Participants: Shelley Quinn
Series Code: EHW
Program Code: EHW000011S
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00:19 Hello.
00:21 I'm Shelley Quinn 00:22 and welcome to 00:23 Exalting His Word. 00:25 Today, 00:26 we'll be looking at 00:27 how we can receive 00:29 the transforming power of 00:30 God's promises. 00:32 Power that is life changing. 00:33 Promises that are based on 00:34 the vows of God to you and me. 00:37 I hope you have a pen 00:38 and paper handy so 00:39 you can take some notes 00:41 from our study on this exciting topic! 00:43 First, 00:44 I'd like to review 00:46 the title for this program 00:47 which was taken from Psalms 138:2. 00:50 In that verse 00:52 the Bible says that 00:53 God exalts His name 00:55 and His word above everything. 00:57 And that He exalts His word 01:00 even above His name. 01:01 Why? 01:03 Why does God exalt His word 01:05 over everything? 01:07 He has given His word 01:10 the highest rank of importnace. 01:12 He has given His word 01:15 the highest expression of praise! 01:17 God exalts His word 01:19 over everything because 01:21 He has given it life, 01:23 transforming power that 01:27 is in His word. 01:29 You know, 01:31 it is something that 01:32 we need to undesrtand that 01:34 God has empowered His word 01:36 with everything that 01:38 we need to change our lives. 01:41 God has a message for us 01:43 about His word! 01:45 He declares His word is life to us 01:47 because it reveals His love, 01:49 His character 01:50 and His plan for us. 01:52 His word is life to us 01:54 because it contains the creative power 01:57 to transform our lives. 01:59 Lets ask the Lord 02:00 to bless the study of His word today. 02:03 Heavenly Father, 02:04 we come just to praise you 02:07 and to thank you Lord 02:09 for this opportunity to be in Your word. 02:12 And I ask Father, 02:14 for a special blessing 02:15 on all my brothers and my sisters. 02:17 I ask Father God that 02:18 you would teach us 02:20 how to truly receive 02:22 and retain the seed of Your word. 02:25 That it might be develped in our lives. 02:27 We give you the praise 02:30 and the honor and the glory. 02:31 In Jesus name, amen. 02:33 Did you know that 02:34 the promises of God can keep you from evil? 02:37 Transform your character 02:39 to be like Christ 02:41 and give you an abundant life? 02:42 Let's look at where the Bible tells us this 02:45 in II Peter 1:4 02:49 [text on screen] 02:58 When we plant God's promises 03:09 we can flee form evil! 03:11 I want to remind you of 03:13 something that's important!! 03:14 God will empower us to do 03:17 all that He has called us to do. 03:19 In His love 03:21 and concern for our well-being 03:22 God has given us 03:24 His commandments for our eternal benefit. 03:27 Every commandment that 03:28 He has ever given us 03:30 can also be considered a promise of 03:31 what the Lord will empower us to do. 03:34 But that's just the beginning. 03:36 When we plant God's promises 03:39 the creative power of His word 03:41 will work in us 03:43 and cause us to be transformed 03:45 into the very image of Jesus. 03:48 Now I think that's 03:49 a reason to celebrate, 03:51 don't you? 03:52 Let's quickly review 03:54 the process of planting God's promises. 03:55 Jesus defines these four steps 03:57 in Luke 8:15 03:59 as He concluded the parable of 04:02 the sewer and the seed. 04:05 And He told us 04:06 how to reap a hundredfold harvest! 04:09 First... 04:11 [information on screen] 04:33 The first step 04:34 preparing our hearts for the planting 04:36 requires that we plow up 04:38 our hardened areas of our heart. 04:40 And we do this by 04:41 coming before the Lord 04:43 in humility and repentance. 04:45 Acknowledging our dependence 04:47 upon His spirit. 04:48 Step number two 04:50 broadcasting the seed of His word 04:51 into our hearts 04:53 requires that we hear the word. 04:54 And then the third step, 04:55 requires that we receive God's word 04:59 as a promise of what He will accomplish 05:02 and we have to retain it! 05:05 To grab hold of it and not let go! 05:07 This is the actual step that 05:09 releases His creative power into our life! 05:13 Let me illustrate 05:14 what I means by recounting 05:16 an historical of event. 05:19 In my opinion, 05:21 I think that the greatest 05:23 and most at amazing act of 05:26 the story of a young Jewish girl 05:29 who had the trust to receive 05:33 an incredibly personal word from God. 05:36 When angel came to 05:38 this virgin named Mary 05:40 and said that she would have 05:43 the Son of God. 05:44 She was curious 05:46 and a little troubled 05:47 and wondered how it would happen. 05:49 Then the angel explained to her that 05:52 the Holy Spirit would overshadow her 05:56 and he concluded... 05:59 [text on screen] 06:08 You know 06:09 many Bible translations omit 06:10 the second part of that verse. 06:12 They stop at 06:13 "nothing is impossible with God", 06:15 but the original in Greek 06:16 includes that 06:17 "no word from God is without power 06:19 "or impossible of fulfillment." 06:21 I think it's critical that 06:23 we understand this truth. 06:25 Now listen to Mary's response... 06:26 Again I have chosen the translations that 06:29 are closest to the original Greek. 06:31 [text on screen] 06:40 What incredible trust in God! 06:43 And believe in the power of His word! 06:45 Notice what the Bible records about 06:48 the amazing faith that Mary demonstrated 06:49 when she received and retained His word. 06:54 [text on screen] 07:04 Because Mary trusted in God 07:07 and she believed 07:08 in His faithfulness 07:10 and the faithfulness of His word 07:12 she was willing to receive 07:15 His word personally. 07:17 God would fulfill His purpose in her. 07:21 Scripture often refers to... 07:25 [information on screen] 07:34 When Mary received the word of God 07:38 His seed was planted in her. 07:42 She held fast to His word. 07:44 Then the power of the Holy Spirit 07:48 overshadowed her. 07:49 And the purpose of God's word 07:51 was birthed in her. 07:53 She brought forth the Son of God! 07:56 And the word says 07:58 or the Bible says that 07:59 the word became flesh. 08:02 What if Mary had 08:04 merely believed all things 08:06 are possible with God but thought... 08:08 Surely He can't mean that it'll happen to me! 08:11 What if she had disregarded God's word? 08:15 Rejecting His seed 08:17 and His purpose for her life? 08:19 There's no doubt that God would have found 08:22 another handmadden to fulfill His plan! 08:24 But Mary's history 08:26 would have to be rewritten! 08:29 God's Word has creative power. 08:33 Life-changing power. 08:35 Still that power 08:37 cannot be released in you 08:38 unless you're willing to receive 08:40 and retained the seed He has for you. 08:44 It's a dangerous thing to 08:46 reject God's testimony 08:47 about who we are in Christ. 08:50 Let us often remember that 08:52 the Bible warns 08:54 if we don't accept God's testimony 08:55 we are regarding Him as the liar. 08:59 God wants us to come to Him 09:01 believing that He exists 09:04 and that He has the power to do 09:05 all that He vows to do. 09:08 He rewards those who 09:10 earnestly seek Him 09:11 with this attitude. 09:13 If we receive the word seed of God 09:17 and pray for the Holy Spirit 09:18 to overshadow us with 09:20 the power of God 09:21 the Creator will cause us to 09:25 become pregnant with expectancy! 09:28 He wants to birth 09:31 the purposes of His word in us. 09:32 He wants the word 09:34 to become flesh in our lives 09:36 as we put it into practice! 09:39 Glory to God! 09:41 Now let's move on to the fourth step 09:44 and the final step for 09:46 planting God's promises. 09:47 We must persevere 09:49 to allow the harvest to be produced in us. 09:52 What is it that causes God's promises 09:56 to take root in our hearts 09:58 and produce a harvest of righteousness? 10:02 Perseverance! 10:03 And that perseverance 10:05 is determined by the level 10:07 of believe we have. 10:08 There are different degrees of believe. 10:13 One is mere mental ascent. 10:16 In other words 10:17 it's arriving at that point where 10:19 we accept something as true but 10:22 we have no real personal experience with it. 10:26 The greater degree of believe is 10:29 when we receive the truth 10:31 and apply it personally. 10:33 I can better explain this 10:34 by sharing a story I once heard 10:37 when I was young. 10:39 A famous circus star was renown for 10:43 his tight rope act. 10:44 And he performed for heads of state 10:47 and Kings 10:48 and large audiences throughout the world. 10:51 During one the evening performance 10:53 he peddled a bicycle across 10:56 this high wire with 10:57 a young woman sitting on the handlebars. 11:00 And to make his act more daring 11:02 he always performed without a net! 11:06 Oh to crowds went crazy! 11:07 spectacular! [Applauding] 11:10 They cheered! 11:11 Bravo! 11:13 Well suddenly, 11:14 the Circus Star climbed down from the wire 11:17 and then he approached the crowd 11:19 going to a heavyset man that 11:22 was on the first row 11:23 and he explained 11:25 what he proposed to do for 11:27 the next part of his act. 11:28 He said I am going to 11:30 walk a 300 pound man 11:31 across that high wire in a wheelbarrow! 11:35 Do you believe that 11:36 I can accomplish this? 11:38 Well the starstruck admirer just said 11:41 "Absolutely, absolutely I believe!" 11:44 And the Circus Star looked at him and said, 11:47 good. 11:49 Then hop into the wheelbarrow! 11:52 Obviously 11:53 hopping into the wheelbarrow would require 11:57 the greater degree of believe. 11:59 Do you see the point this illustrates? 12:02 [information on screen] 12:13 Our most vital necessity as Christians is 12:17 to apply this greater level of believe 12:22 to God's word. 12:23 We'll be right back 12:25 after this announcement to discuss how 12:27 you and I can live in that 12:30 greater dimension of believe! 12:35 If this dynamic series 12:37 is making a difference in your life, 12:38 then you should know about 12:39 a special study guide 12:41 written by Shelley Quinn. 12:42 Exalting His Word with 12:43 Life Affirmations From Scripture 12:45 is an in depth study of the word of God. 12:49 Please send your love gifts to... 13:04 The Bible testifies in John 3:16 13:08 "For God so loved the world that 13:10 "He gave His only begotten Son that 13:14 "whosoever believes in Him 13:17 "should not perish 13:18 "but has everlasting life." 13:21 This wonderful promise 13:22 is referring to a belief that is 13:25 much greater than mental ascent. 13:28 It requires the degree of belief that 13:32 receives His word is truth 13:35 and personally applies it. 13:37 You have to be willing to 13:39 hop into the wheelbarrow. 13:41 Believing in Jesus for salvation 13:44 means to be living in Jesus! 13:49 Do you want proof? 13:50 Let's look at James Chapter 2. 13:54 [text on screen] 14:11 It's not enough 14:13 to simply agree that 14:15 Jesus is the Son of God 14:17 and died to pay the penalty 14:19 for our sins. 14:20 To receive God's gift of salvation 14:22 we must receive Christ 14:24 as our personal Savior. 14:26 And make it our practice 14:28 to be living in Him. 14:31 The same principle applies to 14:32 His word. 14:34 It's not enough to agree that 14:35 the Bible is to word of God. 14:38 We must receive His word 14:40 planting His promises in our heart. 14:43 Then we must hop into the wheelbarrow 14:46 and be living in His word! 14:49 Applying His word 14:51 through daily practice. 14:54 We deceive ourselves 14:56 if we think just knowing about God 14:58 and about His word will save us. 15:02 We're made a righteous by faith in Christ. 15:05 His righteousness working in us 15:08 will cause us to act in 15:11 His right way of doing all things. 15:14 You know the Bible says in I John 3:7 15:16 "Let no one does the few 15:19 "he who practices righteousness 15:21 "is righteous just as He is righteous." 15:26 God's love is unconditional! 15:28 But His promises carry 15:30 a condition of obedience to His will. 15:33 Do you remember the verse 15:35 from Hebrews 10:36 that 15:37 I shared last time? 15:38 It says that 15:40 we have needed of perseverance 15:42 so that after we have done the will of God 15:46 we may receive the promise. 15:49 We don't have to worry. 15:51 If we will just cooperate with Him 15:55 a loving God will empower us to 15:58 do all that he asks us to do 16:01 as we plow up our hears 16:03 and expose them to His love. 16:06 God will cause us to 16:09 He... when we sow to the spirit 16:12 God will empower us to receive 16:14 and retain His seed. 16:16 And as we step out in faith 16:20 the Holy Spirit will empower us 16:21 to put His word into practice. 16:24 As we persevere God will do a creative act of 16:28 renewal in our hearts! 16:30 The word of God has 16:32 creative life-giving power! 16:35 Let's look at Mark 4:26-28. 16:45 [text on screen] 17:07 The Bible says 17:09 God gives the increase and the growth. 17:12 It is God who will finish the good work that 17:16 He has begun in us 17:17 and establish His harvest of 17:20 righteousness in our lives. 17:22 Doesn't that make you just want 17:25 to shout with joy? 17:27 God nurtures our development by 17:30 the living water of His Holy Spirit. 17:33 Then as we persevere in His promises 17:37 He causes 17:38 the miracle working function of the word to 17:41 reproduce Christ's nature in us. 17:44 And by His power 17:46 we are kept a well watered garden! 17:51 The fruitful vineyard of the Lord! 17:54 Let me quote the Lord's words 17:57 from Isaiah 27:2,3 18:01 He says, 18:02 "In that day, 18:03 "a vineyard of red wine 18:05 "I the Lord will keep it. 18:08 "I water it every moment 18:11 "and lest any hurt should hurt it 18:16 I keep it night and day!" 18:18 Christ Jesus the seed of God is 18:22 reproduced in our hearts through His word. 18:27 The seed of God. 18:28 And the living water of the Holy Spirit. 18:32 You know, this process amazes me! 18:37 I plant a promise in my heart 18:39 and I put His word into practice. 18:41 Then one day a little seedlings stalk 18:45 suddenly springs forward. 18:47 And His word is alive and active in me 18:51 causing me to be living in His truth. 18:56 I've witnessed! 18:57 God works this way in all 19:00 who plant His promises 19:01 and persevere. 19:03 His life continues to grow 19:05 and mature in us. 19:07 We're led from one level of 19:09 sharing in His divine nature to the next. 19:13 Hallelujah!! 19:14 God's purposes are unchanging. 19:18 There's certainty in His promises. 19:21 This provides us hope 19:23 for a harvest of righteousness in us. 19:25 Hope that could be defined as 19:29 an eager expectation. 19:31 We can expect God to 19:34 perform His word in us 19:35 even though we have yet to see the evidence. 19:39 Our hope of developing His character 19:43 and fulfilling our destiny is 19:45 the word alive 19:47 and active in us. 19:51 Listen to what the Bible says 19:54 in Hebrews 6:17-20 19:56 [text on screen] 20:44 And let me continue from 20:46 Hebrews 7:24-25 20:51 [text on screen] 21:06 Hope in God's promises is 21:09 the anchor for our soul! 21:11 Keeping us from being double minded. 21:14 Christ the living word is 21:16 able to save completely. 21:19 He stands at the right hand of 21:21 the Father interceding on our behalf 21:25 EVERYDAY!! 21:27 if you're looking for a prayer partner 21:29 Jesus Christ is your prayer partner! 21:32 And He will sustain our growth 21:35 by the rich power of His word 21:38 and His spirit. 21:40 [information on screen] 22:05 You know 22:06 I just wanna stop here 22:07 and share something that 22:09 really ties in to today's lesson. 22:11 The reason that I'm here today is 22:15 because like Mary 22:17 I learned to receive a 22:21 very personal word from the Lord. 22:24 I was impressed 22:27 like a couple of years ago 22:28 by the still small voice of the Lord. 22:32 Those unspoken words when 22:33 the Holy Spirit impresses 22:36 God's thoughts on our minds... 22:38 that God will open up the doors for 22:40 television radio and publishing. 22:44 And I remember so clearly 22:45 I had been praying for hours 22:47 I was journaling my prayers. 22:49 And I was so excited 22:51 and I wrote this down. 22:53 And I went running down stairs to 22:55 tell my husband. 22:56 And I said Honey, 22:58 the Lord is telling me that 23:00 He's going to open up doors 23:02 for television that I can share 23:04 His message of hope with the world. 23:09 And my husband said, 23:11 Honey we live Coleman Texas, 23:14 a population of 5000 23:16 out in the middle of nowhere. 23:19 He said, 23:20 how is anyone going to discover that 23:21 you even know God's message out here? 23:25 And I said to him, 23:27 I don't know. 23:29 But, let it be done to me 23:33 according to God's word. 23:35 Just as Mary said! 23:36 And you know 23:38 the Lord has blessed me because 23:40 I believe that what He was speaking to me 23:45 once from Him! 23:48 And I wanted a careful 23:50 I'm cautious when I say this 23:51 because there are many people who 23:54 will talk about hearing something from God 23:57 and they may be following 23:59 the voice of the stranger. 24:01 So I always like to point out that 24:02 it is important 24:04 if we are relying on the impression of 24:07 the Lord that we will know 24:09 God will never speak 24:12 anything that violates 24:14 any of His scriptures. 24:15 The number one way that God speaks to us is 24:18 through the Bible. 24:20 And I think the reason the Lord 24:23 could trust me to speak to me is because 24:26 He'd been teaching me to plant His promises. 24:29 To retain His promises for years. 24:33 I've been speaking 24:35 hundreds of Bible promises 24:36 over my life on a daily basis. 24:39 I was so familiar 24:41 and becoming more and more familiar with 24:43 the word of God that God knew that 24:47 I would recognize 24:49 His voice! 24:50 Because He knew 24:52 He could trust me not to follow 24:53 the voice of the stranger. 24:56 Not to follow 24:57 just my own desires but 24:59 to check everything out 25:00 according to His word. 25:02 And I'm so thrilled to 25:04 have this opportunity to 25:06 be talking with you today 25:08 and to continue in this series to 25:11 teach you that God's word 25:13 really is life to you! 25:16 That is so important! 25:17 If we would just learn to plant 25:21 God's promises in our hearts 25:23 if we'll just learn to 25:25 plow up our hearts 25:27 and come humbly before the Lord, 25:30 and listen to His word 25:32 and speak His word over our lives 25:34 and get His word 25:36 in our hearts that 25:37 it is there on a permanent basis 25:40 and that we're living 25:41 and abiding in His word. 25:43 Then God can bring 25:45 the creative miracle of His word 25:49 to life in us! 25:50 He will teach us 25:52 who we are in Christ. 25:53 He will wake up 25:55 His slumbering church 25:57 and we'll quit murmuring 25:59 and complaining 26:00 and living in the pity party. 26:02 We'll serve the Lord with zeal! 26:06 I am absolutely convinced that 26:10 the closing moments of earth 26:13 are approaching. 26:15 And the only way that 26:16 we'll make it through 26:18 the final trials on earth is 26:20 if we have God's word planted 26:23 and rooted in our heart. 26:25 And if we are walking in His word 26:29 on a daily basis. 26:30 Letting it be the anchor for our soul! 26:34 So that we're not double minded. 26:36 You know James says that 26:37 a double minded man will 26:39 receive nothing because 26:41 without faith 26:44 we cannot please God. 26:45 Oh, I hope that you are being encouraged 26:49 through this teaching. 26:50 I pray that God is expanding 26:55 your vision of 26:56 His plans for your life! 26:59 I want to tell you that 27:01 next time that we get together 27:04 we're gonna be looking at 27:06 one of the greatest methods that 27:07 the Lord has taught me to renew our minds 27:11 and cause us to understand that 27:15 we are who God says we are! 27:20 We're gonna start looking at 27:22 the Bible's teaching on how to 27:25 make God's word our 27:26 affirmation of faith. 27:29 May God multiply His mercy 27:32 love and grace to you 27:33 and watch over His word 27:35 to perform it in your life 27:37 as you cooperate with him. 27:38 Please remember to spend your time 27:43 making that which is most important to God 27:47 the very thing that is also 27:50 most important to you! 27:52 And that is... 27:54 Exalt His Word. |
Revised 2023-09-13