1 00:00:04,664 --> 00:00:27,098 Let's open our Bibles one last time to John 15. 2 00:00:27,098 --> 00:00:31,928 Beginning in verse 1: 3 00:00:31,928 --> 00:00:35,763 "I am the true vine and My Father is the vine dresser. 4 00:00:35,763 --> 00:00:38,104 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, 5 00:00:38,104 --> 00:00:39,537 He takes away; 6 00:00:39,537 --> 00:00:41,263 and every branch that bears fruit, 7 00:00:41,263 --> 00:00:44,656 He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 8 00:00:44,656 --> 00:00:46,689 You are already clean because of the word 9 00:00:46,689 --> 00:00:48,960 which I have spoken to you. 10 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:50,586 Abide in Me, and I in you, 11 00:00:50,586 --> 00:00:52,893 as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself 12 00:00:52,893 --> 00:00:55,021 unless it abides in the vine, 13 00:00:55,021 --> 00:00:58,482 so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 14 00:00:58,482 --> 00:01:01,728 I am the vine, you are the branches. 15 00:01:01,728 --> 00:01:04,034 He who abides in Me and I in him, 16 00:01:04,034 --> 00:01:05,366 he bears much fruit, 17 00:01:05,366 --> 00:01:08,527 for apart from Me you can do nothing. 18 00:01:08,527 --> 00:01:10,155 If anyone does not abide in Me, 19 00:01:10,155 --> 00:01:12,963 he is thrown away as a branch and dries up 20 00:01:12,963 --> 00:01:14,403 and they gather them 21 00:01:14,403 --> 00:01:16,092 and cast them into the fire, 22 00:01:16,092 --> 00:01:17,748 and they are burned. 23 00:01:17,748 --> 00:01:19,190 If you abide in Me 24 00:01:19,190 --> 00:01:20,622 and My words abide in you, 25 00:01:20,622 --> 00:01:21,808 ask whatever you wish 26 00:01:21,808 --> 00:01:24,024 and it will be done for you. 27 00:01:24,024 --> 00:01:25,619 My Father is glorified by this, 28 00:01:25,619 --> 00:01:27,012 that you bear much fruit 29 00:01:27,012 --> 00:01:30,150 and so prove to be My disciples. 30 00:01:30,150 --> 00:01:31,994 Just as the Father has loved Me, 31 00:01:31,994 --> 00:01:35,294 I have also loved you. 32 00:01:35,294 --> 00:01:36,675 Abide in My love. 33 00:01:36,675 --> 00:01:38,074 If you keep My commandments, 34 00:01:38,074 --> 00:01:39,408 you will abide in My love, 35 00:01:39,408 --> 00:01:41,676 just as I have kept My Father's commandments 36 00:01:41,676 --> 00:01:43,619 and abide in His love. 37 00:01:43,619 --> 00:01:45,315 These things I have spoken to you 38 00:01:45,315 --> 00:01:47,623 so that My joy may be in you, 39 00:01:47,623 --> 00:01:50,538 and that your joy may be made full. 40 00:01:50,538 --> 00:01:53,024 This is My commandment, that you love one another 41 00:01:53,024 --> 00:01:55,371 just as I have loved you. 42 00:01:55,371 --> 00:01:57,910 Greater love has no one than this, 43 00:01:57,910 --> 00:02:01,020 that one lay down his life for his friends. 44 00:02:01,020 --> 00:02:05,417 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 45 00:02:05,417 --> 00:02:12,378 Let's go to the Lord in prayer. 46 00:02:12,378 --> 00:02:14,392 Father, we come before You 47 00:02:14,392 --> 00:02:16,434 in the name of Your Son 48 00:02:16,434 --> 00:02:22,908 for this last meeting together. 49 00:02:22,908 --> 00:02:26,472 Lord, we need Your help 50 00:02:26,472 --> 00:02:29,870 that Your truth may go forward, 51 00:02:29,870 --> 00:02:33,440 that Your people might be edified. 52 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:37,966 Lord, direct everything this last meeting. 53 00:02:37,966 --> 00:02:40,845 Direct our words, our thoughts, Lord. 54 00:02:40,845 --> 00:02:45,130 Lead us in the way You would have us go 55 00:02:45,130 --> 00:02:47,966 that we would not only begin to understand this passage, 56 00:02:47,966 --> 00:02:50,953 but that it's application to our life would be a reality - 57 00:02:50,953 --> 00:02:55,469 a growing reality. 58 00:02:55,469 --> 00:02:57,161 Lord, we know so many things 59 00:02:57,161 --> 00:03:01,078 and so few of them are applied. 60 00:03:01,078 --> 00:03:04,135 Lord, help us not to be hearers of the Word, 61 00:03:04,135 --> 00:03:06,399 but also doers of the Word 62 00:03:06,399 --> 00:03:08,617 to be truly blessed. 63 00:03:08,617 --> 00:03:10,220 Lord, for those who are here 64 00:03:10,220 --> 00:03:11,855 that may not know You, 65 00:03:11,855 --> 00:03:13,705 that even in this text, 66 00:03:13,705 --> 00:03:17,919 they might see their great need for a Savior. 67 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:20,703 Lord, I ask all of this in Jesus' name, 68 00:03:20,703 --> 00:03:22,989 Amen. 69 00:03:26,712 --> 00:03:29,499 In the last sermon before I began to preach 70 00:03:29,499 --> 00:03:31,335 I gave you a summary of all the things 71 00:03:31,335 --> 00:03:33,570 that we had been studying. 72 00:03:33,570 --> 00:03:36,150 I see little need to do that 73 00:03:36,150 --> 00:03:38,956 in this evening session 74 00:03:38,956 --> 00:03:41,656 because it should be still warm in your mind, 75 00:03:41,656 --> 00:03:46,687 the full summary of what we've gone through. 76 00:03:46,687 --> 00:03:49,347 Actually, the notes that I've been preaching from 77 00:03:49,347 --> 00:03:52,381 were the first sermon I was supposed to preach on Friday night. 78 00:03:52,381 --> 00:03:54,802 It's just that it's all kind of been extended. 79 00:03:54,802 --> 00:03:57,430 I have six more sermons, 80 00:03:57,430 --> 00:04:01,666 but I don't think that we will get to all of them this evening. 81 00:04:01,666 --> 00:04:05,331 We've been talking about the impossibility of the Christian life. 82 00:04:05,331 --> 00:04:07,877 That is not a cliche. It's not a hyperbole. 83 00:04:07,877 --> 00:04:11,512 The Christian life is an absolute impossibility 84 00:04:11,512 --> 00:04:15,001 apart from abiding in Christ 85 00:04:15,001 --> 00:04:20,584 and drawing spiritual life and strength from Him. 86 00:04:20,584 --> 00:04:25,320 In the Christian life, Christ and the Gospel 87 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:27,716 are not one element, 88 00:04:27,716 --> 00:04:30,242 they are the element. 89 00:04:30,242 --> 00:04:34,325 Christ is everything. 90 00:04:34,325 --> 00:04:38,006 When the Christian doctrine and the Gospel 91 00:04:38,006 --> 00:04:40,388 is truly proclaimed as it ought to be proclaimed 92 00:04:40,388 --> 00:04:41,472 and men reject it, 93 00:04:41,472 --> 00:04:42,663 what they need to know is 94 00:04:42,663 --> 00:04:44,546 that they are not rejecting a religion, 95 00:04:44,546 --> 00:04:46,589 they are not rejecting certain principles, 96 00:04:46,589 --> 00:04:49,331 they are rejecting a Person. 97 00:04:49,331 --> 00:04:52,799 If you're here today and you're apathetic toward Christianity, 98 00:04:52,799 --> 00:04:55,754 maybe you're here out of coercion, manipulation, 99 00:04:55,754 --> 00:04:57,608 maybe you have to because your parents 100 00:04:57,608 --> 00:04:59,404 still have authority over you, 101 00:04:59,404 --> 00:05:01,280 you're here, you abide by those rules, 102 00:05:01,280 --> 00:05:04,398 but your heart is not here at all. 103 00:05:04,398 --> 00:05:05,584 Know this: 104 00:05:05,584 --> 00:05:09,922 You are not rejecting a religion. 105 00:05:09,922 --> 00:05:12,889 You are not rejecting a set of principles. 106 00:05:12,889 --> 00:05:15,125 Now to do that is very, very dangerous 107 00:05:15,125 --> 00:05:18,423 because ones who set aside the Law of God, 108 00:05:18,423 --> 00:05:20,421 the Law of Moses, 109 00:05:20,421 --> 00:05:23,509 were to be put away. 110 00:05:23,509 --> 00:05:25,950 But I want you to know what you're doing. 111 00:05:25,950 --> 00:05:29,541 You are apathetic towards the one Person 112 00:05:29,541 --> 00:05:35,055 that God loves more than all of creation combined - 113 00:05:35,055 --> 00:05:38,816 His Son. 114 00:05:38,816 --> 00:05:41,870 When you reject Christianity, 115 00:05:41,870 --> 00:05:47,877 know this, you are rejecting the One 116 00:05:47,877 --> 00:05:53,085 for whom the entire world was created. 117 00:05:53,085 --> 00:05:55,893 Know this also: 118 00:05:55,893 --> 00:06:00,508 That God will deal harshly with you 119 00:06:00,508 --> 00:06:05,109 for your arrogance against His Son. 120 00:06:05,109 --> 00:06:08,154 Know this, that maybe in your humanism, 121 00:06:08,154 --> 00:06:09,362 maybe in your youth, 122 00:06:09,362 --> 00:06:10,956 maybe in your foolishness, 123 00:06:10,956 --> 00:06:13,729 you've set your heart as stone against God 124 00:06:13,729 --> 00:06:15,123 and none of what I'm saying 125 00:06:15,123 --> 00:06:17,599 causes you to tremble. 126 00:06:17,599 --> 00:06:19,165 Like a young man once said: 127 00:06:19,165 --> 00:06:21,632 "I'm not afraid to stand before God. 128 00:06:21,632 --> 00:06:24,504 I'll face Him and my fate." 129 00:06:24,504 --> 00:06:26,039 And the old preacher told him: 130 00:06:26,039 --> 00:06:27,983 "Young man, you will melt before God 131 00:06:27,983 --> 00:06:33,467 like a tiny wax figurine before a blast furnace." 132 00:06:33,467 --> 00:06:36,140 Your proud heart demonstrates nothing more 133 00:06:36,140 --> 00:06:40,352 than your own stupidity. 134 00:06:40,352 --> 00:06:43,242 Creation testifies against you. 135 00:06:43,242 --> 00:06:44,839 And you yourself know 136 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:47,127 that the very God you are rejecting 137 00:06:47,127 --> 00:06:51,934 is the One before Whom you will stand. 138 00:06:51,934 --> 00:06:53,114 So I want you to know 139 00:06:53,114 --> 00:06:55,767 that when I deal with these texts, 140 00:06:55,767 --> 00:06:58,141 there are two groups of people here tonight. 141 00:06:58,141 --> 00:06:59,937 There are people who are here 142 00:06:59,937 --> 00:07:02,829 because they love Christ, 143 00:07:02,829 --> 00:07:03,991 and in loving Christ, 144 00:07:03,991 --> 00:07:08,046 they are seriously concerned for pleasing Him 145 00:07:08,046 --> 00:07:10,554 and for growing in holiness. 146 00:07:10,554 --> 00:07:12,121 There are others here 147 00:07:12,121 --> 00:07:14,324 who care not for holiness. 148 00:07:14,324 --> 00:07:16,839 And the reason why they do not care for holiness 149 00:07:16,839 --> 00:07:20,426 is because the simply do not care for Christ. 150 00:07:20,426 --> 00:07:26,590 And that is a very, very dangerous place to be. 151 00:07:26,590 --> 00:07:29,214 Now, we're going to begin. 152 00:07:29,214 --> 00:07:32,063 We've gone through several pages of notes. 153 00:07:32,063 --> 00:07:34,271 And we've seen a lot of things, 154 00:07:34,271 --> 00:07:36,808 but now we're going to turn our attention 155 00:07:36,808 --> 00:07:39,669 to something that is extremely important. 156 00:07:39,669 --> 00:07:41,881 As we look at our text, we see something. 157 00:07:41,881 --> 00:07:44,386 That ten different times in this short text, 158 00:07:44,386 --> 00:07:45,851 there's a word that appears. 159 00:07:45,851 --> 00:07:48,279 It's the word "abide." 160 00:07:48,279 --> 00:07:49,893 And I have said over and over 161 00:07:49,893 --> 00:07:51,818 that the only way that the Christian 162 00:07:51,818 --> 00:07:54,120 can be fruitful in the Christian life 163 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:58,760 is to abide in Christ. 164 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,995 Now, if I tell you this, it's very important 165 00:08:01,995 --> 00:08:03,833 I explain to you what that means. 166 00:08:03,833 --> 00:08:05,393 You know, preachers are famous 167 00:08:05,393 --> 00:08:06,836 for telling people what to do 168 00:08:06,836 --> 00:08:09,033 and then not telling them how to do it. 169 00:08:09,033 --> 00:08:11,053 I remember one time as a young Christian, 170 00:08:11,053 --> 00:08:13,863 this man, he preached for something like an hour and a half 171 00:08:13,863 --> 00:08:17,017 on the necessity to walk in the Spirit. 172 00:08:17,017 --> 00:08:19,043 And it was a fabulous sermon. 173 00:08:19,043 --> 00:08:20,794 And it proved to my young heart 174 00:08:20,794 --> 00:08:22,571 that I needed to walk in the Spirit. 175 00:08:22,571 --> 00:08:25,357 The only problem is he never told us what that meant. 176 00:08:25,357 --> 00:08:28,004 So I went up to him after the service, 177 00:08:28,004 --> 00:08:29,865 not intending to wrangle. 178 00:08:29,865 --> 00:08:31,916 I was happy with what I heard. 179 00:08:31,916 --> 00:08:33,433 I thought it was very edifying. 180 00:08:33,433 --> 00:08:35,615 I just thought I'm a very immature Christian, 181 00:08:35,615 --> 00:08:38,404 I don't have a clue what it means to walk in the Spirit, 182 00:08:38,404 --> 00:08:40,299 so I went before him and I said, 183 00:08:40,299 --> 00:08:43,013 "Sir, wow, that was just wonderful! 184 00:08:43,013 --> 00:08:44,516 I see that in the Scriptures. 185 00:08:44,516 --> 00:08:47,342 I need to walk in the Spirit. 186 00:08:47,342 --> 00:08:50,881 But sir, I don't know what that means." 187 00:08:50,881 --> 00:08:56,512 That man became very put out with me. 188 00:08:56,512 --> 00:08:58,011 He said every manner of thing, 189 00:08:58,011 --> 00:08:59,819 but he never told me what it meant 190 00:08:59,819 --> 00:09:01,167 to walk in the Spirit. 191 00:09:01,167 --> 00:09:03,189 And I walked away as the young Christian 192 00:09:03,189 --> 00:09:05,833 saying that man just told us to do something 193 00:09:05,833 --> 00:09:08,591 that he himself does not know how to do. 194 00:09:08,591 --> 00:09:10,941 And therefore, he just told us to do something 195 00:09:10,941 --> 00:09:13,265 that he himself is not practicing. 196 00:09:13,265 --> 00:09:14,973 And so we always want to be careful 197 00:09:14,973 --> 00:09:17,121 whenever we're exhorting people 198 00:09:17,121 --> 00:09:20,137 to do a certain thing, 199 00:09:20,137 --> 00:09:23,139 to actually be able to explain to them what it means. 200 00:09:23,139 --> 00:09:25,162 And so I have told you that the only way 201 00:09:25,162 --> 00:09:27,264 you can be fruitful in the Christian life 202 00:09:27,264 --> 00:09:29,364 is to abide in Christ. 203 00:09:29,364 --> 00:09:30,698 Now what does that mean? 204 00:09:30,698 --> 00:09:34,129 First of all, the word abide is not that complex in Greek. 205 00:09:34,129 --> 00:09:34,975 It's "meno." 206 00:09:34,975 --> 00:09:39,883 It's to remain, to abide, to stay. 207 00:09:39,883 --> 00:09:42,985 Now when we bring in the metaphor of a branch, 208 00:09:42,985 --> 00:09:45,861 you can see that a branch must be connected 209 00:09:45,861 --> 00:09:49,286 vitally to a vine in order for that branch 210 00:09:49,286 --> 00:09:51,876 to continue with life and even bear fruit. 211 00:09:51,876 --> 00:09:54,499 So somehow you and I must be 212 00:09:54,499 --> 00:09:58,074 vitally connected with Christ. 213 00:09:58,074 --> 00:10:00,597 Now herein lies two sides of a coin, 214 00:10:00,597 --> 00:10:03,372 and it's often the case in Christianity 215 00:10:03,372 --> 00:10:04,968 to have two sides of a coin. 216 00:10:04,968 --> 00:10:07,225 One is positional, 217 00:10:07,225 --> 00:10:09,945 and the other is our actual experience. 218 00:10:09,945 --> 00:10:12,886 Now I want to say positionally first of all 219 00:10:12,886 --> 00:10:15,353 what I was explaining in the last session. 220 00:10:15,353 --> 00:10:18,822 If you are truly a Christian - 221 00:10:18,822 --> 00:10:20,225 and I don't say that lightly 222 00:10:20,225 --> 00:10:21,920 because most people in America 223 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:23,684 who call themselves Christian 224 00:10:23,684 --> 00:10:24,809 are not Christian, 225 00:10:24,809 --> 00:10:27,068 and some of you who call yourselves Christians 226 00:10:27,068 --> 00:10:29,057 are possibly not Christians. 227 00:10:29,057 --> 00:10:30,918 It's very important to understand. 228 00:10:30,918 --> 00:10:32,333 Let me put it this way, 229 00:10:32,333 --> 00:10:34,536 if you consider yourself a carnal Christian, 230 00:10:34,536 --> 00:10:36,498 you're lost. 231 00:10:36,498 --> 00:10:39,478 You're just lost. 232 00:10:39,478 --> 00:10:41,407 Do Christians sin? Yes. 233 00:10:41,407 --> 00:10:44,063 Can Christians fall into grievous sin? Absolutely. 234 00:10:44,063 --> 00:10:47,211 Can Christians live a continuously carnal lifestyle 235 00:10:47,211 --> 00:10:51,598 without fruit? Absolutely not. 236 00:10:51,598 --> 00:10:54,174 And so if you are a true believer, 237 00:10:54,174 --> 00:10:57,149 you are vitally connected to Christ. 238 00:10:57,149 --> 00:11:00,682 He is the vine. You are a branch. 239 00:11:00,682 --> 00:11:04,148 He is the Head. You are the body. 240 00:11:04,148 --> 00:11:05,780 We have many metaphors like that 241 00:11:05,780 --> 00:11:07,926 to indicate this unique position 242 00:11:07,926 --> 00:11:09,711 we now have with Christ. 243 00:11:09,711 --> 00:11:11,918 Another is the Bible talks oftentimes 244 00:11:11,918 --> 00:11:14,736 in spheres locatively. 245 00:11:14,736 --> 00:11:18,130 For example, you're in the sphere of Adam. 246 00:11:18,130 --> 00:11:21,621 Or you're in the sphere of Christ. 247 00:11:21,621 --> 00:11:24,645 You're in the sphere of condemnation. 248 00:11:24,645 --> 00:11:28,910 You're in the sphere of justification. 249 00:11:28,910 --> 00:11:32,359 You are in the sphere of the flesh. 250 00:11:32,359 --> 00:11:34,699 You are in the sphere of the Spirit. 251 00:11:34,699 --> 00:11:36,577 So if you're genuinely a Christian, 252 00:11:36,577 --> 00:11:38,069 you are a branch 253 00:11:38,069 --> 00:11:40,238 and you're vitally connected. 254 00:11:40,238 --> 00:11:42,251 But here's what we need to understand: 255 00:11:42,251 --> 00:11:44,158 this position that we have 256 00:11:44,158 --> 00:11:47,016 does not lead us ever in the New Testament 257 00:11:47,016 --> 00:11:49,694 to being passive. 258 00:11:49,694 --> 00:11:54,763 But it always promotes a zealous application 259 00:11:54,763 --> 00:11:56,712 of this truth; 260 00:11:56,712 --> 00:12:00,216 a desire for this truth to be worked out in our life, 261 00:12:00,216 --> 00:12:01,586 to become manifest. 262 00:12:01,586 --> 00:12:04,146 And let me use a word that many people are afraid of: 263 00:12:04,146 --> 00:12:06,998 to be experienced. 264 00:12:06,998 --> 00:12:09,479 That it's an actual reality. 265 00:12:09,479 --> 00:12:12,440 One of the men that was so very key 266 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,898 in my discipleship until today 267 00:12:14,898 --> 00:12:17,940 uses a word all the time 268 00:12:17,940 --> 00:12:20,984 that always brings me back to center. 269 00:12:20,984 --> 00:12:22,708 And he'll say this: 270 00:12:22,708 --> 00:12:29,498 Yes, Paul, but is it a reality in your life? 271 00:12:29,498 --> 00:12:31,147 When he listens to a sermon, 272 00:12:31,147 --> 00:12:33,740 he'll say: there was reality there. 273 00:12:33,740 --> 00:12:36,099 And that's kind of what we're talking about. 274 00:12:36,099 --> 00:12:38,694 Not just a theological supposition 275 00:12:38,694 --> 00:12:40,984 or a theological or propositional truth, 276 00:12:40,984 --> 00:12:44,843 but is it a growing reality? 277 00:12:44,843 --> 00:12:48,836 Is it the experience of your life? 278 00:12:48,836 --> 00:12:51,857 Do you experience fruit-bearing? 279 00:12:51,857 --> 00:12:56,196 Do you experience communion with Christ? 280 00:12:56,196 --> 00:12:58,425 You can quote all my favorite creeds, 281 00:12:58,425 --> 00:13:00,445 but that does not guarantee 282 00:13:00,445 --> 00:13:06,499 that you experience the truths that are found there. 283 00:13:06,499 --> 00:13:09,389 Now, as a Christian, we are united with Christ, 284 00:13:09,389 --> 00:13:14,395 but in the Christian life, sanctification is progressive. 285 00:13:14,395 --> 00:13:16,783 I think you all would agree with that. 286 00:13:16,783 --> 00:13:18,314 It's progressive. 287 00:13:18,314 --> 00:13:20,948 Well, let me explain what that means. 288 00:13:20,948 --> 00:13:23,121 When you think of progressive sanctification, 289 00:13:23,121 --> 00:13:25,998 you probably think that as you grow in your Christian life, 290 00:13:25,998 --> 00:13:28,417 you become more holy, more holy, more holy - 291 00:13:28,417 --> 00:13:30,296 that's true. That's true. 292 00:13:30,296 --> 00:13:32,977 But a lot of times we leave things out of that formula 293 00:13:32,977 --> 00:13:34,359 that ought to be included. 294 00:13:34,359 --> 00:13:36,474 For example, repentance. 295 00:13:36,474 --> 00:13:39,587 Did you know repentance is subject to sanctification? 296 00:13:39,587 --> 00:13:42,447 There's a sense in which I repented unto salvation, 297 00:13:42,447 --> 00:13:44,277 but I am growing in repentance - 298 00:13:44,277 --> 00:13:45,568 did you know that? 299 00:13:45,568 --> 00:13:47,835 I'm growing in saving repentance. 300 00:13:47,835 --> 00:13:50,088 I repent more now. 301 00:13:50,088 --> 00:13:52,321 I see more sin now. 302 00:13:52,321 --> 00:13:53,970 I'm growing in faith. 303 00:13:53,970 --> 00:13:56,736 My faith is subject to sanctification. 304 00:13:56,736 --> 00:14:00,174 There was a time when I believed unto salvation, 305 00:14:00,174 --> 00:14:03,547 but that faith has become subject to sanctification 306 00:14:03,547 --> 00:14:05,748 over the last thirty years. It's deeper. 307 00:14:05,748 --> 00:14:07,244 It's stronger. 308 00:14:07,244 --> 00:14:08,226 It's the same way - 309 00:14:08,226 --> 00:14:12,357 a new believer immediately starts bearing fruit. 310 00:14:12,357 --> 00:14:13,354 Really. 311 00:14:13,354 --> 00:14:16,100 And many times, the first few months of our life, 312 00:14:16,100 --> 00:14:20,718 we see abundant amount of fruit. 313 00:14:20,718 --> 00:14:23,041 But, we ought to be growing 314 00:14:23,041 --> 00:14:24,964 in our fruit-bearing. 315 00:14:24,964 --> 00:14:27,080 A believer, the moment that they believe, 316 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:28,897 they enter into communion with Christ 317 00:14:28,897 --> 00:14:30,478 and they experience that. 318 00:14:30,478 --> 00:14:33,227 The love of God is shed abroad in their heart. 319 00:14:33,227 --> 00:14:36,672 But as they grow in Christ, 320 00:14:36,672 --> 00:14:39,597 this initial experience of the love of God, 321 00:14:39,597 --> 00:14:41,146 of the indwelling of the Spirit, 322 00:14:41,146 --> 00:14:44,013 it ought to increase. 323 00:14:44,013 --> 00:14:46,649 It ought to become more mature. 324 00:14:46,649 --> 00:14:48,423 And that doesn't mean that they go 325 00:14:48,423 --> 00:14:50,222 from experience to experience, 326 00:14:50,222 --> 00:14:53,073 or this greater manifestation to greater manifestation. 327 00:14:53,073 --> 00:14:57,266 But it's referring to reality. 328 00:14:57,266 --> 00:15:01,407 Every one of these things that happen to us at salvation, 329 00:15:01,407 --> 00:15:05,593 they become a deeper reality. 330 00:15:05,593 --> 00:15:07,710 And they begin to manifest themselves 331 00:15:07,710 --> 00:15:11,926 in a greater way in our life. 332 00:15:11,926 --> 00:15:15,385 Now, I'm going to take a definition 333 00:15:15,385 --> 00:15:16,512 from D.A. Carson. 334 00:15:16,512 --> 00:15:19,284 I'm going to quote him a few different times 335 00:15:19,284 --> 00:15:22,069 throughout the teaching that we're going to do tonight 336 00:15:22,069 --> 00:15:24,932 because he says some things that are absolutely marvelous. 337 00:15:24,932 --> 00:15:27,464 D.A. Carson is a well known New Testament scholar 338 00:15:27,464 --> 00:15:30,016 and he has been very helpful to almost every minister 339 00:15:30,016 --> 00:15:31,912 who cares about the Word of God. 340 00:15:31,912 --> 00:15:35,134 But he defines "abiding" in this way: 341 00:15:35,134 --> 00:15:37,591 He says, "the imagery of the vine 342 00:15:37,591 --> 00:15:39,050 is stretched a little 343 00:15:39,050 --> 00:15:41,322 when the branches are given the responsibility 344 00:15:41,322 --> 00:15:43,425 to remain in the vine." 345 00:15:43,425 --> 00:15:44,862 Now if you notice, He says: 346 00:15:44,862 --> 00:15:47,395 "I am the vine. You are the branches." 347 00:15:47,395 --> 00:15:49,846 But then He goes outside of this metaphor 348 00:15:49,846 --> 00:15:52,177 and He tells us that we need to do something 349 00:15:52,177 --> 00:15:54,373 to continue abiding. 350 00:15:54,373 --> 00:15:57,654 You know, branches just kind of sit there, don't they. 351 00:15:57,654 --> 00:16:00,120 But there is something that we must do. 352 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,260 And basically, it's we must cultivate 353 00:16:02,260 --> 00:16:04,321 this relationship which we have. 354 00:16:04,321 --> 00:16:08,005 Now he says this, "The point is clear. 355 00:16:08,005 --> 00:16:13,265 Continuous dependence upon the vine, 356 00:16:13,265 --> 00:16:17,416 constant reliance upon Him, 357 00:16:17,416 --> 00:16:22,184 persistent spiritual imbibing..." 358 00:16:22,184 --> 00:16:23,780 What does imbibing mean? 359 00:16:23,780 --> 00:16:28,227 It means to drink, to absorb. 360 00:16:28,227 --> 00:16:31,256 "...Continuous persistent spiritual 361 00:16:31,256 --> 00:16:33,701 imbibing of His life - 362 00:16:33,701 --> 00:16:36,536 this is the indispensable 363 00:16:36,536 --> 00:16:40,934 and essential action, condition, or ingredient 364 00:16:40,934 --> 00:16:44,222 of spiritual fruitfulness." 365 00:16:44,222 --> 00:16:46,963 Now, up to this point, you realize what I've been doing? 366 00:16:46,963 --> 00:16:48,748 I've been building up to this moment. 367 00:16:48,748 --> 00:16:50,694 I've been trying to show you 368 00:16:50,694 --> 00:16:55,101 that you cannot do anything 369 00:16:55,101 --> 00:16:59,125 apart from the life and power of Christ. 370 00:16:59,125 --> 00:17:00,606 I've also talked a great deal 371 00:17:00,606 --> 00:17:02,061 about the providence of God - 372 00:17:02,061 --> 00:17:04,325 how God in His providence 373 00:17:04,325 --> 00:17:06,117 will send trials our way, 374 00:17:06,117 --> 00:17:09,434 difficulties, things we cannot overcome, 375 00:17:09,434 --> 00:17:13,151 obstacles that we ourselves cannot endure. 376 00:17:13,151 --> 00:17:14,537 Now why does He do this? 377 00:17:14,537 --> 00:17:15,913 Is it because He hates us? 378 00:17:15,913 --> 00:17:16,995 Absolutely not. 379 00:17:16,995 --> 00:17:20,303 All these strong winds are designed 380 00:17:20,303 --> 00:17:23,703 to convince you and me 381 00:17:23,703 --> 00:17:29,222 that we simply cannot. 382 00:17:29,222 --> 00:17:30,843 In the Christian Manifesto, 383 00:17:30,843 --> 00:17:33,064 which is of course the Sermon on the Mount, 384 00:17:33,064 --> 00:17:36,595 the first virtue that is given us is this: 385 00:17:36,595 --> 00:17:39,603 Blessed are the poor in spirit. 386 00:17:39,603 --> 00:17:42,098 Blessed are those who live 387 00:17:42,098 --> 00:17:51,038 in a profound dependence upon God. 388 00:17:51,038 --> 00:17:55,551 What is the most God-honoring thing that we can do? 389 00:17:55,551 --> 00:18:00,170 To live in a profound dependence upon God. 390 00:18:00,170 --> 00:18:01,991 What is the most dishonoring thing 391 00:18:01,991 --> 00:18:04,904 that Israel ever did? Independence. 392 00:18:04,904 --> 00:18:06,932 Is that not true? 393 00:18:06,932 --> 00:18:08,445 The most dishonoring thing 394 00:18:08,445 --> 00:18:10,314 that Israel did under the old covenant 395 00:18:10,314 --> 00:18:12,163 was independence. 396 00:18:12,163 --> 00:18:14,961 "We don't need You. We can do this on our own." 397 00:18:14,961 --> 00:18:16,816 Do you realize that almost every 398 00:18:16,816 --> 00:18:18,727 saving activity of God 399 00:18:18,727 --> 00:18:23,771 does not begin until first He empties men 400 00:18:23,771 --> 00:18:26,455 of all hope of saving themselves? 401 00:18:26,455 --> 00:18:29,107 Whether it's Israel in Egypt; 402 00:18:29,107 --> 00:18:31,673 whether it's Joseph in the prison; 403 00:18:31,673 --> 00:18:34,051 whether it's Gideon against the Midianites - 404 00:18:34,051 --> 00:18:35,522 what is He constantly doing? 405 00:18:35,522 --> 00:18:38,780 He's constantly emptying us 406 00:18:38,780 --> 00:18:41,521 of ourselves, of self-confidence, 407 00:18:41,521 --> 00:18:43,364 of self-reliance. 408 00:18:43,364 --> 00:18:44,275 Why? 409 00:18:44,275 --> 00:18:46,263 So that we will live in absolute 410 00:18:46,263 --> 00:18:48,516 or full dependence upon Him. 411 00:18:48,516 --> 00:18:50,450 Can you see how vital this is? 412 00:18:50,450 --> 00:18:52,222 Now you may be thinking to yourself, 413 00:18:52,222 --> 00:18:53,691 "Brother Paul, just go on." 414 00:18:53,691 --> 00:18:56,686 No, I can't. 415 00:18:56,686 --> 00:18:59,711 Like I used the example two nights ago, 416 00:18:59,711 --> 00:19:03,466 it was necessary that Peter fall. 417 00:19:03,466 --> 00:19:04,513 Why? 418 00:19:04,513 --> 00:19:08,201 He made that self-reliant, independent, 419 00:19:08,201 --> 00:19:12,240 John Wayne type of declaration there 420 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:14,311 in the supper, in the Passover: 421 00:19:14,311 --> 00:19:16,960 Though all deny You, I will not. 422 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:18,512 He had to fall. 423 00:19:18,512 --> 00:19:22,106 It was necessary that Satan sift him 424 00:19:22,106 --> 00:19:23,917 and that he fall. Why? 425 00:19:23,917 --> 00:19:27,417 To rid him of that. 426 00:19:27,417 --> 00:19:28,878 (unintelligible) 427 00:19:28,878 --> 00:19:30,849 Look at this! The great Peter, 428 00:19:30,849 --> 00:19:32,332 the rock, denies Christ 429 00:19:32,332 --> 00:19:35,821 before a little servant girl. 430 00:19:35,821 --> 00:19:39,039 It was necessary. 431 00:19:39,039 --> 00:19:41,038 Some of the old preachers used to say 432 00:19:41,038 --> 00:19:43,128 Christ spent three years 433 00:19:43,128 --> 00:19:45,339 emptying the disciples so that He could 434 00:19:45,339 --> 00:19:50,139 fill them in a second on the day of Pentecost. 435 00:19:50,139 --> 00:19:52,964 I mean, God can fill you like that. 436 00:19:52,964 --> 00:19:56,851 The emptying part is problematic. 437 00:19:56,851 --> 00:19:58,569 And so He's constantly doing this, 438 00:19:58,569 --> 00:20:03,164 constantly sending things our way to empty us. 439 00:20:03,164 --> 00:20:06,687 But to cause us to cling to Him; 440 00:20:06,687 --> 00:20:07,887 to cling to Him. 441 00:20:07,887 --> 00:20:12,075 Now, there are three aspects of abiding 442 00:20:12,075 --> 00:20:13,465 because I've just told you, 443 00:20:13,465 --> 00:20:14,934 you need to cling to Christ. 444 00:20:14,934 --> 00:20:18,112 You need to lay aside self- reliance and independence, 445 00:20:18,112 --> 00:20:19,753 and you need to cling to Christ. 446 00:20:19,753 --> 00:20:21,206 But now you're probably saying 447 00:20:21,206 --> 00:20:22,427 if you're a thinker, 448 00:20:22,427 --> 00:20:25,713 okay, but again, how do you do that? 449 00:20:25,713 --> 00:20:27,714 Well, there are three aspects to this. 450 00:20:27,714 --> 00:20:30,675 And I'm going to take part of D.A. Carson's definition 451 00:20:30,675 --> 00:20:33,384 and use it within these three aspects. 452 00:20:33,384 --> 00:20:36,081 First of all, 453 00:20:36,081 --> 00:20:40,427 abiding in Christ is through 454 00:20:40,427 --> 00:20:45,191 continuous dependence on His Word, 455 00:20:45,191 --> 00:20:48,606 constant submission to His Word, 456 00:20:48,606 --> 00:20:55,220 persistent spiritual imbibing of His Word. 457 00:20:55,220 --> 00:20:58,223 Now look in verse 7. 458 00:20:58,223 --> 00:21:01,918 Chapter 15:7, "If you abide in Me 459 00:21:01,918 --> 00:21:07,135 and My words abide in you..." 460 00:21:07,135 --> 00:21:08,500 Now look at verse 10, 461 00:21:08,500 --> 00:21:10,455 "If you keep My commandments, 462 00:21:10,455 --> 00:21:11,933 you will abide in My love, 463 00:21:11,933 --> 00:21:14,376 just as I have kept My Father's commandments 464 00:21:14,376 --> 00:21:19,153 and abide in His love." 465 00:21:19,153 --> 00:21:24,840 Now, you know the old song that says: 466 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,105 "Trust and obey, for there's no other way, 467 00:21:27,105 --> 00:21:29,721 to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey"? 468 00:21:29,721 --> 00:21:31,774 Well, that might sound kind of trite, 469 00:21:31,774 --> 00:21:35,766 but let me just share with you something. 470 00:21:35,766 --> 00:21:37,908 Trust and obey. There's no other way 471 00:21:37,908 --> 00:21:40,186 to be happy in Jesus. I'm sorry. 472 00:21:40,186 --> 00:21:42,334 I know that you live in a culture 473 00:21:42,334 --> 00:21:44,787 where you can go into every Christian bookstore 474 00:21:44,787 --> 00:21:46,302 and find one thousand books 475 00:21:46,302 --> 00:21:49,603 on ten steps to do this. I'm sorry. 476 00:21:49,603 --> 00:21:51,167 Quick fixes here and there, 477 00:21:51,167 --> 00:21:52,861 microwave Christianity, 478 00:21:52,861 --> 00:21:55,364 instantaneous this and that - no, my friend. 479 00:21:55,364 --> 00:21:59,181 You have been given a book 480 00:21:59,181 --> 00:22:05,972 which I dare say most of us despise. 481 00:22:05,972 --> 00:22:07,506 You say, "I don't despise it." 482 00:22:07,506 --> 00:22:09,519 Let me share with you something. 483 00:22:09,519 --> 00:22:11,599 Have you ever been a street preacher? 484 00:22:11,599 --> 00:22:13,182 You know there's something worse 485 00:22:13,182 --> 00:22:14,809 than the crowd turning around 486 00:22:14,809 --> 00:22:17,474 and all of them getting really mad at you? 487 00:22:17,474 --> 00:22:19,257 You know what's worse than that? 488 00:22:19,257 --> 00:22:21,663 They neglect you altogether. 489 00:22:21,663 --> 00:22:23,298 You're standing there preaching 490 00:22:23,298 --> 00:22:25,825 and they all walk by you for hours 491 00:22:25,825 --> 00:22:27,553 like you're not even there. 492 00:22:27,553 --> 00:22:29,442 There was a time in my life 493 00:22:29,442 --> 00:22:34,786 when I actually thought I was invisible. 494 00:22:34,786 --> 00:22:36,821 No, the worst thing you can do to me 495 00:22:36,821 --> 00:22:39,816 to despise me is neglect; 496 00:22:39,816 --> 00:22:44,864 that I'm not even worth arguing with. 497 00:22:44,864 --> 00:22:46,308 Now do you see 498 00:22:46,308 --> 00:22:48,539 the neglect of God's Word? 499 00:22:48,539 --> 00:22:50,145 You see, we're always wondering, 500 00:22:50,145 --> 00:22:51,258 where is the power? 501 00:22:51,258 --> 00:22:52,967 Or you see a man or a woman 502 00:22:52,967 --> 00:22:54,380 who seems to be fruit bearing 503 00:22:54,380 --> 00:22:55,778 and full of power and zeal 504 00:22:55,778 --> 00:22:57,411 and you want to find their secret. 505 00:22:57,411 --> 00:22:59,057 The problem is there is no secret 506 00:22:59,057 --> 00:23:00,642 and when they give you the answer 507 00:23:00,642 --> 00:23:02,862 you're not going to like it. 508 00:23:02,862 --> 00:23:05,492 What is it? 509 00:23:05,492 --> 00:23:13,556 I have no wisdom or understanding of my own. 510 00:23:13,556 --> 00:23:15,854 I do not know how to walk 511 00:23:15,854 --> 00:23:18,267 from the bedroom to the bathroom 512 00:23:18,267 --> 00:23:22,615 apart from the Word of God. 513 00:23:22,615 --> 00:23:28,414 This world is a minefield full of danger. 514 00:23:28,414 --> 00:23:33,411 I have no telepathic ability to discern 515 00:23:33,411 --> 00:23:35,593 where all the mines are hidden. 516 00:23:35,593 --> 00:23:39,813 But I have a map. 517 00:23:39,813 --> 00:23:42,765 I do not know how to discern the things of God, 518 00:23:42,765 --> 00:23:47,076 but I have been given truth in Scripture. 519 00:23:47,076 --> 00:23:48,931 I'm sorry, my dear friend, if you were 520 00:23:48,931 --> 00:23:50,497 waiting to find out something 521 00:23:50,497 --> 00:23:53,356 that would really just be brand new to you 522 00:23:53,356 --> 00:23:55,583 about how to abide in Jesus. 523 00:23:55,583 --> 00:23:57,993 I'm sorry! 524 00:23:57,993 --> 00:24:01,724 But it is this first and foremost, 525 00:24:01,724 --> 00:24:06,444 He has given you His Word. 526 00:24:06,444 --> 00:24:09,549 And again, I go back to old John Bunyan. 527 00:24:09,549 --> 00:24:11,664 They said of him if you cut his veins 528 00:24:11,664 --> 00:24:15,968 he would bleed the Bible. 529 00:24:15,968 --> 00:24:18,910 The old story that's been told in several different ways 530 00:24:18,910 --> 00:24:20,286 about Stoneface; 531 00:24:20,286 --> 00:24:22,930 about supposedly a man who would come 532 00:24:22,930 --> 00:24:25,401 and visit a town and be a blessing to the town, 533 00:24:25,401 --> 00:24:26,901 and he would have a face 534 00:24:26,901 --> 00:24:29,737 like the face that was carved into a natural formation 535 00:24:29,737 --> 00:24:30,628 on a stone. 536 00:24:30,628 --> 00:24:32,398 And everyone waited for that person 537 00:24:32,398 --> 00:24:34,076 and one time a little boy was born 538 00:24:34,076 --> 00:24:35,532 and he kept hearing the story 539 00:24:35,532 --> 00:24:38,040 about one day someone would come to save the town, 540 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:39,792 and he kept looking at that stone 541 00:24:39,792 --> 00:24:41,050 and looking at that stone 542 00:24:41,050 --> 00:24:42,477 and looking at that stone, 543 00:24:42,477 --> 00:24:44,602 until at the end of his life he realized 544 00:24:44,602 --> 00:24:46,065 he had become that face 545 00:24:46,065 --> 00:24:49,546 and he was the one who had helped the town. 546 00:24:49,546 --> 00:24:52,268 It is just us going into the Word, 547 00:24:52,268 --> 00:24:53,427 going into the Word, 548 00:24:53,427 --> 00:24:54,516 going into the Word, 549 00:24:54,516 --> 00:24:55,648 going into the Word. 550 00:24:55,648 --> 00:24:58,703 Not even seeking to be transformed by the Word, 551 00:24:58,703 --> 00:25:01,328 just recognizing the importance of the Word 552 00:25:01,328 --> 00:25:02,954 and living in the Word. 553 00:25:02,954 --> 00:25:05,091 And eventually, without us even knowing it, 554 00:25:05,091 --> 00:25:09,428 we begin to take on its characteristics. 555 00:25:09,428 --> 00:25:11,585 Do you see that? 556 00:25:11,585 --> 00:25:13,512 Let me give you an example - 557 00:25:13,512 --> 00:25:16,615 a rather, vulgar, trite, common example. 558 00:25:16,615 --> 00:25:18,065 Let's say that you come to me 559 00:25:18,065 --> 00:25:20,128 and you have a big spot on your forehead 560 00:25:20,128 --> 00:25:21,390 that's just a bloody mass. 561 00:25:21,390 --> 00:25:22,924 And you say to me, Brother Paul, 562 00:25:22,924 --> 00:25:24,831 I've been to every doctor in the world. 563 00:25:24,831 --> 00:25:26,765 No one can figure out why I have this. 564 00:25:26,765 --> 00:25:29,189 Could you please try to pray to the Lord 565 00:25:29,189 --> 00:25:30,624 that He would give you wisdom 566 00:25:30,624 --> 00:25:33,349 with regard to why I have this on my forehead? 567 00:25:33,349 --> 00:25:35,283 And I say, well, I'm no doctor, 568 00:25:35,283 --> 00:25:37,392 but sure, I'll pray about it. 569 00:25:37,392 --> 00:25:39,970 But I decide one day to be even practical, 570 00:25:39,970 --> 00:25:42,569 and I decide to follow you around for 24 hours. 571 00:25:42,569 --> 00:25:46,747 And I notice that at 1:00 in the morning - 572 00:25:46,747 --> 00:25:48,520 the clock strikes 1, 573 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:50,737 and you get up out of bed 574 00:25:50,737 --> 00:25:53,736 and you hit your forehead against a brick wall one time 575 00:25:53,736 --> 00:25:54,978 and go back to bed. 576 00:25:54,978 --> 00:25:57,049 And then I watch, it's 2:00. 577 00:25:57,049 --> 00:25:59,098 You get up precisely at 2:00 578 00:25:59,098 --> 00:26:00,380 when the bell strikes, 579 00:26:00,380 --> 00:26:02,152 and you hit your forehead twice 580 00:26:02,152 --> 00:26:04,211 on a stone wall and go back to bed. 581 00:26:04,211 --> 00:26:06,250 Now, I notice as you go through the day, 582 00:26:06,250 --> 00:26:07,519 every turn of the hour, 583 00:26:07,519 --> 00:26:10,182 you hit your head against a wall 584 00:26:10,182 --> 00:26:11,457 that many times. 585 00:26:11,457 --> 00:26:13,304 At the end of 24 hours, I come to you, 586 00:26:13,304 --> 00:26:14,300 and I say this: 587 00:26:14,300 --> 00:26:17,773 Look, I'm no doctor, 588 00:26:17,773 --> 00:26:21,456 but I think I figured out your problem. 589 00:26:21,456 --> 00:26:23,390 If you will stop banging your head 590 00:26:23,390 --> 00:26:24,945 against a brick wall 591 00:26:24,945 --> 00:26:28,398 every time the clock strikes the hour, 592 00:26:28,398 --> 00:26:31,021 I think your head will heal. 593 00:26:31,021 --> 00:26:32,408 You say, that's absurd. 594 00:26:32,408 --> 00:26:34,582 I say the same thing to you. 595 00:26:34,582 --> 00:26:36,924 You neglect the Scriptures. 596 00:26:36,924 --> 00:26:38,354 I'm sorry. 597 00:26:38,354 --> 00:26:40,897 And then, do you know what evangelicalism 598 00:26:40,897 --> 00:26:42,772 has done in America? 599 00:26:42,772 --> 00:26:47,447 It has conformed itself to your flesh. 600 00:26:47,447 --> 00:26:48,997 If I have heard it one time, 601 00:26:48,997 --> 00:26:50,611 I've heard it a thousand times, 602 00:26:50,611 --> 00:26:52,965 people and teacher and pastors 603 00:26:52,965 --> 00:26:55,450 and supposedly educators in Christianity 604 00:26:55,450 --> 00:26:57,635 saying: we don't live in a culture anymore 605 00:26:57,635 --> 00:27:00,302 where people can even pay attention for five minutes, 606 00:27:00,302 --> 00:27:02,369 so we've got to give them little soundbites 607 00:27:02,369 --> 00:27:04,416 with regard to Christianity. 608 00:27:04,416 --> 00:27:05,668 You know what we've done? 609 00:27:05,668 --> 00:27:07,399 We're the first group of Christians 610 00:27:07,399 --> 00:27:08,588 who believe the Bible - 611 00:27:08,588 --> 00:27:09,902 the first group in history 612 00:27:09,902 --> 00:27:12,251 that no longer believe that our culture 613 00:27:12,251 --> 00:27:14,420 is to conform itself to the book. 614 00:27:14,420 --> 00:27:19,330 We're now trying to conform Christianity to the culture. 615 00:27:19,330 --> 00:27:22,341 I say if our culture has become too dumb 616 00:27:22,341 --> 00:27:24,688 to read for half an hour, 617 00:27:24,688 --> 00:27:27,411 that in the church we do not give in to that, 618 00:27:27,411 --> 00:27:31,652 but we start teaching people how to think 619 00:27:31,652 --> 00:27:33,236 and how to read 620 00:27:33,236 --> 00:27:34,789 and how to meditate, 621 00:27:34,789 --> 00:27:37,141 to turn off televisions, 622 00:27:37,141 --> 00:27:39,260 to turn off vain conversations 623 00:27:39,260 --> 00:27:41,859 and to get into the book. 624 00:27:41,859 --> 00:27:44,457 Let me share with you something about western culture. 625 00:27:44,457 --> 00:27:45,978 I want to be very careful here, 626 00:27:45,978 --> 00:27:48,086 but I just want to make a few observations 627 00:27:48,086 --> 00:27:49,982 that may help you understand you. 628 00:27:49,982 --> 00:27:53,280 You know everyone says western culture this, western culture that. 629 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:56,599 We shouldn't try to take western culture and apply it to other cultures. 630 00:27:56,599 --> 00:27:58,825 Let me share with you something about western culture. 631 00:27:58,825 --> 00:28:00,859 Western culture has to do with the Americas 632 00:28:00,859 --> 00:28:02,134 and also Western Europe. 633 00:28:02,134 --> 00:28:04,614 I guess you're all familiar with that - Western culture. 634 00:28:04,614 --> 00:28:06,446 Prior to the advent of Christianity, 635 00:28:06,446 --> 00:28:09,095 western culture meant we were a bunch of tribal people 636 00:28:09,095 --> 00:28:11,461 living in Northern Europe running around naked 637 00:28:11,461 --> 00:28:14,153 painting ourselves blue and eating one another. 638 00:28:14,153 --> 00:28:16,191 That's western culture. 639 00:28:16,191 --> 00:28:18,976 So what changed western culture? 640 00:28:18,976 --> 00:28:22,132 The advent of Christianity. 641 00:28:22,132 --> 00:28:23,447 Yeah. 642 00:28:23,447 --> 00:28:24,988 And because of Christianity, 643 00:28:24,988 --> 00:28:27,419 we stopped worshiping twigs 644 00:28:27,419 --> 00:28:30,236 and streams and crickets 645 00:28:30,236 --> 00:28:33,407 and hatchets and horns. 646 00:28:33,407 --> 00:28:35,231 We came to understand the living God 647 00:28:35,231 --> 00:28:37,331 and we came to understand creation 648 00:28:37,331 --> 00:28:39,247 in light of that living God. 649 00:28:39,247 --> 00:28:41,988 Our culture began to change. 650 00:28:41,988 --> 00:28:43,875 The very height of literature and art 651 00:28:43,875 --> 00:28:45,521 and music and everything in Europe 652 00:28:45,521 --> 00:28:47,744 owes itself to the advent of Christianity 653 00:28:47,744 --> 00:28:49,269 coming in and changing a group 654 00:28:49,269 --> 00:28:53,718 of blue-painted barbarians. 655 00:28:53,718 --> 00:28:55,966 That's what Christianity did. 656 00:28:55,966 --> 00:28:58,606 But now, because we have rejected Christianity, 657 00:28:58,606 --> 00:29:01,227 we have rejected the God of Christianity, 658 00:29:01,227 --> 00:29:04,708 we're becoming cannibalistic barbarians once again. 659 00:29:04,708 --> 00:29:06,522 Oh yes, we can do all kinds of things 660 00:29:06,522 --> 00:29:08,582 with computers and technology. 661 00:29:08,582 --> 00:29:12,059 We are fabulous in IT, 662 00:29:12,059 --> 00:29:15,892 but we're becoming immoral beasts. 663 00:29:15,892 --> 00:29:18,288 Now the point that I'm trying to make is this: 664 00:29:18,288 --> 00:29:20,588 You want some quick fix. 665 00:29:20,588 --> 00:29:22,110 The quick fix is this: 666 00:29:22,110 --> 00:29:25,210 spend your life renewing your mind 667 00:29:25,210 --> 00:29:26,708 in the Word of God. 668 00:29:26,708 --> 00:29:28,558 Cling to the Word of God 669 00:29:28,558 --> 00:29:30,633 as though your very life depends on it 670 00:29:30,633 --> 00:29:38,845 because, sir, I can assure you, it does! 671 00:29:38,845 --> 00:29:40,719 I'll put it this way, 672 00:29:40,719 --> 00:29:43,394 D.A. Carson writes this, 673 00:29:43,394 --> 00:29:44,808 "'If you remain in Me' 674 00:29:44,808 --> 00:29:46,346 is equivalent to doing 675 00:29:46,346 --> 00:29:50,990 all that Jesus commands. 676 00:29:50,990 --> 00:29:53,409 Such words must so (and I love this) 677 00:29:53,409 --> 00:29:57,911 such words must so lodge 678 00:29:57,911 --> 00:30:00,949 in the disciple's mind and heart, 679 00:30:00,949 --> 00:30:02,953 that conformity to Christ, 680 00:30:02,953 --> 00:30:04,706 obedience to Christ 681 00:30:04,706 --> 00:30:07,824 is the most natural thing in the world." 682 00:30:07,824 --> 00:30:09,909 Now, see, you can't get there 683 00:30:09,909 --> 00:30:11,835 apart from the Word. 684 00:30:11,835 --> 00:30:14,445 Let me read that again. 685 00:30:14,445 --> 00:30:15,501 "Such words..." 686 00:30:15,501 --> 00:30:18,776 That's the teachings of Christ. 687 00:30:18,776 --> 00:30:21,897 "...Must so lodge 688 00:30:21,897 --> 00:30:25,069 in the disciple's mind and heart 689 00:30:25,069 --> 00:30:26,869 that conformity to Christ, 690 00:30:26,869 --> 00:30:28,587 obedience to Christ 691 00:30:28,587 --> 00:30:31,265 is the most natural thing in the world." 692 00:30:31,265 --> 00:30:33,285 Now how is that going to happen? 693 00:30:33,285 --> 00:30:36,302 Now, let's go back to something I greatly love - 694 00:30:36,302 --> 00:30:39,907 the Law of God. 695 00:30:39,907 --> 00:30:41,867 The books of wisdom. 696 00:30:41,867 --> 00:30:43,698 And what do we see over and over? 697 00:30:43,698 --> 00:30:45,841 What should the king do in Deuteronomy? 698 00:30:45,841 --> 00:30:48,303 He should write out all the words of this Law. 699 00:30:48,303 --> 00:30:49,178 Why? 700 00:30:49,178 --> 00:30:51,293 To work on his penmanship? Absolutely not. 701 00:30:51,293 --> 00:30:54,547 That those words might be firmly lodged 702 00:30:54,547 --> 00:30:56,637 in his heart and mind. 703 00:30:56,637 --> 00:30:58,491 It's an interesting thing when you go 704 00:30:58,491 --> 00:31:01,674 to the Bible and you do this kind of study: 705 00:31:01,674 --> 00:31:05,110 How do you study the Bible according to the Bible? 706 00:31:05,110 --> 00:31:07,062 And you know you will actually find 707 00:31:07,062 --> 00:31:11,573 only a few references to study? 708 00:31:11,573 --> 00:31:12,760 Did you know that? 709 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:15,128 Do you know what the great portion is? 710 00:31:15,128 --> 00:31:17,582 Memorization and meditation. 711 00:31:17,582 --> 00:31:19,756 Lodging the Word of God in your heart. 712 00:31:19,756 --> 00:31:22,307 As one old preacher I know who I dearly love says: 713 00:31:22,307 --> 00:31:25,815 "Folks, this isn't rocket surgery." 714 00:31:25,815 --> 00:31:28,093 It means rocket science or brain surgery, 715 00:31:28,093 --> 00:31:29,788 but he combines the two things. 716 00:31:29,788 --> 00:31:31,552 He goes, "this isn't rocket surgery." 717 00:31:31,552 --> 00:31:33,760 It's simple. You take the Word of God 718 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:35,348 and you read it and you read it 719 00:31:35,348 --> 00:31:36,948 and you read it and you read it 720 00:31:36,948 --> 00:31:37,973 and you study it, 721 00:31:37,973 --> 00:31:39,457 and if you don't understand it, 722 00:31:39,457 --> 00:31:41,414 you don't care, you keep working on it 723 00:31:41,414 --> 00:31:46,250 because your life depends upon it. 724 00:31:46,250 --> 00:31:47,991 As I said the other night, 725 00:31:47,991 --> 00:31:49,337 some of you who would say, 726 00:31:49,337 --> 00:31:51,308 "Well, I'm not a reader." 727 00:31:51,308 --> 00:31:53,594 Yeah, but if your company offered you a job 728 00:31:53,594 --> 00:31:56,205 paying twice or three times what you're now making, 729 00:31:56,205 --> 00:31:58,896 but you have a 600 page manual to memorize, 730 00:31:58,896 --> 00:32:00,955 I guarantee you'd stay up night and day 731 00:32:00,955 --> 00:32:02,104 to memorize that. 732 00:32:02,104 --> 00:32:03,437 Your wife would be with you 733 00:32:03,437 --> 00:32:05,328 pouring you coffee and encouraging you 734 00:32:05,328 --> 00:32:08,860 because she wants a new bedroom set. 735 00:32:08,860 --> 00:32:10,346 Your children would be going 736 00:32:10,346 --> 00:32:14,624 "hip, hip, hooray dad! Go dad! Go dad!" 737 00:32:14,624 --> 00:32:16,571 And we would do something like that 738 00:32:16,571 --> 00:32:21,475 for something as pathetic as money. 739 00:32:21,475 --> 00:32:22,974 To buy silly clothes 740 00:32:22,974 --> 00:32:27,642 with important designers' names on them. 741 00:32:27,642 --> 00:32:30,131 What a pathetic people. 742 00:32:30,131 --> 00:32:31,898 And yet, we'll let eternity 743 00:32:31,898 --> 00:32:34,905 escape right through our hands 744 00:32:34,905 --> 00:32:40,565 and not even move a finger. 745 00:32:40,565 --> 00:32:45,139 Now, what does this look like? 746 00:32:45,139 --> 00:32:47,097 I want to read you some texts 747 00:32:47,097 --> 00:32:48,910 that have been very helpful for me. 748 00:32:48,910 --> 00:32:51,167 But now, I want you to listen to these texts 749 00:32:51,167 --> 00:32:53,169 as though you'd never heard them before. 750 00:32:53,169 --> 00:32:54,465 That's often very helpful. 751 00:32:54,465 --> 00:32:56,826 I knew of one old pastor that every three years 752 00:32:56,826 --> 00:32:58,149 he would change his Bible. 753 00:32:58,149 --> 00:33:00,260 He would spend three years 754 00:33:00,260 --> 00:33:02,200 going through his entire Bible 755 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:03,913 and writing notes, filling the pages 756 00:33:03,913 --> 00:33:05,344 with notes and notes and notes, 757 00:33:05,344 --> 00:33:06,853 and then he would take that Bible 758 00:33:06,853 --> 00:33:08,893 and put it on the shelf and get a new Bible 759 00:33:08,893 --> 00:33:11,306 because he wanted to hear the Word afresh again 760 00:33:11,306 --> 00:33:12,334 without his notes. 761 00:33:12,334 --> 00:33:14,215 He wanted God to speak to him afresh. 762 00:33:14,215 --> 00:33:16,212 Now, listen to this as though 763 00:33:16,212 --> 00:33:17,825 you've never heard it before. 764 00:33:17,825 --> 00:33:19,718 Because right now you probably 765 00:33:19,718 --> 00:33:21,391 treat it like a cliche - 766 00:33:21,391 --> 00:33:23,044 a meaningless piece 767 00:33:23,044 --> 00:33:25,946 of New Testament poetry. 768 00:33:25,946 --> 00:33:27,442 But I want you to listen to it 769 00:33:27,442 --> 00:33:30,273 as though you had to take it seriously. 770 00:33:30,273 --> 00:33:32,355 Now this is the incarnate God speaking - 771 00:33:32,355 --> 00:33:34,340 Jesus Christ. 772 00:33:34,340 --> 00:33:36,638 "But He answered and said, 773 00:33:36,638 --> 00:33:38,266 'It is written, 774 00:33:38,266 --> 00:33:41,854 Man shall not live on bread alone, 775 00:33:41,854 --> 00:33:44,638 but on every word that proceeds 776 00:33:44,638 --> 00:33:46,753 out of the mouth of God.'" 777 00:33:46,753 --> 00:33:49,281 There's a sense in which I know you believe this. 778 00:33:49,281 --> 00:33:54,184 There's a sense in which you don't believe this at all. 779 00:33:54,184 --> 00:33:56,752 He's saying every aspect of your life 780 00:33:56,752 --> 00:34:00,494 is to be governed, fueled, conformed, 781 00:34:00,494 --> 00:34:03,023 empowered by the Word of God. 782 00:34:03,023 --> 00:34:04,388 Let me ask you a question, 783 00:34:04,388 --> 00:34:05,963 those of you who are married. 784 00:34:05,963 --> 00:34:07,327 How much time have you spent 785 00:34:07,327 --> 00:34:08,903 studying marriage in the Scriptures? 786 00:34:08,903 --> 00:34:10,603 I mean, it's the most important relationship 787 00:34:10,603 --> 00:34:12,908 you have on this earth. 788 00:34:12,908 --> 00:34:14,885 Are you doing what it says here? 789 00:34:14,885 --> 00:34:16,652 That your marriage, you're seeking 790 00:34:16,652 --> 00:34:18,414 that it be conformed to every word 791 00:34:18,414 --> 00:34:21,033 that proceeds out of the mouth of God? 792 00:34:21,033 --> 00:34:23,353 Now marriage is tough enough when you do know 793 00:34:23,353 --> 00:34:25,428 what God's Word says. 794 00:34:25,428 --> 00:34:27,067 How much more difficult is it 795 00:34:27,067 --> 00:34:31,656 when you don't even know what God's Word says? 796 00:34:31,656 --> 00:34:33,501 Sometimes I'll ask music directors. 797 00:34:33,501 --> 00:34:34,772 You know, I'll go to a church, 798 00:34:34,772 --> 00:34:37,018 and it's got a big music program and all this, 799 00:34:37,018 --> 00:34:38,857 and I'll ask them this one question: 800 00:34:38,857 --> 00:34:40,779 You're the worship leader? Yes. 801 00:34:40,779 --> 00:34:42,556 Have you studied worship 802 00:34:42,556 --> 00:34:44,686 beginning in the book of Genesis 1 803 00:34:44,686 --> 00:34:47,821 all the way through the book of Revelation? 804 00:34:47,821 --> 00:34:49,391 Well, no. 805 00:34:49,391 --> 00:34:50,833 Well, then how do you know 806 00:34:50,833 --> 00:34:53,065 that what you're doing is pleasing to God? 807 00:34:53,065 --> 00:34:55,920 How can you know? 808 00:34:55,920 --> 00:34:57,708 The sad thing is now they say 809 00:34:57,708 --> 00:34:59,604 well, it doesn't even matter. 810 00:34:59,604 --> 00:35:02,208 It's just basically left up to what you feel like. 811 00:35:02,208 --> 00:35:05,096 No, it's not. No, it's not. 812 00:35:05,096 --> 00:35:06,968 The way you dress - 813 00:35:06,968 --> 00:35:09,326 I know I sound now like a 1950's 814 00:35:09,326 --> 00:35:10,954 fundamentalist preacher, don't I? 815 00:35:10,954 --> 00:35:12,481 But let me ask you a question: 816 00:35:12,481 --> 00:35:13,564 the way you dress - 817 00:35:13,564 --> 00:35:16,512 have you gone to Scripture to ask God: 818 00:35:16,512 --> 00:35:18,133 what am I supposed to do? 819 00:35:18,133 --> 00:35:19,213 The way you talk, 820 00:35:19,213 --> 00:35:21,289 your relationships, 821 00:35:21,289 --> 00:35:23,945 what you participate in and don't participate in? 822 00:35:23,945 --> 00:35:25,362 Look what He says: 823 00:35:25,362 --> 00:35:28,589 You do not live on bread alone, 824 00:35:28,589 --> 00:35:31,317 but you live on every word 825 00:35:31,317 --> 00:35:34,940 that proceeds out of the mouth of God. 826 00:35:34,940 --> 00:35:37,077 You know what the Puritan genius was? 827 00:35:37,077 --> 00:35:38,951 Now, I don't agree with the Puritans 828 00:35:38,951 --> 00:35:40,198 on absolutely everything. 829 00:35:40,198 --> 00:35:44,630 They're men, but you know what their genius was? 830 00:35:44,630 --> 00:35:48,007 They honestly sought to conform 831 00:35:48,007 --> 00:35:51,371 every aspect of their life to the Word of God. 832 00:35:51,371 --> 00:35:52,883 Now, like all of us men, 833 00:35:52,883 --> 00:35:54,292 they failed in some areas. 834 00:35:54,292 --> 00:35:56,934 They went too far or not far enough in some areas. 835 00:35:56,934 --> 00:35:58,624 But they are one of the few peoples 836 00:35:58,624 --> 00:36:00,118 that ever walked on this planet 837 00:36:00,118 --> 00:36:02,720 that said every aspect of life 838 00:36:02,720 --> 00:36:05,940 must be conformed to the written Word of God. 839 00:36:05,940 --> 00:36:08,973 We don't believe that! 840 00:36:08,973 --> 00:36:11,274 As a matter of fact, we live in a culture now 841 00:36:11,274 --> 00:36:13,369 where it's just sort of believe 842 00:36:13,369 --> 00:36:15,020 in an undefined Jesus 843 00:36:15,020 --> 00:36:18,900 and then do whatever is right in your own eyes. 844 00:36:18,900 --> 00:36:21,508 No, my dear friend, listen! 845 00:36:21,508 --> 00:36:25,503 You see, you don't fear. 846 00:36:25,503 --> 00:36:27,512 And you do trust in yourself. 847 00:36:27,512 --> 00:36:29,248 You prove it every day 848 00:36:29,248 --> 00:36:31,348 by just walking according to 849 00:36:31,348 --> 00:36:35,049 what you think is right. 850 00:36:35,049 --> 00:36:36,940 Don't do that! 851 00:36:36,940 --> 00:36:38,735 Abiding in Christ is asking, 852 00:36:38,735 --> 00:36:42,196 Lord, I am in a fallen world. 853 00:36:42,196 --> 00:36:44,143 There is a sense in which even though 854 00:36:44,143 --> 00:36:45,314 I have been regenerated, 855 00:36:45,314 --> 00:36:47,691 I still have fallen members of my body - 856 00:36:47,691 --> 00:36:50,176 even a fallen mind. 857 00:36:50,176 --> 00:36:51,588 I live in a fallen world. 858 00:36:51,588 --> 00:36:53,912 I'm behind enemy lines. 859 00:36:53,912 --> 00:36:55,437 Wisdom was not born with me. 860 00:36:55,437 --> 00:36:57,289 It will not die with me. 861 00:36:57,289 --> 00:37:00,333 I must take this book. 862 00:37:00,333 --> 00:37:03,321 Again, I go back to Pilgrim's Progress. 863 00:37:03,321 --> 00:37:05,573 It's the book. 864 00:37:05,573 --> 00:37:08,851 The book that guided him. 865 00:37:08,851 --> 00:37:12,524 The book. 866 00:37:12,524 --> 00:37:14,636 Listen to this text. 867 00:37:14,636 --> 00:37:17,291 He tells Joshua, "Only be strong and very courageous. 868 00:37:17,291 --> 00:37:20,404 Be careful to do according to all the Law 869 00:37:20,404 --> 00:37:23,080 which Moses My servant commanded you. 870 00:37:23,080 --> 00:37:24,370 Do not turn from it 871 00:37:24,370 --> 00:37:27,042 to the right or to the left." 872 00:37:27,042 --> 00:37:28,725 Do you know the average evangelical 873 00:37:28,725 --> 00:37:30,752 doesn't know enough of the Law 874 00:37:30,752 --> 00:37:35,896 to determine whether he's even turned from it or not. 875 00:37:35,896 --> 00:37:37,627 Really. We talk about obedience, 876 00:37:37,627 --> 00:37:39,251 but before obedience can come 877 00:37:39,251 --> 00:37:40,841 there must be knowledge. 878 00:37:40,841 --> 00:37:42,620 And there's such a neglect of the Word of God 879 00:37:42,620 --> 00:37:43,606 that we don't even know 880 00:37:43,606 --> 00:37:45,566 when we're walking in disobedience. 881 00:37:45,566 --> 00:37:48,370 That's why we can do horrendous things 882 00:37:48,370 --> 00:37:52,183 within the context of the so-called local church 883 00:37:52,183 --> 00:37:54,750 and not even be convicted about it. 884 00:37:54,750 --> 00:37:58,949 We don't even know what the will of God is. 885 00:37:58,949 --> 00:38:01,858 "So that you may have success wherever you go. 886 00:38:01,858 --> 00:38:03,651 This book of the Law..." 887 00:38:03,651 --> 00:38:07,527 Now, let's just take this literally for a moment. 888 00:38:07,527 --> 00:38:12,150 Not absurdedly, but literally. 889 00:38:12,150 --> 00:38:16,147 "This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, 890 00:38:16,147 --> 00:38:22,202 but you shall meditate on it day and night." 891 00:38:22,202 --> 00:38:24,811 Okay, let me ask you a question. 892 00:38:24,811 --> 00:38:27,453 Does your ten minute quiet time 893 00:38:27,453 --> 00:38:31,405 fulfill this command? 894 00:38:31,405 --> 00:38:33,350 I mean, people boast because 895 00:38:33,350 --> 00:38:35,534 "I had my quiet time." 896 00:38:35,534 --> 00:38:37,156 Well, describe it to me. 897 00:38:37,156 --> 00:38:40,219 "Well, you know, 15 minutes in the Word." 898 00:38:40,219 --> 00:38:43,096 "15 minutes in prayer." 899 00:38:43,096 --> 00:38:46,174 I applaud you for whatever attempt you're making, 900 00:38:46,174 --> 00:38:51,625 but don't pat yourself on the back. 901 00:38:51,625 --> 00:38:53,838 He's saying this Word, 902 00:38:53,838 --> 00:38:55,809 "it shall not depart from your mouth, 903 00:38:55,809 --> 00:38:58,051 but you shall meditate on it day and night 904 00:38:58,051 --> 00:39:00,958 so that you may be careful to do 905 00:39:00,958 --> 00:39:03,484 according to all that is written in it. 906 00:39:03,484 --> 00:39:06,119 For then you will make your way prosperous 907 00:39:06,119 --> 00:39:07,616 and then you will succeed." 908 00:39:07,616 --> 00:39:09,248 Now this is not to be interpreted 909 00:39:09,248 --> 00:39:11,479 in the context of televangelists. 910 00:39:11,479 --> 00:39:12,827 It's not talking about: 911 00:39:12,827 --> 00:39:14,502 then you will prosper financially. 912 00:39:14,502 --> 00:39:16,171 It means then you will prosper 913 00:39:16,171 --> 00:39:18,095 in the will of your God 914 00:39:18,095 --> 00:39:21,503 and be a useful servant to Him. 915 00:39:21,503 --> 00:39:24,635 That's what being fruitful means. 916 00:39:24,635 --> 00:39:29,197 So abiding in Christ is to take this gift 917 00:39:29,197 --> 00:39:31,288 of His teaching 918 00:39:31,288 --> 00:39:34,197 and learning to follow it. 919 00:39:34,197 --> 00:39:37,248 Now as we see here in verse 12, 920 00:39:37,248 --> 00:39:38,401 "This is My commandment 921 00:39:38,401 --> 00:39:39,624 that you love one another 922 00:39:39,624 --> 00:39:40,903 just as I have loved you." 923 00:39:40,903 --> 00:39:42,416 Now let me say a few things, 924 00:39:42,416 --> 00:39:43,977 I want to draw a balance here. 925 00:39:43,977 --> 00:39:46,661 I don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. 926 00:39:46,661 --> 00:39:49,687 I want to explain this. 927 00:39:49,687 --> 00:39:51,947 The end of everything that has to do 928 00:39:51,947 --> 00:39:55,180 with God's commands is this: 929 00:39:55,180 --> 00:39:56,418 To love the Lord your God 930 00:39:56,418 --> 00:39:58,591 with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength 931 00:39:58,591 --> 00:40:00,502 and to love your neighbor as yourself. 932 00:40:00,502 --> 00:40:02,619 That's the end of it all. 933 00:40:02,619 --> 00:40:06,062 As I said awhile back, 934 00:40:06,062 --> 00:40:08,057 Christianity is not primarily 935 00:40:08,057 --> 00:40:10,028 an ethical or moralistic religion. 936 00:40:10,028 --> 00:40:12,316 We're not about just keeping rules. 937 00:40:12,316 --> 00:40:13,546 We're not. 938 00:40:13,546 --> 00:40:16,568 We're about an intimate relationship with the living God, 939 00:40:16,568 --> 00:40:18,212 loving Him with all our heart 940 00:40:18,212 --> 00:40:21,319 and entering into intimate relationships with people 941 00:40:21,319 --> 00:40:23,136 and loving them with all our heart 942 00:40:23,136 --> 00:40:27,093 and showing them the mercy that God shows us. 943 00:40:27,093 --> 00:40:30,247 That's the fulfillment of the Law. 944 00:40:30,247 --> 00:40:33,262 But then again, we are a people 945 00:40:33,262 --> 00:40:36,527 in a very distorted culture. 946 00:40:36,527 --> 00:40:39,860 And wisdom was not born with you 947 00:40:39,860 --> 00:40:40,750 at your physical birth, 948 00:40:40,750 --> 00:40:41,985 and I want to tell you, 949 00:40:41,985 --> 00:40:43,405 wisdom was not born with you 950 00:40:43,405 --> 00:40:44,963 in your spiritual birth. 951 00:40:44,963 --> 00:40:46,946 Wisdom is something that is acquired. 952 00:40:46,946 --> 00:40:48,781 Now that you have become a Christian, 953 00:40:48,781 --> 00:40:50,028 you have the capabilities 954 00:40:50,028 --> 00:40:52,372 of acquiring wisdom. 955 00:40:52,372 --> 00:40:55,515 But wisdom is necessary. 956 00:40:55,515 --> 00:40:58,836 Now, every time I talk 957 00:40:58,836 --> 00:41:00,451 in the last few years 958 00:41:00,451 --> 00:41:02,638 about the Law of God, 959 00:41:02,638 --> 00:41:04,206 the commands of God, 960 00:41:04,206 --> 00:41:05,802 everyone screws up their face 961 00:41:05,802 --> 00:41:07,593 and gets really mad. 962 00:41:07,593 --> 00:41:09,974 They go, "We're free from the Law." 963 00:41:09,974 --> 00:41:12,676 "We're free from the Law." 964 00:41:12,676 --> 00:41:14,720 And I'm thinking, does anybody even know 965 00:41:14,720 --> 00:41:16,653 what that means anymore? 966 00:41:16,653 --> 00:41:18,375 Free from the Law. 967 00:41:18,375 --> 00:41:21,020 "The Law has nothing to do with us. 968 00:41:21,020 --> 00:41:24,671 Absolutely nothing! We're free!" 969 00:41:24,671 --> 00:41:25,983 Free to what? 970 00:41:25,983 --> 00:41:27,460 "Free to do whatever we want. 971 00:41:27,460 --> 00:41:28,514 We believe in Jesus. 972 00:41:28,514 --> 00:41:30,539 We're free to do whatever we want." 973 00:41:30,539 --> 00:41:32,567 Well, hold on. 974 00:41:32,567 --> 00:41:35,705 First of all, a person who is unconverted - 975 00:41:35,705 --> 00:41:38,417 which most people who call themselves Christians are - 976 00:41:38,417 --> 00:41:40,453 and they have that kind of teaching, 977 00:41:40,453 --> 00:41:42,164 (I'm free to do whatever I want), 978 00:41:42,164 --> 00:41:43,848 but their heart's not been changed 979 00:41:43,848 --> 00:41:46,406 so their heart is filled with worldly, carnal desires. 980 00:41:46,406 --> 00:41:47,685 So they go to church every Sunday 981 00:41:47,685 --> 00:41:49,611 and worship God in the praise service 982 00:41:49,611 --> 00:41:51,525 and then they live like an abomination 983 00:41:51,525 --> 00:41:53,203 throughout the week. 984 00:41:53,203 --> 00:41:55,523 Let's figure out what we're saying here. 985 00:41:55,523 --> 00:41:57,056 Now let me ask you a question, 986 00:41:57,056 --> 00:41:59,871 when it says that we're free from the Law, 987 00:41:59,871 --> 00:42:02,786 what do you think that means? 988 00:42:02,786 --> 00:42:05,993 That we no longer have to obey God? 989 00:42:05,993 --> 00:42:08,841 Or does it mean we're just supposed to love one another? 990 00:42:08,841 --> 00:42:10,691 But herein lies a big problem. 991 00:42:10,691 --> 00:42:15,502 People have some really distorted views on love. 992 00:42:15,502 --> 00:42:17,991 So what are we talking about? 993 00:42:17,991 --> 00:42:21,507 If we say that we don't even need the Law, 994 00:42:21,507 --> 00:42:23,224 we don't need to think about it, 995 00:42:23,224 --> 00:42:24,983 we don't need to read it or anything, 996 00:42:24,983 --> 00:42:26,688 then you know what we have to do? 997 00:42:26,688 --> 00:42:29,096 We have to literally cut out the book of Psalms 998 00:42:29,096 --> 00:42:30,807 and throw it away. 999 00:42:30,807 --> 00:42:31,766 Do you realize that? 1000 00:42:31,766 --> 00:42:33,792 Because the book of Psalms - look at it. 1001 00:42:33,792 --> 00:42:35,620 "I delight in Your Law." 1002 00:42:35,620 --> 00:42:37,601 "Your precepts are true." 1003 00:42:37,601 --> 00:42:41,358 What are we going to do? 1004 00:42:41,358 --> 00:42:43,436 Or as one person said one time 1005 00:42:43,436 --> 00:42:45,755 in a meeting I was holding. 1006 00:42:45,755 --> 00:42:47,816 It was a meeting in a conference thing 1007 00:42:47,816 --> 00:42:49,415 and I was talking about the Law, 1008 00:42:49,415 --> 00:42:51,398 and this person raised their hand and said, 1009 00:42:51,398 --> 00:42:52,907 "We're free from the Law 1010 00:42:52,907 --> 00:42:54,640 and you're trying to put us under 1011 00:42:54,640 --> 00:42:56,130 the bondage of the Law 1012 00:42:56,130 --> 00:42:58,343 that oppresses us..." 1013 00:42:58,343 --> 00:43:00,208 And I said, 1014 00:43:00,208 --> 00:43:02,687 "Wow." 1015 00:43:02,687 --> 00:43:07,145 I said, "Okay, let me ask you a question. 1016 00:43:07,145 --> 00:43:09,904 You just told me that the Law of God 1017 00:43:09,904 --> 00:43:13,272 is oppressive, it's restricting, 1018 00:43:13,272 --> 00:43:14,819 restrains you 1019 00:43:14,819 --> 00:43:16,429 and puts you in bondage. 1020 00:43:16,429 --> 00:43:18,453 Okay. 1021 00:43:18,453 --> 00:43:21,230 Let's just go over some of the laws 1022 00:43:21,230 --> 00:43:23,708 and you tell me which one of these 1023 00:43:23,708 --> 00:43:25,253 is restraining you from doing 1024 00:43:25,253 --> 00:43:26,662 what you want to do." 1025 00:43:26,662 --> 00:43:30,373 Let's see: You shall have no other gods before Me. 1026 00:43:30,373 --> 00:43:32,238 Are you mad about that? 1027 00:43:32,238 --> 00:43:36,051 Because that's restraining you from having other gods? 1028 00:43:36,051 --> 00:43:37,620 Let's try another one. 1029 00:43:37,620 --> 00:43:41,141 You're not to steal your neighbor's wife. 1030 00:43:41,141 --> 00:43:43,894 Is that oppressive to you? 1031 00:43:43,894 --> 00:43:47,472 You shall not lie. 1032 00:43:47,472 --> 00:43:50,129 And I just went down through all the laws of God 1033 00:43:50,129 --> 00:43:51,239 that I could remember, 1034 00:43:51,239 --> 00:43:53,062 and in the end I'm sitting there 1035 00:43:53,062 --> 00:43:55,380 and the man starts to kind of slump in his chair 1036 00:43:55,380 --> 00:43:57,744 because he knew what was happening. 1037 00:43:57,744 --> 00:44:01,209 I said if these beautiful laws 1038 00:44:01,209 --> 00:44:02,904 are oppressive to you 1039 00:44:02,904 --> 00:44:05,497 and restraining what you really want to do, 1040 00:44:05,497 --> 00:44:11,451 what kind of evil person are you? 1041 00:44:11,451 --> 00:44:13,044 You see? 1042 00:44:13,044 --> 00:44:15,791 Now when He says we're free from the bondage of the Law, 1043 00:44:15,791 --> 00:44:20,040 what it means is all those detailed laws of sacrifice, 1044 00:44:20,040 --> 00:44:22,576 all those things have been fulfilled in Christ. 1045 00:44:22,576 --> 00:44:25,585 That's part of it, but the big part of it is just this: 1046 00:44:25,585 --> 00:44:29,430 The Law says do this and live. 1047 00:44:29,430 --> 00:44:32,269 Now, I want to tell you something. That's not bad. 1048 00:44:32,269 --> 00:44:35,010 That's not sinful - that statement. 1049 00:44:35,010 --> 00:44:36,559 But you see, we're under bondage 1050 00:44:36,559 --> 00:44:38,980 because we can't do those things. 1051 00:44:38,980 --> 00:44:40,878 And therefore we can't live. 1052 00:44:40,878 --> 00:44:42,629 And therefore, we should die. 1053 00:44:42,629 --> 00:44:45,158 Because we have violated all the Law. 1054 00:44:45,158 --> 00:44:48,366 We're free from that curse of the Law. 1055 00:44:48,366 --> 00:44:50,079 That's not because the Law is bad, 1056 00:44:50,079 --> 00:44:51,395 it's because we were bad. 1057 00:44:51,395 --> 00:44:52,967 We're free from it because Christ 1058 00:44:52,967 --> 00:44:54,237 has fulfilled the Law 1059 00:44:54,237 --> 00:44:56,598 and died in our place. 1060 00:44:56,598 --> 00:44:58,901 So we're not justified by the Law. 1061 00:44:58,901 --> 00:45:02,238 And we shouldn't be legalistic people 1062 00:45:02,238 --> 00:45:03,860 or trying to kill other people 1063 00:45:03,860 --> 00:45:05,101 with all our rules. 1064 00:45:05,101 --> 00:45:06,605 But the fact of the matter is 1065 00:45:06,605 --> 00:45:08,295 I delight in the Law of God. 1066 00:45:08,295 --> 00:45:10,106 I love the book of Proverbs. 1067 00:45:10,106 --> 00:45:12,292 I get excited even about the commandment 1068 00:45:12,292 --> 00:45:14,051 in the Old Testament that says 1069 00:45:14,051 --> 00:45:15,541 you ought to build a fence 1070 00:45:15,541 --> 00:45:17,123 around the roof of your house. 1071 00:45:17,123 --> 00:45:18,694 And someone says, well, do you 1072 00:45:18,694 --> 00:45:20,786 have a fence around the roof of your house? 1073 00:45:20,786 --> 00:45:22,854 No. 1074 00:45:22,854 --> 00:45:25,953 Well, are you disobeying that law? No. 1075 00:45:25,953 --> 00:45:28,458 See, you have to understand what it's saying. 1076 00:45:28,458 --> 00:45:30,750 You build a fence around the roof of your house 1077 00:45:30,750 --> 00:45:32,558 because in that time, most people - 1078 00:45:32,558 --> 00:45:33,896 especially in the summer - 1079 00:45:33,896 --> 00:45:36,501 lived on the roof of their house. 1080 00:45:36,501 --> 00:45:39,577 And you build a fence around the roof of your house 1081 00:45:39,577 --> 00:45:41,045 because you love your neighbor 1082 00:45:41,045 --> 00:45:44,110 and you don't want him to fall off your roof. 1083 00:45:44,110 --> 00:45:45,956 And actually, some of our common laws 1084 00:45:45,956 --> 00:45:48,051 in this country 1085 00:45:48,051 --> 00:45:49,986 with regard to property 1086 00:45:49,986 --> 00:45:51,411 and the welfare of others 1087 00:45:51,411 --> 00:45:54,116 are based upon that law. 1088 00:45:54,116 --> 00:45:56,700 I don't find anything in the law 1089 00:45:56,700 --> 00:45:59,541 that's displeasing. 1090 00:45:59,541 --> 00:46:01,430 I can delight in it. 1091 00:46:01,430 --> 00:46:03,673 The wisdom that's found 1092 00:46:03,673 --> 00:46:06,266 in Proverbs and in the Law itself 1093 00:46:06,266 --> 00:46:09,059 protects my marriage, 1094 00:46:09,059 --> 00:46:11,555 shows me how to raise my children. 1095 00:46:11,555 --> 00:46:12,988 So if you're telling me: 1096 00:46:12,988 --> 00:46:14,386 Washer, don't put me under 1097 00:46:14,386 --> 00:46:15,810 the bondage of the Law, 1098 00:46:15,810 --> 00:46:21,169 I'm going, just exactly what do you want to do? 1099 00:46:21,169 --> 00:46:30,021 Do you see? 1100 00:46:30,021 --> 00:46:33,159 So how do we abide in Christ? 1101 00:46:33,159 --> 00:46:37,515 Abiding in Christ is not completed 1102 00:46:37,515 --> 00:46:39,825 by just our obedience 1103 00:46:39,825 --> 00:46:41,458 to the Word of God. 1104 00:46:41,458 --> 00:46:44,469 Because our relationship is much more than that. 1105 00:46:44,469 --> 00:46:46,918 But abiding in Christ cannot be separated 1106 00:46:46,918 --> 00:46:48,746 from His Word, His commands, 1107 00:46:48,746 --> 00:46:51,870 and obedience to Him. 1108 00:46:51,870 --> 00:46:55,515 What is it? Romans 12:2? 1109 00:46:55,515 --> 00:47:00,395 Renewing our mind in the Word of God. 1110 00:47:00,395 --> 00:47:01,633 Isn't it amazing? 1111 00:47:01,633 --> 00:47:03,646 Some of you came here this week 1112 00:47:03,646 --> 00:47:08,853 and you probably have not been in this church before 1113 00:47:08,853 --> 00:47:10,894 and you're going man, 1114 00:47:10,894 --> 00:47:13,789 they read the Bible too much 1115 00:47:13,789 --> 00:47:15,347 in their services. 1116 00:47:15,347 --> 00:47:17,229 It's kind of boring just sitting there 1117 00:47:17,229 --> 00:47:19,518 listening to them read a whole chapter. 1118 00:47:19,518 --> 00:47:22,460 What does that say about you? 1119 00:47:22,460 --> 00:47:26,455 What does it say about contemporary Christianity? 1120 00:47:26,455 --> 00:47:28,289 That the Scriptures aren't even read 1121 00:47:28,289 --> 00:47:31,335 when exactly in 1 Timothy it says they should be. 1122 00:47:31,335 --> 00:47:33,431 Publicly. 1123 00:47:33,431 --> 00:47:36,484 See? The reason why we're so weak 1124 00:47:36,484 --> 00:47:38,233 in Christianity today 1125 00:47:38,233 --> 00:47:40,229 is because we have a neglect of the Word. 1126 00:47:40,229 --> 00:47:43,853 Now listen to this. Psalm 1:2-3. 1127 00:47:43,853 --> 00:47:46,040 "But his delight - (the righteous man) - 1128 00:47:46,040 --> 00:47:48,294 his delight is in the Law of the Lord, 1129 00:47:48,294 --> 00:47:51,458 and in His Law he meditates day and night. 1130 00:47:51,458 --> 00:47:54,363 He will be like a tree firmly planted 1131 00:47:54,363 --> 00:47:55,842 by streams of water 1132 00:47:55,842 --> 00:47:57,652 which yields its fruit in its season, 1133 00:47:57,652 --> 00:47:59,369 and its leaf does not wither, 1134 00:47:59,369 --> 00:48:02,943 and whatever he does, he prospers." 1135 00:48:02,943 --> 00:48:05,384 Fruit-bearing - do you see this? 1136 00:48:05,384 --> 00:48:09,082 When Jesus is teaching, please understand me, 1137 00:48:09,082 --> 00:48:11,556 it's not plagiarism, okay? 1138 00:48:11,556 --> 00:48:13,399 Because He wrote the Old Testament. 1139 00:48:13,399 --> 00:48:15,315 But most of His Gospel teaching 1140 00:48:15,315 --> 00:48:17,080 is drawn right out of what He said 1141 00:48:17,080 --> 00:48:18,793 in the Old Testament. 1142 00:48:18,793 --> 00:48:20,936 Do you understand that? 1143 00:48:20,936 --> 00:48:22,729 He's been talking about fruit-bearing 1144 00:48:22,729 --> 00:48:24,785 for a long time. 1145 00:48:24,785 --> 00:48:26,461 And every time He talks about it, 1146 00:48:26,461 --> 00:48:29,668 it has something to do with His Word, 1147 00:48:29,668 --> 00:48:31,370 with the Word of God. 1148 00:48:31,370 --> 00:48:32,790 Young people, you come to me, 1149 00:48:32,790 --> 00:48:34,391 and you say, you know, Brother Paul, 1150 00:48:34,391 --> 00:48:35,572 I've been listening to your sermons. 1151 00:48:35,572 --> 00:48:37,124 I want to grow. I want to be used of God. 1152 00:48:37,124 --> 00:48:38,184 What should I do? 1153 00:48:38,184 --> 00:48:41,598 I always tell them Robert Murray McCheyne. 1154 00:48:41,598 --> 00:48:44,342 They go, "Robert Murray McCheyne. Who is that?" 1155 00:48:44,342 --> 00:48:46,332 He's a young man who died when he was 28. 1156 00:48:46,332 --> 00:48:48,508 Probably had progressed more in holiness 1157 00:48:48,508 --> 00:48:51,411 than just about anybody at that age. 1158 00:48:51,411 --> 00:48:52,922 And he has a reading list. 1159 00:48:52,922 --> 00:48:54,880 He read through the New Testament twice a year 1160 00:48:54,880 --> 00:48:58,111 and the Old Testament once a year. 1161 00:48:58,111 --> 00:48:59,288 Do that. 1162 00:48:59,288 --> 00:49:00,609 Get his reading list. Do that. 1163 00:49:00,609 --> 00:49:01,873 Read through the Scriptures 1164 00:49:01,873 --> 00:49:03,148 over and over and over. 1165 00:49:03,148 --> 00:49:05,018 And if you are a brand new believer, 1166 00:49:05,018 --> 00:49:06,773 you know, I'm not going to tell you 1167 00:49:06,773 --> 00:49:08,053 you should read a little. 1168 00:49:08,053 --> 00:49:09,572 Man, if you're a new believer, 1169 00:49:09,572 --> 00:49:11,413 you're probably on fire. 1170 00:49:11,413 --> 00:49:14,035 Read the Bible hours a day. 1171 00:49:14,035 --> 00:49:17,357 Consume it. 1172 00:49:17,357 --> 00:49:19,158 You want to be used of God? 1173 00:49:19,158 --> 00:49:21,111 Prove it. 1174 00:49:21,111 --> 00:49:22,720 You want to be fruitful? 1175 00:49:22,720 --> 00:49:25,314 Prove it. 1176 00:49:25,314 --> 00:49:26,958 Oh, my dear friend, my only regret 1177 00:49:26,958 --> 00:49:28,208 in the last thirty years 1178 00:49:28,208 --> 00:49:30,078 is not that I studied the Bible too much, 1179 00:49:30,078 --> 00:49:31,750 as that I allowed myself to be 1180 00:49:31,750 --> 00:49:37,088 distracted from it so much. 1181 00:49:37,088 --> 00:49:40,187 So abiding in Christ is abiding in His Word. 1182 00:49:40,187 --> 00:49:42,293 Saturating our lives in His Word 1183 00:49:42,293 --> 00:49:43,631 and seeking to obey Him. 1184 00:49:43,631 --> 00:49:46,201 Now, we come to a second thing. 1185 00:49:46,201 --> 00:49:49,745 Abiding in Christ is through continuous - 1186 00:49:49,745 --> 00:49:51,223 now get ready - 1187 00:49:51,223 --> 00:49:55,831 continuous dependence on prayer, 1188 00:49:55,831 --> 00:49:58,895 constant reliance upon prayer, 1189 00:49:58,895 --> 00:50:02,736 persistent spiritual imbibing 1190 00:50:02,736 --> 00:50:06,591 of the life and power of Jesus Christ 1191 00:50:06,591 --> 00:50:08,505 through prayer. 1192 00:50:08,505 --> 00:50:11,296 Now let me quote D.A. Carson. 1193 00:50:11,296 --> 00:50:15,146 "The text suggests (this is unbelievable - 1194 00:50:15,146 --> 00:50:16,841 this is powerful) 1195 00:50:16,841 --> 00:50:18,986 The text suggests 1196 00:50:18,986 --> 00:50:22,093 that the fruit in the vine imagery 1197 00:50:22,093 --> 00:50:25,733 represents everything that is the product 1198 00:50:25,733 --> 00:50:31,582 of effective prayer in Jesus' name." 1199 00:50:31,582 --> 00:50:36,237 Now, I want us to look at verse 7. 1200 00:50:36,237 --> 00:50:37,769 It's very interesting. He says, 1201 00:50:37,769 --> 00:50:39,395 "If you abide in Me, 1202 00:50:39,395 --> 00:50:41,523 and My words abide in you, 1203 00:50:41,523 --> 00:50:44,939 ask whatever you wish 1204 00:50:44,939 --> 00:50:48,563 and it will be done for you." 1205 00:50:48,563 --> 00:50:49,880 Look in verse 16. 1206 00:50:49,880 --> 00:50:51,873 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you 1207 00:50:51,873 --> 00:50:54,314 and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit 1208 00:50:54,314 --> 00:50:56,440 and that your fruit would remain, 1209 00:50:56,440 --> 00:51:01,576 so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, 1210 00:51:01,576 --> 00:51:07,011 He may give to you." 1211 00:51:07,011 --> 00:51:08,537 Now, let's look at this. 1212 00:51:08,537 --> 00:51:11,027 This is extremely important. 1213 00:51:11,027 --> 00:51:12,971 There's a lot of mystery here 1214 00:51:12,971 --> 00:51:14,425 that I cannot explain to you. 1215 00:51:14,425 --> 00:51:15,313 No one can. 1216 00:51:15,313 --> 00:51:17,647 As a matter of fact, if you meet someone who can, 1217 00:51:17,647 --> 00:51:19,420 run from them. They're a heretic. 1218 00:51:19,420 --> 00:51:23,879 There's some mystery in this passage. 1219 00:51:23,879 --> 00:51:25,817 This is one of those texts 1220 00:51:25,817 --> 00:51:28,551 where you're just going to have to take God at His Word. 1221 00:51:28,551 --> 00:51:30,652 Because if you try to make this fit 1222 00:51:30,652 --> 00:51:33,536 into some system of thought, 1223 00:51:33,536 --> 00:51:35,825 you're going to explain the passage away. 1224 00:51:35,825 --> 00:51:37,678 And you don't want to do that. 1225 00:51:37,678 --> 00:51:43,725 Now, isn't it amazing that in both passages 1226 00:51:43,725 --> 00:51:45,379 He's talking about prayer 1227 00:51:45,379 --> 00:51:48,275 and it's in the context of bearing fruit. 1228 00:51:48,275 --> 00:51:51,678 That to be a fruitful Christian, 1229 00:51:51,678 --> 00:51:55,417 prayer is absolutely essential - 1230 00:51:55,417 --> 00:51:57,702 prayer in the name of Jesus; 1231 00:51:57,702 --> 00:52:01,214 prayer believing that God 1232 00:52:01,214 --> 00:52:03,426 (unintelligible). 1233 00:52:03,426 --> 00:52:06,715 But I also want you to notice something. 1234 00:52:06,715 --> 00:52:09,242 In verse 7, He says, "Abide in Me 1235 00:52:09,242 --> 00:52:12,850 and My words abide in you." 1236 00:52:12,850 --> 00:52:15,458 So what are we seeing here? 1237 00:52:15,458 --> 00:52:18,129 (incomplete thought) 1238 00:52:18,129 --> 00:52:19,650 We're not seeing this - 1239 00:52:19,650 --> 00:52:20,887 we're not seeing a person 1240 00:52:20,887 --> 00:52:23,445 who neglects the Word of God, 1241 00:52:23,445 --> 00:52:26,354 whose mind is not renewed at all. 1242 00:52:26,354 --> 00:52:28,837 We're not talking about a person 1243 00:52:28,837 --> 00:52:33,428 who doesn't have the mind of Christ. 1244 00:52:33,428 --> 00:52:35,308 Okay? We're not talking about a person 1245 00:52:35,308 --> 00:52:37,273 who neglects the Word of God 1246 00:52:37,273 --> 00:52:40,032 and then just asks a whole bunch of stuff. 1247 00:52:40,032 --> 00:52:43,441 Because usually the stuff they ask for 1248 00:52:43,441 --> 00:52:47,862 are carnal and outside of God's will. 1249 00:52:47,862 --> 00:52:49,988 But what we're talking about 1250 00:52:49,988 --> 00:52:53,078 is a person who is abiding in Christ 1251 00:52:53,078 --> 00:52:55,324 and he is abiding in the Word of Christ, 1252 00:52:55,324 --> 00:52:57,446 and the Word of Christ is abiding in him. 1253 00:52:57,446 --> 00:53:00,110 What is it? We're talking about a person 1254 00:53:00,110 --> 00:53:02,727 who through their constant imbibing 1255 00:53:02,727 --> 00:53:03,995 upon the Word of God, 1256 00:53:03,995 --> 00:53:06,270 their constant feeding upon the Word of God, 1257 00:53:06,270 --> 00:53:08,958 the Word of God constantly renewing their mind, 1258 00:53:08,958 --> 00:53:12,379 they are beginning to develop what? 1259 00:53:12,379 --> 00:53:18,046 The mind of Christ. 1260 00:53:18,046 --> 00:53:20,088 They are beginning to know, 1261 00:53:20,088 --> 00:53:22,018 as Romans 12:1-2 says, 1262 00:53:22,018 --> 00:53:23,517 they are beginning to know 1263 00:53:23,517 --> 00:53:26,325 what the will of God is. 1264 00:53:26,325 --> 00:53:27,291 Isn't that amazing? 1265 00:53:27,291 --> 00:53:28,799 He says you may renew your mind 1266 00:53:28,799 --> 00:53:33,082 that you may know what the will of God is. 1267 00:53:33,082 --> 00:53:34,379 Okay? 1268 00:53:34,379 --> 00:53:41,762 Now... 1269 00:53:41,762 --> 00:53:43,434 What is prayer? 1270 00:53:43,434 --> 00:53:45,108 John Piper refers to it 1271 00:53:45,108 --> 00:53:47,853 as a warfare walkie-talkie. 1272 00:53:47,853 --> 00:53:49,933 And I agree with him. 1273 00:53:49,933 --> 00:53:51,016 As a matter of fact, 1274 00:53:51,016 --> 00:53:54,837 it's very difficult for me to see prayer at all 1275 00:53:54,837 --> 00:53:59,735 apart from our place in the Kingdom of Heaven. 1276 00:53:59,735 --> 00:54:01,427 Most people see prayer 1277 00:54:01,427 --> 00:54:05,031 in a completely wrong way. 1278 00:54:05,031 --> 00:54:07,051 You see prayer as: 1279 00:54:07,051 --> 00:54:11,832 I think I have a need and I ask God to meet it. 1280 00:54:11,832 --> 00:54:15,303 That's not the context of prayer. 1281 00:54:15,303 --> 00:54:19,741 The context of prayer is set forth for us where? 1282 00:54:19,741 --> 00:54:22,048 In Matthew 6. 1283 00:54:22,048 --> 00:54:24,011 Jesus says: pray this way. 1284 00:54:24,011 --> 00:54:25,669 Now listen very carefully. 1285 00:54:25,669 --> 00:54:27,155 Don't turn it into cliche. 1286 00:54:27,155 --> 00:54:30,402 Our Father, Who art in Heaven... 1287 00:54:30,402 --> 00:54:32,702 Now, let's just take a look at that. 1288 00:54:32,702 --> 00:54:36,506 You talk about the perfect psychology of prayer? 1289 00:54:36,506 --> 00:54:38,397 Look at the way He's addressing God. 1290 00:54:38,397 --> 00:54:40,016 Our Father. 1291 00:54:40,016 --> 00:54:42,858 Wow! 1292 00:54:42,858 --> 00:54:45,929 It demonstrates the intimacy, doesn't it. 1293 00:54:45,929 --> 00:54:48,873 But then He goes: Who art in Heaven. 1294 00:54:48,873 --> 00:54:51,843 Your Father happens to be the God of the universe 1295 00:54:51,843 --> 00:54:54,703 and you ought to treat Him as such. 1296 00:54:54,703 --> 00:54:56,544 Many of you young people were raised 1297 00:54:56,544 --> 00:54:59,341 with no respect whatsoever for age, 1298 00:54:59,341 --> 00:55:01,814 authority, or anything. 1299 00:55:01,814 --> 00:55:06,176 I was out at a school of a very, very famous preacher. 1300 00:55:06,176 --> 00:55:07,381 (Incomplete thought) 1301 00:55:07,381 --> 00:55:08,823 I'm going to mention his name. 1302 00:55:08,823 --> 00:55:10,320 John MacArthur. 1303 00:55:10,320 --> 00:55:12,264 And I was out there and I was teaching 1304 00:55:12,264 --> 00:55:15,237 at Master's College for two days. 1305 00:55:15,237 --> 00:55:18,526 And I was walking around going: 1306 00:55:18,526 --> 00:55:21,819 Wow! John MacArthur's here. 1307 00:55:21,819 --> 00:55:23,575 I wonder if I'll get to see him. 1308 00:55:23,575 --> 00:55:25,590 I'm fifty years old! 1309 00:55:25,590 --> 00:55:28,095 And I'm going I hope I get to see him. 1310 00:55:28,095 --> 00:55:30,462 What a privilege! 1311 00:55:30,462 --> 00:55:32,451 And little 17 year old students 1312 00:55:32,451 --> 00:55:33,730 that walk up to me and go: 1313 00:55:33,730 --> 00:55:37,533 "Hey! Brother Paul! Have you met John?" 1314 00:55:37,533 --> 00:55:40,264 And I'd go, "What?" 1315 00:55:40,264 --> 00:55:41,775 "John!" 1316 00:55:41,775 --> 00:55:43,585 "John who?" 1317 00:55:43,585 --> 00:55:46,244 "Well, John! John MacArthur." 1318 00:55:46,244 --> 00:55:49,097 And I'd look at them and I'd go, 1319 00:55:49,097 --> 00:55:51,737 "I am fifty years old. 1320 00:55:51,737 --> 00:55:57,721 I have walked through hell with Christ. 1321 00:55:57,721 --> 00:56:01,917 I have suffered for the cause of Christ. 1322 00:56:01,917 --> 00:56:05,497 I bear so many wounds from battles, 1323 00:56:05,497 --> 00:56:10,149 and I would never call him by his first name." 1324 00:56:10,149 --> 00:56:18,335 We have no sense of honor anymore. 1325 00:56:18,335 --> 00:56:20,769 And when we go to God, this whole idea 1326 00:56:20,769 --> 00:56:23,047 of Abba, Father meaning "Daddy," 1327 00:56:23,047 --> 00:56:24,160 be very careful. 1328 00:56:24,160 --> 00:56:26,923 That interpretation's not really correct. 1329 00:56:26,923 --> 00:56:29,195 It does demonstrate intimacy, 1330 00:56:29,195 --> 00:56:31,552 but it doesn't demonstrate "daddy." 1331 00:56:31,552 --> 00:56:32,714 It doesn't. I'm sorry. 1332 00:56:32,714 --> 00:56:34,356 In the language, it doesn't work. 1333 00:56:34,356 --> 00:56:37,087 It may be really good for a contemporary Christian song, 1334 00:56:37,087 --> 00:56:38,564 but it doesn't work. 1335 00:56:38,564 --> 00:56:40,008 It's not biblical 1336 00:56:40,008 --> 00:56:41,411 because it does not denote 1337 00:56:41,411 --> 00:56:43,203 the other aspects of that intimacy 1338 00:56:43,203 --> 00:56:46,047 which is reverence. 1339 00:56:46,047 --> 00:56:49,217 Now, He says, "Our Father, Who art in Heaven..." 1340 00:56:49,217 --> 00:56:51,926 So this perfect balance of intimacy and fear. 1341 00:56:51,926 --> 00:56:53,888 And then He says - 1342 00:56:53,888 --> 00:56:56,301 and this is the context of all praying - 1343 00:56:56,301 --> 00:56:58,747 "hallowed be Thy name." 1344 00:56:58,747 --> 00:57:00,114 What He's saying there is: 1345 00:57:00,114 --> 00:57:01,596 special be Your name. 1346 00:57:01,596 --> 00:57:03,389 Unique be Your name. 1347 00:57:03,389 --> 00:57:05,523 It's basically Malachi. 1348 00:57:05,523 --> 00:57:07,658 That His name be great among the nations 1349 00:57:07,658 --> 00:57:09,320 from the rising to the setting of the sun. 1350 00:57:09,320 --> 00:57:10,585 There you go again - Jesus drawing 1351 00:57:10,585 --> 00:57:11,913 from the Old Testament, 1352 00:57:11,913 --> 00:57:14,455 but it's okay, He wrote it. 1353 00:57:14,455 --> 00:57:16,008 And the whole idea is: 1354 00:57:16,008 --> 00:57:17,479 my whole prayer, 1355 00:57:17,479 --> 00:57:18,705 my whole prayer life, 1356 00:57:18,705 --> 00:57:20,384 everything I'm ever going to ask You 1357 00:57:20,384 --> 00:57:22,149 is going to be in the context 1358 00:57:22,149 --> 00:57:23,677 that my greatest desire 1359 00:57:23,677 --> 00:57:25,705 is that Your name be set apart 1360 00:57:25,705 --> 00:57:27,887 as supreme above all things; 1361 00:57:27,887 --> 00:57:30,535 that Your Kingdom come 1362 00:57:30,535 --> 00:57:31,991 and that Your will be done. 1363 00:57:31,991 --> 00:57:33,667 That's the context of all praying. 1364 00:57:33,667 --> 00:57:35,205 And if you don't have that context, 1365 00:57:35,205 --> 00:57:36,962 you're not praying. 1366 00:57:36,962 --> 00:57:40,997 So, when we talk about asking the Father for things - 1367 00:57:40,997 --> 00:57:42,817 for many, many years, as some of you know, 1368 00:57:42,817 --> 00:57:43,946 I've had my hips replaced, 1369 00:57:43,946 --> 00:57:45,310 my wrist is made of metal, 1370 00:57:45,310 --> 00:57:47,470 I've lived in great deals of pain 1371 00:57:47,470 --> 00:57:48,495 and everything else 1372 00:57:48,495 --> 00:57:49,701 and I want to be honest with you. 1373 00:57:49,701 --> 00:57:51,202 I have prayed for God to heal me. 1374 00:57:51,202 --> 00:57:52,642 And to some degree, He has. 1375 00:57:52,642 --> 00:57:55,781 He has really helped me in this last year. 1376 00:57:55,781 --> 00:57:57,145 But here's what I want you to see. 1377 00:57:57,145 --> 00:57:59,794 The context of that praying: God heal me. 1378 00:57:59,794 --> 00:58:01,363 I hurt so bad. 1379 00:58:01,363 --> 00:58:04,122 Was this: 1380 00:58:04,122 --> 00:58:07,820 If through my healing 1381 00:58:07,820 --> 00:58:10,744 Your name will be held supreme 1382 00:58:10,744 --> 00:58:13,164 and Your kingdom will come 1383 00:58:13,164 --> 00:58:14,597 to a greater degree, 1384 00:58:14,597 --> 00:58:16,917 and the will of God will be advanced 1385 00:58:16,917 --> 00:58:18,165 and submitted to, 1386 00:58:18,165 --> 00:58:20,207 then heal my body. 1387 00:58:20,207 --> 00:58:23,960 But if not, then let me die in this pain 1388 00:58:23,960 --> 00:58:27,415 so long as Your kingdom come. 1389 00:58:27,415 --> 00:58:30,163 So all our asking from God 1390 00:58:30,163 --> 00:58:33,120 is in the context of our greatest desire 1391 00:58:33,120 --> 00:58:34,986 which is His glory 1392 00:58:34,986 --> 00:58:38,275 and the advancement of His kingdom. 1393 00:58:38,275 --> 00:58:42,245 Now you're praying. 1394 00:58:42,245 --> 00:58:44,339 It's not just: I have a want. 1395 00:58:44,339 --> 00:58:45,337 I have a need. 1396 00:58:45,337 --> 00:58:47,169 I have a desire. 1397 00:58:47,169 --> 00:58:53,065 But it's: whatever will bring You glory. 1398 00:58:53,065 --> 00:58:55,219 And it's in that context 1399 00:58:55,219 --> 00:58:57,414 with that mind of Christ 1400 00:58:57,414 --> 00:59:01,787 that we begin to pray. 1401 00:59:01,787 --> 00:59:04,606 And notice, this praying: "Ask in My name." 1402 00:59:04,606 --> 00:59:05,875 What are you asking for? 1403 00:59:05,875 --> 00:59:07,574 You're asking to bear fruit. 1404 00:59:07,574 --> 00:59:09,242 You're asking for things 1405 00:59:09,242 --> 00:59:11,455 that are genuine fruit. 1406 00:59:11,455 --> 00:59:13,106 And what begins to happen 1407 00:59:13,106 --> 00:59:14,791 is you sort of start disappearing 1408 00:59:14,791 --> 00:59:17,330 in the whole equation. 1409 00:59:17,330 --> 00:59:19,119 Lord, I'm an instrument. 1410 00:59:19,119 --> 00:59:20,658 This is not about me. 1411 00:59:20,658 --> 00:59:23,136 This is about You. 1412 00:59:23,136 --> 00:59:26,282 Lord, if through this trial 1413 00:59:26,282 --> 00:59:27,690 Your kingdom will advance, 1414 00:59:27,690 --> 00:59:29,685 allow me to continue in it. 1415 00:59:29,685 --> 00:59:32,190 Take it away only until the work is done. 1416 00:59:32,190 --> 00:59:35,512 Lord, everything in my life is about one thing: 1417 00:59:35,512 --> 00:59:38,937 the advancement of Your kingdom. 1418 00:59:38,937 --> 00:59:42,938 And so in that context, we pray. 1419 00:59:42,938 --> 00:59:46,484 You know, I've gone to prayer meetings in churches, 1420 00:59:46,484 --> 00:59:49,683 and I'll be honest with you, 1421 00:59:49,683 --> 00:59:52,876 it's enough to break your heart. 1422 00:59:52,876 --> 00:59:56,472 It's enough to break your heart. 1423 00:59:56,472 --> 01:00:00,434 It sounds literally like a medical convention. 1424 01:00:00,434 --> 01:00:02,206 It literally does. 1425 01:00:02,206 --> 01:00:04,600 Now, I know that we need to pray for the sick. 1426 01:00:04,600 --> 01:00:06,681 I know that, but I have sat in prayer meetings 1427 01:00:06,681 --> 01:00:08,068 in the United States of America 1428 01:00:08,068 --> 01:00:10,653 and watched while 45 minutes, they didn't even pray. 1429 01:00:10,653 --> 01:00:13,784 Just people stood up and shared 1430 01:00:13,784 --> 01:00:15,860 about people who were sick. 1431 01:00:15,860 --> 01:00:17,716 And a big part of it was just gossip. 1432 01:00:17,716 --> 01:00:20,795 People wanted to talk about stuff. 1433 01:00:20,795 --> 01:00:24,031 And then I think, four billion people 1434 01:00:24,031 --> 01:00:26,816 have not heard a clear Gospel. 1435 01:00:26,816 --> 01:00:30,155 We have believers who are being massacred in Iran. 1436 01:00:30,155 --> 01:00:33,686 We have all these things going on in the kingdom. 1437 01:00:33,686 --> 01:00:37,878 And the only thing that we can pray about are gallbladders. 1438 01:00:37,878 --> 01:00:41,824 I mean, there's something terribly wrong. 1439 01:00:41,824 --> 01:00:44,850 And we wonder why doesn't God visit us in our prayer meetings? 1440 01:00:44,850 --> 01:00:48,204 You're not kingdom-praying. 1441 01:00:48,204 --> 01:00:49,873 If you'll seek first the kingdom, 1442 01:00:49,873 --> 01:00:52,324 He'll take care of all these other little things 1443 01:00:52,324 --> 01:00:56,430 you're so preoccupied about. 1444 01:00:56,430 --> 01:00:58,694 And so if you're going to be fruitful, 1445 01:00:58,694 --> 01:01:00,703 you must pray. 1446 01:01:00,703 --> 01:01:02,498 You must read the Word and pray, 1447 01:01:02,498 --> 01:01:04,807 God, make me fruitful, make me fruitful. 1448 01:01:04,807 --> 01:01:06,756 And as you begin to understand 1449 01:01:06,756 --> 01:01:08,396 the will of God - 1450 01:01:08,396 --> 01:01:11,125 for example, it is God's will 1451 01:01:11,125 --> 01:01:14,032 that every creature under heaven 1452 01:01:14,032 --> 01:01:16,474 hear the Word of God, 1453 01:01:16,474 --> 01:01:18,131 hear the Gospel. 1454 01:01:18,131 --> 01:01:20,654 So you pray and you fast, 1455 01:01:20,654 --> 01:01:22,387 and one day you get a phone call 1456 01:01:22,387 --> 01:01:24,214 and you find that an entire country 1457 01:01:24,214 --> 01:01:27,924 has just opened unto you to support their missionaries. 1458 01:01:27,924 --> 01:01:31,862 That's praying. 1459 01:01:31,862 --> 01:01:34,888 You pray for your family who's hardened to the Gospel. 1460 01:01:34,888 --> 01:01:37,295 You pray and you fast and then one day 1461 01:01:37,295 --> 01:01:39,717 according to Colossians 4:1-4, 1462 01:01:39,717 --> 01:01:44,571 a magnificent door's been opened unto you. 1463 01:01:44,571 --> 01:01:47,197 The church has a need. It can't go. 1464 01:01:47,197 --> 01:01:48,526 It's got a problem. 1465 01:01:48,526 --> 01:01:50,267 Something has some kind of need. 1466 01:01:50,267 --> 01:01:52,579 You hit your face on the floor. 1467 01:01:52,579 --> 01:01:54,071 You cry out to God 1468 01:01:54,071 --> 01:01:56,821 and you look for a magnificent deliverance. 1469 01:01:56,821 --> 01:01:58,281 You've got a sin in your life 1470 01:01:58,281 --> 01:01:59,847 that is a besetting sin 1471 01:01:59,847 --> 01:02:01,534 and you can't be set free from it. 1472 01:02:01,534 --> 01:02:04,398 You attack it head on with prayer, 1473 01:02:04,398 --> 01:02:06,571 with fasting, with reading the Word, 1474 01:02:06,571 --> 01:02:09,901 and you see victory come. 1475 01:02:09,901 --> 01:02:13,534 This is the kind of praying that we're talking about. 1476 01:02:13,534 --> 01:02:16,837 Never diminishing needs, 1477 01:02:16,837 --> 01:02:19,668 but when you go in to hear people pray today 1478 01:02:19,668 --> 01:02:21,910 it's all about them. 1479 01:02:21,910 --> 01:02:23,751 It's all about their needs. 1480 01:02:23,751 --> 01:02:28,979 It's like one old saint, Ravenhill, used to say, 1481 01:02:28,979 --> 01:02:32,540 we spend more time praying saints out of heaven 1482 01:02:32,540 --> 01:02:37,343 than praying sinners into heaven. 1483 01:02:37,343 --> 01:02:41,042 Now, I said that God answers our prayers 1484 01:02:41,042 --> 01:02:43,533 when we're praying in the context of the kingdom 1485 01:02:43,533 --> 01:02:46,648 and when our mind is being renewed 1486 01:02:46,648 --> 01:02:48,571 so that we know what the will of God is, 1487 01:02:48,571 --> 01:02:51,775 but I want to be very cautious here 1488 01:02:51,775 --> 01:02:55,839 because you could misunderstand me. 1489 01:02:55,839 --> 01:02:57,345 There's a basic idea out there 1490 01:02:57,345 --> 01:03:00,551 especially among reformed guys that's this: 1491 01:03:00,551 --> 01:03:06,050 God answers every prayer according to His will, 1492 01:03:06,050 --> 01:03:08,364 but it's not the will of God to do anything. 1493 01:03:08,364 --> 01:03:09,708 Now they wouldn't say that, 1494 01:03:09,708 --> 01:03:11,911 but that's basically what's practiced. 1495 01:03:11,911 --> 01:03:14,253 Everything is written off to the providence of God. 1496 01:03:14,253 --> 01:03:16,268 It's the providence of God, providence of God. 1497 01:03:16,268 --> 01:03:18,128 Oh, that nation is entirely without Christ? 1498 01:03:18,128 --> 01:03:20,098 Providence of God, because if God wanted something to happen, 1499 01:03:20,098 --> 01:03:21,391 He'd have done something. 1500 01:03:21,391 --> 01:03:23,923 That's not the language of the New Testament. 1501 01:03:23,923 --> 01:03:27,401 Now that might be language of a very precise camp 1502 01:03:27,401 --> 01:03:28,778 and system of theology, 1503 01:03:28,778 --> 01:03:31,324 but it is not the language of the New Testament 1504 01:03:31,324 --> 01:03:34,949 nor is it the language of our forefathers 1505 01:03:34,949 --> 01:03:37,592 that we claim to be a part of. 1506 01:03:37,592 --> 01:03:39,034 That's not the language of Edwards. 1507 01:03:39,034 --> 01:03:40,344 That's not the language of Whitefield. 1508 01:03:40,344 --> 01:03:41,392 That's not the language of Spurgeon. 1509 01:03:41,392 --> 01:03:42,753 That's not the language of William Carey. 1510 01:03:42,753 --> 01:03:45,573 That's not the language of the Puritans. 1511 01:03:45,573 --> 01:03:46,973 I want to tell you something, 1512 01:03:46,973 --> 01:03:50,425 there is a mystery in prayer 1513 01:03:50,425 --> 01:03:52,221 and I don't care if by saying this 1514 01:03:52,221 --> 01:03:54,303 this becomes the last reformed meeting 1515 01:03:54,303 --> 01:03:56,444 I ever have in my life, 1516 01:03:56,444 --> 01:03:58,282 because if you reject this, 1517 01:03:58,282 --> 01:04:02,141 you're not reformed - you're deformed. 1518 01:04:02,141 --> 01:04:04,236 And it's this: 1519 01:04:04,236 --> 01:04:06,044 God has decreed everything 1520 01:04:06,044 --> 01:04:08,400 before the foundation of the world. 1521 01:04:08,400 --> 01:04:10,279 He knows the end of all things 1522 01:04:10,279 --> 01:04:12,043 and not because He looked 1523 01:04:12,043 --> 01:04:13,723 through the corridors of time 1524 01:04:13,723 --> 01:04:15,556 and saw how it was going to turn out. 1525 01:04:15,556 --> 01:04:16,834 I don't know who invented that - 1526 01:04:16,834 --> 01:04:18,562 I would like to see his corridors of time 1527 01:04:18,562 --> 01:04:21,246 because it's not in the Bible. 1528 01:04:21,246 --> 01:04:23,891 God knows the end of all things 1529 01:04:23,891 --> 01:04:26,337 exactly how everything is going to come out 1530 01:04:26,337 --> 01:04:28,039 and it's not because He looked through 1531 01:04:28,039 --> 01:04:29,193 the corridors of time. 1532 01:04:29,193 --> 01:04:31,611 It's because He's the Author 1533 01:04:31,611 --> 01:04:33,237 of history. 1534 01:04:33,237 --> 01:04:35,481 It's going to come out just like He decreed it. 1535 01:04:35,481 --> 01:04:38,165 Okay? 1536 01:04:38,165 --> 01:04:40,394 You say, wow, that's a pretty strong statement. 1537 01:04:40,394 --> 01:04:44,602 Yes, it is, and I believe it's biblical. 1538 01:04:44,602 --> 01:04:47,446 But I also believe that what James says is true. 1539 01:04:47,446 --> 01:04:51,941 "You have not because you ask not." 1540 01:04:51,941 --> 01:04:53,728 That king was given a set of arrows 1541 01:04:53,728 --> 01:04:55,924 to smash against the floor. 1542 01:04:55,924 --> 01:04:58,194 And if he had smashed them against that floor 1543 01:04:58,194 --> 01:05:01,014 and shown some zeal for Yahweh, 1544 01:05:01,014 --> 01:05:04,159 something better would have happened than what happened. 1545 01:05:04,159 --> 01:05:06,198 And I can't put those two things together 1546 01:05:06,198 --> 01:05:08,408 and guess what, it's not my job. 1547 01:05:08,408 --> 01:05:09,818 Nor is it yours. 1548 01:05:09,818 --> 01:05:11,625 I am called upon to live 1549 01:05:11,625 --> 01:05:13,514 whatever truth is given to me 1550 01:05:13,514 --> 01:05:16,551 realizing that if there is a God out there 1551 01:05:16,551 --> 01:05:17,977 and there is 1552 01:05:17,977 --> 01:05:21,124 and He is infinitely above me in His way of thinking, 1553 01:05:21,124 --> 01:05:22,196 and He is, 1554 01:05:22,196 --> 01:05:24,342 then why should I think I should be able 1555 01:05:24,342 --> 01:05:27,300 to figure out everything He's told me? 1556 01:05:27,300 --> 01:05:29,147 I know this, 1557 01:05:29,147 --> 01:05:31,519 He is sovereign over all things. 1558 01:05:31,519 --> 01:05:33,049 And I know this, 1559 01:05:33,049 --> 01:05:36,408 we have not because we ask not. 1560 01:05:36,408 --> 01:05:38,885 And I can honestly tell you this 1561 01:05:38,885 --> 01:05:40,683 in good conscience, 1562 01:05:40,683 --> 01:05:42,484 there are many times when I'm dealing 1563 01:05:42,484 --> 01:05:44,531 with a country or a people group 1564 01:05:44,531 --> 01:05:46,172 that has no Gospel, 1565 01:05:46,172 --> 01:05:48,193 and I'm crying out to God: 1566 01:05:48,193 --> 01:05:50,872 God, what do You want to do? 1567 01:05:50,872 --> 01:05:52,011 What do You want to do? 1568 01:05:52,011 --> 01:05:54,530 What do You want me to do? 1569 01:05:54,530 --> 01:05:59,634 I'll do anything, just tell me what You want me to do. 1570 01:05:59,634 --> 01:06:01,969 The thing that's most impressed upon my heart 1571 01:06:01,969 --> 01:06:04,004 and more so as I grow older - 1572 01:06:04,004 --> 01:06:06,557 so I'm not talking about youthful zeal - 1573 01:06:06,557 --> 01:06:09,591 when I go: Lord, what do You want me to do? 1574 01:06:09,591 --> 01:06:12,010 It seems like the answer is this: 1575 01:06:12,010 --> 01:06:14,373 Well, what can you believe Me for? 1576 01:06:14,373 --> 01:06:16,504 What do you want to do? 1577 01:06:16,504 --> 01:06:21,549 How far do you want to take this thing? 1578 01:06:21,549 --> 01:06:23,571 I told you, I'm a wild man. 1579 01:06:23,571 --> 01:06:24,905 It's almost like God says: 1580 01:06:24,905 --> 01:06:26,110 You want to get nuts? 1581 01:06:26,110 --> 01:06:28,916 You want to take this as far as it can go? 1582 01:06:28,916 --> 01:06:31,153 I'm with you. Let's go. 1583 01:06:31,153 --> 01:06:33,881 I think that a lot of reformed people are thinking 1584 01:06:33,881 --> 01:06:35,430 God doesn't want to do anything 1585 01:06:35,430 --> 01:06:36,937 and if we get Him to do anything, 1586 01:06:36,937 --> 01:06:38,361 we've got to pull Him into it. 1587 01:06:38,361 --> 01:06:39,929 I'm going to tell you something, my friend, 1588 01:06:39,929 --> 01:06:43,300 God is running so much faster than the church. 1589 01:06:43,300 --> 01:06:45,634 It's not trying to get Him to catch up to you, 1590 01:06:45,634 --> 01:06:48,654 it's trying to get you to catch up to Him. 1591 01:06:48,654 --> 01:06:52,435 But see, there's a sense of faith. 1592 01:06:52,435 --> 01:06:55,655 There's a sense of faith that comes 1593 01:06:55,655 --> 01:06:57,297 with reading the Scriptures. 1594 01:06:57,297 --> 01:06:58,490 There's a sense of faith 1595 01:06:58,490 --> 01:07:00,900 that comes with studying the old men 1596 01:07:00,900 --> 01:07:02,128 and their ways. 1597 01:07:02,128 --> 01:07:03,847 I remember one time I was a young missionary. 1598 01:07:03,847 --> 01:07:05,518 I came back off the field. I was very tired. 1599 01:07:05,518 --> 01:07:07,667 I was invited to a church. They wanted me to speak. 1600 01:07:07,667 --> 01:07:08,913 They did a question and answer. 1601 01:07:08,913 --> 01:07:11,133 They had a microphone in the different aisles of the church. 1602 01:07:11,133 --> 01:07:12,886 And I was answering questions. 1603 01:07:12,886 --> 01:07:15,603 A young red-headed boy - I'll never forget this - 1604 01:07:15,603 --> 01:07:18,901 he couldn't have been more than 10, 12, whatever. 1605 01:07:18,901 --> 01:07:20,581 He comes up to the microphone. 1606 01:07:20,581 --> 01:07:22,530 He'd been standing in line all night 1607 01:07:22,530 --> 01:07:24,183 and this is the question he asked. 1608 01:07:24,183 --> 01:07:25,414 He said, "Mr. Washer?" 1609 01:07:25,414 --> 01:07:27,314 I said, "Yes?" 1610 01:07:27,314 --> 01:07:30,879 He said, "After you win everybody in Peru to Jesus, 1611 01:07:30,879 --> 01:07:33,812 then what are you going to do?" 1612 01:07:33,812 --> 01:07:37,222 And everybody laughed except me and him. 1613 01:07:37,222 --> 01:07:38,822 And I said, "Well, son, I suppose 1614 01:07:38,822 --> 01:07:40,810 when I win everybody to Christ in Peru 1615 01:07:40,810 --> 01:07:45,225 I'll just have to go find me another country, won't I?" 1616 01:07:45,225 --> 01:07:46,891 I don't see anywhere in the Bible 1617 01:07:46,891 --> 01:07:48,826 where there can't be a worldwide revival. 1618 01:07:48,826 --> 01:07:50,222 Sorry, I don't. 1619 01:07:50,222 --> 01:07:51,706 I don't see anywhere in the Bible 1620 01:07:51,706 --> 01:07:53,443 where an entire people group 1621 01:07:53,443 --> 01:07:55,884 can't come to Jesus. 1622 01:07:55,884 --> 01:07:58,255 I don't see anywhere in the Bible 1623 01:07:58,255 --> 01:08:01,981 where I have to die without seeing everybody 1624 01:08:01,981 --> 01:08:06,811 at least hear the Gospel one time. 1625 01:08:06,811 --> 01:08:10,385 Everything I have contrived - 1626 01:08:10,385 --> 01:08:12,639 and I know that behind that contriving 1627 01:08:12,639 --> 01:08:14,862 was the sovereignty of God; 1628 01:08:14,862 --> 01:08:19,231 I know the 1689 and the Westminster - 1629 01:08:19,231 --> 01:08:22,757 there is nothing I have ever contrived 1630 01:08:22,757 --> 01:08:24,430 and prayed for 1631 01:08:24,430 --> 01:08:26,046 that was turned down by God 1632 01:08:26,046 --> 01:08:32,156 because it was too big. 1633 01:08:32,156 --> 01:08:35,197 You can believe Him for anything 1634 01:08:35,197 --> 01:08:37,546 when in the context you're looking 1635 01:08:37,546 --> 01:08:39,493 at the advancement of the kingdom 1636 01:08:39,493 --> 01:08:40,967 and you're renewing your mind, 1637 01:08:40,967 --> 01:08:44,623 you can believe Him for anything. 1638 01:08:44,623 --> 01:08:46,492 Let me give you an example: HeartCry. 1639 01:08:46,492 --> 01:08:49,010 People ask me to give presentations on HeartCry. 1640 01:08:49,010 --> 01:08:50,256 I want to make this real, 1641 01:08:50,256 --> 01:08:51,960 that this isn't some antiquated guy 1642 01:08:51,960 --> 01:08:53,923 who used to do these things in the past. 1643 01:08:53,923 --> 01:08:57,285 I can't tell you how many times He's delivered us. 1644 01:08:57,285 --> 01:08:59,344 At HeartCry, our financial principles 1645 01:08:59,344 --> 01:09:01,600 are based upon George Mueller's princples 1646 01:09:01,600 --> 01:09:02,917 of his orphanage. 1647 01:09:02,917 --> 01:09:05,094 We do not raise funds. 1648 01:09:05,094 --> 01:09:06,651 We do not ask for money. 1649 01:09:06,651 --> 01:09:08,153 We do not make our needs known. 1650 01:09:08,153 --> 01:09:10,042 If a church asks us to come explain 1651 01:09:10,042 --> 01:09:11,341 what we do in the mission, 1652 01:09:11,341 --> 01:09:14,466 we will come and explain what we are currently doing, 1653 01:09:14,466 --> 01:09:19,703 not what we would do if we had more money. 1654 01:09:19,703 --> 01:09:22,621 Not this Christmas, but last Christmas, 1655 01:09:22,621 --> 01:09:25,194 nobody knew it except me, 1656 01:09:25,194 --> 01:09:27,227 the financial guy, 1657 01:09:27,227 --> 01:09:30,101 and one board member. 1658 01:09:30,101 --> 01:09:32,676 It was December 31st. 1659 01:09:32,676 --> 01:09:35,299 We had a $150,000 deficit. 1660 01:09:35,299 --> 01:09:36,917 Now that doesn't mean 1661 01:09:36,917 --> 01:09:40,701 that we owed somebody $150,000. 1662 01:09:40,701 --> 01:09:43,491 It just meant we had spent 1663 01:09:43,491 --> 01:09:44,955 that much beyond our budget 1664 01:09:44,955 --> 01:09:48,583 and basically almost had nothing. 1665 01:09:48,583 --> 01:09:52,726 Okay? Nobody knew. Nobody knew. 1666 01:09:52,726 --> 01:09:54,091 But God had told us 1667 01:09:54,091 --> 01:09:56,040 just a few days before we felt 1668 01:09:56,040 --> 01:09:57,847 that we were supposed to do something 1669 01:09:57,847 --> 01:10:00,442 really wild in Asia, and we did it. 1670 01:10:00,442 --> 01:10:01,863 We took on something like, 1671 01:10:01,863 --> 01:10:03,181 I don't know what it was, 1672 01:10:03,181 --> 01:10:05,473 45 more missionaries 1673 01:10:05,473 --> 01:10:09,233 knowing this was the case. 1674 01:10:09,233 --> 01:10:12,365 But we knew, God wants to reach Asia. 1675 01:10:12,365 --> 01:10:15,133 God desires that everybody in Asia hears the Gospel. 1676 01:10:15,133 --> 01:10:16,886 This has opened up. It's biblical. 1677 01:10:16,886 --> 01:10:17,968 These men are sound. 1678 01:10:17,968 --> 01:10:19,884 We're going to do it. 1679 01:10:19,884 --> 01:10:22,174 Nobody knew. 1680 01:10:22,174 --> 01:10:25,120 I'm in my study. 1681 01:10:25,120 --> 01:10:26,842 It's December 31st. 1682 01:10:26,842 --> 01:10:28,716 That's the last day of the year. 1683 01:10:28,716 --> 01:10:30,120 It's 10:00 in the morning. 1684 01:10:30,120 --> 01:10:31,557 I'm studying the Word of God 1685 01:10:31,557 --> 01:10:36,479 and lifting up my worries in prayer. 1686 01:10:36,479 --> 01:10:38,206 Kevin comes in (our financial guy). 1687 01:10:38,206 --> 01:10:39,999 He's kind of teary-eyed. 1688 01:10:39,999 --> 01:10:42,296 I said, "Kevin, what's wrong?" 1689 01:10:42,296 --> 01:10:46,128 He said, "Um, somebody just sent - 1690 01:10:46,128 --> 01:10:53,195 I don't know who this is - $60,000." 1691 01:10:53,195 --> 01:10:55,201 I said, "Really?" He said, "Yes." 1692 01:10:55,201 --> 01:10:58,235 He said, "One check. It's $60,000." 1693 01:10:58,235 --> 01:10:59,705 So we got down on our knees. 1694 01:10:59,705 --> 01:11:00,831 We thanked God. 1695 01:11:00,831 --> 01:11:02,303 I went back to my Bible study. 1696 01:11:02,303 --> 01:11:04,653 He went back to his computer. 1697 01:11:04,653 --> 01:11:07,895 Twelve o'clock he comes in. 1698 01:11:07,895 --> 01:11:09,755 I don't have the figures exactly right, 1699 01:11:09,755 --> 01:11:12,648 but (unintelligible) it's been awhile. 1700 01:11:12,648 --> 01:11:14,562 He comes in. 1701 01:11:14,562 --> 01:11:16,605 He's teary-eyed. 1702 01:11:16,605 --> 01:11:21,126 I said, "Kevin, what's wrong?" 1703 01:11:21,126 --> 01:11:26,005 Someone just sent $100,000. 1704 01:11:26,005 --> 01:11:27,536 I said, "You're kidding." 1705 01:11:27,536 --> 01:11:29,268 He said, "No, someone just sent..." 1706 01:11:29,268 --> 01:11:30,833 I said, "You mean, 60 and 40." 1707 01:11:30,833 --> 01:11:33,250 He goes, "No. 60 and 100 thousand. 1708 01:11:33,250 --> 01:11:34,934 Somebody just sent $100,000." 1709 01:11:34,934 --> 01:11:37,293 I said, "Who?" He goes, "I don't know." 1710 01:11:37,293 --> 01:11:38,404 Alright. 1711 01:11:38,404 --> 01:11:41,776 We go back. Two o'clock he comes in. 1712 01:11:41,776 --> 01:11:43,535 He's really looking pale. 1713 01:11:43,535 --> 01:11:45,499 I said, "Kevin, what's going on?" 1714 01:11:45,499 --> 01:11:48,759 He said, "Well, we got a check for $60,000." 1715 01:11:48,759 --> 01:11:51,832 "I know." "No, we got another check for $60,000." 1716 01:11:51,832 --> 01:11:53,448 I said, "You're kidding." "No." 1717 01:11:53,448 --> 01:11:55,195 At the end of the day, 1718 01:11:55,195 --> 01:11:57,568 $326,000 came in. 1719 01:11:57,568 --> 01:12:01,368 Nobody knew at all what was going on. 1720 01:12:01,368 --> 01:12:02,657 Now, I can tell you that 1721 01:12:02,657 --> 01:12:05,867 over and over and over. 1722 01:12:05,867 --> 01:12:07,816 This last year, a similar thing happened. 1723 01:12:07,816 --> 01:12:09,293 It didn't happen in one day, 1724 01:12:09,293 --> 01:12:11,306 but it happened in one month. 1725 01:12:11,306 --> 01:12:13,270 Now I want you to think about something. 1726 01:12:13,270 --> 01:12:19,598 God chose the last day of the year. 1727 01:12:19,598 --> 01:12:21,636 Why? Because He wanted to show everybody 1728 01:12:21,636 --> 01:12:23,662 He doesn't need 365 days. 1729 01:12:23,662 --> 01:12:26,629 He doesn't even need 24 hours. 1730 01:12:26,629 --> 01:12:28,571 What I'm saying is the more you 1731 01:12:28,571 --> 01:12:31,303 cut yourself off from the arm of the flesh, 1732 01:12:31,303 --> 01:12:34,001 the more you desire the advancement of His kingdom, 1733 01:12:34,001 --> 01:12:37,142 and the more you live dependent on Him in prayer, 1734 01:12:37,142 --> 01:12:38,594 you will see more miracles 1735 01:12:38,594 --> 01:12:43,469 than you could ever imagine! 1736 01:12:43,469 --> 01:12:48,792 This is Caleb. There's just all kinds of mountains to conquer. 1737 01:12:48,792 --> 01:12:52,006 Pick one out! 1738 01:12:52,006 --> 01:12:53,747 And go for it! 1739 01:12:53,747 --> 01:12:55,376 Knock down some walls. 1740 01:12:55,376 --> 01:12:56,610 Climb a mountain, 1741 01:12:56,610 --> 01:12:59,412 but don't do it in the arm of the flesh. 1742 01:12:59,412 --> 01:13:01,152 The more you cut yourself off 1743 01:13:01,152 --> 01:13:02,925 from the help of men, 1744 01:13:02,925 --> 01:13:05,794 the more you will have the help of God. 1745 01:13:05,794 --> 01:13:08,292 The more you make pronouncements to men 1746 01:13:08,292 --> 01:13:10,915 so that you may gather their strength for you, 1747 01:13:10,915 --> 01:13:15,575 the less you will seek God. 1748 01:13:15,575 --> 01:13:18,772 Oh my dear friend, there's no end 1749 01:13:18,772 --> 01:13:22,963 to what God will do. 1750 01:13:22,963 --> 01:13:24,919 As a dear man says, 1751 01:13:24,919 --> 01:13:26,702 God delights in vindicating 1752 01:13:26,702 --> 01:13:29,796 the confidence of His children. 1753 01:13:29,796 --> 01:13:32,948 (incomplete thought) Prayer. 1754 01:13:32,948 --> 01:13:33,881 Prayer. 1755 01:13:33,881 --> 01:13:35,468 But not just prayer for ministry, 1756 01:13:35,468 --> 01:13:36,694 prayer for your own life. 1757 01:13:36,694 --> 01:13:38,489 You've got besetting sin. 1758 01:13:38,489 --> 01:13:39,376 You wallow in it. 1759 01:13:39,376 --> 01:13:41,047 You go get all kinds of counsel. 1760 01:13:41,047 --> 01:13:42,612 You can never get any release. 1761 01:13:42,612 --> 01:13:44,315 But do you go to Him? 1762 01:13:44,315 --> 01:13:46,166 Have you spent all night tarrying 1763 01:13:46,166 --> 01:13:47,268 before Him in prayer? 1764 01:13:47,268 --> 01:13:49,452 Have you cried out to Him? Have you fasted? 1765 01:13:49,452 --> 01:13:50,406 Have you sought Him? 1766 01:13:50,406 --> 01:13:55,456 Have you grabbed a hold of the horns of the altar 1767 01:13:55,456 --> 01:13:57,581 saying I will not let You go 1768 01:13:57,581 --> 01:13:59,065 until you bless me? 1769 01:13:59,065 --> 01:14:02,331 How many of you have wrestled 1770 01:14:02,331 --> 01:14:07,893 with the Nazarene all night? 1771 01:14:07,893 --> 01:14:10,840 Saying I will not let You go 1772 01:14:10,840 --> 01:14:14,673 unless You bless me. 1773 01:14:14,673 --> 01:14:17,023 I always tell people, 1774 01:14:17,023 --> 01:14:19,441 Jacob was a better fighter than me. 1775 01:14:19,441 --> 01:14:20,394 They say why? 1776 01:14:20,394 --> 01:14:21,931 He only got touched in one hip. 1777 01:14:21,931 --> 01:14:32,316 I got both of mine replaced. 1778 01:14:32,316 --> 01:14:34,972 I'm no scholar. 1779 01:14:34,972 --> 01:14:36,844 I'm not up here telling you things 1780 01:14:36,844 --> 01:14:40,435 I read in a book. 1781 01:14:40,435 --> 01:14:42,705 But to kneel before your God, like I said, 1782 01:14:42,705 --> 01:14:47,624 kneeling before an F5 tornado three feet away. 1783 01:14:47,624 --> 01:14:52,584 That's what will leave an imprint on a man. 1784 01:14:52,584 --> 01:14:57,025 To wrestle with the Nazarene - 1785 01:14:57,025 --> 01:14:59,309 just find out how strong that Carpenter's arm 1786 01:14:59,309 --> 01:15:04,220 happens to be. 1787 01:15:04,220 --> 01:15:05,727 When He grabs you with it 1788 01:15:05,727 --> 01:15:07,125 and throws you to the ground, 1789 01:15:07,125 --> 01:15:09,119 you'll know His strength. 1790 01:15:09,119 --> 01:15:11,303 But in His blessing, He turns that arm around 1791 01:15:11,303 --> 01:15:13,546 and fights for you. 1792 01:15:13,546 --> 01:15:17,054 You'll know His strength to a greater degree. 1793 01:15:17,054 --> 01:15:19,228 I'm talking about experience, 1794 01:15:19,228 --> 01:15:22,594 not just reading the Puritans - 1795 01:15:22,594 --> 01:15:28,933 following them in their life. 1796 01:15:28,933 --> 01:15:31,695 So we must pray. We must pray. 1797 01:15:31,695 --> 01:15:34,662 We must pray. 1798 01:15:34,662 --> 01:15:36,034 What does it look like? 1799 01:15:36,034 --> 01:15:38,685 1 Thessalonians: Pray without ceasing. 1800 01:15:38,685 --> 01:15:40,007 Ephesians 6:18, 1801 01:15:40,007 --> 01:15:41,623 "With all prayers and petitions, 1802 01:15:41,623 --> 01:15:43,586 pray at all times in the Spirit," 1803 01:15:43,586 --> 01:15:44,966 in the power of the Spirit. 1804 01:15:44,966 --> 01:15:46,656 That's not referring to tongues. 1805 01:15:46,656 --> 01:15:49,385 It's referring to being empowered 1806 01:15:49,385 --> 01:15:51,803 by the Spirit of God to pray. 1807 01:15:51,803 --> 01:15:53,872 "With this in view, be on the alert 1808 01:15:53,872 --> 01:15:56,940 with all perseverance and petition for the saints." 1809 01:15:56,940 --> 01:15:58,311 Psalm 105:4, 1810 01:15:58,311 --> 01:16:00,037 "Seek the Lord in His strength; 1811 01:16:00,037 --> 01:16:03,404 seek His face continually." 1812 01:16:03,404 --> 01:16:05,531 I hear people today and I say do you pray? 1813 01:16:05,531 --> 01:16:07,372 They go, well, I kind of pray as I go. 1814 01:16:07,372 --> 01:16:09,713 I say, no, you don't. 1815 01:16:09,713 --> 01:16:11,844 No, you don't. 1816 01:16:11,844 --> 01:16:13,571 There's a lot of wisdom handed down 1817 01:16:13,571 --> 01:16:15,404 from the Tozers and the Ravenhills, 1818 01:16:15,404 --> 01:16:17,983 and here's what one of them is: 1819 01:16:17,983 --> 01:16:19,819 You learn to pray continuously 1820 01:16:19,819 --> 01:16:24,957 only by praying with Him alone. 1821 01:16:24,957 --> 01:16:26,858 The practicing of the presence of God 1822 01:16:26,858 --> 01:16:28,644 does not come by just walking around 1823 01:16:28,644 --> 01:16:29,926 thinking you're doing it. 1824 01:16:29,926 --> 01:16:31,840 I have found out that the men and women 1825 01:16:31,840 --> 01:16:33,346 who can most dwell with God 1826 01:16:33,346 --> 01:16:34,545 throughout their day 1827 01:16:34,545 --> 01:16:36,216 no matter how mundane it is 1828 01:16:36,216 --> 01:16:38,503 are people who spend copious amount of time 1829 01:16:38,503 --> 01:16:42,646 alone with God in their prayer closet. 1830 01:16:42,646 --> 01:16:44,877 And from that, you begin to develop 1831 01:16:44,877 --> 01:16:47,041 a sense of the presence of God 1832 01:16:47,041 --> 01:16:48,798 and praying. 1833 01:16:48,798 --> 01:16:50,204 So that as you're walking 1834 01:16:50,204 --> 01:16:51,947 through the church after you preach 1835 01:16:51,947 --> 01:16:53,940 and you see a face that turns toward you 1836 01:16:53,940 --> 01:16:56,362 and you know that person is seeking your counsel, 1837 01:16:56,362 --> 01:16:58,403 immediately you head towards them 1838 01:16:58,403 --> 01:16:59,970 lifting up prayers to God: 1839 01:16:59,970 --> 01:17:02,284 Give me wisdom to discern this need 1840 01:17:02,284 --> 01:17:05,361 and give an answer from Your Scriptures. 1841 01:17:05,361 --> 01:17:06,764 You wake up in the morning 1842 01:17:06,764 --> 01:17:09,600 and you know that your wife is a bit distraught: 1843 01:17:09,600 --> 01:17:11,194 Lord, how to deal with this? 1844 01:17:11,194 --> 01:17:13,558 Or a wife to a husband. 1845 01:17:13,558 --> 01:17:17,263 Constantly crying out to Him, this communion. 1846 01:17:17,263 --> 01:17:23,471 Frank Laubach. Frank Laubach. 1847 01:17:23,471 --> 01:17:25,764 Do you know who I'm talking about? 1848 01:17:25,764 --> 01:17:27,435 Have you ever heard the statement: 1849 01:17:27,435 --> 01:17:30,845 He's so heavenly minded, he's no earthy good? 1850 01:17:30,845 --> 01:17:32,926 Well, most people are so earthly-minded, 1851 01:17:32,926 --> 01:17:34,821 they're no heavenly good. 1852 01:17:34,821 --> 01:17:39,316 Frank Laubach is a very unique individual. 1853 01:17:39,316 --> 01:17:41,336 You know what his goal was in his journal? 1854 01:17:41,336 --> 01:17:42,651 It comes out very clear. 1855 01:17:42,651 --> 01:17:44,474 His one goal in life was to spend 1856 01:17:44,474 --> 01:17:46,540 one entire day 1857 01:17:46,540 --> 01:17:49,432 with uninterrupted thoughts of Christ. 1858 01:17:49,432 --> 01:17:52,003 That was the great goal of his life. 1859 01:17:52,003 --> 01:17:54,712 You say, yeah, one of those spiritual kooks 1860 01:17:54,712 --> 01:17:55,971 that's so heavenly-minded 1861 01:17:55,971 --> 01:17:57,236 that he's no earthly good. 1862 01:17:57,236 --> 01:18:02,495 Frank Laubach taught the entire Philippines to read 1863 01:18:02,495 --> 01:18:04,260 so that they could read the Bible. 1864 01:18:04,260 --> 01:18:06,160 You can go to the Philippines right now 1865 01:18:06,160 --> 01:18:08,002 and talk to people about Frank Laubach. 1866 01:18:08,002 --> 01:18:09,946 They'll say, "Frank Laubach, yeah, I know about him. 1867 01:18:09,946 --> 01:18:11,426 I studied about him in history." 1868 01:18:11,426 --> 01:18:13,143 He's a Christian man 1869 01:18:13,143 --> 01:18:15,647 who taught all the islands of the Philippines to read 1870 01:18:15,647 --> 01:18:17,865 so that they could read the Bible. 1871 01:18:17,865 --> 01:18:19,918 So I guess being heavenly minded 1872 01:18:19,918 --> 01:18:22,162 is pretty earthly good, isn't it? 1873 01:18:22,162 --> 01:18:23,898 Just think of it, this man taught 1874 01:18:23,898 --> 01:18:26,544 all these islands to read, 1875 01:18:26,544 --> 01:18:27,758 and yet his greatest goal 1876 01:18:27,758 --> 01:18:30,671 was to have uninterrupted thoughts of Christ 1877 01:18:30,671 --> 01:18:35,459 and communion with Christ. 1878 01:18:35,459 --> 01:18:38,002 You see, we're not a meditative people. 1879 01:18:38,002 --> 01:18:40,106 We're not a contemplative people. 1880 01:18:40,106 --> 01:18:42,495 We're not a people who sit quietly. 1881 01:18:42,495 --> 01:18:44,032 We are a people of noise. 1882 01:18:44,032 --> 01:18:46,170 We are a people that every 20 minutes 1883 01:18:46,170 --> 01:18:47,673 we have to have a commercial 1884 01:18:47,673 --> 01:18:52,444 or we can't even watch a TV program. 1885 01:18:52,444 --> 01:18:56,127 But in Christ, we can regain what's been lost. 1886 01:18:56,127 --> 01:18:58,516 I had a professor, and I know it sounds really funny, 1887 01:18:58,516 --> 01:18:59,754 but he told me one time, he said, 1888 01:18:59,754 --> 01:19:01,883 "Washer, I want to bring you to a point 1889 01:19:01,883 --> 01:19:04,974 where you can sit in the middle of a hundred acre field 1890 01:19:04,974 --> 01:19:06,558 and be so quiet before God, 1891 01:19:06,558 --> 01:19:09,724 you can hear a caterpillar crawling across a leaf. 1892 01:19:09,724 --> 01:19:12,508 Now, I know that sounds a little mystic to you. 1893 01:19:12,508 --> 01:19:14,943 The fact of the matter is how many times 1894 01:19:14,943 --> 01:19:20,193 do you sit before the Lord in silence? 1895 01:19:20,193 --> 01:19:22,930 Just quiet. 1896 01:19:22,930 --> 01:19:24,803 People say, "I never hear from God." 1897 01:19:24,803 --> 01:19:26,164 Do you listen? 1898 01:19:26,164 --> 01:19:29,214 You know, you wouldn't walk in front of the president talking. 1899 01:19:29,214 --> 01:19:31,795 You would keep your mouth shut until he addressed you. 1900 01:19:31,795 --> 01:19:33,810 But you go before God, before you even hit your knees, 1901 01:19:33,810 --> 01:19:35,588 you're already telling Him stuff. 1902 01:19:35,588 --> 01:19:38,894 Do you ever think about listening? 1903 01:19:38,894 --> 01:19:40,601 Meditating on the Word of God? 1904 01:19:40,601 --> 01:19:45,286 Listening? 1905 01:19:45,286 --> 01:19:49,043 An illustration I heard a long time ago: 1906 01:19:49,043 --> 01:19:51,249 A man worked in this big, noisy factory - 1907 01:19:51,249 --> 01:19:53,432 just wheels grinding and everything else - 1908 01:19:53,432 --> 01:19:55,198 and he lost his watch. 1909 01:19:55,198 --> 01:19:56,699 It was a very important watch 1910 01:19:56,699 --> 01:19:57,953 that his father gave him. 1911 01:19:57,953 --> 01:19:59,634 He lost it while he was working there 1912 01:19:59,634 --> 01:20:01,422 in the factory during the day. 1913 01:20:01,422 --> 01:20:03,398 I mean, how are you going to find this thing? 1914 01:20:03,398 --> 01:20:04,566 The factory's full of men, 1915 01:20:04,566 --> 01:20:05,677 wheels are grinding, 1916 01:20:05,677 --> 01:20:08,287 everything's going on, noise, smoke, steam - 1917 01:20:08,287 --> 01:20:10,964 there's no way to recover that watch. 1918 01:20:10,964 --> 01:20:13,316 The next day though he showed the workman 1919 01:20:13,316 --> 01:20:15,710 his watch - he had found it. 1920 01:20:15,710 --> 01:20:19,220 And they said how did you find the watch? 1921 01:20:19,220 --> 01:20:24,484 He said I waited till the factory was shut down 1922 01:20:24,484 --> 01:20:27,095 and all the wheels stopped 1923 01:20:27,095 --> 01:20:29,853 and all the men were gone, 1924 01:20:29,853 --> 01:20:32,962 and I laid quietly on the floor 1925 01:20:32,962 --> 01:20:36,537 and I listened... 1926 01:20:36,537 --> 01:20:39,900 tick... tick... tick... tick... 1927 01:20:39,900 --> 01:20:43,955 and I found my watch. 1928 01:20:43,955 --> 01:20:46,099 Think about it. We're not a people like that. 1929 01:20:46,099 --> 01:20:48,347 If you walked into a church 1930 01:20:48,347 --> 01:20:50,654 in which for 5 minutes, everyone was silent, 1931 01:20:50,654 --> 01:20:53,674 you'd probably call it a cult. 1932 01:20:53,674 --> 01:20:55,091 You walk in a church 1933 01:20:55,091 --> 01:20:57,513 there's media blaring at you. 1934 01:20:57,513 --> 01:20:59,393 There's pictures on screens. 1935 01:20:59,393 --> 01:21:01,618 People talking, everything going on. 1936 01:21:01,618 --> 01:21:04,228 Think about it. 1937 01:21:04,228 --> 01:21:10,329 All the noise? 1938 01:21:10,329 --> 01:21:13,019 I don't know if I correctly remember the poem. 1939 01:21:13,019 --> 01:21:14,980 What was it? 1940 01:21:14,980 --> 01:21:16,408 Weak from the journey, 1941 01:21:16,408 --> 01:21:17,818 the long passing days, 1942 01:21:17,818 --> 01:21:21,135 hungry to worship, to join in the praise. 1943 01:21:21,135 --> 01:21:22,989 Christ coming in from the wilderness 1944 01:21:22,989 --> 01:21:26,130 and He goes into the temple. 1945 01:21:26,130 --> 01:21:31,414 And instead of finding silence in the temple, 1946 01:21:31,414 --> 01:21:33,347 it says, shock met with anger 1947 01:21:33,347 --> 01:21:34,794 that burned on His face 1948 01:21:34,794 --> 01:21:36,454 as He entered the wasteland 1949 01:21:36,454 --> 01:21:38,027 of that barren place. 1950 01:21:38,027 --> 01:21:39,380 That the temple had become 1951 01:21:39,380 --> 01:21:40,653 more like a wilderness 1952 01:21:40,653 --> 01:21:43,069 than the wilderness itself. 1953 01:21:43,069 --> 01:21:45,638 Then it talks about how He makes a cord, 1954 01:21:45,638 --> 01:21:48,412 a whip. 1955 01:21:48,412 --> 01:21:50,421 It says they'll flee from the harm 1956 01:21:50,421 --> 01:21:53,370 of the Carpenter's strong arm. 1957 01:21:53,370 --> 01:21:54,706 And then the poem says, 1958 01:21:54,706 --> 01:21:57,257 at last the noise and confusion 1959 01:21:57,257 --> 01:21:59,416 gave way to His Word, 1960 01:21:59,416 --> 01:22:02,418 at last sacred silence 1961 01:22:02,418 --> 01:22:05,710 so God could be heard. 1962 01:22:05,710 --> 01:22:10,180 Do you know anything of a night watch? 1963 01:22:10,180 --> 01:22:12,840 Do you know about a night watch? 1964 01:22:12,840 --> 01:22:15,221 Do you ever wake in the night 1965 01:22:15,221 --> 01:22:18,262 just to watch and pray? 1966 01:22:18,262 --> 01:22:22,491 Just to sit alone with God in the night? 1967 01:22:22,491 --> 01:22:29,072 In the dark? 1968 01:22:29,072 --> 01:22:33,939 We are not a very spiritual people, are we. 1969 01:22:33,939 --> 01:22:35,073 We need to pray. 1970 01:22:35,073 --> 01:22:38,197 Now, the last thing that I want to say 1971 01:22:38,197 --> 01:22:40,797 and we'll quit here. 1972 01:22:40,797 --> 01:22:42,266 We must abide in His Word. 1973 01:22:42,266 --> 01:22:44,056 We must abide in prayer. 1974 01:22:44,056 --> 01:22:49,060 And this is one that is most beautiful to me. 1975 01:22:49,060 --> 01:22:51,388 Abiding in Christ is synonymous 1976 01:22:51,388 --> 01:22:55,069 with abiding in Christ's love. 1977 01:22:55,069 --> 01:22:56,387 D.A. Carson writes, 1978 01:22:56,387 --> 01:22:58,485 "The imagery is now changed 1979 01:22:58,485 --> 01:23:00,732 because the agricultural metaphor 1980 01:23:00,732 --> 01:23:02,707 has its limitations. 1981 01:23:02,707 --> 01:23:05,307 It does not depict the unfathomable love 1982 01:23:05,307 --> 01:23:06,911 that sets the disciples 1983 01:23:06,911 --> 01:23:11,190 in this new intimacy." 1984 01:23:11,190 --> 01:23:14,935 You must abide in the love of Christ. 1985 01:23:14,935 --> 01:23:17,275 Now, I want us to look at this in two ways: 1986 01:23:17,275 --> 01:23:20,498 positionally and actively. 1987 01:23:20,498 --> 01:23:22,474 The language here's really important. 1988 01:23:22,474 --> 01:23:24,467 It really is. I want you to listen. 1989 01:23:24,467 --> 01:23:27,603 He says, "Just as the Father has loved Me," 1990 01:23:27,603 --> 01:23:28,891 in verses 9 and 10, 1991 01:23:28,891 --> 01:23:30,829 "I have also loved you." 1992 01:23:30,829 --> 01:23:32,341 Now, Greek scholars tell us 1993 01:23:32,341 --> 01:23:33,894 that the aorist tense here 1994 01:23:33,894 --> 01:23:35,981 probably suggests completeness 1995 01:23:35,981 --> 01:23:38,476 or perfection. 1996 01:23:38,476 --> 01:23:39,591 So what He's saying is 1997 01:23:39,591 --> 01:23:41,796 as the Father has completely 1998 01:23:41,796 --> 01:23:44,130 and perfectly loved Me, 1999 01:23:44,130 --> 01:23:50,009 so I perfectly and completely love you. 2000 01:23:50,009 --> 01:23:51,305 Now, I've written here, 2001 01:23:51,305 --> 01:23:53,047 this is the first side of the coin 2002 01:23:53,047 --> 01:23:54,725 or the foundation of the building. 2003 01:23:54,725 --> 01:23:57,633 To be fruitful, we must be utterly convinced 2004 01:23:57,633 --> 01:24:00,161 or persuaded of Christ's love for us. 2005 01:24:00,161 --> 01:24:03,303 Then we must live in continuous dependence 2006 01:24:03,303 --> 01:24:05,223 upon Christ's love, 2007 01:24:05,223 --> 01:24:07,838 constant reliance upon Christ's love, 2008 01:24:07,838 --> 01:24:10,879 constant, persistent imbibing 2009 01:24:10,879 --> 01:24:13,810 of Christ's love. 2010 01:24:13,810 --> 01:24:21,267 Now, what do I mean by all that? 2011 01:24:21,267 --> 01:24:23,004 Jude says this: 2012 01:24:23,004 --> 01:24:26,865 "Keep yourself in the love of God." 2013 01:24:26,865 --> 01:24:29,721 Now, Paul says this: 2014 01:24:29,721 --> 01:24:32,202 That he is constrained 2015 01:24:32,202 --> 01:24:34,669 by the love of Christ. 2016 01:24:34,669 --> 01:24:36,269 Keep yourself in the love of God. 2017 01:24:36,269 --> 01:24:38,306 Paul is constrained by the love of Christ. 2018 01:24:38,306 --> 01:24:41,256 Now many people think wrongly about this. 2019 01:24:41,256 --> 01:24:44,157 When Paul says that he is constrained by the love of Christ, 2020 01:24:44,157 --> 01:24:45,869 many think that Paul is saying 2021 01:24:45,869 --> 01:24:47,849 I'm constrained by the great love 2022 01:24:47,849 --> 01:24:51,085 that I have for Christ. 2023 01:24:51,085 --> 01:24:53,031 Let me share with you something. 2024 01:24:53,031 --> 01:24:55,122 You know the song - just any song 2025 01:24:55,122 --> 01:24:59,877 that says, "Oh, how I love Jesus..." 2026 01:24:59,877 --> 01:25:01,318 When everyone's singing that - 2027 01:25:01,318 --> 01:25:03,913 and it's true to sing that; that's a good song - 2028 01:25:03,913 --> 01:25:06,014 but I kind of change the words 2029 01:25:06,014 --> 01:25:08,205 because I'm a terrible singer anyway. 2030 01:25:08,205 --> 01:25:10,549 I go: Oh, how Jesus loves me. 2031 01:25:10,549 --> 01:25:13,006 The reason why is I look at my love for Christ 2032 01:25:13,006 --> 01:25:16,106 and I really don't see anything worth singing about. 2033 01:25:16,106 --> 01:25:18,903 But I look at the love of Christ for me, 2034 01:25:18,903 --> 01:25:21,967 I see a whole lot worth singing about. 2035 01:25:21,967 --> 01:25:23,885 Now don't say it's unbiblical to sing 2036 01:25:23,885 --> 01:25:25,221 "Oh, How I Love Jesus." 2037 01:25:25,221 --> 01:25:27,923 The psalmist says that he loves the Lord, okay? 2038 01:25:27,923 --> 01:25:29,308 We should love the Lord. 2039 01:25:29,308 --> 01:25:30,906 The point I'm trying to make is 2040 01:25:30,906 --> 01:25:35,309 the strength of Paul Washer's life 2041 01:25:35,309 --> 01:25:41,196 is not how much he loves Jesus; 2042 01:25:41,196 --> 01:25:44,305 it's how much Jesus loves him. 2043 01:25:44,305 --> 01:25:49,831 That little change there will change everything. 2044 01:25:49,831 --> 01:25:51,632 Let me share with you something that happened. 2045 01:25:51,632 --> 01:25:53,371 As I said in my testimony this morning, 2046 01:25:53,371 --> 01:25:56,034 I had a father that was very demanding. 2047 01:25:56,034 --> 01:25:58,062 If you scored a 98, why didn't you score 100? 2048 01:25:58,062 --> 01:26:00,340 If you scored 20 points in the basketball game, 2049 01:26:00,340 --> 01:26:01,600 you could have scored 30. 2050 01:26:01,600 --> 01:26:03,132 On and on... 2051 01:26:03,132 --> 01:26:06,161 I was kind of never in the inner circle of anything. 2052 01:26:06,161 --> 01:26:08,287 You know, I wasn't one of the cool guys when I was young. 2053 01:26:08,287 --> 01:26:10,051 I wasn't this. I wasn't that. 2054 01:26:10,051 --> 01:26:11,212 Here's what happened. 2055 01:26:11,212 --> 01:26:12,751 When I got saved, I thought 2056 01:26:12,751 --> 01:26:15,696 this is going to be my one chance. 2057 01:26:15,696 --> 01:26:18,750 I want to be in God's inner circle. 2058 01:26:18,750 --> 01:26:20,511 I want God to love me 2059 01:26:20,511 --> 01:26:22,770 like He loves His favorites. 2060 01:26:22,770 --> 01:26:25,016 I know that's wrong, but that was my mentality. 2061 01:26:25,016 --> 01:26:27,071 And I know it was fleshly and full of pride, 2062 01:26:27,071 --> 01:26:30,197 but I'm just telling you the facts. 2063 01:26:30,197 --> 01:26:32,344 And I decided this is the one place 2064 01:26:32,344 --> 01:26:34,342 where you can really go all out 2065 01:26:34,342 --> 01:26:35,902 even if you're not the smartest 2066 01:26:35,902 --> 01:26:37,683 and even if you're not the prettiest 2067 01:26:37,683 --> 01:26:40,342 and even if you don't have the most muscles. 2068 01:26:40,342 --> 01:26:41,957 I mean, there's nothing to hinder you 2069 01:26:41,957 --> 01:26:44,281 in this endeavor except your own passion. 2070 01:26:44,281 --> 01:26:47,072 If you want to be one of the top guys in this 2071 01:26:47,072 --> 01:26:49,519 and really be loved by God and appreciated, 2072 01:26:49,519 --> 01:26:50,644 this is it. 2073 01:26:50,644 --> 01:26:52,493 All you have to do is have passion. 2074 01:26:52,493 --> 01:26:55,356 And buddy, I had it. I went to Peru. 2075 01:26:55,356 --> 01:26:57,816 Worked 18 hours a day. 2076 01:26:57,816 --> 01:26:59,011 Lived on nothing. 2077 01:26:59,011 --> 01:27:03,588 Just wild. 2078 01:27:03,588 --> 01:27:07,199 And every day became more of a grind. 2079 01:27:07,199 --> 01:27:09,291 Every day I would see more failure, 2080 01:27:09,291 --> 01:27:11,471 more failure, year after year, 2081 01:27:11,471 --> 01:27:13,940 until finally one day as a young man - 2082 01:27:13,940 --> 01:27:15,055 I'll never forget it - 2083 01:27:15,055 --> 01:27:16,630 it was in the town of Mia Flores 2084 01:27:16,630 --> 01:27:18,559 up on the third floor of this old building 2085 01:27:18,559 --> 01:27:20,135 that we were renting during the war 2086 01:27:20,135 --> 01:27:21,418 because we were using it for a church 2087 01:27:21,418 --> 01:27:22,773 and to help street kids. 2088 01:27:22,773 --> 01:27:24,175 I was on the third floor. 2089 01:27:24,175 --> 01:27:26,301 There was a few steps from the third floor 2090 01:27:26,301 --> 01:27:30,223 to the half other part of the third floor where I slept. 2091 01:27:30,223 --> 01:27:32,867 And right there, I crashed. 2092 01:27:32,867 --> 01:27:36,304 Totally exhausted every possible way 2093 01:27:36,304 --> 01:27:39,847 after years of just full bore, 2094 01:27:39,847 --> 01:27:42,618 out of my mind serving Christ. 2095 01:27:42,618 --> 01:27:43,963 And I crashed. 2096 01:27:43,963 --> 01:27:45,710 And I crashed in all my failure 2097 01:27:45,710 --> 01:27:46,676 right on those steps 2098 01:27:46,676 --> 01:27:47,685 and I laid down there 2099 01:27:47,685 --> 01:27:51,310 and I cried and I cried and I cried. 2100 01:27:51,310 --> 01:27:55,802 I said I don't want to go to hell 2101 01:27:55,802 --> 01:27:59,000 because I know something of what is there. 2102 01:27:59,000 --> 01:28:00,419 I don't want to go to hell, 2103 01:28:00,419 --> 01:28:04,404 but I don't want to go to heaven. 2104 01:28:04,404 --> 01:28:08,689 I am so ashamed of my performance. 2105 01:28:08,689 --> 01:28:12,258 I've not been able to do any of this right. 2106 01:28:12,258 --> 01:28:14,020 I know You have servants. 2107 01:28:14,020 --> 01:28:15,669 I know You have your Spurgeons. 2108 01:28:15,669 --> 01:28:17,769 I know You have all these kind of people 2109 01:28:17,769 --> 01:28:19,321 and they pleased You, 2110 01:28:19,321 --> 01:28:21,303 and I know when You look at my life, 2111 01:28:21,303 --> 01:28:22,970 it just must be a joke. 2112 01:28:22,970 --> 01:28:25,759 I just want to go somewhere when I die 2113 01:28:25,759 --> 01:28:27,312 where I don't have to suffer, 2114 01:28:27,312 --> 01:28:29,210 but I don't have to look at You 2115 01:28:29,210 --> 01:28:31,102 and be so disappointed 2116 01:28:31,102 --> 01:28:34,342 and see the disappointment in Your face. 2117 01:28:34,342 --> 01:28:35,814 I know that's insane. 2118 01:28:35,814 --> 01:28:37,565 I know theologically it's incorrect. 2119 01:28:37,565 --> 01:28:40,044 But it's where I was. 2120 01:28:40,044 --> 01:28:43,051 And it was there 2121 01:28:43,051 --> 01:28:45,405 that in one moment 2122 01:28:45,405 --> 01:28:48,050 the sin and vileness of everything I was saying 2123 01:28:48,050 --> 01:28:49,442 was made known to me. 2124 01:28:49,442 --> 01:28:51,548 And you would think that that would grind me 2125 01:28:51,548 --> 01:28:53,215 even more to powder. No. 2126 01:28:53,215 --> 01:28:54,913 God should have struck me down 2127 01:28:54,913 --> 01:28:57,704 for those kinds of attitudes. 2128 01:28:57,704 --> 01:29:00,050 But it was there, empty, 2129 01:29:00,050 --> 01:29:05,626 empty of any hope of ever pleasing God - 2130 01:29:05,626 --> 01:29:07,124 because not only had I failed 2131 01:29:07,124 --> 01:29:08,671 in what I intended to do, 2132 01:29:08,671 --> 01:29:15,061 what I intended to do was actually evil. 2133 01:29:15,061 --> 01:29:18,770 That in one moment, I began to understand 2134 01:29:18,770 --> 01:29:22,940 I am loved. 2135 01:29:22,940 --> 01:29:25,433 I do not have to move a quarter of an inch this way, 2136 01:29:25,433 --> 01:29:26,995 a quarter of an inch that way. 2137 01:29:26,995 --> 01:29:28,473 I do not have to perform. 2138 01:29:28,473 --> 01:29:32,056 I do not have to do it. I am loved in Christ. 2139 01:29:32,056 --> 01:29:34,548 The very moment when God should have most judged me, 2140 01:29:34,548 --> 01:29:36,532 He most showed me His love. 2141 01:29:36,532 --> 01:29:39,830 What a God! 2142 01:29:39,830 --> 01:29:42,947 Brothers, you are so wrong 2143 01:29:42,947 --> 01:29:45,576 in what you think about men of God. 2144 01:29:45,576 --> 01:29:47,113 Now, hopefully, they are sincere 2145 01:29:47,113 --> 01:29:48,169 in that we do pray 2146 01:29:48,169 --> 01:29:50,563 and we do want to be following 2147 01:29:50,563 --> 01:29:51,920 hard after Christ, 2148 01:29:51,920 --> 01:29:54,114 but men of God in their best moment 2149 01:29:54,114 --> 01:29:58,833 are only worthy of hell. 2150 01:29:58,833 --> 01:30:00,366 And what you need to see 2151 01:30:00,366 --> 01:30:03,482 is the thing that can really make you strong 2152 01:30:03,482 --> 01:30:05,939 is not that you look at your life 2153 01:30:05,939 --> 01:30:07,216 and you're able to see 2154 01:30:07,216 --> 01:30:09,411 all the things you're doing right. 2155 01:30:09,411 --> 01:30:12,022 No, you give up looking at your life 2156 01:30:12,022 --> 01:30:14,154 to find something that you're doing right 2157 01:30:14,154 --> 01:30:16,194 and worthy of being loved for, 2158 01:30:16,194 --> 01:30:19,564 and you look at the finished work of Christ. 2159 01:30:19,564 --> 01:30:21,152 And you look at Christ. 2160 01:30:21,152 --> 01:30:24,222 Just Christ and all that He's done. 2161 01:30:24,222 --> 01:30:26,483 And you understand He loves you. 2162 01:30:26,483 --> 01:30:27,989 And you don't have to perform. 2163 01:30:27,989 --> 01:30:30,833 And no, you were not saved to serve. 2164 01:30:30,833 --> 01:30:32,545 You weren't even saved to love God. 2165 01:30:32,545 --> 01:30:35,721 You were saved so God could love you. 2166 01:30:35,721 --> 01:30:37,934 And then out of that great love for you 2167 01:30:37,934 --> 01:30:39,605 and His empowering Spirit, 2168 01:30:39,605 --> 01:30:43,604 you would be able to give some return on that. 2169 01:30:43,604 --> 01:30:45,753 But that you are loved! 2170 01:30:45,753 --> 01:30:47,182 It's a magnificent thing! 2171 01:30:47,182 --> 01:30:50,332 Do you realize all that you can attempt 2172 01:30:50,332 --> 01:30:53,980 when you no longer fear failure? 2173 01:30:53,980 --> 01:30:57,230 When you no longer fear disappointment? 2174 01:30:57,230 --> 01:30:59,490 So many believers, after talking to them, 2175 01:30:59,490 --> 01:31:02,326 this is what I'll tell them: 2176 01:31:02,326 --> 01:31:04,066 So many believers - I'll go, 2177 01:31:04,066 --> 01:31:06,309 I have discerned your problem. 2178 01:31:06,309 --> 01:31:08,323 You honestly think that the first time 2179 01:31:08,323 --> 01:31:09,914 you look into the face of Christ, 2180 01:31:09,914 --> 01:31:13,221 you're going to see a scowl. 2181 01:31:13,221 --> 01:31:14,683 Think about it. 2182 01:31:14,683 --> 01:31:17,175 Yes, I know there's a judgment throne for believers. 2183 01:31:17,175 --> 01:31:18,611 I know all these doctrines. 2184 01:31:18,611 --> 01:31:20,318 Don't think I don't. I do. 2185 01:31:20,318 --> 01:31:22,181 But I want to tell you, believer, 2186 01:31:22,181 --> 01:31:25,257 He didn't shed His own blood on that tree 2187 01:31:25,257 --> 01:31:27,314 so that the first time He sees you 2188 01:31:27,314 --> 01:31:36,006 He would be able to show you His disappointment. 2189 01:31:36,006 --> 01:31:38,807 You see that? 2190 01:31:38,807 --> 01:31:42,247 I mean, it's the love of God. 2191 01:31:42,247 --> 01:31:46,420 It's what God did for us in Christ 2192 01:31:46,420 --> 01:31:50,457 that sets us free and empowers us 2193 01:31:50,457 --> 01:31:52,116 to know that you're loved, 2194 01:31:52,116 --> 01:31:56,859 to know that you're loved. 2195 01:31:56,859 --> 01:31:59,045 I remember when my son Ian, 2196 01:31:59,045 --> 01:32:00,474 he was just a little boy 2197 01:32:00,474 --> 01:32:03,238 and he's always been very confident. 2198 01:32:03,238 --> 01:32:04,562 He's always been like: 2199 01:32:04,562 --> 01:32:06,807 Okay, I'm here. The party can begin. 2200 01:32:06,807 --> 01:32:09,087 You know, he's just always been very confident. 2201 01:32:09,087 --> 01:32:11,363 And I remember when he was a little boy 2202 01:32:11,363 --> 01:32:13,720 that he was laying on my bed asleep 2203 01:32:13,720 --> 01:32:15,199 and I walked in, 2204 01:32:15,199 --> 01:32:17,558 and he woke up when I walked in. 2205 01:32:17,558 --> 01:32:19,053 And this is what he did: 2206 01:32:19,053 --> 01:32:20,686 He woke up - 2207 01:32:20,686 --> 01:32:23,555 and I was always afraid of my father. 2208 01:32:23,555 --> 01:32:26,003 He woke up. He turned around 2209 01:32:26,003 --> 01:32:28,429 and he went: 2210 01:32:28,429 --> 01:32:30,472 There wasn't a doubt in his mind 2211 01:32:30,472 --> 01:32:32,782 what should happen here. 2212 01:32:32,782 --> 01:32:35,497 He is loved 2213 01:32:35,497 --> 01:32:37,396 and his dad's going to run over there 2214 01:32:37,396 --> 01:32:41,705 and give him the biggest hug in the world. 2215 01:32:41,705 --> 01:32:45,333 What a joy! 2216 01:32:45,333 --> 01:32:46,923 To know that you are loved. 2217 01:32:46,923 --> 01:32:48,197 You say, oh, but I failed. 2218 01:32:48,197 --> 01:32:51,806 Why do you think He died? 2219 01:32:51,806 --> 01:32:53,837 What is this death all about? 2220 01:32:53,837 --> 01:32:56,487 Just so He can say that He forgave you 2221 01:32:56,487 --> 01:32:58,086 and then show you constantly 2222 01:32:58,086 --> 01:33:02,058 all the reasons why He shouldn't? 2223 01:33:02,058 --> 01:33:04,559 He saved you to put that all away 2224 01:33:04,559 --> 01:33:06,083 so that He could have brothers 2225 01:33:06,083 --> 01:33:07,523 that He would not be ashamed 2226 01:33:07,523 --> 01:33:09,490 to announce them to the congregation; 2227 01:33:09,490 --> 01:33:11,189 to say that they are His brothers. 2228 01:33:11,189 --> 01:33:14,875 He has set you free to be loved. 2229 01:33:14,875 --> 01:33:17,428 It doesn't matter how big your ministry is or isn't. 2230 01:33:17,428 --> 01:33:19,355 It doesn't matter what you do or don't. 2231 01:33:19,355 --> 01:33:21,867 You are loved if you are in Christ. 2232 01:33:21,867 --> 01:33:24,329 Now the unconverted church person hears that 2233 01:33:24,329 --> 01:33:26,965 and goes, well, great, I'll just keep sinning. 2234 01:33:26,965 --> 01:33:29,416 It doesn't matter what I do. I'll just keep sinning. 2235 01:33:29,416 --> 01:33:31,705 But the person who's been truly regenerated 2236 01:33:31,705 --> 01:33:33,058 by the Spirit of God, 2237 01:33:33,058 --> 01:33:34,144 what does he do? 2238 01:33:34,144 --> 01:33:35,821 If God loves me this way, 2239 01:33:35,821 --> 01:33:41,373 I so desire much more to be holy. 2240 01:33:41,373 --> 01:33:42,854 One of the most pathetic things 2241 01:33:42,854 --> 01:33:44,063 that a preacher has to do 2242 01:33:44,063 --> 01:33:47,754 is tell believers that they're loved of God 2243 01:33:47,754 --> 01:33:49,946 because there's no way for us to describe 2244 01:33:49,946 --> 01:33:53,152 the greatness of that love for His people. 2245 01:33:53,152 --> 01:33:58,429 Sometimes when I'm preaching pastorally, 2246 01:33:58,429 --> 01:34:00,686 when I was a pastor 2247 01:34:00,686 --> 01:34:03,018 or when a few times I've taken over a church 2248 01:34:03,018 --> 01:34:06,267 for a few months in order to help it 2249 01:34:06,267 --> 01:34:09,009 because it was struggling, 2250 01:34:09,009 --> 01:34:13,404 everybody hears me preaching on YouTube. 2251 01:34:13,404 --> 01:34:16,519 The meanest man in the world. 2252 01:34:16,519 --> 01:34:18,400 And I've had those same people show up 2253 01:34:18,400 --> 01:34:20,007 because I've come into their area 2254 01:34:20,007 --> 01:34:21,090 to help a church. 2255 01:34:21,090 --> 01:34:22,565 And I've had young men show up 2256 01:34:22,565 --> 01:34:24,529 and listen to me preach to that church 2257 01:34:24,529 --> 01:34:26,146 and it be a very backward church - 2258 01:34:26,146 --> 01:34:27,693 a church with a lot of problems, 2259 01:34:27,693 --> 01:34:29,104 a lot of sin. 2260 01:34:29,104 --> 01:34:31,294 And some young men kept showing up and coming, 2261 01:34:31,294 --> 01:34:34,407 and finally they went to one of my friends 2262 01:34:34,407 --> 01:34:36,726 after hearing me preach for several weeks, 2263 01:34:36,726 --> 01:34:38,195 they came to one of my friends 2264 01:34:38,195 --> 01:34:39,526 and they said this: 2265 01:34:39,526 --> 01:34:41,408 "We've got a question." 2266 01:34:41,408 --> 01:34:42,878 He said, "Yeah?" 2267 01:34:42,878 --> 01:34:45,618 They said, "We respect Brother Paul a lot, 2268 01:34:45,618 --> 01:34:49,360 but has he compromised?" 2269 01:34:49,360 --> 01:34:51,315 The guy says, "Well, what do you mean?" 2270 01:34:51,315 --> 01:34:52,791 He goes, "Well, everybody knows 2271 01:34:52,791 --> 01:34:55,778 this church has a lot of problems 2272 01:34:55,778 --> 01:34:58,035 and all he's done for weeks is taught 2273 01:34:58,035 --> 01:35:01,893 on the love of God. 2274 01:35:01,893 --> 01:35:04,565 We expected to get some YouTube stuff, you know? 2275 01:35:04,565 --> 01:35:05,895 Sermon jam? 2276 01:35:05,895 --> 01:35:08,143 Having smoke coming out of his ears 2277 01:35:08,143 --> 01:35:10,618 preaching really hard? 2278 01:35:10,618 --> 01:35:16,362 You see, here's what you need to understand. 2279 01:35:16,362 --> 01:35:19,088 If someone has been truly converted - 2280 01:35:19,088 --> 01:35:21,231 truly converted - 2281 01:35:21,231 --> 01:35:24,721 you do not have to manipulate them with fear. 2282 01:35:24,721 --> 01:35:28,442 You do not have to coerce them. 2283 01:35:28,442 --> 01:35:30,489 If they've truly been regenerated 2284 01:35:30,489 --> 01:35:32,019 by the Holy Spirit. 2285 01:35:32,019 --> 01:35:34,062 the more they come to understand 2286 01:35:34,062 --> 01:35:36,469 the glories of God in the face of Christ, 2287 01:35:36,469 --> 01:35:38,001 the more they come to understand 2288 01:35:38,001 --> 01:35:39,670 the love of God on their behalf, 2289 01:35:39,670 --> 01:35:41,868 the more they'll be driven to holiness. 2290 01:35:41,868 --> 01:35:44,625 And if they're not, it's because they're not sheep. 2291 01:35:44,625 --> 01:35:46,005 They're goats. 2292 01:35:46,005 --> 01:35:47,950 When I come to Christians - 2293 01:35:47,950 --> 01:35:49,468 and yes, sometimes Christians 2294 01:35:49,468 --> 01:35:50,922 need to be rebuked and warned 2295 01:35:50,922 --> 01:35:52,086 and all kinds of things, 2296 01:35:52,086 --> 01:35:54,679 but basically, when I'm dealing with the Christian, 2297 01:35:54,679 --> 01:35:57,191 my greatest desire is to explain to them 2298 01:35:57,191 --> 01:36:00,795 how much they are loved by God in Christ. 2299 01:36:00,795 --> 01:36:02,341 And I find that when people 2300 01:36:02,341 --> 01:36:04,618 come to understand - truly regenerate people - 2301 01:36:04,618 --> 01:36:08,405 how much they are loved, 2302 01:36:08,405 --> 01:36:10,052 they seem to blossom. 2303 01:36:10,052 --> 01:36:12,856 Keep yourselves, Jude said, in the love of God. 2304 01:36:12,856 --> 01:36:13,953 That doesn't mean: 2305 01:36:13,953 --> 01:36:16,580 live in such a way so that God will love you. 2306 01:36:16,580 --> 01:36:18,156 It means this: 2307 01:36:18,156 --> 01:36:20,947 Keep yourself basking in His love. 2308 01:36:20,947 --> 01:36:22,532 If you tell me to come to your house 2309 01:36:22,532 --> 01:36:25,084 because you've got a plant that isn't growing, 2310 01:36:25,084 --> 01:36:26,762 and it's wilting and dying, 2311 01:36:26,762 --> 01:36:28,164 you say, Brother Paul, 2312 01:36:28,164 --> 01:36:29,689 what do you think the problem is? 2313 01:36:29,689 --> 01:36:30,848 I say, well, show me the plant. 2314 01:36:30,848 --> 01:36:32,382 You take me into a closet 2315 01:36:32,382 --> 01:36:35,074 where you've kept the plant for six months. 2316 01:36:35,074 --> 01:36:36,216 Again, I'm going to go, 2317 01:36:36,216 --> 01:36:38,147 well, I'm not really an expert 2318 01:36:38,147 --> 01:36:39,912 at growing plants, 2319 01:36:39,912 --> 01:36:41,671 but I think if you put this thing 2320 01:36:41,671 --> 01:36:44,198 out in the sun, 2321 01:36:44,198 --> 01:36:46,889 it might do better. 2322 01:36:46,889 --> 01:36:48,643 The devil is constantly trying 2323 01:36:48,643 --> 01:36:50,356 to convince the believer 2324 01:36:50,356 --> 01:36:55,227 that God's love isn't as the Bible says. 2325 01:36:55,227 --> 01:36:57,019 And when we begin to believe that 2326 01:36:57,019 --> 01:36:59,682 we wilt, we die. 2327 01:36:59,682 --> 01:37:03,143 Keep yourself believing the truth 2328 01:37:03,143 --> 01:37:05,199 about the love of God 2329 01:37:05,199 --> 01:37:08,985 and it will cause you to prosper. 2330 01:37:08,985 --> 01:37:11,214 It will cause you to grow. 2331 01:37:11,214 --> 01:37:14,216 It will cause you to bear fruit. 2332 01:37:14,216 --> 01:37:21,501 The sunshine of God's love upon you. 2333 01:37:21,501 --> 01:37:24,486 Last night, a young man came to me 2334 01:37:24,486 --> 01:37:26,535 and was talking about I feel bad sometimes. 2335 01:37:26,535 --> 01:37:29,515 You are so passionate 2336 01:37:29,515 --> 01:37:32,066 talking about Christ the way that you did 2337 01:37:32,066 --> 01:37:34,949 and sometimes my heart is dead. 2338 01:37:34,949 --> 01:37:36,369 And I said, "Young man, 2339 01:37:36,369 --> 01:37:40,952 sometimes my heart is dead." 2340 01:37:40,952 --> 01:37:43,212 Sometimes my zeal wanes. 2341 01:37:43,212 --> 01:37:45,397 Even last night, the tears I shed 2342 01:37:45,397 --> 01:37:48,247 were not: Oh, this man loves Jesus so much. 2343 01:37:48,247 --> 01:37:51,805 The tears were: God, how can You love me so much 2344 01:37:51,805 --> 01:37:54,993 and yet my heart be so cold? 2345 01:37:54,993 --> 01:37:57,954 You see, it's not our love for God 2346 01:37:57,954 --> 01:38:01,612 that keeps us on an even keel. 2347 01:38:01,612 --> 01:38:05,615 It is God's constant love for us. 2348 01:38:05,615 --> 01:38:07,397 I had a young man come to me one time 2349 01:38:07,397 --> 01:38:09,671 and he was a very godly man - young man - 2350 01:38:09,671 --> 01:38:11,703 pursuing Christ. 2351 01:38:11,703 --> 01:38:14,189 And he actually wrote me an email 2352 01:38:14,189 --> 01:38:15,901 and he said this. 2353 01:38:15,901 --> 01:38:17,157 He said, "Brother Paul, 2354 01:38:17,157 --> 01:38:19,176 I am so unrighteous 2355 01:38:19,176 --> 01:38:21,242 and so ungodly 2356 01:38:21,242 --> 01:38:23,451 and so ignorant of God." 2357 01:38:23,451 --> 01:38:24,906 So I wrote him back, I said, 2358 01:38:24,906 --> 01:38:27,250 "Dear brother, you are much more ungodly 2359 01:38:27,250 --> 01:38:28,934 and much more unrighteous 2360 01:38:28,934 --> 01:38:31,042 than you now know. Signed, Paul." 2361 01:38:31,042 --> 01:38:33,012 I have the gift of encouragement. 2362 01:38:33,012 --> 01:38:36,416 And he called me back up and he was like, 2363 01:38:36,416 --> 01:38:38,437 "Thank you?" 2364 01:38:38,437 --> 01:38:41,507 "Why did you write that?" 2365 01:38:41,507 --> 01:38:44,405 I said, "Because I want to prove to you something, son." 2366 01:38:44,405 --> 01:38:46,010 I've watched your life. 2367 01:38:46,010 --> 01:38:48,578 You're following hard after Christ. 2368 01:38:48,578 --> 01:38:50,148 In many ways, when I look at you, 2369 01:38:50,148 --> 01:38:51,605 I seem to think of myself 2370 01:38:51,605 --> 01:38:54,004 that I lost my first love. 2371 01:38:54,004 --> 01:38:56,135 I said you're following harder after Christ 2372 01:38:56,135 --> 01:38:57,540 than I appear to be, 2373 01:38:57,540 --> 01:39:00,098 but I'm much happier than you. 2374 01:39:00,098 --> 01:39:01,670 And he said how can that be? 2375 01:39:01,670 --> 01:39:04,505 I said, son, I've given up 2376 01:39:04,505 --> 01:39:06,992 on trying to earn my own keep 2377 01:39:06,992 --> 01:39:09,103 in the kingdom of heaven. 2378 01:39:09,103 --> 01:39:12,648 I said, son, when you get up in the morning 2379 01:39:12,648 --> 01:39:16,330 and you have a five hour time of prayer 2380 01:39:16,330 --> 01:39:19,097 and you read the Word for 25 hours 2381 01:39:19,097 --> 01:39:21,110 just in that morning, 2382 01:39:21,110 --> 01:39:23,380 and you go out, you witness to everybody, 2383 01:39:23,380 --> 01:39:25,104 you're even nice to cats. 2384 01:39:25,104 --> 01:39:26,614 You're a testimony to Christ. 2385 01:39:26,614 --> 01:39:28,744 You're just walking in the Spirit. 2386 01:39:28,744 --> 01:39:30,430 I said, and you come home at night, 2387 01:39:30,430 --> 01:39:31,543 how do you feel? 2388 01:39:31,543 --> 01:39:34,131 He says I feel good. 2389 01:39:34,131 --> 01:39:35,986 I said what about the next morning 2390 01:39:35,986 --> 01:39:37,288 when you get up, 2391 01:39:37,288 --> 01:39:38,454 you slept in too late, 2392 01:39:38,454 --> 01:39:41,372 you missed your time with the Lord, 2393 01:39:41,372 --> 01:39:43,006 you kicked the cat, 2394 01:39:43,006 --> 01:39:44,786 you had an opportunity to witness, 2395 01:39:44,786 --> 01:39:47,052 you didn't do that, and so on and so forth, 2396 01:39:47,052 --> 01:39:48,278 how do you feel? 2397 01:39:48,278 --> 01:39:52,663 He said horrible. 2398 01:39:52,663 --> 01:39:53,906 Now there's a sense, 2399 01:39:53,906 --> 01:39:55,409 and I want to be very careful 2400 01:39:55,409 --> 01:39:58,069 so someone doesn't pick me apart on this sermon - 2401 01:39:58,069 --> 01:40:00,232 there's a sense in which yes, there was sin, 2402 01:40:00,232 --> 01:40:01,951 (unintelligible). 2403 01:40:01,951 --> 01:40:04,937 But I rebuked him of idolatry. 2404 01:40:04,937 --> 01:40:07,599 And he said why idolatry? 2405 01:40:07,599 --> 01:40:09,684 I said your performance 2406 01:40:09,684 --> 01:40:12,261 is the source of your joy. 2407 01:40:12,261 --> 01:40:14,149 I said son, even when you got up 2408 01:40:14,149 --> 01:40:16,247 and had the 25 hour quiet time 2409 01:40:16,247 --> 01:40:18,096 and you did all the stuff you did, 2410 01:40:18,096 --> 01:40:20,467 you still only earned enough 2411 01:40:20,467 --> 01:40:24,095 to find maybe a cooler spot in hell. 2412 01:40:24,095 --> 01:40:26,807 I said a man at his best 2413 01:40:26,807 --> 01:40:29,974 does not deserve the love of God. 2414 01:40:29,974 --> 01:40:33,053 I said I've come to realize that over the years. 2415 01:40:33,053 --> 01:40:37,144 I said your joy is based on your performance. 2416 01:40:37,144 --> 01:40:39,503 I said son, my joy is based on 2417 01:40:39,503 --> 01:40:41,289 the finished work of Jesus Christ 2418 01:40:41,289 --> 01:40:44,198 and that's the difference between me and you. 2419 01:40:44,198 --> 01:40:47,283 Do you see that? 2420 01:40:47,283 --> 01:40:48,963 What is the Christian life like? 2421 01:40:48,963 --> 01:40:51,103 It is like this: 2422 01:40:51,103 --> 01:40:53,297 It has to do with revelation, 2423 01:40:53,297 --> 01:40:55,337 brokenness, and joy. 2424 01:40:55,337 --> 01:40:57,337 You say, well, what do you mean? 2425 01:40:57,337 --> 01:40:59,334 A man is walking - he doesn't know Christ, 2426 01:40:59,334 --> 01:41:00,311 he's unconverted. 2427 01:41:00,311 --> 01:41:02,016 He hears a Gospel preacher one day 2428 01:41:02,016 --> 01:41:03,904 and the Spirit of God renews his heart. 2429 01:41:03,904 --> 01:41:05,458 For the first time in his life, 2430 01:41:05,458 --> 01:41:10,324 he sees a glimpse of how God truly is. 2431 01:41:10,324 --> 01:41:12,472 And in seeing that, 2432 01:41:12,472 --> 01:41:14,869 he sees a glimpse of how he truly is, 2433 01:41:14,869 --> 01:41:17,017 something of his sin. 2434 01:41:17,017 --> 01:41:21,914 And it breaks him and he repents, 2435 01:41:21,914 --> 01:41:24,673 but he's not left to despair. Why? 2436 01:41:24,673 --> 01:41:27,210 Because he also sees in that revelation 2437 01:41:27,210 --> 01:41:29,339 the grace of God in the face of Christ 2438 01:41:29,339 --> 01:41:32,274 and he's filled with joy as he believes. 2439 01:41:32,274 --> 01:41:33,890 You see that? 2440 01:41:33,890 --> 01:41:35,669 Then he gets up the next day, 2441 01:41:35,669 --> 01:41:36,944 and what happens? 2442 01:41:36,944 --> 01:41:38,811 As he's walking through his Christian life 2443 01:41:38,811 --> 01:41:41,917 he sees a greater revelation of who God is, 2444 01:41:41,917 --> 01:41:43,889 a greater revelation of God's holiness. 2445 01:41:43,889 --> 01:41:44,874 And what does it do? 2446 01:41:44,874 --> 01:41:47,741 It breaks him deeper than the day before. 2447 01:41:47,741 --> 01:41:49,724 It causes his repentance to be deeper 2448 01:41:49,724 --> 01:41:51,042 because he sees himself 2449 01:41:51,042 --> 01:41:52,927 even in a greater light now, 2450 01:41:52,927 --> 01:41:55,270 and sees the need for brokenness and repentance. 2451 01:41:55,270 --> 01:41:57,173 But he's not left to despair. 2452 01:41:57,173 --> 01:42:00,124 But he looks at the grace of God in the face of Christ 2453 01:42:00,124 --> 01:42:02,973 and his joy is greater than the joy he had the day before. 2454 01:42:02,973 --> 01:42:06,065 And you walk through your entire Christian life that way 2455 01:42:06,065 --> 01:42:08,237 until you're 90 years old 2456 01:42:08,237 --> 01:42:09,596 and at 90 years old 2457 01:42:09,596 --> 01:42:11,559 you see more of the holiness of God 2458 01:42:11,559 --> 01:42:13,251 than you ever could have imagined. 2459 01:42:13,251 --> 01:42:15,970 You see more of the darkness of your own soul 2460 01:42:15,970 --> 01:42:17,597 than you ever could have imagined. 2461 01:42:17,597 --> 01:42:18,955 You're more broken 2462 01:42:18,955 --> 01:42:20,634 than you could have ever imagined, 2463 01:42:20,634 --> 01:42:22,679 and yet your joy is greater 2464 01:42:22,679 --> 01:42:24,384 than you could have ever imagined. 2465 01:42:24,384 --> 01:42:25,766 But what happens is 2466 01:42:25,766 --> 01:42:28,287 there's been a holy transaction. 2467 01:42:28,287 --> 01:42:30,438 When you started, your joy was coming 2468 01:42:30,438 --> 01:42:32,650 from who you were and what you could do. 2469 01:42:32,650 --> 01:42:34,908 Now at 90, you're empty of that, 2470 01:42:34,908 --> 01:42:37,681 and your joy only comes from Christ. 2471 01:42:37,681 --> 01:42:39,872 And that's the way it's supposed to be. 2472 01:42:39,872 --> 01:42:41,920 All our joy, all our hope - 2473 01:42:41,920 --> 01:42:45,886 everything in Christ. 2474 01:42:45,886 --> 01:42:48,827 Well, now that I've summed up the entire Christian life, 2475 01:42:48,827 --> 01:42:54,471 I guess we can close the conference. 2476 01:42:54,471 --> 01:42:58,050 Be blessed in what God has done for you in Christ. 2477 01:42:58,050 --> 01:42:59,882 Be blessed. 2478 01:42:59,882 --> 01:43:02,256 Rejoice! Look unto Him! 2479 01:43:02,256 --> 01:43:05,489 Look unto Him. 2480 01:43:05,489 --> 01:43:07,356 Inward looks are necessary, 2481 01:43:07,356 --> 01:43:09,735 but to hold your gaze inwardly 2482 01:43:09,735 --> 01:43:11,760 only leads to death. 2483 01:43:11,760 --> 01:43:14,471 Look to Christ. 2484 01:43:14,471 --> 01:43:16,637 Because He is greater 2485 01:43:16,637 --> 01:43:19,620 than every one of your failures 2486 01:43:19,620 --> 01:43:23,324 and your weaknesses and your sins. 2487 01:43:23,324 --> 01:43:26,751 I sing because I'm happy. 2488 01:43:26,751 --> 01:43:32,181 I sing because I'm free. 2489 01:43:32,181 --> 01:43:34,644 It was all finished at Calvary. 2490 01:43:34,644 --> 01:43:36,846 It was all finished at Calvary. 2491 01:43:36,846 --> 01:43:39,772 Let's pray. 2492 01:43:39,772 --> 01:43:42,882 Father, thank You for Your Word. 2493 01:43:42,882 --> 01:43:45,628 I pray, Lord, that out of this, 2494 01:43:45,628 --> 01:43:50,304 that Your people will be helped, 2495 01:43:50,304 --> 01:43:54,211 in Jesus' name, Amen. 2496 01:43:59,641 --> 01:44:01,352 Please visit our website at 2497 01:44:01,352 --> 01:44:04,176 heartcrymissionnary.com. 2498 01:44:04,176 --> 01:44:05,682 There you will find information 2499 01:44:05,682 --> 01:44:07,520 about the ministry - our purpose, 2500 01:44:07,520 --> 01:44:09,234 beliefs, and methodologies, 2501 01:44:09,234 --> 01:44:11,007 and extensive information 2502 01:44:11,007 --> 01:44:14,892 about the missionaries we are privileged to serve.