Participants:
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW210011S
|
00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:29 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:08 Hello and a great big welcome. 01:09 We're glad you joined us, looks like you didn't forget, 01:11 we're glad you're there, we don't want you to go away, 01:14 because some of you probably already have your Bibles out, 01:16 pencil and paper and you're going to jot 01:17 some of these things down. 01:19 Because again, fantastic study, 01:20 at least we think so here 01:22 and we pray this been just a big blessing to you. 01:25 You know today we're going to be talking about, 01:26 this is five of six. 01:28 This is not, I mean, we've been going slow, 01:30 but it's all good we pray, 01:32 for five of six is our lesson on question 01:35 that we're going to be on today. 01:36 And again, we're going to be talking about 01:37 primitive godliness. 01:39 What does that really mean? 01:40 And we pray we've answered that in some of the prior lessons. 01:44 But still yet today, 01:45 I know we'll be talking about so many different things. 01:47 And I know it's going to be a blessing 01:49 because we pray for the power of the Holy Spirit 01:51 to be present, and that you be present. 01:53 So again, we're glad you're here. 01:54 Again we... 01:56 I wanted to introduce my wife here, Chris Shelton. 01:58 And I'm Kenny Shelton. 01:59 She said make sure you say your name. 02:01 I forget about all that sometime. 02:02 But, Chris Shelton, we're glad you're here with us today. 02:05 Always such a help and a blessing. 02:07 Thank you. I'm glad to be here. 02:09 To your right brother, Don Owens. 02:11 Yeah, it's just a blessing, 02:13 you know, to dive into God's Word 02:14 and plant your feet on the rock. 02:16 That's what I want to do. Amen. 02:18 Yes. Amen. Praise the Lord. 02:19 Don, to your right, who do we have? 02:21 John Dinzey. 02:23 Yes, you're right, John Dinzey, 02:24 Pastor John Dinzey, 02:25 always, you know, it's always a treat, 02:27 always a pleasure 02:28 to be able to study the Word of God with you. 02:30 Again, we always say we know you're busy. 02:32 But that's all right. 02:33 You're never too busy to do something for the Lord. 02:35 And so, we're grateful and thankful. 02:37 It's always a blessing to be a part of family worship. 02:42 It's a time when the Lord brings blessings 02:44 that sometimes are unexpected. 02:46 Amen. That's right. That's right. 02:48 Praise God, but you know, before we start, 02:50 we always, we feel the importance of prayer. 02:52 Oh, yes. 02:54 You know, without praying, 02:55 we can't understand the Word of God. 02:57 So we're going to ask you to pray with us 02:58 as we right now we're going to bow our heads, 03:00 you can kneel, you can bow whatever you'd like to do. 03:02 But I'm going to ask Pastor John Dinzey, 03:04 if you'll pray for us as we begin. 03:05 Sure. 03:07 Let's go to the Lord in prayer. 03:08 Our loving and wonderful heavenly Father, 03:11 we come before Your throne of grace 03:13 in Jesus name. 03:15 We ask You to bless our time together. 03:18 Lord, we ask that 03:20 You will bless us with Your Holy Spirit. 03:22 We pray that this will be a time of great benefit to us 03:26 and to all those that join us 03:28 through different ways 03:29 that 3ABN goes around this world. 03:33 We pray, Lord, for blessing upon everyone. 03:35 And we pray that in all things, 03:37 Your name will be glorified, 03:38 our minds clarified 03:41 and our lives inspired to do more for you. 03:44 In Jesus' holy and blessed name. 03:46 Amen. 03:48 Amen. Okay. 03:49 Again, we're studying about primitive godliness. 03:51 If you've taken some notes down, 03:52 and we are on question number five of six. 03:56 So you don't, certainly we plan on having another part. 03:59 So we feel like 04:00 we need to take our time on this, 04:02 because it seems like 04:03 it's something that is so imperative 04:05 to the churches today. 04:07 Now, why is it that we're encouraged to get back 04:11 to the way that it was. 04:12 And that only indicates to me 04:14 as we begin our study and so on here is that 04:16 maybe we've drifted away, 04:18 lot of people, to me it's not maybe. 04:20 I believe we've drifted away from some of the things 04:22 that we know that we were raised with, 04:24 that we grew up with. 04:26 And as a child, I've seen these things 04:28 early into the church. 04:29 And things begin to change just a little bit. 04:32 And I thought when I was taught this way, 04:34 and I was given scripture to believe this, 04:37 but somehow it began to open up just a little bit 04:40 and more things are acceptable and so on, 04:42 and yet God's calling the people, 04:44 you know, to be pure and to be like Him. 04:46 And so He said, I'm calling you back 04:49 to the Word of God. 04:50 So question number five, Honey. 04:52 You have question number five, why don't you read that? 04:54 Again, it's a short question, 04:56 but I assume that 04:57 it's going to take up our whole hour here together, 05:01 because there's so much information 05:03 and feel free each one to do as they chime in. 05:06 Amen. 05:07 Okay, number five, it reads, 05:09 "To every soul will come the searching test, 05:13 and it is a searching test, 05:14 shall I obey God rather than men? 05:19 To what degree are we now experiencing this? 05:22 In other words, are we now experiencing this test? 05:25 You know, it sounds easy. 05:27 When you first ask the question, 05:28 shall I obey God rather than men? 05:30 But we know, as the heat is being turned up, 05:34 that it's not always an easy answer, 05:36 because our faith is really put to the test. 05:39 So we've got a lot of things to cover today, 05:41 and how much we can cover I don't know, 05:43 but we're gonna do our best. 05:45 I was just thinking when you're talking on that, 05:47 I was just reading in Hosea, the book Hosea. 05:49 And there's a little, I get these little blue boxes, 05:52 which is Ellen White quotes. 05:53 And it was a really powerful line in there, 05:55 she said that Israel came to a national ruin 05:58 because they would not go to minister to others. 06:00 And that really spoke to me 06:02 because I think about Isaiah 60, 06:03 it says that darkness covers the earth and gross 06:05 darkness the people. 06:06 I think that as you're saying, you know, if we neglect the... 06:09 I guess the way marks or the standards, 06:12 and guess what? 06:13 People don't get the light, 06:14 also it gets darker and darker and darker 06:16 as we move further away from the, 06:17 you know, the standards. 06:18 So I kind of see that. 06:20 So just kind of spoke to me, 06:21 you know that Israel came to ruin, 06:22 we saw world coming to ruin 06:24 because we're not going out to minister to others. 06:26 That's precisely correct, 06:28 because so often we hear, 06:29 well, times have changed, things have changed. 06:31 They're not the same anymore. 06:33 And the Bible says God does not change, 06:35 He's the same yesterday, today and forever. 06:37 In fact, when he asked me to read, 06:38 I was back here, scrolling, scrolling through, 06:42 because I was looking for that quote 06:44 on primitive godliness and how important it is. 06:47 And I think that's one reason that we're told that primitive, 06:51 return to primitive godliness is going to happen in our day, 06:55 because we have strayed so far away 06:58 from the image of God, so far away 07:01 from how He set the church up in the beginning. 07:04 And so we always have to go back to beginning 07:07 to find out how it was set up. 07:09 What are we supposed to be like? 07:11 And the thing about it is when we find, 07:13 you know many churches today, 07:15 they're taking passages 07:16 and they're making it fit their lifestyle, 07:19 and people are doing the same thing, 07:20 they church shop. 07:22 Well, I want to go to this church, 07:23 because I believe in this or they do this, 07:26 and I like to do that. 07:28 You know what I'm saying? It's true. 07:30 You know, if you like to drink, 07:31 you find a church where drinking is okay. 07:33 You like to dance, 07:34 you find a church where dancing... 07:36 Pastor John, this is I look good. 07:38 It's true. It's true. 07:41 I don't know if I should, 07:42 I won't say which church it was. 07:43 But I had a friend 07:45 and by profession, she was a Baptist, 07:49 I believe, but she had her wedding reception 07:53 at another church. 07:54 And it was in their fellowship hall. 07:56 And at this other church, I went in, 07:58 and there was a dance floor. 08:01 And I turned around, there was a whole bar, 08:04 same thing you'd find out any street, 08:07 with all the big taps and the colors 08:10 and the advertisement, 08:12 and I was like, you've got to be kidding me. 08:16 Yeah, I'll tell you the name of the church 08:18 after we all leave. 08:21 The rest of you just have to, 08:23 you know, research it on your own 08:24 what churches have bars in their fellowship hall. 08:27 So anyway, I was totally, totally shocked. 08:30 I can't find that quote right now. 08:32 But I will find that for you a little bit later. 08:34 But we have so much to cover, because this is so important. 08:37 And even why it is becoming such a test? 08:41 Is because those primitive godly attributes 08:46 that God has set out for His church 08:48 and for His people 08:49 have been changed. 08:51 And they've been, "modified by man." 08:54 And so now we're under the real test. 08:57 That's not new, though, is it? 08:59 Have we been warned in Scripture 09:00 what you're talking about? 09:02 So very important. 09:03 Haven't we been warned, 09:04 that these, you know, sound doctrine, 09:06 you know, they don't want it really anymore. 09:08 No, they don't want it. 09:09 But you're talking about lifestyle 09:11 and, you know, Pastor John, when you think about it said, 09:12 the time when time will come in 2 Timothy, right, 09:15 where they will not endure sound doctrine. 09:18 Right, That's right. 09:19 And then I think the last program 09:21 we did this little quote, and I forget where's that, 09:23 I think was a Great Controversy, 595. 09:25 He said that time has fully come. 09:28 You know, 150 years ago, that time has fully come. 09:32 You mentioned 09:33 the world's getting darker and darker. 09:35 And I think it's, we need to realize that 09:37 it's time for Christians 09:38 to shine a little light somewhere. 09:39 We're in a dark world. 09:41 The enemy has it just about where he wants it. 09:45 But there's a small group, that's not where he wants it. 09:48 That's right. And so he's out to right here. 09:50 We're coming down to, 09:51 are we going to obey God or man? 09:53 What do you think? 09:54 What are we gonna do when pressure is applied? 09:56 Well, you know the declaration or this question, 10:01 to every soul will come the searching test, 10:04 shall I obey God or shall I obey men? 10:07 And so this is a question, 10:10 you can say this loaded question. 10:13 Because what are the implications 10:14 of obeying God? 10:16 What are the implications of obeying man? 10:18 Okay. 10:19 If you obey God, 10:21 you may suffer something in this world, 10:23 you may suffer in this world. 10:25 But if you obey men, 10:27 unfortunately, you're going to lose much, 10:29 you're gonna lose much. 10:30 That's right. 10:32 Because you may gain something in this world temporarily, 10:35 temporarily you may have some enjoyment, 10:38 you may avoid some suffering if you obey men. 10:42 Because when you think about 10:44 the mark of the beast, for example, 10:46 what are you going to do when that test comes? 10:48 Will you take the mark of the beast 10:50 or will you take the seal of God? 10:53 Everyone will have to decide. 10:55 And so there are some good examples in the Bible 10:57 that help us and perhaps throughout this program, 10:59 I may bring one out if I get opportunity. 11:03 I'm thinking one of Abraham. 11:06 They were going to, this happened twice to Abraham. 11:10 And if he had if, and then because he did not, 11:14 he did, he was not faithful in the first two tries, 11:18 the Lord gave him a third challenge. 11:22 And the third challenge was Abraham, 11:24 take your son, your only son, 11:28 and offer him as a sacrifice on the mountain. 11:30 If he had been faithful in the first time, 11:32 he was going to this town. 11:34 Hey, Sarah, we're going to this town 11:35 and you're a beautiful woman. 11:37 And it may be that 11:39 they'll kill me because you are beautiful. 11:42 So twice, you know, 11:45 there was one time when he said, 11:46 oh, this is my sister. 11:48 Yeah. And what happens? 11:49 Oh, she's only your sister. 11:51 They took her away from him. Yeah. 11:53 And she was getting ready to be married to the king. 11:56 Yeah. 11:57 And what was he thinking? 11:59 You know, when you say what was he thinking? 12:01 Well, he's thinking about his life. 12:03 But he had been faithful and said this is my wife. 12:06 Yes, so he failed twice. 12:09 Yes. 12:11 He was given what if he had, we'll just project, 12:13 if he had been faithful in the first test, 12:16 with those other two and the third one 12:18 have come to pass. 12:20 You know, God already knows, 12:21 but I'm saying He brings us to that test, 12:24 to that hurdle. 12:25 And if we are faithful as we go over that hurdle, 12:28 it's not brought up. 12:30 But if we try to go around the hurdle, right? 12:32 Do something's easier. 12:34 We look up down the road 12:35 and pretty soon there's that same situation again 12:39 until we finally by the grace of God, 12:40 he was saying, I don't care or I'm not going to do it 12:42 or, okay, Lord, I'll be faithful, 12:44 that's what you're saying with this? 12:46 I am saying that. 12:47 Now, this is interesting as well, 12:48 because I'm saying to us, 12:50 and to those listening to myself. 12:51 Yeah. 12:53 Ask yourself, 12:54 did the Lord allow a test to come to you? 12:57 And then you saw that you did not? 13:00 You weren't, you didn't do the right thing? 13:01 Yes. 13:03 And you saw a similar test coming to you? 13:06 What did you do? 13:08 And if you were faithful there, 13:10 you perhaps didn't face something worse. 13:12 Oh, yes. You see. 13:13 And so you have, you can look at your life and see that, 13:15 that's an example for us in the Bible. 13:18 Let's take a look quickly if we say, 13:21 Pastor, I say quickly. 13:22 Joseph, he was sold as he was sold, 13:26 his brothers didn't know 13:27 what was going to happen to him. 13:28 But the Lord had his hand over Joseph. 13:31 He was faithful. He was a good worker. 13:33 And there in Genesis Chapter 39, 13:37 it says that he was promoted. 13:41 He was so well promoted, 13:42 that he was in charge of everything in the house. 13:45 And he says there... 13:47 Was it Potiphar? 13:48 Yes. Yes. 13:50 And, but the devil has his traps, 13:52 doesn't he? 13:54 And the Lord allows sometimes 13:56 for the devil to do certain things. 13:57 The Lord limits the devil. 13:59 The devil would love to do more to God's children 14:02 than they face now. 14:03 Yeah. 14:05 And the devil and the devil wants it, 14:06 I want to do this now. 14:07 Oh, no, no, no, no, 14:09 but every test that the Lord allows 14:11 for us to face, 14:12 He gives us grace 14:14 to face whatever test comes our way. 14:17 And so here's Joseph tested, what did he do? 14:21 What were the consequences? 14:22 If he said, 14:24 if the woman when she says Joseph, hey, you're, 14:26 I want you to be with me. 14:27 If he had said, 14:29 I like you, you like me, let's do this thing. 14:32 What would have been the consequences? 14:34 Well, she may have promoted him. 14:35 But you know every sin, 14:40 every wicked thing is either found out here, 14:43 or we'll find out later. 14:46 But he chose to be faithful to God. 14:48 He said, how can I do this sin? 14:52 You know that, 14:54 you know, sometimes you want to bring in other things here, 14:55 but I'm going to hesitate because you know, 14:57 some people say the law didn't exist until Moses, 14:59 so why is he calling this a sin? 15:02 Anyway, he chose to be faithful. 15:04 Amen. 15:05 And I like what Pastor CD Brooks at one time. 15:09 What did Joseph do? 15:10 He left his clothing there and took off running 15:14 because this lady was ready to, 15:16 you know, to do this thing. 15:18 And so he took off running. 15:20 CD Brooks said, 15:21 some people will walk away from sin, 15:23 hoping that sin will catch up with them, 15:25 so we can do that. 15:27 The right thing was to run. Is to run. 15:29 What were the consequences? 15:30 He lost his job, he was put in prison. 15:32 So this is an answer to the question, 15:34 ain't that right? 15:36 And let's go over this on it. 15:37 You know, what are you going to do? 15:38 Should I obey God rather than men? 15:40 So he had that, was he going to obey God 15:42 or he going to do 15:43 what the human nature might say? 15:45 He chose, like you say, I like that is to run, 15:48 you know, and God's given us a message 15:50 He's given us, 15:51 I want to say tennis shoes 15:53 to put on and run with this thing. 15:56 You said as being obedient. 15:58 Oh, yes, those are all given for our admonition 16:01 so that we can learn from these principles 16:04 and these experiences that they had before us. 16:07 And being students of the Word, 16:09 you know often when we're doing evangelistic series, 16:11 we're going back through history, 16:13 we're going back to the Dark Ages. 16:15 And we find out that 16:16 when, when morality becomes legislated, 16:21 then persecution is a result. 16:23 And what we're finding out in the United States 16:26 where we have been built on freedom. 16:28 For so many years people have given their lives, 16:32 everything for this freedom. 16:34 Right. 16:36 And we're losing it. 16:37 And what we're seeing is even in the courts, 16:40 they're beginning to legislate morality 16:43 that goes against the Word of God. 16:46 Yeah. 16:47 That goes against those of us 16:49 who are studying this Word 16:51 and holding it dear in our hearts, 16:53 it goes against our conscience. 16:55 So we're seeing people, 16:57 even going back to 2015, 16:58 when some of these laws were passed, 17:00 that were put in jail, 17:02 that were fined, that lost their jobs, 17:05 because they would not do certain things 17:07 that went against their conscience. 17:09 And we're seeing this continue and continue. 17:11 I know that there's people at home. 17:13 Before we started the program, 17:14 somebody said, you know, I think we're, what was it? 17:18 Overwhelmed with fear where I said, we feed on that, 17:22 you know, the news media 17:23 is just constantly pushing things, 17:24 pushing things. 17:26 And what they do is 17:27 and science will back this up 17:29 if you hear something enough, 17:32 even if you don't believe it in the beginning, 17:34 you know, after a while, after a week, 17:36 or two a month or two, 17:38 you know, all of a sudden you think, 17:39 well, maybe I might have been wrong. 17:41 And eventually they may change your mind. 17:44 So unless we are fortified, every single day, 17:48 putting on the armor of God, 17:50 we are going to lose our minds, 17:53 because we will succumb to the thinking 17:56 that the enemy is pushing. 17:58 He is pushing it through these outlets. 17:59 He's pushing. 18:01 Now, I'm not saying that a news outlet is of the, 18:03 you know, run by the devil himself. 18:06 I'm just saying he uses people, God uses people. 18:08 And there's, you know, 18:10 we're serving one master or the other, 18:12 the Bible is very clear about that. 18:14 I did find that quote as to why this is so important, 18:17 why we have to go back. 18:19 And it was found in the Great Controversy, 18:24 page 464. 18:25 And I'll just read the first part of it. 18:27 It says the enemy of souls. 18:29 And so this tells you who's behind the work. 18:32 The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work 18:35 before the time for such a movement shall come, 18:38 he will endeavor to prevent it by introducing a counterfeit. 18:42 And I just thought I had the right, 18:44 that's not the right one. 18:46 I guess I've moved my tablet. 18:47 Here it's. No. 18:50 maybe I haven't got here. 18:52 Anyway, that fit with 18:54 what we were just talking about, 18:55 because there are a lot of counterfeit truths out there. 18:58 And when I say counterfeit, 19:01 it's because it's really not a truth, 19:02 but it's being presented as a truth. 19:05 You know, we're finding that we're living in a time. 19:07 And I've said this so many times, 19:09 but it's becoming so much more prevalent 19:12 each and every day, that truth. 19:15 Truth is becoming error and error is becoming truth. 19:19 That's why there's people that say 19:21 the Bible can be a hate speech. 19:23 And even though God is a God of love, 19:26 love that we don't even understand, 19:29 so overwhelming that all of heaven was poured out, 19:32 so that each and every one of us 19:33 could have sufficient. 19:35 Yeah. So may you look at it, talking about obedience here? 19:37 And I think it's in Philippians 2:8, 19:39 just part of that verse, it's talking about Christ. 19:42 He became obedient, even unto what? 19:44 To death. 19:46 So there comes a time that we had what? 19:48 By the grace of God that we had rather die 19:51 than knowingly sin. 19:52 Now that's probably heavy duty to most people. 19:54 We need to come to that point is only by the grace of God 19:57 and His strength. 19:58 Human nature is going to want to do anything 20:00 as we need to be so filled with the Holy Spirit, 20:02 that when we realize that the enemy has offered a sin, 20:07 he's offered something to us, and we know that it's wrong. 20:10 And we come to the point that if it costs us our life, 20:13 we just say, no, I want to be obedient to who? 20:15 To God. 20:16 That's how Jesus how He learned obedience, 20:18 you know. 20:19 Yeah, everyday surrender. 20:20 Through a test and through trials 20:23 and things that He went through. 20:24 That's how he learned obedience. 20:25 And that's how we learn obedience too, 20:27 so I think that's... 20:28 Go ahead. 20:29 And He was our ultimate example. 20:31 I mean, He was pleading with His Father 20:35 to take this cup from Him if it were possible. 20:39 You know, He didn't want to face the beating. 20:41 He didn't want to face the cross. 20:44 But He knew what it costs for you and I. 20:47 But He would rather go forward 20:50 and as long as the Lord didn't change it 20:52 and to be in full obedience to God 20:55 rather than sin. 20:56 And that's what He's calling each and every one of us. 20:58 Talking about some Bible characters, 21:00 I was thinking about Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael. 21:03 I'm thinking about what Daniel did. 21:05 Daniel 1:8 says, 21:06 "He purposed in his heart 21:08 that he would not defile himself." 21:10 That's really powerful, 21:11 because you see how God blessed him 21:13 with that decision, 21:15 that he could actually even interpret dreams. 21:18 Interesting behind that is, 21:20 this is so incredible that 21:21 through that God would use that 21:23 and opportune that type of skill or gift 21:26 to actually bring Nebuchadnezzar 21:28 down to his knees. 21:29 Yes. And praise God of Most High. 21:31 And I think that's really powerful. 21:32 And then Proverbs 9:10 says that, 21:35 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." 21:38 And Proverbs 4 gives you this beautiful list 21:40 of what wisdom does. 21:43 One of the words that wisdom does in verse 6 says 21:45 He will preserve you. 21:47 He will preserve you. It's beautiful. 21:48 And then verse 8, 21:50 it says that it will also promote us 21:52 like He did with Daniel, 21:54 and also said that He will honor us. 21:55 And then verse 9 is really powerful, 21:57 because in there it says, 21:58 "We'll get a crown of glory if we hold on that wisdom." 22:01 So fear, that's the right fear. 22:02 You know, when you're talking about this wisdom, 22:05 it makes me think of how important 22:07 and I just read a quote in one of my studies this week 22:09 about how important... 22:11 Spirit of Prophecy said, 22:13 if we only realize that 22:14 what we take into our bodies 22:16 make such a difference in our thinking, 22:19 because you know, even getting older, 22:22 I feel like a lot of my retention 22:24 and recall slipping, 22:26 and I don't want that. 22:28 But so what do we do, we keep feeding our bodies, 22:30 what it needs to keep rejuvenating our mind 22:33 and keeping our mind clear. 22:35 So it's so important that our minds are clear, 22:38 so that the Holy Spirit 22:39 can continue to strengthen our minds 22:42 with this wisdom, 22:43 strengthen our minds with the knowledge. 22:45 Now then, you know, 22:46 I've always wanted to play the piano, 22:49 you know? 22:52 For most people... 22:53 Yeah, take lessons. Yeah. 22:55 For most people, they don't just say 22:57 I'm gonna play and walk over to the piano. 22:59 And all of a sudden you're Mozart. 23:00 Yeah, exactly. 23:02 You know that doesn't happen. 23:03 I shouldn't say a Tim Parton here, right? 23:05 Yeah. 23:06 You know, we're not a Tim Parton. 23:08 That's right. 23:09 But if we put time into it, 23:10 and we begin to learn one by one, 23:12 and then we add to it, 23:14 you know, you might want to use one finger, 23:16 and then you add a few, and then you're doing chords, 23:18 and you keep multiple, 23:20 it's the same with the study of God's Word. 23:22 You know, spend a little time, put Him first and last, 23:26 and even in between during your day and help, 23:30 ask Him to help you to memorize these things, 23:33 and to recall them. 23:34 Talking about some gifts, 23:36 really gifts of the Spirit here. 23:37 But regardless, almost take myself. 23:39 If I said, I'm gonna start playing the piano now. 23:41 And I'm gonna start taking lessons. 23:44 It wouldn't matter probably if I had 100 years to practice, 23:47 I would never be like Tim Parton 23:48 if I can say that. 23:49 Yeah. Okay, I used an example. 23:51 Some people have gifts in certain areas. 23:55 And we're to use those skills for the honor and glory of God. 23:59 So you know, and I'm gonna read the passage here real quick. 24:00 And then we'll get some comments, 24:02 Pastor John, especially I'm gonna read something here 24:04 in a quote from Great Controversy. 24:05 And then just to answer our question, 24:06 are we going to obey God or man. 24:08 We know Acts 5:29. 24:11 And when it's talking about the disciples, 24:12 you remembered what they said there? 24:14 Peter and the other apostles answered and said, 24:16 "We ought to obey God" what? 24:19 "Rather than man." 24:20 I mean it's right there in Scripture. 24:21 So that answers that we can just close 24:23 and then go home and say, that's it. 24:24 We ought to obey God rather than man. 24:26 Amen. 24:27 Really, you know, that people can read this passage. 24:29 We've had him do it. 24:30 And they make all kinds of excuses, 24:33 rather than just read it and believe it. 24:35 Now, we talk about this, 24:36 I found something very intriguing, 24:38 which is in part of our lesson there 24:40 that I think is in the Great Controversy 24:42 about 595 and so on, 24:44 we had in our list there. 24:45 But it says, you know, again, what does God say? 24:48 We know this. 24:49 It says, we are not to enquire talking about what we do, 24:53 decisions that we make. 24:54 We're not to inquire what is the practice of men. 24:58 What is the custom of the world? 25:01 Let me tell you, people are doing that. 25:03 People in high places, people in low places, 25:06 whatever it might be, there are those. 25:08 What is our custom of... 25:10 What is the custom of the world? 25:12 Are we gonna ask that? No, we are not to ask. 25:15 Now, how shall I act 25:17 in order to have the approval of men? 25:20 Or what will the world tolerate? 25:23 We question, the question of intense interest 25:26 is to every soul is what hath God said? 25:30 We are to read, notice what we just talked about. 25:32 We're to read the Word of God, then obey it, 25:36 not swerving one jot, 25:37 or one tittle from the requirement. 25:42 So basically, Pastor John, 25:44 as I looking at this and reading it, 25:46 you know, what does God say? 25:47 What is He saying about this? 25:48 I'm not to inquire what the world is doing. 25:50 I'm not to inquire 25:52 what some other church is doing. 25:54 I'm not really inquired what they even believe, 25:56 unless I just want to study some things to say, okay, 25:58 I understand or maybe things. 25:59 I'm not to ask, you know, 26:02 if I do this, will I have the approval of men, 26:04 or will I have the approval of God? 26:06 See, I had a pastor one time that asked me one time 26:09 was situation on marriage and some different things. 26:12 And so he came not going to give names only by panic is, 26:16 you know, we didn't look at here. 26:17 He asked, he came and I gave him my opinion. 26:20 And then he asked other folks, and they gave him his opinion. 26:24 But he came back and said, 26:25 "They've asked me to do this ceremony. 26:28 Should I do it? 26:29 And I said to the pastor, 26:31 "I don't think that you should, 26:32 you probably should just stay out of it." 26:34 He said, "Well, you don't know what I'm talking about." 26:35 I said, "Well, yeah, I do. 26:36 We've already been through this. 26:38 So what is it?" 26:39 He said, "No, no, what I'm asking is 26:40 what Oh, my, what percentage would be with me if I did 26:43 and what percentage would be with me if I didn't?" 26:46 Did you get that? 26:47 He was already decided. Yeah 26:49 Yes, but he wanted the approval of men, 26:52 the accolades of men, 26:54 whatever it might be in order to decide 26:56 what he needs to do, 26:57 rather than what the Word of God says. 26:59 So you know, what has God said? 27:03 So we go to what? 27:04 The Word of God, whatever it says, 27:06 by His grace and strength, 27:07 we will be obedient to that 27:09 and quit making excuses for things. 27:11 Pastor John, what do you see about, 27:12 again making these kind of choices 27:14 and this kind of decision? 27:15 Should we consult somebody else sometime? 27:18 Is there anything wrong with counsel? 27:20 Counsel okay? That depends. 27:22 That's pretty loaded question too, 27:23 but think about it. 27:24 I think counsel's okay. What do you think? 27:26 Yes. 27:28 The Bible says that in the multitude of counselors, 27:30 there is safety. 27:31 This is the Book of Proverbs. 27:32 Yeah. Okay. 27:34 And yes, there is safety, 27:35 you know, but again, when you hear this counsel, 27:38 you have to go to the Word of God. 27:40 Yes. 27:41 And test these things by the Word of God. 27:43 Yeah. Do you add... 27:45 I'm sorry, you getting ready at this time. 27:46 Well, I just wanted to say 27:47 that would be if it's in the church, 27:49 you know, because we can find 27:51 a multitude of counselors outside the church. 27:54 Well, the reason I say that is because some of the studies, 27:58 you know, that I've done, 27:59 and it is stated that God gives power to the church, 28:03 which is His people. 28:05 So if it's His people, a multitude of counselors, 28:07 there were, therefore 28:08 we're not a pillar unto ourselves, 28:10 a lot of people pull away from God's people, 28:13 and they begin to, you know, not quite understand things 28:16 the way they should. 28:17 So as we counseled together, 28:19 and we go to God's Word, 28:20 then we find that wisdom, 28:22 I also was looking at some of the things 28:24 you know, like on obedience in preparation for this, 28:28 because that's what God's calling us to do. 28:30 And I went through different verses 28:32 like Genesis 22:18 is one of them. 28:35 It says, 28:36 "In thy seed 28:38 shall all nations of the earth be blessed, 28:41 because thou has obeyed my voice." 28:45 Exodus 19:5, 28:47 "If you obey my voice, indeed, and keep my covenant, 28:51 then shall ye be a peculiar treasure unto me 28:55 above all people, for the earth is mine." 28:59 Exodus 5:2, 29:01 this is when Pharaoh was questioning, he says, 29:04 "Who is the Lord 29:05 that I should obey the voice and let Israel go." 29:08 And we know what his result was. 29:10 In other words, I remember years ago, 29:13 we were having a Bible study every Friday night, 29:16 and I was young, I was in my 20s. 29:19 And as I began to read through the Word of God, 29:23 I found out it wasn't just love, love, love. 29:27 It was on condition of obedience 29:31 just like we are as if you're a good parent, 29:35 you know, you're gonna be conditional with your children. 29:38 In other words, you're gonna say, 29:39 you know, I'll give you this if you obey. 29:41 If you're good here, then we'll do this, 29:43 you know, you don't want them to go up. 29:45 I know this is one that people use all the time 29:48 and touch the stove, 29:49 there's certain rules, and it's for their protection, 29:53 these rules that God's given us. 29:55 If you look at His commandments, 29:57 it's for our protection. 30:00 You know, so often we grew up thinking 30:02 all they're like a whip, He's beating us over the head, 30:04 we want to do these fun things and He says, we can't. 30:07 All He's doing is protecting you 30:09 from the result of doing those bad things. 30:12 He said in Hebrews 12, He disciplines those He loves. 30:15 Amen. 30:16 So important and I was thinking 30:18 when you guys were talking earlier about 30:19 this idea of the Word. 30:20 When I first start reading the Bible, 30:22 my wife's stepdad, he told me, 30:24 "When you read the Bible, you pray for the Holy Spirit." 30:26 I said, "Okay, that's goofy. All right, I'll try it." 30:29 And sure enough, 30:31 sure it opens up your understanding, 30:33 and I was just yet being led by the Holy Spirit. 30:36 And we're talking about being a multitude of counsel, 30:37 they get to be spirit filled. 30:39 So, you know, you want to really be mindful, 30:41 have wisdom and discernment on it. 30:43 And I was thinking to another thing 30:44 that Jesus did say in John 17:15, said, 30:47 "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, 30:50 but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." 30:52 So He wants us in the world, 30:53 but He does want us partake of any evil. 30:55 And so that's where we can obey God is by 30:58 you know, going out and sharing His Word. 30:59 And again, it's Psalms, what is it? 31:02 Yeah, so 119:105, 31:04 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet 31:06 and a light unto my path." 31:07 So if you divert off with that Word, 31:09 you're gonna get off his path, so. 31:11 And then what's the result? 31:13 You get off this path? 31:14 What is, why does God give us this path to begin with? 31:17 Why the straight and narrow? 31:19 Why do we, is He calling us to be an overcomer? 31:23 Why is Jesus called an overcomer? 31:25 I mean, He didn't ask you 31:26 just to walk down a dark path, did He? 31:28 The word is the lamp? Right. 31:30 I'll give you some light on it. 31:32 So as we look at this, John, Pastor John, what... 31:35 Well, I just threw out several questions 31:37 that's loaded. 31:38 They won't get any chance to put. 31:41 That's right. Yeah. Go ahead. 31:43 Lot of other questions coming. 31:44 Well, as you were, as you were talking, 31:46 you know, this thought came to me 31:47 I read it a long time ago. 31:49 I just can't remember where I read it, 31:50 but it's very powerful. 31:52 And it says, "No one falls suddenly." 31:58 And what happens is 31:59 that the devil gets you to places 32:01 to make these little concessions, 32:04 baby steps if you want to want to call them 32:07 to lead you to this great big sin 32:09 that will ruin you, 32:11 do you such harm that 32:12 it will be hard for you to recover. 32:14 So he gets you to take baby steps. 32:16 And because every day 32:19 the Lord is seeking to draw us to Him. 32:23 What happens if we say 32:24 yes, Lord, yes, Lord, yes, Lord, 32:25 we will greatly benefit, we will be strengthened, 32:28 we will walk with peace, 32:30 we will walk with assurance knowing that God is with us. 32:33 We will understand 32:34 that though we walk through the valley 32:35 of shadow of death, 32:37 I'll fear no evil. Why? 32:38 Because God is with me 32:40 because you're spending time with the Lord. 32:42 And the devil keeps trying to come in, 32:44 keeps trying to come in. 32:45 You know, look at Job 32:47 that God says to the devil, He says, 32:50 "Have you considered my servant Job?" 32:52 And he says, "Well, haven't you hedged his way." 32:55 Why? Because the devil had tried to come in, 32:57 but Job stayed close to the Lord. 33:01 And look, let me go back to three verses here 33:04 from Genesis 39, 33:05 because this thing that I mentioned before 33:07 about Joseph, it was not a sudden attack, 33:12 if you want to call it a temptation that came to him, 33:14 this woman was persistent. 33:16 Right. 33:17 In Genesis 39, it says, in verse 6, 33:22 "Thus he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, 33:24 and he did not know what he had 33:26 except for the bread which he ate. 33:28 Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance." 33:31 He was hard worker, too, so. 33:33 "And it came to pass after these things that 33:35 his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, 33:38 and she said, 'Lie with me.' 33:40 But he refused and said to his master's wife, 33:43 'Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, 33:46 and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 33:49 There is no one greater in this house 33:50 than I, nor has he kept back anything from me 33:53 but you, because you are his wife. 33:56 How then can I do this great wickedness, 33:59 and sin against God?' 34:01 " He had a relationship with the Lord. 34:03 He was daily accepting the invitation of the Lord, 34:06 opening the door to the Lord. 34:08 And notice that, it says verse 10, 34:09 "So it was, as she spoke to Joseph 34:11 day by day, 34:15 that he did not heed her, to lie with her." 34:18 So every day he had to keep saying, 34:20 no, no, everyday no, no, no, 34:23 until she says this is it, 34:25 and she started to take his clothes off. 34:27 Yeah. 34:29 And what had been happening? 34:31 Joseph was staying close to the Lord, 34:33 resisting, resisting. 34:35 When this big temptation comes, you see, 34:39 one victory prepares you for another victory, 34:41 prepares you for another victory. 34:43 And you are strengthened in the Lord. 34:45 And so God is good. 34:47 He's not gonna allow you to be tempted 34:49 what you cannot bear, 34:51 because He gives you grace. 34:53 So every day, the Lord is drawing us to Him. 34:55 Yes. 34:57 And I think of it this way, God has son, daughter, 35:01 I have all these things I want to give you today. 35:04 What must we do to have those things? 35:06 And I'm not talking about material things only, 35:08 I'm talking about spiritual blessings. 35:10 Amen. 35:12 And if we say yes, Lord, 35:13 and we come to the Lord, 35:15 we pray, we study the Scriptures, 35:17 He is able to give you more and more and more, 35:20 that your heart will be full of joy, 35:23 you'll be glad. 35:24 And you will be a light to others. 35:28 It'll be an atmosphere of heaven. 35:30 Yes, an atmosphere of heaven. 35:32 Because and if we don't allow the Holy Spirit 35:35 to come in and strengthen us 35:36 and make us overcomers by the grace of God, 35:39 we lose all of eternity. 35:41 That's what this is all about. 35:43 You know, this is a great test, a test of obedience, 35:47 which being will we serve? 35:49 Will we serve the God of heaven, 35:50 or we serve that fallen angel, Lucifer, 35:53 who wants to be our God, 35:54 who wants to be like the Most High, 35:56 who desires our worship, 35:58 but he will force us, God will never force us. 36:00 He woos us in love, 36:02 and how beautiful 36:04 because God is doing all of this stuff. 36:07 He's given us this path of sanctification, 36:10 to prepare us to live eternally. 36:13 And I like the story of Joe 36:16 because it gives us an idea that, 36:18 you know, when we're close to God, 36:20 we have that protective covering over us, 36:22 unless God allow something. 36:25 And then He'll give us the strength 36:27 to meet that problem that comes to your path. 36:30 Oh, sorry, gonna say. 36:32 I was just gonna share a story that happened to me 36:33 just recently I went to Wal-Mart here locally, 36:36 and I was in line with the lady, 36:38 we're in long, long lines for the registers. 36:41 And a little bit of time chat, you know, 36:42 sometimes you start talking. 36:44 Some are so more talkative than others. 36:46 But this young this lady, she was telling me 36:48 how she's praying with one of her friends. 36:50 So while we were talking about 36:51 how the world's getting more dark 36:52 and things are happening, said but there's a day coming 36:54 that it won't be dark. 36:55 It's gonna be a great day coming. 36:57 Oh, yeah. Okay. 36:58 So then I started sharing with her 36:59 a guy that I pray with the week prior, 37:01 just a gentleman that was having 37:02 some real major surgery coming up 37:04 and I shared with her the story 37:05 about which I share with him 37:07 about this man had his aortic completely severed, 37:09 how the doctor didn't believe in miracles or Jesus. 37:12 And this man was, I mean, miraculously healed, 37:15 it's a real story. 37:16 As I'm sharing that this other older lady 37:18 that's right behind she's, she's leaning in trying to, 37:21 she's, what are you saying? 37:23 What are you saying? I want to hear the stories. 37:25 I mean, it's like it's infectious. 37:27 And God did something in there. 37:29 And I had to go back and share her story too 37:30 with her the story. 37:32 But it's like, 37:33 you get that blessing when you step forward in faith. 37:34 Yes, Lord, give me a divine appointment. 37:37 And you just see how people really touched on here. 37:38 And they're saying like, God is amazing. 37:40 They're saying this in Wal-Mart loud, 37:42 I mean, God is amazing. 37:43 We serve such an amazing God. 37:45 And, you know, if we didn't do that, 37:46 I mean, how dark would this world really be. 37:48 But you got to share the story, 37:50 because it's because of that amazing God 37:52 that we fall in love with Him 37:54 that we want to serve Him that we want to be overcomers, 37:57 that we're not afraid of that first death. 37:59 You know, there's fear to death. 38:01 Let's bring in the other part, 38:03 I would like to bring it another part of it is 38:05 people will stand in line and they will listen. 38:07 They love the miracles and they are, 38:09 we praise God for those miracles 38:10 in which He is doing in the world. 38:12 The enemy's also working 38:13 with his signs and wonders too into it, 38:15 but oh, praise some of the loudest ones, 38:18 oh, praise God, He's so wonderful, blah-blah. 38:20 But when you present a truth in the Word of God, 38:23 when says be obedient to Him, 38:25 you know, to keep His commandments 38:27 silence and backup. 38:28 That's true. That is awesome. 38:30 So that's the issue that we're faced 38:32 with the day of primitive godliness. 38:34 Are we going back to the primitive godliness 38:36 to where we are what God wants us to be, 38:39 which is different in what we eat, 38:43 and what we drink? 38:44 And what we put on our bodies, you know. 38:47 And I have heard said many times there, 38:49 as you study the Word of God, 38:50 He'll tell you pretty much what He says. 38:52 We can read in what verse? 38:54 2 Timothy and 1 Peter, you know different things. 38:57 And we read it and we say, 38:58 well, yes, but even people should know better. 39:01 So we, sometime we were claiming 39:05 truth of the Word of God. 39:06 And then some of our own people 39:08 come back and do just exactly the opposite. 39:10 Yeah. 39:11 So that really hurts, 39:13 you know, in the cause of Christ, 39:15 you know, how do we deal with those, 39:16 those kinds of issues? 39:17 And remember, we are a people now 39:19 that is insignificant 39:21 almost in the world, and religions, 39:24 because of our numbers and so on. 39:25 But the time is coming, 39:27 when God's people begin to get back 39:29 to primitive godliness, 39:31 doing what it says in the Word of God, 39:33 instead of making excuses why we don't anymore, 39:36 you know, and then things are going to happen. 39:39 But here's our bottom line, I jotted something down. 39:41 I don't have it right now with it. 39:43 But I said, even in this book, Five Testimonies, 39:46 in the paragraph I read it this morning, 39:48 I was looking, I said, "Why did I put that there." 39:50 You ever do that, it's just couple of words 39:52 right then it made sense, 39:53 when you put it, 39:55 you know, two years later, three years later 39:56 it's like what and I looked at, 39:58 on that little note said, 39:59 we need to be careful who we support 40:04 and that, my mind went in all different directions. 40:05 Oh, yeah. 40:07 We support a lot of things now. 40:10 Can I be honest about this bit 40:13 that the teaching of the Word of God 40:15 does not support? 40:17 The teachings of God's Word does not support 40:19 but we support it in word and action 40:22 and like it doesn't make any difference. 40:24 If the truth here in the Word of God 40:26 if it doesn't make any difference about truth, 40:28 and what am I even doing here? 40:30 Is it okay to say that? Yeah. 40:31 I'm really if you look at it here, 40:33 God has given specific message 40:36 to the almost take to the Advent world. 40:39 I played, we veered from, yes, God's calling us back. 40:41 There's time, yes, get back in, 40:43 do what we should be doing. 40:45 Come to him and say, we've, Lord, we've sinned, 40:47 we've erred from this point, 40:49 we want to come back to the Word of God. 40:51 Now I can give you a lot of things right now, 40:53 I won't do that point by point. 40:56 But my call and the call of the Holy Spirit 40:58 is to come back to these things. 41:00 But when we come back to these things, 41:01 what you've asked, are we going to obey God 41:03 or we're going to obey men? 41:04 I've got to read this paragraph right now. 41:06 And then maybe I'll try to be quiet for a while. 41:08 But I'm getting on fire now. 41:09 Because I'm telling you, listen, remember, 41:12 we're supporting and we're lifting 41:13 and holding things up 41:15 that we shouldn't be right now. 41:16 Because those things, things that we support, 41:18 and we hold up will come back to bite us. 41:22 I think people at home know what I'm talking about. 41:24 They're going to come back 41:25 because he who is not with Me is against Me. 41:28 If you don't accept this message, 41:30 as end result of the three angels' message, 41:33 you're going to be an enemy to that. 41:35 And the ones that has her arm around you right now 41:36 say it doesn't make any difference. 41:38 The time will come 41:39 when it's going to make a difference. 41:40 They may do it behind your back. 41:42 They may, you know, they say stab in the back 41:43 that may be a word whatever to somebody. 41:45 But let me just read something here. 41:47 This is Five Testimonies there 546 says this. 41:50 Our people have been regarded as, notice this, 41:53 too insignificant to be worthy of notice. 41:56 Notice this, but the change will come. 41:59 We either believe it or we don't. 42:01 You can laugh at it if you want to 42:02 or don't laugh at it if you want. 42:03 I'm telling you it's already here. 42:05 The change, notice this. 42:07 The Christian world is now making movements 42:09 which will necessarily bring commandment keeping people 42:12 into prominence. 42:13 Oh, yes. 42:15 Have you ever wondered how this messy, 42:16 I did as the child and I still have. 42:18 As an adult I'm looking, I say, 42:19 "How can this message be going into the entire world? 42:21 And how's everybody going to hear it?" 42:22 How's everybody gotta, leave it up to God, 42:24 leave it up to the Holy Spirit. 42:26 But right here, it says right here, 42:27 which we know because it says it goes to every nation, 42:29 kindred, tongue, and people. 42:30 So it's biblical, it's spiritual here. 42:33 It said there is a constant, notice this, 42:35 supplanting of God's people, 42:37 no there is a constant supplanting of God's truth 42:39 by theories and false doctrines 42:41 of human origin. 42:42 Have we seen that? Oh, yeah. 42:44 For every truth there's counterfeit. 42:45 Movements, notice this, are being set on foot 42:48 to enslave the conscience. 42:49 That's right. 42:51 Do we not see that right now 42:52 taking away free speech 42:54 and let's be careful 42:55 as God's people that we don't encourage that. 42:59 These things I don't want to hear, 43:00 those words you don't want to hear. 43:02 But there are certain things as free speech, 43:04 especially liberty, your freedom of conscience, 43:06 freedom of speech, 43:07 because the enemy is trying to, to close up 43:10 where we cannot present the mark of the beast, 43:12 we cannot present the image to the beast, 43:14 we cannot present the false religion, 43:17 you know, and doctrines, 43:18 I'm gonna say the papacy or anybody else. 43:20 Let's just be honest about. 43:22 We get uneasy, we get nervous, sweat starts coming out. 43:25 But God has challenged us to bring these things. 43:28 Ellen White says, 43:30 "Nothing should occupy the mind 43:31 but the giving of the three angels' message." 43:33 Wow! Of course that's big 43:35 and it encompasses a lot of truth there. 43:36 But notice this now, notice, 43:38 movements are being set on foot 43:39 to enslave the conscience 43:41 of those who would be loyal to God. 43:44 Lawmaking powers will be against God's people. 43:47 Oh, can't you see it? 43:49 My, my, my every soul will be tested, 43:52 every soul will be tested. 43:54 Oh, that we would be as a people wise for ourselves 43:58 and by precept and example implant 44:00 the wisdom to our children. 44:01 Lord have mercy. 44:03 Every position of our faith will be searched into 44:07 and we are not done, notice, and we are not, 44:10 if we're not thorough Bible students, 44:12 established what's been talking about here 44:14 strengthened and settled. 44:17 The wisdom of the world's great men 44:19 will lead us astray. 44:21 There are men out there that have wisdom. 44:23 Now they can twist the Scripture 44:25 and we just want simpler, 44:27 Bible should be simple, 44:28 should be easy to be understood 44:29 and you don't have to go 10 times around the barn 44:31 and say it 10 different ways to be able to get the truth. 44:33 One more little paragraph The world is busy. 44:37 Now what? 44:38 Anxious and devoted, notice this, 44:41 somebody mentioned a while ago, 44:42 evil is eagerly followed 44:44 as though it were righteousness. 44:47 Error as though it were truth. 44:49 Yeah. 44:50 Sin as though it were holiness. 44:54 Darkness is covering the earth and gross darkness the people, 44:57 what we've been talking about here. 45:00 This is very interesting here, then I'll be quiet. 45:02 Oh, Lord, help me. It said, notice this. 45:04 And shall God's people be asleep 45:06 at such a time as this? 45:09 Shall those, notice this, 45:10 shall those who hold the truth be silent as if paralyzed? 45:13 Notice, here's the point. 45:16 "Infidels declare that 45:18 if they believe what Christians professed to believe, 45:22 they would be far more in earnest then they." 45:26 The infidel, the unbeliever say, 45:27 "Man, if we believe what you believe, 45:28 we'd be earnest with it, you guys are not earners." 45:30 You talk about it. 45:32 Yeah, this is going to happen by prowess and those shouts, 45:34 and hallelujah. 45:35 And then when it comes right down, 45:37 He said, if you love Me, keep My commandments, 45:38 or follow in my footsteps. 45:41 Do what Jesus said to do on earth. 45:42 Woo. You see. That's powerful. 45:44 I'm saying, this is so much that 45:46 it just covers you inside to say, 45:50 am I going to be obedient to God 45:52 or am I gonna be obedient to my fellow man, 45:54 because men don't want to hear, 45:56 my friends don't want to hear what I really stand for. 45:58 As long as I don't talk about religion they love you. 46:02 When you start talking about a truth of God's Word, 46:03 all of a sudden, they don't love you as much 46:05 and you don't see them anymore. 46:08 Pastor John, I'm gonna give myself a break. 46:10 Go ahead. 46:12 Praise the Lord, you know, as you were talking, 46:15 and what you were reading is very, very important. 46:18 And I would even encourage people to ask what was, 46:21 what was that again? 46:23 So you can give that quote. 46:24 Because what was that by the way... 46:25 Five Testimonies 546, 5T 546. 46:30 Very good. 46:31 You know, I see we're talking, 46:32 I'm thinking of the devil is at work. 46:34 Yes. 46:36 The Bible tells us that he is as a roaring lion, 46:40 seeking whom he may devour. 46:42 And he's a wise general. 46:44 Yes. 46:45 He has carefully laid plans to deceive, 46:50 if possible the very elect. 46:52 So what are we to do? 46:53 We are not safe unless we are close to the Lord. 46:56 Amen. 46:57 And that's why what you were saying earlier, 46:59 we need to read the scriptures as if our life depended on it. 47:03 We have no idea 47:04 what the devil has prepared for us today. 47:07 Tomorrow if the Lord allows us to live 47:09 or the next day. 47:11 So we should be as close to the Lord as possible. 47:13 As close as we understand we can be. 47:16 And everyone can be as close to the Lord, 47:19 more than you imagine. 47:20 And so, I want to say that, 47:23 you know, we also, you also mentioned earlier, 47:25 Sister Chris said it, 47:27 since about 2005, 47:28 there have been movements going on, 47:31 that are made public, 47:32 but the devil has things going on 47:34 behind the scenes, 47:36 even among those that make laws 47:39 and bills have come 47:40 to different parts of governments, 47:43 not only in this country, but in other countries, 47:45 to restrict liberty of conscience, 47:48 to restrict liberties, freedom of speech, 47:51 and all kinds of things are going on. 47:54 What you're seeing is movements 47:56 that are leading this world 47:58 to fulfill what's happening 47:59 and what is described in Revelation 13. 48:02 And you're talking about, are you going to obey God? 48:05 Are you going to obey men? 48:07 You are either preparing for one or the other. 48:09 Every day, you're either preparing for one or the other, 48:13 your choices, the choices you are making 48:16 is preparing you for one or the other. 48:18 So you have to ask yourself, because the Bible says, 48:20 examine yourself to see if you are in the truth. 48:23 Examine yourself. 48:25 And be honest with yourself and say, what am I doing? 48:29 Am I really serious about being a child of God? 48:33 God wants to restore primitive godliness. 48:36 Am I heading in that direction? 48:38 That's what we have to ask ourselves. 48:39 Yeah. That's right. 48:40 I like to piggyback what you're saying is, 48:42 you know, if we're getting in so involved, 48:43 like for me, I'll just use for myself for instance. 48:45 Getting in YouTube, I find myself 48:47 watching things I shouldn't. 48:48 So it's literally drawing me further and further away 48:50 from my relationship with Jesus. 48:51 You know, all these motives like check it, 48:53 like you're saying, check your motive. 48:54 Why are you doing what you're doing? 48:56 Is it drawing you to Jesus? 48:57 Or is it taking you away from Him? 48:59 You know, we're talking about this idea too 49:01 of language being restricted, 49:02 it's funny to see the opposite side 49:04 of that language. 49:05 Now, when the headlines 49:06 and different articles that are coming out, 49:08 you can see the words alarmists, terrorists, 49:10 and all this stuff is starting to, 49:12 it's developing, 49:14 you can see that the enemy like, 49:15 you says specific plans while he's doing these things, 49:17 because his language is getting stronger 49:19 to where one day like when Noah was concerned, 49:21 he's considered an alarmist or a fanatic. 49:24 Conspiracy theory, 49:25 that's a big one that they use anymore. 49:27 If it doesn't fit a certain agenda, 49:29 all of a sudden, it's a conspiracy theorist, 49:31 you know, theory... 49:33 But go ahead. 49:34 Yeah, so basically, that's what I'm seeing is that, 49:36 you know, there, there's these steps are being built 49:39 to where there is gonna be one day, 49:40 like you said, in Revelation 30, 49:41 it's gonna unfold. 49:43 And that lamblike beast will be... 49:44 Oh, it's already speaking like a dragon 49:46 that's gonna really afford us. 49:47 Captivated me what he said, 49:48 and maybe you can add for it to 49:50 but again, you brought it up, 49:51 the enemy leads us baby steps. 49:53 Right. 49:54 You said, I wanted YouTube whatever it was, 49:58 really for the honor and glory of God. 50:00 Start out good. 50:01 God's impressed me that I should do such and such 50:03 and certainly the Holy Spirit can do that to do. 50:06 But if we're not careful, 50:08 we'll deviate a little bit from the track 50:10 because it started out with the right motives 50:12 at least in our heart at the time, 50:14 if we're not careful, the enemy is not happy 50:16 because you're on this path. 50:18 Right. 50:19 And they will know you're on the right path, 50:20 it seems at the time. 50:22 He's going to continue to put little detour signs up 50:24 just a little bit at a time 50:26 until you're off in the North 40 somewhere, 50:28 and you can't even find your way back anymore. 50:30 So you know, we need to be very careful 50:32 this hour that we live. 50:34 The devil is that you said roaring lion 50:35 seeking whom he may devour. 50:36 You see that he's really angry 50:38 with the people of God here in the last days. 50:40 He's not saying that with the disobedient, 50:42 because they're already his. 50:44 Right. 50:45 He's mad at the obedient those who by the grace of God. 50:49 In other words, if we sin, 50:51 we have an advocate with the Father. 50:52 So we get back on track. All right. 50:54 I was thinking of James 4:7, you're talking about that. 50:57 And you're talking about Joseph says, 50:58 therefore submit to God, 51:00 resist the devil and he will flee from you. 51:01 Amen. 51:03 Back to Joseph fled from a situation. 51:05 Just the fact that he had fleeing from that, 51:08 you know, submit to God. 51:09 There are times 51:11 when we will literally have to run from temptation. 51:14 You know, this verse that I mentioned, 51:15 1 Peter 5:8, about the devil being as a roaring lion. 51:19 How does that verse begin? 51:21 It begins, be sober, be vigilant. 51:25 Why? 51:26 Because your adversary the devil, 51:28 and so our part is to be sober and vigilant. 51:31 What does that mean? 51:32 You have to be wide awake, Kenny, 51:34 as you read that people are asleep. 51:37 The churches are asleep. 51:39 People are asleep 51:40 and the devil is stealing a march upon us. 51:43 He is far ahead of us. 51:45 And I am afraid that 51:48 a lot of people are going to suffer. 51:50 I hope I don't have to suffer unnecessarily. 51:52 They don't want to hear that. 51:53 Well, they need to hear it. Well, good. 51:55 Just confident they really don't because 51:57 remember when you would wake somebody up 52:00 that's been asleep sometime they're grouchy. 52:02 Does it make sense? That's true. 52:04 After they're awake well, they're all right, 52:06 but so waking them up, saying we need some changes. 52:10 Any of us should say I need some changes. Why? 52:12 Because I look in the mirror, 52:14 I realize I'm not all that what Jesus wants me to be, 52:16 right? 52:17 And so therefore, I need some changes. 52:20 And I desire those changes, want those changes. 52:22 So if we want changes, what do we do? 52:24 We need to study. Okay. 52:25 And that's one thing I've been wanting to save 52:27 for the last 5-10 minutes 52:28 is how this actually put 52:31 everything we've been talking about 52:32 into proper perspective. 52:35 And it gave it the urgency that really we need, 52:37 we were talking about it, 52:39 but sometimes we like to pull away 52:40 a little bit from that urgency. 52:42 He said, people don't want to hear it. 52:43 You know, many times we get to the point 52:46 where it's like too much, and we step back. 52:48 Jesus had to depart and go away and rest awhile, 52:51 but we need as soldiers to get back, 52:53 put our armor back on, continue. 52:56 God's not going to force anyone to study. 52:58 He's not going to force you to tear down on the Word. 53:01 But the beautiful thing is, if you don't have a desire, 53:03 all you have to do is pray. 53:05 And the Holy Spirit will come in, 53:07 he will give you that desire. 53:08 And he will help you as you study. 53:11 But I think as we as pastor was reading this, 53:14 hopefully you were hearing all the news, 53:16 you were seeing everything you'd have. 53:18 And beginning to put it into proper perspective, 53:21 we're told that we need to be studying current events, why? 53:25 In fact, there's a passage where Mrs. White says that 53:29 ministers are not doing their job 53:30 because they're not presenting these current events. 53:33 Why are we studying current events? 53:34 Why does the Bible go through 53:36 and tell us about all these different wars 53:37 and rumors of war, 53:38 things that happened in the past? 53:40 And who was in charge? 53:41 Who was the king and what happened to them? 53:42 It's the same today 53:44 because it's fulfilling Bible prophecy. 53:46 And it's thing like this is, things in Revelations, 53:48 things in Daniel, that we study that we, 53:51 we're beginning to see, 53:52 oh, now I understand how this could come. 53:55 Now I'm beginning to see those movements 53:57 that are taking places, 53:59 taking place in dark places 54:01 that we don't always see out in the open, 54:03 you know, that you talked about the enemy being this general. 54:06 I've always said he's well orchestrated. 54:09 This is a well orchestrated web, 54:12 may I use that word web 54:14 that he uses upon the people. 54:16 And he has those in charge. 54:18 You know, we talk about 54:20 some of these very, very wealthy people that meet, 54:23 you know, in certain places, 54:25 I won't even say where at this time, 54:26 just in case, 54:28 but that they meet and they've got an agenda. 54:31 They've got an agenda. 54:32 They feel that our world is going to end 54:34 if they don't push this agenda. 54:37 I'm glad you said they print their agenda. 54:40 They printed. 54:41 And they acknowledge that they have, 54:44 but because of their billions of dollars. 54:46 And then you see it in the news 54:48 implemented, implemented, working on it, working on it. 54:53 Yes. 54:54 You know what, prophecy? What is prophecy? 54:56 Isn't it telling something that is going to take place? 54:59 Yes. 55:01 These are some things that's going on 55:02 that people need to least open their ears and their eyes 55:03 and say, oh, well, we see where it's headed. 55:06 It makes sense, because it helps us to be ready, 55:08 helps us to know where we are. 55:10 We don't know the day or the hour, 55:12 but we can know the signs of the times. 55:14 Is that correct? That's right. 55:16 We got a little over just two minutes left, 55:18 time's went by quickly again. 55:19 So I like to get some last minute thoughts. 55:21 You know, now we'll start with Pastor John 55:23 down there if he doesn't mind 55:24 if he's got something going right now. 55:26 Sure. Yeah, good. 55:27 Let's hear something. 55:29 I have this quote, I often refer to it. 55:31 I think it's very important. 55:32 It's from Education, book Education, page 18. 55:35 It says, 55:36 "Higher than the highest human thought can reach is 55:39 God's ideal for his children." 55:42 Godliness. 55:43 God likeness is the goal to be reached. 55:47 Before the student there say 55:49 there's open a path of continual progress. 55:52 I'm gonna stop there 55:53 'cause we need to put ourselves in the hands of the Lord 55:58 so that this work can occur in us, 56:00 can happen in us. 56:02 Amen. Thank you. 56:03 Yes, 56:04 I'm thinking Deuteronomy 29:29 came my mind says, 56:06 "The secret things belong into the Lord our God. 56:08 But those things which are revealed belong to us 56:11 and to our children forever 56:12 that we may do all the words of this law." 56:15 So I think you know, 56:17 when we like you're saying we see these things developing. 56:18 We need to get back into Word. 56:20 Amen. Go ahead. 56:21 I'm thinking of a couple of passages. 56:23 One is Revelation 22:14. 56:26 Revelation 22:14, 56:28 "Blessed are they that do His commandments," 56:32 why? 56:33 "That they may have the right to the tree of life, 56:36 and may enter into the gates into the city." 56:39 Ephesians 2:4-10. 56:41 I can't read all of them, 56:42 but you can go in and look at it. 56:44 It says, 56:45 "Even when we were dead in sin, 56:47 have quickened us." 56:49 Well, let me back up, 56:50 so you're understanding context. 56:51 "But God who is rich in mercy 56:54 for His great love wherewith He loved us. 56:57 Even when we were dead in sins, he hath quickened, " 57:00 that means He gave us life, 57:01 "us together with Christ, by grace are ye saved." 57:06 At the end of verse 9, it says, 57:08 "God hath before ordained that we should walk in them 57:11 and walk in His commandments," 57:13 because He wants to recreate Himself in us 57:16 and He wants us by His grace to be saved. 57:19 Oh, praise Lord. Those were powerful thoughts. 57:21 So, we realize powerful thoughts, 57:23 and then we're going to close out 57:24 and I hope it's okay. 57:25 Thank you for joining us once again. 57:27 Just a few seconds, 57:28 we're going to have prayer right here. 57:30 We'll just close out with prayer. 57:31 Honey, would you pray for us, please? 57:32 Well, most gracious, most certainly. 57:34 Most Gracious Heavenly Father, Lord, 57:35 as we come to the close of this program, 57:36 we thank You for Your Spirit. 57:38 We thank You for Your thoughts. 57:39 We thank You for the lessons that we've had here, 57:42 even around the table, 57:43 how it has energized our minds and our hearts. 57:45 And we pray that it has those at home in Jesus' name. 57:49 Amen. Amen. |
Revised 2021-04-23