Class 6 from this series was used in GCT Episode 349.<\/p>\n
2
\n00:00:04,960 –> 00:00:08,000
\nis Does God Exist?
\nThe reading for this class was <\/p>\n
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\nColossians 1, verses 15 to 23.
\nWe’ll call brother Sean forward.<\/p>\n
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\nWell, thanks, Brother Dan, and
\ngood evening to everyone <\/p>\n
5
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\ntonight.
\nWelcome to Class 1. <\/p>\n
6
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\nIt may seem like a funny
\nquestion. <\/p>\n
7
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\nBut does God exist?
\nAnd I mean does God exist for <\/p>\n
8
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\nyou in this moment, right now,
\ntoday? <\/p>\n
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\nAnd if He does, can you prove
\nit? <\/p>\n
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\nIf He does exist in your life,
\nis it manifest in the things <\/p>\n
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\nthat you do?
\nIs it evident in your world <\/p>\n
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\nview?
\nDoes it direct your very <\/p>\n
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\nthoughts and actions?
\nDoes it guide your steps every <\/p>\n
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\nsingle day?
\nDoes it cause you to make right <\/p>\n
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\ndecisions?
\nAnd are you unashamed of that <\/p>\n
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\nreality?
\nYou know, in a world that says <\/p>\n
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\nthat God does not exist,
\ncertainly a world that does not <\/p>\n
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\nwant God to exist, the reality
\nfor us as believers, brethren <\/p>\n
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\nand sisters, is that we have to
\nlive in that world. <\/p>\n
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\nWe have to go to work in that
\nworld. <\/p>\n
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\nWe have to raise a family.
\nIn that world. <\/p>\n
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\nWe have to build our ecclesias
\nin that world, in a world that <\/p>\n
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\nhas tried systematically to
\nremove the Creator of the <\/p>\n
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\nheavens and earth and cover it.
\nWith its own human darkness. <\/p>\n
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\nYou know, I think it’s a a
\nfundamental question that we <\/p>\n
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\nhave to ask ourselves.
\nI think it’s a fundamental <\/p>\n
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\n00:02:03,680 –> 00:02:07,680
\nquestion that we should ask
\nourselves very often, Does God <\/p>\n
28
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\nexist?
\nIn our life and can we prove it?<\/p>\n
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\nAnd really the, the theme of
\nthis whole series comes from the<\/p>\n
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\n00:02:16,560 –> 00:02:19,920
\nbook of Romans, but but
\nprimarily Romans chapter 1. <\/p>\n
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\nAnd we, we talked a little bit
\nabout that last night. <\/p>\n
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\nAnd so just turn back to Romans
\nchapter 1 and let’s just take a <\/p>\n
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\n00:02:28,120 –> 00:02:31,600
\nlook again at the things that
\nthe Apostle Paul says that we <\/p>\n
34
\n00:02:31,600 –> 00:02:35,080
\nmight just sort of understand
\nhow he sets us up to understand <\/p>\n
35
\n00:02:35,080 –> 00:02:36,640
\nthe things that he’s going to
\ntalk to us about. <\/p>\n
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\nAnd this this powerful statement
\nthat that he makes to us, these <\/p>\n
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\n00:02:42,000 –> 00:02:44,880
\npowerful statements that I think
\nwe all love to hear and that <\/p>\n
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\n00:02:44,880 –> 00:02:47,360
\nmotivate us.
\nNow Paul opens his letter, as I <\/p>\n
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\n00:02:47,360 –> 00:02:49,880
\nsaid last night, and in a in a
\ndifferent way than than the rest<\/p>\n
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\n00:02:49,880 –> 00:02:52,160
\nof his apostles.
\nHe says some very, very specific<\/p>\n
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\n00:02:52,160 –> 00:02:55,040
\nthings.
\nHe opens by saying Paul, the <\/p>\n
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\nservant of Christ Jesus called
\nto be an apostle, set apart for <\/p>\n
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\nthe gospel of God.
\nAnd that word set apart there <\/p>\n
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\nmeans to make a demarcation, to
\nset a boundary around oneself. <\/p>\n
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\nAnd this gospel of God that he
\ntalks about, which Paul says he <\/p>\n
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\npromised beforehand through his
\nprophets and Holy Scriptures <\/p>\n
47
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\nconcerning his Son who is
\ndescended from David according <\/p>\n
48
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\nto the flesh, declared to be the
\nSon of God in power according to<\/p>\n
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\nthe Spirit of holiness, by his
\nresurrection of the dead. <\/p>\n
50
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\nJesus Christ our Lord, through
\nwhom we have received grace and <\/p>\n
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\napostleship to bring about the
\nobedience of faith for the sake <\/p>\n
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\nof His name among all the
\nnations. <\/p>\n
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\nIncluding you who are called to
\nbelong to Jesus Christ. <\/p>\n
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\nNow, if that is not a powerful
\nmission statement for us as <\/p>\n
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\nbelievers in Christ, I don’t
\nknow what is. <\/p>\n
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\n00:03:47,800 –> 00:03:50,840
\nAnd so all of those facts are
\nbound up in this statement that <\/p>\n
57
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\nHe makes.
\nHe goes on to say to the Romans <\/p>\n
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\nand to us, For I am not ashamed
\nof the gospel, for it is the <\/p>\n
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\npower of God for salvation to
\neveryone that believes. <\/p>\n
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\nThere was no part of anything
\nthat God had given Paul that he <\/p>\n
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\nwas ashamed of.
\nIs that a statement that we can <\/p>\n
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\nspeak with the same boldness of
\nthe Apostle Paul? <\/p>\n
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\nI, I always shrunk back from the
\nthings that Paul said that we <\/p>\n
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\ncan boldly approach the throne
\nof grace. <\/p>\n
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\nI, I felt that there was a
\ncertain arrogance in what Paul <\/p>\n
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\nsaid or I dismissed it.
\nHe said, well, it’s the apostle <\/p>\n
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\nPaul.
\nIt’s certainly not something <\/p>\n
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\nthat I can say, but this is
\nsomething we have to be able to <\/p>\n
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\nsay with conviction, brothers
\nand sisters, that we are not <\/p>\n
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\nashamed of the word of God.
\nAnd Paul dedicated his life to <\/p>\n
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\nthis principle.
\nHe changed his life. <\/p>\n
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\nFor this principle, he dedicated
\nhis new life to this principle, <\/p>\n
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\nand he died for this principle
\nthat he was unashamed of <\/p>\n
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\nanything that God had given him.
\nAnd we know, of course, brethren<\/p>\n
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\nand sisters, that that many have
\ngone before and have done this <\/p>\n
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\nvery thing.
\nThe characters that we are given<\/p>\n
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\nin the Old and the New
\nTestament, many of them live <\/p>\n
78
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\ntheir lives unashamed of the
\nWord of God. <\/p>\n
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\nEven when it went against
\neverything all around. <\/p>\n
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\nEven when their families
\ndisowned them, even when their <\/p>\n
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\nfriends left them, even when the
\nauthorities came knocking at the<\/p>\n
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\ndoor to take them, such was the
\nresolve of their faith. <\/p>\n
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\nWe only have to read through
\nHebrews Chapter 11, I think, to <\/p>\n
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\nget a little bit emotional about
\nthe things that people gave up <\/p>\n
85
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\nfor our sake, that are waiting
\nin the grave for us to be <\/p>\n
86
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\nperfected with them.
\nAnd so it must be for us. <\/p>\n
87
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\nAnd so.
\nThis is why it’s so imperative, <\/p>\n
88
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\nI think at this time, brethren,
\nit says at this moment in our <\/p>\n
89
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\nlives that we know and we
\nunderstand who our God is. <\/p>\n
90
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\nAnd so Paul’s words to these
\nearly Christians in Rome were to<\/p>\n
91
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\nus as well, a declaration of
\nfaith and encouragement to stand<\/p>\n
92
\n00:06:05,840 –> 00:06:08,560
\nfirm to sight despite the
\nprevailing cultural and <\/p>\n
93
\n00:06:08,560 –> 00:06:11,160
\nreligious and political
\npressures of the day. <\/p>\n
94
\n00:06:11,160 –> 00:06:13,280
\nAnd we talked about some of
\nthose things last night. <\/p>\n
95
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\nAnd just as those early
\nbelievers stood in stark <\/p>\n
96
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\ncontrast to the world that was
\naround them, so we are called to<\/p>\n
97
\n00:06:20,760 –> 00:06:22,840
\ndo the same thing.
\nAnd it’s not an easy. <\/p>\n
98
\n00:06:22,840 –> 00:06:25,240
\nThing to do.
\nIt’s a difficult thing to do, to<\/p>\n
99
\n00:06:25,240 –> 00:06:29,760
\nstand in opposition.
\nTo the power of the world. <\/p>\n
100
\n00:06:31,560 –> 00:06:33,600
\nBut the point of the series,
\nbrethren and sisters. <\/p>\n
101
\n00:06:34,400 –> 00:06:37,960
\nIs that while the world has
\nchanged, and while the world is <\/p>\n
102
\n00:06:37,960 –> 00:06:41,080
\nchanging before our very eyes,
\nwe. <\/p>\n
103
\n00:06:42,040 –> 00:06:48,280
\nCannot change with it.
\nAs much as sometimes it feels <\/p>\n
104
\n00:06:48,280 –> 00:06:51,880
\nlike we should, or it feels like
\nit would be easier if we. <\/p>\n
105
\n00:06:51,880 –> 00:07:01,600
\nDid we cannot change, You know,
\nthe stark reality is that we’ve <\/p>\n
106
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\neither committed our life to God
\nor we have not and. <\/p>\n
107
\n00:07:08,520 –> 00:07:11,320
\nThere’s there’s no middle
\nground, there’s no half truth. <\/p>\n
108
\n00:07:12,720 –> 00:07:15,680
\nYou know, we don’t get into the
\nKingdom by trickery and deceit <\/p>\n
109
\n00:07:19,360 –> 00:07:21,520
\nand of the things that we
\nbelieve revealed to us by the <\/p>\n
110
\n00:07:21,520 –> 00:07:25,720
\npower of God in the gospel of
\nGod himself, those things must <\/p>\n
111
\n00:07:25,720 –> 00:07:29,400
\nbe manifest in our lives and
\nalso. <\/p>\n
112
\n00:07:31,120 –> 00:07:34,880
\nWe have to accept the
\nconsequences of those things <\/p>\n
113
\n00:07:34,880 –> 00:07:38,040
\nthat we believe, and there will
\nbe consequences, and we’ll talk <\/p>\n
114
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\nabout some of those, God
\nwilling, throughout the course <\/p>\n
115
\n00:07:40,600 –> 00:07:44,000
\nof this week.
\nThere are consequences for the <\/p>\n
116
\n00:07:44,000 –> 00:07:48,000
\nthings that we believe if we are
\nto receive the benefit of God’s <\/p>\n
117
\n00:07:48,000 –> 00:07:59,250
\nlove and mercy.
\nYou know I. <\/p>\n
118
\n00:08:00,410 –> 00:08:02,850
\nI think that the title of the
\nslide seems maybe a little bit <\/p>\n
119
\n00:08:02,850 –> 00:08:04,570
\nprovocative.
\nAnd I I wrote it and I rewrote <\/p>\n
120
\n00:08:04,570 –> 00:08:07,010
\nit many times, but but in actual
\nfact, it’s, it’s biblical. <\/p>\n
121
\n00:08:07,730 –> 00:08:10,850
\nThis is our reality.
\nWe live in an age. <\/p>\n
122
\n00:08:11,280 –> 00:08:14,040
\nOf the systemic dark forces of
\nevil. <\/p>\n
123
\n00:08:14,600 –> 00:08:16,480
\nAnd we talked about this with
\nthe young people this morning <\/p>\n
124
\n00:08:16,480 –> 00:08:19,400
\nand I think they totally agreed
\nthat there was a lot going on in<\/p>\n
125
\n00:08:19,400 –> 00:08:21,680
\nthis world and it wasn’t light,
\nit was darkness. <\/p>\n
126
\n00:08:22,320 –> 00:08:25,720
\nAnd, and I’m 56 years old and
\nI’m a very positive kind of guy.<\/p>\n
127
\n00:08:25,720 –> 00:08:27,920
\nI’m a, I’m a glass half full
\nkind of guy. <\/p>\n
128
\n00:08:28,280 –> 00:08:30,800
\nBut I look around at the changes
\nthat have just happened in my <\/p>\n
129
\n00:08:30,800 –> 00:08:36,240
\nshort 56 years of life on this
\nearth and they are dramatic. <\/p>\n
130
\n00:08:36,240 –> 00:08:40,200
\nAnd I told the kids this morning
\nthat when I was in grades 6-7 <\/p>\n
131
\n00:08:40,200 –> 00:08:42,640
\nand eight that we were still
\nreading, you know, God’s the <\/p>\n
132
\n00:08:42,640 –> 00:08:45,600
\nLord’s Prayer at at the opening
\nservices of our school, <\/p>\n
133
\n00:08:47,040 –> 00:08:49,840
\ncreationism was still a
\ncomponent part of the science <\/p>\n
134
\n00:08:49,840 –> 00:08:51,480
\nclasses.
\nIt was a very small part. <\/p>\n
135
\n00:08:51,720 –> 00:08:55,480
\nBut it was still.
\nThere and now here we are today.<\/p>\n
136
\n00:08:56,600 –> 00:08:58,760
\nTurn over to while you’re
\nalready there in Romans chapter <\/p>\n
137
\n00:08:58,760 –> 00:09:00,520
\none.
\nJust look at verse 28 and I <\/p>\n
138
\n00:09:00,560 –> 00:09:02,720
\ndon’t like.
\nReading this list of things out <\/p>\n
139
\n00:09:02,720 –> 00:09:05,080
\nbut.
\nPaul tells us what’s. <\/p>\n
140
\n00:09:05,080 –> 00:09:07,880
\nGoing on he tells us what was
\ngoing on in the time of the <\/p>\n
141
\n00:09:07,880 –> 00:09:10,520
\nRoman Ecclesia and it’s it’s
\nexactly the same thing now <\/p>\n
142
\n00:09:10,520 –> 00:09:14,440
\nRomans chapter 1 and verse 28 he
\nsays and since they did not see <\/p>\n
143
\n00:09:14,440 –> 00:09:17,800
\nfit to acknowledge God.
\nThese are the unrighteous, of <\/p>\n
144
\n00:09:17,800 –> 00:09:19,880
\ncourse, of the world.
\nGod gave them over to the base <\/p>\n
145
\n00:09:19,880 –> 00:09:23,320
\nmind to do what ought not to be
\ndone, and they were filled with <\/p>\n
146
\n00:09:23,320 –> 00:09:26,080
\nall manner of unrighteousness,
\nof evil, of covetousness, of <\/p>\n
147
\n00:09:26,080 –> 00:09:28,120
\nmalice.
\nThey were full of envy, murder, <\/p>\n
148
\n00:09:28,120 –> 00:09:31,960
\nstrife, deceit, maliciousness.
\nThey were gossips, slanderers, <\/p>\n
149
\n00:09:32,800 –> 00:09:39,960
\nhaters of God, insolent,
\nhaughty, boastful, inventors of <\/p>\n
150
\n00:09:39,960 –> 00:09:43,800
\nevil, disobedient to parents,
\nfoolish, faithless, heartless <\/p>\n
151
\n00:09:43,800 –> 00:09:46,280
\nand ruthless.
\nNow, if this isn’t a description<\/p>\n
152
\n00:09:46,280 –> 00:09:48,720
\nof what’s going on in our world.
\nToday, then, I don’t know what <\/p>\n
153
\n00:09:48,720 –> 00:09:53,480
\nis, brothers and sisters.
\nBut the other thing that’s added<\/p>\n
154
\n00:09:53,480 –> 00:09:57,680
\nto this particular problem,
\nthose overt issues in society, <\/p>\n
155
\n00:09:58,160 –> 00:10:01,200
\nis also the persecution.
\nThat is very subtle. <\/p>\n
156
\n00:10:02,320 –> 00:10:06,360
\nIt’s darkness masquerading as a
\nlight, as Paul warns us in <\/p>\n
157
\n00:10:06,360 –> 00:10:08,720
\nEphesians 6 and 12.
\nFor our struggle is not against <\/p>\n
158
\n00:10:08,720 –> 00:10:11,560
\nflesh and blood, but against the
\nrulers, against the authorities,<\/p>\n
159
\n00:10:11,560 –> 00:10:15,800
\nagainst the powers.
\nOf this Dark World and against <\/p>\n
160
\n00:10:15,800 –> 00:10:18,160
\nthe spiritual forces of evil in
\nthe heavenly realms and and <\/p>\n
161
\n00:10:18,160 –> 00:10:22,160
\nsimilarly Peter writes in first
\nPeter 5 he says be alert and be <\/p>\n
162
\n00:10:22,160 –> 00:10:25,800
\nof a sober mind your enemy of
\nthe devil prowls around like a <\/p>\n
163
\n00:10:25,800 –> 00:10:29,640
\nroaring lion looking for someone
\nto devour resist him standing <\/p>\n
164
\n00:10:29,640 –> 00:10:33,520
\nfirm to the faith and so our
\nbattleground in this day and age<\/p>\n
165
\n00:10:33,520 –> 00:10:36,480
\nbrethren and sisters is no
\nlonger the Coliseum, but it’s a <\/p>\n
166
\n00:10:36,480 –> 00:10:40,680
\ncultural battleground this
\ndarkness identifies as as <\/p>\n
167
\n00:10:40,680 –> 00:10:45,160
\neducated as socially progressive
\nas right and it has infiltrated <\/p>\n
168
\n00:10:45,160 –> 00:10:48,960
\nour social standards our.
\nPolitical scene and our <\/p>\n
169
\n00:10:48,960 –> 00:10:53,320
\neducational systems.
\nIt is, as Paul says, a dark <\/p>\n
170
\n00:10:53,400 –> 00:10:57,960
\nspiritual force.
\nPhilosophical Humanism. <\/p>\n
171
\n00:10:59,720 –> 00:11:01,080
\nAnd I’m only.
\nGoing to use this term once <\/p>\n
172
\n00:11:01,520 –> 00:11:06,560
\noften called wokeism.
\nI just don’t like that term is <\/p>\n
173
\n00:11:06,560 –> 00:11:07,800
\nwhat we have in this world
\ntoday. <\/p>\n
174
\n00:11:07,800 –> 00:11:12,960
\nBut what does that look like?
\nAnd, and we’re going to, we’re <\/p>\n
175
\n00:11:12,960 –> 00:11:16,440
\ngoing to get into detail in the
\nsubsequent classes of this, but <\/p>\n
176
\n00:11:16,440 –> 00:11:19,040
\nhere’s just a short list of the
\nthings that we have to deal with<\/p>\n
177
\n00:11:19,040 –> 00:11:21,120
\ntoday.
\nAnd, and I’m sure you’ve heard <\/p>\n
178
\n00:11:21,120 –> 00:11:22,360
\nof all these.
\nThe first one is social <\/p>\n
179
\n00:11:22,360 –> 00:11:24,160
\nrelativism.
\nAnd, and under the banner of <\/p>\n
180
\n00:11:24,160 –> 00:11:26,560
\nsocial relativism are a number
\nof of things. <\/p>\n
181
\n00:11:26,560 –> 00:11:29,960
\nBut really relativism means that
\neverything’s relative. <\/p>\n
182
\n00:11:30,920 –> 00:11:34,920
\nIn this particular case, it’s
\nrelative to the individual human<\/p>\n
183
\n00:11:34,920 –> 00:11:36,520
\nexperience.
\nAnd we’re we’re living in <\/p>\n
184
\n00:11:36,520 –> 00:11:39,600
\nhumanism 3 point O.
\nWhat’s humanism 3 point O? <\/p>\n
185
\n00:11:40,640 –> 00:11:43,040
\nIt’s the age of the hyper
\nindividual. <\/p>\n
186
\n00:11:44,280 –> 00:11:46,760
\nWe’ll look at some charts.
\nIn a in a couple of days, you <\/p>\n
187
\n00:11:46,760 –> 00:11:48,440
\nalways have to have a chart on
\npostmodernism. <\/p>\n
188
\n00:11:48,440 –> 00:11:51,080
\nWe’ll look at that.
\nAnd where we came from and, and <\/p>\n
189
\n00:11:51,080 –> 00:11:55,000
\nwhy we’re here today in this age
\nof hyper individualism. <\/p>\n
190
\n00:11:55,720 –> 00:11:58,000
\nBut anything is contextual.
\nAnd that means whether it’s <\/p>\n
191
\n00:11:58,000 –> 00:12:01,760
\nsocial or individual,
\nhistorical, right, historical <\/p>\n
192
\n00:12:01,760 –> 00:12:06,040
\nrelativism, moral relativism,
\nwhatever it is, it’s relative to<\/p>\n
193
\n00:12:06,040 –> 00:12:09,960
\nthe individual human experience.
\nWhat happens to me is relevant <\/p>\n
194
\n00:12:09,960 –> 00:12:11,440
\nto me.
\nAnd it might be different than <\/p>\n
195
\n00:12:11,440 –> 00:12:14,720
\nwhat happens to you and is
\nrelevant to you, right? <\/p>\n
196
\n00:12:14,720 –> 00:12:17,880
\nOur personal lived experience
\nthe problem? <\/p>\n
197
\n00:12:17,880 –> 00:12:21,560
\nIs with this.
\nWell, it, it fundamentally <\/p>\n
198
\n00:12:21,560 –> 00:12:25,440
\ndenies the absolute truth of
\nScripture, right? <\/p>\n
199
\n00:12:25,440 –> 00:12:28,920
\nBut it, it works on our mind.
\nIt twists us into thinking that <\/p>\n
200
\n00:12:28,920 –> 00:12:33,240
\nmaybe some things are relative,
\nyou know, and that’s why we have<\/p>\n
201
\n00:12:33,240 –> 00:12:36,400
\ndebate within our communities.
\nAbout well, you know, Paul said <\/p>\n
202
\n00:12:36,400 –> 00:12:39,720
\nthings, but it was relative to
\nthe culture of the day. <\/p>\n
203
\n00:12:41,560 –> 00:12:46,720
\nThat’s just one example.
\nThe worst of it is. <\/p>\n
204
\n00:12:48,160 –> 00:12:51,120
\nThat society’s preaching that a
\nman can be a woman and then can <\/p>\n
205
\n00:12:51,120 –> 00:12:55,440
\nhave birth.
\nAnd not only is it biblically <\/p>\n
206
\n00:12:55,440 –> 00:12:58,040
\nfalse, it’s scientifically
\nfalse. <\/p>\n
207
\n00:12:58,040 –> 00:13:01,560
\nIt’s an impossibility.
\nAnd yet we’re being taught not <\/p>\n
208
\n00:13:01,560 –> 00:13:04,160
\nonly.
\nTo accept it, but to talk about <\/p>\n
209
\n00:13:04,160 –> 00:13:06,520
\nit like it’s a reality.
\nAs somebody once said, we’re <\/p>\n
210
\n00:13:06,840 –> 00:13:11,560
\nbeing forced to participate in
\nsomebody else’s delusion that <\/p>\n
211
\n00:13:11,560 –> 00:13:12,920
\nthat that’s the problem with
\nthis. <\/p>\n
212
\n00:13:12,920 –> 00:13:15,200
\nIt’s, it’s not something so
\nstark and overt. <\/p>\n
213
\n00:13:15,200 –> 00:13:17,000
\nWe can go, oh, I can understand
\nthat. <\/p>\n
214
\n00:13:17,000 –> 00:13:20,400
\nI’ll just stay away from that.
\nIt, it’s invasive, it works on <\/p>\n
215
\n00:13:20,400 –> 00:13:26,520
\nus slowly, it grinds us down, it
\nchallenges our sensitivities and<\/p>\n
216
\n00:13:26,520 –> 00:13:29,840
\nit’s already affecting how we
\noperate within our communities. <\/p>\n
217
\n00:13:30,000 –> 00:13:33,480
\nAnother component part of social
\nrelativism in this new social <\/p>\n
218
\n00:13:33,480 –> 00:13:34,640
\ncontract.
\nIs something called <\/p>\n
219
\n00:13:34,640 –> 00:13:36,120
\ndeconstructionism?
\nWho’s heard of that <\/p>\n
220
\n00:13:36,280 –> 00:13:38,160
\ndeconstructionism?
\nRight. <\/p>\n
221
\n00:13:38,160 –> 00:13:41,800
\nAnd this is not a term that a
\nbuilder would necessarily use, <\/p>\n
222
\n00:13:41,800 –> 00:13:42,960
\nright?
\nYou want to build things, not <\/p>\n
223
\n00:13:42,960 –> 00:13:44,960
\ntear it down.
\nAnd deconstructionism is really <\/p>\n
224
\n00:13:44,960 –> 00:13:47,600
\nall about tearing down
\neverything, tearing down all the<\/p>\n
225
\n00:13:47,600 –> 00:13:50,560
\ntraditional values, all the
\ntraditional institutions. <\/p>\n
226
\n00:13:50,560 –> 00:13:52,560
\nYou’ve heard about, you know,
\ncolonialism. <\/p>\n
227
\n00:13:52,560 –> 00:13:57,720
\nWe got to tear down colonialism,
\ntraditions, norms, including the<\/p>\n
228
\n00:13:57,720 –> 00:14:00,080
\nnatural family, the nuclear
\nfamily. <\/p>\n
229
\n00:14:00,360 –> 00:14:03,040
\nThat’s an institution that needs
\nto be torn down, that’s <\/p>\n
230
\n00:14:03,040 –> 00:14:05,360
\npatriarchal.
\nAnd involved in this are all the<\/p>\n
231
\n00:14:05,360 –> 00:14:09,880
\nissues with gender roles.
\nAnd so in a, in a broader sense,<\/p>\n
232
\n00:14:10,080 –> 00:14:14,920
\nwhat this new social contract is
\nabout is deconstructing <\/p>\n
233
\n00:14:15,280 –> 00:14:20,400
\neverything in society so that it
\nmight be reconstructed after the<\/p>\n
234
\n00:14:20,400 –> 00:14:23,320
\nmanner of humanism.
\nAnd so that goes against the <\/p>\n
235
\n00:14:23,320 –> 00:14:26,360
\nbiblical teachings on marriage
\nand sexuality and the sanctity <\/p>\n
236
\n00:14:26,520 –> 00:14:30,000
\nof life and, and the challenge
\nto our own institution and our <\/p>\n
237
\n00:14:30,000 –> 00:14:32,360
\nown ecclesial structure, which
\nis being challenged. <\/p>\n
238
\n00:14:32,560 –> 00:14:34,880
\nWhy do we have to have?
\nYou know, it was, it was really <\/p>\n
239
\n00:14:34,880 –> 00:14:37,080
\nsmall during COVID.
\nWhy do we have to have 4 hymns <\/p>\n
240
\n00:14:37,080 –> 00:14:39,200
\nduring COVID?
\nWe’re we’re just online on Zoom.<\/p>\n
241
\n00:14:39,200 –> 00:14:41,080
\nCan we just have 3?
\nAnd I know that’s. <\/p>\n
242
\n00:14:41,120 –> 00:14:43,720
\nA minor thing, but it it became
\nother things. <\/p>\n
243
\n00:14:43,720 –> 00:14:45,480
\nWhy do we have to meet four
\ntimes a week? <\/p>\n
244
\n00:14:46,040 –> 00:14:48,400
\nWhy are our meetings so long?
\nWhy are they so dry? <\/p>\n
245
\n00:14:48,480 –> 00:14:50,440
\nWhy can’t we talk about things
\nthat are more positive? <\/p>\n
246
\n00:14:50,440 –> 00:14:51,600
\nWe always talk about the dark
\nthings. <\/p>\n
247
\n00:14:51,600 –> 00:14:53,080
\nWhy can we talk about things
\nthat are positive? <\/p>\n
248
\n00:14:53,320 –> 00:14:59,200
\nAll those things are part of
\nthis change in values, including<\/p>\n
249
\n00:15:00,280 –> 00:15:04,240
\nat the worst of it, the new
\ngender debate and about <\/p>\n
250
\n00:15:04,600 –> 00:15:07,680
\ninserting sisters into
\nbrethren’s roles, but even the <\/p>\n
251
\n00:15:07,720 –> 00:15:11,520
\nother gender debate, which is
\naccepting those of alternate <\/p>\n
252
\n00:15:11,520 –> 00:15:14,960
\ngenders and change genders and
\ntransgenders and accepting <\/p>\n
253
\n00:15:15,240 –> 00:15:17,560
\nalternate lifestyles.
\nAnd that is happening in <\/p>\n
254
\n00:15:17,560 –> 00:15:20,800
\necclesias in this world.
\nIt’s happening. <\/p>\n
255
\n00:15:20,800 –> 00:15:23,600
\nAnd you know what?
\nIt’s knocking on our door. <\/p>\n
256
\n00:15:25,160 –> 00:15:28,040
\nThe rejection of objective
\nmorality is all part of this <\/p>\n
257
\n00:15:28,480 –> 00:15:33,680
\nthis theory of of relativism.
\nRight, the belief that that <\/p>\n
258
\n00:15:33,680 –> 00:15:37,360
\nmorality is socially
\nconstructed, that my morals are <\/p>\n
259
\n00:15:37,360 –> 00:15:40,880
\ndifferent than your morals
\nbecause it’s relative from for <\/p>\n
260
\n00:15:40,880 –> 00:15:44,040
\nyou in your situation, from your
\ntime, from your culture. <\/p>\n
261
\n00:15:45,400 –> 00:15:48,480
\nBut the Bible teaches that
\nmorality is the same no matter <\/p>\n
262
\n00:15:48,480 –> 00:15:50,240
\nwho you are or where you’re
\nfrom. <\/p>\n
263
\n00:15:50,240 –> 00:15:54,560
\nIt’s exactly the same.
\nAnd so when we start to our <\/p>\n
264
\n00:15:54,560 –> 00:15:58,240
\nsensitivities get impinged about
\nobjective morality, that’s when <\/p>\n
265
\n00:15:58,240 –> 00:16:01,240
\nwe start saying things like,
\nwell, we shouldn’t judge. <\/p>\n
266
\n00:16:02,240 –> 00:16:05,720
\nIn our ecclesia, right, you may
\nhave heard that we’re too <\/p>\n
267
\n00:16:05,720 –> 00:16:08,600
\njudgmental.
\nWe need to be more tolerant, we <\/p>\n
268
\n00:16:08,600 –> 00:16:12,120
\nneed to be more accepting.
\nAnd we’ll look at that in the <\/p>\n
269
\n00:16:12,120 –> 00:16:15,040
\n4th class, where tolerance and
\nacceptance are actually not <\/p>\n
270
\n00:16:15,040 –> 00:16:18,600
\nbiblical principles, certainly
\nnot in the way that we might <\/p>\n
271
\n00:16:18,600 –> 00:16:19,960
\nunderstand.
\nAnd then of course, we have <\/p>\n
272
\n00:16:19,960 –> 00:16:22,480
\nsocial justice.
\nThe shift to social justice, <\/p>\n
273
\n00:16:22,640 –> 00:16:25,280
\nwhich promotes the victim
\nmentality, puts oppressors <\/p>\n
274
\n00:16:25,520 –> 00:16:28,760
\nagainst the oppressed, and it
\nconflicts completely with the <\/p>\n
275
\n00:16:28,760 –> 00:16:30,040
\nbiblical understanding of.
\nJustice. <\/p>\n
276
\n00:16:30,040 –> 00:16:32,760
\nWe’ll spend a whole class on the
\ndifference between social <\/p>\n
277
\n00:16:32,760 –> 00:16:35,840
\njustice and biblical justice,
\nright? <\/p>\n
278
\n00:16:35,880 –> 00:16:39,200
\nWhat God teaches in his Word is
\nindividual responsibility. <\/p>\n
279
\n00:16:39,200 –> 00:16:42,480
\nIt teaches forgiveness and it
\nteaches reconciliation, because <\/p>\n
280
\n00:16:42,480 –> 00:16:47,040
\nthe issue here is sin.
\nWhich is another thing I feel we<\/p>\n
281
\n00:16:47,040 –> 00:16:50,000
\ndon’t talk enough about in our
\necclesial model. <\/p>\n
282
\n00:16:52,280 –> 00:16:53,920
\nAnd then there’s this thing
\nhyper individualism. <\/p>\n
283
\n00:16:53,920 –> 00:16:57,200
\nWe’ve already talked about, you
\nknow, personal autonomy. <\/p>\n
284
\n00:16:58,680 –> 00:17:01,680
\nYou know what autonomy means.
\nIf you look up the Greek who’s A<\/p>\n
285
\n00:17:01,680 –> 00:17:05,720
\nand I hope you’re right, it’s in
\nmy notes. <\/p>\n
286
\n00:17:06,240 –> 00:17:10,640
\nWhat does autonomy mean from the
\nGreek autonomia? <\/p>\n
287
\n00:17:11,920 –> 00:17:16,440
\nSo auto means self.
\nAnd what does no most mean? <\/p>\n
288
\n00:17:17,319 –> 00:17:20,800
\nLaw.
\nWhen we talk about a personal <\/p>\n
289
\n00:17:20,800 –> 00:17:22,680
\nautonomy, we talk about
\necclesial autonomies. <\/p>\n
290
\n00:17:22,800 –> 00:17:24,760
\nOur ecclesias make decisions on
\ntheir own. <\/p>\n
291
\n00:17:25,000 –> 00:17:27,880
\nWhen the world talks about
\npersonal autonomy, they talk <\/p>\n
292
\n00:17:27,880 –> 00:17:31,600
\nabout self law and that’s
\nexactly what it is. <\/p>\n
293
\n00:17:31,760 –> 00:17:34,440
\nThat we all become a lawn to
\nourselves. <\/p>\n
294
\n00:17:34,640 –> 00:17:39,600
\nNot a society that is a lawn to
\nthemselves, but individual <\/p>\n
295
\n00:17:39,600 –> 00:17:42,880
\nmembers of that society.
\nThat each are a law unto their <\/p>\n
296
\n00:17:42,880 –> 00:17:45,120
\nown selves.
\nThat’s where we’re going in this<\/p>\n
297
\n00:17:45,120 –> 00:17:47,160
\nnew social contract.
\nAnd here’s the the last thing <\/p>\n
298
\n00:17:47,160 –> 00:17:49,680
\nwe’ll talk about before we.
\nMove on to something that <\/p>\n
299
\n00:17:49,680 –> 00:17:52,760
\nhopefully is a little more
\npositive, social media and <\/p>\n
300
\n00:17:52,760 –> 00:17:54,680
\nentertainment.
\nAnd I I am going to. <\/p>\n
301
\n00:17:54,680 –> 00:17:58,680
\nTalk to the young people about
\nabout social media and TikTok. <\/p>\n
302
\n00:17:58,760 –> 00:18:01,640
\nBut I’m talking to you right
\nnow, brothers and sisters. <\/p>\n
303
\n00:18:02,760 –> 00:18:06,520
\nBecause when I scan now look I.
\nI, I have an Instagram account <\/p>\n
304
\n00:18:06,520 –> 00:18:09,720
\nfor my business and I have AI
\nhave a Facebook account. <\/p>\n
305
\n00:18:10,320 –> 00:18:12,560
\nAnd you say that to young people
\nlike Facebook. <\/p>\n
306
\n00:18:12,560 –> 00:18:14,520
\nWhat’s, what’s that?
\nWhat are you 90? <\/p>\n
307
\n00:18:15,480 –> 00:18:17,160
\nRight?
\nI have a Facebook account and, <\/p>\n
308
\n00:18:18,160 –> 00:18:20,640
\nand, and that’s really just, I
\njust have it. <\/p>\n
309
\n00:18:20,640 –> 00:18:22,080
\nThere’s no justification why I
\nhave it. <\/p>\n
310
\n00:18:22,080 –> 00:18:26,520
\nThey’re both silly.
\nThe issue is, and I fall victim <\/p>\n
311
\n00:18:26,520 –> 00:18:28,800
\nto this as well.
\nAnd I’m not judging anybody in <\/p>\n
312
\n00:18:28,800 –> 00:18:31,200
\nthis room here today.
\nYet. <\/p>\n
313
\n00:18:32,800 –> 00:18:36,120
\nBut do you know?
\nMost of the posts that I see <\/p>\n
314
\n00:18:36,120 –> 00:18:41,840
\nfrom Christadelphia far and wide
\nhas changed from when I first <\/p>\n
315
\n00:18:41,840 –> 00:18:47,200
\nentered Facebook 10 years ago.
\nIt’s now, this is my favorite <\/p>\n
316
\n00:18:47,200 –> 00:18:50,360
\nwine.
\nHere’s my favorite beer. <\/p>\n
317
\n00:18:50,960 –> 00:18:54,160
\nHere’s this place we went to and
\nwe bet on the horses. <\/p>\n
318
\n00:18:54,160 –> 00:18:58,160
\nLike, like that’s what I’m
\nseeing posted on social media. <\/p>\n
319
\n00:18:58,400 –> 00:19:01,880
\nNow, look, you can have your own
\nreality and I’m, I’m, I’m not <\/p>\n
320
\n00:19:01,880 –> 00:19:04,360
\nsaying that, you know, I don’t
\nhave a glass of wine now and <\/p>\n
321
\n00:19:04,360 –> 00:19:08,960
\nagain, but when that becomes the
\nmodel by which you define your <\/p>\n
322
\n00:19:08,960 –> 00:19:11,520
\nlife, then I think we have an
\nissue. <\/p>\n
323
\n00:19:12,000 –> 00:19:14,360
\nSo let’s set that aside and
\nwe’ll talk about that in a <\/p>\n
324
\n00:19:14,360 –> 00:19:17,280
\nsubsequent class.
\nHere’s another thing about <\/p>\n
325
\n00:19:17,280 –> 00:19:18,760
\nentertainment.
\nWe all like to veg, right? <\/p>\n
326
\n00:19:18,760 –> 00:19:22,760
\nAnd we, we look, I do too.
\nI have a Netflix account. <\/p>\n
327
\n00:19:22,760 –> 00:19:26,800
\nI’m not going to deny it.
\nIt’s it’s a problem for me and I<\/p>\n
328
\n00:19:26,800 –> 00:19:28,520
\nshouldn’t have it.
\nAnd we cancel it. <\/p>\n
329
\n00:19:29,000 –> 00:19:32,200
\nAnd then we sign up again, and
\noddly, it’s more money every <\/p>\n
330
\n00:19:32,200 –> 00:19:33,280
\ntime.
\nAnd it’s almost like there’s <\/p>\n
331
\n00:19:33,280 –> 00:19:36,400
\nthat little punitive big there.
\nBut here’s the problem. <\/p>\n
332
\n00:19:37,520 –> 00:19:40,960
\nWhen I was a kid growing up and
\nwhen we were allowed to watch TV<\/p>\n
333
\n00:19:40,960 –> 00:19:44,040
\nfrom the antennas, literally
\nthat’s all we had. <\/p>\n
334
\n00:19:45,120 –> 00:19:48,560
\nGood guys wore white hats and
\nbad guys wore black hats. <\/p>\n
335
\n00:19:48,680 –> 00:19:50,600
\nAnd that was just pretty much
\nthe way it was. <\/p>\n
336
\n00:19:51,000 –> 00:19:56,040
\nYou could watch a show and as a
\nkid and understand the morality <\/p>\n
337
\n00:19:56,040 –> 00:19:57,440
\nthat was being projected in the
\nshow. <\/p>\n
338
\n00:19:57,520 –> 00:19:59,400
\nNow, I’m not saying that any of
\nthose shows were good <\/p>\n
339
\n00:19:59,400 –> 00:20:01,080
\nnecessarily.
\nIt’s just at least there was a <\/p>\n
340
\n00:20:01,080 –> 00:20:04,400
\nvery simple black and white
\nunderstanding of morality. <\/p>\n
341
\n00:20:05,320 –> 00:20:09,000
\nToday, it is very different.
\nMovies Now portray sin as a <\/p>\n
342
\n00:20:09,000 –> 00:20:11,760
\nvirtue and virtue as a vice.
\nI’m sure you would agree. <\/p>\n
343
\n00:20:12,160 –> 00:20:15,520
\nCharacters now have this
\ndistinct moral ambiguity. <\/p>\n
344
\n00:20:15,520 –> 00:20:17,440
\nNow, I don’t know if you notice
\nit, but when you start, when you<\/p>\n
345
\n00:20:17,440 –> 00:20:19,680
\nsee some of the the movies that
\nare out today, you have <\/p>\n
346
\n00:20:19,680 –> 00:20:22,520
\nvillains.
\nThat are actually the heroes <\/p>\n
347
\n00:20:22,520 –> 00:20:24,920
\nkind of this odd anti type of
\nhero. <\/p>\n
348
\n00:20:26,080 –> 00:20:29,280
\nHow confusing is that for us?
\nLet alone our kids. <\/p>\n
349
\n00:20:29,680 –> 00:20:32,200
\nAnd it’s not like you can’t
\nwatch a show and go, oh, that’s,<\/p>\n
350
\n00:20:32,720 –> 00:20:35,320
\nyou know, that’s clearly wrong.
\nThe problem is when you watch <\/p>\n
351
\n00:20:35,320 –> 00:20:37,280
\ntwenty of those shows, or 50, or
\na. <\/p>\n
352
\n00:20:37,280 –> 00:20:40,560
\nHundred of those shows, at what
\npoint does your mind just start <\/p>\n
353
\n00:20:40,560 –> 00:20:47,760
\nto think that’s normal?
\nAnd of course, children’s <\/p>\n
354
\n00:20:47,760 –> 00:20:51,320
\nprograms now being filled with
\nLGBTQ transgender character is <\/p>\n
355
\n00:20:51,320 –> 00:20:54,640
\nabout, you know, there’s a
\nsecret recorded conversation <\/p>\n
356
\n00:20:54,640 –> 00:20:56,520
\nwith the head of the Disney
\ncreative department. <\/p>\n
357
\n00:20:56,520 –> 00:21:00,960
\nI don’t know if anybody has seen
\nthis where he says that pretty <\/p>\n
358
\n00:21:00,960 –> 00:21:05,880
\nmuch quote, pretty much the
\nentire Disney creative team for <\/p>\n
359
\n00:21:05,880 –> 00:21:10,360
\nkids programming today is from
\nthe LGBTQ or transgender <\/p>\n
360
\n00:21:10,360 –> 00:21:13,360
\ncommunity, he said.
\nPretty much every single <\/p>\n
361
\n00:21:13,440 –> 00:21:19,480
\ncreative person in that
\ndepartment representation, right<\/p>\n
362
\n00:21:20,800 –> 00:21:25,480
\nand you no wonder why Disney
\nmovies have gone so far left <\/p>\n
363
\n00:21:26,200 –> 00:21:28,520
\nbecause that is the political
\nagenda. <\/p>\n
364
\n00:21:28,520 –> 00:21:30,520
\nNow I’m going to bring up one
\nmore thing and my wife’s not <\/p>\n
365
\n00:21:30,520 –> 00:21:33,040
\ngoing to like this, but.
\nHow many put up your hands? <\/p>\n
366
\n00:21:33,040 –> 00:21:35,480
\nLet’s just go on record here.
\nHow many of you have watched The<\/p>\n
367
\n00:21:35,480 –> 00:21:40,360
\nChosen?
\nOK, it’s OK. <\/p>\n
368
\n00:21:40,360 –> 00:21:43,480
\nI’ve watched it too.
\nAnd I’m not saying don’t watch <\/p>\n
369
\n00:21:43,480 –> 00:21:46,200
\nThe Chosen.
\nI do think it’s amazing. <\/p>\n
370
\n00:21:46,720 –> 00:21:51,920
\nThat over 200 million people are
\nwatching a show about the life <\/p>\n
371
\n00:21:51,920 –> 00:21:53,520
\nof Christ.
\nHere’s the problem. <\/p>\n
372
\n00:21:53,520 –> 00:21:55,640
\nWhen Marty and I started to
\nwatch it, we were asked to watch<\/p>\n
373
\n00:21:55,640 –> 00:21:58,200
\nit and we were told, oh, it’s
\ngreat, watch it. <\/p>\n
374
\n00:21:59,080 –> 00:22:01,440
\nSo we started to watch it and at
\nfirst you’re like, oh, this is. <\/p>\n
375
\n00:22:01,680 –> 00:22:03,480
\nThis is really interesting, but
\nyou know, you start noticing <\/p>\n
376
\n00:22:03,480 –> 00:22:06,560
\ncertain things.
\nThe first thing is they are <\/p>\n
377
\n00:22:06,560 –> 00:22:12,800
\nhumanizing Christ, making him
\nhuman, like not divine, not <\/p>\n
378
\n00:22:12,800 –> 00:22:15,120
\nGod’s Son.
\nHe makes mistakes. <\/p>\n
379
\n00:22:15,440 –> 00:22:19,160
\nHe’s unsure of himself, right?
\nHe does human things that are <\/p>\n
380
\n00:22:19,160 –> 00:22:23,000
\nnot part of the biblical record.
\nThe second thing is why does <\/p>\n
381
\n00:22:23,000 –> 00:22:26,520
\nPeter have a back story with
\ngambling debts and insurrection <\/p>\n
382
\n00:22:26,520 –> 00:22:28,960
\nwith the Romans?
\nThat’s part of his back story. <\/p>\n
383
\n00:22:28,960 –> 00:22:31,280
\nIn in the program.
\nThat’s not biblical. <\/p>\n
384
\n00:22:32,400 –> 00:22:36,440
\nNow, I don’t know, maybe it was,
\nbut God saw fit not to record <\/p>\n
385
\n00:22:36,440 –> 00:22:37,920
\nthose things.
\nThe third thing is. <\/p>\n
386
\n00:22:38,320 –> 00:22:41,600
\nIs the undertone of the other
\ncharacters, especially Mary who <\/p>\n
387
\n00:22:41,600 –> 00:22:44,680
\nkeeps recidivating to her old
\nproblem and they make it a a <\/p>\n
388
\n00:22:44,680 –> 00:22:46,840
\ndramatic thing.
\nThere’s also a romantic <\/p>\n
389
\n00:22:46,840 –> 00:22:49,120
\nundertone between Matthew and
\nMary. <\/p>\n
390
\n00:22:49,240 –> 00:22:52,400
\nMatthew has OCD, interesting
\ncharacteristics. <\/p>\n
391
\n00:22:52,480 –> 00:22:54,840
\nMaybe he did.
\nBut they play everything is a <\/p>\n
392
\n00:22:54,840 –> 00:22:57,640
\ndramatic reproduction.
\nSo the problem is, even when we <\/p>\n
393
\n00:22:57,640 –> 00:23:02,920
\nwatch The Chosen, a Christian
\nprogram, we are being subjected <\/p>\n
394
\n00:23:02,920 –> 00:23:06,600
\nto social relativism and
\npostmodernism. <\/p>\n
395
\n00:23:08,120 –> 00:23:10,600
\nActually, all you have to do is
\nlisten to the director’s cuts <\/p>\n
396
\n00:23:10,600 –> 00:23:12,920
\nwhen they talk about the
\ndifferent, different episodes. <\/p>\n
397
\n00:23:12,920 –> 00:23:15,800
\nThey tell you exactly.
\nWhy they do the things they do <\/p>\n
398
\n00:23:15,800 –> 00:23:18,640
\nand change the narrative because
\nChristians e-mail in and <\/p>\n
399
\n00:23:18,640 –> 00:23:20,120
\ncomplain, Hey, you didn’t use
\nthat verse. <\/p>\n
400
\n00:23:20,120 –> 00:23:22,840
\nHey, how come John the Baptist
\nwas portrayed in that way? <\/p>\n
401
\n00:23:22,840 –> 00:23:24,280
\nWhy do they have that
\nconversation? <\/p>\n
402
\n00:23:24,280 –> 00:23:26,560
\nAnd they defend, they say, oh,
\nwow, this was this was a highly <\/p>\n
403
\n00:23:26,560 –> 00:23:36,600
\ncontroversial, you know.
\nEpisode I fall prey to all these<\/p>\n
404
\n00:23:36,600 –> 00:23:41,160
\nsame things, but we have to be
\nalert because the systematic <\/p>\n
405
\n00:23:41,160 –> 00:23:44,560
\npressure on our faith is slow
\nand it’s relentless. <\/p>\n
406
\n00:23:44,680 –> 00:23:47,160
\nIt’s like the tide.
\nIt just keeps coming in and <\/p>\n
407
\n00:23:47,160 –> 00:23:51,440
\ncoming in and coming in and
\neventually we wear down and we <\/p>\n
408
\n00:23:51,440 –> 00:23:55,280
\nhave no more resistance.
\nThat’s why I love Paul’s bold <\/p>\n
409
\n00:23:55,280 –> 00:23:57,480
\nstatement in Romans 12 and two.
\nAnd I’ll just read this out, <\/p>\n
410
\n00:23:57,920 –> 00:24:01,640
\nthis call to action.
\nDo not be conformed to the <\/p>\n
411
\n00:24:01,640 –> 00:24:05,240
\npattern of this world, the mold,
\nthe mark of this world. <\/p>\n
412
\n00:24:05,240 –> 00:24:07,800
\nDo not be conformed to the
\npattern of this world, but be <\/p>\n
413
\n00:24:07,800 –> 00:24:09,320
\ntransformed.
\nAnd we talked about that <\/p>\n
414
\n00:24:09,320 –> 00:24:12,920
\nmetamorphosis, which you know,
\nfrom the from the Caterpillar to<\/p>\n
415
\n00:24:12,920 –> 00:24:17,200
\nthe butterfly is the single most
\nmiraculous event I think we <\/p>\n
416
\n00:24:17,200 –> 00:24:21,120
\ncould ever see that a
\nCaterpillar could go from that <\/p>\n
417
\n00:24:21,120 –> 00:24:24,440
\nform into mush.
\nIf you open up the, the, the <\/p>\n
418
\n00:24:24,440 –> 00:24:26,960
\nlarva, it’s just like a
\nmarshmallow inside. <\/p>\n
419
\n00:24:26,960 –> 00:24:29,520
\nAnd then it reconstitutes itself
\ninto a butterfly. <\/p>\n
420
\n00:24:29,520 –> 00:24:32,880
\nIt’s just unbelievable.
\nThis is why Paul uses the word <\/p>\n
421
\n00:24:32,880 –> 00:24:37,840
\nMetamorphu be transformed.
\nA complete transformation from <\/p>\n
422
\n00:24:37,840 –> 00:24:41,160
\none form to another by the renew
\nof your mind, and then you’ll be<\/p>\n
423
\n00:24:41,160 –> 00:24:43,920
\nable to test and improve what
\nGod’s will is, His good and <\/p>\n
424
\n00:24:43,920 –> 00:24:49,840
\npleasing and His perfect will.
\nSo the question is, in being <\/p>\n
425
\n00:24:50,320 –> 00:24:56,400
\nunashamed of the gospel of God,
\nare we setting about to deny <\/p>\n
426
\n00:24:56,400 –> 00:24:59,120
\nself or are we trying to gain
\nthe world or are we trying to do<\/p>\n
427
\n00:24:59,120 –> 00:25:02,880
\nsome facsimile of both?
\nBecause we have to walk around, <\/p>\n
428
\n00:25:02,880 –> 00:25:05,440
\nas it were, brethren and sisters
\nin a small pool of light <\/p>\n
429
\n00:25:05,440 –> 00:25:08,040
\nsurrounded by this darkness.
\nThat’s that’s our goal. <\/p>\n
430
\n00:25:09,280 –> 00:25:11,080
\nAnd you know the interesting
\nthing I said to the to the young<\/p>\n
431
\n00:25:11,080 –> 00:25:13,680
\npeople, I said, you know what
\nhappens when, when an individual<\/p>\n
432
\n00:25:13,680 –> 00:25:16,720
\nbeliever that’s a small pool of
\nlight gets together with a whole<\/p>\n
433
\n00:25:16,720 –> 00:25:18,880
\nbunch of other individual
\nbelievers, You know what you <\/p>\n
434
\n00:25:18,880 –> 00:25:20,920
\nhave?
\nYou have a large pool. <\/p>\n
435
\n00:25:20,920 –> 00:25:24,240
\nOf light.
\nAnd that’s what we have here. <\/p>\n
436
\n00:25:25,840 –> 00:25:31,160
\nThat’s what we have this week.
\nTurn to Luke Chapter 9 and <\/p>\n
437
\n00:25:31,160 –> 00:25:32,760
\nverse.
\nWe’ll start at verse 26. <\/p>\n
438
\n00:25:39,000 –> 00:25:42,960
\nI forgot to reset the timer on
\nmy PowerPoint, so we’ll probably<\/p>\n
439
\n00:25:42,960 –> 00:25:45,840
\ngo over time.
\nYou can blame Microsoft. <\/p>\n
440
\n00:25:50,640 –> 00:25:52,920
\nBrother says we have to endure
\nto the end and we have to stand <\/p>\n
441
\n00:25:52,920 –> 00:25:56,480
\nwith faith, because when the
\nLord comes to collect his <\/p>\n
442
\n00:25:56,480 –> 00:25:59,160
\nSaints.
\nHe will look for a number of <\/p>\n
443
\n00:25:59,160 –> 00:26:00,920
\nthings.
\nNumber one, he’ll look for those<\/p>\n
444
\n00:26:01,200 –> 00:26:06,840
\nthat know His voice, He will
\nlook for those who have faith, <\/p>\n
445
\n00:26:07,040 –> 00:26:09,600
\nand he will look for those, as
\nwe will find out in this <\/p>\n
446
\n00:26:09,600 –> 00:26:13,640
\nreading, those that are
\nunashamed of His words. <\/p>\n
447
\n00:26:15,800 –> 00:26:19,200
\nLuke 9 and 26 For whosoever
\nshall be ashamed of me, and my <\/p>\n
448
\n00:26:19,200 –> 00:26:22,680
\nwords of him, shall the shall
\nthe Son of man be ashamed when <\/p>\n
449
\n00:26:22,680 –> 00:26:25,080
\nhe comes in his own glory, and
\nin his Father’s, and in the holy<\/p>\n
450
\n00:26:25,080 –> 00:26:26,160
\nangels.
\nNow if you understand, of <\/p>\n
451
\n00:26:26,160 –> 00:26:28,840
\ncourse, the context of this
\nverse, what Christ is talking <\/p>\n
452
\n00:26:28,840 –> 00:26:31,880
\nabout, or what He was just
\ntalking about, was explaining to<\/p>\n
453
\n00:26:31,880 –> 00:26:34,760
\nHis disciples and His followers
\nthe things that would shortly <\/p>\n
454
\n00:26:34,760 –> 00:26:37,080
\ncome to pass, that He would have
\nto die on the cross. <\/p>\n
455
\n00:26:37,080 –> 00:26:39,760
\nAnd this is where, you know,
\nPeter stands up in opposition. <\/p>\n
456
\n00:26:39,760 –> 00:26:41,960
\nThere’s no Lord, you know these
\nthings cannot be. <\/p>\n
457
\n00:26:41,960 –> 00:26:45,280
\nAnd Christ says you have the
\nthings of man in your mind, not <\/p>\n
458
\n00:26:45,280 –> 00:26:48,200
\nthe things of God stand beside.
\nYou are an adversary. <\/p>\n
459
\n00:26:48,200 –> 00:26:49,920
\nSo all those things have just
\nhappened. <\/p>\n
460
\n00:26:49,920 –> 00:26:55,000
\nAnd then he says in verse 23.
\nAnd he says to them all, if <\/p>\n
461
\n00:26:55,000 –> 00:26:57,560
\nanyone would come after me and
\nlet him deny himself and take up<\/p>\n
462
\n00:26:57,560 –> 00:27:02,960
\nhis cross daily and follow me,
\nfor whoever would save his life <\/p>\n
463
\n00:27:04,240 –> 00:27:08,120
\nwill lose it, and whoever loses
\nhis life for my sake will save <\/p>\n
464
\n00:27:08,120 –> 00:27:12,920
\nit.
\nAnd the Lord Jesus Christ has <\/p>\n
465
\n00:27:13,960 –> 00:27:17,480
\nmany powerful statements, of
\ncourse himself too. <\/p>\n
466
\n00:27:17,480 –> 00:27:22,320
\nAnd this is one that I love.
\nWhat does it profit a man? <\/p>\n
467
\n00:27:24,240 –> 00:27:28,760
\nIf he gains the whole world and
\nhe forfeits himself, and we can <\/p>\n
468
\n00:27:28,760 –> 00:27:30,800
\naccumulate all kinds of things
\nin our life. <\/p>\n
469
\n00:27:30,960 –> 00:27:33,000
\nAnd a lot of us have bucket
\nlists and things that we want to<\/p>\n
470
\n00:27:33,000 –> 00:27:34,680
\ndo.
\nAnd we want to jump out of <\/p>\n
471
\n00:27:34,680 –> 00:27:36,480
\nairplanes.
\nWe want to go on zip lines to <\/p>\n
472
\n00:27:36,480 –> 00:27:38,560
\nthings I can’t do because of my
\nfear of fights. <\/p>\n
473
\n00:27:38,560 –> 00:27:40,400
\nBut we want to.
\nWe want to reach that next <\/p>\n
474
\n00:27:40,400 –> 00:27:44,200
\nlevel, right?
\nAre we trying to gain the whole <\/p>\n
475
\n00:27:44,200 –> 00:27:47,040
\nworld and inadvertently going to
\nforfeit our lives? <\/p>\n
476
\n00:27:50,800 –> 00:27:52,800
\nYou know, I gave a talk a long
\ntime ago and, and it was looking<\/p>\n
477
\n00:27:52,800 –> 00:27:55,880
\nat the notes, it was, it was
\nthat when I first was baptized, <\/p>\n
478
\n00:27:56,200 –> 00:27:59,520
\nI wanted to be married.
\nI thought if I could just be <\/p>\n
479
\n00:27:59,520 –> 00:28:04,720
\nmarried before Christ returns,
\nthen I got married and then <\/p>\n
480
\n00:28:04,720 –> 00:28:07,240
\nafter marriage I thought I just,
\nI just want Christ to wait <\/p>\n
481
\n00:28:07,240 –> 00:28:08,160
\nbecause I want to have.
\nChildren. <\/p>\n
482
\n00:28:08,160 –> 00:28:14,160
\nAnd then we had children.
\nAnd, and I wanted Christ to wait<\/p>\n
483
\n00:28:14,160 –> 00:28:16,560
\ntill I could just get to a
\nstation in my life where I could<\/p>\n
484
\n00:28:16,560 –> 00:28:20,880
\nsupport my family and, and I
\nenjoy. <\/p>\n
485
\n00:28:20,880 –> 00:28:30,020
\nThe work that I do and our
\ncliche is a very welcoming <\/p>\n
486
\n00:28:30,020 –> 00:28:39,770
\nplace.
\nI’m the emotional one in the <\/p>\n
487
\n00:28:39,770 –> 00:28:40,450
\nfamily.
\nBy the way. <\/p>\n
488
\n00:28:42,770 –> 00:28:46,730
\nWe have this 2 year old grandson
\nthat’s just the light of our <\/p>\n
489
\n00:28:46,730 –> 00:28:49,410
\nlives.
\nGod willing, you’ll see a <\/p>\n
490
\n00:28:49,410 –> 00:28:53,320
\npicture of him tomorrow night.
\nAnd sometimes, brethren and <\/p>\n
491
\n00:28:53,320 –> 00:29:00,080
\nsisters, we might catch
\nourselves thinking, well, I want<\/p>\n
492
\n00:29:00,080 –> 00:29:08,680
\nthe Lord to return, but just not
\nyet, you know. <\/p>\n
493
\n00:29:08,680 –> 00:29:11,240
\nAnd I think the longer that this
\nworld goes on, brethren and <\/p>\n
494
\n00:29:11,240 –> 00:29:15,600
\nsisters, the harder it’s going
\nto be to keep ourselves <\/p>\n
495
\n00:29:15,600 –> 00:29:21,720
\nseparated unto Christ.
\nAnd so let the words of the Lord<\/p>\n
496
\n00:29:21,720 –> 00:29:26,720
\nJesus Christ ring in our ears,
\nthat if anyone should come after<\/p>\n
497
\n00:29:26,720 –> 00:29:29,440
\nme, let him deny himself and
\ntake up his cross. <\/p>\n
498
\n00:29:29,440 –> 00:29:32,480
\nOne of the things that my dad
\nsays often is. <\/p>\n
499
\n00:29:32,720 –> 00:29:36,560
\nHave we forgotten how to carry
\nthe cross of Christ in our <\/p>\n
500
\n00:29:36,560 –> 00:29:40,640
\nlives?
\nBecause in doing so, that is in <\/p>\n
501
\n00:29:40,640 –> 00:29:44,760
\neffect the denial of self.
\nThere’s no room for two crosses.<\/p>\n
502
\n00:29:44,880 –> 00:29:47,680
\nWe can’t carry ours and Christ
\nat the same time. <\/p>\n
503
\n00:29:50,160 –> 00:29:53,120
\nAnd the Lord Jesus Christ says
\nin Matthew 24 as as as he’s <\/p>\n
504
\n00:29:53,120 –> 00:29:56,680
\ngiving us the the future of what
\nwe have to expect in in the <\/p>\n
505
\n00:29:56,680 –> 00:30:00,280
\ncoming days, the coming years
\nand months, Matthew 2430, verse <\/p>\n
506
\n00:30:00,280 –> 00:30:03,600
\n20 And for then there’ll be such
\na great tribulation such as not <\/p>\n
507
\n00:30:03,600 –> 00:30:05,400
\nbeing from the beginning of the
\nworld until now. <\/p>\n
508
\n00:30:05,400 –> 00:30:07,160
\nNo one never will be.
\nHe says. <\/p>\n
509
\n00:30:08,960 –> 00:30:12,880
\nAnd if those days had not been
\ncut short, no human being would <\/p>\n
510
\n00:30:12,880 –> 00:30:15,760
\nhave been saved.
\nBut for the sake of the elect, <\/p>\n
511
\n00:30:15,760 –> 00:30:20,880
\nthose days will be cut short.
\nYou know, I think it’s going to <\/p>\n
512
\n00:30:20,880 –> 00:30:23,360
\nget so bad, brethren and
\nsisters, that God will step in <\/p>\n
513
\n00:30:23,360 –> 00:30:25,240
\nbecause it’ll just be too much
\nfor us. <\/p>\n
514
\n00:30:26,560 –> 00:30:27,960
\nAnd so we have to make that
\nchoice now. <\/p>\n
515
\n00:30:27,960 –> 00:30:29,760
\nDo we lose the world and gain
\nChrist? <\/p>\n
516
\n00:30:29,960 –> 00:30:32,560
\nOr do we gain the world and lose
\nour life Because we can’t have <\/p>\n
517
\n00:30:32,560 –> 00:30:34,680
\nit both ways.
\nWe have to choose. <\/p>\n
518
\n00:30:36,520 –> 00:30:39,480
\nAnd, as I said, that choice will
\ncome with consequences, and <\/p>\n
519
\n00:30:39,480 –> 00:30:41,760
\nthose consequences may be
\ndifficult to deal with. <\/p>\n
520
\n00:30:43,360 –> 00:30:47,240
\nThe consequences of believing in
\nGod is often times accepting the<\/p>\n
521
\n00:30:47,240 –> 00:30:49,840
\nshunning and the mockery of the
\nworld around us. <\/p>\n
522
\n00:30:53,040 –> 00:30:57,360
\nIt is denying that the world has
\nany hope of anything close to <\/p>\n
523
\n00:30:57,360 –> 00:31:02,200
\nsalvation, but it means the
\nforfeiture of anything connected<\/p>\n
524
\n00:31:02,200 –> 00:31:04,040
\nto this world.
\nBut the reward, brethren and <\/p>\n
525
\n00:31:04,040 –> 00:31:07,400
\nsisters, is greater than
\nanything we can imagine, and <\/p>\n
526
\n00:31:07,400 –> 00:31:11,000
\nbeing unashamed of the Word of
\nGod is pivotal, and it’s a <\/p>\n
527
\n00:31:11,000 –> 00:31:12,960
\ncrucial element to us as
\nbelievers. <\/p>\n
528
\n00:31:14,120 –> 00:31:15,600
\nBut there’s another aspect of
\nthis. <\/p>\n
529
\n00:31:15,760 –> 00:31:18,920
\nIt’s not just enough to believe
\nin the existence of God. <\/p>\n
530
\n00:31:18,920 –> 00:31:22,440
\nTurn over to Hebrews 11 and 6,
\nwhich was our title verse on the<\/p>\n
531
\n00:31:22,440 –> 00:31:34,990
\nscreen.
\nThe apostle Paul gives us two <\/p>\n
532
\n00:31:34,990 –> 00:31:38,110
\nparts to this question about the
\nexistence of God. <\/p>\n
533
\n00:31:40,030 –> 00:31:43,080
\nHebrews 11 and six says.
\nAnd without faith it is <\/p>\n
534
\n00:31:43,080 –> 00:31:45,880
\nimpossible to please and forever
\nwould draw near to God must <\/p>\n
535
\n00:31:45,880 –> 00:31:49,600
\nbelieve that he exists or in the
\nKing James, which I think is <\/p>\n
536
\n00:31:49,600 –> 00:31:57,120
\neven better, must believe that
\nGod is and that he is a rewarder<\/p>\n
537
\n00:31:57,120 –> 00:31:58,400
\nof those who diligently seek
\nhim. <\/p>\n
538
\n00:32:00,880 –> 00:32:02,840
\nAnd and just just a quick bit of
\nHebrew. <\/p>\n
539
\n00:32:03,000 –> 00:32:05,080
\nAnd, and I know we all
\nunderstand this. <\/p>\n
540
\n00:32:06,040 –> 00:32:08,120
\nBut the word for exists there.
\nThis word for is. <\/p>\n
541
\n00:32:08,120 –> 00:32:13,200
\nIt’s this very emphatic word.
\nIt has A2 dimensional aspect of <\/p>\n
542
\n00:32:13,560 –> 00:32:17,560
\nit that we can believe that God
\nexists now and that he has <\/p>\n
543
\n00:32:17,560 –> 00:32:26,000
\nalways existed.
\nAnd then Paul says that we also <\/p>\n
544
\n00:32:26,000 –> 00:32:28,840
\nmust believe that God is a
\nrewarder of those who diligently<\/p>\n
545
\n00:32:28,840 –> 00:32:32,840
\nseek him to to search him out,
\nto crave, to worship him as as <\/p>\n
546
\n00:32:32,840 –> 00:32:36,360
\nthe force of the Greek is.
\nSo it’s like there’s this <\/p>\n
547
\n00:32:36,360 –> 00:32:39,800
\ntwo-part clarification to give
\nus a three-dimensional view of <\/p>\n
548
\n00:32:39,800 –> 00:32:44,240
\nfaith that we must believe God’s
\nalways existed to bring him out <\/p>\n
549
\n00:32:44,240 –> 00:32:47,120
\nthe things that have brought us
\nto now, that he exists for us <\/p>\n
550
\n00:32:47,120 –> 00:32:50,920
\ntoday and he will also exist in
\nthe future to bring him out his <\/p>\n
551
\n00:32:50,920 –> 00:32:53,920
\npromise.
\nFaith is 3 dimensional. <\/p>\n
552
\n00:32:55,720 –> 00:32:58,840
\nAnd I think these these
\nclarifiers are inextricably <\/p>\n
553
\n00:32:58,840 –> 00:33:05,680
\nlinked because we can believe
\nthat God exists and we can live <\/p>\n
554
\n00:33:05,680 –> 00:33:08,720
\nour life that God exists, but
\nnot believe. <\/p>\n
555
\n00:33:10,440 –> 00:33:13,480
\nThat God will exist in the
\nfuture to bring to bear his <\/p>\n
556
\n00:33:13,480 –> 00:33:17,000
\npromises.
\nAnd you think, well, how is that<\/p>\n
557
\n00:33:17,000 –> 00:33:19,040
\npossible?
\nWell, it is possible. <\/p>\n
558
\n00:33:19,040 –> 00:33:26,280
\nWe had a guy that worked for us
\nin the family business a number <\/p>\n
559
\n00:33:26,280 –> 00:33:27,640
\nof years ago.
\nHis name was Phil Thompson. <\/p>\n
560
\n00:33:27,640 –> 00:33:33,160
\nHe was a, the big Scandinavian
\nguy, 6 foot 5 strong, super long<\/p>\n
561
\n00:33:33,160 –> 00:33:35,040
\ncurly hair.
\nThey called him Goldilocks. <\/p>\n
562
\n00:33:36,080 –> 00:33:38,160
\nAnd he was a, he was a smart
\nguy. <\/p>\n
563
\n00:33:38,160 –> 00:33:41,440
\nLike he knew his Bible.
\nHe you could talk about <\/p>\n
564
\n00:33:41,440 –> 00:33:44,000
\nphilosophy, science.
\nStuff. <\/p>\n
565
\n00:33:44,000 –> 00:33:48,400
\nGoing on in the world, but he
\nhad a he had the worst addiction<\/p>\n
566
\n00:33:48,400 –> 00:33:49,520
\nproblem I’ve ever seen in my
\nlife. <\/p>\n
567
\n00:33:49,720 –> 00:33:53,560
\nHe was addicted to drugs and,
\nand, and everything besides <\/p>\n
568
\n00:33:53,560 –> 00:33:55,560
\nthat.
\nAnd he would work for us for a <\/p>\n
569
\n00:33:55,560 –> 00:33:57,000
\nmonth and then we wouldn’t see
\nhim for a week. <\/p>\n
570
\n00:33:57,000 –> 00:33:59,240
\nAnd then he’d come back and he’d
\nwork for us for three or four <\/p>\n
571
\n00:33:59,240 –> 00:34:01,160
\ndays and we wouldn’t see him for
\na month and then he’d work for <\/p>\n
572
\n00:34:01,160 –> 00:34:02,280
\nus for.
\nSix months, then we wouldn’t see<\/p>\n
573
\n00:34:02,280 –> 00:34:04,600
\nhim for three days.
\nAnd this, this was the reality <\/p>\n
574
\n00:34:04,600 –> 00:34:07,520
\nof his life.
\nHe kept falling. <\/p>\n
575
\n00:34:07,520 –> 00:34:09,960
\nBack on his addiction.
\nAnd I would always talk with him<\/p>\n
576
\n00:34:09,960 –> 00:34:12,199
\nbecause we worked together.
\nHe was, he was my, one of my <\/p>\n
577
\n00:34:12,320 –> 00:34:14,520
\nemployees.
\nAnd and we would talk about the <\/p>\n
578
\n00:34:14,520 –> 00:34:16,760
\ntruth, we’d talk about the Bible
\nand he’d even say things like <\/p>\n
579
\n00:34:16,880 –> 00:34:18,480
\nhe’d come to work in the
\nmorning, you know, he’d be all <\/p>\n
580
\n00:34:18,480 –> 00:34:20,560
\nfired up, he’d all be positive
\nbecause then things were going <\/p>\n
581
\n00:34:20,600 –> 00:34:21,719
\ngood for him.
\nHe said, hey, John, have you <\/p>\n
582
\n00:34:21,719 –> 00:34:23,360
\nseen your God today?
\nAnd I said, yes, Phil, I’ve, <\/p>\n
583
\n00:34:23,719 –> 00:34:25,679
\nI’ve seen my God today.
\nI said, have you? <\/p>\n
584
\n00:34:25,679 –> 00:34:27,760
\nHe’s always all around like he,
\nhe was that kind of guy. <\/p>\n
585
\n00:34:27,760 –> 00:34:30,360
\nAnd we would talk about he could
\nquote Scripture. <\/p>\n
586
\n00:34:31,560 –> 00:34:34,159
\nAnd I said to him, I said, Phil,
\nI said, you need to come out. <\/p>\n
587
\n00:34:34,320 –> 00:34:35,480
\nI said, you need God in your
\nlife. <\/p>\n
588
\n00:34:35,480 –> 00:34:37,199
\nI said, you need to come out.
\nLook, I’m doing a lecture. <\/p>\n
589
\n00:34:37,199 –> 00:34:37,800
\nCome on out.
\nIt’s. <\/p>\n
590
\n00:34:37,880 –> 00:34:39,080
\nIt’s a great topic.
\nYou’ll love it. <\/p>\n
591
\n00:34:39,239 –> 00:34:42,120
\nNo, no, Sean, I can’t do that.
\nHe says my my past is too dark. <\/p>\n
592
\n00:34:43,360 –> 00:34:49,719
\nI’ve done too many things.
\nHe said God can’t save me. <\/p>\n
593
\n00:34:51,199 –> 00:34:55,320
\nHe believed in the existence of
\nGod, but he didn’t believe in <\/p>\n
594
\n00:34:55,320 –> 00:34:59,400
\nGod’s future.
\nAnd in the spring of this year, <\/p>\n
595
\n00:35:01,840 –> 00:35:07,000
\nin his truck in downtown
\nVictoria, they found him dead of<\/p>\n
596
\n00:35:07,000 –> 00:35:11,560
\na drug overdose.
\nAnd we didn’t even know until it<\/p>\n
597
\n00:35:11,600 –> 00:35:12,840
\nwas too late.
\nWe couldn’t even attend his <\/p>\n
598
\n00:35:12,840 –> 00:35:17,200
\nfuneral.
\nSuch is the problem of limiting <\/p>\n
599
\n00:35:17,200 –> 00:35:23,280
\nGod’s power to merely an
\nexistence, says in Isaiah 55 and<\/p>\n
600
\n00:35:23,280 –> 00:35:24,640
\n11.
\nSo is my word that goes out from<\/p>\n
601
\n00:35:24,640 –> 00:35:26,760
\nmy mouth.
\nIt will not return to me empty, <\/p>\n
602
\n00:35:27,440 –> 00:35:32,800
\nbut will accomplish what I
\ndesire and the purpose for which<\/p>\n
603
\n00:35:32,800 –> 00:35:35,760
\nI sent it.
\nWe must believe in that aspect <\/p>\n
604
\n00:35:35,960 –> 00:35:38,000
\nof God’s power, brethren and
\nsisters. <\/p>\n
605
\n00:35:39,080 –> 00:35:40,920
\nAnd what is the weight of an
\nunbelieving heart? <\/p>\n
606
\n00:35:40,920 –> 00:35:43,720
\nWell, it’s Phil Thompson that’s
\nthe weight of an unbelieving <\/p>\n
607
\n00:35:43,720 –> 00:35:45,800
\nheart.
\nBut also it says, in fact, if <\/p>\n
608
\n00:35:45,800 –> 00:35:48,840
\nyou look at the marginal
\nreference for Hebrews 11 and <\/p>\n
609
\n00:35:48,840 –> 00:35:52,280
\nsix, you’ll get Hebrews 3 and 12
\nwith the apostle Paul talks <\/p>\n
610
\n00:35:52,280 –> 00:35:54,960
\nabout the other example of the
\nunbelieving heart with the <\/p>\n
611
\n00:35:54,960 –> 00:35:56,680
\nnation of Israel in the Old
\nTestament. <\/p>\n
612
\n00:35:56,680 –> 00:35:59,360
\nTake care of brother, unless
\nthere be any of you, he says an <\/p>\n
613
\n00:35:59,360 –> 00:36:02,280
\nunbelieving heart leading you to
\nfall away from the living God. <\/p>\n
614
\n00:36:02,280 –> 00:36:06,080
\nAnd so the writer of the Hebrews
\ngives us this example of exactly<\/p>\n
615
\n00:36:06,080 –> 00:36:08,160
\nwhat happened with the nation of
\nIsrael. <\/p>\n
616
\n00:36:08,160 –> 00:36:11,200
\nWe don’t have time to go through
\nit tonight, but God said through<\/p>\n
617
\n00:36:11,200 –> 00:36:14,520
\nMoses and in Exodus 1411, and
\nthe Lord said to Moses, how long<\/p>\n
618
\n00:36:14,600 –> 00:36:17,160
\nthose people despise me?
\nHow long will they not believe <\/p>\n
619
\n00:36:17,160 –> 00:36:20,320
\nin me, in spite of all the signs
\nthat I’ve done among them. <\/p>\n
620
\n00:36:20,320 –> 00:36:23,600
\nAnd the point here is that they
\nsaw the plagues in Egypt. <\/p>\n
621
\n00:36:23,840 –> 00:36:26,440
\nThey saw the miracle as they
\ncame out in the Exodus. <\/p>\n
622
\n00:36:27,080 –> 00:36:31,840
\nThey saw the destruction of the
\nlargest army in the entire world<\/p>\n
623
\n00:36:31,840 –> 00:36:37,480
\nat that time.
\nEvery day they had the pillar of<\/p>\n
624
\n00:36:37,720 –> 00:36:39,720
\nof cloud, and every night they
\nhad the pillar of fire. <\/p>\n
625
\n00:36:39,720 –> 00:36:42,200
\nTheir shoes didn’t wear out.
\nThey had the manna from heaven. <\/p>\n
626
\n00:36:43,160 –> 00:36:46,000
\nThe terror of God went before
\nthe protective preventers. <\/p>\n
627
\n00:36:46,080 –> 00:36:49,720
\nYou can’t tell me that they
\ndidn’t believe in the existence <\/p>\n
628
\n00:36:49,720 –> 00:36:53,680
\nof God.
\nThey might have doubted it, but <\/p>\n
629
\n00:36:53,680 –> 00:36:57,360
\nhe was there.
\nThe problem they had, brothers <\/p>\n
630
\n00:36:57,360 –> 00:37:01,280
\nand sisters, is they didn’t
\nbelieve that God would. <\/p>\n
631
\n00:37:01,280 –> 00:37:05,720
\nTake them into the promised land
\nthey didn’t believe in God’s <\/p>\n
632
\n00:37:05,720 –> 00:37:08,960
\nfuture that he could overcome
\nfor them the giants in the land <\/p>\n
633
\n00:37:08,960 –> 00:37:11,400
\nand so they didn’t believe in
\nGod’s future existence. <\/p>\n
634
\n00:37:11,400 –> 00:37:13,920
\nThey didn’t believe that God
\nwould accomplish the things that<\/p>\n
635
\n00:37:13,920 –> 00:37:16,240
\nhe promised them and so they
\ndied in the wilderness. <\/p>\n
636
\n00:37:19,920 –> 00:37:23,280
\nWe don’t have time to look at at
\nMark Chapter 9, but that’s <\/p>\n
637
\n00:37:23,560 –> 00:37:26,680
\nthat’s the man with the son that
\nhad severe problems. <\/p>\n
638
\n00:37:26,800 –> 00:37:30,480
\nThat’s the father that said I
\nbelieve. <\/p>\n
639
\n00:37:31,640 –> 00:37:33,880
\nPlease help my.
\nUnbelief. <\/p>\n
640
\n00:37:36,800 –> 00:37:42,240
\nAnd the point of this particular
\nrecord in in Mark Chapter 9 was <\/p>\n
641
\n00:37:42,240 –> 00:37:43,880
\nto set the young people up for a
\nquestion. <\/p>\n
642
\n00:37:43,880 –> 00:37:47,640
\nAnd I’m going to ask you the
\nquestion too, because this is <\/p>\n
643
\n00:37:47,640 –> 00:37:48,880
\nwhat I was taught in Sunday
\nschool. <\/p>\n
644
\n00:37:49,320 –> 00:37:54,840
\nDo you believe that faith?
\nIs like a gas tank because we’re<\/p>\n
645
\n00:37:54,840 –> 00:37:57,360
\nall given a measure of faith and
\nso we’re all given a different <\/p>\n
646
\n00:37:57,360 –> 00:37:59,560
\nsized gas tank.
\nSome of us have more faith and <\/p>\n
647
\n00:37:59,560 –> 00:38:01,040
\nso we have a bigger gas tank and
\nsome of us. <\/p>\n
648
\n00:38:01,480 –> 00:38:03,240
\nYou know, have a smaller gas
\ntank. <\/p>\n
649
\n00:38:04,040 –> 00:38:07,600
\nAnd so we can, we can fill up
\nour faith tank, as it were, by <\/p>\n
650
\n00:38:07,600 –> 00:38:10,840
\nstudying and by prayer and by
\nreading the word of thought, by <\/p>\n
651
\n00:38:10,840 –> 00:38:13,080
\ncoming to Bible school.
\nAnd we, I talked to them about <\/p>\n
652
\n00:38:13,080 –> 00:38:14,600
\nall the things we can do to fill
\nup our gas tank. <\/p>\n
653
\n00:38:14,640 –> 00:38:17,880
\nAnd then, you know, when our gas
\ntank gets full, do we then drive<\/p>\n
654
\n00:38:17,880 –> 00:38:21,760
\naround?
\nWith the strength of that faith <\/p>\n
655
\n00:38:21,760 –> 00:38:31,530
\nin our gas tank.
\nAnd then we run out, we coast to<\/p>\n
656
\n00:38:31,530 –> 00:38:34,330
\nthe side of the road and we’re
\ndone. <\/p>\n
657
\n00:38:36,920 –> 00:38:40,520
\nFaith is not a gas tank.
\nFaith, quite clearly <\/p>\n
658
\n00:38:40,520 –> 00:38:43,400
\nscripturally, is a muscle.
\nAnd like all muscles, it needs <\/p>\n
659
\n00:38:43,400 –> 00:38:45,040
\nto be worked on.
\nYou need to lift things. <\/p>\n
660
\n00:38:45,200 –> 00:38:46,960
\nAnd sometimes it’s just small
\nthings at 1st. <\/p>\n
661
\n00:38:46,960 –> 00:38:48,400
\nAnd you know what happens when
\nyou work out? <\/p>\n
662
\n00:38:48,400 –> 00:38:51,080
\nAnd some of the young people you
\nknow, work out, right? <\/p>\n
663
\n00:38:51,280 –> 00:38:54,840
\nYou work that you’re ripping the
\nmuscle fibers to pieces when you<\/p>\n
664
\n00:38:54,840 –> 00:38:56,760
\nwork out.
\nBut then they, they repair <\/p>\n
665
\n00:38:56,760 –> 00:38:59,320
\nthemselves and they rebuild them
\nback a little bit stronger. <\/p>\n
666
\n00:38:59,320 –> 00:39:00,600
\nAnd we can get stronger every
\nday. <\/p>\n
667
\n00:39:00,600 –> 00:39:05,280
\nThat’s exactly how faith works.
\nGod gives us a measure of faith,<\/p>\n
668
\n00:39:05,480 –> 00:39:08,080
\na measure of strength of faith,
\nand then it’s up. <\/p>\n
669
\n00:39:08,080 –> 00:39:13,920
\nTo us to put it to work and this
\nman, he needed to work on his <\/p>\n
670
\n00:39:13,920 –> 00:39:17,160
\nfaith.
\nAnd each time we put our our <\/p>\n
671
\n00:39:17,160 –> 00:39:21,520
\nlives in God’s hand, we develop
\nthat face muscle a little bit <\/p>\n
672
\n00:39:21,520 –> 00:39:26,280
\nmore.
\nAnd as our brother Peter said <\/p>\n
673
\n00:39:26,280 –> 00:39:29,680
\nthis morning in his exhortation
\nand it it touched me. <\/p>\n
674
\n00:39:31,280 –> 00:39:34,040
\nIn a very real way, and that is
\nthat we all struggle. <\/p>\n
675
\n00:39:36,200 –> 00:39:38,440
\nYou know, we have those people
\nin our community, brethren and <\/p>\n
676
\n00:39:38,440 –> 00:39:44,760
\nsisters, just recently that have
\nsuffered immeasurable loss, and <\/p>\n
677
\n00:39:44,760 –> 00:39:51,000
\nwe pray for healing.
\nAnd sometimes it doesn’t come <\/p>\n
678
\n00:39:52,800 –> 00:39:56,840
\nand it can shatter.
\nOur faith and we think, why <\/p>\n
679
\n00:39:56,840 –> 00:40:01,880
\ndoesn’t God answer our prayer?
\nWell, perhaps he has, but maybe <\/p>\n
680
\n00:40:01,880 –> 00:40:04,160
\njust not in the way we’d hope,
\nwe say to ourselves. <\/p>\n
681
\n00:40:04,160 –> 00:40:06,520
\nBut This is why I believe it’s
\nimportant that we understand not<\/p>\n
682
\n00:40:06,520 –> 00:40:10,480
\nonly in the existence of God,
\nbut in God’s future. <\/p>\n
683
\n00:40:12,520 –> 00:40:16,000
\nBecause sometimes, brethren and
\nsisters, the immediate future of<\/p>\n
684
\n00:40:16,000 –> 00:40:21,880
\nGod is not easy to see, which is
\nwhy we have to focus on the <\/p>\n
685
\n00:40:21,880 –> 00:40:26,600
\neternal future.
\nWe must believe in God’s <\/p>\n
686
\n00:40:26,640 –> 00:40:33,400
\noutcome, whatever it is, and
\nwhenever it happens, even if we <\/p>\n
687
\n00:40:33,400 –> 00:40:36,360
\ncan’t see it, turn to the
\nprophecy of Daniel. <\/p>\n
688
\n00:40:37,480 –> 00:40:43,440
\nIf, if, if ever, you need an act
\nof faith to bolster your courage<\/p>\n
689
\n00:40:43,640 –> 00:40:46,520
\nand help you understand this
\nconcept of believing in God and <\/p>\n
690
\n00:40:46,520 –> 00:40:49,840
\nbelieving in God’s future,
\nyou’ve got to go to Daniel <\/p>\n
691
\n00:40:49,840 –> 00:40:51,640
\nchapter 3.
\nAnd we know what’s happening in <\/p>\n
692
\n00:40:51,640 –> 00:40:57,080
\nDaniel chapter 3.
\nThere’s a number of obviously <\/p>\n
693
\n00:40:57,080 –> 00:41:00,240
\nfaith of building events that
\nhappen in the book of Daniel, <\/p>\n
694
\n00:41:00,280 –> 00:41:03,040
\nbut this is my favorite King
\nNebuchadnezzar. <\/p>\n
695
\n00:41:03,040 –> 00:41:05,200
\nHe’s the supreme leader.
\nHe’s all powerful. <\/p>\n
696
\n00:41:05,200 –> 00:41:09,080
\nWhatever King Nebuchadnezzar
\nsays, it literally happens. <\/p>\n
697
\n00:41:09,320 –> 00:41:11,840
\nHe’s had the conversations about
\nthe dreams with Daniel and he <\/p>\n
698
\n00:41:11,840 –> 00:41:14,040
\ninterprets and he builds this
\nimage of gold. <\/p>\n
699
\n00:41:14,760 –> 00:41:18,360
\nIt was over 100 feet tall.
\nDaniel chapter 3 and one King <\/p>\n
700
\n00:41:18,360 –> 00:41:20,320
\nNebuchadnezzar made an image of
\ngold whose height was 60. <\/p>\n
701
\n00:41:20,320 –> 00:41:22,040
\nCubits and its breadth was six
\ncubits. <\/p>\n
702
\n00:41:22,600 –> 00:41:24,640
\nAnd he set it up in the plain of
\nDura, in the province of <\/p>\n
703
\n00:41:24,640 –> 00:41:26,040
\nBabylon.
\nAnd then King Nebuchadnezzar <\/p>\n
704
\n00:41:26,240 –> 00:41:28,800
\nsent together the satraps, the
\nprefects, the governors, the <\/p>\n
705
\n00:41:28,800 –> 00:41:32,120
\ncouncillors, the treasurers, the
\njustices, the magistrates and <\/p>\n
706
\n00:41:32,120 –> 00:41:35,600
\nthe officials.
\nOf the provinces to come to the <\/p>\n
707
\n00:41:35,600 –> 00:41:38,680
\ndedicate of the image of King
\nNebuchadnezzar that he had set <\/p>\n
708
\n00:41:38,680 –> 00:41:42,040
\nup.
\nAnd you can think about being in<\/p>\n
709
\n00:41:42,040 –> 00:41:44,840
\nthe plain of Dura at that time.
\nWe we don’t know exactly, but <\/p>\n
710
\n00:41:44,840 –> 00:41:48,800
\nlet’s just say there were 10s of
\nthousands of people, most of <\/p>\n
711
\n00:41:48,800 –> 00:41:51,840
\nthem showing up with music and
\ntambourines and yelling and <\/p>\n
712
\n00:41:51,840 –> 00:41:53,640
\nscreaming.
\nIt would have been absolute <\/p>\n
713
\n00:41:53,920 –> 00:41:58,840
\nmayhem.
\nAnd everyone begins to bow down <\/p>\n
714
\n00:41:58,840 –> 00:42:00,120
\nto this 100 foot image of
\nworship. <\/p>\n
715
\n00:42:00,480 –> 00:42:04,960
\nBut not Daniel’s three friends.
\nAnd as these things often go, as<\/p>\n
716
\n00:42:04,960 –> 00:42:07,000
\nit says in verse 8, their
\nneighbors, their Co workers, <\/p>\n
717
\n00:42:07,000 –> 00:42:10,080
\nwhoever it is, they rat on them
\nand say, oh, those three men, <\/p>\n
718
\n00:42:10,080 –> 00:42:12,240
\nthey’re not bowing down.
\nThey bring them before the king <\/p>\n
719
\n00:42:12,240 –> 00:42:13,440
\nand there they stand before the
\nking. <\/p>\n
720
\n00:42:13,440 –> 00:42:18,320
\nVerse 14 And Nebuchadnezzar says
\nto these three young men, is it <\/p>\n
721
\n00:42:18,320 –> 00:42:23,600
\ntrue, O Shadrach, Meshach and
\nAbednego, that you do not serve <\/p>\n
722
\n00:42:23,960 –> 00:42:26,840
\nmy gods or worship the golden
\nimage that I have set up? <\/p>\n
723
\n00:42:26,880 –> 00:42:30,160
\nNow if you are ready, when you
\nhear the sound of the horn and <\/p>\n
724
\n00:42:30,160 –> 00:42:32,240
\nthe pipe and the lyre and the
\ntrigon and the harp and the <\/p>\n
725
\n00:42:32,240 –> 00:42:36,920
\nbagpipe and every kind of music,
\nthat you should fall down and <\/p>\n
726
\n00:42:36,920 –> 00:42:38,960
\nworship the image that I have
\nmade well and good. <\/p>\n
727
\n00:42:38,960 –> 00:42:42,400
\nBut if you do not worship, you
\nshall immediately be cast into a<\/p>\n
728
\n00:42:42,400 –> 00:42:45,920
\nburning fiery furnace.
\nWho is the God Nebuchadnezzar <\/p>\n
729
\n00:42:45,920 –> 00:42:48,040
\nsays, that will deliver you out
\nof my hand. <\/p>\n
730
\n00:42:48,200 –> 00:42:51,760
\nAnd right there beside Shadrach,
\nMeshach and Abednego was a <\/p>\n
731
\n00:42:51,760 –> 00:42:56,200
\ngigantic fiery furnace which is
\nthen stoked hotter and hotter <\/p>\n
732
\n00:42:56,200 –> 00:42:59,400
\nand hotter.
\nAnd there they are, standing <\/p>\n
733
\n00:42:59,400 –> 00:43:03,440
\nbefore the king of all the
\nlands, in front of thousands of <\/p>\n
734
\n00:43:03,440 –> 00:43:06,520
\npeople who are all conforming
\nand bowing down to the silly 100<\/p>\n
735
\n00:43:06,520 –> 00:43:09,320
\nfoot image.
\nAnd they are compelled by the <\/p>\n
736
\n00:43:09,320 –> 00:43:13,120
\nKing himself.
\nTo do it or to die. <\/p>\n
737
\n00:43:16,080 –> 00:43:17,200
\nAnd This is why I love their
\nanswer. <\/p>\n
738
\n00:43:20,960 –> 00:43:23,440
\nAnd I don’t think there’s any
\nsarcasm in this answer. <\/p>\n
739
\n00:43:24,560 –> 00:43:28,920
\nI think this is just a.
\nStatement of the fact of their. <\/p>\n
740
\n00:43:28,920 –> 00:43:31,600
\nFaith, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have
\nno need to answer you in this <\/p>\n
741
\n00:43:31,600 –> 00:43:34,160
\nmatter.
\nIt’s like to say you. <\/p>\n
742
\n00:43:34,800 –> 00:43:37,320
\nShould already know we are not
\nbowing down. <\/p>\n
743
\n00:43:38,080 –> 00:43:41,600
\nAnd if this be so, and that’s
\nthe threat of certain death, <\/p>\n
744
\n00:43:42,640 –> 00:43:45,240
\nthen our God whom we serve is
\nable to deliver us from the <\/p>\n
745
\n00:43:45,240 –> 00:43:47,200
\nburning fiery furnace, and He
\nwill. <\/p>\n
746
\n00:43:47,200 –> 00:43:50,880
\nDeliver us out of your hand, O
\nKing, He will deliver us. <\/p>\n
747
\n00:43:53,960 –> 00:44:00,760
\nBut if not, let it be known to
\nyou, O King, that we will not <\/p>\n
748
\n00:44:00,760 –> 00:44:03,480
\nserve your gods or worship the
\ngolden image that you have set <\/p>\n
749
\n00:44:03,480 –> 00:44:06,320
\nup.
\nNow, I don’t think for a minute <\/p>\n
750
\n00:44:06,440 –> 00:44:09,440
\nthat Shadrach, Meshach, and
\nAbednego didn’t believe in the <\/p>\n
751
\n00:44:09,440 –> 00:44:13,840
\nfuture and in the resurrection,
\nor that they thought that maybe <\/p>\n
752
\n00:44:13,840 –> 00:44:17,160
\nGod wouldn’t be able to save
\nthem in that moment. <\/p>\n
753
\n00:44:17,640 –> 00:44:20,880
\nI just think they believed that
\ntheir God would save them. <\/p>\n
754
\n00:44:20,880 –> 00:44:25,120
\nBut if it wasn’t God’s plan in
\nthat moment to save them on that<\/p>\n
755
\n00:44:25,120 –> 00:44:27,600
\nday.
\nIt didn’t matter because they <\/p>\n
756
\n00:44:27,600 –> 00:44:32,000
\nbelieved in God’s future.
\nIt’s like saying the <\/p>\n
757
\n00:44:32,000 –> 00:44:35,800
\nsignificance of God’s eternal
\nfuture should surpass the <\/p>\n
758
\n00:44:35,800 –> 00:44:40,560
\nimportance that we place on our
\npresent lives every single time <\/p>\n
759
\n00:44:45,120 –> 00:44:48,600
\nthat we would know of a surety
\nthat God has a future for those <\/p>\n
760
\n00:44:48,600 –> 00:44:53,400
\nwho believe.
\nAnd if we have that surety that <\/p>\n
761
\n00:44:53,400 –> 00:44:58,400
\nGod has our future in his mind,
\nit will change dramatically how <\/p>\n
762
\n00:44:58,400 –> 00:45:01,640
\nwe Live Today.
\nIt’ll change how we make <\/p>\n
763
\n00:45:01,640 –> 00:45:05,160
\ndecisions like the decisions of
\nthese three men to stand firm <\/p>\n
764
\n00:45:05,160 –> 00:45:06,560
\nagainst the influence of the
\nworld. <\/p>\n
765
\n00:45:06,680 –> 00:45:09,080
\nThey were unashamed of what they
\nbelieved. <\/p>\n
766
\n00:45:10,680 –> 00:45:12,200
\nTheir times are no different
\nthan ours. <\/p>\n
767
\n00:45:12,480 –> 00:45:15,280
\nRather than sisters, they had
\nall the social pressure to <\/p>\n
768
\n00:45:15,280 –> 00:45:18,040
\nconform to this seeming
\ninnocuous thing. <\/p>\n
769
\n00:45:18,280 –> 00:45:20,320
\nYou know, really, when you think
\nabout it, just. <\/p>\n
770
\n00:45:23,400 –> 00:45:27,320
\nJust bow down.
\nJust put your head down and just<\/p>\n
771
\n00:45:27,320 –> 00:45:30,000
\nbow down and get out of there
\nand get back to doing the good <\/p>\n
772
\n00:45:30,000 –> 00:45:34,880
\nthings that they were doing and
\nthey could have done that. <\/p>\n
773
\n00:45:36,800 –> 00:45:40,440
\nBut no, because I believe there
\nare certain spiritual lines that<\/p>\n
774
\n00:45:40,440 –> 00:45:48,640
\nGod draws that we cannot cross,
\nthat the thing that we as God <\/p>\n
775
\n00:45:48,640 –> 00:45:54,120
\nfearing believers must manifest
\nis his glory in our lives at all<\/p>\n
776
\n00:45:54,120 –> 00:45:57,680
\ntimes.
\nEven when our lives are at <\/p>\n
777
\n00:45:57,680 –> 00:46:02,840
\nstake, even when we have fear of
\nsocial cancellation, even when <\/p>\n
778
\n00:46:02,840 –> 00:46:07,040
\nthere’s fear that we’ll lose our
\njobs, even when we might be cast<\/p>\n
779
\n00:46:07,040 –> 00:46:10,600
\nout of our social circle.
\nIt doesn’t matter because we’ve <\/p>\n
780
\n00:46:10,600 –> 00:46:13,280
\nmade the decision knowing that
\nGod’s future. <\/p>\n
781
\n00:46:13,280 –> 00:46:16,400
\nIs more important.
\nThis is what it means to live in<\/p>\n
782
\n00:46:16,400 –> 00:46:18,360
\nGod’s world and under God’s
\nlaws. <\/p>\n
783
\n00:46:23,480 –> 00:46:26,680
\nJust a couple more slides.
\nI think it’s said in the manual.<\/p>\n
784
\n00:46:26,680 –> 00:46:29,040
\nWe have 55 minutes for the
\nclass. <\/p>\n
785
\n00:46:30,520 –> 00:46:36,920
\nYou know, if we believe that God
\nexists and we believe that this <\/p>\n
786
\n00:46:36,920 –> 00:46:42,360
\nis God’s world, then guess what?
\nWe have to live by his rules. <\/p>\n
787
\n00:46:47,240 –> 00:46:50,480
\nDo we not follow God’s laws so
\nthat we can be saved from <\/p>\n
788
\n00:46:50,480 –> 00:46:52,960
\nourselves?
\nAnd if that’s the case, which it<\/p>\n
789
\n00:46:52,960 –> 00:46:57,320
\nis, we have no right to expect
\nthat we can change God or change<\/p>\n
790
\n00:46:57,320 –> 00:46:59,520
\nHis laws to suit our own
\ndesires. <\/p>\n
791
\n00:47:03,520 –> 00:47:08,640
\nIsaiah says in chapter 46 and 9,
\nas the world around us tries to <\/p>\n
792
\n00:47:09,520 –> 00:47:13,640
\nsubvert God’s truth.
\nGod speaking to the prophet, <\/p>\n
793
\n00:47:13,640 –> 00:47:17,160
\nsays this, I am God, there is
\nnone else. <\/p>\n
794
\n00:47:17,360 –> 00:47:19,800
\nI am God, and there is none like
\nme declaring the end from the <\/p>\n
795
\n00:47:19,800 –> 00:47:23,200
\nbeginning, the ancient times,
\nthe things that are not yet done<\/p>\n
796
\n00:47:23,200 –> 00:47:26,400
\nsaying My counsel shall stand,
\nand I will do all my pleasure <\/p>\n
797
\n00:47:31,790 –> 00:47:35,510
\nonce we accept, brethren and
\nsisters, what God says. <\/p>\n
798
\n00:47:38,030 –> 00:47:43,280
\nWe have to act on it and I
\nremember listening to a series <\/p>\n
799
\n00:47:43,640 –> 00:47:45,960
\nfrom brother Nathan.
\n‘S father, Brother Roger. <\/p>\n
800
\n00:47:46,560 –> 00:47:48,480
\nIt was a school of the prophets,
\nstarted the school of the <\/p>\n
801
\n00:47:48,480 –> 00:47:49,680
\nprophets.
\nAnd he said I’m going to <\/p>\n
802
\n00:47:49,680 –> 00:47:56,120
\nparaphrase him badly, so don’t
\nquote me when we start the <\/p>\n
803
\n00:47:56,120 –> 00:48:01,280
\nbeginning of a study.
\nHe said, before we even begin to<\/p>\n
804
\n00:48:01,280 –> 00:48:05,160
\nallow the Scripture to reveal
\nits truth in that study, we have<\/p>\n
805
\n00:48:05,160 –> 00:48:07,880
\nto be prepared to accept what it
\nwill say. <\/p>\n
806
\n00:48:11,640 –> 00:48:15,640
\nAnd then once we accept what it
\nsays, we have to do it like it’s<\/p>\n
807
\n00:48:15,640 –> 00:48:19,760
\njust a, it’s a simple fact of
\nbeing believers in God’s <\/p>\n
808
\n00:48:19,760 –> 00:48:22,360
\npromises.
\nThe word of God is not just a <\/p>\n
809
\n00:48:22,360 –> 00:48:24,440
\nsuggestion.
\nIt’s not, it’s not a statement, <\/p>\n
810
\n00:48:24,440 –> 00:48:27,560
\na beautiful statement that we
\nprint out and, and get sent to <\/p>\n
811
\n00:48:27,560 –> 00:48:31,040
\nus from Etsy And we, we, we glue
\nit on our dining room wall. <\/p>\n
812
\n00:48:32,880 –> 00:48:36,080
\nWhich many of us do.
\nAnd it’s, it is beautiful. <\/p>\n
813
\n00:48:36,080 –> 00:48:37,120
\nWe’ve done it.
\nWe have. <\/p>\n
814
\n00:48:37,400 –> 00:48:42,600
\nA verse up on our wall.
\nWe have to set out to believe in<\/p>\n
815
\n00:48:42,600 –> 00:48:44,560
\nGod’s Word and then do what it
\nsays. <\/p>\n
816
\n00:48:44,920 –> 00:48:46,600
\nEven if it.
\nImpinges on our personal <\/p>\n
817
\n00:48:46,600 –> 00:48:49,360
\nsensitivities, especially
\nbrethren and sisters, when it <\/p>\n
818
\n00:48:49,680 –> 00:48:51,960
\nimpinges on our personal
\nsensitivities. <\/p>\n
819
\n00:49:00,380 –> 00:49:04,100
\nYou know, it’s, it’s not like we
\ndon’t know what the Apostle Paul<\/p>\n
820
\n00:49:04,100 –> 00:49:08,400
\nsays in the book of Romans as he
\npositions the sufferings and the<\/p>\n
821
\n00:49:08,400 –> 00:49:11,040
\npersecution and the hardship and
\nthe trouble and the affliction <\/p>\n
822
\n00:49:11,040 –> 00:49:16,200
\nand the struggle for those in,
\nin the faith, the the issues of <\/p>\n
823
\n00:49:16,200 –> 00:49:18,960
\nsin, the the internal struggles
\namongst amongst believers. <\/p>\n
824
\n00:49:18,960 –> 00:49:21,960
\nAnd he talks about that in in
\nRomans chapter 8 and 17. <\/p>\n
825
\n00:49:23,160 –> 00:49:27,520
\nBut even more in the Epistle to
\nthe Romans is Paul encourages us<\/p>\n
826
\n00:49:27,520 –> 00:49:30,880
\nto remember the benefits of the
\nthings that we believe that are <\/p>\n
827
\n00:49:30,880 –> 00:49:33,080
\nmore important that overcome
\nthose struggles. <\/p>\n
828
\n00:49:33,080 –> 00:49:35,400
\nRomans 5 and starting verse 3
\nand I’ll just read this. <\/p>\n
829
\n00:49:35,760 –> 00:49:39,760
\nNot only so, but we also glory
\nin our sufferings because we <\/p>\n
830
\n00:49:39,760 –> 00:49:43,000
\nknow that suffering produces
\nperseverance and perseverance, <\/p>\n
831
\n00:49:43,000 –> 00:49:46,640
\ncharacter and character hope.
\nAnd hope does not put us to <\/p>\n
832
\n00:49:46,640 –> 00:49:49,960
\nshame because God’s love is
\nbeing poured out into our hearts<\/p>\n
833
\n00:49:50,160 –> 00:49:52,400
\nthrough the Holy Spirit that has
\nbeen given to us. <\/p>\n
834
\n00:49:55,160 –> 00:49:58,480
\nThere’s one more element that I
\njust want to finish with in <\/p>\n
835
\n00:49:58,480 –> 00:50:01,280
\nbelieving in the existence of
\nGod and God’s future. <\/p>\n
836
\n00:50:01,520 –> 00:50:06,440
\nAnd it’s something that I I know
\nwe talk about a lot because we <\/p>\n
837
\n00:50:06,440 –> 00:50:08,960
\ntalk a lot about God
\nmanifestation, but turn to. <\/p>\n
838
\n00:50:09,000 –> 00:50:14,200
\nGenesis chapter 1 and 26 and.
\nI know we all know this and and <\/p>\n
839
\n00:50:14,200 –> 00:50:17,440
\nas Christadelphians we’re unique
\nin our understanding of God <\/p>\n
840
\n00:50:17,440 –> 00:50:19,280
\nmanifestation.
\nBut I just want to go over this <\/p>\n
841
\n00:50:19,280 –> 00:50:22,040
\none more time because maybe it’s
\njust maybe I’m the only one that<\/p>\n
842
\n00:50:22,040 –> 00:50:24,600
\ndoesn’t know this but.
\nMaybe there’s one or two more <\/p>\n
843
\n00:50:25,200 –> 00:50:30,800
\nthat need to hear this as well,
\nbut it says in Genesis 1 and 26 <\/p>\n
844
\n00:50:30,800 –> 00:50:33,800
\nafter the the unbelievable
\namazing. <\/p>\n
845
\n00:50:34,280 –> 00:50:38,680
\nA glory that is exposed as God
\nbrings his infinite power, his <\/p>\n
846
\n00:50:38,680 –> 00:50:41,640
\ncreative power on the formless
\nand void earth, and his purpose <\/p>\n
847
\n00:50:41,640 –> 00:50:44,320
\nstarts to unfold.
\nAnd as he’s going through the <\/p>\n
848
\n00:50:44,320 –> 00:50:47,560
\ncreative process, of course he
\ngets to man and he creates man. <\/p>\n
849
\n00:50:48,280 –> 00:50:51,280
\nAnd he says in Genesis 1 and 26,
\nhe said, let us make man in our <\/p>\n
850
\n00:50:51,280 –> 00:50:53,160
\nimage and in our likeness.
\nNow, what does this mean? <\/p>\n
851
\n00:50:53,160 –> 00:50:56,560
\nAnd we talked about this with
\nthe teens this morning. <\/p>\n
852
\n00:50:56,920 –> 00:50:59,760
\nDoes it mean that we’re to look
\nlike God in the angelic host? <\/p>\n
853
\n00:51:01,280 –> 00:51:05,560
\nWell, I’m sure it does.
\nWe we see the representation of <\/p>\n
854
\n00:51:05,640 –> 00:51:09,480
\nof angels in the the word of God
\nand and they appear like men. <\/p>\n
855
\n00:51:09,480 –> 00:51:12,440
\nSo, so yes, and that’s kind of
\nhow I’d always looked at it. <\/p>\n
856
\n00:51:12,440 –> 00:51:15,400
\nBut and I know these these.
\nWords have been parsed many <\/p>\n
857
\n00:51:15,400 –> 00:51:18,280
\ntimes and I’m sure I’ll hear
\nyour thoughts about this after, <\/p>\n
858
\n00:51:19,520 –> 00:51:23,880
\nbut these two words that we were
\nmade in the image and likeness <\/p>\n
859
\n00:51:23,880 –> 00:51:26,360
\nof God, I understand them like
\nthis. <\/p>\n
860
\n00:51:26,360 –> 00:51:29,720
\nThe first word for for image in
\nthe in the ancient Hebrews, <\/p>\n
861
\n00:51:29,760 –> 00:51:32,280
\nfairly common word that’s used
\nabout idols. <\/p>\n
862
\n00:51:32,280 –> 00:51:33,440
\nIt’s all through the Old
\nTestament. <\/p>\n
863
\n00:51:34,800 –> 00:51:37,800
\nIt’s a representation.
\nIt’s something that that looks <\/p>\n
864
\n00:51:37,800 –> 00:51:40,840
\nlike something but it.
\nBut in this particular context, <\/p>\n
865
\n00:51:40,840 –> 00:51:43,000
\nI believe there’s also the
\nfunction and the role. <\/p>\n
866
\n00:51:43,000 –> 00:51:46,360
\nBecause right after this is when
\nGod gives Adam his commands <\/p>\n
867
\n00:51:46,360 –> 00:51:48,920
\nabout the things that he has to
\ndo to go out and have dominion <\/p>\n
868
\n00:51:48,920 –> 00:51:51,040
\non the earth like God has just
\nhad in his creative acts. <\/p>\n
869
\n00:51:51,040 –> 00:51:54,440
\nSo the first part, I think, is
\nthat we’re commanded to be like <\/p>\n
870
\n00:51:54,480 –> 00:51:57,600
\nGod.
\nAnd the word for likeness, this <\/p>\n
871
\n00:51:57,600 –> 00:52:00,800
\nword DeMuth is similar, but it’s
\ndifferent in that it’s more <\/p>\n
872
\n00:52:00,800 –> 00:52:03,960
\nabout the comparative to his
\nattributes and his character, <\/p>\n
873
\n00:52:04,320 –> 00:52:11,960
\nwhich is to act like God.
\nAnd so God created us to be like<\/p>\n
874
\n00:52:11,960 –> 00:52:14,720
\nHim in the human sense, to go
\nout and have dominion and to do <\/p>\n
875
\n00:52:14,720 –> 00:52:18,240
\nthings and to act like God in
\nbenevolence and in love and in <\/p>\n
876
\n00:52:18,240 –> 00:52:22,280
\ncare and in guiding, and also to
\nact like Him in His attributes <\/p>\n
877
\n00:52:22,800 –> 00:52:25,160
\nand His love and His grace and
\nHis mercy. <\/p>\n
878
\n00:52:25,720 –> 00:52:29,160
\nAnd so it means for us, brethren
\nand sisters, if we are to <\/p>\n
879
\n00:52:29,160 –> 00:52:32,400
\ninhabit that image, we must do
\nthose things. <\/p>\n
880
\n00:52:33,000 –> 00:52:35,600
\nHave you ever considered the
\nmagnitude of that spiritual <\/p>\n
881
\n00:52:35,600 –> 00:52:39,920
\nreality that God created this
\nvast universe and made us in His<\/p>\n
882
\n00:52:39,920 –> 00:52:45,080
\nimage and then placed us in this
\nworld to fulfill a purpose? <\/p>\n
883
\n00:52:45,280 –> 00:52:50,560
\nAnd what was that purpose?
\nIt was to be like Him and to act<\/p>\n
884
\n00:52:50,560 –> 00:52:56,320
\nlike Him to manifest God in our
\nlives. <\/p>\n
885
\n00:52:56,680 –> 00:52:59,040
\nHebrews one and three speaking
\nabout the Lord Jesus Christ said<\/p>\n
886
\n00:52:59,040 –> 00:53:02,120
\nwho be in the brightness of his
\nglory and the express image of <\/p>\n
887
\n00:53:02,120 –> 00:53:05,200
\nhis person and upholding all
\nthings by the word of his power.<\/p>\n
888
\n00:53:05,320 –> 00:53:09,200
\nWhen he and by himself purged
\nour sins, sat down at the right <\/p>\n
889
\n00:53:09,200 –> 00:53:12,200
\nhand of the majesty on high.
\nThat’s the ultimate <\/p>\n
890
\n00:53:12,440 –> 00:53:17,480
\nrepresentation of God is in the
\nLord Jesus Christ and we aspire <\/p>\n
891
\n00:53:17,480 –> 00:53:23,840
\nto that form.
\nIt says in Ephesians 4 and 22 <\/p>\n
892
\n00:53:23,840 –> 00:53:25,880
\nsays you were taught with regard
\nto your former way of self to <\/p>\n
893
\n00:53:25,920 –> 00:53:29,000
\nput off your old self which is
\nbeing corrupted by its deceitful<\/p>\n
894
\n00:53:29,000 –> 00:53:32,000
\ndesires, to make new in the
\nattitude of your minds and to <\/p>\n
895
\n00:53:32,000 –> 00:53:38,160
\nput on a new self created to be
\nlike God in true righteousness <\/p>\n
896
\n00:53:38,360 –> 00:53:40,400
\nand holiness.
\nSo, brethren and sisters, if we <\/p>\n
897
\n00:53:40,400 –> 00:53:43,960
\nbelieve that God exists and will
\nwill fulfill His promise in the <\/p>\n
898
\n00:53:43,960 –> 00:53:49,960
\nfuture, do we manifest God’s
\nattributes and His character <\/p>\n
899
\n00:53:50,120 –> 00:53:53,040
\nevery day in our lives?
\nThat’s why I asked the question <\/p>\n
900
\n00:53:53,040 –> 00:53:57,880
\nto start Does God exist?
\nFor you and can you prove it? <\/p>\n
901
\n00:54:05,890 –> 00:54:07,650
\nDoes the image of.
\nGod, brethren and sisters, <\/p>\n
902
\n00:54:07,650 –> 00:54:15,890
\ntherefore exist in US.
\nYou know, Peter, of this working<\/p>\n
903
\n00:54:15,890 –> 00:54:18,970
\nclass man, this regular man
\nrunning his own small business <\/p>\n
904
\n00:54:18,970 –> 00:54:21,570
\nunder the pressure of society’s
\nexpectations all around him when<\/p>\n
905
\n00:54:21,570 –> 00:54:25,800
\nthe Lord was with him.
\nAnd, and his whole world was <\/p>\n
906
\n00:54:25,800 –> 00:54:28,800
\nthen shattered to the core as he
\ntried in his own human way to <\/p>\n
907
\n00:54:28,800 –> 00:54:30,600
\nget closer to his Lord now under
\ntrial. <\/p>\n
908
\n00:54:30,600 –> 00:54:35,680
\nSo this is the time when when
\nChrist was taken in trial and he<\/p>\n
909
\n00:54:35,680 –> 00:54:38,240
\ntried to get closer and closer
\nas the Lord was taken away <\/p>\n
910
\n00:54:38,240 –> 00:54:39,480
\nbecause he wanted to be with
\nhim. <\/p>\n
911
\n00:54:39,480 –> 00:54:42,440
\nBut he, but he, he felt the
\nshame of that knowledge and he <\/p>\n
912
\n00:54:42,440 –> 00:54:50,520
\ndenied his existence 3 times.
\nHe denied his Lord the last time<\/p>\n
913
\n00:54:50,520 –> 00:54:52,800
\nemphatically.
\nPeter says, I tell you the <\/p>\n
914
\n00:54:52,800 –> 00:54:58,680
\ntruth, I do not know this man.
\nCan you imagine the heartbreak <\/p>\n
915
\n00:54:58,680 –> 00:55:02,080
\nof Peter when he got that look
\nfrom his Lord before the the <\/p>\n
916
\n00:55:02,080 –> 00:55:06,720
\nsign of his last denial, and how
\nthe sword of the Spirit of the <\/p>\n
917
\n00:55:06,720 –> 00:55:09,920
\nWord of God would have cut him
\nasunder, dividing the very <\/p>\n
918
\n00:55:09,920 –> 00:55:12,640
\nthoughts of his heart.
\nHow in in the fear of that <\/p>\n
919
\n00:55:12,640 –> 00:55:16,920
\nmoment it overrode his faith and
\nhe denied the existence of his <\/p>\n
920
\n00:55:16,920 –> 00:55:21,160
\nMaster.
\nBut we can be, we can rest <\/p>\n
921
\n00:55:21,160 –> 00:55:23,960
\nassured, brethren and sisters,
\nthat there is hope because of <\/p>\n
922
\n00:55:23,960 –> 00:55:30,160
\nthat man Peter that denied his
\nLord, became this man in his <\/p>\n
923
\n00:55:30,160 –> 00:55:33,560
\nepistle in first Peter 2 where
\nhe says like newborn infants. <\/p>\n
924
\n00:55:34,680 –> 00:55:37,960
\nLong for the pure spiritual milk
\nthat bite you may grow up into <\/p>\n
925
\n00:55:37,960 –> 00:55:41,040
\nsalvation, if indeed you have
\ntasted that the Lord is good as <\/p>\n
926
\n00:55:41,040 –> 00:55:44,280
\nyou come to him as a living
\nstone rejected by men. <\/p>\n
927
\n00:55:44,440 –> 00:55:47,400
\nBut in the sight of God chosen
\nand precious, you yourselves, <\/p>\n
928
\n00:55:47,400 –> 00:55:49,960
\nlike living stones are being
\nbuilt up as a spiritual house to<\/p>\n
929
\n00:55:49,960 –> 00:55:54,160
\nbe in holy priesthood, to offer
\nspiritual sacrifice acceptable <\/p>\n
930
\n00:55:54,160 –> 00:55:57,200
\nto God through Jesus Christ, For
\nit stands in Scripture. <\/p>\n
931
\n00:55:57,200 –> 00:56:02,600
\nPeter says, behold, I lands I in
\na stone, a cornerstone, precious<\/p>\n
932
\n00:56:03,120 –> 00:56:07,320
\nand chosen, and whoever believes
\nin him will not be put to shame.<\/p>\n
933
\n00:56:11,160 –> 00:56:13,640
\nWe have to wage war, brothers
\nand sisters, against the dark <\/p>\n
934
\n00:56:13,640 –> 00:56:17,120
\nforce of the world.
\nAnd we can only do this if we <\/p>\n
935
\n00:56:17,120 –> 00:56:20,240
\ninhabit the image of God in our
\nlives, if it manifests in our <\/p>\n
936
\n00:56:20,240 –> 00:56:23,920
\nlives every single day in our
\nhearts and in our minds. <\/p>\n
937
\n00:56:24,760 –> 00:56:27,800
\nSecond Corinthians chapter 10,
\nand I’ll just read this, says <\/p>\n
938
\n00:56:28,240 –> 00:56:31,400
\nfor though we live in the world,
\nwe do not wage war as the world <\/p>\n
939
\n00:56:31,400 –> 00:56:33,080
\ndoes.
\nThe weapons we fight with are <\/p>\n
940
\n00:56:33,080 –> 00:56:35,480
\nnot the weapons of the world.
\nOn the contrary, they have <\/p>\n
941
\n00:56:35,480 –> 00:56:38,280
\ndivine power to demolish
\nstrongholds. <\/p>\n
942
\n00:56:38,880 –> 00:56:41,840
\nWe demolish arguments and every
\npotential that sets itself up <\/p>\n
943
\n00:56:41,840 –> 00:56:44,600
\nagainst the knowledge of God,
\nand we take captive every <\/p>\n
944
\n00:56:44,600 –> 00:56:46,720
\nthought to make it obedient to
\nChrist. <\/p>\n
945
\n00:56:54,020 –> 00:56:56,460
\nThis is how we have to behave in
\nthis World of Darkness. <\/p>\n
946
\n00:56:57,560 –> 00:56:59,480
\nWe have been given so much,
\nbrethren and sisters, we’ve been<\/p>\n
947
\n00:56:59,480 –> 00:57:01,920
\noffered life itself.
\nWe’ve been offered a way out of <\/p>\n
948
\n00:57:01,920 –> 00:57:05,440
\nthis body of death, salvation
\nfrom our sins, and we’ve been <\/p>\n
949
\n00:57:05,440 –> 00:57:07,760
\nreconciled through our Father in
\nheaven, through the Lord Jesus <\/p>\n
950
\n00:57:07,760 –> 00:57:10,520
\nChrist.
\nAnd so if we get nothing out of <\/p>\n
951
\n00:57:10,520 –> 00:57:14,080
\nthis series this week, it is
\nfrom this first class that if we<\/p>\n
952
\n00:57:14,080 –> 00:57:19,240
\nbelieve that God exists and we
\nbelieve in the future that God <\/p>\n
953
\n00:57:19,240 –> 00:57:23,800
\nhas given us, and that is the
\nfirst step in being unashamed of<\/p>\n
954
\n00:57:23,800 –> 00:57:29,400
\nthe things that we believe.
\nI want to close by reading from <\/p>\n
955
\n00:57:29,480 –> 00:57:31,800
\nthe same reading from
\nColossians. <\/p>\n
956
\n00:57:31,800 –> 00:57:35,600
\nSo just turn back to that in
\nColossians chapter one that our <\/p>\n
957
\n00:57:35,600 –> 00:57:43,040
\nbrother Justin had read for us.
\nBrother Tech Morgan in in one of<\/p>\n
958
\n00:57:43,040 –> 00:57:46,880
\nhis series on on the epistle of
\nRomans said something that that <\/p>\n
959
\n00:57:46,880 –> 00:57:49,200
\nstuck with me and he says, he
\nsays one of the beautiful things<\/p>\n
960
\n00:57:49,200 –> 00:57:54,000
\nabout the apostle Paul is how he
\nelevates God in all of his <\/p>\n
961
\n00:57:54,000 –> 00:57:58,320
\nwritings.
\nHe elevates the majesty of God. <\/p>\n
962
\n00:57:58,320 –> 00:58:00,640
\nHe elevates the majesty of the
\nLord Jesus Christ. <\/p>\n
963
\n00:58:00,880 –> 00:58:04,920
\nHe elevates it for us to see
\nthis high and lofty goal. <\/p>\n
964
\n00:58:05,360 –> 00:58:08,400
\nAnd in saying that, brethren and
\nsisters, we have to lower <\/p>\n
965
\n00:58:08,400 –> 00:58:12,520
\nourselves in terms of the
\nelevated majesty of our Father <\/p>\n
966
\n00:58:12,520 –> 00:58:14,760
\nin heaven.
\nAnd so he does that here in this<\/p>\n
967
\n00:58:14,760 –> 00:58:18,080
\npassage starting at verse 15,
\nSpeaking of the Lord Jesus <\/p>\n
968
\n00:58:18,080 –> 00:58:20,320
\nChrist, thinking about the
\nimage. <\/p>\n
969
\n00:58:20,880 –> 00:58:24,240
\nThat needs to be manifest in US.
\nIn the Lord Jesus Christ being <\/p>\n
970
\n00:58:24,240 –> 00:58:26,400
\nthe perfect image of God, he
\nsays He is the image of the <\/p>\n
971
\n00:58:26,400 –> 00:58:28,760
\ninvisible God, the first born of
\nall creation. <\/p>\n
972
\n00:58:29,680 –> 00:58:32,200
\nFor by Him all things were
\ncreated in heaven and on earth, <\/p>\n
973
\n00:58:32,280 –> 00:58:35,480
\nvisible and invisible, whether
\nThrones or dominions or rulers <\/p>\n
974
\n00:58:35,480 –> 00:58:38,800
\nor authorities, all things were
\ncreated through Him and for Him.<\/p>\n
975
\n00:58:39,720 –> 00:58:42,440
\nAnd He is before all things, and
\nin Him are all things held <\/p>\n
976
\n00:58:42,440 –> 00:58:44,680
\ntogether.
\nHe is the head of the body, the <\/p>\n
977
\n00:58:44,680 –> 00:58:47,040
\nEcclesia.
\nHe is the beginning, the first <\/p>\n
978
\n00:58:47,040 –> 00:58:50,720
\nborn of the dead, that in
\neverything He might be pre <\/p>\n
979
\n00:58:50,720 –> 00:58:54,720
\neminent.
\nFor in Him all the fullness of <\/p>\n
980
\n00:58:54,720 –> 00:58:57,720
\nGod was pleased to dwell, and
\nthrough Him to reconcile to <\/p>\n
981
\n00:58:57,720 –> 00:59:02,640
\nHimself all things, whether on
\nearth or in heaven, making peace<\/p>\n
982
\n00:59:02,640 –> 00:59:08,200
\nby the blood of His cross.
\nAnd you, brothers and sisters, <\/p>\n
983
\n00:59:08,200 –> 00:59:14,040
\nyou and I, who were once
\nalienated and hostile in mind, <\/p>\n
984
\n00:59:14,880 –> 00:59:18,080
\ndoing evil deeds, he has now
\nreconciled in his body of flesh <\/p>\n
985
\n00:59:18,080 –> 00:59:22,560
\nby his death, in order to
\npresent us holy and blameless <\/p>\n
986
\n00:59:22,760 –> 00:59:26,160
\nand above reproach before him,
\nIf indeed you continue in the <\/p>\n
987
\n00:59:26,160 –> 00:59:31,120
\nfaith steadfast and stable, not
\nshifting from the hope of the <\/p>\n
988
\n00:59:31,120 –> 00:59:33,520
\ngospel that you have heard,
\nwhich is being proclaimed in <\/p>\n
989
\n00:59:33,600 –> 00:59:34,920
\nall.
\nCreation under heaven. <\/p>\n
990
\n00:59:39,560 –> 00:59:41,600
\nSo, God willing, brothers and
\nsisters, over the course of <\/p>\n
991
\n00:59:41,920 –> 00:59:44,480
\nthese next five classes, we will
\nlook with more detail at the <\/p>\n
992
\n00:59:44,480 –> 00:59:48,560
\nissues that face us.
\nAnd the truth of God that guides<\/p>\n
993
\n00:59:48,560 –> 00:59:53,160
\nus, so that we might stand firm
\nin our faith to the end, not <\/p>\n
994
\n00:59:53,160 –> 00:59:56,560
\nbeing shaken or moved from the
\nhope of the gospel that we have <\/p>\n
995
\n00:59:56,560 –> 00:59:59,840
\nheard, That we remain separated
\nunto Christ. <\/p>\n
996
\n01:00:00,680 –> 01:00:02,960
\nSo that we can stand with
\ncourage until that great day <\/p>\n
997
\n01:00:02,960 –> 01:00:05,240
\nwhen the Lord Jesus Christ comes
\nto gather his elect. <\/p>\n
998
\n01:00:06,400 –> 01:00:10,320
\nAnd we’ll be redeemed from this
\nDark World, and they will live. <\/p>\n
999
\n01:00:10,320 –> 01:00:14,640
\nForever in his light, because we
\nwere unashamed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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