Participants: Dwayne Lemon, Lance Wilbur
Series Code: TKS
Program Code: TKS000019
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00:29 Hello, my name is Dwayne Lemon.
00:31 And I am Lance Wilbur. 00:32 And we'd like to welcome you 00:34 to another program on TKS, a True Knowledge of Self, 00:38 where we get to know ourselves from a biblical prospective. 00:41 We want to thank you, for joining us 00:42 and it's always a blessing to study the word of God 00:45 where we learn so much about what God wants for us. 00:48 You see, there is a great controversy 00:50 that is taking place in this world. 00:52 The great controversy started in heaven 00:54 as we studied in Revelation 12 briefly. 00:56 And we saw that the study shows 00:58 that the great controversy is between Christ and Satan. 01:01 But it went from heaven 01:03 and it transitioned to the earth. 01:05 And the Bible said, "Woe to them, 01:07 that dwell on the earth, 01:09 for the devil has come down now on to us having great wrath, 01:11 because he knows he has but a short time". 01:13 We did not choose to enlist in this world but we are in it 01:16 and the reason the reason why we are in it 01:17 is because Satan can no longer get access to God directly, 01:21 but he can still get excess to God's heart 01:24 by affecting those whom God has given His heart to, 01:27 which is you and I. 01:29 And that's the reason why 01:30 we are in the midst of this great controversy. 01:32 And God wants us to win 01:35 and that's the reason why 01:36 we have been studying the Bible, 01:38 we have been looking at various things 01:39 in the scriptures that talk about 01:41 things that have happened in the past 01:42 but how it affects us today. 01:44 You have heard Brother Lance, and my testimony 01:46 about how Lord has brought us up 01:49 in-- in the from the world, and the things of this world, 01:52 into His marvelous light of His truth, 01:54 and we were definitely affected by urban culture, 01:57 we are affected by the hip hop culture, 01:59 and there were many things that was in our lives 02:02 that at one time we thought represented righteousness, 02:04 but as we did a careful study of the word of God 02:07 and as God spoke to our hearts, 02:09 we realized that the things that we called righteous, 02:11 were the things that the Bible calls wicked. 02:13 And we realized that a change needs to take place. 02:15 And we can change ourselves, 02:17 but through a true knowledge of self, 02:19 we understand that there is one, 02:22 who can change us, and his name is Jesus. 02:24 And we have been going through the word of God 02:26 and studying all throughout history, 02:28 the ways that God has moved 02:29 in the history of His people in times past 02:31 and how God will move amidst His people today. 02:35 We were looking at the subject of Babylon, 02:37 and we were looking at how God's people Israel 02:40 were bought into captivity. 02:42 And as they were bought into the captivity, 02:44 there were methods, there were things 02:46 that Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, 02:48 wanted to introduce to the minds of the Israelites 02:50 to take away the things that God had taught them, 02:54 the things that God had blessed them with. 02:56 And we saw that there were three things 02:57 that Nebuchadnezzar used 02:59 in initially, in the Daniel, chapter 1. 03:01 The first one was he wanted to change their education. 03:04 The second one, he wanted to also change their names. 03:07 But then we saw on the third 03:09 that he also introduced a diet to them. 03:11 And in him introducing this diet, 03:13 this was such a major issue to the Daniel 03:16 that he found himself having to openly protest against it 03:21 and refuse to partake of the kings meal, 03:23 or to drink his wine. 03:25 And yesterday, we were going over 03:26 how, you know, the appetite is something 03:30 that is very important in the eyes of God 03:32 and then in the eyes of scripture. 03:33 And we were looking at 03:35 the importance of controlling ourselves 03:36 as it relates to appetite. 03:38 In Hip-Hop culture today, in urban lifestyle, 03:40 many a times, we kind of eat what we want 03:42 and do what we want, 03:44 depending on the disciplines, there are some areas 03:46 where there's a little bit more discipline than others. 03:49 But generally speaking, in our world today, 03:51 people kind of do what they want to do, 03:53 when they want to do, how they want to do 03:55 as long as the belly growls for it. 03:56 And, therefore, we were addressing 03:58 the subject of appetite, 03:59 and we are going to continue to pick back upon this 04:01 because there is so much that the word of God, 04:03 wants to revels to us, as it relates to this subjects. 04:07 Lance, we were going over-- in our last program, 04:10 we were looking at the important 04:12 of having temperance or self control, 04:15 as it relates to the subject of the appetite. 04:17 And we were looking at some very powerful statements 04:19 from the word of God 04:20 showing that God took this so seriously 04:22 to the point that He said that, 04:24 if we did not have control over appetite, 04:27 if we were controlled by appetite, 04:29 it would be better to put a knife to our throats. 04:31 I mean, what strong language that the Bible would use 04:33 to talk about the importance of controlling appetite. 04:36 And we were looking at why. 04:38 And we saw that one of the reasons why, 04:39 one of the greats reasons why 04:41 is because we serve the law of God with our minds 04:44 and what we eat and drink directly affects our minds. 04:48 And we started to look back 04:49 from times past with Adam and Eve 04:51 and how they failed on the point of appetite, 04:54 and they failed to the test of the lust of the flesh, 04:56 the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life 04:58 and then we looked at Jesus, that second Adam. 05:01 And when Jesus came, 05:03 Jesus was also tempted on the same three points, 05:05 lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes 05:07 and pride of life 05:08 and it was all based on appetite, 05:10 but Jesus had the victory. 05:12 And you were building on that point 05:13 and we were talking about that 05:15 and you were trying to help us 05:16 see the magnitude of this challenge, 05:19 this temptation, this trial of appetite, 05:21 but how Christ got victory 05:23 and through Christ, we can get victory as well 05:25 and how the Bible shows us things 05:26 about our selves and our bodies that we need to understand. 05:29 Why don't you, you know, 05:30 continue to built on that for us? 05:32 Because I think these are very important points. 05:33 Yeah, and the Bible goes on, you know, 05:35 this is not that just something that we have a snap shot, 05:38 and it talks about appetite randomly here and there. 05:40 We built, you know, a solid case 05:43 and we saw that the Bible is giving the evidence 05:45 necessary to realize the importance of appetite. 05:49 However, the Bible continues 05:50 and going forward in the New Testimony, 05:52 I want to, you know direct our attention to a text 05:54 that kind of establishes a core principle, 05:57 as it relates to our bodies, our minds 06:00 and our own spiritual development 06:03 and spiritual health. 06:04 It is found in 1 Corinthians Chapter 6. 06:07 So I want to direct our attention there. 06:08 Now I am going to read 1 Corinthians Chapter 6 06:12 and I am going to read verses 19 and 20. 06:16 Paul, the apostle Paul is speaking here 06:18 to the church at Corinth 06:19 and we know that church of Corinth 06:21 had various problems and controversies and issues. 06:24 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 20. 06:27 It says," What? 06:29 Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost 06:33 which is in you, 06:34 which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 06:36 For ye are bought with a price. 06:39 Therefore glorify God in your body, 06:43 and in your spirit, which are God's." 06:47 It was a very interesting scene if you will where you had now 06:53 instead of only Jews, you know, cultural Jews. 06:57 Expecting the Messiah, you now had a massive amount 07:00 after the crucifixion in what we refer to 07:04 as the day of Pentecost in Acts Chapter 2, 07:06 you have a massive influx now of non Jews becoming 07:11 what we refer to now as Christians, 07:13 followers of Christ. 07:15 And as these, you know, basically heathenistic, 07:18 Greco-Roman individuals from all over the globe, 07:21 and then various other cultures now come into the "church," 07:26 they are bringing some of their customs 07:28 and their culture into the mix. 07:31 And one of the predominant thoughts or ideologies, 07:37 world views if you will, or something called dualism, 07:40 it's a fancy word but it is very simple, 07:43 they basically thought that every thing, 07:45 you know, they believed in the spirit 07:47 and they believed in the physical, 07:49 the physical, what is referred to metaphysical, 07:51 beyond the physical, right. 07:53 And we get this from the philosophers, 07:56 Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, right. 07:58 And essentially, they looked at the spirit as completely 08:04 and 100 percent separate from the body, the physical 08:09 and that the body simply a shell 08:12 that was housing the spirit. 08:14 And as soon as the body would die, 08:16 the spirit would be released 08:17 into some other existence, you know. 08:20 And then other people, 08:22 philosophers had different thoughts 08:23 as to where you were go and what you do? 08:25 But nevertheless, in the mind set, 08:27 in this world view, everything physical, 08:30 whether that is a table, 08:31 or that's the human body was evil. 08:34 It was corrupt, it was wicked, it was perishable. 08:37 But everything spirit was eternal 08:41 and good and right and "holy" 08:44 so this concept, you know, dominated the culture, 08:49 pretty much the cultural 08:50 where all of this activity is going on, 08:52 and this influx of Christianity is taking place. 08:55 And so they are coming in, accepting Christ, 08:58 and believing somehow 09:00 that if you serve Christ with your spirit, 09:04 it doesn't matter what you do with your body. 09:06 And you know, that's interesting 09:07 because there are religious movements today 09:09 even under the title of Christianity 09:12 that had the very same view that you are sharing right now, 09:15 presently even here in 2013, 09:17 where individuals actually will think 09:20 it's not really about the physical tangible 09:23 but it's more about the spiritual "eternal." 09:25 Right. 09:27 And, so people say, "Oh, it doesn't matter, 09:29 what I do with my body, my heart is right with God" 09:30 and things like that. 09:32 Yeah, well, this concept is ancient, right. 09:34 In fact, we traced it there, 09:35 kind of back to the Garden of Eden 09:37 and that controversy there. 09:38 But nevertheless, this dominated the scene 09:42 and Paul is having to address this 09:43 in Galatia, in Corinth, in Ephesus. 09:46 The same thing is happening 09:47 because you have these large Metropolises, 09:49 these large cities like, imagine a New York 09:51 or, you know, or London, or Paris, Chicago, 09:54 these places are, you know, in existence 09:58 to a certain degree in ancient times, 10:00 in the city of Corinth, Ephesus, 10:02 these large metropolises 10:03 where people from all over the world are gathered, 10:05 commerce, money, everything is flowing there, 10:08 and these church are growing, thousands of people coming in, 10:11 thousands of people are coming in 10:13 and these compromises are being made. 10:15 And so Paul is having to hear these stories, 10:18 and then send letters to correct and address. 10:20 So he is saying here that, 10:22 "Do not you know that your body is the temple of the Holy ghost 10:25 which is in you, which is you have of God, 10:27 and you are not your own. 10:29 For you are bought with a price. 10:31 Therefore, glorify God in your body 10:33 and in your spirit, which are God's." 10:36 So he is saying, basically, because you are not your own, 10:40 you are bought with a price 10:42 and he's talking about the sacrifice that was made, 10:44 the blood of lamb through Jesus Christ 10:47 because God saved you, and redeemed you 10:49 from damnation and wickedness. 10:52 In Jeremiah 79 and all these verses we've looked at, 10:54 "You have sinned and fall short." 10:56 You are worthy of death, but the God has saved you. 10:58 He has purchased you if you will. 11:00 You are slave sold into slavery and He bought you, 11:04 and redeemed you, and restored you, 11:05 adopted you into His family. 11:07 Because He has done that, you don't have the liberty 11:13 to do whatever you want to do, with your body. 11:15 That's right. Nor your spirit. 11:17 And so he has to stress this concept 11:19 over and over again. 11:20 So what this text is saying that, 11:23 we as the followers of Christ, we have been purchased, 11:28 not just by the redemption of the Son of God, 11:32 but by creation. 11:34 God has the authority to tell us what to do 11:38 with our bodies that He has created by creation 11:41 and in a following condition because He saved us, 11:43 He has the authority to tells us, 11:45 what to do now, even now 11:47 because He has adopted us back into His family. 11:50 Now this becomes very, very important then 11:52 because a lot of people think that, 11:55 it's amazing how we can take upon the name of the God 11:58 but yet, we don't manifest 11:59 the characteristics that He expects of us. 12:01 And He also imparts power for us to live this lifestyle. 12:05 And here it is that you are introducing 12:07 to a lot of people what would be paradigm shift, 12:09 it's like, wait a minute. 12:10 You mean that, that it's not just all about "spirit" 12:14 but I need to also be mindful of my body, 12:17 and be a good stewardship, steward over my body as well. 12:21 And this is how Paul is, he is reminding them of this, 12:24 or he is informing them, 12:25 "Don't you know that your body is the temple?" 12:28 And I love how he separates, body, spirit. 12:32 And spirit. That's right. Yeah. 12:33 It's like he is not making the sound 12:34 like that they are just one, but they are separate 12:36 but, yet God expects us to stewards over both. 12:39 Now considering this on the point of appetite then, 12:42 what is God's view when it comes to 12:44 what we put inside of the temple, 12:47 the temple of our bodies? 12:48 I mean, what does God say about that 12:50 then if we go ahead and just say, 12:51 well, I'm still gonna put whatever I want in my system, 12:55 irregardless of the fact 12:56 that I realize I've been bought? 12:58 Because, think about it. 12:59 If something is bought, 13:01 that means that whoever bought is the owner, 13:02 not the item itself. 13:04 And we understand that on a temporary level. 13:06 But so it is that if we realize that 13:07 we are the purchased of the God, 13:10 we have been bought, that means 13:12 that we don't have ownership of our bodies. 13:13 Now watch this. 13:15 The same way that if I walk into a store, 13:18 and I take something. 13:20 Or let's us make it more clear. 13:21 Let's say I go into someone's home, 13:23 and they bought a vase or vase and here it is, 13:27 that you know when I go into the house, 13:29 I see that and I say I like that 13:30 and I just take it. 13:32 I am taking what someone else bought. 13:34 Now anyone with common sense would know 13:36 that's called stealing. 13:37 And the eight commandment says, "Thou shall not steal." 13:40 And to break the commandments, it is sin. 13:42 So, when an individual takes their body 13:46 which God bought and owns, and when God gives instruction 13:51 from His word to see this is how I want the body, 13:54 my temple to be taken care of. 13:56 These are the things that I don't want put in it, 13:58 these are things I do want to put in it, 14:00 so that it may function at his highest capacity. 14:03 When an individual chooses to say, 14:05 I am gonna take, Lord, what you bought, 14:08 knowing this information, if you are ignorant, 14:09 if someone don't know, God doesn't condemn them. 14:11 But if they know, 14:13 but for the mere indulgence of appetite, 14:15 I like it, I want it, so I am gonna do it any how. 14:18 When an individual does that, they have done more 14:21 than just make a bad decision that could hurt their liver, 14:24 or hurt their heart or hut some other part 14:26 of their human anatomy, they have sinned. 14:29 Because the Bible lets us know that when we take something 14:33 that has been bought by an another 14:35 and we use it for our own purposes 14:37 without the permission of the owner, 14:38 that is clearly called stealing 14:40 and it's amazing how in our eating and drinking habits, 14:44 if we do not carefully study the word, 14:47 we could be committing something 14:49 that the Bible condemns, 14:50 which is sin, and not even realize it. 14:53 And this is why, God want us to open our eyes. 14:55 This why we are going over these studies, 14:57 because a lot of people don't know this. 14:59 They don't understand this, 15:01 and again, the Bible says in John 3:19, 15:04 "This is condemnation, 15:07 that light is coming to the world 15:09 and men loved darkness, rather than light." 15:13 When light comes to us and we say, I don't want it, 15:16 because it interferes with the path of my life, 15:20 at that point Gods says, "Now condemnation comes." 15:23 But before that time comes, it is not condemnation. 15:27 If the person didn't know, then it's not condemnation, 15:30 it's education. 15:31 And I am sure that we have lots of viewers 15:33 that are hearing this and they are saying, 15:35 "I didn't know this." 15:36 And we want to assure you as our viewers 15:38 that this is not a point of condemnation to you. 15:41 This is the point of education 15:43 and education is not condemnatory, 15:44 education is wonderful. 15:46 But again, it's true education, it's a true knowledge of self, 15:49 it's true understanding of God and Jesus Christ, 15:52 whom He had sent, and God's will for our lives. 15:55 So continue to enjoy this study 15:56 because it is liberating, not enslaving. 15:59 Lance, let's go ahead and continue 16:00 because is it-- is it there something in the script 16:04 that speaks very plainly about God's attitude 16:09 towards those of us 16:10 who recognize the body as the temple, 16:12 but yet, we'll go ahead 16:14 and just indulge in whatever we want 16:15 in the name of appetite, 16:16 does the Bible speak clearly of, 16:18 well, what would happen to an individual 16:21 if we just chose to ignore the thing of God, 16:23 do what we want any how? 16:24 What is-- Does the Bible speak on this? 16:26 We are gonna go to another verse 16:28 and it's just, you know, sometimes God has given us, 16:31 you know, intellect and reasoning 16:32 and because there is only two choices, right, 16:35 life or death. 16:37 Many times, for example, in John 14:15. 16:40 Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments." 16:45 Because that is true, 16:47 you know, it's the law of non contradiction. 16:49 Because that is true, the opposite is also true 16:53 and not true in the sense that, they both, you know, 16:56 contradicting each other, but they both are reality. 16:58 So Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments." 17:01 Well, the opposite of that is, if you don't love me, 17:04 don't keep my commandments. 17:05 So, by one being stated, the opposite is also a reality. 17:09 So if don't love Jesus, don't keep His commandments. 17:11 But He says, but if you love me do. 17:13 So, in this, just reading, first Corinthians 6,19 and 20, 17:18 we glorify God, we are called to or commanded 17:21 if you will to glorify God and our body and our spirit. 17:24 Which are God's. 17:26 So, that means there is the potential 17:28 that we can dishonor God or not glorify God 17:30 in our body and in our spirit. 17:33 SO it's-- it's there in the text book, 17:34 we want to go to another just to show clearly 17:36 how serious God take this matter 17:38 and we are going just back to few chapters. 17:41 We are going to 1 Corinthians Chapter 3, 17:44 1 Corinthians Chapter 3, 17:47 and we are looking just at the verse 16 and 17, 17:50 1 Corinthians Chapter 3:16 and 17. 17:54 It says again, "Know ye not 17:57 that ye are the temple of God 17:59 and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 18:03 If any man defile the temple of God, 18:06 him shall God destroy; 18:09 for temple God is holy, which temple ye are. 18:14 Now some might argue, while contextually, 18:17 Paul, the apostle is talking to the church as a whole 18:21 and that is correct, but there is the concept, 18:26 you know, it's a theological concept. 18:28 I refer it to as cooperate solidarity, right. 18:31 It simply means like is like, so for example, 18:34 if I am-- if I have my family gathered. 18:37 I have four children and my wife. 18:38 I have my family gathered and I issue some kind of, 18:41 we-- we have talked about this, we have discussed it, 18:43 my wife and I, and we are now telling my children as a group, 18:47 we have them all sitting there and we are saying, 18:49 alright guys, we want you to this or that 18:52 or we don't want you to do this or that. 18:54 I am speaking to my children, but as individuals, 18:59 every single individual child 19:01 is responsible for following that instruction. 19:04 Do you understand? 19:06 So even though I am giving the commands or the instruction 19:09 to my children as whole, each individual, 19:13 it applies to each individual the same as the whole. 19:16 So in this context, 19:17 while he is speaking to the church as body, 19:21 he is-- every individual is responsible for that 19:23 which is being spoken to the congregation. 19:26 So the temple of God is the church as a whole, 19:30 the body of Christ, but each individual, 19:33 your individual body is also the temple, 19:36 the indwelling, of the Holy Spirit. 19:38 Right. Absolutely. 19:39 So this is the promise, that the Holy Spirit 19:41 doesn't just come to the church as the whole, 19:42 every individual that makes that decision 19:44 and goes through that process, that conversion, 19:47 the Holy Spirit is given to him. 19:48 That's right. He gives gifts unto men, right. 19:50 So it says here that if any man defile the temple, 19:55 as a whole or as an individual member, 19:58 him will God destroy. 20:00 And again, this destruction is not because 20:03 God is looking to punish and crush people 20:05 but God will let the natural course, 20:07 you know, play out as we discussed in many cases. 20:10 If we go against God, then this happens. 20:13 We looked in Deuteronomy 28, blessings and cursings. 20:16 If we obey, then this happens. 20:18 If we are in a right-- 20:20 and we're in harmony with heaven, 20:21 then we have these blessings, if we are not in harmony 20:24 then the curses, as they're called. 20:26 Now there is a way 20:27 that the Bible expresses this very point 20:29 that I think would be worthy to read for the edification. 20:32 So that what we can really understand of this. 20:33 Proverbs Chapter 1. All right. 20:35 In Proverbs, the first chapter, 20:37 the same thought that you just expressed about, 20:40 you know, some people paint a picture of God, 20:42 that He is on a killing spree, you know. 20:44 And He loves to destroy the people, 20:45 and all these type of things 20:47 and it not that God does not destroy. 20:48 I do believe that there are definitely biblical examples 20:51 that God does destroy. 20:52 But we have to understand one of the means 20:54 of how this destruction comes 20:56 and we are gonna look at it on a more deeper level. 20:58 It says in Proverbs, the first chapter. 21:01 And here is what it says in verse 25 21:04 and I am gonna read it down a little bit 21:05 because I think it's very powerful. 21:07 Proverbs Chapter 1 21:08 and we are gonna look at verses 25, 21:11 and we are gonna ahead and take it down to verse 31. 21:14 It says, "But ye have set at nought all my counsel, 21:20 and would none of my reproof. 21:23 I also will laugh at your calamity; 21:26 I will mock when your fear cometh. 21:28 When your fear cometh as desolation, 21:29 and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; 21:32 when distress and anguish cometh upon you, 21:34 then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; 21:38 they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. 21:41 For that they hated knowledge, 21:44 and did not choose the fear of the Lord. 21:47 They would none of my counsel: They despised all my reproof. 21:50 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, 21:56 and be filled with their own devices." 22:00 And so you will find that God is saying, 22:02 I came to you to give you life, 22:04 I came to you to give you instruction, 22:07 I came to you to give you council 22:08 so that you can know how to have a happy life 22:11 here on this earth, as well as prepare 22:13 and be an instrument of preparation 22:15 for eternal life also in the earth made new. 22:18 If an individual says, I don't want this council, 22:21 I don't want these reproofs that you give us 22:23 well, then what happens is God says, 22:26 all right then, I am gonna let you 22:29 follow the path of your own decision, 22:31 but I am gonna also let you 22:32 eat the fruit of your own decision. 22:34 Right. Now a question. 22:36 Does God cut the person off 22:38 that they chose not to go against him? 22:40 No, absolutely not. 22:41 When God, God appeals to the heart 22:44 over and over and over again. 22:45 As long as there is a even a-- a small hole 22:48 in the conscience of the man, 22:50 where God see, He can reach that individual, 22:51 God's gonna go ahead and do it. 22:53 Right, so it's like, when we look at the Genesis 3, 22:55 it says, if you eat it, you are going to die. 22:58 They ate it, did not drop dead. 23:01 Because God's character that we looked at in Exodus 34 23:03 that He is merciful and gracious, longsuffering, 23:06 abundant in goodness and truth, right. 23:08 So God is constantly is trying to win and save, 23:11 even when we are rebelling, rebelling, rebelling 23:14 but people don't like this idea but there does come a time, 23:17 that if you continue, God has to say, 23:20 like He says in the book of Isaiah, 23:22 what more could I have done for my vineyard. 23:24 That's right. 23:26 So, therefore, this is what God is trying to reveal. 23:28 His heart, remember, 23:29 "I present before you life and death, 23:31 blessings and cursings, choose life." 23:33 This is Gods attitude to us. 23:35 Choose life, choose the right way, come on. 23:37 And He pulls and He draws 23:39 and He does every thing possible 23:41 to make His love and His grace known to us. 23:45 But individuals have choice and we can choose to say, 23:49 I don't want your grace, I don't want your love, 23:51 I don't your mercy. 23:52 And if an individual chooses that, 23:54 God says, I will respect your choice enough, 23:57 that I will allow you to go ahead 24:00 and see the fruit of your labors. 24:02 And you know, God is so good that, 24:03 even when in an individuals choose a foul path of life, 24:06 God will let them, fall into a pit, 24:10 the pit that they themselves walked into, 24:12 he will let them do it, but in many respects, 24:14 God will still have His mercy and grace there 24:16 that even when they fall, it's not a detrimental fall, 24:19 it not something where you can't get back up. 24:22 Gods says, all right you fell on your face now. 24:24 Now are you willing to accept me. 24:26 You know, one of the people I think about 24:27 with this is Pharaoh. 24:28 I mean, look at how much mercy 24:30 God showed to that very wicked king. 24:32 And it was as if he was just adamant. 24:35 He became I would say, pickled 24:37 in his decision, in his rebellion. 24:39 Are you talking about in the time of Moses? 24:40 Yes, this is Pharaoh in the time of Moses 24:41 and it got to a point 24:43 where there was nothing else that God could do. 24:46 Pharaoh, you must now eat of fruit of your labor. 24:49 You chose sin, Pharaoh. 24:52 I must now allow you 24:53 to receive the payment that comes with sin. 24:55 And that was death. Right. 24:56 And this, in your own story, God spoke to you and said, 24:59 "Will you listen to me now." 25:00 Thank the Lord, 25:02 that instead of me being like Pharaoh and saying, no, 25:04 I was in that limousine saying yes to God. 25:07 And it could have gotten a lot worst, 25:09 but you know what, it's still sad 25:10 because my nephew had to die 25:14 so that I may receive eternal life. 25:16 God offered eternal life to me before my nephew's death. 25:19 Had I accepted it in the times that God offered it, 25:22 I could have shared it with my nephew 25:23 and my nephew probably could have been with us today. 25:26 There are people you say, you know, listen 25:29 you know, when a person dies, 25:31 it's there time so it is what it is. 25:33 But the Bible doesn't teach that fully. 25:35 It is true Ecclesiastes 3:2, the Bible does say, 25:40 that "there is a time to live and there is a time to die." 25:43 That true. 25:44 So definitely, there is time to die 25:46 and Jesus demonstrated that. 25:47 There were many times the Jews tried to kill Jesus 25:50 but in them trying to kill Christ, 25:51 Jesus said, it is not my time and as a result of that 25:54 He could not die before His time. 25:56 So we know that the Bible does teach 25:58 that there is a time to die. 26:00 But in Ecclesiastes 7, 26:03 we also know that it says, in verse 17, 26:06 "Neither be thou foolish 26:09 for why wilt thou die before thy time?" 26:13 So you got to take balance of all scripture. 26:15 Not everyone who dies, died because it was their time. 26:18 It is possible that if we indulge in things 26:22 that are foolish, that it can cause us 26:25 to die before our time 26:27 and of course, that's gonna break 26:28 not only the heart of God, 26:29 but it breaks of all those around us who love us 26:31 and wanted us to remain with them. 26:33 And this why we are going through these councils, 26:35 this is why we are going through these scriptures 26:37 so that we can help people 26:38 see the realities that God loves us 26:41 and He wants us to follow Him in His will and His ways. 26:44 Right, and if we understand this, 26:45 we are talking about all these things 26:46 and we are talking about governess of the physical body 26:49 and the importance of it 26:50 and the connection to mental and spiritual. 26:52 And sometimes we think, 26:53 well, now, that's not important, 26:55 God is not concerned with that, 26:56 but we are not realizing that where it begins. 27:00 You know, God created the body. 27:02 So are we suggesting that God doesn't know the best way 27:05 to govern the body and to operate the body? 27:07 He has all these rules and regulations to govern, 27:10 the physical tabernacle in the wilderness, 27:11 the temple of God, the temple of Solomon, 27:14 but He doesn't have instructions 27:16 and rules to best operate 27:18 and keep our physical bodies clean 27:20 and that we are place 27:22 in which He desires to dwell in reality through His spirit. 27:25 Yeah, I mean, friends we've got into a point 27:28 where we're right at the close of our program 27:30 but we want to let you know this. 27:31 We have been studying 27:33 the importance of taking care of God's temple. 27:37 And we see that there are blessings 27:39 and there are curses. 27:41 But God always, He counts at us to choose the blessings. 27:43 We have been fairly general, but we're gonna be getting 27:45 much more detail and succinct in our next study, 27:49 so you come back and join us 27:51 and just remember Proverbs 2:6 that tells us, 27:54 "It is the Lord that gives us wisdom 27:56 and out of His mouth comes knowledge 27:58 and understanding." 27:59 God Bless you. See you next time. |
Revised 2016-02-25