Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP200039S
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00:01 Hello, friends, welcome to 3ABN's Sabbath School Panel.
00:03 You may not believe it, 00:05 but this is our last lesson in our quarter. 00:08 And we have walked and talked with Jesus 00:10 all the way through 00:12 because it's about making friends for God. 00:15 Today's lesson is A Step in Faith. 00:18 And everyone needs faith. 00:19 Without that faith, we cannot please God. 00:21 If you'd like to find out 00:22 how to find out more about this lesson, 00:24 go to absg.Adventist.org 00:27 and download a copy to follow along. 00:30 But you can also do something a little better. 00:32 Go to the local Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:34 in your community. 00:35 Join them for an excursion through the Word of God 00:38 and you will be blessed. 00:39 But right now we're about to dive 00:41 into a step of faith. 00:43 So take the time, get your Bibles, 00:44 invite your family and friends, 00:46 and join us as we take another step 00:48 in making friends for God. 01:22 Hello, friends, welcome to our lesson study number 13. 01:27 You heard it right. 01:29 Can we all say amen? Amen. 01:30 We have endured to the end 01:32 and we have enjoyed this journey 01:34 in making friends for god. 01:35 Thank you, Pastor Finley, once again 01:37 and all those contributing persons 01:39 that have put their time and energy 01:41 in making this lesson a blessing. 01:43 We have seen, I think, in a long time, 01:46 not that the others haven't been, 01:47 but this has been so Christ-centered, 01:50 that you cannot walk away saying 01:51 if you've studied this lesson that you don't know Jesus 01:53 more endearing and more personally. 01:57 Today, we're going to walk through a lesson 01:59 and we'd like to encourage you 02:01 to take the time to join us and enjoy 02:04 what we're going to talk about today. 02:06 Before we go any further, however, 02:08 I must introduce my panelists, 02:11 and there's a chance 02:13 that somebody is tuning in for the first time. 02:14 Don't forget this network. 02:16 We are going and growing, 02:17 getting ready for the coming of the Lord. 02:19 Pastor Kenny Shelton to my immediate left, 02:20 good to have you here. 02:21 Always good to study the Word of God. 02:23 Thank you. A veteran preacher. 02:25 No, I don't know about that. Yeah, I know. 02:28 I appreciate you tremendously. 02:30 Sitting right next to you 02:31 is one of the new kids on the block 02:34 but no longer than... 02:35 Yeah. Good to have you, Ryan. 02:37 Yeah, it's good to be here. I'm no longer the new kid. 02:40 Now Jason is the new kid. 02:43 That's right. Okay. 02:44 Segue to Jason, Jason Bradley. Yes. 02:46 It's great to be here and studying God's word. 02:49 That's right. 02:50 And, Jill, good to have you here. 02:53 Thank you, pastor. 02:54 A lady in the Word. Thank you. 02:56 You have endured an entire quarter 02:58 as the only woman on the panel. 03:01 We must ask your opinion about how that felt. 03:05 But glad to have you here. Thank you. 03:06 Privileged to be here. Huh? 03:08 Privileged to be here. Praise God for that. 03:11 Before we go any further, though, however, 03:12 and, you know, Jill, 03:14 why don't you have a prayer for us? 03:16 Sure. 03:17 Holy Father, we come before You in the name of Jesus, 03:19 grateful for the gift of Your Son, 03:21 grateful for the gift of Your Word, 03:23 grateful that You have given us the gift of faith. 03:27 And now right now as we study, 03:29 would You open up our minds and hearts 03:31 to receive what You have for us, 03:33 in Jesus name, amen. 03:35 Amen. That's right. 03:37 A step of faith, 03:38 let's begin by looking at our memory text. 03:43 Sabbath afternoon. 03:44 This cover September 19 to 25th, 03:48 lesson number 13, 03:49 the memory text in Philippians 2:5 through 7 03:54 and I read it as follows. 03:55 "Let this mind be in you, 03:59 which was also in Christ Jesus, 04:02 who, being in the form of God, 04:05 did not consider it robbery to be equal," 04:10 what's that word? 04:11 Equal. 04:13 Equal means on the same paradigm, 04:16 on the same par, at the same level. 04:18 "Did not consider it robbery to be equal with God." 04:22 But look at the choice He made to save us. 04:24 "But made Himself of no reputation, 04:28 taking the form of a bondservant 04:31 and coming in the likeness of men." 04:34 What a sacrifice. Yes. 04:37 I think when we get to heaven, 04:39 that's the only time we're going to understand 04:41 what Jesus gave up to save us, 04:44 what he actually relinquished. 04:46 He decided somebody is going to be appointed 04:50 the responsibility of saving humanity 04:53 and no one 04:54 other than He could have been appointed 04:57 to save humanity 04:58 because He created humanity. 05:00 You could not appoint an angel 05:02 because an angel is a created 05:03 being although called into existence, 05:05 only the creator can save the creation. 05:08 Now I made that very important point 05:09 for a reason 05:11 because it's an unfortunate thing 05:13 and this exercise of futility, 05:15 I call it futility 05:16 because there's no way that you can call Jesus 05:18 the created one when He is the Creator. 05:22 That's right. 05:23 Let's go to 1 John, I mean, John Chapter 1. 05:26 He is not created one. 05:29 And you know, what amazes me about this panel 05:31 is I've spoken to people 05:33 that have tried to find some ecclesiastical jog 05:39 to try to change the word 05:44 created into begotten 05:47 or try to say that the word begotten 05:49 and creator are the same thing. 05:52 You know, the only begotten 05:54 of the Father full of grace and truth. 05:55 They fail to realize that the Greek word there 05:57 begotten means the preeminent one. 06:00 The only one that can fill this spot, 06:03 the only begotten of the Father, 06:05 no one else in heaven 06:08 could take the role of the Creator 06:10 than the Creator Himself. 06:11 That's what begotten means. 06:12 But the Bible says here in John 1:1, 06:15 "In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, 06:18 and the Word was God." 06:22 Wow, praise the Lord for that. 06:24 And it says in verse 2, 06:26 "And He was in the beginning with God." 06:29 So the Word was God, the Word is God. 06:33 He's beginning with God. 06:36 And look at verse 3, 06:37 "All things were made through Him 06:41 and," what else, 06:42 "without Him," how much was made? 06:45 Nothing. 06:46 Nothing was made that was made, including Him. 06:51 For those who say, 06:52 well somewhere way back and times pass, 06:56 it frightens me 06:57 when Christians start sounding like evolutionists. 07:01 Somewhere along the way, 07:02 you know, "150 billion years ago, 07:04 there was an explosion. 07:06 And out of that explosion 07:07 is like putting all this metal and rubber and paint 07:10 and leather in a big gigantic drum 07:12 spinning it beyond the speed of sound 07:15 and outcomes a Mercedes." 07:19 You don't get order out of chaos. 07:23 That never happens. 07:24 And the creator was not some biological burp 07:27 that came from the hand of the Father, 07:29 and then all of a sudden, 07:31 formed humanity 07:32 because He was simply a conduit. 07:34 No, in Him is life, 07:37 and that life is the light of men, 07:40 unborrowed, underived, and completely original. 07:45 So now we talk about this self-sacrificing love. 07:48 I'm going to Sunday. 07:51 Go there with me about self-sacrificing love 07:54 because the challenge 07:55 that has to finally put into this lesson 07:58 is how do these verses reveal the heart of Christ, 08:03 Christ's thinking and the pattern 08:04 that governed His entire life. 08:07 I like how it starts 08:09 because he's referring to, I mean, Philippians 2:5-11. 08:14 And the first verse, verse 5 says, Let this mind, 08:18 let this mind, let this mind... 08:20 How could the mind of God, 08:23 how could the mind of Christ become your mind? 08:27 You have to put something there. 08:29 Let's go to Romans Chapter 12. 08:31 Let's go to Romans Chapter 12. 08:33 One of the reasons why we can't think 08:35 the way that Christ wants us to think 08:38 is because instead of just information, 08:43 we need transformation. 08:45 There's a difference. 08:46 I've met people that are atheists 08:48 that study the Bible just to argue with us. 08:50 That's information, that's not transformation. 08:52 The Bible doesn't talk about information alone. 08:54 It talks about transformation, 08:56 and there is no substitute for that. 08:58 Romans 12:1 and 2. 09:00 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, 09:01 by the mercies of God, 09:03 that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, 09:07 holy, acceptable unto God, 09:09 which is your reasonable service." 09:11 Of course the NIV says, 09:13 "Your spiritual act of worship, " 09:14 and here is where the mind transfer 09:15 comes into play. 09:17 And do not be conformed to this world. 09:21 Whether it's Nietzsche, 09:22 whether it's evolutionist books, 09:24 whether it's books about psychology... 09:27 Psychology is dangerous to the mind 09:30 that is not first harnessed by the Word of God 09:33 'cause psychology is a play on the human mind. 09:35 Be very, very careful. 09:37 It's science falsely so called, 09:39 it's the manipulation of the human psyche 09:42 if it is not being led by the will of God. 09:45 So here's what we are told. 09:46 "Do not be conformed to this world, 09:49 but be transformed by the," what, "renewing of your mind, 09:53 that you may prove 09:55 what is that good and acceptable 09:56 and perfect will of God." 09:58 The only way that the will of God 10:00 can be proven in your life 10:02 is your mind has to be transformed. 10:04 Now get this, not educated, not informed, 10:08 not manipulated but transformed. 10:11 He came to transform us from sinners to saints, 10:15 from those who are lost to those who are found. 10:17 And you know what, 10:18 you cannot educate a person into salvation. 10:20 Let's go to Galatians 2:20, it can't happen. 10:24 Education does not change us. 10:26 Education helps us to become wiser, 10:29 but it doesn't change us. 10:31 Galatians 2:20. Look at this. 10:34 This is where the transformation comes, 10:36 and the reason I'm bringing this passage out 10:38 is everything about us has to die 10:41 in order for the mind of Christ to be preeminent. 10:42 That's right. 10:43 It can't be our mind and His mind. 10:45 It has to be His mind alone. 10:48 And that's why this passage is so vitally important. 10:50 Let me tell you why. 10:51 I've never seen a dead person with a working mind. 10:57 Galatians 2:20, 10:59 "I have been crucified with Christ, " 11:01 the moment the crucifixion takes place, 11:03 all crucifixions result in death, 11:06 death in the way you think, the way you live, 11:08 the way you behave, 11:10 all crucifixions result in death. 11:13 In order for there to be a self-sacrificing love 11:16 that affects you, 11:17 there has to be a self-sacrifice. 11:20 Okay, let's continue. 11:22 And then Paul says, 11:23 "It is no longer I who live but Christ lives," where, 11:28 "in me." 11:30 And now let's look at the present action 11:31 that takes place in your life. 11:33 And the life which I now live in the flesh 11:36 because something happens after that, 11:38 but that new flesh life is not the same flesh life. 11:43 Now you might pinch and feel the same way. 11:45 But no, you're now partaking of a divine nature 11:48 having escaped all that is in the world. 11:52 You are partaking of a new divine nature 11:54 or new nature that's divine. 11:56 Now notice what it says, 11:58 "The life which I now live in the flesh, 12:00 I live by faith in the Son of God 12:02 who loved me and gave Himself for me." 12:05 And I want to show you one more. 12:06 Let's go now to Ephesians Chapter 2 12:09 because this whole transition, 12:11 the form that has to take place in our lives 12:15 has to happen with the mind changed. 12:17 Now Ephesians, 12:19 Okay, here I am, Ephesians Chapter 2. 12:22 Let's see something here. 12:24 Okay, I'm going to read verse 8, 12:27 "For by grace, 12:29 you have been saved through faith, " 12:31 remember the walk of faith, 12:33 "and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." 12:37 Now I want to kind of 12:38 revolutionize the way you look at this passage. 12:41 It is not a gift from God, 12:44 it's not a gift that God gave to you. 12:46 He gave Himself. 12:49 It is the gift of God. 12:50 Look at the Old Testament cadence. 12:52 When Isaac was lying down and he said to his dad, 12:57 "Where's this? 12:59 Where's the lamb? Where's the sacrifice?" 13:00 And Abraham said, 13:02 "The Lord will provide Himself." 13:04 Now, oftentimes we go himself a lamb, 13:07 but the reality of it, 13:09 the Lord Will Provide Himself the lamb, not a lamb. 13:13 Behold, the lamb of God that taketh away 13:16 the sin of the world, 13:18 the transition in the way 13:20 that we believe about self-sacrificing love 13:23 is something has to be sacrificed. 13:25 We cannot survive in the mind of Christ be in us. 13:28 Something has to be sacrificed. 13:30 So the sacrifice takes place when we receive the gift of God 13:34 as one of my favorite writers Oswald Chambers says, 13:36 "We often minimize salvation 13:38 because we think as a gift from God," 13:40 God doesn't say, "Kenny, here's a gift." 13:41 No. 13:43 He says, "Kenny, I'm the gift." 13:45 And He merges. 13:47 He burns up humanity 13:48 and replaces it with the divinity. 13:51 Now this is important. 13:52 Get this before I transition to Pastor Kenny. 13:54 He burns up humanity. 13:56 That's why when you look at that picture in the Bible, 14:00 when Moses was standing in front of a burning bush, 14:03 a few lessons came out. 14:04 We are that burning bush. 14:06 Jesus didn't come to consume us. 14:08 He came to ignite us. 14:11 He didn't come to burn us up, he came to light us up. 14:15 And until that transition takes place, 14:16 we'll be a bush with no fruit. 14:18 But when Christ merges 14:20 that bush was not an ordinary bush, 14:21 your life will be no ordinary life 14:24 when you allow the Lord to light you up 14:27 because if He doesn't light you up, 14:28 there's only one other option, He'll burn you up. 14:32 And that burning up is not because He hates you, 14:34 but nothing that survives the transformation, 14:38 nothing that is not transformed will survive the consuming fire 14:42 of the love of God. 14:44 It's not the hate of God. 14:45 The love of God consumes everything 14:47 that maintains a sinful characteristic 14:50 so that those who are now sacrificed 14:52 and become like Christ can enjoy an eternity 14:55 without sin ever being there, 14:57 but it begins with self-sacrificing love. 15:00 Amen. Pastor Kenny. 15:02 Thank you for sharing that awesome, 15:05 I love that good food for thought all the time here, 15:08 enjoying this, I forgot where I was at. 15:10 So Monday's lesson I assume, 15:12 I'm in Monday seat, so praise God. 15:14 Monday's lesson, we're going to be... 15:15 This is very important by the way 15:17 because we're going to talk about Commitments Call, 15:19 you know, we will receive a call. 15:24 Every person on this planet will receive a call 15:26 at one time or the other, 15:27 Holy Spirit calling, 15:29 calling us to join the family of God. 15:31 So as we look, you know, 15:32 life may be pretty good right now, 15:33 we're looking, you say "Life's pretty good." 15:35 I've heard people say, "Life's good. Life's good." 15:37 I really like life, I do. 15:39 But, you know, it's good 15:40 because you have maybe all that you desire. 15:44 Got a home, you got a roof over your head. 15:46 You got loved ones. 15:47 You're loved. You can love, so life is good. 15:53 I see a sign sometimes, it says LG. 15:55 Okay. 15:56 I just automatically think 15:57 I see it on refrigerator or a different thing, 15:59 I just automatically think, "Life's good." 16:01 That's what it means actually. 16:03 Life's good. 16:04 But if I'm going to change it 16:06 and make my own one these days, 16:07 I'm going to put AG. 16:10 All good. 16:11 Oh, what time? Hey, what's good? 16:12 All good. It's all good. 16:14 Even though we face desperate times and situations, 16:18 God is there for us giving us a call. 16:21 But, you know, in our heart and our mind, 16:23 we realize these good times, 16:25 people say, "I've got all under control, 16:27 everything is going real well." 16:28 But, you know, at the end of the day, 16:31 when the good times maybe cease, 16:32 you know, you're out partying 16:33 and doing a lot of different things. 16:35 When you go back maybe to your room 16:36 or to your home or wherever one might go, 16:38 there's something that's lacking. 16:41 Sometimes people don't know... 16:42 Before you accept Christ or something lacking, 16:45 you know, I felt that in my early childhood, 16:47 it was kind of strange thing. 16:48 I felt that, you know... 16:50 We went to church, 16:51 you know, all the time and grew up in the church 16:52 and it's all good, 16:54 but before I really made Him my Lord and Savior, 16:57 I knew that something was lacking. 17:00 Didn't quite know what it was. 17:01 But it was that knock on the door. 17:03 It was that commitment call that I never responded to. 17:06 And so I'm glad that I did, praise God for that. 17:10 And my question is here 17:11 since commitments call is what are you going to do, 17:14 what am I going to do 17:15 when there's a knock on the door? 17:17 You know, what do you... 17:19 How are you going to respond? 17:20 Well, I know how we respond 17:21 in you know, the world that we live in, 17:23 somebody rings the doorbell, 17:24 somebody knocks at the door, usually you go to the door, 17:26 you know, you reckon, "Come on in," 17:29 you know, but you know, 17:30 when Jesus is knocking the door, 17:31 sometimes people just don't want to let him in. 17:34 But the knock's going to come 17:35 and we have to see how we're going to act. 17:37 2 Peter 1:10 says this, 17:40 2 Peter 1:10, "Wherefore, brethren, 17:43 give diligence to make your calling 17:46 and your election sure." 17:50 Do what? 17:51 Make sure... 17:52 Diligence. 17:54 That's right. Right? 17:55 With diligence 17:56 that you're calling election be sure. 17:58 This passage tells me, 17:59 in fact, that our salvation depends upon our actions, 18:04 we have to respond. 18:05 Well, yeah, somebody knocks at the door. 18:07 Basically you want to go there, you open the door. 18:09 There's an action that's involved there. 18:11 So our salvation depends upon our actions. 18:13 1 Timothy 2:4, 18:15 you know, we know, we know 18:17 that we are elected to be saved. 18:20 That simply means that because 1 Timothy 2:4, 18:23 "God says he liked it," what, "all men to be saved." 18:26 That's where I get it from reading the Word of God. 18:27 He wants us all to be saved in the kingdom 18:30 that we have to make a decision. 18:32 If we don't respond, 18:33 maybe the most important thing of this whole, 18:35 if we don't get anything else 18:36 is if when Christ knocks at the door, 18:38 we have to answer. 18:39 If we don't answer, we're going to be lost. 18:41 That's right. 18:42 That's pretty heavy duty I understand. 18:43 But Romans 8:28 is, 18:45 you know this well, I'm sure, 18:46 it says, "And we know that all," 18:47 what is it again, 18:49 "all things work together for good to them that," what, 18:53 "that love God to them who are called 18:56 according to His purpose." 19:00 Election, that word bothers people sometimes. 19:04 There's debates over election, make sure your election... 19:07 Oh, they could... 19:09 There's a story told, 19:10 some of you may have read it before. 19:11 The man, he wanted to join a certain church. 19:14 But he wouldn't join that church 19:16 because of the word election. 19:18 They just didn't quite get along with that. 19:20 And they said, "I can't do that." 19:22 And so he said, 19:23 "I'm just not going to join the church." 19:25 Well, naturally, if you're talking to someone, 19:27 you've worked with someone, 19:28 they decide they don't want to join, 19:29 you want to visit them, 19:31 you want to find out why. 19:32 And so the preacher thought, 19:33 "Well, I'll go there, I'll pray about it. 19:35 I'll go and then the man will be convicted 19:36 and he'll change his mind." 19:38 Well, preacher went home sad. 19:40 Man said, "No, I'm just not going to... 19:41 I just, I just I don't get that. 19:43 I don't get what you mean by the election. 19:45 I don't agree with you." 19:46 And so there happened to be an older gentleman 19:49 that was sitting by and he heard the conversation, 19:52 he heard about it. 19:53 And so he came to the man he said something like this. 19:56 Now I won't say in the south 19:57 or maybe in Southern Illinois in the cornfield. 19:59 All right. 20:00 I'm not going to say there's voting going on. 20:02 I'll say, "There's voting." 20:04 Voting. 20:05 "There's voting." 20:07 And so you know the story, there's voting going on for, 20:10 you know, all the time. 20:12 What do you mean? 20:13 There's voting going on all the time. 20:15 God's voting for you and the devil is voting... 20:17 Against you. 20:19 You know, the devil is... 20:20 Right, yeah, devil is voting against you. 20:23 And he said, notice this that... 20:25 And there's one way you vote 20:28 and the way that you vote determines who's going to win. 20:31 That's right. Think about it. 20:32 How the election goes is depending on how you vote. 20:35 One voting against, when voting against, 20:37 how are you going to vote? 20:39 That's right. 20:40 Make your calling and election sure. 20:44 I think the story told that the theologian was there 20:47 and, you know, been to college 20:49 and studied all about this election, 20:50 about a man he just said... 20:52 He just said, "I've studied it for a long time, 20:54 but I've never got anything quite so good as that." 20:57 So sometime in simplicity, 20:59 you know, simple, what, we have a vote. 21:02 You have to decide. 21:04 Christ is calling. 21:05 The enemy's saying, "Don't answer that door." 21:08 But you have to decide whether you're going to answer 21:10 the invitation to come to Jesus commitment's call. 21:14 When Jesus shows up, lives change. 21:17 Nothing remains the same when Jesus shows up. 21:21 And He didn't go anywhere when he walked this earth 21:23 that there wasn't something that developed. 21:25 There was always something that was good. 21:27 In a few moments, your life, 21:29 and many of you experienced this, 21:31 you had a life going in one direction 21:33 and the moment Jesus calls you, you accept that call, 21:35 your whole life change. 21:37 Jesus said, Revelation 3:20, very familiar, said, 21:39 "Behold, I stand," where, 21:41 "I stand at the door and knock." 21:43 And maybe like some of you, I've seen the picture painted. 21:48 When I was a child, 21:50 and I looked at the door 21:51 and Jesus standing there knocking, 21:52 and what was it I noticed? 21:54 Of all things, there was no doorknob. 21:57 There's no doorknob on his side. 21:58 There was on my side, but there wasn't on His. 22:01 He said, "Behold, I stand at the door and I knock." 22:04 And John 10:9, Jesus said, "I am the door. 22:10 By Me if any man enter in, 22:12 he shall be saved and shall go in and out 22:14 and find pasture." 22:16 Jesus is knocking at the door. 22:17 We have to let Him in. Wow. 22:20 You know, think of many times 22:21 that the heart of man by nature closes the door. 22:24 He doesn't want to open a closer to Christ. 22:25 How? 22:27 By ignorance. 22:28 And so simply by not knowing, they just... 22:30 But you'd realize that 22:32 ignorance is no excuse in this day, 22:33 an hour that we're living in. 22:35 Absolutely, we can't say that. 22:37 When a person has evidence that's truth 22:41 and that we need to follow that truth 22:43 on which to base their faith we say or to hang our hat, 22:46 there's plenty of evidence. 22:48 There's no excuse to say, 22:49 "Well, I don't want to know." 22:51 I've often said this. 22:52 That's what our neighbor always said to us 22:54 growing up all the time when my mother would say, 22:56 her name was Bertha, 22:58 "Berthie, no, don't, 23:01 whatever you do, don't tell me. 23:02 I don't want to know." 23:04 True story. 23:05 Every time you'd want to say something about God, 23:07 as far as I know, she never accepted Lord. 23:08 Never went to church in her whole life, 23:11 but she'd say, "No, I don't want to know 23:12 because then I'll be accountable." 23:13 And I love mother said and I was very young, 23:15 she said, "You already are accountable 23:18 because you had the opportunity." 23:20 The commitment's call, 23:22 the knock was on the door, 23:23 and you did not respond properly. 23:25 There's an example there. 23:26 I don't have much time, 23:28 just talk about Acts 3:17 and 18. 23:30 Peter's talking here, talking about the Jews, 23:34 the leaders killed, what, the Prince of Life. 23:35 You remember the Prince and then he said, 23:38 "And now, brethren, I want or I know..." 23:41 Notice this, Acts 3:17 and 18, 23:44 "I see or I'm considering this that through ignorance, 23:47 you did it as did also your rulers." 23:50 Verse 18 says, 23:51 "But those things which God before had showed 23:54 by the mouth of all His prophets 23:57 that Christ should suffer and He has so fulfilled." 24:00 And then Peter did what? 24:01 He didn't let them off the hook. 24:03 He admonished them. You need to do what? 24:04 You need to repent, and you need to be converted. 24:08 Wow. 24:09 But why? Because they knew. 24:11 Let me read this real quick on the last minute. 24:12 We have Manuscript 9, 1898 says this, 24:15 "But this ignorance did not excuse their actions 24:18 for they had great light, if they had known, 24:21 they could not..." 24:22 They say we would not have crucified Him. 24:25 "Why did they not know? 24:27 Because they chose not to know." 24:31 Notice, chose not to know. 24:32 So he's not here. 24:34 The Bible encourages us to study to show ourselves 24:36 approved unto God, 24:38 search and study. 24:39 They did not do that 24:40 and because they did not make the right choice and saving 24:42 and pleaded ignorance as it were, 24:43 we didn't know. 24:45 It's the eternal ruin. 24:46 We need to be careful. 24:48 This is life and death situation. 24:49 These lessons we've been studying to me 24:50 is life and death situation 24:52 because each one is presenting Jesus 24:53 as our Lord and Savior, our righteousness. 24:56 He's our only hope in this mess 24:58 that we live in in this world. 25:00 And behold, He's standing at the door 25:01 and He's knocking, He's knocking at your door. 25:02 I know He's knocking the heart's door 25:05 and He says, "I want to come in. 25:06 Would you just by God's grace and strength 25:08 just open the door? 25:09 You won't be sorry for." 25:11 He'll come in, sup with you 25:12 and we'd spend eternity with Jesus. 25:13 Amen. 25:15 Thank you, Pastor Kenny. 25:16 Wow, we have three more days left in our lesson study. 25:20 So don't go away. 25:22 We'll be right back. 25:28 Ever wish you could watch 25:30 a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again 25:32 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 25:35 Well, you can by visiting 3ABNSabbathSchoolPanel.com, 25:40 a clean design makes it easy 25:42 to find the program you're looking for. 25:45 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 25:48 so you can follow along. 25:50 Sharing is easy. 25:51 Just click share 25:52 and choose your favorite social media. 25:54 Share a link, save a life for eternity. 25:58 Welcome back to our walk of faith 26:00 and we are now going to give the time to Ryan. 26:03 Amen. 26:05 I'm excited 'cause I get to talk 26:06 about one of my favorite Bible characters. 26:09 We're going to be talking about Paul. 26:11 And Paul was definitely a man of faith. 26:14 There's a reason 26:15 why the majority of the New Testament 26:17 is made up of this man's inspired writings, 26:19 inspired by the Holy Spirit. 26:21 He had lots to say. 26:22 And his journey of faith is life-transforming, 26:26 it's life-changing. 26:27 And I love to tell the story of how God used Paul. 26:30 And that's what 26:31 we're going to talk about right now. 26:33 Tuesday's lessons entitled, "Paul: God's Chosen Vessel, " 26:38 and the message of the lesson opens up with this. 26:41 It says when Paul accepted Christ, 26:43 his whole life was radically changed. 26:46 Christ gave him an entirely new future. 26:49 He led him out of his comfort zone 26:51 to experiences he could hardly have imagined 26:55 through the Holy Spirit's guidance, 26:56 the apostle Paul proclaim the Word of God 26:59 to thousands 27:00 throughout the Mediterranean world. 27:02 His witness changed 27:04 the history of Christianity and the world. 27:07 And I'm going to start right in Acts Chapter 9. 27:09 I think that's the best place to start. 27:11 We could back up and start in Acts 8. 27:13 But I'm going to jump right into Acts Chapter 9. 27:15 Now previous to this, we know that in Acts Chapter 7, 27:18 we're told that of course the last prophet of Israel 27:21 that would be murdered, 27:22 basically stoned to death would be Stephen. 27:24 And of course, the Bible says 27:26 that all of these people who murdered Stephen 27:28 laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 27:31 And we see in Acts Chapter 8, 27:34 there's a portion there of Acts Chapter 8, 27:35 where it says Saul goes on 27:37 and he's persecuting Christians. 27:39 He's fully devoted, 27:41 he's fully convinced in his mind 27:43 that these Christians are heretics 27:45 that they're teaching apostasy, 27:48 that they are basically causing a hindrance 27:50 to God's true kingdom agenda, 27:52 and that they are blaspheming God's name 27:55 by joining this Jesus cult, right? 27:58 And so now we come to Acts Chapter 9, 28:00 looking at the conversion of Saul, 28:03 who becomes Paul, powerful. 28:05 Notice verse 1, it says, 28:06 "Then Saul still breathing threats 28:07 and murders 28:09 against the disciples of the Lord, 28:10 went to the high priest 28:11 and ask letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus 28:15 so that if he found any who were in the way, 28:19 whether man or woman, 28:20 he might bring them bound to Jerusalem." 28:24 And then notice verse 3 and onward, 28:25 "And he journeyed and came near to Damascus, 28:28 and suddenly, a light shone around him from heaven. 28:31 Then he fell to the ground 28:33 and heard a voice saying to him, 28:35 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' 28:39 And he said, 'Where are You, Lord?' " 28:42 I mean, he knows, 28:44 even though he doesn't quite know 28:45 the identity just yet. 28:47 He knows by the experience he is experiencing 28:50 and what he's experiencing at this moment 28:54 that this is some divine person, 28:56 he knows that this is God, 28:57 "Where are You or Who are You, Lord? 29:00 Then the Lord said, 29:02 'I am Jesus who you are persecuting.'" 29:06 It is hard for you to kick against the ghosts. 29:09 I remember... 29:10 I can't remember exactly, 29:12 I think it might have been David Asscherick 29:13 or someone who gave an illustration of this. 29:14 But it's so powerful to think 29:16 that this man's life in a moment of time 29:19 was turned upside... 29:21 I'm sorry, right side up. 29:23 But you better believe he probably felt like 29:25 he was on some type of rollercoaster 29:28 for a moment 29:30 because everything that he believed 29:31 that he was fully convinced in 29:33 was completely transformed and completely proven wrong. 29:37 And I remember the illustration that this minister gave, 29:40 it said, this would be like us driving down the road 29:42 as Seventh-day Adventists. 29:43 And then this bright light shines around us 29:45 and we get kind of discombobulated, 29:47 and we find ourselves on the side of the road 29:48 and we're blind. 29:50 And this voice comes out and says, 29:51 "Ryan, Ryan, why are you persecuting me?" 29:54 And we say, "I don't know, Lord, who are you?" 29:57 And he says, "I'm the Pope." 30:01 Well. 30:03 That would be the equivalent of this. 30:05 And that's an illustration obviously. 30:07 Or it would be simply like, 30:09 you know, us reading in the headlines tomorrow 30:12 that Pope Francis somehow saw the light 30:14 and has left the Catholic Church 30:15 and joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 30:17 Like this is some bewildering 30:19 but amazing stuff that's happening to Paul. 30:22 It goes on to say in verse 6, 30:24 "So he trembling and astonished, said, 30:26 'Lord, what do you want me to do?' " 30:28 I know that was a rather interesting illustration 30:29 that I just gave. 30:30 But if you think about 30:32 that's exactly what he went through. 30:33 "Don't be just like us," you know? 30:35 "Well, I'm sorry. 30:36 I'm sorry, Pope Francis, 30:37 for all those evangelistic series 30:39 that I preached and all those other things." 30:40 That would be the equivalent to... 30:41 This guy is fully convinced 30:43 that Jesus is the enemy of the church, 30:45 and then now he's having an encounter. 30:47 And now he is confirmed that this is Jesus 30:49 and Jesus is Lord. 30:51 Powerful. 30:53 In fact, you go on to read on in that chapter, 30:54 verse 17. 30:56 He obviously is led to Damascus. 30:58 He's blind, he needs his sight back, 31:00 he's had this overwhelming experience. 31:02 Notice what verse 17 and onwards says, 31:04 "And Ananias went his way 31:06 and entered the house and laying hands on him, 31:09 he said, "Brother Saul, 31:10 the Lord Jesus who appear to you on the road, 31:13 as you came, 31:14 has sent me that you may receive your sight 31:17 and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 31:19 Immediately, there fell from his eyes, 31:21 something like scales, 31:23 and he received his sight at once. 31:25 And he arose and was baptized. 31:27 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. 31:30 Then Saul spent some days 31:32 with the disciples at Damascus." 31:33 And then notice verse 20 here, this is powerful, 31:36 "Immediately..." What word is that? 31:37 "Immediately." 31:39 "Immediately, he preached Jesus Christ 31:41 in the synagogues." 31:43 That's powerful, that He is the Son of God. 31:46 This brother didn't waste no time. 31:47 You're talking about faith. 31:49 This man had a... 31:50 He knew that the experience he had 31:51 was genuine. 31:53 He knew that whom he had been speaking to 31:54 was truly the Lord. 31:56 He had become fully convinced 31:57 that the Man that he thought was the enemy 31:59 was truly the Son of God 32:01 and He began to preach it like a boss all over the world. 32:04 And I love Paul's story 32:06 because there are people in this lifetime, very few, 32:10 but people who have a similar experience, 32:12 where they are fully convinced at one point, 32:14 but then later in life, 32:15 because they allow themselves to be humbled 32:17 and they allow themselves to be introduced 32:20 to the truth of God's Word, 32:22 they have to completely change their perspective. 32:24 What once they thought was complete heresy, 32:26 what they thought was complete apostasy, 32:28 now they believe it and teach it because Jesus, 32:30 they've had an encounter with Jesus. 32:31 That's right. 32:33 And they go on to teach and preach this. 32:34 And it's amazing that Jesus often chooses, 32:36 like Paul, the most unlikely candidates. 32:40 I'm thinking of people like the demoniacs, 32:43 the Samaritan woman, a prostitute, a tax collector, 32:47 a Galilean fisherman. 32:48 Who are you going to choose to send this gospel 32:51 to the to the world, Lord? 32:53 Oh, that fisherman over there out there in that boat. 32:55 I mean, literally, it's the most unlikely people. 32:58 And now of course, in this case, Paul's case, 33:00 a persecutor of Christianity. 33:02 These were all changed by grace 33:04 and then sent forth with joy in their hearts 33:07 to tell the story of what Christ had done 33:09 in their lives. 33:10 Each never tired of telling the story, 33:12 what Christ had done for them 33:14 was so marvelous that they had to share it. 33:17 They could not be silent. 33:19 Much like you and I. 33:20 If we're full of the Holy Spirit, 33:22 we're full of the Holy Ghost, 33:23 we have been transformed by the power of God. 33:26 It is the natural reaction. 33:29 It's the natural response of a Christian 33:31 to just pour forth the praises and the truth of God's Word 33:35 and to uplift Jesus Christ. 33:36 You can't help it. 33:38 Paul never wavered in his faith. 33:40 Wow. 33:41 This brother pressed forward all the way to the end, 33:44 and I love just for the lack of time here, 33:47 I'm going to skip forward to 2 Timothy 4:5-8. 33:50 I love this 33:51 because he's giving counsel to Timothy, 33:52 preach the word Timothy, 33:54 "Be instant in season and out of season reprove, 33:56 rebuke with all longsuffering and doctrine 33:59 for the time will come when they will not endure 34:01 sound doctrine, 34:02 but they will heap up for themselves, 34:03 having itching ears, teachers, 34:05 according to their own lust." 34:06 He goes through that whole spiel. 34:08 But notice verse 5 in 2 Timothy 4, 34:11 "But you be watchful in all things, 34:13 endure afflictions, 34:14 do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry, " 34:17 which Paul had done. 34:18 And then notice verse 6 on what it says, 34:20 "For I am already being poured out 34:21 as a drink offering, 34:23 and the time of my departure is at hand. 34:25 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. 34:27 I have kept the faith. 34:29 Finally, there is laid up for me..." 34:31 Look at this assurance, wow. 34:32 It's powerful. 34:33 "Finally, there is laid up for me 34:35 a crown of righteousness, 34:36 which the Lord the Righteous Judge 34:38 will give to me on that day, 34:39 and not to me only, but also to," 34:42 how many people? 34:43 To all who have loved His appearing. 34:46 If you think about this man's faith, 34:48 it's powerful. 34:49 And we're not here... I'm not here to uplift Paul. 34:52 We're uplifting Jesus 34:53 for what He has done through Paul. 34:55 And the fact that this man was a man of faith. 34:57 Paul didn't have to follow Jesus. 34:59 He could have remained in that blind state. 35:01 He could have remained in that blind state said, 35:03 "Jesus, you know, You say You're Lord, 35:05 you know, hey, 35:06 I'm not believing it, you know?" 35:08 He could have remained in that blind state 35:09 as many Christians today 35:11 choose and remain in their blind state 35:13 moving forward. 35:14 But Paul chose the call, he accepted that call, 35:17 he went forward in faith. 35:18 I mean, this is a man who was beaten, stoned, 35:23 in prison several times, ended up shipwrecked, 35:26 beaten with many stripes, 35:28 and ultimately gave his life beheaded, 35:30 gave his life for his faith. 35:33 And I want to read this in closing, 35:35 we seek men of faith like this, powerful men of faith. 35:38 But this statement from Great Controversy 35:40 really spills it out here. 35:42 "Why is it then that persecution seems 35:44 in a great degree to slumber? 35:46 The only reason is that the church has conformed 35:47 to the world's standard 35:49 and therefore awakens no opposition. 35:51 The religion which is current in our day is not the pure 35:53 and holy character that marked the Christian faith 35:55 in the days of Christ and His apostles. 35:57 It is only 35:59 because of the spirit of compromise with sin, 36:01 because the great truths of the Word of God 36:03 are so indifferently regarded 36:04 because there is so little vital godliness 36:06 in the church 36:08 that Christianity is apparently so popular 36:09 with the world. 36:11 And she says this, 36:12 "Let there be a revival of the faith 36:14 and power of the early church, 36:16 and the spirit of persecution will be revived, 36:18 and the fires of persecution will be rekindled." 36:21 That's Great Controversy, page 48, my friends, 36:23 we need to get serious and have the faith today, 36:26 pressing forward in Jesus name. 36:27 Amen, amen. Amen and amen. 36:29 Thank you. That's a powerful quote. 36:31 That is a powerful quote. 36:33 I have Wednesday's lesson, 36:35 and it's entitled, "The Demands of Love." 36:37 And I have to be honest, 36:38 I was a little 36:40 kind of thrown off by the title, 36:42 "The Demands of Love" 36:43 because the word demand 36:46 has kind of a negative connotation 36:49 or it's a strong word, 36:52 but the demands of love. 36:54 And as I began to study the lesson, 36:57 as we're going to do right now, 36:59 I really came around to see 37:02 what Pastor Finley is talking about here. 37:05 And I love how he starts out it says, I love how... 37:10 It begins with the statement, 37:12 "Love always manifests itself in action," 37:15 then it proceeds to say, 37:16 "Our love for Christ compels us to do something 37:20 for lost humanity." 37:22 You know, when you love somebody, 37:24 you're inspired to act. 37:26 You don't have to be forced to do something. 37:29 I'm not talking about the honey do list 37:31 when which I don't have yet. 37:33 I don't know, honey do list yet. 37:35 I've got a, "Jay, you got to do this" 37:38 and, "Jay, you got to do that" list. 37:40 But when you love somebody, 37:42 you do stuff because you love them. 37:45 And that's the same thing 37:46 with our relationship with Christ. 37:48 When you love Christ, 37:49 you do things because you love Him. 37:52 And that's one reason why I think it's so important 37:55 that when we're witnessing to people, 37:57 that we introduce them to Christ. 37:59 Don't just give them doctrine and say, 38:01 "Hey, go do this, go do that. 38:03 Don't do this. Don't do that." 38:04 Introduce them to Christ. 38:06 They'll fall in love with Him, follow Him 38:08 and those things will come naturally. 38:09 Amen. 38:11 Let's take a look at Matthew 25:34-40. 38:17 We're going to look at some different love here. 38:22 All right, beginning in verse 34. 38:25 It says, "Then the King will say to those 38:27 on His right hand, 38:28 'Come, you blessed of My Father, 38:29 inherit the kingdom prepared for you 38:31 from the foundation of the world, 38:33 for I was hungry and you gave Me food, 38:36 I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, 38:38 I was a stranger and you took Me in, 38:41 I was naked and you clothed Me, 38:43 I was sick and you visited Me, 38:45 I was in prison and you came to Me.' 38:48 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 38:50 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, 38:53 or thirsty and give You drink? 38:55 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, 38:58 or naked and clothe You? 38:59 Or when did we see You sick 39:01 or in prison, and come to You?' " 39:04 Now check this out. 39:05 "And the King will answer and say to them, 39:07 'Assuredly, I say to you, 39:09 inasmuch as you did it 39:11 to one of the least of these My brethren, 39:14 you did it to Me.'" 39:17 One way to show our love 39:19 is by meeting the needs of our brothers and sisters. 39:22 By doing so, we are showing our love for Christ 39:25 as long as... 39:27 Now get this, 39:28 as long as we have the right motives, 39:32 because we can do the right things 39:33 with the wrong motives. 39:35 You can sometimes people give to get, 39:38 you know, and do things for notoriety 39:41 or whatever the case may be. 39:42 So you can do right things with wrong motives. 39:46 So we want to focus on the right motives. 39:49 God is love and God is pure, 39:52 and He always does things with the right motives. 39:55 Another way that we can show our love 39:57 is by forgiveness and restoration. 40:00 Turn with me to John. 40:02 And we're going to look 40:04 at John 21:15-19. 40:11 John 21:15-19. 40:17 And it says, 40:19 "So when they had eaten breakfast, 40:21 Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, 40:24 do you love Me more than these?' 40:27 He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.' 40:30 He said to him, 'Feed My lambs.' 40:34 He said to him again a second time, 40:36 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' 40:39 He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.' 40:43 He said to him, 'Tend My sheep.' 40:46 He said to him the third time, 40:48 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' 40:52 Peter was grieved 40:54 because He said to him the third time, 40:55 'Do you love Me?' 40:57 And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things. 41:00 You know that I love You.' 41:01 Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep. 41:05 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, 41:08 you girded yourself and walked where you wished, 41:10 but when you are old, 41:11 you will stretch out your hands, 41:13 and another will gird you and carry you 41:15 where you do not wish.' 41:17 This He spoke, signifying 41:19 by what death he would glorify God. 41:23 And when He had spoken this, He said to him, 41:25 'Follow Me.'" 41:27 You know, we know 41:28 that Peter had denied Christ three times. 41:34 And it's interesting that Jesus asks him 41:37 this three times. 41:39 But then another exciting point 41:42 is that even though Peter messed up, 41:46 he denied Christ three times, 41:49 you know, and actually cursed in the process. 41:53 Yes. 41:55 He still took him back and He still entrusted him 41:58 with responsibility and said, "Feed My sheep. 42:02 Feed My sheep." 42:04 And another thing is that God doesn't just... 42:09 and I love how this is... 42:10 I'm just going to read it from the lesson here. 42:11 It says Jesus does not invite us 42:13 merely to give our time, 42:15 talent, and treasures to His cause, 42:17 He invites us to give our lives. 42:20 Christ paid it all for us. 42:21 Amen. 42:23 So we need to give of our lives. 42:26 You know, I think of times 42:28 where maybe I was in a grocery store 42:30 as a little kid, 42:32 and I'm shopping with my mom. 42:33 And of course, she's buying everything 42:35 because I'm a little kid, right? 42:36 So I'm in the store 42:39 and I'm looking at all these things 42:41 that I want, 42:42 and we're talking about love here. 42:45 I'm looking at all these things that I see that I want. 42:49 And I'm, you know, 42:51 trying to grab things and maybe "sneak" them 42:53 in the cart 42:55 because I know 42:56 that if my mom picks this thing up 43:00 whether it's cereal or whatever the case may be, 43:03 and she reads those ingredients, 43:06 chances are I'm not getting it. 43:08 Why? 43:10 Because she loves me 43:11 and she recognizes the fact 43:13 that those things are bad for me 43:16 and she doesn't want anything that's going to cause 43:19 any hurt, harm, or danger to her young one. 43:24 I'm also reminded of a story in Daniel. 43:28 You know, a part of love is being there 43:31 in the midst of a trial. 43:35 Fake love, 43:37 people abandon you in the midst of a trial, 43:39 you know, you get into some trouble and stuff 43:41 and people just take off. 43:43 So in Daniel, and if you want to turn there, 43:46 we can go there. 43:48 We're going to go to Daniel 43:49 we're looking at the fiery trial. 43:51 In Daniel chapter 3. 43:55 And I love this, 43:57 this is standing for God no matter what. 44:00 You know, basically Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego 44:03 answered and said to the king, this is in verse 16... 44:07 Actually, let's start in verse 15. 44:09 Daniel 3:15, it says, 44:11 "Now if you are ready at the time you hear 44:14 the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, 44:19 in symphony with all kinds of music, 44:22 and you fall down and worship the image 44:24 which I have made, good! 44:27 But if you do not worship, 44:29 you shall be cast immediately 44:31 into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 44:34 And who is the god 44:35 who will deliver you from my hands?" 44:38 Now get this, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 44:41 answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, 44:44 we have no need to answer you in this matter. 44:47 If that is the case, 44:48 our God whom we serve 44:50 is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, 44:53 and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 44:56 But if not, 44:57 let it be known to you, O king, 45:00 that we do not serve your gods 45:02 nor will we worship the gold image 45:04 which you have set up." 45:05 Now that's bold. 45:07 They're talking to the king and they're telling him, 45:08 "Look, I don't care what you do, 45:10 we worship the one true God, we love Him, 45:13 we serve Him with all of our hearts 45:16 and even in the face of death, 45:17 we will not succumb to this falsehood 45:21 or, in a previous study, 45:24 this craziness that he's got going on." 45:27 So I want to go down even into verse 19. 45:30 I know we're short on time here, 45:32 but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 45:34 were put into the fiery furnace. 45:38 It was hot. 45:40 They heated it seven times hotter. 45:43 In the midst of this fiery trial, 45:48 who is that in there? 45:50 They cast three people in there 45:51 but there's a fourth one like the Son of Man. 45:54 Jesus... 45:56 And I have to bring this out from the lesson 45:59 if I can get ever so quickly. 46:02 It says basically that, 46:04 "Divine love is active, not passive." 46:09 Jesus came down and stood with them 46:13 in the midst of their trial in the fiery furnace. 46:16 Amen. 46:18 We all go through trials. 46:20 We have a Savior that loves us so much 46:22 that He stands by us in the midst of those trials. 46:26 That's another way that love is on display 46:29 is by standing with your loved ones 46:31 in the midst of those trials. 46:33 Amen. Thank you so much, Jay. 46:36 I love that, "The Demands of Love." 46:38 I have Thursday's lesson "Love's Commitment." 46:41 And to me, this is the capstone. 46:45 Well, literally, on Thursday, on week number 13, I get that. 46:49 But I'm saying the message in here 46:51 is the capstone of everything 46:53 we've been talking about this entire quarter. 46:55 I want to start with a question, 46:57 if you knew what the future held, 46:59 would you make the same decision today? 47:03 That's pretty heavy. Let me say that again. 47:05 If you knew what the future held, 47:06 would you make the same decision today? 47:10 If you knew your spouse would get cancer and die, 47:12 would you marry them anyway? 47:14 If you knew your friend would betray you, 47:17 would you trust them with your heart anyway? 47:20 If you knew 47:21 your children would walk away from God, 47:25 would you have them anyway? 47:27 If you knew you would lose your job, 47:29 would you still give it your all? 47:33 If you knew you would have an accident, 47:35 would you still go on that road trip? 47:38 If you knew your service as a missionary would end up 47:42 in you been killed, 47:44 would you serve anyway? 47:47 If you knew what the future held, 47:49 would you make the same decisions today? 47:54 That's what we're talking about today 47:55 is love's commitment. 47:57 Turn with me to John 21. 48:02 Actually, we're going to start in John 13. 48:04 We'll start there and then jump to John 21. 48:06 The greatest joy in life is serving Jesus 48:11 and seeing other people come to Him. 48:15 We discussed in an earlier lesson 48:17 that the Father and Jesus have joy 48:20 when one of us comes to repentance 48:24 and returns to the Father. 48:26 And the greatest joy for us as Christians 48:28 is to see other people come to Jesus, 48:32 but with the privilege 48:34 of being His witness comes a price. 48:38 Let's talk about that. 48:39 We're going to talk about Jesus's commitment, 48:42 Peter's commitment, and then our commitment today. 48:47 Jesus's commitment, we're in John 13, 48:50 excuse me, in John 13:3-4. 48:53 Now, of course, 48:54 this is the foot washing experience 48:56 in the upper room, 48:57 "Jesus knowing 48:58 that the Father had given all things into His hands, 49:00 and that He had come from God and was going to God, 49:03 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, 49:06 took a towel and girded himself." 49:09 Now John could have easily said, 49:11 Jesus took a towel and girded himself 49:13 and started to wash the disciples feet. 49:15 But instead of that, he said, 49:17 "Jesus knowing 49:19 that the Father had given Him all things, 49:21 that He had come from God and going back to God, 49:24 He still chose to serve. 49:26 With full knowledge of His divinity, 49:29 He chose to serve." 49:31 In other words, He served with eyes wide open. 49:35 Philippians 2, 49:37 you talked about that Pastor John, 49:38 Philippians 2 the mind of Christ, verses 5-8. 49:42 "Let this mind be in you, 49:44 which was also in Christ Jesus, 49:47 who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery 49:49 to be equal with God, 49:51 but made himself of no reputation, 49:54 taking the form of a servant, 49:56 coming in the likeness of men 49:58 and being found in appearance as a man, 50:00 He humbled Himself 50:01 and became obedient to the point of death, 50:04 even the death of the cross." 50:06 With knowledge of the cross 50:08 and the humiliation of becoming man 50:10 and dying for our sins, 50:12 Jesus still chose to come. 50:15 Let's look at Peter's commitment. 50:18 John 21. 50:20 Jay already talked about that. 50:22 John 21. 50:23 We're going to read again, 50:25 the two verses, verses 18 and 19. 50:28 "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, 50:31 you girded yourself," 50:32 this is Jesus talking to Peter, 50:34 "and walked where you wished. 50:36 But when you are old, 50:37 you will stretch out your hands, 50:39 and another will gird you," 50:41 indicating he's going to be bound as a criminal, 50:45 "and carry you where you do not wish." 50:48 This he spoke 50:49 signifying by what death he would glorify God. 50:52 And when he had spoken this, he said to him, "Follow Me." 50:55 And we know Peter was crucified. 50:58 That is how his life ended. 51:00 And he actually was crucified upside down 51:02 because he did not want to be crucified 51:04 in the same manner as His Lord and Savior. 51:08 The lesson says this, I liked it so much, 51:10 I'm going to quote it directly. 51:13 "Jesus was offered the privilege 51:17 by the Sea of Galilee, 51:18 of being a witness for Jesus. 51:21 And He experienced great joy, 51:23 seeing those souls won to the kingdom of God. 51:27 At Pentecost, 51:28 thousands came to believe Jesus as their Savior. 51:32 He witnessed miracles by him, through him, 51:34 through the Lord working through him. 51:36 The dead were raised to life and the lame walked again, 51:39 and he saw conversion of not just Jews, but Gentiles. 51:42 But that privilege would come with a price. 51:46 It would demand a sacrifice the ultimate sacrifice." 51:50 Peter was asked to make the commitment to follow Jesus 51:53 and win souls for Him with his eyes wide open. 51:58 "For Peter now knew that no sacrifice was too great 52:01 to join Jesus in His mission to the world." 52:04 So that call comes from Jesus to Peter, 52:06 down to you and to I. 52:09 "Love's Commitment," 52:10 when we make a choice to follow Jesus 52:13 and to spend our lives sharing Jesus with others. 52:18 We make that choice with eyes wide open, 52:21 knowing that with the privilege also comes a price. 52:26 So what are six things that we commit to. 52:28 Here's the list of six. Okay. 52:30 Number one, decide to follow Jesus. 52:34 That's the first thing, make a choice to follow Jesus, 52:37 Joshua 24, toward the end of his life, 52:39 verse 15, 52:40 "If it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, 52:42 choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, 52:46 whether the gods which your father served 52:48 on the other side of the river 52:50 or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. 52:53 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." 52:58 Amen. Yeah. 53:00 Joshua is telling the children of Israel, 53:02 don't serve the God of tradition. 53:04 Don't serve 53:05 just because your parents did it 53:06 or your grandparents did it. 53:08 don't serve the gods around you, 53:10 those Gods from your family, maybe even or your friends, 53:14 or other people in your life. 53:16 Make a choice. Commit to follow Him. 53:19 Number two, commit your plans, your ways, your life to Him. 53:24 You know, there's a difference between just saying, 53:25 "Okay, I'm going to follow Jesus," 53:28 or "I'm going to give Him everything in my heart. 53:32 I'm going to give him everything in my life." 53:35 Psalm 37:4, "Commit your way to the Lord, 53:38 trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass." 53:43 Number three, be willing to follow 53:46 no matter the cost. 53:48 Matthew 10:38, 53:51 "And he who does not take his cross 53:54 and follow Me is not worthy of Me." 53:58 Matthew... 54:00 Mark, I'm sorry, Mark 8:34, 54:02 when He had called the people to Himself 54:05 with His disciples also He said to them, 54:07 "Whoever desires to come after Me, 54:09 let him deny himself, take up his cross, 54:11 and follow Me." 54:12 What is the cross? 54:14 It's different things for different people, 54:15 but it could be my pride and self-love 54:18 or my ambition or money 54:20 or prestige or job or house or car. 54:23 For some of you, it's your family. 54:26 That might be the cost, 54:28 be willing to follow no matter what. 54:33 Number four, love others. 54:35 John 13:35, 54:37 "By this all will know that you are My disciples 54:41 if you have love for one another." 54:44 Number five, make a commitment to intercede for other people. 54:51 Ezekiel 22, 54:52 I've referenced this verse before 54:54 but I really like it. 54:55 Ezekiel 22:30, "I thought for a man," 54:58 this is God speaking, 55:00 "among them who would make a wall 55:01 and stand in the gap 55:03 before Me on behalf of the land, 55:06 that I should not destroy it, but I found no one." 55:10 Make a decision to stand in the gap 55:15 for your brothers and sisters, 55:17 intercede for other people's salvation. 55:21 Finally, number six, 55:23 never be ashamed of Christ. 55:26 Never be ashamed of His Word. 55:29 Never be ashamed of His people. 55:32 Romans 1:16, 55:33 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ 55:36 for it is the power of God to salvation 55:38 for everyone who believes to the Jew first, 55:41 and also to the Greek." 55:44 I want to close with the lyrics to the song. 55:47 "Lord, I'm giving back the life that You breathed into me. 55:51 As a living sacrifice, I lay it down. 55:54 I am placing at Your throne all desires of my own 55:59 as I run the race to win the victor's crown at any cost. 56:05 I will follow where You lead me. 56:07 And anywhere You send me, I will go. 56:11 What was gain, I count as loss for the glory of Your cross. 56:16 Lord, I seek to do Your will at any cost. 56:22 I just want to encourage you. 56:23 We've been studying all quarter 56:25 about witnessing for Jesus at any cost. 56:27 With that privilege comes the price. 56:30 Make a choice today to serve Jesus, 56:33 to witness for Jesus at any cost. 56:36 Amen. Thank you. 56:38 Wow. 56:39 Powerful. Praise God. 56:41 You said capstone and you're right. 56:42 Praise the Lord. 56:43 Thank you for that presentation. 56:45 Pastor Kenny, your closing thoughts? 56:46 Just like leave this thought here with everybody 56:47 as we close out this quarter. 56:49 Christ's Object Lesson 43, 56:51 "But the teacher of sacred truth 56:52 can impart only that 56:54 which he himself knows by experience. 56:56 "The sower sowed the seed." 56:58 Christ taught the truth because He was the truth. 57:00 His thoughts and His own character 57:02 and His own life experience 57:04 was embodied as His teacher." 57:07 Amen. 57:08 You know, we don't have time 57:10 to be overtaken by the spirit of compromise 57:13 and complacency in these last days. 57:15 And may we not regard 57:17 indifferently the truths of God's Word, 57:19 that we get serious now, 57:21 may we look to Jesus, 57:22 the author and finisher of our faith 57:23 because the Bridegroom is on His way. 57:25 Amen. Jason? 57:27 Study Christ's life, 57:29 learn of His love and impart it to others. 57:32 Amen, absolutely. 57:33 Make a choice, make a commitment 57:36 to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. 57:38 Amen. Wow. 57:39 What a quarter we've had "Making Friends for God." 57:43 Let me encourage you, Proverbs 18:24. 57:46 The Bible says, 57:47 "A man who has friends 57:48 must show himself to be friendly, 57:51 but there is a friend 57:53 that sticks closer than a brother." 57:55 Become a friend of God and go make friends for God. 57:58 Join us next quarter 57:59 for the lesson entitled "Education." 58:02 God bless you until we see you then. |
Revised 2020-09-18