Class 5 from this series was used in GCT Episode 333.<\/p>\n
2
\n00:00:03,120 –> 00:00:07,040
\nThis is his fourth class, and
\nthe subject for this class is <\/p>\n
3
\n00:00:07,280 –> 00:00:11,080
\nthe things which defile a man.
\nOur reading was taken from <\/p>\n
4
\n00:00:11,080 –> 00:00:14,680
\nRomans Chapter 7, verses 14 to
\n25. <\/p>\n
5
\n00:00:15,280 –> 00:00:36,440
\nWell.
\nGood morning, everyone. <\/p>\n
6
\n00:00:39,640 –> 00:00:42,960
\nWe’ve titled our fourth session
\nthis morning, The things Which <\/p>\n
7
\n00:00:43,000 –> 00:00:45,320
\ndefile a man, as our brother Ken
\nhas said. <\/p>\n
8
\n00:00:45,320 –> 00:00:47,720
\nAnd thank you, brother Ken.
\nThis morning. <\/p>\n
9
\n00:00:47,720 –> 00:00:51,200
\nIn this session, we’re going to
\nlook at these two ways, the way <\/p>\n
10
\n00:00:51,200 –> 00:00:52,840
\nof holiness and the way of
\ndeath. <\/p>\n
11
\n00:00:53,520 –> 00:00:57,000
\nAnd to a large extent, this is
\nvery familiar territory for most<\/p>\n
12
\n00:00:57,000 –> 00:00:59,600
\nof us.
\nBut familiarity has its own <\/p>\n
13
\n00:00:59,600 –> 00:01:03,040
\nchallenges, doesn’t it?
\nThen we’re going to look at this<\/p>\n
14
\n00:01:03,040 –> 00:01:07,160
\nidea of the war in our members
\nand then we’re going to take a <\/p>\n
15
\n00:01:07,160 –> 00:01:10,520
\nlook at the concept of the world
\nand, and the idea of it being <\/p>\n
16
\n00:01:10,520 –> 00:01:12,520
\nthe Kingdom where human nature
\nreigns. <\/p>\n
17
\n00:01:12,520 –> 00:01:15,920
\nAnd this has been, I know,
\ngrowing up, a particularly <\/p>\n
18
\n00:01:15,920 –> 00:01:21,800
\nuseful and necessary emphasis
\nfor me to be reminded that the <\/p>\n
19
\n00:01:21,800 –> 00:01:26,040
\nworld is not something
\nexclusively out there, that the <\/p>\n
20
\n00:01:26,040 –> 00:01:30,880
\nworld is is very near to us and
\nwe have to be so on guard as we <\/p>\n
21
\n00:01:30,880 –> 00:01:37,280
\nthink about how we interact and
\nprotect ourselves against its <\/p>\n
22
\n00:01:37,280 –> 00:01:40,040
\ninfluences.
\nAnd then we want to take a few <\/p>\n
23
\n00:01:40,040 –> 00:01:44,160
\nmoments towards the end and look
\nat a couple of tactics that God <\/p>\n
24
\n00:01:44,160 –> 00:01:49,160
\nhas provided to resist our
\nnature and the world. <\/p>\n
25
\n00:01:51,960 –> 00:01:56,520
\nThroughout Scripture, the way of
\nholiness is contrasted with <\/p>\n
26
\n00:01:56,640 –> 00:01:59,680
\nanother way.
\nBut from God’s perspective, <\/p>\n
27
\n00:01:59,680 –> 00:02:05,840
\nthere are only two ways.
\nOne of them is difficult, and it<\/p>\n
28
\n00:02:05,840 –> 00:02:10,039
\nhas to be entered deliberately
\nby a narrow gate, but it leads <\/p>\n
29
\n00:02:10,039 –> 00:02:15,080
\nto joy and to life.
\nThe other way is easy, and it <\/p>\n
30
\n00:02:15,080 –> 00:02:19,200
\ncan be entered by a broad gate,
\nbut that way leads to sorrow and<\/p>\n
31
\n00:02:19,200 –> 00:02:22,440
\nto destruction.
\nAs the Lord says in Matthew <\/p>\n
32
\n00:02:22,440 –> 00:02:26,120
\nChapter 7, beginning at verse
\n13, enter ye in at the straight <\/p>\n
33
\n00:02:26,120 –> 00:02:29,920
\ngate, for wide is the gate, and
\nbroad is the way that leadeth to<\/p>\n
34
\n00:02:29,920 –> 00:02:32,280
\ndestruction.
\nAnd many there be which go in <\/p>\n
35
\n00:02:32,280 –> 00:02:36,640
\nthere at, because straight is
\nthe gate, and narrow is the way <\/p>\n
36
\n00:02:37,000 –> 00:02:41,040
\nwhich leadeth unto life, and few
\nthere be that find it. <\/p>\n
37
\n00:02:42,680 –> 00:02:47,920
\nRomans 6 builds on this idea of
\ntwo ways, and to that concept it<\/p>\n
38
\n00:02:47,920 –> 00:02:58,230
\nadds the notion of 2 masters.
\nWe see the two ways alluded to <\/p>\n
39
\n00:02:58,230 –> 00:03:02,590
\nhere in verses one to four,
\nreading from Romans chapter 6, <\/p>\n
40
\n00:03:02,590 –> 00:03:04,750
\nverses one to four.
\nWhat shall we say then? <\/p>\n
41
\n00:03:05,030 –> 00:03:09,080
\nShall we continue in sin, that
\ngrace may abound? <\/p>\n
42
\n00:03:09,440 –> 00:03:12,320
\nLet it not be.
\nHow shall we that are dead to <\/p>\n
43
\n00:03:12,320 –> 00:03:16,400
\nsin live any longer therein?
\nKnow ye not that so many of us <\/p>\n
44
\n00:03:16,400 –> 00:03:19,600
\nas were baptized into Jesus
\nChrist were baptized into His <\/p>\n
45
\n00:03:19,600 –> 00:03:22,800
\ndeath?
\nTherefore we are buried with Him<\/p>\n
46
\n00:03:22,800 –> 00:03:26,960
\nby baptism into death, That like
\nas Christ was raised up from the<\/p>\n
47
\n00:03:26,960 –> 00:03:32,720
\ndead by the glory of the Father,
\nEven so we also should walk in <\/p>\n
48
\n00:03:32,720 –> 00:03:35,920
\nnewness of life.
\nSo on the one hand, we have <\/p>\n
49
\n00:03:35,920 –> 00:03:40,640
\ncontinuing in sin, which is
\ncontrasted with walking in <\/p>\n
50
\n00:03:40,640 –> 00:03:44,960
\nnewness of life.
\nAnd when we come down to verses <\/p>\n
51
\n00:03:44,960 –> 00:03:49,680
\n16 to 23, we find that the
\nMaster that’s associated with <\/p>\n
52
\n00:03:49,720 –> 00:03:53,000
\nthe way that leads to
\ndestruction is sin, and the <\/p>\n
53
\n00:03:53,000 –> 00:03:56,920
\nMaster associated with the way
\nthat leads to life is none other<\/p>\n
54
\n00:03:56,920 –> 00:04:00,400
\nthan our heavenly Father.
\nIt’s an interesting thought that<\/p>\n
55
\n00:04:00,440 –> 00:04:05,800
\nthe choice is ours.
\nGod leaves it to us to choose. <\/p>\n
56
\n00:04:06,600 –> 00:04:09,200
\nWe think of this theme running
\nthroughout the word of God. <\/p>\n
57
\n00:04:09,680 –> 00:04:13,520
\nMoses saying I put before you
\nlife and death, choose life, but<\/p>\n
58
\n00:04:13,520 –> 00:04:18,240
\nit was a choice.
\nJoshua saying choose you this <\/p>\n
59
\n00:04:18,240 –> 00:04:22,000
\nday whom you will serve.
\nElijah saying to the people, how<\/p>\n
60
\n00:04:22,000 –> 00:04:24,520
\nlong halt ye between two
\nopinions. <\/p>\n
61
\n00:04:24,960 –> 00:04:30,640
\nWe have a choice.
\nGod has given us the evidence <\/p>\n
62
\n00:04:30,640 –> 00:04:35,600
\nand he has asked us to choose
\none way that leads to life and <\/p>\n
63
\n00:04:35,600 –> 00:04:39,840
\nanother way that leads to
\ndestruction and the choice is <\/p>\n
64
\n00:04:39,880 –> 00:04:43,440
\nours.
\nHow remarkable that it seems to <\/p>\n
65
\n00:04:43,440 –> 00:04:45,440
\nbe such a difficult choice to
\nmake. <\/p>\n
66
\n00:04:46,680 –> 00:04:49,280
\nWhen we put it in these terms,
\nit seems simple, doesn’t it? <\/p>\n
67
\n00:04:49,400 –> 00:04:51,560
\nWell goodness, it’s a choice of
\nlife or death. <\/p>\n
68
\n00:04:52,840 –> 00:04:56,000
\nWith the young people yesterday,
\nthere’s one in every crowd. <\/p>\n
69
\n00:04:56,280 –> 00:04:58,480
\nWith the young people yesterday
\nI said, you know, you’ve got 2 <\/p>\n
70
\n00:04:58,480 –> 00:05:01,160
\nchoices.
\nYou can go to a nice sunny beach<\/p>\n
71
\n00:05:01,400 –> 00:05:04,200
\nor you can go to an island with
\na volcano that’s about to <\/p>\n
72
\n00:05:04,200 –> 00:05:06,360
\nexplode.
\nOne of them of course picked the<\/p>\n
73
\n00:05:06,360 –> 00:05:10,080
\nvolcano as, as you know, one of
\nthem must. <\/p>\n
74
\n00:05:10,080 –> 00:05:15,000
\nBut nevertheless, it’s a silly
\nquestion isn’t it? <\/p>\n
75
\n00:05:15,000 –> 00:05:17,840
\nWhenever we put it in these
\nterms, how could we possibly <\/p>\n
76
\n00:05:17,840 –> 00:05:20,640
\nmake any other choice than the
\nway of life? <\/p>\n
77
\n00:05:22,360 –> 00:05:27,200
\nAnd yet, so often we do.
\nSo often we do. <\/p>\n
78
\n00:05:28,960 –> 00:05:34,760
\nWe cannot serve 2 masters.
\nOr rather, we can try, but our <\/p>\n
79
\n00:05:34,760 –> 00:05:38,800
\nGod is a jealous God, and He
\ndoesn’t tolerate a divided <\/p>\n
80
\n00:05:38,800 –> 00:05:46,280
\nloyalty in His children.
\nWe are born into ignorance about<\/p>\n
81
\n00:05:46,280 –> 00:05:50,560
\nthe way of holiness, but even
\nwhen we’re blessed to understand<\/p>\n
82
\n00:05:50,560 –> 00:05:55,400
\nit, we can all too readily be
\ndeceived if we rely on our <\/p>\n
83
\n00:05:55,480 –> 00:05:59,920
\nnatural perception.
\nThere is a way that seemeth <\/p>\n
84
\n00:06:00,040 –> 00:06:04,560
\nright unto a man, but the end
\nthereof are the ways of death. <\/p>\n
85
\n00:06:06,360 –> 00:06:10,480
\nAnd so we, Nah, we were one
\nslide behind. <\/p>\n
86
\n00:06:10,480 –> 00:06:14,720
\nI apologize.
\nSo here is Proverbs chapter 14, <\/p>\n
87
\n00:06:14,720 –> 00:06:18,640
\nwhich we just quoted.
\nAnd here we are then in Daniel <\/p>\n
88
\n00:06:18,640 –> 00:06:21,480
\nchapter 2 and verse 44.
\nAnd we come to Daniel 2 and <\/p>\n
89
\n00:06:21,480 –> 00:06:24,320
\nverse 44 really to circle back
\nto the point that we made a <\/p>\n
90
\n00:06:24,320 –> 00:06:31,200
\nmoment ago, that there may be
\ntwo ways, but there is only one <\/p>\n
91
\n00:06:31,440 –> 00:06:36,920
\nabiding destination.
\nThe God of heaven will set up a <\/p>\n
92
\n00:06:36,920 –> 00:06:39,560
\nKingdom which shall never be
\ndestroyed, and that Kingdom <\/p>\n
93
\n00:06:39,560 –> 00:06:42,640
\nshall not be left to other
\npeople, but it shall break in <\/p>\n
94
\n00:06:42,640 –> 00:06:48,240
\npieces and consume all these
\nkingdoms, and it shall stand <\/p>\n
95
\n00:06:48,600 –> 00:06:51,840
\nforever.
\nSo there’s only one destination <\/p>\n
96
\n00:06:52,320 –> 00:06:57,680
\nthat abides forever.
\nIn first John chapter 2 and <\/p>\n
97
\n00:06:57,680 –> 00:07:02,040
\nverse 17, we’re told that the
\nworld passes away and the lust <\/p>\n
98
\n00:07:02,040 –> 00:07:08,160
\nthereof, but he that doeth the
\nwill of God abideth forever. <\/p>\n
99
\n00:07:12,440 –> 00:07:16,240
\nThe problem with our natural
\nperception is that it’s an <\/p>\n
100
\n00:07:16,240 –> 00:07:20,840
\nextension of a part of us that
\nis at war with God, a part of us<\/p>\n
101
\n00:07:20,840 –> 00:07:27,760
\nthat is fundamentally unholy.
\nThose in pursuit of holiness <\/p>\n
102
\n00:07:27,760 –> 00:07:33,600
\nhave a war in our members.
\nAnd we know, of course, that our<\/p>\n
103
\n00:07:33,600 –> 00:07:38,080
\nHeavenly Father diagnosis our
\ndisease in Jeremiah chapter 17, <\/p>\n
104
\n00:07:38,320 –> 00:07:41,920
\nverse 9.
\nThe heart is deceitful above all<\/p>\n
105
\n00:07:41,920 –> 00:07:44,760
\nthings, and desperately wicked.
\nWho can know it? <\/p>\n
106
\n00:07:46,520 –> 00:07:50,800
\nThe heart, the human mind,
\nTrump’s all comers for its <\/p>\n
107
\n00:07:50,800 –> 00:07:53,360
\ncapacity to deceive.
\nAnd we are deceived. <\/p>\n
108
\n00:07:53,520 –> 00:07:58,800
\nWe are at risk of deception by
\nno one so much so as ourselves. <\/p>\n
109
\n00:07:59,040 –> 00:08:05,200
\nWe have an infinite capacity to
\ndeceive ourselves, more so than <\/p>\n
110
\n00:08:05,200 –> 00:08:12,080
\nI think any of us even fully
\nrealize, certainly more so than <\/p>\n
111
\n00:08:12,080 –> 00:08:17,120
\nI realize in myself.
\nWe are constitutionally <\/p>\n
112
\n00:08:17,160 –> 00:08:22,000
\nincapable of being holy without
\nGod’s intervention to show us <\/p>\n
113
\n00:08:22,000 –> 00:08:26,280
\nhow and His continued presence
\nto guide and sustain our <\/p>\n
114
\n00:08:26,280 –> 00:08:29,520
\nefforts.
\nEven when we’re well schooled in<\/p>\n
115
\n00:08:29,520 –> 00:08:33,080
\nthe will and purpose of God,
\nwe’re not insulated from the <\/p>\n
116
\n00:08:33,080 –> 00:08:38,919
\npush and the pull of our nature.
\nDavid’s sin with Bathsheba <\/p>\n
117
\n00:08:38,919 –> 00:08:41,679
\nstands out as as an obvious
\nexample. <\/p>\n
118
\n00:08:42,440 –> 00:08:45,040
\nAnd of course we know that the
\nLord testifies to this very <\/p>\n
119
\n00:08:45,040 –> 00:08:48,520
\nthing he says in Matthew chapter
\n15 verses 15 to 20. <\/p>\n
120
\n00:08:49,000 –> 00:08:51,680
\nThen answered Peter, and said
\nunto him, Declare unto us this <\/p>\n
121
\n00:08:51,680 –> 00:08:55,120
\nparable.
\nAnd Jesus said, Are you also yet<\/p>\n
122
\n00:08:55,120 –> 00:08:58,520
\nwithout understanding?
\nDo you not yet understand that <\/p>\n
123
\n00:08:58,520 –> 00:09:02,480
\nwhatsoever entereth in at the
\nmouth goeth into the belly, and <\/p>\n
124
\n00:09:02,480 –> 00:09:06,200
\nis cast into the draw?
\nBut those things would proceed <\/p>\n
125
\n00:09:06,200 –> 00:09:10,360
\nout of the mouth, come forth
\nfrom the heart, and they defile <\/p>\n
126
\n00:09:10,360 –> 00:09:12,920
\nthe man.
\nFor out of the heart precede <\/p>\n
127
\n00:09:12,920 –> 00:09:17,800
\nevil thoughts, murders,
\nadulteries, fornications, <\/p>\n
128
\n00:09:18,040 –> 00:09:21,720
\nthefts, false witness,
\nblasphemies. <\/p>\n
129
\n00:09:22,280 –> 00:09:24,960
\nThese are the things which
\ndefile a man. <\/p>\n
130
\n00:09:25,680 –> 00:09:29,880
\nBut to eat with unwashing hands
\ndefileth not a man. <\/p>\n
131
\n00:09:31,320 –> 00:09:34,280
\nIsn’t it the way of our nature
\nthat we become preoccupied with <\/p>\n
132
\n00:09:34,280 –> 00:09:39,520
\nthe thing that is not actually
\nthe problem to to wash the <\/p>\n
133
\n00:09:39,520 –> 00:09:40,200
\nhands?
\nRight? <\/p>\n
134
\n00:09:40,200 –> 00:09:43,400
\nThat was the simple thing to do.
\nWe get preoccupied with the <\/p>\n
135
\n00:09:43,400 –> 00:09:44,720
\nthing that isn’t really the
\nissue. <\/p>\n
136
\n00:09:44,720 –> 00:09:46,960
\nWell, certainly washing your
\nhands is a much easier problem <\/p>\n
137
\n00:09:46,960 –> 00:09:51,840
\nto solve then an incurably
\ncorrupt heart. <\/p>\n
138
\n00:09:54,920 –> 00:09:57,680
\nHopefully, we begin our journey
\non the way of holiness, <\/p>\n
139
\n00:09:57,680 –> 00:10:03,760
\nconvinced that we’re terminally
\nill and determined to apply the <\/p>\n
140
\n00:10:03,760 –> 00:10:07,040
\ntreatment that God has
\nprescribed to manage our disease<\/p>\n
141
\n00:10:07,040 –> 00:10:10,680
\nwhile we wait for His Son to
\nadminister the cure. <\/p>\n
142
\n00:10:11,520 –> 00:10:16,600
\nHowever, over time, by subtle
\ndegrees, that conviction and <\/p>\n
143
\n00:10:16,600 –> 00:10:20,240
\ndetermination can fade.
\nAnd though we may not actually <\/p>\n
144
\n00:10:20,240 –> 00:10:25,040
\nsay so, somewhere deep down we
\nimagine that our progress on the<\/p>\n
145
\n00:10:25,040 –> 00:10:29,960
\nway of life has lessened the
\nseverity of our disease. <\/p>\n
146
\n00:10:31,320 –> 00:10:35,200
\nYou know, in First Peter chapter
\n3, verses 18 to 22, he relates <\/p>\n
147
\n00:10:35,200 –> 00:10:39,600
\nthe flood of Genesis 6 to 10 to
\nbaptism. <\/p>\n
148
\n00:10:40,880 –> 00:10:44,240
\nThese are two brothers, a newly
\nnewly minted, so to speak, <\/p>\n
149
\n00:10:44,240 –> 00:10:48,200
\nbrother and sister at at our
\necclesia, the niece of brother <\/p>\n
150
\n00:10:48,200 –> 00:10:50,760
\nRodger Snyder, who brother
\nRodger didn’t grow up in the <\/p>\n
151
\n00:10:50,760 –> 00:10:53,000
\ntruth.
\nSo his niece started coming out <\/p>\n
152
\n00:10:53,000 –> 00:10:57,960
\nto the seminars and she was
\ninterested in and all throughout<\/p>\n
153
\n00:10:57,960 –> 00:11:01,600
\nthe process, she said that her
\nhusband, he was never really <\/p>\n
154
\n00:11:01,600 –> 00:11:03,480
\ninterested in the church that
\nshe was a part of. <\/p>\n
155
\n00:11:04,480 –> 00:11:09,200
\nAnd he began coming when she was
\ntaking more focused preparation <\/p>\n
156
\n00:11:09,200 –> 00:11:13,680
\nfor baptism classes.
\nAnd in the process, he said, <\/p>\n
157
\n00:11:13,680 –> 00:11:17,280
\nwell, I didn’t know that I, I
\nthought it was just a lot of <\/p>\n
158
\n00:11:17,280 –> 00:11:19,000
\nargument.
\nI thought that there were a lot <\/p>\n
159
\n00:11:19,000 –> 00:11:21,400
\nof different things you could
\nthink and they were all <\/p>\n
160
\n00:11:21,400 –> 00:11:23,040
\nreasonable.
\nI didn’t know that there was <\/p>\n
161
\n00:11:23,480 –> 00:11:26,760
\nreally good reasons to think one
\nthing over another. <\/p>\n
162
\n00:11:27,400 –> 00:11:30,360
\nAnd so he was drawn in through
\nthe process of her baptism <\/p>\n
163
\n00:11:30,360 –> 00:11:33,400
\nclasses and and they were
\nbaptized together this year at <\/p>\n
164
\n00:11:33,400 –> 00:11:39,000
\nour Sunday School picnic.
\nThe waters of the flood cleansed<\/p>\n
165
\n00:11:39,000 –> 00:11:42,480
\nthe world outside the ark of
\ncorruption. <\/p>\n
166
\n00:11:43,240 –> 00:11:46,280
\nBut that corruption had stowed
\naway, hadn’t it? <\/p>\n
167
\n00:11:46,680 –> 00:11:49,720
\nIt was inside the ark.
\nIt was inside Noah and his <\/p>\n
168
\n00:11:49,720 –> 00:11:52,640
\nfamily.
\nIn the same way, for all the <\/p>\n
169
\n00:11:52,640 –> 00:11:56,680
\npower and importance of baptism,
\nit doesn’t cure us from the <\/p>\n
170
\n00:11:56,680 –> 00:12:01,920
\ndisease that afflicts us.
\nIt certainly prefigures the cure<\/p>\n
171
\n00:12:02,040 –> 00:12:05,560
\nreserved for those who have
\ncrucified the flesh with its <\/p>\n
172
\n00:12:05,560 –> 00:12:09,520
\naffections and lusts.
\nAnd faithful progress on the way<\/p>\n
173
\n00:12:09,520 –> 00:12:13,840
\nof life can definitely equip us
\nto manage our disease. <\/p>\n
174
\n00:12:14,840 –> 00:12:18,160
\nHowever, we know that only
\nbecoming partakers of the divine<\/p>\n
175
\n00:12:18,160 –> 00:12:23,520
\nnature by the grace of God will
\nwe be able to say that we have <\/p>\n
176
\n00:12:23,520 –> 00:12:26,800
\nescaped the corruption that is
\nin the world through lust. <\/p>\n
177
\n00:12:28,120 –> 00:12:33,960
\nIn the meantime, we can’t afford
\nto underestimate the seriousness<\/p>\n
178
\n00:12:34,000 –> 00:12:40,240
\nand the danger of our disease.
\nAnd so Romans chapter 14, <\/p>\n
179
\n00:12:40,920 –> 00:12:44,800
\nChapter 7, rather verses 14 to
\n25 aptly describes the <\/p>\n
180
\n00:12:44,800 –> 00:12:51,640
\nexperience of those that choose
\nto pursue holiness as a war in <\/p>\n
181
\n00:12:51,640 –> 00:12:55,200
\nour members.
\nPaul says, For I delight in the <\/p>\n
182
\n00:12:55,200 –> 00:12:59,000
\nlaw of God after the inward man,
\nbut I see another law in my <\/p>\n
183
\n00:12:59,000 –> 00:13:03,440
\nmembers warring against the law
\nof my mind and bringing me into <\/p>\n
184
\n00:13:03,440 –> 00:13:06,720
\ncaptivity to the law of sin,
\nwhich is in my members. <\/p>\n
185
\n00:13:08,280 –> 00:13:14,600
\nWhich of us doesn’t identify
\nwith this experience even in the<\/p>\n
186
\n00:13:14,600 –> 00:13:19,160
\nlittle things of life, right.
\nThere’s dessert at the potluck. <\/p>\n
187
\n00:13:19,280 –> 00:13:22,440
\nWe know we’ve probably had
\nenough to eat already, but it <\/p>\n
188
\n00:13:22,440 –> 00:13:25,840
\nlooks delicious.
\nIt will be delicious. <\/p>\n
189
\n00:13:26,520 –> 00:13:28,840
\nThere’s a part of us that says
\njust have some. <\/p>\n
190
\n00:13:29,120 –> 00:13:30,760
\nYou’ll make it up during the
\nweek. <\/p>\n
191
\n00:13:30,840 –> 00:13:34,560
\nYou won’t eat.
\nYou’ll, you’ll, you’ll, you’ll <\/p>\n
192
\n00:13:34,560 –> 00:13:37,360
\nexercise restraint at some
\npoint, right? <\/p>\n
193
\n00:13:39,040 –> 00:13:42,200
\nWe, we feel this all the time.
\nAnd that’s, that’s a benign <\/p>\n
194
\n00:13:42,200 –> 00:13:45,960
\ncase, isn’t it?
\nSo often throughout our day, <\/p>\n
195
\n00:13:45,960 –> 00:13:49,600
\nwe’re confronted with occasions
\nwhere there’s a choice to be <\/p>\n
196
\n00:13:49,600 –> 00:13:52,280
\nmade.
\nWe can choose a path that honors<\/p>\n
197
\n00:13:52,280 –> 00:13:55,440
\nand respects our Heavenly
\nFather, that gives him his due, <\/p>\n
198
\n00:13:55,800 –> 00:13:58,080
\nor we can choose a path that’s
\nmore comfortable. <\/p>\n
199
\n00:13:59,120 –> 00:14:03,320
\nAnd there’s a part of us
\nconstantly lobbying for the <\/p>\n
200
\n00:14:03,320 –> 00:14:13,630
\ncomfortable path.
\nClearly Paul felt this struggle <\/p>\n
201
\n00:14:13,670 –> 00:14:17,390
\nvery keenly, as do all those who
\npursue holiness. <\/p>\n
202
\n00:14:19,470 –> 00:14:23,720
\nHere in Romans chapter 8, we’re
\ntold that the carnal mind is to <\/p>\n
203
\n00:14:23,720 –> 00:14:27,280
\nbe carnally minded is death, but
\nto be spiritually minded is life<\/p>\n
204
\n00:14:27,600 –> 00:14:32,160
\nand peace, because the carnal
\nmind is enmity against God, for <\/p>\n
205
\n00:14:32,160 –> 00:14:36,360
\nit is not subject to the law of
\nGod, neither indeed can be. <\/p>\n
206
\n00:14:38,240 –> 00:14:41,640
\nAnd in Galatians chapter 5 verse
\n17, we’re told that the flesh <\/p>\n
207
\n00:14:41,880 –> 00:14:45,520
\nlusteth against the Spirit and
\nthe spirit against the flesh, <\/p>\n
208
\n00:14:46,120 –> 00:14:49,600
\nand these are contrary, the one
\nto the other, so that you cannot<\/p>\n
209
\n00:14:49,600 –> 00:14:56,320
\ndo the things that you would.
\nThis inherent hatred that Paul <\/p>\n
210
\n00:14:56,320 –> 00:15:00,920
\ndescribes of our nature for
\nholiness is our heritage from <\/p>\n
211
\n00:15:00,920 –> 00:15:05,800
\nAdam and Eve and the reason that
\nflesh and blood cannot inherit <\/p>\n
212
\n00:15:05,800 –> 00:15:08,800
\nthe Kingdom of God.
\nAs long as this hatred is <\/p>\n
213
\n00:15:08,800 –> 00:15:12,960
\ninherent to our nature, we
\ncannot in the fullest sense be <\/p>\n
214
\n00:15:12,960 –> 00:15:16,840
\nthe holy royal priesthood
\nsuitable for the work of filling<\/p>\n
215
\n00:15:16,840 –> 00:15:22,200
\nthis earth with God’s glory.
\nBut even though we can’t be free<\/p>\n
216
\n00:15:22,200 –> 00:15:25,560
\nfrom human nature this side of
\nthe Kingdom, we can be <\/p>\n
217
\n00:15:25,920 –> 00:15:31,880
\nspiritually minded.
\nSin need not reign in our mortal<\/p>\n
218
\n00:15:31,880 –> 00:15:36,360
\nbodies as Paul commends to us in
\nRomans chapter 6 and verse 12. <\/p>\n
219
\n00:15:37,160 –> 00:15:41,200
\nIn fact, we know that we must be
\ntransformed in mind now, <\/p>\n
220
\n00:15:41,800 –> 00:15:46,160
\ndelighting in and serving the
\nlaw of God in order to be <\/p>\n
221
\n00:15:46,160 –> 00:15:50,880
\ntransformed in body later.
\nAnd as we said at the outset, <\/p>\n
222
\n00:15:50,880 –> 00:15:54,360
\nbrothers and sisters and young
\npeople, these are facts with <\/p>\n
223
\n00:15:54,360 –> 00:15:57,560
\nwhich we’re all probably really
\nfamiliar. <\/p>\n
224
\n00:15:58,280 –> 00:16:01,720
\nNevertheless, if someone with
\nthe understanding, maturity, and<\/p>\n
225
\n00:16:01,720 –> 00:16:07,400
\ndemonstrated commitment of Paul
\ncould say, for I do not do the <\/p>\n
226
\n00:16:07,400 –> 00:16:12,040
\ngood I want, but the evil I do
\nnot want is what I keep on <\/p>\n
227
\n00:16:12,040 –> 00:16:16,600
\ndoing, then how could we ever
\nimagine ourselves less <\/p>\n
228
\n00:16:16,600 –> 00:16:20,120
\nsusceptible to the pull and push
\nof our nature? <\/p>\n
229
\n00:16:21,360 –> 00:16:24,160
\nOur knowledge of the truth, for
\nall that it equips us to <\/p>\n
230
\n00:16:24,160 –> 00:16:27,720
\nrecognize and respond to the
\nlust of the eyes and the lust of<\/p>\n
231
\n00:16:27,720 –> 00:16:32,800
\nthe flesh and the pride of life,
\ndoesn’t remove the fundamental <\/p>\n
232
\n00:16:32,800 –> 00:16:37,920
\ncorruption of our nature.
\nAnd there’s the very real danger<\/p>\n
233
\n00:16:37,920 –> 00:16:42,040
\nthat we are so familiar with
\nwhat the Scriptures say about <\/p>\n
234
\n00:16:42,040 –> 00:16:45,840
\nthat nature that it has lost
\nsome of its significance. <\/p>\n
235
\n00:16:46,320 –> 00:16:50,960
\nMaybe we no longer truly
\nappreciate just how dangerous it<\/p>\n
236
\n00:16:50,960 –> 00:16:55,000
\nreally is.
\nMaybe we don’t actually feel as <\/p>\n
237
\n00:16:55,000 –> 00:16:59,640
\nif we have an enemy to holiness
\npresent with us at every moment <\/p>\n
238
\n00:16:59,880 –> 00:17:04,560
\nof every day.
\nDo we truly believe that we are <\/p>\n
239
\n00:17:04,560 –> 00:17:06,599
\nunder the law that Paul
\ndescribes? <\/p>\n
240
\n00:17:06,599 –> 00:17:11,480
\nHe says, I find that a law that
\nwhen we would do good, evil is <\/p>\n
241
\n00:17:11,480 –> 00:17:16,200
\npresent with us.
\nDo we believe that to be true, <\/p>\n
242
\n00:17:16,200 –> 00:17:21,480
\nbrothers and sisters?
\nDo we accept the reality that <\/p>\n
243
\n00:17:21,480 –> 00:17:24,480
\nwe’re suffering from a
\npotentially fatal disease that <\/p>\n
244
\n00:17:24,480 –> 00:17:28,520
\ncan only be managed by strict
\nattention to the prescribed <\/p>\n
245
\n00:17:28,520 –> 00:17:32,440
\nregimen of treatment?
\nOr are we in denial? <\/p>\n
246
\n00:17:33,960 –> 00:17:37,920
\nHave we convinced ourselves that
\nwe’re better and no longer in <\/p>\n
247
\n00:17:37,920 –> 00:17:41,080
\nneed of that treatment?
\nThis is a very common problem <\/p>\n
248
\n00:17:41,080 –> 00:17:44,320
\nin, in the area of mental
\nhealth, particularly in the area<\/p>\n
249
\n00:17:44,320 –> 00:17:46,680
\nof mental health.
\nBut I think for, for men’s <\/p>\n
250
\n00:17:46,680 –> 00:17:49,880
\nhealth, maybe generally that
\nespecially men tend to, well, I,<\/p>\n
251
\n00:17:49,960 –> 00:17:52,280
\nI think I feel better.
\nSo I’m just going to stop taking<\/p>\n
252
\n00:17:52,280 –> 00:17:54,360
\nthat.
\nMaybe it’s blood pressure <\/p>\n
253
\n00:17:54,360 –> 00:17:58,520
\nmedication, maybe it’s some
\nother form of, of medication in <\/p>\n
254
\n00:17:58,520 –> 00:18:01,720
\nmental health.
\nIt can be particularly damaging.<\/p>\n
255
\n00:18:01,720 –> 00:18:05,840
\nA person with a disease, a
\nchemical imbalance that leads to<\/p>\n
256
\n00:18:05,840 –> 00:18:08,800
\nsomething like schizophrenia,
\ntakes their medication, they <\/p>\n
257
\n00:18:08,800 –> 00:18:12,920
\nfeel much better.
\nAnd so because they feel better,<\/p>\n
258
\n00:18:12,920 –> 00:18:14,560
\nthey say, well, I feel as if I’m
\ncured. <\/p>\n
259
\n00:18:14,560 –> 00:18:18,800
\nAnd they, they stop taking their
\nmedication and they, they suffer<\/p>\n
260
\n00:18:18,840 –> 00:18:24,880
\na terrible relapse.
\nAnd this same thing can happen <\/p>\n
261
\n00:18:24,880 –> 00:18:27,280
\nto us, can’t it?
\nIt reminds us in a way of the <\/p>\n
262
\n00:18:27,280 –> 00:18:32,360
\ncycle of the judges, right?
\nA steady diet of life infused <\/p>\n
263
\n00:18:32,360 –> 00:18:35,480
\nwith God’s will.
\nAnd we begin to feel as if <\/p>\n
264
\n00:18:35,480 –> 00:18:38,440
\nthings are going well.
\nAnd because things are going <\/p>\n
265
\n00:18:38,440 –> 00:18:42,400
\nwell, we can get on with what we
\nwant to do and then everything <\/p>\n
266
\n00:18:42,400 –> 00:18:46,520
\ncomes apart.
\nIt’s amazing that we go through <\/p>\n
267
\n00:18:46,520 –> 00:18:48,720
\nthis cycle.
\nAmazing for the fact that we <\/p>\n
268
\n00:18:48,720 –> 00:18:55,720
\nkeep going through this cycle of
\nour lives, that it takes us so <\/p>\n
269
\n00:18:55,720 –> 00:19:00,600
\nlong to learn that in fact, we
\nmust continue the regimen of <\/p>\n
270
\n00:19:00,600 –> 00:19:03,200
\ntreatment that our Heavenly
\nFather has prescribed. <\/p>\n
271
\n00:19:03,200 –> 00:19:09,200
\nYou know, when we think about
\ndiseases, diseases that are, are<\/p>\n
272
\n00:19:09,200 –> 00:19:13,200
\nparticularly scary, there are
\nmany of them, of course, but <\/p>\n
273
\n00:19:13,880 –> 00:19:18,880
\nthere are interesting parallels
\nbetween what doctors and, and <\/p>\n
274
\n00:19:18,880 –> 00:19:21,560
\npatients and those who have have
\nstruggled with it, we’ll call <\/p>\n
275
\n00:19:21,560 –> 00:19:26,560
\nthe big C between cancer and the
\ndisease of human nature. <\/p>\n
276
\n00:19:27,320 –> 00:19:29,920
\nAnd of course, we know that
\nthis, this disease of cancer, <\/p>\n
277
\n00:19:29,920 –> 00:19:33,960
\nI’m not a, a oncologist or
\nanything like one, but it’s a <\/p>\n
278
\n00:19:33,960 –> 00:19:37,920
\nfamily of ailments.
\nBut there are interesting <\/p>\n
279
\n00:19:37,920 –> 00:19:41,680
\nparallels between this disease,
\nlargely in the fact that <\/p>\n
280
\n00:19:41,680 –> 00:19:44,960
\nultimately it’s, it’s kind of in
\na sense consumptive, right? <\/p>\n
281
\n00:19:44,960 –> 00:19:48,840
\nIt it wants to grow and grow and
\ngrow until it dominates <\/p>\n
282
\n00:19:48,840 –> 00:19:53,960
\neverything and in doing so often
\ntimes leads to death. <\/p>\n
283
\n00:19:57,480 –> 00:20:00,200
\nBut there’s something
\ninteresting about this disease <\/p>\n
284
\n00:20:00,200 –> 00:20:02,560
\nin relation, or a few things
\nrather, that are interesting <\/p>\n
285
\n00:20:02,560 –> 00:20:04,600
\nabout this disease in relation
\nto other diseases. <\/p>\n
286
\n00:20:04,600 –> 00:20:07,520
\nCancer cells are actually.
\nNative cells. <\/p>\n
287
\n00:20:07,560 –> 00:20:13,200
\nIt’s not an external infection,
\nit’s an internal malfunction. <\/p>\n
288
\n00:20:16,160 –> 00:20:18,360
\nNative cells that become
\naberrant. <\/p>\n
289
\n00:20:19,600 –> 00:20:23,920
\nWhich makes me think of Matthew
\nchapter 15 and verses 15 to 20. <\/p>\n
290
\n00:20:23,920 –> 00:20:27,680
\nThat the things which defile a
\nman don’t come from outside of <\/p>\n
291
\n00:20:27,680 –> 00:20:33,320
\nus, they come from within.
\nOur disease originates inside us<\/p>\n
292
\n00:20:33,320 –> 00:20:35,680
\nrather than an outside
\ninfection. <\/p>\n
293
\n00:20:36,680 –> 00:20:40,440
\nAnd though cancer is not an
\noutside infection, it can be <\/p>\n
294
\n00:20:40,440 –> 00:20:45,720
\nprompted by environmental
\nfactors, either voluntarily or <\/p>\n
295
\n00:20:45,720 –> 00:20:49,720
\ninvoluntarily exposed
\nenvironmental factors. <\/p>\n
296
\n00:20:49,720 –> 00:20:53,040
\nAnd this puts me in mind of
\nFirst Corinthians 15 verse 33, <\/p>\n
297
\n00:20:53,040 –> 00:20:57,640
\nwhere Paul tells the Corinthians
\nthat evil communications corrupt<\/p>\n
298
\n00:20:57,680 –> 00:21:01,680
\ngood manners.
\nAnother interesting connection <\/p>\n
299
\n00:21:01,680 –> 00:21:05,280
\nis that cancerous cells often go
\nundetected by the body’s immune <\/p>\n
300
\n00:21:05,320 –> 00:21:09,920
\nsystem, in part because the
\ncells are native. <\/p>\n
301
\n00:21:10,560 –> 00:21:15,240
\nThe body’s immune system is is
\ndesigned to detect outside <\/p>\n
302
\n00:21:15,240 –> 00:21:22,120
\ninfection and so these cancer
\ncells are native cells and they <\/p>\n
303
\n00:21:22,120 –> 00:21:25,960
\nalso often actively mask that
\nthey’ve gone rogue. <\/p>\n
304
\n00:21:26,440 –> 00:21:29,440
\nAnd this puts me in mind of what
\nwe read in Proverbs chapter 14 <\/p>\n
305
\n00:21:29,440 –> 00:21:35,000
\nverses verse 12 and Proverbs 16
\nverse 25, that the mind of the <\/p>\n
306
\n00:21:35,000 –> 00:21:38,520
\nidea that there is a way which
\nseemeth right unto a man, but <\/p>\n
307
\n00:21:38,520 –> 00:21:41,080
\nthe end thereof are the ways of
\ndeath. <\/p>\n
308
\n00:21:42,000 –> 00:21:45,840
\nThe mind is the source of
\nbenign, healthy and diseased <\/p>\n
309
\n00:21:45,880 –> 00:21:50,120
\nthoughts as well as being the
\nmeans of distinguishing the one <\/p>\n
310
\n00:21:50,320 –> 00:21:53,240
\nfrom the other.
\nAnd so diseased thinking often <\/p>\n
311
\n00:21:53,240 –> 00:21:57,680
\ngoes undetected precisely
\nbecause it’s familiar. <\/p>\n
312
\n00:21:59,040 –> 00:22:02,360
\nWe may not be born with an
\neffective ability to distinguish<\/p>\n
313
\n00:22:02,840 –> 00:22:04,760
\nhealthy thinking from disease
\nthinking. <\/p>\n
314
\n00:22:04,760 –> 00:22:08,920
\nBut interestingly enough, one of
\nthe, the areas that the <\/p>\n
315
\n00:22:08,920 –> 00:22:11,840
\nhorizons, if you will, of Cancer
\nResearch, as I understand it. <\/p>\n
316
\n00:22:11,840 –> 00:22:14,440
\nAnd there is a, a brother on the
\nEast Coast who, who is a <\/p>\n
317
\n00:22:14,440 –> 00:22:16,960
\nradiation oncologist.
\nAnd he and I have have talked <\/p>\n
318
\n00:22:16,960 –> 00:22:20,880
\nabout these things a little bit
\njust to make sure that that that<\/p>\n
319
\n00:22:20,880 –> 00:22:25,480
\nI’m not going too far out on a
\nlimb is that they are working to<\/p>\n
320
\n00:22:25,480 –> 00:22:31,480
\ntrain and having some progress
\nat training the immune system to<\/p>\n
321
\n00:22:31,480 –> 00:22:36,400
\nsee it, to recognize it,
\ntraining the body itself to <\/p>\n
322
\n00:22:36,400 –> 00:22:40,960
\nreact against certain forms of,
\nof cancerous mutation. <\/p>\n
323
\n00:22:41,280 –> 00:22:43,560
\nAnd this makes me think of the
\nsentiment that’s expressed in <\/p>\n
324
\n00:22:43,560 –> 00:22:48,480
\nHebrews chapter 5 and verse 14,
\nthat we can have our senses <\/p>\n
325
\n00:22:49,320 –> 00:22:54,440
\nexercised to discern both good
\nand evil. <\/p>\n
326
\n00:22:56,560 –> 00:23:01,080
\nAnd lastly, this idea of of
\nradiation treatment, you know, <\/p>\n
327
\n00:23:02,760 –> 00:23:05,080
\nthis is one of the treatments
\nfor cancer, which puts me in <\/p>\n
328
\n00:23:05,080 –> 00:23:10,400
\nmind of somewhat of the way that
\nlight is used as a metaphor for <\/p>\n
329
\n00:23:10,400 –> 00:23:13,120
\nthe word of God, which is the
\ntreatment prescribed by the <\/p>\n
330
\n00:23:13,120 –> 00:23:15,960
\ngreat physician to manage our
\ndisease. <\/p>\n
331
\n00:23:16,400 –> 00:23:21,760
\nIn the broadest sense, light is
\nradiation, and so the treatment <\/p>\n
332
\n00:23:21,760 –> 00:23:25,960
\nfor our spiritual disease is
\nlike cancer in a sense, <\/p>\n
333
\n00:23:26,640 –> 00:23:32,920
\nradiation therapy.
\nNow, even when we are able to <\/p>\n
334
\n00:23:32,920 –> 00:23:36,840
\nacknowledge how poor our
\nspiritual perception is, most of<\/p>\n
335
\n00:23:36,840 –> 00:23:41,680
\nus imagine that it stands in
\nstark contrast to our natural <\/p>\n
336
\n00:23:41,680 –> 00:23:45,280
\nperception.
\nWe think even if our spiritual <\/p>\n
337
\n00:23:45,280 –> 00:23:48,680
\nperception doesn’t provide a,
\nyou know, an accurate picture of<\/p>\n
338
\n00:23:48,680 –> 00:23:52,960
\nreality, surely our natural
\nperception can be relied on to <\/p>\n
339
\n00:23:52,960 –> 00:23:56,480
\nprovide an accurate picture of
\nthe physical reality. <\/p>\n
340
\n00:23:57,280 –> 00:24:01,800
\nAnd in fact, this is promoted by
\npopular wisdom, isn’t it? <\/p>\n
341
\n00:24:01,800 –> 00:24:06,240
\nThe idea that natural perception
\nis really the only reliable <\/p>\n
342
\n00:24:06,240 –> 00:24:09,920
\nmeasure of truth?
\nFor instance, we rely on our <\/p>\n
343
\n00:24:09,920 –> 00:24:14,640
\nsight a great deal to help us
\nperceive and to understand the <\/p>\n
344
\n00:24:14,640 –> 00:24:18,160
\nworld around us, and for the
\nmost part, it’s incredibly <\/p>\n
345
\n00:24:18,320 –> 00:24:22,640
\nreliable, and that’s why we have
\naphorisms like seeing is <\/p>\n
346
\n00:24:22,640 –> 00:24:28,280
\nbelieving.
\nEven so, our physical senses are<\/p>\n
347
\n00:24:28,280 –> 00:24:33,280
\nmuch less reliable than we might
\notherwise imagine them to be, <\/p>\n
348
\n00:24:35,880 –> 00:24:40,000
\nand a good deal more limited.
\nFor instance, there’s more light<\/p>\n
349
\n00:24:40,760 –> 00:24:45,040
\nthan we can see.
\nUltraviolet light is outside the<\/p>\n
350
\n00:24:45,040 –> 00:24:48,240
\nvisible spectrum of light for
\nhumans, but some insects and <\/p>\n
351
\n00:24:48,240 –> 00:24:51,960
\nbirds are able to see it.
\nInfrared light is also outside <\/p>\n
352
\n00:24:51,960 –> 00:24:55,120
\nthe sensory perception of
\nhumans, but some snakes and <\/p>\n
353
\n00:24:55,120 –> 00:24:57,520
\ninsects and bats can perceive
\nit. <\/p>\n
354
\n00:24:58,000 –> 00:25:02,360
\nIn effect, these are aspects of
\nour reality that are completely <\/p>\n
355
\n00:25:02,360 –> 00:25:06,440
\nmissing to us.
\nWe don’t perceive them with <\/p>\n
356
\n00:25:06,440 –> 00:25:12,040
\nthese natural senses, with, with
\nwe with which we invest such <\/p>\n
357
\n00:25:12,040 –> 00:25:16,240
\ntrust.
\nAnd what’s more, it’s not nearly<\/p>\n
358
\n00:25:16,240 –> 00:25:21,480
\nas difficult as you might think
\nto confuse even a trusted sense <\/p>\n
359
\n00:25:21,520 –> 00:25:25,160
\nlike visual perception.
\nSo what we want to do for the <\/p>\n
360
\n00:25:25,160 –> 00:25:27,400
\nnext couple of moments is just
\nillustrate this. <\/p>\n
361
\n00:25:27,560 –> 00:25:31,720
\nJust do a bit of an exercise
\ntogether to illustrate how easy <\/p>\n
362
\n00:25:31,720 –> 00:25:37,520
\nit really is to deceive a sense
\nthat we trust so much. <\/p>\n
363
\n00:25:38,320 –> 00:25:40,880
\nAnd the reason that we want to
\ndo this is to emphasize that if <\/p>\n
364
\n00:25:40,880 –> 00:25:44,240
\nwe can deceive, this sense that
\nwe would normally consider to be<\/p>\n
365
\n00:25:44,480 –> 00:25:48,680
\nso reliable if we can, if it can
\nbe deceived so easily. <\/p>\n
366
\n00:25:49,240 –> 00:25:56,000
\nAnd how much more easily are our
\nsenses deceived with respect to <\/p>\n
367
\n00:25:56,000 –> 00:25:59,320
\nspiritual things if we are not
\nguided and directed by the Word <\/p>\n
368
\n00:25:59,320 –> 00:26:05,160
\nof God?
\nWhat does your mind tell you? <\/p>\n
369
\n00:26:05,240 –> 00:26:08,120
\nOr your eyes?
\nWhat do your senses tell you <\/p>\n
370
\n00:26:08,120 –> 00:26:12,640
\nthat you’re looking at?
\nThere are cues. <\/p>\n
371
\n00:26:12,720 –> 00:26:16,040
\nOur mind processes some of the
\nthings that don’t fit and we <\/p>\n
372
\n00:26:16,040 –> 00:26:19,400
\ndraw conclusions.
\nBut if you just stop that <\/p>\n
373
\n00:26:19,400 –> 00:26:22,320
\nprocess for a moment, as if that
\nwere possible, but if you just <\/p>\n
374
\n00:26:22,320 –> 00:26:31,120
\ntry to ignore it, maybe our mind
\nsees a river and a waterfall. <\/p>\n
375
\n00:26:31,640 –> 00:26:34,120
\nAnd so people standing on
\nsomething, a rock or a raft or <\/p>\n
376
\n00:26:34,120 –> 00:26:38,960
\nsome such, that’s a chalk
\ndrawing on a flat St. <\/p>\n
377
\n00:26:42,560 –> 00:26:45,840
\nBut it didn’t take much to make
\nour minds believe that it was <\/p>\n
378
\n00:26:45,840 –> 00:26:50,240
\nsomething entirely other, right,
\nwithout sort of stopping and <\/p>\n
379
\n00:26:50,240 –> 00:26:51,360
\nlooking at the.
\nOh, right. <\/p>\n
380
\n00:26:51,360 –> 00:26:54,720
\nWe have enough visual indicators
\naround it that we can make sense<\/p>\n
381
\n00:26:54,720 –> 00:26:57,200
\nof it pretty quickly.
\nWe can see, OK, yeah, there’s <\/p>\n
382
\n00:26:57,200 –> 00:26:59,920
\nsomething that’s not right here.
\nSome of the details not exactly <\/p>\n
383
\n00:26:59,920 –> 00:27:04,040
\nright.
\nBut at first blush, we imagine <\/p>\n
384
\n00:27:04,040 –> 00:27:06,200
\nwhat we see is a river.
\nAnd there’s a moment of <\/p>\n
385
\n00:27:06,200 –> 00:27:13,520
\nconfusion, isn’t there?
\nAnother example here again, <\/p>\n
386
\n00:27:13,520 –> 00:27:16,440
\nthere’s a a scene of someone
\npeering down from some <\/p>\n
387
\n00:27:16,440 –> 00:27:20,520
\nscaffolding into an area where
\nsomebody seems to have fallen. <\/p>\n
388
\n00:27:21,200 –> 00:27:24,360
\nAnd of course, again, it’s just
\nthe sidewalk. <\/p>\n
389
\n00:27:25,720 –> 00:27:30,880
\nSomeone has skillfully drawn a
\npicture on a flat surface and <\/p>\n
390
\n00:27:30,880 –> 00:27:35,120
\ncreated the impression in our
\nminds of depth. <\/p>\n
391
\n00:27:37,920 –> 00:27:43,400
\nAnd so we imagine that what we
\ntruly see is other than what’s <\/p>\n
392
\n00:27:43,440 –> 00:27:46,000
\nactually there.
\nThat’s how easy it can be. <\/p>\n
393
\n00:27:46,000 –> 00:27:48,080
\nNow, I’m sure if you ask the
\nartist, he’d say, what do you <\/p>\n
394
\n00:27:48,080 –> 00:27:50,600
\nmean how easy it can be?
\nThat took me forever to draw. <\/p>\n
395
\n00:27:53,800 –> 00:27:57,400
\nBut for us right here, right
\nnow, that’s how easy it can be <\/p>\n
396
\n00:27:58,160 –> 00:28:01,080
\nto deceive our natural
\nperception. <\/p>\n
397
\n00:28:01,320 –> 00:28:04,960
\nIf it’s that easy to deceive our
\nnatural perception, which we <\/p>\n
398
\n00:28:04,960 –> 00:28:10,360
\nrely on so much, how much more
\neasily can spiritual perception <\/p>\n
399
\n00:28:10,600 –> 00:28:12,640
\nbe deceived?
\nOr can our perception of <\/p>\n
400
\n00:28:12,640 –> 00:28:17,480
\nspiritual things be deceived if
\nwe’re using natural means? <\/p>\n
401
\n00:28:19,080 –> 00:28:20,800
\nWhat?
\nWhat do you see here? <\/p>\n
402
\n00:28:21,280 –> 00:28:23,520
\nI can’t leave this, I can’t
\nactually look at this very long <\/p>\n
403
\n00:28:23,520 –> 00:28:26,080
\nbecause it starts to make me
\nstarts to make my tummy feel a <\/p>\n
404
\n00:28:26,080 –> 00:28:28,640
\nlittle weird.
\nI’m not sure why That’s quite <\/p>\n
405
\n00:28:28,640 –> 00:28:31,040
\napart from not feeling well
\nearlier in the week. <\/p>\n
406
\n00:28:31,760 –> 00:28:34,400
\nWhat do you see?
\nDo you see horizontal lines <\/p>\n
407
\n00:28:34,400 –> 00:28:37,960
\nparallel to each other or do you
\nsee lines that seem to want to <\/p>\n
408
\n00:28:37,960 –> 00:28:42,840
\nalmost like they’re bending?
\nMany people see bending lines or<\/p>\n
409
\n00:28:42,840 –> 00:28:45,080
\nthey they see lines that don’t
\nquite line up. <\/p>\n
410
\n00:28:45,080 –> 00:28:47,760
\nThey’re not parallel to each
\nother. <\/p>\n
411
\n00:28:48,280 –> 00:28:53,680
\nSometimes if we, if we overlay
\nwhite lines that sort of expand <\/p>\n
412
\n00:28:53,680 –> 00:28:57,320
\nbeyond the image, it helps the
\nmind sort of pick up on some of <\/p>\n
413
\n00:28:57,320 –> 00:29:01,800
\nthose additional visual cues and
\nallows us to see that Oh yeah, <\/p>\n
414
\n00:29:01,800 –> 00:29:03,280
\nOK, right.
\nYeah, they’re all just parallel <\/p>\n
415
\n00:29:03,280 –> 00:29:07,840
\nlines.
\nThis is how easily our natural <\/p>\n
416
\n00:29:07,840 –> 00:29:11,800
\nperceptions can be confused.
\nAnd if we use them to perceive <\/p>\n
417
\n00:29:11,800 –> 00:29:16,800
\nspiritual things, we will
\nconsistently fail to do so <\/p>\n
418
\n00:29:17,040 –> 00:29:21,160
\ncorrectly.
\nWhich of these two blocks? <\/p>\n
419
\n00:29:21,160 –> 00:29:23,920
\nYou’ll see there’s there’s an A,
\nit’s a bit faded. <\/p>\n
420
\n00:29:23,920 –> 00:29:27,320
\nThere’s an A and there’s AB.
\nWhich do you think is darker? <\/p>\n
421
\n00:29:30,640 –> 00:29:33,800
\nWhich of the two blocks?
\nI I won’t ask you to. <\/p>\n
422
\n00:29:34,680 –> 00:29:36,880
\nOh, why not?
\nWho thinks A’s darker? <\/p>\n
423
\n00:29:39,400 –> 00:29:42,960
\nYeah, I do too, actually.
\nWho thinks B’s darker? <\/p>\n
424
\n00:29:43,960 –> 00:29:46,680
\nYeah, right.
\nAwesome. <\/p>\n
425
\n00:29:47,120 –> 00:29:48,600
\nI love an individualist that
\nway. <\/p>\n
426
\n00:29:48,720 –> 00:29:51,720
\nOK, well, of course they’re the
\nexact same color. <\/p>\n
427
\n00:29:52,960 –> 00:29:56,040
\nYou knew that was coming, you
\nknow, or at least you you <\/p>\n
428
\n00:29:56,040 –> 00:29:58,560
\nthought it might be.
\nThey’re the exact same shade, <\/p>\n
429
\n00:29:58,600 –> 00:30:01,560
\nright?
\nAnd and whereas earlier our mind<\/p>\n
430
\n00:30:01,560 –> 00:30:06,120
\nwas helped by external visual
\ncues, here it’s confused. <\/p>\n
431
\n00:30:06,120 –> 00:30:11,840
\nWe see shadow and we know that.
\nWe know that what we’re expected<\/p>\n
432
\n00:30:11,840 –> 00:30:16,480
\nto see is this shadow.
\nAnd we, we look around and we <\/p>\n
433
\n00:30:16,480 –> 00:30:19,320
\nsay, well, then yeah, they’re
\nclearly that one’s meant to be <\/p>\n
434
\n00:30:19,320 –> 00:30:21,120
\ndarker.
\nIt’s just, you know, there’s a <\/p>\n
435
\n00:30:21,120 –> 00:30:24,000
\nshadow involved and we we make
\nsense of it in our minds. <\/p>\n
436
\n00:30:24,000 –> 00:30:27,480
\nAnd in fact, the reality is
\ndifferent than the <\/p>\n
437
\n00:30:27,480 –> 00:30:30,880
\ninterpretation, just as we’ve
\nseen in the other examples. <\/p>\n
438
\n00:30:30,880 –> 00:30:33,280
\nBut, but we get there a slightly
\ndifferent way. <\/p>\n
439
\n00:30:34,760 –> 00:30:37,880
\nThis last one, I don’t believe
\nit. <\/p>\n
440
\n00:30:38,120 –> 00:30:43,920
\nAnd I’ve and I did it.
\nI don’t know why this one just <\/p>\n
441
\n00:30:44,840 –> 00:30:49,480
\nthere’s two lines and for the
\nlife of me, the line on the <\/p>\n
442
\n00:30:49,480 –> 00:30:55,480
\nright is longer.
\nIt just is longer, right? <\/p>\n
443
\n00:30:56,160 –> 00:30:58,640
\nI’m not sure about your
\nperception, but my perception is<\/p>\n
444
\n00:30:58,640 –> 00:31:00,120
\nthat the line on the right is
\nlonger. <\/p>\n
445
\n00:31:02,160 –> 00:31:06,840
\nSo we take a line, right?
\nAnd I promise you, I’m not doing<\/p>\n
446
\n00:31:06,840 –> 00:31:09,000
\nany tricks here.
\nI’m really not. <\/p>\n
447
\n00:31:09,960 –> 00:31:13,120
\nAnd the, the only trick is this
\nis this is the extent of my, my <\/p>\n
448
\n00:31:13,120 –> 00:31:17,080
\nPowerPoint skills is that I can
\nmake this little red line fly <\/p>\n
449
\n00:31:17,080 –> 00:31:21,600
\nacross the screen and it
\noverlays the other line exactly <\/p>\n
450
\n00:31:21,920 –> 00:31:25,320
\nright.
\nAnd as I, as, as I was going <\/p>\n
451
\n00:31:25,320 –> 00:31:27,640
\nthrough the, the process of
\npreparation, I’m like, you know,<\/p>\n
452
\n00:31:27,640 –> 00:31:31,040
\nthat just doesn’t satisfy me.
\nSo I felt the need to actually <\/p>\n
453
\n00:31:31,040 –> 00:31:35,360
\ndraw lines across the top and
\nbottom to prove to myself, even <\/p>\n
454
\n00:31:35,360 –> 00:31:38,760
\nthough I had just proven to
\nmyself that in fact, those lines<\/p>\n
455
\n00:31:38,760 –> 00:31:44,560
\nare exactly the same size.
\nSo the reason that we look at <\/p>\n
456
\n00:31:44,560 –> 00:31:49,560
\nthese things is, is not to, you
\nknow, simply for a a bit of a <\/p>\n
457
\n00:31:49,560 –> 00:31:53,080
\nreprieve.
\nThe reason that we look at these<\/p>\n
458
\n00:31:53,080 –> 00:31:58,360
\nthings again is that this is how
\neasily our natural perception <\/p>\n
459
\n00:31:58,560 –> 00:32:03,480
\ncan be confused.
\nIf we bring that perception to <\/p>\n
460
\n00:32:03,480 –> 00:32:07,600
\nour efforts to progress along
\nthe way of holiness. <\/p>\n
461
\n00:32:07,600 –> 00:32:12,080
\nIf we try to perceive spiritual
\nthings through natural means, we<\/p>\n
462
\n00:32:12,080 –> 00:32:21,720
\nwill consistently fail to do so.
\nThere is a way that seems right <\/p>\n
463
\n00:32:22,000 –> 00:32:25,880
\nto a man, but the end thereof
\nare the ways of death. <\/p>\n
464
\n00:32:27,880 –> 00:32:30,680
\nBrothers and sisters and young
\npeople, there will never be a <\/p>\n
465
\n00:32:30,680 –> 00:32:35,480
\ntime this side of the Kingdom
\nwhen it will be a good idea to <\/p>\n
466
\n00:32:35,480 –> 00:32:39,400
\ntrust our natural perception
\nwhere spiritual things are <\/p>\n
467
\n00:32:39,400 –> 00:32:42,360
\nconcerned.
\nThe counsel of the Proverbs in <\/p>\n
468
\n00:32:42,360 –> 00:32:46,880
\nProverbs chapter 3 and verse 5
\nis trust in the Lord with all <\/p>\n
469
\n00:32:46,880 –> 00:32:51,280
\nthine heart, and lean not unto
\nthine own understanding. <\/p>\n
470
\n00:32:51,880 –> 00:32:56,400
\nIn all thy ways acknowledge Him,
\nand he will direct thy paths. <\/p>\n
471
\n00:32:58,200 –> 00:33:01,560
\nTo trust in ourselves, however
\nmuch knowledge and experience we<\/p>\n
472
\n00:33:01,560 –> 00:33:05,320
\nmay have, is only to invite
\nruin. <\/p>\n
473
\n00:33:06,760 –> 00:33:11,360
\nIf a man like David, who surely
\nknew better, could be overtaken <\/p>\n
474
\n00:33:11,360 –> 00:33:15,000
\nin sin with Bathsheba, if Paul
\ncould say that there was a war <\/p>\n
475
\n00:33:15,000 –> 00:33:20,680
\nin his members, then certainly
\nnone of us can afford to let <\/p>\n
476
\n00:33:20,680 –> 00:33:27,280
\ndown our guard.
\nSo now we’d like to take a <\/p>\n
477
\n00:33:27,280 –> 00:33:30,680
\nmoment and look at this idea of
\nthe world. <\/p>\n
478
\n00:33:31,840 –> 00:33:36,880
\nThe other enemy to holiness that
\nthe Bible talks about is the <\/p>\n
479
\n00:33:36,880 –> 00:33:39,400
\nworld.
\nWe’re told not to love it <\/p>\n
480
\n00:33:39,520 –> 00:33:42,720
\nbecause it’s not of the Father
\nand therefore it will pass away.<\/p>\n
481
\n00:33:43,720 –> 00:33:46,320
\nBut those that do the will of
\nGod will abide forever. <\/p>\n
482
\n00:33:46,320 –> 00:33:51,680
\nWe’re told not even to be on
\nfriendly terms with it because <\/p>\n
483
\n00:33:51,680 –> 00:33:55,640
\nto do so is to make ourselves
\nthe enemy of God. <\/p>\n
484
\n00:33:56,040 –> 00:33:59,000
\nThat’s I don’t know, I, I’ve
\nread that over and over and over<\/p>\n
485
\n00:33:59,000 –> 00:34:01,560
\nagain and I, I read that even
\ntoday and I’m not sure that I <\/p>\n
486
\n00:34:01,560 –> 00:34:04,840
\nconnect as fully as I should
\nwith that idea. <\/p>\n
487
\n00:34:06,120 –> 00:34:10,360
\nFriendship with the world is
\nenmity with God. <\/p>\n
488
\n00:34:11,040 –> 00:34:15,679
\nIt’s a pretty strong statement
\nthat bears, you know, careful <\/p>\n
489
\n00:34:15,679 –> 00:34:20,520
\nconsideration, isn’t it?
\nWe know that the disciples of <\/p>\n
490
\n00:34:20,520 –> 00:34:26,800
\nChrist have to live in the
\nworld, but we are not its <\/p>\n
491
\n00:34:27,239 –> 00:34:32,120
\ncitizens.
\nIn Jesus prayer for his <\/p>\n
492
\n00:34:32,120 –> 00:34:36,320
\ndisciples he acknowledges that
\nGod had separated them from the <\/p>\n
493
\n00:34:36,320 –> 00:34:40,920
\nworld and in doing so they had
\nbecome gods. <\/p>\n
494
\n00:34:41,880 –> 00:34:47,840
\nThey had become His, a
\npossession claimed by him in the<\/p>\n
495
\n00:34:47,840 –> 00:34:51,760
\nsame way that a parent most of
\nthe time will claim a child. <\/p>\n
496
\n00:34:52,920 –> 00:34:57,520
\nOccasionally mom or dad might
\nsay your son just did whatever <\/p>\n
497
\n00:34:57,800 –> 00:35:02,680
\nyour daughter, but generally we
\nclaim our children, don’t we? <\/p>\n
498
\n00:35:03,720 –> 00:35:07,000
\nThey are ours.
\nAnd this is the work that our <\/p>\n
499
\n00:35:07,000 –> 00:35:08,640
\nheavenly Father has done with
\nus. <\/p>\n
500
\n00:35:08,640 –> 00:35:11,480
\nHe has brought us into his
\nfamily and made us his own. <\/p>\n
501
\n00:35:12,320 –> 00:35:16,120
\nIt calls to mind the language of
\nExodus 19 and of Leviticus 20 <\/p>\n
502
\n00:35:16,120 –> 00:35:20,920
\nand verse 26 as God conveys the
\nsame ideas to to Israel. <\/p>\n
503
\n00:35:22,040 –> 00:35:27,680
\nBut Jesus goes on to ask God to
\npreserve that separation by <\/p>\n
504
\n00:35:27,840 –> 00:35:32,800
\nkeeping them from evil and
\nsustaining their sanctification <\/p>\n
505
\n00:35:33,160 –> 00:35:36,920
\nthrough truth.
\nHe says, I pray for them. <\/p>\n
506
\n00:35:36,920 –> 00:35:40,400
\nI pray not for the world, but
\nfor them which thou hast given <\/p>\n
507
\n00:35:40,400 –> 00:35:43,840
\nme, for they are thine.
\nI pray not that thou shouldst <\/p>\n
508
\n00:35:43,880 –> 00:35:47,520
\ntake them out of the world, but
\nthat thou shouldst keep them <\/p>\n
509
\n00:35:47,640 –> 00:35:51,560
\nfrom the evil.
\nThey are not of the world, even <\/p>\n
510
\n00:35:51,560 –> 00:35:56,400
\nas I am not of the world.
\nSanctify them through thy truth.<\/p>\n
511
\n00:35:56,600 –> 00:36:05,640
\nThy word is true.
\nSo we have those that are gods <\/p>\n
512
\n00:36:06,400 –> 00:36:11,200
\nwho are journeying toward life,
\nwho resist sins, attempts to <\/p>\n
513
\n00:36:11,200 –> 00:36:16,600
\nreign in their mortal bodies,
\nand those who are dead in <\/p>\n
514
\n00:36:16,600 –> 00:36:21,120
\ntrespasses and sins, who walk
\naccording to the course of this <\/p>\n
515
\n00:36:21,120 –> 00:36:24,320
\nworld, according to the Prince
\nof the power of the air. <\/p>\n
516
\n00:36:24,320 –> 00:36:28,520
\nThe spirit that now worketh in
\nthe children of disobedience, <\/p>\n
517
\n00:36:29,200 –> 00:36:33,640
\namong whom also we all had our
\nconversation in times past in <\/p>\n
518
\n00:36:33,640 –> 00:36:36,440
\nthe lust of our flesh,
\nfulfilling the desires of the <\/p>\n
519
\n00:36:36,440 –> 00:36:40,120
\nflesh and of the mind.
\nAnd we’re by nature the children<\/p>\n
520
\n00:36:40,120 –> 00:36:45,960
\nof wrath, even as others.
\nThe picture that emerges is of <\/p>\n
521
\n00:36:46,040 –> 00:36:53,120
\ntwo kingdoms, the Kingdom of God
\nand sins Kingdom, where human <\/p>\n
522
\n00:36:53,120 –> 00:36:56,880
\nnature reigns uncontested in men
\nand women. <\/p>\n
523
\n00:36:58,920 –> 00:37:01,440
\nWe have received an incredible
\ncalling. <\/p>\n
524
\n00:37:02,400 –> 00:37:06,280
\nThe disciples of Christ have
\nbeen called out of death, out of<\/p>\n
525
\n00:37:06,360 –> 00:37:11,400
\nsins Kingdom into life and the
\nKingdom of God. <\/p>\n
526
\n00:37:13,960 –> 00:37:19,040
\nBut once again, there is a real
\ndanger, a real and present <\/p>\n
527
\n00:37:19,080 –> 00:37:21,920
\ndanger for those who have
\nreceived this high calling. <\/p>\n
528
\n00:37:22,280 –> 00:37:26,400
\nIt’s comfortable to imagine that
\nthe world only describes things <\/p>\n
529
\n00:37:26,400 –> 00:37:28,600
\noutside of ourselves and our
\ncommunity. <\/p>\n
530
\n00:37:29,160 –> 00:37:31,240
\nThe world is something out
\nthere. <\/p>\n
531
\n00:37:32,760 –> 00:37:35,760
\nThere’s a danger that those who
\nhave been called out of the <\/p>\n
532
\n00:37:35,760 –> 00:37:40,400
\nworld imagine they now live in
\nan unassailable impervious <\/p>\n
533
\n00:37:40,400 –> 00:37:44,320
\nfortress that cannot be
\novertaken by enemy invasion, <\/p>\n
534
\n00:37:44,320 –> 00:37:49,320
\nrather than a city under
\nconstant siege where the enemy <\/p>\n
535
\n00:37:49,320 –> 00:37:51,800
\nwill stop at nothing to take
\ncontrol. <\/p>\n
536
\n00:37:52,920 –> 00:37:56,240
\nSince Kingdom is always looking
\nto expand its borders by <\/p>\n
537
\n00:37:56,240 –> 00:38:00,600
\nwhatever means possible, it has
\nan army stationed on the border,<\/p>\n
538
\n00:38:00,720 –> 00:38:04,560
\nit sends in spies to foment
\nrebellion, and it has an embassy<\/p>\n
539
\n00:38:04,760 –> 00:38:08,840
\ninside every last one of
\nChrist’s disciples. <\/p>\n
540
\n00:38:10,640 –> 00:38:14,160
\nAt the same time that the world
\ntries to force regime change, <\/p>\n
541
\n00:38:14,880 –> 00:38:18,400
\nit’s constantly trying to open
\nup diplomatic relations, much in<\/p>\n
542
\n00:38:18,400 –> 00:38:23,120
\nthe way of countries today
\nsending the special forces and <\/p>\n
543
\n00:38:23,160 –> 00:38:26,480
\nthe diplomats in.
\nAt the same time, the world <\/p>\n
544
\n00:38:26,480 –> 00:38:30,600
\nbelieves that we should be able
\nto cooperate to achieve mutually<\/p>\n
545
\n00:38:30,600 –> 00:38:36,240
\nbeneficial goals, but the
\nreality is that no such goals <\/p>\n
546
\n00:38:36,400 –> 00:38:40,520
\nexist between the citizens of
\nGod’s Kingdom and those in whom <\/p>\n
547
\n00:38:40,760 –> 00:38:47,520
\nsin rules uncontested.
\nWe cannot serve 2 masters, but <\/p>\n
548
\n00:38:47,520 –> 00:38:51,600
\nthat’s one of many lies that our
\nnature and the world would have <\/p>\n
549
\n00:38:51,600 –> 00:38:55,920
\nus believe.
\nHere again, the exhortation is <\/p>\n
550
\n00:38:55,920 –> 00:39:01,800
\nto humility and vigilance.
\nThe world is not out there, it’s<\/p>\n
551
\n00:39:01,800 –> 00:39:05,360
\nat the gates, trying to tunnel
\nunder the walls and trying to <\/p>\n
552
\n00:39:05,360 –> 00:39:11,440
\nconvince us that we share common
\ncause that can be a basis for <\/p>\n
553
\n00:39:11,440 –> 00:39:14,520
\ncooperation.
\nAnd this will always be true <\/p>\n
554
\n00:39:14,520 –> 00:39:17,520
\nuntil we are finally changed in
\nnature by the grace of God, <\/p>\n
555
\n00:39:17,760 –> 00:39:22,280
\nwhich again underscores the need
\nfor humility and vigilance. <\/p>\n
556
\n00:39:23,520 –> 00:39:27,040
\nThose who arrive at Zion with
\nsongs and everlasting joy upon <\/p>\n
557
\n00:39:27,040 –> 00:39:32,280
\ntheir heads have been strangers
\nand pilgrims in the world. <\/p>\n
558
\n00:39:34,800 –> 00:39:38,600
\nSo with that, we would like to
\nturn our attention to a couple <\/p>\n
559
\n00:39:38,600 –> 00:39:43,760
\nof tactics that God has provided
\nto resist our nature and the <\/p>\n
560
\n00:39:43,760 –> 00:39:46,480
\nworld.
\nAnd to begin with, it’s <\/p>\n
561
\n00:39:46,480 –> 00:39:50,280
\nimportant to point out that only
\nthe only reliable foundation for<\/p>\n
562
\n00:39:50,280 –> 00:39:55,000
\nour efforts to resist our nature
\nand the world is the Word of <\/p>\n
563
\n00:39:55,000 –> 00:39:57,360
\nGod.
\nWhen our Lord was tempted in the<\/p>\n
564
\n00:39:57,360 –> 00:40:01,040
\nwilderness, His resistance is
\ncharacterized by this threefold <\/p>\n
565
\n00:40:01,040 –> 00:40:04,440
\nrefrain, is it not?
\nIt is written. <\/p>\n
566
\n00:40:05,520 –> 00:40:08,960
\nThe only way that we can resist
\nthe deception of human nature <\/p>\n
567
\n00:40:08,960 –> 00:40:12,120
\nand the world is by being well
\nschooled. <\/p>\n
568
\n00:40:12,600 –> 00:40:16,640
\nIn the truth of God,
\nunfortunately, where truth is <\/p>\n
569
\n00:40:16,640 –> 00:40:25,360
\nconcerned, we are leaky vessels.
\nI think that’s for me why this <\/p>\n
570
\n00:40:25,360 –> 00:40:30,480
\nthis principle and concept of
\nremembrance is so essential. <\/p>\n
571
\n00:40:30,800 –> 00:40:34,000
\nIt’s such a critical and
\nimportant idea, and it’s infused<\/p>\n
572
\n00:40:34,000 –> 00:40:36,000
\nthroughout the pages of
\nScripture. <\/p>\n
573
\n00:40:37,920 –> 00:40:41,120
\nIt’s easy for me to miss the
\nprofound significance of what <\/p>\n
574
\n00:40:41,120 –> 00:40:44,800
\nPeter says here in Second Peter
\nchapter 1 and verse 12. <\/p>\n
575
\n00:40:45,720 –> 00:40:50,280
\nEven though he believes his
\naudience knows the things that <\/p>\n
576
\n00:40:50,280 –> 00:40:56,240
\nhe’s saying and is established
\nin the present truth, he <\/p>\n
577
\n00:40:56,240 –> 00:41:01,880
\nconsiders it negligence.
\nNegligence to pass up an <\/p>\n
578
\n00:41:01,880 –> 00:41:05,760
\nopportunity to rehearse those
\ntruths with them. <\/p>\n
579
\n00:41:06,920 –> 00:41:10,000
\nIt calls to mind the language of
\nDeuteronomy 6, which exhorts <\/p>\n
580
\n00:41:10,000 –> 00:41:13,920
\nIsrael to incorporate the Word
\nof God into every aspect of <\/p>\n
581
\n00:41:13,920 –> 00:41:18,640
\ntheir daily lives, lest they
\nforget the Lord. <\/p>\n
582
\n00:41:21,280 –> 00:41:24,040
\nThat’s when we’re most
\nvulnerable to human nature and <\/p>\n
583
\n00:41:24,040 –> 00:41:27,680
\nthe world, when we have
\nforgotten the Lord that brought <\/p>\n
584
\n00:41:27,680 –> 00:41:30,760
\nus out from the House of bondage
\nto sin and death. <\/p>\n
585
\n00:41:32,320 –> 00:41:35,160
\nReading from Deuteronomy chapter
\n6, verses 6:00 to 12:00. <\/p>\n
586
\n00:41:35,680 –> 00:41:38,520
\nAnd these words which I command
\nthee this day shall be in thine <\/p>\n
587
\n00:41:38,520 –> 00:41:40,280
\nheart.
\nAnd thou shalt teach them <\/p>\n
588
\n00:41:40,280 –> 00:41:44,360
\ndiligently, and to thy children,
\nand shalt talk of them when thou<\/p>\n
589
\n00:41:44,360 –> 00:41:48,000
\nsittest in thine house, and when
\nthou walkest by the way, and <\/p>\n
590
\n00:41:48,000 –> 00:41:50,320
\nwhen thou liest down, and when
\nthou risest up. <\/p>\n
591
\n00:41:50,680 –> 00:41:53,880
\nAnd thou shalt bind them for a
\nsign upon thine hand, and they <\/p>\n
592
\n00:41:53,880 –> 00:41:56,360
\nshall be as frontlets between
\nthine eyes. <\/p>\n
593
\n00:41:56,640 –> 00:41:59,560
\nAnd thou shalt write them upon
\nthe posts of thy house, and on <\/p>\n
594
\n00:41:59,560 –> 00:42:02,480
\nthy gates.
\nAnd it shall be when the Lord <\/p>\n
595
\n00:42:02,480 –> 00:42:06,440
\nthy God shall have brought thee
\ninto the land which he swear <\/p>\n
596
\n00:42:06,440 –> 00:42:10,400
\nunto thy fathers, to Abraham, to
\nIsaac, and to Jacob, to give the<\/p>\n
597
\n00:42:10,400 –> 00:42:13,760
\ngreat and goodly cities which
\nthou buildest not, and houses <\/p>\n
598
\n00:42:13,760 –> 00:42:17,160
\nfull of good things which thou
\nfillest not, and wells dig which<\/p>\n
599
\n00:42:17,160 –> 00:42:21,080
\nthou digest not, vineyards and
\nolive trees which thou plantest <\/p>\n
600
\n00:42:21,080 –> 00:42:24,280
\nnot, when thou should have eaten
\nand be full. <\/p>\n
601
\n00:42:24,880 –> 00:42:31,440
\nThen beware, lest thou forget
\nthe Lord which brought thee <\/p>\n
602
\n00:42:31,440 –> 00:42:34,800
\nforth out of the land of Egypt
\nfrom the House of bondage. <\/p>\n
603
\n00:42:36,440 –> 00:42:40,280
\nSo we have to constantly
\nrehearse the truths God has <\/p>\n
604
\n00:42:40,280 –> 00:42:45,520
\nrevealed to remain mindful of
\nthe great and precious promises <\/p>\n
605
\n00:42:45,520 –> 00:42:49,040
\nto which God has made us heirs
\nthrough Jesus Christ and faith. <\/p>\n
606
\n00:42:49,680 –> 00:42:53,600
\nOtherwise, if we permit
\nourselves to be mindful of that <\/p>\n
607
\n00:42:53,600 –> 00:42:57,520
\ncountry from which we’ve been
\ncalled out, then we will find <\/p>\n
608
\n00:42:57,640 –> 00:43:05,600
\nopportunity to return.
\nAnother point that has been, I <\/p>\n
609
\n00:43:05,600 –> 00:43:09,000
\nthink, very helpful to Sister
\nAmanda and I is the idea that <\/p>\n
610
\n00:43:09,000 –> 00:43:12,520
\nhuman nature cannot be overcome
\nin our own strength. <\/p>\n
611
\n00:43:12,880 –> 00:43:16,400
\nWe cannot fight the flesh with
\nthe flesh. <\/p>\n
612
\n00:43:17,000 –> 00:43:20,320
\nWe can only gain victory over
\nour nature through faith in God <\/p>\n
613
\n00:43:20,320 –> 00:43:22,720
\nand active obedience to His
\nwill. <\/p>\n
614
\n00:43:23,640 –> 00:43:26,480
\nThat seems to be central to
\nPaul’s message in Galatians <\/p>\n
615
\n00:43:26,480 –> 00:43:30,000
\nchapters 5 and 6.
\nIf we would not fulfill the lust<\/p>\n
616
\n00:43:30,000 –> 00:43:33,640
\nof the flesh, then we need to
\nwalk in the Spirit. <\/p>\n
617
\n00:43:34,720 –> 00:43:38,320
\nTo truly understand the import
\nof this exhortation, it seems <\/p>\n
618
\n00:43:38,320 –> 00:43:41,400
\nhelpful to look at the character
\nof the section in which it <\/p>\n
619
\n00:43:41,400 –> 00:43:44,800
\nappears.
\nThe exhortation to walk in the <\/p>\n
620
\n00:43:44,800 –> 00:43:50,200
\nSpirit seems to be part of of a
\nsection of Galatians that begins<\/p>\n
621
\n00:43:50,200 –> 00:43:54,520
\nin chapter 5, verse 13 and ends
\nin chapter 6 and verse 10. <\/p>\n
622
\n00:43:54,520 –> 00:43:59,240
\nIt is bracketed, if you will,
\nframed by the principles of <\/p>\n
623
\n00:43:59,240 –> 00:44:02,480
\nservice generally and serving
\nour brothers and sisters in <\/p>\n
624
\n00:44:02,480 –> 00:44:08,400
\nChrist, particularly Romans
\nchapter 12, verse 21 exhorts us <\/p>\n
625
\n00:44:09,200 –> 00:44:14,280
\nto be not overcome of evil, but
\nto overcome evil with good. <\/p>\n
626
\n00:44:15,280 –> 00:44:18,400
\nAnd it’s in a very similar
\ncontext to the one we find here <\/p>\n
627
\n00:44:18,400 –> 00:44:23,160
\nin Galatians chapters 5 and 6.
\nAnd so a powerful tactic in our <\/p>\n
628
\n00:44:23,160 –> 00:44:27,840
\nefforts to resist our nature and
\nthe world is to take advantage <\/p>\n
629
\n00:44:27,920 –> 00:44:31,720
\nof the myriad of opportunities
\nthat we have to serve our <\/p>\n
630
\n00:44:31,720 –> 00:44:34,840
\nHeavenly Father by serving one
\nanother. <\/p>\n
631
\n00:44:36,760 –> 00:44:41,440
\nSee, our focus can’t exclusively
\nbe on rejecting evil. <\/p>\n
632
\n00:44:42,120 –> 00:44:47,400
\nIt has to be on embracing and
\ndoing good with the <\/p>\n
633
\n00:44:47,400 –> 00:44:51,560
\nunderstanding that the honest
\npursuit of good includes the <\/p>\n
634
\n00:44:51,560 –> 00:44:55,360
\nrejection of evil.
\nWe need to be about our Father’s<\/p>\n
635
\n00:44:55,360 –> 00:45:00,840
\nbusiness doing truth, because
\ntruth is a thing to be done. <\/p>\n
636
\n00:45:02,000 –> 00:45:04,880
\nHe that doeth truth cometh to
\nthe light. <\/p>\n
637
\n00:45:05,800 –> 00:45:10,240
\nIf we walk in darkness, we lie
\nand do not the truth. <\/p>\n
638
\n00:45:15,320 –> 00:45:19,040
\nBut if we commit ourselves to
\nresisting our nature and the <\/p>\n
639
\n00:45:19,040 –> 00:45:22,720
\nworld, there is an incredible
\nfuture in store for us. <\/p>\n
640
\n00:45:23,360 –> 00:45:26,640
\nWe’ve touched on one vision of
\nthat future in Isaiah chapter <\/p>\n
641
\n00:45:26,640 –> 00:45:31,040
\n35, where the redeemed come to
\nZion on the way of holiness with<\/p>\n
642
\n00:45:31,040 –> 00:45:33,560
\nsongs and everlasting joy upon
\ntheir heads. <\/p>\n
643
\n00:45:34,520 –> 00:45:37,920
\nOne of the interesting features
\nof the way of holiness mentioned<\/p>\n
644
\n00:45:38,760 –> 00:45:44,640
\nin Isaiah 35 is that no lion or
\nany ravenous beast shall go up <\/p>\n
645
\n00:45:44,920 –> 00:45:47,840
\nthere on.
\nAnd this puts me in mind of the <\/p>\n
646
\n00:45:47,840 –> 00:45:53,080
\nfact that if we are steadfast,
\nimmovable, always abounding in <\/p>\n
647
\n00:45:53,080 –> 00:45:57,880
\nthe work of the Lord, then there
\nwill come a time when we’ll no <\/p>\n
648
\n00:45:57,880 –> 00:46:02,960
\nlonger have to fear this
\nravenous, beastly nature that we<\/p>\n
649
\n00:46:02,960 –> 00:46:08,640
\nbear.
\nThough we may be stalked, as it <\/p>\n
650
\n00:46:08,640 –> 00:46:12,560
\nwere today along the path of
\nholiness, by our nature, a time <\/p>\n
651
\n00:46:12,560 –> 00:46:16,960
\nis coming when we can be set
\nfree once and for all. <\/p>\n
652
\n00:46:17,400 –> 00:46:20,360
\nBut that’s a freedom that we
\nhave to want, brothers and <\/p>\n
653
\n00:46:20,360 –> 00:46:23,240
\nsisters.
\nWe have to want to be free of <\/p>\n
654
\n00:46:23,240 –> 00:46:29,880
\nour nature and to work against
\nit today, in that day when we <\/p>\n
655
\n00:46:29,880 –> 00:46:34,680
\nare finally and completely set
\nfree in that day, sorrow and <\/p>\n
656
\n00:46:34,680 –> 00:46:38,840
\nsighing will flee away, and the
\nredeemed will be filled up with <\/p>\n
657
\n00:46:38,840 –> 00:46:42,680
\nthe joy and the gladness of
\nthose whose liberation is <\/p>\n
658
\n00:46:42,680 –> 00:46:48,400
\nfinally complete.
\nSo in our session tomorrow, <\/p>\n
659
\n00:46:48,400 –> 00:46:53,920
\nwe’re going to take a look at
\nthe the need for balance in our <\/p>\n
660
\n00:46:53,920 –> 00:46:58,120
\napproach to this challenge of
\nprogressing along the way of <\/p>\n
661
\n00:46:58,120 –> 00:47:00,800
\nholiness.
\nIt is absolutely essential that <\/p>\n
662
\n00:47:00,800 –> 00:47:05,360
\nwe hate the flesh, but it is
\nalso essential that we learn to <\/p>\n
663
\n00:47:05,360 –> 00:47:08,120
\nidentify with our Heavenly
\nFather. <\/p>\n
664
\n00:47:08,920 –> 00:47:12,720
\nHe is the head of our family and
\nwe are cultivating a family <\/p>\n
665
\n00:47:12,720 –> 00:47:17,040
\nresemblance, aren’t we?
\nAnd so we need to learn to <\/p>\n
666
\n00:47:17,080 –> 00:47:22,280
\nidentify with him.
\nWe’re going to look at the ample<\/p>\n
667
\n00:47:22,280 –> 00:47:26,360
\n’cause that we have to be strong
\nand of good courage and <\/p>\n
668
\n00:47:26,360 –> 00:47:30,000
\nexhortation that we find in the
\nScriptures for many of those who<\/p>\n
669
\n00:47:30,000 –> 00:47:32,560
\nwere journeying along the way of
\nholiness. <\/p>\n
670
\n00:47:32,760 –> 00:47:38,000
\nBe strong and of good courage.
\nAnd that same sentiment is is <\/p>\n
671
\n00:47:38,000 –> 00:47:42,760
\nexpressed by God to you and I.
\nWe’re going to look at this idea<\/p>\n
672
\n00:47:42,760 –> 00:47:47,760
\nof our Heavenly Father as both
\nrighteous judge and a loving <\/p>\n
673
\n00:47:47,760 –> 00:47:50,560
\nFather.
\nIt is not as though God is one <\/p>\n
674
\n00:47:50,560 –> 00:47:53,120
\nthing or the other thing, or
\nmore of one and less of the <\/p>\n
675
\n00:47:53,160 –> 00:47:56,640
\nother, but that he is both of
\nthese things together. <\/p>\n
676
\n00:47:58,360 –> 00:48:02,120
\nAnd then finally, we’re going to
\nlook at our part in God’s work <\/p>\n
677
\n00:48:02,160 –> 00:48:05,800
\nof transformation.
\nAnd so with that, I will say <\/p>\n
678
\n00:48:05,800 –> 00:48:08,640
\nthank you again and turn things
\nback over to Brother Ken.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Class 5 from this series was used in GCT Episode 333. 1 00:00:00,520 –> 00:00:02,840 The…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":786,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/s\/8765608\/podcast\/play\/97877527\/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-1-1%2F394106455-44100-2-c275508e4451b.m4a","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:48:11","filesize":"44.60M","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"tags":[],"series":[18],"class_list":["post-1255","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","series-gct-ext"],"aioseo_notices":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/1319730-1546836077275-ad9b1fa65b482-scaled.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/1319730-1546836075997-e4feb369d8bf.jpg?fit=400%2C400&ssl=1","download_link":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/podcast-download\/1255\/everett-muniz-be-ye-holy-class-4-the-things-which-defile-a-man","player_link":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/podcast-player\/1255\/everett-muniz-be-ye-holy-class-4-the-things-which-defile-a-man","audio_player":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/podcast-player\/1255\/everett-muniz-be-ye-holy-class-4-the-things-which-defile-a-man<\/a>","episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"anchor":{"key":"anchor","url":"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/gct-extended","label":"Anchor","class":"anchor","icon":"anchor.png"},"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/good-christadelphian-talks-extended\/id1451458376?mt=2&uo=4","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"breaker":{"key":"breaker","url":"","label":"Breaker","class":"breaker","icon":"breaker.png"},"castbox":{"key":"castbox","url":"https:\/\/castbox.fm\/channel\/id1440738","label":"CastBox","class":"castbox","icon":"castbox.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy84NzY1NjA4L3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"overcast":{"key":"overcast","url":"https:\/\/overcast.fm\/itunes1451458376\/good-christadelphian-talks-extended","label":"Overcast","class":"overcast","icon":"overcast.png"},"pocketcasts":{"key":"pocketcasts","url":"https:\/\/pca.st\/s6u6","label":"PocketCasts","class":"pocketcasts","icon":"pocketcasts.png"},"podbean":{"key":"podbean","url":"","label":"Podbean","class":"podbean","icon":"podbean.png"},"radio_public":{"key":"radio_public","url":"https:\/\/radiopublic.com\/good-christadelphian-talks-extend-8X4LpA","label":"Radio Public","class":"radio_public","icon":"radio-public.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/572NtU94bGKGknHF4gmlM6","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/anchor-podcasts\/good-christadelphian-talks-extended","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/GoodChristadelphianTalksPodcast","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/feed\/podcast\/gct-ext","embedCode":"Everett Muniz – Be Ye Holy – Class 4 – The Things Which Defile A Man<\/a><\/blockquote>