Participants: Chris Shelton (Host), Kenny Shelton
Series Code: BTLP
Program Code: BTLP000013
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00:40 Hello friends and welcome to Behold the Lamb Presents,
00:43 this program is dedicated to preparing the people 00:47 to be ready for our Lord soon return. 00:50 I'm Chris Shelton your host and today's message 00:53 is the second in a two part series that 00:56 we have entitled "Blinded by the Counterfeit." 00:59 In today society you know we lived in such a 01:02 fast pace world that is constantly bombarding 01:06 our senses with messages and like it or not these 01:10 messages have a tremendous effect on who you are, 01:14 what type of character you've developed over 01:17 the years, your likes, your dislikes, 01:20 your moral beliefs that you hold here 01:22 or the lack thereof. Messages are coming 01:26 in from all directions to produce new character 01:29 traits in one form or the other. 01:32 Sadly most messages hitting our sensory 01:36 perceptions is of such a nature as to disqualify us 01:42 to be a child of God. What a battle that you 01:45 and I must fight that Heaven is to be our home. 01:48 We must learn the vital importance of guarding 01:52 our God given senses, we need to valuate 01:56 what takes priority in our lives and to make needed 01:59 adjustments as the Lord directs, we need to learn 02:03 the importance of attending Church on a 02:05 regular basis and learning to be content in this life 02:08 with what God has given each and everyone of us. 02:12 We need desperately to learn, to listen to the 02:15 Holy Spirits convictions upon our hearts 02:18 and upon our minds is outlined in scriptures. 02:22 This is why we feel it necessary to bring you 02:25 the second message in our two parts series entitled 02:28 "Blinded by the Counterfeit" study with 02:31 this won't you right now. As pastor Kinney lays 02:34 before us a message at the Holy Spirit has urged 02:38 him to give, but first we're blessed to go to 3ABN's 02:42 worship center as we listen to Rudy Micelli 02:46 as he sings "Were it Not for Grace." 03:11 Time measured out my days life carried me along 03:25 Down in my soul I yearned to follow God 03:32 but knew I'd never be so strong 03:38 I looked hard at this world to learn 03:43 how Heaven could be gained 03:51 Just to end where I began, 03:56 where human effort is all in vain. 04:06 Were it not for grace, I can tell you where I'd be 04:20 Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere 04:27 With my salvation up to me I know how that would go 04:40 The battles I would face forever running 04:52 but losing the race! Were it not for grace! 05:06 So here is all my praise, expressed with all my heart 05:20 Offered to this friend who took my place 05:28 and ran a course I could not even start 05:33 And when he saw in full 05:38 just how much his love would cost 05:46 He still went the final mile between 05:52 me and Heaven so I would not be lost 06:02 Were it not for grace, I can tell you where I'd be 06:16 Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere 06:23 With my salvation up to me and I know how that would go 06:36 All the battles I would face forever running 06:47 but losing the race! Were it not for his grace! 06:58 Forever running but losing this race! 07:06 Were it not for grace! 07:29 Praise the Lord. Thank your for joining us once again 07:31 here as we study the word of God together. 07:33 We're gonna be talking about 07:34 "Blinded by the Counterfeit" part two 07:37 so if you miss part one, you're gonna wanna 07:38 make sure you get it so the puzzle fits together 07:41 doing little bit more history on the first part, 07:43 second part we get into little more specifics. 07:46 Praise God for that, but as always before 07:48 we study we need to go to God in prayer 07:50 and ask for his Holy Spirit for his guidance 07:53 and for his power. Why don't you, where you can, 07:56 I want you to kneel with me and let's pray together. 08:02 Loving Father in Heaven, we thank you 08:03 for the privilege we have of prayer, 08:06 thank you for the cross of Calvary, 08:07 thank you for Jesus, thank you for the power 08:09 thy Holy Spirit, which promised to us. 08:12 Now, we praise as the Holy Spirit now the sense 08:15 upon each and everyone of us that you will speak 08:17 words of life and words of encouragement, 08:19 words of rebuke if we need them and we will pray that 08:23 you will help us and lead us into a closer 08:25 relationship with you as my prayer. 08:27 Thank you for everyone around the world that's 08:30 driving to serve you with all their heart 08:32 and soul in their mind. Bless now we pray 08:36 give us power, clearness of mind and heart 08:38 in a receptive spirit in Jesus name, Amen. 08:46 Well, we left off in our first part that 08:48 we're talking about King Ahab, the reason 08:51 that Israel went into rebellion and apostasy 08:54 against God and how people who can be supposedly 08:58 living for God or claiming they know the truth 09:00 of God's word can come to the point where 09:03 they can't distinguish between the real 09:06 God of Heaven and a false God or a true Prophet 09:09 and a false Prophet. How can that possibly be? 09:12 How did that occur and we set up some history 09:15 in the first part. Now, the second part, 09:18 we're going to get into some more specifics 09:20 and we realize the number one that the home 09:23 training of Ahab was not what it really should 09:27 have been because of his father number one 09:30 and the father would have stayed away from 09:32 the true God and were serving a false God 09:35 and it had an influence upon King Ahab as we read 09:39 several passages of here the importance 09:41 of the home life. And especially of the mother 09:45 and again we're not trying just point fingers 09:47 and say well it's mother's job. But because mother 09:49 spends so much time with that child, that 09:52 she can mold and make that child and that's very, 09:55 very important that we spend, they spend time 09:57 in the word together and they learn 09:58 to pray together. And that God says that 10:00 he has equipped them for the special work 10:04 and when we do that we realize that God's going 10:07 to bless now it's more then just this life that 10:09 we're talking about. It's talking about 10:11 this little so, this little individual being raised 10:14 for eternity and the importance of mother 10:17 influence on that child and certainly the father too. 10:21 So, that we talked about their perspective parents 10:24 those who are parents today that we cannot 10:28 displease God anymore then if we just simply say 10:31 you know we don't care about raising this child up 10:34 in the admonition of the Lord. But I know that 10:37 you do and I know that you wanna raise your child 10:38 in the admonition of the Lord. King Ahab too, 10:42 point number two, he set aside the worship 10:45 of Jehovah to be able to worship Baal. 10:49 I wonder if maybe some today you are setting 10:51 aside the worship of the true God because maybe, 10:54 might be little difficult for you or it's cross 10:57 purposes with the way you were thinking 10:59 and the way you would like to conduct yourself in the 11:01 world and you're looking for that God that Baal God. 11:06 Well, I hope not, but God so called chosen people 11:10 were looking for another God, they were not content 11:13 in the relationship with Jesus, they were looking 11:16 for something else and so we find Ahab. 11:20 He begins to erect even altars in the groves 11:24 and that we called in the bushes 11:26 and they were seductive idolatry that took place. 11:31 You know the devil likes to work in seductive ways, 11:36 from the eyes and mind and the ears 11:38 and something is seductive the devil just woos you 11:41 in and he has you before you realize it. 11:45 And all the sudden, it seemed to be a little more 11:48 exciting then their religion that they practice 11:51 before and the sad part not only King Ahab, 11:55 but he set the example as a leader, 11:57 as he went the direction of Baal that the majority 12:01 the Bible said people followed his way. 12:05 Now, that should be very important to the Pastors, 12:08 the elders, the leadership of the Church as the 12:11 standard that you set will be the standard that 12:14 most people just try, just try to reach or actually 12:17 fall below that. We need to set a high standard, 12:22 King Ahab did not set a high standard 12:25 and the people followed after. Now, let me 12:27 give you I call it strike 3 here, we've had a couple 12:30 of things yes they played important role 12:32 in his decisions that he made. And that the 12:34 people made, but here is what, we talked 12:37 about Ahab did. He married a woman called Jezebel; 12:42 he married a woman called Jezebel. 12:44 Now, God has instructed his people not to go outside 12:47 so he disobeyed God and in disobeying God 12:49 he found another woman and that 12:51 she was called Jezebel. Now, I like to use the 12:54 word here and be careful with it is, 12:56 just finished him off. The King was already 12:59 headed in the wrong direction, but this finished 13:03 him off as he married this woman. 13:05 She was the daughter then we talked about 13:08 the high priest of the Sidonians or a Baal. 13:12 So, all of her makeup in her mind and her thinking 13:16 of her as an individual was centered upon 13:19 paganism and she begin to plant that in the mind 13:24 of the king, the Bibles says in 1st Kings 21:25 13:29 concerning Ahab it says: which did sell himself 13:34 to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, 13:38 I thought that was interesting. 13:41 He sold himself, when we turn over back upon God 13:47 we sell ourselves; we sell our body or soul 13:52 and our mind for what thirty pieces of silver. 13:57 We sell the God of Heaven for some kind of a cheap 13:59 Baal God that has no power. 14:05 The scripture makes it so plain that he sold himself 14:09 to work and then the word goes on here 14:13 is where it come when I say that Jezebel 14:15 will strike three for him. She set him up 14:18 the Bible said: whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. 14:26 They say behind every good man, 14:27 there is a good woman. But you know this Jezebel 14:30 here was an evidently very good woman. 14:33 And she stirred the king up, now there are reasons 14:37 why she stirred the king up. You see some people 14:40 say well I could stir it, some people 14:41 you can stir up, some people you can't change 14:45 but because of. We look at the Ahab here 14:48 and he is bringing up and he was kind of a weak man. 14:53 Easily influenced are you that way today? 14:58 And the Bible says that Jezebel stirred him up 15:01 and she encouraged him to follow after Baal. 15:05 And he begin to follow after, 15:08 now here is the danger even today I want you 15:11 to consider with me. Inspiration says that 15:15 Jezebel was a woman of decided character. 15:19 So, we have to be careful in the world today 15:21 because there are many people who are they 15:23 decided character. What does that mean? 15:26 Decided character means she was a determined woman, 15:30 she was determined to have her own way. 15:33 She was unhesitating, she was definite, 15:38 in other word she knew what she wanted 15:42 and she didn't want her husband the King of Israel 15:45 to worship the true God. And so she was relentless 15:49 after him to change him, to influence him, 15:53 to change the worship of the true God. 15:56 The Bible said what she stirred up this situation 16:01 because she was a woman of decided character, 16:04 a woman who knew what she wanted. 16:06 A selfish individual that wanted what she wanted 16:10 without taking anyone else into consideration. 16:13 She had her own mind nothing wrong with that, 16:16 but when you leave other people out 16:17 and you don't have God to live inside that mind. 16:19 Oh! It would be a horrible thing, she was persuasive, 16:25 she knew how to get her way. Bible is very, 16:30 very clear, there is nothing like a woman 16:33 because God compares the Church to a good woman 16:35 to his Church. But the Bible also makes it very clear 16:38 there is nothing worse than a woman 16:40 who has not given her life to Jesus Christ. 16:45 She has rotten us to the bone, now here 16:51 what do we see, we see the influence when some 16:55 of you deny. People in Church some had a, 16:58 well no one had an influence, every person 17:00 you and me has an influence on you, has an influence 17:04 on me either for good or for bad, but they have an 17:07 influence and she begin to influence her husband. 17:13 She didn't take others into consideration why, 17:16 well she had all of her Baal priest listen to her. 17:19 She influenced them and she turned them all against 17:22 the God of Heaven. Friend we had to be very careful 17:26 to realize it's not only just many women out 17:29 they are like that today, but there is also men out 17:31 there like that. The Bible brings to the home very, 17:34 very clear to us, how could she work 17:38 over the King? How could she over just work him over? 17:45 Bible says in Philippians 4:11: Not that I should 17:51 speak in respect of want: for I have learned, 17:54 in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 18:00 Underline the word content with me, 18:03 how will she able to work over her husband. 18:06 Number one is because he was not content 18:09 with his God, he was not content in his religious 18:13 experience and then the Bible comes in 18:17 and says here that I have learned Paul, 18:19 Paul said I have learned to live. 18:21 The disciples they learned to live and learned to be 18:24 content with what they had, whatever state 18:28 I'm in I need to learn to be content that's 18:30 for us today. Most people are not content 18:34 with their home, with their car, with the money 18:37 that they have, they are just not content 18:39 and there are many people and you will find 18:41 these people who are not content in the Church 18:43 where they attend they are always looking for 18:45 something different that we talked about before 18:47 strange and new. Now something else comes along 18:49 little more tantalizing, a little more excitement 18:52 they follow that every wind of doctrine. 18:57 What is it mean when it be content in all of 18:59 the saying it's talking mentally, physically, 19:02 spiritually, financially. What's really being 19:07 said here, does it mean that they were never been 19:11 to be just happy. Okay, well I'm happy enough 19:13 with my knowledge now go and seek knowledge 19:16 because it said be content whenever state that 19:18 you're in mentally, physically and so on. 19:22 Does it mean we all would become content? 19:23 Well we're in the physical shape they were; 19:25 no always strive to be, to be better. 19:29 What does it mean here when we're talking about 19:31 content with our walk with God, no or never be 19:34 content as it were, but we're to be settled 19:36 in the truth, settled with our relationship with him. 19:39 But always desiring more, but contentment 19:43 in our heart, in our mind that we know who God is 19:45 and what he is doing in our behalf. 19:49 Is that mean that we're always to be content 19:51 because we have no money and we may never 19:53 have any money we just sit down and 19:55 do nothing no, God would have you to work. 19:58 He would have things to improve, but this is not, 20:01 this is not your life, this is not what you really 20:04 have in mind, this is not you are not, 20:05 you know we already stowing treasures up 20:07 in Heaven, not here on this earth. 20:11 But what it says that we learned to be content, 20:13 I think in my mind and I want you to be praying 20:16 about it and how it affects you. 20:18 But we are to learn to accept to be content, 20:24 to be satisfied to live with, to be able to bare it, 20:31 be able to stand it, what God provides for that day, 20:38 because God knows what you are in need of, 20:40 is what the Bible says he knows what you need 20:42 of before you ever ask then learn to be able 20:44 to deal with it as it comes to that day, 20:46 even though it's not what you might want. 20:50 But always making an effort to improve 20:53 by the grace of God, importance of a 20:59 contented spirit, his Spirit wasn't contented 21:03 and you can see that around the world today. 21:05 People are not content, they're mowing around, 21:08 they're lacking direction, they're lacking 21:10 leadership, they're lacking a connection with 21:13 Jesus Christ. Contented means, means satisfied. 21:18 Prophets and Kings, beautiful book 21:19 page 2:19 say this: It is not the possession of 21:25 splendid talents that enables us to render 21:28 acceptable service, but the conscientious performance 21:33 of daily duties. The conscientious 21:40 performance of daily duties, so the things 21:43 that you have to do for that day, 21:45 that's what God would have you to do 21:48 and to thank him for that. And its be okay, 21:52 it would be counter for you as righteous. 21:54 We're always looking for something else to do 21:56 and something, and God says just I count you 21:58 as a faithful if you do those things that lie 22:00 close to your door. Contented spirit 22:08 a sincere spirit, now let's brings it down just 22:12 another notch here. The importance of being 22:15 content, it's very important in our religious 22:17 experience. Remember if you're not content 22:20 in the Church where you attend, you're gonna be 22:22 looking for something else and if you're looking 22:26 for something else the devils gonna make sure 22:29 you find something else be careful. 22:33 If you live where you are at make sure 22:34 God is leading and not the enemy, many people 22:39 are not content with their religious experience. 22:43 And some people think they had to be connected 22:46 to some special work, often people say 22:49 I just don't feel right I need to be working 22:52 for some ministry. I need to be doing something big 22:54 for God and so they say well since 22:58 I can't do anything big, I'm not working fulltime 23:00 for the ministry, I'll just do nothing. 23:02 Oh! That's unacceptable, that's not what God 23:06 wants you to do, says well I'm not that's a mistake. 23:12 A man can be active in the service of God, 23:15 now this may jar some of you. 23:17 A man and woman can be active in the service 23:19 of God well he is engaged in the ordinary 23:23 duties of life. That means he can be pleasing 23:28 in the side of God if that's what God has 23:30 for him to do that, they has to be cutting 23:31 down a tree. He can be tilling a garden, 23:40 he can be clearing a field or how about a mother 23:44 who was training her child for Jesus? 23:48 She is as truly working for God as is the minister 23:54 in the pulpit. She is faithful with her duty, 24:00 you're faithful with your duty of the days 24:02 activities might be cleanliness do, 24:08 mowing the church lawn, he counts it as 24:11 being faithful. You see the king was not contented, 24:15 people say all the time oh! we need success, 24:18 we want, we need to have this. 24:19 Listen success does not depend upon this big talent. 24:24 The people say oh, so and so, so talented, 24:26 but we've got to use him, God wants to, 24:28 success is not so depended on talent as 24:31 it is on energy and willingness. 24:34 Do you have the energy, you want to do it? 24:36 Do you have the willingness to say yes 24:38 Lord here am I sin me. This is what is important here. 24:43 John 15:11 the Bible said: These things have 24:45 I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, 24:49 and that your joy might be full. Are you full 24:54 of joy today? He has now spoken to you these words. 24:58 I want you to be content. Ahab was not content 25:03 because he was not connected to Christ. 25:07 We can circle and underline, you're not gonna fight. 25:09 Listen those you at home, you're not gonna be happy 25:12 unless you connect with Jesus. 25:14 You cannot find happiness; you cannot 25:16 find peace unless you're connected. 25:20 That's why there were so many people 25:21 in the world that's surrounding around 25:23 in these places, looking for happiness 25:27 and it's in all the wrong places. 25:30 They want to be content, but they're in 25:32 the wrong place. But God wants us to be content, 25:36 he said these things have I spoken unto you that 25:38 you have joy and that joy remain in you 25:42 to be content. Problem number two, 25:49 Ahab had was he didn't like to attend 25:53 religious services, have you ever met someone 25:55 like that? Oh! I can be a Christian, 25:57 I don't have to go to Church, 25:58 I don't need to attend, I don't need to hear 26:00 what everybody else has to say, 26:01 I don't need having another thoughts, 26:03 I'm okay by myself. And he did not encourage others 26:08 to attend, remember he was the king of Israel 26:11 and the king would encourage people 26:13 to go to Church. They would have attended services, 26:15 but he did not, he didn't like himself 26:17 and he did not encourage his people to attend 26:20 and you see what happen apostasy back sliding 26:23 they couldn't tell right from wrong. 26:27 That's an effort that has to be put forward 26:29 before we succeed as a Christian even in this life. 26:34 Hebrews 12:2 said we need to, we're running a race, 26:37 let's run this race with patience that is set 26:42 before us, so you have a race, you have a road map, 26:46 you have a way of life, all set out here for us 26:48 but we need to follow that. Hebrews 10:25 says: 26:52 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves 26:54 together, as what? As some is, as we see 26:57 the day so much more as we see the day 27:00 approaching. He didn't like to attend services, 27:03 but that is contrary to scripture and there are 27:06 some of you who think you can stay home 27:07 and never attend services and you're right. 27:11 The Bible is clear, it was clear when we first 27:14 started on part one that God said that Israel 27:16 would be in captivity for 70 years, 27:19 the false Prophet said a couple of years. 27:25 Please think about that for just a moment, 27:28 here it becomes very clear when you are saying 27:30 I don't need to attend services, 27:32 I don't need to be around other Christians 27:34 necessarily. I wanna be you know, 27:36 I can be home and I can have my good fellowship. 27:39 The Bible says not forsaking the assembling 27:43 of yourself together as the manner of some is. 27:48 And we do believe that the day is approaching 27:50 Jesus is coming don't we? And that means 27:52 we need to be coming together in fellowship 27:54 and in worship together. As reading in the little 27:58 manuscript written in 1890 listen to these words. 28:03 Those who do not feel the necessary of seeking 28:06 the assembling of the saints, see this might step 28:10 on your toe just a little bit, but you know 28:11 what if you're thinking in this mind you need 28:14 your toes to step on. Because you think, 28:17 you don't need to the Bible says you need to 28:23 if you believe Jesus soon to come we need that. 28:28 Those who do not feel the necessity of seeking 28:31 to assemble together with the precious assurance 28:35 that the Lord would meet with them show 28:38 how lightly they value the help that God has 28:41 provided for them. God has provided help 28:45 for the Church as we come together in a body. 28:48 It's to help us unto encourage us and 28:51 to gain strength. You ever went to Church, 28:54 you just a gained a lot of strength because 28:56 personal testimonies, miracles, things happening 29:00 in peoples lives in the sermon you say the 29:02 God can do the same thing for me. 29:04 It's an encouragement, but it shows when 29:08 you do not attend Church, it shows how little, 29:11 how lightly you value the help that God has 29:15 provided for us. In fact the Bible says 29:19 in Matthew Chapter 3:16: Then they that feared 29:24 the LORD spake often one to another: 29:27 is it possible that we no longer fear 29:29 or reverence or respect God anymore 29:32 that we can say I know what the word says 29:33 but I'm gonna do this anyway. 29:35 Then they that feared the LORD spake often 29:38 one to another and the LORD hearkened, 29:41 and he heard it, and a book of remembrance 29:44 was written before him for them that feared the LORD, 29:48 and they that thought upon his name. 29:53 Notice the answer to prayer, they that feared 29:57 him spoke often one to another. 30:01 They were witnessing, they were coming together 30:04 in Church, they were peoples witnessing for 30:06 Jesus Christ what he had done for them, 30:08 what he is doing for them and God said because 30:10 they praise and lift up his name and they accepted 30:12 him and reverenced him. He said a book of remembrance 30:15 and he wrote their name in there. 30:17 The names that those have feared the Lord 30:18 and thought upon his name, some of us are 30:22 very thoughtless when it comes in name 30:23 with Jesus Christ. Another manuscript 30 to page 184: 30:29 this is real plan says: Those who receive 30:31 the light of truth are to have lesson and lesson 30:35 to educate them not to keep silent, 30:42 try to encourage some Churches that lift up 30:43 their voice and praise, they won't do it. 30:47 He ask people to pray, they won't do it 30:48 they are in Church for 50 years still can't pray, 30:51 something is wrong. Educate here, 30:54 we are told we are in need of those who have the light 30:56 of truth need to be educated, lessen upon 30:58 lessen to educate not to keep silent. 31:01 But to speak off one to another, 31:04 they are to keep in mind the Sabbath meetings. 31:09 Speak off one to another about Sabbath meetings, 31:13 not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. 31:17 Many is gonna miss the time of refreshing, 31:19 the time of keeping fresh that we need so 31:22 desperately right now for the hour in which we live, 31:24 because we did not see the importance of 31:27 fellowshipping together. Oh! The Bible is really clear 31:32 what took place for some of the series 31:35 we've been doing Acts Chapter 1 Verse 4 31:37 and it says: And they are being assembled together. 31:41 And God began to work when they were 31:42 assembled together. Acts 4:31 it says: 31:45 when they were all again assembled together, 31:48 notice what took place when they were assembled 31:51 together something big begin to happen. 31:53 Like minds, like heart, faith, like minds and God 31:58 began to do something as they were assembled 32:00 together then say well they were here there. 32:03 He can certainly do that to an individual, 32:05 but when they had the opportunity and they are 32:07 able to come together we need to be coming together. 32:10 Acts Chapter 11 Verse 26 said: 32:13 They assembled themselves with the church, 32:20 they assembled themselves with the church, 32:22 and they came together were God promised 32:24 to be there and to give us the blessings that we need. 32:27 One more Acts 15:25 says: They are being assembled 32:32 together and in one accord. Now, you get 32:34 the Bible and read the rest of it, 32:35 but God began to work miracles when they 32:38 assembled together, may there is no miracle 32:41 is happening in your life. May be your dead 32:44 and dieing spiritually because you refused to 32:46 assemble together. Oh! I hope that's not the case 32:50 I pray that God is working on your heart to say 32:52 you know I need; I need together what warmness 32:55 from the coldness of others. You heard that, 32:59 here is another important key, please jot this down 33:03 we're talking about an important key here. 33:05 If we thought and talked more about Jesus unless 33:12 of ourselves, we should have much more 33:16 of his presence. I want that to make sense, 33:19 people come together and all they are doing; 33:21 they're talking about themselves and what they 33:22 want and ba, ba, ba in their life if we talk less 33:25 about ourselves and more about Jesus. 33:29 We would sense his presence so much more 33:34 and if you want that presence of Jesus, 33:36 if you want that power that he wants to give to you. 33:38 We're going to let ourselves just die, 33:40 we're going to lift up his name in services 33:43 where his name is lifted up where people are praising 33:45 him from one end to the other. They're lifting up 33:47 the hands say oh! God is so good 33:49 and he is pouring out his Spirit and look what 33:51 he did for me. Look at the miracles that 33:53 he is performing, people say well I don't know 33:55 I've received any miracles or not. 33:58 You still have a house, you have a roof 33:59 over your head, you have a car to drive, 34:01 you have food to eat, you have cloths to wear, 34:02 and you're blessed. And how we forget that, 34:08 there is not one should remain silent during 34:10 the testimony. We have so much to be grateful 34:15 and thankful for and not all these down stuff 34:18 and oh what happened and oh this is bad 34:20 and oh this is no, we lift up the name of 34:21 Jesus and we shall sense his presence in a very, 34:24 very special way. I don't know about you, 34:30 but I'm encouraged when I attend meetings 34:33 for the name of Jesus as being lifted up and praise. 34:37 Somehow it fills you with a peace and contentment? 34:41 The King Ahab didn't have and enjoy that people, 34:44 some people have never experienced encourage 34:49 and here the victorious experiences. 34:53 How it encourages me, how I know Jesus wants 34:57 to work in my behalf. Problem 3 how could this, 35:04 we're talking about Ahab, King Ahab how could 35:05 he be so worked over so easily? 35:08 Because he was weak morally, so you maybe 35:12 week morally today, oh! Friend you need to pray, 35:19 you need to pray, the enemy will work you over 35:21 in so many different ways if you are weak morally 35:24 because that is such a primus on which to work. 35:28 A springboard of how the enemy can get go to you, 35:31 since King Ahab was week morally Jezebel could 35:35 really work him over. Now, you don't wanna be 35:41 weak and there is ways in which you can 35:43 become strong. You know the definition when 35:46 you think about moral here, it says simply the 35:50 dictionary says relating to or dealing with 35:53 and being capable of distinguish between right 35:57 and wrong. He was weak morally because 36:01 he didn't know right from wrong. 36:04 He came to that point, he did it one time, 36:06 he turned his back on God and he couldn't distinguish. 36:09 It is difficult to try to carry on a conversation 36:11 when somebody is not Godly. 36:13 You can't carry on a good conversation because 36:16 the Spirit of God is not working in their heart, 36:18 in their mind. You can't get on the same page 36:20 together. We need morality, we need morals. 36:30 We had to be able to distinguish between 36:32 right and wrong in conduct and also in principle. 36:39 If you don't then the devil is gonna work over 36:41 in so many different ways. In fact there was reason 36:46 when we pour here; it said hundreds, thousands 36:51 and millions suffer from this in up lifting quotes 36:54 this disease of immorality. How they're gonna gain 37:00 that victory, you can be immoral even 37:04 in your thinking. And so God is challenging us 37:09 here so that we don't backslide that we had to 37:11 be moral in our conduct, in our principles. 37:16 So, now let's say okay we agree on that, 37:18 now how can we have a clear perception of morality? 37:23 How can we have a clear perception? 37:25 Five testimonies 1:12 makes the statement, 37:28 I think it's a good one it pay for you to listen 37:30 and also me, says, Those who will put on the 37:34 whole armor of God and devote some time 37:37 every day to meditation and prayer 37:40 and to the study of the Scriptures will be 37:42 connected with Heaven and will have a saving, 37:46 transforming influence upon those around them. 37:52 Great thoughts, noble aspirations, 37:55 clear perceptions of truth and duty to God, 38:00 will be theirs. See there is victory for those 38:04 who you know I don't have a clear perception 38:07 of my morality of morals, how can we do it 38:10 you simply stay in the word, you pray, 38:12 you study the word of God. It's the same 38:14 answer every time; we have to spend time 38:16 with God. And therefore we see power it has a 38:20 transforming influence on us as we read the word. 38:25 And boy do we need transformed, 38:27 I do how about you today. 38:29 Let's go little farther with it, shall we 38:30 five testimonies 1:11 says this, pay attention please, 38:35 this is where we fail so sure, many people 38:38 in the world you think you can hang with the wrong 38:41 crowd and you're gonna be okay you're 38:44 fooling yourself. You think they won't have 38:47 an influence because you know what truth is. 38:51 Notice what it says: association with the vain, 38:54 you know people always in their self 38:56 and wanting something else. Associating with the vain, 38:58 the superficial, you know the pretenders, 39:01 the skeptical will produce moral depravity and ruin. 39:08 What is it gonna produce if we hang around the, 39:12 you know superficial and the vain and so on. 39:15 We're gonna be reduced to ruins. Bold, 39:19 forward young gentlemen or ladies may have something 39:23 pleasing in their address; have you ever been 39:26 woodwind by somebody, oh! They're nice person, 39:28 oh! They look good, oh! They talk good, 39:30 oh! They seem to be right with the program right here, 39:33 but notice this Boldness and being forward, 39:38 any young man or any young woman, 39:40 it says: The influence of every man's thoughts 39:43 and actions surrounds him like an invisible 39:46 atmosphere, which is unconsciously breathed 39:51 in by all who come in contact with him. 39:55 This atmosphere is frequently charged with 39:59 poisonous influences, and when these are inhaled, 40:03 moral degeneracy is the sure result. 40:06 Oh! I know it's a lot of reading, but if you are 40:08 paying attention and you are listening, 40:10 you understand what we're talking about. 40:11 Many people seeing to be this is good on the outside. 40:15 But they begin to talk about things that 40:17 shouldn't and insinuate things they shouldn't 40:19 and well at the same time they're breathing 40:21 what piousness ideas out and you know 40:23 what they are breathing out you 40:24 and I are breathing them in and it leads to ruin 40:28 and degeneracy as a result. Morals corrupted 40:32 you say well how can they be corrupt, 40:33 morals you can be corrupted by my eyes, 40:35 by my ears, or taste, our touch, our smell. 40:40 Let me just be little more personal with you, 40:42 our morals can be corrupted by eating 40:47 too much, our morals can be what? 40:51 Corrupted by eating too much, eating the wrong 40:56 foods can corrupt our morals because 40:59 it does something to the brain. 41:01 We have a very difficult time with it 41:04 and let's be real clear tobacco, alcohol it corrupts 41:10 the mind, our morals, and tempers in the 41:16 area will corrupt our morals, that's why the 41:20 Bible says be tempered in good all things. 41:25 And do you realize our morals can be disturbed 41:32 by the cloths that we wear. 41:37 That's an interesting thought isn't? 41:39 What we wear or we call our dress what the cloths 41:43 that we have on. It can destroy our morals, 41:51 therefore showing too much of our body. 41:54 We have other people thinking the wrong things 41:56 and we become accountable for that by the way. 42:01 It corrupts you say well it's not corrupting 42:03 my morals, but you are causing someone else 42:05 to be corrupt, you don't want that, 42:09 I don't want that. See God standard for his last day 42:13 people is to have moral excellence, 42:16 how can we attend this moral excellency? 42:21 We need to drink it in the principles of divine truth 42:24 if we receive them and we cherish them in the heart. 42:28 We will find that God will work a miracle inside of us 42:31 and the things that we want love we now hate, 42:35 we can be redeemed from that curse of your enemy; 42:39 yes he has been working with in plan in our hearts 42:41 and in our minds. God standard for us 42:46 is the word, he wants us to read the word 42:49 and we will use that in principle. This is our test, 42:53 this is what the word of God says and I hear people 42:57 say today well it doesn't, it doesn't matter, 43:00 yes it does matter. Everything you do as the 43:03 Christian matters, everything you take 43:05 in your body, every word that you say, 43:06 every action, the cloths that you wear again 43:09 what you put in, what you drink, 43:10 what you it has a telling influence on somebody's 43:13 life for good or evil. First John 3:3 the Bible says: 43:19 And every man that hath this hope in him 43:22 purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 43:26 Does God wants to be pure morally, 43:28 more excellence yes, a Bible says here 43:31 he purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 43:36 God wants his people, last day people to be pure. 43:38 Problem number 4, let's do this quickly our 43:40 time is running out. Ahab had no high 43:44 standard set for doing right, now I need to 43:48 encourage you, I need to encourage you 43:51 as we in your children or even as adults 43:57 that we need to set a high standard for ourselves 44:00 and for our children and for our home. 44:04 King Ahab fail and the children of Israel fail 44:06 they had the whole captivity in all the things 44:08 that happened in. Because he didn't set 44:10 a high standard, how do we do that in the home? 44:13 How do we do it in the work place? 44:15 We have to have a high standard, 44:19 high standard for doing the right thing. 44:21 I read in the little book one time, 44:23 I believe it was Christ's Object Lessons page 44:24 is about 98, it says simply: Do right because 44:27 it is right, some people say well yeah well 44:30 it says that, but how is that. Do right because 44:33 it is right, there is another little piece 44:36 of the puzzle that really helps us. 44:39 Do the right thing at the right time? 44:45 Do the right thing at the right time? 44:49 That makes a big difference at the right 44:52 time whatever the test draw or whatever 44:54 it might be we've got to do the right thing, 44:56 it's important, right then right there. 44:58 Not put it off, I say well next time I'll make 45:02 a better decision right thing right there. 45:05 God requires those in responsible positions 45:10 in the Church. You teach a class, your pastor, 45:13 your elder, you know leadership in the Church. 45:16 Whatever the case maybe right here that 45:19 we are to be dedicated to the work 100 percent. 45:23 Now, what if you know, what if we, we're moving 45:28 in the wrong direction, well you know what the people 45:30 began to move in the wrong direction 45:31 if the leadership is. Now, what if the people move 45:36 in the wrong direction, it's up to the leadership 45:39 to correct them by the word of God. 45:41 If they do not correct them, that means 45:43 they're going along with what's taking place. 45:48 Study Ahab, study it out, read some more on, 45:53 you're going to see that we have an obligation 45:57 to God to sound the trumpet to give it a 45:59 certain sound. We need by God's grace to do 46:04 the right thing at the right time. 46:08 King had no high standards set, what is that high 46:13 standard that we have to set? 46:14 What is that based upon? The Bible, the Bible is that 46:18 standard of right and wrong and we need to be 46:20 reading and studying it everyday. Never be afraid 46:24 to raise the standard high, I encouraged it Church 46:28 in the leadership and positions in the home. 46:30 Moms and Dad raise a standard in the home 46:32 say it doesn't. Don't say it doesn't matter, 46:36 don't say to children when you send them out 46:37 at night well come in whenever you want 46:39 to set a time, teach them to be obedient. 46:44 It will help them to be obedient to God, 46:47 teach them the right things, set a high 46:49 standard never be afraid of that. 46:53 The character of Christ is a pattern of the character 46:57 that we can form if we follow in the foot 47:00 steps of Jesus. That's what is gonna take 47:03 if we're gonna go to Heaven, don't be afraid 47:07 of setting the standard too high, 47:09 I heard people say oh! We set the standard 47:10 too high, if we had too many do's and don't 47:12 all the children are gonna rebel. 47:15 Now if you know how to do it, now if you mix love, 47:18 obedient, you mix the things together 47:20 and you watch what God is going to do. 47:22 He's gonna change things in your home, 47:23 he's gonna change things in your own life. 47:28 Since Ahab's character was so easily molded, 47:32 if you ever been around somebody that they're just 47:35 changeable as the wind. Right now, 47:38 well I'm this way, and somebody else comes along 47:41 and says something else say oh, yeah 47:43 I understand that too, that's kind a 47:45 how I feel too. Somebody else comes along well 47:47 this is how I, that's kind a how I think Ahab was. 47:49 His wife made suggestion, she was head strong, 47:52 she kept adding until finally he just gave 47:54 in say yeah well maybe that's right, 47:56 maybe we want to do this. His character was easily 48:00 molded and Jezebel determined spirit won out, 48:07 now may I just say this, the word maybe wrong 48:10 choosing here, but you just listen we need to be 48:12 careful who we choose to be our mate. 48:16 We need to be careful who we, 48:18 I think the younger generation says something 48:20 we hook up with. We need to be very careful 48:24 because if you have a real determine, 48:26 some person with real determine spirit can be very 48:30 dangerous if they're going against saith the Lord. 48:35 Check out the spirit in which they have as you 48:38 get to know that person, because they can lead 48:40 you down the wrong path. See message after 48:44 message was sent by the Lord to King Ahab 48:47 and here we are try to get them to listen. 48:49 But they refuse to listen; I call it the King 48:53 in his court. He refused and today we're refusing 48:58 the saith the Lord, when God said 70 years, 49:01 it 70 years but the false prophet comes 49:03 and said no two years. In the word of God, 49:08 the Bible is clear on most doctrine and teaching 49:12 and we read it and say well that's what it says 49:14 but now the God mean something differently 49:16 be careful we're living in the same time, 49:18 same test, same trial. We're going to the 49:20 same thing that King Ahab did we need to 49:23 be very careful, people become blinded 49:26 by the counterfeit. Israel was fascinated 49:32 with the kind of worship, the rights of idol worship 49:36 and the intoxicating, degrading and pleasure 49:41 of sensual worship. That's how the devil works right, 49:46 he works try to get to the senses, 49:48 to the eyes, the smell, they know where to touch. 49:52 And it captivates the children of Israel till 49:54 they were doing such degrading things against 49:57 the God of Heaven. That he said, 49:58 there is gonna be change take place. 50:02 And God send another Prophet and of course 50:04 you know we won't go in right now, 50:05 but he send Elijah. I believe that we are 50:09 in that time, it's worse, we have too many 50:14 preachers are in the pulpit today with the 50:16 hellish doctrine, going against thus saith 50:21 the Lord clear, we have the Jezebels on every 50:25 hand whatever form they might be in strongly 50:29 pushing against you all the time everyday trying 50:31 to get you to go the wrong direction, 50:33 do the wrong thing. You have to be determine, 50:35 you have to be content with your walk 50:37 with Jesus Christ. You have to know who is, 50:38 you have to know that's you have been born again. 50:41 You have to know what he has in store for you, 50:43 you got to know the victory that he has 50:45 promised to you. If you're not, you're gonna be 50:50 blown around by every wind of doctrine. 50:55 Book of Prophets and Kings 116 here is what 50:59 it said about the children of Israel when 51:02 King Ahab says: In their blind folly they chose 51:08 to reject God. Once again we have to see this, 51:13 it's always the choice that we make. 51:18 You cannot and I want some of you, 51:20 you need to stop this. You need to stop trying 51:23 to blame the pastor because he is not what 51:24 you think you ought to be, quit blaming the Church, 51:28 quit blaming where you fellowship, 51:29 quit blaming you know with your wife, 51:31 quit blaming the children. You make the choice, 51:35 you can got to blame somebody else if you want, 51:38 but you know what, that's what the false 51:39 prophets did. Be man enough, woman enough, 51:44 child of God big enough to say okay that's the 51:47 decision that I made because ultimately 51:49 that's exactly what it will be. 51:52 It will be your choice and we find here that 51:56 in their blind folly, another words they couldn't see, 52:00 they didn't understand spiritual things because 52:02 they turned their back on God. 52:03 Are you turning your back on God today? 52:06 If you turn your back on God because you know 52:08 what is right, but you've got lazy, 52:10 you don't go to Church, you don't need to 52:11 assemble self anymore, you don't need to be, 52:14 you're not content anymore, you're not happy anymore 52:16 is because you've left God you need to get back 52:19 in the Church, you need to get back in relationship 52:22 with Jesus Christ, they will be a peace 52:24 and they will be a contentment, 52:26 not following in the foot steps of Ahab. 52:30 Not following in the foot steps of the 52:31 children of Israel, it say's they rejected God 52:38 and they rejected his worship. 52:41 And the light so graciously given them 52:46 had become darkness. Have you ever read 52:48 that in scripture? The book of John Chapter 3:19 52:53 it says: and men loved darkness rather than what? 52:56 Yes rather than light, 1 John 2:11: because that 53:02 darkness hath blinded their eyes. 53:07 We turned away from the light of the world friend 53:09 we're gonna be blinded and when you're blinded, 53:11 you say what? Oh! We see, I think its 53:14 Matthew 15:14 talks about the blind leading the blind 53:19 and they don't fall in a ditch. Friend this is, 53:26 this is the light has turned to darkness. 53:31 That's talking about what we're shedding Jesus 53:33 out of things, we're thrown him out 53:35 and we're bringing in the devil in. We don't 53:38 want the devil, we want him to be out of our hair, 53:41 let me just quickly give you two ways that 53:44 you can find out the difference between the 53:46 Lord and Baal. Two ways very simple, 53:50 you know some of you, now some of you 53:52 here say oh! No, we know exactly how 53:55 you're gonna find out. Look don't be such 53:56 to know it all, I want you to listen very carefully. 54:01 You've heard it before I understand I can here you. 54:05 Two very, very important points here I want to make, 54:09 you can tell the difference between Baal and you can 54:12 tell the difference of the Lord. 54:16 When I say Baal, I'm talking about Satan; 54:21 Satan always satisfies the desires of the flesh. 54:29 Satan does what? He always satisfies the 54:32 desires of the flesh. The Lord always satisfies 54:38 the desires of the soul. One takes life 54:47 and the other gives life, that's pretty 54:51 simple isn't it? The devil is always 54:55 wanting something in return, he is always 54:59 desires the flesh, I'm gonna give you this 55:01 and this and this and. And the Lord simply says 55:05 I wanna give you my life, I came I live 55:09 the perfect life. We fail miserably, but I wanna 55:12 give you mine. In result the devil says I wanna, 55:15 I wanna try take their life, I wanna slay them. 55:18 Oh! Friend today, do you know the difference 55:22 we don't wanna come to the point we're so blind 55:23 just like enemy. We commit atrocities 55:32 against the God of Heaven because we become 55:34 confused in our hearts and in our minds because 55:36 we taken our mind off of him, I'm gonna invite 55:40 you today to really get into the word of God like 55:42 never before. The Baal worshipers by the way 55:47 you could always identify them as they ran around 55:49 because you know what they did, they always 55:50 wore amulets and charms and necklaces 55:54 and cross and idols that were carved out of 55:56 wood and stone. Many of them you know horses 56:00 and dogs and chickens and snakes, do you name it. 56:03 They wore these things in days of Israel you could 56:06 always tell who was pagan and who was a Christian. 56:10 How interesting that would be today? 56:11 Let pray about it you're gonna make 56:12 the right decision, right choice, right now. 56:14 Pray with me in last few seconds 56:15 that we have that God will help us. 56:17 Merciful Father in Heaven, we thank you for 56:19 your word, we pray now we're not be blinded 56:23 by the counterfeit, by the enemy blesses, 56:25 we pray give us spiritual insight that we maybe 56:28 more then conquers through Jesus Christ 56:30 and I thank you for hearing 56:31 and answering prayer in Jesus name, Amen. 56:35 Well, until next time God bless you 56:37 and remember please support this station 56:40 that brings these programs to you around the world 56:43 and many, many other programs that bring in the 56:45 word of life to you support this ministry too, 56:48 God bless you, we will see you next time. 56:52 Welcome back friends, you know I know that 56:55 this is so much for us to think about, 56:58 pray about, make changes about. But you know 57:02 Heaven is worth it all seeing, touching, 57:05 hearing with our own ears. 57:08 The Lord and Savior who has done and gives us 57:11 so very much for your salvation, for my salvation, 57:16 Heaven is cheap enough whatever it takes for you 57:20 to be there, it is cheap enough. And enclosing 57:24 we just want to remind you that you may take, 57:28 you may have your very own copies of these 57:31 two part series to help you with your walk with God. 57:35 We only ask that you consider giving a 57:38 donation of $15 or more. And you may have notice 57:42 by now that I always add those two words or more 57:46 after a suggestive price, that's because 57:48 your donation is vital to the continuance 57:51 of this ministry. In the very real sense, 57:55 we're helping each other, so please 57:57 won't you contact us today, won't you write us. 58:00 You can write us at Behold the Lamb Ministries, 58:03 PO BOX 2030, Herrin, IL 62948 or 58:08 call us 618-942-5044. 58:13 That's Central Standard Time. 58:15 You may e-mail us at 58:16 BeholdTheLambMinistries@ yahoo.com 58:19 or visit us on the web at 58:22 BeholdTheLambMinistries.com thank you, thank you, 58:26 thank you so very much for your prayers 58:29 and your financial support. Until next time may our 58:33 precious Lord continue to bless you and yours. |
Revised 2014-12-17