Participants: Shelley Quinn
Series Code: EHW
Program Code: EHW000024S
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00:19 Hello.
00:21 My name is Shelley Quinn 00:22 and I welcome you to 00:24 "Exalting His Word." 00:26 Today we'll discuss 00:28 how we can operate by the mind of Christ 00:31 and increase the measure of our expectancy. 00:36 I'm glad that you've joined us for this wonderful study. 00:41 First let's briefly a review 00:44 what it means to exalt God's word. 00:46 You know the Bible says in 00:48 Psalms 138:2 00:51 that God exalt his name 00:53 and his word above all things 00:55 and that he magnifies his word 00:58 even above his name. 01:01 That means that 01:02 God has given his word 01:04 the highest rank of importance. 01:06 Nothing absolutely nothing 01:09 is more important to him than his word. 01:12 He has assigned it the highest position of praise. 01:16 Because God has granted 01:18 life giving power to his word. 01:22 Power to accomplish 01:24 all of his will. 01:26 I think if the word of God is 01:29 most important, 01:31 what do you think -to him 01:33 what you think should be 01:35 most important to us? 01:37 Let's ask the Lord to 01:39 be with us today in our study time. 01:42 Father God, 01:44 we come to exalt your name. 01:46 And we come to exalt your word. 01:49 Let it be our 01:51 number one priority as well. 01:53 And I pray in the name of Jesus 01:55 you will send the Holy Spirit 01:58 to each one of us now 02:00 and be our teacher. 02:01 In Christ name, 02:02 amen. 02:04 Picture this for just a moment... 02:07 You're seated at a table 02:09 centered on an elevated stage 02:12 and you're in view of 02:13 an audience of thousands. 02:15 And suddenly an old man 02:17 disheveled in appearance, 02:18 shuffles across the stage, 02:20 and he takes the seat right next to you. 02:24 The debate is about to begin. 02:26 The moderator calls on 02:28 the elderly man to speak first 02:30 and he speaks with great authority on 02:33 the theory of gravity. 02:35 Now it's your turn to talk. 02:37 So clearing your throat, 02:39 (she clears her throat) 02:41 you begin... 02:43 Well... 02:44 ...all of these man's teachings 02:46 ...sounds impressive... 02:47 ...I don't believe it can be proven... 02:50 You see... 02:51 ...I just don't think it can be seen. 02:54 I don't think... 02:55 ...There's no real prove... 02:57 ...I don't feel.... uhm... 02:59 ...This information is outdated... 03:01 ...How can we know this for certain?... 03:05 Well, 03:06 the debate goes on... 03:08 Your position is uninformed but fixed. 03:11 His words are beyond your comprehension. 03:16 Let me ask you... 03:18 who do you think would win this debate? 03:21 You or 03:22 Albert Einstein 03:23 the physicist 03:25 and genius Nobel prize-winner? 03:28 There's something peculiar 03:30 about human nature. 03:32 We love to be right. 03:35 Don't we? 03:36 If we formed an opinion 03:38 on a particular topic 03:40 we defend it with 03:42 all of our might 03:43 and we dismiss anyone 03:45 who challenges our ideas. 03:48 Let's face it... 03:49 We can be stubborn as a mule 03:51 when we just KNOW that 03:53 we're right about something. 03:56 You know, 03:57 the Bible says in James 3:13-18 04:01 that there are two kinds of wisdom. 04:04 There's heavenly wisdom 04:06 and there's demonic wisdom. 04:09 We're instructed 04:10 to gain understanding of God's 04:13 righteous ways of doing all things. 04:17 And we're also counciled to 04:20 demonstrate understanding 04:21 by our good works 04:23 done with humility. 04:25 What does this tell us? 04:27 It tells me that 04:29 we should be seeking the mind of Christ 04:33 from the word of God. 04:35 And we should be walking in 04:37 the humility of Christ. 04:39 Lead by the spirit of love 04:42 and holiness. 04:43 The Bible says... 04:45 [Text on screen] 05:30 You know, 05:32 I belive that 05:33 every human being in the world 05:36 suffers from an inward emptiness 05:39 until we develop 05:41 an intimate relationship 05:43 with the Lord. 05:44 God designed us to be 05:46 filled with His spirit of life. 05:50 He created us in His image to 05:53 participate in his divine nature. 05:56 And, there's a void in us that 06:00 only God can fill. 06:03 You know, 06:04 some people will try to pack 06:06 all the wrong stuff into their lives but 06:08 they can't find the peace and joy. 06:12 And then others recognize that 06:15 only God can satisfy their emptyness but 06:20 they just don't know 06:21 how to be filled with him. 06:24 I meet many who have accepted 06:28 Christ as their Savior. 06:30 But they have rejected His Lordship. 06:34 Then, 06:35 on the other hand, 06:36 there are some poor souls 06:38 who are walking in religion 06:40 instead of realtionship. 06:42 And they're completely unaware of their condition. 06:45 You know this is dangerous. 06:47 Ignorance is not bliss. 06:49 Others realize something is missing, 06:52 and they anxiously struggle to 06:55 change their condition. 06:56 This too can be dangerous. 06:58 The struggle can strengthen us but 07:01 the anxiety is harmful. 07:03 We all need to have 07:05 the assurance of God's promises. 07:08 We need to appreciate 07:10 His plan for our lives 07:12 and the power that we find 07:14 when we're walking in surrender to Him. 07:18 You know, 07:19 if we're arguing against the wisdom of God, 07:22 we won't win! 07:24 The debate must be ended. 07:27 What we need is 07:30 increased faith. 07:31 Because, if our faith is little, 07:33 then we expect little. 07:36 A loving God is 07:38 calling us closer to Him 07:39 and I believe we want to draw nearer. 07:43 But how do we do this? 07:45 There's only one solution for silencing 07:48 the inward struggle of human reasoning 07:51 and drawing nearer to God. 07:54 We have to go deeper into the sweet water... 07:58 of the Lord. 08:00 In the Old Testament book of 08:02 Ezekiel chapter 47... 08:03 We find the record of a vision that 08:07 God gave his prophet. 08:09 And in this vision 08:11 the Lord showed him water 08:14 flowing from the temple. 08:15 And Ezekiel was led through the water... 08:18 At first it was ankle deep, 08:21 then knee deep... 08:23 Soon the water was up to his waist 08:25 and finally the water became 08:27 deep enough to swim in. 08:29 A river so vast that no one could cross it. 08:34 In the Bible, 08:35 water symbolizes two things. 08:38 The Holy Spirit of God 08:40 and the Word of God. 08:42 What God was reavealing to Ezekiel 08:45 was the depths of the knowledge that 08:48 could be found in His Word. 08:51 The further we go into 08:54 his sweet healing streams of water, 08:57 the more refreshed we become 09:00 and the more we're regenerated. 09:03 The deeper we go into God's word 09:05 the more the Holy Spirit 09:07 brings understanding 09:09 and power to our lives. 09:11 The debate of human reasoning is ended. 09:14 The Bible says... 09:16 (text on screen) 09:28 The mind of Christ. 09:31 We need it! 09:32 We want it. 09:33 It's offered as a gift 09:35 and we should line up to receive it. 09:37 If we had the mind of Christ 09:40 we would understand God's plan 09:43 and that old routine of 09:45 three steps forward 09:47 and two steps back 09:48 would come to a halt. 09:50 Jesus said that 09:51 our lukewarm condition repulsed him 09:54 to the point that 09:56 he would like to spew us out of his mouth. 09:59 I've known Christians, 10:00 and I include myself in this category, 10:02 who've been likewise disscusted by 10:06 their state of being hot one day 10:09 and cold the next. 10:10 The blending of these two conditions is 10:12 so distastefully lukewarm that 10:16 we are ready to spit it out. 10:19 We have been given 10:22 the mind of Christ. 10:24 That's what the Bible says. 10:26 We're just not drawing on it 10:29 as we should. 10:31 His thoughts and his wisdom 10:33 are recorded in the Bible. 10:35 The word of God is the mind of Christ. 10:39 The healing water. 10:41 The source of life. 10:43 Now some of us dip our toes into the water. 10:47 Some wade in ankle deep. 10:51 Then there are those of us who 10:53 venture in knee deep 10:55 And there's a number of folks 10:57 I think that have gone in 10:59 up to their waist. 11:00 Oh, but God wants us to 11:04 take the plunge 11:05 and swim in his river of 11:09 healing waters. 11:11 When we step out 11:12 into the depths of His mind, 11:15 the spirit 11:16 and the word will become 11:19 our spiritual inner tube 11:21 supporting us 11:23 throughout our life 11:24 in absolute dependence upon the Lord. 11:29 Well stay tuned... 11:30 We're going to pause for a brief announcement 11:32 and we'll be right back to continue our study. 11:39 If this dynamic series 11:41 is making a difference in your life, 11:43 then you should know about 11:44 a special study guide 11:45 Written by Shelley Quinn. 11:47 "Exalting His Word" with 11:48 life affirmations from scripture. 11:50 Is an in depth study of the word of God. 11:51 And it's available from 3ABN 11:53 for a donation of any size. 11:55 Please send your love gifts to... 12:10 God endowed his word with 12:13 life giving power. 12:16 A creative power that 12:18 reproduces the mind of Christ in us. 12:21 And as we begin to plant God's word into our hearts 12:25 and speak it with our mouths 12:28 we will be changed. 12:30 He will cause us to operate under 12:33 the influence of His understanding. 12:36 He plugs us in to his power source 12:39 and he gives us His strength that we lack. 12:42 His power lightens the lamp of our understanding 12:47 and keeps us fully charged and energized 12:52 to walk by faith. 12:54 He said to us 12:56 my grace is suficient for you for 12:58 my power is made perfect in your weakness. 13:03 That's his promise from 2 Corinthians 12:9. 13:08 My Heavenly Father had to allow me 13:13 to reach the edge of distruction 13:16 before He could teach me 13:18 absolute dependence upon His love 13:21 and his power. 13:22 I cried out in my trouble 13:24 and he delivered me. 13:26 He sent his word 13:28 and healed me. 13:30 I am the redeemed of the Lord 13:33 and I no longer dispute 13:35 his testimony of who I am in Christ. 13:40 It was a hard lesson to go through. 13:42 God escorted me through very difficult terrain. 13:47 But all the while he was craddleing me 13:50 in his love. 13:51 And oh how sweet the victory! 13:53 When he thrust out the doubt and the disbelieve of the enemy!! 13:58 The Bible says in Deutoronomy 33:27 14:03 That the eternal God is your refuge 14:07 and underneath are his everlasting arms 14:11 and he will thrust out the enemy from before you saying, 14:16 Destroy. 14:18 God said, Jesus prayed... 14:22 [text on screen] 14:28 That was Christ' prayer just before 14:30 he entered the Garden of Getsemani. 14:34 He faced the hour of his passion at Calvary 14:38 with his eyes fixed on 14:41 his Holy and Righteous Father. 14:43 But his heart was focused on us. 14:47 He prayed that 14:48 the word of God would make us holy 14:52 because without holiness 14:54 no one will see the Lord. 14:58 in Hebrews 12:14 15:01 He prayed according to God's will 15:04 and he knew his prayer was heard 15:07 and answered. 15:09 God would make us holy by 15:11 the creative power of his word. 15:13 Satisfied Christ pressed on to fulfill 15:18 the plan of his passion offering himself up 15:21 as a sacrifice for our sin. 15:24 And at the cruel cross of Calvary 15:27 God lavished his love on you and me. 15:31 The Bible said God demonstrates 15:33 his own love toward us 15:34 and that while we were still sinners 15:37 Christ died for us. 15:39 That's Roman's 5:8. 15:42 And to win the hearts of sinners 15:44 he gave his all. 15:46 Why would you think that he 15:48 would do anything less for us? 15:49 Now that we've become his children 15:52 an all loving, 15:54 all-powerful God 15:56 is willing to do all things 15:58 in us, 16:00 for us 16:01 and through us. 16:02 He yearns for us to draw on his power. 16:05 He longs for us to come 16:08 and partake of his promises. 16:10 God has included us in Christ as 16:14 co-heirs with his Son. 16:16 He positioned us in Christ. 16:19 If we're abiding in Christ 16:21 we're lined up to receive the blessings that 16:25 flow from the head of his Son 16:27 to each member of his body. 16:31 You know the Bible says, 16:33 in 1 Corinthians 1:30 that 16:36 it is because of God that we are 16:38 in Christ Jesus who has become for us 16:42 our wisdom from God, 16:44 and our righteousness, 16:46 our holiness, 16:48 and our redemption. 16:50 And 2 Corinthians 1:20 says that 16:55 if you are abiding in Christ 16:58 then all of God's promises are yours. 17:02 Yes! And amen! 17:05 And also, that through him, 17:09 the amen can be spoken to 17:11 the glory of God! 17:12 Aren't we instructed in the Bible that 17:16 it is God who works in us 17:19 to cause us to will 17:20 and to act according to his good purpose? 17:25 No wonder Paul could say 17:28 I know whom I have believed. 17:31 And I am persuaded that 17:34 he is able 17:35 to keep that which 17:37 I have committed to him 17:39 until that final day. 17:44 He wrote that to Timothy 17:45 in II Timothy 1:12. 17:47 Let me ask you something... 17:50 what more can we ask for? 17:52 Christ paid the ultimate prize 17:54 to redeem us from sin. 17:57 God includes us in Christ 17:58 when we accept his gift of salvation by Grace. 18:02 We can partake of all of his wonderful promises 18:07 his word, 18:08 and his spirit 18:09 work in us to empower us 18:12 to walk in God's will. 18:15 And above all 18:17 God bows to complete the good work 18:20 that he has begun in us. 18:22 That is, 18:23 if we simply give him permission 18:26 to do this by cooperating with him. 18:30 We have to quit leaning 18:33 on human understanding 18:35 and start leaning on his word. 18:39 Perhaps you're familiar with 18:42 the little book called the prayer of Jabez. 18:44 It made quite a stir in the Christian community 18:47 not long ago. 18:50 When it was first published 18:51 I was flooded with copies from people 18:55 who had been attending my meetings. 18:58 So many thought that I would enjoy reading it 19:00 because it was similar to a message that 19:05 The Lord had earlier impressed this thought on me... 19:10 "Teach my people to 19:11 "increase the measure of their expectations. 19:17 "The measure they use 19:19 "will be measured back to them." 19:22 I only now one way to teach this. 19:26 I encourage everyone 19:28 to get into his word 19:31 and know him for who he is 19:35 and learn who we are in him. 19:38 The word is the answer! 19:41 It gives us the overcoming power! 19:45 It will help us overcome 19:47 our identity crisis 19:49 and as we learn 19:50 who we are in Christ 19:52 we will increase the measure 19:55 of our expectations. 19:57 The word reveals God's plan for our lives 20:00 and it is essential that 20:02 we earnestly seek him 20:04 and exalts his word above all else. 20:07 Listen to the heart of 20:09 a loving heavenly Father 20:13 as recorded in 20:15 Jeremiah 29: 11 through 14. 20:20 [text on screen] 20:51 Are we always mindful that 20:54 our destiny is to become like Jesus? 20:56 We are meant to be part takers of his divine nature! 21:00 We can't complete the work by human effort. 21:04 We need his spirit! 21:05 Christ's power will be made perfect 21:08 in our weakness. 21:09 If we learn to depend totally on him 21:13 we can trust our loving God. 21:16 Every thing that he does in our lives 21:20 is for our eternal benefit. 21:23 You know the Bible says 21:25 in Jeremiah 31:3 21:27 and then Chapter 33 verse 3... 21:31 He says, 21:33 I have loved you with an everlasting love. 21:37 Therefore with loving kindness 21:40 I have drawn you 21:42 call to me and I will answer you 21:45 and I will show you great 21:48 and mighty things 21:49 which you do not know. 21:52 If we will call to God 21:55 he will show us things that 21:58 are fenced in and hidden in his word. 22:01 He will show us a plan 22:03 the plan that he has for our lives. 22:06 Aren't we wearied by our limited expectations? 22:10 God wants to fill us with love, 22:14 joy, 22:16 peace 22:17 and expected hope in his promises. 22:20 He wants to fill us with his power! 22:23 And this will only happen if we 22:26 giv him permission to work in us 22:29 and cause us to exalt his word. 22:33 We'll find salvation 22:35 and righteousness from faith to faith. 22:39 In Romans 1:16,17 22:43 Paul said, 22:44 for I am not ashamed of the Gospel of 22:47 Jesus Christ for it is the power of God 22:50 to salvation for 22:52 everyone who believes for in it 22:55 the righteousness of God is revealed 22:58 from faith to faith. 23:02 And as it is written 23:03 the just shall live by faith. 23:06 God says I am the Lord. 23:10 I do not change. 23:12 The Bible says 23:13 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday 23:16 today 23:17 for ever. 23:19 The word who created the entire universe, 23:23 Jesus Christ, 23:24 also created you. 23:27 His passion over you is great. 23:30 He died so that you can have live. 23:33 We don't have to be fearful 23:35 in approaching the Lord. 23:37 We only love him because he first loved us. 23:43 He wants to save us from our limited human reasoning. 23:47 He wants to save us from self-destructive behavior. 23:52 He desires to give us an abundant life 23:55 and a life of indescribable glory in eternity. 24:01 Why would we neglect so great a salvation? 24:06 How will we escape if we ignore his plan? 24:11 We don't have to wonder what his will is! 24:15 It is written and it is written also 24:20 your word a Lord is eternal. 24:22 It stands firm. 24:25 Let's look at what the Bible says 24:27 in Revelation 19... 24:31 [text on screen] 24:49 His word was to the beginning of all things. 24:53 Everything we know came into existence 24:56 by the word of God. 24:57 The miracle of creation is 24:59 wrapped inside his word. 25:01 All of your potential is 25:03 wrapped inside his word. 25:06 His word is final. 25:08 It cannot be altered. 25:09 He is the God of his word 25:10 and he does not change. 25:12 We can have absolute trust 25:14 in his loving kindness. 25:16 It endures for ever. 25:18 We can have absolute faith that 25:20 his word does not return to him empty. 25:23 It's true God watches over his word to perform it. 25:30 I pray that God will give you 25:33 an unquenchable desire for his word. 25:37 I pray that he will raise you up 25:42 as a word warrior 25:43 and empower you to walk as Jesus walked. 25:47 I pray he will multiply his mercy, 25:52 his love 25:53 and his grace to you. 25:54 I want to pray that for you right now... 25:59 Heavenly Father, 26:00 in the name of Jesus Christ 26:03 I ask Lord, you would race up 26:07 my brother and my sister 26:08 who is watching this program today. 26:11 Father give them an unquenchable desire 26:15 for your word. 26:16 I ask the same thing for myself. 26:18 Raise us up as word warriors. 26:21 Father God teach us your plan. 26:24 Teach us your will. 26:26 Teach us who we are in Christ Jesus 26:28 and empower us Lord to finish the work 26:33 here on earth for Christ's soon return 26:37 in Jesus named, amen. 26:41 Come. 26:43 Listen to the heart of a loving 26:44 heavenly Father 26:47 who says 26:48 come now and exalts my word. 26:54 The Bible says 26:56 I will confess 26:58 and praise you oh God. 27:00 With my whole heart 27:02 I will worship toward your holy Temple 27:06 and praise your name 27:08 for your loving kindness 27:10 and for your truth and faithfulness. 27:13 For you have exalted above all else 27:19 your name and your word. 27:21 And you have magnified your word 27:26 above all of your name. 27:29 God is calling to you today. 27:33 He is saying, 27:34 come, exalt my word. 27:37 And if you will, 27:39 God will change your life! 27:42 I pray that you will 27:44 spend your time making that 27:46 which is most important to God 27:49 the very same that is 27:51 most important to you. 27:54 Spend your time 27:56 going before the Lord 27:58 and exalting his word. |
Revised 2023-12-12