Participants: Chris Shelton (Host), Kenny Shelton
Series Code: BTLP
Program Code: BTLP000009
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00:40 Hello, and welcome again to
00:42 "Behold the Lamb Presents." 00:44 I am Chris Shelton your host and today we're 00:47 presenting the fourth message in a five part 00:49 series that we have entitled 00:51 "Addressing the Power of the Holy Spirit." 00:54 My husband Pastor Kenny Shelton is going to 00:56 teach us how we can receive that power. 00:59 So, stay tuned, you won't wanna miss it. 01:03 You know, the time has come where we must know 01:06 for ourselves the working of the Holy Spirit 01:09 in our hearts and in our lives and how this 01:12 power is diligently seeking to lead us into 01:15 all truth and righteousness that 01:17 we may gain eternal life through 01:20 Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 01:22 Second Timothy 2:19 tells us that the 01:25 foundation of God standeth sure. 01:28 In this life so much is uncertain, our jobs, 01:32 our faith, our relationships 01:34 with one and another, but praise God 01:37 the truth of his word never changes, 01:40 of the Apostles it is written in 01:42 Mark 16 and verse 20, they went forth and preached 01:47 everywhere the Lord working with them, 01:50 and confirming the word with signs following. 01:53 What exciting words of affirmation are found 01:56 in scripture to give us hope and assurance. 01:59 And that same power that Apostles had back then 02:03 is available for each and everyone of us today. 02:07 We just have to know how to receive it. 02:10 First, we are blessed to be able to go to the 02:13 3ABN worship center and listen to a wonderful, 02:16 beautiful song entitled "Flowers in the rain" 02:20 and it will be sung by Stephanie Dawn. 02:40 You are the One; there's no one else 02:48 Who lifts me up And gives me water from the well 02:56 But there's a hole That seems to drain it all away 03:04 And once again I'm left in fear and doubt 03:09 When all my strength is crying out 03:15 So here I am again Willing to be opened up 03:21 and broken like a flower in the rain 03:26 Tell me what have I to do To die and then be raised 03:33 To reach beyond the pain Like a flower in the rain 03:46 The evil wind, it blows a storm To rock my world 03:58 Just when I think I'm safe and warm 04:02 I'm led astray far too easily 04:10 It's always hard for me to say I'm wrong 04:15 Until I know I can't go on So here I am again 04:24 Willing to be opened up and broken like 04:28 a flower in the rain Tell me what have I to do 04:34 To die and then be raised To reach beyond the pain 04:43 Like a flower in the rain Lord, You have searched me 04:52 And know when I sleep and when I rise 04:58 You're familiar with all my ways 05:03 Even the darkness will shine Like the day 05:09 When you look into my heart So here I am again 05:19 Willing to be opened up and broken like 05:23 a flower in the rain Tell me what have I to do 05:29 To die and then be raised To reach beyond the pain 05:37 Like a flower in the rain Like a flower in the rain 06:05 Thank you for joining us once again for another 06:07 program and by the way thank you 06:09 Stephanie for that beautiful song. 06:11 I know it'll bless many hearts. 06:12 We have a beautiful study today. 06:14 But before we study, we always do what we 06:16 the Bible say we need to do. 06:18 We need to do pray, don't we? 06:19 So, why don't you wherever if you can, 06:21 you maybe driving down on the road, 06:22 you maybe somewhere where you can't, 06:23 but if you maybe close your eyes, 06:24 even if you can't. You can pray along with me 06:27 for the power of the Holy Spirit. 06:28 Let's pray, shall we? 06:32 Merciful God in heaven, we thank you 06:34 for the privilege of studying your word. 06:36 How desperately we need that sweet Spirit, 06:39 the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all true. 06:44 We ask now that you would take our hearts, 06:46 our minds may the things of earth go strangely 06:49 damage we spend this time with you. 06:52 We need this time. May it strengthen us 06:54 and we pray for everyone who views, 06:57 who would listen, who sees that may their 07:00 hearts and life be drawn closer to Jesus, 07:02 it's my prayer in Jesus name, Amen. 07:09 Wall as always, we always invite you 07:10 where you can to make sure you have your Bible. 07:13 It's very, very important because we cover a 07:15 lot of material and in covering this material, 07:17 many times we need to jot some things down. 07:20 I've often said me we need to, oh! 07:21 I remember all of that. Well, you know 07:24 hour or two goes, we forget. 07:26 So, I encourage you to jot down these passage of 07:28 scripture and then by the way study 07:30 to show yourself, approved unto God. 07:33 Our message for today is actually part four of 07:35 the five part series that we are doing, 07:37 how we receive that power? 07:39 How do we receive that power? 07:42 Do you want that power? Is it necessary? Well, 07:46 God's word says that it is, 07:48 and so why do, why it's so important, good question. 07:52 Why is it so important to receive this 07:55 Holy Spirit power in our life? 07:58 Let me just answer that very quickly. 08:01 It'd be easy for us to understand, why? 08:04 Because our eternal destiny depends upon it. 08:09 Did you get that? Our eternal destiny 08:12 depends upon how we receive that 08:15 power that is available to us. 08:18 Now, by the way is it enough just to say well, 08:21 I, yeah well I, I know the truth, I know the Bible, 08:24 I know the word, O friend. 08:26 It's not enough, and we're gonna 08:27 prove that from God's word today. 08:29 Not enough to say well, I know the teachings 08:31 of the Church and I know the doctrines, no, 08:34 you're going to have to take those trues 08:36 by the power of the Spirit and put them 08:38 in your heart and in your mind. 08:42 By the way how we receive this power, 08:45 I would like to just go over rather quickly, 08:47 give you some things that you can think about, 08:50 and then as you jot this down. 08:51 I want you to use this, these points of 08:54 information as, as a, a point to which 08:57 to draw from as we continue in our study. 08:59 We are gonna cover several different areas here. 09:01 But these are the points 09:03 I want you to really consider, jot them down, 09:05 you know, receiving this power, 09:08 we know that it only comes, 09:10 listen number one as an answer to your prayer. 09:14 You can't receive that power 09:17 unless you pray about it. I'm gonna ask please God, 09:21 God I want this power, I need this power. 09:24 Please send this power 09:25 from the throne room of God, 09:28 and God wants you to have it by the way. 09:30 So, the first thing is that we want to 09:31 receive this power, 09:32 how we receive it is we pray for it. 09:35 We spend sometime on our knees. 09:37 Somebody say, well you know 09:38 I prayed last week for. You pray until that 09:40 power comes and it will come 09:42 if that's a desire of your heart. 09:45 And by the way as we want to receive 09:47 this power I believe this, that we need to strive 09:51 daily to be able to understand 09:54 God and the plan of salvation. 09:58 If you're contemplating on these things, 10:00 you know, I wanted to know God better, 10:02 I want to know the plans of salvation better, 10:04 then our mind and heart is in tune with what? 10:06 In tune with heaven and then heaven 10:09 can pour out this power, the blessing, 10:11 the Holy Spirit, the power of the word 10:14 and will give you the desires of your heart. 10:17 And by the way you realize some people say, 10:19 well, I don't seem to have the power 10:21 like this person over here that. 10:22 You realize there are the degrees 10:25 of the development of these powers. 10:28 Oh! It's very, very interesting 10:29 I was reading in a, just a precious book, 10:32 education page 50. Now, allow me to read this 10:36 and pay close attention to it. 10:37 It makes a lot of sense. It starts out and says 10:41 there are different degrees of development 10:44 and different manifestations 10:46 of His power, but notice this, to meet 10:49 the need and wants of men in different ages. 10:53 God works in all times, the work that he 10:58 does in all times is the same. 11:01 People says well God changes, 11:02 no, God never changes. 11:03 Bible say he does not change. 11:05 The teacher is the same. 11:08 God's character and his plan are the same. 11:13 Now, notice what we need to do then 11:16 is we need to follow the principles of God's word. 11:20 Do you want to receive, how are we going to 11:22 receive this power, we are going to have 11:24 to be able to adhere, that means we are going to 11:27 have to follow the principles of God's word 11:32 and it's going to bring 11:33 great blessings and great power. 11:36 By the way have you been following 11:39 the principles of God's word. 11:41 I'm not talking about just part of the time, 11:43 I am talking about every day of your life, 11:45 every moment, because the principles that God had, 11:48 they're truths and if you want more power 11:51 and more victory, if you want to allow the 11:55 Holy Spirit to be able to use you to help 11:56 finish the work to be soul-winner. 11:58 Then we're gonna have to follow 11:59 the principles of God's word. 12:00 He just doesn't give you the Spirit because 12:02 you say well, I want the Spirit and then 12:04 you're going to maybe abuse that Spirit, 12:06 oh! Yes, there's many people who have tried to 12:08 abuse the Spirit, you know, you can't do it. 12:10 Many people by the way try to use the Spirit. 12:14 We need to let the Spirit use us. 12:18 Many people think to have a Spirit, 12:19 but dear friend let me just be real, 12:20 real clear with you. 12:22 There are two Spirits as it were in the world 12:24 today and listen, one or the other is going to 12:28 control your life, going to control my life, 12:32 one or the another, and might if we don't know 12:35 the word, if we're not receiving the Holy Spirit. 12:38 The precious powerful word of God 12:40 then we might be deceived. 12:42 Remember the power that God gives, it comes 12:45 in degrees and it begins to develop over time. 12:49 But God is always the same. He's faithful. 12:54 And by the way, if you really want to 12:55 receive this, here, here's another point 12:57 I want to just chew on this for a moment. 12:59 Is that we need to began to act 13:04 on the principles of God's word. 13:06 Remember it, not just, not just knowing 13:08 the principles, but we need to begin to 13:10 act on the word of God, that means follow it. 13:15 Things that you read, things you understand 13:17 say God so, so ordered my life in harmony. 13:21 Our belief then is, that put it into action, 13:24 not we just believe it and we go about 13:26 doing everything, but put it into action. 13:28 God's looking for action people today. 13:30 He's not looking for people who sit on the couch. 13:33 He's not looking for people who, who have 13:35 no desire to help their fellowmen, 13:38 have no desire to be, 13:39 desire to be ready when Jesus shall come. 13:41 God's looking for active people. 13:44 Boy, to belong to a Church, a movement 13:47 that people are active and there is, 13:49 I like the word movers and shakers in the 13:52 cause of Christ, I like to be around that. 13:54 I'd like to move for the cause of Christ, 13:56 why? Because we serve a big God. 13:58 God wants us moving for him and we need 14:01 that power and when we begin to act 14:03 on the principles of God's word, then we 14:05 receive more of the Holy Spirit's power. 14:09 And by the way, if you still want 14:11 somoe more power, notice how closely 14:15 we need to put this together, 14:17 that divinity and humanity must cooperate together. 14:23 We must so attach ourselves with heaven 14:27 that there is no difference, 14:29 that we breathe the air of heaven, 14:31 that we walk as we are by faith, 14:33 listen carefully on the streets of gold. 14:36 God wants to have that close communion. 14:39 He wants us to be feel with his Spirit. 14:41 He wants us to cooperate with him and with heaven, 14:45 and by the way we have to receive 14:48 as the Spirit imparts. 14:51 Not as you see fit or as I see fit. 14:54 Sometimes we say, Lord just pour out on me, 14:57 just give me all of the Spirit, 14:59 maybe you're not ready, maybe I am not ready. 15:02 There's been times in my religious experience 15:05 in my walk with Jesus. I said, 15:06 I'm ready and my, several years passed by 15:11 before the Lord was ready. 15:14 He knows us better than we know ourselves, 15:16 doesn't he? But we have to ready to, listen, 15:20 advance as the Spirit does what, imparts. 15:25 This is a key to us receiving how we receive 15:29 the power of God. Interesting, read another 15:34 little book and I just, just read a little 15:35 paragraph with it, in eight testimonies page 55. 15:38 This is really powerful. Notice with me. 15:41 "Through his Spirit God makes his word a vivifying" 15:46 now notice the word, through what? 15:48 Through his Spirit God makes his word. 15:51 So, I want to associate today and I want you 15:53 to keep this in mind, the Spirit of God 15:55 and the close connection to his word. 15:59 Close connection, Spirit and his word. 16:02 He makes it a vivifying power, notice this, that 16:07 means oh say well I am not sure what that means. 16:09 That means God make his word come alive, 16:11 is that a little clear? To come alive. 16:15 He makes it active, he puts action into it, 16:20 he gives power to his word it becomes quick 16:23 I am reading on and powerful, 16:26 exerting a strong influence upon minds. 16:31 Friend, I need a strong influence on this mind, 16:33 I don't know about you? I really need 16:35 a strong influence on this mind, you know why? 16:37 Because, I don't really know what I ought to 16:39 pray for, how about you? 16:41 That's what the Bible says, we think we do, 16:44 but we need to be careful. We need to, 16:46 what the Bible says, let's ask to get, what this, 16:49 let's just decide right now 16:50 that we're going to follow the word, 16:52 regardless of what men may say, what the church, 16:55 different churches may be teaching but 16:57 we are going to follow God's word. 17:02 Now are you in agreement with me? 17:05 Are you going to agree with heaven right now 17:07 I say, it doesn't matter what my church teaches 17:10 I am interested in what God says in his word. 17:14 Question, as we are studying about how we 17:18 receive this power, how it comes to us, 17:22 what if we fail to receive the power of 17:27 the Spirit or the power of his word. 17:31 What might happen to us? See this is, 17:34 this is so all important as we study, 17:38 as we are here in the last days of earth's history, 17:42 Jesus is coming, probation is going to close, 17:45 there's not going to be another opportunity, 17:47 there's a lot of people preaching and they teach, 17:50 oh if we don't make it this round, 17:51 you will make it on another round. 17:52 This is the time of probation 17:54 for you and for me. 17:56 This is it, it's our life time, our life span that 17:59 we have here whether it be short or whether it be 18:01 long, this is our time of test and trial 18:04 and we are going to have to pass that test. 18:06 If you're going to repopulate heaven. 18:09 What if we don't really receive 18:11 this power that's offered so freely. 18:15 What if something takes priority in our 18:17 life and somehow we put it on a back burner 18:20 and we decide that one of these days we're 18:22 going to do it after certain issues are settled. 18:26 You know today, listen friend, 18:28 the enemy loves to hear you talk or think 18:31 like that because what you think, 18:33 he can't read your mind but he what, 18:34 it always comes out into action. 18:36 So he is very well aware. You think he might know, 18:40 I'll give you an example, 18:41 somebody say now be careful. 18:42 You think the devil doesn't realize, 18:43 if you've got maybe you're inpatient about things, 18:46 you're out there in the backyard and you're 18:47 just hammering away, just really hitting some 18:49 things and all of a sudden you hit your thumb, 18:54 oh, and you take that hammer and 18:57 you throw it in the neighbor's yard. 19:01 You think the devil doesn't have 19:03 a pretty good idea that you're aggravated. 19:06 That you've lost patience, sure and so 19:10 he begins to work very hard at that time, 19:12 what if we're not receiving that power of 19:15 the Holy Spirit that leads us and guides us into 19:18 all truth, is it possible, it is my question, 19:21 that we might be deceived. 19:23 You know Jesus warned over and over in Matthew 24, 19:26 oh be careful that you know you're not deceived. 19:29 Why because he knew that Satan would be 19:31 working and deceiving the people. 19:33 Now by the way, how long, how long 19:36 will he deceive people? As long as probation last. 19:42 He's going to deceive right up to the 19:43 very end of time. And he is out to 19:46 deceive those who profess to be 19:48 followers of Jesus Christ. 19:50 I want to give you a scripture, you may not 19:52 be able to place it together right now but 19:54 as we go over it, I think you'll see what 19:56 I am talking about because I think 19:57 we need an example. You have your Bibles 20:00 turn with me to Second Thessalonians 2:9-10, 20:05 this passage is used for many different studies 20:08 but I want you to closely look at it with me today. 20:11 The Bible says as we begin reading, 20:13 where we at? Good, Second Thessalonians 20:16 chapter, what? 2:9-10, the Bible says 20:20 Even him who's coming is after the working 20:24 of Satan, did you notice that, with all what? 20:28 With all power and signs and lying wonders. 20:32 Jesus is warning us, he's warning his people 20:36 that the devil is going to be working with all 20:39 power and signs and lying wonders through people, 20:44 through individuals. Now when Jesus himself 20:49 says that he is going to be performing things 20:52 that are out of what the mind and the eyes just 20:55 cannot explain, friend, we need to be aware 20:58 and then the Bible goes on there in verse 10, 21:02 it says the devil is going to be doing all this, 21:03 he says and verse 10, and with all deceivableness 21:08 of unrighteousness in them that perish. 21:12 Interesting what the Bible says, the Bible says 21:16 the deceivableness of unrighteous in them 21:19 that perish, so those that perish the Bible 21:22 said then are what? Unrighteous, they are 21:25 not doing the right thing. They had been 21:28 may be deceived, but notice how it goes on. 21:32 Now why were they deceived? Why were they 21:37 living an unrighteous life? The Bible is clear, 21:40 because they received not the, what? Good, 21:44 I heard someone, they received not the love 21:47 of the truth that they may be saved. 21:50 Look friend, the Bible is very, very clear being 21:53 saved and truth lie right together, those who 21:58 will be saved in God's kingdom dear friends 22:00 will uphold the truth of his word. Do you see it? 22:03 But, it's not just knowing what is truth, the Bible 22:07 says we have to do what, we have to love 22:10 the truth and in the Greek it's talking about, 22:14 this love is talking about, we have to 22:15 have an affection for the truth. 22:19 A benevolence for the truth. 22:22 And it's interesting here, the love that 22:25 God wants us to have for the truth, he said, 22:27 when you know the truth you can have a love 22:29 feast. Oh, how long has it been since 22:32 you've feasted on the word? You went to 22:34 church and boy, you've heard a good message. 22:37 Maybe you studied the word and you just felt 22:39 the power of the Holy Spirit that we've been 22:41 talking about, you've received that 22:43 and you say boy, it's been like a feast. 22:47 Oh it's so good, oh I can't wait till the next 22:50 time that I open the word and spend some 22:52 time with God, but those who are going to 22:55 make it to heaven they must come to 22:57 love the truth, not just know the truth. 23:01 Now notice, none need be deceived. 23:06 The Bible said that the base of the whole world 23:08 is going to be deceived, but none need to be 23:10 deceived. You not hearing this preached 23:13 around the world. This is an interesting 23:18 subject, Jesus makes this comment and I love 23:23 in the book of Matthew in the New Testament, 23:24 Matthew chapter 7, verse 20, 23:27 he makes this statement, a lot of people have 23:29 fussed over this one and it says where therefore 23:31 by their fruits, ye shall what; good, ye shall 23:35 know them. A lot of people make a lot of talk 23:40 about, oh by their fruit, oh we need to be care. 23:42 The word fruit here, by their fruit means 23:45 that listen, that which is ready to be plucked 23:49 from the tree. Now a fruit is ready to be plucked 23:54 from the tree that means that it's what? Good, 23:58 ripe and ready. It's not in question of what it is? 24:03 By their fruits you can identify them. 24:07 Did you get they're ripe by their fruits by their 24:11 doing, did you get it? You shall know them. 24:16 You say while I am still quite I am a little bit 24:18 confused, well let's just get an example here, 24:20 shall we? Let's say that something because the 24:24 devil said here that there's going to be signs 24:26 and lying wonders. Let's say something 24:28 supernatural happens. Now this, we have to 24:31 remember what we just talked about? 24:34 How we have to adhere to the principles of God's 24:36 word here. How we have to receive that 24:38 power and we need to act on the truth and 24:40 principles that God has given us. We have 24:42 to pray for, we have to strive daily to be 24:44 like Jesus. Keep these things in mind, 24:47 because you'll see how it fits here, 24:48 because the devil's trying to take all these 24:50 things away from us. And when the Bible says, 24:56 that Jesus healed people, he really healed them. 25:00 And, so the devil is a counterfeiter and so 25:02 he too will strive to try to persuade you 25:06 that he's in the healing business. So let's just 25:08 say that there is a supernatural, 25:10 something supernatural happen, 25:12 and lets say it's a healing, shall we? 25:15 It would be well for you and for me to examine 25:19 that person who claims to have done that miracle. 25:24 Somebody say well I don't want, no you need to. 25:27 If its supernatural, there's a healing, 25:29 we need to find out how this power came about. 25:32 Is it the power of God or is the power of 25:35 the enemy, it's going to be one or the other. 25:40 You say well why do we need to do this? 25:41 Because we just read in Second Thessalonians 2:9, 25:44 that the enemy's going to do what? 25:46 The workings of Satan is going to be with all what? 25:48 All power, signs and wonders. 25:52 And we know they're lying wonders because 25:54 he is a liar and the truth is not in him, 25:57 is what the Bible said. But you know majority 25:59 of the world is following a liar today, sad. 26:05 He needs to be exposed, oh! How he hates to be 26:07 exposed, and so when this supernatural let's say 26:13 healing takes place, let's question it. 26:16 Here's what the scriptures teach by the way in 26:18 First John 4:1, the Bible is very clear on that. 26:25 Remember, we are going to receive power from what? 26:27 One Spirit or the other, isn't that right? 26:31 First John says, believe not every what; 26:34 First John 4:1 believe not every spirit but 26:38 try the spirits whether they are of God. 26:43 So we're told that we need to try, we need to 26:47 examine when something supernatural happens, 26:50 we need to examine it, we need to try it, 26:54 we need to test it, because it's coming from 26:57 one power or the other. Friend, I am going to do 27:02 what the Bible says, how about you? 27:05 I am going to test it, I am going to see what, 27:07 but, but how can I know? How can I know that? 27:12 I test this one who seems to have a cure. 27:16 The one who performs this miracle, now by the way, 27:21 are we going to believe, now I want you 27:23 to listen carefully. If you're living on feelings 27:25 and emotions and all these things in what your 27:27 eyes see, you're in trouble, you're going to 27:30 be deceived, I'm just going to be real plain 27:32 and honest with you. The Bible is very, very, 27:37 very clear. Are we going to believe? 27:39 Here is your choices, are we going to 27:41 believe God's word on this issue, or are we 27:44 going to believe what man says? God or man, 27:49 even, are we going to believe this person 27:51 this man even if he goes opposite of God's word. 27:55 Well we shouldn't, but sometimes people say, 27:58 I will, I just, I can't explain it so 28:00 it must be from God. No friend, there is a 28:04 test and we've got to apply that test why 28:07 because he's deceiving the world and the world's 28:09 not even fighting it. We need to be 28:12 fighting it today. Now what is it, you will say, 28:16 okay well good. I need to check out whether 28:18 this miracle is from God or not. 28:20 It seems like it was in church service, 28:22 people were jumping up, running around, 28:24 somebody got healed as it were. 28:26 We've got it, let's take it, test it, by the 28:28 standard of God's word and it's very, very simple. 28:33 But it's one that the majority of the world and 28:35 the so-called Christians reject. Are you going to 28:38 reject God, you are going to reject man? 28:41 You've got to come, you have got to make a choice, 28:43 you can't be indifferent to it. The Bible tells us 28:45 how this is a standard. Isaiah 8:20, you remember, 28:50 come on some of you memorize it, 28:51 help me up out. The Bible says 28:54 Isaiah 8:20 what is it, to the law and to the 28:57 what; testimony, if they speak not according to 29:01 this, what it was, this word it is because 29:05 there is no light in them. Now you know, 29:10 I wanna be careful with it, because I want you 29:12 to hear every word. It didn't say because 29:15 where there's not much light in it or there's 29:17 90 percent light, the Bible says to the law 29:21 and to the testimony. The world has nothing, 29:24 most professed Christians you don't have anything, 29:26 because you're saying God's love done away with. 29:29 The test, that God says is to the law and to the 29:33 testimony if they speak not according to 29:36 this it's because there is no light in them. 29:40 Listen, regardless of how great, regardless of 29:43 how overwhelming this miracle may seem. 29:50 The Bible says basically we are looking at here 29:52 as if a person is in disobedience to God's law, 29:58 then they're going to have to reorder their life. 30:01 If they are not willing to reorder their life. 30:05 If they are not worried about being obedient. 30:08 If they tell you, you know, we don't really 30:10 have to worry about this being obedient 30:13 anything anymore because God's working through me. 30:16 You see all these miracles, you see 30:17 all these things that are taking place. 30:19 God's working, you see the church it's big, 30:21 we've got a lot of people, a lot of things 30:23 are going on, we're helping the sick, 30:25 we're doing this, we're doing that. 30:28 But they're saying what, we don't have to be 30:30 obedient, because we're working signs 30:33 and wonders and by the way if they don't 30:37 advocate keeping God's moral Ten Commandment Law, 30:41 you can be sure that the miracle that has been 30:44 performed is that of the enemy and not from God. 30:47 Why? Because the Bible said the test is to the 30:50 law and to the testimony so if a man says 30:52 I don't worry about keeping God's law, 30:54 we are under this, or we are doing this, 30:56 or we are doing that, then it cannot be, 30:58 that miracle cannot be from God, because 31:00 he is not striving by the Grace of God, to keep 31:03 God's Ten Commandment law. 31:07 He said whoa boy, that's a little may be 31:08 a little bit more than I, than I bargained for. 31:13 You had the challenge a while ago, are you 31:16 going to believe man because it looked good, 31:18 it sounded good, the church shouted or you're 31:21 going to believe what God's word says. 31:24 Friend, may I just to be so bold, don't call 31:26 yourself a Christian if you are not willing by 31:27 the Grace of God to be Christ like, 31:29 if you're not willing to follow the principles 31:32 of God's work. What makes you a Christian? 31:36 What makes you fruit for the kingdom of God? 31:40 What makes you think? Well, I am going to 31:43 repopulate heaven or you will, being disobedience. 31:45 Say well I know what God, God's word says but. 31:50 We're living in the last days of earth's history 31:54 and people today you know, you know the devil 31:57 himself he claims to be what? An Angel, of what? 32:00 Of light, Second Corinthians 11:14, 32:04 So we know that the enemy is going to be working 32:06 as what, Trying to as an angel of lights. 32:08 He's going to be working in and among the 32:09 churches to do what? To deceive and to tell 32:12 you exactly what he said in heaven that 32:15 you don't have to worry about God's laws, 32:17 they are not really important. 32:19 It can't be, they can't be kept. Does God not have 32:25 the power? Does Holy Spirit not have power 32:28 enough to equip and to help us to be obedient? 32:30 When the Bible simply says real clear, 32:32 that he's coming after a church without a spot 32:35 or a wrinkle, or any such thing. 32:39 He's coming after a people whose characters 32:40 has been purified by the blood of the lamb. 32:46 And so we understand that, as we look at this 32:48 standard that God has said this test. 32:52 Oh by the way, do you realize that? 32:55 I like to call it the character detector. 32:59 God has given us a what? A character detector, 33:04 after all this law that the world says 33:06 is going to be done away with, 33:09 is going to be used in the judgment. 33:11 Oh you've read it before in James 2:10-12, 33:14 it says, for whosoever shall keep the whole 33:16 law, but offend in what? One point, 33:18 he is guilty of all. And verse 11 says, 33:21 For he that said, do not commit adultery, 33:24 said also, do not kill. But if thou commit no 33:27 adultery, yet you do what? You kill you have 33:30 become a transgressor of God's law. 33:33 Verse 12, So speak ye, and do, as they that 33:37 shall be judged, listen to this, 33:39 by the law of liberty. Do you realize the 33:42 boldness of some people say, but you 33:44 guys want to keep God's love, oh I tell you what? 33:49 They just, it's like chains around us. 33:53 That's not what the Bible says; the Bible calls it 33:58 the Law of Liberty. Shouldn't we be reading 34:04 scriptures that Praise God for this law of liberty? 34:08 So speak ye, and do as they that shall be 34:10 judged by the law of liberty. How can we 34:12 judged by the law of liberty if it's done 34:14 away with? I want you to see the importance 34:16 of what I am talking about. As we receive this 34:20 power upon receiving it, is also the receiving 34:23 the power of the word that helps us and leads 34:27 us into all truth, if we don't know it, we will be 34:29 deceived, because the devil's working 34:32 the Bible says. The law of liberty, instead of 34:37 somebody saying oh, you're on that old law of 34:39 bondage, Bible doesn't say that at all, 34:43 we need to be careful. So is it really important 34:47 how we receive the word or the power of the word 34:51 of God. If it wasn't important, 34:55 why would Jesus say? Do you remember, 34:58 what he taught in Matthew 4:4, He said we need to 35:01 listen to what? Every word, we need to heed 35:04 every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. 35:07 Every word, not picking and choosing, 35:11 not when it suits your need or your lifestyle 35:14 but every word that proceeds 35:16 out of the mouth of God. 35:18 Let me tell you dear friends, let me 35:19 just tell you this, I want you to get your ears 35:22 open right now and don't worry about the phone 35:24 and all these other things but listen carefully, 35:26 God's word is solid as a rock. What? 35:31 God's word is solid as a rock. It is a secure 35:34 foundation that we have right here, but every 35:39 faith and every doctrine must be tested by the law 35:45 and the testimony. Please remember that, 35:47 remember there is no other safe course. 35:51 Sure we're talking about power, and this is the 35:54 power inside that helps us to detect, 35:56 what we're talking about? If you don't have it, 35:58 you will be deceived. If you don't use the word 36:02 that's powerful, if you don't use what God gives 36:07 you dear friends, we're talking about even this 36:08 word you lose. This is God is telling us here 36:13 that we have come to a point in earth's history, 36:15 listen carefully that we must contend 36:19 for the faith. How many? Listen, are you really 36:23 contending for the faith today? That's found 36:26 by the way in Jude verse 3, 36:29 notice the Bible says we have to contend for the 36:31 faith once delivered to the saints. 36:35 Contend, the word contend means, are you struggling? 36:40 Are you really struggling for that faith? 36:43 Are you really earnest about that faith? 36:45 Are you fighting for that faith? 36:47 Are you laboring for that faith and by the way, 36:51 the word contend here, thus means, that we must 36:53 be willing to contend with the advisory. 36:58 Are you willing to contend with the advisory, 37:00 oh you're not capable and I am not, 37:02 but with Jesus Christ we are more than conquerors. 37:05 We have to be willing to contend, how many 37:07 is contending for the faith? The real faith, 37:11 that was once delivered to the saints. 37:14 Isn't it time that we've started striving for this? 37:17 We started fighting for this, we want it 37:19 brought back into the church, we want it brought 37:21 back into our own hearts and for our life 37:24 and the Bible says contend for what? 37:26 What's the word for the faith. 37:27 What is the faith for you dear friend. 37:29 Faith dear friend simply put as a conviction. 37:32 Do you have a conviction when it comes to 37:34 the things of God? A conviction has to do, 37:37 the faith has to do with the truth itself. 37:41 The faith here has to do with our belief. 37:45 Faith has to do with our persuasion. 37:49 When are you persuaded? Are you persuaded 37:54 that we want truth, we want righteousness 37:57 more than anything in this world. 37:59 We want to be like Jesus, are we? 38:03 I am convinced that every form of air is going to be 38:06 brought in before Jesus comes. 38:10 Every form, we haven't seen anything yet. 38:12 But why? Because my Bible says this in 38:14 Matthew 24:24, he said, if it were possible what 38:19 would happen? If it were possible they should what? 38:23 They shall deceive the very elect. 38:27 And you know what the elect means? 38:29 Let's not get carried away here, but we, 38:31 they deceive if it's possible the very elect. 38:35 Elect means, the select. Have you been selected? 38:44 Have you selected to follow Jesus, 38:46 you're selected to follow him. He selects to take 38:48 you to the heaven. You are the select, 38:52 I like that, the elect by the way that's chosen 38:57 and I'll put it down where we can really 38:59 understand it and here's the word when it talks 39:01 about the elect, the favorite. 39:05 Wow! God favors us with his presence, 39:08 with his grace and with his power. 39:11 Is it in, is it really important that how we 39:13 receive the powerful word of God and 39:16 the power of the Holy Spirit. 39:18 Do you realize today there's people having 39:20 false dreams, there's people having 39:22 false visions. They're printing them along the 39:26 page and people are swallowing everything that 39:28 they have to say, and by the way when they 39:32 have these visions and when they have these 39:34 dreams, always there is, listen, a measure of 39:37 truth involved. And so if you haven't hid the 39:42 word of God in your heart, if you're not 39:45 really praying for that Holy Spirit power to 39:47 really come in, to really receive that 39:50 power, to deal with that power you are 39:54 going to be deceived. I am going to be 39:56 deceived if we don't have this love, 39:59 because there's a certain amount 40:00 of truth and if we're not really sold on the 40:02 truth and really know what truth is dear friends. 40:06 But always this, whatever vision, whatever dream 40:10 that they may have, as end results, they will 40:14 always listen, they always try to lead you 40:17 away from the truth. Every time it will 40:21 never fail, they'll try to lead your way from 40:24 the original, original faith. When we're called 40:29 to contend and hold it in place. 40:32 Who will do it today? Who has the courage to do it? 40:36 And so I'm thankful that God has given us 40:39 this rule, that we may detect error to the law 40:47 and to the testimony. So if they tell you can't 40:51 find friend, once again that the law of God 40:53 is not important. Are you going to 40:56 believe them? If they downplay it just a 40:59 little bit, if they belittle the word, 41:05 if they won't pay any attention to the revealed 41:08 will of God, or if they say really it doesn't 41:11 matter because they are taking their feelings 41:15 and their impulses and their impressions 41:18 over ye thus saith the Lord. 41:23 Which, the by the way they considered more 41:25 reliable than God's word. You realize that 41:27 if you take man's word over God's word, 41:28 you're saying that man's word is more reliable 41:31 than God's word. Then we're gonna have to 41:34 try these Spirits. If this be the case 41:40 dear friends they are, whether their dream, 41:42 or visions or whatever they say that leads us 41:44 away from the truth of God's word 41:46 they are deceivers. They are the enemy's workmen. 41:51 You see why we need to receive the word of God 41:54 with real power. That we need that power 41:57 inside of us in our hearts and in our minds 41:59 because what the devil is pulling nowadays? 42:03 It's not some little five and dime gimmick, 42:06 are you with me? He's doing things dear friends 42:10 that the mind just cannot comprehend, 42:12 that cannot be explained and people are 42:15 wondering after. And by the way for those 42:18 of you who try, to say the law of God has done 42:21 away with, let's just give just a couple of minutes, 42:23 Oh I just can't stop with this, because I've 42:27 heard it say well you know the law of God's done 42:28 away with. How do we deal with the 42:34 simple passage, surely everyone knows, 42:36 First John 3:4, the only Biblical definition of 42:40 what sin is, sin is the big issue, is it not? 42:44 Sin is the what? Transgression of God's law 42:50 isn't it? Sin is what? Transgression of 42:53 God's law, notice that. And of course if we're 42:57 doing line upon line, precept upon precept, 43:00 in Romans chapter 5, verse 13, it says, 43:04 and of course without the law 43:06 there's no transgression. So if the law's done away 43:10 with, there is no sin, there's no transgression, 43:12 wow. How many of us are really putting our 43:18 thinking caps on right now? And by the way in 43:22 Romans 3 verse 20, by the law the Bible said is 43:26 the knowledge of sin. Thank God, that he's given 43:30 us a knowledge of what sin is that would drive 43:32 us to the savior. Also Roman 7:7 when you 43:36 get an opportunity, but my Bible is clear on this, 43:39 in Romans 6:23 the Bible said, the wages of sin is 43:44 what? Wages of sin is death. Did you notice that? 43:49 By the way, when the person says well we don't 43:52 need to keep the law now because we live by 43:55 faith. Oh that's good, dear friend. 43:58 But what do you with Romans 3:31, see what 44:02 I am talking about here is if we are not putting 44:04 in what the Holy Spirit brings and the power 44:07 of the Spirit inside of us, we will not be 44:09 able to give an answer to every man that ask us 44:11 a reason of the hope that is with in us. 44:15 Romans 3:31 the Bible is very clear, 44:17 do we then make void the law through faith? 44:21 No, God forbid, yea, we establish the law. 44:26 And by the way just one more point here 44:27 because some of us, oh well I understand 44:29 that you know we live in the dispensation of 44:31 grace so it's grace. So praise God for grace 44:34 without that we're all in trouble, but they say 44:37 well don't worry about keeping the law and why 44:38 because we're under grace. How long has it been 44:41 since we read the Romans 6:15-16, 44:45 allow me to do that as quickly as I can, 44:46 as time is running out. It says what then shall 44:48 we send because we are not under the law, 44:50 but under grace? God forbid, and in verse 16, 44:55 it goes on and says, it makes it clear. 44:57 Know ye not to whom ye yield yourself 45:00 servants to obey, his servants are ye to whom 45:04 ye obey; whether of sin, notice this, the word 45:07 sin unto what? Death or obedience unto 45:11 righteousness? So how we can say that 45:12 God's law is done away with when Paul 45:14 goes right on says, he talks about sin, talks 45:17 about the wages of sin is death and he talks 45:19 about the gift of life deals with what? 45:21 the obedience and righteous living. 45:25 Wow, see we need to receive the word, 45:29 we need to receive it now. This is the power 45:31 that we need inside, but the Bible says by the way 45:34 there's power in the word of God. Listen carefully 45:36 as Second Timothy 2:15 tells us, when we rightly 45:40 divide what, the word of God. Friend, 45:46 are you rightly dividing that the word of God? 45:49 How important that is, not just picking and 45:52 choosing and taking things out of context 45:54 but let the word of God speak to you, 46:00 how do we receive this power, we went over 46:02 several different points why? Because the devil 46:04 is going to try to deceive us but here is the 46:06 real point, listen to this very carefully. 46:08 As we receive the power of the word we receive 46:11 it through and it is written. We have to be 46:16 willing to receive that. It is written, it must be 46:21 the weapon of our resistance. It is written, 46:25 it is what, has to be the weapon that we fight 46:27 against the devil of our resistance 46:29 against the devil. And then we have to think 46:32 in terms of the sword of the Spirit. 46:36 Do you have the sword of the Spirit? Every human 46:39 being is to use. The Spirit, the word of God 46:45 and by prayer, it is written. 46:51 Sword of the spirit and by prayer we are 46:54 going to be braced for duty and for trial. 46:58 Are you ready for these things, dear friend are we 47:00 ready for Jesus to really come? We need to 47:02 receive power of the word. People say well 47:04 why the power of the word? Because my Bible tells me 47:07 very quickly in John 1:1-4, Bible says 47:11 in the beginning was what? Good, in the beginning was 47:14 the word, and the word was what? Was with God, 47:17 notice that? And the word was God. 47:21 In verse 4 it says, In Him was life; and the life 47:24 was the light of men. In the beginning was what? 47:27 In the beginning was the word the Bible says, 47:29 is the word powerful? Yes. Do we need the word 47:31 inside of us? Yes. Is the word going to protect us? 47:33 Yes. Is the word going to empower us? Yes. 47:36 Is the word going to give us victory? Yes. 47:40 Friend, we have to have it inside of us? 47:42 This is what we need to be pleading for right 47:44 now? We must be receiving this daily in our 47:48 hearts and in our life. By the way you know 47:50 the story, just quickly we get into it in 47:52 Luke 8:11, it talked about the parable of the sower. 47:57 We won't go through all of that but you just, 47:59 you read that when you have the opportunity 48:01 and it says that the sower went out and he begin 48:04 to sow and then in verse 11 it simply says this, 48:07 the seed is the word of God. The seed is what; 48:11 the seed is the word of God, that which is sown, 48:14 that which is planted, that which is notice this, 48:17 which is received, that which is extended, 48:19 that which is scattered is God's word. 48:22 This is what we need; this is what gives us power. 48:26 Are you searching as for hidden treasures today? 48:31 This is very important; the Bible goes on in verse 48:33 15 of Luke chapter 8 and it says, but that on the 48:37 good ground are they which are honest and 48:40 good in heart. The good ground is what? 48:43 Honest, they bring forth fruit with patience. 48:47 Oh friend, this it's home, it's home to me, 48:50 it's going to hit home to all of you when you 48:52 think about this and I am going to do this 48:53 quickly with parents. What kind of seed are you 48:57 sowing in the home? Notice, evil will increase 49:02 faster than good. What? Evil will increase faster 49:07 than good. What kind of seed are we sowing? 49:11 Impressions, words that are made just stay upon 49:16 the mind of our youth. And the wrong things 49:20 stay upon, they are not easily erased. 49:24 What responsibility that we have? As parents 49:28 we must sow clean seed so that later on we don't 49:31 have to come back and try to pull the weeds out 49:33 of the garden, that maybe we've let grow up. 49:37 What a difficult chore that would be? 49:41 A man well known the Duke of Wellington said this. 49:44 He said, the thing that impresses me most 49:47 about America. What? The thing that impresses 49:50 me most about America is the way the parents 49:54 obey the children. How sad? To be impressed 49:59 about the way the parents obey what? 50:02 Obey the children. We hear it over and over 50:07 in this world, oh let's just let the children 50:09 alone though, if they're a little mean and 50:11 cantankerous, as they get older they all grow 50:13 out of it, oh friend. By the way but sometime 50:17 before we're married, sometime before we 50:18 have children everyone of us come to 50:19 conclusion that we know how to raise the children 50:21 and we know we're going to exactly how to do, 50:23 to correct them and exactly what we're 50:25 going to do to make the children like we want 50:27 them to be. Here's what one man said, he said 50:33 you know, before I got married I had six theories 50:38 on how to bring up children. Now I have six 50:45 children and no theories. How about you today? 50:52 You cannot let your children come and go 50:54 and do what they want to do for many, 50:56 many years until may be they're 18 or 20 and then 51:00 you know may be a while for a while and they're 51:02 sowing their oats in, and some people say well 51:04 when they get 18 or 20 they'll get some senses 51:06 and they'll come back. You think they're gonna 51:11 come back from those evil habits and those wild 51:13 tempers and that selfishness. 51:14 What a mistake? What a mistake? For years you let 51:20 the enemy sow seeds of rebellion in that child, 51:25 with no correction. Sowing long habits of 51:29 character in the heart, wrong principles that 51:31 are left unchecked. And may, and in many cases, 51:36 later on it doesn't matter how you till the soil, 51:39 no matter how much begging and pleading that 51:41 you do and time spend on the soil it will make 51:44 no difference what you have allowed has become. 51:48 How sad? We realize now that children every defect 51:53 of character, every fault in their disposition, 51:56 their tempers, their sassing, their smart mouth, 52:00 every act of disobedience must be cut away while 52:03 they're young or it's going to mar their 52:07 character possibly for eternity. 52:12 And parents let me just say this, if you let this 52:14 go in your children sin lies at your door. 52:19 We need power. We need that power to come in; 52:24 we must keep our children if we have to from 52:26 associating with the careless and with the 52:29 disobedient and the ungodly. 52:32 Friend are you willing to do, do you love your 52:34 children enough. How do we receive that power? 52:39 Do you really want that power? The Bible says 52:43 in Acts 2:41, "Then they that gladly received his 52:46 word were baptized." Just put it in a nutshell 52:50 shall we, how receive that power? Let me say 52:53 open your heart to God, right now, pray for that 52:56 power. Let the power of the Holy Spirit have full 53:00 control, begin to work with heaven dear friend. 53:03 Be obedient to God's principles; strive daily 53:06 to know more about God and his great sacrifice. 53:10 Give your life to Jesus Christ. Friend, 53:13 if you want to receive that power, if you really 53:15 need that power in your life, how we deal with 53:18 that power as it comes in, dear friends, right now 53:20 has to do with opening your heart to Jesus 53:23 right now. Why don't you do that, in the 53:26 closing-seconds that we have. Why don't you 53:28 just invite him to come in? I am going to invite 53:30 him right now as we pray together. 53:33 You want to pray with me? Oh I know that you do. 53:38 The power is available to everyone one of us 53:41 and we're accountable for ask God to let it 53:43 come in that we may, right we may not be deceived 53:46 by the enemy, that we may have power in our 53:48 hearts and in our lives. Let's pray about 53:50 it right now. Let's kneel together. 53:52 Merciful Father in heaven, we so thank you for 53:54 your word, thank you for the power, 53:57 thank you for the promise that you would give us 53:58 that power of victory, the Holy Spirit and Power 54:01 of your word that we may not be deceived here 54:03 in these last days of earth's history. 54:05 Thank you for hearing, thank you for answering 54:07 prayer for every precious soul around the world 54:09 that will hear and be obedient 54:11 to your word in Jesus name. Amen. 54:15 Until next time may God richly bless you. 54:17 We look forward to seeing you then. 54:21 Friends, the savior is waiting for a people, 54:25 who will rightly represent Him, His spirit, 54:28 His love, His character. Heaven so wants to 54:32 bestow these precious gifts to us. 54:35 So that the real power of Christianity 54:37 maybe revealed. Zeal for God and his cause 54:41 move the disciples to bear a mighty witness 54:44 of Christ with power. We too need that same zeal, 54:48 that same power as they had as we bear the 54:52 testimony of a crucified, risen and soon 54:56 to return Lord and savior Jesus Christ. 55:00 Only those who are diligent students of scriptures 55:03 have received the power of God's word within, 55:06 with the love for the truth will be shielded 55:09 from the delusions of the enemy. 55:11 I want you to ask yourself are you firmly 55:14 established in God's word and have the power 55:17 of the Spirit. This last great conflict of which 55:21 we're apart like it or not, 55:23 is between truth and error. 55:25 We implore you to place yourself fully under the 55:29 control of God to be lead and 55:32 inspired by his Spirit, because only those 55:35 who are living up to the light that they now 55:37 posses will receive greater light and enduring 55:41 strength to stand firm in the truth. 55:44 So won't you open your heart and your mind up 55:47 to God today and receive the power he has 55:50 so graciously promised to each and every one of us. 55:55 And let us know your decision. Would you write 55:58 us today, you can write us at 56:00 Behold the Lamb Ministries, PO Box 2030, 56:04 Herrin, Illinois-62948 or call us its central 56:09 standard time here in the United States at 56:12 618-942-5044. Email us at 56:18 Beholdthelambmini steries@yahoo.com 56:22 or you can visit us on the web and that's 56:24 Beholdthelamb ministeries.com 56:27 and don't forget when you contact us to request 56:31 your very own copy of this five part series 56:34 that we have entitled 56:36 "Addressing the Power of the Holy Spirit." 56:39 We are only asking for a small donation of 56:42 $35 or more and we appreciate your prayers 56:46 and your financial support. Until next time 56:50 may our precious Lord richly bless you and yours. |
Revised 2014-12-17