Participants:
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW190042S
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:19 Removing pain 00:24 Lord, let my words 00:30 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:46 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:09 Hello, friends, 01:10 welcome to Friday night Family Worship. 01:13 I am the pilot. 01:15 Actually I'm the second in command, 01:17 the Lord is the pilot. 01:18 Amen. 01:20 I am the co-pilot 01:21 and I have my chief officer with me. 01:23 I'm so happy to be here. 01:25 Welcome to Friday night Family Worship. 01:28 I'm glad you've joined us tonight. 01:30 And we have an exciting topic. 01:32 Don't we, honey? 01:33 We're smiling now because the topic 01:35 is The Malignant Seven. 01:37 He needs two hands for this. 01:38 I mean, The Malignant Seven. 01:40 If you've been around long enough, 01:41 you may have heard the phrase, 01:42 The Magnificent Seven. 01:44 That's a phrase that relates to something, 01:45 I think a war movie in the past, 01:48 but today we're talking about the malignant seven. 01:51 And as chronic as that sounds, 01:53 there's a lot of good news in this topic 01:55 that we want to encourage you with. 01:57 But we are going to start on a text in the Bible 02:00 that really opens up the door 02:02 as to what the Lord does not want us to be. 02:05 And since we really need every moment, 02:08 get your Bibles, invite your friends 02:09 to sit down with you, family, gather around, 02:12 get some pens because this topic is instructive, 02:14 as well as redemptive. 02:16 But before we go any further, 02:17 Honey, would you have our prayer? 02:19 Sure, let's bow our heads. 02:20 Our gracious Heavenly Father, we are so grateful for You. 02:23 We are so grateful for Jesus. 02:25 And, Lord, we invite Your Holy Spirit 02:27 to come right now into our hearts, 02:31 every viewer and listener that's watching and listening. 02:34 Come, Lord, we ask that You'll bless this study 02:38 as we go into the Word of God, 02:40 it's not an easy topic 02:41 because it deals with the human heart. 02:44 But, Lord, You are the healer and mentor of each heart. 02:48 So thank You for being with us, 02:50 thank You for guiding our hearts, 02:52 and thank You for being 02:53 with those viewing and listening also. 02:56 In Jesus' name, amen. 02:58 Amen. Thank you. Amen. 02:59 And I want to introduce very briefly and very quickly. 03:03 Why don't you start to the left, Honey, 03:04 without a long explanation? 03:05 Okay. 03:07 To my immediate left I have Sriya Harris. 03:10 She is... 03:11 You volunteer here, don't you? 03:13 I'm a volunteer at 3ABN. 03:15 And where is your accent from? 03:17 Well, I don't know it. 03:19 I was born in Sri Lanka and I was raised in Greece, 03:23 and I live in United States now for about 20 years. 03:26 Yeah, she lives in Florida 03:27 and we're happy to have you here. 03:29 Yes, thank you. 03:30 And Next to her is Dee Hilderbrand. 03:33 Now, Dee, tell the people what you do here? 03:35 I just do production and I work part-time now, so... 03:39 Yes, right. 03:40 God is good. 03:42 You built this network? 03:44 No, I didn't. 03:45 Danny Shelton and God built this network. 03:47 That's right. Glad to see you here. 03:49 We just, Mollie used to say there was a lot of us 03:51 that we're supporting legs. 03:52 I'm a supporting leg. 03:54 Yeah, I like that. Yeah. 03:55 And to my immediate right is my head elder, Joe O'Brien. 03:57 Good to have you here, Joe. 03:58 Thank you. I'm glad to be here. 04:01 I'm here because 3ABN wanted to school for their employees 04:05 and they hired my wife to get a school up and going 04:08 and I tagged along. 04:10 Okay, and you're in pastoral department? 04:11 Praise the Lord. 04:13 I've been in the pastoral department 04:14 about 18 years, I guess, with Johnny. 04:16 That's right. 04:17 And speaking of Johnny, Pastor John Dinzey, 04:20 good to have you here. 04:21 Right. 04:22 It's a glorious blessing to be here. 04:24 That's right. 04:25 And you are, for just somebody may tune 04:26 in and don't even know. 04:28 Oh, well, General Manager 04:29 of the 3ABN Latino channel network. 04:31 Okay. 04:33 So you praise the Lord in two languages. 04:35 By God's grace. Amen. 04:37 Oh, I tell you. 04:38 And we're going to just ask the Lord to guide us 04:42 and ask him to be with us today. 04:44 And I want to begin... 04:45 Why don't we all look at the opening text? 04:47 Okay. The opening text. 04:50 And Proverbs 6:16-19, 04:52 I'll read it and we'll walk through this together. 04:55 It's seven... We can read together. 04:57 Let's read it together since we all have it in front of us. 04:59 You'll have us so we gonna read the same translation. 05:02 It says, together, 05:03 "These six things the Lord hates, 05:06 yes, seven are an abomination to Him. 05:10 A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 05:16 a heart that devises wicked plans, 05:19 feet that are swift in running to evil, 05:23 a false witness who speaks lies, 05:26 And one who sows discord among brethren." 05:30 Wow. Wow. 05:32 Wow. 05:33 Well, thank you for joining us. 05:34 You know, I tell you that's a powerful topic. 05:36 This is deep, isn't it? It's a powerful topic. 05:38 And it starts on a platform that appears to be negative. 05:42 But what do you think about this, Joe? 05:45 This is something that, and you in pastoral department 05:47 you deal with all kinds of things and... 05:49 Well, I think it's very important 05:50 to understand that this wasn't written in English, 05:54 it was written in Greek, Hebrew and another language there. 05:58 We need to understand what the word hate means 06:01 because we know God is love. 06:03 And so when we say hate in this world, 06:06 on our streets, we think grabbing someone by the neck, 06:09 shaking them and maybe injuring them, 06:11 you know, hate. 06:12 And that's not what God is saying here, 06:15 what God is saying is, if I hate a person, 06:20 it's not that I'm going to harm them. 06:22 It's that I'm disgusted with them 06:24 and it's like an extreme dislike, 06:27 not a harmful hurting one, 06:29 but just I don't like the fact 06:31 that what you're doing is against my direction, 06:37 which protects and brings happiness, 06:41 peace, and joy to everyone 06:43 and you're falling up the works. 06:45 Okay. And so it's basically... 06:47 But it definitely actions that He hates, not the person. 06:49 Yes. Yes. Right. 06:50 Yes, He's disgusted with the actions and the results. 06:55 Doesn't harm somebody else. 06:57 Doesn't it harm the person themselves too? 07:00 God wants us all to be saved. Yeah. 07:02 So when we do these things, we are destroying ourselves, 07:09 not only the people around us, 07:10 and He doesn't want us to destroy ourselves. 07:14 So why He gives us answers to overcome all of that. 07:16 That's right. 07:17 We're gonna walk through those answers. 07:18 Well, you look at the text John 3:16, 07:20 "For God so loved the world 07:22 that He gave His only begotten Son, 07:24 that whoever believes in Him 07:25 should not perish but have everlasting life." 07:26 Right. 07:28 So God loves every single individual 07:30 that has ever existed. 07:31 He created us in His image, 07:34 therefore, it's the things that the actions 07:39 that cause harm to the person like Dee said 07:42 and harm to those around us. 07:44 That's right. 07:46 Honey, we were talking about something 07:47 that sometimes you see things 07:48 but there is so much more with it. 07:50 Oh, yeah. 07:51 In our worship this morning, 07:53 we were talking about wealth in the family worship 07:54 that we had together at home. 07:57 It says that an island is just the top but it runs deep, 08:03 and that's how personalities are. 08:05 Each person is a deep part of them 08:08 than it's just the surface, 08:09 the island is the surface at top of the volcano, right? 08:11 That's right. 08:13 See that first thing that says a proud look? 08:15 You can have a proud look inside 08:17 that other people can't see. 08:19 Oh, yeah. 08:20 So that's just a proud look, 08:23 pride interferes with our relationships. 08:26 It interferes with our own happiness. 08:29 A person who is so proud they can be... 08:34 They can damage others, 08:35 but they damage themselves even more. 08:37 It prevents them from having that relationship with God 08:41 that they needed with other people. 08:43 They live in fear. 08:45 Yes, fear. 08:46 Now is it just rich people that are proud? 08:49 No. Well, no. 08:51 I'm not rich and I have been proud. 08:54 Well, let's dive in and see what the Bible says 08:57 because one of the first things we want to define 08:59 is what does the Bible teach us concerning pride? 09:02 How does the Bible, how did God inspire us 09:04 to understand pride? 09:06 Let's go to Proverbs 16:18. Look at that. 09:09 Proverbs 16:18 and it's the first text on our outline. 09:15 And it says... 09:16 Honey, why don't you read that? 09:18 Proverbs 16:8. Okay. 09:19 "Pride goes before destruction, 09:22 and a haughty spirit before a fall." 09:26 Okay. 09:27 And when you think of that, 09:28 who in the Bible can you think of? 09:30 It's an Old Testament character. 09:31 He was very, very famous, very great. 09:35 Who can you think of? 09:37 Nebuchadnezzar. 09:38 Oh, yeah. Okay. 09:39 Nebuchadnezzar, and what was his issue? 09:42 Pride. Pride. 09:44 He thought he made everything. 09:46 He didn't think it was God. 09:48 But he didn't know God. 09:50 Right. Yeah. 09:52 And God through Daniel had appealed to him 09:55 before about his pride, but he continued, 09:59 and when he said, 10:00 "Is this not great Babylon that I have built?" 10:04 There was that proud look, that haughty spirit, 10:09 and the Lord didn't bring judgment on 10:10 because that was the first warning. 10:12 He had been warned. This is... 10:14 I set kingdoms up. 10:16 Remember, Daniel told you, 10:18 I set kingdoms up and I bring them down, 10:20 so I set this kingdom up. 10:22 All the birds that perch under your trees, 10:25 those birds belong to me, the trees belong to me. 10:27 I've given you this greatness, this golden kingdom belongs, 10:31 this is what I've gifted you with. 10:32 Yes. 10:33 But don't think it's something that belongs to you alone. 10:36 One of the problems with pride, 10:38 notice I say one of the problems, 10:41 is that the person sometimes does not know 10:45 that he has this problem. 10:47 And it really pride blinds the person 10:52 and the person is self-centered. 10:56 Joe. 10:58 Pride in the original language 11:00 is defined as exalted or lifted up. 11:03 Okay. 11:04 And if you remember, no, 11:06 you weren't there then but if you remember, 11:09 Satan said, "I will be like the Most High." 11:12 The Most High. That was pride. 11:14 He was lifting himself up. 11:15 But like someone said earlier, it's hidden. 11:18 It isn't... 11:19 The people listening and watching don't realize 11:22 that what they're suggesting you do or participate in 11:26 is to exalt themselves 11:27 not help you or someone else, but it appears that way. 11:31 So we have to be very careful of pride. 11:34 It is a sin. 11:35 And the Lord did say direct. 11:37 Go ahead, Dee. It can be small too. 11:39 How many of us who said... 11:40 Oh, I have said to Debbie, "Oh, I punched in this week. 11:46 I didn't miss da-da da-da." 11:48 Guess what will happen next week. 11:49 I'll forget and miss the punch. 11:51 The minute we brag about something, 11:53 the minute we say "Oh, look what I did." 11:55 And if we do it little things and it grows into big things. 12:00 Is that not correct, Pastor? Go ahead, Honey. 12:03 But my question is, 12:04 what about a parent that has a child 12:06 and they're proud of that child? 12:09 What's the difference? 12:10 Okay, there is the difference... 12:12 You're lifting up somebody else. 12:13 Say it again. You made a point. 12:14 You're lifting up somebody else. 12:16 But another man praise you, 12:18 that's a different thing altogether. 12:19 Okay. 12:20 But also there's a caution there because 12:22 sometimes people can so lift up their child 12:24 that they lift them up to the point 12:26 where they become mentally destroyed. 12:28 They separate themselves from every other kid 12:31 because my mom said 12:32 there is no kid in the school like I am. 12:34 I mean, no kid has a car like I do. 12:37 No kid on the block lives in the house like I do. 12:39 I mean, my mom says that I'm the greatest, I am... 12:43 Well, Proverbs 29:23. Okay. 12:46 "A man's pride will bring him low, 12:48 but the humble in spirit will retain honor." 12:51 That's right. 12:53 So God gives us if we dwell in Him, 12:56 we end up with what it was we. 12:58 Yes. 12:59 We want honor, 13:01 not necessarily pride but honor. 13:03 Honor. And it comes from God. 13:05 I was reading this today from... 13:09 What is this book? 13:10 CSA, Sister White says, 13:13 "Human pride and self-sufficiency 13:16 stand rebuked in His presence." 13:18 He rebukes it. 13:20 Where does the proud look leads to what? 13:23 The second one there. Oh! 13:24 Okay. Where does it lead to? 13:25 Well... Okay, read it. 13:28 Okay. A proud look leads to a what? 13:32 A lying tongue. 13:33 That's right, the second one. 13:35 But I want to make a point. 13:36 I'm looking at your face, I'm kinda lock in here. 13:38 Well, you know, sometimes when we say, 13:41 I'm proud of my son or I'm proud of you, 13:44 really, I think the essence is not 13:47 that negative sense of pride 13:48 that where a person is lifted up, 13:50 is really that you're well pleased, 13:52 that you are glad you're... 13:56 How do I express it? 13:58 You rejoice in what the person has accomplished 14:01 because it is something good. 14:04 Like God said about His Son, 14:06 "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." 14:09 That's right, the pleasing. Joe. 14:13 It's a blessing. 14:15 If your child is following the will of God, 14:17 that's a blessing. 14:18 That's right. 14:20 So it's okay to be proud of that. 14:21 It's okay to be happy. 14:22 There you go. Right. 14:24 And the word proud, I think, 14:25 Pastor Dinzey put that in the wonderful sense. 14:27 We're pleased to see the accomplishments. 14:29 Yeah. We have done a lot of work. 14:30 And, you know, when you work hard 14:31 to get your children where they are, 14:33 and they one day everything falls into place, 14:35 you forget about all those Ds that they got 14:38 when they first went to the fifth grade 14:40 and all those home works that were missed. 14:41 You forget all that, you say, "Oh, finally, 14:44 they just graduated with a degree in mathematics." 14:47 So whoever and you say all that, 14:48 all those sleepless nights, 14:50 I'm so happy that they finally are accomplished. 14:52 John, you said you weren't gonna talk about me. 14:56 This weekend we're pleased with our spouses 14:59 and with our friends and our co-workers. 15:01 We can... 15:02 It's fine to compliment them and let them know 15:05 they are doing a good job. 15:07 Yes. Yeah. And that's good. 15:08 That's what the Bible says, let another man praise you. 15:11 See, it's dangerous when we praise ourselves. 15:13 "Hey, did you hear that song I sang recently?" 15:16 What do you think about it? 15:17 Was that the best rendition of a song you've ever heard? 15:20 I mean, that ought to be on the top 10 Billboard charts. 15:22 I mean, if it wasn't for me nobody 15:24 will be able to do it like me. 15:25 Really. 15:27 Yeah, 'cause I say to you, "Honey, 15:28 that was a good sermon of the Lord." 15:30 And you always say... 15:31 "If I could be a blessing to you, 15:33 if I could uplift Jesus, praise the Lord." 15:34 Praise the Lord every time, giving back to Him. 15:36 Let's go on because we're gonna get some more of these here. 15:38 Okay. 15:39 Daniel, what happened to a person 15:41 who allows pride to control them? 15:42 Daniel 5:20. Who like to read that? 15:45 Sriya, do you have it? Yeah. 15:46 "But when his heart was lifted up, 15:49 and his spirit was hardened in pride, 15:52 he was deposed from his kingly throne, 15:56 and they took his glory from him." 15:58 Took his glory. 15:59 And they took his glory from him. 16:01 That's right. And who's that? 16:04 King Nebuchadnezzar. Yes. 16:06 That's right. When you lift yourself up? 16:08 Yeah. That's right. 16:10 Look at this I have built. 16:12 The pride that comes in. 16:13 And in particular, this is a throne to Belshazzar, 16:17 his grandson that didn't learn from his grandfather's lessons, 16:22 he fell in the same trap. 16:24 Pastor Dinzey. 16:27 We're seeing evidence in the Bible 16:29 that this is not a good thing to have, you know? 16:31 And like I said before, 16:34 you know, people don't really know 16:36 that they are having this problem, 16:38 so I would say it is healthy and for every one of us to say, 16:43 "Lord, I want to be humble before You." 16:46 Because the Bible says, 16:47 "Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord 16:49 and He will lift you up." 16:51 You see. 16:52 So the best place for us to be 16:54 is at the foot of the cross with Jesus. 16:55 That's right. 16:56 Matter of fact, the point is 1 Peter 5:6, 16:58 "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, 17:02 that He may exalt you in due time." 17:04 God knows when you're safe to take to the next level. 17:09 Some people try to get to the level that God said, 17:12 "Ah, not yet. 17:13 That's not a place for you." 17:15 And that's why I said to people, 17:16 whenever you are overlooked or you pass over in a position, 17:21 that may be the Lord impressing 17:22 that person not to put you there. 17:24 Yes. 17:25 But sometimes they say, "Man, that was my position. 17:26 I worked like 15 years to get to that position." 17:28 How could they possibly pick 17:30 that person to be in that position? 17:31 I'm the most qualified. 17:33 We had an elder that was like that, 17:34 not on our church. 17:35 No. 17:37 But I had to take him out of office for a year 17:38 until his pride was laid in the dust 17:39 and we're still good friends to this very day. 17:41 So be careful. 17:43 But we got to go to the second one 17:44 because not only a proud look, 17:46 but the second one is a lying tongue. 17:48 Whoo! A lying tongue. 17:49 The question is, 17:51 where does the Bible say that lying tongue comes from? 17:53 Question number four. Let's go to. 17:55 Somebody read John 8:44, who has it? 17:57 Who hasn't read yet? 17:59 I'll go ahead and read John 8:44, 18:02 "You are of your father the devil, 18:05 and the desires of your father you want to do. 18:08 He was a murderer from the beginning, 18:10 and does not stand in the truth, 18:12 because there is no truth in him. 18:14 When he speaks a lie, 18:16 he speaks from his own resources, 18:17 for he is a liar and the father of it." 18:21 Okay, that's the root. 18:22 So where does the Bible say that lying comes from is, 18:26 the source is the devil. 18:27 So, you know, he puts suggestions 18:31 in our mind. 18:32 And if we take hold of these things, 18:34 and we say those lies, 18:35 then we are identifying with him. 18:37 That's right. Exactly. 18:39 And when we're proud, 18:40 our pride will lead us into lying 18:43 to try to protect ourselves. 18:46 Very good point. 18:48 And isn't exaggeration a lie? 18:50 Ah! 18:52 Whoo! Yeah. 18:53 That's a very good one. Yeah. 18:54 When you exaggerate... 18:56 Is there anybody at this table who has never exaggerated? 18:59 You wanna break the egg open even more, flattery. 19:05 Oh, yeah. 19:06 You know, 19:07 you're the most handsome man at 3ABN. 19:09 Oh, thank you. 19:12 That will get you nowhere. 19:15 I'm sure even flattery. 19:16 No, I'm not saying that in a derogatory way. 19:17 No, no. 19:19 But the point of the matter 19:20 is we're just using an illustration. 19:22 Some people flatter other people 19:23 just so they can gain access 19:26 to their heart and their circles. 19:28 Man, I have never anybody preach like you. 19:33 Be careful when... 19:34 And when you say, "Well, you know, 19:36 I agree with you on that note." 19:38 But most of us don't we feel uncomfortable when somebody... 19:42 There was somebody that was really... 19:44 Sugarcoated... 19:45 Laying it on thick and I'm like, 19:46 "Oh, back off," you know? 19:48 Me too. It scares me. 19:49 It's like, I don't trust that person anymore. 19:54 That's I know that. 19:55 Dee, you are the best treasurer 19:56 we ever had and we go on and on, 19:59 you never make a mistake. 20:01 You are just, you know... 20:02 Well... No, I know you're lying. 20:06 I know, right? 20:08 But you are a good treasurer. It is true. 20:10 I think your statement is true, 20:12 you know, people use flattery 20:14 to try to gain something from that person to gain favor 20:18 or to gain something in some way. 20:20 And that's a deceitful way of doing things. 20:24 Joe. Yeah, the... 20:26 Remember when God says, 20:27 I hate those who lie or lying or... 20:30 Hate. 20:32 Okay, so hate means 20:33 he's disgusted and extremely dislikes 20:37 because that's an enemy of his government. 20:41 And the fact is that in the original language, 20:45 lying is deceitful, 20:46 it's fraudulent, and it brings injury. 20:50 Now God does not want His children injured 20:53 because they're lied to, 20:55 and so He is disgusted by that which is hatred. 20:58 He's disgusted. 21:00 Yeah, and it pulls us in the wrong direction 21:03 because ultimately when you read Revelation 22:15. 21:05 Look at that. 21:07 It says ultimately, lying leads a person 21:10 to be on the outside of the New Jerusalem. 21:14 The Lord says this after He talks about blessed 21:16 are those who keep His commandments 21:18 that they may right to the tree of life, 21:20 may enter into the gates through the city He says, 21:22 but outside are dogs, those are the immoral, 21:27 and sorcerers and sexually immoral 21:29 and murderers and idolaters, 21:31 and whoever loves and practices a lie. 21:34 And there is some people that lie 21:36 so well that they think they've lied so long. 21:40 I was very good at it. 21:42 I was very good at it. 21:43 At lying? I was very good liar. 21:45 Absolutely. 21:46 And there's so many different reasons to lie, 21:49 to protect yourself or to escape a bad situation. 21:54 But you, if you lie all the time, 21:56 when obviously can lied. 21:59 I lied sometimes just for the fun of it 22:01 because it becomes a habit, 22:02 and you don't even think about it and you lie. 22:04 It's really sad. 22:05 And that's why when I became a Christian, 22:08 yeah, the thing I disliked 22:11 the most is lying because I did it. 22:14 And it's the one thing... 22:15 But see it locks you up. 22:17 You became... You're not free. 22:20 God wants freedom from us. 22:22 You can't remember your own lies, 22:23 well, some people can, I couldn't but... 22:26 Yeah. 22:27 Lying becomes a trap 22:29 and a chains that wrapped around you. 22:32 Yeah. 22:33 So that's one of the reason that God hates it so much 22:35 is because it destroys the person doing it. 22:38 Well. 22:39 Not to mention what it does to other people. 22:41 You're putting yourself in bondage, 22:43 which takes us now what does lying do. 22:46 Look, the third one, hands that shed innocent blood. 22:50 Hands that shed innocent blood. 22:53 I like what is God's position towards 22:55 the one that takes the life of the innocent? 22:59 Now that's a really important one I decided. 23:01 Who'd like to read that Exodus 23:7? 23:04 Point number six. 23:06 Honey? 23:07 No, no, no, I'm gonna let Johnny read it for now. 23:09 Okay, that's Exodus which one? 23:12 23:7. 23:13 Verse 7, "Keep yourself far from a false matter, 23:16 do not kill the innocent and righteous, 23:19 for I will not justify the wicked." 23:21 Wow. So... 23:22 Don't kill them. 23:24 Don't kill the innocent. 23:27 Can we even say that 23:28 innocent people have been killed? 23:29 Oh, yeah. 23:31 It started with Cain and Abel, right? 23:33 Oh, very good point. That's right. 23:34 Cain killed Abel, an innocent man. 23:36 It even has more meaning 23:38 when we put it into the spiritual, 23:40 parallel which innocent means guiltless and clean. 23:45 And this is what God was saying about lying, 23:47 deceitful fraud that can injure His children 23:51 who are guiltless and clean, 23:53 and He has a responsibility to protect them. 23:57 That's right. 23:58 And wear this. 24:00 Do Christians go out 24:01 and just shoot somebody or stab him with a knife? 24:03 No, we have this wonderful weapon 24:06 called a tongue, and it is lethal. 24:10 That's so true. Wow. 24:11 We all have it. 24:12 But I like the point you're making as a Christian 24:14 there is a higher level of accountability there. 24:17 Doesn't God's word say that even the devil trembles 24:21 at the sound of His name? 24:22 That's a weapon. 24:24 You're right, But you could kill a person, 24:26 their reputation, everything with your tongue. 24:29 Oh, not only their character and their reputation, 24:32 you can wound them deeply with words. 24:37 And sometimes with your... 24:40 I'm sure I hurt people with my tone of voice. 24:42 Sometimes I get so intense, you know? 24:47 But sometimes, even but those things that are, 24:52 that you brought up, 24:53 sometimes none of those things have to be present 24:55 for there to be injury. 24:57 Let's look at an example of Matthew 27 24:59 because I think this person 25:01 is probably at the top of my list 25:04 because of what happened, 25:05 and I'm trying to be vague here. 25:07 But, Honey, why don't you read that for us? 25:09 And I'll ask the question after Angie reads the text. 25:14 Okay. Matthew 27:3-4. 25:16 Point number seven. 25:18 "Then Judas, His betrayer," that's Jesus' betrayer, 25:21 "seeing that He had been condemned, 25:25 was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver 25:29 to the chief priests and elders saying, 25:31 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.' 25:35 And they said, 'What is that to us? 25:39 You see to it!' 25:41 " So can we say that 25:42 he's probably on the top of the list 25:44 for the man that he... 25:46 The only man that should 25:48 never have been betrayed was Jesus. 25:51 Was He innocent? 25:53 Yes. 25:54 Absolutely. Was He guiltless? 25:55 Yeah. Was He clean? 25:57 Amen. Yes. 25:58 Was he righteous? Yeah. 25:59 Can you imagine being in a position. 26:01 And I think one of the reasons 26:02 why the Bible speaks about the betrayal 26:04 that Judas participated 26:06 and he is being so grievous is because 26:08 if there's one person 26:10 who fits all the qualifications 26:12 that never did anything wrong, is Jesus. 26:16 And that's why later on, 26:19 you can see this whole concept of don't hurt the innocent 26:23 because you are, in fact, as Jesus says, 26:25 as much as you've done it to the least of these, 26:28 what happen? That's right. 26:30 Done to me. Pastor Dinzey. 26:31 You know, it's what you were saying 26:34 made me think of, 26:35 you know, he had seen completely 26:38 the opposite in the life of Jesus... 26:40 That's right. 26:41 Of what he was accusing him of. 26:43 All the right things he saw, miracles he did, 26:47 I mean, he went completely against 26:49 all the reality that he has seen and heard 26:52 to do this betrayal. 26:54 And that's what happens when one of these things 26:57 you allow them to take a hold of you 26:58 because if the devil leads you 27:03 to embrace one of these things like lying, 27:06 stealing whatever it is, 27:08 he doesn't want you to stop there, 27:10 he wants to take you further and further 27:11 until you are completely in his snare 27:15 and miracle of the Lord 27:18 is what will release you, and relieve you, 27:19 and give you freedom. 27:21 I think, Dee may have point this out before the program. 27:23 Each of these builds on the other, 27:25 which takes us to the very next point... 27:26 See, Judas started out by... 27:29 He was not honest with the money. 27:31 No. 27:32 So he started out with this little sin. 27:34 And he probably justified 27:35 a little bit of it to begin with, 27:37 but it builds, and builds, and builds. 27:39 And what was his purpose? 27:42 He wanted Jesus to be King. 27:45 In other words, he had his own agenda 27:47 and he tried to force his agenda on to Jesus 27:51 and it led to his own death. 27:53 Yeah. Because his... 27:55 The whole thing was self-focused. 27:58 And if you see a little bit of money, 27:59 then you're gonna lie, and then he was proud. 28:03 I don't know, I just never thought 28:06 about this question, just for a brief moment. 28:09 Question, did the devil try 28:12 with the other 11 disciples to lead them to betray Jesus? 28:18 But only one responded. 28:20 It could be because we know that the Lord said to Peter, 28:23 the devil desires to sift you as wheat. 28:25 So he doesn't leave any of them untouched, 28:27 but he saw the opening, 28:28 the best opening he found was Judas, I believe. 28:30 Right. 28:32 So this is a good question 28:33 because the devil is gonna try something 28:37 to get you to walk away from the ways of the Lord, 28:40 something, something. 28:42 Look at what he did with Cain. 28:47 It's okay, you can offer these things. 28:48 At least you're offering something to the Lord, 28:50 He should be happy with that, go for it. 28:53 And so he followed that suggestion, 28:54 so he's gonna try something. 28:56 So again, as we're talking about this, 28:58 we should examine ourselves. 29:00 That's right. 29:01 To see if any of this is in us, and say, "Lord, 29:03 please take this away from me." 29:06 Peter denied Jesus but look 29:08 how he responded totally different 29:10 because of the heart he had. 29:13 And we read in the Bible about the disciples, 29:16 they were not perfect. 29:18 No. No. 29:19 Neither are any of us. That was a wonderful question. 29:21 I never thought of that before. 29:24 And where did it, Joe? 29:25 And where did it lead? 29:27 Now remember the innocent blood, 29:28 but where did it lead to the very next point? 29:31 Wow. Okay. 29:33 Next Sriya. 29:34 Sriya, do have that point there? 29:36 Number eight. Number four. 29:37 Well, actually the fourth point I want to bring up before 29:39 the hand that sheds innocent blood. 29:41 How did he do that? 29:43 Because, what, his heart devised wicked plans. 29:48 That's what happened to Judas. 29:50 He was guilty of shedding innocent blood 29:53 because his heart devised wicked plans. 29:56 He said, "I could use Jesus." 29:57 Get some money out of it, 29:59 and like before He'll just disappear 30:01 and they won't catch him, and this plan backfired. 30:05 Okay, let's go to number... 30:06 And that is Psalms 141:4, right? 30:08 Yeah, Sriya? 30:10 "Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, 30:13 to practice wicked works with men who work iniquity, 30:20 and do not let me eat of their delicacies." 30:24 That's right. 30:25 In other words, they'll offer you something. 30:26 Pastor Dinzey was saying that he said, "Well, hey, 30:28 in this case they offered Judas," what? 30:30 Thirty pieces of silver. 30:32 And they said what? 30:33 Cain or Abel, was it, Cain offered what fruit? 30:37 And what did Jacob and Esau, what was that all again? 30:40 See, notice what's happening, wicked plans. 30:43 Wicked plans. Wicked plan. 30:45 These are wicked plans. Yeah. 30:46 And where does it start? 30:48 When we're a small child in the sandbox 30:50 when a friend says let's go do this or go do that, 30:53 peer pressure. 30:54 Yeah. 30:56 That's another trick of the devil right there. 30:57 Wrong. 30:58 Another trick from young children... 31:00 With wicked plans teaching. 31:01 Yeah, yeah. 31:03 But have you noticed how all of them 31:04 build on the other ones? 31:05 How where it starts with the proud look, 31:07 lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 31:10 and a heart that devises wicked plans. 31:12 And there's another one, Proverbs 4:27. 31:16 Want to read that one, Dee? 31:17 "Do not turn to the right or the left, 31:21 remove your foot from evil." 31:24 Wow! Wow! 31:26 Wicked plans because what happens is, 31:28 in the text says, 31:30 hands a heart that devises wicked plans, 31:35 but it runs right into the very next one. 31:37 Do you wanna make a point, 31:39 Honey, before we go to the next one? 31:40 No, no. 31:42 It runs right into the next one, 31:43 which it says feet 31:46 that are swift in running to evil. 31:49 And I use that point 31:51 because you laid the foundation well on that text. 31:53 What about the feet, Dee? 31:54 What did it say again about the feet? 31:56 Do not turn to the left or the right, 31:57 remove your foot from evil. 31:59 Wow! 32:00 Distrait and then in Psalms 119:101, 32:03 it says, "I have restrained my feet from every evil way, 32:08 that I may keep Your word." 32:10 So it's keeping your eye on Jesus 32:12 and walking that straight path. 32:16 And if your foot starts to turn, 32:18 you need to bring it back. 32:20 How many times does 32:21 weird things come into your head, evil thoughts? 32:24 I know. All you... 32:26 But the thing is it's not a sin because it popped in there, 32:29 it's a sin when you start thinking 32:31 about it and building on it. 32:32 Yes. 32:34 But this morning something popped into my head 32:37 and I was like, wait a minute, wait a minute, no, Lord. 32:42 And I started quoting scripture 32:44 just because you can't 32:45 just stop thinking of something, 32:47 you have to replace it with something. 32:49 So you have to be prepared. 32:52 When Satan starts to try to turn that foot, 32:55 your head has to control the foot. 32:58 Overcome evil with good. Amen. 32:59 Joe. Amen. 33:01 When we talk about wicked, it's defined as evil. 33:04 And when we talk about evil, 33:05 these are a multitude of things 33:08 that we can point out that are evil or wicked. 33:11 But the most important thing is the spiritual connotation 33:15 which is, it's unjust. 33:17 It's unjust in God's kingdom and in His laws, 33:22 and it brings hurt. 33:24 It's injurious again, see, 33:25 it hurts somebody when you're wicked. 33:27 Whatever the wickedness is, is not so important, 33:30 it's the results, 33:32 and it's not gonna be allowed in the kingdom. 33:35 And when we're talking about pride, 33:37 the last on earth will be first in heaven. 33:39 I love God's ways because they're righteous. 33:44 Yes. That's right. 33:45 Pastor Dinzey? 33:47 I'm reading here from Proverbs. 33:49 We're in Proverbs Chapter 6, mostly, but in Chapter 5, 33:53 it's interesting how this is mentioned to us 33:57 in beginning in verse 21. 34:00 It says, "For the ways of man 34:02 are before the eyes of the Lord, 34:04 and He ponders all his paths. 34:08 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, 34:10 and he is caught in the cords of his sin." 34:14 And so it's like you were talking about 34:17 the feet running to do evil, 34:18 the Lord's pondering his path 34:19 and the Lord is trying to lead us 34:21 in the right direction, 34:23 and tells us beware, be careful. 34:24 You know, 34:26 there's wonderful instruction in the Bible. 34:29 Like, I was thinking as you were, 34:32 because the devil tries to take you further 34:33 and further and further. 34:35 How did he start this process with David? 34:38 Because he developed a wicked, wicked plan. 34:41 I mean, it was all his that he put together. 34:45 Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 34:48 This is one of those family worships. 34:51 Let him who thinks he's standing 34:52 take heed lest he fall because 34:54 one of these things can entrap us. 34:56 So David, he did these things, but the Lord did not. 34:59 Okay, David sinned, he's gone. 35:02 Okay, bring the next guy in. 35:04 No, the Lord appealed to him 35:06 and that's what the Lord does with each and every one of us. 35:09 If we fall into one of these things, 35:10 lying, pride, whatever it is, the Lord tries to get to us. 35:16 And now just like David, he may use someone to say, 35:19 "Hey, did you ever think about this?" 35:21 In some way tries to get our attention, 35:24 so like David, we will repent and say, "Lord, 35:27 take not Your Holy Spirit from me, purge me, 35:30 cleanse me from this evil." 35:32 And if we do this, the Lord is gonna restore us. 35:36 Absolutely. 35:37 Matter of fact, Psalms 37:23. I'll just read this. 35:40 This is not in your syllabus, I just went and looked at it. 35:43 It says, speaking about them, 35:45 "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, 35:49 and He delights in his way." 35:52 So if somebody is running to devise evil also, 35:55 I don't like that path he is taking, 35:58 but I like that path. 35:59 And wasn't the prayer that Jesus told 36:01 His disciples to pray. 36:03 It says, 36:04 "What lead us into paths of righteousness 36:08 for his name's sake." 36:11 So as Joe pointed out 36:12 the path that the wicked take the ones that is devising evil, 36:15 they're going to a path that is not ordered by the Lord. 36:20 And the Bible says there's a way that seems 36:22 right into a man but the end is the way of death. 36:24 So if you are... 36:27 And I think Dee laid the foundation so well. 36:29 If there's a thought that comes into your mind that says, 36:33 "All right. 36:35 He got me last time, but I got a plan." 36:38 Oh, no. Yeah, that happens. 36:40 And people come to work and say, "How you doing. 36:41 John?" I'm fine. 36:43 I'm good. 36:44 I'm good. I got it. 36:45 What he's really locked in today? 36:47 He is not talking very much. No, I'm good. 36:49 I'm just thinking about something. 36:51 I'm all right. 36:52 So what you gonna do to me today. 36:53 He's got his mind set. Yeah. 36:55 He's got his mind set and added to everything, 36:58 his whole, his attitude is being. 37:01 He said, "So remember yesterday?" 37:03 Remember yesterday, Dee? 37:04 Do you remember yesterday? 37:06 Okay, right. So now check this out. 37:08 I was thinking about this all night. 37:11 Oh. 37:12 You notice what happens? 37:14 Have you ever had that experience? 37:15 Yes. I know, I've been in the world. 37:18 I mean, you know the attitude, the city attitude, 37:20 so take this, so you hit me, remember that? 37:23 You took my money, you broke into my car, 37:26 you defamed me, 37:28 you spoke badly about me to the company, 37:30 but I guess there's one more round 37:32 and this is in my favor. 37:33 See what happens is, the whole personality... 37:36 Boy, I have... It could lead to killing. 37:37 It could lead to anything. Murder. 37:39 Yeah. 37:40 And I remembered how to do that 37:42 because I was in a world where you know 37:44 the phrase doggy dog world, remember that world? 37:47 Or I'll get even. Yes. 37:50 I'll get even. Get even, yeah. 37:51 This is not over yet. 37:53 Take a while, but I'll get even. 37:55 Wow! Isn't that terrible? 37:56 That's terrible because 37:58 the person is putting down roots that will... 38:01 Bitter roots. 38:02 Grow and yield bitter fruits 38:05 not only for himself but for others. 38:06 God says, "Vengeance is mine." 38:08 What are we doing playing God? 38:10 But also we need to be careful. 38:12 Okay, last week, I jokingly said something. 38:16 And I realized immediately 38:18 that it wasn't funny to the person I said it to, 38:21 and it hurt them and they were worried about it. 38:25 So I apologized right away. 38:29 But then later I went and talked to them and said, 38:32 "I will not do that again, I understand, I was wrong." 38:36 Because I could see that it did hurt them 38:39 and it was working on them. 38:41 And so if we're quick to recognize 38:45 when we wound someone else because that person could have, 38:50 it could have worked on them all night long 38:51 till the next day they come. 38:53 Because it hurts their spirit, so we need to be quick. 38:58 That's why God gives us discernment. 39:01 We need to be aware 39:02 when we injure or say something 39:04 'cause sometimes I haven't known in later, 39:06 days later, somebody, 39:08 something will come up and I'll go. 39:09 That's not what I meant here, that's not what I said 39:11 or you misunderstood me or whatever, 39:14 but they've dwelled on it and it hurt their spirit. 39:17 Yes. 39:19 What I like about you, you're quick to apologize, 39:20 which is good. 39:22 But I want... 39:23 I wish I'd be quicker not to make the mistake 39:24 in the first place. 39:26 I want to read something real quick. 39:27 It's from Education 291. 39:29 It says, "The greatest wrongs done 39:31 to a child or youth is to allow him or her 39:36 to become fastened in the bondage of evil habit." 39:40 And this is from Proverbs 5:22. 39:44 When they're in bondage to a evil habit, 39:47 they just grow into that. 39:48 You remember you always say, you don't grow out of sin? 39:51 You know, the most dangerous statement 39:54 I've heard made by parents is, oh, they'll grow out of it. 39:57 Yeah. No one grows out of evil. 39:59 You got to train up a child in the way that they should go. 40:03 No one grows out of evil 40:04 any more than a plant naturally grows straight. 40:07 You know when you see a plant that's young, 40:08 you ever see those plants, 40:10 look at plants and people have two sticks 40:12 and they have a drawstring to the top of the plant so. 40:15 You go to these botanical gardens 40:18 or places that sell plants, 40:21 whatever around here, 40:22 you can see the strings holding them because he said, 40:24 "We don't want that thing to grow sideways 40:26 because when it does, 40:27 it's like impossible to straighten it out." 40:29 And that's exactly why. 40:30 Now we go to the other one before we go to the last two. 40:33 Joe, you want to make a point before we go on? 40:35 No, I was gonna wait and see what you have to say in that. 40:37 Okay, the next one... 40:38 Well, wait a minute. Okay, Sriya. 40:39 Okay. 40:41 I think the enemy is constantly attacking our thoughts. 40:45 More I spend time here 40:47 with brothers and sisters at 3ABN, 40:50 more I learned how to rebuke him. 40:54 So every time bad thoughts put in my mind, 40:58 I'm like, no, get behind me, Satan, 41:01 and I immediately seek Jesus' help. 41:03 So Jesus says, "Remember, 41:05 you said you never leave me and come to my thoughts." 41:10 That's right. That's very good point. 41:11 So it's very important 41:13 when we've been wounded that we... 41:16 Sometimes don't think, 41:18 don't interpret what somebody said in the worst light, 41:22 interpret it in the best light. 41:23 But also, if we think we've been hurt or injured, 41:26 do not go home and sleep on it, 41:28 and dwell on it, and work it up, 41:30 and let it grow. 41:32 We need to weed our own issues out and say, 41:34 "Okay, Lord, I'm hurt. 41:36 That bothered me. 41:38 Help me know what I should do about that. 41:40 But please, I'm giving it to you, 41:41 so I don't dwell on it. 41:42 If I can't take care of it right now, 41:44 I'll talk to the person tomorrow 41:46 or the next day when I'm calmer, 41:48 but we cannot allow ourselves to grow crooked." 41:54 And God is that stick 41:56 and that string that will straighten us out, 41:58 but it's the thoughts. 42:00 And His advice on that in scripture 42:02 is think on the good things. 42:04 That's pretty simple, pretty simple. 42:07 And blessed are the peacemakers, 42:08 pretty simple. 42:10 That's right. Pretty simple. 42:11 And make straight paths for your feet. 42:13 Okay? That's another one. 42:14 'Cause we choose 42:15 what we're going to think about. 42:17 Amen. 42:18 You know, say that one more time. 42:19 That's true. 42:21 We choose what we are going to think about. 42:22 But don't the thoughts come into your head? 42:24 But you don't have to hang on to them. 42:26 You can... 42:27 I said, I didn't say you get to choose 42:29 what comes into your head. 42:30 You get to choose what you think about. 42:33 There is a big difference between 42:35 throwing something out of your head 42:37 and deciding to think about it. 42:39 That's right. 42:41 Think on these things 42:42 in that out of the abundance of the heart 42:44 the mouth speaks as a man thinketh, 42:47 not as thoughts come to him or to her as the person thinks. 42:50 So we see, it creates a character 42:53 that really begins to make us. 42:55 It's like a food 42:56 that just you forgot under your car seat 42:58 and you're getting your car seat, 42:59 just had my car detailed, what's the smell like that? 43:02 Well, you know, the things that stay in our lives 43:03 that we do not choose 43:05 to get rid of become rancid thoughts 43:07 and affects the entire person. 43:09 And you know what? 43:10 Nobody wants rancid food. 43:12 Rancid thoughts are just as poisonous as rancid food, 43:15 which takes us to the sixth point. 43:17 What you practice is what you end up doing too. 43:20 So if you practice dwelling on stuff, 43:23 it becomes a habit. 43:26 Spoken out of it. 43:27 That hat was inspired. 43:28 Praise the Lord. It's so true. 43:30 No, but experience is the best teacher. 43:32 Let's look at number six, 43:34 a false witness who speaks lies. 43:37 That is so deadly 43:38 because sometimes people might call you to be a witness, 43:42 and you may not like the person 43:43 that they call you to witness against. 43:45 And you are predetermined 43:46 that this is my moment to get him back. 43:49 And you'll say, "No, I never heard that." 43:52 No. 43:53 Yeah, I saw them do it. 43:54 And you walk away. 43:56 Do you know how many people are in prison? 43:57 I know of stories where young ladies have lied 44:00 or people have lied or witnesses have lied, 44:02 and somebody serving 20 years, 30 years 44:04 and like 15 years later, they say to the prosecutor, 44:07 "You know, at the moment, I was just so angry, I lied. 44:10 I made it all up." 44:11 And you know what the court says, 44:12 "It's too late. 44:14 It's too late." 44:15 But he didn't do it, they didn't do it. 44:17 The man is not guilty of that. 44:19 I mean, I was angry that day 44:20 and I made it up and I'm so sorry. 44:22 Now they said, "Well, you know, it's too late. 44:24 They served 15 years. 44:27 We can't take back those 15 years." 44:29 And prosecutors in situations like that 44:32 they don't look bad 44:33 because you obviously never change your heart. 44:35 They spent thousands of dollars to get this person convicted 44:37 and all of a sudden you have a change of heart. 44:39 They say, deal with it. 44:41 It's a sad reality. 44:42 But what about our false witnesses in church? 44:44 Let's go ahead to it. 44:46 Let's go to that right now. Okay. 44:47 Let's go to that right now. 44:49 Exodus, point number nine. 44:51 What injunction are we given concerning 44:53 being an honest to witness. 44:55 Exodus 20:16, Pastor Dinzey? 44:58 Exodus 20:16, 44:59 "You shall not bear false witness 45:01 against your neighbor." 45:04 Who's your neighbor? 45:07 Who asked that question? 45:08 Exactly. Who is my neighbor? 45:10 Okay. Everyone, right? 45:11 Well, you see the bearing false witness 45:14 against your neighbour is another dangerous thing. 45:17 You know, when you see... 45:19 You know the way we read in Proverbs Chapter 6 45:22 about there are these six things 45:25 the Lord hates yet seven are abomination. 45:27 This is worded in such a way as to capture our attention. 45:31 That's the way it is worded to capture our attention 45:35 to let you know these things are danger. 45:37 They're an abomination. 45:38 They destroy, they destroy. 45:41 So bearing false witness against your neighbor 45:44 destroys the neighbor, 45:45 but it also destroys the person that is doing that. 45:48 Because look at it as poison. 45:51 You're bringing poison out to poison your neighbor, 45:55 your neighbor's character, your neighbor's life, 45:58 but that poison is also in you when you bring it out. 46:00 That's right. 46:01 When you bring it out, like... 46:03 We were talking about thoughts, 46:04 you know, the devil put suggestions into your mind, 46:06 thoughts into your mind. 46:07 If you hold on to it, you develop it, 46:09 you embrace it then you make it your own. 46:11 Now it's your thought. 46:12 And once it becomes your thought, 46:14 then you're led into sin. 46:18 You have a choice. 46:19 You can say, "No, no, I'm not gonna do that. 46:21 I'm not going to say that about him, her. 46:23 And you don't have to bear the false witness." 46:25 If the devil is trying to lead you 46:26 to do a false witness, 46:28 say something good about the person 46:30 and put yourself in the light of the Lord. 46:32 That's right, Joe? 46:33 Well, this all started in heaven again. 46:35 Satan was going around, 46:37 if we could cut him some slack 46:39 and say he was just using white lies or whatever. 46:43 Oh, yeah, yeah. 46:44 Well, when he got done, 46:46 there was discord and that's why in verse 19, 46:49 it says a false witnesses speaketh lies, 46:51 and he that soweth discord among the brethren. 46:55 Which is point number seven. That's right. 46:56 So now here goes Satan around 46:58 and he wins a third of the angels to believe, 47:03 and this causes strife and world conflict, 47:06 you know, it causes separation. 47:08 And so now God is just sitting there, 47:10 listening to this, 47:12 and watching a third of His angels being 47:14 swallowing these white lies or whatever. 47:17 And He realizes that if He lets it keep going, 47:20 it's going to cause destruction 47:21 and injury and all kinds of things. 47:23 So He removes that from the two-thirds angels 47:26 that were clean and just, 47:29 and puts it on planet earth to let it play itself out. 47:34 And we're watching complete destruction 47:36 of the human character and the planet itself. 47:40 That's how bad sin is. 47:42 Now let me make a point on that very note. 47:43 This is powerful, isn't it? Yes, it is. 47:45 Sriya, do you want to make a point? 47:46 Yes. 47:48 James 2:10 says, 47:50 "For whoever keeps 47:51 the whole law yet stumbled at just one point is guilty 47:54 of breaking all of it." 47:56 So going back to talking bad about somebody. 48:00 That's right. You know, and it's... 48:02 We had to be pure. 48:04 Jesus says, "Be perfect." 48:07 So we have to. 48:09 It is hard for us to be perfect, 48:12 but constantly we have to. 48:14 If we make a mistake, 48:15 we have to get up and walk again with Jesus. 48:18 We have to rely on Him. Yes, always. 48:20 But the power comes from Him 48:22 and the perfection comes when we cover, 48:23 when we are covered in His righteousness. 48:26 And when we refuse to practice those things 48:29 because it's the practicing of the sin 48:31 that causes it to become a character deformity. 48:35 When you tell a lie about someone, 48:37 if you keep telling it, and talking it in yourself, 48:40 you start to believe it. You start to believe it. 48:41 And then you become self-deceived 48:45 and it lead you on and on down the path of destruction. 48:49 You know, it's interesting that what we heard, 48:52 Joe mentioned 48:54 the great controversy between good and evil. 48:56 This started in heaven. 48:57 We're talking about bearing false witness. 48:59 This is what the devil did against Jesus and against God, 49:02 the Father, against the... 49:04 That's right. The Deity. 49:06 Bearing false witness, things that were not true. 49:08 The same thing he led people to do here on earth. 49:13 When Jesus was being judged 49:15 before the scribes and Pharisees 49:17 and even before the Pilate, false witnesses. 49:22 Oh, yeah. 49:24 And so the devil is gonna try to do the same thing to us. 49:27 Yeah. That's right. 49:29 To bear false witness situations are going to happen 49:33 that we are going to be called upon, 49:35 are you gonna tell the truth or are you gonna tell a lie? 49:38 And people... 49:39 Here's the problem with bearing false witness 49:42 is that sometimes people bear false witness 49:45 in order to gain something. 49:48 It happens a lot in the corporate world. 49:50 That's right. 49:51 Somebody wants to get ahead, 49:52 go ahead of someone else 49:54 and they will say something false against someone 49:56 that they want to go above them. 49:58 Yes. 49:59 They'll manipulate reports, they'll lie, 50:01 they'll delete mails, 50:02 they'll intercept memos in the office, 50:06 they'll make your report, they'll alter your report, 50:09 so that it will work against you 50:10 in the final outcome. 50:12 But here's something that's very dangerous 50:13 about this whole thing where it says, 50:15 "One who sows discord among brethren, 50:17 every situation that you find where there is envy, 50:21 jealousy, backbiting, gossip, 50:25 predominant desire to be in the position you're in 50:28 or just a hatred for the position you occupy 50:31 the bearing false witness." 50:32 And the other part 50:34 that's really mean sowing discord. 50:35 There are those who appear to be successful. 50:38 And you'll say, 50:39 they've been doing that for 15 years, 50:42 20 years, they've been doing that all their lives, 50:44 their conscious adult life. 50:46 Why does it seem as though God just is not doing anything? 50:50 One thing we have to keep in mind is God is patient. 50:52 Amen. He's long suffering. 50:54 He's not willing that any should perish, 50:56 but the unfortunate part about it, 50:57 like Haman, he is building his own gallows. 51:02 And the Lord allows one who sows discord. 51:05 They may say, "I'm gonna get you back, 51:06 but I'm not gonna get you back directly." 51:08 I'm gonna use the other five people 51:09 on this table to make sure 51:11 that what I tell them is gonna so destroy you in their eyes 51:15 that you can't say anything to unwind 51:18 what I've already done to you. 51:20 You can't say anything to reverse it. 51:22 We have to be very, very careful 51:24 when that kind of discord. 51:25 Let's look at some examples here 51:26 before our program comes to an end. 51:28 Yes. 51:29 Why is discord such a sin in God's sight? 51:31 And I'll read this one. 51:32 John 17:21-22, the desire of the father says, 51:35 "That they all may be one, as You, 51:38 Father, are in Me, and I in You, 51:40 that they also may be one in Us, 51:42 that the world may believe that You sent Me. 51:45 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, 51:47 that they may be one just as We are one." 51:50 What does the devil hate? 51:52 What's another word for one? Unity. 51:54 Thank you. 51:55 Hates unity. 51:56 Anytime unity is the aim, 51:58 the devil works to subvert that. 52:00 And what's the focus that Paul says, 52:02 till we all come to the unity of the faith, 52:04 and he's done that. 52:06 You know, Joe, you're in the pastoral department, 52:08 you know, you love the book Great Controversy, 52:10 you've dealt with these. 52:11 People have seen through the Dark Ages 52:13 how the devil has created disharmony, 52:14 and disunity, and discord. 52:16 Now with the Lord, 52:18 the Father keeps the commandments 52:19 'cause that's His character. 52:20 He doesn't lie, He doesn't steal, 52:22 He doesn't commit adultery. 52:23 I mean, that's Him. 52:25 And Jesus keeps the commandments 52:26 because He loves His Father. 52:27 If you love Me, keep My commandments. 52:29 And so, getting back to cleanliness 52:32 and just and righteousness and all the good things 52:35 that we were made in the image of God, 52:37 and we lost it, but He's redeeming, 52:40 recalling us back to what we once were. 52:44 So we can walk the holy streets with holy angels for eternity. 52:48 So that's what's happening. It's a call. 52:51 And when you... 52:52 Let me just read these two verses 52:53 which follow all these negative things, it ends. 52:56 And the next chapter there it says, 52:59 "My son, keep thy Father's commandments." 53:01 Now this is the key. Proverbs 6:20. 53:03 This is a key. Yeah. 53:04 Verse 20, "My son, keep thy Father's commandment, 53:08 and forsake not the law of thy mother." 53:10 Now the word mother defined is the law of the land. 53:14 That's right. Okay, now this is what counts. 53:16 Bind them continually upon thy heart 53:19 and tie them about thy neck. 53:20 He is trying to say, let this become a part of you, 53:23 don't let go of it. 53:25 You breathe. 53:26 Now breathe law. 53:27 You know come back, come home. 53:29 But here's what I love. 53:30 Bind them continually upon thy heart 53:33 and you look up the definition 53:34 of the original word heart was the mind. 53:39 Yes. 53:41 The understanding, take my law, love my law, be righteous. 53:47 Go and sin no more. 53:48 Was Satan lying when he told that lady, 53:50 go and sin no more, was that a joke? 53:52 No, we tend to do it. 53:54 It's a choice. No, no, it's a Jesus line. 53:55 And it was Jesus. Yeah. Jesus... 53:57 Yeah, it was Jesus. 53:58 When Mary was being told by Jesus to go and sin no more. 54:01 Right. 54:03 It wasn't funny, 54:04 it wasn't a lie, it wasn't a joke. 54:06 He was saying... Yes. 54:07 Take it into your heart, take it into your mind, 54:09 be restored, redeemed, come home. 54:11 That's right. 54:12 He was saying that and I think that the... 54:13 But the reason that we do this to be with Jesus 54:19 is because that's what gives us our joy, and our happiness, 54:23 and our hope, and our freedom. 54:26 He's not trying to bind us, 54:28 He's releasing us to freedom 54:30 when we put the law into our heart 54:33 and we follow it. 54:35 We expand beyond belief. 54:38 Honey? Yes. 54:39 Amen. 54:40 When we talk about discord also, 54:43 there are movements that are throwing stones at the church. 54:46 That's right. Very good point. 54:47 Isn't that so? 54:49 When with that text talk with the Proverbs 6, verse... 54:53 So discord among brethren? 54:55 Yes, so discord among brethren. 54:56 They'll throw stones at the church, at the people... 54:58 But union is... 54:59 When we have you unity, we have power. 55:03 Right. Exactly. 55:04 But the point she's making on this is 55:05 there are so many movements 55:07 that have just taken up their jobs, 55:08 the church this, the church that, the offshoots, 55:10 the movements that are just criticizing everything, 55:12 and they live their lives to produce materials, 55:16 booklets, pamphlets, programs. 55:19 They air them, they put them on Facebook, 55:20 they put on the internet, 55:22 and they cannot find anything right with God's church. 55:26 And as one person said, 55:27 they can't find anything right 55:29 in the same way a thief can't find a police. 55:32 There's nothing good about it. 55:33 But I want to wind the program up 55:34 on a positive note because these are the things 55:36 that we know are proud look, a lying tongue, 55:39 hands that shed innocent blood, 55:40 a heart that devises wicked plans, 55:42 feet that are swift to run to evil, 55:45 a false witness who speaks lies, 55:46 and one who sows discord among brethren. 55:49 I want to end with the question. 55:50 What is the remedy for the seven malignant sins? 55:53 What promise does God add to those that seek this remedy? 55:56 Yes. Here's one of them. 55:57 Psalm 51:10. 55:59 Let's look at point number 11. Read it together. 56:00 Let's read it together. 56:02 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, 56:05 and renew a steadfast spirit within me." 56:09 I'm so King James Version... Me too of right spirit. 56:11 Right spirit. 56:12 Steadfast spirit, 56:13 it's the spirit that really we need a change, 56:17 we need to clean heart. 56:19 The Lord told Ezekiel, 56:20 "I will take out that heart of stone, 56:22 put in a heart of flesh, I will put my spirit in you, 56:25 I will give you renewable strength." 56:28 And David asked the question, 56:30 "Who will stand in God's holy mountain, 56:32 who will ascend in His holy hill?" 56:34 Let's read the last one. 56:35 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? 56:38 Or who may stand in His holy place? 56:40 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, 56:44 who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, 56:47 nor sworn deceitfully." 56:49 Wow! 56:51 Can you imagine, Joe, we got through 56:52 all seven of these? 56:53 That's perfect. And we've only started. 56:55 See, we can be perfect. 56:57 What, that's just sermon one thing you did say. 56:59 Well, you know, I just want you to look forward 57:00 to the sermon that's coming out of this, 57:02 The Malignant Seven 57:03 because we've just touched the iceberg today. 57:05 We're letting you know that 57:06 God has a higher plan for all of us. 57:09 He wants us to reflect His glory, His character. 57:12 And each one of these seven points 57:14 doesn't come out of the heart of the Lord who hates. 57:16 He never hates. 57:18 He loves us so much. 57:19 He hates these things, 57:20 but He loves us with an everlasting love. 57:23 And so emulate Christ, invite Him in, 57:27 and everything good and everything perfect 57:30 will be reflected from your life. 57:31 Until we see you again, Happy Sabbath. 57:34 Happy Sabbath. |
Revised 2020-02-15