Participants:
Series Code: ASHF
Program Code: ASHF000173A
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00:20 Hello and welcome to A Sharper Focus.
00:22 It's Wednesday night, 00:23 we thank you so much for taking the time to tune in. 00:26 And wherever you're tuning in from, 00:28 we are here at the 3AB Worship Center. 00:30 We hope that you have your Bibles 00:31 and your pads, it's that time to walk 00:34 through the Word of God together again. 00:37 And we welcome you with a hearty amen. 00:39 Can we all say amen? Amen. 00:41 Because we have our Bibles and our pens, 00:43 and we are going to continue tonight 00:45 in the topic of Our Greatest Need, 00:48 the truth about our greatest need. 00:51 What is our greatest need? 00:52 Well, we'll get into that topic in just a moment. 00:56 We always begin with prayer. 00:57 After the prayer, I'll tell you 00:59 where you can get a copy of the lesson, 01:00 and then we'll have our theme song, 01:02 and then we will begin our walk through God's Word together. 01:05 Let us pray. 01:07 Our loving Father in heaven, 01:08 we thank You that tonight we can turn our hearts 01:11 in the direction of Your kingdom, 01:14 that we can ask for Your Holy Spirit 01:15 to guide our minds and our hearts. 01:17 Today as we study, we can find in Your Word the answers 01:22 to the most urgent need 01:24 that we have in our walk with You. 01:28 May Your Word come alive as Your Holy Spirit guide us. 01:31 We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 01:36 Now if you need a copy of the lesson, 01:38 go to this following website, ASF.3ABN.org, 01:43 and download lesson number 39 entitled 01:47 Our Greatest Need, 01:48 and then follow along with us from there. 01:50 We're going to begin tonight on question number 11. 01:53 But before we do anything, we always have our theme song, 01:57 and our theme song is what? 01:59 Victory in Jesus. Let's sing the song together. 02:11 I heard an old, old story 02:15 How the Savior came from glory 02:19 How He gave His life on Calvary 02:23 To save a wretch like me 02:26 I heard about His groaning 02:30 Of His precious blood's atoning 02:34 Then I repented of my sins 02:38 And won the victory Together. 02:42 O victory in Jesus 02:45 My Savior forever 02:49 He sought me and bought me 02:53 With His redeeming blood 02:57 He loved me ere I knew Him 03:00 And all my love is due Him 03:04 He plunged me to victory 03:08 Beneath the cleansing flood 03:12 I heard about a mansion 03:15 He has built for me in glory 03:19 And I heard about the streets of gold 03:23 Beyond the crystal sea 03:27 About the angels singing 03:31 And the old redemption story 03:34 And some sweet day 03:36 I'll sing up there The song of victory 03:40 Key change. 03:42 O victory in Jesus 03:46 My Savior forever 03:50 He sought me and bought me 03:53 With His redeeming blood 03:57 He loved me ere I knew Him 04:01 And all my love is due Him 04:05 He plunged me to victory 04:08 Beneath the cleansing flood 04:12 He plunged me to victory 04:16 Beneath the cleansing flood 04:22 Amen. 04:24 The title is 04:26 the Truth About Our Greatest Need. 04:28 Let's say that together, 04:29 the Truth About Our Greatest Need. 04:34 Now it is quite unusual to think that in a world 04:38 where there are so many materialistic things 04:39 that we could own, 04:41 we might wonder what do we need the most. 04:44 And the reality of it is no matter what you own, 04:47 you cannot take it to heaven with you. 04:50 Nothing materialistic. 04:52 It could be the size of the head of a pin, 04:55 you cannot take it to heaven with you. 04:58 So when we talk about the topic Our Greatest Need, 05:02 what would that need be? 05:04 Well, let me lay the story this way. 05:06 Whatever we need to do to qualify for the kingdom, 05:10 that is our greatest need. 05:11 Amen? 05:13 Whatever can prevent us from making it to the kingdom 05:17 is the very thing 05:18 that we must remedy in order to be prepared 05:21 for the kingdom when the kingdom comes. 05:24 So that in fact is our greatest need. 05:27 Go with me to the Book of Luke 13. 05:29 I want to go ahead and show you 05:32 how Jesus often approached the topic. 05:35 Matter of fact, 05:36 when His ministry began 05:38 right after His baptism, 05:43 Jesus began to do 05:45 what John the Baptist was doing. 05:48 John the Baptist did it first 05:51 that is in his earthly ministry. 05:53 John the Baptist being 05:54 how many months older than Jesus? 05:56 Six months older. 05:58 That is but even though 05:59 he was six months older than Jesus, 06:01 Jesus existed from eternity. 06:04 But in his earthly life, 06:05 he was six months older than Jesus. 06:07 So to make the way for Jesus, he preached, 06:10 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 06:14 Matthew 3:2, that's what he talked about, 06:16 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven 06:17 is at hand." 06:19 Then he baptized Jesus 06:22 and then Jesus, in Matthew 4:7, 06:25 began to preach, 06:26 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 06:29 So in order for us to be ready for the kingdom of heaven, 06:32 what do you think, 06:33 according to what John the Baptist preached 06:35 and what Jesus preached, 06:37 what do you think is necessary to be ready 06:40 for the kingdom of heaven that is at hand? 06:44 What did they both say? What's the word? 06:46 Repent. Let's say it together. Repent. 06:50 And thank you, honey. 06:53 Years ago and Pastor Batchelor was the first to say this, 06:56 so I don't want to sound like I'm original here, 06:58 but years ago, Pastor Batchelor was driving by a church 07:01 and on a sign, it had this caption, 07:03 "Repent now and avoid the rush." 07:07 Everybody at one point or another is going to repent. 07:13 It's better to do it now than to wait till 07:17 that repentance is of absolutely no value. 07:20 Now it's not to say that there's a time 07:22 that the Lord won't accept your repentance 07:24 but it's good to do it 07:25 when we are cognizant and aware, of what, 07:28 and how important repentance is. 07:30 A matter of fact to show you how important it is, Luke3, 07:35 Luke 3, and look again, Luke 13. 07:39 Sorry, did I say 3? I heard myself saying 3. 07:43 Luke 13. 07:45 And we're going to notice the words of Christ. 07:51 Right? 07:54 Verse 1, "They were present at that season..." 07:58 And that's when Jesus 08:00 was warning of the cost of discipleship. 08:03 "There were present at that season, 08:05 some who told him about the Galileans 08:08 whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 08:13 And Jesus answered and said to them, 08:16 'Do you suppose that these Galileans 08:18 were worst sinners than all other Galileans 08:22 because they suffered such things?'" 08:25 In other words, before I go to the next verse, 08:26 He is saying, some people suffer things and we say, 08:28 "Well, boy, they suffer that 08:30 because they're worst sinners than us." 08:33 And they were describing the torment, 08:35 the torture that these Galileans went through. 08:38 But look what he says in the verse that follows. 08:41 "I tell you no." 08:44 In other words, let me make the point. 08:46 There is no sinner worse than the other sinner. 08:50 That's what He's in essence saying. 08:52 Do you suppose that because they went 08:53 through that kind of punishment, 08:55 they're worse than the other Galileans? 08:57 And Jesus says, "I tell you no." 08:59 What was the connection between the two groups? 09:02 In verse 3, "I tell you no." 09:05 Read this together, "But unless you do..." 09:07 What? 09:09 "Repent, you will all likewise perish." 09:14 So He's in essence saying to us, 09:16 "No matter what the sin, 09:17 we sometimes categorize sin as a big sin, 09:20 a little sin but sin is sin." 09:22 And Jesus was saying to those who were taken back 09:28 by the punishment the Galileans 09:30 had suffered at the hand of Pilate. 09:34 And He says, "So do you think that what they did 09:36 makes the other Galileans better than them?" 09:39 He said, "No, not at all." 09:41 So when we look at that, Jesus made it clear, 09:43 He went about preaching repentance 09:45 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 09:46 Matter of fact, go to another one with me. 09:48 Go to Acts 2, 09:51 Acts 2, 09:54 Acts 2, 09:58 and let's look at this verse together. 10:00 Just laying the foundation for the thought of repentance. 10:04 Acts 2. 10:05 And we're going to look together 10:06 at verse 38, 10:08 a man who knows what repentance is Peter, 10:10 who denied his Lord before the crucifixion. 10:12 Peter, who had turned his back on his Lord, 10:15 and even said he didn't have any association with Him at all 10:19 after claiming to be one of His disciples. 10:21 The Lord gave him forgiveness and chose Peter to be 10:26 the spokesperson on the day of Pentecost. 10:28 Notice these words in Acts 2:38. 10:32 And the question was asked to Peter. 10:37 In verse 37, matter of fact, verse 36. 10:41 "Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly 10:45 that God has made this Jesus 10:49 whom you crucified both Lord and Christ. 10:53 Now when they heard this, 10:56 they were cut to the heart and said to Peter 10:59 and the rest of the apostles, 11:01 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?'" 11:05 And Peter responded to them, let's read this together. 11:08 What did he say? 11:10 "Repent and let every one of you be baptized 11:14 in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins 11:18 and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." 11:23 He said, "Repent." 11:24 So now let's go to the next stage. 11:28 What is necessary to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit? 11:33 What must precede that? Say it. 11:36 Repentance and what else? Baptism. 11:39 Repentance and baptism. 11:41 What that means is to go into the new life with Christ 11:45 to receive the gift of the Spirit of God, 11:47 we have to not only repent of how we lived 11:49 but we have to make 11:51 that outward declaration of an inward commitment, 11:54 and then the gift comes, the gift comes. 11:58 Without the repentance, there is no gift. 12:02 And there are many people that want the gift 12:04 but they don't want the repentance. 12:06 And today, unfortunately, in many Christian circles, 12:09 membership is seen more than... 12:11 Membership is talked about more than repentance. 12:14 But we have to bring back 12:16 because the only thing that can keep us 12:18 from the kingdom outside of sin, 12:21 sin is a terrible thing, 12:22 but repentance is more powerful than sin. 12:26 Amen. 12:27 Repentance more powerful than sin if you repent. 12:33 Let's look at one more, Luke 17. 12:36 Luke 17, and then we're going to roll 12:38 through these questions together. 12:41 Luke 17. 12:48 More powerful than sin is repentance and forgiveness. 12:53 Luke 17. Okay. 12:58 And we're going to start with verse 3... 13:07 "Jesus said, 'Take heed to yourselves.'" 13:10 Take heed to who? 13:12 If you would put that in today's language, 13:14 check, examine yourself. 13:16 Examine yourself. 13:18 He said, "If your brother sins against you..." 13:22 What should we do? Rebuke him. 13:24 "And if he repents..." 13:26 Do what? Forgive him. 13:28 "And if he you sins against you seven times in a day 13:32 and seven times in a day returns 13:34 to you saying, 'I repent...'" 13:36 What shall you do? Forgive him. 13:40 Notice what He's saying here. What's the act of word here? 13:43 If he repents, forgive him. 13:45 If he repents seven times in a day, do what? 13:48 Forgive him. Now why? 13:50 Because if we repent and God forgives us, 13:56 and our brother repents and we refuse to forgive him, 14:00 then we have a higher demand 14:04 than God does. 14:07 And that's what Jesus is talking about here, 14:09 Jesus' teaching on offences. 14:12 But there's one more thing 14:14 that I want to also add before we go on. 14:15 Go to Acts 3, and look at verse 19. 14:20 Acts 3. 14:22 One more before we go to question number 11. 14:25 And these are just foundational thoughts about repentance. 14:29 We must never make our price 14:30 for repentance higher than Jesus does. 14:35 Acts 3:19. 14:39 Remember, Peter said, 14:41 "Repent and let every one of you be baptized." 14:43 But Peter continues preaching his second sermon. 14:47 The first sermon was repent and be baptized. 14:49 He said it to the Jews who recognized that 14:51 they were guilty of the death of Jesus. 14:52 Now his second sermon and verse 19. 14:58 He says again, "Repent, therefore..." 15:01 And what? 15:02 "Be converted that your sins may be blotted out, 15:06 so that times of refreshing may come 15:09 from the presence of the Lord." 15:11 You know what refreshing means? 15:13 Refreshing is like a cool glass of water 15:17 on a very, very hot day. 15:19 It brings relief. 15:21 When we know that we had been forgiven, 15:24 when we repent and we are converted, 15:27 the Lord is saying our sins are blotted out. 15:30 Now while you notice what we've said so far, 15:32 repentance is necessary before baptism 15:38 and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. 15:41 Repentance is necessary 15:43 before we are converted and our sins are blotted out. 15:47 So here, let's go, put that together, 15:49 no repentance, no gift of the Holy Spirit. 15:52 No baptism means absolutely nothing. 15:55 No repentance, no conversion, 15:58 and your sins are not blotted out. 16:00 No repentance, you're not ready 16:02 for the kingdom of heaven that is at hand. 16:05 So when you really narrow it down, 16:06 it is not the death of Jesus Christ, 16:09 the death of Jesus Christ is the greatest act 16:11 toward the sinner. 16:13 But it is of no value except the sinner accepts 16:18 what Christ has done and repents to be covered 16:22 by his righteousness, and then what comes in? 16:26 Your sins are forgiven, you are converted, 16:31 your sins will be blotted out 16:33 when the time of refreshing comes. 16:35 Not just forgiven, but blotted out. 16:40 And then you will receive the gift of the Spirit of God 16:43 in harmony 16:44 with your outward profession through baptism. 16:47 So repentance, can we say by an amen, 16:51 repentance is important? 16:52 Amen. 16:54 It's probably at the highest point 16:56 of the list. 16:57 Now if repent... 16:58 Let's just add one more text. Go to Acts 17. 17:02 Because somebody might say, 17:04 "Well, they need repentance but I don't repentance too." 17:10 Acts 17. 17:13 What the apostles did, and by the way, 17:17 their messages were so potent because one of the first things 17:23 they did was they went to those Israelites 17:26 who had this message for thousands of years 17:29 but ended up rejecting Jesus. 17:31 They had to get them to the place 17:32 where the Lord can use them. 17:33 So they said, 17:35 "All that your fathers had done, 17:36 all the prophets you have persecuted 17:38 through the centuries, all that you have done 17:40 to lead to the crucifixion of Jesus, 17:42 you need to repent of that, or also as the house of Israel, 17:46 you would have no positive end." 17:50 And as we know, eventually, Jesus even said, 17:55 "How I would have loved to have gathered you 17:57 as a hen gather its chicks, but you wouldn't come to me. 18:00 But notice what Peter says here again, Paul sorry, 18:06 says here again. 18:07 Acts 17:30. 18:14 Okay. Are we there? 18:18 And the Bible says, 18:20 "Truly, these times of ignorance, 18:23 God but overlooked or winked at, but now..." 18:28 Notice what he does. 18:29 "He commands all men everywhere..." 18:33 To do what? 18:34 "To repent because he has appointed a day 18:39 on which He will judge the world 18:41 and righteousness by the man whom He has ordained. 18:46 He has given assurance of this to all by raising him 18:51 from the dead." 18:54 And we know the rest of the story 18:56 when the Sadducees heard this message about Jesus 19:00 being raised from the dead, they were mad 19:02 because they did not believe in the resurrections 19:03 but the Pharisees did. 19:05 And later on the Apostle Peter, even the Apostle Peter, 19:10 understanding how difficult it was seeing his persecution, 19:14 he chose to side with the Pharisees 19:17 against the Sadducees. 19:18 But the point I'm making here, how many of us, 19:21 how many of us are commanded to repent? 19:26 Where? Everywhere. 19:29 Just men in America? 19:31 "Command all men everywhere to repent." 19:35 Why? 19:37 Because that is what prepares us 19:41 for the kingdom of heaven that is at hand. 19:43 Let's look at question number 11. 19:45 Repentance is a huge act on our part, 19:49 but we'll find out in our story tonight 19:52 how repentance occurs 19:54 because repentance for the sake of repentance is of no value. 19:57 We will find out 19:58 how repentance actually happens. 20:00 Question number 11, 20:02 "Why did Jesus take 20:05 on the form of human flesh?" 20:09 Why did Jesus take on the form of human flesh? 20:14 Hebrews 2:14-15. Let's look at that together. 20:18 Hebrews 2:14-15. 20:23 Okay, here we are. 20:24 The Bible says, 20:26 "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken 20:30 of flesh and blood..." 20:32 By the way we are the children. 20:34 "The children have partaken of flesh and blood..." 20:37 That is the sinful nature. 20:38 "He Himself likewise shared in the same, 20:42 that fall in flesh, 20:45 that through death he might destroy him 20:48 who had the power of death that is" together, 20:52 "the devil, and release those who through fear of death, 20:57 were all their lifetime subject to bondage." 21:02 You know what that means? 21:03 That means there were those 21:07 through fear of death thinking that, 21:10 and when you put this together, 21:12 thinking that somehow the worst thing 21:14 that could happen was death. 21:16 But the worst thing 21:18 that could happen is death without Jesus. 21:22 It's terrible when a person dies 21:23 without Jesus, but they were fearful of death. 21:26 But Jesus took on that human flesh, 21:29 the flesh that the nature that Adam 21:31 had after Adam had fallen, he took it on 21:34 so that he could identify with us, 21:36 took on the flesh and blood, 21:38 the same flesh and blood that you and I have, 21:41 that the children have. 21:42 "As the children have partaken of flesh and blood, 21:45 He Himself shared in the same. 21:47 And then He took that, I want you to follow this, 21:49 then he took that nature of Adam, 21:51 that fallen nature, and then the Bible says, 21:54 "Through death that he might destroy him 21:59 who had the power of death." 22:01 So He took that nature, took it to the cross, 22:04 and it died there. 22:05 Can we say amen? 22:07 But let me tell you what that means. 22:09 That means if Jesus took the nature 22:12 that controls us to the cross and it died there. 22:17 When we put him on, 22:18 we don't put on that nature any more. 22:20 We put on what nature? We put on His nature. 22:25 Let me use a different word. 22:26 He took the character 22:28 we had to the cross and killed it, 22:30 it died with Him. 22:32 But when He was raised, 22:33 He was raised by the glory of His Father, 22:36 He was raised in a perfect sinless condition. 22:41 So when we put Him on, 22:42 what character are we putting on? 22:45 Christ's character, a perfect sinless condition. 22:48 But not only that, it is that direction, 22:50 it is that act that releases us 22:54 from all of our fear and the bondage 22:57 that He was talking about, is bondage to the devil. 23:00 And how does the devil hold us bondage? 23:02 Now I must pause here to just say this. 23:06 The devil holds us bondage through our sinful nature... 23:13 Because this nature subjects us to him 23:18 as our controlling master. 23:21 But if we allow that nature to be killed as Christ took it 23:25 to the cross 23:27 and we put on another nature, what does it do? 23:29 It releases us, who through fear of death 23:33 were all our lifetime subject to bondage. 23:35 Now why does the Bible say fear of death? 23:38 Because they knew, let me get it, 23:40 the wages of sin is death. 23:42 So that means, they were fearful 23:44 that they had to pay the price for their own sin. 23:48 But since Jesus took on our character, 23:53 took it to the cross and killed it, buried it, 23:57 and came forth from the grave with a perfect character, 24:00 we don't have to be fearful any longer. 24:03 Amen. 24:05 If we simply put on His character. 24:07 And then what happens, 24:08 we are released from that fear of death. 24:11 In other words, we don't fear death any longer 24:14 because He releases from it 24:16 through the death that He took. 24:18 So why did Jesus take on the form of human flesh? 24:22 I just gave you the answer. 24:26 First of all, to destroy the devil, 24:28 and then to do what? 24:30 What word am I circling here? Release. 24:32 Release who? 24:35 Let's get rid of the word those, release us, right? 24:40 Because you can easily look at it, 24:41 you can easily drive past... 24:43 The other day we were driving, 24:44 we stopped on the highway coming back from the airport 24:48 and we pulled off 24:49 because I was tired and I said, "Angie, would you drive?" 24:52 And we pulled off 24:54 and discovered a correctional facility 24:55 that we didn't even know was on Highway 64, 25:00 didn't even know it was there. 25:02 And it's easy for us to say, "Boy, they are incarcerated, 25:06 people are incarcerated in there." 25:09 And just like the Galileans who did not get crucified, 25:12 it's easy to say, 25:14 "Boy, those guys must be criminals." 25:17 When Jesus would say to us, 25:18 "Unless you repent like they need to repent, 25:22 you both are going to perish." 25:23 He doesn't differentiate between 25:25 those who are behind the bars 25:27 and those who are in front of the bars 25:29 because how many of us must repent? 25:31 All of us. 25:32 But those who... 25:34 There are some people that are on death row 25:36 that are more free than some people 25:38 that are not on death row because they found Christ. 25:42 And some people that are walking into churches 25:43 every day, every week, singing songs, 25:47 and living the Christian life are still bound in fear 25:51 because they had not accepted the only one 25:53 that can release them from that fear. 25:55 So the answer is, 25:57 why did Jesus take on the form of human flesh? 25:59 To destroy the devil 26:00 and release us, that's the answer. 26:03 Destroy the devil and release us. 26:05 Amen? 26:07 That's what He did. 26:09 And He had to do that 26:11 because we could not do it with what we had. 26:15 We couldn't do it. 26:16 Okay, question number 12, 26:19 to destroy the devil and release us. 26:22 Question number 12, "What is there about us... 26:26 What is there about us that we need to be saved from?" 26:30 What is there about us that we need to be saved from? 26:33 Don't all of you start answering me 26:34 at the same time. 26:37 But let's go to Romans 7. 26:40 What is there about us that we need to be saved from? 26:44 Okay, Romans 7:18. Here it is. 26:47 Are you ready for it? Let's read this together. 26:51 "For I know that in me, that is in my flesh." 26:55 Let's read that together. That is in my what? 26:58 Flesh. 26:59 "Nothing good dwells, for to will is present with me, 27:05 but how to perform what is good I do not find." 27:10 So that means... 27:12 Okay, if you raise your hand at home, I'll see it. 27:16 How many of you have ever tried 27:17 to do something good and failed? 27:22 Okay, some of you don't want to admit it. 27:25 Every one of us. 27:26 You know why 27:28 because there's something weird in us, 27:33 in us that doesn't have the ability to do good. 27:39 Going back to the passage we read in Hebrews 2:14-15. 27:43 That's why Jesus took that nature in us 27:48 that couldn't do good to the cross, 27:53 killed it and gave us a nature 27:56 or a character that can only do good. 28:01 And that's the nature that we have to each day... 28:03 Each day we have to commit ourselves to living 28:06 in that place with Christ. 28:08 Why? 28:09 Because we still have something that is hanging around. 28:14 What in this... 28:15 What in this passage you see that's still hanging around? 28:17 Okay, there it is right there, flesh. 28:20 'Cause in our brains we have things 28:22 that we've done we can never forget, 28:24 we have places we've been we never forget. 28:26 Sometimes, we will smell a cologne or perfume 28:29 and we will remember something connected to it. 28:32 Has it ever happened to you? 28:33 Years ago, there was a perfume called Wind Song, 28:36 and the commercial was "Wind Song stays on my mind." 28:40 And there was perfume I remember smelling once, 28:42 and it took me all the way back to second grade 28:46 'cause that's what my second grade teacher wore. 28:49 And I actually saw her in her blue jacket. 28:53 She'd always wear a blue jacket and white pants. 28:56 And in the second grade I remember that 28:58 just from the scent of that perfume 29:01 because our flesh has memory. 29:03 Another way we say it, muscle has memory. 29:05 We remember things. 29:07 But this flesh that cannot do anything good, so let's say, 29:10 what is there about us that we need to be saved from? 29:15 Personally, my flesh, 29:18 my nature, my nature, 29:21 we've got to be saved from that. 29:27 And by the way, 29:29 when you wake up in the morning 29:30 that fleshes wakes up with you, 29:34 that's why Paul said he had to die every day. 29:36 How often he had to die? Every day. 29:38 Because muscle has memory, we remember things. 29:42 But the power that is there when we choose to die 29:46 will live in and through us. 29:48 "It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me." 29:51 Look at the next question, question number 13. 29:54 "Why is it so important for us 29:56 to be saved from our corrupt nature?" 29:59 Why is it so important for us to be saved 30:02 from our corrupt nature? 30:06 All right. Question number 13. 30:08 And let's go to Romans 8:8. Romans 8 and Romans 8:8. 30:14 Let's go there together. 30:16 Why is it so important for us to be saved 30:18 from our corrupt nature? 30:22 Have you ever... 30:24 I know many of you don't drink milk at all, 30:25 but maybe there was a time 30:27 that some of you did drink milk. 30:28 Do any of you remember what spoiled milk smells like? 30:33 Do any of you remember what spoiled milk tastes like? 30:38 We were in a country... 30:41 I'll be very kind and not say which country it was, 30:42 it was somewhere in Africa, and we were having dinner 30:47 and they poured spoiled milk in our cups. 30:52 And you could hear it chunking down 30:55 in the splashes, and I was eating. 31:00 And immediately my taste left 31:06 and I thought, 31:07 I looked at my wife and I was like. 31:10 And she looked at me and she was like. 31:13 And they said, "You don't want any." 31:16 There are certain things 31:17 you don't have to wait to think about right. 31:19 Do you want any? No. 31:21 Do you have any juice or water? 31:24 Anything but spoiled milk? 31:27 And they said, 31:29 "In our country, this is a delicacy." 31:33 I said, "I'm from America, in our country..." 31:36 I don't want to embarrass them 31:38 but I said, "Well, it's not a delicacy 31:39 in our country." 31:40 You know, sometimes, you have to be diplomatic. 31:42 Well, it is not a delicacy in our country. 31:44 In our country, and I stopped short of saying, 31:46 "In our country, 31:48 when the milk gets to that point, 31:49 we throw it out." 31:50 And they said, "Do you know 31:52 that when the athletes 31:53 come back from the Olympics, at the airport 31:56 we wave with them 31:57 with a big cup of spoiled milk?" 32:02 And she said, 32:03 "Well, you do the same in America." 32:05 I said, "No, we don't." 32:06 She said, "Have you ever had yogurt before? 32:09 Have you ever had cottage cheese before?" 32:11 From that day on, 32:13 I never had yogurt or cottage cheese. 32:17 So I realized, they got a point. 32:20 And, you know, I was not pleased by it 32:23 because I knew 32:25 what it represented, and to me, it was not a delicacy. 32:29 But, you know, for some of us... 32:33 For those who don't know God, 32:35 sin appears to be a delicacy 32:41 'cause sin doesn't upset certain people. 32:43 When you don't know the Lord, 32:44 sin does not make you go home and say, 32:46 "I shouldn't have done that." 32:48 Sin makes you go home and say, 32:49 "I'm going to do it again tomorrow. 32:51 I'm going to do it again the next day." 32:53 But when we understand sin the way God sees it, 32:57 it will putrefy us 32:59 and we will not even want to partake in it. 33:01 That's why the question was so vitally important. 33:03 Romans 8:8. 33:04 Why is it so important for us to be saved 33:06 from our corrupt nature? 33:07 Look at Romans 8:8. Here's the answer. 33:09 Together. 33:10 "So then those who are in the flesh..." 33:12 What? 33:13 "Cannot please God." 33:15 In other words, as Americans 33:16 won't intentionally drink spoiled milk 33:19 when it gets to the point 33:20 where it's clumping and plopping. 33:24 And she just took a spoon, 33:26 and what made it worse to try to convince us 33:29 that it was okay, 33:31 everybody else around the table was from the same country 33:34 and they all drink it together. 33:36 And I looked at them 33:38 and I went, internally I went, "Yuck!" 33:41 And they said, "It's good. It tastes good." 33:46 I said, "Not to me." 33:49 So my intent is not to offend you 33:51 if you're from that country. 33:53 I'm just saying what may be good at some place 33:56 is not good at other places. 33:58 It's the norms. 33:59 I'm using that only as an example, 34:01 not saying that spoiled milk is sin. 34:03 But some people have developed a taste for sin 34:06 and it pleases them. 34:09 We're with God, if we get to that place 34:12 where sin pleases us, 34:14 we are in the flesh and we cannot please God. 34:18 That was the purpose of the analogy. 34:20 Sometimes, sin is pleasing to us 34:24 but it is not pleasing to God. 34:26 So we have to get rid of the flesh 34:28 because we cannot please God 34:29 if we are in that kind of relationship. 34:32 Number 14, is that where we're going? 34:34 So why is it so important to be saved 34:35 from our corrupt nature? 34:37 We cannot please God with it. Cannot. 34:39 It's not possible. It is not possible. 34:43 Okay, here's the reason why. 34:45 Question number 14. Question number 14. 34:49 "What are the only two options we have... 34:52 What are the only two options we have in salvation?" 34:57 What are the only two options we have? 34:59 And that's based on my question, 35:01 but I know there are more options. 35:02 But a leading question, this is a legal question. 35:07 Let's go to Romans 8:13. 35:12 These are the two categorical responses. 35:15 Okay, Romans 8:13. 35:16 And here's what the Bible says, 35:18 "For if you live according to the flesh..." 35:21 Together the next three words. 35:23 "You will die, 35:24 but if by the Spirit you put to death, 35:28 the deeds of the body..." 35:31 What? "You will live." So get it now. 35:34 We want to live. Do we not want to live? 35:35 Yes. 35:37 So I pointed out that the repentance aspect 35:41 which is not specified in this verse. 35:45 "When you put into death, the deeds of the body, 35:48 it is through repentance that that takes place." 35:53 It is through repentance that takes place. 35:57 Repentance, the turning away. 36:02 Repentance is a change of direction. 36:07 Reformation is not only... 36:09 Repentance is the change of direction. 36:12 Reformation is to now live differently. 36:15 We'll talk about that in another topic. 36:17 But right now, we're talking 36:18 about the importance of repentance. 36:20 You can either live according to the flesh and you will die, 36:23 or live according to the spirit 36:27 by putting to death the deeds of your body, 36:31 the things you like to do and then you will live. 36:34 How many of us want to live? We all want to live. 36:37 Nobody wants to die. 36:38 It's amazing to me 36:40 that people are dying every day. 36:42 You know, a sad reality, we just lost a family member. 36:46 And people are dying every day. We're not unique to that. 36:50 But people are dying all the time. 36:52 And when people die, 36:54 the only question that we often have, 36:56 the only thing that lurks in the atmosphere 36:58 at the funerals of Christians is, 37:01 "I wonder if they're saved. 37:03 I wonder if they're going to make it." 37:05 And while we cannot answer the question, we could only, 37:09 based on what we see, hope and pray 37:12 that that individual will be in the kingdom. 37:15 But the reason why, 37:17 we read earlier, examine yourself, 37:19 is because we need to have the assurance 37:22 that if we were to die, we would be saved. 37:24 Amen? 37:26 I don't need to know 37:27 whether or not Tracey's going to be saved 37:29 or Bonnie or our teacher Jodi, I don't need to know that. 37:31 What I need to know is that I am going to be. 37:34 It's me. 37:36 I need to take here, numero uno, 37:38 and make sure that I'm in the right place 37:40 with the Lord. 37:41 Okay, what are the only two options? 37:44 Die or live. That's it. 37:47 The only two... 37:48 There's no third category. 37:49 And by the way, for those who think 37:51 there's a third category, you're already dead. 37:54 You're already dead. 37:56 You were born in sin, 37:57 you're already on the road to death. 37:59 But when you accept Jesus Christ, 38:00 you're on the road to life. 38:03 We're already dead. 38:05 That's why, "For God so loved the world..." 38:08 Matter of fact, look at John 3:17 very quickly. 38:10 Not John 3:16, John 3:17. 38:20 We're going to see this. 38:25 Okay. 38:36 Okay. 38:38 Yes, got the word here, good. Here it is. 38:42 John 3:17. Okay. 38:44 Had one letter there that I missed. 38:48 This is a beautiful passage. Okay, here it is. 38:51 Okay. John 3:17. 38:54 "For God did not send His Son into the world to do..." 38:57 What? 38:59 "To condemn the world, 39:00 but that the world through Him might be..." 39:02 What? 39:04 "Saved." 39:05 Why didn't He send His Son into the world 39:09 to condemn the world? 39:14 Tell me somebody. 39:19 Okay, here it is. 39:21 Because we are condemned already. 39:25 We are... 39:26 Say it together. "Condemned already." 39:29 "He that believeth and is baptized 39:31 shall not be condemned, but he that believeth 39:34 not is condemned already." 39:38 We're born condemned. I want to find that passage. 39:42 Okay ALREADY. 39:45 Here it is. John 3:18. The very next passage. 39:48 I'm looking for it 39:50 and it's right in the next verse. 39:53 "He who believes in Him is not condemned. 39:57 But he who does not believe is..." 39:59 What? 40:00 "Condemned already." 40:02 So there are some people who say, 40:03 "Well, I'm not a believer." 40:04 You know what? You're condemned. 40:07 Isn't that simple? It's fairly simple. 40:09 If you're a believer in Jesus, you're not condemned that is 40:14 if you've taken the active avenue of belief 40:17 'cause it's not just intellectual assent 40:19 that I believe that there's a Jesus, 40:21 but it is the turning over of your life to Him. 40:24 But if you do not believe you are condemned already. 40:26 The world is condemned already. 40:28 Jesus saw the world in the condition 40:29 that it's already in. 40:30 So our greatest need is to not be condemned, 40:34 this is where repentance comes in. 40:36 Did you follow? You follow carefully? 40:38 Okay, let's look at the next four... 40:40 The next four rapid-fire ones. 40:43 Question number15. Question number 15. 40:47 "What are the essentials 40:50 that we need in a saving relationship?" 40:54 What are the essentials? 40:55 Whenever you have a relationship 40:56 with the Lord, 40:58 you have to have some essentials. 40:59 It's called tools to the carpenter, 41:01 to the pilot, it's his maps, to the person 41:04 who is a professional fisherman, 41:06 it's his tackle, to the bowler, 41:08 to the professional bowler, it's his bowling balls, 41:11 to the baseball players, it's his bats and gloves. 41:13 And everybody has essential tools 41:15 in the avenue that they choose to occupy. 41:18 To the computer geek, computers, 41:22 to the electronic geek, electronics. 41:24 That is long as it pertains to his 41:26 or her vocation. 41:29 What are the essentials 41:31 that we need in a saving relationship? 41:32 2 Timothy 3:15 is the first one. 41:35 2 Timothy 3:15. 41:37 And the Bible says, "And that from childhood..." 41:42 Look at that scripture. 41:43 "That from childhood, 41:45 you have known the Holy Scriptures 41:49 which are able to do..." 41:50 What? 41:52 "To make you wise for salvation 41:54 through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 41:57 Read that scripture one more time, 41:59 "And that from childhood..." 42:02 2 Timothy 3:15, "And that from childhood, 42:06 you have known the Holy Scriptures 42:08 which are able to make you wise for salvation 42:12 through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 42:14 So what is the first aspect of our essentials 42:18 that we need in a relationship with Christ? 42:20 What is it? What is it? 42:22 The Bible. The Bible. I have Bibles. 42:26 I have different sized Bibles. 42:29 This Bible is heavy 42:30 and, you know, there's a weight limit 42:32 when you travel on the plane. 42:34 Well, my wife has a heavy Bible and so I said to her, 42:37 "Honey, you need to get a travel Bible." 42:39 I have a travel Bible and I have this heavy... 42:41 This is my home Bible, and I have another travel Bible 42:44 that's a little thinner and lighter, 42:45 fits in my backpack, it wouldn't weigh me down. 42:48 My wife always carries a pulley because she can't... 42:51 Give me your Bible. 42:52 Because she cannot... 42:55 She cannot leave her 28 pound Bible home. 43:00 You know, it's not really that heavy, but she said, 43:02 "I don't feel comfortable without my Bible." 43:06 Anybody else feel the same way? 43:08 And I know what she means because in that Bible... 43:11 Her Bible is different from everybody else's, 43:13 not the content, 43:14 but she's got catalogues in her Bible, 43:17 pictures of family members, programs, 43:21 all programs that I have gone on. 43:23 It's just her Bible. 43:24 And so it's a good thing, but you know what, 43:27 wherever we go, we read our Bibles. 43:31 Whenever I'm speaking somewhere, 43:32 she doesn't want to go without a Bible, 43:34 she wants to open to her own Bible. 43:36 And that's a beautiful thing 43:38 because the Bible is an essential 43:40 in our relationship with Christ. 43:41 Look at another one. Look at another one. 43:44 Isaiah 45:22. 43:47 What's the other essential in the saving relationship? 43:49 Isaiah 45:22. 43:53 Very direct into the point, very direct into the point. 43:57 Isaiah 45:22. 43:59 The prophet Isaiah says to us. 44:03 He says to us, "Look to me and be..." 44:05 What? 44:07 "Be saved, all you ends of the earth! 44:10 For I am God and there is no other." 44:14 Now there are a lot of people that would like to be God 44:17 or think they are God 44:19 or think they are smarter than God. 44:21 But the Lord is saying to us, "Look to me and be saved." 44:24 It's like you'll say to a child, 44:27 "Focus on me. 44:28 Focus on daddy. Focus on mommy. 44:31 Just look right over here." 44:33 I've seen children jump off of dressers 44:36 into the arms of their dad. 44:39 And I thought, "I'd never do that." 44:41 You know why 44:43 because when they are like children 44:45 they trust their father implicitly. 44:47 But you drop them once, they'll never do it again 44:52 because they have memory. 44:53 You got to really rebuild to have that memory. 44:57 And you know what? 44:58 Jesus is saying, 44:59 "If you look to Him, He'll never drop us. 45:01 Amen, somebody? He'll never disappoint us. 45:04 He'll never fail us. 45:06 We will find that when we look to Him, 45:07 we can be saved. 45:08 So here, the second essential is keep your eyes on the Lord. 45:14 Write that down, Isaiah 45:22, 45:17 "Keep your eyes on the Lord." 45:20 Why? 45:21 Because you'll be greatly discouraged 45:22 if your attention is on something else. 45:25 And in the world that we live in today, 45:27 you could be focusing all your attention on politics, 45:30 very discouraging. 45:32 You could be focusing on the instability in Korea, 45:35 very discouraging. 45:36 You could be focusing on anything in society, 45:39 the influenza season 45:40 where many people lost their lives, 45:43 very discouraging. 45:44 But if you focus on the Lord, if you find in Him, 45:47 you look at Him, 45:49 you will never find a discouragement there. 45:51 "Look to me and be saved." 45:53 And by the way, when He says, "And be saved," 45:55 it means, there is only one place 45:58 where salvation is found. 46:00 Neither is their salvation in any other name. 46:04 The only name by which we can be saved 46:06 is the name of Jesus. 46:09 Let's look at the third essential. 46:11 Look at the third essential. 46:15 Romans 1:16. Romans 1:16. 46:21 Here it is. 46:24 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, 46:28 for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone 46:32 who does, what, believes for the Jew first 46:37 and also for the Greek." 46:40 When the apostle spoke these words, 46:43 he was preaching to Jews and Greeks. 46:47 He was speaking to Gentiles. 46:48 But in the context here, the Jews had a while 46:51 that took them a long time 46:52 before they got to the place where they believed 46:54 that everybody else had access to the gospel, 46:56 when Paul said, I'm not ashamed. 46:58 So what is it? What's the third essential? 47:00 What is the third essential that we need in our lives? 47:09 Okay, yes, it is, the power of God 47:12 which comes through the gospel. 47:14 The power of God which is the only method 47:18 whereby we can lead this Christian, 47:20 we could lead this Christian life, 47:23 the power of God. 47:24 Because when the power comes from you, 47:26 are we capable in our own strength 47:29 to do anything? 47:31 But what are we told in Philippians 4:13, 47:32 you all know it, 47:34 "I can do all things through Christ..." 47:36 Who does what? "Strengthens me." 47:37 So where does the power come from? 47:39 The power comes from Him. 47:40 When Jesus rose, He said, "All power is given unto Me." 47:45 We need the power of God. 47:46 And the gospel, 47:48 the gospel is an emancipation message. 47:52 Let me explain what I mean by that. 47:54 When slavery was abolished, 47:57 there were many slaves that did not know 47:59 that slavery had been ended. 48:01 The Emancipation Freedom Proclamation was declared, 48:06 and those who heard it, 48:07 embraced it and walked off of their plantations. 48:10 Other slaves that didn't hear it 48:12 saw slaves walking past their plantation, 48:16 "Where you going?" 48:17 "Hey, slavery has been abolished." 48:20 They said, "We never heard it, therefore, we're not leaving." 48:24 You know why 48:26 because they were in bondage 48:27 all their lives through fear, 48:30 held in bondage all their lives, 48:33 they were in fear, 48:34 they were all subjected to death. 48:36 Slavery is something that enslaves you, 48:38 holds you in bondage, 48:40 and makes you fearful of death making you think 48:42 that if you try to break away, 48:44 the only thing that will happen is death. 48:46 But when the gospel brings to light 48:48 that we can be free in Christ, all of a sudden, 48:51 the power that was not available 48:53 before is available now 48:55 and we can break away from any circumstance, 48:58 any situation by the power of God. 49:00 Amen. 49:02 You cannot breakaway from anything 49:04 in your own power. 49:05 But the gospel brings to light the power of God, 49:08 for it is the power of God which we all need. 49:11 A lot of people have heard the gospel preach 49:13 but because they don't accept it, 49:16 the power of God is never active in their lives. 49:21 Therefore, they never tasted salvation. 49:24 They just heard the gospel, that's it. 49:26 Look at the fourth essential, the fourth essential. 49:30 Okay. 49:33 Hebrews 9:28. 49:36 Okay. The fourth essential. 49:45 "So Christ was offered once 49:49 to bear the sins of many. 49:54 To those who eagerly wait for Him, 49:57 he will appear..." 49:59 When? 50:00 "A second time, apart from sin, 50:03 for salvation or unto salvation." 50:06 The last aspect, you might think, 50:09 "Well, aren't we already saved?" 50:10 Yeah, we're saved from the penalty of sin, 50:14 daily from the power of sin, 50:16 but this text is talking about being saved 50:17 from the presence of sin. 50:19 So what's the fourth essential do you find here? 50:23 What's the fourth essential do you find here? 50:29 Say it again, Yannick. 50:30 Salvation. Salvation. 50:33 Salvation. 50:35 Salvation. 50:36 The gospel brings to light salvation, 50:38 but when Christ comes, 50:41 He's appearing a second time for salvation. 50:46 If He's appearing a second time for salvation, 50:49 that is He's appearing a second time for those 50:51 who are in a saving relationship 50:53 with Him. 50:55 Essential, one, the Word of God. 50:58 Secondly, to look to the Lord. 51:00 Thirdly, the power of God. 51:02 Fourthly, salvation. 51:03 All these essentials in preparing 51:05 to meet the Lord in peace. 51:07 Amen? Let's try to get to number 16. 51:10 I think we have enough time. 51:12 I think we are doing pretty good, 51:14 try to move right along. 51:16 Question number 16. 51:18 "What is necessary 51:21 to be forgiven of sin?" 51:25 What is necessary to be forgiven of sin? 51:31 This is 1 John 1:9. 51:33 Most of you theologians already know this by heart. 51:36 But just for the benefit of those 51:37 who are listening or watching the program, 51:39 we're going to allow the Bible to speak, okay? 51:42 Since we all know it, let's read it together. 51:44 "If we confess our sins, He is..." 51:47 What? 51:48 "Faithful and just to forgive us our sins 51:51 and to cleanse us from..." 51:52 How much? "All." 51:55 Highlight, underline, bold, 51:58 do whatever you want to do with that word all. 52:00 He is able to cleanse us from how much? 52:03 All unrighteousness. 52:06 That's a hallelujah. All unrighteousness. 52:10 We had a chance to look at houses, 52:13 my wife and I like to do that. 52:14 You know, whenever you kind of get sick 52:17 of how messy your house looks, go look at a model home. 52:20 Anybody know what I'm talking... 52:21 You know, it's a backlash 52:23 because you go to these model homes, 52:24 they're so perfect, all the colors match, 52:27 everything is so perfect, there's not a spot on the, 52:29 even the glasses are perfect, 52:30 and on the glasses they have glue 52:32 but it looks like water. 52:34 Everything's so perfect, 52:36 everything is so wonderfully designed, 52:37 and then you go back home you think to your house, 52:38 "Blow it up. 52:40 Burn it up. Knock it down. I'm sick of it." 52:44 What that does though, 52:46 it shows you what you can be as compared to what you are. 52:51 And some of us are like messy houses, 52:54 but you walk into that house and once or twice we've said... 52:57 We saw some house and we said, 52:59 "Wouldn't it be nice to buy it with everything in it?" 53:03 'Cause you know those designers are amazing. 53:06 We walked into this house that had tile, white, 53:09 shiny tile floors, and I said, 53:12 "Boy, this house is so clean up, 53:14 I'd be afraid to spill anything." 53:16 And but it was beautiful. 53:20 I was like, "Wow! 53:21 If you live in this house, 53:23 you have to where suit all day long." 53:25 It just looks so clean, 53:27 like when people come over to visit us, 53:28 you could say, "Good evening." 53:30 Have somebody that's very esoteric 53:32 to answer the door. 53:33 It just looked too clean. 53:35 And I say, "It's really pretty." 53:36 And when you're in the door, you want it, 53:37 but then you go to the next house 53:39 and you think, "Now this looks like a home 53:40 and it feels warm." 53:42 But when we look at ourselves, the way God looks at us, 53:47 He says, "If you just confess your sin, 53:50 I could clean up your house 53:53 and I won't leave a stain of the past." 53:57 Amen, somebody? He will cleanse from how much? 54:02 All unrighteousness. 54:04 And in those houses that nobody has ever lived in before, 54:07 I'm kind of unusual 'cause I know, 54:09 if you really want to tell was the house is clean, 54:11 just look at the very corner where the two corners meet, 54:14 that's usually where the dirt kind of hides 54:16 in the corner 54:17 'cause you don't sweep the corner to corner. 54:19 But you look at those model homes 54:21 and it's like, 54:22 "Man, this house has no dirt anywhere." 54:25 And we had a lady that we used to visit, 54:27 once she say to my wife, 54:30 "Don't bring Pastor with you 54:31 because he's going to look on the top of my fridge, 54:33 he's so tall." 54:36 She can't see on top of the fridge, she said, 54:37 "Wait till I clean my refrigerator." 54:39 And I would not look as we just were friends, 54:41 I'm not looking at the top of your refrigerator. 54:44 The beauty of it is the Lord knows 54:45 where the dirt is in our lives. 54:47 Does He not? 54:48 But He says, "If you confess, I am faithful 54:52 and just to forgive you of your sins 54:54 and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness." 54:57 Amen to that? That is so necessary. 55:00 So necessary for forgiveness. But let's look at one more now. 55:04 Let's look at another one. 55:06 What is necessary to be forgiven? 55:07 One, first one, confess. Confess. 55:11 But not just confess, whoever confesses... 55:14 Well, whoever confesses and forsakes, 55:17 don't just confess it but forsake it. 55:19 Stop it by the power of God. 55:22 Don't you say I did it, confess and forsake it. 55:24 But look at Psalm 32:5. Psalm 32:5. 55:28 Right here it is. 55:30 The Psalmist David's a prayer of confession. 55:36 He said, "I acknowledge my sin to you, 55:39 that is to the Lord, 55:40 and my iniquity I have not hidden. 55:43 I said I will do..." 55:45 What? 55:46 Confess my transgressions to the Lord..." 55:49 And what did he say? 55:50 "And you forgave the iniquity of my sin." 55:55 You know what that meant? 55:56 They didn't mean 55:57 just that the Lord forgave David stumblings, 56:00 He forgave David of the very thing 56:02 that David enjoyed to do. 56:04 That's what iniquity is, iniquity is a cherished sin. 56:08 He forgave David of the iniquity 56:10 of the thing that he loved to do. 56:13 The Lord forgave him of that. Amen, someone? 56:16 So it's beautiful that we can have the connection 56:22 with the Lord that is so important for us 56:24 to find that complete forgiveness. 56:27 Let's try to do it. 56:29 If we don't get to it, question number 17. 56:31 Let's go ahead and try to put that in there. 56:33 Acknowledge your sin, you have to acknowledge it. 56:36 Question 17, here it is. 56:39 "How does the Bible describe 56:40 the process of receiving God's mercy?" 56:43 I'm going to go right to it. It is in Proverbs 28:13. 56:48 Proverbs 28:13. 56:49 How does the Bible describe 56:51 the process of receiving God's mercy? 56:53 Here it is. 56:57 "He who covers his sin will not..." 57:00 What? "Will not prosper. 57:04 But whoever stayed with me, confesses..." 57:08 And what else? 57:09 "Forsakes them will have mercy." 57:14 As I've heard people say, have mercy. 57:16 You will if you confess and forsake. 57:20 Don't just acknowledge but confess it and forsake it, 57:24 and you will have mercy. 57:26 Do we all need mercy? Yes. 57:28 Confess and forsake. 57:30 You see this whole thing about repentance, 57:31 we've talked on essentials and not about repentance. 57:34 And so often, people think, "Well, I'm a member now." 57:39 But we have to examine our hearts 57:40 and our lives to see 57:42 what's going on the inside of us, 57:44 to see what room needs to be cleaned out, 57:46 to examine the shelves of our lives, 57:48 to examine the mindset of our lives. 57:51 And when we confess and forsake, 57:54 when we acknowledge what we've done, 57:55 the Lord will bless us. 57:56 Well, friends, keep studying God's Word 57:58 because one day I know it will come 58:00 into a sharper focus. 58:02 God bless you. |
Revised 2018-07-30