Participants: Orion Ka
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR001044
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01:01 All right, good morning.
01:04 Did you have a good sleep? 01:07 You didn't? 01:10 It's a blessing to be here. 01:13 You guys enjoy the message this morning? 01:16 Amen. 01:17 We're gonna save time and get straight into the message. 01:19 The message I'm gonna share this morning is entitled 01:22 "Think Higher, Reach Higher, Achieve Higher." 01:26 Think Higher, Reach Higher, Achieve Higher. 01:30 Before we begin, just invite you to please, 01:32 if you don't have a Bible, get a Bible if you can. 01:36 Bible, smartphone, sit next to someone who has a Bible 01:39 because we'll be reading on, study the Bible today. 01:42 So bow your heads with me, 01:43 as we pray and we get straight into the message. 01:45 Let's bow heads. 01:48 Our Father in heaven, 01:49 we just thank You for another day. 01:51 Lord, we thank You for just bringing us here safely. 01:53 We just want to pray, 01:55 the prayer of David 01:58 "Open thou mine eyes, 01:59 that I might behold wondrous things 02:01 out of thy law." 02:03 May Your Holy Spirit be our guide 02:05 and may You teach us from Your Word, 02:06 we pray this in Jesus name, that we all say, amen. 02:10 Now the concept of this chapter has been taken from Evangelism 02:13 is the chapter entitled 02:15 Maintaining High Moral Standards. 02:17 But we gonna begin in 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. 02:23 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 and I want you guys to say, 02:29 amen or amen when you get there. 02:31 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. 02:37 Amen? Amen. 02:39 The Bible says there, Paul here speaking, 02:42 he says "What? Know ye not" 02:46 I will just wait for you guys to get down there. 02:47 Few people can still hear the pages flicking. 02:50 1 Corinthians 6:19 we there? 02:53 Amen. 02:55 Bible says in verse 19 02:56 "What? Know ye not that your body is" a what? 03:01 "Is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, 03:03 which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" 03:08 If we are not Your own you belong to someone else. 03:12 Now that someone else in verse 20 the Bible says, 03:14 what is the Bible say in verse 20? 03:16 "For ye are bought with a price, 03:19 therefore glorify" who? 03:22 "God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 03:27 So if we are not our own from verse 20, who are we? 03:31 We are God's. 03:33 We are His position. 03:34 But why are we His position? 03:36 Because He brought us with a price. 03:40 Listen to the language again, verse 20 listen to the verse, 03:43 "For ye are" what? 03:45 "Bought with a price," 03:47 what's the very next word? 03:49 "Therefore" what is that mean? 03:51 Now that you are brought with a price 03:53 "therefore ye are to glorify" who? "God." 03:57 So based on this principle, based on the fact 04:00 that you and I are bought with a price, 04:04 this is one of the great reasons 04:05 why we are called to glorify God. 04:08 Are we following? 04:09 Listen to the verse again "For ye are bought with a price," 04:12 what's the next word? 04:13 "Therefore" what's therefore? 04:15 Because we are bought with price, do what? 04:17 "Glorify God." 04:19 So a call to glorify God is base on this fact 04:23 that ye are bought with the price. 04:26 Amen. 04:27 Now my next question is 04:28 what kind of price were we bought with? 04:32 Go to 1 Peter 1:18. 1 Peter 1:18, 19 04:38 the message is "Think Higher, Reach Higher, Achieve Higher." 04:45 So the first message we learn 04:47 is that a call to glorify God is based on the fact 04:50 that we are bought with a price 04:53 Amen? Amen. 04:55 Now the next question is what kind of price 04:57 were we bought with or redeemed with? 05:00 1 Peter 1:18, 19, say amen when you there. Amen. 05:04 We're studying-- amen, 05:06 we're studying this is not sermonizing, we are studying. 05:09 1 Peter 1:18, notice what the Bible says 05:12 "Forasmuch as ye were not redeemed 05:14 with" what kind of things? "Corruptible things," as what? 05:18 "Silver and gold." 05:19 So what does Paul call corruptible in this verse? 05:23 "Silver and gold, 05:25 from your vain conversation 05:27 received by tradition from your fathers." 05:30 So Paul is speaking about how we were re-- 05:34 sorry this passage sorry is talking about 05:35 how we were redeemed 05:38 and or the cost or the price of which we were redeemed. 05:42 Anyway we've been told that we were redeemed 05:44 what something not corruptible, 05:45 but what were we redeemed with? Read verse 19, are we there? 05:50 Verse 19 "But with the precious" what? 05:54 "Blood of" who? "Christ, 05:56 as of a lamb without blemish, without spot." 06:00 So we are told that the price we are redeemed with 06:03 was something more precious thing gold or what? Silver. 06:07 And what was that thing that we were bought with? 06:09 The precious blood of who? Christ. 06:12 So not only were we bought with the price 06:14 and therefore call to glorify God, 06:16 but the kind of price we are bought with 06:19 was the price of blood of Christ Himself, 06:22 an infinite price. 06:24 Now you might think to yourself, 06:25 what does this have to do with high moral standards? 06:29 Go to Isaiah Chapter 13, Isaiah 13:12, 06:34 we are bought with a price therefore we must glorify God 06:37 but the kind of price that we are bought with 06:40 is a price which is more precious than what? 06:43 Gold or silver. 06:45 Now there's something we learn about the price 06:49 that we will purchase with that helps us to understand 06:52 the kind of potential that we have as people. 06:56 As you go there I want to hear this quotation, 06:58 Great Controversy, page 598 paragraph 1, 07:01 this is why we are studying. 07:03 It says " It is not enough to have good intentions, 07:05 it is not enough to do what a man thinks is right 07:08 or what the" listen carefully 07:10 "or what the minister tells him is right. 07:13 His earned soul's salvation is at stake, 07:16 and he should search the Scriptures for himself." 07:19 Listen to the next part 07:20 "However strong your convictions may be, 07:23 however confident you may be 07:25 that the minister knows what is right, 07:27 that is not your foundation." 07:30 So as much as we here as witness 07:31 and there are ministers and leaders 07:33 and preachers, preaching 07:34 don't leave this place quoting the minister. 07:38 That's why we're doing what? Studying. 07:41 We don't want to become a reflector 07:43 of another man's thoughts. 07:45 We want to reflect what who says? 07:47 God says, amen. 07:48 So this is why we trying to study 07:50 and we are not trying to sermonize. 07:51 But when Isaiah 13 07:52 and I want you to come and let us reason together, 07:58 so we are reasoning this morning. 07:59 And the next point we're gonna reason from is Isaiah 13. 08:02 Are we there? Isaiah 13:12. 08:06 Notice what God has in mind, 08:09 what kind of potential He has for humanity. 08:13 Isaiah Chapter 13, the context is dealing with 08:16 Isaiah seen an prophetic vision their last days. 08:20 You read in verse 11 he says 08:22 "I will punish the world for their evil," 08:25 and this is taking about their great day of the Lord. 08:27 But notice God's desire for mankind in the last days. 08:32 Verse 12, are we there? 08:34 Listen to the language. 08:36 "I will make a man" what? 08:39 "More precious than" what? 08:40 "Fine gold," stop there. 08:42 What kind of price were we bought with? 08:44 A price more precious than what? Gold. 08:48 But we also now see that God's desire 08:50 is to make us more precious than what? 08:53 Fine gold. 08:54 Read the next part. 08:56 "Even a man than the golden wedge of" what? "Ophir." 09:00 Now do you notice a similarity? 09:03 The price paid was more precious than what? Gold. 09:08 But the potential or the desire of God's 09:11 are to mold us is also what? To be what? 09:16 More precious than? Are we reasoning? 09:21 What did the-- listen to the verse again? 09:23 Isaiah 13:12 "I will" what? 09:26 "Make" what does that mean? 09:29 Create, mold, 2 Corinthians 5:17 09:32 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, 09:34 he is a new creature." 09:36 God wants to recreate us. 09:38 Now reason with me. 09:40 I will create or make a man how? 09:42 More precious than what? Fine gold, 09:46 but when we were bought, 09:47 we were bought also with a price which is also what? 09:51 More precious than fine gold. 09:54 So listen to me carefully, reason. 09:56 From understanding the price paid for the purchase, 10:01 we understand the potential of that purpose. 10:06 You look like you're not following. 10:08 The price-- listen to me carefully, 10:10 what was the price? More precious than gold. 10:12 What's God's desire for man? 10:14 To be more precious than gold. 10:16 So the price of the purchase 10:19 reflects the potential of that purpose. 10:24 Amen. 10:27 Listen to this quotation, 10:29 Gospel Workers page 291 paragraph 2 10:32 Ellen White writes this 10:34 "Many who are qualified to do an excellent work 10:37 do not become what they might because they attempt little." 10:44 Let me say it again. 10:45 "Many who are qualified to actually 10:47 to do an excellent work, 10:48 accomplish little because they attempt a little. 10:53 Thousands pass through life 10:55 as if they have no great object for which to live, 10:59 no high standard to reach. 11:02 One reason of this" listen carefully 11:05 "is the low estimate they place upon themselves." 11:12 So because individuals look at themselves 11:15 as been of low value 11:16 therefore they see themselves of been low potential 11:19 and they see themselves have been low possibilities. 11:22 And low possibilities means you put forth low effort. 11:26 And if you put forth low effort and you attempt little 11:29 what do you achieve? Little. 11:32 So the value of Christ dying for us on Calvary 11:35 gives us an estimate of our lives 11:38 and it shows us not only our estimate 11:40 but our potential in Christ. 11:43 And if we see that we were bought with a high what? Price. 11:47 We also have high what? Potential. 11:51 And many because we do not see our high price 11:54 we attempt a little. 11:56 If you do not understand, 11:58 if we don't understand the high value God has on our lives 12:02 we will fail to understand the high what? Potential. 12:07 Listen to the rest of the quote, 12:09 "Christ paid an infinite price for us," 12:11 what kind of price? An infinite price, 12:14 but remember the price of the purchase reflects what? 12:18 The potential of that purchase. 12:21 So when Christ paid an infinite price 12:23 what kind of potential would you think Christ has in us 12:26 if we are in Him? Infinite. 12:28 Listen to the quote, "Christ paid an infinite price for us, 12:33 and according to the price paid 12:36 He desires us to value ourselves." 12:41 So Christ pays a price more precious than fine gold 12:44 and at the same time He says that price I paid 12:47 reflects what I want to do with you. 12:51 Are you following? 12:53 You can make me get excite about myself. 12:56 I will make a man more what? Precious than fine gold. 13:00 What's the-- what's point number one? 13:02 Point number one is this, 13:03 the high price of the purchase of Christ 13:06 reflects the high potential of that thing He purchased. 13:11 Which is who? Us. 13:12 We are talking about high standards. 13:15 One of the first things we find 13:16 that leans us to understand high standards 13:18 is because Christ paid a high price 13:21 and therefore we have high potential in Him. 13:25 Are you following? Amen. 13:27 Now my next question is this. 13:30 Once we recognize that we have high potential in Christ, 13:33 what does that do to us? 13:35 Go to Philippians 3:13, 14. 13:40 Philippians 3:13, 14, Philippians 3:13, 14. 13:45 Please think and reason with us. 13:49 The last-- 13:50 the most tragic thing that could happen 13:52 is that we come this whole weekend 13:53 and we hear a whole bunch of great sermons and messages 13:57 but we haven't been thinking. 13:59 And we leave here reflecting what our favorite pastor said 14:02 or favorite preacher 14:04 not knowing what the Bible says. 14:06 So this is why we must study to show ourselves 14:08 approved unto God, 14:10 workmen and workwomen that do not need to be ashamed. 14:13 Rightly dividing the word of truth. 14:15 But in order to do that we must reason and think. 14:20 So we're reasoning this morning, is that okay? Amen. 14:24 Philippians 3 are we there? 14:26 Philippians 3:13. 14:28 Point one, the high price of the purchase of sinners 14:33 reflects the high potential of that purpose in Christ. 14:38 The fact that Christ paid so much 14:41 tells us that we can become what? So much. 14:45 Notice Philippians 3 notice what we find here, 14:47 is a result when we recognize our high calling in God, 14:52 notice what it does to our motives. 14:54 Verse 13 are we there? 14:57 Read verse 13, the Bible says 14:59 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, 15:03 but this one thing I do," 15:07 what He is doing? "Forgetting those things which are behind, 15:11 and" doing what? "Reaching forth" stop, 15:14 that's attempt, that's making effort. 15:17 Here He is what? Reaching forth. 15:20 But what do you reach forth? 15:21 Do you reach forth to send here. 15:24 Read the rest of the verse. 15:25 "Reaching forth unto" what? 15:27 "Those things which are" where? Before them or ahead of them. 15:31 So here, here He only reaches forth. 15:36 Why? Because it's something where? 15:38 Ahead of Him. 15:39 And so here we find that 15:41 when we see a high potential ahead of us, 15:43 it leads us to what? If we see we can expect much, 15:47 we will actually attempt much. 15:52 Read verse 20, verse 14. 15:56 What's the very first two words? 15:58 "I press" stop there, what's that? 16:01 That's effort. 16:02 I press, I push forward, I go toward I-- 16:07 what's He pressing toward? 16:08 When you think about running or driving somewhere, 16:10 you usually drive to a destination. 16:14 But you see that unless you have the destination, 16:17 why are you even gonna make the effort to-- to what? 16:21 Drive there. So when we-- 16:23 what we find as I said 16:24 understanding our value in Christ, 16:26 understanding the height of that purchase, 16:28 the height of our potential 16:30 gives us a great object in view. 16:33 And something that is ahead of us here we find 16:36 that we reach forth unto what? 16:38 Those things which are? Before us. 16:43 Verse 14 finish the verse, 16:44 "I press toward" what? 16:46 "The mark" stop that's a mark, 16:48 that's an object, that's an aim. 16:50 "I press toward the mark for" what? 16:53 What kind of-- " for the prize of" what? 16:56 What kind of calling? 16:58 "High calling." 17:01 But He has to what toward that high calling? Press. 17:06 Remember what the quote said, many achieve little, why? 17:10 Because they attempt little. 17:12 But you know, why many people attempt a little 17:14 because they expect a little. 17:17 And here we find that when we see that God expects much, 17:21 it He calls us to attempt much. 17:24 So we speaking of high standards 17:26 and one thing we find here as said, 17:28 the verse says I press toward the mark, I push for-- 17:32 toward the mark for the prize of the low calling? 17:36 High calling? 17:37 High calling leads them to what? Press. 17:39 High calling of God in who? 17:42 What's the verse say? In who? 17:44 What is the verse in what? In who? Christ, Jesus. 17:48 So this high calling is not apart from Jesus but where? 17:51 In Jesus. 17:52 Why because? "I am the vine, ye are the branches. 17:56 He that abideth in me, and I in him, 17:59 the same shall bear much fruit 18:01 for without me you can do" what? "Nothing." 18:05 Philippians 4:13 though, "I can do all things in Christ 18:12 which strengthens me." 18:15 Are you following? 18:20 Now listen to this quote 18:25 Desire of Ages page 73 paragraph 1, 18:31 "Throughout His life on earth, 18:34 Jesus was an earnest and constant worker." 18:39 Earnest and constant. Listen to the next part. 18:43 "He expected much, therefore" guess what it's gonna say? 18:50 "He attempted much." 18:55 Let me say that again, Desire of Ages page 73 paragraph 1, 18:58 "Jesus, Throughout His life on earth, 19:00 Jesus was an earnest and constant worker." 19:03 Why? "He expected much, therefore" what did He do? 19:09 "He attempted much." 19:11 Paul says, I have what kind of calling? 19:13 A high calling. 19:15 So what this Paul do toward that calling? 19:16 He presses toward it. 19:19 So if we expect a little, guess what we will attempt? Little. 19:24 But when we see that God expects much, 19:26 it leads us to understand that we have a duty 19:29 to attempt how much? Much. 19:33 I hope you're following. 19:35 Amen? Amen. 19:37 Point numbers two, 19:38 once we recognize this high potential in Christ, 19:41 based on the high price He paid, 19:43 it will lead us to put forth efforts, 19:46 proportionate through that potential. 19:49 If that potential was high, you know, this is for example, 19:52 this is why many individuals when they go to school, 19:54 when many young people go to school, 19:56 and they don't make efforts at high school or at collage 20:00 because they don't think they have high potential. 20:03 Many people don't put forth their efforts within them 20:06 because they expect a little, so they attempt little. 20:10 Many people go through higher who are in collage 20:12 failing exams. 20:13 Sometimes it's not even just because they are disadvantage, 20:16 but it's because they simply expect little, 20:18 so they attempt little. 20:21 And if you attempt a little guess how much you achieve? 20:23 Little. 20:25 What's our message? 20:26 Think Higher, Reach Higher, Achieve Higher. 20:32 Think Higher, Reach Higher, Achieve Higher. 20:36 Many times we-- 20:37 you know, this is a very practical principle. 20:40 Many times we, you know, relationships go wrong. 20:43 And God has said, listen, I can take broken homes 20:46 and make them a home with the atmosphere of heaven 20:49 but sometimes because we not willing to attempt much, 20:52 we only want to attempt little. 21:00 If we attempt little, we will achieve little. 21:04 But many times we attempt little 21:06 because we what? 21:07 Expect a little. 21:09 We're speaking about high moral standards, 21:11 high standards 21:12 and one of that reasons 21:13 why God can call us to high standards is 21:16 because He's promised us the potential in Him 21:19 to reach those high standards. 21:23 If you're following with me say, amen. 21:25 Amen. 21:26 Now, go to Acts 24 and we're gonna see one reason why, 21:30 many times even though we recognize 21:33 that we have these high standards 21:35 that God calls us to 21:36 and we're gonna speak about this in a second, 21:38 why God has such high standards? 21:41 We're gonna see that these high standards are not simply 21:43 for the sake of destroying our fun. 21:45 Did you know, that's what many young people believe, 21:48 God does to people when they obey Him? 21:53 They think that God's high standards 21:55 are a restriction on their fun. 21:57 They think that God-- 21:58 many times we think that God's high level of living 22:02 is a restriction. 22:03 For the last time I checked when God said no to one tree 22:06 is because He said yes to how many trees? 22:08 A whole planet. 22:10 The proportion of which God restricts 22:12 is nothing to compare, to what He gives you. 22:16 One tree? No. 22:17 A whole planet of trees? Yes. 22:21 But what did Adam-- what did Eve do? 22:23 I don't want the whole planet, I want one. 22:26 Think-- like think about it, 22:27 the proportion of which God restricts 22:30 is less than what God gives. 22:34 And this is why we're speaking about high standards. 22:37 Now many of us may have these standards 22:40 and may be they are not leaving them, 22:41 but brothers and sisters, 22:42 this is why we must study to find that hope. 22:45 Amen? Amen. 22:46 We are in Acts 24 reading-- 22:50 Acts 24:24, 25. 22:53 Say amen, when you there. 22:55 Amen. 22:56 I want you to see one reason why even though we recognize 22:59 we're bought with a high price. 23:01 Even though we then recognize 23:02 that we have high potential in Christ 23:04 and that He has high standards. 23:06 Even though we recognize that we must attempt high standards 23:11 because God expects high standards. 23:13 There are sometimes even situations 23:16 where we are hindered by this one thing, 23:19 and it's found in Acts 24. 23:20 Are we there? 23:22 Acts 24:24 here Paul is standing, 23:27 he's here before Felix 23:29 and he's been judged or he's been examined, 23:33 based on his behavior and on his ministry. 23:35 And in Acts 24 Paul is trying to reason 23:39 with Felix regarding something. 23:41 Are we there in verse 24? 23:43 The Bible says in verse 24 "And after certain days, 23:46 when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, 23:50 he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 23:55 And as he" what? 23:57 "Reasoned" so did Paul reasoned? Yes. 24:01 Paul reasoned and "As he reasoned of" what? 24:04 "Righteousness," stop right there. 24:05 What righteousness? 24:07 Psalm 119:172 "My tongue shall speak of thy word, 24:11 for all thy commandments are righteousness." 24:14 Psalm 119:172. 24:17 God tells us here Paul is trying 24:19 to reason with them about God's law, 24:22 the rest of this "reasoned with them on righteousness," 24:24 what else? 24:26 "Temperance," and what else? 24:27 "Judgment to come," and Felix did what? 24:31 "Trembled, and answered," what? 24:33 "Go" where? "Your way." 24:36 In other words, bounce, get away from me, 24:39 get lost, get lost, go. 24:43 "Go thy way for this time, when" 24:46 listen carefully to the next statement. 24:48 Notice what happen even though Paul presents before Felix, 24:52 high standards, a high calling, a high way of living. 25:00 Notice how Felix response to Paul. 25:04 Knows what happens in verse24-- 25 25:07 "Go your way for this time, when I have" what? 25:11 Say the next word with me. 25:12 Con-- what's was it would say? 25:14 "Convenient" stop there. 25:17 "Go your way" why? 25:20 For "Go thy way for this time, when I have" what? 25:24 "A convenient season." 25:29 What was the reason why 25:30 even though Paul presented high standards, 25:33 high calling, high potential before Felix, Felix says, 25:37 it was not what? 25:39 Convenient. 25:41 What it Paul said? What that Felix say? 25:44 Come back when? When it's convenient. 25:49 Jesus says, please make those changes 25:52 that I've told you in your dress. 25:54 Well, it's not convenient. 25:57 Make those changes in your diet, 25:59 but it's not convenient. 26:01 Make those changes, I've called you to these high standards, 26:04 make these changes, leave away that wilderness, 26:07 was not convenient. 26:09 Put away those video games which are corrupting the-- 26:11 it's not convenient. 26:13 Stop spending time in those movie theaters 26:15 which are not preparing you to increase your love for Jesus, 26:18 oh, it's not convenient. 26:20 Brothers and sisters, there are so many elements 26:23 to which God calls us to a high standard, 26:25 He calls us to high potential, 26:27 but because it's not convenient. 26:32 Why you are in that relationship with that person? 26:35 Why you unequally at it? Why you here? 26:38 Why are you doing these things? 26:39 Why are you going to those places 26:41 you know God cannot bless? 26:42 It's not convenient for me, God. 26:46 But the high purchase, 26:48 what kind of purchase were we purchased with? 26:50 A high purchase. 26:52 What heights is that? Infinite. 26:55 And the infinite price paid 26:57 reflects what kind of potential? 26:59 Infinite potential. 27:00 Why? Because Christ promises to be their infinite power 27:04 to bring us up to that potential. 27:06 But here we find that even though God brings us 27:09 and shows us our calling, 27:11 sometimes convenience becomes our hindrance. 27:14 It's not convenient for me. 27:17 Just stop working on the Sabbath. 27:19 It's not convenient for me 27:21 to not go and buy and sell on the Sabbath, 27:23 even though Nehemiah 13:13-17 calls that an evil thing. 27:28 It's not convenient for me because that means, 27:30 I can't hang around with that group of friends anymore, 27:32 I can't do these things and watch these things. 27:35 Jesus says, what kind of price did I paid for you? 27:39 I paid a high price, I have a high potential, 27:42 and yet you attempt a little. 27:46 Why? Because of one word, what's that one word? 27:49 Convenience. 27:51 Brothers and sisters, 27:52 when God calls us up it's not convenient, I'll be honest. 27:55 It's not convenient. 27:57 Romans 8:7, 27:59 for the carnal mind is not subjected to the law of God. 28:01 For the carnal mind is enmity against God, 28:04 for it is not subject to the law of God, 28:06 neither indeed can be. 28:09 The carnal nature does not like the calling of God. 28:13 It does not like a high calling, 28:14 it is enjoying low standards. 28:18 But God has called us to what kind of calling? 28:21 What kind of calling? 28:22 A high calling. 28:24 Christ's Object Lessons write this down. 28:26 Christ's Object Lessons, page 331 paragraph 2, 28:32 Christ's Object Lessons, page 331 paragraph 2, 28:37 Christ's Object Lessons, COL, 331 paragraph 2, 28:41 "Let no one say, 28:43 I cannot remedy the defects of character. 28:49 If you come to this decision, 28:50 you will surely fail at obtaining everlasting life. 28:54 The impossibility lies in your own will. 29:02 If you will not, then you can not overcome. 29:08 The real difficulty lies 29:09 in the corruption of an unsanctified heart, 29:13 and an unwillingness to submit to the control of God." 29:19 Let me say that again, 29:21 Christ's Object Lessons, page 331 paragraph 2, 29:24 "Let no one say," remember what are we talking about? 29:27 Here Paul presents high standards to Felix, 29:30 but Felix rejects and he says go away it's not convenient. 29:37 It's not convenient for me. 29:39 And here we find as in here we find here, 29:41 it says, "Let no one say, 29:43 I cannot remedy the defects of character." 29:46 It says, "The impossibility lies in your will. 29:50 If you will not, you can not." 29:54 And then we are told, 29:55 "The real difficulty lies in the unsanctification, 29:59 the unsanctified heart, 30:01 and an unwillingness to submit to the will of God." 30:05 What am I trying to say, 30:07 one of the great reasons 30:08 that we find us not reaching these standards 30:11 is because even when God presents it before us, 30:13 even when we know it's to be right, 30:15 sometimes we are just not willing 30:18 because of the convenience. 30:22 I have a job and I have to provide for my family, 30:25 and the only I can work is Saturday. 30:30 And if I give up my job, how am I gonna provide for my family, 30:33 it's not convenient to give that up. 30:38 I'm hanging around with a group of friends 30:40 and the only days they want to hang out 30:41 is Friday night and go to the club. 30:43 If I stop hanging out with them, 30:45 it's not convenient for me 30:46 because in whom I gonna hang out with? 30:50 If I'm not around, if I stop playing these videogames, 30:53 if I stop going to these theaters, 30:55 that's where my friends go, that's the only place we click, 30:57 if I don't it's not convenient. 31:01 If I preach truth from the fun, people won't like it, 31:07 so let me preach new things it's not convenient. 31:11 Let us not preach cheats because 31:13 it might bring uncomfortable feelings, 31:16 it's not convenient. 31:20 What's more important, convenience or truth? 31:27 Truth. 31:29 But brothers and sisters, 31:31 let us understand something about 31:32 why God standards are so high? 31:35 We can talk about God's high calling, 31:37 we can talk about how convenience can stop us 31:39 from reaching that calling, 31:40 but I want to give us the hope 31:42 to show us why God's standards are so high? 31:44 Go to Romans 7, Romans 7:12, 31:48 Romans 7, point 3 31:50 one of the great failures of us to reach this potential. 31:53 And brothers and sisters, if we speak about failure, 31:56 we must speak about what? 31:57 A solution. 32:00 Ministry of Healing, page 363 32:02 "The gospel is a wonderful simplifier of life's problems." 32:07 So if we show where we fail, 32:09 we must show where we can what? 32:10 Solve that failure. 32:12 And we're gonna find solutions in Romans 7, 32:14 are we there? 32:15 Romans 7, notice what we find here. 32:17 Notice the view we get of God's law in Romans 7. 32:20 Are we there? 32:22 Romans 7 reading verse 12, point 1, 32:25 point number 1 was this. 32:26 The high purchase, high price of our purchase as sinners, 32:30 sinful beings in Christ, reflects our high what? 32:35 Potential in Christ. 32:37 And then we found is that when we realize 32:39 what God expects the height of our potential in God, 32:43 it will lead us to actually what? 32:45 Make an attempt to reach that potential. 32:48 But one of the great things that causes us to be hindered 32:51 in reaching that potential is based on a word 32:54 standing with "C" Convenience. 32:59 Convenience, it's not convenient. 33:02 But we're told in Education page 57 paragraph 3, 33:05 "The greatest want of the world is the want of men - 33:08 men who will not be bought or sold, 33:09 men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, 33:12 men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, 33:14 men whose conscience is as true to duty 33:17 as the needle to the pole, 33:18 men who will stand for the right 33:20 ye, though the heavens fall." 33:23 Men and women. 33:25 One time I see that quotation 33:26 and a woman came up to me and said, 33:27 you just said men, you just said men, women too. 33:30 It involves women and men. 33:33 High calling. 33:34 Then we find that convenience is this great obstacle, 33:37 but what I wanted to see 33:39 is why does God have such high standards? 33:41 Are We in Romans 7? 33:43 Romans 7:12 say amen when you are there. Amen. 33:47 The Bible says there "Wherefore the law is" what? 33:51 "Holy, and the commandment is holy, and just, and good." 33:57 So what kind of law, what kind of commandments 34:00 has gone called us to keep? 34:01 They are laws that are what? Holy. 34:04 And remember Paul in Philippians 3:14 34:06 "I press toward the mark," for the what kind of calling? 34:10 "High calling." 34:11 So we have a high calling, a high standard, but want-- 34:15 notice what we find go to Proverbs 29:18. 34:18 Notice what we find here, this is powerful. 34:20 Proverbs 29:18, notice why God standard is high and holy? 34:26 Proverbs 29:18, Proverbs 29:18. 34:31 Why does God have to be so mean 34:33 and give us such high standards? 34:40 Why does God have to be so mean? 34:47 Proverbs 29:18, 34:49 convenience, convenience. 34:55 I remember there is a church here in Australia 34:58 where there was a young girl that I knew, 35:01 who was trying to leave the ways of the world 35:05 and her and her mother, 35:06 she was trying to stop doing her worldly things 35:08 and her mother was coming to her and telling her 35:11 why do you have to be so extreme? 35:14 Why do you have to be so hardcore for Jesus? 35:16 Why can't you just find a middle line? 35:19 Can't you just beat convenience for the rest of the family 35:22 making things difficult? 35:23 But she-- I remember she, you know, 35:26 and at the end of the day she had to make a decision, 35:28 do I settle for convenience? 35:30 Do I settle convenience even if it means 35:32 that something's are gonna cause you know, 35:34 separation in some ways? 35:37 what do I settle for convenience 35:40 or for God has told? 35:43 Proverbs 29 are we there? 35:45 What is connected to the keeping 35:48 of this high and holy law? 35:50 Proverbs 29:18 are you there? Notice what the verse says? 35:54 The Bible says "Where there is" what? 35:57 "No vision," what happens? 35:59 "The people perish, but" read the next part 36:01 "but he that" does what? "Keepeth" us up there, 36:04 what is keetpeth mean? 36:06 Obey, to follow, to follow truth, 36:08 to live, my-- 36:09 what happens when people live by something, 36:12 he that keepeth what? 36:15 What's the best side? 36:16 "But he that keepeth the law," 36:18 now stop there, Romans 7 calls it what kind of law? 36:22 A holy law, a high law, a standard which is high 36:25 but notice what happens as a result 36:28 of living a high standard. 36:29 He that keepeth this holy law what happens? 36:33 "Happy is he." 36:37 The pro-- listen to me carefully, 36:39 the reason why God's standards are so high 36:42 is because he wants to give you what kind of happiness? 36:46 High happiness. 36:48 Just went over your head. 36:50 Listen to me again, 36:52 the reason why God's standards are so high 36:54 is because the height-- listen carefully, 36:57 the height of God's standard is the height of your joy. 37:03 That what the Bible says 37:04 the way of the transgresses is hard. 37:08 "But he that keepeth the law" what? 37:11 "Happy is he." 37:14 Psalm 119, go there with me. 37:16 Psalm 119:165, Psalm 119:165 37:23 one of the great reasons, listen to me carefully, 37:25 one of the great reasons why God standards are so high 37:28 is because the happiness which comes as a result 37:32 of keeping that standard is also, what? 37:36 High. Let me say that again. 37:38 If God's law is a high law to keep right? 37:42 His righteousness is very high, very deep, 37:47 but what we find is that connected to a life 37:50 in obedience to that law is also, what? 37:53 Happiness. 37:55 So one of the great reasons why God calls us 37:57 to have these high standards 37:59 and He has shown us we have high potential 38:01 is not to kill our buzz. 38:04 You know, God says I can't go here anymore, 38:06 He is gonna kill my fun, God says, I can't -- no, 38:08 God wants us to understand that we must not look upon His law 38:12 and His requirements as being a restriction towards we. 38:15 Because the verse just said he that keepeths the law is what? 38:18 Happy. 38:20 Notice what we find in Psalm 119:165 are we there? 38:24 Notice what else is bound up with the love for God's law. 38:27 Bible says in Psalm 119:165 "Great" what? 38:31 "Peace" stop there. 38:33 Do you think that this is a-- 38:34 this is something that the word lacks? 38:36 Yes. 38:39 Jesus says, the peace that I give, 38:41 the peace that I leave, is not the peace which what? 38:44 The world gives. 38:47 The peace of the world gives us a peace of compromise, 38:49 and let's just come together and join ecumenically 38:51 and forget about doctrine and don't worry about truth. 38:55 Don't worry about the Bible, 38:56 let's just God will sow that up in heaven. 38:59 That's the kind of peace that what calls for God says-- 39:02 Isaiah 26:3 39:04 "Thou wilt keep him in" what kind of peace? 39:06 "Perfect peace, whose" is what? 39:09 "Mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee." 39:12 God says another thing listen, read the rest of the verse 39:15 "Great peace have they which love" what? 39:20 "Your law." 39:21 Bound up with loving God's law is not just happiness but what? 39:25 Peace. 39:26 Why does God give high standards? 39:28 Because He wants, wants to give us what kind of peace? 39:31 High peace. 39:35 Go to Psalm 37:31, Psalm 37:31, 39:41 and that we are gonna rack this one to show us, 39:42 we're gonna finish off by seeing 39:44 how God wants to lift us to these standards? 39:47 Amen. 39:48 This is all well and good to talk about 39:49 these great standards 39:50 and how God has a high calling, 39:53 but what can bring us to the point? 39:55 What can enable us? 39:57 Where can we find power directs you reach these standards? 40:01 Because brothers and sisters, let's be honest. 40:03 There are many standards that we have 40:05 and choose that we know it, 40:07 and I'll be honest that we are not living 40:10 from the least of the greatest. 40:11 We can be honest. 40:14 But what I want to see is today is that God says listen, 40:18 I can bring you up to that standard. 40:20 Amen. 40:22 I can do how many things for Christ? 40:24 Some? All? 40:27 That includes reaching these standards. 40:29 Now we are in-- 40:31 where are we Psalm 37:31, are you there? 40:37 One last point before we finish off. 40:40 Psalm 37:31, the Bible says, 40:43 "The law of his God is" where? 40:46 "In his heart." 40:48 And what happens as a results of the law being in His heart, 40:51 what happens? And "none of his steps" will what? 40:56 "Slide." 40:57 Not only do we find God given high standards 41:00 for high happiness, 41:01 not only do we find God given high standards for high peace, 41:05 but we also find God giving us high standards in His law 41:09 for a high life, 41:10 where we "none of his steps will slide." 41:13 How many times have we made decisions without God 41:15 and our steps have what? 41:17 Have slide Him. 41:22 Our steps slide. 41:26 If you are following with me say, amen. Amen. 41:28 Listen to this quote, faith I live by it. 41:31 Praise God for the Spirit of Prophecy. 41:34 One amen? 41:36 Two and four, four? 41:38 Come on man. 41:39 This is same with the Adventists church. 41:41 Am I in the right church? Yeah, okay. 41:43 This just checking. 41:45 Faith I Live By, page 84 paragraph 6 41:48 listen to this quote, 41:50 "The law of the ten commandments 41:52 is not to be looked upon as much from the prohibitory side 41:57 as from the mercy side." 42:00 Do you know how times we think about God's law, 42:02 we think about it as restrictions. 42:05 Listen to the quote again, 42:06 Faith I Live By, page 84 paragraph 6 42:09 "The law of God's ten commandments is not" 42:12 what do you think she says not 42:13 because that's how many people look on that, 42:16 "is not to be looked upon as much from the prohibitory side" 42:20 or the side of restrictions "as from the mercy side." 42:24 It's-- its prohibitions 42:27 or in other words the things it restricts us from doing is a-- 42:30 listen carefully is sure guarantee. 42:33 What did I say? 42:35 Sure guarantee of happiness and obedience. 42:43 Let me say one more time. 42:45 Faith I Live By, page 84 paragraph 6 42:47 "The law of ten commandments 42:48 is not to be looked upon as much from the prohibitory side 42:51 as from the mercy side." 42:53 It's prohibitions are the sure guarantee. 42:56 How sure can He get to sure? Sure. 43:00 Sure guarantee of happiness. 43:03 Why? He that keepeth the law what? 43:05 Happy is he. 43:06 Now go to Ephesians 4:32. 43:12 We're finishing off with a few more verses, 43:15 few more verses. 43:17 Ephesians 4:32 43:19 if God has given us these standards 43:21 surely He can't leave us 43:23 to try to reach these standards on our own. 43:26 Amen? Amen. 43:29 Isaiah 64:6 "For we are all as an unclean thing, 43:33 and all our righteousness are as" what kind of rags? 43:36 "Filthy rags." 43:39 There is none righteous, no not one. 43:42 But 1 John 2:1 "My little children, 43:44 these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. 43:47 And if any man sin, 43:49 we have an advocate with the Father, 43:51 Jesus Christ" what? 43:53 "The righteous." 43:57 What we need to understand is that yes, 43:59 Christ paid a high purchase, amen. 44:02 Yes, Christ has high potential 44:04 and yes, we must label with Christ 44:06 and attempt this high potential 44:08 and not allow convenience to hinder us, 44:10 but what we must understand is that 44:12 without the enabling grace and power of Christ 44:15 we will never reach this high standard, never. 44:19 Doesn't matter how much food, vegan food you eat, 44:23 that doesn't answer you. 44:24 These are the things we do because we love who? 44:26 Christ. 44:29 Notice what we find Ephesians 4 are we there? 44:32 Notice what we find about this, notice why this is-- 44:35 this is why when we try this 44:37 we are an attempting an impossibility. 44:39 Ephesians 4:32 are we there? 44:42 Ephesians 4:32 "And be ye kind one to another, 44:45 tender-hearted, forgiving one another, 44:48 even as God for Christ's sake hath" what? 44:50 Given "forgiven you." 44:52 So God calls us to forgive others and be kind, why? 44:56 Because who forgave? 44:59 Who? God. 45:00 So who is our pattern and forgiveness 45:02 according to that verse? 45:04 God but God is God, God is what? 45:07 Divine. 45:08 So here we have a divine standard imposed on mortals. 45:14 So how can God expect divine standards on mortals? 45:20 Did you just hear what I said? 45:22 It is a divine pattern. 45:24 So what I'm trying to say is, 45:25 how can God give us such high standards, 45:28 such divine standards on sinful mortals? 45:33 We gonna finish in Isaiah 55, 45:36 Isaiah 55:11. 45:37 I think I stole Cheri's verse. 45:39 Isaiah 55, I think this is the verse you-- 45:41 one of the verses she used yesterday, last night. 45:43 But Isaiah 55:11, 45:48 Isaiah 55:11 as we close. 45:51 Do you understand what I did? 45:52 What we just read? 45:53 God called us to a divine calling, a divine standard, 45:57 but this is interesting, God calls us-- 46:00 calls a divine standard on sinful people. 46:02 God is what? 46:05 Divine, eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, omnibenevolent 46:09 and He calls divine standards, high standards on mortals. 46:15 How? 46:16 Isaiah 55, are we there? 46:19 Verse 11, so-- 46:23 Isaiah 55 I awaits you get there. 46:25 Are we there? Amen. 46:27 We're gonna read verse 46:29 that says for does who that works in you. 46:32 God that work us where? 46:34 In you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure. 46:41 Isaiah 55:11, the Bible says, 46:43 "So shall my" what? "Word be there" what? 46:47 "Goes forth out of" where? 46:49 "My mouth," what is that, what's the very next word? 46:52 "It" stop there, what's the it? 46:54 The word, that's right. 46:56 "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth, 46:58 it" the it, is the word 47:01 "shall not return unto me void, but it" what's the it? 47:05 The word "Shall" what? 47:08 "Shall accomplish" what? 47:10 "That which I please, and it" what 's the it? 47:13 The word, "shall" what? 47:15 "Prosper in the thing where to I sent it." 47:18 So when God speaks a command what performs that command? 47:23 His word. 47:26 You missed it, you totally missed it. 47:28 Listen to what I just-- 47:29 when God gives a command what performs the command? 47:33 The thing He told to do the command 47:35 or the command itself? 47:36 The command itself. 47:38 You missed it. 47:42 Listen to that, what's the it? 47:44 The word. 47:45 And so what accomplishes the thing that God says, the it? 47:49 The word. 47:50 So the power that-- 47:52 so when God gives a high call, a high command, 47:56 the power to reach the command is in the command itself. 48:09 Exodus 20:1, the Bible says, 48:12 we're not gonna go there but listen, 48:13 what's find in Exodus 20, Seventh-day Adventist? 48:16 Commandments. 48:18 Listen to this Exodus 20:1 48:20 I've got two minutes 52 listen to this Exodus 20:1, 48:24 the Bible says "And God spake all these words," 48:27 what did I say? 48:28 All these words, 48:30 but what that we find in Isaiah 55 48:32 accomplishes the thing, the word. 48:37 So when God spoke the words in Exodus 20 48:39 we call it the Ten Commandments. 48:42 Please follow with me, I haven't got much time. 48:45 So when God spoke these words 48:47 where is the power to perform those words? 48:51 In the Word itself. 48:53 So the high standard, the high law, 48:56 the high moral code that God has called us to 48:58 the power to reach that command and that standard 49:02 is in the command itself if we have faith. 49:07 I'm finishing on this quote 49:08 Christ's Object Lessons, page 333 paragraph 1, 49:12 write this down, powerful. 49:15 Christ's Object Lessons, 333 paragraph 1 listen to this, 49:19 "As the will of man cooperates with the will of God, 49:23 it becomes omnipotent. 49:25 Whatever" listen to-- 49:27 what did I say? Whatever. 49:28 What is whatever mean? Everything. 49:31 "Whatever is to be done at" whose command? 49:35 "His command may be accomplished in His strength." 49:40 One amen. 49:42 Are you awake? 49:44 Do you hear what this-- 49:45 listen to that-- listen to that again, 49:49 " As the will of man cooperates with the will of God, 49:51 it becomes omnipotent" or powerful. 49:53 Why? 49:54 Because the will you have allied yourself with 49:56 is all powerful, 49:58 and "Whatever is to be done at His command 50:01 may be accomplished in His strength." 50:05 Because the strength to accomplish the command 50:08 is where? 50:09 In the command. 50:12 How much better could God be? 50:15 So put the power to reach that standard, 50:18 the power to reach those commandments 50:20 is in the command itself. 50:23 God is good. 50:26 Have you understood the message today? 50:29 The message was "Think Higher, Reach Higher, Achieve Higher." 50:34 Christ paid a high purchase 50:35 to tell us we have what kind of potential? 50:38 High potential, and we see that, 50:40 we need to understand we have high potential 50:42 so that we cannot any attempt to little but how much? 50:45 Much. 50:46 And many times we achieve much because we attempt how much? 50:49 We must attempt much. 50:51 But we see that sometimes what gets in the way? 50:53 Convenience. 50:55 But we found that God gives us high standards 50:57 for what kind of happiness? 50:59 High happiness. 51:00 High standards for what kind of joy? 51:02 High joy. 51:03 And high standards for what kind of peace? 51:05 High peace. 51:06 And the power to achieve that is found where? 51:09 In the Word itself. 51:13 Let us pray. 51:16 Father in heaven, thank You for this time, 51:21 thanking You for allowing us to study Your word, 51:25 thank You for giving us the power to achieve 51:29 these high standards, 51:32 if we have faith in Your word. 51:34 Thanking that You have given us such a 51:36 bulletproof and airtight, 51:38 a sure word that we can trust in. 51:41 Hebrew 2 tells us, 51:43 that many times we do not benefit from Your words 51:46 because it's not mixed with faith and knows it here. 51:49 And so Father, we pray that You might give faith. 51:51 Lord, we believe how thou our unbelief. 51:54 Father, help us to live up to these standards 51:56 for we know that no man can live divine standards 51:58 without Him who is divine. 52:00 Fill us with Your Holy Spirit now, 52:01 we pray in Jesus name and we all say, amen. |
Revised 2015-04-02