Participants: Chris Shelton (Host), Kenny Shelton
Series Code: BTLP
Program Code: BTLP000025
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00:41 Hello and welcome to Behold the
00:43 Lamb Presents. I'm Chris Shelton your 00:45 host and today we're going to listen to the 00:48 third in a five part series of, 00:50 we have entitled "Are you qualified to receive 00:53 the Latter rain? This third message is 00:56 called those living up to the light that they 00:59 have or receive greater light, 01:01 greater light, more truth. This is the desire of 01:06 every serious Bible student for sure. 01:08 The Bible supports this view and such promises as 01:11 the one found in the Book of John chapter 8 01:14 and verse 32 where it reads, 01:17 And ye shall know the truth, 01:19 and the truth shall set you free. 01:21 Oh, what about statements like the one that 01:23 Paul wrote to Timothy in First Timothy chapter 3 01:27 and verse 15 where he says, 01:29 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know 01:32 how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the 01:35 house of God, which is the church 01:37 of the living God, the pillar and ground of 01:41 the truth. And doesn't this 01:43 thought of greater light or more truth make 01:47 perfect sense where we realize that truth itself 01:51 is one of the divine characteristics of God. 01:54 Let's look at this as expressed in the Book of 01:57 Deuteronomy chapter 32 and verse 4, 02:00 He, referring to God here is the Rock, 02:03 his work is perfect: for all his ways 02:06 are judgment: a God of truth 02:09 without iniquity, just and right is he. 02:12 Therefore for us to properly reflect God 02:16 and not be tossed to and fro by every wind 02:19 of doctrine we must live up to the light or to 02:22 the truth that we now possess in order to 02:25 receive more of this heavenly gift of light. 02:28 So this study of today's message is indeed a 02:31 timely one, one which must be 02:33 thoroughly examined if we would ever to be fit 02:37 for the Kingdom of God. But before we listen to 02:40 today's message let's visit the 3ABN worship 02:43 center and listen to Brother Rudy Micelli 02:46 as he sings, "I live For You". 03:10 I was lost in darkness 03:14 Never knowing where to turn 03:19 I thought I had all the answers 03:23 But I had so much to learn 03:28 Like a child I had gone astray 03:33 Trying to make it on my own 03:38 Like a father You embraced me 03:43 And You showed the way back home 03:47 And Now that I know the truth that you proclaim 03:57 I will keep trusting You to fill 04:01 me up 'til only You remain 04:06 And I will not rest until my every 04:11 word brings glory to Your name 04:16 In all that I am, in all that I do, 04:20 I live for You 04:41 Only You could save me From the debt I had to pay 04:50 And now I want to tell the world 04:55 The difference You have made 04:59 You have changed the way I live and love 05:05 And made my heart brand new 05:09 Now that we are joined together 05:14 I know I'm nothing without You 05:18 And Now that I know the truth that you proclaim 05:28 I will keep trusting You to fill 05:32 me up 'til only You remain 05:37 And I will not rest until my every 05:42 word brings glory to Your name 05:47 In all that I am, in all that I do, 05:51 I live for You 05:57 And Now that I know the truth that you proclaim 06:06 Lord I will keep trusting You to fill 06:10 me up 'til only You remain 06:16 And I will not rest until my every 06:21 word brings glory to Your name 06:25 In all that I am, in that I do, 06:30 I live for You In all that I am, 06:38 in that I do, I live for You 07:01 Here I am I live for You. 07:13 Thanks for joining us again, 07:18 we have a good study in line for you today 07:20 but make sure you get a pencil paper get your 07:23 Bible out because I want you to test to see 07:26 whether these things will be sold. 07:27 But before we study scripture what 07:29 is our habit, we'll go to God in prayer. 07:31 So why don't you where you can kneel 07:33 with me as we pray together. 07:35 And loving heavenly Father we thank you for 07:41 the privilege of prayer we thank you that we have 07:44 a heavenly father who cares for us. 07:45 Today we invite the Holy Spirit to come near to 07:49 our hearts in our lives touch each and 07:51 everyone of us, our ears maybe opened that 07:53 we may hear a word in this season that 07:56 would change our life and equip us for your 07:58 soon coming. Father we pray for 08:00 everyone that views, that listens around 08:03 the world, whatever means that 08:07 you see fit the hearts and lives will be changed 08:08 not for just today but for eternity, 08:10 thank you for this privilege to lift 08:12 up to Jesus, in your name we pray, amen. 08:18 Again we have a lot of material to cover so 08:19 we're gonna go as quickly as we can 08:21 because this is dynamite. We talked about in our 08:25 first two messages that we have about the 08:27 necessity of preparing to meet Jesus and there 08:31 are qualifications to receiving the latter rain. 08:36 Now if we do not receive the latter rain we are 08:39 not going through the time of trouble and we 08:41 certainly are not going to be able to 08:42 go to heaven. So this is we call it life 08:45 and death. The important of this 08:46 subject we can not you now overestimate. 08:50 We need to pay special attention to this 08:52 subject today. And we're gonna be talking 08:55 about living up to all the light that God has 08:58 has given to us. So I ask you this question, 09:00 are you living up to everything that you 09:02 know to be truth, if not God's not going 09:06 to give us any more light. 09:08 We have to live up to it. So we are challenged 09:11 with that and we're gonna have to ask God's 09:12 guidance to help us on it. You know those who are 09:15 living up to the light can expect that God is 09:19 going to shine on the pathway greater light 09:21 especially in these closing scenes of 09:24 earth's history. I want to know how 09:28 near it is to the coming of Jesus don't you? 09:30 I want to be prepared and this is part of 09:33 being prepared to receive the latter rain. 09:35 Are we qualified and are we living up to 09:38 that light? I'm going to start 09:40 with a passage there in Ninth Testimonies 182, 09:43 I'm going to read this to you and I want you to 09:46 pay special attention to it. It says, 09:48 The Lord brings His erring children over the 09:51 same ground. Now why does God 09:53 bring us over and over the same ground, notice, 09:56 again and again, but if they continually 09:59 fail to heed the admonitions of His Spirit, 10:02 if they fail to reform on every point where they 10:08 have erred, He will finally leaven 10:10 them to their own weakness. 10:13 What is God telling us here? 10:14 He takes us over and over to the same ground so 10:17 that we may do what, good gain the victory. 10:20 If we're not gaining the victory he leads us 10:21 again and again and again and finally if we 10:24 just really don't care anymore he just finally 10:27 leaves us to our own weaknesses. 10:29 That means we're not going to be saved in 10:31 God's Kingdom. You know the 10:33 Book of John, chapter 12 verse 35 it says, 10:36 we need to walk in the light you know and if 10:39 we don't we're going to what, 10:40 darkness is going to over take us. 10:43 So we need to be walking while the light is 10:45 shining on the path right now. 10:47 If we could only in our mind say God help me to 10:50 understand the hour in which we are living, 10:52 how close we are to the coming of Jesus and the 10:56 necessity of God's people waking up. 10:58 We have a message to give that is specific 11:01 message to give to the world. 11:03 It is a message that will prepare people to 11:05 meet Jesus. It's not going to 11:07 be an easy one; it's going to be a very 11:09 challenging message that God is asking us to 11:12 give that message. Now Jesus gave 11:14 instructions when someone will say well you know 11:17 we shake the dust off our feet, 11:18 I want you to pay special attention to this, 11:21 because when Jesus gave the 12 instructions as he 11:25 sent them out to different locations, 11:27 notice what Jesus said Matthew 10 verse 14 so 11:30 you are writing these things down I'm sure. 11:32 And it says, whosoever shall not receive you, 11:35 nor hear your words. Notice, when ye depart 11:39 out of that house or of the city, 11:42 shake off the dust of your feet, 11:45 what does that mean? Some people say well 11:47 we are just gonna shake off the dust, 11:49 we are just gonna leave them. 11:50 Jesus said if they're not going to hear and I'm 11:53 challenging with that, if you're not 11:54 going to hear, if you're not going 11:56 to listen what maybe the result. 11:58 Jesus said shake off the dust off your feet. 12:01 I got to thinking about that Ecclesiastes chapter 12:04 3 verse 20 says this all are of the dust, 12:09 all shall return to dust. So on looking this, 12:13 okay what is God saying shake off the dust of 12:15 your feet here, so man then equals what dust, 12:19 that's what the Bible said, earth, clay and in 12:22 Genesis 2:7 Jesus says that man is made 12:25 out of what, good, the dust of the earth or the 12:28 elements of the earth. And so Jesus says in 12:30 Matthew 10 verse 14, shake off, listen, 12:34 the whitewash. Shake off the lime, 12:38 shake off the loose dirt, or the rubbish of man. 12:44 The time comes the man says I am not 12:45 going to hear, I am not going to obey 12:47 Jesus says you're going to have to lead him alone 12:50 and we're gonna after go to the highways and 12:51 byways and get what people are interested in 12:54 the word. See we cannot whore 12:57 against the spirit. There're some people 13:00 when they hear the message they begin to whore 13:02 against those who are giving the message they 13:03 begin to whore against God, 13:05 we can't do that. God brings the message 13:08 in fact Jesus said this in Matthew 10:34, 13:10 He said this is interesting; 13:12 I came not to bring peace but a sword. 13:15 Have you ever thought about that? 13:17 He said I came well not to bring peace, 13:20 but a sword. Because that sword 13:23 rightly divides and separates even in the 13:26 family sometime, when the truth comes, 13:29 one will accept it the other will not accept it. 13:32 Testimonies to Ministries 507 gives this 13:34 statement boys it powerful, it says, 13:37 there must be no neglect of the grace represented 13:41 by the former rain. Only those who are living 13:45 up to the light they have, that's our subject 13:48 for today, will receive greater light. 13:52 Unless we are daily advancing in the 13:56 exemplifications, what is that mean, 13:59 that means showing by example of the active 14:03 Christian virtues, this is important 14:04 stay with me, we shall not recognize that 14:07 means we are not going to be identify, 14:10 we are not going to be able to know in detail 14:12 the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in 14:16 the latter rain. Now that is lot said but 14:19 I want you to think about that we are going to 14:21 be talking quickly about Active Christian Virtues. 14:27 Have you thought about that, 14:29 Active Christian Virtues, what are then what part 14:32 do they play in our relationship with 14:34 Christ and being prepared to receive 14:36 the latter rain. I hope you are gonna 14:38 catch this point here, in several of them we 14:40 want to see. Because we are 14:41 going to be looking at these active Christian 14:43 virtues and what they develop in us. 14:47 When I think about a character of God I think 14:50 about the coming of Jesus and what's going to be 14:52 qualified to repopulate heaven I think always 14:55 about the seal of God. The seal of God in 14:58 the forehead, see here in these last days we must 15:02 realize that the seal and I'm gonna make a big 15:04 statement here some people not gonna understand 15:07 this but many of you are but God's gonna put the 15:10 seal in the forehead of those who keep all of the 15:14 commandments including the Seventh-day Sabbath. 15:17 He can't seal anyone here in the last days that 15:19 are living unless what by God's grace keeping all 15:22 the commandment including the 15:23 Seventh-day Sabbath. Now the fourth commandment 15:26 have what it's a sign and the seal, isn't of God. 15:30 He is our creator, isn't He: He is our redeemer, 15:32 He is our sustainer, He is the head of 15:35 this world. It has the seal in it. 15:39 And so God wants us to keep that. 15:41 And you know the Sabbath is a sign, 15:43 Ezekiel 31:13 tells us right, 15:45 it's a sign between God and us especially here 15:48 in the last days. And so we see the 15:50 righteous living, righteous is going to 15:52 receive that seal of the living God you see. 15:56 And so we need to be ready because God is 15:59 wanting to pour His spirit out upon us. 16:03 In the Second Peter 1 and verse 3 I want you pay 16:06 attention to this, because active Christian 16:08 virtues pay, it's such a very important 16:11 part here in our Christian experience and I 16:14 think maybe some of us have overlooked it. 16:17 Second Peter 1 verse 3, let me read it to you, 16:20 it says, his divine power hath given unto us 16:22 all things. Now all things were given 16:25 by what by his divine power that pertains to 16:28 life and godliness, through the knowledge 16:33 of Him that hath called us to glory. 16:36 What is this glory? Glory deals with dignity, 16:39 it deals with honor, it deals with worship and 16:43 it deals with virtue. What are these we're 16:46 talking about Christian graces and Christian 16:48 virtue here, virtue is excellence. 16:52 It's praise to expiate sin or to what make the 16:57 means for wrong doings. That's very interesting. 17:00 God wants us to make a means for what, 17:03 for wrong doings. Now I wonder how many 17:08 of your are closing in on this thought. 17:11 God is saying that here before He comes 17:13 where may, some of us going to 17:15 have to make some amends we are going to have 17:17 to take some things we done wrong and we're 17:19 gonna have to make them right before 17:21 he comes back. We're going to have 17:22 get rid of sin out of our life and too many 17:25 people are playing with sin today and they think 17:28 it's really not really big issue, 17:30 but it's a big issue, it's a life and 17:32 death issue. Second Peter 1 17:34 verse 5 it says, we are to add 17:38 notice this we are to our faith virtue and to 17:41 virtue knowledge. And so in 17:45 Second Peter 1:4 these virtues are these graces 17:51 I want you pay attention it has to do with 17:52 character development and receiving 17:53 the latter rain. You may not think but 17:55 I believe we will get this as we study 17:57 along together. Here's what Second 17:59 Peter 1:4 says, it says, that by these, 18:02 talking about these virtues, 18:05 that by these we might be partakers of what, 18:09 of divine nature. How important is that 18:12 for us to be partakers of divine nature. 18:16 By these what, by these Christian graces 18:19 that will be partake, so if we don't know what 18:21 these graces we need to find out. 18:24 In fact it's very simple; answer is to 18:26 be like Jesus. How does that take 18:28 place as we study the word of God? 18:32 See it becomes clear in order for us then to be 18:34 like Jesus we must receive these graces, 18:38 these graces are enabling power. 18:42 Now think about it, enabling graces that 18:44 empowers us to overcome what? Good. Sin. 18:47 To overcome the corruption that's in the world 18:50 through lust, Second Peter 1:4 18:53 talks about. And so I think it 18:55 behooves us to study these graces, 18:59 or these virtues. The Desire of Ages makes, 19:03 just a beautiful statement on page of 391. 19:06 It says, by the transforming agency of 19:10 His grace, that image of God is reproduced 19:15 in his disciples. Now how important is 19:18 what I am talking about, how important is it, 19:20 it's by the transforming agency of his grace 19:24 that the image of God. This is what is all about, 19:27 only those going to heaven, what, 19:29 image of Jesus. That they thought let 19:33 Him do the thinking for them, 19:35 he lives out his life through them, 19:38 and it's by graces here. So you know let us 19:41 list some of these virtues or some of these 19:44 graces today. It's said that we need 19:48 to give in Second Peter 1:5 if you have your 19:50 Bible you just need to turn there and there's 19:51 all kind of, and we'll mention them in just a 19:52 moment go through them, it says, 19:54 give all diligence how many of us really giving 19:57 100 percent to the cause of Christ. 20:00 How many of us really feel the calling of 20:02 the Holy Spirit. How many of us have 20:03 a real desire to be like Jesus. 20:06 That means daily diligence. 20:09 Are we doing daily, or we just one time when 20:11 we go to church and maybe we put for the little 20:14 effort we want, one time a week. 20:19 This giving a diligence here and we have to be 20:21 strong to resist evil. See God's wanting to 20:26 give us this strength and this power that we may 20:28 resist the evil one here. See temptation has to 20:32 be met and it has to be what, 20:35 it has to be defeated, a victory has to be gain. 20:38 And what I like about it, with each victory we 20:41 become stronger and stronger. 20:44 So every time God wants to give us the grace 20:46 to do that, that we maybe what 20:48 complete in him. More strength to 20:51 resist the next temptation that's just around the 20:54 corner and you better believe, 20:56 that it is just around the corner. 20:58 We need God, we need his strength. 21:01 Bible goes on and said we, this is, 21:03 we're gonna do some adding here. 21:05 It says well we need to be diligent and we 21:07 need to add our faith virtue, 21:10 and to virtue knowledge and to knowledge 21:12 temperance and patience, and Godliness and 21:15 kindness and charity. Now remember these 21:19 are what virtues, these are Christian graces, 21:21 these are the things that must be in the 21:24 Christian in order for us to be change into the 21:27 image of God. You cannot just throw one 21:30 of these out and say well I have the majority 21:32 of them here but I'm missing little here. 21:34 We've got to have them all to be like Jesus. 21:37 What does that really mean? 21:39 Second Peter 1:9 adds this, listen, but he that 21:43 lacketh these things is blind. 21:47 The Bible is clear if we lack these virtues, 21:49 these graces we are blind. Let's thy set just 21:53 a little bit, these steps that we 21:55 must take in order to what, 21:57 to perfection of character. I know you wanna do 22:01 that and I wanted to, this is a learning process, 22:04 this is a teaching that many people 22:06 overlook today. See after a person 22:09 we take the first step, after a person receives 22:12 the faith of the Gospel, but they just 22:14 embarrassed the Gospel and give their life to 22:16 Jesus Christ we must seek to add, 22:19 notice this, virtues or of what principles 22:23 to our lives. So faith is the first 22:27 step on the ladder to heaven. 22:30 Friend you have faith today? 22:32 Oh we know Hebrews 11:6, it says without faith 22:34 is what it's impossible to please God. 22:38 We have to be able to believe that He is we 22:43 must believe in God. Friend you have that 22:47 believe today or you always in doubt or you 22:50 find it's very difficult to believe. 22:55 See we can't just stop here the 22:57 Bible contingence, the Bible goes here and 22:58 says and add to your faith, notice this virtue. 23:04 What is really virtue, we've talked about it 23:06 and mentioned it several times what are, 23:07 what is a virtue? Virtue means what? 23:09 Excellence. God said that to the Christian 23:12 character we need some excellence of character. 23:15 That needs to become our foundation as we are 23:19 growing to be like Jesus. 23:21 In fact First Peter 2:5, it talks about the 23:24 foundation on which the rest of the 23:26 house is built. The rest of the house 23:29 is built upon what the platform or the foundation 23:32 of virtue or excellence in the Christian walk. 23:37 See Christ virtues must be blended then 23:40 with what, with our characters 23:43 where obedience becomes as natural as breathing. 23:48 Oh that's different for some, isn't it? 23:50 Natural as breathing. Now for those who try 23:54 and some people do to make excuses for the lack 23:57 of the spiritual knowledge or understanding 24:00 you're gonna be in trouble, 24:02 I'm gonna be in trouble if this is, 24:03 my thoughts for day. The Bible says add to 24:07 your virtue knowledge. What he is talking about 24:10 here our knowledge. Certainly to gain all 24:13 of the knowledge we can in this life, 24:15 we know we are to study the Bible says now 24:18 I'm talking about spiritual things here. 24:20 Second Timothy 2:15 to show ourselves approved 24:24 unto God, and in these last days oh dear friend 24:29 God is going to work out of the ordinary. 24:33 He is going to do supernatural things, 24:35 he is going to use people that some people say 24:37 all they're not usable material or all they're 24:40 not qualified, God's qualifies men. 24:43 It doesn't take man to qualify man, 24:45 God qualifies, God touches, 24:47 God reaches down and equips a individual to do 24:50 a work for him. He is not going to be 24:53 working in the usual channels that everybody is 24:55 always talking about. He is going to use 24:58 ordinary men and women and children to give the 25:01 Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those of you respond 25:05 to the power of the Holy Spirit, 25:07 God's going to use. In fact the Bible says if 25:11 any of you lack, because it says we 25:12 need knowledge, if any of you lack wisdom 25:14 in James 1 verse 5, what do we to do, 25:17 we'd ask God and He's going to give it to us. 25:20 It's not going to be all jumbled up and 25:22 all brighter, this going to be what 25:23 very clear, and very simple and 25:25 to the point and we can all understanding. 25:28 In fact the Book of Psalms 111 and verse 25:31 10 it says, the fear and you know this, 25:33 the fear of the Lord is what, 25:34 is the beginning of wisdom, good, 25:38 and I like that, and it says a good 25:41 understanding have they that do his commandments. 25:45 Very few people read the second part, 25:48 it says a good understanding have 25:49 they that do his commandment and 25:52 then the Hebrew when you look about a good 25:54 understanding, you know what that means, 25:55 that means a good success. The Christian has a 26:00 good success as they by God's grace do his 26:04 commandments do you want to have success about, 26:07 okay, God I want to do your commandments. 26:10 You know Jesus used unlearned fishermen. 26:14 He's took them right out of that, 26:15 you know the fishermen, He just called them up 26:17 and said I want to use you, follow me. 26:21 He set the example. But notice what happened, 26:26 before changes took place they had to have 26:29 contact with Jesus but I want this to make sense, 26:32 we're talking about, we're being perfect, 26:33 being like Jesus. He removed sin out 26:36 of our life. Disciples had an awful life, 26:38 God chosen right where they were at, 26:40 but as they had contact with Jesus, 26:43 they became able, they became efficient, 26:46 they became powerful witnesses for him. 26:49 And so I'm telling you today and myself we need 26:52 contact with Jesus. We need that daily 26:56 devotion, we need that prayer time. 26:59 But again the Bible says we're adding here as we 27:01 continue on, it says we're adding 27:03 to knowledge temperance. Now I'm gonna try go 27:06 quicker temperance. This is the third step on the 27:09 latter of perfection. You remember these graces, 27:14 these virtues helped to develop what the perfect 27:16 the character and so now we're going to add 27:19 that we must be temperate the Bible says and how 27:22 many things, good. First Corinthians 9:25, 27:26 every man that striveth for the mastery is what, 27:31 temperate in all things. Friend, 27:36 are you temperate in all things? 27:38 Or do you find yourself intemperate. 27:41 We find ourselves you know we say hot sometime 27:43 and cold sometime and indifferent, 27:45 we're to be temperate in every aspect of life 27:49 that's what the Bible said. You save you, 27:51 we've entered into the Gospel race if you will. 27:56 Therefore we must refrain from all the 27:59 indulgences that whore against the soul. 28:04 See the devil is throwing out all these 28:06 indulgences, there's a whore, there's a battle, 28:07 there's a fight that's going on. 28:09 Everyday of your life it's nearly indulgent. 28:12 The whoring against the soul and they want 28:13 to conquer, now Praise God. 28:17 We serve one just greater. But we, we must resist 28:23 the old enemy as he comes to us, 28:24 we must keep strict God over our passions 28:28 and over our, I'll be careful Kenny, 28:30 over our apatite, our passions and our 28:34 apatite the Bible says the temperate in what good 28:38 all thing. And you say well what all these 28:40 passions and so on so far, these are these evil 28:43 perplexities that we have, these are all the 28:46 natural man here, natural tendencies 28:50 that we have but have to again you can't say well 28:54 I was born over here I was born like this 28:55 and this, this is why I'm like I am, 28:57 we have to whore against these things, 29:00 there's a battle going on for the soul. 29:04 You see we have to be kept in the best possible 29:07 condition that we maybe victorious. 29:11 First Corinthians 9 you write these down 29:13 First Corinthians 9:27, Paul said that, he said, 29:16 But I keep under my body, and I bring it under 29:20 what subjection. See he understood the 29:24 importance of keeping healthy, be able to find, 29:27 be able to see what the enemy was doing right 29:29 there and be able to be temper in all things you 29:31 know what this mean, simply say no. 29:34 We can say no we understand something 29:36 but we can say no and we can move out from that. 29:39 Oh friend the things in this life that we could, 29:43 we just put them on a shelf over here and we 29:46 just leave them over here, oh how much happier 29:48 that we would be. We just make the right 29:51 choices that we just fight it, 29:52 if we just push it to the gate. 29:54 How many of us don't just give up. 29:57 Friend I will tell you it's lift up to us to 29:59 search the scriptures. Let somebody else 30:03 search him, some of you are relying on the 30:05 pastor to search the scripture for you, 30:07 oh don't trust him to do that, 30:09 you got to get in and study for yourself. 30:12 It's for us to bring our habits into our harmony 30:16 with the teachings of the Bible. 30:19 Somebody say well I had this habit. 30:21 Now you take that habit and you have to look to 30:23 see what God's word says about that habit and 30:25 then bring it what in line with the Bible not 30:27 what someone else is telling you. 30:30 And again we do some adding. 30:31 The Bible says again we add to temperance, 30:33 oh, oh, look at patience, ohh this hits a lot 30:36 of us, patience. So we can see the 30:39 importance of temperance, how can we see the 30:42 importance of temperance when it's connected 30:44 with patience, how is that? 30:46 Listen an intemperate man cannot be patient. 30:52 What? An Intemperate man cannot be patient. 30:56 We must learn to be, now this is for me, 30:59 maybe it's for some of you, 31:01 but I want you to pay attention to three little 31:02 quick points here, if you are not patient 31:04 and you want to learn to be patient. 31:07 The Bible is clear that we must be, 31:08 must have the character of Jesus. 31:11 First thing is that, how can I learn to be 31:14 patient and listen you have to, number one, 31:17 know yourself. You have to know that you might 31:22 be know quick with an answer sometime your 31:24 tongue maybe pretty sharp, and you know that can 31:27 be dangerous. And so our first point is what, 31:31 know yourself, know your temperament 31:33 and be on God. Don't put yourself in 31:37 situations where you know might be little bit too 31:39 much for you. Number two, 31:41 you must desire to acquire patience. 31:44 You must be saying, oh I want to have pay; 31:46 you must be determine to gain patience by the 31:50 grace of God. Then three comes into play here, 31:54 ask God for the grace and the strength. 31:57 What James 1:3 says, the trying of your 32:01 faith worketh, what? Patience. The what? 32:04 The trying of your faith worketh patience. 32:08 We have to have the patience dear friends. 32:11 Have you ever heard that James 5:11 says 32:14 we must have the patience of Job, 32:17 oh dear friend listen Revelation 14:12 says, 32:20 the Bible said, here is the patience 32:21 of the saints. Those who repopulate 32:24 heaven will have mastered this what? Patience. 32:28 Boy it's the trying of my what, 32:31 faith that gives what, the patience. 32:35 As your faith and tried lately. 32:36 So what is the patience here? 32:41 Patience of the saints, that means those 32:44 who remain, that means those you, 32:45 those who are endure, that means those who 32:47 are consistent, those who are hopeful, 32:50 those who are cheerful, those who have fortitude, 32:53 that's what it talks about the patience 32:55 of the saints. Friend do you have that 32:56 fortitude, do you have that patience today, 32:59 do you have hopefulness are you consistent in 33:01 your walk with Jesus. And again the Bible 33:04 says we need to add again patience to what 33:07 Godliness. First Timothy 6:11, it says, 33:12 we are to follow after righteousness and what, 33:16 Godliness. See how can we follow after Godliness 33:19 when we're running around at night, 33:21 we're in the places where we shouldn't 33:22 be drinking, eating and doing 33:23 and talking and acting out, 33:25 things that are of the devil, 33:27 friend we're not going to make it the heaven 33:28 that way, it says follow after what, 33:30 righteousness or right doing and after Godliness. 33:34 He wants us to be like Him. 33:38 How do we obtain this the grace of Godliness? 33:44 How do we obtain a Godly character? Oh friend, 33:49 the answer starts out very simple here, 33:52 is that we first, we first have to have 33:55 a close connection with him. 33:57 How is your connection? You know sometime we 34:00 have connection on the phone and we can just 34:02 someone called me the other day and I 34:03 talking to him, I heard about every 34:05 3rd or 4th word and it couldn't seem beginning 34:07 clear in the head, things on their heart 34:09 and I just, I couldn't hardly hear 34:10 and become almost frustrating, 34:14 because I couldn't hear enough to try to give 34:15 a proper answer and it was just like a 34:17 fight going back, the devil is trying to 34:19 take out some words you don't hear everything. 34:22 He is trying to frustrate you and frustrate me. 34:25 We need to have a clear connection when God 34:28 speaks to the power of the Holy Spirit, 34:30 that we know that God has spoken. 34:32 Friend you know that God has spoken, 34:35 you know that God has called you. 34:37 Do you know that God's appointed a place for 34:39 you to work? A work to dude, 34:42 win souls into the kingdom, you have to know. 34:46 You have to know that you're part of the 34:48 family of God. You have to study 34:50 the pattern, have you been 34:52 studying the pattern. The pattern is 34:55 Jesus Christ, it's not the preacher, 34:56 it's not the evangelist, not the deacon elder in 34:59 the church, the pattern is Jesus Christ. 35:03 It's not people, oh we got people 35:04 in high positions, well that's good, 35:06 praise God, let's pray for them 35:08 but let me tell you, they're not your pattern, 35:09 they're not my pattern. In my Christian walk I 35:12 need to keep my eyes focused upon Jesus, 35:14 I need a Godly character as I study God 35:19 will help me, study that pattern 35:21 now you say how do you do it? Quick, like this, 35:23 study this, do you know how you study the 35:25 pattern of God? You do it. 35:27 Do you know how somebody lays brick? Somebody, 35:29 you brick layers out there, 35:30 yes, laid some, yes. You do a what, 35:33 somebody say a brick at a time, 35:34 that's exactly right. Yours not just change, 35:37 it bricked of time, if you lay that brick, 35:40 one after the one ahead pretty soon what, 35:42 you're building that wall, you're building 35:44 that character. You say we have, 35:48 I need some more. We less give thought 35:53 to the merits of Jesus Christ, 35:55 we think upon the life of Jesus and the things 35:59 that he accomplish and how his life and how he 36:02 dealt with people and the message that he was 36:04 giving and how he cared and how he loved 36:06 people of what, a brick at a time. 36:09 And all of a sudden we see that, 36:10 we want our life to be like that, 36:13 you say well how can I have this Godly character? 36:15 Listen, it is obtained by being obedient to God. 36:22 Your life obedience plays a part here. 36:24 Oh it's a big part, absolutely, it does. 36:28 And if you want have that Godly characters going 36:30 to take a, a faith, a strong faith in God. 36:34 Let's stick to it. Stay with it, 36:37 regardless of who says what or somebody 36:39 talking about, it doesn't matter. 36:41 Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus. 36:43 Now let's put this in that to all quickly. 36:46 A little book called 2nd Selected 36:47 Messages page 161, as we bottled them together 36:51 help us understand this paragraph. 36:53 It says perfection of character is 36:55 attained what, perfection of what, 36:58 see this you may hear it dozens of time. 37:02 You see, but don't let it get old because this 37:06 is what it was all about, perfection of what, 37:09 of character and it's not, listen, 37:12 it's not a make belief perfection. 37:14 It's a real perfection in Jesus Christ, 37:18 its living Godly life. It's exercising these 37:21 Christian virtues, these graces, 37:23 in our life that transforms our character. 37:27 Oh God how I need that, my pray that you say 37:31 oh I need that God I need that, 37:33 I've got to have it. Perfection of character 37:37 is attained through exercise or the faculties 37:40 of the mind, in what in a supreme test. 37:45 You think you've been through some supreme test. 37:48 Wow. And by the obedience to every requirements 37:54 of God's law. Men in positions of trust, 37:59 I'm reading here again from Page 161, 38:02 Men in positions of trust are to be 38:03 instrumentalities in the hands of God for 38:06 promoting His glory, in performing their duties 38:10 with utmost faithfulness. Listen. 38:14 That they may attain the perfection of Christ, 38:18 or perfection of character. 38:21 The duties that you have do it what to the, 38:23 to the honor and the glory of God, 38:25 lift up the name of Jesus. Oh friend I'm so 38:29 thankful today that God does it, weight that, 38:31 the character in the human scales. 38:35 Realize how many people would ban you 38:36 from heaven, if they've had the 38:38 opportunity saving the place of God, 38:40 well you can go, you can go I like 38:42 you I don't like you praise God, 38:43 that's not the way that it operates. 38:47 When we're living on the brink, on the edges 38:49 of eternity, we've been going through these, 38:53 we're doing these the series here, 38:55 are you qualified to receive the latter rain, 38:58 we've been doing and going over some charts. 39:01 You see some charts, we talk about the 39:03 time line of prophetic events, 39:06 this will you to understand. 39:09 We stared back in 457 B.C we go to the 39:11 1000 years, now 2nd coming close of probation, 39:14 Sunday law, and all the things that's 39:17 going to take place, you need to understand this, 39:19 you need to follow these things, 39:21 we can understand what takes place because God 39:24 is going to sealing his people. 39:26 He is finished the work and He wants to 39:28 come back. Oh friend what a hour in 39:33 which we live, we, listen we need today 39:36 to start connecting the spiritual dots. 39:40 You will, you see these little, 39:41 you start getting the dots and you connect those 39:42 dots together it's starts to develop a picture 39:45 here as we connect them together. 39:47 Why, why the concern over the perfection of 39:51 character? See why, why the concern. 39:55 Let me just go back just for a few minutes. 39:57 The, even as a child some of these passages 40:00 bothered me. Let me just give you one, 40:03 this is very familiar to all of you but almost 40:06 everybody I talked to they just right it all, 40:08 they just throw it out. How can you throw out 40:12 any part of scripture? Either God means 40:15 what He says where He doesn't, 40:17 Matthew chapter 5 verse 48 the Bible says, 40:20 Be ye therefore what, perfect, 40:22 eve as your Father which already in heaven 40:25 is perfect. Perfect means perfect, 40:29 God is perfect. You know what as it 40:32 looked on, I heard this rain, 40:34 I thought boy you know what, 40:35 what does really mean? I was taught as a young 40:39 person in home that we should believe every 40:42 word of God, we read from the Bible. 40:45 And that's a good teaching, praise God, 40:47 you know we need to read the word of God, 40:49 and we need to by faith just accept it as its 40:52 written in the word. Praise the Lord, 40:55 this is what it's all about. We talked about 40:57 without faith, is it impossible to please God, 41:00 we need to read the word and then quick trying 41:02 to change it. When the pastor, 41:04 we read in Matthew 5:48, be perfect as the 41:07 Father which already in heaven is, 41:08 don't try to change the word and sense simply 41:11 say like when I was around a, 41:12 people who were talking about this subject 41:15 and this passage here's what they said three 41:17 things and I tell you, friend that I don't 41:19 agree with the three at all, 41:20 but here's what they said. They simply said that, 41:24 it says that just do the best that 41:26 you possibly can. It's going to be alright. 41:29 That's it's Bible said be perfect as the Father 41:31 which already in heaven. And I've heard others 41:34 say well it really no one can be perfect on this 41:37 earth so don't try to be perfect, 41:39 it's not going to happen and the other said, 41:42 just kind do the best you can and it's going to 41:44 be good enough. Is that really what 41:46 scripture says, is that really are we 41:48 trying to change things. Accept it by faith 41:52 and as thinking as a child and as adult later on 41:55 life I'm thinking about there's the Bible give us 41:58 a picture of perfection and that is attainable 42:02 through Jesus Christ I believe, it does. 42:04 As we go back to creation we realize everything 42:07 that God did was what? Was perfect when he 42:09 created it. And then we go back in the beginning 42:12 Adam and Eve, before sin came what, 42:14 they were perfect that they were created. 42:17 And then we know even Satan was perfect until 42:19 iniquity was found in him. 42:21 Jesus the perfect example. Praise God for that. 42:26 And you know God requires that of us today to 42:29 be perfect even as Jesus is perfect, now. 42:33 Let's go back to this perfect spotless deal that 42:37 we've been talking about here which is a church. 42:40 He said I'm coming back after what, 42:41 a church without spot or wrinkle or 42:43 any suchthing. It found in 42:46 Ephesians 5 verse 27, then also in Second 42:49 Corinthians 11:2 tells us, that I may present 42:52 you as a what, a chaste virgin to Christ. 42:56 Second Peter 3:14, it says be diligent 42:59 that ye may be found in him, 43:01 notice the words in peace, and without spot, 43:04 and blameless. So it sounds to me even 43:07 though in discussion people try to say well it 43:09 doesn't really mean that, it means exactly what 43:12 it says, God means exactly what He says. 43:16 Little book called Sons and Daughters of God, 43:18 page 138 says, The Lord can accept nothing short 43:22 of perfection of character, wholeness to God. 43:26 Any half-hearted service will testify before the 43:30 heavenly intelligence that you have failed to 43:33 copy the pattern. It says here is I'm reading 43:36 this and I'm thinking it through and I want you 43:38 to think through those of you at home. 43:40 Think it through, Christ is our pattern isn't He? 43:43 He is the one that we are to look to and it's 43:46 very easily to see that if we fail to copy the 43:50 pattern of Jesus all of heaven knows that. 43:53 Well we're not gonna be allowed into the Kingdom, 43:55 are we that way? Let me just give you 43:58 one more quote, it goes along what we've been 44:01 talking about here found in First testimony 619, 44:04 page 619 notice, it talks about the refreshing. 44:07 Now the refreshing has to do we've been talking 44:09 about what latter rain and talk about the early 44:11 rain but notice what I reads, the refreshing 44:14 talking about the latter rain or the power from 44:18 God comes only to those who have prepared 44:22 themselves. Now who doesn't come, 44:24 who does refreshing come? It comes to those who 44:28 have prepared themselves for it by doing the 44:31 work which God bids them. So there's a work 44:34 to be done, we have to be doing the work 44:36 that God bids us to do and then He is preparing, 44:39 or preparing ourselves. Now what does it mean 44:41 preparing ourselves? Namely as I read on, 44:44 it says, cleansing themselves from all 44:46 filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting 44:51 holiness in the fear of God. So the Bible is very 44:55 clear then we need to be what perfecting 44:57 holiness in the fear of God. We need to be get 45:00 ready of what, of sin out of our life, 45:03 filthiness, the Bible calls it of the flesh. 45:06 Oh dear friend, God is very clear of what those 45:09 who was gonna take to heaven with Him. 45:11 Now let's try to know hese words you hear 45:13 quickly for our time runs out. It says we add 45:17 brotherly kindness, how many of us really 45:20 love our brothers and sisters, are we really 45:21 doing everything that we possibly can to be a 45:24 soul winner. Are we doing everything we can 45:26 to give this Gospel preach into the world for 45:29 Jesus where he can come back. 45:31 Do you really have that brotherly kindness, 45:34 do you have that compassion for your 45:36 brother and your sister, those who are going 45:37 through a mess. Even compassion upon those we 45:40 finds persons stumbles, they fall into sin, 45:42 and you know as Christians we turn and run the 45:44 other way rather than run toward them because 45:47 they need help. That's following the example 45:50 of Jesus when the Bible says he left the 99 and 45:54 went out to find that one lost sheep. 45:56 We have a lot to learn dear friend we like Jesus, 45:59 so that we can enter into the portals of glory. 46:03 We have compassion one toward another. 46:05 Love for us the way that Jesus loved us. 46:10 You know this is, kind of comes into 46:12 my mind if we are unkind to others in this life 46:16 we would be unkind in heaven, wouldn't we? 46:19 If we unkind down here sure, and what if, 46:22 you know, we always want to have our own way 46:25 down here. You know somebody, 46:26 I want to have my own way. You want to have your 46:29 own way, here do you know something, you would 46:33 want your own way in heaven. Now that's really 46:38 good food for fought. So that has to go, 46:41 self and what, has to die. We must be willing 46:44 as Philippians 2:3 says, Let nothing be done in 46:49 what vainglory; and but what in lowliness of mind 46:53 notice esteeming others higher than ourselves. 46:56 Well that's difficult to do isn't what a 46:58 challenge is to esteem others higher than 47:01 ourselves. And you know what this is only 47:04 possible through Jesus Christ, it's possible 47:07 through Him. Philippians 2:5 says what let this 47:10 mind be and you what, which was also good in 47:14 Christ Jesus. You know that this is, this is 47:17 a good reminder and there's no longer our mind 47:19 what, the mind of Jesus. You know Christian love 47:23 and Christian behavior must be follow according 47:26 to First Thessalonians 5:12 and 13 let me read 47:30 that for you, it says, we beseech you, brethren 47:32 to know them which labour among you, 47:34 listen carefully, and are over you in the Lord, 47:38 and admonish you; to esteem them very high in 47:42 love for their work's sake. And be at peace 47:46 among yourselves. Friend, we have a lot to learn 47:49 in preparing for the Kingdom of God, you want 47:51 that latter rain experience and that 47:53 perfection of character is a must. 47:55 And we have to be able to follow what 47:57 our example. Brotherly kindness, 48:00 it says what and then love. We need to be 48:04 very careful that we climb this ladder of 48:07 Christian graces, that we may not trust ever to 48:12 human power but in the power of God, 48:14 in the wisdom of God, accompanies by the angels 48:18 of heaven, the power of the Holy Spirit we 48:19 are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ. 48:23 He's promised that I'll begin this good work in 48:25 you and I'll begin it and He's going to what, 48:27 He's going to be completed, how can we 48:29 thank that we are not going to reach standard 48:31 in which God has for his people when he says I'll 48:33 begin the work and I'm going to finish the work. 48:36 Well that tells me right quick that it, 48:37 there's gonna be a people who will be like Him. 48:40 You want to be one of those, we're gonna have 48:43 to commit ourselves to him. True love. 48:46 You know the world doesn't understand what 48:48 true love, true love is, is powerful. 48:51 True love can change a life. True love can have a 48:54 powerful influence over someone upon others. 48:58 True love can change actions and thoughts and 49:00 even motives. And you know what we should not 49:04 be resting until we are fully clothed in the 49:07 righteousness of Jesus Christ. See we're gonna 49:10 take off these filthy garments, aren't we? 49:11 We're gonna have put the robe of Christ 49:13 righteousness on and remember this He cannot 49:15 put his robe of righteousness on you, 49:18 that wedding garment until all sin is gone out 49:21 of our life. He can do it, He's not gonna do it. 49:25 Friend that means we need to be on our knees 49:26 begging and pleading with God for changes in 49:29 our life, you know what, you've been thinking 49:30 about the wrong things, you've been doing the 49:32 wrong things, you've been acting up. You knows 49:35 the Christian in the community where you live 49:36 people shouldn't point their finger and say oh 49:38 my that, that's what a Christian is like, 49:40 I don't want to be, know you should have a 49:42 good name in the community. As you 49:45 have that, they look at, and you say, 49:46 well there's Jesus lives in their heart. 49:48 You know friend, how wonderful that is, 49:53 for those who might be little bit weak and you 49:56 have let's say you have a defect, let's say 49:58 somebody is gonna beyond us today. So you know 50:00 I've got a defect in my character and it's weak 50:02 and I want to change, I want to you to listen 50:05 real careful here, it's not just enough to pray 50:10 and confess. Pray and confess and fail again. 50:15 That's never been God's you know idea for 50:18 human family. A pray, ask God, God forgive me 50:22 and then I'll go right back up and I go do the 50:24 same thing again. God wants us to have total 50:27 victory. We must begin the work with real energy, 50:33 if you want to gain victory we have to begin 50:36 this work with energy and we have to do it 50:39 with determination in order to build up traits 50:42 of character. It's going to be a crucifying 50:44 of self everyday of our life. Don't be give up 50:47 because it's difficult. Don't give up because 50:50 maybe you may slip and fall but continue to go 50:52 back to throne of God and debate him for the 50:55 divine power and you know what it's going to be 50:58 given and that's going to be given that you 50:59 can gain complete victory in your life and 51:02 in my life. Jesus said as he spoke of our duty 51:07 and our love for our fellowmen in the Book of 51:09 Matthew 22:37 through 40, now these are lot of 51:13 verses but I, you know read them when you have 51:15 the opportunity to do that. I just put in 51:17 a nutshell here, it says love the Lord thy God 51:19 with what, good, all thy heart with all thy what 51:22 soul and with all thy what mind, and thy number 51:25 as what, as thyself. When this is accomplished 51:29 through his grace, we shall be complete in him, 51:33 think about that when we accomplish this, 51:36 you say well this, this is a grace, when we 51:39 accomplish this what our love supreme for God, 51:42 when we dedicate our soul, our body, our mind and 51:45 we love our neighbor as our self we are going 51:47 to see what we are going to become complete in 51:49 Him. On these two hang out the law, see hopefully 51:54 we're getting a developing in our third part here 51:57 or are we qualify to receive the latter rain, 51:59 a healthy understanding of these Christian 52:04 graces, these virtues that are essential in our 52:08 climb toward heaven. They are essential they 52:12 would change us into the image of Jesus and 52:16 we've tried to challenge you to think some things 52:18 through and we come to this point unless we 52:22 are daily advancing in the calls of Christ, 52:27 these active Christian virtues we're not even 52:31 gonna recognize the manifestation of the 52:33 Holy Spirit in the latter rain. So I hope you 52:37 see what we've been talking about these what 52:39 Christian graces, these virtues and we went over 52:42 these virtues unless we're daily what, 52:44 advancing in these right here, we wont even, oh, 52:47 we wont even recognize the Holy Spirit you see 52:50 when it falls down. There maybe somebody right 52:53 beside you and church receiving it and you're 52:54 not receiving it. Because you don't recognize it, 52:57 because you're not advancing in those 52:59 Christian graces. So how important then is that 53:03 we recognize this. Oh, it's important we've 53:08 recognizable we have to we receive the 53:11 latter rain. Let me just read this before we 53:14 close today with prayer, one testimony 187, 53:17 this may jar you right out of your seat where 53:21 fasten yourself down. Those who come up to 53:25 every point, and stand every test, and overcome, 53:32 be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel 53:39 of the True Witness, and they will receive the 53:43 latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation. 53:50 Those who are gonna receive the latter rain, 53:51 are you getting this here, you're going to have 53:54 to come every point, every test where we gonna 53:57 have to gain the victory and we overcome, stand 54:00 every test and overcome be the price what it may. 54:04 No matter what it cost you in this life it's 54:06 gonna be worth it, then it's been eternity with 54:08 Jesus. Or you think that would may cost you some 54:11 seem like some friends and some things in this 54:13 life dear friend it's going to be worth at one 54:15 day in fact it's going to be worth the first 54:16 second we see Jesus isn't it? Why not turn your 54:20 life over him to him today. Let the true 54:24 witness lead out in your life, follow his 54:26 counsel, life for him, daily be advancing in 54:30 these virtues and graces and I'll tell you dear 54:32 friends we're going to receive of that 54:34 later rain, we're going to be fit it for 54:36 translation. I know you want that, some of you 54:38 make that decision right now, we're gonna pray 54:40 about it. You're reaching out right now by faith 54:43 and you want that, you want that perfection 54:45 of care, you want to see Jesus, you want to be 54:47 ready when Jesus comes and you know that He 54:50 is gonna give you that power that you need and 54:51 victory over sin. Some of you are struggling with 54:54 alcohol and tobacco and drugs and running the 54:56 streets and this and that. God is able 54:58 dear friend, he is bigger, his grace is bigger 55:00 than any sin. When we pray about that right now 55:03 you're lifting your heart toward the very throne 55:06 room of God, I'd like to pray for you and I 55:08 want you to pray for me, pray for the ministry 55:10 as we move forward here that God is gonna give 55:13 us these enabling power, let's pray about it, 55:15 shall we. Merciful Father in heaven we thank you 55:18 for your precious word today, pray for the power 55:20 of the Holy Spirit and for those right now who 55:22 reaching out by faith and saying God I want a 55:24 different life, I want to gain these victories, 55:26 and I pray that you are giving that victory, 55:28 give them the desire of their heart right now, 55:30 and I pray that in the name of Jesus 55:32 and for his sake, amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17