Participants:
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW220001S
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:08 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 00:35 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. 01:10 Glad you joined us today here at 3ABN Family Worship. 01:13 You know, I'm excited about this lesson, 01:15 so I want you to be excited too. 01:16 So don't go anywhere. 01:18 If you're in a seat, just stay there. 01:19 Grab your Bible, pencil and paper 01:21 because we're going to look at something, 01:22 I think, as we study, we're talking about power, 01:25 we're talking about peace equals self-control. 01:28 And I know everyone's going to look around, 01:30 you're probably in your home, 01:32 you're going to look around and say, 01:33 "They really need this." 01:34 And probably around this table, I hope no one says 01:38 he really needs this. 01:39 I'm going to look in the mirror. Amen. 01:41 Okay, in this program, I want to look in the mirror, 01:43 this spiritual mirror, and see where I'm failing. 01:47 Because I know that there's improvement to be made. 01:50 If we ever say there's no improvement, 01:53 then we're not going to be looking for those things 01:54 that we need to change and get ready for the coming of Jesus. 01:56 So I definitely lack in this area. 02:00 And it says, you know, 02:01 "Confess your faults from one to another." 02:03 And with that, we can pray about these things. 02:06 And in our lesson, I believe it's going 02:08 to be brought out here, 02:09 how we can gain mastery over self. 02:12 And this is a big issue. 02:13 So anyway, we're glad you joined us, 02:15 praise the Lord for that. 02:16 And, Honey, I'm going to let you, 02:17 you can introduce the ones we have. 02:19 They are actually going to carry the load, aren't they? 02:20 We're just here to sit in, isn't that right? 02:23 Yeah. 02:25 Well, that means you've got some things to say. 02:27 We don't want to be selfish, 02:29 we want to help them carry the load. 02:30 Okay. I'll be a helper today. 02:33 We're all going to work as a group 02:34 to help carry the load, we need each other. 02:36 And as time continues on, we need each other now. 02:39 Yes. 02:41 And we're going to need each other 02:42 throughout the rest of this lifetime, 02:44 possibly throughout eternity. 02:46 Won't that be nice? Yes. 02:48 Well, to my right is Brother Ryan Day. 02:51 And by the way, in case you don't know, I am Chris Shelton. 02:54 This is my husband, Pastor Kenny Shelton. 02:56 Thank you, Honey. 02:57 And this is Ryan Day and his beautiful wife, Stephanie. 03:00 That's right. 03:01 And we haven't always, I think we had you on one program 03:04 a long time ago when you guys first moved here. 03:06 And it's so good to have you back. 03:08 Thank you. I know there's been a lot of changes. 03:10 So it frees you up to get to join 03:12 and do some more ministry, that's exciting. 03:15 So, Ryan, anything you want to share about 03:17 what you've been doing or what you're doing here? 03:20 Something new this year at 3ABN? 03:22 Well, we are pressing forward 03:23 with creating our Bible database. 03:27 I love that. 03:28 Which is a Bible questions and answer database, 03:30 and it's not quite ready yet, we're getting closer 03:32 and closer but we're pressing forward with it. 03:35 It's going to be a blessing once we get it all together 03:37 and ready, people will be able to go on 03:38 and get their Bible questions answered 03:42 right through this database. 03:43 That's awesome. Amen. 03:44 Praise the Lord. Lot of work. 03:46 I am so excited. Yes. 03:47 When I first heard that, I was just so excited. 03:50 It's something we've needed, 03:52 it's something I wish Behold the Lamb had. 03:54 You know, because I've always thought that it's wonderful. 03:56 We've got it now. 03:57 But we have links, so we're going to link it to yours, 04:00 you know, so when they come in, 04:01 they have question we're going to link it to 3ABN. 04:04 She really was excited about. 04:05 I kind of her run through the house screaming one day. 04:09 What is it? 04:10 She started telling me about this. 04:11 I said, "How exciting that is." 04:13 And since it's going to answer so many questions, 04:15 help many who have questions 04:17 that maybe has never been answered before. 04:18 So it's quite a blessing, thanks a lot. 04:20 Amen. 04:21 And down at our far end of the table, 04:23 is Sister Linda and her husband, 04:26 Eddie Clark, and they have recently moved here in 3ABN, 04:30 and I'm so excited about what you both are doing. 04:33 Brother Eddie, what are you doing in this area? 04:35 We have brought our health ministry here. 04:38 And we're going to put in a wellness center. 04:42 Amen. 04:43 My wife is a herbalist, a very good herbalist. 04:47 Yes, she is. Amen. 04:49 And so we help a lot of people with herbs, 04:52 and hydrotherapy, and so forth. 04:54 And so, we're looking forward to. 04:56 Let me just ask kind of a silly question, 04:57 when are you going to begin? 04:59 Well, you've just been here a short time, 05:01 but what has happened? 05:02 Well, we... You've been covered up, haven't you? 05:04 When we moved our business here, we kept it going. 05:07 And so we've always kept that going. 05:09 But as far as the building, we're renovating. 05:12 Yes. We're making some steps. 05:14 And so we're not all the way there, 05:16 kind of like Ryan, he's in the process, 05:18 we're in the process already going. 05:20 Working hard. 05:22 Keeping it going was really tough. 05:24 Because when we came, 05:26 we were in the building behind the church. 05:29 And so we had some challenges back there, 05:33 just continuing to get the orders out 05:34 while doing renovations. 05:36 And so, the Lord provided. 05:38 And we need something, somebody will stop by and say, 05:41 "Hey, I've got a couple hours here or there." 05:43 And it's been awesome, 05:45 just awesome to see the miracles 05:47 that have happened since we've been here. 05:49 Amen. 05:51 And I believe the Lord has more miracles now 05:52 he's in each ministry and the work 05:55 and I tell you guys are building, 05:57 and everything is always about somebody else. 06:00 I like that because that's part of our lesson, 06:02 no matter when you call, no matter what's going on, 06:04 God has given them answers to our health 06:06 and they just put everything down and just right then meet 06:09 that need right there. 06:10 And so, you know, they have a lot of needs too, 06:12 I pray, there's people out there really 06:13 that's had an interest in this work 06:15 that you guys are in, 06:16 I know in the building project right now. 06:18 It just takes an awful lot to rebuild and to remodel, 06:20 and I just know peoples out there 06:22 that's very interested in that. 06:23 And by the grace of God, you're going to get 06:25 what you need to continue this. 06:27 Amen. We're just excited about it. 06:28 It's just that simple just to have, 06:30 I'm getting goosebumps, because I know 06:32 that you've talked about the work in the medical work 06:34 and so on so forth, it's going to be one 06:36 of the last things that can be done before Jesus come. 06:39 We know it's the entering wedge and so, 06:42 how exciting that is. 06:44 Let's start wedging in, there's peoples going 06:45 to be interested not only in health, 06:47 they're going to be interested in spiritually too. 06:49 That's right. Amen. 06:50 Okay, we need to have prayer. Yes, we do. 06:52 And maybe begin because all this other stuff 06:54 is exciting to me to talk. 06:55 But let's have, but, Brother Ryan, how about you, my friend? 06:57 Would you pray for us please? Absolutely, let's pray. 07:01 Wonderful, Heavenly Father, Lord, we are so blessed 07:04 and honored to be alive on this day. 07:06 See another day, Lord, and to breathe a fresh breath 07:09 of life that You provide. 07:11 As we sit around this table now 07:13 and also those joining us at home all around the world, 07:15 Lord, we're all one giant family in you, 07:19 in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 07:21 And we ask for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit 07:23 during this family worship time, 07:25 Lord, may this not just be another lesson 07:27 or another study. 07:29 May it be something that pricks our heart 07:31 and leads us and draws us to Jesus and awakens us 07:34 to the spiritual need of the Holy Spirit 07:36 in these last days, 07:38 as we know our Savior's coming soon. 07:39 So bless this time together, Lord, 07:41 be with each and every one of us. 07:43 And may You be glorified we guess in Jesus' holy name. 07:47 Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord. 07:49 Okay, there's a little opening to this. 07:51 And if we, if you set the opening for us, 07:53 wherever you want to do on that front part 07:54 that we have here in our notes, 07:56 and then we can all start joining in 07:58 and there's questions, right? 08:00 Because I'm thinking you'll probably ask a few more, 08:02 but it's going to be answered 08:03 and then we have three questions to go over, so. 08:05 Well, I think you're going to ask those, yes. 08:07 So I'll read down that you begin 08:09 where you told me to begin. 08:11 Self-control. Okay, Honey, you know what? 08:13 Self-control begin where I ask you to begin. 08:15 There you go. 08:17 Okay, self-control was once a cherished attribute. 08:21 But to look at our world today, 08:23 it's as though self-control was nothing 08:24 but a thing of the past. 08:27 Nowadays, anything goes if it feels good, just do it. 08:31 Sad to say that was a statement 08:33 they had way back in the 70s too. 08:35 But it's very prevalent today. 08:38 Our society is swiftly becoming a society of no respect 08:42 for anyone or anything. 08:44 Matthew 24:12, tells us that, "Because iniquity shall abound, 08:49 the love of many shall wax cold." 08:52 Certainly, 08:54 Christ's prophetic words are now our reality. 08:58 Wow. 09:00 You know, again, we're talking about power, 09:02 and here in lesson it talks about and peace. 09:04 So power plus peace, 09:07 you have to have equal self-control. 09:09 So that's how we're going to try to put it together. 09:11 You know, how can we have peace 09:12 and how can we have power 09:14 if we already have self-control? 09:16 Is it possible if we can't control as it were, right? 09:19 Our emotions, our feelings, so can we really have power 09:22 and can we really have peace? 09:24 So I think that's the question that leads into number one. 09:27 Brother Ryan, there's a couple passages there. 09:30 Maybe you'll see them there on it, if you have it. 09:32 Starts out what fullness is expressed in these words. 09:36 Yeah, so just a collection of a few pieces of Scripture 09:39 that communicates a powerful lesson here. 09:41 We see that Jesus said in John 8:12, He said, 09:45 "I am the light of the world." 09:46 Yes. 09:47 And, of course, John 6:35, He says, 09:49 "I am the bread of life." 09:51 Also in John 14:6, this is that famous passage 09:54 where Jesus says, "I am the Way, 09:56 the Truth and the Life." 09:58 And then, of course, John 10:14, 10:00 "I am the good shepherd." 10:02 And then you, of course, pair that with John 10:10, 10:08 and also verse... 10:09 Yes, John 10:14, here, it says, 10:12 "I am come that they may have life 10:16 and that they may have it more abundantly." 10:19 And, of course, the note here, which I love 10:20 what was put here it says, this life is what we must have, 10:23 and we must have it more abundantly. 10:25 God will breathe this life into every soul 10:28 that dies to self and lives to Christ, 10:30 but entire self renunciation is required. 10:34 Unless this takes place, we carry with us the evil 10:38 that destroys our happiness. 10:39 But when self is crucified, Christ lives in us. 10:43 And the power of the Spirit attends our efforts. 10:46 That comes from Our High Calling 10:47 on page 21 thereof Our High Calling, dying to self, 10:53 that's what this is talking about. 10:54 We have to look unto Christ, the life source, 10:57 He is the light, He is the way, 10:58 He is the truth, He is the life. 11:00 And so I think the number one step 11:02 that we must first acknowledge 11:04 and realize that in order to die to self, 11:06 we cannot do that in and of our own power. 11:08 It must come by the power of Christ. 11:11 Amen. 11:12 I underlined that I thought how interesting this life, 11:15 you know, that we have to die to self, 11:18 and the one who dies to self lives to Christ. 11:22 So if we're not dying to self, 11:23 then we're not really living in for Christ, are we? 11:26 That's right. 11:27 I don't know, Brother Ed and Linda, 11:29 you have something down or you want to throw in on this, 11:30 because you can go in so many different directions on this, 11:32 but it's about dying to self. 11:34 And that is one of the most difficult things, I think, 11:37 because I think at every root, isn't it true? 11:40 At the root of all sin self lies there. 11:44 There's so many avenues of sin, 11:46 so many different ways. 11:50 And, you know, everybody has their own tailor made 11:55 temptation and sin. 11:57 And so, it's a very big answer to the question 12:02 of how does one die to self? 12:03 Right. There's a whole lot to it. 12:06 Amen. Absolutely. 12:08 You know, before we go ahead 12:10 and answer this a little bit more, 12:11 I want to jump back a little bit before that, 12:15 because I think that the people at home 12:17 I think you at home can relate to what I'm going to read here, 12:20 it says, "But as a child of God, 12:22 who desires heaven to be our eternal home," 12:24 I believe everybody around this table, 12:26 we desire heaven to be our eternal home. 12:30 So what's the problem 12:32 with following in the footsteps of the world? 12:35 A lot of people question that. 12:37 There are so many denominations. 12:40 I mean, in fact, some of the largest denominations, 12:42 you can be a full participant in the things of the world, 12:46 and yet go and worship and praise and feel really good 12:50 about what you've just done at church 12:52 and go back and do it again. 12:53 It's a back and forth, it's a yo-yo type of thing. 12:56 Is there really a higher standard? 12:59 You see, a lot of people say, "Come as you are." 13:02 And they take that out of context. 13:04 Because Jesus does say, "Come as you are," 13:07 but praise God, He doesn't leave us there. 13:10 Acts talks about the restoration of all things. 13:13 And Christ is slowly throughout the eons of this world, 13:17 He has been restoring things that the devil has taken away. 13:20 So this is a question I want you to keep in mind. 13:23 Is there really a higher standard? 13:26 Does a moral absolute truly exist? 13:29 This is another challenge. 13:31 Is there really anything that we can base morally 13:34 that we can say, you know, "This is worth dying for? 13:38 This is worth living for? 13:39 This is really what truth is?" 13:42 I mean, if there's ever been a question, 13:45 in this earth's history, 13:48 I think the last few years bears the fact 13:51 that we don't always know what's right and what's wrong, 13:53 what's truth and what's err. 13:54 Err is becoming truth and truth is becoming err 13:57 which also fulfills prophecy. 13:59 Yes. Okay. 14:01 So, or has the devil deceived us into believing 14:05 that we can be one with the world and one with God? 14:09 And really, what's the problem if we slip into the muddy water 14:12 of sinful thoughts and actions once in a while? 14:16 Prayerfully, during, and as we begin 14:19 to answer this outline that we have here, 14:23 we were going to touch on these things, 14:24 we're going to answer these things, 14:26 and we're going to find out, 14:27 is there really a moral absolute? 14:29 Is there really a truth? 14:30 Does God really have a standard 14:32 that is much higher than what maybe we are right now? 14:35 And we need to attain to that standard. 14:37 You know, probably the first thing 14:38 and then with the what, and everybody trying 14:39 to discuss this because to me, 14:41 this is the question of questions then this answer, 14:44 because Jesus was speaking in Matthew 16:24. 14:47 You know, well, He says, 14:48 "If any man will come after Me," 14:51 what is he going to do? 14:52 Aren't we all striving to be like Christ, right? 14:55 If you're a Christian, you're striving to be like Him. Right. 14:57 And Jesus said, "If you are, and you're coming after Me 15:00 as it were, you see My life, 15:02 you see how I lived, you see what I did?" 15:03 He said, "Then first of all, Kenny, 15:06 before you can follow Me, you have to deny yourself." 15:10 Wow. We set it off and you know, deny self. 15:14 And then He says, "If by the grace of God," right? 15:16 "You can deny self, 15:17 then you're to take up the cross, 15:20 and then you follow Me." 15:22 And I've often said, 15:23 You're not going to pick up any cross 15:25 if self is still there, right? 15:27 Right. 15:28 You're not going to deny self, 15:30 take up the cross, and then follow Me. 15:31 None of us is going to follow Christ, 15:33 unless something happens, self dies. 15:37 And I don't care how self dies, right? 15:39 It just needs to die. 15:41 But I found out studying on this lesson here. 15:44 Now use this word, I can't kill it. 15:46 Right. 15:47 You know what I'm saying, I can't kill self on my own. 15:49 No, you can't. I just, I can't. 15:51 But let me tell you, don't get excited and say, 15:52 oh see, there's no help, excuses all of mine. 15:55 I say it here today and not make excuses 15:56 for any of the failures or shortcomings 15:58 that I might have. 15:59 It's when we look away from Christ, 16:01 we're going to fall short. 16:02 But He says deny self. 16:03 So this is a big issue of every disagreement. 16:07 Probably might have in the home. 16:08 Right. Right? 16:10 In the workplace. 16:12 "I want," 16:14 is what the enemy said, "I want." 16:16 So let's look at that little closer there 16:17 about denying self. 16:19 Self denial and sacrifice 16:21 actually marks the life of a Christian. 16:24 Yes. It has to be in there. 16:27 But who really wants to sacrifice? 16:30 Who really wants to deny self? 16:32 You don't want to hear that. I know what's wrong. 16:34 But I like to. 16:36 I want to go there because well, I know I shouldn't. 16:38 Right. I guess, go ahead. 16:41 I would love to just give you this thought 16:43 because when I began to answer this, 16:45 I put that denying self 16:47 is really a process of sanctification. 16:49 It is. When we come to Jesus, and we're justified. 16:53 But then we begin that road of sanctification. 16:56 And we know that that road of sanctification 16:58 is the work of a lifetime. 17:00 But sometimes I think people think, 17:03 "It's going to take me a lifetime to achieve it." 17:06 But that's not what Christ is saying. 17:08 It's a work of a lifetime, 17:09 because we're going to be doing that work for a lifetime. 17:12 He wants us to grow up in Christ. 17:14 Yes. He wants us to grow up. 17:16 And so, you know, because we are human, 17:18 we face trials, we face temptations, 17:21 the old man has to die daily. 17:23 And so it is a work of a lifetime, 17:26 meaning that it's just something 17:27 we're going to continue to do on this earth. 17:30 Amen. 17:33 You read at the very beginning, Matthew 24:12, says, 17:37 "Because iniquity shall abound, 17:39 the love of many shall wax cold." 17:43 How many messages though, 17:45 nowadays, do we hear about love, 17:47 do this out of love, 17:48 do this out of love for your neighbor. 17:50 Right. Do such and so. 17:52 And we have to remember, here Jesus is saying, 17:57 "You don't truly understand the love 17:59 that I want to draw you into." 18:01 That's true. 18:02 Satan has his own deceptive means and what love is. 18:07 I just have to throw something out 18:08 because what you just said because it is true. 18:11 We're to love others, we're to do for others, 18:13 you know, even before ourselves many times. 18:15 Right. 18:17 But we're seeing in the world many times 18:18 we'll learn to do this for the love of others. 18:23 Even though it's something that 18:24 we're feeling uncomfortable with, 18:27 for the common good of others. 18:29 We're supposed to love others as we love ourselves. 18:31 We have to understand that we have an obligation 18:33 to ourselves too. 18:35 Well, and I think what the point I'm trying 18:36 to make is it doesn't mean you cross over the line 18:39 of what is right and wrong for the sake of others, 18:42 because that's what's happening. 18:44 Because we have to love the Lord first. 18:46 Yes. Amen. 18:47 God comes first. 18:49 Our fellowman come second. 18:50 That's right. Beautiful. 18:52 Amen. Yeah. 18:53 So again, we're talking about the love. 18:55 We need the love, we need present truth. 18:58 You know, you need the stuff you can chew on, 19:00 the stuff that maybe as milk, there's room for everything, 19:03 you know, in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 19:05 But there again, how can we really give 19:07 something that we don't have? 19:09 Right. 19:10 You know, how can we really give and tell someone else, 19:12 "I can only go to the Word, and let the Word say, 19:14 let Jesus say how this is to be done." 19:17 Want to read something quickly, and you might comment on it 19:19 if you'd like, Step to Christ. 19:21 I love the little book Steps to Christ. 19:22 Amen. That's right. 19:24 Everybody should have one 19:25 because this is what we're talking about here. 19:26 They are steps we take for our salvation, 19:29 there's steps that God gives us. 19:30 And I'm glad, I'm glad He just didn't throw 19:32 the whole ball out there and say, "Here it is." 19:34 He said, "Kenny, just one step at a time." 19:37 You mentioned one day at a time 19:38 we're to gain these victories. 19:40 This says right here it says, and that's page 87, 19:42 "The Savior's life on earth was not a life of ease 19:46 and devotion to Himself." 19:48 We like ease, right? That's right. 19:50 We like to be patted on the back. 19:52 Okay, I better get off of that. 19:54 But he, notice it. 19:55 "He toiled with persistent earnestness, 19:58 uniting effort for the salvation 20:00 of lost mankind." 20:02 And it says "From the major to Calvary, 20:04 He followed," notice "this path of self denial." 20:07 That's right. I thought what an example that is. 20:10 Yes. Right. 20:12 I'm wondering sometimes, I'm just not persistent 20:14 sometime to something most people say I am. 20:16 You know, they call it nagging, but you know, 20:18 persistent as giving the gospel and trying to win souls. 20:22 Christ kept doing that. 20:24 He worked for lost mankind. 20:26 So really, if you are working along that line, 20:30 it's kind of hard to be selfish. 20:32 That's right. Right? 20:34 So there are things in here, steps that will help us, 20:36 that if we are a little selfish and self centered. 20:39 You know, I had a guy I worked with many years ago, 20:41 and we asked for change at break time, 20:42 or whatever I'm told, he said, 20:45 he always had big pocketful of change. 20:48 And most generally poor, but I didn't have any change 20:49 or if I did at all, I'm going to change 20:51 but he'd reach to his pocket. 20:52 He'd have a big old hand bill full of coins. 20:54 He'd say, "Well, let me see 20:56 if I've got enough for myself first. 20:59 And then if I do," you know, yeah, 21:02 that's kind of the way the world thinks, 21:04 and probably we do at times. 21:06 But somehow we've, 21:07 by the grace of God get past all of that, 21:10 from the manger to Calvary, 21:11 He followed the path of self denial. 21:14 That's right. How can that be done? 21:17 Yeah. 21:19 I want to throw in a thought of how that can be. Sure. 21:21 You know, it comes through much study, 21:23 it comes through much prayer. 21:26 And before we even begin this lesson today, 21:29 we were talking about sins. 21:30 Really, if you look at any sin, 21:33 you can see that it is a lack of self-control. 21:36 When we fall into sin, think about this. 21:39 There's a lot of lifestyle diseases that are a result, 21:44 because we have not taken in or we are taking something 21:47 that we shouldn't be taking in. 21:49 And so really, that is a lack of self-control. 21:52 You think about alcoholism, you think about lying, 21:55 stealing, fornication, 21:57 watching or listening to something, 21:59 all of those things are a lack of self-control. 22:02 Why? 22:03 Because as he mentioned, self likes that. 22:07 I know that that's going to make me sick, 22:09 but I like it so much, 22:12 even though it's going to make me sick. 22:14 So see that's the thing. 22:16 So what do you do when we realize 22:18 that the sins are a lack of self-control? 22:21 And we don't have that within ourselves, 22:23 we need to take that to Christ. 22:25 The beautiful thing is, He never reveals anything 22:28 before He gives us the power 22:30 without giving us the power to overcome. 22:32 And so we can take that and some things are easy. 22:35 I've seen some people gain victory over things, 22:37 whether it was alcohol, or cigarette smoking, 22:40 whatever, just like that. 22:42 And other people, they have struggled, 22:43 and they have struggled, and they have gone back. 22:46 Only God knows why. 22:48 I think He brings us to the point 22:50 where we're finally ready to let that seed of sin go. 22:54 He knows when we're really still holding on to something. 22:58 But that's it. 23:00 I mean, there is no way in this world 23:01 that we can gain victory without Christ, 23:04 without the power of the Holy Spirit. 23:07 And let me just add this, 23:08 it's when we're at our very lowest. 23:11 And we may be at our very lowest 23:13 when we're trying to fight sin. 23:15 And that's when we have the most power. 23:17 Why? 23:19 Because that's when God comes in. 23:21 And His power takes over. 23:23 We are weak, we are vacillating, 23:25 but we need to commit and submit our will to Him 23:28 and Linda is about to pop. 23:29 Linda, tell us what you've got? I just want to agree with you. 23:32 Because you mentioned, you know, 23:35 the temptations on the things that we eat and in our health. 23:39 And with myself, you know, a lot of people 23:42 who know me know that I was very ill many years ago. 23:45 And I tell people that the Lord found me in a ditch, 23:48 He has to pull us sometimes out of the ditch. 23:50 Yes. 23:52 And you know, 23:53 He's very willing and able to pull us out of the ditch. 23:56 But we don't know how to get out of there. 23:57 Our only hope is to rely on the Lord 24:00 to give it all to Him, and give Him our will. 24:04 And as we spend time with Him and give Him our will, 24:08 then we have the power. 24:09 But without that, if we don't say, "Lord, 24:11 I've made a decision. 24:12 I am going to give you my all." 24:15 If we don't make that decision, 24:17 then we won't spend time with Him. 24:19 And we will not fight against these temptations. Amen. 24:22 Another thing that you mentioned is, you know, 24:24 what I'm hearing you say is those small things. 24:28 Our diet is a small thing. 24:30 And everybody else is probably doing 10 times worse 24:34 the things that may be the Lord is already working on you. 24:36 There are certain things that 24:38 that the Lord has already revealed to me 24:40 that I need to give up. 24:42 That doesn't really sit well with me, 24:43 but everybody else is fine with. 24:45 And so the Lord deals with us on an individual basis. 24:49 That's true. 24:51 So I just wanted to throw that. 24:53 I've got to throw this back to you. 24:55 The enemy, he is a fabulous scientist. 24:59 He knows how all these things affect us. 25:03 And you see, a lot of times we become imbalanced, 25:05 we lose that homeostasis as it were, 25:09 we lose that balance. 25:10 And when we do, our hormones are involved, 25:12 they get messed up, we start having trouble, 25:15 we start having panic attacks, we start giving, 25:18 we give into rage, 25:19 we give into all of these things. 25:21 And so, as God is bringing us into this truth, 25:24 He's bringing us, He's looking at us holistically, 25:27 to say, we've got to take care of the diet, 25:29 we've got to take care of the home, 25:30 we've got to take care of your lifestyle. 25:32 And this is where I'm restoring you back 25:35 so that everything is balanced, 25:37 and then you're not so easily given over to temptation, 25:40 you're not so easily given into rage. 25:43 You're not so easily upset, you know, 25:45 did you hear Danny say so often, 25:47 "Perfect peace have they which love thy law 25:50 and nothing shall offend." 25:52 We need to claim that promise. 25:53 And I know years ago, I used to say, 25:56 "Lord, You didn't say only when I feel good 25:58 that I'm supposed to be loving and kind." 26:01 But you know, when we are tired, 26:02 when we're exhausted, when we are sick, 26:04 or we have some kind of health issue, 26:06 it is very difficult to exhibit these attributes. 26:10 And yet it has to be Christ within us. 26:13 And I would pray that prayer, I said, "God, You got to do it, 26:15 because I don't have it." 26:17 Amen. You got to give me Your love, because I don't have it. 26:20 And that's where we need to get to, to where He comes in. 26:23 He gives us that self-control to take self 26:26 and nail it to the wall. 26:29 One of the things that we try to encourage people, 26:32 you know, she was talking about there are things 26:34 that she can eat that I can't. 26:37 We both have some strange sensitivities 26:39 to different foods. 26:41 I'm fructose intolerant. She has a wheat intolerance. 26:44 And there's a lot of people out there 26:47 that we want to encourage people. 26:50 Your walk with the Lord is your walk with the Lord. 26:53 Come on. 26:54 There are some people who can get you stumped up 26:57 and tripped up in regard to, 27:00 well, you should be doing this and so, 27:02 you should, you know, this is what worked for me. 27:05 And we need to make sure that we encourage people. 27:08 Don't let other people 27:09 who are so critical stump you up. 27:12 Because you have to have your own personal walk 27:14 with the Lord in everything 27:17 and no matter what the situation. 27:18 There's people who are very bold along that line. Yeah. 27:20 I can think of several years ago 27:21 I visited Behold the Lamb 27:23 and in the kitchen and stuff like that. 27:24 You know, there were visitors, never had been there before. 27:26 And I'm not trying to be critical of it. 27:27 But let's think there's people who they're like this, 27:30 you know, and so, after church or whatever, 27:33 I seen him, he's opening the cabinet doors, 27:35 and he was reading labels, you know? 27:38 Oh, dear, no. I said, "What are you doing?" 27:40 "I'm reading the labels." I said, "Really? 27:42 What for?" 27:44 "Well, I want to see if you guys..." 27:45 I said, "Really?" 27:47 So I said, "You know, best thing to do is close the door," 27:49 you know, really 'cause he had nerve enough 27:51 to open the door need to be closed, 27:53 because really, we shouldn't do those kind of things. 27:56 That's not the way you win a brother and sister. Right. 27:59 And again, he was thinking of his self 28:02 and his relationship and maybe where he was at, 28:04 well, maybe some of the rest of us are not there 28:06 and it can be very offensive. 28:08 In this quote from Steps to Christ. 28:09 Brother Ryan, I want you to think with me on this, okay? 28:11 Because we're talking about, 28:13 "Self and self interest had no part in His labor." 28:18 Okay, we're talking about ministry 28:20 and health work and people who are doing as teachers 28:22 and working for kids all the time. 28:25 How can we keep self out of it? 28:28 In other words, it had no part. 28:30 Because sometimes we look and we say, 28:33 "Well, looks like I've got cheated on this. 28:36 I'm going to look, I'm going to watch that program. 28:38 I only spoke about two minutes of the whole." 28:41 None of it. In other words, we'll do that. 28:44 Well, I'm just saying, 28:45 it had no part in Christ's work. 28:48 And He sets the example, 28:50 and I'm saying it's more difficult. 28:51 We can say these things, but it's more difficult. 28:54 You're doing programs all the time. 28:55 You're traveling all the time. 28:57 You're talking to people all the time, 28:58 and they're saying praise God, man, it's wonderful, bro, 29:00 we're glad you're here, you know, oh, boy, blah, blah. 29:03 We stand by the grace of God, 29:05 self has to be removed from that. 29:07 In fact, come to the point 29:09 where you don't even like your name 29:10 mentioned with something that God has done. 29:13 You know, because heaven, 29:15 I think it's going to be determined 29:17 whether we go there or not... 29:18 That's right. Unless we can kill self. 29:20 That's right. Deny self. 29:22 What do you think about that? 29:23 Is that bigger for some than others, 29:25 the temptation to get self in the work? 29:28 Well, I think we all have our struggles. 29:30 There's no doubt about that. 29:31 For some it may be more of a struggle 29:33 for some than others in certain aspects of life. 29:36 But you know, the answer is the same for everyone. 29:38 You know, Jesus Christ is the only one 29:41 who has ever perfectly overcome self without any sin, right? 29:45 But it's interesting, the same way 29:47 that Jesus had to depend on or had to overcome self 29:51 for the denial of self, the same way we have to, 29:53 we've briefly already mentioned it, 29:54 I want to take it little deep if you don't mind. 29:56 Okay, go there. The key to this. 29:59 So you said in this, I love what you put here. 30:01 Power and peace equals self-control. 30:04 When you look at power and you look at peace, 30:06 where does that come from? 30:08 The Lord. 30:09 Christ, the disciples on the day 30:11 that you know the day of resurrection, 30:13 and also the day that Jesus was murdered on the cross. 30:16 They go and they hide themselves in an upper room 30:18 and they're closed in there, and the Bible says 30:20 they were in there for fear of the Jews. 30:21 They thought the Jews were going to come after them. 30:23 That's right. Jesus appears to them on resurrection day. 30:25 Of course, you can just imagine 30:26 they're shaking in their breaches. 30:28 But it's interesting, Jesus says something to them, 30:30 He says, "Peace be unto you." 30:34 Oh, mercy. Amen. 30:35 It says He breathes upon them the Holy Spirit. 30:38 Amen. Power and peace. 30:41 Okay, power, Acts 1:8, "And you shall receive power 30:46 when the Holy Spirit has come upon you." 30:48 What's the common denominator here? 30:50 Holy Spirit. Okay, notice this right here. 30:53 2 Timothy Chapter 3, Paul lists, he says, 30:57 "But know this then, the last days 30:58 perilous times will come." 30:59 This is 2 Timothy 3:1-5, "Perilous times will come," 31:03 and he lists this long list of sinful, 31:06 the way people's sinful hearts will be. 31:08 Talks about for men will be lovers of themselves, 31:10 lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, 31:11 disobedient, he goes down this list, 31:13 but he ends it with this, he says, 31:15 "Having a form of godliness, but denying its power." 31:21 What are all of these people, these blasphemers, 31:23 the disobedient to parents, the unthankful, the unholy, 31:25 the unloving, the unforgiving, the slanderers, with, notice, 31:28 without self-control, 31:30 what do all of these have in common? 31:32 They lacked the peace. 31:33 They lacked the power having a form of godliness, 31:37 but denying its power. 31:38 What are they denying? What's the key here? 31:40 It's the Holy Spirit. 31:42 How in the world are we going to ever able to overcome self 31:45 if we are like Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, 31:48 if we are quenching the Spirit, he says, 31:50 "Do not quench the Spirit." 31:51 In Ephesians 4:30, He says, 31:53 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit." 31:56 The catalyst here, the major aspect 31:59 of our Christian life in order for us to overcome, 32:02 in order for us to have the power, 32:04 to have the peace, it's the Holy Spirit. 32:06 Now, it's interesting. Matthew 25. 32:09 I've said this many times. 32:11 In the last days, 32:12 there's only two groups of people. 32:14 There's only two types of people. 32:15 There's no third, you know, 32:17 there's no straddling the fence. 32:18 You know, I did a Sabbath School lesson recently, 32:20 and the title of the lesson was 'There's no Middle Ground.' 32:23 Because there's no middle ground. 32:24 There's just two groups in the last days. 32:26 I'm reading this in Matthew 25. 32:28 We have 10 virgins. 32:30 Oh, yes. That's right. 32:31 What's the difference between the five wise 32:34 and the five foolish, what does it say there? 32:35 It says, "Now five of them were wise 32:37 and five of them were foolish." 32:38 This is Matthew 25:2, now, verse 3, it says, 32:40 "Those who were foolish took their lamps with them." 32:44 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet. 32:46 Notice they've got their Bibles, 32:47 they've got their lamps and they're putting their trust 32:49 in God's Word, verbally, mentally, maybe. 32:52 But notice it says, 32:53 "Those that were foolish took their lamps 32:55 with them, but took no oil with them." 32:57 That's right. What does the oil represent? 32:59 The Holy Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit. 33:01 Now, Stephanie. 33:02 Stephanie has a scripture on standby here. 33:04 Let's go to Matthew Chapter 7. 33:06 Okay, we're just piecing some things together here 33:08 with Matthew Chapter 7, I 33:09 want you to read verses 21 to 23, for us. 33:13 Okay, verse 21, "Not everyone who says to Me, 33:16 Lord, Lord, 33:17 shall enter the kingdom of heaven, 33:19 but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 33:23 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, 33:25 have we not prophesied in Your name? 33:27 Cast out demons in Your name 33:29 and done many wonders in Your name?' 33:31 And then I will declare to them, 33:33 'I never knew you. 33:34 Depart from Me you who practice lawlessness'." 33:38 Amen. Wow. 33:39 Okay. So we have to have the oil of the Spirit. 33:42 That's right. 33:43 Because if we have the Holy Spirit, 33:44 the Holy Spirit is going to lead us and guide us to, 33:46 as John the Baptist said, He must increase 33:49 and I must decrease. 33:51 See, we're filling up with Christ, 33:53 because the Holy Spirit is ministering to us 33:55 and transforming us and giving us 33:57 that power to be self denying. 34:00 And so in this case, notice these individuals in Matthew 7, 34:03 they're saying, "But wait, Lord, you know, 34:05 I did this, and I did that. 34:06 And I cast out demons and I've done wonderful work. 34:08 I returned my tithe, I was a deacon in my church, 34:10 I was married to the same woman for 51 years. 34:13 Lord, I did all of these wonderful things." 34:14 But yet Jesus still says to them, "I'm sorry. 34:18 I don't know you." 34:19 What's interesting when you go back to that, 34:20 Matthew 25, to those 10 virgins, 34:23 those who were lacking the oil, what does He say to them 34:25 when they come knocking on the door? 34:27 He says, "I'm sorry. 34:28 I don't know you." 34:29 My friends, the point of all of this that 34:31 I just wanted to share here, how does one die to self? 34:35 You have to be 100% every moment of every day, 34:39 completely dependent upon a source 34:42 that's more powerful than you. 34:43 That's right. 34:44 The power of those, but not having a form 34:46 of godliness and denying the power, 34:49 but rather again when the Holy Spirit 34:50 has come upon you, you shall receive power. 34:54 And to me that is the ultimate answer is that, 34:56 yes, we should die to self, we want to die to self, 34:59 we must die to self. 35:01 But when we come to the point where we think we're going 35:03 to do it in and of our own power again, 35:05 "Not by My might, not by My power, 35:07 but by My Spirit, says the Lord." 35:09 It's all about the importance of the Holy Spirit 35:12 recognizing your dependence upon Him. 35:14 Paul, didn't Paul said in Galatians 2:20. 35:18 He said, "I'm crucified with Christ," 35:21 but he said, "Oh, my lands, nevertheless, 35:24 I live," but what? 35:27 "But It's not I, it's Christ who lives in me." 35:30 The whole answer to everything that you're saying 35:32 is Christ in us the hope of glory, 35:33 the mind of Christ. 35:35 Hebrews 5:24 or Galatians 5:24 says, 35:38 "They that are of Christ have crucified the flesh." 35:43 The flesh to me is always clamor, 35:45 you know, we come to the Lord, we study the Bible, 35:47 we're baptized, and we go down in that watery grave. 35:51 That means the old man is supposed to die, 35:52 or a woman or child whatever is supposed to die. 35:55 But so often, the old man comes back up with, 35:59 there's really no change takes place. 36:00 But honestly, when we go down, 36:02 Christ said all of that mess, right? 36:05 That's right. Is self. 36:07 All that self centered, I, me, mine. 36:10 My son said one time. 36:11 So several times interesting. 36:12 He's about seven or eight years old. 36:14 Right now he's older now, he was about 10 or 12. 36:16 Because somebody in the house was going to have 36:17 a little party, some neighbors and some little kids, 36:20 and they were going to go over there. 36:21 He said, "Dad, I want to go over there." 36:24 I said, "No, I don't think it'd be a good place to go." 36:26 And again. "Well, everybody's going." 36:28 Everyone, remember? 36:30 That's the reason you're not, because everyone's going, 36:32 and he said, "But Dad, what about me? 36:38 What am I going to do?" 36:42 Told him, "You're going to stay home, 36:44 that's what you're going to do." 36:45 We need to take our mind off of self. 36:47 All he had at that age and us 36:50 who are lot older sometimes self. 36:52 What am I going to do? 36:54 Well, if they take this or they do that, 36:56 what am I going to do? 36:58 But we need to by the grace of God, crucify self. 37:00 Romans 6:6, says, "The old man," notice that, 37:04 "The old man is crucified with him." 37:08 Wow. So there's a crucifixion that takes place here. 37:12 I want to read something just quick. 37:14 And then we still have quite a bit of time. 37:16 I see I had it here sometime. 37:17 Because part of our question how does one die to self? 37:21 And where does it begin? 37:23 Now, remember dying to self, self-control 37:27 begins with mother and baby. 37:30 It begins teaching self-control in the home with the child. 37:33 And you can read that in Sons and Daughters, 37:35 page 371, we don't have time. 37:37 The child should be taught 37:38 the will must be brought into subjection. 37:40 We're already just bringing the objection. 37:42 Now again, Steps to Christ, which we quote this all times, 37:45 43 says what? 37:47 "Welfare against self is the greatest battle ever fought." 37:50 So there's a lot of battles going on in the world, 37:52 but the greatest one will always be for the person 37:56 that is addicted to drugs, what is it? 37:58 Not only the addiction itself, I've got to have the drink, 38:02 smoke, whatever it might be, is I want it. 38:07 Let me find that question, I thought it was interesting. 38:09 Found in Seven Testimonies, 49. 38:13 Excuse me. 38:15 Says, "In this struggle, it's talking about self, 38:17 you can conquer only by the aid of Christ." 38:20 This is what everybody says at least several parts 38:22 and this goes of this right here, 38:24 "Self, you can conquer only by the aid of Christ. 38:28 You may struggle hard and long, many people do, 38:32 to subdue self, but you will fail if on our own." 38:37 Did you get it right? 38:39 You may struggle long and hard. 38:40 Some people say, "I've been fighting this for 20 years 38:42 and I'm still a failure, I still can't." 38:44 Something's wrong. 38:45 Something's wrong if we had fighting 38:47 the same things over and over and you just have to figure 38:49 that when you're in the Lord, 38:50 you will fail unless you receive 38:52 the strength from on high. 38:55 By the grace of Christ, 38:56 you can gain victory over self and selfishness. 38:59 That gave me hope as I read this right here, 39:02 notice, it says, okay, no, it goes on, 39:05 "As you live his life." 39:07 How do I gain it? 39:09 "As I live His life, 39:10 showing self-sacrifice at every step," 39:13 you notice that? 39:15 "Constantly revealing a stronger sympathy 39:19 for those who need help." 39:21 I'm gaining victory now. 39:22 Getting ready self 39:24 because I'm looking to other people 39:25 and I'm trying to help other people 39:26 by the grace of God. 39:28 It's working, you notice. 39:29 It says, "You will gain victory after victory. 39:32 Day by day, you will learn better how to conquer self 39:36 and how to strengthen your weak points of character. 39:39 The Lord Jesus will be your light, 39:41 your strength, your crown of rejoicing, 39:43 because," notice that you mentioned a while ago, 39:45 "Because we've yielded our will to Him." 39:48 If you look that and dissect again, brother, 39:50 that'd be several sermons, as you will know, 39:52 because you look, but all the answers are there 39:54 for the questions and what we're going through, 39:55 power, peace and self-control is here. 39:59 Now, because we read them doesn't mean 40:01 it's going to work overnight. 40:02 Notice, day by day. That's right. Go ahead. 40:05 That goes back to the process of sanctification. 40:07 And I love what everybody has brought 40:09 to the table here this evening 40:11 because we've already really talked 40:13 about why it is so important 40:16 that self is laid upon the altar. 40:18 I want to read this question, 40:19 you kind of touched on it a little bit, 40:22 just this little quote 40:24 that's found in Our High Calling again, 40:25 on page 21. 40:27 It says, "I wish we could be what God would have us to be." 40:32 So what does God want us to be? 40:34 All light in the Lord. 40:36 What is light? Light is truth. 40:38 He is light. It's righteousness. 40:41 We need to reach a higher standard. 40:44 That was one of the questions in the very, very beginning, 40:47 is there really a higher standard? 40:49 Here we find out in Spirit of Prophecy, yes, 40:52 we need to reach that higher standard, 40:55 but we can never do this until self is laid on the altar, 40:59 until we let the Holy Spirit control us, 41:01 molding and fashioning us 41:03 according to the divine similitude. 41:06 So we need both. 41:08 We need the power of Christ, 41:09 we need that indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 41:12 We cannot do any of this without Him. 41:14 I would like to jump down 41:16 because I think we've talked about how self-control 41:19 can give us power, can give us peace already. 41:21 But I want to jump down to this question. 41:24 And that is, why is the victory of self-control, 41:28 why is it needed so much in the closing scenes 41:31 of this world's history? 41:32 I think this is vitally important, 41:34 because there's so many people I feel that are being deceived 41:39 into thinking that they can do, they can live, 41:42 they can participate, whether it's drinking, 41:44 going to the nightclubs, you know, 41:47 one day a week they're at church, 41:49 but nothing changes. 41:51 There's nothing that changes, 41:52 there's no change in allowing self to die. 41:56 Let me read this other quote here found in My Life Today, 41:59 it's on page 70. 42:01 "He has conquered self the strongest foe," 42:05 this was mentioned earlier, 42:06 "The strongest foe man has to meet." 42:09 It's the toughest battle any of us is fighting self. 42:13 The highest evidence 42:14 of nobility in a Christian is self-control." 42:18 Did you get that? Yes. 42:19 "The highest evidence of nobility in a Christian 42:24 is self-control. 42:26 He who can stand unmoved," have mercy on us, 42:30 "amid a storm of abuse, is one of God's heroes." 42:35 That is so strong. 42:37 "He who has learned to rule his spirit 42:40 will rise above the slides, the reviews, the annoyances 42:43 to which we are daily exposed." 42:46 See, God is not going to take us out 42:49 of these circumstances, 42:50 but how do you deal with them in those circumstances? 42:53 "And these will cease to cast the gloom over his spirit." 42:57 That is a powerful statement. 43:00 So why is that needed? 43:02 Why are these attributes needed 43:04 as we see this earth's history wrapping up? 43:08 I have to put this out, because at least 43:09 I'm thinking right now, we have the tendency 43:13 to judgmentally judge somebody. 43:16 Right. We're still there? 43:18 To judge somebody else that he needs, 43:22 you know, we can read Steps to Christ, 43:23 we can read some other books and the principles of God Word 43:26 says this, I'm gonna try to, 43:29 so that maybe we would stop doing that. 43:31 And I've done it, I understand that. 43:33 But she says many times in there. 43:35 Remember, all of us didn't have the same character. 43:38 We don't have the same sins that bother each other. 43:41 She says a strong willed person, 43:44 a person who's ready as were to fight 43:45 for the cause of Christ, 43:47 who's rambunctious for the cause of Christ. 43:49 She says, you know not what battles they go through 43:52 to subdue even to that point as they continue to grow. 43:55 And so there's another person who's sitting back in here, 43:58 I'll use your wife Stephanie or Chris. 44:00 They're more mild mannered. 44:02 I'm a little more rambunctious, man, 44:04 I'm going to hit right on the head. 44:05 Sometimes, you know what I'm saying? 44:07 It's not always, but I'm saying, 44:09 but those of you who are laid back 44:11 and not quick with your tongue. 44:13 I got more trouble at school, at home and whipping 44:16 because my tongue was quick, right? 44:18 I had an answer as it were 44:20 and it may not always have been the best one. 44:21 That's not always good, but I'm saying that we need 44:25 to be very cautious that we judge not 44:27 as we look at the disciples, Peter and John. 44:31 Sons of Thunder. 44:33 Sons of Thunder, cut off the priest's assistant 44:36 whoever it was, the ear and so on. 44:38 I'm just simply saying let's be careful 44:39 with the person who by the grace of God 44:41 is struggling every day to gain these victories, 44:45 and you're laid back. 44:46 You know, I work with people that some guys say, 44:48 oh, that didn't bother me. 44:50 Man, I was already halfway up the ladder. 44:51 You know what I'm saying? I was already there. 44:53 And I said, "Don't ever." "No, never ever." 44:56 So I'm just saying we don't know, 44:58 you don't know exactly 44:59 what I'm going through in my career. 45:00 I don't know exactly what you're going through. 45:02 So be careful if I lose my patience, 45:05 because I'm still struggling for eternal life. 45:07 You see what I'm saying? 45:08 I'm working much harder than may be, come on, yeah, 45:11 you over there, much harder than you, 45:13 because that's not an issue. 45:15 Maybe you've got it under control, 45:17 but you may have another issue. 45:18 So is that true? Absolutely. 45:22 You know, I think of, you know, the disciples, 45:24 it took them three and a half years. 45:25 Come on. 45:27 Walking with the Master of the Universe, 45:29 before it finally clicked 45:31 and they started figuring things out. 45:33 You know, they struggled in that walk of sanctification. 45:35 And even afterwards, even, you know, 45:37 Peter being rebuked by Paul, you know, several years later, 45:39 after Christ had already went to heaven. 45:42 You know, it's a constant journey. 45:43 But you know, I think of Paul, 45:44 Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:31, 45:47 he said, "I die daily." 45:49 There it is. 45:50 Even the Great Paul, the Great Paul, 45:53 who wrote the majority of the New Testament said, 45:55 "I have to die daily." 45:56 And he was the chief of what? 45:58 He was the chief of sinners. Absolutely. 46:00 You know, so it's amazing that, you know, 46:01 the question that was asked here, 46:04 you know, asking, I'm going to question number three here, 46:06 explain how self-control gives us power over these, 46:09 and why a victory of self-control 46:10 will be needed in the closing scene of this world. 46:13 Why? Paul had to die daily. 46:15 And if you go back and look what this brother went through 46:17 the times of testing and trial 46:20 that this brother had to go through, 46:21 Paul's a great example. 46:23 And we're no different. 46:24 We may not have to go through 46:25 all of the persecutions that Paul went through. 46:27 But guess what? 46:28 There's a time coming when that testing trial 46:30 will come. 46:31 I want my wife to read this, 46:32 because when we read this question, 46:34 and we were asking the question here about how you know, 46:36 self-control being needed in the closing scenes 46:37 of the world's history, 46:39 Stephanie read for us Acts of the Apostles page 483. 46:42 Listen to these words, powerful words. 46:45 "He who had built up a strong symmetrical character, 46:48 he who would be a well balanced Christian, 46:52 must give all and do all for Christ, 46:55 for the Redeemer will not accept divided service. 47:00 Daily, he must learn the meaning of self surrender, 47:04 you must study the Word of God learning its meaning 47:07 and obeying its precepts. 47:09 Thus, he may reach the standard of Christian excellence. 47:13 Day by day, God works with him, 47:17 perfecting the character 47:18 that is to stand in the time of final test. 47:22 And day by day, 47:24 the believer is working out before men and angels 47:27 a sublime experiment, showing what the gospel can do 47:31 for fallen human beings." 47:33 Okay, what do you hear there multiple times? 47:35 Day by day, day by day. 47:37 And I love this that she just read here, 47:38 day by day He works with him, perfecting the character 47:42 that is to stand in the time of final test. 47:46 We're not there yet, but we're fast approaching that time. 47:49 Now, let's put this in the biblical perspective. 47:51 We need to do really quickly, and this will be probably 47:52 the last time I talk. 47:54 Revelation 15, 47:55 I can't, I got to share this, this is important. 47:56 Revelation 15 gives us the scene, 47:59 it paints for us the scene of what's coming. 48:01 Because we look at the latter verses, 48:02 so verses 5 through 8 in Revelation, 48:04 we may not read all these but Revelation 15:5-8, 48:07 we see a beautiful scene where Jesus, 48:11 according to Daniel Chapter 12, 48:12 Michael stands up, Jesus stands up, okay? 48:16 And smoke fills the temple, 48:18 and the seven angels are given the seven vials 48:20 full of the wrath of God, and they're sent out. 48:23 And what we're seeing here in the latter verses 48:24 of Revelation 15 is the temple, the heavenly temple, 48:27 the heavenly sanctuary is being evacuated. 48:29 Jesus is getting ready to come back and get His people, 48:32 which is why we read there in Daniel 12:1, 48:34 "At that time, Michael shall stand up, 48:36 the great prince who stands watch over the sons 48:38 of the people and there shall be a time 48:40 of trouble such as never was since there was a nation 48:42 even to that time." 48:44 Jesus is preparing to come back 48:46 but there's going to come a time 48:47 when the temple is evacuated. 48:49 There's no more intercessor. 48:51 Why must we have self denial now? 48:55 What's the main reason and the main purpose 48:57 of why we need to learn 48:58 to surrender our will to Him daily, 49:00 dying daily as Paul did? 49:02 Well, let me read you this from Early Writings, 49:05 page 280. Okay, this clarifies it even more. 49:08 "It was impossible for the plagues 49:10 to be poured out while Jesus officiated in the sanctuary, 49:14 but as His work there is finished, 49:16 and His intercession closes, 49:19 there is nothing to stay the wrath of God, 49:21 and it breaks with fury upon the shelterless head 49:23 of the guilty sinner, who has slighted salvation 49:26 and hated reproof." 49:27 Why have they hated reproof? 49:29 Because they have no self-control. 49:30 They have no self denial. There you go. 49:31 So here it is, "In that fearful time, 49:34 after the close of Jesus' mediation, 49:38 the saints were living in the sight 49:40 of a holy God without an intercessor. 49:43 Every case was decided, every jewel numbered." 49:47 My friends, why do we need to practice 49:49 and learn self-control now, self-denial now? 49:51 Because there's coming a time 49:53 when there will be no intercessor. 49:54 That's right. And the angels will be given charge over us. 49:58 But we will have to have the seal of God, 50:01 be sealed in from the Holy Spirit 50:03 so much that our self has completely decreased, 50:06 and He has completely filled us up. 50:08 That's right. Amen. 50:10 And that's when we talk about latter rain experience 50:12 right comes on, 50:14 when God's given us the victory in our life there, 50:15 brother, as you think about then 50:17 we're covered with that robe of righteous, 50:19 then we're prepared to go through 50:20 that great time of trouble. 50:21 And how do we get to that point? 50:23 We have to start practicing now. 50:25 We have to start practicing our faith now. Very good. 50:28 Our faith isn't where it needs to be. 50:30 But even when Jesus leaves the Most Holy Place, 50:35 we still have to have the faith because our struggles 50:38 and trials on this earth are not finished then. 50:42 In fact, some of the most worst ones are just beginning. 50:45 That's right. 50:46 And so we have to have our faith built strong enough 50:49 by that time, 50:50 that we will continue to walk 50:52 not by sight, but by faith. 50:55 Hallelujah. 50:57 Ever notice that when we have a temptation, 50:58 and we don't, we fail the test. 51:00 The Lord will bring it back around and give it back 51:02 to us again until we gain that victory. 51:05 And I have some tests come to me over and over again, 51:09 I tell the Lord, "I'm hard headed, 51:11 I'm hard hearing, please speak loudly." 51:14 And He's been very gracious to me. 51:16 Amen. Amen. 51:17 Is that possible why sometimes some people, 51:20 you know, day by day, every day is, 51:21 "I just can't believe this has happened to me again. 51:24 I can't believe it's happening." 51:27 Maybe it's because we're going the same ground 51:29 which we failed. 51:30 And because God loves them, loves me, 51:33 He brings those things back 51:34 so that we can gain that victory. 51:36 No sidestepping, right, no jumping off, 51:38 just go through by the grace of God. 51:41 No, go ahead, you go first. 51:42 But I wanted to say Revelation 3:21. Yes. 51:45 That's not one you were going to close with but, 51:48 "To him who overcomes, 51:50 I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, 51:52 as I also overcame, 51:53 and sat down with My Father on His throne." 51:56 That's why we want to gain the victory 51:58 is because we want to be able to sit down 52:00 with Him in His throne. 52:02 Amen. 52:03 I just wanted to emphasize, because it was mentioned. 52:07 We're not there yet, but we're actually seeing 52:10 and for some people, they are there now. 52:13 So I want to encourage 52:14 everybody at home don't procrastinate. 52:17 Don't procrastinate. Today is the day of salvation. 52:21 Today, we need to be standing for what is right, 52:24 standing for principle. 52:25 A lot of times even when we don't feel like it, 52:27 it's still exhibiting self-control, 52:30 and God will bring the feelings, 52:32 He will bring it. 52:33 But sometimes we stand on principle. 52:35 There are Christians today as we sit at this table 52:38 that are being persecuted, not only in this country, 52:41 but in other countries are some that have been put in jail, 52:44 put in these internment camps, and all this different stuff, 52:48 you know, don't procrastinate. 52:50 We don't know when our trial will come. 52:53 You know, we don't know when Christ will stand and say, 52:56 "It is done." 52:58 Mercy. Yeah. 52:59 But those who are righteous be righteous still, 53:02 and those who are filthy be filthy still. 53:04 Which side will we be on? 53:07 I think the whole thing in my mind is to deny self, 53:12 to have self-control is a new birth. 53:16 You know, just recently I was re-baptized. 53:19 And I remember when I went down in that water, 53:22 the thought came to me, this is a real baptism. 53:26 And we're to come back up in power and in truth, 53:30 and to have the peace of Christ through the Holy Spirit. 53:33 That peace that passes all understanding. 53:36 That's right. 53:37 It is a new birth experience because every day, 53:42 we're doing surgery on the old man. 53:45 Every day, we're doing surgery on those things that hurt us. 53:48 Every day, we're putting them on the altar and say, 53:50 "God, give me the victory." 53:52 And we're learning how to submit 53:55 and commit everything to Him, no matter what. 54:00 Amen. 54:01 You know, that says in there Hebrews 4:12, 54:03 you know, the Word of God which we need, right? 54:06 It's powerful, right? 54:08 And we need that power in our hearts, in our life. 54:11 And what's the importance of power? 54:12 Heard a lot of good things, praise God for each one of you 54:14 what you put in here. 54:16 But as I read this, there are people 54:18 who bring self into their work cannot be trusted. 54:22 Somebody that brings self into the work 54:25 cannot be trusted, Manuscript 2, 1903. 54:27 And it goes on to say, notice this, "This is self, 54:31 people who weave self into all that they do, 54:33 they dishonor their Redeemer." 54:36 I don't want to dishonor Him, do you? 54:39 "Persons who exalt self will never see the kingdom of God." 54:43 So this is heavy. 54:44 I mean, this is heavy duty stuff that we're talking about. 54:45 I think each one of you brought that point home, 54:48 unless by the grace of God self is conquered, 54:50 heaven will never be our home. 54:52 When self is conquered, 54:54 we're at our weakest, we're at our lowest. 54:56 I want to read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. 55:01 "My Grace," God says, "is sufficient for you. 55:06 For my power is made perfect in weakness. 55:11 Therefore, I will boast for the more gladly 55:14 of my weakness, 55:15 so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 55:19 We want His power, not ours, we can do nothing without Him. 55:23 For the sake of Christ, 55:24 then I am content with weakness, insults, 55:27 hardships, persecutions and calamities, 55:30 for when I am weak, 55:32 He is made strong. 55:34 That's right. Amen. 55:35 Praise the Lord. 55:36 You know, I was thinking really quickly, 55:38 just going to mention this. Yeah, go ahead. 55:40 Right there in John 3, Jesus is talking to Nicodemus. 55:43 Many people would quote John 3:16, 55:45 but I'm going to tell you the key verse is verse 14. 55:48 It says, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 55:50 so shall also the Son of Man be lifted up." 55:53 How can we bring ourselves? 55:54 You may be at home now saying, "Lord, 55:56 Lord, I want to be self-denial. 55:58 I want to have self-control. 55:59 How do I do that?" Look to Jesus Christ. 56:03 Look at, what does Hebrews 12:1-2 say? 56:05 "Therefore, since we are surrounded 56:08 by so great a cloud of witnesses, 56:09 let us lay aside every weight, 56:10 and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 56:12 and let us run with endurance the race 56:14 that is set before us." 56:16 But here's the key, verse 2, 56:17 "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, 56:20 who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, 56:23 despising the shame and is sat down at the right hand of God." 56:26 My friends, that's the key, looking at the cross. 56:28 Look unto Him today. Amen. 56:29 That's it. 56:31 You know, I'll read something quickly, it said, 56:33 "If we lift up ourselves, 56:36 it shows our ignorance of heavenly things of God." 56:40 We don't know God, we don't know Christ. 56:43 We don't know what's prepared for us, those that love Him. 56:46 And I'm thinking every time we do that, 56:48 we're putting Christ down and so all we have to do 56:49 is behold Him, 56:51 and His character and all of a sudden, 56:53 there's no room for us to compare ourselves with. 56:55 So I'm going to say right now is behold Christ. 56:58 Closing thought real quick? 57:00 Is behold Christ, I mean that, we see through a glass darkly, 57:05 we have no idea 57:06 all that He has given up to bring us back, 57:09 and He's just trying to fit us 57:11 to be one of His servants in the kingdom of heaven. 57:15 And that's what it's all about. 57:17 We must behold Him and allow self to die in Him 57:20 to have His mind be in us which is also encouraging. 57:24 Praise the Lord. 57:25 So we're talking about power, peace, self-control. 57:27 May the God of heaven, right? 57:29 Answer your prayer today as you commit your will to Him. 57:31 Victory is assured, trust Jesus. 57:34 Amen. |
Revised 2022-02-24