Title: Do You Bear Fruit?
Meta: The reason for every trial, every hardship, every rough wind in your life, is to show you your inability, your weakness, and to chase you back to God.
Tags: paul,washer,john,fruit,evidence,salvation,assurance,true,Christian

1
00:00:04,399 --> 00:00:12,527
Let's open up our Bibles again to John chapter 15. (P)

2
00:00:21,021 --> 00:00:24,524
Before we read our text, I'll just like to make a note

3
00:00:24,525 --> 00:00:28,181
of something very important that has been said thus far.

4
00:00:28,182 --> 00:00:31,276
It's simply this:

5
00:00:31,277 --> 00:00:39,097
To your own ears this morning was read a passage of terrifying judgments

6
00:00:39,098 --> 00:00:42,199
that are falling, and would continue to fall upon the Earth

7
00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:47,608
until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

8
00:00:47,609 --> 00:00:51,337
To the degree that your heart trembled this morning,

9
00:00:51,338 --> 00:00:59,264
it demonstrates your belief in the Word of God.

10
00:01:00,058 --> 00:01:06,086
Many heard what was read this morning, and it did not bother you a bit.

11
00:01:06,087 --> 00:01:08,637
And not simply because you have assurance of salvation,

12
00:01:08,638 --> 00:01:14,765
but because there is something of a callousness that has grown over your heart.

13
00:01:14,766 --> 00:01:18,853
You just heard terrible things. (P)

14
00:01:18,854 --> 00:01:22,294
Today you'll even hear, although I am speaking about the Christian life,

15
00:01:22,295 --> 00:01:26,116
that this is a serious matter between life and death.

16
00:01:26,117 --> 00:01:29,406
And yet, even though these words are weighty,

17
00:01:29,407 --> 00:01:33,410
they can come in one ear and out the other. (P)

18
00:01:33,411 --> 00:01:39,945
Now I've been brought here to teach on how to be more godly,

19
00:01:39,946 --> 00:01:42,715
to be more Christlike,

20
00:01:42,716 --> 00:01:47,407
to stand with greater assurance before the throne of God.

21
00:01:47,408 --> 00:01:54,481
But I will say this: There are people here, who, although you would not say this with your mouth,

22
00:01:54,482 --> 00:01:56,096
with your life you demonstrate it.

23
00:01:56,097 --> 00:02:01,036
You care very little for these types of things.

24
00:02:01,037 --> 00:02:04,398
They really do not matter much to you.

25
00:02:04,399 --> 00:02:06,626
If that angers you, then let me ask you a question.

26
00:02:06,627 --> 00:02:10,323
How much time during the day do you think about yourself?

27
00:02:10,324 --> 00:02:14,574
How much time during the day do you think about things that are temporal?

28
00:02:14,574 --> 00:02:17,791
Your physical strength, or your beauty,

29
00:02:17,792 --> 00:02:22,079
or your clothing, or your relationships,

30
00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:24,147
or the joys and pleasures of this world?

31
00:02:24,148 --> 00:02:26,241
How much time do you spend thinking about that?

32
00:02:26,242 --> 00:02:31,024
And then, how much time do you think about cultivating godliness?

33
00:02:31,025 --> 00:02:35,628
About becoming more chaste, more innocent, more Christlike?

34
00:02:35,629 --> 00:02:41,166
How are you working and laboring towards a greater assurance of your salvation? (P)

35
00:02:41,167 --> 00:02:43,426
You see, and even now as I speak to you,

36
00:02:43,427 --> 00:02:49,544
you'll put your head down and not listen to a word that I am saying.

37
00:02:49,545 --> 00:02:54,648
I want you to know, that to sit under the word of God is an extremely dangerous thing.

38
00:02:54,649 --> 00:02:59,756
For the same sun that melts butter, hardens clay.

39
00:02:59,757 --> 00:03:02,483
Beware of sensuality.

40
00:03:02,484 --> 00:03:05,417
Beware of the things of this world.

41
00:03:05,418 --> 00:03:08,111
Beware of your own heart.

42
00:03:08,112 --> 00:03:12,132
Ask yourself: Is there really, really – I mean, come on –

43
00:03:12,133 --> 00:03:18,544
is there any evidence whatsoever that you have been born again? (P)

44
00:03:18,545 --> 00:03:21,778
Are you here today because it’s Sunday?

45
00:03:21,779 --> 00:03:25,863
Are you here today because it is appropriate in your family to be here?

46
00:03:25,864 --> 00:03:32,631
Are you here today because you’re forced, coerced?

47
00:03:32,632 --> 00:03:36,296
People who have truly been regenerated by the Spirit of God

48
00:03:36,297 --> 00:03:41,188
find it a pleasure to come to the house of God.

49
00:03:41,189 --> 00:03:43,852
And, although at times, we recognize that

50
00:03:43,853 --> 00:03:46,769
even those who love the Lord must endure boring sermons,

51
00:03:46,770 --> 00:03:52,234
still we come, because we want to hear a word from God.

52
00:03:52,235 --> 00:03:56,861
But then, when the regenerate heart leaves the church,

53
00:03:56,862 --> 00:04:01,136
that regenerate heart does not leave behind the desire,

54
00:04:01,137 --> 00:04:07,105
but what God has done in that life is reflected throughout the week. (P)

55
00:04:07,106 --> 00:04:11,848
If I followed you around with a video camera and videoed your life,

56
00:04:11,849 --> 00:04:18,987
how much time would I see you preoccupied with you?

57
00:04:18,988 --> 00:04:21,259
Preoccupied with the temporal,

58
00:04:21,260 --> 00:04:25,335
preoccupied with the things that will not last?

59
00:04:25,336 --> 00:04:33,176
Vanity, mirrors, makeup and muscles.

60
00:04:33,177 --> 00:04:39,690
Cars and homes and certain brands of clothing. (P)

61
00:04:39,691 --> 00:04:42,255
If I followed you around and could look inside your heart,

62
00:04:42,256 --> 00:04:46,533
how many thoughts about yourself, how many thoughts in your heart,

63
00:04:46,534 --> 00:04:48,540
wondering what other people think about you,

64
00:04:48,541 --> 00:04:53,228
and then trying to do all in your power to attract them and to gain their attention,

65
00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:58,077
rather than seeking to attract the view of God? (P)

66
00:04:58,078 --> 00:05:00,908
You see, there are some here today and you are unconverted.

67
00:05:00,909 --> 00:05:04,666
And you will go to hell. You will.

68
00:05:04,667 --> 00:05:07,483
And you will be surprised on that great Day, when you hear,

69
00:05:07,484 --> 00:05:17,038
"Depart from Me, you worker of iniquity. I never knew you."

70
00:05:17,039 --> 00:05:20,359
What He’s basically saying in that passage is: "Depart from Me,

71
00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:24,724
those of you who claim to have something to do with Me,

72
00:05:24,725 --> 00:05:27,788
and yet you lived as though I never gave you a law to obey.

73
00:05:27,789 --> 00:05:34,614
You took nothing serious of all the weighty matters I laid before you every Sunday.

74
00:05:34,615 --> 00:05:39,107
You were sensual, worldly, carnal.

75
00:05:39,108 --> 00:05:41,330
You were not Mine."

76
00:05:41,331 --> 00:05:43,679
It’s a dreadful thing to say. I’m aware of that.

77
00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,157
That’s why I’m saying it calmly.

78
00:05:46,158 --> 00:05:48,095
But it’s true. (P)

79
00:05:48,096 --> 00:05:52,453
I will teach on how to be godly,

80
00:05:52,454 --> 00:05:56,788
but there are some of you here today and you simply don’t care.

81
00:05:56,789 --> 00:05:59,872
You don’t care to be godly.

82
00:05:59,873 --> 00:06:06,078
And if you argue with me, then I will say, "Show me the evidence. Show it to me.

83
00:06:06,079 --> 00:06:08,245
Show me how much time you spend in front of the mirror

84
00:06:08,246 --> 00:06:13,157
and how much time you spend in front of the Word of God.

85
00:06:13,158 --> 00:06:18,710
Show me how much time you spend trying to attract human relationships,

86
00:06:18,711 --> 00:06:24,910
and spend no time to beautify yourself before the Lord, that you might attract Him."

87
00:06:24,911 --> 00:06:28,643
Be very careful. Be very careful. (P)

88
00:06:28,644 --> 00:06:34,440
Some of you are just biding the time until this Lord’s Day is over,

89
00:06:34,441 --> 00:06:39,747
so you can go on to things that are more pleasurable to you.

90
00:06:39,748 --> 00:06:41,342
Be afraid.

91
00:06:41,343 --> 00:06:47,806
These are great, these are weighty matters.

92
00:06:47,807 --> 00:06:53,084
And one of the worst things that you could ever adopt

93
00:06:53,085 --> 00:06:58,611
is to take on to yourself a very presentable religion

94
00:06:58,612 --> 00:07:01,736
that gives you just enough morality to gain a reputation,

95
00:07:01,737 --> 00:07:05,886
but there’s no love in your heart for Christ.

96
00:07:05,887 --> 00:07:10,670
Be terrified. Be terrified. (P)

97
00:07:14,598 --> 00:07:22,387
Let's go on to John chapter 15 verse 1,

98
00:07:25,490 --> 00:07:29,333
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

99
00:07:29,334 --> 00:07:33,499
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away,

100
00:07:33,503 --> 00:07:36,633
and every branch that bears fruit He prunes it,

101
00:07:36,634 --> 00:07:39,245
so that it may bear more fruit." (P)

102
00:07:39,246 --> 00:07:43,124
Now we've already spoken of this text but let me just bring this,

103
00:07:43,131 --> 00:07:45,853
because I'm so burdened about this fact.

104
00:07:45,854 --> 00:07:50,054
Do you see what it’s saying here?

105
00:07:50,055 --> 00:07:53,728
He doesn’t say, "Everyone who denies me verbally."

106
00:07:53,729 --> 00:07:58,341
He doesn’t say, "Everyone who stands against Me publicly

107
00:07:58,342 --> 00:08:00,835
is going to be removed or taken away."

108
00:08:00,836 --> 00:08:01,871
No.

109
00:08:01,872 --> 00:08:07,003
He is talking even about those who confess Him as Lord.

110
00:08:07,004 --> 00:08:10,829
Those who pretend to be branches, united to the vine.

111
00:08:10,830 --> 00:08:14,836
He said, "But the evidence that they truly belong to Me is that they bear fruit."

112
00:08:14,837 --> 00:08:17,769
Let me ask you this question: Do you bear fruit?

113
00:08:17,770 --> 00:08:24,101
Do you bear fruit?!

114
00:08:25,088 --> 00:08:28,366
Why do I say it in that way with such emphasis?

115
00:08:28,367 --> 00:08:31,180
Because one day, you will be turned out and sent to hell,

116
00:08:31,181 --> 00:08:40,892
and the last thing you will hear is, "You did not bear fruit!" (P)

117
00:08:42,020 --> 00:08:47,997
Do you bear fruit? Answer that question now.

118
00:08:47,998 --> 00:08:54,895
Because if you do not, what does it say about you?

119
00:08:54,896 --> 00:09:00,625
He, that is God, will take you away.

120
00:09:00,626 --> 00:09:03,410
What does it mean that God will take you away?

121
00:09:03,411 --> 00:09:04,566
You’re a person.

122
00:09:04,567 --> 00:09:08,250
Maybe your father is Christian, your mother is Christian.

123
00:09:08,251 --> 00:09:11,315
Maybe they’re even distinguished in the church.

124
00:09:11,316 --> 00:09:17,645
But you, your heart is dark. It desires the world.

125
00:09:17,646 --> 00:09:21,158
You may profess to be a branch.

126
00:09:21,159 --> 00:09:24,842
You may even be somewhat moral.

127
00:09:24,843 --> 00:09:27,266
But what will happen to you on that great Day?

128
00:09:27,267 --> 00:09:29,153
What does it mean to be taken away?

129
00:09:29,154 --> 00:09:33,819
Look at verse 6, "If anyone does not abide in Me,

130
00:09:33,820 --> 00:09:37,336
he is thrown away as a branch and dries up;

131
00:09:37,337 --> 00:09:39,480
and they gather them,

132
00:09:39,481 --> 00:09:46,319
and cast them into the fire and they are burned." (P)

133
00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:51,606
It is very common in evangelicalism today to say that God does not throw anyone in hell.

134
00:09:51,607 --> 00:09:53,945
I want you to know that is a direct contradiction

135
00:09:53,946 --> 00:09:56,340
of the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

136
00:09:56,341 --> 00:10:01,333
who warned His disciples, "Do not fear the Roman legions."

137
00:10:01,334 --> 00:10:02,888
That’s what He told His disciples.

138
00:10:02,889 --> 00:10:07,012
Now, I want you to know, if ever there was something to be feared, it was the Roman legion.

139
00:10:07,013 --> 00:10:11,074
Not just because they were so well trained, but because they were vicious.

140
00:10:11,075 --> 00:10:17,244
They were brutes. They delighted in killing people. (P)

141
00:10:17,245 --> 00:10:22,288
If there was something, if you were a Jew in Palestine during the reign of Caesar,

142
00:10:22,289 --> 00:10:25,141
one of the things that you would most certainly fear

143
00:10:25,142 --> 00:10:28,587
would be the Roman soldier, the legions -

144
00:10:28,588 --> 00:10:34,116
vile, cruel, killing, mauling, raping, abusing.

145
00:10:34,117 --> 00:10:40,563
Jesus said, "Don’t fear them, because they can only kill your body."

146
00:10:40,564 --> 00:10:45,380
And then Jesus said this, "I will tell you who you should fear."

147
00:10:45,381 --> 00:10:51,014
Do you know who He was referring to? His Father.

148
00:10:51,680 --> 00:10:55,464
That God could not only kill your body,

149
00:10:55,465 --> 00:10:59,495
but then, afterwards, He could throw you in hell.

150
00:10:59,496 --> 00:11:04,569
Do you realize that one day, when you die,

151
00:11:04,570 --> 00:11:09,043
it is God killing your body.

152
00:11:09,044 --> 00:11:15,449
And that when you are put in hell, it will be God who throws you there. (P)

153
00:11:15,450 --> 00:11:20,435
People tell me that you do not see manifestations of the judgment of God in this world today.

154
00:11:20,436 --> 00:11:21,650
I beg to differ with you.

155
00:11:21,651 --> 00:11:25,316
Do you know that death is not natural? It’s not.

156
00:11:25,317 --> 00:11:28,614
People say, "Well, it’s as natural as birth and death."

157
00:11:28,615 --> 00:11:29,867
No. I’m sorry.

158
00:11:29,868 --> 00:11:32,953
Birth is natural, death is not.

159
00:11:32,954 --> 00:11:37,394
Death is supernatural. It is a judgment of the living God.

160
00:11:37,395 --> 00:11:40,571
So, you do not think that the wrath of God is displayed on our planet?

161
00:11:40,572 --> 00:11:44,487
It is displayed every day, as hundreds of thousands of people

162
00:11:44,488 --> 00:11:47,168
are killed and thrown into hell.

163
00:11:47,169 --> 00:11:56,108
And some of you will join them if you are not careful.

164
00:11:58,443 --> 00:12:03,364
I know it’s a hard word, but it is true.

165
00:12:03,365 --> 00:12:06,187
It is true. (P)

166
00:12:06,188 --> 00:12:09,123
The church, or what is called the church

167
00:12:09,124 --> 00:12:14,988
is filled up with so many unconverted people.

168
00:12:14,989 --> 00:12:20,034
And I fear, especially for you young people, for my own children.

169
00:12:20,035 --> 00:12:24,560
You see, it’s so dangerous to be raised in a family,

170
00:12:24,561 --> 00:12:27,642
not with perfect mother and father,

171
00:12:27,643 --> 00:12:31,968
but with sincere mother and father who seek after Christ.

172
00:12:31,969 --> 00:12:37,084
It’s dangerous to go to a church that may not be the most spectacular thing in the world,

173
00:12:37,085 --> 00:12:40,662
but it is a true church.

174
00:12:40,663 --> 00:12:45,228
It's a terrifying thing to be homeschooled if it's for the right reasons,

175
00:12:45,229 --> 00:12:47,847
that you may be brought up to know the Lord.

176
00:12:47,848 --> 00:12:50,751
It’s terrifying to have all that laid at your feet,

177
00:12:50,752 --> 00:12:54,384
and then to turn from it.

178
00:12:54,385 --> 00:12:59,251
I desire – and I feel it's from the Lord –

179
00:12:59,252 --> 00:13:04,511
I desire, my great hope is that many of you would be afraid today.

180
00:13:04,512 --> 00:13:11,197
That you would tremble. That you would be scared over your situation.

181
00:13:11,198 --> 00:13:15,454
That you would wake up.

182
00:13:15,455 --> 00:13:18,842
Awake, O sleeper.

183
00:13:18,843 --> 00:13:24,821
Please, you’re in a terrible state. (P)

184
00:13:25,495 --> 00:13:28,693
Now He goes on in John 15: 3,

185
00:13:28,694 --> 00:13:32,056
"You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

186
00:13:32,057 --> 00:13:33,843
Abide in Me, and I in you.

187
00:13:33,844 --> 00:13:37,219
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine,

188
00:13:37,220 --> 00:13:40,390
so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

189
00:13:40,391 --> 00:13:42,936
I am the vine, you are the branches;

190
00:13:42,937 --> 00:13:46,242
he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit,

191
00:13:46,243 --> 00:13:48,610
for apart from Me you can do nothing.

192
00:13:48,611 --> 00:13:52,529
If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up;

193
00:13:52,530 --> 00:13:56,549
and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

194
00:13:56,550 --> 00:13:59,212
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,

195
00:13:59,213 --> 00:14:02,167
ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (P)

196
00:14:02,168 --> 00:14:05,223
My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit,

197
00:14:05,224 --> 00:14:07,576
and so prove to be My disciples.

198
00:14:07,577 --> 00:14:10,850
Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you;

199
00:14:10,851 --> 00:14:12,399
abide in My love.

200
00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,951
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love;

201
00:14:14,952 --> 00:14:19,249
just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

202
00:14:19,256 --> 00:14:23,751
These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you,

203
00:14:23,752 --> 00:14:26,624
and that your joy may be made full.

204
00:14:26,625 --> 00:14:30,851
This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

205
00:14:30,852 --> 00:14:35,881
Greater love has no one than this, that he lays down his life for his friends.

206
00:14:35,882 --> 00:14:40,534
You are My friends if you do what I command you." (P)

207
00:14:40,535 --> 00:14:45,862
Now, so far we have studied that Jesus is the true vine.

208
00:14:45,863 --> 00:14:50,400
That apart from Him, there is no true spiritual life.

209
00:14:50,407 --> 00:14:52,297
There are a lot of fountains out there,

210
00:14:52,298 --> 00:14:57,690
but God refers to all of them as false cisterns, as broken cisterns.

211
00:14:57,691 --> 00:15:01,815
They are fountains that can produce no life.

212
00:15:01,816 --> 00:15:03,291
It is Christ alone.

213
00:15:03,292 --> 00:15:07,303
All spiritual life flows from Him.

214
00:15:07,304 --> 00:15:10,214
Another thing that we have already considered is this,

215
00:15:10,215 --> 00:15:12,606
that the Father is the vinedresser.

216
00:15:12,607 --> 00:15:16,381
One of the greatest evidences that you have truly been converted

217
00:15:16,382 --> 00:15:30,344
is the relentless, consistent, manifestation of the providence of God in your life. (P)

218
00:15:30,345 --> 00:15:39,211
I can honestly say that sometimes I feel like a prisoner

219
00:15:39,212 --> 00:15:47,371
in this sense: I know that God, as my Father, hems me in.

220
00:15:47,372 --> 00:15:51,406
I know, that yes I could do certain things,

221
00:15:51,407 --> 00:15:56,521
but I would never get away with them.

222
00:15:56,522 --> 00:16:02,061
I know that He is constantly guarding my life, watching me,

223
00:16:02,062 --> 00:16:05,839
doing works of providence, bringing trials into my life,

224
00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:10,115
bringing disciplines into my life, teaching, instructing, working,

225
00:16:10,116 --> 00:16:15,030
with the greatest degree of patience and love, but also with a very firm hand.

226
00:16:15,031 --> 00:16:20,044
I cannot run wild like a dog in the yard.

227
00:16:20,045 --> 00:16:23,540
I know He will come after me. (P)

228
00:16:23,541 --> 00:16:27,430
Are you a person though, who can run wild in the world,

229
00:16:27,431 --> 00:16:32,130
walk in the world without circumspection?

230
00:16:32,131 --> 00:16:35,348
Can you do what unbelievers do? Can you delight in their delights?

231
00:16:35,349 --> 00:16:38,404
Can you walk as they walk? Can you join them in their fun,

232
00:16:38,405 --> 00:16:40,633
and then put on a religious mask on Sunday morning?

233
00:16:40,634 --> 00:16:46,451
Can you do that? That’s evidence that the Father is not a vinedresser for you.

234
00:16:46,452 --> 00:16:49,027
He’s not a Father for you.

235
00:16:49,028 --> 00:16:52,979
Beause if you go without discipline, being able to participate in the dark works of the world,

236
00:16:52,980 --> 00:17:01,358
it is evidence that you are an illegitimate child and not a son or a daughter.

237
00:17:01,359 --> 00:17:03,135
Young lady, listen to me.

238
00:17:03,136 --> 00:17:08,076
Young ladies go to hell too. (P)

239
00:17:09,509 --> 00:17:11,992
So we learn that the Father is a vine dresser

240
00:17:11,993 --> 00:17:16,501
and that, as Jesus said in verse 3,

241
00:17:16,502 --> 00:17:20,392
He said, "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you."

242
00:17:20,393 --> 00:17:27,037
Which means this: That there are certain elements to God’s working in our life.

243
00:17:27,038 --> 00:17:28,844
There’s the working of the Son,

244
00:17:28,845 --> 00:17:32,606
that through His teaching, through studying,

245
00:17:32,607 --> 00:17:35,962
learning, memorizing, applying His teaching,

246
00:17:35,963 --> 00:17:40,758
we become clean and we become a vessel that can be fruitful.

247
00:17:40,759 --> 00:17:45,000
We become a clean branch, a branch that can bear healthy fruit.

248
00:17:45,001 --> 00:17:48,324
But also, we have the Father working,

249
00:17:48,325 --> 00:17:51,997
taking the teachings of Christ and applying them to our lives

250
00:17:51,998 --> 00:17:55,678
through the experiences that He has orchestrated in our lives,

251
00:17:55,679 --> 00:18:00,470
such as trials, and even discipline.

252
00:18:00,471 --> 00:18:03,646
And then, we also have the third Person of the Trinity,

253
00:18:03,647 --> 00:18:05,647
who is at work in all of this. (P)

254
00:18:05,648 --> 00:18:09,042
You see, the branch metaphor is very important.

255
00:18:09,043 --> 00:18:13,933
Why? Because here, the branch must be connected to the vine,

256
00:18:13,934 --> 00:18:22,396
primarily for one reason - so that the life-producing sap of the vine

257
00:18:22,397 --> 00:18:25,237
might flow through the branch.

258
00:18:25,238 --> 00:18:29,825
That life-producing sap is the Holy Spirit.

259
00:18:29,826 --> 00:18:31,830
You say, "Christ is dwelling in me."

260
00:18:31,831 --> 00:18:33,493
Well, so is the Father.

261
00:18:33,494 --> 00:18:36,845
And yet, the Father is in heaven and Christ is seated at His right hand,

262
00:18:36,846 --> 00:18:39,304
how is it that the Father and the Son are dwelling in you?

263
00:18:39,305 --> 00:18:43,505
It is through the work of the Holy Spirit.

264
00:18:43,506 --> 00:18:51,858
As a matter of fact, all of God’s works on this planet are being carried out by the Spirit of the living God.

265
00:18:51,859 --> 00:18:53,943
And so, here we have the Trinity.

266
00:18:53,944 --> 00:18:56,515
The Son is teaching you,

267
00:18:56,516 --> 00:18:59,528
the Father is applying that teaching,

268
00:18:59,529 --> 00:19:03,260
the Holy Spirit is empowering you. (P)

269
00:19:03,261 --> 00:19:08,039
Now, we all know, as in the book of Galatians, for example.

270
00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:10,789
The book of Galatians chapter 5 sets out for us

271
00:19:10,790 --> 00:19:16,275
that the Christian life is a struggle, and will always be a struggle.

272
00:19:16,276 --> 00:19:19,867
But there’s some problems in certain aspects of the Reformed movement,

273
00:19:19,868 --> 00:19:24,581
not so much in Reformed theology, as modern-day Reformed guys.

274
00:19:24,582 --> 00:19:29,987
They almost seem to boast in the fact of sin defeating them.

275
00:19:29,988 --> 00:19:34,522
They think they’re super spiritual or understand the weighty matters of holiness,

276
00:19:34,522 --> 00:19:38,334
because they say, "Wretched man that I am, and I’m just a sinner."

277
00:19:38,335 --> 00:19:43,325
I wanna tell you something, some of that language is wrong.

278
00:19:43,326 --> 00:19:46,681
If you are truly a Christian, you have the teachings of Christ,

279
00:19:46,682 --> 00:19:48,482
you have the providence of the Father,

280
00:19:48,483 --> 00:19:50,833
you have the Spirit of God working in your life.

281
00:19:50,834 --> 00:19:55,620
And my dear friend, there ought to be victory over sin. (P)

282
00:19:55,621 --> 00:19:57,381
Yes, we will struggle with sin.

283
00:19:57,382 --> 00:20:01,407
And, yes, at times it will be 3 steps forward and 4 steps back.

284
00:20:01,408 --> 00:20:03,392
It is a real raging battle.

285
00:20:03,393 --> 00:20:08,335
But if over the course of your life you are not seeing victory over sin,

286
00:20:08,336 --> 00:20:14,278
it is a good indication that you do not know God and God does not know you.

287
00:20:14,279 --> 00:20:19,422
Remember what He says? "I will cleanse them from all their filthiness and their idols." (P)

288
00:20:19,423 --> 00:20:21,697
If I were to describe my Christian life,

289
00:20:21,698 --> 00:20:24,645
if I were to look back on my Christian life, the last 30 years,

290
00:20:24,646 --> 00:20:27,331
that passage applies more than any other passage.

291
00:20:27,331 --> 00:20:34,606
I can see God cleansing me from my filthiness and my idols.

292
00:20:34,607 --> 00:20:37,314
And He will continue to do so, until the day I die,

293
00:20:37,314 --> 00:20:42,204
because glorification is when we reach perfection.

294
00:20:42,205 --> 00:20:49,297
But, make no mistake about it, you can become transformed.

295
00:20:49,298 --> 00:20:58,509
I have met many a saint, in their 70's and 80's and 90's that glowed with holiness.

296
00:20:58,510 --> 00:21:03,444
And the Bible gives us many great promises that we can change. (P)

297
00:21:03,445 --> 00:21:04,963
Remember my testimony this morning,

298
00:21:04,964 --> 00:21:09,921
I told you how God saved one of the greatest liars who ever walked the planet.

299
00:21:09,922 --> 00:21:14,277
And then, after my conversion, still struggling with truth.

300
00:21:14,278 --> 00:21:20,310
And God just, relentlessly beating me to death.

301
00:21:20,311 --> 00:21:23,397
You see, He who began a good work in us will finish it.

302
00:21:23,398 --> 00:21:29,855
He will. And there will be victory over sin. (P)

303
00:21:30,820 --> 00:21:35,123
Do you have victory over sin?

304
00:21:35,124 --> 00:21:41,979
Now let me put it this way. The Christian life is not: You get saved, and you go linearly upwards.

305
00:21:41,980 --> 00:21:44,675
That's not the Christian life.

306
00:21:44,676 --> 00:21:46,725
But, it’s not a flat line either.

307
00:21:46,726 --> 00:21:49,260
Flat line means you’re dead.

308
00:21:49,261 --> 00:21:50,849
It means you’ve never been regenerated.

309
00:21:50,850 --> 00:21:54,727
"Then what is it like, brother Paul?" It's kinda like this.

310
00:21:54,728 --> 00:21:56,989
Let's say that here I am at sea level,

311
00:21:56,990 --> 00:22:02,116
and I am going to go up into the beautiful mountains of Virginia.

312
00:22:02,117 --> 00:22:05,844
Do I go up linearly? No.

313
00:22:05,845 --> 00:22:09,267
Do I go up on a flat line? No.

314
00:22:09,268 --> 00:22:13,104
Do I go up on a flat line and then vertically? No.

315
00:22:13,105 --> 00:22:15,406
Not even an airplane does that.

316
00:22:15,407 --> 00:22:16,820
Well how do I go up?

317
00:22:16,821 --> 00:22:22,444
I go upwards, then downwards, then upwards, then flat level, then upwards...

318
00:22:22,445 --> 00:22:28,629
At some time in my life you may see me progressing greatly and say, "Ah, there’s the evidence."

319
00:22:28,630 --> 00:22:32,690
At other times in my life, you may see me stalemate for a while,

320
00:22:32,691 --> 00:22:36,016
you may even see me decrease in the things I’ve gained.

321
00:22:36,017 --> 00:22:37,902
It’s possible.

322
00:22:37,903 --> 00:22:44,551
But over the full course of my life, if I’m Christian, you will see a consistent rising.

323
00:22:44,552 --> 00:22:48,012
At any given moment, you could see a dip.

324
00:22:48,013 --> 00:22:50,660
But, through the full course of the Christian life,

325
00:22:50,661 --> 00:22:52,956
you will see progress in the things of God. (P)

326
00:22:52,957 --> 00:22:56,926
Since you were converted, can people see progress in the things of God?

327
00:22:56,927 --> 00:23:02,405
Can you honestly tell me that you are growing in grace?

328
00:23:02,406 --> 00:23:05,176
That He who justified you is now sanctifying you?

329
00:23:05,177 --> 00:23:06,900
That is a very important question. (P)

330
00:23:06,901 --> 00:23:12,273
Now, one of the reasons that we learned for this work that God is doing,

331
00:23:12,274 --> 00:23:16,012
is because God loves His Son, God seeks to exalt His Son,

332
00:23:16,013 --> 00:23:18,599
God seeks the pleasure and delight of His Son.

333
00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:24,867
And that pleasure and delight is a pure bride.

334
00:23:25,533 --> 00:23:33,326
God does not desire that the vine, His Son, be united

335
00:23:33,327 --> 00:23:39,199
with all sorts of twisted, unfruitful, and dead branches.

336
00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,585
He does not.

337
00:23:41,586 --> 00:23:46,032
For that reason, some of you who are born again, like me, and like the pastors,

338
00:23:46,033 --> 00:23:47,529
you will go through discipline.

339
00:23:47,536 --> 00:23:49,867
God will deal with you in so many different ways.

340
00:23:49,868 --> 00:23:53,357
There will be times in which He makes you grow greatly in grace,

341
00:23:53,358 --> 00:23:55,744
by simply carrying you with His power.

342
00:23:55,745 --> 00:24:01,711
And there will be other times in which He makes you grow by scourging you.

343
00:24:01,712 --> 00:24:04,064
And so, He will make the vine beautiful. (P)

344
00:24:04,065 --> 00:24:11,028
Others of you, in order to make the vine beautiful, He will remove you.

345
00:24:11,029 --> 00:24:12,212
Now, how will He do that?

346
00:24:12,213 --> 00:24:17,265
He will either do that, well, in some cases in the New Testament,

347
00:24:17,266 --> 00:24:22,000
He did it by killing you.

348
00:24:22,001 --> 00:24:26,043
Literally, He's had enough.

349
00:24:26,044 --> 00:24:29,692
He took out Ananias and Sapphira just like that.

350
00:24:29,693 --> 00:24:34,802
Why? They were making the vine look really bad.

351
00:24:34,803 --> 00:24:37,257
He would not tolerate it.

352
00:24:37,258 --> 00:24:39,414
Some of you will be removed in this:

353
00:24:39,415 --> 00:24:42,517
You’ll be set free from your parents, finally,

354
00:24:42,518 --> 00:24:44,752
and set free from their authority,

355
00:24:44,753 --> 00:24:47,896
and you’ll simply walk away from the church.

356
00:24:47,897 --> 00:24:49,763
Oh, you may go join another church,

357
00:24:49,764 --> 00:24:54,110
where you can easily be an unbeliever and still participate in religious things,

358
00:24:54,111 --> 00:25:00,939
but He'll take you out of a genuine church, a true church,

359
00:25:00,940 --> 00:25:05,356
and put you in something false, to get you away.

360
00:25:05,357 --> 00:25:09,054
I know that’s frightening, but it is true.

361
00:25:09,055 --> 00:25:14,199
He does it all the time. Okay. (P)

362
00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:17,941
So, God is doing all these things so that we will be fruitful.

363
00:25:17,942 --> 00:25:23,487
And then, we finished up yesterday by reading some promises that believers...

364
00:25:23,488 --> 00:25:26,827
I want to read some of them again because I want you to be encouraged.

365
00:25:26,828 --> 00:25:30,725
God has ordained that you bear fruit.

366
00:25:30,726 --> 00:25:34,091
"He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water

367
00:25:34,092 --> 00:25:38,220
which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.

368
00:25:38,221 --> 00:25:43,116
And in whatever he does, he prospers" (Psalm 1:3).

369
00:25:43,117 --> 00:25:46,740
Jesus said this, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me,

370
00:25:46,741 --> 00:25:49,009
the works that I do, he will do also.

371
00:25:49,010 --> 00:25:52,510
And greater works than these he will do, because I go to the Father."

372
00:25:52,511 --> 00:25:54,304
He is saying, "Because I am going to the Father

373
00:25:54,305 --> 00:25:57,924
and I am going to pour forth the Spirit upon the church.

374
00:25:57,925 --> 00:26:03,196
And the church, collectively, is going to do such magnificient works.

375
00:26:03,197 --> 00:26:07,081
And individuals in the church are going to do such magnificient things.

376
00:26:07,082 --> 00:26:09,327
They are going to bear fruit." (P)

377
00:26:09,328 --> 00:26:13,475
Now, we said we needed to be careful with regard to defining the word, fruit, didn't we?

378
00:26:13,476 --> 00:26:17,102
If you just do a word study, you're going to come up with all sorts of concoctions.

379
00:26:17,103 --> 00:26:19,976
You just need to look basically at the context.

380
00:26:19,977 --> 00:26:26,472
Fruit has to do with everything that has to do with the life of Christ.

381
00:26:26,473 --> 00:26:38,765
In a sense, a godly character, or the fruit of the Spirit, is Christ living His life through us.

382
00:26:38,766 --> 00:26:46,800
Fruit is Christ carrying out His ministry through us.

383
00:26:48,573 --> 00:26:57,666
Is there any sense in your life, when people look at you, of other-worldliness?

384
00:26:57,667 --> 00:27:01,317
Does anyone get a heavenly flavor around you,

385
00:27:01,318 --> 00:27:05,999
when they watch you, when they listen to you talk?

386
00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:13,371
Are they in any way touched by eternity because your view is set on eternity?

387
00:27:13,372 --> 00:27:21,852
Is anyone impacted in a biblical manner when they come into contact with you?

388
00:27:21,853 --> 00:27:24,104
Are people helped, progressed in their faith,

389
00:27:24,105 --> 00:27:29,933
are sinners convicted when they come into contact with you? (P)

390
00:27:29,934 --> 00:27:31,665
Are you a fruitful vine?

391
00:27:31,666 --> 00:27:36,245
Then tell me, point to your fruit.

392
00:27:36,246 --> 00:27:38,736
Just think, right now, in this moment. Just point.

393
00:27:38,737 --> 00:27:45,896
Just think in your own mind: How am I fruitful?

394
00:27:45,897 --> 00:27:48,870
Do you know most evangelicals can only say this:

395
00:27:48,871 --> 00:27:51,878
"Well, I go to church on Sunday."

396
00:27:51,879 --> 00:27:54,676
Really?

397
00:27:54,677 --> 00:27:57,591
How are you fruitful?

398
00:27:57,592 --> 00:28:06,937
If you find it difficult to find fruit, then you should find it very easy to be afraid. (P)

399
00:28:06,938 --> 00:28:09,610
Now we are going to go on,

400
00:28:09,611 --> 00:28:13,539
and I want us to look at some things that are very important.

401
00:28:13,540 --> 00:28:23,524
First of all, in John 15: 4-6, He says, "Abide in Me, and I in you.

402
00:28:23,525 --> 00:28:27,850
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine,

403
00:28:27,851 --> 00:28:30,177
so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

404
00:28:30,178 --> 00:28:32,567
I am the vine, you are the branches;

405
00:28:32,568 --> 00:28:35,500
he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit,

406
00:28:35,501 --> 00:28:37,624
for apart from Me you can do nothing." (P)

407
00:28:37,625 --> 00:28:39,443
Now, I want us to look at some things.

408
00:28:39,444 --> 00:28:47,556
First of all, He says, "I am the vine." - That is not subjective.

409
00:28:47,557 --> 00:28:52,548
It is not dependent upon something else, another person or circumstance.

410
00:28:52,549 --> 00:28:56,088
He’s stating a fact. And this is very important.

411
00:28:56,089 --> 00:29:00,506
Sometimes believers get confused in that they take facts for promises.

412
00:29:00,507 --> 00:29:04,173
And that's not what you should do. This is not a promise, it's a fact.

413
00:29:04,174 --> 00:29:05,841
He says, "I am the vine."

414
00:29:05,842 --> 00:29:08,040
It's not contingent upon any other thing.

415
00:29:08,041 --> 00:29:10,051
He says, "I am the vine."

416
00:29:10,052 --> 00:29:13,410
He is the vine. He is it.

417
00:29:13,411 --> 00:29:16,920
No matter what else happens, Jesus IS the vine.

418
00:29:16,921 --> 00:29:18,499
You say, "What’s important about that?"

419
00:29:18,500 --> 00:29:23,389
What He then says about you: "You are the branch." (P)

420
00:29:23,390 --> 00:29:25,166
You are a branch.

421
00:29:25,167 --> 00:29:27,186
Now this is very important. Why?

422
00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:30,796
He’s not saying that as a genuine believer,

423
00:29:30,797 --> 00:29:34,734
you now have to do something to become a branch.

424
00:29:34,735 --> 00:29:36,547
You are one.

425
00:29:36,548 --> 00:29:41,711
Now this flies in the face of modern day evangelicalism that says,

426
00:29:41,711 --> 00:29:50,291
basically, you can become a Christian, and yet, not bear fruit at all.

427
00:29:50,292 --> 00:29:52,581
And if you want that higher life,

428
00:29:52,582 --> 00:29:55,571
then you need to start discipleship and all these other things.

429
00:29:55,572 --> 00:29:58,083
And then, you become a fruitful branch.

430
00:29:58,084 --> 00:30:01,120
I'm sorry, that’s not the idea being portrayed here.

431
00:30:01,121 --> 00:30:06,342
What He is saying is, Jesus is saying, "I am the vine.

432
00:30:06,343 --> 00:30:08,295
If you are truly My disciple –

433
00:30:08,296 --> 00:30:10,964
that means you’ve truly been regenerated by the Holy Spirit,

434
00:30:10,965 --> 00:30:12,263
you’ve been made a new creature

435
00:30:12,264 --> 00:30:14,747
– you have also truly been united with the vine.

436
00:30:14,748 --> 00:30:16,061
You are a branch.

437
00:30:16,062 --> 00:30:20,618
You are going to bear fruit, you are going to do it." Okay. (P)

438
00:30:20,619 --> 00:30:24,772
That’s why He can say, "You will know them by their fruit,"

439
00:30:24,773 --> 00:30:27,549
because there’s never a question in the New Testament:

440
00:30:27,550 --> 00:30:32,121
Can this person be a branch and never produce fruit?

441
00:30:32,122 --> 00:30:35,056
There’s just no question about it. No, he cannot.

442
00:30:35,057 --> 00:30:39,116
That’s why He says some will produce fruit a 100 fold,

443
00:30:39,117 --> 00:30:41,450
others 60, and others 30 fold.

444
00:30:41,451 --> 00:30:46,526
So the least Christian mentioned in that parable is bearing fruit 30 fold.

445
00:30:46,527 --> 00:30:51,868
Do you bear fruit? Do you bear fruit?

446
00:30:51,869 --> 00:30:55,991
"I am the vine," He said, "You are a branch."

447
00:30:55,992 --> 00:31:00,392
And because you ARE a branch, you will bear fruit.

448
00:31:00,393 --> 00:31:05,546
If you do not bear fruit, I mean, at all,

449
00:31:05,547 --> 00:31:12,440
then it indicates that all you are is a broken dead branch

450
00:31:12,441 --> 00:31:18,847
that just seems to be connected to the vine, but you are not. (P)

451
00:31:18,848 --> 00:31:20,800
You know, I walk through the woods;

452
00:31:20,801 --> 00:31:23,760
I spend a lot of time in the woods when I can.

453
00:31:23,761 --> 00:31:26,914
And you'll come across, you'll be looking as you're hunting,

454
00:31:26,915 --> 00:31:28,955
and you're looking for something out of place,

455
00:31:28,956 --> 00:31:33,086
and you'll see branches coming down off of a tree.

456
00:31:33,087 --> 00:31:35,819
And you can see several branches coming down off of a tree,

457
00:31:35,820 --> 00:31:40,299
and you're looking, and they all appear to be connected to the tree.

458
00:31:40,300 --> 00:31:46,251
But when you get up there, you kick one, and you see it just automatically falls off.

459
00:31:46,252 --> 00:31:47,989
It really wasn't connected to that tree.

460
00:31:47,990 --> 00:31:51,174
As a matter of fact, it's an oak tree, and the branch is an elm.

461
00:31:51,175 --> 00:31:53,094
It just happened to fall in that direction,

462
00:31:53,095 --> 00:31:56,184
and it looked, for a moment, like a real branch but it wasn't.

463
00:31:56,185 --> 00:32:01,866
The way to tell is this: It doesn't have the same bark as the vine;

464
00:32:01,867 --> 00:32:05,445
it doesn't have the same leaf as the vine;

465
00:32:05,446 --> 00:32:08,296
and it doesn't bear any fruit, and it's withered up. (P)

466
00:32:08,297 --> 00:32:11,145
Some of you have always been withered.

467
00:32:11,146 --> 00:32:14,073
You’ve never really been green for Christ.

468
00:32:14,074 --> 00:32:18,157
You’ve never really bore fruit.

469
00:32:18,158 --> 00:32:20,815
You see, if you are a Christian, you are a branch.

470
00:32:20,816 --> 00:32:22,917
And if you are a branch, you will bear fruit.

471
00:32:22,918 --> 00:32:26,123
Now it is true that discipleship is important,

472
00:32:26,124 --> 00:32:30,092
cultivating a relationship with Christ, that's what these meetings are about.

473
00:32:30,093 --> 00:32:34,018
But we cultivate our relationship with Christ that we might bear more fruit.

474
00:32:34,019 --> 00:32:39,276
We’re not saying that we have to do it, or we'll have no fruit and still be Christian. (P)

475
00:32:39,277 --> 00:32:45,002
Now, the branch metaphor is absolutely spectacular,

476
00:32:45,003 --> 00:32:52,551
and I just wanna say this: A physical branch cannot bear fruit of itself.

477
00:32:52,552 --> 00:32:54,668
It can't. You know that.

478
00:32:54,669 --> 00:32:56,885
I cut off a branch and what do I have?

479
00:32:56,886 --> 00:32:58,436
I have something dead.

480
00:32:58,437 --> 00:33:01,942
It may appear to be alive, but only for a few days.

481
00:33:01,943 --> 00:33:05,640
What's going to happen? It is going to wilt. It is going to wither.

482
00:33:05,641 --> 00:33:12,993
So, what we have here is: A branch cannot produce fruit of itself

483
00:33:12,994 --> 00:33:15,200
unless it’s connected to the vine.

484
00:33:15,201 --> 00:33:18,822
If I say any other thing, it's an absolute absurdity.

485
00:33:18,823 --> 00:33:25,215
If I bring a branch in here, and say it's a fruitful, producing branch;

486
00:33:25,216 --> 00:33:27,739
and yet, you look at it and it's dry and withered,

487
00:33:27,740 --> 00:33:32,188
what are you going to say? You're going to say, "This man is mad. This is preposterous.

488
00:33:32,189 --> 00:33:36,256
He is saying something that is an impossibility to the point that it's an absurdity."

489
00:33:36,257 --> 00:33:39,767
Now, I am driving this point home because I want you to see something. (P)

490
00:33:39,768 --> 00:33:46,143
It is absurd to think that a branch can produce fruit

491
00:33:46,144 --> 00:33:48,503
apart from being connected to the vine.

492
00:33:48,504 --> 00:33:49,752
It's absurd.

493
00:33:49,753 --> 00:33:52,383
Well, let’s follow the metaphor.

494
00:33:52,384 --> 00:33:57,081
The believer also cannot bear fruit of himself.

495
00:33:57,082 --> 00:34:03,806
It is the believer's real, spiritual, ongoing experimental relationship with Christ,

496
00:34:03,807 --> 00:34:08,905
through which the life-giving, fruit-producing Holy Spirit (the life of Christ)

497
00:34:08,906 --> 00:34:10,773
works within him.

498
00:34:10,774 --> 00:34:13,842
What I want you to see is, so many believers would say,

499
00:34:13,842 --> 00:34:15,889
"Well, I can't do this, and I can't do that."

500
00:34:15,891 --> 00:34:22,243
No. No. You can’t do anything. Okay?

501
00:34:22,244 --> 00:34:25,429
So let's get that out of the way. You can't do anything.

502
00:34:25,431 --> 00:34:30,210
You're not being humble by saying, "I can't do this," or, "This is beyond me."

503
00:34:30,210 --> 00:34:38,620
You can't do anything apart from the life of Christ in you.

504
00:34:38,621 --> 00:34:44,766
Now you must understand, to think you can is absolutely absurd.

505
00:34:44,768 --> 00:34:47,428
But this is also wonderful.

506
00:34:47,429 --> 00:34:57,109
If you cannot do anything apart from the life of Christ in you,

507
00:34:57,110 --> 00:35:05,662
then you can do anything according to the life of Christ in you. (P)

508
00:35:06,900 --> 00:35:12,194
You see, so many times (and I see this in people who write biographies)

509
00:35:12,195 --> 00:35:14,505
there'll be very spiritual men who write biographies;

510
00:35:14,506 --> 00:35:19,066
but when they get to biographies, it seems like they throw their spirituality out the window.

511
00:35:19,067 --> 00:35:23,460
Because they'll talk about a Charles Spurgeon, and automatically what do they do?

512
00:35:23,461 --> 00:35:25,773
"The guy had a photographic memory."

513
00:35:25,774 --> 00:35:27,724
"The guy had unbelievable energy."

514
00:35:27,725 --> 00:35:30,856
"The guy had this, and the guy had that."

515
00:35:30,857 --> 00:35:34,689
How did a person have really good theology, and then start writing this book,

516
00:35:34,690 --> 00:35:36,427
and throw all their theology out the window?

517
00:35:36,428 --> 00:35:42,969
You can't explain a Charles Spurgeon by natural talent, by gifts.

518
00:35:42,970 --> 00:35:46,274
It wasn't his head.

519
00:35:46,275 --> 00:35:50,305
It wasn't the size of his heart, it was the Christ within him.

520
00:35:50,306 --> 00:35:52,201
Do you see that? (P) Let me give you an example.

521
00:35:52,202 --> 00:35:55,529
I am going to mention a biblical character,

522
00:35:55,530 --> 00:36:00,048
and the moment I think of that biblical character, I want you to draw an image of him.

523
00:36:00,049 --> 00:36:03,886
Okay, it's not going to be God, so you can do this biblically.

524
00:36:03,887 --> 00:36:07,016
I want you to draw an image of this person in your mind,

525
00:36:07,017 --> 00:36:10,130
the moment you hear his name.

526
00:36:10,131 --> 00:36:13,308
Samson.

527
00:36:13,309 --> 00:36:15,578
What does he look like to you?

528
00:36:15,579 --> 00:36:23,287
A Jewish Arnold Schwarzenegger, right?

529
00:36:23,288 --> 00:36:27,665
I've been to Palestine.

530
00:36:27,666 --> 00:36:31,880
There isn't a man on this planet, I don't care how big his muscles are,

531
00:36:31,881 --> 00:36:35,430
who can rip up the gates of a city, throw them on his back,

532
00:36:35,431 --> 00:36:40,071
carry them up on a hill and throw them down.

533
00:36:40,072 --> 00:36:44,685
There is no man who can take the jawbone of an ass

534
00:36:44,686 --> 00:36:49,560
and whip a thousand Philistines. (P)

535
00:36:49,561 --> 00:36:51,422
Now what's my point?

536
00:36:51,423 --> 00:36:54,851
My point is this: We're always thinking physical.

537
00:36:54,852 --> 00:36:57,536
We're always thinking talents. We're always thinking this.

538
00:36:57,537 --> 00:36:59,687
Why was it that they came to Delilah and said,

539
00:36:59,688 --> 00:37:03,527
"You're going to help us out because we can't figure out where this guy gets his strength."

540
00:37:03,528 --> 00:37:04,419
Really.

541
00:37:04,420 --> 00:37:06,933
Well, if he had muscles all over, like the Incredible Hulk,

542
00:37:06,934 --> 00:37:10,296
it would have been very easy to figure out where he got his strength. (P)

543
00:37:10,297 --> 00:37:16,272
He was probably just something of a normal man.

544
00:37:16,273 --> 00:37:19,905
Probably thin and sinewy.

545
00:37:19,906 --> 00:37:21,416
Where does he get his strength?

546
00:37:21,417 --> 00:37:27,305
Only the Spirit of God can rip the gates of a city up.

547
00:37:27,306 --> 00:37:32,630
Only the Spirit of God can kill a thousand men with the jawbone of an ass. (P)

548
00:37:32,631 --> 00:37:34,204
Do you see what I am saying?

549
00:37:34,205 --> 00:37:37,718
We're always thinking carnal - "Well, he's gifted, he's eloquent,

550
00:37:37,719 --> 00:37:40,830
he's this, his mind works so fast."

551
00:37:40,831 --> 00:37:42,471
Honestly?

552
00:37:42,472 --> 00:37:47,757
Doesn't that contradict everything that the Scriptures say?

553
00:37:47,758 --> 00:37:50,201
It's the Spirit of God.

554
00:37:50,202 --> 00:37:53,380
That's why God converts a liar to tell the truth;

555
00:37:53,381 --> 00:37:55,825
converts a coward to be bold;

556
00:37:55,826 --> 00:38:00,441
so that everyone will see that the power is not in a man.

557
00:38:00,442 --> 00:38:02,841
It’s in God who gives life to the dead,

558
00:38:02,842 --> 00:38:06,633
and calls things that are not, to be.

559
00:38:06,634 --> 00:38:08,440
And this is a marvelous thing.

560
00:38:08,441 --> 00:38:12,612
There is a real sense in which, I know,

561
00:38:12,613 --> 00:38:17,012
I am convinced that there is nothing within the realm of God's will

562
00:38:17,013 --> 00:38:21,780
that is impossible for me, if Christ dwells within me.

563
00:38:21,781 --> 00:38:24,861
It's again, going back to, in the Reformed movement,

564
00:38:24,862 --> 00:38:28,287
we need to start talking a lot more about the positive.

565
00:38:28,308 --> 00:38:33,631
We need to start talking a lot more about the promises, and the power,

566
00:38:33,632 --> 00:38:39,272
and everything that’s been given to us as our inheritance. (P)

567
00:38:39,273 --> 00:38:44,723
Now, apart from Christ we can do nothing.

568
00:38:44,724 --> 00:38:52,531
This becomes especially clear to us when we look at what we’re called to do.

569
00:38:52,532 --> 00:38:57,891
Now I find this very important and I want you to really think about this a lot.

570
00:38:57,892 --> 00:39:03,639
This is extremely important, what I am about to say.

571
00:39:03,640 --> 00:39:08,771
The impossibility of the Christian life becomes clearer and clearer,

572
00:39:08,772 --> 00:39:13,647
as we begin to understand just what the Christian life is to be.

573
00:39:13,648 --> 00:39:17,100
Let me give you an example:

574
00:39:17,101 --> 00:39:23,495
How many of you can live the Beatitudes in your own power?

575
00:39:23,496 --> 00:39:25,326
Or let me throw this one out on you.

576
00:39:25,327 --> 00:39:33,949
Husbands, how many of you can live 1 Corinthians 13 with your wife? Ephesians 5?

577
00:39:33,950 --> 00:39:36,283
Alright, so we’re all in agreement,

578
00:39:36,284 --> 00:39:44,100
that the simplest commands of the New Testament are absolutely impossible. (P)

579
00:39:44,101 --> 00:39:46,482
Now, here’s the problem.

580
00:39:46,483 --> 00:39:53,982
A lot of people recognize that because of their understanding of conversion

581
00:39:53,983 --> 00:39:57,177
and because of their understanding of their own failure.

582
00:39:57,178 --> 00:39:59,800
But, in looking at that, what do they do?

583
00:39:59,801 --> 00:40:03,500
They just curl up and say, "It’s impossible."

584
00:40:03,501 --> 00:40:05,711
What does the New Testament command us to do?

585
00:40:05,712 --> 00:40:11,801
To recognize the impossibility and run to Christ for strength.

586
00:40:11,802 --> 00:40:15,964
Our weakness is the thing that is supposed to drive us to Jesus Christ.

587
00:40:15,965 --> 00:40:17,883
Do you see that?

588
00:40:17,884 --> 00:40:22,365
Instead of weakness, the devil getting in the middle of it and lying to you,

589
00:40:22,366 --> 00:40:24,641
and telling you that your weakness and your sin

590
00:40:24,642 --> 00:40:28,570
ought to cause you to curl yourself from Christ and go hide in a corner.

591
00:40:28,571 --> 00:40:31,665
Every sin, every weakness, every failure in your life,

592
00:40:31,666 --> 00:40:36,619
the moment you recognize it, stop moping, stop believing a lie.

593
00:40:36,620 --> 00:40:43,375
The moment your recognize that sin and that weakness, run straight to Christ.

594
00:40:43,376 --> 00:40:47,532
'Cause then you’re believing Him when you do things like that. (P)

595
00:40:47,533 --> 00:40:50,447
Now, let's look at the ministry for a moment.

596
00:40:50,448 --> 00:40:52,303
This is a quote I was looking for yesterday

597
00:40:52,304 --> 00:40:56,462
and I finally found it in another sermon. And it was in this one.

598
00:40:56,463 --> 00:40:58,896
I want you to listen to the Christian ministry

599
00:40:58,897 --> 00:41:03,707
as described by Richard Baxter in The Reformed Pastor.

600
00:41:03,708 --> 00:41:05,232
Now this is unbelievable.

601
00:41:05,233 --> 00:41:10,329
"If my wife says, 'How was your day?' This is how I answer her:

602
00:41:10,330 --> 00:41:14,888
We are seeking to uphold the world, that's what I've been doing today.

603
00:41:14,889 --> 00:41:18,177
I've been upholding the world.

604
00:41:18,178 --> 00:41:22,375
I’ve been saving it from the curse of God.

605
00:41:22,376 --> 00:41:26,384
I’ve been working to perfect all of creation.

606
00:41:26,385 --> 00:41:30,030
I have been working to attain the ends of Christ's death.

607
00:41:30,031 --> 00:41:34,248
I have been working to save myself and others from damnation.

608
00:41:34,249 --> 00:41:39,306
I have been fighting and overcoming the devil all day.

609
00:41:39,307 --> 00:41:41,489
I have been demolishing his kingdom,

610
00:41:41,490 --> 00:41:44,009
I have been setting up the kingdom of Christ.

611
00:41:44,010 --> 00:41:48,683
And I have been working to attain and help others into the kingdom of glory.

612
00:41:48,684 --> 00:41:51,085
That's what I have been doing today, wife." (P)

613
00:41:51,086 --> 00:41:53,974
That’s how Richard Baxter describes the Christian ministry.

614
00:41:53,975 --> 00:41:57,738
Is there anything in there that’s possible for a man?

615
00:41:57,739 --> 00:42:02,617
Is there anything in that description that is possible for a woman?

616
00:42:02,618 --> 00:42:05,078
What is the Christian ministry?

617
00:42:05,079 --> 00:42:09,376
Seeking to uphold the world, advance the kingdom of heaven,

618
00:42:09,377 --> 00:42:11,702
fight the devil in hand-to-hand combat.

619
00:42:11,703 --> 00:42:15,507
Is any of that possible? Absolutely not.

620
00:42:15,508 --> 00:42:19,464
But in the power of the Holy Spirit - Yes. (P)

621
00:42:19,465 --> 00:42:23,424
My little boys ask me; Ian asked me one time,

622
00:42:23,425 --> 00:42:26,361
then one time playing around with Evan I did the same thing,

623
00:42:26,362 --> 00:42:31,034
when they were much younger.

624
00:42:31,035 --> 00:42:38,802
Ian finally looked at me one day, and he goes, "Dad, what do you do?

625
00:42:38,803 --> 00:42:42,274
I see you get on planes, you go to different countries,

626
00:42:42,275 --> 00:42:45,985
you come back tired and sick, what do you do, dad?"

627
00:42:45,986 --> 00:42:49,279
And I thought, I am just going to try to press home a point.

628
00:42:49,280 --> 00:42:54,131
So I said, "Son, I don't know if you're old enough right now for me to tell you."

629
00:42:54,132 --> 00:42:58,118
Of course, you know what that did. It got his attention, didn't it. (P)

630
00:42:58,119 --> 00:43:05,399
"What do you do, dad?" I said, "Son, you wouldn't believe me if I told you."

631
00:43:05,400 --> 00:43:10,506
And then, he's like following me around, "Dad, now what do you do?"

632
00:43:10,507 --> 00:43:13,806
I said, "You really think you're strong enough to handle this?

633
00:43:13,807 --> 00:43:16,236
And will you promise to believe me?"

634
00:43:16,237 --> 00:43:18,154
He said, "Yes."

635
00:43:18,155 --> 00:43:29,368
And so I said, "Okay, you wanna know what I do? I fight dragons."

636
00:43:29,369 --> 00:43:34,674
He goes, "Aww dad, you don't fight dragons."

637
00:43:34,675 --> 00:43:44,451
I said, "You promised you would believe me. I fight dragons."

638
00:43:44,452 --> 00:43:46,054
"Really?"

639
00:43:46,055 --> 00:43:49,139
"Really."

640
00:43:49,140 --> 00:43:50,310
"Big ugly heads?"

641
00:43:50,311 --> 00:43:53,913
"Ten of them, son."

642
00:43:55,901 --> 00:44:01,141
"Do you have a sword?" "Yes, I do." (P)

643
00:44:01,142 --> 00:44:07,597
Now, you may think I am lowering myself to speak in riddles to a child.

644
00:44:07,598 --> 00:44:15,735
I fight dragons that oppress people, and kill them, and enslave them.

645
00:44:15,736 --> 00:44:18,387
I fight dragons.

646
00:44:18,388 --> 00:44:20,301
You may think this is a bit romantic.

647
00:44:20,302 --> 00:44:23,058
I don't care, that may be your problem.

648
00:44:23,059 --> 00:44:26,727
You look at everything physically, don't you?

649
00:44:26,728 --> 00:44:28,719
That's why your life seems so boring.

650
00:44:28,720 --> 00:44:36,684
That's why you look at television to find some excitement.

651
00:44:40,329 --> 00:44:46,801
You can watch the Lord of the Rings, or you can live it.

652
00:44:46,802 --> 00:44:52,023
There are people dying, children starving, oppression everywhere,

653
00:44:52,024 --> 00:44:57,255
wicked governments, bondage, slavery, everything you can imagine,

654
00:44:57,256 --> 00:45:00,406
thousands of babies being murdered in the wombs of their own mothers.

655
00:45:00,407 --> 00:45:04,311
I fight dragons.

656
00:45:06,878 --> 00:45:11,122
It really changes the way you look at things. (P)

657
00:45:11,123 --> 00:45:13,511
Can we carry out this Christian ministry?

658
00:45:13,512 --> 00:45:15,835
Absolutely not. We can not.

659
00:45:15,836 --> 00:45:20,643
It's amazing, the repetition of the word 'cannot' in verses 4 and 5.

660
00:45:20,644 --> 00:45:27,259
Christ is seeking to remind us, over and over and over again, one great truth:

661
00:45:27,260 --> 00:45:33,314
We CANNOT, independent from Him;

662
00:45:33,315 --> 00:45:40,191
and we CAN, in dependence upon Him.

663
00:45:40,192 --> 00:45:44,075
There is nothing too difficult for Him.

664
00:45:44,076 --> 00:45:45,798
Nothing too difficult.

665
00:45:45,799 --> 00:45:48,080
When I'm teaching missionaries,

666
00:45:48,081 --> 00:45:54,031
I try to tell them: Give me one man, and a Bible,

667
00:45:54,032 --> 00:46:00,174
and bended knees, and we'll take that country.

668
00:46:00,914 --> 00:46:06,707
It is for this reason the Beatitudes begin with poverty of spirit.

669
00:46:06,708 --> 00:46:12,408
"Blessed are those who are poor in spirit."

670
00:46:12,409 --> 00:46:16,498
It is for this reason God's providence is constantly at work

671
00:46:16,499 --> 00:46:18,922
to prove to us our weakness.

672
00:46:18,923 --> 00:46:21,899
It is the reason for every trial and every hardship.

673
00:46:21,900 --> 00:46:23,009
Are you hearing me?

674
00:46:23,016 --> 00:46:26,222
The reason for every trial, every hardship,

675
00:46:26,223 --> 00:46:31,756
every rough wind in your life is to show you your inability,

676
00:46:31,757 --> 00:46:36,564
your weakness, and to chase you back to God. (P)

677
00:46:36,565 --> 00:46:37,955
Look with me for a moment.

678
00:46:37,956 --> 00:46:48,542
Hold your spot in John, and go with me to 2nd Corinthians 4: 7,

679
00:46:48,543 --> 00:46:51,678
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

680
00:46:51,679 --> 00:46:56,292
so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God

681
00:46:56,293 --> 00:46:58,233
and not from ourselves."

682
00:46:58,234 --> 00:47:00,510
Look at the language he's using.

683
00:47:00,511 --> 00:47:08,396
Paul is identifying 'surpassing greatness of power' with his life and ministry,

684
00:47:08,397 --> 00:47:12,603
but he is also recognizing that it comes from God, and not from himself.

685
00:47:12,604 --> 00:47:21,504
But make no mistake, Paul is saying things like, "The power that works mightily within me,"

686
00:47:21,505 --> 00:47:24,256
so that a man can be moving in the realm of his gifts

687
00:47:24,257 --> 00:47:26,261
under the anointing of the Holy Spirit,

688
00:47:26,262 --> 00:47:31,357
and move with such power, that when the deed is done,

689
00:47:31,358 --> 00:47:36,021
his physical body is literally vanquished. (P)

690
00:47:36,022 --> 00:47:38,289
That's why many men have said,

691
00:47:38,290 --> 00:47:40,750
I believe Ian Murray, I don't want to misquote him,

692
00:47:40,751 --> 00:47:44,383
but that the reason why true revival is not sustained -

693
00:47:44,384 --> 00:47:46,612
does not continue on and on and on -

694
00:47:46,613 --> 00:47:50,622
is because the human body and human psyche could not endure it.

695
00:47:50,623 --> 00:47:52,495
We simply could not, it would wear you out.

696
00:47:52,496 --> 00:47:56,999
Be in the presence of God for a few minutes, do you know what it is like?

697
00:47:57,000 --> 00:48:05,683
It's like kneeling down 3 feet away from an EF5 tornado, it's what it's like. (P)

698
00:48:05,684 --> 00:48:08,923
But he says here, he says, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

699
00:48:08,924 --> 00:48:13,405
so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.

700
00:48:13,406 --> 00:48:16,507
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;

701
00:48:16,508 --> 00:48:18,655
perplexed, but not despairing;

702
00:48:18,662 --> 00:48:20,595
persecuted, but not forsaken;

703
00:48:20,596 --> 00:48:22,997
struck down, but not destroyed;

704
00:48:22,998 --> 00:48:28,586
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,

705
00:48:28,587 --> 00:48:33,506
so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.

706
00:48:33,507 --> 00:48:41,352
For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake,

707
00:48:41,353 --> 00:48:48,361
so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." (P)

708
00:48:48,362 --> 00:48:50,084
Do you see what he's saying?

709
00:48:50,085 --> 00:48:57,062
All these things, workings of God's providence, are designed

710
00:48:57,063 --> 00:49:02,026
to give Paul no hope whatsoever in himself.

711
00:49:02,027 --> 00:49:06,278
If I hear one more time about the apostle Paul’s great intellect,

712
00:49:06,279 --> 00:49:09,002
I'm going to start shooting Bible scholars.

713
00:49:09,003 --> 00:49:10,194
This is ridiculous.

714
00:49:10,195 --> 00:49:12,472
Is there any time in the New Testament,

715
00:49:12,473 --> 00:49:18,312
where Paul the apostle talks about his great intellect? No!

716
00:49:18,313 --> 00:49:24,899
So why are we identifying all these great works of Paul with his intellect?

717
00:49:24,900 --> 00:49:27,289
When Paul said what he was seeking to do -

718
00:49:27,290 --> 00:49:31,407
not that he was seeking to be ignorant of the things of God -

719
00:49:31,408 --> 00:49:38,951
but he is making it clear he is trying to free himself from just intellectual endeavor.

720
00:49:38,952 --> 00:49:42,551
And he could speak a lot better than he actually spoke.

721
00:49:42,552 --> 00:49:47,564
He spoke in such a way so that men’s confidence would not be in his intellectual powers,

722
00:49:47,565 --> 00:49:51,456
but in the power of God. (P)

723
00:49:52,302 --> 00:49:55,865
Look at...well I'll just read it to you. 2 Corinthians 12:10,

724
00:49:55,866 --> 00:49:59,447
"Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses."

725
00:49:59,448 --> 00:50:02,778
Let me ask you a question: Are you well content with weaknesses?

726
00:50:02,779 --> 00:50:06,148
This is something I struggle with,

727
00:50:06,149 --> 00:50:09,121
because you can read this passage and not have any struggle

728
00:50:09,122 --> 00:50:12,583
because you're not even understanding what’s being said.

729
00:50:12,584 --> 00:50:20,005
I know, most people are angry and bitter in their heart because they are self-centered

730
00:50:20,006 --> 00:50:25,481
and because of unmet expectations, either from others or from God.

731
00:50:25,482 --> 00:50:31,098
They want life to be a certain way and when it’s not, they get mad.

732
00:50:31,099 --> 00:50:39,501
But, to be content with weaknesses, to be content with defects,

733
00:50:39,502 --> 00:50:44,143
problems, trials, even afflictions in our own bodies.

734
00:50:44,144 --> 00:50:49,179
To be content with that, and then with insults, with distresses,

735
00:50:49,180 --> 00:50:52,406
with persecutions, with difficulties for Christ’s sake.

736
00:50:52,407 --> 00:50:54,682
Now why is he content with it?

737
00:50:54,683 --> 00:51:00,408
He says, "For when I am weak, then I am strong." (P)

738
00:51:00,409 --> 00:51:06,433
The very things that Paul the apostle says are the useful instruments

739
00:51:06,434 --> 00:51:08,837
to weaken him, so that he may be strong,

740
00:51:08,838 --> 00:51:14,191
are the subjects of most prayer meetings, to avoid.

741
00:51:14,192 --> 00:51:18,133
Most prayer meetings are about avoiding all of these things,

742
00:51:18,134 --> 00:51:22,601
or either if they are going on, to get out of them.

743
00:51:22,602 --> 00:51:26,353
And Paul said, "I'm content in the middle of them," because he had learned something.

744
00:51:26,354 --> 00:51:31,925
When he is beyond all hope in himself, then it turns him to the Lord Jesus Christ,

745
00:51:31,926 --> 00:51:38,947
and drawing on His strength, then he is truly, truly strong. (P)

746
00:51:38,948 --> 00:51:44,362
Is it not true, If you want to be used of God (I call it Gideon's call),

747
00:51:44,363 --> 00:51:51,170
you're going to have to adopt God's procedure of Gideon's call.

748
00:51:51,171 --> 00:51:53,490
You say, "What is that?"

749
00:51:53,491 --> 00:51:57,807
"Gideon, you're going to save us from the Midianites."

750
00:51:57,808 --> 00:52:03,892
Okay, first, look at who He chose. A guy so afraid that he's hiding in a wine vat.

751
00:52:03,893 --> 00:52:06,189
And then He goes, "Gideon, get an army."

752
00:52:06,190 --> 00:52:09,486
Gideon gets an army. God stops Gideon.

753
00:52:09,487 --> 00:52:15,158
Problem - what's the problem? - it's too big. (P)

754
00:52:15,159 --> 00:52:18,158
You see, your problem is what? You say, "I can't do this."

755
00:52:18,159 --> 00:52:22,136
Why? "I'm too small. I don't have the talent,

756
00:52:22,137 --> 00:52:25,364
I don't have the giftings, I don't have this, I don't have the wisdom,

757
00:52:25,365 --> 00:52:30,505
I don't have... I don't have... I don't have... I don't have."

758
00:52:30,506 --> 00:52:35,854
God sees all that as advantageous.

759
00:52:35,855 --> 00:52:40,044
God tells Gideon, "Gideon, we got to cull this army."

760
00:52:40,045 --> 00:52:44,701
Why? "First of all, it doesn't matter how big of an army you think you can muster.

761
00:52:44,702 --> 00:52:47,095
You can't defeat the Midianites.

762
00:52:47,096 --> 00:52:52,356
But I can, and when I do it, I don't want you getting the credit for it."

763
00:52:52,357 --> 00:52:54,329
But you know what's the terrible thing?

764
00:52:54,330 --> 00:52:58,541
Even though God did every conceivable possible thing

765
00:52:58,542 --> 00:53:01,576
for the people to see that it was of God alone,

766
00:53:01,577 --> 00:53:08,244
and Gideon really had nothing to do with it, they still made Gideon a god.

767
00:53:08,245 --> 00:53:10,069
We do the same thing.

768
00:53:10,070 --> 00:53:16,883
It really is only His power. It really is. (P)

769
00:53:16,884 --> 00:53:23,702
Sometimes I wish, well I wish and I don't wish, that all of you could come home with me.

770
00:53:23,703 --> 00:53:29,744
Why? To see me with my family.

771
00:53:29,745 --> 00:53:31,209
I really do.

772
00:53:31,210 --> 00:53:34,830
Why? Because you could learn so much? Absolutely.

773
00:53:34,831 --> 00:53:38,393
But it's not what you think you would learn. (P)

774
00:53:38,394 --> 00:53:40,270
Now I hope I'm a sincere man.

775
00:53:40,271 --> 00:53:45,745
I believe my wife is a sincere Christian.

776
00:53:45,746 --> 00:53:50,959
I hope that we are not hypocritical, I hope that we truly desire to honor Christ.

777
00:53:50,960 --> 00:53:54,284
And we do. We have standards in our home, we teach our children,

778
00:53:54,285 --> 00:53:55,794
we do all kinds of things.

779
00:53:55,795 --> 00:54:00,759
But I think that you would see that. I do.

780
00:54:00,760 --> 00:54:03,540
We don't seek to be disobedient with regard to our family.

781
00:54:03,541 --> 00:54:08,313
But I think what you would be most amazed about

782
00:54:08,314 --> 00:54:11,841
is how common all our problems are.

783
00:54:11,842 --> 00:54:16,709
And that the very things that afflict you afflict us.

784
00:54:16,710 --> 00:54:21,609
All the lack of character that causes you problems, causes us problems.

785
00:54:21,610 --> 00:54:27,621
I'm not saying that because I want you to think that you can't have a Christian life.

786
00:54:27,622 --> 00:54:30,378
You can. And we do have a Christian life and a Christian family.

787
00:54:30,379 --> 00:54:35,294
But what I want you to see is that we're just all common people. (P)

788
00:54:35,295 --> 00:54:37,554
We all have the same problems.

789
00:54:37,555 --> 00:54:40,810
We get in arguments over stupid things.

790
00:54:40,811 --> 00:54:43,647
We're just flesh. Everyone is.

791
00:54:43,648 --> 00:54:50,956
But the power of God works through our weaknesses.

792
00:54:50,957 --> 00:54:56,193
I so appreciate the fact of my wife that she knows what I am,

793
00:54:56,194 --> 00:54:58,219
yet she doesn't use it against me

794
00:54:58,220 --> 00:55:01,124
because she understands something of the Christian life.

795
00:55:01,125 --> 00:55:06,688
She knows there's times when I get upset because I can't find socks.

796
00:55:06,689 --> 00:55:08,930
I mean, can you imagine not looking like Jesus

797
00:55:08,931 --> 00:55:14,638
because you're suffering from the great trial of not being able to find grey socks?

798
00:55:14,639 --> 00:55:18,311
But she doesn't say, "How can you preach?

799
00:55:18,312 --> 00:55:20,694
Look at you, you're upset that you can't find..."

800
00:55:20,695 --> 00:55:26,639
She knows she is married to, I think I've proved, a sincere man,

801
00:55:26,640 --> 00:55:28,495
a man who wants to follow Christ.

802
00:55:28,496 --> 00:55:31,995
But here's the thing: Just a man.

803
00:55:31,996 --> 00:55:33,988
Do you see that?

804
00:55:33,989 --> 00:55:35,766
Because sometimes I preach, God does things,

805
00:55:35,767 --> 00:55:37,869
and people think, "Oh my gosh, how must he be?"

806
00:55:37,870 --> 00:55:42,249
How must he be? You'd be surprised. (P)

807
00:55:42,250 --> 00:55:48,172
Some guys came one time I preached at this school, and a revival broke out.

808
00:55:48,173 --> 00:55:50,668
Well, a revival and a riot at the same time.

809
00:55:50,669 --> 00:55:54,934
Half the school were very happy, the others wanted to kill me.

810
00:55:54,935 --> 00:56:02,642
And these students said, "Oh brother Paul, can we come to Peru to just bask in your glory?"

811
00:56:02,643 --> 00:56:03,791
I said, "Sure."

812
00:56:03,792 --> 00:56:06,561
"To learn from you O man of God?"

813
00:56:06,562 --> 00:56:07,860
I said, "Sure, come to Peru."

814
00:56:07,861 --> 00:56:10,361
They got off that plane thinking I was the apostle Paul.

815
00:56:10,362 --> 00:56:16,345
Two months later, they got on that plane praying for my salvation. [laughter] (P)

816
00:56:16,346 --> 00:56:18,745
Now, again, I take holiness seriously.

817
00:56:18,746 --> 00:56:21,209
If you're a person who just thinks, "Ah, whatever,"

818
00:56:21,210 --> 00:56:22,999
I'm not your type of person.

819
00:56:23,000 --> 00:56:27,590
But what I am trying to show you is, your pastors, I hope they are sincere,

820
00:56:27,591 --> 00:56:30,791
I believe they are. I've been with one of them for a couple of days in his house,

821
00:56:30,792 --> 00:56:35,978
I see sincerity, I see a desire, but just a person

822
00:56:35,979 --> 00:56:41,092
who probably also can't find socks.

823
00:56:41,093 --> 00:56:43,015
Do you see what I am saying?

824
00:56:43,016 --> 00:56:47,435
And I want you to see that because I want you to be gloriously used of God.

825
00:56:47,436 --> 00:56:51,329
But many of you think that you reach this certain spiritual level,

826
00:56:51,330 --> 00:56:53,463
and then God really starts to use you.

827
00:56:53,464 --> 00:56:58,660
If that's true, I don't know what that level is, and I most certainly haven't found it. (P)

828
00:56:58,661 --> 00:57:00,994
My uncle told me one time, he was in the ministry,

829
00:57:00,995 --> 00:57:02,644
one of the greatest truths I ever learned.

830
00:57:02,645 --> 00:57:05,363
He said, "Paul, most men never do anything for God

831
00:57:05,364 --> 00:57:11,282
because they are always waiting to reach some certain level when He kicks in,

832
00:57:11,283 --> 00:57:15,389
or perfect circumstances before they go out and do something."

833
00:57:15,390 --> 00:57:18,289
He said, "Go now." (P)

834
00:57:18,290 --> 00:57:25,622
Now we're going to bring this to a close and take on this again tonight.

835
00:57:25,623 --> 00:57:27,673
But I want to say one other thing.

836
00:57:27,674 --> 00:57:32,014
And this is a truth that if the sincere Christian would grab a hold of it,

837
00:57:32,015 --> 00:57:33,498
it will help them.

838
00:57:33,499 --> 00:57:42,182
Weakness is not an obstacle to the Christian life, but it is the catalyst.

839
00:57:42,183 --> 00:57:45,866
The problem is not that the believer is weak,

840
00:57:45,867 --> 00:57:49,756
but that he does not really believe that he is weak. (P)

841
00:57:49,757 --> 00:57:53,340
I can tell you how weak you really think you are.

842
00:57:53,341 --> 00:57:56,796
Okay, you want to take the test to see how weak you really think you are?

843
00:57:56,797 --> 00:58:00,947
How much time did you spend in the Word of God this past week?

844
00:58:00,948 --> 00:58:04,610
How much time did you spend in prayer?

845
00:58:04,611 --> 00:58:11,306
If you say, "Very little," you really don't think you're that weak.

846
00:58:11,307 --> 00:58:15,375
Are you cultivating drawing upon Christ through prayer and His Word?

847
00:58:15,376 --> 00:58:19,970
If you're not, don't come to me with that false humility.

848
00:58:19,971 --> 00:58:23,484
I'll hit you with the Bible.

849
00:58:23,485 --> 00:58:26,476
You see, you really don't realize how weak you are. (P)

850
00:58:26,477 --> 00:58:32,926
Do you know where I think you have a bibical understanding of weakness?

851
00:58:32,927 --> 00:58:38,015
When you wake up in the morning, your eyes open up,

852
00:58:38,016 --> 00:58:45,585
and you think to yourself, "I'm not moving a quarter of an inch to the left or the right,

853
00:58:45,586 --> 00:58:50,736
until I call upon the name of my God in prayer, asking for grace.

854
00:58:50,737 --> 00:58:59,352
Because Lord, I can do more sinning before I get my foot on the floor of my bedroom

855
00:58:59,353 --> 00:59:02,369
without your grace.

856
00:59:02,370 --> 00:59:06,506
I can fall from even this spot to the bedroom floor.

857
00:59:06,507 --> 00:59:10,278
I can fall without your grace. I need thee O God."

858
00:59:10,279 --> 00:59:14,319
That's the whole thing. "Lead us not into temptation" -

859
00:59:14,320 --> 00:59:18,367
what He is saying is, "Lord, that's a petition for grace.

860
00:59:18,368 --> 00:59:22,754
Apart from grace, Lord, I will fall.

861
00:59:22,755 --> 00:59:25,672
I will fall, I have no strength in myself." (P)

862
00:59:25,673 --> 00:59:28,089
Now you may say, "But brother Paul, we have grace."

863
00:59:28,090 --> 00:59:30,543
Yes, but should we not ask for more?

864
00:59:30,544 --> 00:59:34,132
In light of our weakness, in light of the impossibility of the Christian life,

865
00:59:34,133 --> 00:59:36,847
in light of the impossibility of the Christian ministry,

866
00:59:36,848 --> 00:59:43,837
should we not ask for more and more and more grace?

867
00:59:43,838 --> 00:59:47,133
The greater a man's recognition of his weakness,

868
00:59:47,134 --> 00:59:52,609
the greater his urgency in running to, and clinging to Christ,

869
00:59:52,610 --> 00:59:57,846
and then the stronger and greater he is.

870
00:59:57,847 --> 01:00:01,247
Do you see that?

871
01:00:02,839 --> 01:00:06,465
This is just absolutely essential. (P)

872
01:00:06,466 --> 01:00:09,836
I don't want the trials and the disciplines

873
01:00:09,837 --> 01:00:15,442
and the providences of God in your life to be in vain.

874
01:00:15,443 --> 01:00:26,198
They are all designed to run you to Christ, asking for strength.

875
01:00:26,199 --> 01:00:30,662
The Devil is a liar, he is a murderer, and he murders through lying.

876
01:00:30,663 --> 01:00:33,003
So the moment you fail,

877
01:00:33,004 --> 01:00:40,869
let's say you fail in a sin that you sinned the day before,

878
01:00:40,870 --> 01:00:43,066
which was a sin that you sinned the day before,

879
01:00:43,073 --> 01:00:46,753
which is a sin that seems to be besetting in your life.

880
01:00:46,754 --> 01:00:50,096
And so, you commit that sin,

881
01:00:50,097 --> 01:00:53,780
and immediately what runs into your mind is,

882
01:00:53,781 --> 01:00:56,940
"If I go to Christ right now asking for forgiveness,

883
01:00:56,941 --> 01:01:01,739
If I run to Him and cling for strength, am I not being a hypocrite?

884
01:01:01,740 --> 01:01:04,601
I mean, I repented yesterday and I am doing the same thing,

885
01:01:04,602 --> 01:01:07,306
so obviously I didn't really repent.

886
01:01:07,307 --> 01:01:10,736
And I repented of that sin yesterday which was a sin I committed the day before,

887
01:01:10,737 --> 01:01:12,682
so obviously I'm just hypocritical." (P)

888
01:01:12,683 --> 01:01:18,439
And then, you hear a voice that's saying, "Yeah, you hypocrite, you are hypocritical.

889
01:01:18,440 --> 01:01:24,188
Don't run to Him, He doesn't want you. Get this right, you go to the penalty box."

890
01:01:24,189 --> 01:01:28,647
That's a lie straight out of hell.

891
01:01:28,648 --> 01:01:33,245
True repentance is forsaking that sin,

892
01:01:33,246 --> 01:01:38,426
but a mark of true repentance is not sinless perfection.

893
01:01:38,427 --> 01:01:42,684
"I forsake that sin. I hate it."

894
01:01:42,685 --> 01:01:46,106
My great sin, you want to know what it is?

895
01:01:46,107 --> 01:01:54,239
One that I struggle with, is unbelief and worry.

896
01:01:54,240 --> 01:01:56,798
Unbelief and worry.

897
01:01:56,799 --> 01:02:02,739
And I find myself, over the smallest matter, becoming afraid and worrying.

898
01:02:02,740 --> 01:02:04,607
And then I realize it's sin.

899
01:02:04,608 --> 01:02:08,306
God has delivered us everytime from great problems.

900
01:02:08,307 --> 01:02:10,120
And I worry.

901
01:02:10,121 --> 01:02:15,433
And then I repent of it, and I hate it, and I forsake it.

902
01:02:15,434 --> 01:02:16,687
God delivers us.

903
01:02:16,688 --> 01:02:18,862
Then another situation springs up,

904
01:02:18,863 --> 01:02:23,203
and instead of learning from the past of how He saved me,

905
01:02:23,204 --> 01:02:28,245
I find myself over the smallest thing again, worrying. (P)

906
01:02:28,246 --> 01:02:32,738
Now does it mean I truly did not repent before? No I repented.

907
01:02:32,739 --> 01:02:37,358
This is an ongoing procedure, it's an ongoing process.

908
01:02:37,359 --> 01:02:42,575
And then, little by little, you start seeing greater and greater victory.

909
01:02:42,576 --> 01:02:44,414
But what I have learned is this:

910
01:02:44,415 --> 01:02:48,176
I shouldn't sit there and go, "Gosh, I've committed this sin a hundred times,

911
01:02:48,177 --> 01:02:51,540
I can't go back to Him again. It's just so superficial."

912
01:02:51,541 --> 01:02:53,837
That's what the Devil would have you believe.

913
01:02:53,838 --> 01:03:00,217
Whenever you notice a reoccuring weakness, you ought to reoccuringly run to Christ.

914
01:03:00,218 --> 01:03:03,376
Because that's what He said, does He not practice what He preached?

915
01:03:03,377 --> 01:03:08,285
Did He not tell Peter? Peter said, "How many times do I forgive my brother?

916
01:03:08,286 --> 01:03:10,919
Seven times?" Jesus said, "Seventy-times-seven."

917
01:03:10,920 --> 01:03:14,806
He wasn't giving number, He was saying infinitely.

918
01:03:14,807 --> 01:03:17,722
Will He not practice what He preaches? (P)

919
01:03:17,723 --> 01:03:20,560
I am not talking about a person who is nonchalant about sin,

920
01:03:20,561 --> 01:03:23,214
doesn't care, and uses Jesus as a ticket out of hell.

921
01:03:23,215 --> 01:03:27,905
But I'm talking about many of you who are sincere Christians, who struggle with sin,

922
01:03:27,906 --> 01:03:31,739
but in the midst of your struggle, you keep thinking you can't run to Him.

923
01:03:31,740 --> 01:03:37,665
That there's something wrong. That grace can't be this free.

924
01:03:37,666 --> 01:03:41,059
You know the hardest thing you're ever going to have to do? Mark it down.

925
01:03:41,060 --> 01:03:44,224
The hardest thing in the Christian life you're ever going to have to do,

926
01:03:44,225 --> 01:03:48,025
the greatest mountain you're ever going to have to climb, are you ready?

927
01:03:48,026 --> 01:03:50,997
It's the hardest thing you're ever going to have to achieve.

928
01:03:50,998 --> 01:03:58,538
It's this: To believe that God loves you as much as He says He does.

929
01:03:58,539 --> 01:04:03,000
That's a wonderful mountain to climb, isn't it? (P)

930
01:04:03,001 --> 01:04:05,587
Now the unconverted churchman will hear that and go,

931
01:04:05,588 --> 01:04:10,325
"Great, since there's grace, let us sin that grace may abound."

932
01:04:10,326 --> 01:04:14,233
But the regenerate Christian, the true Christian will go,

933
01:04:14,234 --> 01:04:17,904
"If it is this way, if love is this unconditional,

934
01:04:17,905 --> 01:04:21,506
if grace is this free, If I run to Him after every malady,

935
01:04:21,507 --> 01:04:23,720
no matter how many times I repeat it,

936
01:04:23,721 --> 01:04:26,364
if I can run to Him and He will greet me with open arms

937
01:04:26,365 --> 01:04:29,534
and forgive me of all my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness,

938
01:04:29,535 --> 01:04:35,192
then how I long to be holy. How I long to be more devoted." (P)

939
01:04:35,193 --> 01:04:38,794
Well, let's pray.

940
01:04:38,795 --> 01:04:42,231
Father, thank You for Your Word.

941
01:04:42,232 --> 01:04:51,943
Lord, help us to believe You, to believe Your promises.

942
01:04:51,944 --> 01:05:00,330
Lord, we have to admit, it is not because You've given us any reason to doubt.

943
01:05:00,331 --> 01:05:03,945
It's just that there's no one else like You.

944
01:05:03,946 --> 01:05:07,824
There's no other example like You.

945
01:05:07,825 --> 01:05:14,304
There's no love, there's no grace like Yours, seen in any other thing.

946
01:05:14,305 --> 01:05:19,849
Sometimes, Lord, it's hard to believe because of the greatness of these promises.

947
01:05:19,850 --> 01:05:25,686
They seem to be too wonderful for us.

948
01:05:25,687 --> 01:05:31,626
Lord, help us to believe and show that we honor You by believing.

949
01:05:31,627 --> 01:05:35,651
In Jesus' name, Amen.