Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP230016S
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00:01 It's time for another hour of blessing on 3ABN.
00:03 We are studying a Lesson entitled: 00:06 Three Cosmic Messages by Pastor Mark Finley. 00:09 This is Lesson Number 4 00:11 and the Title is: Fear God and Give Glory to Him. 00:15 If you do not have a Lesson, 00:16 go to 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 00:19 and there you can download one for free. 00:21 Get your Bible and join us. 00:23 It's going to be a blessing. 00:25 Music... 00:55 Dinzey: Welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:57 This is Lesson Number 4: Fear God and Give Glory to Him. 01:02 My name is John Dinzey, 01:03 it's a blessing for me to be with you 01:04 along with my Three ABN Family, 01:06 well, part of the family that is here, 01:08 and I like to introduce them. 01:09 To my left is Pastor Ryan Day. 01:11 Ryan: Amen, I have Monday's lesson 01:13 and it's entitled: Fearing and Obeying God. 01:16 Dinzey: Amen... Sister Jill Morikone 01:19 Vice President of 3ABN. 01:20 Jill: Thank you, Pastor Johnny, 01:22 I have Tuesday which is: Living a God-centered Life. 01:24 Dinzey: Amen... Pastor John Lomacang, welcome. 01:27 Lomacang: Mine is: Giving Glory to God on Wednesday. 01:31 Looking forward to it. 01:32 Dinzey: Amen... amen. 01:34 Well, we have Professor Daniel Perrin here with us, 01:36 welcome. 01:37 Perrin: Thank you, and I've got the final Lesson of the week, 01:39 Thursday: Good News to the Overcomers. 01:41 Dinzey: Amen, praise the Lord. 01:43 Well, I'd like to ask Daniel Perrin 01:45 to lead us in prayer... this... we have to start with prayer, 01:47 this is a wonderful Lesson 01:49 and we want to make sure we are with the Lord. 01:52 Please... Perrin: Thank you. 01:53 "Dear Father in heaven, 01:55 Lord, we come to You today giving thanks to You 01:58 that in Your Word we find strength and power 02:01 not to glorify ourselves but to give glory to You. 02:04 Lord, as we study today and as we learn... 02:07 we commit ourselves again to let our lives shine the light 02:10 that You put within us... the light of Jesus. 02:12 in His name, we pray, amen. " 02:14 Panel: Amen... amen.. amen. 02:16 Dinzey: Amen, well, as we look at Lesson Number 4, 02:19 we see that it presents to us in the beginning, 02:22 that the world seems to be going about 02:24 their every-day thing not thinking about the signs 02:27 that are all over the world 02:29 telling us that Jesus Christ is coming soon 02:31 and the Lesson brings out an interesting story 02:34 about a stage and a clown 02:36 and in this situation, 02:39 there was a fire in the back of the stage that broke out 02:42 and this fire was getting dangerous 02:44 and the... one of the clowns came out to warn the people, 02:47 "You got to leave the building, the building is on fire. " 02:50 But the people in the audience thought, 02:52 "Well, this is just a joke... " 02:53 and they were laughing and laughing 02:55 and he urgently tried to tell them, 02:56 "Please leave as soon as you can... there's a fire... " 03:00 and the more he pled with them, they more they laughed 03:03 and they applauded 03:05 not understanding the danger they were in. 03:07 This is a story that's presented to us 03:10 by Soren Kierkegaard... 03:12 it's a parable he came up with, it's not a real story, 03:15 but it really illustrates 03:16 the things that are going on in the world, 03:19 people are going about their every day life 03:21 as if nothing is happening, 03:23 every day will be another day. 03:25 But in Luke chapter 17 verses 26 to 30, 03:29 we have a message from God's Word 03:32 that helps us understand 03:33 that this is what we're going to be seeing in the last days. 03:36 Notice Luke 17 beginning in verse 26, 03:39 "And as it was in the days of Noah, 03:42 so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 03:45 They ate, they drank, they married wives, 03:48 they were given in marriage, 03:50 until the day that Noah entered the ark, 03:52 and the flood came and destroyed them all. 03:55 Likewise, as it was also in the days of Lot: 03:58 they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, 04:01 they planted, they built; 04:02 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom 04:05 it rained fire and brimstone from heaven 04:08 and destroyed them all. 04:10 Even so, will it be 04:12 in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. " 04:14 So, when Jesus returns, this is what we are going to be seeing. 04:18 People are going about their everyday life 04:20 not knowing that Jesus Christ is coming. 04:23 and this takes us to Sunday's portion of the Lesson 04:27 entitled: Fear God 04:28 and we're going to look at... "What does it mean 04:31 to fear God?" 04:33 I'd like to read the opening message here 04:35 by Pastor Mark Finley... in the Lesson, it says: 04:37 The purpose of the book of Revelation for our generation 04:41 is to prepare a people to be ready for Jesus' soon return 04:45 and to unite with Him 04:47 in giving His last-day message to the world. 04:50 Revelation reveals the plans of God 04:53 and unmasks the plans of Satan. 04:56 It presents God's final appeal, 04:59 His urgent, eternal, universal message 05:02 for all humanity. " 05:04 And the question is: 05:05 Why does God even bother to make a final appeal? 05:10 The Bible reveals that God is love 05:13 and He would love to see each and every one of His children 05:17 repent and accept the great plan of salvation 05:20 and escape the... what is going to happen to people 05:24 that the wages of sin is death if they don't repent. 05:28 Let's go to 2nd Peter chapter 3 verse 9, 05:31 a very well-known passage in the Bible for most people, 05:35 it says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, 05:40 as some count slackness, 05:42 but is longsuffering toward us... " 05:44 that means, He's very patient with us. 05:47 "Not willing that any should perish 05:50 but that all should come to repentance. " 05:52 It is God's desire that all come to repentance. 05:57 But you and I have been giving... 05:59 have been given a great gift 06:00 and that is the freedom of choice. 06:03 You can choose what you want to do. 06:05 God is not going to force anyone to be saved. 06:07 The angels are not going to come down from heaven 06:09 dragging people to accept eternal life. 06:13 You must make a choice 06:15 and really, God has the best offer. 06:19 What does Satan offer? 06:21 "Oh, enjoy yourself here and there 06:23 but in the end, you're going to burn in the fires of hell 06:28 and eventually die. " 06:30 Let's go look at Revelation chapter 14, 06:33 I'm just going to read verses 6 and 7 06:36 because here we have a message that we need to look at. 06:40 The Lesson said verse 7, 06:42 but I want to look at verse 6 to give us a little context, 06:44 Revelation 14:6 and 7, 06:46 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, 06:50 having the everlasting gospel 06:53 to preach to those who dwell on the earth... 06:56 to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people... " 06:59 this is everybody... 07:01 this is the whole world... needs to know this message. 07:03 And this says, "Saying with a loud voice, 07:07 'Fear God and give glory to Him, 07:10 for the hour of His judgment has come; 07:13 and worship Him who made heaven and earth, 07:16 the sea and the springs of water. " 07:19 There's obviously here a message that we all need to know... 07:23 all need to understand 07:24 and that it is a final appeal that God is making 07:28 there in Revelation chapter 14 for each and every one of us... 07:31 the whole world... 07:33 every nation, kindred, tongue, and people needs to hear... 07:35 needs to know this message urgently 07:38 and I praise the Lord for Three Angels Broadcasting Network 07:41 that has been doing this since the fall of 1986, 07:44 first began in North America 07:47 then eventually spread throughout the whole world. 07:49 Panel: Amen. 07:51 Dinzey: And for... since 1986, 07:53 that's amazing what God has done. 07:56 Millions of people have heard this urgent message 07:59 and million more need to hear this message. 08:02 But, we need to ask ourselves 08:04 what does this word "Fear God" mean? 08:07 The Lesson brings out the Greek New Testament word for "fear" 08:11 in Revelation 14:7 is: "phoebe. " 08:13 It is used here not in the sense of being afraid of God 08:18 but in the sense of reverence, awe, and respect. 08:22 And God deserves all of that 08:24 because He is holy. 08:27 He created us... 08:29 He is daily providing for us 08:32 and we need to be in reverence awe of His great love... 08:36 His great mercy and His desire for you to be saved... 08:40 His desire for me to be saved. 08:42 "It is an attitude of mind that is God-centered 08:46 rather than self-centered. " 08:47 This is what the lesson brings out. 08:49 So, I'd like to go to some of the Scriptures 08:53 that are presented in the Bible 08:55 but it is interesting... I want to ask this question 08:58 in the context of Revelation 14:6, 09:01 what does it mean to fear God? 09:03 Yes, be in reverence awe of Him, 09:06 but there's an interesting passage in Revelation chapter, 09:10 I'm sorry, Proverbs chapter 8 09:11 that defines... that helps us understand 09:14 a little more about what fear... 09:16 what "to fear God" is. 09:17 In Proverbs chapter 8 verse 13, 09:19 this is not found in your lesson, 09:20 so, those of you following with the Lesson, 09:23 write it down, Proverbs chapter 8 verse 13, 09:25 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; 09:29 pride and arrogance and the evil way 09:33 and the perverse mouth I hate. " 09:35 So, to fear the Lord, is to hate evil. 09:39 Now, this is not something natural for human beings. 09:43 We must have a change of heart. 09:45 We must become a new creation in Jesus Christ. 09:49 Then, being a new creation of Jesus Christ, 09:52 the old things have passed away, all things have become new. 09:55 The Lord helps us to learn to hate evil 09:58 because all that evil does... 10:01 there's this moment of joy... you enjoy it for a moment, 10:04 but it does bring death. 10:06 It does bring suffering to yourself and to others. 10:11 So, notice Psalm 97 verse 10, 10:15 "You who love the LORD, hate evil! 10:19 He preserves the souls of His saints; 10:22 He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. " 10:25 For God's children, there is a process that must be learned 10:29 and that is to hate evil because it causes suffering. 10:33 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 10:34 Remember that in John chapter 14 verse 15, 10:37 Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments. " 10:41 So, when you think of fearing God, 10:43 yes, there's an aspect of respect... 10:46 of fearing Him because He is holy 10:49 and He is merciful and loving to each and every one of us 10:55 and so, out of love, 10:57 out of gratitude for what He does for us, 10:59 we should do what Jesus says, 11:01 if we love Him, keep His commandments 11:03 and really, it is the commandments 11:06 that help us understand what evil is. 11:08 So this message that "to fear God" is to hate evil, 11:12 is joined together with the Ten Commandments 11:16 because evil is shown to us by what the commandments say 11:22 and so, let's go ahead and consider Psalm 34 and verse 11 11:27 beginning there and there we're going to see 11:30 how wonderful the Lord is 11:32 because of our own, we cannot hate evil. 11:35 Notice Psalm 34:11, 11:37 "Come, you children, listen to me; 11:40 I will teach you the fear of the LORD." 11:43 So, if you want to learn how to hate evil, 11:46 we have to come to the Lord 11:48 and the more you learn from the Lord, 11:51 He is going to bless you step by step 11:54 to learn to hate evil. 11:57 Notice what it says... verse 12, 11:59 "Who is the man who desires life, 12:01 and loves many days, that he may see good? 12:04 Keep your tongue from evil. 12:06 and your lips from speaking deceit. 12:09 Depart from evil and do good; 12:12 seek peace and pursue it. " 12:14 So, this is all joined together. 12:17 This is accompanied with the message that Jesus said, 12:19 "If you love Me, 12:21 keep My commandments. " 12:23 I'm reading to you from the Lesson, 12:25 it says, "Instead... it is... to fear God... 12:28 it is the attitude of Christ, 12:30 who, though 'being in the form of God... 12:33 humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, 12:36 even the death on the cross. '" 12:38 And so, the Lesson continues by saying, 12:40 "The essence of the great controversy 12:43 revolves around the submission to God. 12:45 Lucifer was self-centered. 12:47 He refused to submit to any authority except his own. 12:51 Rather than submit to the One upon the throne, 12:54 Lucifer desired to rule from the throne. " 12:58 He wanted to take God's place. 12:59 "Put simply, to fear God is to place Him first in our thinking. 13:04 It is to renounce our self-centeredness and pride 13:08 and to live a life wholly for Him. " 13:11 So, good news also is found in Philippians chapter 2, 13:15 verse 13... 12 and 13... 13:18 "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, 13:21 not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, 13:25 work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13:29 for it is God who works in you 13:32 both to will and to do for His good pleasure. " 13:36 Praise the Lord. 13:37 In Signs of the Times, May 16, 1892, it says, 13:40 "The Lord has commanded us to work out your own salvation 13:42 with fear and trembling. " 13:44 Well, what does this mean? 13:45 It means that you feel your necessity, 13:48 that you are poor in spirit, 13:49 that you rejoice with trembling. 13:51 It means that you know that in the very words you utter 13:54 you may make a mistake, 13:56 that in the very best of your work 13:57 self may be so mingled that your efforts may be valueless. " 14:00 So, we need to fear God and give glory to Him 14:03 because the hour of His judgment is come. 14:06 Learn to hate evil through the Lord Jesus Christ. 14:08 Panel: Amen, amen. 14:10 Ryan: Thank you Pastor Dinzey for that great introduction. 14:12 My name is Ryan Day and I have Lesson Number 2 14:16 in this week's Lesson 14:17 and it's entitled: Fearing and Obeying God 14:19 and basically, this Lesson is just extending 14:21 from what Pastor Dinzey has already set the foundation for 14:25 and that is... exploring... 14:27 looking deeper into how we can indeed fear God 14:29 and as Pastor Dinzey brought out very clearly, 14:32 you know, we don't fear God in the sense that we tremble 14:35 in our... in our clothes and run in the opposite direction 14:38 because we're terrified of Him, no... 14:39 this is a reverential awe... 14:41 this is a respect... it's an honor 14:43 that you have for Him because He is God... 14:45 because He is Creator 14:47 and that's essentially what Monday 14:49 is taking it a step further and saying, "You know what? 14:51 one other aspect that we can learn to fear God 14:55 and to show our reverence for him 14:56 is obeying Him 14:58 it's simply living a life of obedience 15:00 and so, we're actually going to dive 15:02 right into the book of Deuteronomy chapter 6 15:04 verses 1 and 2... this is... this is right within the context 15:07 and previous to or before the great Shema there. 15:11 Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one and... 15:14 but right before that... 15:16 this is what God says in Deuteronomy chapter 6 15:18 verses 1 and 2, 15:19 it says, "Now, this is the commandment, 15:22 and these are the statutes and judgments 15:24 which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, 15:27 that you may observe them in the land 15:30 which you are crossing over to possess, 15:32 that you may fear the Lord your God, 15:35 to keep all His statutes and His commandments 15:38 which I command you, 15:39 you and your son and your grandson, 15:42 all the days of your life, 15:44 and that your days may be prolonged. " 15:46 In other words, this is God the Father 15:49 indeed the Father... a parent... our heavenly parent 15:52 who is saying to His children, saying to His people, 15:55 "I'm... I'm not only your God, I am your Father 15:58 and I want you to respect Me, 15:59 I want you to honor Me, 16:01 I want you to love Me, 16:02 I want you to... to have a reverence and an awe for me 16:04 and understand that I am your God... 16:06 I am your Lord... 16:08 I am your Creator... " 16:09 and this isn't, you know, God saying, 16:10 "I want you to fear Me... " like it says before, 16:12 "I want you to be terrified and tremble... " 16:14 even though they did when He came around 16:16 and when God's presence was there, 16:18 especially when He was filling the temple 16:19 and when He spoke from the mountain, 16:21 the people would hit their faces 16:22 and they would just tremble and shake 16:24 because of God's presence... 16:25 because of God's majesty 16:26 but nonetheless, God is not saying, 16:28 "Run away from Me... be terrified of Me... " 16:30 He's saying, "Respect Me... honor Me... " 16:32 and what are one of the best ways that we can do that? 16:34 Even I think of the relationship 16:36 between a parent and their children, 16:37 one of the best ways that you can honor and respect 16:39 your parents is simply by obeying them... 16:42 showing that you care for them 16:44 and that you respect them by doing what they tell you to do 16:47 and... and refraining from doing 16:49 what they tell you not to do 16:50 and so, even Psalm chapter 119 verse 73 also communicates 16:54 the same powerful point 16:56 and it says here, "Your hands have made me and fashioned me; 16:59 give me understanding, 17:00 that I may learn Your commandments. 17:03 Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, 17:07 because I have hoped in Your Word. " 17:09 I love that. 17:11 And, of course, the great... 17:12 probably the... the pinnacle epicenter text, I guess, 17:17 that you could say on this whole subject 17:18 in fearing God and understanding the relationship 17:21 between... again fearing God and obeying Him 17:23 would be, of course, you can't leave out Ecclesiastes 17:26 chapter 12 verses 13 and 14. 17:28 The wisest man to ever live, right, 17:31 with the exception of Christ... Solomon here 17:34 in his... in the last words that he's writing 17:37 in his great book of Ecclesiastes 17:38 where he's talking about life and the point of life 17:41 and how all of live is vanity 17:43 but then he comes down to this one final major point 17:46 and he says here in Ecclesiastes 12 verse 13 and 14, 17:49 if he could just juice all of his wise mind 17:52 down to just a few words, 17:53 this is his final kind of thesis statement 17:56 for all of what our goal and our purpose is in life, 17:59 and he says here in verse 13 and 14, 18:02 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: 18:05 Fear God and keep His commandments, 18:08 for this is the whole duty of man. " 18:11 Or as the King James Version says, 18:13 well no, actually, this is the King James Version, 18:16 New King James Version says, "this is man's all. " 18:18 Right, "For God shall bring every work into judgment... " 18:22 this is verse 14, 18:23 "with every secret thing 18:25 whether it be good or whether it be evil. " 18:28 And so, this is our purpose, our goal is to reverence God, 18:31 to show Him and to respond to Him 18:33 with obedience to let Him know, 18:35 "Lord, we know who You are... we respect who You are, 18:38 and You are our God. " 18:39 And one of the best ways we can do that is simply 18:41 following through in obedience. 18:43 Obedience is the natural response to grace. 18:47 I love that. 18:49 Panel: That's good. 18:50 Ryan: In the natural response to someone you respect and honor. 18:52 I remember growing up in... in the Day-family household. 18:55 You know, many people might say 18:58 based on my parents' old-school parenting style 19:00 that, "Well, you respected them because they spanked you. " 19:03 No... of course, you know, 19:04 they put the fear in us often 19:06 and the respect in us often, 19:07 because they did not put up with nonsense 19:09 and they certainly weren't putting up with disrespect 19:11 and disobedience, 19:13 but my parents did it in such a way 19:15 in an appropriate way... in a balanced way 19:17 and they did it in such a way 19:18 that they would always talk to us 19:20 and they would always share with us 19:22 and they would always earn that respect 19:24 and earn that... 19:25 that love and that honor that we had for them, 19:28 but in our household, there was a respect, 19:30 there was... I guess you could say an appropriate reverence 19:32 for our parents that when dad walked into the room 19:34 and he said, "Son, clean your room. " 19:36 you didn't just stand there and look at him 19:38 like he was some... node on a log, 19:40 you said, "Yes Sir... " you go do it. 19:41 If Mom said, "Hey, go in there, go out there and mow the lawn 19:44 and have it done before your dad gets back... " 19:46 you know what? 19:47 You don't sit there and you know, think on it 19:48 and ponder on it for the rest of the afternoon 19:50 about "You know, hey, I don't think I want to do this or not" 19:52 and that seems to be kind of the mentality today 19:55 among many households as their children have a choice 19:58 and it's not that we don't have a choice 19:59 or that parents steal or take that away from us, 20:01 but that you reverence... you respect... 20:03 you honor the parents that God has given you. 20:06 I... you know, this is the same relationship 20:08 works with our God, 20:10 I remember, you know, years ago, 20:11 I was on my way to pick up my wife, Stephanie, 20:14 she was doing her internship for her education degree 20:17 and we only had one vehicle at the time 20:19 and so, I would drop her off in the morning 20:20 and then, I would pick her up in the evening. 20:22 Well, in this particular afternoon, 20:24 after, you know, we were in the end of the day 20:25 and I was going to pick her up, 20:27 you know, went down the same little path, 20:29 same little road that I always go on, 20:31 and on this particular day, I got a little excited... 20:34 because I was excited to go pick up my wife 20:35 and see my wife... 20:37 we hadn't seen each other in seven whole hours 20:38 and so, top this hill and I as I was topping the hill, 20:43 I looked down to the bottom and there was a cop 20:45 and I'm... and I knew immediately... I thought, 20:48 "Well, there's no need for me to even hit the brake 20:50 because he's already got me. " 20:52 So, of course, when I passed him, 20:54 I just automatically started putting... applying the brake, 20:56 because I saw him pull out behind me 20:58 and he put his lights on. 21:00 Needless to say when he pulled me over... 21:02 he came to my vehicle... he asked me a few questions 21:04 you know, the usual... you know, your license, 21:06 insurance and registration and all that stuff. 21:09 Where you going and why you're going so fast? 21:11 and I told him... and I just kind of let it away from me, 21:14 I wasn't paying attention, I take this route every day, 21:16 I'm excited to go pick up my wife. 21:18 I told him that we attended the local Christian school, 21:21 we were going to a Bible school at that time 21:22 and, you know, I'm going to pick up my wife 21:24 where she's doing her education degree 21:26 and explained all that... 21:27 he said, "Okay, give me a moment. " 21:28 He went back to his truck and I'm thinking, 21:30 "Man, the last thing I need right now is a ticket. 21:31 I'm a college student, I don't make a lot of money, 21:34 I don't have the money to pay a ticket... " 21:36 I started praying, "Lord, please let this... 21:38 let this cop have mercy on me. " 21:40 But in my mind, I remember thinking, 21:42 "You know what? I broke the law... 21:43 I deserve that ticket 21:44 and more than likely I'm probably going to get a ticket. " 21:47 The cop came back to my vehicle and he hands me my license, 21:50 registration, insurance... proof of insurance... back 21:53 and he says, "Hey look, just have a great day, 21:55 slow it down a little bit, 21:56 go pick up your wife and enjoy the rest of your day. " 21:58 He goes and walks back to his vehicle and I... 22:01 and at that moment I thought, "Ah, yes... I received grace, 22:06 he was merciful on me and he showed me grace, 22:09 you know, I didn't deserve... 22:11 or... I deserved the penalty 22:13 but he didn't give me the penalty that I deserved. " 22:15 And so, as he got in his car... 22:16 and... or as he was walking to his car, 22:19 I put my vehicle down in second gear 22:21 and I did... vroom... and I peeled out throwing rocks 22:24 on the... on the cop car behind me 22:26 because I was so excited that I was not under the law anymore, 22:29 I had been shown grace 22:31 and I no longer needed to obey the law 22:32 because he told me that I didn't have to have a ticket 22:35 or that I wasn't going to receive the penalty 22:37 for breaking the law. 22:38 Jill: No... 22:40 Ryan: No, that's not exactly what happened. 22:43 It was right the opposite, 22:45 my natural response obviously was... 22:48 none of that ever happened, 22:49 I didn't throw rocks on the car behind... the cop car behind me, 22:51 I literally, I was... I was just so blessed 22:54 and so thankful that I had been shown grace, 22:57 that my natural response was to put it in drive 23:00 and eeeease slowly out on to the road 23:03 and make sure I put my turn signal on 23:07 and made sure I was following all the laws that I could 23:10 because the natural response that I had been shown grace 23:12 was that I wanted... I respect the law now, 23:15 I respected the law man, 23:16 I respected the fact that that law was put there to protect me 23:19 and to keep me safe. 23:20 and I wanted to follow it out of respect and honor 23:22 and that's the same thing for us, 23:23 Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 through 10 tells us 23:26 that for by grace you have been saved through faith. 23:28 And not of works, it is the gift of God, 23:31 excuse me... it is the gift of God, 23:33 not of works, lest any one should boast. 23:35 For we are His workmanship, 23:37 created in Christ Jesus for good works, 23:40 which God prepared beforehand, 23:41 that we should walk in them. " 23:43 We're not saved by works 23:44 but because we are saved by grace through faith, 23:46 the natural response is that God has created us 23:49 for good works. 23:50 Even Romans chapter 1 verse 5 23:52 clearly communicates this as well. 23:54 It's just through Him... that is Christ 23:56 we have received grace and apostleship... for what? 24:00 what's the response? 24:01 What happens because of that grace? 24:03 For obedience... it says, 24:05 "the faith among all nations for His namesake. " 24:08 So, my Friends, the point of... of Monday's Lesson, 24:11 Fearing God and Obeying Him 24:13 or Fearing and Obeying God is simply the fact 24:16 that, you know what? We don't obey God 24:17 because we feel that this is going to gain us 24:19 entry into heaven 24:21 or it's going to give us some kind of, 24:22 you know, special gold stars beside our name 24:24 every time we do something that God tells us to do. 24:26 We do it because we love Him, 24:27 we do it because He first loved us 24:29 and we obey Him because we reverence Him and respect Him 24:32 as our loving heavenly Father. 24:34 Panel: Amen. 24:36 Dinzey: Amen, amen. 24:37 Well, this Lesson has more blessings for us 24:40 but we're going to be back in just a moment... so stand by. 24:43 Music... 24:49 Ever wish you could watch a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again 24:52 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 24:55 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 25:00 A clean design makes it easy 25:03 to find the Program you are looking for. 25:05 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 25:08 so you can follow along. 25:10 Sharing is easy. 25:11 Just click "Share" and choose your favorite Social Media. 25:15 Share a Link... 25:16 Save a Life... for Eternity. 25:19 Dinzey: Welcome back, 25:21 we continue now with Sister Jill Morikone. 25:22 Jill: Thank you so much Pastor Johnny and Ryan. 25:25 What an incredible Lesson! 25:26 Fear God and give glory to Him. 25:29 I'm Jill Morikone... 25:30 on Tuesday, we look at: Living a God-centered Life. 25:34 I want to ask you, what is at the center of your life? 25:39 Is the center of your life money... or is it, God? 25:43 Is the center of your life pleasure... or is it God? 25:46 Is the center of your life power... or is it God? 25:50 Is the center of your life movies and entertainment... 25:54 or is it God? 25:55 Is the center of your life music... or is it God? 26:00 Is the center of your life sports... or is it, God? 26:04 Is the center of your life self... or is it, God? 26:09 Do you have a self-centered life 26:12 or a God-centered life? 26:15 You know, Matthew 6 verse 33 says, 26:19 "But seek first the kingdom of God 26:22 and His righteousness, 26:25 and all these things will be added unto you. " 26:28 How do we seek God first? 26:30 How do we live a God-centered life? 26:34 I think for people all throughout time, 26:38 especially if we're Christians, we wrestle with this. 26:41 How do we make God the center of our lives? 26:47 I want to ask you another question. 26:49 Where does your mind go when it relaxes? 26:52 Maybe we shouldn't answer this question out loud 26:55 but where does your mind go when it relaxes? 26:58 Some people... it might go to like plans and dreams 27:01 and... "Oh! this is what I want to do tomorrow. " 27:04 Or some people... it might go to some place 27:06 that you'd rather not tell other people about. 27:09 Or some people might go to an idol 27:13 or whatever you've made the center of your life. 27:17 Where does your mind go when it relaxes? 27:21 There's a quote from the Lesson... I loved this... 27:24 one sentence here that Elder Mark Finley wrote. 27:27 It says, "The central issue in earth's final conflict, 27:33 is the battle for the mind. " 27:34 That's the point. 27:36 The central issue is the battle for your mind. 27:40 Are you going to live a self-centered life 27:43 or are you going to live a God-centered life? 27:47 If we just drift along in life, Ryan and we just say, 27:51 "Oh, it doesn't really matter 27:53 and I can let my mind go wherever I want to let it go 27:55 and I can just be involved in whatever I want to do... " 27:58 Pastor John. 28:00 If we just drift, God will not be the center of our lives. 28:03 That's a fact, if we just allow it to drift. 28:06 Choice is essential 28:09 to creating a God-centered life. 28:12 Lomacang: That's right. 28:14 Jill: So, we're going to talk about six choices 28:15 that you and I can make today 28:17 to make God the center of our lives 28:22 and as we do this, 28:23 we're going to incorporate the Bible verses 28:25 that were found in my lesson for today. 28:27 So, choice number 1: 28:28 Choose to allow God to give you the mind of Christ. 28:34 So many times we think we have to strive 28:36 to get the mind of Christ 28:37 or we have to work harder to earn the mind of Christ. 28:40 No, look at Philippians chapter 2, 28:42 Philippians 2 verse 5, 28:44 what's that word? 28:46 "Let this mind be in you 28:49 which was also in Christ Jesus. " 28:52 The word "Let" in Greek means to allow or to choose. 28:56 So, in other words, we don't have to strive 28:59 for the mind of Christ. 29:00 We simply let Christ place His mind in us. 29:05 We choose to allow Him to give us the mind of Christ. 29:11 Choice Number 1: 29:12 Choose to allow God to give you the mind of Christ. 29:15 Choice Number 2: 29:16 Choose to think about Christ and heavenly things. 29:21 Now, this is not always easy. 29:24 If I'm being honest with you, it's not always easy 29:26 for me to think about Christ and heavenly things 29:28 and if I'm being very transparent, 29:31 I know I don't always do that right... I know that... 29:33 that there are times when your mind wanders 29:36 or your... goes a certain place 29:38 and maybe you want to go there 29:39 instead of... God's tapping you on the shoulder, 29:41 "Well, bring it back to me... " 29:42 and you're thinking, 29:43 "I'm not sure I want to go there right now. " 29:45 Choose to think about Christ and heavenly things. 29:48 In Colossians... Colossians chapter 3 verse 1 and 2, 29:51 it says, "If then you were raised with Christ, 29:54 seek those things which are on earth... " 29:57 is that what it say? Panel: No. 29:59 Jill: No... "seek those things which are above, 30:02 where Christ is, 30:03 sitting at the right hand of God. 30:06 Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth. " 30:10 Hebrews 12 verse 2, 30:13 we're going to spend some time in Hebrews 12:1 and 2 30:15 for several of our points 30:16 but Hebrews 12 verse 2 says, "Looking unto Jesus, 30:22 the author and finisher of our faith. " 30:27 You know, beholding Jesus is not just in the morning, 30:30 I'm going to behold Jesus when I have my time with God 30:33 in prayer... in worship 30:35 and then I'm going to behold anything I want 30:37 the rest of the day... no... 30:39 beholding Jesus is a consistent pattern 30:42 and it is a habit, you could say 30:45 that we can seek to cultivate or develop. 30:49 I've told this story before but I'm going to tell it again. 30:52 My husband Greg... he's a fabulous driver, 30:55 I love when he drives because I feel very safe 30:57 and he doesn't start and stop and he doesn't swerve... 31:00 he's just very steady when he drives 31:02 and this one particular time, 31:04 there was a pothole in the road. 31:05 we were driving down 57 which is the Interstate here, 31:08 and he avoided the pothole 31:10 and he was kind of pleased with himself, 31:11 you know, if Jill was driving, we would hit the pothole 31:14 because that's how I drive, but he avoided the pothole 31:17 and instead of keeping his eyes on the road, 31:19 he looked in the rearview mirror 31:21 to see how the car behind fared 31:22 for they can avoid the pothole too. 31:24 Well, the truth was... there were two potholes on the road 31:27 and just at the moment when he looked behind 31:30 to see how the car behind did, 31:31 he hit the second pothole in the road 31:34 and I'll never forget... he was really mad at himself 31:37 because he strives on being this really careful driver 31:39 and here he had hit that pothole... why? 31:42 Because he had taken his eyes off the road. 31:45 It's so important when we think about Christ 31:48 in heavenly things... 31:49 that it's a consistent looking to Jesus. 31:52 We don't look at Jesus and then look around at other people. 31:56 We don't look to Jesus and look behind us... no... 31:58 we consistently look to Jesus. 32:00 Choice Number 3: 32:02 Choose to say "No" to sin. 32:05 We're still in Hebrews 12... 32:07 Hebrews 12 verse 1, 32:09 "Therefore we also, 32:10 since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 32:15 let us lay aside every weight, 32:17 and the sin which so easily besets us... " 32:20 or so easily ensnares us, 32:22 New Living Translation, 32:24 "the sin which so easily trips us up. " 32:27 What are we supposed to do with those sins? 32:30 Choose to say "No" to sin. 32:32 There's a verse... Jesus talking, 32:35 this is in Mark... 32:36 Mark chapter 9... we won't read the whole passage, 32:39 but Mark 9 starting in verse 43 it says, 32:42 "If your hand causes you to sin... " 32:43 what do you do Daniel? 32:44 "cut it off... " 32:46 it's better for you to enter life maimed, 32:48 rather than having two hands, and go to hell. " 32:51 Verse 45, "If your foot causes you to sin, 32:53 cut it off... 32:55 if your eye causes you to sin, 32:57 pluck it out. " 33:00 Ooooh... I used to read that and say, 33:01 "Why is God being so harsh?" 33:03 You know, if you're working with poison, 33:04 you don't just put a label on it. 33:06 You dispose of it. 33:07 Jesus is not promoting self-mutilation. 33:10 What He's saying is that sin in your life and in mine 33:14 it needs to be dealt with quickly... at any cost. 33:18 Do not explain away sin. 33:19 Do not excuse sin. 33:21 Do not re-name sin. 33:23 Do not justify sin. 33:25 Do not minimize sin in your life. 33:28 When drastic action is required, take drastic action. 33:33 That goes along with choice number 4: 33:35 Choose to make no provision for the flesh. 33:39 We're going to Romans 13 verse 14, 33:42 "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, 33:44 and make no provision for the flesh, 33:46 to fulfill its lusts. " 33:48 In other words, if your addiction is pornography, 33:51 maybe you need to cut off that television channel 33:54 or maybe you need to put filters on your Internet access. 33:59 Choose to make no provision for the flesh. 34:03 Choice Number 5: 34:05 Choose to look at the goal. 34:06 Now, we talked in choice number 2, 34:08 choose to look at Jesus. 34:10 How important it is to look at Jesus. 34:12 But Jesus also looked at the end goal. 34:15 We see that in Hebrews 12 verse 2, 34:17 first of all, as we're looking unto Jesus, 34:19 how important it is to look at Jesus... 34:21 that was choice number 2. 34:22 Then it says, "who for the joy that was set before Him... " 34:27 that's the end goal... 34:29 "endured the cross, despising the shame, 34:32 and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. " 34:36 Christ could endure the cross 34:38 because of the joy of your and my salvation. 34:42 We need to choose to look at the end goal 34:46 which is eternal life with Jesus. 34:49 This world that we have is not all there is. 34:53 Choose to look to the hereafter 34:56 and finally, Number 6: 34:57 Choose to persevere in the journey. 35:00 Don't give up... 35:02 don't get discouraged. 35:04 Don't get tired. 35:06 If you feel like, "Wow! I don't have a God-centered life today" 35:09 get up tomorrow and try again. 35:12 Hebrews 12:1, "Let us run with endurance 35:16 the race that is set before us. " 35:20 He who endures to the end, will be saved. 35:24 So, it's a daily choice that you and I can make 35:27 and we can reap the benefits of living a God-centered life. 35:32 Panel: Amen. 35:33 Lomacang: Thank you, Jill, 35:35 thank you, Ryan... thank you, John. 35:36 and... I'll tell you, mine is: Give Glory to God. 35:39 This one passage is so potent 35:41 there's so much in it 35:43 but I'm going to read it again just in case you missed it. 35:45 Revelation 14 and verse 7, 35:47 "saying with a loud voice... " 35:49 now, let's stop right there. 35:50 This is something that has to be proclaimed everywhere. 35:53 It has to be apparent 35:55 that what is to follow is vitally important. 35:58 "Fear God and give glory to Him, 36:01 for the hour of His judgment has come; 36:04 and worship Him who made heaven and earth, 36:06 the sea and the springs of water. " 36:08 Five different topics are in that singular Scripture 36:12 and mine is simply to point: Give glory to God. 36:15 We live in a world today where the glory of God is hidden. 36:18 But the glory of God is not obscure. 36:22 Now, what do I mean? 36:23 People choose to hide God's glory from pervading their lives 36:27 but God's glory refuses to be hidden 36:30 and what I'm going to do is walk you through some elements 36:34 in Scripture where we find how important God's glory is 36:37 and also quote something that really impressed me. 36:41 When you're gifted it's important to understand 36:44 what that gift is all about and the extent of that gift 36:46 but Pastor Finley brings out in the introduction of Wednesday, 36:49 he says, "The study of the use of the phrase 36:52 in the Old Testament 'to give glory to God' 36:54 shows that it, interestingly enough, 36:58 often... but not only... 37:00 appears in the context of divine judgment, 37:03 just as it does in the first angel's messages, as well. " 37:07 So, you find the glory there is connected to judgment, 37:11 so, what is that saying? 37:13 If we refuse to give God the glory that He is due, 37:16 judgment will follow. 37:18 A lot of people don't choose to give God glory 37:21 because they don't see any ramifications 37:22 that come after that. 37:24 So, let me show you a couple of things 37:25 about what the Bible says in the Old Testament 37:28 about God's glory. 37:29 I'll start with Isaiah 42 and verse 8, 37:31 and the application here is God's glory is exclusive. 37:36 God's glory is exclusive... 37:38 "I am the LORD, that is My name; 37:41 and My glory I will not give to another, 37:46 nor My praise to carved images. " 37:48 And, a number of years ago, I heard a phrase 37:51 that I never forgot, 37:52 one of my favorite writers, Oswald Chambers, he says, 37:55 "Never use God's gifts to rob God of His glory. " 37:59 Panel: Hmmm... yes. 38:00 Lomacang: And today, I need to say it, 38:02 the Christian world is replete with that. 38:04 I've seen it plasticked... 38:06 I've seen it plastered all throughout Christianity. 38:08 It even behooves me today, 38:10 how can you give a Christian artiste an award for singing? 38:13 Honestly... think about that. 38:15 That's God's glory. 38:17 We follow the patterns of the world, 38:19 we say, "Well, song of the year" 38:21 how many people have found Christ? 38:23 How many people have given their lives to Christ 38:24 because of the song you just sang? 38:26 That's the glory that the Bible is saying, 38:28 don't steal God's glory. 38:30 Do not use God's gifts to rob God of His glory. 38:34 "My glory I will not give another. " 38:36 And so, preaching... singing... teaching... 38:39 never say, "I'm such a good teacher 38:40 that God should not get the glory. " 38:42 As a matter of fact, when people compliment, 38:43 I... there's a book that I read called: 38:45 The Difference Between Compliments and Flattery. 38:49 It is so vitally important when you're working for the Lord 38:52 to understand the difference. 38:53 Somebody might say, "That sermon touched me. " 38:55 Say... "Praise God for that... 38:56 if I could be a blessing to you, praise God for that. " 38:59 But don't say, 39:01 "Yeah, that was one of my really good ones, wasn't it?" 39:03 You know... no... God's glory is what we are to do. 39:06 Give all the glory to God. 39:07 The other one is: Not only God's glory is exclusive 39:10 but God's glory is pervasive. 39:12 Isaiah 6 and verse 3, 39:14 "And one cried to another and said: 39:17 'Holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts; 39:19 Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts; 39:22 the whole earth is full of His glory!'" 39:25 This is what amazed me about Atheists. 39:27 You can't find God's glory for the same reason 39:31 a crook can't find a police. 39:33 You don't want to. 39:34 You don't want to but the entire... 39:37 if you look around you 39:38 as far removed as we are from perfection at creation, 39:41 God's glory is still there. 39:43 On a beautiful spring morning 39:45 when creation is starting to wake up, 39:47 when the earth is covered by the snow that God sends down, 39:50 and sin has been covered... it reminds us 39:54 of the redemption of God 39:56 when you come out on a beautiful snowy morning, 39:58 no footprints in the snow, no tracks... 40:00 you say, "Wow!" 40:01 Yes, your sins can be as white as snow... 40:05 God cleans us up. 40:06 God's glory is everywhere. 40:08 The other thing about it is, God's glory is imperative. 40:11 Paul the apostle talks about a generation that knew God 40:14 but chose not to glorify Him, Romans 1 verse 20, 40:17 "For since the creation of the world 40:18 His invisible attributes are clearly seen... " 40:21 there it is... all of creation. 40:22 "being understood by the things that are made, 40:25 even His eternal power and Godhead, 40:28 that they are without excuse. " 40:31 So, nobody can say, "I didn't see God. " 40:33 But here is the problem, verse 21, 40:35 "because, although they knew God... " 40:38 this is... this is not worldlings, 40:40 this is people that say, "I know God... 40:42 they did not glorify Him as God, 40:45 nor were thankful, 40:47 but became futile or vain in their thoughts, 40:50 and their foolish hearts were darkened. 40:52 Professing themselves to be wise, 40:54 they became fools. " 40:55 God's glory is imperative. 40:58 You must give God... 41:00 if you know God, give Him the glory. 41:01 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 41:03 Lomacang: Don't rob that glory to yourself 41:04 and there are so many people today... 41:06 you know, we remember them 41:07 rather than remembering the God in them 41:10 and that's where God's glory is imperative. 41:13 Give that glory back to God. 41:15 And so, I have Jill, as it were, 41:17 six ways that God's glory can be given 41:20 and ways to glorify God, let's start with... 41:24 I just read Romans 1 verses 20 and 21, 41:26 that's the first one. 41:28 But the other one is 1st Corinthians 6 41:30 verses 19 and 20, 41:31 1st Corinthians 6 verses 19 and 20, 41:34 the one is: Glorify God because you know Him. 41:37 That's the first one. 41:38 The second one is: Glorify God in your body. 41:40 1st Corinthians 6 verses 19 and 20, 41:42 and... and I like the King James Version 41:45 but I have the New King James, 41:46 I like the way Paul says, "What... 41:48 what... " 41:49 and then he's talking to people that should know better, 41:51 "What! 41:53 do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit 41:55 who is in you, 41:57 whom you have from God... " 41:58 he's like, "You do not know that?" 42:00 "And you are not your own?" 42:02 People say, "This is my body... " 42:05 No... that's not your body, 42:07 you didn't design it, 42:08 you didn't shape it. 42:10 "For you were bought at a price; 42:13 therefore glorify God in your body 42:15 and in your spirit, which are God's. " 42:18 And so, today a lot of people say, "I'm in the spirit... " 42:21 God said, "Be in the body also. " 42:22 Because what we do in our body... we'll give an account 42:25 that we must all give an account of the things done 42:28 in the body. 42:30 So, don't just say, "This is my vessel... " 42:32 poking holes in it... painting it... 42:35 altering it... 42:37 as one preacher said, 42:38 "You can get all the augmentations you want 42:40 but your kids will remind you how ugly you really are. " 42:42 And so, watch out with all Those, plastic this 42:45 and plastic that. 42:46 You know, I just want to say that I know it shocked you 42:48 but it's... it's a reminder that... 42:50 it shocked you didn't it, Jill? 42:51 It reminds us that let's glorify God with what we have. 42:56 Don't say, "God, you made a mistake 42:57 and I need to really augment this. " 42:59 Anyway, while you're getting over that, 43:02 let me go to Number 3, 43:03 Glorify God through your body... not just in your body 43:08 but through your body. 43:09 1 Corinthians 3 verses 16 and 17, 43:11 "Do you not know that you are the temple of God 43:14 and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" 43:16 Now, this is vitally important. 43:18 When you become a new creation in Christ, 43:20 the Spirit takes up residence in your body. 43:23 So, from that point on, 43:24 you just can't do with your body as you please. 43:26 You cannot be a person given to immorality 43:29 or... or sensuality 43:31 or carnality 43:32 because the Spirit of God says, "Wait a minute... 43:34 what are you doing to my house?" 43:35 What is... what's going on with... 43:37 excuse me... excuse me, 43:40 I'm living here now, thank you very much... " 43:43 I want to make that real, 43:45 your body becomes the resident... 43:47 the residing place of God's Holy Spirit. 43:49 He comes in to reconstruct that terrible nature. 43:53 Justification forgives you of the past transgressions, 43:56 but sanctification says, 43:58 "I got to make sure that you don't do this again. " 43:59 Make sure your body is God's temple 44:01 by the residing presence of the Spirit 44:03 because the verse 17 says, 44:05 "If anyone defiles the temple of God, 44:07 God will destroy him. 44:08 For the temple of God is holy, 44:10 which temple you are. " 44:11 The fourth one... glorify God in your works. 44:14 Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, 44:17 that they may see your good works 44:19 and glorify your father in heaven. " 44:20 Similar to that... don't take God's glory to yourself. 44:23 Now, why is that so vitally important? 44:25 I'll speak like a New Yorker now, Jill, here it is, 44:27 our works reveal us. 44:29 "They profess to know God... " Titus 1:16, 44:32 but in works they deny Him... " 44:35 our works reveal us. 44:37 Secondly, our works confirm us. 44:40 Revelation 2 verse 13, 44:41 "I know your works... " 44:43 our works confirm us. 44:44 We may say things but the Bible says, 44:46 "Hey, I know what you're saying but I see what you're doing. " 44:49 Third thing... our works survive us... 44:51 "that they may rest from their labors 44:53 and their works do follow them. " 44:55 If you live an ungodly life... 44:57 you can be the best preacher, singer, teacher on earth, 45:00 but people said, "I remember him for who he is. " 45:03 So, be careful with how you live. 45:05 Number 5: Glorify God through our conduct. 45:09 Peter said, "By your good works 45:11 which they observe, 45:13 glorify God in the day of visitation. " 45:15 When the Lord comes, He'll say, 45:16 "Not only do you speak well, 45:18 but you lived the way you should have. " 45:20 And finally, glorify God in unity. 45:22 Romans 15 verse 6, 45:24 "that you may with one mind and with one mouth 45:27 glorify God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. " 45:30 Let the unity that... that brothers and sisters have 45:33 via glory... so people that are on the outside might say, 45:36 "Wow... the reason I know God is here 45:38 is they are in harmony... they are in unity. " 45:41 Whatever you do, fear God and give glory to Him. 45:44 Perrin: Amen, thank you Pastor Lomacang. 45:47 This is a powerful study this week, 45:50 and I'm sure appreciating it, 45:52 I'm Daniel Perrin and I have Thursday's Lesson: 45:55 Revelation's Overcomers. 45:57 And overcomers... it's not just talk... 46:00 it's not just words that... that can get us excited, 46:02 there is real living power in your life and my life today 46:06 to actually overcome. 46:08 We find Revelation's overcomers introduced to us 46:12 in chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation 46:14 where Jesus is giving messages to seven churches. 46:18 There are churches that are doing well... 46:20 there are churches that are doing poorly... 46:21 churches under persecution... 46:23 churches battling deception 46:25 and in every single one of those churches, 46:28 there are overcomers 46:29 and to each one of them is given a promise 46:32 because the power of overcoming rests on the promises of God... 46:36 not on our power alone. 46:38 From the Lesson, Mark Finley included this sentence here: 46:42 Revelation's message is one of victory not of defeat... 46:47 and that is so important to remember 46:49 that we're... we're not going to be fighting a battle 46:52 where there is going to be defeat on the horizon, 46:54 we could choose that if we so desire. 46:56 But the enemy is defeated... 46:58 death is defeated... 46:59 the curse that covers this earth is defeated... 47:02 and sin... not just a concept out there 47:05 but sin in our lives is defeated. 47:08 And so, we don't hear the Bible talking like this. 47:10 "Well, God gave it His best try... " 47:13 no... it says things like this, 47:16 Revelation 3:21 and this is the message to the Laodicean Church 47:20 the one that seems to have some of the worst problems. 47:24 It says. "To him who overcomes 47:27 I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, 47:30 as I also overcame 47:33 and sat down with my Father on His throne. " 47:35 Every bit of overcoming 47:37 is contingent upon Jesus overcoming 47:40 and that's already done in the past... 47:43 what He did there for us on the cross... 47:45 what He's doing for us in heaven 47:47 so you don't have to worry... 47:48 I don't have to wonder whether or not I'm going to make it here 47:51 safely in my car this morning 47:53 because it's already in the past. 47:55 I know it's finished. 47:57 And so, we can look at the past 47:59 and then we can have confidence right here and now. 48:02 Join me in 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 23 and 24, 48:07 such an excellent promise here 48:10 that Paul, under inspiration, is giving for you. 48:13 And it begins with this word, "Now... " 48:16 right there right now, 48:18 "may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; 48:23 and may your whole spirit... " 48:25 that's the breath of life from God that animates you, 48:28 "and your soul... " that's you as a person, 48:31 "and your body be preserved blameless 48:34 at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. " 48:36 And then, verse 22, 48:38 24... "He who calls you is faithful, 48:41 and who also will do it. " 48:44 Panel: Amen... that's right... 48:45 Perrin: "He who calls you is faithful who also will do it. 48:48 This is an invitation to take Jesus at His word. 48:51 Not just to believe it in your mind, 48:54 but to step out in action. 48:55 And so, we've got to start with the right attitude here. 48:58 All of heaven praises God's power constantly. 49:02 We see that in chapter 4 of Revelation and 5 and 7 and 15, 49:07 and so, this is why Jesus gives us this prayer, 49:10 "Thy will be done... " in Matthew 6:10, 49:13 "on earth as it is in heaven. " 49:16 That we can here on earth say, "Lord, you have all power 49:19 and I want it to be exhibited in my life. " 49:21 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 49:23 Panel: So, we don't say things like, 49:24 "I can't overcome... " 49:26 "I can't stop sinning. " 49:29 We might say, "Lord, I am weak... 49:31 You are strong, but not... Lord, it's impossible. " 49:35 When we see this, we're saying, 49:37 "He who promised is not faithful 49:39 and He will not do it. " 49:41 But that's not what the promise is. 49:43 It says, "He who calls you is faithful... 49:46 who also will do it. " 49:47 And this isn't some pop psychology that says, 49:50 "You can be whatever you want to be... 49:52 the power is in you. " 49:53 No... but you can do whatever God calls you to do 49:57 by the power that He places within you. 49:59 So, this is why we are called, 50:01 not to ever breathe a word of defeat 50:04 or of impossibility or futility 50:07 because remember, as it's been said, 50:08 the battle is for our minds... it's for our thoughts 50:11 and in our thoughts we say, 50:13 "Lord, you have conquered... you are victorious. " 50:16 The enemy loves to hear us talk of failure... 50:19 talk of defeat... 50:20 talk of His power and exalt His false glory, 50:23 but he's already defeated. 50:25 Panel: That's right. 50:26 Perrin: In the book of Revelation, 50:27 17 times we have the word that is translated as overcomers. 50:32 Sometimes, we see "prevailed" or "conquered" 50:34 or "victory" 50:36 and in each of those instances, it's from the Greek word, nikaó 50:40 we can translate that sometimes as "Nike. " 50:43 That's the reason why people wear Nike's... 50:45 they want to win. 50:47 We actually have Nike missiles somewhere 50:48 because we want to win... 50:50 we want to be victorious. 50:52 But that word "nikaó" says... to prevail... to be victorious, 50:57 to overcome and to win the case. 51:01 That's the part of the definition there 51:03 because there's a pending case against you. 51:06 There's an enemy who is accusing you. 51:09 Listen to Revelation 12:10, 51:11 "the accuser of our brethren, 51:13 who accused them before our God day and night, 51:17 has been cast down. " 51:19 Panel: Amen. 51:20 Perrin: What's... what's he accusing you of? 51:22 He says, "They're not victorious, 51:24 look what they've done... 51:26 look at their sins... 51:28 look at the record of their life... " 51:30 and then accusing God, "You have no right 51:33 to save and take these people to heaven, 51:35 they've chosen me... look at their sinful behavior. " 51:38 But the testimony is this to the overcomers. 51:42 But how... how do we overcome? 51:45 Revelation 12:11... the very next verse, 51:47 "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb 51:50 and by the word of their testimony, 51:53 they did not love their lives unto death. " 51:56 Through the power of Jesus... that's where it is. 51:59 Revelation 14 verse 12, 52:01 it says, "Here is the patience of the saints... " 52:03 we love this text, 52:04 "here are those who keep the commandments of God 52:07 and have the faith of Jesus. " 52:10 And that gives us the instructions about how 52:13 to keep the commandments of God. 52:15 How is it? 52:16 By the faith of Jesus. 52:18 What a rich phrase! 52:20 This is not just faith in Jesus but which we should have 52:24 but this is the faith of Jesus... 52:26 the faith that He had. 52:28 So, you want to be an overcomer... 52:30 then meditate upon the life of Jesus... 52:33 look to Him and see the faith in His life. 52:35 Look at Him who had a pure picture of the love of God 52:39 because this is where following God begins 52:41 to understand His love 52:43 and to see Him for who He really is 52:45 and that's what our enemy is trying to hide all along 52:47 so that we don't see the love of God. 52:50 The victorious life begins by meditating on Him. 52:54 We follow Jesus as He leaves the courts of heaven, 52:57 trusting fully in the Father's power to come to this earth... 53:01 to make Himself of no reputation... 53:04 taking the form of a bondservant 53:06 and coming in the likeness of men, Philippians 2:7, 53:09 we follow Him as He resists temptation with the Word of God 53:13 in Matthew 3. 53:15 We follow Him as He holds tightly to the Father 53:17 through a night of prayer and through days of prayer. 53:20 We follow Him as He says, 53:22 "Where the Father is working, I'm working. " John 5:17, 53:27 We follow Him into the Garden of Gethsemane 53:29 where He says, "Thy will be done 53:32 regardless of what happens. " 53:34 He says, "Lord... Father, is there any other way" 53:36 but then He says, "Thy will be done. " 53:39 And then we follow Him to the cross 53:41 where He could have come down from the cross 53:43 of His own power at any point 53:44 but He did not love His life unto death 53:48 and He says, "I will give it up 53:49 for the will of the Father. " 53:51 So, this is how we give glory to Him. 53:55 We have the faith of Jesus. 53:57 I'm going to go back to the text that Jill used there 54:00 in Hebrews 12 verse 2, 54:02 "looking unto Jesus, 54:04 the author and finisher of our faith... " 54:06 and I love the translation that says, 54:09 "fixing our eyes on Jesus... " 54:12 this is not a glance... 54:14 this is not a... a look for a moment, 54:16 but staring intently at Jesus and who He is. 54:19 I don't think we repeat this often enough. 54:22 If you want to be victorious, 54:24 then we meditate upon the life of Jesus 54:27 and this gets practical in your life 54:30 because we don't overcome all at once, 54:33 but we overcome today 54:35 because there is temptations and there are struggles 54:37 that you are going to face today 54:39 and you know what they are... God does too. 54:41 And it says that He knows our frame 54:44 there in Psalm 103... He knows that we are dust. 54:47 What that doesn't mean is that He makes allowances for our sin 54:52 but think about this. 54:53 You head into the store and there is that Section 54:56 that always tempts you with the indulgence of appetite 54:59 and so, you meditate on Jesus and you take Him at His word 55:03 and you say, "I can do all things through Christ 55:06 who strengthened me. " 55:08 That indulgence of appetite with the electronic device 55:11 that demands your time and your mind 55:13 that belonged to God, 55:15 you meditate on Jesus and you take Him at His Word 55:18 and you say, 55:20 "Be strong in the power in the Lord 55:21 and in the power of His might. " 55:24 Ephesians 6:10, "His might... not mine. " 55:27 When the temptation for unrighteous anger arises 55:31 and you know it's going to come, 55:34 God does too... you meditate on Him 55:36 and you say, "He gives power to the weak, 55:39 and to those who have no might 55:41 He increases their strength. " 55:43 That's Isaiah 40 verse 29. 55:45 We can be victorious overcomers through Christ 55:48 who strengthens me and so we look to Jesus 55:52 not just once a day but moment by moment. 55:55 Panel: Amen... amen... amen. 55:57 Dinzey: Thank you Daniel Perrin 55:59 and we have a moment to say final comments, 56:03 We start with Pastor Ryan Day. 56:04 Ryan: Amen, you know, Pastor Mark Finley brings out 56:06 in the Lesson here, he says, 56:08 "The Christ of Scripture never leads us to minimize 56:10 the doctrines of the Bible. 56:12 The Christ of Scripture never leads us to reduce His teaching 56:15 to pious platitudes that are nonessential. 56:18 Christ is the embodiment of all doctrinal truth. 56:20 Christ is truth incarnate. 56:22 He is doctrine lived out. " 56:24 Jill: Amen, I've been so blessed by this Lesson... 56:26 it's so practical. 56:28 When you look at living a God-centered life, 56:31 it all starts with a choice. 56:33 Lomacang: That's right 56:34 and that's why the highest effect on earth 56:37 that can be evidence that Christ is in you, 56:40 is you allow Him to receive glory through your life. 56:44 Perrin: Romans 8:37 says, 56:47 "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors" 56:51 the word there is hyper-Nike... 56:53 above and beyond victory 56:55 through Him who loved us. 56:57 Dinzey: Amen... amen, thank you. 57:00 What a blessing this Lesson has been! 57:01 And we hope you have been blessed. 57:03 We want to encourage you to remember that 57:05 the first angels message is: "Fear God and give glory to Him 57:10 for the hour of His judgment has come. " 57:13 We encourage you to continue looking unto Jesus 57:16 the author and finisher of our faith 57:18 who for the joy that was set before Him 57:20 endured the cross... 57:21 this Jesus Christ who came to this world to die for us 57:25 today is alive and well helping us to be victorious 57:30 and by His grace we will be. 57:32 Join us for next week's Lesson... 57:34 Lesson Number 5: The Good News of the Judgment. |
Revised 2023-07-12