Participants: Shelley Quinn
Series Code: EHW
Program Code: EHW000007
|
00:20 Hello
00:21 and welcome to 00:22 Exalting His Word. 00:23 My name is Shelley Quinn 00:24 and I hope that you'll be able 00:25 to stay tuned with us for 00:27 the next 30 minutes. 00:28 The Bible truth that 00:30 we'll introduce today 00:31 can bring you great joy 00:33 and peace and victory 00:34 over all the circumstances of your life! 00:38 Today, we're going to look into 00:40 the most liberating truth 00:42 in the Bible. 00:43 God's perfect law of liberty! 00:46 Our theme text 00:48 for this program is 00:50 Psalms 138:2 00:52 and that verse says that 00:54 God magnifies 00:56 and exalts his name 00:57 and His Word above all things. 01:00 And he magnifies 01:01 His Word even above his name. 01:05 You know because 01:06 this is a life changing truth 01:09 I frequently like 01:10 to rehearse this. 01:12 And each week 01:14 as we go over this, 01:15 we can allow God to 01:17 imprint on our minds 01:19 what is His top priority. 01:22 Because God exalts His word 01:26 above everything. 01:27 That means nothing. 01:30 Absolutely nothing 01:31 is more important to God 01:33 than His word. 01:34 He has assigned His word to 01:37 the highest rank of importance. 01:39 He has given it 01:40 the highest position of praise. 01:42 God exalts His word 01:44 above everything because 01:45 in the word of God 01:46 there is creative transforming power. 01:50 Power to accomplish all of His will. 01:54 Let me ask you a question. 01:56 Do yo really understand that 02:00 God has a plan for your life? 02:03 Would you like 02:05 to put His plan into motion for you? 02:09 The word reveals God's plan for you 02:12 and it contains the creative power 02:14 to transform your life. 02:17 If our creator 02:18 exalts His word above everything else, 02:22 what do you think should be 02:24 most important to us? 02:25 God is watching and waiting for us. 02:28 To come to Him and embrace His love. 02:32 He is eager for us 02:33 to overcome our identity crisis 02:35 and learn the privileges in 02:37 the power that's available to us 02:39 if we've accepted Him as our Savior 02:42 and Father God. 02:44 Let me explain what I mean 02:45 by identity crisis. 02:47 You know, most of us 02:49 don't understand 02:51 God's plan for our lives. 02:52 We don't understand 02:54 what it means 02:55 to be recreated in His image. 02:57 We have little appreciation for 02:59 the power of God 03:01 to change us. 03:02 We simply don't recognize 03:04 who we've become when 03:05 we've accepted Christ as our Savior. 03:07 So we suffer from an identity crisis. 03:10 But if we would learn to exalt God's word! 03:13 Oh over our limited human understanding, 03:18 God will give us 03:19 the victory in overcoming 03:21 our identity crisis 03:23 and our lives will be forever changed. 03:27 Today, we're going to discuss 03:29 God's boot camp for eternity. 03:33 More important than that, 03:34 we'll examine God's perfect law of liberty. 03:39 If we understand 03:40 and live by 03:42 the perfect law of liberty 03:43 we will be empowered by God 03:45 to put His word into practice. 03:48 God will set our hearts free 03:51 from our earthly burdens! 03:52 He will teach us to be 03:54 more than conquerors over the problems 03:57 and the weight of sin. 03:59 Let's pray 04:00 and ask God's blessing over us 04:02 and invite the Holy Spirit 04:03 to be our teacher. 04:05 Heavenly Father, 04:07 we come once again Lord 04:09 to entreat you that 04:11 you would teach us your will. 04:15 Father God teach us 04:16 who we are in Christ. 04:18 Teach us the plan that 04:19 you have for our life. 04:21 I ask now for a special 04:23 anointing of the Holy Spirit 04:24 over my mouth 04:26 and over the ears of everyone 04:29 who is listening Father that 04:31 the Holy Spirit 04:32 might lead us into your truths. 04:36 We give you all the praise 04:37 and the honor and the glory, 04:39 in Jesus Name, amen. 04:42 It's important for us 04:44 to understand that, 04:46 right here and now, 04:47 Christians are living in a training camp. 04:50 In some ways, 04:51 we can compare our experience with 04:54 the US military boot camp. 04:56 Where, 04:57 new recruits receive training 04:59 in Government authority 05:01 military discipline 05:03 and weapon usage. 05:04 Did you know that 05:06 the term "boot camps" stands from 05:08 the issuance of military footwear. 05:12 And it was military issued boots! 05:15 And new recruits 05:16 are drilled to 05:18 the point of exhaustion 05:19 in this foot gear. 05:21 Sometimes they 05:22 find it difficult to 05:23 appreciate the systematic 05:25 training system. 05:26 The limits of 05:27 human endurance are tested 05:29 and the development of 05:31 inner strength is demanded. 05:33 You know, 05:34 some soldiers question 05:36 the value of their 05:37 boot camp experience that 05:39 is until they enter battle. 05:43 I recently saw 05:44 a US military pilot who 05:46 was interviewed on television. 05:49 And, an Iraqi missile 05:52 had shot down his plane 05:54 and he'd been taken captive. 05:56 On camera during the interview, 05:59 he credited 06:00 his survival to 06:02 the training that 06:03 he had received in boot camp. 06:04 And he was quite appreciative!! 06:07 Life on earth is 06:08 the training camp for 06:10 the people of God. 06:12 In the practice of His word, 06:15 we are trained for 06:18 the battles of life 06:19 and a much more critical mission. 06:22 Eternity. 06:23 Our training ensures 06:25 our success here on earth 06:27 and our maturity to manage 06:30 the eternal inheritance that 06:32 God wants to give us 06:34 with wisdom. 06:35 God promises in His word that 06:37 when He creates a new heaven 06:40 and a new earth 06:42 He will not permit sin 06:44 to rise again. 06:47 Only those who have been trained 06:50 by practicing His word 06:52 will understand the wisdom 06:54 and the love of God's eternal plan. 06:58 The value of our training 06:59 will be forever acclaimed! 07:02 The errs of eternal life 07:04 we'll have learned through experience 07:07 not to repeat 07:08 the rebellion in sin that brought 07:10 such horrible consequences! 07:13 Only those that are trained 07:15 by practice in His ways 07:17 will be suited for 07:19 God's eternal inheritance. 07:21 In this parallel application to boot camp 07:25 we can say that God's recruits 07:28 are issued foot gear. 07:30 Our feet have been fitted 07:32 with the Gospel of peace 07:34 and since gospel means 07:35 good news... 07:37 then I guess you could say that 07:38 we've been registered in 07:40 the "Good News Camp"! 07:42 In this camp, 07:43 we're being trained in 07:45 the authority of God's government 07:47 and the disciplines of love, 07:49 joy, peace 07:50 and obedience. 07:52 The Lord of Hosts issues us 07:55 weapons of Spiritual warfare 07:58 and these powerful weapons 08:00 can take our thoughts captive 08:03 and make them obedient 08:05 to His will. 08:06 Our weapons can pull down 08:08 the vain arguments by which 08:10 the enemy tries to build 08:12 a stronghold in our minds. 08:14 In our camp 08:16 it would seem that 08:18 some strategies of 08:19 our commander and chief 08:20 are difficult to understand. 08:24 As the Lord's army 08:26 we often think that we 08:28 should use all of OUR might in the battle. 08:30 That's often our attitude, 08:32 isn't it? 08:33 Well, this error causes great 08:36 discouragement and exhaustion 08:39 among our ranks. 08:40 We miss the greatest weapon 08:44 and aid of our training. 08:46 In fact, we miss 08:48 the most powerful weapon in God's arsenol. 08:52 [information on screen] 09:02 Unlike the US military, 09:04 God does not train us 09:07 to draw on an inner reserve of 09:10 human will power. 09:11 Rather, the Lord instructs us 09:14 not to do anything 09:16 in our own strength! 09:18 Jesus said, apart from Him 09:20 we can do nothing! 09:22 God wants us to 09:24 depend totally on Him! 09:28 To overcome all of 09:30 the obstacles of our lives! 09:32 Jesus said that 09:33 His power is made perfect 09:37 in our weakness. 09:38 Our training prepares us 09:40 to stand firm in faith. 09:42 Knowing that the battle belongs to the Lord 09:46 and that He gives us the victory. 09:50 Drawing on God's strength is 09:52 the only way that 09:54 we overcome our weaknesses. 09:56 The only success route in 09:59 our training camp for eternity. 10:01 You know the Lord often has to lead me 10:04 back to Galatians 3:3. 10:06 There the Bible says that 10:08 we are foolish to think that 10:11 we can perfect our walk 10:13 by the power of our human flesh. 10:17 Instead, we must rely on the provision of 10:20 the power of the Holy Spirit. 10:23 This is 10:24 the most important strategy 10:26 to avoid the enemy's missiles. 10:29 And even if a surprise attack strikes 10:32 and the enemy takes us captive 10:34 our only hope of survival 10:37 and eventual release is 10:38 to draw on God's power! 10:42 There is a second camp here on earth. 10:45 It's a slave camp that some mistakenly call... 10:49 'Camp Feel Good'. 10:51 Because this camp follows 10:53 the downward trend of the world system. 10:56 Recruits find it easier to march in step with 10:59 the majority and do what comes naturally. 11:03 There's not rigorous training. 11:05 There's no rigorous discipline. 11:08 Instead people in this camp 11:11 follow their own consciences 11:13 and decide for themselves what's right and wrong. 11:17 Since God's complete authority is not considered, 11:21 they think they are walking 11:22 in freedom from His laws. 11:25 Free to do as they choose. 11:27 But, what they don't recognize is that 11:30 the master deceiver... 11:33 ...Satan himself, 11:34 is manipulating and controlling their actions. 11:38 This evil leader 11:40 prows around, 11:41 plotting their destruction while 11:43 parading as an angel of light. 11:46 He leads by deception. 11:48 Counterfeiting the good things of God 11:50 and promising freedom to his troops. 11:53 Expecting freedom these poor souls 11:56 don't realize that 11:58 they've become slaves to corruption. 12:00 For the Bible says 12:01 that a man is a slave to whatever 12:05 has mastered him. 12:06 The deception is so cunning that 12:08 the draftees of "Camp Feel Good" 12:10 aren't aware that they're walking in darkness 12:13 along the broad path to destruction. 12:17 Proverbs 14:12 says, 12:19 There is a way that seems right to a man but 12:25 its end is the way of death. 12:30 Oh, if only these poor precious souls 12:32 would stop their march of madness, 12:36 and stand in attention to God, 12:39 He would open their eyes from darkness 12:41 and He would deliver them 12:43 from the mistaken identity! 12:45 God will bring them into His marvelous light 12:49 and guide their steps to the narrow path of life 12:53 where they'll find joy in His presence. 12:56 Well, it's time for a quick announcement 12:58 and then we'll be right back. 13:00 Please stay tuned because 13:02 we're gonna be talking about 13:05 God's wonderful law of liberty! 13:09 If this dynamic series 13:10 is making a difference 13:12 in your life, 13:13 then you should know 13:14 about a special study guide 13:15 written by Shelley Quinn. 13:17 Exalting His Word with 13:18 Life Affirmations From Scripture 13:19 is an in depth study of the word of God. 13:24 Please send your love gifts to... 13:40 Let's look at a wonderful promise of God that 13:44 is found in Hebrews 10:16,17. 13:49 Listen to what God says... 13:51 [text on screen] 14:10 Before God ever laid 14:13 the foundations of this earth 14:14 He had the Calvary plan in mind. 14:18 He knew what humans would do 14:22 and how they would exercise 14:25 the gift that He gave them of free will. 14:29 Free choice. 14:30 So, God had this plan in mind because 14:33 He knew that we couldn't save ourselves. 14:36 In fact, he planned to open a new 14:41 and living way where 14:42 we can return boldly into his presence. 14:44 And that way is a sacrificial blood of His Son. 14:50 The price that He paid to 14:52 buy you and me out of bondage. 14:55 He did for us what we couldn't do for ourselves. 15:01 Salvation is a gift. 15:02 There's nothing you nor I can do to save ourselves. 15:05 We're saved by grace through 15:07 faith in the completed work of 15:09 Jesus Christ on the cross. 15:11 But more importantly, 15:13 or just as importantly, 15:14 in His continuing intercessory work 15:19 as our High Priest. 15:20 Even though salvation is a gift, 15:24 the Bible still reveals that 15:26 eternal salvation is ours ONLY 15:28 if we obey God. 15:30 This principal is recorded 15:32 all throughout the Bible. 15:33 But it's stated very sysinchly 15:36 in Hebrews 5:9 where it says that 15:39 Jesus became the author of 15:42 eternal salvation to 15:44 all who would obey Him. 15:46 Here's where the Apostle Paul had to say 15:51 about salvation by faith 15:52 and obedience to God's ten commandments. 15:55 It's found in Romans 3:31 15:59 [text on screen] 16:18 How can God place conditions of obedience 16:22 upon the promise of the gift of salvation? 16:26 Why does He put His laws into our hearts 16:29 and write them in our minds. 16:32 In Matthew 5:19 16:33 Jesus said that if 16:35 we break the commandments 16:36 and teach others to do the same, 16:38 we'll be called "least" in 16:41 the kingdom of heaven. 16:42 In the New Testament book of James, 16:44 we're warned that if 16:46 we break even one of 16:48 His Ten Commandments, 16:49 we're guilty of them all. 16:51 Does a Holy and Righteous God 16:53 ask more of us than 16:55 we can deliver? 16:56 The answer is revealed 16:57 in God's perfect law of liberty. 17:01 Let's look at that perfect law of liberty 17:05 found in James 1:25 17:09 [text on screen] 17:25 The same author who wrote 17:27 "break one commandment guilty of them all" 17:30 here, in James 1:25, 17:33 shares the secret of walking in God's will. 17:38 I give glory to God for 17:39 increasing my understanding 17:41 on His perfect law of liberty! 17:43 It's my compass. 17:44 And it sets my heart free 17:46 to walk in joy 17:48 and without fear. 17:49 I believe that it's going to do 17:51 the same for you. 17:52 God's word reveals that 17:55 everything He expects of us, 17:58 He has already empowered us to do. 18:02 The law of liberty is this... 18:05 [information on screen] 18:22 Do you remember what Jesus said? 18:24 It's in John 15;5 18:26 He said... 18:27 [text on screen] 18:32 Now listen to the advice of 18:34 the Apostle Paul... 18:35 [text on screen] 18:51 In other words, he's saying 18:52 work out your salvation 18:53 with self distrust. 18:56 With serious caution. 18:58 Tenderness of conscience. 18:59 Watchfulness against temptation! 19:02 Timidly shrinking from 19:04 whatever might offend God 19:06 and discredit the name of Christ. 19:08 I used to read these words 19:11 and I absolutely would 19:13 cringe because 19:15 I didn't understand 19:16 the law of liberty. 19:18 I often felt defeated 19:20 because I took 19:22 the advice out of context. 19:24 I barely noticed 19:26 the power of God's plan that 19:29 Paul revealed with 19:30 his continuing comment. 19:32 And this is what it goes on to say... 19:35 [text on screen] 19:59 Do you see the beauty of 20:01 God's promise to us here? 20:04 It is God who works in us 20:06 to cause us to desire His will. 20:11 As we draw nearer to Him, 20:13 seeking instruction, 20:15 He puts our will 20:17 in perfect alignment with His. 20:20 He changes the desires of our heart. 20:23 You know 20:24 the Bible tells us 20:25 in Jeremiah 13:23 that 20:27 we can not change ourselves 20:29 anymore than a Leopard 20:31 can change its spots! 20:33 And listen to the council of 20:34 the Apostle Paul gives us in 20:37 Romans 8:13. 20:39 In fact, if you have your Bibles 20:41 you might want to turn there 20:43 and mark this because this is 20:45 one of my favorite promises. 20:48 In Romans 8:13, he says, 20:53 "For if you live according to the flesh, 20:56 "you will die, but 20:58 -Now notice this.. 21:00 "If by the spirit you put to death 21:04 "the deeds of your body, 21:07 "you will live." 21:09 Do you see the promise there? 21:11 It is only by the power of 21:14 the Holy Spirit that 21:16 we can put to death 21:19 the misdeeds of our flesh. 21:21 By God's grace and power 21:23 he will renew our minds. 21:26 He will transform our attitudes. 21:28 He will change our desires! 21:31 The promise goes much further 21:33 if we'll just cooperate 21:35 with our Creator God. 21:37 Once our minds 21:38 have been restored 21:40 and He lines up our will with 21:43 His way of thinking, 21:45 it's up to us to step out, 21:48 in faith! 21:50 God won't force us 21:51 to do anything against our will. 21:54 But if we'll take that first step, 21:57 God promises that His power 22:01 will show up 22:03 and the... 22:05 That He will give us.. 22:06 the continued power 22:08 to walk in a way that 22:09 pleases Him. 22:11 Let me paraphrase 22:12 this amazing promise 22:14 for you because 22:15 I want you to have this in your heart! 22:18 This comes from what 22:19 we just reviewed 22:21 in Philippians 2:12,13 22:22 When we come to the Lord, 22:24 asking Him to teach us His will, 22:26 He works us, 22:29 -in us to line up 22:31 our will so that it be 22:33 in perfect alignment with Him. 22:36 That's the first phase of His powerful act. 22:40 Is to renew our minds 22:41 and place His desires in our hearts. 22:45 Then we must work out 22:48 the saving Grace that 22:50 He has put in our hearts 22:52 by one simple step. 22:53 There is a one foot gap 22:56 between these two stages. 22:58 Stage one is 23:01 our mind being renewed 23:03 to walk in obedience to His will. 23:06 But, 23:07 we must turn our willingness 23:10 into resolve and take action. 23:13 Not depending on 23:14 our own ability but 23:15 depending on the leading of 23:17 the Holy Spirit. 23:18 As we step out in faith, 23:21 the second phase of 23:22 God's wonderful promise begins 23:24 and God pours out 23:27 power from on high! 23:29 By the power of 23:30 the Holy Spirit we can 23:31 press forward and carry out 23:33 the goals that has God's given to us 23:37 to obtain His promises. 23:39 Let me read what 23:41 the Apostle Paul wrote to 23:43 the Philippians 23:45 and suggests that 23:46 we should also 23:48 think about this. 23:51 He said 23:54 in Philippians 3:12-14 24:00 [text on screen] 24:43 If we're walking in 24:44 the perfect law of liberty 24:46 we can depend on God's power 24:49 to walk according 24:51 to His good pleasure. 24:53 Knowing that after we have done 24:56 the will of God, 24:57 he will make certain that 24:59 we receive the promise. 25:01 YES, it requires an effort! 25:04 But it is a Spirit empowered effort. 25:08 I hope that you aren't doing 25:12 what I was doing in the past. 25:14 I used to take the baton that 25:18 the devil handed me 25:20 and beat myself over the head 25:21 with guilt in condemnation thinking... 25:24 "Lord what's wrong with me? 25:25 "Why can't I be a consistant Christian? 25:30 "Why is it three steps forward 25:32 "and two steps back?" 25:34 I really did suffer 25:36 with a lot of guilt but 25:39 it was because I was trying 25:41 to do it in my human effort. 25:44 And when I'd learned 25:46 the perfect law of Liberty 25:48 God changed my life. 25:50 He really did! 25:51 And I hope that's what He is doing for you today. 25:54 To recognize that 25:56 He will cause you to be all that 26:00 He has called you to be. 26:02 Well our time is running out! 26:05 It goes by so quickly! 26:06 I hope you've been encouraged today 26:09 to recognize that 26:10 apart from Jesus 26:12 you can do nothing. 26:14 I hope you'll learned 26:16 to depend on God totally for 26:18 the power to walk in obedience 26:21 and be blessed. 26:22 Understanding his perfect law of liberty 26:26 has changed my perspective. 26:28 As the Holy Spirit leads me 26:32 in a faith a walk of 26:34 the perfect law of Liberty 26:36 God is transforming me. 26:37 He makes my experience here 26:40 in this earthly boot camp for eternity 26:43 an experience of great joy 26:47 and pays as I trust in him. 26:50 And that's my prayer for you too. 26:53 Please tune in next time 26:55 when we'll discuss 26:58 the power of God's promises. 27:00 And discover the pathway 27:03 to His blessing. 27:05 May God multiply 27:07 His mercy, 27:08 His love, 27:09 and His grace to you. 27:10 And may He watch over His word 27:14 to perform it in you 27:16 as you cooperate with him. 27:18 And the best way to cooperate with Him 27:22 is just going to the Lord in prayer 27:25 and asking Him to give you 27:27 the desire for His word. 27:30 Asking him to teach you from His word. 27:33 Please remember this! 27:35 It is so important that 27:38 we spend our time 27:40 making that which is most important to God 27:44 the very thing that is 27:47 also most important to us 27:50 and that is Exalting His Word above all things. 27:57 Goodbye. |
Revised 2014-12-17