Participants:
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW200001S
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:19 Removing pain 00:24 Lord, let my words 00:30 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:46 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:09 Hello, and welcome to 3ABN Family Worship. 01:11 We're so glad you've joined in with us here. 01:14 We only get, you know, bring your family, 01:18 bring your neighbors, 01:19 whatever you have to do right now around the table, 01:21 just get people around, open the Word of God together 01:24 and study because this is going to be a good one, 01:26 I really liked the way that the lesson is gonna be. 01:29 Are you ready? 01:30 So we just kind of throw this out. 01:32 So make sure you don't tune and go somewhere else. 01:34 Because we're gonna be looking is, 01:36 five things that I wanna name quickly 01:37 before we have prayer and a song. 01:39 And I kind of condensed them down to the five questions 01:42 is the day of salvation. 01:44 If you're interested in that there's gonna be a question 01:46 I believe it will go around the table with. 01:48 Two, the preparation. 01:50 What is the preparation to meet Jesus in the clouds of heaven? 01:53 What's that gonna be? 01:54 Number three, being a beacon of truth, you know. 01:57 In a world that doesn't believe 01:59 and maybe keeping the commandments, 02:00 maybe in your own family 02:01 there's difference of thoughts and so on. 02:03 Number four, 02:04 we're talking about being without spot 02:06 or wrinkle or any such thing. 02:08 Righteous by faith, victory over sin. 02:11 Number five, Christ formed within. 02:13 I found every one of them to be, you know, really, 02:16 it really, it isn't something we're studying. 02:18 So anyway, we're glad you're here and again, 02:20 have your neighbors, pencil, and paper, everything down. 02:21 We're gonna be studying this. 02:23 You won't want to miss a bit of it. 02:24 We now go around the table and introduce. 02:26 And, Brother Donald, we're glad you're here with us. 02:28 Thank you. Yes. Thank you for having me. 02:29 Yes, I work in pastoral department 02:31 since 2017 02:33 and hearing the miraculous story 02:34 of how people are being changed by 3ABN is just... 02:36 It's been incredible, so I've been blessed 02:38 and privileged to be able to even pray with folks so... 02:41 Amen. I'm just thankful. 02:42 Yeah, it's amazing. Yeah. Yeah. 02:43 That's a very important job. Praise God. 02:45 Amen. Wonderful. We're glad you're here. 02:47 I'm Kenny Shelton. I have my wife, Chris. 02:49 Yes. Yes. I'm glad to have you. 02:51 I'm happy to be here and always blessed, 02:54 you know, to have any part in the Lord's work is always, 02:56 always, always a blessing so. 02:59 We have on our left Brother Ryan Day. 03:01 I'm here and accounted for, man. 03:02 Yeah. Yeah. 03:04 I'm excited about this one. Yeah. 03:05 We need to be talking about being ready 03:07 and prepared for the Second Coming of Jesus. 03:09 So this is definitely a relevant topic. 03:11 It's really something we can't talk too much about. 03:13 It's right. Isn't that true? 03:15 I mean, you hear that kind of that subject and so on, 03:16 but this is something 03:18 that really should be paramount to us 03:20 as Bible believers, right? 03:22 You have over there, okay, Brother John Dinzey. 03:24 We're glad you're with us today. 03:25 Praise the Lord. 03:27 We know you're busy man, but you took time out 03:28 to help us today. 03:30 Thank you. Thank you. 03:31 It's a privilege to be here. 03:32 Especially, when we're talking about 03:34 this very important topic. 03:35 Yeah, yeah. 03:36 I know each one loves this topic and praise God for. 03:38 I think, you know, we should have prayer first 03:40 and then we're gonna sing a song 03:41 and I'm excited about this song to hardly wait for it but... 03:46 Brother, would you pray for us? Sure. 03:49 Heavenly Father, oh, we wanna thank You, Lord, 03:51 for this privilege, this honor, Lord, 03:53 to be able to sit here tonight. 03:55 Who are we, Lord, 03:56 to be on a program of all things, 03:58 sharing this wonderful topic, Are You Ready? 04:00 How many of us are ready, Lord, 04:01 if You were to come today, tomorrow, 04:03 I don't know when but 04:04 when You do come help us to be prepared and be ready. 04:06 We just ask that You'll anoint each one on the set. 04:09 On the set today, on this program, 04:11 just ask that You will help those 04:13 who are listening via from radio, 04:15 or television, or internet. 04:17 Lord, it will touch their hearts 04:18 and that the Holy Spirit will stir us 04:20 to take action and, 04:21 Lord, we can be ready when You come. 04:22 We wanna thank You, Lord, we assess now 04:24 in the precious name of Jesus. 04:26 Amen. Amen. 04:27 Thank you, Brother Donald. Appreciate that. 04:30 Brother Ryan, we're gonna turn it over to you. 04:32 Lead us into the song, please. Nice! Yeah! Hey! 04:33 When I was choosing this song, I thought it felt... 04:36 it just fell right in line with what we're talking about. 04:38 This is actually a hymn found in the Adventist Hymnal, 04:42 although it's not necessarily an Adventist hymn. 04:44 It's entitled "Oh, when shall I say, Jesus." 04:47 If you wanna follow in your hymnal, 04:48 it's on page 448. 04:50 And it was written by a Baptist minister back in the 1700s. 04:54 It's very biblical. It's even got a catchy tune. 04:56 And I praise the Lord for my good friend, 04:58 Mr. Tim Parton, joining us. 04:59 That's right. 05:00 He's gonna soup it up 05:02 and make it sound real nice for us here. 05:03 Oh, good. Amen. 05:09 O, when shall I see Jesus and reign with Him above 05:14 And shall hear the trumpet sound 05:17 In that morning 05:20 And from the flowing fountain drink 05:23 Everlasting love 05:25 And shall hear the trumpet sound 05:27 In that morning 05:30 O, shout, glory 05:33 For I shall mount above the skies 05:35 When I hear the trumpet sound in that morning 05:42 Gird on the gospel armor of faith and hope and love 05:47 And you'll hear the trumpet sound 05:50 In that morning 05:52 And when the combat's ended 05:55 He'll carry you above 05:57 And you'll hear the trumpet sound 06:00 In that morning 06:03 O, shout, glory 06:05 For I shall mount above the skies 06:08 When I hear the trumpet sound 06:11 In that morning 06:15 Our ears shall hear with gladness 06:18 The host of heaven sing 06:20 And shall hear the trumpet sound 06:23 In that morning 06:25 Our tongues shall speak the glories 06:28 Of our immortal King 06:31 And shall hear the trumpet sound 06:33 In that morning 06:36 O, shout, glory 06:38 For I shall mount above the skies 06:41 When I hear the trumpet sound 06:44 In that morning 06:49 Hallelujah! Amen! 06:51 Hands down, I appreciate it, Brother. 06:52 Praise the Lord! Amen! 06:54 Oh, great song! Great song! 06:55 It's a new one to ask but we love it. 06:56 Yeah. It's just good. 06:58 And we pray that that's been a real blessing to you 06:59 and you've been singing along with us. 07:01 Absolutely. 07:02 Now again, have your Bible, pencil, and paper, 07:03 we're gonna get right into this study. 07:05 Are you ready? 07:06 Now in our lesson, we have like three different paragraphs. 07:08 And I think we'd be a miss if we didn't go over those 07:10 'cause that will reset up a good foundation 07:12 for what we're going to be talking about. 07:15 And I've asked my wife to take the first one, 07:17 and then we'll go right on to Brother Ryan, 07:19 and then we'll go on to Brother John, 07:21 and then to our first question with Brother Donald, okay? 07:23 All right. Are you ready? 07:26 As I guess, I could even add that song. 07:28 Are you ready when we shall see Jesus 07:30 in that morning? 07:31 I loved it. 07:33 Okay, it doesn't take a rocket science 07:36 to realize that our world is rapidly changing 07:39 and in most cases, not for the good. 07:43 We hear and experience wars and rumors of wars 07:46 as was prophesied in Matthew 24:6 07:49 on a daily basis. 07:51 Nations are in constant agitation 07:53 towards one another. 07:55 We are plagued with famines, pestilence, earthquakes, 07:59 volcanoes, typhoons, tsunamis, 08:01 floods, tornadoes, 08:03 devastating wildfires in diverse places, 08:06 as we read in prophecy in Matthew 24:7. 08:10 And in Matthew 24:8-9 it also tells us 08:13 that all these things are the beginning of sorrow. 08:19 For shortly after this, 08:20 oh, we can lift up our heads, right? 08:22 For shortly after this, 08:24 Christ warns that some will be delivered up 08:27 to be afflicted and even put to death. 08:30 And He states that a time is coming 08:34 that those of us who hold fast to Christ 08:37 and His Word will be hated for our fate. 08:42 For a time of tribulation or trouble is soon 08:44 to come upon the Christ' children 08:46 that is worse than has ever occurred 08:49 since the world's inception. 08:50 We read that in Matthew 24:21. 08:54 So the question again, are you ready for that time? 08:59 That's right. That's right. 09:00 Amen. That's very relevant. 09:02 And when I was... 09:04 I recently done a revival, had a revival weekend. 09:07 And everything you just mentioned, 09:08 we talked about those things. 09:09 Yes. 09:11 And one of my sermons was entitled 09:12 "Preparation for the Tribulation." 09:14 And that's exactly what we're talking about here. 09:16 I'm gonna read the second paragraph 09:17 here in our study lesson. 09:19 I like to start with Amos 4:12, which says, 09:22 "Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel," 09:25 and we are the seed of Abraham, 09:28 we are heir according to the promise, 09:30 spiritual Israel, 09:31 and so we should be ready to prepare to meet our God. 09:34 My paragraph says, 09:35 suppose that today Christ should prepare... 09:38 Excuse me, suppose today that Christ should appear 09:41 in the clouds of heaven, who would be ready to meet Him? 09:46 Suppose we should be translated into the kingdom of heaven 09:49 just as we are. 09:50 Oh, boy. 09:52 Would we be prepared to unite with the saints of God 09:54 to live in harmony with the royal family, 09:58 the children of the heavenly King? 10:01 What preparation have you made for the judgment? 10:04 And we are living in a judgment time period. 10:06 Have you made your peace with God? 10:09 Are you laboring together with God? 10:11 Are you seeking to help those around you, 10:14 those in your home, those in your neighborhood, 10:17 those with whom you come in contact 10:20 that are not keeping the commandments? 10:23 Yes, that are not keeping the commandments of God. 10:26 And of course, are we getting ready 10:27 to meet the King? 10:29 Amen. 10:30 Absolutely. Yes. 10:32 Well, these are very good questions. 10:34 Very good questions. 10:36 The third paragraph also starts with a question. 10:40 Please listen to this. 10:41 If it were possible for us to be admitted into heaven 10:46 as we are, 10:48 how many of us would be able to look upon God? 10:53 Wow! Well. 10:54 How many of us have on the wedding garment? 10:58 How many of us are without spot or wrinkle or any such thing? 11:02 How many of us are worthy to receive the crown of life? 11:07 "Position does not make the man. 11:09 It is Christ formed within 11:12 that makes a man worthy of receiving the crown of life, 11:16 that fadeth not away." 11:19 You can find this and other more added to this 11:23 in the General Conference Bulletin of April 6, 1903. 11:27 Solemn, solemn questions. Yes. 11:29 Oh, yeah, absolutely. 11:31 Absolutely. That sounds even... 11:32 Kind of begs the other question 11:33 we're gonna ask here, the first one. 11:35 So is it so easy for us to become overwhelmed? 11:37 That's a big strong word 'overwhelmed'. 11:39 And allow ourselves to be lulled to sleep. 11:41 How many of us are sleeping? 11:43 And try to forget the urgency of the time 11:46 in which we are now living. 11:47 Yet, 2 Corinthians 6:2 11:49 tells us that now is the day of salvation. 11:53 So we're asking the question, 11:55 please explain why this statement is true? 11:58 And there is a scripture 11:59 that actually spoke to me is Hebrews 3:15. 12:02 Actually, I think I have an Amplified Version 12:04 written out here but really powerful. 12:08 Let me take a look at this concept 12:10 of now is the day of salvation. 12:12 Do we trust that 12:14 we have the opportunity to have this salvation? 12:17 I have a lot of questions on the phone about that. 12:18 Well, I'm not sure, you know, God doesn't love me. 12:20 He can't stand me. 12:22 He doesn't answer my prayers, all those types of things. 12:24 And I think sometimes 12:25 Satan really paints a ugly picture of God towards us. 12:28 Hebrews 3:15 says, "Then, while it is still called Today, 12:32 if you would hear His voice and when you hear it, 12:34 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." 12:37 So, you know, just mentioned that so if you hear His voice, 12:41 when you hear it, do not harden your heart. 12:44 I guess that's a powerful thing, 12:45 you know, we get all these things 12:46 that you talked about earlier about seeing famines, 12:48 pestilences, these earthquakes, 12:50 the people are asking the question, 12:51 "Where are you, God, when all this is happening? 12:52 Don't You care?" 12:54 That's right. 12:55 Yeah, I think that's powerful so. 12:56 Anybody else have anything... Absolutely. 12:58 What I know when I was a little girl, 12:59 I'd never even heard of the word 'tsunami', 13:02 I mean, a lot of these things there... 13:03 Of course, there's been disasters 13:05 for many, many years, but not so frequently, 13:08 as we are experiencing right now. 13:10 While we were recording this, there's a terrible wildfire 13:13 that they can't put out. 13:15 You know, and so many animals, so many people, 13:18 so many homes are being destroyed. 13:20 You know, these are, Mrs. White calls them 13:23 they're the trumpets 13:24 that are sounding to wake us up. 13:26 And that's why we need to ask ourselves, 13:29 "Are we ready?" 13:30 You know, in regards to that first question, 13:33 you read, the thing that came to my mind, 13:35 it's because we're not promised tomorrow. 13:38 That's right. 13:39 Today is our day of salvation. 13:41 We don't even know if we'll be living tomorrow. 13:44 We don't know if we'll make it home from this study here. 13:48 You know, Matthew 22:36, 40, 13:51 the disciples were asking Jesus, 13:54 "Which was the greatest commandment?" 13:56 "Jesus said unto him, 13:58 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, 14:02 and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 14:05 This is the first and great commandment." 14:07 Matthew 22:39 reads, 14:09 "And the second is like unto it, 14:11 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' 14:15 On these two commandments 14:17 hang all the law and the prophets." 14:20 So, if we remain alive, 14:25 all the signs around us, Christ was just... 14:29 He's such a great teacher to be able to sum up 14:32 the commandments in those two 14:35 and as we learn to do that out of love, 14:38 all these things begin to fall into place, beautiful. 14:42 I wonder what else Paul was saying? 14:45 Maybe something we can talk about here 14:46 because we're setting the context 14:49 of what he said there and I don't think 14:51 we read that verse in 2 Corinthians 6:2, 14:54 says "For he saith, 14:56 I have heard thee in a time accepted, 14:59 and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee, 15:02 behold, now is the acceptable time, 15:04 behold, now is the day of salvation." 15:07 So, you know, who is Paul talking to 15:09 and why is he talking to them like this? 15:11 Is there an acceptable time? 15:15 And to me it brought on one point here quickly 15:16 and then we can go into, 15:18 may talk a little more about it. 15:19 There is a time, probationary time 15:22 given to each and every one of us. 15:23 Absolutely, there's time. 15:24 There's an acceptable time to come to Him. 15:27 If we don't come to Him in that acceptable time, 15:30 I'm bogged down, acceptable day, 15:32 meaning, notice this, when the sinners 15:34 or the repentance sinners will be received. 15:37 So there's a time they will be received 15:39 and pardoned. 15:40 And there'll be a time when they will not be. 15:42 And we wanna make sure we don't get into that point 15:45 where the probation is closed 15:47 and to be no more come to Christ. 15:49 So as long as Christ, and then take it from here, 15:51 as long as Christ is interceding 15:54 for us, praise God. 15:56 Right, we can come to Him. 15:57 It is the acceptable time. That's right. 16:00 But the day will come 16:01 when He no more longer intercedes for us. 16:03 That's right. Absolutely. 16:04 You know, I love this question. 16:06 Because again, it's based off the text 16:08 in 2 Corinthians 6:2 16:10 which says "Now is the day of salvation. 16:13 Behold, now is the time." 16:15 And the question just to reiterate it here, 16:17 it says, please explain why the statement is so true? 16:20 And you hit the nail on the head 16:22 from where I was gonna go with this, 16:23 and that is we're not promised tomorrow. 16:25 You know, while we are living 16:26 in an accepted time of probation, 16:28 now as Brother Kenny brought out 16:30 there's gonna become a time where corporate, 16:33 I guess you could say probation is gonna close. 16:35 But, you know, a lot of people have this that we, 16:38 you know, by nature we have this sinful nature 16:40 that kind of, 16:42 we have this tendency to be procrastinators. 16:45 You know, just, you know, and with that, 16:46 and a lot of people 16:48 with our false perception of the gospel, 16:50 and this is really what we're getting 16:51 into the heart of this issue 16:52 and I think this is gonna come up a few times 16:54 in this particular discussion. 16:56 How you perceive the gospel will determine 16:58 how you're gonna answer these questions. 17:00 If you see the false, you know, evangelical gospel, 17:03 the popular evangelical gospel for what it is today, 17:06 which is kind of a once saved, always saved, 17:08 you know, do what you want to do 17:10 as long as you have accepted Jesus, 17:12 your past, present 17:13 and future sins are forgiven and wiped clean. 17:16 Well, you know, while we do serve a gracious, 17:19 mighty God, a merciful Lord. 17:20 We also serve a God of justice, a God who, who in His Word, 17:24 He wants to have a daily devoted relationship with us. 17:27 And so I made the note of James 4:13-17. 17:31 I'm not gonna read all those but again, 17:33 it says here "For what is your life, 17:36 even it is a vapor that appears for a time 17:39 and then vanishes away." 17:41 So we're not promised tomorrow. 17:43 And I think of all the many references 17:45 throughout the New Testament. 17:47 I was counting them up as I was studying for this. 17:49 And I got so far into them, I thought, "Man, 17:50 there are so many of these." 17:52 Dozens and dozens of references in the New Testament, 17:54 and who knows of the Old Testament 17:56 which I didn't particularly look at, 17:59 but the constant message from Jesus and Paul 18:02 and the disciples to watch, watch, watch, 18:05 you know, watch and be sober watch and pray, 18:07 Jesus said to His disciples. 18:08 Watch for, you know not the hour. 18:10 And I think of the passage, 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5, 18:13 where Paul says, basically, 18:17 that I do not need to write to you, brethren, 18:19 for you yourselves know perfectly 18:20 that the day of the Lord so comes 18:21 as a thief in the night. 18:23 So he's not necessarily talking as to how Jesus will come 18:26 because we know how Jesus will come. 18:27 He's gonna come, you know, loud, 18:29 and it's gonna be glorious. 18:30 And we know all of the elements 18:32 that will be very evident on that how Christ will come. 18:35 But what we don't know is when He will come. 18:36 Right. That's right. 18:38 And so there's a sense of urgency 18:39 that we have to have in these last days, 18:41 which is Lord, 18:43 I need You every moment of every day. 18:46 Now so why is this statement true 18:49 that now is the day, now is the time 18:51 because I'm not promised tomorrow. 18:53 We're not promised to be able to stand alive 18:56 at the Second Coming of Jesus. 18:58 And so whether I do or I don't, 19:00 Lord, take my heart now, 19:02 help me to become devoted and committed to You now 19:05 because today is the day of salvation. 19:08 Can I just interject one little thing there too, 19:10 is because we don't know if that's the last time 19:13 that we'll hear the spirits voice. 19:15 That's right. 19:16 You just don't know. 19:17 And there's times in our lives that 19:19 that's the last call that God will give us. 19:22 And as the people of the world 19:24 we know we're in a judgment hour. 19:25 We don't even know when our name comes up, 19:28 you know, before the King. 19:30 So we need to be ready 19:31 and when we hear the Spirit's voice 19:33 we need to act. 19:34 And what's interesting is this has been, 19:37 it has been the day of salvation 19:40 throughout all history for each and every person. 19:44 Because, as we said, 19:45 we don't have a promise of tomorrow, 19:48 you have to make a decision today. 19:49 You know, to delay is detrimental. 19:53 To delay is detrimental, 19:55 when the Lord is calling you is the best time, 19:57 it's today salvation. 19:59 Now is the time to, to listen. 20:01 And there are people 20:04 that are listening right now 20:06 that the Lord has been calling upon and calling upon, 20:09 and now they're hearing again, 20:10 this is the time, this is the day of salvation. 20:14 And I would urge to say do not delay, 20:18 do not let a moment pass by without saying, 20:21 "Yes, Lord, please forgive me for my sins, 20:24 please accept me." 20:25 Because like you said, you don't know. 20:28 You know, we talk about the next minute, 20:31 you know, you could drop dead. 20:34 But now is the day of salvation when you have that messages, 20:38 when you should take advantage of the opportunity. 20:40 Amen. Amen. 20:41 Jesus is calling. 20:43 And that's why I like Revelation 3:20, 20:46 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." 20:49 He is knocking. 20:50 And right now He's knocking and now is the time to respond. 20:54 So I want to respond, I want to say "Yes, Lord. 20:56 I hear Your voice." Amen. 20:58 Because it says, "Today if you hear His voice, 21:00 harden not your heart." 21:03 Amen. Amen. Yes. 21:05 You know, and that goes back to that struggle 21:07 between right and wrong. 21:09 It goes back to the great controversy, 21:12 because the devil wants nothing more 21:14 than for us to hold something up higher 21:17 and grander than the calling of the Holy Spirit. 21:21 And that's what hardens our hearts 21:22 because we keep putting... 21:24 And what is the only sin? 21:26 What is the only sin? 21:28 You're talking about pride? 21:30 No, rejecting us of the Holy Spirit. 21:32 Well, of course, right. Absolutely. 21:34 I said that wrong, the unpardonable sins. 21:37 We want everybody, please. 21:38 No wonder, I meant the unpardonable sins. 21:41 Yes. And... 21:42 The only sin He can't forgive, blaspheming of the Holy Spirit. 21:43 Thank you. Yeah. Right. 21:45 And but that's what happens when we begin to put Him off 21:47 and put Him off and put Him off. 21:49 And then you begin to hear Him less 21:51 and less and less. 21:52 And I think, as you were speaking, 21:55 what a wonderful call because I think, 21:58 as I said in the beginning 21:59 it doesn't take a rocket science 22:01 to say there is something going on 22:04 and it's beyond our control. 22:06 They're talking about our planet having 22:08 maybe nine or ten viable years left of sustainability. 22:14 And that's people outside of the word. 22:17 Amen. 22:18 You know, so if they can see that there's a problem, 22:21 we need to really be examining our heart and study. 22:26 If we look at those four points right quick 22:27 and then we can just share something. 22:29 I think, you know, they been made here. 22:30 I jotted down, life can be cut short, okay? 22:33 That's why... 22:34 It says now is. 22:36 So I just take those first two words 'now is' and why? 22:39 'Cause life can be cut short. 22:41 Number two, 22:42 the condition of the body and the mind. 22:45 That makes a difference. 22:46 We put off accepting Christ maybe when we're younger. 22:49 We get a little bit older and we keep putting it off 22:50 and what happens? 22:52 Sometime we're not capable. 22:53 The mind starts to slip. 22:55 We can't make an intelligent decision anymore. 22:57 The body gives up, you know, disease and so on. 23:00 Can't make a good decision. 23:02 Number three, someone just mentioned here, 23:04 the heart can be hardened. 23:07 So remember, the more we write, 23:08 we reject the Holy Spirit, the living God. 23:10 The more the unpardonable sin, the heart becomes hard. 23:12 We won't do it. 23:14 And then I'll say this about number four, 23:15 procrastination is equivalent to rejection. 23:19 Wow. Yeah. 23:21 Procrastination is equivalent to rejection. 23:24 And here we need to think in terms of receive, 23:26 yeah, and believe, 23:28 which is the first essential steps of salvation. 23:32 And we throw that out as people tonight say 23:34 they don't know what's the first step. 23:36 Receive and what, and believe. That's right. 23:39 And then what? Accept it now. 23:41 Now is this the acceptable time of the Lord. 23:44 When you guys were speaking earlier, I think, John, 23:46 when you mentioned some things 23:47 that just brought back to when I do Prison Ministry. 23:50 And we had a gentleman had been coming for nine years 23:52 to our Adventist group, 23:53 and he kept putting it off, putting off. 23:55 You know, the old Holy Spirit's pulling on his heart 23:56 to get baptized and he said it wasn't 23:58 till I brought this particular recovery ministry 24:01 into the prison. 24:02 He finally made the decision, "I'm gonna get baptized." 24:04 Yeah, but he kept for nine years 24:06 he's holding that off. 24:07 You know, like you said, you don't know 24:08 what tomorrow is 24:10 and what if nine years later you're not here 24:11 and you didn't get the, you know, 24:12 that opportunity to get baptized so I think that... 24:14 What I'm hearing is the word 'prepare'. 24:17 Preparedness. 24:18 Just be, get prepared, we'll be prepared. 24:20 And so we need to really get ourselves prepared 24:22 because we really don't know if we have tomorrow. 24:25 A deer could pop out in front of you, you know, that could, 24:27 you know, anything could happen, you know. 24:29 You can have a sudden heart attack, anything. 24:31 So being prepared... 24:33 And when Pastor was breaking that down, 24:35 the word presumption came to my mind. 24:38 And so many people within and without the church, 24:41 presume on God's love, presume on His graciousness, 24:45 presume on His mercy. 24:47 And we can't do, that's dangerous. 24:50 That's the enemies ground really. 24:52 Yes, the enemy. 24:53 We've got to make it right while we have breath 24:57 and time to do so. 24:59 The enemy is... 25:02 He's been doing it for several thousand years. 25:05 Yes. 25:06 He knows what things to say to the... 25:08 The suggestions to put into our minds, 25:10 which of course, if we take that suggestion, 25:13 entertain it and say "Yes, you're right. 25:14 I think I'll wait for another opportunity." 25:16 And we've all been. Yeah. 25:17 And we've all been. Yes. 25:18 Just like, all this week your alarm clock has rang, 25:22 if you use alarm clocks, 25:23 and I don't know how many of us 25:25 have pressed that little snooze button this week. 25:27 But, you know, 25:28 that's what the devil does with people. 25:30 You can wait till later, like pressing the snooze button 25:33 and thinking, "I'll take advantage of time." 25:36 But it is so, so dangerous 25:39 because he knows if he can cause you to delay 25:43 he has more opportunity to destroy you. 25:46 That's right. That's right. 25:47 And to lead you further and further away from the Lord. 25:50 And so the best time is now. 25:53 The best time is now, to give yourself to Him. 25:55 We're creatures of habit. 25:57 And so every time you reject the calling of the Lord, 26:00 it makes it even easier to reject it the next time, 26:03 and the next time, and the next time. 26:05 And before you find it, before you know, 26:07 you find yourself in this perpetual state 26:09 of just rejecting the constant calling 26:11 of the Holy Spirit upon your heart, 26:13 which is what we've been saying. 26:14 You know, I think of this conversation in terms, 26:16 you know, at least for me, 26:19 I think of, you know, 26:20 if I were to stand in the presence of God, 26:21 and He were to look at my life, 26:23 you know, the record of my life. 26:25 You know, 26:28 if He would ask the question, 26:30 "Out of all of these years that I blessed you, 26:32 that I gave you, 26:34 that I allowed you to take the breath of life, 26:36 how many of these years did you serve Me?" 26:40 You know, and so I think of questions like that. 26:42 They may not be relevant to some people 26:43 but I would want to be able to stand 26:46 in the presence of God and say, "Lord, 26:48 I gave You the majority of my life as much as I can." 26:51 I know that's not the case. 26:52 I know whenever we have those 11th hour conversions, 26:54 you know, kind of like the thief on the cross. 26:56 And the most important thing is that you do, 26:58 you ultimately do give your heart to Jesus. 27:01 But a lot of people have... 27:02 The Holy Spirit's been calling you for years. 27:06 He's been calling, 27:07 he's been knocking on the door of your heart for so long. 27:09 He's been saying, "Surrender to me now. 27:11 I wanna use you. 27:13 I wanna make you a vessel of honor for my kingdom." 27:15 But for whatever reason, whether it's lifestyle, 27:17 whether it's where we are in our life, 27:18 our choices, whatever it may be, 27:20 you know, we push back. 27:22 And I wanna be able to stand confident in God's presence 27:26 and say, "Lord, while this record shows that, 27:28 you know, right here and back where my heathen years, 27:31 where I live for myself, 27:32 Lord, look at all of the years that I gave You, 27:34 because, you know, 27:35 I wanted to fully surrender to You 27:37 and I wanted You to have the best part of me." 27:38 And so I wanna pray for that person at home. 27:41 Continue to pray. 27:42 If you're listening to this, listen to this study, 27:43 because this study is for you, 27:45 it's for every single person, for me, absolutely. 27:49 You might someday ring a bell for the accountability. 27:52 We're accountable for our time 27:54 that was either used for Him or against Him. 27:57 So when we put it off, you told that procrastination. 27:59 What have we done? We really wasted. 28:01 There is a song say "Wasted Years" 28:04 before we apply it. 28:06 Again, the enemy has you doing nothing 28:07 and you feel like you're gonna be all right. 28:09 But yet though that hours, days, weeks, months, years, 28:13 somehow we're gonna have to give an account to God, 28:16 because the Holy Spirit 28:17 has been working upon the hearts. 28:19 Absolutely. That's right. 28:20 I think how prevalent 28:22 everything that the Lord has laid 28:24 on everybody's heart is right now. 28:25 I truly believe there's someone at home 28:28 that has been holding on to something, 28:30 knowing that it separates them from God, 28:34 but not willing to give it up. 28:36 And I just pray like you and maybe we should stop 28:40 and have a short word of prayer. 28:41 I don't know. 28:43 But I just know, 28:44 and I pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to work 28:47 on your heart to make things right 28:50 as far as possible, 28:52 and to let go of the things that separate us. 28:55 My dad... 28:56 And I know I've said this on the air before. 28:57 He said "If we don't let go of the dross now, 29:02 it's gonna be burned off of us." 29:04 That's right. All right. 29:06 You know, I referenced this passage James 4:13-17, 29:12 where it says, you know, your life is bit of vapor, 29:13 you're here today, you're going tomorrow. 29:15 But this passage ends with one of the most popular verses, 29:18 at least that many Christians have memorized. 29:21 And that's Verse 17, which says, 29:22 "Therefore to him who knows to do good 29:25 and does it not, to him it is sin." 29:28 You know, that popular false evangelical gospel says, 29:32 you can just continue. Just continue the way. 29:34 As long as you love Jesus, that's all that matters. 29:36 But Jesus says, "Look, if you know to do good, 29:39 and you don't do it, I'm accounting it as sin." 29:41 And Jesus says, "I died for those sins. 29:43 I died for that sin that you've committed." 29:45 Why should you die for your sins 29:47 when Jesus has already died for them? 29:49 And so, you know, let's have a short prayer. 29:51 Let's have a short prayer now. 29:52 I just feel to lead that person is at home right now 29:55 who the Holy Spirit right now is speaking to you and saying, 29:58 "You know what, I've been calling you for a while. 30:00 I've been knocking on the door of your heart. 30:02 And I'm saying surrender to Jesus now 30:03 and give it to the Lord 30:05 because the Lord wants to transform your life. 30:08 Right now is the time." Let's have a prayer. 30:10 Father in heaven, Lord, 30:12 I just wanna pause for a moment. 30:13 Lord, as we're studying right now 30:15 and this message is going out to thousands 30:18 and thousands of homes, Lord. 30:20 You know the specific people right now 30:23 who are hearing this program. 30:25 You know what they're thinking, 30:27 You know what type of life they have lived, 30:29 You know where they're at in their walk with You, 30:31 whether they have a walk or they don't know. 30:34 What they need to surrender and what they don't, Lord. 30:35 The most important thing, God, 30:37 that we're praying for right now 30:39 is the divine intervention of Your spirit. 30:41 Just... Get them power. 30:42 Just embrace this person with Your love. 30:45 Show them who You are that You are a forgiving God. 30:48 And no matter how much dirt we have right now in our life 30:51 or in our past, 30:52 You are an expert with cleaning up dirt. 30:56 You are not the dirt devil but the dirt God. 30:58 You clear, a professional 31:00 in cleaning up the dirt in our lives. 31:02 And so, Lord, 31:04 I just thank You for the opportunity 31:05 to pray to You. 31:07 Speak through that person's heart right now. 31:09 Draw them to You we ask in Jesus Holy name. 31:12 Amen. Amen. 31:13 Amen. Praise the Lord. 31:14 He washes that dirt with His blood. 31:17 He washes us clean with His blood. 31:19 Sometimes speaking to me too is the concept that 31:21 when you're holding on to these things, 31:22 it's destructive. 31:24 It's just tearing you down. 31:25 As John 10:10 says, as the thief comes to steal, 31:27 kill and destroy, 31:29 but Jesus wants to give you that abundant life. 31:30 He's got His hand out, ready to give it to you, 31:32 but you don't wanna take it. 31:34 It's an abundant life. 31:35 You know, something that 31:37 I like to listen to Pastor Doug, 31:38 when Pastor Doug was here not long ago, 31:40 Pastor Kenny told him, he says 31:42 "You're honoring my home more than I am." 31:44 But I like to listen to Pastor Doug. 31:46 And one thing he mentioned 31:48 because so many people are preaching, 31:51 "Once saved, always saved. 31:52 You can continue to sin up till Christ comes." 31:54 And he looked at some ministers 31:57 that brought that to his attention one time 31:59 and he said "Would you believe 32:01 that the enemy is strong enough to tempt you?" 32:03 Do you guys believe he is? 32:04 Of course. Oh, yes. 32:06 Well, then your enemy must be stronger 32:08 than your God 32:10 because my God is able to forgive 32:13 and to bring us out and cleanses out of the sins. 32:17 And give us power to overcome those sins. 32:20 So our God is more powerful, 32:22 we've got to have faith and accept Him. 32:26 You know there is a deception in the sin 32:30 because sin deceives. 32:32 I remember many, many years ago, 32:34 we had the TV on at home and they had, 32:38 I guess they were bringing songs, 32:40 the oldies and putting them together 32:41 and selling these things. 32:43 And one of the songs they played was, 32:45 if there's no beer in heaven, I don't wanna go. 32:49 So you say "What? 32:51 Are you..." 32:52 And, you know, you think about that and you say, 32:53 that just completely shocked me, 32:55 that beer was so important that they made a song about it. 32:59 And if there's no beer in heaven, 33:01 doesn't wanna go. 33:02 But the Bible says that... 33:05 I think you're gonna be able to help me here once I start. 33:08 Eyes have not heard... Heard. 33:12 "Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, 33:14 nor has it entered into the heart of man." 33:15 The things that God has prepared for heaven, 33:17 we love to see, 33:18 because whatever you find that's good here, 33:21 it is far better in heaven, and it doesn't do you any harm. 33:25 Beer does you harm. 33:27 And the crazy thing about this is that 33:30 sin deceives but also kills. 33:35 And so people are hanging on to things 33:37 that are either killing them quickly or slowly. 33:41 And the power to give these things up 33:45 is in Jesus Christ. 33:46 Amen. 33:47 The power is in Jesus. And in Him only. 33:50 And in Him only. In Him only. 33:51 So where's the real problem? 33:53 You know, I had a lady say one time, 33:57 "If I knew my husband wasn't going to be there, 33:59 I wouldn't wanna go." 34:01 And vice versa I've heard it. 34:03 Now, you know, who's God here? 34:05 What choice are they making? 34:07 They're putting something before. 34:09 Or if it's not conducted somewhat in heaven 34:12 the way that is conducted down here, 34:14 husband and wife, and family 34:15 I don't wanna go, 34:17 well, there's a problem somewhere 34:18 it's not with heaven, Right? 34:20 It's not that it has to be with what? 34:22 The human heart, if you were talking about here. 34:24 It's just something we're making wrong choices 34:25 and wrong decisions that we put God first, 34:28 and believe what He said in His word, 34:30 and I believe He's prepared a place eye hasn't seen, 34:33 ear heard with, has it entered in his heart. 34:34 2 Corinthians 2:9, somewhere around there. 34:37 2 Corinthian 2:9. Yeah, that's right. 34:39 He asked what God has for us 34:41 far, far exceeds whatever we can even imagine and... 34:46 Oh, it just cannot be compared. 34:49 The water of life is better than any beer, 34:51 any Montage possibly. 34:53 Oh, my. Yeah. 34:54 All you have to do is taste. That's right. 34:56 Taste and see. Taste and see. 34:58 But the enemy has, you know, he can use anything. 35:00 He uses deceit, he uses lies, he, 35:03 you know, he can use sorcery. 35:05 The Bible tells us he is using sorcery. 35:08 And the more I have grown and the more I have studied, 35:12 it's like he's got his hand in everything. 35:14 Everything. Everything. 35:17 You know, whether it's what we listen to, 35:18 what we eat, what we watch, 35:20 how we dress, in our conversation, 35:23 he's got his hand in everything. 35:25 And we need to pull away from everything. 35:28 The Bible says that, 35:30 that the world is enmity with God. 35:32 And now years are gone, I'm like, "How's that possible? 35:35 Everything. Come on." 35:37 You know, but you've been there, right? 35:39 But the closer we come to Christ, 35:42 the more we begin to see things for as they really are. 35:46 And it is in enmity between. 35:49 So is it fair to say that the enemy can use things 35:52 that God doesn't use... 35:53 He doesn't use those things, no. 35:56 His foe. The enemy has no rules. 35:59 God does have restrictions because of His character. 36:02 I know that He has. 36:03 You know, I've heard people say, 36:05 "Well, God can do anything He wants." 36:06 So God can't do just anything. 36:08 Because of who He is and His character, 36:10 He gives us the free will 36:11 and the choice to choose who we wanna serve. 36:14 And but the devil has no rules. 36:16 In the sense that he can do anything 36:18 and everything within his power to cause us to... 36:22 And then I wanna emphasize within his power, 36:24 obviously he can't. 36:25 Oh, yeah, he can't. 36:26 You know, has not the keys to life and death 36:28 and all those things but within his power 36:31 he's a no holds barred, anything goes free for all. 36:36 And that's not to give credit to the enemy. 36:39 But it's to recognize the reality 36:42 to never underestimate the enemy. 36:44 The devil's lived a whole lot longer than we have. 36:46 He knows everything that you and I don't. 36:48 And I think it's more important, 36:50 it shows us our need 36:52 to constantly be connected to divine. 36:55 To constantly be connected to Jesus Christ. 36:58 And when I see it from that perspective, 37:01 when I see it is connected to Christ, you're literally... 37:03 And I know we're gonna get to this, our second question 37:05 because the second question is gonna answer this. 37:07 But I'm gonna reference in a little bit. 37:09 I'm gonna come back to 2 Corinthians 3:18 37:12 that by beholding we become changed. 37:14 Amen, amen, amen. 37:15 You know, right there 37:16 when Jesus had that conversation with Nicodemus, 37:19 you know, He gives him all of the reality 37:21 of how conversion works. 37:24 It's a spiritual thing. 37:25 As you see the wind, you know, you don't really see the wind, 37:28 but you see the effects of it, you see the leaves, 37:30 you know, but it's a spiritual thing. 37:32 And He tells Nicodemus, 37:34 "You need a spiritual transformation. 37:35 You need to be born of the Spirit," right? 37:37 And then I can imagine the question 37:39 that's looming in his mind, which is, "How do I hurry this? 37:42 How do hurry this process? I wanna be born again." 37:45 And so the only thing if you look in that chapter, 37:47 the only thing that Jesus gives us 37:48 and as an example of what we can do, 37:51 He says, "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent 37:53 in the wilderness, 37:55 so shall also the son of man be lifted up." 37:57 Amen. 37:58 There is life and I look at the savior. 38:00 When we are beholding Christ, 38:02 we surround our life every moment of every day, 38:05 as much as we possibly can, 38:08 with flooding our hearts and minds with Jesus character, 38:12 Jesus Word, Jesus life, 38:15 Jesus choices, Jesus heart. 38:17 You're seeing the world the way Jesus sees, 38:20 you know, living in the world the way Jesus lived, 38:22 and you're beholding Christ each and every day, 38:24 the enemy can't penetrate. 38:26 Praise God. Amen. 38:27 You know, but that doesn't mean 38:28 he's not constantly circling you like a roaring lion, 38:30 looking for that hole to penetrate your life, right? 38:32 Looking for that way, yes, that little. 38:34 So beholding and we'll come back to that 38:35 in a moment I'm sure. 38:36 I'd like to read this from Psalm 16:11 38:39 because somebody said taste and see 38:44 that the Lord is good. 38:46 And the people that are listening perhaps, 38:49 you know, "I wonder if I should be a Christian. 38:51 I mean, is it really for me?" 38:53 If you wanna be happy it is. 38:55 If you want to be happy it is. 38:57 Notice Psalm 16:11, 38:59 "You will show me the path of life, 39:02 in Your presence is fullness of joy. 39:06 At thy right hand 39:09 there are pleasures for ever more." 39:12 So really, I'm saying if you haven't tasted Jesus, 39:16 we haven't tasted the goodness of the Lord, 39:19 and you think you have enjoyed life? 39:20 You have not enjoyed life. 39:23 In the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy. 39:25 You know you mentioned something about things 39:27 that God cannot do. 39:28 The Bible says that God cannot lie. 39:30 And in the Bible it also says that the wicked have no peace. 39:33 And that's the reality. 39:36 God cannot lie, the wicked have no peace. 39:39 And so I encourage anyone listening, 39:43 the taste and see that the Lord is good. 39:44 Amen. Praise the Lord. 39:46 By talking about things 39:47 that God cannot do does not make Him weak. 39:50 No, and certainly not. 39:51 It's actually makes Him stronger 39:53 because His character is so much more elevated. 39:57 And that's what He's waiting on all of us, right? 39:59 We'll get into that a little bit later. 40:01 But this is so... And some people... 40:03 There may be people at home saying, 40:05 "Boy, I would like to be made new. 40:08 I'd like to have that new birth." 40:09 How can... You said... I wanna be ready. 40:11 How do you hurry it up? 40:12 But, you know, really, even Christ told His disciples, 40:15 "There are so many things I want to tell you, 40:17 but you're just not ready yet." 40:19 So how do we get ready? 40:20 You know, we'll be talking about that 40:22 but just in case we don't get that far, 40:24 you know, begin to open, begin to study, 40:27 taste it each and every day, 40:29 put God first in anything and everything, 40:33 and in all things, and you'll be happy. 40:35 I just talked to a man yesterday. 40:39 And he was just talking about his life 40:41 and I've known him ever since he's just a little guy. 40:44 But he tried a little bit of everything in life. 40:49 And he says, "You know, I've tried working, 40:50 I've had different jobs, and I've been here." 40:52 And he says "Just like, isn't it? 40:53 Things are just going my way. 40:56 Just not going my way." 40:58 And I said, "You think there'd be a reason for that?" 41:00 He said, "I've had a job. 41:02 I've tried to save money. 41:03 I've tried to be able to buy. 41:04 I've worked seven days a week. 41:06 I just work seven days a week, seven days a week." 41:08 And he said, "Nothing seems to fit." 41:11 And basically, it comes back to, 41:13 have you tried Christ? 41:15 You can work seven days a week all you want, 41:17 you can go and invest in this and do this. 41:19 But you'll never find... 41:21 You were talking about peace and a security, and happiness. 41:24 That's impossible to find outside of God and His Word. 41:30 You cannot find it. 41:31 The world thinks that they can give it to you. 41:35 So they'll put a brighter light on, 41:37 they'll flash a little bit more. 41:39 People will be out dancing around, carrying it on, 41:41 but you can't find that joy, until you find Jesus Christ. 41:45 As you mentioned, putting deep inside. 41:47 When He's deep inside, 41:48 I guarantee you He will come out. 41:51 Again, beholding we become changed. 41:52 That part leaves question number two. 41:54 It's just awesome when you think about it 41:56 'cause everything we've been talking about, 41:58 I think goes right back to, what? 41:59 Preparation. How are we gonna... 42:01 Everybody say "We need to be prepared. 42:02 Need to be prepared." 42:04 Well, we can all say that, but how do we really prepare, 42:07 you know, to meet God, 42:08 meet Jesus in the clouds of glory? 42:10 How do we really prepare for the judgment 42:12 that we believe that we're living in? 42:14 And have been for, what 160-170 years. 42:17 That's a long time, God's mercy 42:19 and grace has endured us as a people, 42:21 and then the world is to be at peace. 42:24 Be at peace with God. To be at peace with God. 42:26 And so how are we gonna make these preparations? 42:28 Are you ready for the King? 42:29 I think you know, if I may jump in here on this one, 42:31 because I know there's gonna be lots of good stuff 42:33 and something tells me 42:35 we're gonna have a part two to this. 42:36 We're gonna have a part two to this. 42:38 I don't think we're gonna have time. 42:40 But, you know, I was listening, 42:41 I was reading this question that you just asked. 42:43 How do we make preparations 42:45 so that we can be ready for this time period? 42:48 I'm thinking of the sanctuary 42:51 because the goal of the sanctuary 42:52 is to progress to the most holy place 42:54 and why do you want to be in the most holy place 42:56 because the most holy place is a type of... 42:59 it is a type of the throne room of God. 43:03 That's right. 43:04 His characters reveal there everything. 43:06 Let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. 43:10 We see this in Revelation, 43:11 God wants to be with His people. 43:13 Our goal is to be with our God, 43:15 to be united, to be reconciled, not separate. 43:18 And I love that hymn "Never part again." 43:20 Never part again, no, 43:22 never part again I love that, 43:24 because we're gonna reach a time 43:26 when we're never gonna have to part again. 43:28 That's beautiful. 43:29 So you look at the sanctuary model, 43:31 which we know is the blueprint of salvation. 43:33 It's kind of God's GPS, His gospel plan of salvation. 43:36 You know, you have to have a courtyard experience. 43:40 You know, you start at the courtyard. 43:42 Well, first you have you got to go through the door. 43:44 You gotta go through the door first. 43:45 That's the step. That's the step. 43:47 But just a very general now, 43:49 we had a whole series on the sanctuary 43:51 but here the sanctuary is so complex, 43:52 it's so amazing. 43:54 But if you'd simply just think of it 43:55 in terms of the simple plan of salvation 43:58 that God has put forward in the sanctuary model, 44:00 He's given you the preparation plan. 44:03 He's saying, "Look, first you got to approach Me. 44:05 Come to My door. 44:06 I'm knocking at your door, 44:08 come knock on My door, I'll open it. 44:10 You may close your door to Me and not open your door. 44:12 My door is always open," Jesus says. 44:14 So you come to the door and He invites you in. 44:17 And He takes you on this beautiful virtual tour 44:19 through the sanctuary. 44:20 And He's teaching you how to gain closer to His presence. 44:24 To be able to gain access to the most holy place, 44:27 you got to have a courtyard experience, 44:29 you got to have a holy place experience. 44:31 And of course, the ultimate goal 44:33 is to have that most holy place experience. 44:35 What did they do on the day of Pentecost? 44:37 We mentioned earlier, 44:38 we're living in a day of judgment. 44:39 They afflicted their souls. There was self-examination. 44:42 They were covered in sackcloth, and laying in ashes. 44:44 Now, I'm not saying we have to do that literally 44:46 'cause that was pertaining to the old... 44:47 But we do spiritually. 44:48 But spiritually, we afflict our souls. 44:50 What does that mean? 44:51 We need some deep self-examination. 44:54 We need to be facing, you know, 44:56 spiritually facing the Lord and saying, "God, search me. 45:00 Show me. 45:01 Show me myself that I don't want to see." 45:03 You know, and that's what 45:04 the Day of Atonement was all about, 45:06 as these people would literally touch their noses 45:07 to the ashes saying, "Lord, I'm dirt, 45:10 I'm lower than dirt. 45:11 I don't deserve Your goodness. I don't deserve Your mercy. 45:14 But Lord, search my soul." 45:15 Because they knew at that very moment, 45:17 just as we should know right now, 45:19 that Christ is doing a work in the most holy place, 45:22 as our high priest. 45:24 They knew at that very moment on Yom Kippur, 45:26 Day of Salvation or the Day of Atonement, 45:28 that the high priest was in the very presence of God, 45:31 and that he was interceding and he was bringing the sins, 45:36 the record of sin in the presence of the Lord. 45:39 And the Lord would deal with that record. 45:41 And so I think in Leviticus 16:29, "Afflict your souls, 45:44 because the high priest wants to cleanse you." 45:47 Jesus is our high priest. 45:49 And then of course, I came back to 2 Corinthians 3:18, 45:51 "By beholding we become changed." 45:53 How can we prepare? 45:55 Behold Jesus Christ. Amen. 45:58 Plain and simple. Plain and simple. 46:00 One that spoke to me was Hebrews 12:1, 2. 46:03 You know, this is another element of coming to Jesus 46:06 that we have to have faith, that He is, 46:08 and He's rewarded of those that come to Him diligently. 46:10 So Hebrews 12:1, 2 46:12 talks about kind of those that who had died in the faith. 46:16 I think that's a really powerful lesson for us, 46:18 you know, that faithful journey, right? 46:20 Do we believe that God is what He says He is? 46:23 That's right. 46:24 So it's Hebrews 12:1, 2, it kind of gives you a outline. 46:27 For me personally, it says, 46:28 "Wherefore seeing we are also compassed about 46:30 with so great a cloud of witnesses, 46:32 let us lay aside every weight, and the sin 46:36 which doth so easily beset us, 46:37 and let us run with patience the race 46:39 that is set before us," now what we do, 46:41 "we look unto Jesus, 46:43 the author and finisher of our faith, 46:45 who for the joy that was set before Him 46:47 endured the cross, despising the shame, 46:49 and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." 46:50 So looking, I think, first of all looking at, 46:53 you know, looking at Jesus 46:55 and letting all those sins like you mentioned, 46:57 you know, taking those sins before Him 46:58 and laying them down. 46:59 Let us run with patience the race 47:01 that is set before us. 47:02 The good thing is we're not in this race alone. 47:05 We don't. 47:06 And part of the verse that you quoted, 47:08 you didn't quote the last part of it, 47:09 that said, 47:11 "And see if there be any wicked way in Me." 47:14 See, because God knows, we don't. 47:17 And we're not to be doing that to one another. 47:20 But we're asking Him to come in, 47:22 and allowing Him to do the changes, 47:24 allowing Him to point out what needs to be changed. 47:28 We're trusting Him with all of it. 47:30 And I think that's where so many of us stumble and fail, 47:33 fall, is because we're trying to do this work ourselves. 47:36 We can't do that. That's right. 47:38 You know, who of us can cleanse anything. 47:40 You mentioned, who of us are even worthy 47:43 to be around this table? 47:44 Except by the grace of God. 47:47 You know, so it's so wonderful 47:50 that we can just give everything to Him. 47:52 We can trust Him, we need to learn 47:54 to love Him with all things. 47:57 And it's out of that love that we can even take these steps, 48:01 because to be fully ready for the King of kings 48:04 and the Lord of lords to return, 48:06 we have to love Him. 48:08 And we have to learn to trust Him with everything, 48:11 not holding back. 48:12 That's right. And trust Him. 48:14 You know, how many of you have been... 48:16 I know I have. 48:17 A little apprehensive to get on your knees and say, 48:19 "Lord, show me," you know, 48:21 'cause you're afraid of what He's gonna find. 48:23 You got these dark shadows and it's like, 48:25 what happens if the light of Jesus 48:26 gets into that shadowy part of my life, you know? 48:28 Sometimes we are stuck with that. 48:30 But I think this is part of what we're studying. 48:32 It's not just for those at home, 48:34 it's for all of us. 48:35 Because all of us have to come to our knees, 48:38 to come to that point on our knees at the throne, 48:41 at the cross of Christ and asked Him 48:43 just is there anything? 48:45 You know, and just give Him our whole mind. 48:46 It was not until that time that you're talking about here. 48:49 I know, in my own personal experience, 48:52 because I knew that I need to come 48:54 and confess my sins. 48:56 You know, God knows all about us, 48:58 but I could say, you know, 49:00 "Lord, I want to gain victory and I want this 49:02 and not I want to be like You, and another." 49:03 But there was a reservation. 49:06 Didn't wanna be in a reservation, you know. 49:08 Well, don't even necessarily know what it is. 49:10 But we know that there's things in our life 49:11 that we need to overcome. 49:13 Nobody's arrived yet. We're all sinners. 49:14 There's things in our life that God's revealing, 49:16 I think, a day at a time teacheth, 49:18 because He's merciful and gracious. 49:21 But till that time came in my life 49:23 to where I could say, 49:25 and seriously when I say to Him, 49:26 "Lord, whatever it takes in my life, 49:28 that I can spend eternity with You, let it happen." 49:32 That was something I said, for literally, 49:34 I'll be honest with you for years, 49:36 but I had a reservation at the end of that, 49:38 not for any specifics, 49:40 but I had a reservation because I understood, 49:42 you know, and you read scripture, 49:44 lot of times things come, things happen 49:46 that you just may be not prepared for, 49:48 you're afraid that might happen, you know. 49:50 So that shows I didn't trust Him 49:52 and love Him enough. 49:54 So as I kept laboring 49:55 and kept bringing that to Him 49:56 every day, I'd bring it to Him. 49:58 Finally, one day by the grace of God 50:00 I said it, and you talk about feeling of peace. 50:03 There was no reservations beyond that. 50:05 Whatever it takes 50:06 that I can spend eternity with You 50:08 let it happen in my life. 50:09 And I can guarantee you this 50:11 there was a peace that passes all understanding. 50:13 Because there was nothing back in my mind crowding, 50:16 but I'll tell you this, the bottom fell out of things. 50:20 But it was okay because He was there 50:21 holding up the bottom. 50:22 You see, He was there holding me up. 50:24 But there was things that took place 50:25 that it just blow your mind. 50:27 There's no way out. 50:28 You had the army behind you and then see 50:30 before you in the mountains and all this, 50:32 you think there's no way out of this, 50:33 but God worked it out. 50:35 And so I... 50:36 Blessed are the poor in spirit, right? 50:37 But, you know, it's when the bottom falls out, 50:39 that's part of our preparation. 50:41 I needed that. That's part of the... 50:42 Why wouldn't I? Just I needed it. 50:44 The potter molding us the clay. 50:46 John helped me out. I've dug a deep hole there. 50:50 Well, the wonderful and great thing is that 50:53 there is no sinner greater than God. 50:57 Amen. 50:59 Because God is such a great Savior, 51:01 He can save anybody. 51:02 And the Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9, 51:07 that God is not willing that any should perish, 51:10 but that all should come to repentance. 51:14 And there's other scripture that says, 51:17 "God wants all men to be saved." 51:19 And so all these scriptures come into play 51:22 and if you are willing, that's the key. 51:26 If you are willing, 51:28 you shall eat of the good of the land. 51:31 So let me go back to Revelation 3:20, 51:34 because it says "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. 51:38 If any man," everybody's including, 51:40 "hears My voice," 51:42 He's calling you by name, 51:43 "and opens the door, I will come in to him, 51:46 and sup him, and he with Me." 51:47 Now, because of time, 51:49 I have to go to another scripture 51:51 because this Jesus is at the door 51:54 of everybody's heart knocking. 51:57 And so I take you now 51:58 to Colossians 1:26-27, 52:05 two versus says, 52:06 "The mystery which has been hidden 52:08 from ages and from generations, 52:10 but now has been revealed to His saints. 52:13 To them, God willed to make known 52:17 what are the riches of the glory of this mystery 52:21 among the Gentiles, 52:23 which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." 52:28 Jesus at the door, you open it, Christ in you, 52:31 that's the hope of glory. 52:33 And if Christ is in you, 52:34 you will be ready for the second coming. 52:36 That's right. Amen. 52:37 And this is all about preparation, isn't it? 52:38 Well, and all these things, I mean, 52:40 just think about even paradise valley that 52:43 to me that was hell on earth. 52:46 One rode in 52:48 and many could not escape, you know? 52:51 So people are searching for something and this is it. 52:56 This is what they need. 52:57 It's the God, it's the Creator of all the universe, 53:00 that's calling all of us. 53:02 To come and taste and see that I'm... 53:05 Good. I'm glad that you said that. 53:06 Because I'm sitting here thinking... 53:08 Notice that scripture doesn't say, 53:10 o, taste and see if the Lord is good. 53:15 That's good. 53:17 It doesn't say taste and see if He is good. 53:19 It says, "O, taste and see that the Lord is good." 53:23 You know, that is an absolute statement 53:25 and the fact that God is good, 53:27 whether you believe it or not, 53:29 whether you taste or not, He is good. 53:31 And I just, you know, 53:33 I just want to probably be my closing comment here, 53:35 but I just wanna make this clear to those at home, 53:37 you know, God has given all for you. 53:41 He has paved the way. 53:44 He has taken the penalty that you deserve. 53:48 And so what, you know, 53:49 the devil has put Him on display. 53:51 He's called Him all kinds of names. 53:53 He's trashed the character of God. 53:55 What better way can God disprove those ugly lies 54:00 and accusations, 54:02 then to basically put himself on a cross 54:04 to pay the debt for your sins. 54:06 And so now He has risen, we serve a risen Lord. 54:09 And now He's there saying, "Look, I've paid your debt. 54:12 I love you. 54:13 And I want you to be here with Me." 54:16 And so I know I'm speaking very simple, 54:17 but it's all very profound in the sense 54:19 that we don't have to say, "You know, 54:21 well, I'll taste and see if He's good." 54:23 No, no, no. God is good. You know, God is love. 54:26 And when you taste you will see that He is indeed good. 54:31 And there's coming a time, 54:33 we're told in scripture that every knee shall bow, 54:36 every tongue will confess, that He is the Lord of lords. 54:40 However, at that time, 54:42 it's too late for the majority of the people. 54:46 So we don't want that to be you at home tonight. 54:49 We want you to taste and see that He is good, 54:53 though you gain the whole world and lose yourself. 54:56 What is the profit? Profit. 54:57 What is the profit? I know there's affection. 54:58 Nothing. Absolutely nothing. 55:01 This world holds nothing. 55:03 Scientists are saying we may have 9 or 10 years left. 55:06 Then what? 55:08 What is there without God? 55:10 We need that robe of righteousness. 55:12 We need that fire proof suit on. 55:16 We need His love. So what is He waiting on? 55:18 Why is He waiting? 55:19 I know He wants to come back. 55:21 But we can't get too far in to that. 55:23 But why is He, you know, why He is coming back? 55:26 He wants to spend eternity with us. 55:27 Yes, He does. He loves us. 55:28 To see what He sees in this world every day. 55:31 Oh, have mercy. 55:32 He's pushing the snooze button. 55:35 The Lord has been pushing the snooze button 55:37 waiting for us to get ready. 55:39 Yeah, we've been sleeping, we needed to wake up, don't we? 55:41 That is such love though... 55:44 to say He could have come years ago. 55:46 He could have come before we were born, 55:48 any of us here. 55:50 But He looks down through the time of history 55:52 and He says I know this one's gonna be ready. 55:55 I know it. I know it. I know it. 55:56 Waiting for one more. That's right. 55:57 And He's about what love? 55:59 What love? 56:00 Because I think if I were God, and I saw all of this stuff 56:02 I couldn't hold back. 56:05 But what love to say I'm waiting for Sister Chris, 56:09 I'm waiting for Pastor John, I'm waiting for Brother Don. 56:13 I'm waiting. 56:15 I'm waiting for you to get ready. 56:17 There could be that one more out there. 56:18 We started with Ryan had special prayer about. 56:20 You may be out there. 56:22 That's the one that arrived that He's talking to. 56:24 Jesus said, "I didn't, you know, 56:26 I didn't come to bring peace. 56:28 I'm bringing sword." Came with sword. 56:29 And so the Word of God 56:31 will rightly divide separate 56:32 and get the people ready to meet Him 56:33 when He comes in the clouds of glory. 56:35 And we want them to be ready. 56:36 Good thing with that sword though is that 56:38 He's the one that's using us. 56:40 I'm so glad that He is. 56:42 I'm so glad that He is. 56:43 Because some of us would put a stop to things 56:45 when God says, "No, not yet." 56:47 And so we need to be His witnesses, 56:48 His mouth pieces, isn't that right? 56:50 And remember, what I said if people say 56:51 "Well, we'll visit so and so here." 56:53 It's not you. It's not me that they need. 56:55 It's Christ within. That's right. 56:57 One within the hope of glory. Amen. 56:59 So I encourage you to give someone to help, 57:01 give them Christ. 57:02 Show them what Christ is all about. 57:04 Let them see. 57:05 You talk about taste and see that He is good. 57:08 And we're glad that you've joined us. 57:10 And thank each one of you for your input. 57:13 And there will be a part two to this study 57:15 because we didn't quite get on question number two. 57:17 We have five of them. 57:19 But we're glad you joined in with us. 57:20 And we thank God for each one of you. 57:22 We'll be praying for you and the one who 57:24 or maybe it's dozens who, 57:26 you know, gave their life to Christ over this prayer. 57:28 Be sure and write 3ABN and let them know about it. 57:30 Anyway, we're glad you joined us. 57:32 Thank you so much. 57:33 God bless you, and we'll see you next time. |
Revised 2020-02-15