Participants: John Lomacang (Host), John Stanton
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL100021
|
00:01 Hello, friends, grab your Bible
00:02 and a friend and sit back 00:04 as we explore God's word together 00:06 on this edition of House Calls. 00:23 Well, pick up the phone we're making a house call, 00:25 I hope you're on the other end of the line, 00:27 because the Lord wants to talk to you today. 00:29 Welcome to this great program on 3ABN 00:31 and we're glad you'd chosen to join us 00:34 and both of us are taking phone calls 00:36 today actually house calls. 00:38 And it's good to have my good friend 00:40 John Stanton with me today. 00:41 Good to be here again. 00:42 I'd tell you whenever we get together 00:44 the Lord calls on us that we call on you, 00:47 and before we do anything though 00:48 we wanna call on God's Holy Spirit 00:51 to direct our program, so John have a prayer for us. 00:53 Let's do that. Dear Father in Heaven. 00:56 We are so blessed to be able to come 00:58 to that great throne of grace, for mercy, for health, 01:02 and tonight especially today instruction in righteousness, 01:06 instruction in truth. 01:07 And Lord, the spirit of truth, Lord, 01:09 You have promised anyone who asked 01:11 and we ask now for Your spirit to descend upon us 01:14 that You would lead us through Your word 01:16 safely and carefully rightly dividing that word of truth 01:20 to Your honor and glory. 01:21 In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. 01:24 Well, friends as you know our program is one that's exciting 01:26 because we believe that God is leading us 01:28 and guiding us as we together study His word. 01:33 Today, we're gonna continue on the topic of prophets. 01:35 How to know whether they're telling you the truth? 01:38 How to measure what they're saying to see 01:41 whether or not if there's any credibility? 01:43 How not to be fooled by what you see on the outside, 01:46 but to train your ear, 01:49 ear is to hear what they're saying 01:51 and how to use the word of God as the foundation upon 01:54 which to stand rather than just some classically, 01:57 cleverly chosen words of a person 02:00 where the male or female that chooses 02:02 to call themselves a prophet, 02:03 a master prophet or a prophetess, 02:06 very important topic. 02:08 But we also know that your Bible questions 02:10 are very significant part of this program 02:12 and if you wanna send any of them to us, 02:14 you can send it to the email on the screen 02:17 housecalls@3abn.org, that's housecalls@3abn.org. 02:24 I'm a former New Yorker. 02:26 Every now and then my New York comes out 02:28 and it's all mixed in with my California. 02:31 And I'm in a Midwest, so I'm really messed up. I know that. 02:33 But you read what's on the screen. 02:36 I never would have guessed that. 02:37 You never would have guessed that. No. 02:38 I tell you-- Listening to you-- 02:39 you sound like you're from Maine or something. 02:41 I'm telling you don't worry about it, I'm over you. 02:44 I even have some Italian I guess. 02:46 I don't know if that's true enough, but I know it's true 02:47 that you have some Bible questions for us 02:48 Yes, I do. What's the first one? 02:50 The first one's from Mary Lu from Wisconsin. Mary Lu. 02:53 And Mary Lu is asking, "How do I walk in the spirit? 02:58 I don't know the meaning and I don't understand this. 03:01 This has been heavily on my mind, 03:03 so please help me in giving 03:04 or by giving me some understanding." 03:06 So, let's look at the Chapter. 03:09 I think probably the most well known Chapter 03:10 about walking in the spirit and that's found in Romans 8. 03:15 Romans 8 and let's just kind of 03:17 read through this Chapter a bit. 03:18 That's a very good Chapter as a matter of fact-- 03:20 'Cause I think, you know, line by line as we study it, 03:21 you'll find that the truth of what it means 03:24 to walk in the spirit comes forward, 03:27 it becomes very clear. All right, Romans 8. 03:29 Verse 1, "There is therefore now no condemnation 03:33 to those who are in Christ Jesus, 03:36 who do not walk according to the flesh, 03:38 but according to the Sprit." Okay. 03:41 So, there's going to be a comparison here 03:44 of what it means to walk in the flesh 03:46 and what it means to walk in the spirit. 03:48 Verse 2, "For the law of the Spirit of life 03:51 in Christ Jesus has made me free 03:53 from the law of sin and death. 03:56 For what the law could not do in that 03:58 it was weak through the flesh, 04:00 God did by sending His own Son 04:03 in the likeness of sinful flesh, 04:04 on account of sin, 04:06 He condemned sin in the flesh, 04:09 that the righteous requirement of the law 04:11 might be fulfilled in us 04:13 who do not walk according to the flesh 04:15 but according to the Spirit." 04:17 And then there is again, 04:18 there seems to be a qualifier here of the promises of God 04:24 for those who walk in the Spirit 04:26 but not in the flesh. That's right. 04:27 And so, now Paul is going to begin 04:30 to expound on that as to what it means. 04:34 Verse 5, "For those who live according to the flesh 04:37 set their minds on the things of the flesh, 04:41 but those who live according to the Spirit, 04:43 the things of the Spirit." 04:45 Okay, you see the two classes there. 04:46 Right, it seems starting to be compared here. 04:48 "For to be carnally minded is death, 04:51 but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." 04:55 So, clearly here what we're talking about is the mind, 04:58 how the mind is functioning, how your mind is governed, 05:02 are you governed by the Holy Spirit 05:05 leading you through His word 05:06 and through the ways of God 05:09 or is your mind governed 05:10 by what is the pleasures of the flesh 05:13 and fulfilling those lusts and the selfish desires 05:17 that we naturally have as a person. 05:20 And so, you know, in which way 05:22 are you going to allow your life to be led. 05:25 Verse 7, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, 05:30 for it is not subject to the law of God, 05:32 nor indeed can be. 05:34 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 05:38 But you who are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, 05:41 if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. 05:43 Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, 05:46 he is not His. 05:48 And if Christ is in you, 05:50 the body is dead because of sin, 05:52 but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." 05:56 Okay, so this is actually fairly 05:59 he's trying to make it simple, 06:01 something that is quite amazing. 06:03 He's trying to make it simple 06:04 and that is when you give your life to Christ 06:07 and you pray that He comes into your heart. 06:10 Jesus does so through the power of the Holy Spirit. 06:14 And so as the Spirit comes into your life 06:16 to sit on the throne of your heart so to speak. 06:20 Jesus is then through the Holy Spirit 06:22 guiding and directing your life 06:24 and helping you to lead to discern 06:26 to understand the things of God 06:28 and as long as you allow Him to do that 06:30 and are walking by His leading 06:32 and by His instruction through the word 06:34 you are walking in the Spirit. That's right. 06:37 But the moment you began to disregard that voice, 06:41 to discredit the word, 06:42 to walk outside of what God has in-store 06:45 or the way that Jesus is leading you in your life, 06:48 then you begin to operate according to the law of sin. 06:51 That is the flesh that governs your body, 06:53 the selfish desires you have. 06:55 It's like going back to that old man, 06:57 that the old man sinned, 06:58 you were delivered from when you were baptized 07:00 by the way Romans 6 07:02 when you went down to that watery grave 07:04 you've promised to die to that old way of life. 07:07 And when you came up you lived in resurrection power, 07:10 the power of life, the power of the Spirit 07:12 and of God dwelling in you. 07:14 From that moment on, 07:15 it's really about setting your mind 07:16 on the things that are above 07:18 and you find that here in Romans 12 07:21 if you wanna fast-forward, Romans 21:1, 07:24 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, 07:25 by the mercies of God, 07:27 that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, 07:30 holy, acceptable to God, 07:31 which is your reasonable service. 07:33 And do not be conformed to this world, 07:35 that is the flesh, 07:36 but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, 07:39 so that you may prove what is that good 07:42 and acceptable and perfect will of God." 07:45 So, I guess the quickest way to answer the question here, 07:50 "What is the meaning of walking in the Spirit?" 07:53 it is everyday allowing your mind 07:56 to be led by the Spirit of God through His teaching, 07:59 the teaching of His word, 08:01 through prayer and communication 08:02 with Him directly and dependence upon Him 08:05 and then, the way that the Lord works on 08:07 you through the conscience 08:08 as well as you encounter situations through life, 08:11 you will find as you're being led by the Spirit 08:13 that you can listen to the voice of God 08:15 and He will lead you in the safe path of righteousness. 08:19 And this is what the devil seeks to break you from, 08:22 because when you are on that safe road, 08:24 when you're walking in the Spirit, 08:26 he has no power over you. 08:28 But the moment you began 08:29 to listen to the ways of the world, 08:31 listen to that flesh, listen to the 08:33 selfish desires you have 08:34 and begin to walk in the flesh again, 08:36 then you're walking contrary to God 08:39 and God must bring you back 08:40 then safely into the path of righteousness 08:42 through the Spirit and walking again 08:45 through the Spirit as He leads. 08:48 So, this is what it means to walk in the Spirit 08:50 and it's something that every Christians 08:52 should spend and devote a lot of time on every morning 08:56 and throughout the day that they are making sure 08:57 they are walking in that Spirit, 08:59 that the Spirit of God is working in them. 09:01 As a matter of fact, John, I have a couple of text 09:03 and just to segue of what you're talking about here. 09:06 A lot of times we wonder the great challenge 09:08 of being a Christian is being a Christian. 09:10 I've often said that, 09:12 because we are living 09:13 a spiritual life in a fleshy body 09:17 and while our minds are being transformed 09:21 while we are being transformed by the renewing of our minds, 09:25 it's amazing you get a new mind but in an old body. 09:29 And Jesus talked about that to the Pharisees 09:31 and the Scribes and He says, 09:33 "How can you put new wine in old wineskins?" 09:38 You can't do that because the wineskins will burst, 09:42 so therefore we have to put new wine in new wineskins. 09:45 And so, in a sense when we accept Jesus 09:48 we are born again, new wineskins. 09:51 But now, the Spirit that pervaded our lives 09:54 before the spirit of the antichrist, 09:57 the spirit of the rebellious one is no longer. 10:00 He's now dethroned and the new spirit comes 10:03 God's Holy Spirit comes to reside in us. 10:06 As a matter of fact, 10:08 the Bible says in Galatians 2:20 10:10 just talking about that spiritual life. 10:12 John talked about the aspects of how you do that, 10:15 how you fill, how you furnish everyday 10:17 your mind with those things that keep you in the Spirit, 10:20 but how the Spirit comes in. 10:22 Galatians 2:20, look at the walk, 10:26 "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, 10:32 yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, 10:35 and the life which I now live in the flesh 10:39 I live by the faith of the Son of God, 10:41 who loved me, and gave himself for me." 10:43 So, when you look at that comparison there, 10:45 Jesus says, you're living in the-the life 10:48 which I now live in the flesh, 10:50 he talked about the flesh and the Spirit. 10:52 The flesh there has two applications, 10:54 one the life we now live in the flesh 10:57 meaning in this human body, this mortal flesh, 11:01 it's quite different than the walking in the Spirit 11:03 or walking in the flesh. 11:05 The flesh that John referred 11:06 to is the carnal nature, so get this. 11:09 We still have the remnants of the carnal nature, 11:11 this mortal boy. 11:13 How do you live that spiritual life in a mortal body? 11:16 How do you live with the promise of immortality 11:18 in a mortal body? 11:20 You allow the Spirit of God to come in 11:21 and therefore when we invite Him in, 11:24 it is no longer I who live, meaning it's not our thoughts, 11:30 it's not our desires that we're living by, 11:33 it's the Lord's desires, it is the mind of Christ. 11:36 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. 11:40 Well, that's an easy thing 11:42 if it's no longer you who live, 11:43 but Christ who lives in you. Yeah. 11:45 You see, so there's a transformation. 11:47 And a lot of times we become Christians 11:48 and we think that okay now, 11:50 I've to live by the doctrines of the church, 11:52 know what you have to first live by 11:54 is by the Spirit of God which Paul says in Colossians 1:27, 11:59 "Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." 12:02 So, how does Christ abide in us 12:04 by the indwelling Holy Spirit? 12:06 And just so we don't think 12:07 it's just some kind of force somewhere. 12:12 That's the very power that 12:14 we are now living to sanctify life, 12:17 so this is quite a transformation. 12:19 So, when you wake up in the morning 12:20 and you say, John, talked about this when you say, 12:22 Lord, today if I do what I naturally wanna do, 12:25 I'm gonna go ahead and do everything wrong 12:27 because we still battle 12:28 everyday with the mortal flesh. 12:30 One day this mortality will put on immortality, 12:34 but until then everyday we need us-- 12:37 we need Christ in us which is the hope of our glory. 12:40 It's kind of like putting that picture together there. 12:42 You know, whenever someone comes to Christ 12:44 and sees Him for who He truly is 12:46 truly is the first time 12:48 and he understand that offering 12:49 that He gives the offering of salvation, the eternal life. 12:52 I think from that moment the Holy Spirit is 12:54 working in your life and as you give way to Him 12:57 and as you allow Him to lead you, 13:00 the transformation begins, notice I said begins. 13:04 And as that transformation begins, 13:06 it still becomes your choice everyday 13:09 to allow the Holy Spirit to root out those things 13:12 to eliminate those things that are fleshy, 13:15 the way that you used to think, 13:17 the way that you used to do and live your life. 13:23 And Jesus said some interesting words. 13:26 He talks about eating His flesh 13:29 and drinking His blood. 13:31 And the Pharisees heard that and thinking, 13:33 "This guy is insane." 13:34 You know, that was the dialogue there. 13:37 But what He was saying there is partaking of Christ. 13:41 Everyday the Lord asks that we read the word of God 13:45 that we drink again in the spirit of life 13:48 that everything that He provides for us, 13:50 He offers to us everyday. 13:52 And we as Christians if we're not partaking of that 13:56 and we're living in the world, 13:57 we are going to go back to the flesh. 14:01 And so this is always this battle of flesh 14:04 pulling us one way, 14:05 the Spirit of God pulling us another way. 14:07 And it is our choice everyday to live 14:09 according to that Spirit, 14:10 so that the flesh doesn't take back over again. 14:13 And as we do that we find that our life 14:16 grows more and more to where the flesh becomes 14:19 so dimmed that it really has no power over us at all. 14:23 And that's the wonder of a mature Christian life. 14:27 And so I encourage you to continue to read the word 14:30 to continue to pray, ask the Holy Spirit 14:32 to fill your heart and mind with things of God 14:35 and He will do that. 14:37 He'll lead you and help you to walk in the Spirit everyday. 14:39 And the beautiful promise in John 15:5, 14:41 "I am the vine, you are the branches. 14:43 Without Me you can do nothing, but if you abide in Me, 14:46 you'll bear much fruit." 14:47 And when the Spirit of God abides in us 14:50 that sap from the living vine 14:52 begin to flow through the branches. 14:55 So, here is the mystery 14:56 the great mystery of godliness is, 14:57 how can a sinner become a saint? 15:01 That's how by walking in the Spirit 15:03 and not in the flesh. 15:05 I've another question here, some interesting ones. 15:08 Let me just deal with the longer one here, 15:13 "Does your church S.D.A baptize in Jesus' name, 15:17 why or why not? 15:20 When your church baptizes 15:23 what is said over the person and why? 15:25 There are several scriptures which indicate 15:28 that one must baptize in the name of Jesus. 15:31 Please see details below, however, 15:34 I've seen on various S.D.A related sites 15:37 related sites that your church baptizes 15:39 under the trinity according to Matthew 28:19. 15:44 Can you explain how this verse is in harmony with others 15:47 regarding baptism listed below." 15:50 Surely, first let's go ahead and read the one 15:53 that is in Matthew Chapter 28. 15:57 Matthew Chapter 28 verse 18 to 20, 15:59 John, if you read that one for us 16:01 as I set up the stage here. 16:03 A lot of times what people don't realize is 16:06 we get down to the salvation 16:08 and this salvation in the name of Jesus. 16:12 I want you to read Matthew 28 verse 18 to 20. 16:15 "And Jesus came and spoke to them, 16:17 saying, "All authority has been given to Me 16:20 in heaven and on earth. 16:23 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 16:26 baptizing them in the name of the Father 16:29 and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 16:32 teaching them to observe all things 16:34 that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, 16:37 even to the end of the age." Amen. Right. 16:41 Now when He says all authority, 16:43 when He says, "Go therefore and baptize 16:45 in the name of the Father, 16:47 and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." 16:49 The word their name is translated into Greek 16:52 "the authority of" 16:54 which doesn't vary from the Father, 16:57 to the Son, to the Holy Spirit. 16:59 The authority is of the Godhead. 17:02 We often throw the word "Trinity" in there. 17:04 There are some people that are antitrinitarians 17:08 which means they believe if you baptize in the Father, 17:11 the Son and the Holy Spirit, 17:12 then you nullify the authority of Jesus 17:14 and so, they quote this text in the Bible, 17:18 "There is no other name given among men 17:20 whereby we must be saved." 17:22 So when the baptismal rite goes forth 17:25 and you see I baptize you now in the name of the Father, 17:28 and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, amen. 17:31 Then a person thinks that and the belief is, 17:33 that now all of a sudden we mention the Father 17:35 and the Holy Spirit so that baptism is null and void. 17:38 Now, let's think about that for a brief moment. 17:41 Is the Father with us? 17:42 Of course, when Jesus came, God with us. 17:45 Is the Holy Spirit with us? 17:47 Of course, because Jesus when He left he said, 17:48 "I'd sent you another comforter." 17:50 So, who's carrying on the work? 17:51 The Father sent the Son, the Son redeemed us, 17:55 the Holy Spirit continues to strengthen us. 17:58 And so you're not separating one from the other 18:00 and not giving on preferential treatment over the other. 18:03 You are literally saying, 18:05 "We are working in harmony with the Godhead 18:07 to carry out the will of the Heavenly Father." 18:10 And so, there is no difference between 18:12 what the New Testament writer say 18:13 and what Jesus himself said. 18:15 And so, what happens nowadays, John, 18:18 people tend to pit the words of Christ 18:20 against the words of Peter where he says, 18:23 "Repent therefore and be baptized. 18:25 Repent and be baptized everyone of you 18:27 in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins 18:30 and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." 18:33 Well, there you go, 18:35 connecting the remission of sins 18:37 by the blood spilled blood of Jesus 18:40 and the power that attends that new life 18:42 walking in the Spirit 18:43 by receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. 18:46 So, you're not separating the two 18:47 and there is no controversy there. 18:49 So, what do we do? 18:50 We baptize, recognize in the name of the Father, 18:53 the Son and the Holy Spirit, and simply that. 18:57 He cited Acts 2:38, Acts 2:38, 19:01 Ephesians 4:5, "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." 19:04 Surely, one baptism. 19:05 And how amazing it is that Jesus said, 19:08 "Baptize in the name of the Father, 19:09 the Son and the Holy Spirit." 19:12 And they're saying, "Don't do that." 19:14 I know, that's what I was trying to say. 19:15 I read that verse and I'm thinking 19:17 that's what Jesus said to do 19:20 and they're saying don't do that. 19:21 Right, because now Peter said something else, 19:24 so Peter must be above Christ. 19:26 Do you get that whole controversy thing there? 19:28 The day that Peter becomes above Christ 19:30 then we're saved in Peter. Right. 19:32 There's a whole billion plus people 19:34 built on that whole concept. Let's not even go there. 19:36 And I think that there is another understanding 19:39 of what Peter was saying here, and it's found in Romans 6. 19:42 We referred to Romans 6 in the baptism there. Okay. 19:45 But notice what Paul says here about that verse 3, 19:51 "Or do you not know that as many of us 19:53 as were baptized into Christ Jesus 19:56 were baptized into His death? 19:59 Therefore we were buried with Him 20:01 through baptism into death, 20:03 that just as Christ was raised from the dead 20:05 by the glory of the Father, even so we also should 20:07 walk in newness of life." That's right. 20:10 "And if we have been united together 20:12 in the likeness of His death, 20:13 certainly we also shall be 20:14 in the likeness of His resurrection," 20:16 So, as Paul is using this analogy here 20:22 or connecting Christ with the baptism. 20:24 What he's saying is similar to what he says 20:26 about many other subjects. 20:27 It's all about being in Christ. That's right. 20:30 We have faith in Christ. 20:32 We believe in Christ. 20:35 We trust in Christ. 20:36 We are baptized in Christ 20:38 because it is by His merits-- That's right. 20:41 That we are delivered from sin and death, 20:45 but as far as the Godhead in who God is 20:49 and how He worked out the plan of salvation, 20:53 we become a Christian or a follower of Christ 20:57 and a believer in the Father 20:59 and in the work of the Holy Spirit too-- 21:01 So, it depends on how you read these things 21:04 and if you're reading them as one person has suggested, 21:08 I'm sorry but you're not-- you're not really seeing 21:11 the whole light on the subject. Right. 21:15 You're pitting one against the other 21:16 and there is no Peter versus Christ, 21:21 the Apostles versus the One who sent them. 21:26 There's no controversy there, 21:28 so there is no New Testament baptism. 21:31 Jesus was baptized the same way 21:35 that those New Testament believers were baptized. 21:37 There was no difference. 21:39 And so when Jesus went down to the water, 21:41 He was baptized by John, 21:43 would you say He was baptized into John's baptism 21:45 and then later on after that 21:46 they were baptized into Jesus' baptism. 21:49 No, baptism is baptism when it is for the same purpose 21:54 those who are baptized in the New Testament 21:56 are the same authorities imparted to them 21:59 as is imparted to us today the authority of the Godhead. 22:04 And some people throw the word "Trinity" in there 22:06 and there's a whole another ball of wax. 22:10 I was talking to somebody this weekend, 22:11 I was surprised to see that even this ideology 22:15 is beginning to permeate some people 22:16 who believe the Seventh-day Adventist's message 22:19 saying that Jesus was created then creation began. 22:23 It's just a really it's a travesty to teach that 22:27 Jesus is the created one 22:30 and then He redeems His creation. 22:33 Well, He could not be the creator then, 22:34 He would be the procreator, 22:36 but anyway, that's another topic altogether, 22:39 but truly there is no difference between the Father, 22:42 the Son and the Holy Spirit in that sense, 22:45 in the sense of the baptismal rite, all right. 22:49 Do you have one more or should we get ready 22:51 for the program? I'll segue to the topic what do you think? 22:54 You know what, I have one that may not take 22:56 very, very long as we already alluded to it. 22:59 And it's--this question is from Brenda. Okay. 23:01 And she's asking about Galatians 3 and 4 23:03 'cause we've already read from Galatians. 23:05 Okay. Let's go there. 23:06 She's saying here, "I'm a little confused 23:08 when I read Galatians 3 and 4. 23:11 It looks like according to this passage 23:12 we are under a curse for keeping the law. 23:16 Is this a contradiction or what?" All right. 23:19 So, everything it talks about everything in Revelation 23:21 and Daniel points to the Sunday 23:23 being the Mark of the Beast and that every scripture 23:25 I read on the Sabbath points to the truth. 23:28 But Galatians has me a little confuse. 23:30 Can you help me out? 23:31 And this is something that we need to understand properly 23:36 what is being said here in the Book of Galatians." 23:39 And so, she doesn't point to specific verses here, 23:43 but I'm going to read verse 10. Sure. 23:46 Of Chapter 3, "For as many as are of the works of the law 23:53 are under the curse, for it is written, 23:56 "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things 23:59 which are written in the book of the law, to do them. 24:02 But that no one is justified by the law 24:05 in the sight of God is evident, 24:06 for "the just shall live by faith. 24:09 Yet the law is not of faith, 24:10 but "the man who does them shall live by them. 24:14 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, 24:17 having become a curse for us for it is written, 24:20 "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree, 24:23 that the blessing of Abraham 24:25 might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, 24:26 that we might receive the promise of the Spirit 24:29 through faith." 24:31 Now, faith here is not in apposition 24:37 to obedience to God's command. 24:40 And the reason I can say that 24:41 very safely is the rest of scripture from God clearly, 24:46 you know, dispels the notions that obedience 24:49 and faith are hand-in-hand. 24:51 In James, "Faith without works is dead." 24:55 Over and over again, 24:56 "If you love me keep my commandments." 24:59 We abide in Christ by keeping 25:01 His commandments and His testimonies. 25:04 All these things throughout scriptures 25:06 tell us that obedience is part of the Christian walk. 25:10 So, it makes no sense to say that 25:12 the curse is somehow obedience to the law, 25:17 even the law itself the law of God 25:19 if you look at the opening statement in the law, 25:22 it says, "I am the God who brought out of bondage, 25:25 out of the house of bondage 25:27 from Egypt to make you my people." 25:29 And then He goes into, "Therefore" and He gives us 25:33 the commandments, the Ten Commandments. 25:36 Even the law itself when He's giving itself 25:38 is a sign of freedom. 25:40 Okay. Not bondage. 25:42 Let me add another clip onto to that. Go ahead. 25:45 The law being talked about here in the Book of Galatians. 25:50 Paul almost starts this in a very offensive way. 25:52 He starts in Verse 1, 25:54 "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you 25:57 that you should not obey the truth." 26:00 So he starts out by comparing justification 26:03 by works as compared 26:05 to justification by keeping the law, 26:07 and he uses the word "Abraham". 26:10 Now, when you look at this, 26:11 I wanna take you to the central focus 26:13 of this particular Chapter, 26:14 because almost midway Paul makes it very clear 26:17 what law he's talking about. 26:19 There're some who believe that 26:20 he's talking the Ten Commandments. 26:22 There're some who also include the Ten Commandments 26:24 in essence they're saying, "Well, by keeping 26:26 the Ten Commandments we're cursed." 26:27 But Paul differentiates between the Ten Commandments 26:31 because he describes the law 26:32 that he's referring to in verse 19. 26:34 He says in verse 19 of Galatians 3, 26:37 "What purpose then does the law serve? 26:40 It was added because of transgression, 26:43 till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made, 26:47 and it was appointed through angels 26:49 by the hand of a mediator." 26:52 And so, when you go further down 26:54 he even emphasizes further in verse 28 26:57 because the ceremonial law, 26:59 you had to be Jew in order to honor that. 27:02 As a matter of fact, John, if you go to 27:04 First Corinthians 7 verse 19, 27:06 you see clearly what it talks about 27:07 being delivered from the curse of the law. 27:09 You had to be a Jew 27:11 in order to carry out the ceremonial law. 27:15 You had to be circumcised 27:16 in order to live in harmony with that law. 27:18 That's why Paul continues by saying in verse 28, 27:22 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, 27:24 there is neither male nor free, 27:25 there is neither--there is neither slave nor free, 27:28 there is neither male nor female, 27:30 for all are one in Christ. 27:32 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed 27:35 and heirs according to the promise." 27:37 The promise there is talking about this law 27:40 that had a covenant with it that was added 27:43 because of transgression. 27:45 And many people believe that by bringing lambs, 27:47 by bringing the bulls, by bringing the goats 27:49 and the doves that they were saved 27:51 and they had this method whereby they were saved. 27:54 Paul says, "Wait a minute. 27:56 If we are in Christ, when we are in Christ 27:59 is not about the ceremonial law, 28:01 it's about faith, it's about walking in Christ." 28:04 So all those sacrifices have now found their end in Christ, 28:08 because they were only added until verse 19 28:12 until the seed should come. 28:15 When Jesus came that middle partition 28:17 between the ceremonial law and the Gentiles 28:19 was broken down. 28:21 That's why when He died, 28:22 the curtain was torn from top to bottom. 28:24 Now, there is no longer 28:26 and the curse of the law was simply this. 28:30 It cause death, the wages of sin is death. 28:34 The curse of the law is death. 28:37 Jesus became a curse for us. 28:38 How do we do that by hanging on the tree? 28:41 What did He do on the tree? 28:43 The curse of sin is death. 28:45 That's the curse. Can I-- 28:46 So, the curse no longer hangs over. 28:48 Are you fired up-- 28:49 what you're saying. Okay. 28:51 Deuteronomy 11:26, "Behold, 28:53 I set before you today a blessing and a curse. 29:00 The blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord 29:03 your God which I command you today, 29:05 and the curse, if you do not obey 29:08 the commandments of the Lord your God," 29:10 clearly in God's eyes 29:13 disobedience is brings the curse. That's right. 29:16 Obedience brings the blessing. Right. 29:19 Again, you cannot read into this 29:20 that the curse is obedience. No. 29:23 It's disobedience. It's clear. 29:27 Daniel 9, look at this Daniel 9 verse 10. 29:30 Okay. I got you started. 29:32 "We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, 29:35 to walk in His ways, 29:36 which He set before us by His servants the prophets. 29:40 Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, 29:43 and has departed so as not to obey Your voice, 29:46 therefore the curse and the oath 29:51 written in the Law of Moses 29:53 the servant of God has been poured out on us, 29:56 because we have sinned against Him." 29:59 The curse came because of disobedience. That's right. 30:02 The curse in the Law of Moses 30:03 that is all the rites and rituals 30:06 which at the time of Paul writing this letter, 30:10 the Jews were still trying to cause 30:12 or impose upon the Christian church. 30:15 And Paul's saying, "No, no, no, no 30:18 that was the curse that was in the law, 30:20 the ceremonial law of Moses as a result of disobedience. 30:23 Now we are obedient through the merits of Christ, 30:26 so thereby we obey His laws, keep His commandments 30:30 to experience the blessing." That's right. 30:32 That is what's being said here. 30:34 Anyone that would try to tell you that 30:35 the curse is obedience, 30:38 they don't even understand 30:39 what our government does today. 30:40 We are free within America because we obey its laws. 30:45 Look-go look at the prison 30:47 and find out all those who disobey and ask them, 30:49 "Are you free?" 30:52 Am I right? Right. 30:53 Everyone who is in prison 30:54 has disobeyed the laws of this land 30:58 and they are in prison, 30:59 because they are in bondage because of disobedience. 31:02 Those who obey are free. 31:04 We are at liberty. That's right. 31:06 And the law of liberty is talked about by James. 31:09 If you look at the law and continue in it, 31:11 you'll be blessed. 31:12 I get fired up because of this, 31:13 because these preachers out here, 31:15 these false preachers and I'm talking about 31:17 they're doing a disservice 31:19 wrongly dividing the word of truth, 31:21 calling God's commandments a bondage 31:24 and a curse. I'm sorry. 31:27 Let them experience the curse. Now, get this. 31:29 This is a terrible quotation, 31:30 but this is what they're saying, 31:32 "If you love me keep My commandments 31:33 and you'll be cursed." 31:35 That's what they are saying. Yeah. 31:37 But Jesus said, "If you love Me keep My commandments 31:40 and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father." 31:43 And He says, "This is the love of God 31:45 that we keep His commandments 31:47 and His commandments are not burdensome." 31:49 They are not a curse. 31:51 But, here's a text that I want you to read a moment ago 31:53 just before you got fired up, 31:54 and that was good by the way. 31:56 Praise the Lord for that. Praise God. 31:57 First Corinthians 7:19 showing you that 31:59 there's nothing wrong with the commandments of God. 32:01 New King James Version, "Circumcision is nothing 32:06 and uncircumcision is nothing, 32:08 but keeping the commandments of God is what matters." 32:14 Oh but, we have to ignore that verse because it, 32:16 I mean, it's not very plain. 32:20 Do you see the ridiculousnes sometimes off. 32:23 Satan is busy and he's living 32:24 in a lot of churches nowadays. 32:26 He's got he's got himself a robe, 32:27 he's got himself a choir, he's got himself a pulpit, 32:29 he's got himself a congregation 32:31 and he's lying to Christians and that's a sad reality-- 32:35 This is what's, what's aimed at not just the Law of God 32:37 and it clearly is in with the Law of God, 32:39 but the only disagreement that we have 32:43 within Christiandom as a whole on the Law of God 32:45 the only one is the fourth commandment. 32:48 Yeah, its sad though. 32:49 There isn't any other disagreement 32:51 that we have on that. 32:52 Someone may argue, well the second commandment 32:55 when it comes to Catholicism 32:57 and it's, you know, the way that they worship 33:01 or at least have idols 33:03 and so forth that there may be an issue there. 33:06 But, really on a grand scale the only one that we're, 33:09 we're disagreeing at or with is the fourth. 33:11 That's right, that's the biggest-- 33:12 And that's what they want to get rid of. 33:13 The biggest hindrance. 33:15 So, I'll tell you, friends, 33:18 there is nothing wrong with the Law of God 33:20 any more than there is anything wrong 33:23 with the Law of the Lamb. 33:25 It is by living in harmony with it that we find freedom. 33:27 It is by living in opposition to it that we go 33:30 and are in bondage and we are now cursed. 33:33 We actually become a curse to all of our citizenry 33:35 by living out of harmony with the laws of our land. 33:38 That was a short question, wasn't it? 33:41 Yeah. How did we get so fast? 33:42 Every time we see a short question, 33:43 we'll just be real fast. I have one last question. 33:45 It's not gonna take too long. 33:47 That was 9-11 minutes ago. 33:49 But, thank you for your questions and comments 33:51 that you sent to House Calls. 33:52 If you have anymore questions and comments, 33:54 send those questions to housecalls@3abn.org 33:58 that's housecalls@3abn.org 34:01 and we enjoy answering your questions. 34:04 Thank you for your faithfulness. 34:06 But now, we're gonna wind up on the topic of prophets, 34:09 and if you saw the last program, 34:12 I've made a statement the real issue nowadays is 34:15 not P-R-O-P-H-E-T-S, but P-R-O-F-I-T-S. 34:21 People are milking you financially, 34:23 deceiving you into pouring wealth into their pockets 34:27 which is completely out of harmony 34:29 with the way that a true prophet works. 34:32 They don't seek glory to themselves. 34:35 They don't refer to themselves as a "master prophet" 34:41 if you run into anybody that refers to himself 34:43 as a "master prophet" he is a false prophet. 34:48 No such term exist in the Bible. 34:50 The only master/prophet was Jesus. 34:54 Outside of that, you find people 34:56 that are labeling themselves for the deception of humanity, 34:59 but the Lord says that in the last days 35:02 there will be such conditions. 35:03 But let me begin with a text and John is going to bring us 35:05 into a few more here because we have 35:07 a number of Bible verses. 35:09 And I was, frankly pleasantly surprised 35:12 to see the Bible makes this topic very clear, 35:15 but on how many verses it uses 35:18 to really build up the foundation 35:19 to let us know that God has a certain solid foundation 35:24 and we can use the word of God 35:26 to protect ourselves from false prophets. 35:28 But let me begin with one in First Thessalonians 35:30 Chapter 5 verse 19 to verse 21 35:35 it starts by saying, "Do not quench the Spirit." 35:39 Verse 20, "Do not despise prophecies." 35:44 But here is the key, "Test all things, 35:48 hold fast what is good." 35:50 So, what do we do? Test how many things? 35:53 All things. All things. 35:54 Tested how? 35:56 The same way when Jesus was met 35:59 in the wilderness by the master false prophet, 36:03 Satan himself. What did Jesus do? 36:06 He said, "It is written, it is written, it is written." 36:10 And there're so many of us 36:11 nowadays that want to receive a prophecy, 36:13 but we don't want to go back to the "It is written" 36:15 aspect of the Bible. 36:17 If it doesn't drive with the word of God, 36:19 God never sends a prophecy to anybody 36:22 that contradicts what His Bible says. That's right. 36:25 That's hard to get into people's head 36:28 because people have exalted themselves 36:29 to the status of prophet and prophetess nowadays, 36:32 and they have cheapened it almost like the word 36:35 "Love" has been cheapened. 36:36 Well, in the New Testament 36:38 we find the same counsel repeated by John. Okay. 36:42 Let's go through it. In First John 4. 36:43 First John Chapter 4. Verse 1. Okay. 36:47 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, 36:50 but test the spirits, whether they are of God, 36:54 because many false prophets have gone out into the world." 36:59 Notice it didn't say a few but. 37:01 Many. Many. 37:02 And this is what we're seeing today as we're at the end, 37:05 I believe living in the last days at the end of time, 37:08 it's becoming more and more prevalent 37:10 which is one of the reasons why 3ABN has been set up 37:13 to counteract the counterfeit. Praise the Lord. 37:15 We've got to expose the counterfeit, 37:18 and that's one of the reasons for our program today. 37:22 As a matter of fact, John, 37:23 I had a question earlier that I think fits right there. 37:25 You just made a point that I have to bring. 37:28 I was not gonna use this question, 37:30 but this fits perfectly right now. 37:32 We're not gonna necessarily answer the question. 37:34 We'll make a statement and reference to it. 37:36 Why not spend more time on Biblical history versus 37:41 worrying about dragon chasing woman into the woods 37:44 that's Revelation 12. 37:46 Tell the world what the S.D.A Church 37:48 stands for rather than what it is against 37:51 and live and let live as far as other religions 37:55 and their respective beliefs are concerned. 37:59 Sorry, can do that. 38:01 You got to call a lie a lie. 38:03 You got to support the truth as truth 38:05 and that's why we're here. 38:06 If we were to say, "Don't go left." 38:09 We also have to say, "Go right." 38:11 If we say, "The left side is wrong." 38:13 I've to show you why the left is wrong, 38:15 so that you understand why the right is right. 38:19 Acts Chapter 13. Okay. 38:20 I'm gone. I'm gone now-- 38:22 This passage here because this is the example 38:24 of calling a sin or calling a false prophet 38:30 and calling them out 38:32 and pointing them out in public. 38:34 Okay. Go for it. 38:36 Acts 13 Verse 6, 38:38 "Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, 38:42 they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, 38:44 a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 38:47 who was with the proconsul, 38:50 Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. 38:53 This man called for Barnabas and Saul 38:56 and sought to hear the word of God." 38:58 Notice, this is a, you know, 39:02 this man runs in circles who are been are intelligent 39:04 and they're respectful, 39:06 and they are held in high regard, 39:08 and so he wants to speak with 39:10 or hear from Paul and-- 39:12 And that was a proconsul. Yes-- 39:13 I know your English got a little caught up 39:16 right there, but the proconsul. 39:17 Yeah, pro-proconsul. Yeah. Yeah. 39:21 Yeah. Did I say proconsul? 39:23 Okay. Okay. You were happy though. 39:25 All right, yeah. 39:26 Verse 8, "But Elymas I guess the sorcerer for 39:32 so his name is translated withstood them, 39:35 seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 39:40 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, 39:43 filled with the Holy Spirit, 39:44 looked intently at him and said, 39:47 "O full of all deceit and all fraud, 39:50 you son of the devil, 39:52 you enemy of all righteousness, 39:54 will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 39:58 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, 40:00 and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time. 40:04 And immediately a dark mist fell on him, 40:06 and he went around seeking someone 40:08 to lead him by the hand. 40:09 Then the proconsul believed and, 40:12 believed when he saw what had been done, 40:15 being astonished at the teaching of the Lord." 40:18 Notice what happens. 40:19 Why do you think that darkness fell on him? 40:21 Because he was dealing in darkness. That's right. 40:24 When you look at the seven last plagues, 40:26 when you look at the what the Bible says. 40:28 As a matter of fact if you'd go with us to Isaiah 60 40:30 you're gonna see what condition the world is 40:32 going to be in when just before the Lord comes. 40:35 Let's go to Isaiah 60. 40:37 This story is so magnificent because you'll see clearly 40:41 that false prophets existed in the days of Jesus. 40:45 They existed before the days of Christ 40:48 and they will exist in great numbers in the last days. 40:53 Satan knows that we are often too wise 40:55 to go to soothsayers and fortune tellers 40:58 and all these people that will just sit upon 41:00 the side of the road. 41:01 And some of us are too high-minded 41:03 or too intelligent to go to those 41:05 who are parapsychologist which is another word 41:11 for using the mind in a deceptive way 41:14 parapsychology, metaphysics 41:17 all those things are esoteric words for deception really. 41:20 But, look at the condition the world is gonna be 41:23 and that's why it's so important for us 41:25 to deal in the light and as Paul just did here 41:29 he pointed out the error and he labeled it, 41:31 "You son of the devil 41:33 you are perverting the straightway of the Lord." 41:36 We've got to say it that way. 41:37 We can't just say, "Well, let's live and let live." 41:39 This is not the Beatles' concert. 41:41 This is the word of God. We're living in the end time. 41:44 I'm not slamming the Beatles, 41:46 but I'm just saying we got to deal strictly, 41:48 call sin by its right name 41:50 else people will stumble at darkness 41:53 if they don't see the light in the dark contrast it. 41:57 John, if you read out. 41:58 And just to balance this. Sure. Go ahead. 42:00 There is a time to be respectful. Oh yeah, clearly. 42:04 To respectfully disagree in private 42:06 and we would never advocates 42:08 standing up in the middle of your church 42:09 and calling people out. 42:11 That is not to be done, 42:13 but when someone who's an enemy of the faith 42:16 that is blatantly presenting to the public 42:19 the people sitting themselves up 42:20 as a teacher is doing that falsely, 42:24 then you can easily, I think, 42:26 the Lord is giving us permission 42:28 to call that person out 42:29 and call him for what he is. Oh, yeah. 42:32 But when you just simply have a disagreement 42:33 with someone in church that doesn't give you license 42:36 to be disrespectful and call someone out your pastor out, 42:39 meet with him because he is a brother in Christ with you. 42:45 I know this all too well. 42:47 There are people who feel like they can do that 42:49 and it's not permissible. 42:50 I don't see any license for that in a word-- 42:53 That's probably not in harmony with God's way. Yeah. 42:55 He doesn't He does not counsel us to do that. 42:57 But Isaiah 60, just look at this together. 43:00 verse 1, "Arise, shine, For your light has come! 43:06 And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 43:08 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, 43:10 And deep darkness the people, 43:12 But the Lord will arise over you, 43:15 And His glory will be seen upon you. 43:18 The Gentiles, the Gentiles shall come to your light, 43:22 And the kings to the brightness of your rising." 43:25 And so, when you look at the conditions there, 43:29 God is in essence saying to us, 43:30 not only will the people be in darkness, 43:32 but the earth will be in deep darkness, 43:34 and so we're living in the days 43:36 where I tell you deception is at all time high. 43:39 And one of the ways that people are being 43:40 deceived in a grand way 43:42 is by people that are so called prophets. 43:45 But now, there are 43:46 the evermore settle version of prophets, John. 43:51 The one I was talking about here today 43:53 of those who set up websites and, 43:55 you know, you go there and click 43:57 and get yourself a prophecy 43:58 and get yourself a free prophecy 44:01 and make a donation at the same time 44:03 and put up a testimony to those 44:05 and witness the accuracy of the power of prophecy. 44:10 It's ridiculous. It's just a business. 44:12 As a matter of fact, you know what, I did, John, 44:13 I called the number that was given 44:15 and I am not gonna give you the phone number. 44:18 I called the number that was given. 44:19 Well, you were on a warpath. 44:20 I was on a warpath. 44:21 I want to see what's there at the bottom of this. 44:24 I called the number that was given, 44:25 you know, it was not to my surprise, 44:27 "Please hold on, one of our agents 44:28 will be with you in a moment." Hello, can I. 44:31 and it sounded just like me calling for some 44:33 you know, new shampoo 44:34 or some kind of product that has been sold. 44:37 Would you like to put in your order today? 44:39 For your holy special profit oil 44:42 and I am thinking to myself, 44:47 for that matter of sell holy macro. 44:50 You know, it's ridiculous. Oh it's just. 44:52 It's ridiculous and people who are desperate. 44:55 This is what's angering me. 44:56 And they are searching for the Lord. 44:57 They are looking for the Lord 44:58 and these false prophets are out there just duping them 45:02 to plug their empty pockets with money 45:05 that people are laboring. 45:07 Some people barely can hold on in their income 45:10 and they're looking for some holy oil 45:12 or some prayer clock or some kind of prophecy 45:16 that somebody spoke over them, 45:17 to pull them out of their deficit, 45:20 or out of their life of poverty 45:23 and that's not the way that God operates. 45:27 Second Corinthians 11:13. Oh, good. 45:32 This is--just fits perfectly right in here 45:34 because this is the scuttle false prophet 45:37 kind of work coming into play here in these last days. 45:40 I'm on my way there, go for it. 45:42 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, 45:47 transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ." 45:49 That's verse 13 by the way. 45:51 "And no wonder! For Satan himself 45:53 transforms himself into an angel of light. 45:57 Therefore it is no great thing 45:59 if his ministers also transform themselves 46:02 into ministers of righteousness, 46:04 whose end will be according to their works." 46:07 There are ministers who are false apostles--apostles 46:10 who are deceitful workers, who are Satan's men 46:15 who are deceiving the world 46:17 by what they teach and what they do. 46:19 And you know what some of these people need to be 46:22 taken in for mail fraud because 46:25 they are robbing people through the internet. 46:27 They are lying and they go into this 46:29 501(c)(3) tax bracket to suck people dry. 46:34 To steal from them and they lied at them 46:36 and they use the word of God. 46:37 And I tell you what I need to share with you, 46:39 how God feels about these prophets. 46:41 But I am so glad you brought it up John, 46:42 because people don't think that a minister 46:46 that looks apart is really a deceptive liar. 46:50 They don't think of them as Satan's agents 46:52 or Satan's ministers. 46:54 That I'll tell you right there that 46:56 if Satan appears is an angle of light. 46:58 Paul said and I like the way he says it. 47:01 No wonder, its no great thing, if his ministers, 47:05 if Satan's minister look like ministers of righteousness. 47:08 They don't handle the word 47:10 and by the way if you challenge them 47:12 on the word of God, you begin to see right away 47:14 that they become just uncomfortable. 47:16 Or they use smooth and deceptive words 47:19 to try to somehow sedate you 47:22 and get you to ignore the word of God in place of their own. 47:26 Now if you look at it just to follow up this-- 47:28 We look at Revelation 19:20. Okay. 47:32 It talks about the result, 47:33 the end result of these deceitful workers, 47:36 these false apostles, false prophets. 47:39 It says, "The beast was captured, 47:41 and with him the false prophet 47:43 who works signs in His presence." 47:45 And this is referring to by the way 47:46 in Revelation Chapter 13. 47:48 The sea beast and then the land beast, 47:53 which is also described as the false prophet 47:56 or first of all the beast that was captured 47:57 in the false prophet who work signs in his presence. 48:01 That's right. 48:02 By which he deceived those 48:05 who received the Mark of the Beast 48:08 and those who worshipped his image. 48:11 They were cast alive into 48:12 the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 48:14 Notice here that in the lake of fires and the issue here, 48:17 we know the end result. 48:18 The issue here is that 48:21 when it comes to the Mark of the Beast. 48:22 There's a lot of interest out there 48:23 as to what the Mark of the Beast is. 48:26 God is connecting false prophets 48:31 which are religious in nature. 48:34 Who are deceiving the people to worship 48:37 and receive the Mark of the Beast? Oh, yeah. 48:41 The reason I bring this up and why this is so important 48:43 because people think the Mark of the Beast 48:44 somehow is heathen, something that ungodly clearly. 48:49 No, the Mark of the Beast is something 48:51 that looks like God is bringing, 48:54 God is presenting it. That's right. 48:57 It's not. 48:59 It is in everyway religious in nature. Oh, yeah. 49:04 So the Mark of the Beast is connected 49:06 with religious activities causing people to worship, 49:09 to join in this active worship. 49:11 And then again at the end of time, 49:14 they will all including those who teach it falsely 49:16 and who receive it will be thrown into the lake of fire. 49:20 And these. This is a serious issue. 49:22 That's one big point. Oh, yeah. 49:23 It's a very serious issue 49:24 and these individuals that have said themselves 49:26 as prophets par excellence. 49:30 And, you know, there is the phrase that CNN uses, 49:32 your most trusted name in news. 49:34 Well these prophets nowadays 49:36 your most trusted name in prophecy. 49:41 Anyway I don't want to say anything about that. 49:43 I don't want to become disrespectful 49:44 but I want to share with you what the word God says. 49:46 Second Peter Chapter 1, verse 19 to 21. 49:50 Where do we get prophecy from? 49:51 And here is something so vitally important. 49:53 That's why whenever you proclaim prophecy, 49:55 whenever you study the Bible, you have to study the Bible. 49:58 You got to let the Bible speak for itself. 50:00 The Bible is its own interpreter. 50:02 You don't need somebody to come outside of the Bible 50:04 and say, well let me interpret that for you. 50:07 The reason why God has given us the Bible in the same way 50:10 like many of you have maps or GPS's in your car. 50:13 So that nobody could take your mind and twist it. 50:17 You've got your own map. 50:18 You've got your own GPS, God's proven system, 50:22 which is the word of God. 50:23 Here is what the Bible says 50:24 in Second Peter Chapter 1, verse 19 to 20-- 50:27 1 through 3 in Chapter 2 as well. Oh yeah. 50:29 Matter of fact I will have you do that one right after this. 50:32 But notice what it says in verse 19 50:34 of Second Peter Chapter 1. 50:36 "And so we have a prophetic word confirmed." 50:41 Or as the King James Version says 50:42 a more sure word of prophecy. 50:45 "Which you do well to heed as a light 50:49 that shines in a dark place until the day dawns 50:52 and the morning star rises in your hearts 50:56 and here is the key." 50:58 Knowing this first that no prophecy of scripture 51:02 is of any private interpretation. 51:04 In other words when you get into private interpretation 51:06 that doesn't harmonize with the Bible, 51:08 this is how it works. Go just sent me a word. 51:11 God just gave me a prophecy for you. 51:13 I know what the Bible says but this is what 51:14 God tells me to tell you. 51:16 When it doesn't match up with word of God, 51:17 its a private interpretation. 51:19 But notice what it says, 51:21 "No prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation 51:25 for prophecy never came by the will of man." 51:28 But this stuff nowadays is all about man's will. 51:31 But holy men of God spoke as 51:34 they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 51:36 That's what we have nowadays the word of God. 51:38 Holy men moved by the Holy Spirit 51:41 and they are not saying their own words. 51:44 But notice as you point it out, 51:45 Second Peter 2 verse 1 to 3 51:47 and I think you're gonna segue into that. 51:48 Yeah, follow on this passage here. 51:52 The very next Chapter verse 1, "But there were also." 51:57 Say in the contrast to that, the God's way 51:59 "there were also false prophets 52:01 among the people." That's right. 52:02 "Even as there will be false teachers among you 52:06 who will secretly bring in destructive heresies." 52:08 They're bringing them where? 52:10 In. In. That's right. 52:12 "Into the church, destructive heresies 52:15 even denying the Lord who bought them 52:18 and bring on themselves swift destruction 52:21 and many will follow their destructive ways 52:23 because of whom the way of truth 52:25 will be blasphemed by covetousness 52:27 they will exploit you." By what? 52:29 There we goes the prophet, 52:31 "by covetousness they will exploit you 52:35 with deceptive words for a longtime 52:38 their judgment has not been idle 52:40 and their destruction does not slumber." 52:42 Okay, let me you, let me tell you, 52:44 I am not gonna give you website 52:45 but let me tell you how they, how they exploit you. 52:49 How they exploit you? 52:52 When they sell you an angel package of prophecies. 52:56 Business of getting rich system, 52:59 $2000, $3000 dollars $2999 these are prophets now. 53:05 Here's my $3000 system of how to get rich. 53:09 That's how they, that's how they exploit you, 53:13 $1300 cosmic economic wealth building package, 53:18 cosmic economic wealth building series, 53:20 dream package, power prophecy bundle. 53:23 The law of thinking bundle and thinking big package, 53:26 that's how they exploit you. 53:28 This is a n peace and safety message too, you know. 53:31 And people are buying that literally-- 53:32 crying and when people say peace in safety, 53:36 then what happens? Oh yeah. 53:37 Sudden destruction comes. 53:39 That's--it's the opposite of what God is trying to tell us 53:41 to get ready for. 53:42 They are saying you can get rich 53:43 and have all this wealth. 53:45 And oh you know, its going to be wonderful. 53:47 The Lord is saying no get ready 53:48 for your God is about to come. 53:49 That's right. 53:52 And people are buying this-- 53:54 folk that are up busting out their credit card limits 53:57 to for this nonsense that's labeled 53:59 on the internet as profitable. 54:02 It's profitable for them. Yeah. 54:04 Listen to this verse. Go ahead. 54:06 'Because I noticed this, we talked about being 54:07 they are creeping in with secret heresies. Okay. 54:09 Or, you know, just destructive things, 54:13 Jude verse 3 and 4, the Book of Jude. 54:17 The one right before Revelation, 54:19 "Beloved while I was very diligent 54:21 to write you concerning our common salvation 54:23 I found it necessary as we feel 54:26 by the way today to write to you 54:28 exalting you to contend earnestly for the faith 54:32 which was once for all delivered 54:33 to the saints through His word." That's right. 54:35 Contend for it, hold on to it, 54:37 fight for what the word says. 54:40 Verse 4, "For certain men have crept in unnoticed, 54:45 who long ago were marked out 54:46 for this condemnation ungodly men." 54:49 Now here is the thing that's kind of amazing. 54:53 This doesn't tie end to the get rich quick schemes 54:55 and all those kind of thing. 54:56 It will maybe enticing but its not directly 54:58 referring to them. 54:59 This is talking about some of the heresies 55:01 specifically that they are bringing before the people. 55:03 And here is what it says they do. 55:05 "They turn the grace of our God into lewdness 55:09 or I like envious license for immorality." Okay. 55:14 That is license to commit sin. 55:17 The grace of God is a license to commit sin 55:20 and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. 55:23 In other words the grace of God goes beyond your sin. 55:26 It doesn't matter what you do. 55:28 Obedience isn't the issue. 55:30 You're under a curse and bondage if you're in, 55:32 if you feel you have to obey 55:34 the commandments of God. That's right. 55:35 I am sorry that is a heresy that has crept in, 55:38 but these men are teaching 55:39 trying to give a license for sin 55:42 because of the grace of God that goes beyond. 55:44 And they quote these words grace is more than our sin. 55:50 It's greater than our sin. 55:51 Yes it is but not in that context. 55:55 These are all false prophets, deceitful workers, 56:00 teachers of unrighteousness and they are not godly, 56:02 because they are not following the word of God. 56:04 Jeremiah 5, verse 31 as our time is winding down. 56:08 So wonderfully put John, 56:09 I appreciate that, praise the Lord for that. 56:12 "The prophets prophesize falsely. 56:15 And the priest rule by their own power 56:18 and my people loved to have it so. 56:21 But what will you do in the end." 56:24 That's a powerful statement. 56:26 "But what will you do in the end." 56:27 There're some people that love this kind of thing 56:29 but the Jeremiah prophets says. 56:31 In Jeremiah 5, verse 31, 56:32 "but what will you do in the end." 56:35 And here it's again. 56:36 Jeremiah 23, verse 16 " Thus says the Lord of hosts, 56:40 "Do not listen to the words of the prophets 56:42 who prophesy to you, they make you worthless, 56:46 they speak a vision of their own heart, 56:48 not from the mouth of the Lord." 56:50 I tell you John, what could we say. 56:53 I mean what do you we say. 56:56 Lets quote, lets finish with this verse. 56:58 "Therefore do not be partakers with them, 57:00 partakers of these prophets and their empty words. 57:03 That's all we can say. 57:04 We beg you test the spirit, 57:07 do not be partakers of these things. 57:08 Don't let them get into your lives and insert a false word. 57:13 Follow the word, the word of God. 57:15 That's why you see that's what we do. 57:17 Preach the word. 57:18 If you hold the word up as the authority in your life 57:22 and this is your road map day by day 57:24 you will never be deceived. 57:25 That's here at House Calls that's what we do. 57:27 So trust the God that wrote the word 57:30 and commit your life to Him, 57:31 so that you can walk in the light of His truth. 57:34 God bless you. |
Revised 2014-12-17