Participants: Chris Shelton (Host), Kenny Shelton
Series Code: BTLP
Program Code: BTLP000004
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00:41 Hello and welcome back to Behold The Lamb Presents.
00:44 Here at Behold The Lamb Ministries, 00:46 the Pastor Kenny Shelton, we are so excited and 00:49 so happy to be coming back to you and visit you in 00:52 your home. And I know you will be blessed by 00:55 today's message. I've got a question for you, 00:57 have you ever heard anyone say here I am Lord sin me, 01:01 you know they get all excited I'm ready God whatever 01:04 you have here I am, sin me. My only concern is, 01:09 we are such emotional beings and when we get up 01:11 on those emotional high as it were that's where we 01:15 usually really ready to do God's bidding saying. 01:18 Here I am, we love people claiming sin me, 01:22 but you know what happens the moment the pressure 01:25 is applied, you know, what that mean. Your husband, 01:27 he puts the toothpaste cap on wrong or better yet 01:31 you're late for working, and you get behind a very 01:34 relax drive and they just enjoying all the sites and 01:38 sounds and you know they are going 5 to 10 maybe 01:41 the more miles per hour under the speed limit and in 01:44 an area that you can't get around, you can't pass 01:46 and boy are you tested that pressure is on and you 01:50 hit hard and suddenly you just lost all your faith, 01:54 just like that things change. I wanna share few 01:57 words that I found some council. In a Book entitled 02:01 Counsels for the Church? It's found on pages 67 02:05 and 68 and that reads. Let the church members bear 02:09 in mind that the fact that their names are registered 02:16 on the church books will not save them just because 02:19 your name is that on a church book somewhere 02:22 saying that you are member that will not save you. 02:24 They must show themselves approved of God, 02:28 workmen that need not be ashamed. Listen to this, 02:32 day by day and I would like to add the words moment 02:36 by moment. They are to build their characters in 02:39 accordance with Christ's directions. 02:41 Day by day building our characters, 02:44 they are to abide in Him constantly exercising faith 02:48 in Him. Thus they will grow up to the full stature of men 02:54 and women in Christ. Wholesome, cheerful, 02:57 grateful Christians. Today's message is entitled Religious 03:04 Dwarfs and so I have a feeling, if we are content 03:09 being a religious dwarf there is a real problem, 03:12 but before we begin our message we're gonna to 03:15 back to 3ABNs worship center and we're gonna listen 03:18 to a song entitled "He who began a good work in you" 03:23 by brother Christian Berdahl. 03:25 I know it would be a blessing. 03:33 He who began a good work in you 03:44 He who began a good work in you 03:54 Will be faithful to complete it 03:59 He'll be faithful to complete it 04:05 He who started the work 04:07 Will be faithful to complete it in you 04:22 If the struggle you're facing Is slowly replacing 04:27 Your hope with despair Or the process is long 04:35 And you're losing your song 04:38 In the night you can be sure 04:46 That the Lord has His hand on you 04:50 Safe and secure He will never abandon you 04:55 You are His treasure And He finds His pleasure in you. 05:07 He who began a good work in you 05:18 He who began a good work in you 05:28 Will be faithful to complete it 05:33 He'll be faithful to complete it 05:39 He who started the work 05:42 Will be faithful to complete it in you 05:56 He who began a good work in you 06:06 Will be faithful to complete it 06:12 Will be faithful to complete it 06:16 He who started the work 06:20 Will be faithful to complete it in you 06:42 Thank you brother Christian, I appreciate that song. 06:44 You know the Bible is very clear; 06:45 He that has began a good work in us will bring it to 06:49 a completion. Hope that's blessed many, 06:51 many hearts as it has hours. I'm thankful for that 06:54 promise that God has given and we are glad that 06:57 you've decided to join us today wherever you are in 06:59 the world. We praise the Lord for the opportunity 07:02 and privilege to be able to meet with you and study 07:04 God's word. Now, but something we always want 07:08 to bring to mind, first of all we gonna to pray 07:11 we are going to get our Bible, pencil and paper, 07:14 and then we're gonna to study the word of God together. 07:16 Why not pray about that right now we have very, 07:19 very important message that God has for us today. 07:21 Let's pray about it shall we? Our Father in Heaven, 07:27 we thank you for the privilege once again prayer, 07:30 we thankful that we can call upon you and ask 07:32 for the power of the Holy Spirit and you promised 07:34 to give it and today we pray you'll give it in abundance, 07:37 enlighten our hearts and our minds and our ears. 07:39 May we understand that the God of heaven is speaking 07:43 to us to prepare that we may spend eternity with you. 07:47 Bless each one with lessons of faith in the ears 07:50 that you've given and the mind then the eyes to see. 07:53 And may we be filled with the love of Jesus; 07:55 I thank you and praise you in Jesus name amen. 08:01 Today by the way, as we begin to study, 08:03 we're gonna look at a subject and of course the title 08:06 is "Religious Dwarfs. " Now, what comes to mind when 08:11 you think about "Religious Dwarfs"? Why should we 08:14 be spiritually dwarfs? Why is that we should be stunted 08:20 in our religious experience, but you know there is 08:23 many that are. What would be the reasons for that? 08:26 Is it we lack of study, lack of prayer? You know; 08:30 study today and I pray to God that will help us 08:32 to understand that he does not want us to be stunted, 08:36 stunted, little. He wants us to be expand; 08:40 in fact he wants us to be giants, think about it. 08:44 He is always said, I want you to be the head 08:46 and not the tail. So as we study God's word today, 08:50 I pray that you're gonna say look no more little steps, 08:54 no more little for Jesus by God's grace big things. 08:59 You have your Bible, I like for you to turn with me, 09:00 as I'm gonna turn in a New Testament to the 09:03 Book of John. John chapter 8 we're gonna be start 09:07 reading verse 12. John chapter 8 verse 12. 09:11 Now, we are going to see once again and we should 09:15 and every discourse we should see Jesus. 09:18 We should learn little bit more about Jesus. 09:20 And I always want to bring this up remember the Jesus 09:23 said if I be lifted up we'll draw men unto me. 09:27 So every discourse should be surrounded by the cross 09:31 of Calvary and Jesus to lift him up. 09:34 And so as we study this, we are going to see some 09:37 people or dwarfs in their spiritual experience because 09:42 they are not taking Jesus at his word. 09:45 And we want to take him at his word today. 09:47 John chapter 8 start reading verse 12, now we're gonna 09:51 read a few verses so you might forget, 09:52 you want to jot them down. It says then spake Jesus 09:57 again notice this unto them, saying. 10:00 Now who was doing the speaking? 10:02 My Bible says here that Jesus spake again unto them 10:05 here is what Jesus said. I am the light of the world: 10:11 he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, 10:15 but shall have the light of life. 10:18 Now remember when Jesus speaks it's very important 10:21 isn't. And when Jesus says I am the light of the world 10:26 and he says you know what we don't need to be walking 10:28 in darkness. We don't need to be taking little steps 10:31 of faith, because he is the light of the world. 10:35 Now, that brings to thought that if he is the light 10:39 of the world the enemy always takes the opposite 10:42 doesn't he. So, we would think about the enemy 10:45 as what as darkness, it makes sense don't it, 10:48 because he is the liar, he never tells the truth, 10:51 he is afraid to walk in the light that things 10:55 he likes to be done in private or darkness of the hour, 11:00 but Jesus I'm the light of the world so no one receives 11:02 any kind of light and any kind of a direction 11:05 unless it comes from Jesus as what the Bible says. 11:09 Now, notice also in John chapter 8 and this is 11:12 verse 47, we just read what 12, we're gonna read 11:15 verse 47. The Bible continues and says He that 11:19 is of God heareth God's words. 11:22 Now I'm gonna have to repeat that because some of 11:24 you didn't get it. I want you to think the Bible says, 11:28 He that is of who good God heareth God's words. 11:36 Now, can that be said in more plain, 11:39 if you claim to be part of God's family then 11:44 we' re gonna to hear God's words. You can't just 11:47 say will I hear God's word and then go do something 11:49 else. Hearing here denotes also following 11:52 what God has asked us to do and then the verse 11:55 continues on and says ye therefore hear them, 11:58 oh, oh, you hear them not, because you are not of God. 12:04 So those who hear the word of God they belong 12:07 to the family of God and they are willing to be obedient 12:11 to God's word. Now, on the other hand, 12:16 those who right they are just not hearing is because 12:19 they are not part of God's family, 12:23 they are not following the light there aren't they. 12:25 So, it's so imparity for I like just repeated over 12:28 and over and over until we all get to how simple this is, 12:31 that if we are part of God's family. 12:33 If God is leading in our heart in our life, 12:36 we hear his words and then we do what we follow him, 12:41 if we are not following His words and His truth 12:43 regards of our profession, we are following another 12:47 could we say another we follow the enemy, 12:51 can't say another light because Jesus said 12:53 I am the light of the world you are following what 12:55 darkness or you are following what light. 12:58 So, as I read that passage is right quick to me at least 13:01 in my mind there are two classes of people that are 13:05 developed here that we've been talking about here. 13:08 Now remember, you have what children of light. 13:13 Now you have a decision, now remember decision 13:15 today is simply this, there is no mid rail. 13:18 I've often said you know sometime we where well we 13:20 gonna to sit on the fence. Now those of you who sit 13:23 on the fence all you're gonna get is some big splendors. 13:26 And eventually when you are sitting on the fence 13:28 you're gonna fall one side or the other are you still 13:30 with me, you're not gonna sit on it forever. 13:33 So, here the two classes are we are either the, 13:35 the Bible says the children of light, 13:39 the children of light would be those who obey 13:41 what God's word or the truth or you have children 13:45 of notice this what darkness and darkness are those 13:49 who disobey God's word. So, you are in one class 13:53 or the other. In fact Jesus makes it so plain in his word, 14:00 he said, he who is not with me is against me. 14:05 Oh, please think about that today. 14:08 He who is what, he who is not with me walking with him, 14:14 being obedient to him, he was not with me is against. 14:19 So, today when you say well I'm not really for him, 14:21 I'm not really against him, if you are not for him, 14:24 if you've not accepted him then you are against him. 14:29 Wow, that must mean if there is two classes you, 14:33 oh you are in the light or you are in dark. 14:38 Oh, I want you to think about that today. 14:41 I need to be thinking about that. 14:44 Because I'm going to fit in one class the other, 14:46 I think you see from God's word. Now remember, 14:49 we have talked about in previous lessons and 14:52 I think it's so very important that we are to by God's 14:55 grace before he comes perfectly right. 14:59 He wants to reproduce us into his image, 15:01 when God's people arrive perfectly reproduce right, 15:03 we are in his image. Wow, he is going to come back, 15:09 he is not really waiting on all people say well certain 15:12 things are going to have to take place and maybe 15:14 they will. Prophecy will be fulfilled, 15:16 but it's always well this is gonna happen and that's 15:18 going to happen and something else is going to happen 15:21 and then Jesus will come. He is waiting on a, this 15:24 is all he is waiting on you and me that his character 15:29 maybe fully reproduced in us, when that happens 15:33 he will come. Awesome, children of light, 15:37 children of what the Bible talks about here darkness, 15:40 so if we are to reflect check it out now, 15:42 if we are to reflect the light of Jesus, 15:46 if we are on the side of Jesus and side of light, 15:49 the Devil is the other side of the devil is darkness, 15:53 you realize the wants oh, oh, he wants us to reflect 15:58 his image. We either reflect God's image or we 16:05 reflect the image of the Devil. Wow, I want to leave 16:11 you by God's grace, I want the Holy Spirit 16:13 to really impress that it's one way or the other 16:16 you can't have it both ways. Bitter in sweet 16:19 water doesn't come forth isn't that right. And so today 16:22 as we study why we are so limited sometime 16:25 in the cause of Christ again I wonder why so 16:28 many Churches that time are so stagnated. 16:31 We just like, we just to know pond out there somewhere. 16:33 It's just you know just gathering mass and stuffing 16:36 in all the time and it's just, it's going nowhere when 16:39 we need fresh inlets and outlets. 16:43 Things need to be happening in the church now 16:44 why do I say that because everywhere Jesus 16:46 went things happened. Miracles took place, 16:51 sometime people got upset, but I tell you God 16:53 was having his way. Things were happening that 16:58 called attention to Him, to his Son and what it would 17:01 take for us to spend eternity with Him that just, 17:04 that really makes me happy when I think about that. 17:09 God intense for us to be Giants or Dwarfs, 17:16 God intense for us to be children of the light 17:19 or children what or we're going to be children 17:21 of the darkness, so you're gonna have to make that 17:23 decision I'm too, I wonder if we should be alarmed. 17:27 Should we be alarmed when we look around 17:29 and maybe in our church or we look around 17:31 in the world today of the things that are happening. 17:33 Should that alarmed me should that set all some kind 17:35 of a oh may I say call bell, a fire alarm to say 17:41 something is going on in the world today. 17:44 And you know what is what we have to content 17:46 with and this might be shocking to some, 17:49 but everyday of my life, everyday of your life 17:50 we have to content with certain things. 17:54 And some of this even in the church, 17:56 we may have to content with some liberals, 18:01 some people; however, some conservatives. 18:04 We're gonna have to content with some of the half 18:05 converted. By the way, if you are called half converted 18:13 remember this you are really on the enemy side. 18:16 There are no such things to have converted. 18:19 We are; we aren't. People like to think that because 18:21 they feel little better about themselves, 18:25 but everyday that I have to be, I have to content 18:28 with the faithfulness how about you, with those who 18:32 try to drag you down, those who are so negative 18:35 about everything that happens. We should be so 18:39 positive as being part of the family of God. 18:43 Everything happens for reason; well let me encourage 18:46 you that I have leaned this over the years. 18:49 Nothing happens to a child of God, nothing, 18:54 unless God approves it first. Oh, I want you to grasp 18:57 that today that has so helped me in a lot of things 19:00 that are happened in my own life that I know 19:04 because I am a child of God by God's grace by his 19:08 forgiveness by his blood. And then anything that touches 19:13 oh, may I say this is nice and the apple of his eye 19:16 that's all of us. It goes through God first didn't 19:20 that wonderful. He approves of it, we may not understand 19:23 all the ins and outs of it, but it's run through God 19:26 and he says go ahead, he is able through me. 19:31 Friend you're gonna to be giant for God the day 19:33 you're gonna a dwarf. And you know sometimes it's 19:39 even in the church around our brothers and sisters, 19:41 we have people in the church that shirkers of 19:44 responsibility they show us responsibility, 19:48 they love to come to church, they wanted to be a part 19:50 of the church, but you know they or may I say they 19:53 don't want to mobile on, they don't want to be involved 19:55 in cleaning, they don't want to do anything, 19:56 they just want to come and participate 19:57 as far as what they can get, it's what a challenge 20:03 because being part of the family of God means 20:04 I have responsibility and obligations and I'm required 20:07 to help out as part of family of God. 20:12 So I am wondering today you know are we really 20:15 concerned about these things as we see the turn, 20:19 the turn of events, the turn of things that happening 20:20 in the lives of the people and are we prepared 20:23 to handle them. How about your life, 20:26 how about my life is it really what Jesus would have it, 20:30 is he really speaking to us. Well, 20:32 I believe this for the church. I believe, 20:35 I believe all of heaven is looking down at his church. 20:41 Now remember when I say the church this is my belief 20:46 of what God's church. God's church simply means 20:51 what God's people isn't that right that's what 20:53 church means. You say well it's just group, 20:57 it's that group, etc. God's Church of the people 21:00 that obey and follow his commands that's consists 21:04 of his church. So, I believe all of heaven is looking 21:06 with intense interest upon his church and the 21:10 individual members of the church and doing what. 21:15 Are the church members enlightening the community 21:19 or those who are in darkness? After all that's what 21:22 we are commissioned to do is it not. 21:24 Take the Gospel into the world, how many times 21:26 did you heard that. So that's our commission, 21:30 that's our responsibility, that's what God's equipping 21:32 us for, that's a power that he wants to give us, 21:34 but how many in the church are really following 21:38 through and enlightening those who are in darkness. 21:43 Remember 1000s perish every minute of the day, 21:48 they are not gonna share eternity with Jesus. 21:49 Don't let their blood be on your hands and I don't 21:53 want it on my hands because I believe this 21:55 we will never ever be saved in spiritual laziness, 21:59 never. And you know the best example I can think 22:04 of is none other than my Lord and savior. 22:07 He was never lazy that's talking about from the 22:12 carpenter bench to the ministry, he was always 22:15 busy for the salvation of others. 22:19 Fact details us sometime you get too busy be careful, 22:22 sometime you have to come apart and rest for a while, 22:25 but he worked day and night for the salvation of souls. 22:29 In fact, in John chapter 9 verse 4, the Bible says there 22:32 you still have it open, I hope that you do because 22:35 I still have mine open here John chapter 9 verse 4, 22:38 Jesus said this and he passes it right along to you 22:42 and to me. Remember, if you are a shirker in the 22:46 causal Christ, if you are one of the lazy you know 22:49 one of those who are not doing anything. 22:51 My momma said this you know I'm not trying to pick 22:53 on anybody individually, but if the shoe fits you say 22:57 can you wear it and that's maybe the test that we 23:01 have to come across is, if it happen to fit then 23:05 I'm gonna have to wear or I'm gonna have change it. 23:08 Jesus said I must work the works in John 9 verse 4, 23:13 of him that sent me of his father. 23:17 Now, how did he continue this? He said, 23:20 well it is I work the works while it is day; 23:24 the night cometh, notice this when no man can work. 23:30 Jesus said the time was coming when it is going 23:32 to be too late. I must work while it is day; 23:38 that kind of reminds me just of a story by the way 23:41 I'm trying to make short story here is, 23:43 but hopefully you get the point. I remember being gone 23:46 for several weeks and traveling and so on and 23:49 you know you can get var and well doing and vary 23:50 in traveling and speaking to three or four times 23:53 you know as you go places maybe five or six sometime 23:56 at Camp Meetings. You now remembering gone 23:58 two to three weeks in a row and I just got home oh, 24:01 wow, it's good to be home. 24:04 Oh, get to rest little while and the phone rang 24:06 and I picked it up and this gentlemen 24:07 I knew it I think it was Arizona. 24:10 And he said can you come out here and I thought 24:12 well yes sure absolutely, you know, a few weeks or 24:15 whatever and he said you know can you come this 24:18 weekend, where I just got home, 24:21 and so I proceeded tell him out I was little bit tired 24:23 and little bit worn out and been gone a lot 24:25 and it's good to be home in, if I could just rest 24:28 a little bit now then I'll be willing to come and maybe 24:32 in the couple of weeks you know his response 24:34 was to me. Rest, rest that what you say I said 24:39 no I don't think it was a bad word I said, well yes. 24:44 He said let me tell you some right now he said heaven 24:46 is just around the corner and when you get to heaven 24:48 you can rest. We need you right now come on, 24:52 I went. That's never, that's never left me why? 24:59 Because there was a need, I may have not recognized 25:04 all of the need, but you know what he did and he 25:07 reminded me. Even though we need some physical rest, 25:12 I do I know you do, but he said during these days 25:15 you will be able to rest, when you get to heaven 25:20 right now. Oh right now, come on we need to hear 25:24 the word. Friends that's good advice as heaven 25:28 is viewing everything now and seeing as a church 25:30 really alive, is the church really on fire, it should be. 25:37 You know, I find it very difficult to go to church at 25:40 sometime and the word is being spoken or song 25:44 that's being sung and when is all said and done 25:46 it's like you are in a funeral pyre. 25:51 Somebody needs to be saying amen, 25:55 make turn somebody else but I think somebody 25:56 needs to shout Halleluiah once in a while I know 25:59 I do, why because I can't keep quite, 26:02 times I want to come to my feet you know 26:03 what if I do I will. Our heavenly father deserves 26:08 praises; the Bible said he inhabits are praises. 26:12 Some people is always worried about getting 26:14 out of hand, well mostly gently they don't have 26:16 to worry about it because they are not going 26:18 to be getting out of hand, maybe they don't 26:20 have anything to praise God about, 26:21 but you know what I do and a real Christian does 26:24 why because his brought us out of darkness 26:26 into that marvelous light, aren't you thankful. 26:30 In John chapter 9 verse 4, we just read he said 26:33 night is going to come, if I just turn the Bible back 26:36 just a little bit there are few chapters in 26:38 John chapter 1 verse 5, I want to share this with 26:41 you real quickly. John chapter 1 verse 5 now 26:44 notice here we are giving him the praise, the honor, 26:46 and the glory because of who he is, is that right 26:48 absolutely. In John chapter 1 verse 5, 26:52 it says and the light shineth in darkness aren't you 26:56 glad that light is shining in darkness right 26:58 now and notice this, and the darkness sad to say 27:02 and the darkness comprehended it not. 27:06 Jesus said I came into the world and they didn't even 27:08 recognize me is that true yes majority did not, 27:14 and you possibly imagine the King of Kings and Lord 27:17 of Lords willing to give up glory for someone 27:22 I'm not saying for someone like me, no I really can't. 27:27 I'm really trying to comprehend that love, 27:28 but you know what I'm just having real difficulty. 27:32 The love that God has for you and the love that 27:34 he has for me are awesome. 27:37 Why would Jesus be willing to give up glory and 27:39 come down here if it had only been you, 27:42 only been me that would be saved awesome love 27:45 that I just can't understand? Lord, 27:47 I need that kind of love and yet I understand from 27:51 scripture and I think the principle really applies 27:53 right here until listen to me carefully, 27:57 until I must love as Christ loved, if I'm going to enter 28:03 in heaven. That's kind of maybe that's a tough 28:07 one for you, but I have to come to the point 28:09 that I love my fellowman the way that Jesus loved 28:12 them. Now, I look at it and I say God that's impossible 28:16 with me and he says yeah it is with you, but not with me. 28:19 Let me come in and I love them through you. 28:22 Wow, I had to have that same kind of love and tiring 28:28 efforts, but forth for the salvation of mankind 28:30 and you know what we find nowadays. 28:33 People are squabbling over, who is going to be first, 28:38 who is gonna have the highest position, 28:41 well you were on their last week, you were on the 28:45 platform the week before yeah but somebody else 28:47 saying and I didn't get to say, look let's get over it. 28:52 If God is going to use you brothers and sisters 28:54 no man can stop it, did you know that? In his time, 28:58 let's not worry about highest position, 29:00 but let's worry about how we can be pleasing in 29:02 the side of God and when you want to be pleasing 29:04 the side of God, God will commission you, 29:06 God will place you, God will raise you, 29:09 God will supply for you all of your needs and to help 29:13 you be a soul winner for him. No one will be saved 29:19 remember spiritual laziness. Jesus said I came 29:23 into the world and I am the light of the world, 29:25 but they, they did know it. And again I am just 29:29 overwhelmed that he was able, he born it to be, 29:32 he loved me enough that he said I'm going to leave 29:34 the courts of heaven. You have no idea 29:36 and I don't either about the courts of heaven. 29:39 Well little bit man read we thank we understand 29:41 it not we've not even scratch the surface of what 29:45 he left behind. I believe that one day by God's 29:50 grace that we get there and we see what he was 29:54 willing to give us we can only fall on our face, 29:58 thank you Jesus. You are the only reason that 30:01 I'm here, there is no other reason, there is nothing 30:06 good that I've done in fact some people say yeah 30:09 but I went through this and I've had to give up this, 30:11 if you are a Christian today that says every time 30:14 you turn around oh I have to give this up and 30:17 I have to give that, you have to give nothing up 30:19 that is good for you. Jesus never requires 30:22 you to give up anything that's good for you. 30:26 And by the way when you see his lovely face, 30:30 you won't even be able to recall to mind all that you 30:33 went through in this life. That's fullness isn't, 30:39 man that's love, that's guaranteed, 30:42 that's in the bank they say, along for that day. 30:48 Darkness he said, now, by the way do have your Bible 30:51 right where in the Book of John turn with me 30:52 John chapter 9, John chapter very, very important 30:57 little lesson that we are going to look at, 30:58 regardless of how many times you have looked at, 31:01 because we are thinking right today that we want 31:04 to be giants for God, not little nuggets or dwarfs 31:08 and again we hope we are not trying to defend 31:10 anybody you know I'm pretty short myself, 31:12 so I must be careful here, but doesn't matter about 31:14 the statue right. It's how the heart what kind 31:16 of heart do you have, how big is that heart? 31:20 To big enough right to have Jesus controlling it, 31:23 heart and the mind oh I know that it is. 31:27 So important to let him have control of that. 31:30 John chapter 9 this is such an interesting account 31:34 of the power of Jesus Christ and the things, 31:37 the difficulties that pursued him. The difficulties 31:41 that were pursue you and pursue me. 31:45 Now notice with me in the Bible John chapter 31:47 9 verses 1 and 2, now you know the story well, 31:49 but let's see if the Holy Spirit will just implant 31:52 few other little things in our heart, in our mind that 31:54 would reveal a little bore these beautiful truths 31:57 that God has here. Bible says as Jesus passed by, 32:00 notice it what does it say what was Jesus doing 32:03 was he lazy, was he idol notice it Jesus was already 32:09 in action wasn't he. What was he doing, 32:12 Bible says that Jesus was I hear it passing by okay. 32:17 He was in operation right then the he went home 32:19 on the recliner said bring somebody to me. 32:21 He was out pursuing; he said I came to seek and 32:25 do what seek and to save that which was lost, 32:30 and so everything that he did was nothing for himself, 32:33 but it was all for us. What an example, 32:36 almost everything we do think like centered around 32:38 ourselves isn't it sometime. Bible says as Jesus 32:44 passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 32:48 Oh you know the story, but can you imagine 32:49 someone being blind from birth that they never seen 32:52 anything, their eyes were shut, they were blind, 32:56 they couldn't see a thing. They never seen a sunset, 33:01 they never seen a sunrise, they could never see 33:03 their parents face, they could never see the flowers 33:06 in the field beautiful things of nature, 33:09 the stars oh what they were missing, 33:13 but here Bible said he was the blind from birth 33:15 do you think Jesus cared about this man oh yes. 33:18 Sure he cared, and then what happened the Bible 33:24 says in verse 2, his disciples ask him saying now 33:27 notice this was a popular believe now I want 33:29 to bring this to you because of our belief sometime 33:33 we become dwarfs. And if there are wrong believes 33:38 they need to be corrected. Do you agree with that, 33:40 I am sure you do. Disciples believe this, 33:45 they looked at this man that was blind from birth 33:48 and they said who did sin, this man, or his parents, 33:53 that he was born blind? So you see the concept 33:55 and the believe at that time that if a person 33:58 was born with some kind of abnormality, 34:00 they must be sinners or their parents were sinned 34:05 because if you are born okay, alright no sin, 34:10 but if something was wrong deaf, 34:11 blind or what it might be oh that was sin and 34:14 that's a results of that sin. I want you to see that 34:17 with me, this was generally by the way believed 34:20 by the Jews and also by the disciples. 34:25 Think about that with me, they said that it would 34:28 be a punishment then for their sin, that's why 34:34 they were born that way. Oh, I'm thankful that God's 34:37 word makes it little bit clear then that aren't you. 34:40 That sounds like to me the devil has a little hand 34:42 in what we are talking about today. 34:46 Other words every affliction they believe that 34:49 they there was a penalty they had to be paid 34:52 because something was done wrong. 34:57 Satan led me into believe that every disease 35:00 and every affliction and death came from whom? 35:04 From God, just like he does today now we say 35:09 these things, but you have to know better. In fact, 35:13 I think we just talked a little bit about that today 35:15 with an individual maybe it was yesterday. 35:18 When I was talking about some kind of a problem 35:21 that we are having with the piece of equipment 35:23 and here is what they called it and that's what 35:25 the insurance policy says an active God, 35:31 are you thinking with me. This is the devil has his 35:36 little hand writing on that. They'll say an earthquake 35:40 hit and 200 people die, inactive God. Does God 35:44 operate that way? Do you really understand God 35:47 and his character enough to say that was God 35:50 or is the Devil saying I'm the author of these lies 35:52 and the death and every disease and every sickness, 35:55 but I'm gonna what I'm gonna shuffle it all from God 35:59 and the majority of world say hey that's right. 36:02 Does God really work tha way? Majority of the 36:07 Jews believed it, the disciples believed it, 36:09 but you know what Jesus wouldn't gonna leave 36:11 them thinking that way because he came to seek 36:14 and save the law, he came to reveal truth to us, 36:16 he came to uncover that which had been covered up. 36:20 And so he wasn't go and let back go bye. Remember, 36:23 in every teaching Jesus never let anything sin 36:26 slide under the rug, he always addressed it. 36:30 He always gave an answer for it, he always gave 36:32 the victory. Here is the way you can gain victory. 36:37 Simple truth of the matter is right here that Satan 36:40 tried to cover up. Now think about Satan tried to 36:44 cover up. All the sufferings, all the results of sin, 36:51 he is gonna try to cover and push in some other 36:53 direction. Now let me make a big statement, 36:58 I want you to listen very carefully to it and then 37:00 I want you to contemplate it. Just don't plug your ears 37:03 and say no, no, no. All suffering, oh my multitudes 37:08 are various. All suffering, all disease you know 37:13 all these things that are happen are a result of 37:17 transgression of God's law. Think about it, all suffering, 37:24 all the bad things is the result because we have 37:28 transgressed God's law. You realize before sin 37:33 there would be no death, no disease and no sickness. 37:38 In heaven what no disease, no sickness, 37:42 and everything is going to be replaced and put 37:44 back in his right position praise God. See this is a 37:47 beautiful truth, a beautiful truth that had been 37:52 covered up by Satan. He want to cover up, 37:56 he want to blame God for everything, he didn't want 37:58 to say oh boy I tell you, if we just obey God, 38:01 these curses would be taken off. And sets the Jews 38:06 most of them believe Satan's lie, I want you to pay 38:10 attention to this because of this belief they were 38:15 prepared to reject Jesus Christ have you ever 38:19 thought of that way? See the Devil was preparing 38:21 them to reject Jesus before he ever came on the scene. 38:27 How could they do that? Listen because of this belief 38:31 right here their hearts was prepared. 38:33 Let me just show that passage of scripture with you 38:37 the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament, 38:39 the book of Isaiah. Now I know you've read 38:43 this many, many times, but I want you to really 38:45 make sense because when you read it I know 38:47 you read about you think about Jesus. 38:50 That Isaiah 53, the Bible says this verse is in 3 and 4, 38:55 it said, the Bible said Jesus he was despised 38:58 and he was rejected of men. Was he despised, 39:03 was he rejected of men yeah why did they the 39:05 Jews were said up by the Devil to reject Jesus Christ 39:09 why? He was a man of sorrows, he was acquainted 39:12 with our grief and we hid as it were or faces from him. 39:16 The Bible says he was despised and we esteemed 39:20 him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, 39:23 he is carried out sorrows; yet we did not esteem him, 39:27 now notice this and what and we did what, 39:31 yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, 39:38 and afflicted, I want that to make sense. 39:40 You remember what the Jews believed, 39:42 if you had some kind of an element, if you were smitten 39:45 of God did you get it, if you were stricken of God, 39:49 if you were afflicted as it were of God right, 39:53 then you is because of sin. So when Jesus came 39:56 and what we are talking about here in this passage 39:59 that you will see in just a moment they said what 40:02 he is a sinner. Jesus had to be a sinner why because 40:05 he was smitten, he was Jews struck by God. 40:08 Look at these it was something wrong with him. 40:12 He must have had sin his life, so the devil set them 40:14 all up. Oh my, and so they begin to believe that 40:20 he was a sinner. And by the way did God know this in 40:26 beginning yes the Jesus know it from beginning 40:28 absolutely he did. Now, there is leave I want you to 40:31 think about this very, very carefully, 40:33 did God leave us some example, so that we would 40:39 know better than this belief that we could, 40:40 we would learn from it, yes he did. Can you think 40:43 of an Old Testament individual, 40:47 who suffered an awful lot, what's the first name 40:50 come to your mind. Yes Job, what happen to Job 40:55 you know they say well he was stricken and 40:57 smitten of God and all the reason all these bad things 41:00 were happened to Job is because what he is a sinner. 41:04 God said he was a righteous man, they came to very 41:06 point bottom line, Job said though he slave me yet 41:10 will I serve it, yet will I trust him. Man what a 41:12 relationship with Jesus Christ. His friends and his 41:15 neighbors condemn him, curse God and die, 41:19 but the example was there for as Job before Jesus 41:21 isn't that right. To say that it wasn't because 41:25 of sin in his life that these things happened. 41:28 The old Devil you see was putting things on 41:31 and he was blaming God for it, and the Jews repeated 41:36 the same thing as they rejected Jesus Christ 41:39 why because they say while he was smitten, 41:42 he was stricken, bourgeois and must be because 41:44 he was a sinner, he can't be the savior? Wow, 41:51 turn with me back to the book of John chapter 9 41:53 again let's look at this very carefully, 41:57 John chapter 9 verse 5, John 9 verse 5, 42:02 Jesus said as long as I am what as long as I am in the 42:06 world, I am the light of the world. 42:11 As long as he is what as long as he is in the world 42:13 I am the light of what the world and then he 42:19 continues on because he is passing by he sees 42:23 this blind man blind from birth and he feels 42:28 compassion. You know what you may not be 42:32 physically blind, but you maybe spiritually blind 42:34 today. God feels for you and he want you to 42:40 see again, he is wanting to work a miracle in your 42:43 behalf he did for this man, he did for many others. 42:47 He has done for multitudes millions. 42:52 As we just talked about this the suffering inflicted 42:55 by Satan is blamed on God, but remember this it 43:00 can be overrule by God remember that for the 43:05 purpose of showing his mercy. So we say well 43:09 this is inflicted, this is the devil has put on, 43:11 but God can overrule that because you serve one 43:13 that's greater. Greater is he that is in me than 43:16 he that is in the world. So anytime God wants to 43:20 any kind of affliction that the old Devil put these 43:22 afflictions on, do you believe it? As he puts these 43:26 afflictions on with God wants to overrule, 43:28 he can overrule because he is God, 43:31 because he has the power to do so, 43:33 because the enemy has to pay harmony to him 43:36 and they have to respect what God says when 43:39 the brags pull out and the bottom line is given 43:42 I tell you the Devil has to obey whether he wants 43:44 to do or not. When God says to the enemy get out 43:47 of here he has to get out of here. 43:50 Wow, that's a kind of that, that's gives us 43:53 encouragement today. That encourages me. 43:59 That for every bad thing the Devil wants to put 44:00 on you and be put on to me that if we have faith 44:03 in God he said you know what I can overrule when 44:06 I see fit overrule, I will overrule and then you know 44:10 what then his mercy is showing his long suffering 44:13 is shown praise God for that. As long as I am in the 44:15 world I am the world verse 6 John chapter 9 44:18 our time is running out, so we want to really get 44:20 to little I would say crocks of it, when to get to the 44:24 bottom line. Bible says when Jesus said thus spoken 44:28 what did he do. He simply reach down and he got 44:30 some clay, you remember that little spittle 44:32 and you know he had the blind man eyes, oh, 44:34 you know this very well as what Bible talking about. 44:38 Then he has told the man to do what go wash. 44:42 Now remember, all of had when God does something 44:45 got the spittle, he put it on, he pit it on the man's 44:46 eyes now here come, here comes an active obedience, 44:50 lot of church people in the world today say we 44:52 don't have to obedient doesn't matter anymore. 44:55 We are under grace, that bad man had not went 44:59 and washed his eyes exactly the way Jesus said 45:02 he would remain blind. What do you think about it, 45:06 did you agree about that? It took obedience in order, 45:09 it took faith in order for this to operate; 45:12 everything is operate through what? Faith and 45:15 obedience, so by faith he went to the pool, 45:18 by faith he washed his eyes and what the results 45:21 of that faith and that power of God was what he could 45:24 see again. Don't tell me that man wasn't excited, 45:29 that's why I say sometime in the church is like 45:30 it's like a murk. There is no excitement in the church 45:36 and why not the same God this work many miracles 45:41 in the Old Testament is still working miracles 45:43 today in the New Testament Church. In fact, 45:46 he wants to work a miracle in your life, he wants to do 45:49 something good for you, he wants to do something 45:52 good for me, as we reach scripture we see that 45:54 all the time that Jesus went about doing good. 45:58 You see I want to see a miracle everyday that 46:01 we live and we move and have our being, 46:03 everyday that we faces world and we come forth 46:06 victors that's a miracles isn't it. In fact, 46:09 a miracle might just be getting up and getting 46:11 to church because the devil is gonna fight you. 46:13 Sabbath morning get up all way might, 46:15 the Devil is always cause havoc. 46:18 You know in the home it could just nothing just 46:19 a simple as you know we called the burn toast 46:23 it could be the kids who are fighting among themselves 46:25 and we try to not get involved in it yet we hear it 46:29 and pretty soon we have to go get the kid good sound 46:31 slacking and well suddenly we don't hardly feel 46:34 like going to church anymore. We blame God 46:37 for it and we would say well we are not gonna 46:38 go to church. Oh, friend don't give up, 46:42 we are on the brink of a miracle, every moment that 46:46 we live God is working in our behalf working out. 46:49 Bible said we need to work our own salvation 46:51 with fear and trembling, but God is working in our stead, 46:54 he is working right along with us, just like the 46:57 Bible said about this man that Jesus touched it 47:01 was blind. Jesus simply said go wash and the man 47:04 obeyed and he had faith and he went and he could 47:08 see things took place, but I want you to pay close 47:11 attention to this. Not only was his eyes open that 47:14 he can see, but even his facial features began 47:18 to change, he looked different because he had been 47:21 touched by the master and you know if you ever met 47:24 somebody like that in this life that cares and the 47:27 perplexities and things we taken into our body has 47:30 woven it's effect upon the face, on the mind and 47:34 the body, but you know God has a way then we 47:36 turn our heart and life over to him. He has way to 47:38 touches and we are changed and we looked different, 47:41 we talk different, we act different same as this man 47:44 here because the pharisees and sadducees didn't 47:47 want give Jesus the praise for doing this miracle 47:49 by the way and they went to the neighbors and 47:53 friends and said do you know this man. 47:56 Yes, we know but is this him well it looks like him, 48:00 he looks little bit different, but he talks different, 48:03 he acts different, why because he had been 48:05 touched by the master. Same thing happens 48:08 in your life and mind, but you know God is wanting 48:11 touch you today. He is wanting to be difference. 48:15 Our neighbors need to know who we are, 48:17 what we stand for, they need to know that 48:20 you've been touched by the master, 48:22 you no longer the same as you used to be. 48:26 You know God today is looking for that kind of people 48:29 that will be different, by the way you remember 48:33 the story about Moses when he went upon the 48:35 Mount and then spend some time with God 48:38 as there where he was touched by the master 48:40 and when he came back down what happened, 48:42 what happened, oh his face was shining, people 48:46 couldn't even look on him, but you know what 48:48 I believe he was even changed in heart, 48:50 but his features changed because he have been 48:53 in the presence by the way of the master. 48:56 Can you remember your conversion experience? 49:00 Can you remember when God really touched you, 49:02 when you really changed and converted, 49:05 the things that you used to say you don't say 49:07 anymore, you are different maybe some of you even 49:09 the pastors you preach different now. 49:13 You elders you talk different, you teach a different 49:14 Sabbath school class whatever it might be you are 49:17 different and people would say oh that sound 49:19 different thing it used to be why because you've been 49:22 touched by the master just like this man. 49:26 God is looking for people that he can touch today 49:27 you need to be one, I need to be one of those that 49:30 God can reach down and touch and when he says 49:33 go wash or when he ask us to do something 49:35 we need to be obedient to that. 49:38 The Pharisees isn't real fit by the way. 49:40 They didn't want, they didn't want Jesus to receive 49:42 the credit and when they ask him who did this 49:45 thing the man said Jesus did this and they say 49:50 well we don't really want to hear that, 49:51 we need to be talking about something else 49:53 so when you get credit somewhere else, 49:54 but the more they ask who did this thing the 49:56 more this blind man said it was Jesus, 49:58 so the more he was pressured, the more he was 50:00 squeezed, the more he squalled out the name 50:02 of Jesus you know what I believe we need to, 50:04 we need by the way to be that way to did pressure, 50:09 things of this world we shouldn't be afraid of 50:10 by the way, we need to be looking a little bit closer 50:14 at Jesus little bit more. We need to be like the 50:17 man he said you know what, I was once blind, 50:20 but now I see. John chapter 9 you read the 50:26 whole thing, we won't have time to go through 50:27 it all today. But the religious leaders began to 50:33 complain here we had a dwarf, who became 50:36 a giant, one who exercises faith and obedience 50:40 to God and God rewarded him and gave him back 50:43 his site then the pressure began to be put on by 50:48 family and friends and even by his parents. 50:54 Religious leaders went to the parents and they 50:55 said oh is this your son, yeah was he born blind 50:58 yes he was, but that the right quickly they said 51:00 he is of age go and ask him. See that they don't 51:02 want to take responsibility; they didn't want 51:05 all that responsibility, they say go ask him he is of age, 51:08 because they realized that if they had said it was 51:10 Jesus that did it, they would be excommunicated 51:14 from the church for 30 days. And they did repent 51:17 of that by the way they were some steeper things 51:19 that would be inflicted upon them. 51:22 They didn't want that, that tells you how the enemy 51:27 operates by the way he does it by tries to get 51:30 you do it in the right you know easy way, 51:32 but that doesn't work he begins to put force 51:35 that you're gonna to be challenged with certain 51:36 things. It's our job to stand as giants for God. 51:46 This blind man as he was giving praise to God, 51:52 he was asked to be quite oh we don't wanna 51:55 hear anything. Do you want to be a giant 51:57 for God today? Even if the pressure is applied, 52:02 you accept him in your heart and in your life. 52:03 Are you embarrassed? You embarrassed to say 52:06 grace when you are out, you embarrassed to lift 52:08 up the name of Jesus around certain groups 52:10 of people, if you are stay away from those group 52:14 of people, unless you can lift up the name of Jesus 52:15 set a good example for those around about, 52:18 it's time for God's people to rally around, 52:20 it's time for us to be fill with the Holy Spirit of God 52:22 to where we giants fill the land, 52:25 giants as christians. And God said I want 52:28 to do that for you, but the blind man said 52:32 you know what I want to give him the praise. 52:34 I need to give him the praise and he continue 52:37 to praise him regardless of what the results might 52:40 be, they said he can't he is a sinner, 52:43 he can't do these things the blind man said 52:44 I don't care I don't know that he is a sinner 52:46 or he is not all I know is I was blind, 52:48 but now I see. We might say that in our own life 52:53 sometime you know I don't know what's all 52:54 happening in everybody's heart and everybody's 52:56 life in the last couple of minutes we have together, 53:02 but if he is reaching he has touched you 53:05 that's all you need to know about it. 53:08 The things that you want to love you now hate 53:09 and in the things that you hated you now love let 53:12 me say you got to touch from on high. 53:15 He doesn't want the church to be crippled, 53:18 he doesn't want the church to be slumber, 53:20 he doesn't want the church to be lazy, 53:22 but right now is the time to rise to the occasion 53:24 and to give him praise and honor and glory 53:28 and to simply say as this blind man I'm gonna 53:30 give God the praise, I'm gonna give Jesus 53:33 the praise and the honor and the glory, 53:35 because he is doing great things in my heart 53:37 and in my life. Everyday of your life we need 53:40 to give him glory. Come on let's talk just a second 53:43 before we close, we're gonna pray, let's give him 53:46 praise and honor and glory for my Bible says every 53:49 good gift comes from the father. 53:53 It is in him that we live and that we move and that 53:56 we have our beings. Every breathe we take, 53:59 we owe him everything. Why not praise him today, 54:03 why not listen to his voice, why not be obedient to him, 54:05 why not obey his voice and those who were walking 54:09 in darkness may do what we maybe walking 54:11 in the light as he is in the light. You want to walk 54:15 in that light let's pray about it right now before 54:17 we close shall we. Merciful Father in Heaven, 54:20 we thank you for your word, thank you for calling 54:23 us out of darkness into that marvelous light, 54:26 we just thank you for loving us, thanking for 54:28 dying force, thank you for Calvary in that blood 54:30 that cleanses us whiter than snow, 54:33 but those who have made that decision to step out 54:34 of darkness into light I give you praise in Jesus name, 54:37 amen. Until next time, I want you to continue 54:41 to study the Bible, if you have questions or 54:43 comments you should be sure and let us know, 54:45 but remember stay in the word, keep your hand 54:47 in the hand of Jesus, it won't be long he is 54:50 going to be here, I'll see you next time. 54:55 Welcome back friends, in closing I want you to 54:57 think about this question with me. 55:00 Christ who came from Heaven all the way down 55:03 to this earth to show us what a true Christian 55:06 is really all about, was he a religious dwarf. 55:11 I believe that you will agree emphatically with me 55:16 absolutely not. Another words of what a 55:22 tremendous example of faith he was, 55:25 he trusted his Father all the way to the Cross. 55:29 What an example of Holy Spirit power he gave 55:32 sight to the blind, he healed the sick, 55:36 he raised the dead. What an example of Christian 55:39 integrity never once, never once did he give 55:43 into sin and what an example of endurance, 55:47 never did he waiver from the truth despite complete 55:51 rejection at times, despite hatred and persecution 55:56 and ultimately and agonizing death. 56:00 What an example he was of gigantic love. 56:05 A love that we can only comprehend in a very 56:09 minute way here in this earth, no Christ was no dwarf, 56:14 Christ is no religious dwarf. Remember the council 56:18 I gave you earlier that day by day our characters 56:23 are to be build up under his direction and if your 56:27 character is being built up under his direction 56:31 in no way, no way will any of us be a spiritual dwarf. 56:37 That's our prayer for you today that you will 56:39 continue climbing that ladder and we want to hear 56:42 from you. We want to know what your experience 56:46 has been with Christ, what your experiences been 56:49 with this program would you contact us, 56:52 our contact information is there on the 56:54 screen for you, you can write us at 56:57 Behold the Lamb Ministries PO Box 2030 57:00 Herrin, IL 62948 Or call us 618-942-5044 57:07 E- mail if you chose that's 57:10 BeholdTheLamb Ministries@yahoo. com 57:13 or visit us on the web 57:15 www. BeholdTheLamb Ministries. com. 57:20 We want to hear from you, it blesses our hearts 57:22 when we hear for you, as we pray these meetings 57:25 are blessing your heart. May God continue 57:27 to richly bless to you inward. |
Revised 2014-12-17