Everett Muniz - Be Ye Holy - Class 5 - If God Be For Us

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

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   This is the 2015 Ontario Winter Bible School. Our speaker for this first session is Brother Everett Munis from the Paris Ave. Ecclesia. His theme this week is Be Holy, the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus. This is his 5th and final class on that subject and the title of his final class is If God Before Us and our reading was taken from Romans chapter 8, Brother Everett. Good morning again, brothers and sisters. We’ve titled our final session, as Brother Paul has mentioned. If God be for us.

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   In our first session together, we. Looked at our. Calling to holiness and we noted the prominence of the theme throughout the Bible. We suggested a contextual definition and we looked at a model. For the pursuit of holiness. From Philippians Chapter 3 in our second session, we followed the cues that we found in First Peter chapters one and two.

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   Back to the events. Of the Exodus. To see what we could learn about Our Calling to holiness from the experience of Israel. We saw that our holiness requires. God’s intervention to redeem us, and that He has done so in order to make U.S. citizens of a Kingdom. That He will use to fill the earth with His glory. We also looked at His desire to dwell. With his people and the.

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   Requirement that his dwelling be a holy place. And that ultimately, he wants to dwell within each one of us. In our third session, we looked at the. Priestly aspect to our call to holiness God has called us to be priests after the. Order of Melchizedek in order to make us part of. His work to prepare the whole earth to be a holy place. Where he can dwell.

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   And so we looked at a few lessons about priesthood generally based on the example. Of the Levitical priesthood. And then in our fourth session yesterday, we. We shifted gears a bit and we looked. At the opposition to holiness that we face from our nature and its greater manifestation in the world, along with a couple of important. Ways that we can resist.

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   Those influences now in our session today, we’re going to look at 4 things we changed the the forecast. A little bit from yesterday. But the content is more or less the same. Essentially, what we want to look at this morning is some of the comfort and the encouragement to be found for those.

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   Who’ve? Chosen to do the difficult work of crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts in pursuit of holiness. Because it is difficult and wearying work. It’s not to say that it isn’t also satisfying and rewarding. As well, but the fact. Remains that the pursuit of holiness involves toil and adversity there are times in life when the struggle can feel particularly onerous it can seem as if in.

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   Spite of our best. Intentions our nature gets the better. Of us. Over and over, as if we’re failing our God at every turn. Whatever the reasons may be, we can begin to. Feel as if the failures that we are. Experiencing define us and that ultimately they amount to defeat. If you felt. This way, then you know how utterly crushing it can be.

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   You know how? Isolated and alone, it can leave you feeling. But we are not alone. Brothers and sisters and young people, the assurance that Samuel offers Israel is no. Less relevant to us. For the Lord will not. Forsake his people for His. Great name’s sake. Not only that, we’re in good company because everyone that’s chosen to take.

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    Up God’s call to. Holiness has experienced this kind. Of adversity. And we know that, Paul. Expresses something of this. Struggle with the flesh. In Romans Chapter 7 and in the. Process he seems to touch. On something that may be of help when we encounter. One of these particularly rough. Patches in our pursuit of holiness and what we’d like to do is come to Romans Chapter 7, which.

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    Should just be a page. Back or so from where we were in our reading for this morning and for the sake of time, we’ll just look at at verses 16 and 17 and then we’ll skip down to verse 20. So reading from Romans Chapter 7, verse 16 and 17. If then I do that, which I would not, I consent. To the law that it is good.

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    Now then, it is no. More I that do it. But sin that dwelleth in me, now, if I do that I would not, it is no more. We’re skipping down to verse 20, by the way. Now that if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it. But sin that dwelleth in me, I find that a law that when I would do good.

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    Evil. Is present with me, for I delight in the law of God after the inward man, but I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members, a wretched man that I am. Who shall? Deliver me from the body of this death. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord so. Then with the mind I myself.

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    Serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin. But did you notice what Paul? Said at the end of verses 17 and 20. He says it is not. I that do it but. Sin that dwelleth in me.

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    What would you say if a brother or sister said to you it is not I that do it, but. Sin that dwelleth in me, I think I’d be inclined to wonder if. If he or she. Wasn’t shirking their responsibility, but of course we know. That the apostle. Paul is not shirking his responsibility for sin.

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    So. So what does he mean? I think the answer may be in verse 25. Notice, he says with the mind, I myself. Serve the law of God. It seems that. Paul saw his flesh as. Other than himself. Oh yes, it was a. Part of him, and he knew that he was responsible for the sins that he committed.

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    He certainly understand understood rather the need to confess those sins, repent and seek forgiveness. Nevertheless, Paul was in pursuit. Of the. Prize of our high calling. So he refused to identify. With or be defined. By the flesh. He chose instead to be. Defined by the law of God. As he says in Romans Chapter 7 verse 22. For I delight.

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    In the law of God after the inward man, this is what shaped Paul’s mind. And if our mind, our inward man, is shaped. By the law of God. We too can find comfort in the hope of God’s ultimate. Deliverance to be. Clear, brothers and sisters, sin is A cause. For sorrow. It was an important step for those to whom James wrote Be afflicted and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness.

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    Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He. Shall lift you up. They had befriended the world which. Put them at enmity. With God. And that was cause for affliction and mourning and tears in a more positive. Context, Jesus tells his disciples. Blessed are they that mourn. For they shall be. Comforted in Matthew chapter 5 and verse 4.

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    If we’re genuinely invested in the pursuit of holiness, we can’t help. But feel sorrow over. Sin. That said, we have to bear in mind what Paul says in Second Corinthians Chapter 7 and verse. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. Not to be repented of. But the sorrow of the world worketh death to the extent that our sorrow over.

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    Sin leads us to confess and to repent and to seek forgiveness. It’s. Necessary. Healthy. And good. But beyond that, it becomes a distraction from true reconciliation and the pressing. Work of actually being. Holy in response to Our Calling, one of the reasons. The sorrow of this world is so deadly. Is that it blinds us. To the reality of God’s presence. And the.

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    Tools that he’s provided to. Affect reconciliation and move forward in hope of ultimate deliverance. And this is when we. Lose courage and a. Loss of courage is an enormous loss. It’s an enormous. Loss because when courage fails. We’re more likely to consider giving up or changing. Course, of course, our heavenly. Father knows this all too well.

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    He understands our need for encouragement, and there’s no shortage of it to be found in the pages of Scripture. For instance, Psalms 27 and 31 have. Lovely exhortations to courage. In Psalm 27 at. Verse 14 we read. Wait on the Lord, be of good. Courage, and he shall. Strengthen thine heart. Wait. I say.

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    On the Lord and in Psalm 31, which is. Displayed on the slide O love the. Lord, all ye his Saints. For the Lord preserveth. The faithful and plentifully rewardeth. The proud doer. Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your. Heart all ye that. Hope in the Lord. So the goal of this session?

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    Is to look at the encouragement that God has provided to help us continue struggling against sin in pursuit of holiness now when we’re feeling discouraged and. Hopeless about our struggle against. Sin it may be. Helpful to recall the. Sentiments that are expressed in first John chapter one, verse 8. Through chapter 2, verse 2, if we say that we. Have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

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    But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that, we have. Not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in US. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.

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    And if any man sin, we have an. Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ, the. Righteous and He is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only. But also for the. Sins of the whole world, you know, when we’re in the midst of. Discouragement. It’s easy to forget. That God, as a loving and merciful Father, has made.

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    Every provision for our success. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and. Just to forgive us our. Sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and if any man sin, we have an advocate. With the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Of course we know.

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    That the fact that God. Has graciously made forgiveness possible does not mean that we can presume upon His grace. After all, John says, my little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. Our purpose this morning is not to diminish the seriousness or significance of sin in the least. But rather to provide a.

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    Beacon that can lead us. Back to the pursuit of. Holiness, when the manifestation of sin in our lives has left us feeling discouraged and hopeless.

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    In Psalm. 32 David writes about. His experience of the. Process that we’ve just looked at in first John, he says I. Acknowledged my sin unto thee, and my iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and now forgavest the iniquity of my sin, if we truly and sincerely in pursuit of. Rather, if we are truly.

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    And sincerely in pursuit of. Holiness, then, God has provided a process to deal with. Sin. God doesn’t make mistakes. Brothers and sisters, you didn’t get the invitation in error. He means for each of us to be. Permanent members of his family, but we can get bogged down in worldly sorrow. We have to embrace the process that God has provided. Sin is an offence against him, so he defines the terms of our reconciliation.

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    If our lives are characterized by. Striving against sin and we submit to the process of reconciliation. God has provided when it. Occurs, then we can. Return to our pursuit of the prize of our high. Calling in trust and confidence that our sins have been forgiven. There must be a typo. I gather that from.

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    Smiles, I see these various. Smiles that suggest that maybe? There’s a typo, so we’ll we’ll look for that afterwards. Or somebody can point it out to me. Before we. Continue to the next section. It’s just worth pointing out that when the overarching goal of our lives is the pursuit of holiness, God does not.

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    Judge us by our worst failures. Consider this, brothers and sisters and young people, through Samuel, God provide. God describes David as a. Man after his own heart in First Samuel 13 and verse 14. What’s more, God makes a covenant with him. To raise up a Saviour to Israel. In Second Samuel Chapter 7, all the while God knew the events of Second Samuel. 11 would take place.

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    He knew. That God would commit adult. Thank God. I apologize. He knew that. David would commit adultery with. Bathsheba and conspire in the death of. Her husband, but he also knew that those. Sins did not define the man David. Those sins did not. Describe the trajectory of his life. They did not truly express the content of his character.

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    And so it can be with us, brothers and sisters and young. People, if the trajectory of our lives is described by our desire to be holy as he is holy. And we pursue that end with the energy and ability that God has made. Available to us. Then he does not define us. By our greatest failures. God’s work with humanity has always been based on the family model.

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    He presents himself to mankind over and over again. As a father, because he. Wants us to be his sons and daughters in love. In fact, he will only have. Us as his children. Think of the Parable of the Lost. Sons The younger son returns home after squandering his inheritance and riotous living, and he seeks a place in his father’s.

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    House as a servant, but his father will only have. Him back as a son. And so it is. With our Heavenly Father. Brothers and sisters and young. People our. Place in his eternal. Purpose is based. On his fatherhood and if God dealt with us as slaves. Who could only receive. What we earn, we’d be doomed because all have sinned and come short. Of the glory of.

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    God, and we know. That the wages of. Sin is death. Instead, he’s extended the gift of. Eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, according to the great love of a Father for His children. David takes up this theme. Of God’s fatherhood. In Psalm 103, invite you to join me there. So we’ll spend a moment just looking at this Psalm. It says bless the Lord, O my soul, all that is within me. Bless His holy name.

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    Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities? Who? Healeth all thy diseases who? Redeemeth thy life from destruction, Who crowneth? Thee with. Loving kindness and tender mercies. Who satisfieth thy soul with? Good things. So that thy youth. Is renewed. Like the Eagles, the. Lord executed righteousness and judgment.

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    For all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide. Neither will he keep. His anger forever. He will not. He has not. Dealt with us after our. Sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities, for the heaven is high above the.

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    Earth as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy. Toward them that fear him. As far as the East. Is from the West, so. Far hath he removed. Our transgressions from us like. As a father pitieth his. Children. So the Lord. Pitieth them that fear him, for he knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are.

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    Dust. As for man, his days? Are as grass as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth. Over it. And it is. Gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children.

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    To such as. Keep His covenant and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The picture that emerges here is. Quite beautiful. Really, we see a nurturing father deeply invested in the. Success of children who reverence. Him keep his covenant and remember his commandments to do them. While he doesn’t overlook their. Sins.

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    He’s also abundantly merciful toward them, and he has compassion on them and understanding of their weaknesses. We’re told that all. Of these benefits are described in in verse one as the outworking of his holy name. Brothers and sisters, this is. Our Father, he’s not waiting for us to make a mistake that so, so that. He can destroy us in anger.

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    It’s his earnest desire to transform us if we reverence him. Keep. His covenant and remember his commandments to do them. Before we continue, I’ll just mention one thing about. Verse five that really. Stood out to me as I looked into this Psalm. God is described as. Satisfying our mouth with good things. So that our youth is. Renewed like the eagles, this may have reference to the way that.

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    Eagles are designed by God. To molt. And this is what the National Eagle Center has to say about an eagle’s molting process. It says molting is the natural. Process of replacing feathers. Feathers. Wear out and and they need to be. Replaced over. Time Raptors molt once a year, usually in spring and summer. They tend to molt symmetrically, meaning. If they lose the third primary on the right, they also lose the third.

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    Primary on the left. Raptors do not. Lose all their flight feathers. At one time and are never rendered flightless by a molt. It can take up to. Four years. For an eagle to complete a molt, to put it simply, an. Eagle has to be able to soar to survive. I’m not sure any of us have ever seen a nature documentary where an eagle is running down its prey. It’s not the way.

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    It’s not the way eagles hunt, is it? They have. To be able to get above the earth, their life. Depends on being able to. Rise above the. Earth and God designed them. To be sure, that’s always possible. Their youth, as it were, is. Renewed in such. A way that their life. Is never in jeopardy.

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    The children of God like. Eagles have to be able to soar to survive. We have to be able to rise above. Earthly lusts and desires in order to be successful in our pursuit of holiness, brothers and. Sisters, if the father has. Taken such care for eagles, then how much greater must his? Care be for his. Children who reverence him and keep his covenant and remember his commandments.

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    To do them. In First John 3, John touches on the theme of God’s. Fatherhood as well, it says. Behold, what manner of love the. Father has. Bestowed upon us that we. Should be. Called the sons of God. Therefore. The world knoweth us not because it knew Him not. Behold now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall.

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    Appear, we shall be like. Him, for we shall see him as he is, and every man that hath this hope in him, this expectation, purifieth himself even as he is. Pure. This is what God has always. Wanted from humanity, sons and daughters. Who purify themselves because. They want to be like. Their heavenly Father, tragically. In spite of all that he’s done for us, very. Few of us.

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    Are willing to. Respond to God this way. And the language of a family isn’t just a convenient metaphor. God deliberately reveals Himself as a Father to help us understand. Who he is and. How he? Feels towards. Us in fact, it’s so important to him that. That he’s established. The institution of the family, in part to reinforce that lesson. It’s a theme that runs.

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    Right throughout the Bible. Isn’t it we can never forget? That God is a righteous judge that requires. Obedience from his children. But he is. Also a loving father, deeply invested in their success. In fact, God’s judgement is often the direct outworking of his fatherhood, either in defense. Of those who respond. To his love with faithfulness and thankfulness or in punishment of those who show contempt for it one of the important lessons that we learn about our. Heavenly Father, from our experience of. Parenthood has to do with.

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    Why he loves us. Why do parents? Love their children, do our. Children earn it. Some would argue at times they do just the opposite. In the way that they behave, they may provoke us from time to time. I think most parents would. Say that they love their. Children long. Before their. Children could have possibly done anything. To deserve it.

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    Brothers and sisters. God made us this way. He made us this way because He wants us to understand and to appreciate. How he feels towards us. He loves us because it’s who he is. It is part of his identity. We. Haven’t done anything to earn it, John says. We love him because. He first loved us.

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    This is much like the message. That Moses delivered to Israel. On the eve of their entry into the Promised Land, he says to them, For thou art and holy people unto the. Lord thy God, the Lord thy God hath. Chosen thee to be a special people unto himself above all. People upon the face of the. Earth and why?

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    Why did God do this? Why had he made them? A holy people. Moses goes on to say, the Lord did not set his love on you, nor. Choose you because you were. More in number than any people for you were the. Fewest of all people, but because the Lord loved you and. Because he would keep the.

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    Oath. Which he had sworn unto. Your father’s half the Lord brought you out. With a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the House of Bondsman from the hand of Pharaoh, king of. Egypt, like the Israelites who God brought out of Egypt, we. Are born into slavery. Slavery to sin and death. But our Heavenly Father redeems us out of the house.

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    Of bond with a stretched out arm and with great judgments. He blesses us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. According as He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the. World that we should be. Holy and without blame before Him, in love, having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good. Pleasure of His will, the praise of the glory of His grace wherein?

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    He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. God has chosen us. To be his children because of his love. And because he would keep the oath which he swore. To Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. That they would be. Fathers of a great nation, and through one of their descendants, all nations of the earth. Would be blessed through Jesus we have received the. Adoption of children according.

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    To our heavenly Fathers, good pleasure. Think of it. Brothers and sisters and young people. It is the good pleasure of God. Almighty, that you and. I should be his children. Members of his family Paul expands on the incredible privilege of being a part of the divine family in Romans chapter 8 when he says, among other things in verse 15 not received we have not. Received the spirit of.

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    Bondage again to fear, but. Ye have received the Spirit. Of adoption. Whereby we cry ABBA, Father, the Spirit itself bear. Witness with our spirit. That we are the. Children of God and if children then. Heirs, Heirs. Of God and joint heirs. With Christ here Paul links our. Adoption into the family. Of God with the cry ABBA father this same. Phrase shows up in Galatians.

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    Chapter 4. Verse 6. In a very similar context. Paul says that because we are sons, God has sent forth the. Spirit of his son into our hearts crying ABBA father, this phrase only appears in. One other. Passage. And that passage highlights the incredible privilege. That we have to be. Called into the family of God.

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    Jesus uses. This very phrase in Gethsemane. Before his trial and crucifixion. In a profound. Depth of sorrow he prays ABBA father, all things are possible. Unto thee. Take away this cup. From me, nevertheless, not what I. Will but what thou wilt.

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    This is the intimate plea of a beloved son in. Great distress. Luke records God’s response. And there appeared an Angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. Brothers and sisters, our father. Is not an absentee parent. He is ever. Present to guide and to strengthen His children in their pursuit of holiness. Consider the Lord’s words in Matthew Chapter 7, verses 7:00 to 11:00. Ask, and it shall be given you seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh.

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    Receiveth. And he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man? Is there of you? Whom if his son asked bread, will he give him a stone, or if he. Asked a fish. Will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your. Father, which is in heaven.

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    Give good things to them that ask. Him, Jesus testifies to our heavenly Father’s. Willingness and ability to provide those things we need. So that. His will is done both in and through us. Back in Romans 8, Paul touches on that, on what that will is. For you and I. We left off in verse 17, but we’ll pick back up in verse 28.

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    We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are. The called according to his purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate them He also called, and whom He called them He also justified, and whom He justified them He. Also glorified God’s will.

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    For you and me. Is that we? Should be conformed to the image of his son, the Holy 1, and ultimately that. We should be glorified. And isn’t it? Beautiful that Paul uses the. Past tense. Here it may represent an instance of that principle that he refers to in Romans. Chapter 4 that God calls. Those things that are not.

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    As though they. Were, in other words, he. Speaks of the future as though it had already. Happened. This is a testimony to the absolute certainty of God’s work in us if we allow Him to do it. He is able to do. Exceeding abundantly above all. That we are able to ask. Or. Think by the power that worketh. In US and this is another awe inspiring. Aspect to God’s fatherhood.

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    Isaiah expresses it this way. But now, O Lord. Thou art our Father, we are the clay. And thou. Our. Potter, and we all are the work of thy hand. Our Heavenly Father is carefully. And lovingly at work to make us conformable to the image of His Son. We are vessels of mercy. Which he is preparing for glory, as Paul says.

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    In Ephesians chapter 2, we are his workmanship. Those of you who are. Makers of one sort or another understand the intimate connection that exists between the maker and the thing made if. We feel that way. About the things we make with our hands, how must. Our Heavenly Father feel about. Us Undoubtedly he is deeply invested, and personally so in the work he has begun in each one of us. Like a master Potter, he softens us with the. Water of his word.

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    And through the loving pressure. Of his. Providential hands. He shapes us. We know, don’t we, that that pressure can occasionally be intense. But God’s purpose is always. Creative, the unswerving intention. Of our heavenly Father is to prepare us for glory, to prepare us to be partakers. Of His Holiness and Hebrews. Chapter 12 speaks to this. We’re exhorted to look to Jesus, the author. And the finisher of our faith, who is set down at the right hand of God.

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    As proof. That even when God’s hand feels heavy upon us, we. Can rest. Assured that he is preparing. Us to be partakers. Of His Holiness beginning at verse 5 of. Hebrews chapter 12 it. Says, And you have forgotten the exhortation with which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him.

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    For when the. Whom the Lord loveth He? Chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth, if he endure chastening God. Dealeth with you as with. Sons for what son is. He whom the Father chasteneth. Not. But if he be without chastisement, wherefore all are partakers. Then are you bastards and not sons Furthermore.

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    We have had fathers after our flesh which corrected. Us and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection into the? Father of spirits, and live for they verily for a few days. Chastened us after their own pleasure. But he for our profit. That we might be partakers of His Holiness now.

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    No chastening, for the present seemeth to be joyous. But grievous. Nevertheless. Afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of. Righteousness and to them. Which are exercised thereby How? Truly incredible that the creator of heaven and earth. Should want us as his. Children and take such personal interest in each one of us to make.

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    US partakers of His Holiness the Prophet Malachi has this to say about those that cooperate with the Father’s efforts to prepare them to be partakers of His. Holiness reading from Malachi. Chapter 3 Verse. 16 it says then they. That feared the Lord spake. Often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be mine, say at the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my jewels, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

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    We would be remiss if we didn’t also mention that the blessing of being adopted into the family of God comes with the significant responsibility of developing a family resemblance in Matthew chapter 5. Jesus says to his disciples, Let your light so. Shine before men that. They may see your good. Works and glorify your Father, which is in heaven in the disciples of Christ.

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    The character of God A. Family resemblance ought to be evident. God. Expects his. Children to represent the family well, our character and our works. Should reflect the character. And the. Purpose of our heavenly Father to his glory. You recall that, Peter? Framed his argument for Our Holiness on the. Basis of God’s. Fatherhood back in first Peter chapter one in verse 14, he says. As.

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    Obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which has called you as holy, so be ye holy. In all manner of conversation, because it is written. Be ye holy for I. Am holy, and if ye call on the Father, who, without respect of persons, judgeth according to every man’s work past the time of your sojourning here in fear, the impetus for our holiness, the argument, the necessity.

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    Has to do with the fact. That we are children of our Father and he. Requires that we demonstrate a. Family resemblance. Paul touches on this as well in Second Corinthians chapter 6, verse 14 through Chapter 7 and verse one. Having pressed his exhortation not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, he goes on to say, You are the temple of the living God.

85. 38:28

    As God has said, I will. Dwell in them and walk in them and. I will be their God. And they shall be my people. And he goes on to. Say wherefore come out. From among them and be separate, saith the Lord, And touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto.

86. 38:47

    You and ye shall be. My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the. Fear of God being received by God. As his sons and daughters is contingent upon separating from unholy things, brothers and sisters and young people, when we make a place for unholiness in ourselves, we undo.

87. 39:19

    The work that. God has done in US. How can we love and honor our God as we undo His? Work. Jesus tells us that unto whomsoever much is given of him shall much be. Required, our Heavenly Father has. Given us an amazing gift of love and He requires that we love and honor him in return in Ephesians.

88. 39:49

    Verse chapter 6 and verse. One Paul points out that honour thy father and thy mother is the first commandment with. Promise if our natural. Parents are worthy of love and honour. And there is a promise associated. With that, then, how much more do we? Owe it to our Heavenly Father to honour. And to love him and how much?

89. 40:10

    Greater is the. Promise that he has extended. To us by grace through faith. One of the things that seems to happen as we embrace God’s call to holiness is that we become increasingly. Aware of our need to. Change. It can be the source of no small amount of. Stress. And anxiety. Where do we start?

90. 40:38

    How precisely do we go about it? How do we measure progress? When we imagine that we’re responsible for overseeing the process, it can be downright overwhelming.

91. 40:54

    But thankfully, we’re not responsible for overseeing the process. Our. Primary responsibility is to take. In a regular. Diet of God’s Word. And then apply what we’ve learned to the moment that we’re in. Over. And over and over again. Thankfully, God is a change. Expert. And if we put ourselves into His infinitely wise and loving hands, he.

92. 41:21

    Will oversee the process of. Change in US. There are a couple of passages that I resort to regularly. To remind myself of my part in the process of change. And one of them is. Ecclesiastes Chapter. 12 and verse 13 let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep his commandments for this.

93. 41:45

    Is the whole duty. Of man, our son Isaiah when he was very small. This was one of his very first memory verses. This and Psalms 9 verse one. That’s exactly. How you would say it? Psalms 9 verse one and every time I read. This verse I I have a picture of his jubilant little face.

94. 42:08

    He was a a square of a toddler, very a very blocky little guy. And. He would say with with just so much enthusiasm. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

95. 42:28

    It’s it’s the kind. Of precept. That even a small child can remember. And so for me, I tend to sort of discount it. It’s not all that significant, right? I mean, if a kid can remember it a little one, right? How how important could it really be? Enormously so to my life, brothers and sisters.

96. 42:49

    It frames our responsibility in the process of change that God has has invited us into. The other passage. That’s been helpful to me in this regard is Micah chapter 6 and verse 8. He hath showed the old man what is good and what does the Lord. Require of thee. Notice overseeing the process of our change is not.

97. 43:11

    Part of it is it. It’s to do justly. And to love mercy, and to walk humbly. With our God not to make sure other people do justly. And love mercy and walk humbly with their God. But ourselves to do justly. And to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our Heavenly Father passages.

98. 43:35

    Like these describe our part. In God’s work of transformation in a simple. But powerful way that’s. Pretty easy to remember. They can be a touchstone for those moments when we begin to feel. Overwhelmed by our perception of all the work. That needs to be done to make us ready.

99. 43:57

    We’ve seen that God likens our pursuit of holiness to a journey. Hiking imagery comes to mind for me when I think about this. It was certainly a common. Way to get from here? To there in Bible times an important part of hiking. Especially over rough. Terrain is to focus on the. Step that you’re taking?

100. 44:19

     You certainly have to look. Ahead. But if you’re too focused, too far ahead, or worse. Yet on some previous step, then you’re likely to take a nasty tumble, as we said in a previous session, the moment over which. We have the greatest. Opportunity for effect is the one that we’re in right now if we focus on being present for the moment that we’re in and. Doing what’s right with what’s?

101. 44:49

     Right in front of us, then God. Will be able to do. The work of change that needs to be done in US. In effect, God changes us through our obedience 1. Choice at a time. We don’t have to concern ourselves so much. With the greater process only with the choices before us today.

102. 45:13

     What a blessing that our Father should have structured. Things this way you know we have an interesting case. Study for God’s ability to. Expertly manage even the most significant changes in his children in the model for our pursuit of holiness that we looked at earlier in the week from philippians chapter 3 verses 13 and 14 Paul says this one thing I. Do for getting those things.

103. 45:42

     Which are behind and reaching forth unto those things. Which are before I press. For the mark for the. Prize of the High. Calling of God in Christ. Jesus. One of the other occurrences. Of. The Greek word that’s translated press here in Philippians chapter 3 and verse 14 is in Acts Chapter 9 and verse 4 and it helps us to understand the kind of intensity. Paul brought to his pursuit.

104. 46:11

     Of Holiness in Acts Chapter 9 and. Verse 4 as Saul. Was journeying toward Damascus. There was suddenly a light from heaven that shined around about him, and after falling to the earth he heard. A voice. And the voice. Said Saul. Saul. Why persecutest thou me? The word persecutest here. In Acts 9 and verse 4 is the same word translated press.

105. 46:43

     In Philippians chapter 3 and verse 14, we know the intensity and. Sheer ferocity that Paul brought to the. Persecution of the early Church. He testifies to it himself. He was. Dogged and relentless. What an incredible change our Heavenly Father affected in this man.

106. 47:16

     Whereas. He had doggedly, relentlessly pursued those of the way. To their destruction in Philippians. Chapter 3. Paul himself has become a fellow traveller on. That way, doggedly, relentlessly pursuing the prize of our high. Calling in Christ Jesus. Brothers and. Sisters, if God could affect. Such a change in. Paul, he can surely change. Us in mind now.

107. 48:08

     In order to prepare us. For a change in body when his son returns. In Paul’s own words. Brothers and sisters reading from Romans. Chapter 8. Verses 31 to 39.

108. 48:33

     If God be for us. Who can be against us? He that prepared, not prepared? Excuse me, He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all? How shall he not with him freely give us all things? Who shall? Lay anything to the. Charge of God’s elect. It is God that justifieth.

109. 48:55

     Who is he that condemneth? It is. Christ that died ye rather. That is risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate? Us, from the love of Christ shall tribulation. Or distress or persecution, or. Famine or nakedness? Or peril. Or sword. As it.

110. 49:16

     Is written for thy sake. We are. Killed all the day long. We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved. Us, for I am persuaded. That neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other.

111. 49:40

     Creature shall be able to separate us. From the love of God. Which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Brothers and sisters, the only thing that can separate us from the love of God. Is US. But if our earnest. Desire is to be holy as He is holy. And we reverence Him, we keep His covenant and remember His commandments to do them. Then we have nothing to fear and every reason to be strong and of good.

112. 50:18

     Courage. So, brothers and sisters, we’ll bring our time together. This week to a close with the words of Isaiah 35, verses 4 to 10. Be strong, Fear not. Behold your God. Will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the death shall be unstopped.

113. 50:44

     Then shall the lame man leap as in heart, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert, and the parched ground shall become a pool in the thirsty land springs of water, in the habitation of Dragons, where each. Lay shall be grass with weeds and rushes.

114. 51:04

     And in. Highway, she’ll be there and. Away and. It shall be called the way of. Holiness, the unclean shall not. Passover it, but it shall be for those the wayfaring. Men those, though fools, shall not air therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous. Beast. Shall go up there on it shall be.

115. 51:30

     It shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their. Heads they shall. Obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall. Flee away, this is. The way, brothers and sisters, and May God bless our.

116. 51:53

     Efforts to walk. In it. So that we are blessed. To come together with the. Faithful of every generation to Zion with. Songs. And everlasting joy upon our. Heads Even so, come Lord Jesus.