46 He takes no prisoners. 43:50 1 Peter 5:8-10 "Be sober" 43:53 didn't know what sober meant, 43:55 I thought well no booze, 43:59 that's where the milk is, 44:01 okay "be sober" that meant be well balanced. 44:06 Boy, I do believe in balance. 44:09 Be well balanced J.D, "be vigilant; 44:11 because your adversary the devil 44:13 walks about like a roaring lion, 44:15 seeking whom he may devour. 44:17 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, 44:20 knowing that the same sufferings 44:21 are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 44:24 But may the God of all grace, 44:26 who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, 44:30 after you have suffered for a while." 44:32 Oh, oh, it's not a free ride, not a free ride. 44:39 You've to suffer a little bit but that's all right 44:42 because then it will be perfect established 44:44 strength and settle you. 44:47 Amen. 44:51 The blood that gives Christians wings 44:53 to fly is the blood of Jesus. 44:58 It's not hemolymph, it's the blood of Jesus. 45:03 We were purchased by His blood. 45:05 We were redeemed by the blood of the lamb. 45:09 1 Peter 1:15-19. 45:14 "He who called you holy, 45:16 you also be holy in all your conduct, 45:19 because it is written, 45:22 'Be holy, J.D, for I am holy.' 45:27 And if you call on the Father, 45:28 who without partiality judges according to each one's work." 45:33 To me that's fair enough, you know, 45:37 I can't be judged on what Shelley does, 45:39 Hal does, Donnie does, the pastor does, 45:42 I can't be judged on what they did. 45:46 No, I mean, this is mine, this is me. 45:52 "Conduct yourselves throughout the time 45:54 of your stay here in fear, 45:56 knowing that you were not redeemed 45:58 with corruptible things, 45:59 like silver or gold, from your aimless 46:01 conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 46:06 but with the precious blood of Christ, 46:09 as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 46:13 Amen. 46:15 And of course we can all go different places 46:17 we know that silver and gold. 46:20 They feel good in your pocket 46:22 but after a while you may not have pockets 46:25 to even put 'em in. 46:27 So consequently you know it's the blood of Jesus. 46:32 He washes away our sins by His blood. 46:35 Revelation 15:1, 5-6, 46:40 "From Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, 46:42 the firstborn from the dead, 46:45 and the ruler over the kings of the earth. 46:46 To Him who loved us and washed us 46:48 from our sins in His own blood, 46:49 and has made us kings and priests 46:52 to His God and Father, 46:53 to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever." 46:58 And then it ends it amen, amen. 47:02 His blood cleanses our conscience 47:05 from dead works as He takes us 47:06 through the transformation process 47:08 and I want someone out there to listen to this because, men, 47:11 when we talk about consciences, our conscience can kill us. 47:16 And then here is something 47:18 I think that I'm gonna learn 47:19 through this transformation process 47:21 that someone can get me a clear conscience. 47:25 Oh, I do I want that. 47:27 Boy, do I want comfort. Boy, do I want peace. 47:32 Boy, do I want confidence and, boy, do I want quietness. 47:37 And I'll guarantee you 47:38 Shelley and I've been into business for over many years 47:41 and boy there for awhile we were broke, broke, broke. 47:44 We put it all on the line. We went red, it went black. 47:48 That's the joke but anyway it didn't go our way. 47:52 So, you know, we hated every time 47:59 the phone called every time-- 48:01 and you know we as human beings 48:04 because we have a conscience 48:07 that we went left when we should have gone right, 48:10 in fact we're just fearful all the time 48:14 because we're scared but there is a way out. 48:18 Amen. 48:19 There is a way out. 48:20 Amen. 48:21 'Cause I know in my particular case 48:24 I like that quietness that means 48:27 that I'm settled that means that bring it on. 48:32 "Greater is He that is in me than that is in the world." 48:35 And if you're still on milk you can understand that words 48:38 but you don't really understand the dynamics of that 48:43 because, boy, when you know the greater 48:44 He is in you and that's Jesus Christ in you 48:48 because we've all read the end of the book the Bible. 48:52 We know that He's going to prepare a place for us. 48:57 And if He went to prepare a place for us 48:59 that means He's going to come back 49:01 and that means it Hal and Mollie, 49:03 Shelley and I, Pastor and Angie, 49:05 you know everyone of us in here 49:08 is going to have our own home. 49:10 And we're gonna get to build our own home. 49:13 Wow, this could be fun. 49:15 Don't have to worry about loan. 49:19 You know, the money is there. 49:23 Hebrews 9:14, 49:24 "How much more shall the blood of Jesus Christ, 49:26 who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself 49:28 without spot to God, 49:30 cleanse your conscience from dead works 49:32 to serve the living God?" 49:34 For you out there that have a conscience 49:36 that's eaten you up. 49:37 Hebrews 9:14, 49:40 put that one in your back pocket 49:42 because you don't need to be out here 49:44 with all that weight on your shoulders. 49:47 There's a miracle working God out there. 49:49 That's waiting to transform each one of us. 49:53 He's ready to take that old nasty dead conscience 49:56 and He's ready to throw it on the ground and stomp on it. 50:00 Revelation 12:11, 50:01 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb 50:03 and by the word of their testimony." 50:05 Amen. 50:07 I love that word of the testimony. 50:09 Didn't understand what that meant 50:11 when I was on milk 50:14 but that mean what that means is that 50:17 as each one of us go from our larva, 50:21 caterpillar larva, the pupae, the caterpillar 50:28 and we come out like a butterfly. 50:31 That means that we have a testimony. 50:35 Let me tell you what the Lord did for me 50:38 I was talking with Lenny here while ago. 50:40 We had a good time the other night, 50:42 the last night and that we heard some real miracles. 50:46 Tell us some miracles J.D because we all want to know, 50:49 we all want to know that God is alive and well. 50:52 We want to know that He's still in a miracle working business. 50:56 We all want to know that miracles exist today. 50:59 I'm a miracle? Yes. 51:01 Boy, I know that I'm a miracle. 51:03 And I'm gonna fast track right now 51:06 and I thank Jesus for putting me on that fast track. 51:09 And I'll guarantee you 51:10 sometimes you feel like choking on the milk 51:13 'cause it's coming down so fast 51:15 but then you know that you don't know 51:16 when the next train is going to come by. 51:19 And so you don't want to sit here 51:21 and just disappoint the person that wired you. 51:25 The person that created you because we all have a destiny, 51:30 we don't know what that destiny is, 51:31 until it's all said and done. 51:33 And whenever we're sitting across the table 51:35 from our Lord Jesus Christ, 51:36 can you explain what my destiny was, 51:39 and I'll tell you please young people don't go 51:44 and throw this stuff away, this is real. 51:46 If you get into the milk of the word 51:49 and if you will stay with it and you can't do it. 51:52 Don't have to do it, 51:54 He says hey I'll come in there and I'll help you. 51:56 I'll help you understand what this is all about 51:59 'cause I got a plan for your life. 52:01 I want to take you out of that message 52:03 you're in right now, amen. 52:06 They unto have to exercise our faith muscles 52:09 before we can fly, we have to walk in obedience. 52:12 May be really dried out and everything 52:14 but we got to have our wings too 52:16 and our wings is by obeying. 52:19 It feels good to obey. 52:21 You know it feels good 52:22 to be able to look over your shoulder 52:24 and the booker man is not there whatever that is... 52:29 you know, it may be somebody looking for some money, 52:34 you know may be you stole from somebody 52:37 and you're looking over your shelf. 52:39 It may be that you got yourself in a message 52:41 that you never meant to get there, 52:43 but there is a way out. 52:45 'Cause, boy, there's nothing better than quietness 52:48 that you can sleep good at night. 52:52 1 John 5:3-4, "For this is the love of God, 52:56 that we keep His commandments, 52:57 and His commandments are not burdensome. 52:59 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world, 53:01 and this is the victory 53:02 that has overcome the world, our faith." 53:07 Our faith. 53:10 After the monarch butterfly takes flight 53:13 that now uses its strong like tongue to sip the nectar 53:18 from all the beautiful flowers. 53:20 For us says in 2 Corinthians 1:20, 53:24 this is when we learned 53:25 that all of His promises are ours in Christ. 53:29 So we're going out there 53:30 and we're drinking the nectar from His promises. 53:33 We're getting stronger and then we're drinking deep 53:38 from the wells of salvation. 53:40 Amen. Amen. 53:43 Four to six days after emerging, 53:45 the monarch is old enough to mate. 53:48 The monarch butterfly takes flight to pursue 53:50 its main adult activities 53:51 and that is mating and reproduction. 53:54 It has no time to waste because its adult life 53:58 will last no longer than 2 to 6 weeks before it dies. 54:04 Likewise J.D you have no time to waste. 54:11 Brothers and sisters, we have no time to waste. 54:15 We need to pursue our main activity of going out 54:17 and making disciples for the Lord. 54:19 Yes. Amen. 54:21 We have all received the great commission 54:25 and I know here at 3ABN, 54:27 we know what our great commission is, 54:29 but I'm just gonna share Matthew 28:19-20, 54:33 " Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 54:36 baptizing them in the name of the Father 54:38 and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 54:41 teaching them to observe all things 54:43 that I have commanded you, 54:45 and lo," J.D, "I'm with you always." 54:50 J.D, "I am with you, even to the end of the age." 54:55 Wow, it's exactly right 54:58 'cause I'm not in this by myself. 55:01 I'm sitting over in the co-pilot seat you know. 55:06 My responsibility is to-- 55:09 and I've given the Lord permission to do this. 55:11 Lord Holy Spirit, 55:13 if I go left when I should go the right, 55:15 I give you permission to grow my ears. 55:17 If you don't make my ears bigger till they are falling, 55:19 I still I'm not listening, 55:21 I give you permission to get out that stick 55:22 and hit me over the head. 55:23 I'm tired of going left when I should go right. 55:27 Just tired of it, 55:29 and if you start getting some gray hairs, 55:32 then all of a sudden you know 55:34 that you just find out that you just don't like hassles. 55:39 You know I'm tired of hassles 55:41 and so, boy, whenever red lights 55:43 are read light I stop, 55:45 I used to run through them when they were only yellow. 55:48 I knew it was like a game. 55:50 But I'm tired of hassles, you know. 55:53 But I don't have to sit and worry 55:55 about little things like that anyway. 56:04 The butterfly, monarch butterfly lives 60 days, 56:07 70 days, 70 days, 3 score and 10, 70 years. 56:13 So there is how it all fits in together. 56:16 There is no doubt that of a transformation 56:18 from the sin nature to divine nature of Christ 56:20 is a miraculous work of God. 56:22 We know that. 56:24 Miracle of transformation by God's divine power, 56:29 we gonna make new creations in Christ. 56:31 A miracle we must all experience in our lives 56:34 to be fit for eternal life in the kingdom of God. 56:40 You'll never regret it. 56:45 I know that God loves each one of us here. 56:48 I know that God loves each one of you out there. 56:51 This is about Him, it's not about you. 56:55 If nothing else, remember 56:56 that you don't have to do it by yourself. 56:59 He's your best friend, amen. 57:02 Love each one of you. 57:04 God bless you. |
Revised 2015-03-19