Participants: Taj Pacleb
Series Code: ROHB
Program Code: ROHB000019
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00:39 Our message tonight is entitled
00:40 "A love that transforms." 00:43 How many of you love Jesus? 00:46 If you love Jesus let me hear you say, amen. 00:48 Amen. 00:50 And why do you love Jesus? 00:52 Because He loved us. 00:53 That's what the Bible says, right. 00:56 In 1 John 4:19 it says "We love Him 00:59 because He first loved us." 01:03 And friends, when we understand the love of Christ 01:08 and the infinite sacrifice He has made for us 01:12 a change is gonna take place in our hearts. 01:15 We're gonna respond by loving Him back 01:18 because love awakens love. 01:22 And when you say that you love Jesus 01:24 I believe that you are sincere, 01:25 you mean that with all your heart 01:27 but let me tell friends, tonight message is gonna put our love 01:31 for Christ to the test. 01:33 It's an unpopular message. 01:36 As I mentioned it's an uncomfortable message. 01:39 But more than being unpopular and uncomfortable 01:41 it's a biblical message. 01:42 Amen. 01:44 And that's all that matters. 01:46 You see whenever we study God's word 01:48 sometimes it hurts. 01:52 Have you ever been hurt by the truth before? 01:55 Bible says that the word of God 01:56 is sharper than any two edged sword. 01:59 It cuts both ways, not only the hearers 02:02 but also the presenter. 02:04 And friends, tonight the word of God might cut some of us 02:08 because there are something's perhaps in our lives 02:10 that are not pleasing to God, 02:12 something's that are actually hindering 02:15 or even hurting our relationship with the Lord. 02:18 And so God in his infinite and mercy 02:20 He takes the sword of the spirit the word of God 02:23 and He begins to do heart surgery upon us, 02:28 cutting away the cancer of deception and the sins 02:33 and habits and things that distract us and hinder us 02:38 in our journey to heaven. 02:40 And so our love for Christ is gonna be put to the test. 02:43 But I believe that our love of Jesus 02:45 will pass the test because of His love for us. 02:47 Can you say, amen? 02:49 And so I want us to friends, that Jesus always and only 02:54 brings rebuke and correction because He loves. 02:57 His love is a love that transforms. 02:59 In Revelation 3:19 as we lay the foundation 03:02 Jesus said "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasen, 03:09 be zealous therefore and do" what? 03:11 "Repent." 03:12 And this love that brings rebuke 03:15 is also a call for repentance. 03:19 Jesus said be zealous therefore and repent. 03:22 And friends, we're gonna talk about this love 03:24 that is not a cheap sentimental, soppy Hollywood type of love 03:28 but a deep powerful love, a love that transforms. 03:31 And a love that cause man 03:34 and gives man the gift of repentance. 03:37 And friends, that word repent 03:38 its very important for our study tonight. 03:39 That word repent in the Greek language is the word metanoia 03:43 which literally means to change your way of thinking. 03:47 What does it mean? 03:48 Change your way of thinking. 03:49 So when the Lord in His love sends rebuke in correction 03:53 in that is a call to repentance 03:55 or a call to change our way of thinking. 03:57 And this is important friends, 03:59 because the natural way 04:00 that we think and believe is the wrong way. 04:05 So God wants to rewire our brains you can say. 04:08 Rewire the way that we think. 04:09 And this is important because friends, 04:12 it's the mind the frontal lobe the forehead 04:15 is what you make your decisions. 04:16 We learned before that the mind produces 04:18 our thoughts and feelings, thoughts and feelings 04:20 produce words and actions, 04:22 words and actions produce habits, 04:24 habits form a character 04:26 and character determines your destiny. 04:30 And God has a beautiful destiny for us, 04:32 a beautiful life for us but it all starts with the mind 04:36 with the way we think and the way we feel 04:39 and so salvation begins to the mind. 04:40 In fact notice what it says in the Book of Isaiah 1:18. 04:45 The Bible says "Come now, and let us" do what? 04:48 "Reason together, says the Lord." 04:50 What do you reason, my friends. 04:52 You reason with your mind 04:53 and so God is designed to guide our reason. 04:56 You see, the beautiful thing about passage is God says 04:59 come right now. 05:01 Don't change first and then come. 05:03 Don't give this up and stop doing this 05:05 and then come to me. 05:06 No, friends, the love of Christ accepts us just as we are. 05:10 Can you say, amen? 05:11 Broken, messed up, dirty, filthy with sin 05:15 He will take us no matter what condition we come to Him 05:18 He will take us just as we are. 05:20 But friends, it doesn't stop there. 05:21 The love of God while it accepts us just 05:24 as we are the love of God will never leave us as we are. 05:28 That love will have the power to change our way of thinking, 05:33 to rewire our belief system 05:35 so that we can have the right way of thinking 05:37 which leads to the right way of acting, the right habits, 05:40 the right character and the right destiny. 05:42 Can you say, amen? 05:44 You see a transformed mind results in a transformed life. 05:48 In fact, notice in Romans 12:2 the Bible says 05:52 "And be not conformed to this world, 05:54 but be ye" what's the word? 05:56 "Transformed" how? 05:58 "By the renewing of your mind." 06:00 You see it all starts in the mind 06:02 a transformed life begins with a transformed mind. 06:05 Repentance turning away from sin 06:08 and allowing the Lord to change our way of thinking. 06:10 It says "Be transformed 06:13 by the renewing of your mind, " why? 06:15 "That you may prove what is the good, 06:16 and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." 06:20 Friends, the only way we can do the will of God 06:21 is if we first yield our mind over to Jesus. 06:25 It all starts with the brain brother and sisters, 06:28 the way we think. 06:30 And so God has wanted to give us a transformed experience. 06:33 And by the way did you notice, 06:34 if we want to be like the word 06:35 all we have to do is conform. 06:37 But if we want to be like the Lord Jesus 06:39 we can't just conform to Jesus 06:41 we have to be transformed into His likeness. 06:44 Can you say, amen? 06:45 Make no mistake about it, friends. 06:46 Christianity is not a modification of behavior. 06:51 Christianity is a transformation of character 06:55 that's the real deal. 06:56 That's genuine Christianity not a modification of behavior 07:00 but a complete transformation in character 07:02 that begins in the mind as we allow the Lord Jesus to guide 07:07 the way that we reason and the decisions that we make. 07:11 And so tonight what we are gonna do 07:12 is study a group of people in the Book of Revelation 07:15 the final generation who have experienced a love 07:19 that has transformed them completely. 07:21 And we're gonna ask the question who are they? 07:23 How do they live and what do they look like? 07:25 This final generation the 144,000, 07:28 the spiritual Israelites in the last days 07:31 who are they and how did they live? 07:32 Oh friends, we don't have to guess 07:33 because the Bible describes their characteristics. 07:36 Please take your Bible now and turn with me 07:38 to the Book of Revelation Chapter 7. 07:40 It says, "And after these things I saw four angels 07:43 standing on the four corners of the earth, 07:45 holding the four winds of the earth, 07:47 that the wind should not blow on the earth, 07:48 nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 07:50 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, 07:53 having the seal of the living God, 07:55 and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, 07:57 to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 07:59 saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, 08:01 nor the trees, till we have." 08:03 Then what? 08:04 "Sealed" who? 08:05 The what? 08:06 "Servants of our God in their foreheads." 08:09 Which shows that if we are gonna have the seal of God 08:12 we first must make a decision to be a servant of God. 08:14 Can you say, amen? 08:16 And friends, if you are servant that means you have a master. 08:20 You see these who are sealed and saved in the last days 08:25 they have not only accepted Jesus as their Savior 08:28 but they have also accepted 08:29 Jesus as their master or the Lord of their lives. 08:34 You see because that's important in your life 08:35 because everyone wants to save you. 08:37 Oh, we all want Jesus as we all want to be saved 08:41 but very few people want a master. 08:44 You know why, because naturally 08:46 we want to be our own master. 08:47 We want to live our lives the way we want to live it. 08:50 We want to be our own authority. 08:52 We want a Savior. 08:53 Yes, please save me Lord, 08:55 but I don't want you as my master. 08:56 I don't want to do what you say to do. 08:58 But friends, if we are gonna receive the seal 09:00 Jesus must be our Lord and our Savior. 09:04 Can you say, Amen? 09:06 Notice another characteristic as we move on this evening. 09:08 Revelation 14:4 tells us. 09:10 "These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goes." 09:14 They love to follow Jesus. 09:17 What does it mean to follow the Lamb whithersoever 09:20 He goes in practical ways? 09:24 In what kind of ways? Practical ways. 09:26 You see friends, tonight's message is not 09:28 so much prophetic but it's a practical message. 09:32 This specific group of people 09:33 they live a very different type of lifestyle 09:37 because God has changed it from the inside out. 09:40 They follow Jesus in all things 09:42 in every single aspect of their lives. 09:44 In other words, they don't compartmentalize 09:46 God in one area of their lives 09:47 and then they're in control of the all other areas. 09:49 No friends, they follow Lamb where He goes 09:52 in every single area of their lives. 09:56 And friends, if you won't follow the Lamb in heaven 09:58 we need to follow Him here in this world. 10:00 Can you say, amen? 10:01 And so if you want to follow the Lamb wherever He goes. 10:05 Would you please say, amen? Amen. 10:07 Are you sure? 10:09 Amen. Amen. 10:11 Why because the Lamb will never lead us astray. 10:14 He would never lead us into a path 10:16 to harm us or to hurt us. 10:18 He will lead us through the valley of shadow of death. 10:20 He will lead us besides still waters and green pastures. 10:25 You see, our God is a God 10:27 that has our best interest in mind all the time 10:32 and we can trust Him in following Him 10:34 in every single aspect of our lives. 10:37 Can you say, amen? Amen. 10:38 And so I want you to notice what the Lamb says in Luke 9:23. 10:43 Luke 9:23 Jesus said "If any man will come after me," 10:47 or follow me "let him" do what? 10:50 "Deny himself, and take up his cross" how often? 10:54 "Daily, and follow me." 10:56 Friends, if we want to follow the Lamb wherever he goes 10:58 the Bible tells us that 10:59 it requires for us to deny ourselves how often? 11:02 Every single day. 11:06 The path to salvation in life 11:09 is a path of self sacrifice and self denial. 11:13 We must take up our cross every single day 11:15 and follow Jesus. 11:16 In other words, one decision today 11:18 is not gonna cover for tomorrow's decision. 11:20 Every day, day by day we must make a decision 11:23 to follow the Lord Jesus in every way 11:25 by taking up our cross and going wherever He leads us. 11:28 And by the way friends, when Jesus took up His cross 11:30 where did He go? 11:32 He took up His cross and He went to die. 11:35 And if you want to be the follower of Jesus 11:37 we have to do the same thing, pick up our cross 11:39 and self and the carnal sin for nature must die. 11:44 You see Christianity is not a modification of behavior 11:49 it is a surrender of your life to the Lord. 11:52 Can you say, amen? 11:54 And you have to do this day by day. 11:57 And by the way what is this cross 12:00 that Christ is calling us to carry? 12:02 Whenever God's will crosses our will 12:06 someone has to die. 12:08 Did you catch that? 12:09 Whenever the will of God crosses your own will 12:13 someone would die, it's either gonna be you 12:16 that self or it's gonna be Christ. 12:19 Either you're gonna follow your will 12:21 and you'll put Jesus on the cross again 12:23 crucifying Him afresh 12:24 or you will say Jesus you already died for me 12:26 I don't want You to die make me self die 12:29 and may You live in my life, in my heart, and in my mind. 12:33 Can you say, amen? Amen. 12:34 This is what it means to follow the Lamb, folks. 12:36 This is genuine Christianity 12:38 not just something we do once a week 12:40 but something we do day by day. 12:42 In fact, notice what it says in the Book of Luke 14:33. 12:45 Jesus said "So likewise, whosoever he be of you 12:48 that forsakes not all that he hath, he cannot be my." 12:54 And friends, the disciples are follower of Jesus, 12:57 a follower of the Lamb. 12:59 And if want to be a follower of the Lamb 13:01 the Bible tells us Jesus speaking 13:03 that we must be willing to forsake how much? 13:06 Not just some or part of our lives 13:09 we must be willing to forsake everything big and small. 13:13 You see, a full surrender 13:15 is the test of true discipleship. 13:19 To know if you are truly a disciple of Jesus 13:21 the question is does Jesus have your whole heart? 13:24 He must be our all in all. 13:27 And friends, this final generation 13:28 and the 144,000 those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes 13:32 they had made a complete surrender 13:33 of their lives to the Lord. 13:35 They have forsaken all both big and small 13:38 and they have made a lifestyle change. 13:41 Hey, what kind of change? Lifestyle. 13:43 And why were they so willing to make a lifestyle change? 13:49 Because, they understand more than anyone else 13:52 that depth of the love of God 13:54 that cause Jesus to make a lifestyle change for them. 14:01 Remember we love Him because He first loved us 14:05 and we understand that depth of His love 14:07 manifested in His sacrifice. 14:09 This is gonna result in a response of a surrender 14:13 of our lives to Him. 14:15 You know, many times people say 14:16 oh, it's gonna be--it's gonna be a big change following Jesus. 14:20 Man, it's gonna be a big change. 14:21 Well friends, really is it a big change? 14:23 Let me tell you what a big change is, 14:25 leaving heaven and coming to earth 14:28 that was a big change, friends. 14:30 And friends when we understand this love, 14:33 this infinite sacrifice and when we see 14:37 just how much Jesus gave and when we realize that 14:41 it wasn't a man that gave His life 14:42 we recognize that it was the creator Himself 14:46 that died on the cross. 14:50 We're not gonna want to hold anything back from Him. 14:53 We're gonna--you see, we're gonna surrender all. 14:55 You know why, because what He gave for us 14:58 is nothing in comparison what He is asking us 15:00 to give and surrender to Him. 15:03 Our surrender is a reflection 15:06 of our understanding of His surrender. 15:08 If we think a very shallow-- if we have a shallow view 15:12 of the surrender and sacrifice of Christ 15:14 then we're gonna surrender just a little bit of our lives, 15:17 we're going to hold something to ourselves. 15:19 But friends, when we see just how much He gave 15:21 and then He gave all how much are we gonna give? 15:24 We're gonna give all. 15:25 We are going to make a lifestyle change 15:28 and we're not gonna have an attitude saying, 15:30 oh, man, I am-- Lord, I am giving You so much 15:31 oh, its such a big change. 15:33 No friends, we are gonna do it so willingly and so happily 15:37 because of what Jesus has already done for us. 15:39 Oh, friends, keeping the Sabbath. 15:41 Oh, no problem Lord, no problem. 15:44 Changing the place that I worship. 15:46 Oh, no problem, that's not a big thing, Lord. 15:48 Changing my diet, oh no easy in comparison 15:51 to what you've already done for me, my Jesus. 15:54 Amen. Amen. 15:55 So friends, don't focus on what you're giving up, 15:58 focus on what He has already given up for you. 16:01 And as a nature of result things are gonna fly off. 16:04 Things are gonna drop from your life so quickly 16:06 and so easily, so the focus must be not of what you have to do 16:10 but what in He has already done for us. 16:13 And the Bible says, "We love Him because He first loved us." 16:19 Oh, friends, I want to have this experience 16:20 even deeper tonight how about you. 16:23 And so God's end time Israelites 16:26 are gonna have a lifestyle change. 16:28 They are gonna surrender all both big and small. 16:32 They are not gonna hold anything back. 16:34 In fact, notice how God describes them in 1 Peter 2:9. 16:39 "But you are a chosen generation, 16:42 a royal priesthood, a holy nation." 16:45 What kind of people? "A peculiar people." 16:48 "Peculiar people that you should show forth" 16:52 not just speak forth because talk is cheap. 16:56 "But that you should show forth the praises of Him 16:58 who would called you out of the darkness 17:01 and into His marvelous light." 17:04 And by the way friends, you know when Peter said that 17:06 to the New Testament church 17:07 he was actually quoting 17:10 because these are the words that God spoke 17:12 to the literal nation of Israel when they came out of Egypt. 17:15 Now Peter applies it to the New Testament church 17:17 why, because now we are spiritual Israel. 17:19 Can you say, amen? 17:20 We are God's people and so God is calling us 17:22 to be royal, to be holy, 17:25 to be chosen, and to be peculiar. 17:27 And friends, that word peculiar does not mean weird. 17:31 The word peculiar listen it means different, 17:35 distinctive and distinguishable. 17:38 What does the word peculiar mean? 17:41 In other words, when people see the people of God 17:44 just by looking at them and observing the way they live 17:48 they're gonna recognize wow, this person is different. 17:52 I mean, this person isn't like everyone else. 17:56 This person is peculiar 17:58 that's the characteristic of God's people. 18:00 And friends, that we need to ask-- 18:01 we need to say this, we need to ask the question. 18:04 If we are not distinguishable from the world 18:07 then we have to ask are we really God's people. 18:10 Did you guess that? 18:11 If we are not different and distinguishable from the world 18:14 are we really God's people? 18:17 Because God's people are gonna be different. 18:18 Can you say, amen? 18:19 Not just different for different sake, 18:20 no, they are different because they are like Jesus. 18:23 Amen. 18:24 I want to be like Jesus how about you? 18:25 And so how can we be like Jesus? 18:27 Notice this practical principle in 2 Corinthians 3:18 18:31 the Bible says "But we all, with open face 18:34 beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, 18:37 are changed into the same image from glory to glory, 18:42 even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 18:44 Here is a universal principle friends, 18:46 that is the foundation of our Bible study tonight 18:48 and that is simply this that by beholding something 18:52 we will become changed or transformed 18:56 into the same image of whatever it is 19:00 that we are beholding. 19:02 In other words whatever comes to our eyes, 19:04 our ears, and our senses will affect the mind. 19:08 And you remember the mind produces 19:09 your thoughts and feeling, words, 19:10 actions, habits, character, and destiny. 19:13 So that makes sense, right. 19:15 Whatever affects the mind whatever you be hold, 19:17 whatever you think about, whatever you look upon, 19:18 whatever you listen to you're gonna be changed 19:21 into the very same image. 19:24 Our parents used to like the say 19:25 "birds of the same feather flock together" Why? 19:28 Because you become whatever you surround yourself with. 19:31 Isn't that right. 19:32 So a person that watches violence all the time 19:35 is gonna become a violent person. 19:38 Whatever, comes to your eyes. 19:40 Whatever you behold that affects your mind 19:42 will determine the way that you live your life. 19:46 The images of our mind will reveal itself 19:50 in the lifestyle that we live 19:53 and for this reason we need to be very careful 19:57 what we allow our eyes to watch. 19:59 Can you say, amen? 20:00 We need to be very careful, 20:01 we allow our ears to listen to. 20:04 We need to be very careful where we allow our feet 20:07 to take us because remember 20:09 God wants to place His seal on our foreheads 20:11 He wants us to repent to rewire, 20:13 to change our way of thinking and in order to do this 20:17 we must behold Him in order to become change 20:20 into that same image. 20:22 Are you with me, yes or no? 20:24 And so now with that foundation I want us to take a look 20:26 at some practical's principles in the Bible 20:29 that show us how we can be a peculiar people, 20:33 God's end time Israelites. 20:34 How we can prepare our mind 20:37 to receive the seal of the living God. 20:39 I want to notice friends, God in his love and mercy 20:41 has given us some practical warnings in His word 20:44 things that we should avoid. 20:45 Notice what he says 20:48 now we are gonna get practical. 20:49 Are you ready? Yes. 20:51 Are you sure? Yes. 20:52 All right, Psalms 101:3 the Bible says, 20:54 "I will set no wicked thing before mine" what? 20:59 "Eyes." 21:00 And friends, and fortunately in many households 21:03 across America and even all over the world 21:05 there is something in the living room 21:07 that just pours out wickedness before our eyes 21:11 it's called the television sets. 21:15 And friends, listen there is nothing 21:17 inherently evil with the screen. 21:19 We have screens up here 21:20 that are being used for the glory of God. 21:22 Can you say, amen? 21:23 There is nothing wrong with having a screen. 21:25 I have a screen in my living room. 21:27 Nothing wrong with it because friends, remember 21:29 the thing that is wrong is what it reveals. 21:32 Things that pour out wickedness 21:34 and friends, you are the one that controls it. 21:36 Isn't that right? 21:37 You are one that has the remote. 21:38 You are the one that controls what comes through it. 21:40 We control, it right or does it control us. 21:44 Are we really that ones that are controlling it 21:46 or is that thing controlling you? 21:49 We have to search our hearts tonight, friends. 21:51 Especially when Hollywood has no regard for God. 21:54 TV's creative community. 21:56 Over 93% don't attend church. 21:58 Over 95% think that homosexuality is okay. 22:01 Over 84% think that adultery is okay. 22:03 These are the ones that are making the movies 22:05 and the programs on television. 22:07 They have no regard for God. 22:09 And therefore their disregard for God 22:11 is demonstrated in the movies, 22:13 in the filth, in the violence, in the sex 22:15 of the shows that they are putting out. 22:17 And friends, if we are honest 22:18 there is hardly anything good to watch on television today. 22:21 Would Jesus feel comfortable watching the movie 22:23 that I am watching, 22:24 the television show I am watching, 22:25 what I am looking upon in the magazines 22:27 in the books and on the internet? 22:29 Will Jesus be entertained by this? 22:31 And friends, if this is not something we can do with Jesus 22:34 then we have to chose 22:35 either we're gonna have the presence of Jesus 22:37 or we are gonna have whatever it is 22:39 that we are wanting to watch 22:40 and Jesus presence is gonna have to leave. 22:43 And friends, I don't know you, 22:44 I want the presence of Jesus, amen. 22:47 And so if you are struggling with this friends, 22:49 just like I use to struggle with this 22:51 and sometimes to do if I don't catch myself 22:54 here is the prayer that we need to pray. 22:55 Psalms 119:37 says "Turn mine eyes 22:59 away from beholding vanity, and quicken me in Thy way." 23:04 So if you are struggling with it 23:05 God can give you victory, friends. 23:07 And now back to the question, do you love Jesus? 23:12 Are you sure? Amen. 23:13 Is Jesus more important than Hawaii Five-0? 23:16 No. Oh, I hope so, amen. 23:19 Is He more important than MTV? 23:21 Is He more important than all of these reality TV shows 23:24 and soap operas and things that we watch? 23:26 Absolutely, yes. 23:27 Friends, we need to get off the couch 23:29 and out of the house and start living our own lives 23:32 instead of watching others live their lives. 23:34 Can you say, amen? Amen. 23:35 Instead of beholding man we need to behold the Lamb 23:39 Lord Jesus Christ. 23:41 And friends, if that's all right with you 23:43 would you please say, amen? 23:44 Amen. 23:45 And friends, are you ready for more. 23:47 Oh some of you are not ready for more. 23:49 If you are ready for more let me hear you say, amen. 23:50 Amen. 23:51 Oh, friends, Jesus not only warns us about the things 23:53 that come through our eyes but also the things 23:55 that comes to our ears. 23:57 The Bible tells us in the Book of Mark 4:24. 24:00 "Take heed what you hear." 24:03 Friends, researchers are discovering 24:06 some interesting things concerning the power of music. 24:08 They have shown that music enters the brain 24:10 through the emotions 24:11 thus bypassing the reasoning abilities. 24:14 And so you find yourself singing something 24:16 that otherwise you would never say it. 24:19 But because you're singing it you don't even thinking about 24:21 what exactly you are saying. 24:22 It's bypassing your reasoning powers, 24:25 the frontal lobe and it comes to the emotions. 24:27 And the wrong types of music and unbalanced music 24:30 and alter persons pulse, breathe rate, 24:32 reflexes without a person even realizing. 24:35 And syncopated dance rhythms can alter person's mood 24:39 creating a mouth hypnosis. 24:41 And not only that but the wrong types of music 24:43 it destroys the frontal lobe of the brain. 24:46 Scientists have shown 24:47 that wrong types of music destroys the frontal lobe 24:49 where God wants to place His seal. 24:51 And so when it comes to different types of music 24:53 we listen to we have to put it to the biblical text 24:56 in the Book of Philippians 4:8 24:59 the Bible tells us that this is the test 25:01 of what we watch and the things we listen to. 25:04 Notice what it says 25:06 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, 25:10 whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, 25:13 whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, 25:16 whatever things are of good report, 25:19 if there is any virtue 25:20 and if there is anything praiseworthy, think on" what? 25:24 "These things." 25:25 God wants us to put it to the test. 25:26 And so we have to consider 25:28 does this music bring me closer to God 25:30 or does it mean make me want to do the things of the world? 25:34 Would Jesus feel comfortable listening to this type of music, 25:37 could He be entertained by it? 25:39 And if not friends, then we have to make a choice 25:41 to put God first in our life, amen. 25:44 It says think on these things, and why, 25:46 because the Bible says 25:48 "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." 25:53 What you think is who you are friends, 25:55 because your mind produces your thoughts and feelings, 25:57 words and actions, habits, character and destiny. 26:01 And so friends, if you are sharing with the music 26:03 like I used to, I had a huge CD collection 26:06 and when I first was coming to the Lord 26:10 and I realized that man, I had of all of this 26:12 and I spend a lot of money and I love these 26:13 listening to these types of music 26:15 but I realized that these types of music 26:17 in Hawaii it wasn't making me want to serve Jesus 26:20 it was making me want to smoke weed. 26:22 And I have to make a choice. 26:25 This was not helping my Christianity. 26:28 And so I didn't give it away 26:29 for somebody else to corrupt their mind 26:30 I threw it in the garbage by God's grace. 26:33 And God gave me the victory and then He began to teach me 26:37 to sing a brand new song. 26:38 Amen. 26:39 Notice what happens when Jesus reins in the heart 26:41 in Psalms 40:3 the Bible says 26:44 "And He hath put a new song in my mouth, 26:47 even praise unto our God." 26:49 You see, God wants to teach us to sing a brand new song 26:52 that comes from our brand new heart. 26:54 And by the way 144,000 the final generation 26:57 they sing this new song. 26:58 Notice Revelation 14:3 26:59 "And they sung as it were a new song before the throne." 27:03 Friends, I want to sing that new song 27:04 before the throne how about you? 27:06 But before we can sing it up there before the throne 27:08 we must learn to sing it right now in this world. 27:12 We need to let Jesus be our salvation and our song. 27:17 Can you say, amen? Amen. 27:18 And friends, let me remind you 27:19 God has not taken away things we like just because 27:22 He is only trying to take away the things 27:24 that are not helping us heaven way, 27:26 the things that are harming and hurting us and distracting us. 27:30 But He does it only to give us something far better in replace. 27:34 He never takes away something 27:35 without giving us something far better in place of it. 27:38 And I can testify that by experience. 27:41 I told you I threw away all of music 27:43 and I had nothing to listen to. 27:45 But friends, God replaced it with some good, sound, solid, 27:48 biblical, sacred, sweet, heavenly music. 27:53 And it got so good friends, that I have been blessed 27:57 to be able to work with my very favorite music group 28:00 in the whole world, the Revelation of Hope Singers. 28:03 Can you say, amen? Amen. 28:05 And I can consider these. 28:06 Brothers and sisters, my personal friends, 28:08 you see God took away all the worldly music 28:10 but He gave me some friends that make sweet heavenly music. 28:15 And so if you are struggling with this tonight 28:17 God can give you victory. 28:18 And I will back to the question, do you love Jesus? 28:22 If so let me hear you say, amen. 28:23 Amen. 28:24 Is Jesus more important to you 28:27 than the music of this world? 28:29 Friends, we need to make Jesus 28:31 our salvation and our song. 28:34 Can you say, amen? Amen. 28:35 We need to make sure that the idea of music 28:38 is cast down and we let Jesus be our true song 28:42 and to allow Him to teach us to sing the new song 28:45 in preparation for heaven. 28:47 Amen. 28:48 And friends are you ready for more? 28:49 Yes. Praise the Lord. 28:52 It's the Lord has more for us than I, amen. 28:54 Amen. 28:55 Be careful what you watch, be careful what you listen to, 28:59 be careful where you lie your feet to go. 29:01 But notice what else God warns us of in these last days. 29:06 In first John 2:15, 16 the Bible says 29:09 "Love not the world, 29:12 neither the things that are in the world. 29:15 If any man love the world, 29:17 the love of the Father is not in him. 29:19 For all that is in the world, 29:20 " then it describes three specific things notice " 29:23 The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, 29:26 and the pride of life, is not of the Father, 29:29 but of the world." 29:30 Notice three specific things God want us off 29:33 the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, 29:35 and the pride of life. 29:36 These are the three deadly sins of the world. 29:39 And friends, how can we guard against these three deadly sins? 29:43 I want you to notice how Christians can guard 29:45 against the lust of the flesh, the eyes and the part of life. 29:47 God in the New Testament gives us a practical principle 29:50 that calls us to be peculiar people. 29:52 Notice what it says in 1 Timothy 2:9 it tells us 29:57 "That we are to adorn ourselves" in what kind of a apparel? 30:01 "In modest apparel." 30:03 Friends, did you know we need to glorify God 30:06 in the way that we appear outwardly. 30:09 Yes friends, God has claims upon our appearance as Christians 30:12 even though our society and the world is totally against 30:16 the biblical principle of modesty. 30:18 And let me tell you friend's, one person said like this. 30:20 Modesty is not trying to hide yourself 30:23 but modesty is revealing your dignity to the world. 30:26 Amen. 30:27 It's showing that you respect yourself 30:30 and that you respect others 30:31 and you do it by covering the things 30:34 that excite the brain into carnality. 30:37 In fact, the world is totally against this. 30:39 I want you to notice what one New York professor, 30:42 one professor at New York's Parsons School of Design said 30:46 in describing the world she said that 30:48 "Nothing is kept private. It reflects society. 30:50 No one has any reserve anymore. 30:52 It's all about "showing" what? "Everything." 30:55 That's how our society is. 30:57 You see Hollywood in the world 30:58 are not looking for ways to cover up the flesh 31:01 but they are looking for ways to uncover and to reveal the flesh. 31:07 And friends, as we behold Hollywood 31:09 in the dress of the world 31:10 we as Christians become desensitized by it 31:13 and as the result what do you have, 31:14 you have dresses in the church 31:17 getting higher and higher and higher 31:20 and blouses tighter and tighter and tighter. 31:23 Oh, friends, God does not want us to dress 31:25 in order to raise the blood pressure 31:27 of the opposite sex, amen. 31:31 He does not want us to dress in such a way 31:35 that we are attracting attention to body parts. 31:38 Amen. Amen. 31:40 This is not extreme friends, this is common sense. 31:44 And friends, listen sisters, oh my beloved sisters, 31:49 you need to help us brothers out 31:54 by covering up the flesh 31:57 because you see the way the male brain works 32:00 is that the male brain is excited, 32:02 easily excited by the things that we see 32:05 and the Bible says you are your brother's keeper. 32:08 You see ladies, you can help us get to heaven a whole lot easier 32:12 by being modest in your apparel. 32:16 Can you say amen, brothers? 32:17 Amen. Amen. 32:20 And brothers we need to help our sisters out. 32:24 Amen, sisters. Amen. 32:25 And how do we help the sisters out brothers, 32:28 by treating them with dignity and respect, 32:32 looking upon our sisters as daughters of God, 32:35 children of the king, princesses, 32:38 not an object to fulfill our lust. 32:42 We need to help each other out, amen. 32:44 Oh friends, do you still love the Lord Jesus. 32:46 Yes. 32:47 Not extreme right very practical stuff. 32:49 God is wanting us to be peculiar 32:51 means that our dress ought to be different 32:54 than from the dress of Hollywood and the world. 32:57 And if we are looking like the world 32:58 we have to ask, are we really God's peculiar people or not? 33:02 Now friends, listen, many people have asked 33:05 on the subject of dress and adore. 33:07 And many people have wondered what about-- 33:09 what does the Bible have to say about jewelry. 33:11 Well, what is-- is there anything wrong 33:12 with wearing jewelry? 33:14 Oh, friends, that depends on who you ask. 33:16 We are not concerned with your opinions of a man, amen. 33:20 Friends, listen, when it comes jewelry in the Bible 33:23 the Bible is clear that God's people 33:25 should not be wearing jewelry at all. 33:27 And listen, if you are wearing jewelry tonight 33:29 please don't be embarrassed. 33:32 Don't be embarrassed because God judges us 33:34 based upon the knowledge we have 33:37 and the opportunities He has given us. 33:40 And did you know friends, about 60 years 33:42 every single church thought what I am about to share 33:44 from God's word tonight but all the time what happen is 33:48 man began to compromise and watered down the word of God 33:51 and thus this truth about wearing superfluous adornments 33:55 is a largely forgotten truth. 33:57 And so friends, listen, it's not your fault 33:58 that many preachers are free to preach it. 34:01 And to be honest as I mentioned 34:02 it is very uncomfortable for me to share these things. 34:04 You know why, because friends, I want you to like me. 34:09 I want you to like me, I want to have a good time, 34:11 and be friends and I don't want to offend anyone. 34:14 But friends, more than being liked by man 34:16 I want to be faithful to God. 34:17 Amen. Amen. 34:18 And so friends, please put aside your personal feelings 34:21 and your personal thoughts and let's look objectively 34:25 to see what the New Testament teaching 34:26 is concerning the wearing of jewelry. 34:28 Notice what it says in 1 Peter 2:9. 34:31 The Bible tells us "In like manner also, 34:33 that women adorn themselves" in what kind of apparel? 34:36 "Modest apparel." 34:37 Then it continues and gives specifics. 34:39 "Not with broided hair or gold or pearls or costly array." 34:43 Friends, the Bible is warning us 34:45 against the wearing of gold, pearls 34:46 and different types of adornments. 34:49 And by the way when it says broided hair 34:50 it doesn't mean you can't braid you hair, you can, 34:53 but the broidery of the hair that was practiced 34:55 in these times is that they weave gold and chains 34:57 and all kinds of things to accentuate the hair 35:00 and its that practice of the wearing of jewelry 35:03 and these types of things that the Bible is warning us against. 35:06 And the reason why is because the God is trying to protect us 35:08 from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, 35:11 and the pride of life. 35:13 And friends, when you study history 35:14 you will find that the wearing of jewelry 35:16 was a hedonistic practice. 35:19 Nowhere in the Bible does God say to wear the cross 35:21 He says to pick up the cross and bare it. 35:24 Not wear it but bear the cross. Can you say, amen? 35:26 And so please don't feel embarrassed 35:28 or personally attacked by this subject. 35:30 I want you to know it has nothing to do with you. 35:32 I present this message in every single seminar I do. 35:35 So it's nothing personal, friends. 35:37 I am not doing it to try to pick on somebody, absolutely not 35:39 just have an open mind. 35:40 Let's see what God's word has to say, amen. 35:42 Notice what it says in Genesis 35:2, 4 35:45 talking about God's people the Israelites. 35:47 "Then Jacob said unto his household, 35:48 and to all that were with him, Put away the" what? 35:51 "Strange god's that are among you 35:53 and be clean and change your garments." 35:55 This was the house of Jacob God's people the Israelites 35:59 and God says, I want you to take 36:00 to put away all the strange god's 36:02 that you have in your household. 36:04 What were these strange God's that they have? 36:06 Notice in verse 4 "And they gave unto Jacob 36:08 all the strange gods which were in their hand, 36:12 and all their" what? 36:13 "Their earrings which were in their ears." 36:15 Notice friends, in this verse 36:17 the wearing of earrings or jewelry 36:19 was connected with idolatry. 36:23 You see the wearing of superfluous adornments 36:25 was a characteristic of the heathen 36:27 never of God's people. 36:29 In fact, notice in the Book of Judges 8:4 36:33 the Bible says, 36:34 "And they had golden earrings, because they were" what? 36:39 "Ishmaelite." 36:40 And so we find that the Ishmaelite 36:42 in this passage were characterized 36:44 and described as wearing earrings 36:45 because they were Ishmaelite. 36:47 Well, friends, God is calling us to be spiritual Israelites. 36:51 And remember during the time of their Egyptian bondage 36:54 when God set them free 36:55 they were wearing all of these things 36:57 when they came out of Egypt 36:58 because they learned it 36:59 from the practices of the Egyptians. 37:02 And so God set them free 37:03 and now He was taking them to the promise land 37:06 and on their way to the promise land 37:08 guess what they did with these superfluous adornments. 37:11 They took it off and they made a golden calf 37:13 and they began to worship the gods of goat. 37:17 You see, the wearing of these things 37:19 let them eventually into false worship. 37:22 It was the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, 37:24 and the pride of life. 37:25 It was a pagan practice. 37:27 In Exodus 33:5, 6 it says "Now take off your ornaments, 37:31 that I may know what to do with you. 37:32 So the children of Israel 37:34 stripped themselves of their ornaments by Mount Horeb." 37:37 That was God brothers and sisters, 37:38 brothers and sisters, He was speaking 37:39 He said to His people take off your ornaments. 37:42 And friends, the apostle Paul applies this to us. 37:45 1 Corinthians 10:6 tells us, 37:47 "Now these things became our, what?" 37:49 "Examples, to the intent that we should not lust 37:53 after evil things as they also lusted." 37:56 Just as God took His children of Israel 37:57 out of the Egyptian bondage 37:59 He wants to set us free from the bondage of sin. 38:01 And just as He brought them though the wilderness 38:03 intending to take them to the promised land 38:05 right now we are in the wilderness of this world 38:08 and God is wanting to take us to the heavenly Canaan, 38:10 the heavenly promised land. 38:11 Can you say, amen? 38:13 And while we are in the wilderness of this world 38:15 that devil has some traps for us 38:17 and one of the traps of the Israelites back then 38:19 was the wearing of superfluous adornments 38:21 that led to idolatry and so in the same way 38:24 this is a trap of Satan 38:27 for many of God's people in these last days. 38:29 And I want you to notice 38:31 how the Bible describes it in Hosea 2:13 it says 38:35 "She decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, 38:38 and went after other lovers and did" what? 38:42 "Forgot Me, says the Lord." 38:45 I want you to notice God people forgot 38:47 the true beauty that comes from within. 38:49 They saw the attributing beauties to the things 38:51 that were thought and they forgot the Lord their God. 38:53 It led to apostasy and rebel it against God. 38:56 In fact, notice another one in Isaiah 3:9 38:59 talking about God's people who fell into apostasy. 39:02 It says and "The look on their countenance" 39:04 look on their what? 39:07 Countenance witnesses not for them, but "against them 39:10 and they declared their sin as Sodom, they hide it not." 39:12 So there was something 39:14 on the outward countenance of God's people 39:17 that was a witness not for but against Him. 39:19 Well, what exactly was upon their countenance? 39:22 It was the wearing of the superfluous adornments. 39:23 Notice in the context in verses 18-24, 39:27 the Bible thinks it's a list of the things 39:29 that were on the countenance of the God's people 39:31 that caused them to be proud and forget God. 39:34 Notice what it says 39:35 "In that day the Lord will take away 39:36 the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, 39:39 the chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, 39:42 and the bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs 39:44 and the earrings, the rings, and the nose jewels, 39:48 and the changeable suits of apparel, 39:50 and it shall come to pass that instead of sweet smell 39:52 there shall be a stench, and instead of a girdle a rent, 39:56 and instead of well set hair baldness, 39:58 and burning instead of" what? 40:00 "Beauty." 40:01 You see these things did not bring true beauty. 40:03 It calls God's beauty to become haughty and proud 40:06 it was the proud of life. 40:07 And so it brought instead of beauty 40:09 it brought a stench, a rent, boldness and burning. 40:12 You see what God's people were doing 40:13 they were trying to supplement 40:16 the glory of God for the glory of goat. 40:20 They were trying to supplement the glory of God. 40:22 It was a counterfeit to cover up the emptiness 40:25 and the insecurities of their lives 40:29 because God was missing. 40:30 They had rejected Him. 40:31 So to cover up their emptiness and their insecurities 40:33 they tried to cover themselves up with these things 40:36 that caused them to feel important, 40:37 that caused them to feel valuable and beautiful. 40:40 They forgot where true beauty is. 40:42 Friends, don't ever forget that true beauty 40:44 is not something that is put on without 40:45 true beauty is something that comes from within 40:47 as we let the Lord live in our hearts. 40:49 Can you say, amen? Amen. 40:50 Beauty isn't defined by what you look like 40:54 well, by who you are and whose you are. 40:59 You are son and daughter of God. 41:02 That's what makes you beautiful. 41:03 And you belong to the king friends, 41:06 that is what makes you beautiful 41:07 it doesn't matter what you see in the mirror 41:09 what God sees is the beautiful child of the king. 41:12 Can you say, amen? Amen. 41:13 And so we should not fall into this trap of Satan. 41:16 In fact notice God is the one that makes us beautiful. 41:18 In the Book of Psalms 149:4 it says 41:20 "For the Lord takes pleasure in His people, 41:24 and He will beautify the humble with" what? 41:27 "Salvation." 41:28 Friends, God does not want to beautify us 41:30 with gold and jewels and precious stones 41:31 and in modest dress He wants to beautify us 41:34 with humility and His eternal salvation. 41:38 That's the beauty of the Lord 41:39 and how many of you want that tonight. 41:41 If so would you please say, amen. 41:42 Amen. 41:43 Salvation on the inside is what makes us 41:45 beautiful on the outside 41:46 and so we see very clearly friends, 41:48 that God does not want us to wear 41:49 vain and superfluous adornments they are not necessary. 41:53 And some of you might be wondering 41:54 well, what about the wedding band? 41:55 I mean, because the wedding band isn't vain 41:57 because it has a purpose. 41:59 It shows that you are married and that you are taken, 42:01 just like a watch. 42:02 It has a purpose its purpose is to tell the time. 42:06 And so what about the wedding band, 42:07 does this fall into the same category? 42:09 Well, friends, many of you have noticed that I don't-- 42:11 My wife and I we don't wear wedding bands. 42:14 And before I give you the reason why 42:16 I have to tell you that this is a very sensitive issue 42:18 even in my church and I want you to remember this 42:22 it does not matter what others are doing 42:24 and it does not matters what other are not doing. 42:28 God s not giving us each other as an example to follow. 42:31 He is giving us the Son of God Jesus 42:34 as our perfect example. 42:35 Can you say, amen? Amen. 42:36 And so God does not want us to look around 42:38 and begin judging people 42:39 He wants us to look within to search our hearts 42:42 and search His word 42:43 and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us 42:45 when it comes to the particular item of the wedding band. 42:49 And friends, let me just tell you why I don't wear it. 42:52 The reason why my wife and I 42:53 have chose not wear a wedding band 42:54 is because as we study the Bible 42:56 the Bible doesn't make any distinction between any rings. 42:59 In fact, if you study the history of the wedding band 43:02 you will find that it comes from paganism. 43:04 I want you to notice what history says. 43:06 "We are told by Eusebius that Constantine, 43:08 in order to recommend the new religion to the heathen, 43:11 transferred into it all the outward" what? 43:15 "Ornaments to which they had been accustomed 43:16 in their own religion." 43:18 But what were these pagan ornaments 43:19 that were brought into the church? 43:21 It continues "The use of temples, 43:23 those dedicated to particular saints, 43:25 incense and candles and holy water, 43:27 processions, the ring in the marriage, 43:30 turning to the east, images at a latter date, 43:33 all are of pagan origin 43:34 and sanctified by their adoption into the church." 43:38 Friends, history makes it clear 43:40 that the wedding band was a sign of paganism. 43:42 It was a sign of ownership 43:43 but is also a sign of the son God 43:46 that the circular band of gold was a symbol of the Sun God. 43:50 Now friends, listen I know that today 43:51 we don't associate the Sun God with the wedding ring. 43:53 I know that I acknowledge it. 43:55 Now it's used for protection isn't it, 43:57 to let other people know that you're taking. 44:00 But friends, think about it in our twisted world 44:04 it's not long a safe method of protection. 44:08 You see, the greatest protection 44:10 to let others know that you are married 44:12 is modesty in you demeanor and in your character. 44:16 Can you say, amen? Amen. 44:17 That's the greatest protection is the way you live. 44:19 Not something around your finger because in our twisted world 44:21 people don't even-- many people don't even acknowledge it. 44:25 They don't regard it at all. 44:26 And friends, it's easier to take it off too. 44:29 But friends, if you are modest in your demeanor and character 44:31 and if you really love your spouse 44:32 that's not something you're gonna take off. 44:33 Can you say, amen? Amen. 44:35 Now friends, listen very carefully 44:36 I do understand that in some countries 44:39 the wedding band is a cultural necessity 44:41 and people will miss judge you if you don't have it. 44:44 They will think you're losing just trying to fool around. 44:46 And so in that context, listen in that context 44:49 you are absolutely free to follow your own convictions 44:52 as the Holy Spirit leads you 44:53 when it comes to the wedding band. 44:55 In that context 44:57 you could make your own decision. 44:58 But friends, listen carefully wearing a wedding band 45:01 does not make you more married 45:03 and not wearing one does not make you less married. 45:06 What makes you married? 45:08 Your love and your commitment to your spouse. 45:10 Can you say, amen? Amen. 45:11 And if you feel like you need an outward symbol 45:13 to show others and for a protection 45:15 as that's between you and the Lord. 45:17 But as I studied and pray this God convicted me 45:19 that I will need a band of gold 45:21 to tell others that I'm married 45:22 I have chosen to let my life tell the world 45:26 that I am happily married. 45:29 Amen. 45:31 And if people ask me, are you married? 45:32 I don't say yeah, I'm married. 45:36 No, I am happily married, amen. 45:40 I am happily taken. 45:43 I belong to my wife and she belongs to me 45:47 and no one is to come between that sacred relationship. 45:49 Can you say, amen? Amen. 45:50 That's the greatest protection, folks. 45:52 You see the beauty of my inward commitment to my wife 45:55 outshines any sparkle of gold, amen. 45:59 Now friends, this is my encouragement 46:00 on this sensitive issue. 46:02 Number one, you should never do something 46:05 and you should never not do something 46:07 because others are doing it or not doing it. 46:10 Number two, don't look around for an example. 46:12 Look above and look into the word of God, 46:14 and let the Holy Spirit lead you 46:16 and allow God to lead you 46:17 and we also need give people a room 46:20 to follow their own personal convictions 46:23 and to grow in their experience. 46:26 And finally God does not call us to be fruit inspectors 46:31 He has called us to be fruit barriers. 46:32 Can you say, amen? Amen. 46:33 And so that's my encouragement on this sensitive topic 46:36 on the wedding ring because unlike other forms of jewelry 46:40 that one does have so what of a purpose 46:41 and so that one is some of the different category 46:43 you allow the Lord to lead you. 46:45 And friends, God is patience and He grows us 46:49 into a deeper and deeper understating 46:52 of his perfect will for our lives. 46:53 Can you say, amen? Amen. 46:54 Now friends, I want you to notice as we continue, 46:57 some people have asked while we're on this topic 46:59 some people will ask well, what about tattoos. 47:01 How much is too much? 47:03 Is it okay to get a tattoo of Jesus on the back 47:06 or a tribal tattoo on the arm? 47:08 Is that okay? 47:10 I mean its cultural and as of Jesus, 47:11 I mean, when I am on the beach I can witness 47:13 and you know people see Jesus on my back? 47:16 Is this something that God want us to have? 47:18 Is this permissible in the eyes of God? 47:20 Well, friends, listen if you have a tattoo tonight 47:23 you shouldn't be embarrassed unless it's on you face. 47:29 I so leave it too much, friends, may be too much. 47:33 Now friends, if you have a tattoo tonight 47:35 nothing you can do about it. 47:36 It's not gonna wash off isn't that right. 47:38 So the past is past but friends, I want you to notice 47:40 what God's says for the future. 47:41 Notice the biblical principles. 47:42 In 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 it says, 47:45 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, 47:47 and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 47:50 If any man defile the temple of God, 47:52 him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is holy, 47:56 which temple ye are." 47:57 The Bible says that our body doesn't belong to us friends, 48:00 its God's holy temple. 48:03 Now how would you feel someone came into this church, 48:05 this temple and started graffiting on the walls? 48:07 Will that acceptable yes or no? 48:09 Of course not. 48:10 And how do you think-- feel-- 48:11 how do you think the Holy Spirit feels 48:13 when we graffiti on his temple our body. 48:16 But some people rationalize and they say 48:18 but we're the temple of God 48:19 therefore we should deck ourselves out 48:21 and make the temple of God so beautiful. 48:24 But friends, I want you to consider 48:25 the Old Testament temple of God. 48:27 There is nothing gold on the outside of the temple. 48:29 Do you realize that? 48:31 There is no designs on the outside, 48:33 it was just skin. 48:35 That's what the temple was. The outward it was badger skin. 48:37 It was just skin on the outside. 48:40 But friends, was there gold? 48:42 Where is the gold? On the inside. 48:45 The wallpaper was solid gold. 48:48 Every article, furniture on the inside of the temple 48:51 was of gold, brothers and sisters. 48:53 Where does God want to go to be? 48:55 Not hanging on the outside He wants it to be on the inside. 48:58 Can you say, amen? Amen. 48:59 We are the temple of God, it's the beauty 49:01 that shines form within and is reflected on the outside. 49:05 In fact, I want you notice 49:06 how strongly God feels about this 49:07 in Leviticus 19:28 the Bible says, 49:10 "You shall not make any cutting in your flesh" 49:14 no piercing friends "for the dead, 49:16 nor tattoo any marks on you, I am the Lord." 49:23 And if that's clear would you please say, amen. 49:26 And why does God say this? 49:27 Because He doesn't want us to look like the world 49:30 He wants us to be different and distinguishable. 49:32 If you have a tattoo don't worry about it 49:34 that's the past let the past be past 49:35 but this is for the future. 49:36 Can you say, amen? Amen. 49:37 God judges based upon the knowledge that we have. 49:40 And so some people say though 49:41 if God does not want us to have tattoos 49:44 then what about make up? 49:49 Friends, listen, if you have makeup tonight, 49:52 if you have makeup tonight you shouldn't be embarrassed 49:55 unless you are a man. 50:01 In most cases a man should not wear makeup, amen. 50:05 Now listen ladies, listen I wouldn't say much about it 50:08 but there are few scriptures 50:11 that I want to share with you tonight. 50:12 Notice what the Bible says Jeremiah 4:30 the Bible says, 50:17 "What are you doing O devastated one? 50:20 Why dress yourself in scarlet and put on jewels of gold? 50:23 Why shade your eyes with paint? 50:26 You adorn yourself in vain." 50:31 Friends why does this say it's vain 50:33 because ladies, listen you're beautiful 50:37 just the way God made you. 50:41 You don't have to try and do something 50:44 to make yourself feel secure. 50:45 Friends, Jesus is our security. 50:47 Can you say, amen? Amen. 50:50 Whenever you read the Bible 50:52 when you read about the painting of the face 50:54 it was always associated with the enemies of the God. 50:57 In fact, it was first introduced by Jezebel 51:00 which was the heathen of priestess. 51:04 She painted up her face in 2 Kings 9:30 51:07 in order to lure the prophets of God 51:09 into committing fornication and adultery. 51:12 You see friends, we don't want to follow 51:13 the example of the Jezebel. 51:15 Could you say, amen? Amen. 51:16 So don't let the world and Hollywood define what beauty is 51:20 let the word of God 51:21 define for you what true beauty is. 51:24 Could you say, amen? Amen. 51:25 The principle is this, if the barn needs to be painted 51:27 paint the barn but avoid the colors that are immodest. 51:32 Are you with me, sisters? 51:34 And by the way, you know, I was attracted to my wife 51:37 not because of any thing she had on. 51:39 I was attracted to her because of the beauty of Jesus inside 51:43 and the natural beauty 51:44 that was reflecting on the outside. 51:46 And when we got married on our wedding day, 51:48 I mean, that's a special day right? 51:50 She was encouraged to make up 51:54 but friends, she decided to go all natural on the wedding day. 51:59 And she was beautiful then and she is still beautiful today. 52:02 Can you say, amen? Amen. 52:03 Ladies, ladies, listen you want to attract a brother 52:06 that loves you not for what you look like 52:08 but for who you are in character. 52:11 And here is the reason why, listen, because in 20 years 52:15 you are not gonna look the same. 52:18 And so you want you want a brother 52:20 that was gonna love you not for so much what you like 52:22 but for who you are and when things begin to change 52:25 the love will endeavor forever. 52:26 Can you say, amen? Amen. 52:28 Now friends, I want you to notice 52:29 you still love Jesus, right. 52:30 Amen. Amen, all right. 52:32 In the Bible there is only one ornament 52:34 that God calls us to wear. 52:35 Notice what it says in 1 Peter 3:3, 4 52:38 "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning 52:40 of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, 52:42 or putting on of apparel, 52:44 but let it be the hidden man of the heart, 52:46 in that which is not corruptible, 52:48 even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, 52:52 which is in the sight of God of great price." 52:54 That's the only ornament 52:55 God says put on a meek and quite spirit. 52:58 Friends, the ring and the particle sun 52:59 that was the symbol, brothers and sisters. 53:01 You see in the Book of Ezekiel 16 53:04 you see the woman adorn with different types of things 53:08 that those were symbols it was not meant to be taken literal. 53:12 It represents the ornament of grace, 53:14 the chain of peace 53:16 that the Book of Proverbs talks about. 53:18 You see the ornament that God wants us to have 53:20 is the ornament of a Christ like character 53:23 and that's what I want. 53:24 How about you? 53:25 And Bible tells us 53:28 that "The Lord sees not as a man sees, 53:30 for the man looks upon the outward appearance, 53:32 but Lord looks on the" what? 53:35 "On the heart." 53:36 God sees our heart friends, but does this mean 53:38 that He does not care about our appearance. 53:40 It does not mean that, friends. 53:42 Yes, Jesus will take us just as we are 53:44 but He is not gonna leave us as we are. 53:46 What this verse is saying is that 53:47 the heart is more important than the outward appearance. 53:49 Yes, but listen when God truly has the heart 53:54 it will be seen in a change of appearance. 53:56 Can you say, amen? Amen. 53:57 And I have experienced this personally. 53:59 Friends, when I was in the word 54:00 I use to wear baggy cloths, 54:02 I use to wear T-shirt with the face of Bob Marley 54:05 on my chest and marijuana. 54:07 But friends, you won't catch me wearing those things anymore 54:09 why because I live and server Jesus now. 54:13 He's made a change in even my outward appearance. 54:17 A few more points before we close. 54:19 In Revelation it describes two types of women 54:21 representing two types of churches. 54:23 One woman the pure bride is hold with natural light, 54:26 the sun, moon and stars. 54:27 The other one is decked that with gold 54:28 and jewels and precious stones. 54:29 She's dressed in modesty. 54:31 The Bible calls her a harlot woman 54:33 on apostate church. 54:34 Friends, which one do you want to be a part of? 54:37 God wants us to be clothed with the natural light 54:40 of His beautiful character. 54:41 Can you say, amen? Amen. 54:42 But some of you might be thinking 54:43 but it's just a little thing why you talking about this? 54:47 It's just a little thing we are talking about-- 54:49 I mean, I came here to hear about prophecy 54:51 and you are talking about these things, why? 54:53 Oh friends, does God care about the little things? 54:58 Absolutely. 55:00 Do you love the Lord Jesus? 55:03 And so, friends, our love is gonna be demonstrated, 55:05 not just in the big things but also the little things. 55:09 I want you to notice 55:10 what the Bible tells us in Luke 16:10. 55:13 Jesus said, "He who is faithful in that which is least 55:17 shall be faithful also in much, 55:20 and he that is unjust in the least 55:21 is unjust also in much." 55:23 You see, friends, according to God's word, 55:24 the little things make a big difference in God's eyes. 55:27 And some people ask, well, these things 55:28 cause me to be lost. 55:30 Well, I'll be lost if I continue doing these things. 55:32 Well, friends, listen, anything we love more than God 55:34 will cause us to be lost. 55:36 It doesn't matter, big or small. 55:38 Anything that we do not surrender to the Lord Jesus 55:41 will cause us to be lost. 55:42 You see, friends, listen, biting the fruit 55:45 was a small thing, wasn't it? 55:46 I mean, its just a little bite 55:49 but that one little thing made a world of a difference. 55:52 That one little thing caused man to be lost 55:55 and an innocent land to have to die. 55:58 God cares about the little things. 56:00 And it's in the little things that we show our love for God. 56:02 Notice what it says in Ephesians 5:22, 56:04 "For the fruit of the Spirit is--" Excuse me. 56:07 "For the fruit of the Spirit consists in all goodness 56:09 and righteousness and truth, trying to learn what is" what? 56:14 "Pleasing to the Lord." 56:15 So, friends, if we have the fruit of the spirit, 56:17 we're gonna try to learn what is pleasing to God. 56:20 Not just the big things, but even the small things. 56:23 Now friends, I want you to notice 56:24 when God created Lucifer, Bible tells us 56:27 that every precious stone was his covering. 56:30 And Lucifer forgot that God was the source of beauty. 56:34 And remember what caused him to fall, it was pride. 56:37 He got caught up in his own beauty, 56:39 his own glory, his own self. 56:42 And then when God made man, 56:43 he did not cover man with gold and jewels and stone. 56:46 You read Genesis Chapter 2, 56:47 God through the gold on the ground, 56:50 but He clothed man with His own glory, 56:52 the glory of God. 56:54 And one day when we get to heaven, 56:56 God is gonna place a golden crown 56:58 upon our brow, a clown of glittering stars. 57:01 And friends, there's nothing wrong with wearing gold 57:03 as long as God is the one that puts it on you. 57:05 Can you say, amen? Amen. 57:06 What's happening is, 57:07 many people instead of waiting for God to put it on them, 57:09 they're jumping it down 57:10 and they're putting it on themselves. 57:13 You see, friends, when God-- when we wait up on the Lord, 57:15 what God is wanting to do right now in the wilderness, 57:17 He wants to crown us with His glory and His honor. 57:21 And in heaven, He will then be able to trust us 57:24 to wear golden, glittering crown. 57:26 Why because we've already crowned 57:27 with the glory of his humility and his character. 57:31 And it's save to wear it in heaven. 57:32 Why because, there's no problem with pride 57:34 and there is no tempter to tempt us 57:37 with the lust of the flesh, the eyes in the pride of life. 57:39 But right now in the wilderness, well, we can-- 57:41 Well, these things can be stumbling blocks to us. 57:44 God is calling us to lay these things aside 57:47 to let self desire die, 57:51 to surrender everything that will cause us to reflect 57:53 and look like the word, 57:54 everything that we draw attention to ourselves, 57:57 and this does not mean that we're gonna look like bumps 57:59 it means we're gonna look like Jesus. 58:02 Amen. 58:03 And friends, Jesus is our prime example. 58:06 And when Jesus came into this world, 58:08 there is nothing blinging on his appearance, right? 58:12 The most beautiful being in the universe, 58:14 there is nothing, there is no, nothing to-- 58:16 outwardly that attracted men to aside. 58:18 It was the beauty of his character 58:20 that drove the masses to His side. 58:23 It was the love that shown from within. 58:25 But He is our example. 58:26 You know, He wore, He wore a seamless garments. 58:29 And friends, that seamless garment, 58:31 it was quality. 58:32 It was what? Quality. 58:34 But it was an extravagant. That's the principle, friends. 58:36 God wants us to have quality things, 58:39 but to avoid the extravagance, the supra fillings the vain. 58:43 And as Christians, I want-- 58:46 God is calling us to follow His example. 58:48 I want to look like Jesus, how about you? 58:50 And so as we close tonight, do you still love Jesus? 58:52 Yeah. 58:53 Is Jesus more important to you 58:56 than the things of this world? 58:57 Yes or no? Yes. 58:58 Will you be a part of His end time Israelites? 59:00 Will you follow the land wherever He leads? 59:02 Will you-- Are you willing to pray Lord, 59:04 not my will, by thy will be done? 59:07 Are you willing to surrender all to him, big and small? 59:10 If so, let me hear you say, amen. 59:11 Amen. 59:12 Jesus was willing for you. Are you willing for Him? |
Revised 2014-12-17