Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP230031S
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00:01 Hello Friends, welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:03 I'm John Lomacang thanking you for taking the time to join us 00:06 and if you joined us last week or any other prior studies, 00:09 thank you for coming back. 00:11 This week is Week Number 6. 00:13 We're talking about: The Mystery of the Gospel. 00:16 The question is: What is that mystery 00:18 and how does it enhance our walk with Christ? 00:21 You can find out if you stay tuned 00:22 but to follow us, go to: 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 00:26 download a copy 00:27 or go to your local Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:30 and tell them... 3ABN sent you. 00:32 Ephesians is a book with just six chapters 00:35 but we're discovering it's far deeper than that. 00:38 We have found that the message is about salvation 00:40 and surely exalting the central figure... Jesus Christ. 00:44 So, join us for this exciting study through Ephesians. 00:48 Music... 01:18 Lomacang: Welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel, 01:21 I'm John Lomacang. 01:22 Thank you for taking the time to join us. 01:23 We're talking about the mystery of the gospel 01:26 and so many people wonder, 01:27 "What is that mystery all about?" 01:29 Well, we're going to talk about that today and allow God 01:32 under the direction of His Holy Spirit 01:33 to open our minds... 01:35 open His word 01:37 and we pray that you'll open your heart 01:39 to receive what the Spirit has to say. 01:41 Before we go any further though, 01:43 let's introduce our Sabbath School Panel 01:45 which, as you might know by now, 01:46 is just all family. 01:48 Shelley, good to have you here... Shelley Quinn. 01:50 Shelley: Oh, it's such a joy, 01:51 we're so glad you're joining us. 01:53 I have Monday: The Long-hidden Mystery of the Gospel. 01:56 Lomacang: And Pastor Dinzey, good to have you here. 01:59 Dinzey: It's a blessing for me to be here as well. 02:01 I have Tuesday... The Church: Revealer of God's Wisdom. 02:05 Lomacang: Wow! And I know Jill probably has 02:08 at least one item on her list. 02:10 Jill: Laughter... we got five today. 02:12 On Wednesday, we're looking at: Christ, Dwelling in Your Heart. 02:16 Lomacang: Good to have you here Jill Morikone... 02:17 and Daniel Perrin... all the way down 02:20 where the book ends today. 02:21 Perrin: Down at the end... on Thursday's lesson 02:23 takes us to the very middle of the book of Ephesians: 02:25 Glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus. 02:28 Lomacang: Well, Danny, would you have our prayer for us 02:30 before we dive into the Lesson? 02:31 Perrin: Yes. 02:33 "Dear Father in heaven, 02:34 Lord, it's one thing to come before you on our own 02:38 which we must have day by day. 02:40 When we come before You together, 02:42 searching Your Word, 02:43 we know that we are brought closer to each other... 02:46 closer to You... 02:47 closer to the cross 02:49 and closer to Your kingdom. 02:50 As we listen and as we present and share and study today, 02:55 fill us with Your wisdom and Your wisdom alone. 02:57 We pray this in Jesus' name, amen. " 02:59 Panel: Amen. 03:01 Lomacang: Thank you so much. 03:02 We're talking about the mystery. 03:05 You know, Ephesians chapter 3 03:08 begins with a prepositional phrase. 03:10 When you think about what Paul is writing 03:13 and how he's writing it, 03:14 he begins with the phrase, "For this reason... " 03:18 and then he breaks it into two parts 03:20 from verses 1 to 13 03:22 and then, verses 14 to 21 03:24 and he makes it very clear 03:27 that the reason for his present circumstances... 03:31 he lists the two reasons 03:33 why he is incarcerated 03:35 but I find it interesting and I'll begin... 03:36 I'll talk about the prepositional phrase in just a moment, 03:39 I find it interesting that while he is a Roman prisoner, 03:42 he identifies himself as being incarcerated 03:45 for someone else. 03:47 "For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ 03:52 for the Gentiles. " 03:54 Panel: Hmmm... 03:55 Lomacang: And then, he contributes his incarceration 03:58 to... "I'm doing this if it causes my freedom 04:02 to get the gospel to the Gentiles 04:04 I'm willing to give that away 04:06 so someone could receive the knowledge of Christ. " 04:09 So, I want to talk about the prisoner of the Lord 04:12 because this was continuous 04:13 throughout the writings of the Apostle Paul. 04:15 From his early days to the very ending of his life, 04:18 he talked about his imprisonment. 04:20 He shared it with the other fellow laborers... 04:22 other fellow prisoners that were in similar situations 04:25 for sharing the gospel. 04:27 Let's look at a couple of those examples. 04:28 Ephesians 4 verse 1, 04:30 "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, 04:33 beseech you to walk worthy of the calling 04:36 with which you were called. " 04:38 Now, you might think, 04:39 "Will my calling 04:41 lead me to be incarcerated?" 04:44 It might... you'll find out why in just a moment. 04:47 Colossians 4 verse 10, 04:49 "Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, 04:53 with Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. 04:56 About whom you receive instructions: 04:58 if he comes to you, welcome him. " 05:01 And Paul is saying that from prison. 05:04 Then we find in 2nd Timothy 1 and verse 8, 05:06 "therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, 05:09 nor of me His prisoner, 05:12 but share with me in the suffering 05:14 for the gospel according to the power of God. " 05:17 The gospel is something that is always anathema to the world 05:20 and the world is anathema to the gospel. 05:22 When you proclaim what the Lord wants you to proclaim, 05:25 it's going to get you in trouble. 05:27 As a matter of fact, one of my church members said, 05:29 "Pastor, if you keep preaching that way, 05:30 you're going to get arrested. " 05:32 I said, "Well, then I'll start Prison Ministry. " 05:34 And so, I don't want to start Prison Ministry... 05:37 I'm not aiming for jail 05:39 but there's a reason that the Lord says, 05:41 "You'll be brought before judges and magistrates 05:44 to give a testimony... " 05:45 and then He said, "The time will come 05:47 when even those who kill you 05:48 will think they offer God service... " 05:50 in John 16 verse 2 to 3. 05:52 But He said, "These things they will do 05:54 because they have not known Me... 05:56 they have not known the Father. " 05:58 Let's look at Philemon 1 verse 1, 06:01 "Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, 06:03 and Timothy our brother, 06:05 to Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer. " 06:09 Notice, in all the locations that Paul visited and administered, 06:15 he found himself imprisoned. 06:16 We go to Philemon 1 verses 7 to 9, 06:18 and he talks about why. 06:20 "For we have great joy and consolation in your love... " 06:24 he's saying this from a prison cell... 06:26 "because the hearts of the saints 06:29 have been refreshed by you, brother. 06:31 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ 06:36 to command you what is fitting, 06:38 yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you... 06:42 being such a one as Paul, the aged, 06:46 and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. " 06:49 So, Philemon is identifying with Paul. 06:52 "He was a prisoner... I'm a prisoner... " 06:54 and then, 2nd Timothy 1 and verse 8, 06:56 I... I brought this up earlier but I'll leave that... 06:59 I don't want to repeat that. 07:00 but Paul looked at hardship 07:03 as evidence of faithfulness. 07:07 Notice, 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 10, 07:10 hardship is a part of being faithful. 07:13 He says, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, 07:17 in reproaches, in needs, 07:19 in persecutions, in distresses, 07:22 for Christ's sake. " 07:24 Notice, he's not saying, "this is for me... " 07:26 he's saying, "I'm doing this for Jesus. " 07:28 Panel: Hmmm... 07:29 Lomacang: Here's the point, if they found fault in Jesus, 07:32 and if Jesus was arrested and tried, 07:35 in an unjust tribunal, 07:37 what makes us any different? 07:38 Panel: Hmmm... 07:40 Lomacang: And he says, "For when I am weak, 07:41 then I am strong. " 07:43 2nd Corinthians 12 and verse 10. 07:45 And then he talks about how being persecuted 07:49 is the evidence of your faithfulness. 07:51 Now, I always say sometimes, if somebody is not facing trial, 07:54 I question their faithfulness. 07:56 Sometimes, Christians say to me, 07:58 "I have never been through trials... 07:59 I have never had any hardship as a Christian... " 08:01 you have to ask yourself, why? 08:03 Because the Apostle Paul says to Timothy, 08:06 2nd Timothy 3 verse 12, 08:08 "Yes, all who live godly in Christ Jesus 08:13 will suffer persecution. " 08:15 As Pastor C.A. used to say, 08:17 "If you haven't gone through it yet... it's coming... " 08:19 Panel: Yeah. 08:20 Lomacang: "it's coming. " 08:22 Be faithful and you will have "your day" 08:24 as I say in quote. 08:25 The Apostle Paul also reveals the reason 08:28 why he was willing to be a prisoner. 08:30 We find in Ephesians chapter 3 verses 6 and 7, 08:33 let's look at that together, 08:35 he says that the Gentiles 08:37 should be fellow heirs of the same body, 08:39 and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 08:43 of which I became a minister 08:46 according to the gift of the grace of God 08:48 given to me by the effective working of His power. " 08:51 This thought came to my mind. 08:53 How many prisoners are going to be in the kingdom 08:55 because Paul was incarcerated? 08:56 Panel: Hmmm... amen. 08:58 Lomacang: You know, if you get incarcerated... 08:59 I heard this story about a man... 09:01 I was reading a book called: Mental Fitness... 09:02 ah... Mental Toughness... 09:04 and they tell a story about a man who was incarcerated 09:07 and it so affected the prisoners that they let him out early 09:12 because they said, "He's changing our jail. " 09:13 The prisoners were being changed... 09:16 their lives were being transformed 09:18 by this man's faithful impact 09:21 on those who were being incarcerated. 09:22 To keep the prison in a drabbed condition, 09:26 they let this man out early... 09:28 they said, "He's changing our prison. " 09:30 pause... 09:31 If I go to prison, 09:33 I hope that those who are there will be changed 09:36 to get to know Jesus. 09:37 Then, Paul also, in verse 13 encourages the Ephesians 09:42 not to be... 09:44 not to be discouraged by his incarceration... 09:47 notice what he says, 09:48 "Therefore I ask you 09:50 do not lose heart at my tribulation for you, 09:54 which is for your glory. " 09:57 Sometimes, people face hardships 09:59 but when we do for the reason that will exalt Christ, 10:03 it shouldn't bring us to the point of hardship 10:05 or it shouldn't bring us to the point of... 10:07 "Ah, I'm so sorry for them, they're going through so much. " 10:09 Sometimes, we have to go through much. 10:11 Jesus Christ has gone through much more. 10:14 If we go through anything that's temporary, 10:16 let's consider the sufferings of this present life 10:19 to not be worthy to be compared 10:21 with the glory that shall be revealed in us. 10:23 So, Jill, I have... let me see... 10:26 I have seven takeaways today... 10:28 Jill: Okay. 10:29 Lomacang: So, let's look at that together. 10:30 First of all, I want to bring out 10:32 Colossians 1 verses 24 to 27. 10:34 because let's talk about what the mystery is 10:37 before we go any farther. 10:39 Colossians 1 verses 24 to 27, 10:40 and the Apostle Paul writes, 10:42 "I now rejoice in my suffering for you... " 10:44 there he is again, 10:46 "and fill up... and fill up in my flesh 10:49 what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, 10:52 for the sake of His body, which is the church, 10:54 of which I became a minister 10:56 according to the stewardship from God 10:58 which was given to me for you, 11:00 to fulfill the word of God, 11:03 the mystery which has been hidden from ages 11:06 and from generations, 11:07 but now has been revealed to His saints. " 11:10 In verse 27, 11:11 "To them, God willed to make known 11:13 what are the riches of the glory of this mystery 11:17 among the Gentiles: 11:18 which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. " 11:21 Paul the Apostle was incarcerated because he was determined 11:24 that there will be no separation 11:26 between the Jews and the Gentiles 11:28 which for both of those individuals 11:30 and both of those classes of people, 11:32 the gospel was available. 11:33 So, here are the seven takeaways, 11:35 Don't allow trials to deter your faithfulness. 11:38 Matthew 5 and verse 10, 11:40 "Blessed are those who are persecuted 11:42 for righteousness' sake, 11:43 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. " 11:46 2nd Point: Don't look at trials as 11:50 unrelenting... 11:52 don't look at trials as something 11:54 that could deter your faithfulness. 11:55 1st Peter 4 verses 12 to 14, 11:58 "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial 12:02 which is to try you, 12:04 as though some strange thing happened to you; 12:06 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's 12:10 sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, 12:12 you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 12:14 If you are approached for the name of Christ, 12:17 blessed are you, 12:18 for the Spirit and glory of God rests upon you. 12:21 On their part He is blasphemed, 12:22 but on your part He is glorified. " 12:25 The third point: 12:26 Trials are allowed by God 12:28 as a point sometimes of refinement. 12:30 Hebrews 12 and verse 11, 12:32 "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, 12:35 but painful; 12:37 nevertheless, afterward, it yields 12:38 the peaceable fruit of righteousness 12:40 to those who have been trained by it. " 12:42 The fourth one: 12:44 Persecution is the default for faithfulness. 12:47 All who live godly in Christ Jesus 12:49 shall suffer persecution. 12:51 Number 5: 12:52 Persecution cannot eclipse the future blessing. 12:56 Romans 18:18, 12:57 "For I consider that the sufferings of this present life 13:00 are not worthy to be compared 13:01 with the glory which shall be revealed in us. " 13:04 Number 6: 13:05 Learn how to sing through your persecution. 13:08 Acts 16 verses 24 to 25, 13:10 "Having received such a charge, 13:12 he put them into the inner prison 13:14 and fastened their feet in the stocks. 13:16 But at midnight, 13:17 Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, 13:21 and the prisoners were listening to them. " 13:23 And Number 7: 13:24 The gospel should unite us not divide us. 13:27 Romans 10 verse 12, 13:29 "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, 13:31 for the same Lord is over all 13:33 and rich to all who calls upon You. " 13:36 And finally, Galatians 3:28, 13:38 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, 13:39 there is neither slave nor free, 13:41 neither male nor female; 13:42 but you are all one in Christ. " 13:44 That's the mystery of the gospel. 13:46 Panel: Amen... amen. 13:48 Shelley: Thank you for that foundation. 13:50 My name is Shelley Quinn, 13:52 I have Monday's Lesson: 13:53 The Long-hidden Mystery of the Gospel. 13:57 Let's begin with Ephesians 3 verses 1 through 6. 14:01 "For this reason I, Paul, 14:03 a prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles, 14:07 if indeed you've heard of the dispensation 14:10 of the grace of God which is given to me for you... 14:16 how that by revelation 14:18 He made known to me the mystery; 14:21 as I have briefly written already, 14:24 by which, when you read, 14:26 you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ... 14:31 which in other ages 14:33 was not made known to the sons of men, 14:37 as it has now been revealed by the Spirit 14:40 to His apostles and prophets: 14:45 that the Gentiles... " here it is... 14:48 "that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, 14:53 of the same body, 14:56 and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel. " 15:01 I have to say this... 15:03 the Old Testament certainly was not silent 15:07 about God's grace and blessings... 15:11 the salvation blessings 15:13 that He had intended for the Gentiles. 15:16 Genesis 12:3, God promises Abraham. 15:19 "In you all the nations and the families of the earth 15:23 will be blessed. " 15:24 Genesis 26 verse 4, He talks to Isaac 15:28 when renewing the everlasting covenant... 15:33 "in your seed all the nations of the earth 15:38 shall be blessed. " 15:39 Genesis 28:14, He's renewing the covenant with Jacob. 15:44 This is the everlasting covenant 15:46 and He says to Jacob, 15:48 "in you and in your seed 15:49 all the families of the earth will be blessed. " 15:52 Now, to me the most significant ones 15:58 are the servant songs, 16:00 In Isaiah 42 verse 6, 16:02 this is the first servant song, 16:04 it's speaking of the Messiah Christ 16:08 and this is the Lord and He says, 16:11 "I the LORD have called you in righteousness, 16:16 I will hold your hand... " 16:19 he's speaking of the Messiah... 16:21 "I will keep you, 16:24 and give you as a covenant to the people, 16:28 as a light to the Gentiles. " 16:31 Then, you go to the second servant song in Isaiah 49:6, 16:36 "Indeed He says... " 16:38 speaking to the Messiah... 16:41 "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant 16:44 to raise up the tribes of Jacob... " 16:47 not just the Jews... 16:48 "or to restore the preserved ones of Israel; 16:53 I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, 16:57 that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth. " 17:01 Now, this is interesting, 17:03 the promise of the everlasting covenant 17:07 of righteousness by faith, 17:09 shows that God's plan of salvation 17:12 had no geographic or ethnic boundaries. 17:17 His revelation was frequent 17:19 but it was never fully understood. 17:22 Now see, when Paul says he's revealing a mystery, 17:26 it's not in the sense that it was a secret, 17:30 but that it was unrecognized. 17:34 You can look at the history of Jews, 17:36 the... the national history of the Jews 17:39 shows they could not comprehend 17:42 the extent of God's plan for the Gentiles. 17:46 They didn't realize that all beliefs... believers 17:50 of all nationalities 17:53 would come together to be one body 17:56 and that the Messiah Christ would be the Head. 17:59 Listen to this, 18:00 Hebrews 4:2, I love this verse, 18:04 Hebrews 4:2 says, 18:08 speaking of the first generation of the Israelites 18:11 who are wandering in the desert, 18:14 listen, "For indeed the gospel... " 18:17 the good news... 18:19 "was preached to us as well as to them... " 18:24 Panel: That's right. 18:25 "but the word they heard did not profit them 18:28 not being mixed with faith 18:30 by those who heard it. " 18:33 So, the everlasting gospel... 18:37 the covenant of righteousness by faith... 18:40 was preached 18:42 to the saints of the Old Testament 18:46 and then there's this progressive unfolding 18:48 of this everlasting covenant. 18:50 Each generation had some revelation... 18:56 some present truth 18:58 but they never fully understood 19:01 until the person of Jesus Christ showed up. 19:04 You know, it's interesting, 19:05 prophecy is never fulfilled... 19:07 or, excuse me, never fully understood 19:10 until it is fulfilled. 19:11 Three times Jesus told His disciples 19:14 that He was going to be beaten, tortured, crucified... 19:18 and resurrect on the third day. 19:21 You know what? 19:22 He told them this three times... 19:24 three times it rolled right past... 19:27 right over the wall of their human reasoning 19:31 because of preconceived opinions. 19:36 Panel: Hmmm... 19:38 Shelley: Listen to what I'm saying. 19:39 Preconceived opinions... 19:42 that means, an opinion you formed 19:44 without having the Bible truth for it. 19:47 Preconceived opinions 19:49 effectively insulate your mind 19:55 against truth. 19:56 Panel: Hmmm... 19:58 Shelley: We've got to be so careful 19:59 but Paul received a clear revelation. 20:01 He said, "Hey, I got the revelation. " 20:03 When did this happen? 20:05 On the road to Damascus. 20:06 Jesus knocks him off his high horse... so to speak 20:11 and Jesus commissions Saul... the persecuting Saul 20:16 to be the Pharisee of Pharisees... 20:21 the Hebrew of Hebrews... 20:22 to be what? 20:24 His Ambassador of Grace to the Gentiles 20:27 and he says favorite... 20:29 this is one of my favorite passages. 20:32 He says, "I am sending you now to these Gentiles 20:36 to open their eyes 20:38 in order to turn them from darkness to light... 20:41 from the power of Satan to God 20:44 that they may receive forgiveness of sins, 20:46 and an inheritance among those 20:50 who are sanctified by faith in Me. " 20:53 There are all three aspects of... 20:56 of righteousness by faith. 20:58 You're going to be justified 21:00 when you turn from darkness to light... 21:03 from the power of Satan to God... 21:04 you're going to be sanctified by the power of God... 21:07 and you've got an inheritance. 21:09 But when the Old Testament prophesied 21:13 pause... 21:15 of the coming Messiah, 21:16 none... none of... no one realized as you said... 21:22 Colossians 1:27 is the bottom line 21:26 that Christ would end up living in our hearts by faith, 21:31 Ephesians 3:17 says, 21:33 but that He would be our hope of glory. 21:39 What is the glory of God? 21:41 It is the character of God. 21:44 Panel: That's right. 21:46 It is the light of God... 21:47 there's no sin in God. 21:49 It is when Christ lives inside of us, 21:52 that we, by the power of His Word, 21:55 by the power of His Holy Spirit... 21:59 we walk in His righteous footsteps 22:02 and begin to develop His character. 22:06 Galatians 3:27... I'm not going to get through this 22:09 but... 3:27 through 29 22:13 talks about those who are baptized into Christ... 22:16 have put on Christ... 22:18 there's neither Jew nor Greek, 22:19 neither slave nor free, 22:20 neither male nor female... 22:22 we're all one in Christ Jesus... 22:24 and he says, "If you're Christ's... 22:27 you're Abraham's seed, 22:30 and heirs according to the promise. " 22:34 Now, another favorite, 22:37 Romans 8:14 through 17, 22:39 Paul writes to the Romans... 22:41 chapter... it's so rich! 22:43 Verse 14, 22:45 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God... " 22:51 let me ask... 22:52 Are you led by the Spirit of God? 22:54 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm... 22:55 Shelley: Only as you are led by the Spirit of God, 22:58 can you become a covenant child of God? 23:02 "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, 23:05 these are sons of God... " the children of God. 23:08 "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, 23:12 but you received the Spirit of adoption 23:16 by whom we cry out, 'Abba... Papa... '" 23:19 He becomes our heavenly Father 23:21 and the spirit Himself bears witness 23:24 that we are children. 23:25 So, the mystery that Paul is proclaiming 23:28 is that all who have been saved since Pentecost 23:33 are united in one body... no social barriers... 23:37 no racial barriers... 23:40 it's all about unity in Christ. 23:42 Panel: Amen. 23:44 Lomacang: Thank you so much, Shelley, 23:45 we're just getting started. 23:46 We have three more days to cover, 23:48 so, don't go away, 23:50 we'll be right back. 23:53 Music... 23:58 Ever wish you could watch a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again 24:01 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 24:04 Well, you can by visiting: 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 24:09 A clean design makes it easy 24:12 to find the Program you're looking for. 24:14 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 24:17 so you can follow along. 24:19 Sharing is easy. 24:20 Just click "Share" and choose your favorite Social Media. 24:24 Share a Link... 24:25 Save a Life... for Eternity. 24:27 Lomacang: And now we go to Pastor John Dinzey 24:30 as we continue our study. 24:32 Dinzey: Thank you so much. 24:34 It is Tuesday's portion of the lesson, 24:37 it is The Church: Revealer of God's Wisdom. 24:41 And here we go into Ephesians chapter 3 24:45 beginning in verse 7 24:47 and we hope to get to verse 13 before this time is over. 24:50 Let's begin with verse 6, 24:52 "That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, 24:57 and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel. " 25:03 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 25:04 Dinzey: This is a marvelous verse. 25:06 I mean I... I don't really have words to describe it, 25:08 all these verses are full of so much rich, spiritual blessings. 25:13 So, the Gentiles, who are those? 25:15 Well, that's you and me as well 25:17 and it says, "They should be fellow heirs, 25:19 we're not going to be left out. 25:21 The Gentiles will not be left out. 25:23 They can be part of the same body. 25:26 And please understand, 25:27 the same body... that is... we are all together, 25:30 we're all one family. 25:32 You know today, you have nations divided by boundaries, 25:36 nations divided by flags, 25:37 you know, when you have these sporting events, 25:39 the nation that wins... 25:40 their flag... you know, flies high, 25:42 but we are all one big family 25:46 and there are not going to be boundaries and divisions 25:50 in God's kingdom. 25:51 "And partakers of the promise in Christ through the gospel. " 25:56 You are a partaker of God's promise through the gospel. 26:01 The gospel... the good news... 26:03 What is the good news? 26:04 The good news is that you do not have to die for your sins, 26:08 Jesus Christ died for you. 26:11 This is the gospel... 26:12 this is the... this is the message 26:14 that needs to go all around the world. 26:15 3ABN has taken this message all around the world. 26:18 Tell your friends... your families about 3ABN. 26:21 They can tune in... 26:22 it's easier than ever to share about 3ABN. 26:25 You can tell them... you can just go to the Internet 26:27 and you can watch 3ABN. 26:28 Before... you know... "Oh, do you have this... 26:30 this Cable Station? 26:31 Do you have this Channel?" 26:33 "No?" 26:34 "On the Internet, you can watch 3ABN." 26:35 And here we go to verse 7, 26:37 "of which... " Paul says, 26:39 I became a minister according to the gift 26:43 of the grace of God given to me 26:46 by the effective working of His power. " 26:49 This... this verse begins to 26:52 promptly goes to amplify this idea 26:55 that he became minister 26:56 according to the gift of the grace of God. 27:00 It's not, "Ah man! I have so many talents... 27:02 I... I just... I just need to be made a Minister 27:04 because I just have all this... overwhelming amount of talents. " 27:07 No, God chose him 27:09 and God can do anything through anyone 27:12 that places himself... herself... in the hands of the Lord. 27:15 Let's continue because this is... 27:17 this is... we can't stop unfortunately at one verse, 27:20 we have to continue. 27:21 It says, "To me... " notice... 27:23 "who am less than the least of all the saints... " 27:26 stop for a moment... think about that... 27:28 he's saying... he's less than the least of all the saints. 27:32 "Oh, there's this little brother over there, 27:33 that's the least of the saints... that guy there... " 27:35 Paul says, "I am less than that guy. " 27:37 You know, sometimes people look at other people 27:39 and they say, "Oh, you know, this guy has so many talents... 27:41 oh, that poor little sister over there, 27:42 she's only got one little talent... poor thing!" 27:44 No, Paul says, "I am less than the least 27:47 of all the saints. " 27:49 He's saying... he's... 27:50 he's just overwhelmed by the gift of God 27:52 that was given to him, 27:53 notice what he says, 27:55 "this grace was given... " wow! 27:56 "that I... Paul... should preach among the Gentiles... " 28:01 wait... what should he preach among the Gentiles? 28:04 "The unsearchable riches of Christ... " 28:08 It is true... it is unsearchable riches 28:11 that we have in Christ. Panel: Amen. 28:14 Dinzey: To think that you and I could be saved! 28:17 What great love God has for you! 28:20 What great love God has for me! 28:23 This is beyond our understanding. 28:25 "Paul... " you know you can see his... humility here, 28:29 when he first started, Paul was like, 28:31 "Hey, look at me, I'm Paul... 28:33 I am Paul... you know, 28:34 I... I am from the stock of Israel, 28:36 I am this and this and this and that... " 28:38 but now Paul is saying, 28:39 "I am less than the least of all saints. " 28:41 I don't know how you consider yourself, 28:43 perhaps in your church, you may say, 28:45 "Well, I have this position, I'm a Sabbath School Teacher... 28:47 I'm an Elder... I'm an Deacon... 28:49 I... I... " you know, 28:50 we are all one in Christ. 28:52 Panel: Amen. Dinzey: We're all one in Christ. 28:53 And... and he just... he just... 28:55 "I'm blessed and the least of all saints, 28:57 this grace was given... " 28:58 In the lesson, Dr. McVay brought out 29:03 a... a wonderful message from the book: Steps to Christ. 29:07 He is quoting here and he says, 29:09 "Perhaps this line of thinking here by Paul 29:12 can explain this famous quote by Ellen G. White: 29:16 'The closer you come to Jesus, 29:19 the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes; 29:24 for your vision will be clearer, 29:27 and your imperfections will be seen 29:30 in broad and distinct contrast to His perfect nature. '" 29:36 Our eyes, right now, cannot really behold what we really are 29:41 but the closer we come to Christ and see His beauty... 29:45 His perfection... His righteousness... 29:46 His holiness... 29:48 we will begin to understand what our place should be 29:51 to exalt Jesus... Panel: Amen. 29:53 Dinzey: To exalt Him because He is worthy of all praise 29:57 and he says, "This grace... " 29:59 and again the word "grace" the Greek word: charis 30:03 what kind of words come out to... 30:06 to you as you think of this word "grace"? 30:08 Some of the Hebrew... I mean, Greek definitions: 30:11 Grace: goodwill, loving-kindness. 30:15 It is through the loving kindness of God 30:18 that we get the gifts that God gives to us. 30:20 And every good and perfect gift comes from heaven above... 30:25 and God in heaven above. 30:26 And it says, he has to preach 30:28 the unsearchable riches of Christ. 30:32 Think of the richness of these words. 30:35 "Consider Jesus... 30:37 Jesus Christ who came to this sin-darkened world... " 30:41 I don't know... if you've given some thought to that, 30:46 this world is a horrible, horrible place. 30:48 It was horrible in the time of Christ... 30:51 He came to a time when the world was really dark with evil. 30:55 Satan was doing a... a job that you can... 30:59 if you were to... to examine what He did and say, 31:02 "Well, you know, got to give it to Him... 31:04 He did a good job. 31:06 People were just... ah... in the sense of... 31:08 how much wickedness was around the world, 31:10 people were just demon possessed 31:14 and He came to make a difference in the world. 31:17 Wherever He went, Jesus brought light. 31:19 Wherever He went... 31:21 there was comfort... there was healing. 31:22 Lives were transformed 31:24 and the unsearchable riches of Christ. 31:27 Perhaps, you have a story of how God has rescued you... 31:30 share the story with Jesus 31:32 because that is sharing 31:33 part of the unsearchable riches of Christ. 31:36 He saved me from a world of wickedness. 31:39 He saved me from a life of evil... 31:41 the unsearchable riches of Christ. 31:44 Consider Jesus... lift Him up in your testimony 31:48 because He is worthy of all praise. 31:50 Jesus is able to save to the uttermost. 31:52 I don't know if we're talking to somebody 31:54 that, maybe, has killed people... 31:56 that maybe has committed adultery... 31:57 lived a very wicked life 31:59 and thinking, "You're not worthy... 32:01 you're not... " 32:03 Jesus Christ could not possibly save me... 32:04 but yes He came to save you... 32:07 He came to save me... 32:09 we are blessed with the understanding 32:13 that He is able to save whoever... whomever... 32:17 whatever you have done. 32:18 Ephesians 3:9 says, 32:19 "and to make all see 32:21 what is the fellowship of the mystery, 32:23 which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God 32:27 who created all things through Christ Jesus; 32:30 to the intent 32:31 that now the manifold wisdom of God 32:34 might be made known by the church... " 32:37 that's you and I... 32:39 we should, by the grace of the Lord, 32:41 ask Him to give us words... 32:43 ask Him to give us opportunities 32:46 to share the manifold wisdom of God. 32:49 Who can conceive such a marvelous plan... 32:52 the plan of redemption? 32:54 Panel: Hmmm... 32:55 Dinzey: I mean, we don't fully understand 32:57 this great plan of redemption. 32:59 We need to study this 33:00 and dedicate time to understand and you say 33:05 you know, "Try as hard as you can to understand this... " 33:07 because the more you do, 33:09 the more God opens the door... 33:11 opens and gives you light. 33:13 I'm quoting to you from the book: Education, page 308. 33:17 "In the plan of redemption there are heights and depths 33:22 that eternity itself can never exhaust, 33:25 marvels into which the angels desire to look into. 33:31 The redeemed only, of all created beings, 33:35 have in their own experience 33:37 known the actual conflict with sin; 33:40 they have wrought with Christ, 33:42 and, even as the angels could not do, 33:44 have entered into the fellowship of his sufferings... " 33:48 this plan of redemption demands our attention 33:52 even in this time that we live in. 33:54 A lot of things are calling for our attention. 33:57 New Apps... new toys... new technology coming out. 34:00 New shows... 34:01 new movies... 34:03 they're calling for our attention. 34:04 Whatever it is out there... calling for our attention... 34:07 but what should call our attention? 34:09 What should be the priority? 34:11 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. 34:14 Panel: Amen. 34:15 Dinzey: That should be our priority. 34:17 This is the time that we're living in, 34:18 we're living in dangerous time... 34:19 now more than ever, we should study the Word of God 34:21 so that we may be prepared for what is coming upon the earth. 34:24 We got only to verse 10. 34:27 I'm going to read verse 11 34:29 just to give a little more taste. 34:31 "According to the eternal purpose 34:33 which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord... " 34:36 verse 12, sorry, I've got to include that, 34:38 "in whom we have boldness 34:39 and access with confidence through faith in Him. " 34:43 God... blessed by His holy name. 34:45 I have to stop there. 34:46 Jill: Amen, thank you so much Pastor Johnny 34:50 and Shelley and Pastor John. 34:51 What an incredible Lesson, I'm Jill Morikone. 34:54 On Wednesday, we look at Christ dwelling in your heart. 34:59 Panel: Amen. 35:00 Jill: You know, we can know about Him, 35:02 but yet, we've never met Him. 35:04 We can proclaim the doctrines and the truth in His Word 35:08 but we've never been changed in our character... 35:11 our attitude... our behavior. 35:14 We can even teach who Jesus is 35:18 but we never talked with Him or walked with Him 35:22 or experienced His love and grace for ourselves. 35:25 What does it really mean to have Christ-dwelling 35:29 in our hearts by faith? 35:31 We pick up the prayer that Paul started 35:33 in Ephesians 3 verse 1 35:35 and then he interrupted it 35:37 or interrupted himself, you could say 35:39 to talk about the mystery of the gospel. 35:41 Now, we come back to that prayer 35:44 and the same phrase that we started in verse 1 35:46 for this reason, 35:47 we pick it up with this prayer, 35:49 this is... we're in Ephesians 3 verses 14 through 16, 35:53 we're going to pick it up there, 35:54 "For this reason 35:56 I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... " 35:59 Now, you're going to notice here we have the Godhead present... 36:02 we have God the Father, 36:04 we have the Lord Jesus Christ, 36:05 "from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 36:09 that He would grant you, 36:12 according to the riches of His glory, 36:14 to be strengthened with might... " 36:17 dunamis... miracle-working power... 36:21 through His Spirit in the inner man. " 36:25 Now, we go to verse 17, the crux of the matter, 36:28 "that... " why is this prayer? 36:30 why is God the Father... God the Son... 36:32 why is the Holy Spirit involved? 36:34 why this prayer? 36:35 "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. " 36:40 Now the word "dwell" in Greek "oikeo" happens quite often 36:45 and we use it a lot 36:46 and it means to settle down... take up residence... 36:49 but this word is actually even a stronger word 36:52 if you could call it that for it. 36:55 It means to house permanently... 36:58 to take up permanent residence. 37:00 Christ may dwell... 37:02 in other words He's going to settle down 37:04 and abide forever in our hearts through faith. " 37:09 Do you have Christ in your heart? 37:11 Are you Christ-like? 37:14 Have you ever held on to a grudge 37:16 or nursed bitterness or unforgiveness? 37:19 Have you ever gossiped about somebody else? 37:23 Have you ever taken out anger or frustration 37:27 on someone else? 37:28 Have you ever wished for something that wasn't yours 37:31 or held on to a thought that was impure? 37:35 Have you ever reacted to someone else 37:38 with a critical or judgmental spirit? 37:41 Have you ever indulged feelings of your own self-importance? 37:46 I want to ask these questions... I look at my heart... 37:50 I've probably done all of that. 37:52 Conversely, 37:54 do you love other people? 37:59 Do you walk in peace with others? 38:01 Do you freely forgive? 38:03 Do you react in kindness? 38:05 Do you seek to encourage? 38:07 Do you stand for principle no matter what? 38:10 Is Christ in your hearts? 38:12 We're going to get to our five takeaways, Pastor John, 38:15 how Christ can dwell in our hearts 38:17 because that's what I want. 38:19 I want to be a Christian where Christ dwells in my heart. 38:25 Let's keep going... we're in verse 17, 38:28 "that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 38:31 may be able to comprehend with all the saints 38:34 what is the width and length and depth and height... 38:36 to know the love of Christ with passes knowledge; 38:39 that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. " 38:41 Christians... these are those with Christ in their hearts 38:46 are to be settled in our identity with Christ 38:50 or rooted and grounded in love. 38:53 Love is the foundation 38:55 on which our Christian experience is to be built. 38:57 Christians are to experience and understand the love of Christ. 39:02 These four dimensions... 39:04 the immensity of the love of Christ... 39:06 the length and the breadth and the width and the height. 39:09 Christians... those who Christ dwells in their hearts 39:13 are to be filled with the fullness of God. 39:16 We are to experience the constant presence of God 39:20 in our daily lives. 39:22 So, how does Christ dwell in our hearts? 39:24 How does that happen? 39:25 Here are five steps for Christ to dwell in your heart 39:30 through faith. 39:32 Step Number 1: 39:33 Acknowledge your inability to change yourself. 39:37 When I read that list before of just stuff... 39:41 I guess we can call it: stuff. 39:42 This is the lust of the flesh, 39:44 the lust of the eyes... 39:45 the pride of life... 39:47 this is just the temptations that we're surrounded with 39:48 on a daily basis. 39:49 Do you acknowledge that "Wow! I've indulged in that... 39:52 I've stepped into that 39:53 and I have... 39:55 I have fallen away from God's ideal for my life, 39:57 just acknowledge that we can't change ourselves. 39:59 Acknowledge your inability to change yourself. 40:02 Isaiah 64 verse 6, 40:05 "All our righteousness is as filthy rags... " 40:08 there is nothing we can do in and of ourselves 40:11 to be made holy or to be made righteous. 40:15 My nephew... he's older now 40:16 but when he was two, 40:17 I still remember him having a little temper tantrum... 40:20 two years old... throwing himself on the floor... 40:23 kicking his feet and his hands 40:25 and he's crying... angry... 40:28 you know little-kid temper tantrum, 40:30 but I'll never forget the words 40:31 in the midst of that temper tantrum... 40:33 "Jesus! Help me be good... 40:36 Jesus, help me be good. " 40:39 You see, even a little child if they're taught, 40:41 understands that of ourselves, we can't be good. 40:44 Acknowledge your inability to change yourself. 40:46 Number 2: 40:47 Choose your master. 40:49 Now, this is a daily and a moment-by-moment decision. 40:56 Romans 6 verse 16, 40:58 "Do you not know to whom you present yourselves 41:00 slaves to obey, 41:01 you are that one's slaves to whom you obey, 41:03 whether of sin leading to death, 41:06 or of obedience leading to righteousness?" 41:08 You see, every morning when we wake up, 41:10 we have a choice to make. 41:12 Am I going to follow the desires... the carnal nature 41:16 in... in myself? 41:17 Am I going to follow and walk out those desires 41:20 or am I going to choose Jesus which leads to obedience 41:24 and leads to righteousness? 41:26 Make a choice, 41:27 choose your master 41:29 and it's not just every morning, 41:30 it's throughout the day 41:32 when we're faced with those daily decisions. 41:35 Number 3: Accept Him by faith. 41:39 Did you notice when we read in Ephesians 3:17, 41:41 it says, "Christ may dwell in your hearts 41:43 through faith. " 41:45 How does He dwell? 41:47 He dwells through faith. 41:49 I love this sentence 41:52 and I claim it often because I can be a "feeling" type of girl. 41:54 "When you can't feel Him with your feelings, 41:57 feel Him with your faith. " 42:00 What does that mean? 42:01 We're not saved by how we feel, 42:03 we're saved by the blood of Jesus. 42:05 We're not forgiven by how we feel, 42:07 we're forgiven by the Word of God. 42:09 He does not dwell in our hearts by feelings, 42:12 He dwells in our hearts by faith. 42:15 God stands back of every promise 42:17 that He has made in the Word of God 42:20 and you do not accept and claim those promises by feeling, 42:23 you accept and claim it by faith. 42:26 Panel: That's right. 42:27 Jill: Step Number 4... 42:28 "Ask for the Holy Spirit. " 42:30 There's a battle in Romans chapter 7, 42:33 we've talked about it before. 42:35 This lust between... strife, not lust... 42:38 strife between the lust of the flesh 42:40 and what the Spirit wants us to do. 42:42 We say the things, Pastor Johnny, 42:44 that I really want to do, 42:46 I'm not doing those things 42:47 and the things I know I shouldn't be doing, 42:49 those are the things I'm doing. 42:50 This battle... this war takes place. 42:52 In fact, at the end of the chapter, 42:54 he says, "O wretched man that I am... " 42:56 he's miserable. 42:58 Who can deliver me from this body of death? 42:59 We get to the next chapter... chapter 8 43:02 and you discover what happens. 43:03 Enter the power of the Holy Spirit. 43:06 When the power of the Holy Spirit 43:09 enters into the life of the Christian, 43:11 you're going to see transformation. 43:13 The difference is the Holy Spirit. 43:16 "There is therefore now no condemnation 43:18 to those who are in Christ Jesus, 43:20 who do not walk according to the flesh, 43:21 but according to the Spirit. " 43:24 Verse 11, 43:25 "If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead 43:28 dwells in you... " 43:29 has settled down and taken up residence in you, 43:33 "He who raised Christ from the dead 43:35 will give life to your mortal bodies 43:37 through His Spirit who dwells in you. " 43:40 You know, Jesus says in Luke chapter 11, 43:42 "Ask and it will be given to you... " 43:45 Panel: That's right. 43:46 Jill: Seek, and you will find... " 43:47 and it doesn't mean just ask once, 43:49 ask and keep on asking... 43:50 seek and keep on seeking... 43:52 knock and keep on knocking. 43:54 And then, he goes on to say, 43:56 "If you being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, 43:59 how much more is the Father going to give the Holy Spirit 44:01 to those who ask... " 44:04 Step Number 5: 44:05 Allow Him access into your heart. 44:11 You know, it's not enough 44:12 just to acknowledge we can't change ourselves 44:13 or to choose our master 44:15 to accept it by faith, ask for the Holy Spirit... 44:19 you and I have to give Him all of us. 44:21 Many times, we hold on to things 44:23 that we're afraid to give to God. 44:26 Or we don't want to give to God. 44:28 We hide things that we don't want to give up. 44:32 Surrender is simply saying "yes" to Jesus. 44:35 When He calls to your heart those things 44:38 that you don't want to give up, 44:39 those things that you want to hold on to, 44:41 say, God, "I'm not even sure I'm willing right now 44:44 but I'm willing to be made willing. 44:47 Panel: Amen. 44:48 Jill: Romans 8:13, "If you live according to the flesh 44:50 you will die; 44:51 but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, 44:54 you will live. " 44:56 Choose to walk in surrender 44:57 and you will have Christ dwelling in your heart. 45:01 Panel: Amen... amen. 45:02 Perrin: Wow! This... 45:04 this study of Ephesians is powerful 45:05 and it gets better each week 45:07 and I hope you have Ephesians with you, 45:10 hope you got your Bible open, 45:11 I've got just two verses to talk about and they're good ones. 45:15 Hold on to it for a minute, 45:16 it's the last two verses of Ephesians 3 45:18 and I'll get to reading it in just a minute. 45:20 But first, have you ever bitten off more than you can chew? 45:24 Panel: Laughter. 45:25 Perrin: God never bites off more than He can chew. 45:28 Jeremiah 32 verse 17, 45:31 Jeremiah... when he was facing a situation 45:34 he saw no possibility of... of success. 45:37 He says, "Ah, Lord God! 45:38 Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth 45:41 by Your great power and outstretched arm. 45:43 There is nothing too hard for You. " 45:46 Panel: That's right. 45:48 Perrin: He understood that 45:49 and that's the background of Paul 45:51 as he's writing this to real people 45:52 who were facing impossible situations. 45:54 I want to share with you also from the book Education, 45:57 page 126, one sentence, 45:59 "Every command is a promise; accepted by the will 46:04 received into the soul, 46:05 it brings with it the life of the Infinite One. " 46:08 Nothing God asks of us is not given without the power 46:11 to accomplish it. 46:12 Panel: Amen. 46:14 Perrin: And so with those thoughts in mind, 46:15 Paul interrupts his letter for prayer 46:18 and his last two verses are called a doxology 46:21 which just means a verbal or oral praise that pours out 46:25 and sometimes we speak our prayers, 46:27 sometimes we write them 46:28 but you just think about walking out... the sunrise 46:30 and you can't help but say "Oh Lord, 46:32 my life belongs to You... I'm so thankful to be Yours. " 46:35 Oftentimes Paul begins or might end his letter with a prayer, 46:40 just like we might at a meal or the beginning of a day 46:42 but he punctuates the middle of this letter 46:45 with a prayer. 46:47 I think about somebody who came and visited me where I worked. 46:49 The first job I had after college 46:52 and it was an office job for about a year 46:55 while I was waiting until something else opened up 46:57 and this man walked in there... his name was Mike 46:59 and I said, "What's your business here today?" 47:02 He's like, "My business is to pray with you. " 47:04 Panel: Ah... 47:05 Perrin: I'll never forget that moment 47:07 and he said these words, 47:08 he said, "We need an economic slowdown, 47:10 stop work to pray. " 47:12 All right, we should be interrupting our life to pray. 47:16 Interrupting our marriages... 47:18 interrupting our parenting... 47:19 interrupting our arguments to pray. 47:22 Our sermons... "We... we interrupt this broadcast 47:25 to bring you a special prayer. " 47:28 We could interrupt Sabbath School Panel 47:30 and I'm going to right now, will you pray with me? 47:32 "Dear Father in heaven, 47:34 Your name is glorified... 47:36 we just want to add to that by our words 47:40 but they're not ours, 47:41 fill us with Your Holy Spirit, God, 47:43 as we continue to study and speak 47:44 and I thank you. 47:46 In the name of Jesus, amen. " 47:47 Panel: Amen. 47:49 Perrin: Paul doesn't do this just here, 47:51 there's no other place... 47:52 there's a couple of others but 1st Timothy 1:17, 47:55 he says, "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, 47:58 the God who alone is wise, 48:00 be glory and honor forever and ever. Amen. " 48:04 All right, the mystery... what... what else could He do 48:08 but break out in praise to God. 48:10 Some people... when they see something beautiful, 48:12 what do they do? They take God's name in vain. 48:14 Paul pours out praises to His God and here's his prayer, 48:18 verses 20 and 21, 48:20 "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly 48:25 above all that we ask or think, 48:27 according to the power that works in us, 48:30 to Him be glory in the church 48:33 by Christ Jesus to all generations, 48:36 forever and ever. Amen. " 48:39 This is not just an inactive rehearsal of religious phrases, 48:43 I don't know if Paul was raising his hands 48:45 or just in quiet contemplation, 48:47 but he couldn't help himself. 48:49 "What can I do but to praise God!" 48:51 He starts his prayer with "Now... " 48:53 in other words, it affects this moment of my life and beyond, 48:58 and now, after all that we've said, 49:00 the mystery... the redemption... 49:03 the preacher of peace... 49:04 "I once was dead and now changed to life... 49:07 saved by grace through faith. " 49:09 As a gift of God... 49:11 unity in the body... the treasure of riches... 49:13 all of that explodes in a prayer here 49:16 and that prayer has no bounds, 49:18 it says, "God You have no bounds 49:20 and so, I'm keeping nothing out of bounds in my life. " 49:23 And we're going to see that, it's going to cover family 49:26 and work 49:28 and politics 49:29 and every relationship... 49:30 all those things... placed at God's feet 49:32 because He does exceedingly and above 49:35 and you may not know it 49:36 but in the Greek, that's the same word as "huper" 49:39 which... from which we get "hyper. " 49:41 Maybe you've seen a kid, you're like, "That kid is hyper!" 49:44 In other words, he doesn't stop! 49:47 And so, thinking about what God does, He doesn't stop. 49:50 Panel: Amen. 49:52 Perrin: What could you ask of God in your prayer? 49:53 You're probably not asking enough. 49:55 Your prayer is probably not big enough. 49:57 What else could you ask? 49:58 Too small... we only ask for the things that we can see... 50:04 for the things that we can think of. 50:06 God says, "I've got things you could never think of. " 50:10 Panel: That's great. 50:11 Perrin: As it was written, 1st Corinthians 2:9, 50:13 "Eye has not seen, nor ear has heard, 50:15 nor have entered in the heart of man... " 50:18 some... some translations say, 50:19 "No mind has conceived 50:21 of the things which God has prepared for them who love Him. " 50:24 This promise is vast and we limit God... 50:27 we don't mean to, 50:28 but we don't have the... the slightest inclination 50:31 of how much God wants to do through us. 50:34 Listen once again to the book: Education... what a great book! 50:37 Page 18, "Higher than the highest human thought can reach 50:41 is God's ideal for His children. 50:44 Godliness... godlikeness... is the goal to be reached. 50:48 Before the student there is opened a path 50:50 of continual progress. 50:52 He has an object to achieve, 50:54 a standard to attain, that includes everything good, 50:57 and pure, and noble. 50:58 He will advance as fast and as far as possible 51:02 in every branch of true knowledge. 51:04 But his efforts will be directed to objects as much higher 51:07 than mere selfish and temporal interests 51:09 as the heavens are higher than the earth. " 51:12 God wants to take us higher 51:14 and that event... advance is an advance in our character. 51:18 Panel: That's right. 51:19 Perrin: It says this prayer is not just about 51:21 what God can do for our grades or for our work, 51:24 or for our relationships. 51:25 It says, "I want to take you and do things in your character. 51:29 Me doing the work while you work it out. 51:31 that you can never imagine would be possible. " 51:34 "I can never do that... I cannot overcome this. " 51:37 You're right, you can't overcome that 51:39 but Christ dwelling in us is going to give that power. 51:42 All right, the body is going to be re-made. 51:46 All right, but the character... our choices... our decisions 51:49 is who we are. 51:51 God doesn't change our identity. 51:53 He helps us to change it to become like His. 51:56 And so, we ask God, 51:57 "Lord, I'm having trouble with something 51:59 that's causing problems in my life, 52:00 a damaging relationship 52:02 or something that's disturbing my peace... help me. " 52:05 And God comes in and He says, 52:06 "I'm going to start there as I did with every... 52:09 with the people in the Old and New Testament, 52:11 but I'm going to keep on working on stuff 52:13 you never thought was a problem. 52:14 I'm going to bring to your mind things that... 52:17 that could draw you closer to Me 52:19 that you had no intention of bringing to Me 52:21 but I'm going to bring them to your mind. " 52:22 Panel: Hmmm... 52:24 Perrin: Jesus created the world and He looked down and He said, 52:27 "It's good... " 52:28 but those two people... Adam and Eve 52:30 and each of their descendants 52:31 were expected to continue growing, 52:34 there's an old kid's song: 52:35 He's still working on me 52:37 To make me what He wants to be... 52:38 It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars 52:41 The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars 52:43 How loving and patient He must be 52:45 He's still working on me. 52:47 All right, so we can keep on advancing. 52:50 One more from the book Education. 52:52 This sounds like a book we ought to read. 52:54 Page 124, "He who is sincere... 52:56 who is sincere and teachable spirit, 52:58 studies God's Word seeking to comprehend its truths, 53:02 will be brought in touch with its Author; 53:04 and, except by his own choice, 53:06 there is no limit to the possibilities 53:09 of his development. " 53:11 God wants to take us step by step 53:14 higher and higher through all eternity 53:16 and this is all accomplished by the power working in us 53:19 and that's the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 53:22 Verse 21, "to Him be the glory in the church 53:28 by Christ Jesus to all generations, 53:31 forever and ever. Amen. " 53:32 The King James Version says, 53:34 "throughout all ages, world without end. " 53:37 God's character has been under attack 53:40 and God can't just simply say, "I'm right... 53:42 the enemy is wrong. " 53:44 It has to be demonstrated. 53:45 Panel: Hmmm... 53:47 Perrin: And that demonstration is made known 53:48 by what He does in us 53:50 so He puts us on display in the church 53:55 to see His character revealed and lived out. 53:59 Listen to this in John 15 verse 8, 54:02 "By this my Father is glorified... " 54:05 How is God glorified? 54:06 "That you bear much fruit; 54:09 so you will be My disciples. " 54:11 God is glorified in the church 54:14 His character dwelling in us and the prayer ends with "amen. " 54:18 It's called the best-known word in human speech, 54:21 it's not translated... 54:23 it came from Hebrew into Greek... into Latin... 54:25 and into English... 54:27 the same in almost every language 54:29 "amen... " it simply means: it's sure 54:31 or truly or agreed... 54:34 it's settled... as it should be... 54:36 trustworthy. 54:38 In other words, what God promises here... 54:41 what Paul is praying about... 54:43 what God wants to do in you... 54:45 is sure... settled... trustworthy... 54:47 not because of you, 54:49 in fact, Jesus, to the church of Laodicea is called: 54:53 The Amen. 54:54 Panel: That's right. 54:55 Perrin: So, we get to this end of the prayer... 54:57 to the end of this Section... the prayer 54:58 and Paul simply says, "Jesus will do this... 55:03 He is the Amen. " 55:05 All right, He's the One who works out His will within us 55:08 and all we have to do is be willing and cooperate with Him. 55:12 Panel: Amen... 55:14 Lomcang: Thank you, Daniel, such energy! 55:15 Praise God for that! 55:16 Shelley: Great Study! 55:18 Lomacang: Wonderful study... very deep and very thorough. 55:20 Shelley, what are your thoughts before we... 55:22 Shelley: What's running through my mind 55:23 is that you may not feel worthy... 55:27 pause... 55:29 I want to tell you, God has no partiality. 55:33 God has no favorites. 55:35 God has always intended... His heart is to save all. 55:39 You're worth nothing less than the price He paid for you 55:43 with the precious blood of Christ Jesus. 55:45 Panel: Amen... amen. 55:47 Dinzey: Ephesians chapter 3 verse 12 talks about Jesus 55:50 and it says, "In whom we have boldness 55:53 and access with confidence through faith in Him. " 55:56 You know, today, you enter a code 55:58 and you have access to your e- mail. 56:00 You enter a code and you have access to some website, 56:05 you enter a code and you have access to your checking account 56:08 or savings account. 56:09 Through Jesus, we have access to heaven. 56:11 Through Jesus, we have access to blessings 56:13 that we cannot even imagine. 56:14 Through Jesus, we have access to the throne of grace 56:18 and salvation. 56:19 Blessed be His holy name. 56:21 Jill: Amen, we look at Christ dwelling in your hearts 56:23 through faith. 56:25 I love that it's rooted and grounded in love. 56:27 It's not rooted and grounded in works... 56:29 or legalism... 56:31 or fear... 56:32 or coercion. 56:33 It's always in love. 56:35 Perrin: When Jesus says, 56:36 "Let your light so shine before men... " 56:39 what is your light? 56:40 It is Jesus. 56:42 He is the light of the world. 56:43 Let your light so shine that men may see your good deeds 56:46 and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 56:50 Lomacang: Thank you so much everyone on the Panel. 56:52 You know, I talked about... 56:54 we began with a Prepositional phrase 56:56 and we end with that for this reason, 56:58 Paul talked about the purpose of his incarceration 57:01 to get the gospel to the Gentiles. 57:03 For this reason, Paul talked about the joy of 57:06 his incarceration. 57:07 I would rather be incarcerated and someone be freed 57:11 and so, Friends, 57:12 if you experience any kind of tribulation 57:14 because of your faithfulness to the gospel, 57:16 remember this 57:18 and this is not a Prepositional phrase, 57:20 this is a promise. 57:21 Romans 8 and verse 35, 57:22 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 57:26 Shall tribulation, or distress, 57:28 or persecution, or famine, 57:30 or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" 57:32 Romans 8 verses 37 to 39, 57:34 "Yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors 57:37 through Him who loved us. 57:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, 57:41 nor angels nor principalities nor powers, 57:43 nor things present nor things to come, 57:45 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, 57:48 shall be able to separate us from the love of God 57:50 which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. " 57:52 Join us next time for Lesson 7: The Unified Body of Christ. |
Revised 2023-11-07