Participants: Pr. John Lomacang
Series Code: ASHF
Program Code: ASHF000175A
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00:18 Hello, friends, and welcome to Wednesday night Bible study
00:22 here at the 3ABN Worship Center. 00:24 This is A Sharper Focus 00:26 as you know we've been walking through the Word of God 00:29 on the topic, Our Greatest Need. 00:31 And I think tonight we're going to continue on that topic 00:33 because our need continues. 00:36 Thank you for taking the time to tune in. 00:38 In just a moment we'll tell you how to get a copy of the lesson 00:41 and how to follow us. 00:42 But before we do anything, we always invite the Lord 00:45 to be with us through prayer. 00:46 Let's bow our heads together. 00:48 Loving Father in heaven, thank You Lord 00:49 for the privilege and opportunity 00:51 of opening Your Word, 00:52 tonight open our hearts and speak to us 00:55 that Your purpose for each one of us 00:57 may be accomplished 00:58 and that because of the time we spent together 01:01 that we will be that much more dedicated to following, 01:05 and serving You, and knowing You, 01:07 in Jesus' name we pray, amen. 01:11 Now to get a copy of the lesson, 01:12 go to the following website ASF.3ABN.org. 01:17 That's ASharperFocus.3ABN.org. 01:20 Download lesson number 39. 01:22 You might say they've been on that lesson for 10 years. 01:26 It may seem that way, but we haven't very detailed 01:30 vitally important lesson. 01:31 And download lesson number 39. 01:34 We're going to be continuing from question number 24 on 01:38 and we have 33 questions 01:40 and I think that we're going to start another lesson 01:41 after this. 01:43 But before we do that we always sing our theme song, 01:46 and what is our theme song? 01:48 Victory in Jesus. 01:49 By the way before we do it, let's welcome our audience 01:51 with a hearty amen, can we do that? 01:52 Amen. 01:54 We already and I hope you are too. 01:55 Let's sing the song together, Victory in Jesus. 02:05 I heard an old, old story 02:09 How the Savior came from glory 02:13 How He gave His life on Calvary 02:16 To save a wretch like me 02:20 I heard about His groaning 02:24 Of His precious blood's atoning 02:28 Then I repented of my sins 02:32 And won the victory 02:35 O victory in Jesus 02:39 My Savior, forever 02:43 He sought me and bought me 02:47 With His redeeming blood 02:51 He loved me ere I knew Him 02:54 And all my love is due Him 02:58 He plunged me to victory 03:02 Beneath the cleansing flood 03:06 I heard about a mansion 03:09 He has built for me in glory 03:13 And I heard about the streets of gold 03:17 Beyond the crystal sea 03:21 About the angels singing 03:25 And the old redemption story 03:28 And some sweet day I'll sing up there 03:32 The song of victory 03:34 Key change. 03:36 O victory in Jesus 03:40 My Savior, forever 03:43 He sought me and bought me 03:47 With His redeeming blood 03:51 He loved me ere I knew Him 03:55 And all my love is due Him 03:59 He plunged me to victory 04:02 Beneath the cleansing flood 04:06 He plunged me to victory 04:10 Beneath the cleansing flood 04:17 Amen. 04:19 Our topic tonight is, let's say it together, 04:22 Our Greatest Need. Our Greatest Need. 04:27 We've been talking about repentance. 04:31 We've been talking about, 04:32 we began the topic on talking about what is sin 04:36 and we know sin is the transgression 04:37 of the law. 04:39 Wherever the law of God is broken, 04:42 there is a transgressor or if you could use the phrase 04:46 when it comes to a person 04:47 who stop for any kind of infraction, 04:50 the person is guilty. 04:51 Now I've said this before, but I think it fits right now. 04:54 If a person is guilty, 04:56 do they ask for mercy or justice? 04:58 Mercy. Ask for mercy. 05:00 So the mercies of God 05:02 has been extended to all of humanity 05:05 because all have sinned 05:07 and fallen short of the glory of God. 05:10 Now mercy is not repentance. 05:17 Mercy simply says, 05:19 I'm going to let you off this time 05:20 as a police officer did to me on several occasions. 05:25 Confession is good for the soul, 05:26 heart and the reputation. 05:27 I remember going through Indiana once. 05:29 This was before I was able to afford a GPS. 05:32 So I had my gigantic laptop in 2006. 05:38 And thankfully at the time we had a larger SUV, 05:43 so I'm going downhill in Indiana 05:46 and before I knew it, I'm going downhill, 05:48 there's a big 18 wheeler to my right, 05:50 it's a big sharp curve, 05:52 and as I get around the curve, Ryan, 05:54 I see a black highway patrol car. 05:57 And as soon as I passed, his lights come on. 06:02 And he comes behind me, and he pulls me over, 06:04 and he says, 06:06 "Do you know how fast you were going?" 06:11 I was probably going pretty fast. 06:12 He said, "I clocked you at 87. 06:16 License please." 06:19 Which is, "Oh boy, how much is this going to cost me 06:23 or are they going to let me drive," 06:25 because in some places they can really throw 06:26 the book at you and say, 06:28 "Pull over, you're going to jail. 06:29 You're going to pay before the judge 06:30 beyond a certain speed limit." 06:32 I was more than 20 miles over the speed limit. 06:35 Don't tell everybody in the world, 06:36 this is just between you and me. 06:38 And I said, "I'll get my license, 06:42 I'll get my registration and insurance." 06:44 And he came back and he said, "Can I ask you a question? 06:48 Why were you going so fast?" 06:50 I said, "Honestly, I was looking down on my laptop 06:53 trying to follow directions 06:54 because we were driving to New York, 06:56 trying to follow directions, and I just didn't pay attention 07:00 to how fast I was going." 07:02 "License and registration." 07:04 He went back to the car, and he came back, 07:06 and he casually leaned on the window, and he said, 07:10 "I tell you what. 07:12 You slow down and we'll just call it a evening, 07:15 is that okay?" 07:16 I was not about to disagree with that arrangement. 07:18 Amen. 07:20 I said, "You know, you get polite. 07:22 Thank you, Officer." 07:24 And he let me go. 07:26 Was I guilty? Yes or no. 07:27 Yes. 07:28 What did he extent to me? 07:30 Mercy. 07:31 But now let's talk about the rest of it. 07:34 So did I peel away? 07:37 Did I peel away? 07:38 No, drove, I stayed under the speed limit 07:42 for some time. 07:44 It was 65 or maybe 55, 58 07:47 because you don't know if they still tracking you. 07:49 You kind of... 07:50 And this is called behavior modification, 07:52 this is an example here, behavior modification. 07:54 You change your behavior for a certain period of time, 07:59 until you feel that, oh, came out of the woodwork 08:03 and no more police around. 08:07 Was I converted, yes or no? 08:09 No, 'cause I still had speed in my mind 08:12 as long as you don't get caught. 08:15 And unfortunately, that's how many of us are 08:17 as Christians. 08:18 We are caught as transgressors of the law, 08:22 the Lord extends mercy to us. 08:24 We say, "Thank you, Jesus. 08:26 Thank you, Officer." 08:27 And we walk away ever so humbly under the grace of God 08:31 and His mercy. 08:32 And we say, thank You, Lord, forgave me of my transgression 08:34 as the officer did of mine, 08:37 but as time goes on something gets into us again. 08:41 And Paul says, it's that nature of sin, 08:45 and then it takes control of us 08:47 because we haven't been converted. 08:50 So tonight, we're adding, 08:53 I appeared to repent to the officer, 08:57 but really about an hour later... 09:04 And all of us have been at one point or another 09:07 guilty of speeding. 09:11 Don't write emails and tell me you haven't. 09:15 But in the life of the Christian, 09:16 every one of us is guilty of something. 09:19 We talked about repentance, repentance is vitally important 09:22 as we talked about it. 09:24 And so tonight what I want to do is 09:25 catapult us into question number 24 09:28 with a very important question. 09:30 How can we tell 09:33 when someone has repented of past transgressions? 09:39 How can we tell? 09:42 Now is it up to us, 09:44 is it imperative for us to know if somebody else has repented. 09:49 But would there be evidence that they have. 09:52 Let's see what the Bible says. 09:53 Go to Matthew 3 09:55 and we're going to look at verse 8, 09:56 "How can we know 09:58 if somebody 10:00 has repented of past transgressions?" 10:08 I don't know if it's just the pastor's thing. 10:11 I remember as reading the text Matthew 3:8 10:14 in the Bible says as follows. 10:16 Let's read this one together since it's the very first one, 10:19 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance." 10:26 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. 10:29 Now if you've ever been a person, 10:31 I think everybody has eaten a fruit 10:32 at one point or another. 10:34 Everybody likes fruits. 10:35 At least I think most people like fruits 10:38 depending on where you're from, 10:39 you might like a certain type of food that's different 10:41 from what we have here in America. 10:43 But you can tell where food is from 10:47 based on just what the fruit is. 10:49 An orange comes from what kind of tree. 10:51 Orange tree. 10:53 Apple comes from? Apple tree. 10:54 Watermelon comes from what kind of tree? 10:58 Can you imagine a watermelon tree? 11:01 Whatever the fruit is, it's produced somehow 11:05 it comes from something. 11:06 So the point of the matter is, whatever the fruit is 11:09 that it's seen in our lives it comes from something. 11:13 And the only way you can tell what kind of tree it comes from 11:17 is by the fruit. 11:18 Now let's go with that thought very quickly 11:20 before we go to the second part of question number 24. 11:23 Let's go to Matthew 7 11:24 and we're going to answer verse 20 in just a moment. 11:27 But I want to show you the rest of that text. 11:30 Matthew 7 before we get to verse 20, 11:34 I want to lead into it, all right. 11:39 The Bible says in verse 16, 11:42 "You will know them by their fruits. 11:46 Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes, 11:50 or figs from thistles?" 11:52 And the answer is no. 11:54 "Even so every," what kind of tree? 11:57 "Every good tree bears good fruit, 12:01 but a bad tree bears" what? 12:04 "Bad fruit." 12:05 And here's the principle, this is the principle, 12:07 this is the reciprocal principle. 12:09 Verse 18. 12:10 "A good tree," what is the very next word? 12:13 "Cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear" what? 12:18 "Good food." 12:19 So before we go to the verse, the next verse, 12:21 you will know if the fruit are bad, 12:24 what's the tree? 12:26 Bad. 12:28 If the fruit is good, what's the tree? 12:30 Good. 12:31 So when you look at your life you'll say, wait a minute, 12:34 and you have to add this in John 15, don't go to it yet, 12:36 but I'm going to go and make this very clear. 12:39 Sometimes we remain, sometimes we connect to Christ, 12:43 and then in our own lives by our behavior we disconnect 12:47 in the way to know whether you are connected 12:50 is by your what? 12:52 By your fruit because Jesus said, 12:54 I am the vine you are the what? 12:56 Branches. 12:57 So if we're connected to Christ, but our fruit, 13:00 if we say we're connected to Christ, 13:01 but our fruit shows something different, 13:03 are we connected? 13:05 Yes or no. We're not. 13:06 You can't say you're an apple and you're connected 13:07 to an orange tree and vice versa. 13:09 So you'll know them by their fruits. 13:11 So look at verse 20, "Therefore..." 13:15 Let me bring it on the screen. 13:17 "Therefore, by their," what? "Fruits you will know them." 13:23 Now some people have said, so write down the answer 13:25 to number 24, 13:27 "How can we tell 13:28 when someone has repented of past transgressions, 13:30 how can you tell?" 13:33 What's another word for fruit in the Christian life? 13:36 Behavior, character. 13:38 What you see 13:40 and we can only gauge a person's heart 13:43 by what we see. 13:45 We can't say, I don't know what they're thinking 13:47 because some people have taken it 13:48 to the next level, they say, 13:50 well, they may, they may not be doing that, 13:54 but what's going on in their minds. 13:56 Well, the only way we'll know what's going on in the vine 13:58 is we look at the tree, the fruit. 14:01 The only way we know 14:03 what's happening in the apple tree 14:05 inside of the whole trunk and the root system, 14:09 if we look at the fruit. 14:12 Nobody has... 14:13 Well, I don't know this to be the fact, but I haven't, 14:16 I've never gone to an apple tree 14:18 and try to open up the trunk of it 14:19 to see what's going on in the inside, 14:21 but I've looked at the what? 14:22 Fruit. 14:24 So it's not important for you to know what's going on 14:25 in the inside of a person's life, 14:27 it's important that you examine the fruit. 14:29 When you look at the fruit, then you'll be able to tell 14:32 where the person is connected, 14:33 by their fruits you will know them. 14:35 So how will you know? 14:37 Their behaviors have changed. 14:41 A person that says, "I have repented, " 14:44 but continue the same behavior really has not repented. 14:50 You get it? 14:51 Let's go to number 25, by their fruit, 14:54 check out how they live. 14:56 Listen to how they speak 14:57 because the Bible makes it very clear 14:59 out of the abundance of the heart 15:00 the mouth will speak. 15:02 You can tell by a person's behavior, 15:04 by their tone of voice, by their actions 15:07 whether or not they have been converted. 15:10 Question number 25. 15:12 Now this part of the lesson I've been longing to get to 15:15 because it shows a particular track. 15:18 Let me go back and establish the track in some way. 15:21 Okay, let's go back. 15:23 Does God have a law? Yes or no? 15:24 Yes. 15:26 When the law is violated, what is that? 15:27 Sin, right? 15:28 How many of us have sinned? 15:30 All. Okay. 15:31 Now, if we confess our sin, is He faithful 15:35 and just to forgive us, yes or no? 15:37 Forgiveness doesn't mean you repent. 15:40 It simply means you confess, but doesn't mean you repent it. 15:45 Does saying sorry mean you repent? 15:47 No. 15:48 It depends on what kind of sorrow. 15:51 And I'll bring that up in just a moment 15:53 because we talked about sorrow, 15:56 but there is a godly sorrow that leads to repentance. 16:02 And then after that godly sorrow 16:05 that leads to repentance, 16:07 something else comes after that 16:08 which I'm not going to jump the gun to go to. 16:10 But let's answer question number 25. 16:13 What does repentance lead to? 16:16 Acts 11:18, I think most of you are there. 16:20 What does repentance lead to? 16:22 Let's look at Acts 11:18. 16:24 This is what the Bible says to us. 16:27 "When they heard these things they became," what? 16:31 "Silent, and they glorified God saying, 16:35 'Then God has also granted to the Gentiles," what? 16:41 "Repentance to life.'" 16:44 So repentance now in order for you to go beyond 16:47 just forgiveness and confessing that you have done wrong, 16:53 in order for the doors of life to open, you have to repent. 16:58 The doors of life will not be opened to a person that says, 17:01 "I'm sorry, I did it." 17:06 Repentance to life. 17:09 That's where the doors begin to open. 17:11 But let's go to the next one. 17:13 Let's go to the next one. 17:17 The door's open. 17:21 The door's open when a person repents 17:25 because it leads in the proper direction, 17:28 you'll find out in a moment. 17:29 Ezekiel 33:19. 17:35 I'm thinking of a text here. 17:42 Yes. Okay. 17:45 And we're in Ezekiel 33:19. 17:47 Are we, yes or no? Yes. 17:49 Okay, let's look at this one. 17:51 What does repentance lead to? 17:53 Repentance, "But when the wicked," 17:55 what is the very next word? 17:58 "Turns from his wickedness 18:01 and does what is lawful and right," 18:04 together, "he shall live because of it." 18:08 Another word in this passage, what word do you think 18:11 reflects conversion or repentance. 18:14 What word you think reflects that? 18:16 What word do you see there? 18:18 Turn. Turn. 18:21 You know, you've heard it a 1000 times, 18:23 but it fits right here. 18:25 If you're going in the wrong direction, 18:27 God allows you turns. 18:30 Turn. Turn. 18:32 And in Ezekiel 33:19, 18:34 the Lord was continuing to appeal to the Israelites, 18:37 turn, turn. 18:39 And even that passage or the prayer 18:42 we know so very well, 18:44 "If My people who are called by My name 18:49 will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, 18:54 and turn from their wicked ways." 18:57 Then get the notice, did you hear that? 19:02 Then did you know that? 19:04 Okay, everybody on television said, "Amen." 19:07 Then... 19:09 Amen. 19:10 Let's go to 1 Chronicles. 19:19 And sometimes you might wonder, 19:21 2 Chronicles 7:14. 2 Chronicles 7:14. 19:24 Okay, there it is. 19:26 Sometimes you might wonder, why 19:28 it seems like your prayers are going 19:29 no higher than the ceiling. 19:32 Here's a prayer blocker. 19:35 By the way we went to Ezekiel 33:19, 19:37 our call for the next one in just a moment. 19:39 But I want to insert this in the middle of it 19:41 because this passage, 19:42 the passage we often use for prayer, 19:45 the passage we often use for prayer has a lot to do with 19:48 whether or not we do the very thing 19:52 that activates God listening to you, 19:56 in other words saying, "You're serious, " 19:59 is included in this passage. 20:01 Look at it again. 20:02 "If My people," 2 Chronicles 7:14 20:05 "who are called by My name will do," what? 20:08 "Humble themselves." 20:10 "You have to be humble, and pray, and seek My faith." 20:15 And what is the next word? 20:17 "Turn from their wicked ways." 20:20 You have the if and now comes the blessing, 20:23 "Then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, 20:27 and do," what? 20:29 "Heal their land." 20:32 Notice what happens for the sin to be forgiven 20:34 in the land to be healed 20:35 and for God to hear from heaven. 20:38 They got to turn. 20:39 What word did I just say, everybody? 20:41 They've got to turn. 20:42 You can't keep going in the same direction, 20:45 you cannot peel away from the high patrolmen, 20:49 "See, officer, thanks for letting me go." 20:52 This guy is nuts, get him off the road. 20:56 He's not really repentant. 20:58 He's taken my grace for granted. 21:01 He has just spurned my mercy, arrest him, he's dangerous, 21:07 he shouldn't be on the highway 21:09 'cause he really hasn't repented, 21:10 he just said sorry and went, and you know I... 21:15 That's why whenever I have been pulled over before, 21:19 I drive away ever so humbly, humble themselves. 21:24 "You say everything perfectly?" "Yes, officer." 21:27 "Were you speeding?" 21:30 "Yes." 21:32 That's not a moment to joke 21:34 because especially in the world today, 21:36 am I right? 21:37 There's a different world today, 21:39 quite a different world today. 21:41 But when you turn 21:44 and then not only when you turn, 21:46 but I want to go and emphasize, 21:48 when you do what is lawful and right, 21:52 you have to now be aligned with God's law again. 21:56 You've got to live a right life. 21:59 And when you look at the lives of the kings, 22:00 when you look at the lives of those 22:02 who had been blessed by God, 22:03 the Bible says they did what was right 22:07 in the sight of the Lord. 22:10 They didn't care whether or not anybody else was around or not, 22:13 they did what was right in the sight of the Lord. 22:16 When you do what's right in the sight of the Lord, 22:19 then you're doing what's right. 22:22 Amen. 22:24 The eyes of the Lord roam to and fro through the earth 22:27 to show Himself strong 22:28 in behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. 22:32 He'll show Himself strong if your heart is loyal to Him, 22:34 but He's looking. 22:37 Let's look at the next text. 22:38 Ezekiel 18:28, here it is. 22:44 Ezekiel 18:28. 22:45 The Bible says, "Because..." 22:47 This is now the sinner, "Because he considers, " 22:50 he thinks about it, "and turns away from, " 22:53 how many of his transgressions? 22:55 "All the transgressions which he committed, " 22:59 what does the Bible say, look at the promise of God, 23:01 "he shall surely live he shall not die." 23:05 Amen. 23:06 I mean that's encouraging news when he considers. 23:11 You know the word there considers in the Hebrew, 23:13 when he considers, when he stops and thinks. 23:16 When he says, 23:19 like David said, 23:21 "My sin is ever before me, " he thought about it. 23:25 He thought about what he had done. 23:27 He didn't just say, "Well, okay, 23:28 yeah, I did it, forgive me." 23:30 He didn't, he was not light hearted about it, 23:32 he thought about it, "What did I do? 23:35 Did I do that?" 23:37 And he repented and he turned from all his transgressions, 23:41 and then the Bible says, "He shall surely live, 23:43 he shall not die." 23:45 That's a praise God right there. 23:46 He shall surely live, He shall not die. 23:50 You know when you think about God's mercy, 23:52 God could have... 23:53 And I need to say, 23:55 God could have gotten rid of him. 23:57 Let me make it personal. 23:58 God could have gotten rid of me a long time ago. 24:02 Anybody else feel the same? 24:05 God could have gotten rid of any one of us a long, 24:08 long time ago. 24:10 But thank God 24:13 that His rope of mercy 24:15 is a lot longer than ours, 24:20 because some people say, "No, no, no." 24:22 Okay, now, like Peter tried to be nice 24:26 how many times shall we forgive our brother? 24:31 Seven times. 24:32 Oh, he said, "No?" 24:34 Seventy times seven. 24:37 And you know what the key is to that passages, 24:39 if he repents forgive him, if he sins, 24:43 if you repent forgive him, 24:45 that was the key to that passage. 24:47 if he repents, forgive him. 24:51 Somebody might say, 24:53 "Well, how do you know he repented?" 24:58 Let's go to 1 Corinthians. 25:02 You guys looked at me like you were hungry. 25:05 2 Corinthians. 25:08 I can't give you the answer, let the Bible speak. 25:13 2 Corinthians. 25:15 This was in one of our past questions, 25:18 but it fits right here again. 25:20 2 Corinthians 7. 2 Corinthians 7. 25:26 One of the reasons why this topic is so important 25:28 is because it's so easy as Christians to get locked 25:31 into Christian activity without really considering 25:34 what kind of life we live. 25:36 We could do our daily does in our Bible study 25:38 our devotion, we could 25:40 come to church, sing our songs, 25:42 study our Sabbath school lesson, 25:44 and we can go around like a dispenser machine, 25:47 put a chord in and Christianity comes out, 25:49 put another chord and a Christian song comes out, 25:51 put another chord 25:52 and your Sabbath school lesson comes out. 25:53 It's in there, we show up at church 25:55 because we have to be as the Sabbath is true, 25:56 we don't want to violate the Sabbath, 25:58 we want to be here and honor the Fourth Commandment, 26:00 and we do all the things 26:01 that are in our dispenser machine. 26:07 But sometimes tradition can become the roadblock 26:10 to conversion. 26:12 Sometimes habits can be so ingrained in us 26:16 that we are involved in many wonderful works. 26:21 Mathew 7:21-23 and the Lord is saying, 26:24 "I don't even know who you are." 26:26 Let's look at how can we know. 26:27 This is beautiful. 26:29 2 Corinthians 7:9, are we there? 26:32 Nine and 10. 26:33 Look at this. 26:35 "And Paul the Apostle," 26:36 speaking to the Corinthians he had to ingrain 26:40 in this multicultural church that had so many traditions, 26:44 so many beliefs, so many practices 26:46 that were intermingled 26:47 in their traditional background. 26:48 He had to help them understand the difference between 26:51 salvation, repentance, redemption. 26:54 It was a constant challenge to the Corinthian experience. 26:58 So now look at verse 9, he says, "Now I rejoice, 27:03 not that you were made sorry, 27:06 because a lot of people could be sorry, 27:08 but that your sorrow led to," what? 27:11 Come on, say it, led to what? 27:13 "Repentance, for you were made sorrow in a," what? 27:17 "Godly manner, and look at the blessing 27:21 that you might suffer a loss from us and nothing." 27:24 See when a person repents, see God can pull the rug 27:28 from under us at any moment. 27:31 But when a person repents, the Lord restores and puts back 27:35 what they could have lost 27:36 and they suffer loss and nothing, 27:38 but look at verse 10. 27:39 Look at verse 10 27:41 which fits into where we're headed." 27:42 For godly sorrow produces," what? 27:45 "Repentance, leading to," what? 27:48 "Salvation, not to be regretted when you really repent 27:52 and salvation is restored to you, 27:55 you don't regret that." 27:58 But the sorrow of the world produces death. 28:00 The difference between the sorrow of the world 28:03 and the sorrow of the Christian 28:04 is the difference between Judas. 28:07 Well, Judas actually never repented. 28:10 But he threw the money back like to say, 28:13 "I didn't want to do that." 28:15 And the repentance of Peter. 28:18 And Peter, the Lord said, "When you are converted, 28:23 strengthen the brethren." 28:24 Peter didn't just repent, but he was converted. 28:28 He was what? 28:30 Converted. 28:31 Okay, now let's go to the... 28:32 Where we're number 26? 28:34 Number 26, let's go there. 28:36 Repentance, so often 28:41 we become acclimated to a community of worship 28:43 because we like what they teach, 28:45 we want to check out and see whether or not 28:46 it's in accordance with the Bible, 28:48 and when it's in accordance with the Bible, 28:49 we say great, everything you've told me, 28:51 I could find it in Scripture, it's true, I cannot refute it, 28:54 and then we become academically acclimated to religion 28:58 rather than converted and repentant. 29:01 We join a church. 29:02 But the problem with that is if we're not converted, 29:07 then we haven't put down roots. 29:10 Because if you don't put down roots, 29:12 you don't get fruits. 29:13 Am I right? 29:16 How can you put forth fruits worthy of repentance 29:18 unless you put down roots? 29:22 If you don't have any roots, you'll never have any fruits. 29:24 And so a lot of people are members of a congregation 29:28 until something better comes along 29:30 or until something comes along 29:34 and blows them away in a particular trial 29:37 or the cares of this life, 29:38 and because the Bible says in Matthew 13 29:40 because they have no roots, they cannot endure. 29:44 But if you have roots, 29:47 or more specifically if you have a foundation... 29:50 The roots is Christ, the foundation is Christ. 29:53 If you've got roots, 29:55 then the wind is going to blow, your tree might bend, 29:58 but when the weather's passed, you'll still be there. 30:02 And that's why you cannot gauge your salvation 30:04 based on whether you feel good, or whether you feel bad, 30:06 or whether somebody did something to you, 30:08 or whether they didn't do it to you 30:09 because we have to endure many trials 30:12 before we make it to the kingdom. 30:13 Isn't that right? 30:14 We will go through much tribulation. 30:18 Number 26, here's the question. 30:20 How best can the experience of repentance be described? 30:24 How best 30:25 can the experience of repentance be described? 30:29 Oh, this is beautiful. 30:32 Because, remember, we just read leading... 30:36 I'll touch that passage again, 30:39 "For godly sorrow produces 30:41 repentance leading to salvation" 30:43 that was 2 Corinthians 7:10, but look at the answer here. 30:47 Psalm 23:3, 30:48 how best can the experience of repentance be described? 30:52 Look at what the psalmist says. 30:56 This is so beautiful. 30:59 "He" together "restores my soul, 31:04 He leads me in paths of righteousness for" who? 31:10 "His name's sake." 31:11 Somebody else is leading. 31:13 What I want to point out and I've said this before 31:15 and it fits right here. 31:17 We are being led by someone. 31:22 We are never behind the steering wheel. 31:26 We yield to one drive or the other. 31:31 We are never behind the steering wheel. 31:33 Sometimes we think we're behind... 31:35 I've heard people say, "This is my life. 31:39 I'm going to do what I want to do." 31:40 No, you just yield to a different driver. 31:43 We are never in charge. 31:45 Romans 6:16, let's look at this verse, 31:48 we are never in charge. 31:49 When the Lord is in charge, He's restoring us, 31:53 He's leading us in the path of righteousness. 31:55 Somebody is always leading. 31:57 Let's look at Romans 6:16 very quickly. 31:59 Somebody is always leading. 32:03 I have over the last year the Lord has given me 32:06 three passages in the Bible that I believe 32:08 can be the crux of every experience. 32:11 Roman 6:16 is one, 32:12 Roman 7:17 and Galatians 2:20. 32:15 Those are the three passages that will entirely experience 32:18 that will entirely cover the full expanse 32:21 of whether or not 32:22 you're going to be a solid Christian. 32:23 It will show you who's leading 32:25 and what the end results are going to be. 32:26 Look at Romans 6:16, 32:28 and we're going to be building on the word He leads me, 32:30 He does what? 32:32 He leads me. Now let's see how it happens. 32:34 Let's see how the leading happens. 32:36 Romans 6:16. 32:38 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves 32:41 slaves to obey, 32:45 "you are that one slave whom you obey, 32:50 whether of sin," what? 32:53 "Leading to death or of obedience," what? 32:56 "Leading to righteousness." 32:58 Somebody is leading. 33:00 When you yield to Christ, 33:02 it's obedience leading to righteousness. 33:05 When you yield to sin, 33:08 it's disobedience leading to death. 33:11 Somebody is always leading. 33:14 Matter of fact to prove it's not you, 33:15 go to one more passage, 33:17 Romans 7:17. 33:19 These inserts are right, very important. 33:21 And I thought to myself, 33:23 I'll be able to get through all this tonight. 33:24 I might or might not, 33:26 but that's what the next program is all about. 33:28 Let's try to move on very carefully. 33:29 So why... 33:30 Is somebody always leading, yes or no? 33:32 Yes. 33:33 You just yield one direction or the other. 33:35 You go on this plane or that plane, 33:37 but you never go into the cockpit, all right. 33:41 They always say before the plane leaves, 33:43 if your next destination is not St Louis, 33:46 this is a good time to get off the plane. 33:51 And whatever your destination 33:52 they checked for the last moment, 33:53 that's why they look at your ticket to see. 33:55 Look at Romans 7:17. 33:56 Somebody is always in charge. 34:00 Let's see what happens when evil is coming out 34:02 what's in charge. 34:05 But now it is no longer I, say those words, 34:08 "It is no longer I." 34:10 One more time, "It is no longer I." 34:14 So who is it? 34:16 Not I. 34:17 Once you yield, it is no longer you who do it. 34:21 But who's in charge? 34:23 But sin that dwells in me. 34:25 Once you yield and Jesus is not the one leading, 34:30 your soul is not going to be restored, 34:33 you will not be led into paths of righteousness. 34:35 What's the opposite of paths of righteousness? 34:38 Paths of what? 34:39 Unrighteousness. 34:41 And that's a daily choice. 34:43 That's a daily choice. 34:44 Your conversation, your habits, your practices, 34:46 that's a daily choice. 34:48 This by the way is Christianity one-on-one. 34:52 More important than prophecy 34:55 'cause you can understand prophecy and still be lost. 34:58 You got to find out every day who's leading. 35:00 If He's leading, He's restoring you. 35:03 But if He's not leading, 35:04 you're being led in paths of unrighteousness. 35:08 And I want to say it very... 35:09 I want to jar you not for His name sake, 35:13 but for His name sake. 35:16 You're standing behind His name 35:20 rather than being covered by His name. 35:26 Now our last one. 35:29 Our last one, Galatians 2:20. 35:31 Remember it is no longer I, but when you yield to Christ, 35:35 come on hurry up, Galatians 2:20. 35:37 Galatians 2:20. 35:41 See, Yannick is already there. 35:43 Yannick is already there. Yannick is already there. 35:48 Here it is, Galatians 2:20. 35:51 Look at what happens when you yield to Christ. 35:53 Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. 35:56 Galatians 2:20, 35:58 "I have been crucified with Christ." 35:59 I have been what? 36:01 Crucified with Christ. 36:02 And here it is again the same exact order. 36:05 It is no longer I. It is no longer I. 36:09 Is it amazing that it's exactly the same as Romans 7:17, 36:14 it is no longer I. 36:16 In Romans 7:17, it is no longer I, 36:18 who do it, in Galatians 2:20, 36:21 it is no longer I who live. 36:24 Let's go on. 36:26 But Christ 36:29 lives in me. 36:31 In Romans 7:17. 36:33 But sin dwells in me. 36:35 Is it amazing how the Apostle Paul 36:39 has by inspiration lined up those two passages, 36:43 in sin it is no longer I who do it, 36:46 sin is completely taking control, 36:47 but sin that dwells in me, but when we yield to Christ, 36:51 it is no longer I who live, why? 36:53 Because you've been crucified. 36:54 How can a dead man do anything? 36:57 It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. 37:00 And so now all of a sudden righteousness start showing up. 37:04 Let me ask you a question. 37:06 If the Lord is leading where else will He lead you 37:08 except righteousness? 37:10 Nowhere else. 37:12 Look at the rest of the passage. 37:13 And now all of a sudden, 37:15 the old character has been put to death 37:17 and notice what it says. 37:19 And the life which I now live. 37:22 It's amazing how you get the credit, 37:23 the life which I now live, 37:27 I live by faith in the Son of God 37:30 who loved me and did what? 37:32 Gave Himself for me. 37:34 And I just want to add verse 21 because we often, 37:37 it kind of gets left out by default. 37:40 "I do not set aside the grace of God, 37:42 for if righteousness comes through the law, 37:45 then Christ died in vain." 37:47 That means, if I can kill a lamb, 37:49 or do a sacrifice, 37:50 or burnt offering to make me righteous." 37:52 This is not speaking. 37:53 And by the way righteousness doesn't come 37:56 through the commandments, the Ten Commandments, 37:58 nor the ceremonial law. 37:59 Righteousness comes through Christ. 38:02 The ceremonial law was to lead us to understand 38:04 that Christ would be the lamb sacrifice. 38:06 The Ten Commandments law 38:07 was the parameters of our relationship 38:09 between God and man, 38:10 but neither one of those can save us. 38:12 If the law could save us, we wouldn't need Christ. 38:14 Am I right? 38:16 But the law shows us that we need Christ. 38:19 And then after we accept Christ, 38:22 the law like a speed limit 38:23 after the police let me go says, 38:27 "You don't want to meet me again 38:30 on the bad circumstances." 38:33 Right? 38:34 We want to keep it right, 38:36 keep it real between us and the police officer. 38:37 In other words, we don't want to meet Christ, 38:40 we want to meet Him in peace. 38:41 Isn't that, right? 38:43 And that's why the law is there. 38:44 Keep the parameters. 38:45 And by the way He's the one that works it out in us. 38:47 Go back to question number 26 and the second part. 38:50 We went to 23 Psalm, 38:52 how best can the experience of repentance be described? 38:55 Look at Psalm 51:12. 38:56 Psalm 51:12, first of all He restores and notice 39:02 what He does. 39:03 Psalm 51:12. 39:05 Here's what the Bible says, David asks, 39:07 "Restore to me the," what? 39:10 "Joy of Your salvation, 39:12 and uphold me by Your generous 39:15 or righteous Spirit." 39:17 Restore to me the joy of your salvation. 39:20 I always wonder 39:23 when I see a Christian 39:26 that just can never be happy about anything. 39:29 I always wonder where are they focusing. 39:32 How could a worldly and be so elated at times? 39:36 And a person that's connected to Christ, 39:38 I mean, let's just put the picture together. 39:40 They are on the plane 39:43 that Jesus bought the ticket for them to get a seat to, 39:47 the next stop is heaven. 39:49 They don't have to worry about food, amenities, 39:53 when it's turbulent Jesus said, "That's okay, I'm the pilot." 39:56 Amen. 39:58 They can go to the worst windstorm, 39:59 the worst wind shear, 40:01 He said, "Just stay on board and when we land, 40:05 we'll be in glory." 40:08 And they're looking out the window, 40:10 "I don't like it on here." 40:13 Where else you're going to go? 40:15 Peter made it very clear. 40:16 The Lord said, "Peter, 40:17 are you also going to leave Me?" 40:19 Peter said, "Where am I going? 40:20 This is the only flight that's going to heaven. 40:22 I'm not getting off." 40:23 Amen. 40:25 Restore to me the, what? 40:26 Joy. 40:28 If we really understood what God has gifted us with, 40:30 if we really understood what Jesus has done for us, 40:33 there will be joy. 40:35 Because there is a joy 40:36 that the world cannot give to us 40:38 and the world can't take it away. 40:41 That's right. 40:42 Cannot give it to us, cannot take it away. 40:44 And then who is upholding us, 40:46 He restores us and He upholds me by Your... 40:50 The word there is capitalized by His generous Spirit. 40:53 Dan? 40:54 That will be the longest flight any of us will have ever taken. 40:57 That's right. 40:59 Did you hear that? 41:01 That would be the longest flight 41:02 any of us would have ever taken, 41:03 but I tell you what? 41:05 No fuel on earth could get us there. 41:07 Only by the righteousness of Jesus. 41:09 Praise the Lord. 41:11 Thank you for that comment, Dan. 41:12 And we're not getting off, 41:14 I'm not getting off in turbulence. 41:17 Here's another one, Psalm 85:4. 41:21 And by the way the answers will be, 41:23 He leads me in the path of righteousness, 41:26 He restores our joy and then not only that, 41:30 Psalm 85:4. 41:32 Look at this, 41:34 "Restore us, O God of our salvation, 41:38 and cause Your anger toward us to do," what? 41:42 "Cease." 41:43 Oh, God's anger doesn't last but for a moment. 41:48 But His favor lasts a lifetime. 41:53 Okay. 41:54 I heard you guys say amen. 41:55 I did hear somebody in Australia say amen. 41:58 I didn't hear it here, 42:00 His anger last for about a moment, 42:02 but His favor last for a lifetime. 42:03 Amen. 42:04 That's huge. That's huge. 42:09 Are you still angry with me? 42:10 And Lord says, "Over what? 42:12 I forgave you of that. And I threw it into the sea 42:16 and I put out a no fishing sign." 42:18 Amen. 42:20 Isn't that wonderful? 42:21 He forgives us and He restores us. 42:23 Beautiful, praise God for that. 42:25 But now we... 42:27 That's repentance now. 42:29 But now let's go to a conversion. 42:31 Conversion. 42:33 Conversion. Where we going? 42:36 Conversion. 42:37 Question number 27. 42:38 He restores us and His anger ceases. 42:42 Getting people angry with us isn't a big deal, 42:45 but getting God angry with you is a serious issue. 42:49 It's a very serious issue. 42:53 And the devil spends all his time trying to get us 42:55 to do something to get God's anger 42:58 rekindled against us. 43:00 Well, here's the question number 27, 43:04 "What else besides repentance does the Bible 43:08 prescribe for a changed life?" 43:11 What else besides repentance does the Bible 43:15 prescribe for a changed life? 43:21 We're going to go to a passage that we visited a long time ago 43:25 because it had two parts to it, it had two parts to it. 43:29 Acts 3:19. 43:31 And by the way this passage 43:36 is proclaimed by 43:41 an apostle who knows what it means. 43:46 All right, this is Peter's second sermon 43:52 after he experienced what he talked about. 43:56 Here it is. 43:58 Peter said, "Repent therefore and be" 44:02 together "converted 44:05 that your sins may be blotted out, 44:08 so that times of refreshing may come 44:11 from the presence of the Lord." 44:13 Now let me show you how important it is, 44:14 how important conversion is. 44:16 Let's go back to the chart again. 44:18 We have the law of God, we have sinned. 44:20 How many of us have sinned? 44:21 All of us have sinned. 44:23 Now when you sin, you often say, 44:25 I'm sorry or then you go to the next level, 44:27 you confess and is God faithful and just? 44:30 What does He do? 44:31 Forgive you, but you haven't repented yet. 44:34 If you repent, 44:35 then the door of salvation is opening for you. 44:38 Repentance is the first step, 44:40 but the sin is still there. 44:43 Did you get that? 44:47 But when you're converted something happens to the sin. 44:53 Look at the text again. 44:56 "Repent therefore and be," what?" 44:58 Converted that your sins may be," what? 45:03 "Blotted out." 45:06 Repentance, 45:08 then conversion. 45:10 When the conversion comes in... 45:14 When the conversion comes, the Lord say, okay, now, 45:19 your sin will be blotted out. 45:22 It's one thing and when you study 45:23 the sanctuary services, it was huge. 45:25 In sanctuary services, 45:26 there was sacrifices made every day. 45:28 But the sins were transferred, 45:29 but once a year the sins were blotted out. 45:32 When the Day of Atonement services convened, 45:34 at the end of that day, 45:36 everyone who had confessed their sins and repented, 45:38 their sin was blotted out. 45:40 And they were guiltless before the Lord. 45:43 They were not the same that they were before, 45:45 conversion took place. 45:50 But if they only repented 45:52 and didn't provide provision for their sins 45:56 to be removed, 45:59 they were not converted and their sin remained. 46:02 Conversion is a powerful thing. 46:05 Conversion is... 46:08 I don't want to give a hint. 46:15 Conversion... 46:17 I'm gonna let the rest of it today. 46:18 I don't want to give a hint 'cause I'm planning a message. 46:22 But conversion is huge. 46:26 It is the step that says, "Yes, you didn't just repent, 46:31 but you have taken a different direction." 46:35 And when you look at the word conversion, you might say, 46:36 "Well, if I typed the word converted in the Bible, 46:39 you'll only find about four references 46:41 or five references. 46:44 But what you'll find in the Hebrew and the Greek 46:46 are other words turn, turn that they should turn and live, 46:52 conversion, repentances, 46:54 a deepening sorrow for that sin, 46:56 that repentance, that godly sorrow 46:59 that leads to repentance 47:00 and repentance lead to salvation, 47:02 it opens the door to salvation. 47:04 And then the conversion comes from that changed heart 47:07 and that changed life. 47:09 Acts 3:19. 47:10 So the question is what else beside repentance 47:13 does the Bible prescribe for a changed life? 47:16 What does it prescribe? What's the word there? 47:18 Write it down, what is it? 47:21 Conversion. 47:22 Got to be converted. 47:26 And, you know, I'm going to ask a question, 47:29 be careful how you answer it. 47:32 Was Jesus ever converted? 47:37 No. 47:40 Yes or no? No. 47:42 I'm glad you guys are awake because He didn't sin. 47:45 Amen. Amen. 47:46 Okay, so I won't even take it any further than that. 47:49 That's why His righteousness is imputed to us. 47:52 He didn't need to be converted, He never sinned. 47:54 He took our sin. 47:57 But He was not a sinner. 47:59 He bore our sin, but He didn't become a sinner, 48:04 He became sin. 48:06 Now this is huge. 48:07 He didn't become a sinner, He became sin. 48:09 That's right. 48:11 He didn't become a sinner, He became sin. 48:13 That means He took on the very nature of Adam, 48:16 that fallen character, took it to the cross as it were, 48:21 hung up there with it as it were, died, 48:26 and left it in the tomb, and came out glorified. 48:30 Amen. 48:31 He didn't become a sinner, He became sin for us. 48:34 He took on that fallen nature, 48:37 but that fallen nature never made Him fall. 48:42 That's huge. 48:43 I mean, if I look back at my book 48:46 or how many times I felt. 48:47 Come on, let's look at our book when we go home. 48:49 How many times have I fallen since I've been born. 48:52 I'd be counting like one, two, three, four... 48:57 I can't come out until I'm done counting, 48:59 I have weeks to go. 49:01 But He never fell. 49:05 Praise God. 49:07 He never fell. 49:09 Never fell. 49:10 Had He fallen in thought, or action, or word, or deed, 49:13 we would be, this Bible study wouldn't be necessary 49:17 'cause we won't be going anywhere. 49:19 The devil will have is... 49:21 Anyway, let's not even think about that. 49:23 Let's just rejoice that He never fell. 49:24 Praise God for that. 49:26 So conversion is what is, 49:29 beside repentance there needs to be conversion. 49:31 I have not heard and I'm just... 49:37 I wish I could turn on TV and hear these TV preachers 49:41 that are talking about, "It's your time, it's your day, 49:44 see that you just you're going to blossom into 49:46 a thousand blessings, 49:47 you're going to be like a butterfly 49:49 and your wings going to be open, 49:50 and your ship is coming in." 49:53 Jesus is not bringing ships in, 49:55 He wants to bring His character in. 49:59 But so many people are looking for ships to come in 50:01 that they never send out. 50:04 "Conversion," 50:05 without that you could do all the work that you want to, 50:08 but Jesus will say, "I never knew you." 50:10 Look at number 28. 50:12 We're moving right along, I think we might 50:14 be blessed tonight if we get any farther than that. 50:16 Number 28. 50:17 Here's the question, 50:19 "How important is the need for a converted life?" 50:24 How important is the need for a converted life? 50:29 Now we answer with a question, 50:30 well, the answer a very important. 50:32 But let's see what Matthew 18:3 tells us tonight. 50:37 Matthew 18:3. 50:39 Go in there. 50:40 Turn in there. 50:42 Matthew 18:3. 50:48 Okay, the Word of the Lord tells us the following. 50:55 "Assuredly, or surely, or most assuredly I say to you, 51:00 for certain I say to you, unless you are," what? 51:04 "Converted and become as," what? 51:07 "Little children, you will by no means 51:13 enter the kingdom of heaven." 51:16 Is that a left hook? 51:22 Like he said where are you going? 51:25 Yannick, where are you going? 51:26 Ronnie, where are you going? 51:28 Pastor John, where are you going? 51:30 You better be converted. 51:35 Because you ain't getting in here. 51:38 We are not getting in doing what the devil did 51:42 to get kicked out. 51:44 Am I right 51:45 You're not going, 51:47 there is no little corner where the lights are going to be dark 51:50 and the music is going to be hopping. 51:52 There's no corner where our vice is going to be practiced. 51:55 And you know why He says and become as little children 51:59 I looked at that today and my mind just thought, 52:02 "Lord, I want to be like a little child," 52:05 because you know what? 52:07 When I read that, the commentary says, 52:09 "Children keeps no record of wrongs done to them." 52:16 Little kids, you know, they get on the playground 52:18 they do stupid things. 52:19 You say, "Say sorry. 52:21 Okay, let's go play." 52:22 And they run like they go 52:24 and dive in the dirt together again. 52:27 As long as you don't make a big deal out of it, 52:28 they're not gonna make a big deal out of it. 52:30 You know, he hit me, he hit me too. 52:32 "Say sorry." 52:33 I'll use, I'm sorry let's go play. 52:36 Well, adults like, I ain't talking to her. 52:39 I will not talk to you for the rest of your life. 52:43 You know why? 52:44 'Cause we are in the way. 52:47 Am I right? 52:48 And then we say unto you, 52:49 I'm never gonna forget 52:51 what you did 20 years ago like, uh-huh. 52:55 And then your name get mentioned, 52:57 they say I can tell you some stuff about him 53:01 or her, or them, or that church. 53:04 But the Lord, children keep no records of wrong deeds 53:10 done to them. 53:13 Become like little children. 53:15 And the other thing you say to, an adult say, "Let's go, kids." 53:20 "Okay, we're coming." 53:21 Jesus said, "Follow me." 53:23 You say, "Why?" 53:25 Jesus say, "Come unto me all you 53:27 who are weary and heavy laden." 53:28 And adults say, "What do I have to give up?" 53:31 Kids say, "I'm coming." 53:34 We've got all these conditions and what we don't know 53:37 is the best is yet to come. 53:39 And the Lord said, 53:41 "You don't even know where you're going, 53:42 all you need to know 53:44 is you ain't seen nothing yet, right?" 53:48 So when I read that, I said, like, 53:49 become as little children, 53:51 and then if you don't become, see conversion is okay, 53:55 but He didn't say it, going out like hardheaded adults 53:58 become as little children. 53:59 The little children part 54:01 is as important as the converted part 54:03 because if you don't be converted 54:05 and become as little children, you ain't getting in. 54:10 I heard a man once in court. 54:12 I said the story before, now it fits. 54:15 The woman that was on trial killed his wife 54:20 I don't remember all the details, 54:22 but in the court the gentleman 54:24 while the woman was being sentence. 54:27 You know family members could stand up 54:29 and say something, 54:30 and he turned to the lady who is being sentenced, 54:32 and he said to her, "I can't wait till you die 54:37 and go to heaven so my wife can settle the score with you. 54:44 She's waiting for you." 54:46 There will be no fights in heaven. 54:51 Children, that's why you've got to train up children 54:55 in the way they should go. 55:00 Let them know that, "Yes, forgiveness is possible." 55:03 Okay, he took your ice cream, give him your ice cream." 55:08 It's no big deal. 55:10 You ever see children fall, 55:11 they look at you to see if you gonna make a big deal, 55:13 if you don't they just go like nobody. 55:15 But if you say, "Are you hurt?" 55:16 They will be... 55:18 Isn't that right? 55:21 We make more deals out of stuff than kids do. 55:24 Oh, you just tell, like they will cry for hours, 55:27 but if you say, "No, it's okay," 55:29 and they go on you know. 55:32 Become like little children. 55:33 Amen. 55:34 What would happen to a church if we could become like 55:36 little children walking in on Sabbath morning, 55:39 hi, sister so and so, 55:41 good to see you, brother, so and so. 55:43 No, keeping no records of a past wrong. 55:46 That's huge. 55:48 That text, put that in your fourth 55:49 of my favorite text. 55:51 And let's see if we can get one more in here. 55:53 Let's see if we get one more. Number 29. 55:55 Number 29. 55:56 Become converted and become like little children. 56:00 Wow, that's a powerful statement. 56:02 And Jesus said it by the way, not the apostles. 56:06 Question number 29. 56:07 Here's a question, 56:08 "What transcript of life is imperative for a person 56:13 claiming conversion?" 56:15 Is imperative, looks like it's one word, 56:16 but is imperative for a person claiming conversion? 56:20 Let's look at Psalm 19:7. 56:23 Psalm 19:7. 56:25 We're going to go there right away 56:27 and since this is going to be our last passage for the night, 56:29 I'd like us all to read it together. 56:31 It's on the screen. 56:32 The Bible says, "The law of the Lord is, what? 56:35 "Perfect." 56:36 Don't ever let your pastor tell you otherwise, 56:39 "Converting the," what? 56:41 "Soul, The testimony of the Lord is," what? 56:44 "Sure making," what? 56:46 "Wise the simple." 56:48 If you're in a church, I heard just recently 56:51 and I don't want to glorify this too much, 56:53 but very familiar speaker in the Christian world 56:57 named Creflo Dollar said, 56:59 "The devil's trying to get you to keep the law 57:01 and if he can get you to keep the law, you sin." 57:06 "The devil is trying to get you to keep the law 57:07 because he knows if you can keep the law 57:09 you will sin." 57:10 And I thought, what? 57:12 And Jesus said, "If you love Me, 57:13 keep My commandments. 57:14 Here are they that keep the commandments of God." 57:16 Open wide the gate so the nation 57:19 that keepeth the law may enter in. 57:23 You cannot say you're converted and this is the point 57:26 that I'm going to wind up tonight. 57:27 You cannot say you are converted 57:29 and live out of harmony with God's law. 57:31 You cannot. 57:33 You cannot say that your experience 57:36 in the grace of the police officer 57:38 and you drive away kicking up sand and dust 57:41 as you pull away from the curb. 57:43 You cannot really say that. 57:45 You cannot say, you continue 57:46 in the same violation of God's law 57:49 if you say you have been converted, you cannot. 57:52 You have to live in harmony with the law of God 57:54 and you'll become, 57:55 His testimony will be sure and you will be made wise. 57:58 Keep studying, friends, if it doesn't make sense, 58:00 one day it will come into A Sharper Focus. 58:04 Let us pray. |
Revised 2018-09-27