Latest / Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago / Cling to The Word of God | Pastor Daniel Batareh

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Cling to The Word of God | Pastor Daniel Batareh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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In your Bibles, please meet me in the book of 2nd Timothy. 2nd,
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Timothy chapter 3. And let's begin together here in
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verse 14. Second, Timothy chapter 3.
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Beginning in verse 14. but as for you, Continue in what you
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have learned and I firmly believe, knowing from whom you
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learned it. And how from childhood you have
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been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make
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you wise for salvation through faith in Christ, Jesus, Lord,
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this is your word, we acknowledge it, as the Living
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Word, we acknowledge it as the sufficient word, the perfect
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word of God. Lord in our hands today.
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We do not take it for granted that we have access to your
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word. The complete Revelation that we
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have concerning who you are, your will your works.
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And we pray that this word would not just be held in our hands.
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Not just be read on a screen. Oh God.
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Would you impress it on our hearts when it get into our
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blood, Lord, make inform us, made it change us.
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May it saves some may you be glorified and how we're
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reverentially come before your word today in Jesus name we
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pray. Amen.
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The great Apostle Paul was not just a master Theologian who is
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used to channel divine revelation to what we know as
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the holy book. The holy scriptures.
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This man, Paul, who's writing to an individual in this letter.
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Was also a humble tender-hearted compassionate, Pastor who really
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cared for the people that God allowed him to minister to in
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his lifetime and you and I have been seeing how that is true of
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this man throughout this letter. Especially at this point Paul
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has a deep concern, even though he is going to be called, to be
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executed any moment and writing this, he is so concerned about
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Particular individual and how his faith will be and what kind
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of, man, he will be in the absence of the one that watched
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over him for so many years. And so, he seeks to encourage
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Timothy in his faith and not just to believe, but to strive
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to bear fruit to be excellent, to be faithful to be firm.
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And that is especially needed for this man, because there are
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challenges that lay ahead of him.
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Challenges from the culture challenges, from within the
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church. What is it that Timothy needs to
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hear in order to be ready for the things that he is going to
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face. Well, it began last week that in
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verse 10, and verse 10, when Paul tells them, it's possible
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to know faithful endurance, it's possible to burn for the Lord
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from the moment of your spiritual conception and birth
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to the point where you meet him face-to-face.
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It's possible to remain strong and if Any doubt in that
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Timothy, look at my own life, you've studied the events that
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I've endured the torture from people and yet Christ was
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faithful to keep me and he is faithful to keep you, but you
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got to extend your hand for him to hold on to it.
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But he's not finished yet. Paul is not finished yet and
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giving him the necessary ingredients.
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The applications that are needed in order to stand firm.
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And my brother my sister, what God had in mind for Timothy?
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He has in mind for you and me. Because we're told in verse 12,
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are we not indeed. This is certain this is for
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sure. Indeed all who desire to live a
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Godly life in Christ, Jesus will be persecuted. so the truths for
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Timothy or truth for you if you desire to live a Godly life in
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Christ Jesus, And the next thing that Paul is going to do for
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Timothy as he's ready to embrace, as he is ready to sail
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into societal and spiritual storms.
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Is in the text that we read earlier.
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Look at verse 13 quickly just to give context while evil people
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and Impostors Will Go On from bad to worse deceiving and being
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deceived, but asked for you as for you.
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In other words as the culture, and Christendom continues, to
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shift, continues to Swerve, continues to seduce Timothy.
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There is a charge given to you that you must Embrace and Obey
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believer. There is a charge for you as we
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witness the decadence around us. There is a charge for you to
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embrace and to obey and the theme the overarching idea that
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Paul Bob. Holy Spirit has for us has to
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deal with a commitment and an engagement with the word of God.
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It's all about the word. It's about the word today.
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And what we are being told here is so encouraging already
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because the response for the believer today with all the
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chaos that we're seeing is very simple, it's not complex and
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that is to reinforce your relationship with God's word.
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And my prayer today is that, as you hear these insights, as you
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hear these truths, it would motivate you to love this book
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and to engage with it, with greater discipline and hunger
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and dependency. It's a very simple message today
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because I'm only going to offer you two things from the verses
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that we read. The first thing that we see here
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is, but as for you while people are getting worse, don't mind
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them. As for you your response, the
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appropriate reaction primarily is to be all the more committed
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to the word of God. As for you, continue in what you
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have learned and have firmly, believed not just believed
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firmly, believed the word continue here.
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That Paul uses is the same word for abide.
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Remain stand your ground. It's the same word that Jesus
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uses in John 15 when he says abide in me and I in you The
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idea here is hold onto the spirit inspired truths that you
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have known with a tighter grip. Don't let go don't waver,
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especially as you see new teachings arising and as you see
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justification for sin through sinful and carnal Notions and
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Men made ideas. Hold on to the word.
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You have to Timothy believe that this word is worth dying for
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even and I find the so sobering I find it.
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So sobering that this is even a command in the first place for
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somebody. Like Timothy, you had such a
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rich spiritual Heritage who had a grandmother and a mother that
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trained him up in the faith. And yet he is still told by Paul
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continued. Continue implying, what that?
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Regardless of your spiritual upbringing, no matter what your
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Fidelity to the faith has been over the years.
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No one in this place is Out Of Reach of being swayed away from
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standing on the word or us. This command doesn't make sense.
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Continue in what you have learned.
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Proving that it's possible to drift.
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And if you need any proof of that, just look at the major
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denominations over the past few decades that have drifted away
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from Pure truth. That are drifting away today
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from Clear truth, you have movements that are shifting and
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so this is completely applicable.
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And there are many reasons why a man, like Timothy would be
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tempted to move away from the word of God would be tempted to
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dilute. These truths will be tempted to
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not allow it to remain as the authority over his life.
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You've heard it. There's the temptation of those
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who have an appearance of godliness Who would come in and
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some form of religiosity, but are corrupt.
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And because of their corruption, they contaminate those who are
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pure and they convince him not to be submitted to this word
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practically. There are also the temptation to
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abandon the truth through intimidation, right?
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And what is the intimidation, the intimidation of those who
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are threatened you for holding to such a thing and not just
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that the intimidation of the cold blade of persecution being
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placed on the back of our necks. What about?
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The common theme that we're seeing today in the past, few
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years of Christians, getting caught up in cultural frenzies
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of movements and mantras that seemed to be just and righteous.
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But in fact are pulling you away from your heavenly mandate. and
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there is, of course, even The temptation to run to another
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source to deal with your personal problems.
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Whether that is individual perils or even large scale
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chaos. Like, we're seeing in Nations
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today, there are so many reasons why somebody who has held onto
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this Truth for years would be tempted to move away from it and
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it was a Temptation for so long for the people of God.
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Let me show you one meet me in the book of Isaiah chapter 8.
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In verse 19. And Isaiah 8:19.
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Here's what we have to understand the people of Judah.
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Are terrified. They're experiencing a fear due
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to the news of conspiracies and the possible invasion of
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neighboring Nations. They are trembling on a daily
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basis and this fear is so real, this Panic is so overwhelming to
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them. That there is a widespread
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suggestion to seek answers from a different source and it's here
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in verse 19 of chapter 8, and when they say to you inquire of
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the mediums and the Necromancer's who chirp and
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mutter should not have people inquire of their God.
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Should they inquire of the Dead on behalf of the living?
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This fear this anxiety was so real and the need for immediate
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answers was so great. You mix up the the evil in the
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world, you mix up the uncertainty of tomorrow and the
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fear of imminent, danger and even witchcraft can seem
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attractive. And reasonable.
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And so the Israelites are hearing just go to these men, go
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to these women, they can tap into some Transcendent voices
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and they can provide some guidance to you.
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The Great Deceiver has always proposed empty promises to
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mankind. Listen Satan is so tricky.
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He not only convinces you that sin won't have consequences but
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eventually when you figure out that your sin causes damage and
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harm and destruction, Done in that state.
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He will then turn your attention to a roster of false saviors.
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What I mean by that ever since the universe our universe has
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been fractured by sin, our world has been presented throughout
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history with thousands of worthless solutions to
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Humanity's problems. Are you looking to silence your
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fear of death? Here's a few religions to help
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guide your efforts to quiet your conscience and to give you a
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better chance of attorney of inheriting eternal life.
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Is your soul searching for lasting satisfaction.
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Here's some substances to numb it or here's endless access to
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lustful, perversions to keep your dopamine rushing through
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your brain to keep you in a state of ecstasy as long as
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possible. How do we eliminate the evil in
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this world? While proposed an Implement
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man-made solutions that deal with the symptoms?
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But never deal with the core. Just trim the branches, but
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don't uproot it. Because the only thing that can
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uproot is the gospel and in Isaiah's day, not not being able
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to sleep, right? Crippled with anxiety, right?
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Not finding answers in this world, right?
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Well, there's some fortune tellers that can help you find
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some answers. Stone, go to Jesus.
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I've given you the example before but I think it's worth
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repeating here. I remember being in college in
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our college campus, they would not allow us to have a Christian
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group, they fought us before we had one, but I remember in that
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whole ordeal trying to pray Fleek, have a group in our
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campus I came to the main cafeteria of that campus.
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And there was a lineup of students.
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And I didn't understand what this lineup was all about.
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And so I approached the line and I realized that there are
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fortune tellers that have been hired for five of them at their
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own table with cards. And I came up with curiosity to
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see how I can get in a line. And when I came up to the person
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that was Officiating it. They say well you're going to
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have to wait you have to give us your number because there's a
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two-hour. Wait for people to have their
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Futures told and whatever the case it was I was so upset.
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I went up to one of the fortune tellers.
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I just skip the line. Do you realize what you're
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doing? Do you realize that you're
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tapping into satanic Arts? Do you realize that you're
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deceiving this people in the poor lady.
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Look at me. She was.
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I'm just an Entertainer I said that's what you think and I
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left. And I thought to myself, they'll
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they're willing to bring in people who are dealing with
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demons but what impressed me was the hunger of these students to
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reach out to something Supernatural to give them
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guidance in this life. But what is the profit say, what
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does God say to the prophet to say to the people look at verse
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22, the teaching and to the testimony, if they will not
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speak according to this word, it is because they have no Dawn.
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They have no light. What is the solution working
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people deal with their problems for today?
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The prophet says it go to the word.
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Go to the testimony, go to the law.
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If they won't speak, according to this word, they have no
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illumination. They have no light inside of
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them. No matter how clever it is, no
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matter how sophisticated is, no matter what kind of power is
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backing it, if they do not speak.
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According to this word, they have no light and you won't
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either you'll remain in darkness.
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You will remain in confusion and frustration, this is where you
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and I fully Distress. This is where we come to to
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receive our Direction and I love what the prophet says, in this
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verse. Because it gives us insight to
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how you. And I can inquire of the Living
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God, what does he say in verse 19?
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Should not a people. Inquire of, their God should not
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have people seek their God, get guidance from their God, get
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answers from their God, and the answer is absolutely.
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But then the method of it is in verse 20, go to the word.
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Go to the word, you want to inquire of God.
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You want God to speak, go to the book, which tells me, what this
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book, is his voice. This book is his voice.
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This is this is how he's ordained us to hear from him.
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I know you want the audible experience I know.
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You want the Heavens to write something for you, but God had
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ordained it that there's something more effective even
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than that, and that is this book.
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His word is profound. It's not filled with mutters,
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it's not filled with foolish chirping.
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Like these mediums, this word will produce and bring the
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results that the same voice of God did in the beginning of
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creation. When God spoke, you know what
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happened? You said, yeah, trees came about
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and mountains were erected. Oh yeah, a notion came out of
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nothing? No, no, no, let's look beyond
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that. Let's look at what It produced
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when God's voice resounded. Into the Blackness of the
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universe and the chaos of this Earth.
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There was life. There was order.
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There was light. There was Harmony and what God's
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voice did for creation before the fall is the same thing that
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will happen in your life. If you submit to the word of
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God, you will know life, you will know light, you will know
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Harmony, you will know order. And to neglect, this word is to
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invite everything opposite. To what I just said in fact,
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let's go to another Prophet. A neighboring prophet Isaiah in
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your bible. Jeremiah And look what Jeremiah
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says, concerning the word of God in chapter 6.
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He speaking to a nation and sin, he speaking to a people of
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abandoned the truths of God. And in verse 16, we read thus,
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says the Lord stand by the roads and look, and ask for the
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ancient paths where the good way is, and walk in it and find rest
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for your souls. But they said we will not walk
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in it. So here's the picture.
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This is a picture that this preachers painting.
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Would you just stand on the horizon for a moment and look
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out into this world and see all these different paths?
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All these different ways of life that men have paved out for
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themselves. And as you look, you will see
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some wide paths that many people are walking on.
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You will see some patterns that seem to have attractive signs
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and things on the side of those roads.
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You will see all these pads. That would even say that at some
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point, we We lead to the same thing.
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But the prophet says, as you examine all these ways of life,
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Ask for the Ancient One. Ask for the ancient paths, ask
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for the paths that have been tested and proven to be true.
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Ask for the paths in which have been determined from eternity
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past. As for the paths, that
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historically point to the unchanging ways of God, these
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ancient paths deal with what God has established from the
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beginning in this word. Notice what he says when you ask
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for them, don't just be able to identify it, okay?
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You identified that this is God's word.
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This is an infallible inerrant, word, praise God.
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But that's not what the prophet says.
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He says, now walk in it, walk in it. and as you walk in it and
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walking in the Bible, often times speaks of a kind of a way
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of life of a conviction of a direction in which you're headed
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when you walk in this word, by this word, what happens is, you
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will find rest for your souls You will know a rest for your
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souls. It can only come from this path,
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not from newly. Paved ideas, not from broad
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Rose, at the majority are walking on but setting the
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course of your life and what God has determined to be his will
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for us. Is this phrase sound familiar to
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you? And you will find rest for your
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souls. If you know your savior is
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sounds familiar to you. Because Jesus said in that,
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amazing portion of scripture take my yoke upon you and learn
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from me for, I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find
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rest for your souls. Some would say that Jesus is
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borrowing the words of the Prophet.
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Jeremiah The promise that Jeremiah made to the nation of
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Israel, Jesus makes to the world.
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The same Prophet who said if you walk on these ancient paths?
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If you apply the word of God to your life, you will know a
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repose to your soul and Jesus. Dares this man, dares.
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To equate following him to the same benefits and Promises to
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walking in the ancient Paths of God.
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Who is this man? I can imagine that Jewish
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audience hearing that. Is he saying what Jeremiah said
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was exclusive to the word of God?
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Who is this man to say that? The only way we can find rest
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for our souls, as if we come to the words of Moses and applied
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them and Obey them. And yet Jesus says, follow me,
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take my yoke upon you come to me and you will know rest for your
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souls. Why?
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Because he also said, I am the way.
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And the truth, and the life. Those ancient paths pointed to
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him. Those ancient paths were
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fulfilled in him and when the word was made flesh, he looks
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out. And he still says today.
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Come to me. And only in me.
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Will you find rest for your souls?
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You will be at ease. You will not wander and search,
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you will be complete, but it's only in the person of Jesus.
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Only in him. And I'd love to think that
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Timothy was told to continue and what he has learned because he
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could have felt the temptation. To join those who are teaching
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diluted spiritual truth. From the word of God or new
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teachings altogether. As a minister he could have he
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could have heard the lies from others who said, you know this
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book is irrelevant. How is this ancient book going
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to help people with their Modern Problems?
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You got to be Innovative man. You Gotta Be You Gotta pick up
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some psychology books and understand the times.
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Paul says. As the world plunges into
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darkness, as they plug their ears to this ancient word.
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You stand for a minute. It is sufficient.
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It is Supernatural. It is the human Souls, only hope
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In fact, look what he says back in our text in verse 15, second
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Timothy 3. He says, and how from childhood
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you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are
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able to make you wise for salvation through faith in
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Christ Jesus. I love that because as a child,
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as a child, Timothy was familiar with his Bible.
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So why are we waiting so long to teach ours?
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As a child, he was acquainted with the scriptures.
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And yet, Paul here gives an example of how this book, why
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this book is unlike any other book, because through these
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sacred, writings these, holy letters.
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Are men, able to be wise for salvation.
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Isn't that an interesting phrase wise for salvation?
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What does that mean wise first? Well, if wisdom in a very simple
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term, very simple. Definition is the application of
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knowledge. Order to live the most
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prosperous life, not financially only, I'm not saying prosperous
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in that sense, but prosperous for the soul, prosperous for
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your family, prosperous and all things.
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If wisdom is the way to navigate through life in the best way
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possible. Then what Paul is saying, is
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this word provides the knowledge and the application of such
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knowledge in order to be redeemed.
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It is this word that contains the wisdom for salvation in
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order to be saved, which tells me that if there's any other
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truth. Any other source that
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contradicts what this book says about how to be saved?
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It's not wisdom. Its foolishness.
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It is the opposite of wisdom and the Bible teaches us, what
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happens to a fool. They are self-destructive You
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know what's encouraging about what he says here?
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Not just the fact that this book is the wisdom.
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For salvation, but he says, you've been acquainted with the
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sacred writings. What was Paul talking about?
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Was he talking about the Book of John?
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Was to talk about the epistle to the Ephesians.
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He's talking about the epistle to the Romans.
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No no he was talking about what Timothy only had access to at
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the time growing up as a child and that is the library of the
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Old Testament. The Old Testament provides the
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wisdom for salvation and we have people today that don't want to
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teach from it. Who are intimidated by it, who
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think it's irrelevant and yet the immediate context teaches us
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that it is that part that larger part of your Bible that library
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that actually makes you. And I wise for salvation oh yes.
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And you know it the prophecies and the shadows and the
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promises. But I'm even reminded of a
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question that inspired me to love the Old Testament even
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more. I had a had somebody approached
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me, say, brother, I have a sincere question.
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I'm not being a Critic. I just genuinely want to know
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why did it take, Jesus, so long to get here.
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Why did it take? Why did it take thousands of
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years for him to come into this world to die on the cross?
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Why didn't he show up immediately after Adam and Eve
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ate of that tree and we could have, we could have finished
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this up much earlier. And she said, I'm just asking
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your sincere question. Why did he come at the time that
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he came when he could have come much earlier?
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Made me think, maybe meditate and I knew one thing was for
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certain and the answer is in Galatians 4, verse 4.
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In Galatians, 4, verse 4. We are told something that we
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should be confident on Jesus timing of entering into our
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world to save Sinners and Galatians 4.
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Verse 4. We are told but when the
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fullness of time had come God sent forth his son, born of
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woman born under the law. So one thing has to be
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established is that Christ came at the fullness of time, meaning
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at the perfect time. And God's prophetic calendar, he
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came at the precise time, it was not random.
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It wasn't without purpose. It was strategic when he came,
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it was the perfect time and it begs the question.
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Okay, I see that. I see he came at a time, that
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was calculated. But why why?
28:26
Why still why not in 2020? I've had people say that and
28:29
witnessing why? Didn't Jesus come ten years ago?
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Why didn't he come 30 years ago? We can rest in knowing that if
28:37
he said it was the right time that it's done.
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But I believe the answer is found in the next verse to
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redeem those who were under the law.
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So that we might receive adoption as Sons.
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Saying that is not very clear. Still, what do you mean?
28:56
Well, I mean this that Christ could have come very early, you
29:00
could have come before for the Tower of Babel was built.
29:05
But the Old Testament stands as a testament.
29:09
It is a large account. Of just how Wicked we are.
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And that throughout the centuries even though God
29:19
chooses one nation and does miracles.
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And even if he shows himself in Supernatural ways and even if he
29:26
gives laws after laws after laws, man is incapable and man
29:31
is unwilling to justify themselves.
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And even for those who strive to be right with God, they realize
29:41
that they lack the power to see this rock hard heart to be
29:46
saved. And to be delivered from the
29:48
power of sin, And so the Old Testament stands as a long
29:54
history of the failures of mankind.
29:58
And as people come to it, they will see how that is true for
30:03
themselves that even if God flooded, the world and kept one
30:06
family, that one family will corrupt the human race still,
30:10
even though there are all these Provisions, all these things
30:13
given by God, through the laws, man is unable to restrain
30:17
themselves to rebel against him. And even when we read God,
30:21
raising up these judges who were able to perform Supernatural
30:24
things that people still spiraled lower and lower into
30:27
evil, So, so why did he come Shadows?
30:31
Many reasons and reasons that we will not know until we see him
30:34
Face to Face by. Here's one that we can be
30:35
confident in. He came at a time in which he
30:38
was able to show undeniably to the world for the years to come
30:43
that you are in need of a savior.
30:48
Even if I show up on a mountain, even if I split the Red Sea,
30:55
even if I do, whatever it is that you see, you will not
30:59
unless I change your heart and less, a payment is made.
31:05
Your sin is too great. I'm personally reading the book
31:08
of numbers in my personal devotions and I actually got mad
31:10
as I read it. I got mad because I kept reading
31:15
that even after God told this nation, you're not going into
31:19
the promised land, you're gonna wander for 40 years, they still
31:24
complained, they still rebelled, they still raised their fists
31:29
against God and his authority. And I remember I was reading
31:33
this just the other day of how the sons of Korah rebelled
31:36
against Moses and after God opens the Earth, they all fall
31:39
into the core of the earth, closes that mouth, the people
31:43
then accuse, Moses of killing those people.
31:46
And I actually said this out loud.
31:48
I said, wow, are you kidding me? And then, it dawned on me.
31:54
As Heaven reads history, they say, wow as well.
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Including me. All the things that you've
32:03
heard, all the things that you've known and it still took
32:06
you that long, it still took you to the age of 22, come to the
32:09
knowledge of Jesus Christ and saving way.
32:13
And that's why Romans tells us that the law shuts, the mouths
32:17
of unbelievers. It does not give you the ability
32:23
to make an excuse when you come to the law, when you come to the
32:26
Old Testament and see through the commands and I just the
32:29
commands. But through the narratives of
32:31
just how desperately wicked we are and that we need a savior to
32:36
deliver us. He came at the perfect time and
32:41
I love Paul's words here to Timothy because I believe it's a
32:44
way for the Holy Spirit to call us to not neglect that part of
32:47
our Bibles. Don't be lazy with it.
32:50
Don't be ashamed of it. Believe that it is the wisdom of
32:54
God for salvation. Stand on the word.
33:00
Stand in the word. Share this word, don't blush.
33:04
When you present this word, it is Humanity's only hope but we
33:09
come back into the second point and it is not just to be all the
33:12
more committed to the word of God.
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But here's a point that perhaps we don't consider Look at this
33:20
phrase in verse 14. But as for you, continue in what
33:24
you have learned and I firmly believed knowing from whom you
33:29
learned it. Why would Paul say that Why
33:34
would Paul say that knowing from it's not just important to hold
33:39
on, to what you've known throughout your life, concerning
33:41
the word of God, it's important for you to also know who taught
33:44
it to you and the word whom here is plural.
33:47
Not just one person, but several people that have invested in
33:51
Timothy's life Timothy was to be reminded he was to rehearse not
33:56
just the truth that he knew to be true but also the people who
34:00
communicated it to him. How is that going to help?
34:05
How is me knowing those who spoke into my life going to help
34:10
me endure in these last days? How is Timothy reflecting on his
34:15
grandma on his mom on a spiritual teacher?
34:18
The Apostle Paul, is that going to assist them in any way and
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any lasting way at least. And the obvious answer is yes.
34:27
Because what Paul is saying here is, as you reflect not just on
34:31
the truth, the eternality of it in the sufficiency of it.
34:35
But as you reflect on those who believe that for themselves, you
34:39
would be inspired to know what the word of God can do in
34:43
someone's life. It'd be much harder for Timothy
34:49
to walk away from the word of God, even though there was
34:52
someone as they already did and they'll be surprised in your
34:55
life in the days ahead. If people you thought were
34:57
concrete will say, I don't think I can hold on to this anymore.
35:00
It's bigoted. It's hateful discriminates,
35:06
don't be surprised. Timothy, was already saying
35:08
seeing it. People were not believing in the
35:09
resurrection that it already happened.
35:12
And as Timothy was ready to even be assaulted for believing this
35:15
word, it would be much harder for him to deny being faithful
35:20
to it. When he had first hand.
35:21
See the power of it in someone's life?
35:25
I'll think about it. How could he shake off?
35:29
Observing his grandmother? As there was an obvious
35:31
connection between her godliness and her faith.
35:35
How could he deny watching his mom reflecting the character of
35:41
God even while living with an unbelieving spouse?
35:46
How could this man even dare to deny after seeing the power of
35:51
the word of God work in, and through his mentor, who is wants
35:55
a terrorist to the Christian faith?
35:58
How could he deny it? And that's why in some sense,
36:02
Paul is urging Timothy, to consider the fruit of the word,
36:05
consider the effects of it to be a reason for him to remain
36:09
faithful. And it for himself, this word
36:11
has power this word transforms, it does something deep.
36:16
And some might think that we are inferring this point on this
36:19
verse. And we want to convince you
36:21
today that this is an instruction for you and I
36:24
directly in a different portion of scripture you and I as
36:27
Christians if we want to know a greater strength During and
36:31
faithfulness, you need people that you can look at and say
36:34
that's what God's word can do. I want that in my life?
36:39
Do you believe that? if you don't meet me in the book
36:42
of Hebrews 13:7, Hebrews 13 verse 7.
37:01
Remember, your leaders? That's why we're doing
37:04
membership. We want you to be able to
37:06
identify who your leaders are. Remember your leaders?
37:11
Those who spoke to you the word of God goes to show you what
37:14
these leaders should be doing. The primary task is to speak the
37:18
word of God to you. Those who spoke to you the word
37:21
of God. Now, look at this.
37:22
Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their
37:26
faith. This verse instructs us to have
37:30
leaders who not only teach us the word of God but it also
37:34
proved to us what the word of God can do in a life.
37:40
Notice that it does not say believe their faith.
37:43
It says imitate their faith. Not just believe what they say
37:46
imitate. What they do.
37:48
You want to be a leader, be careful.
37:51
Imitate their faith, the steps of their steadfast trust and
37:55
submission to the word of God. You and I are supposed to look
37:58
at our leaders and let me know whether it's here or elsewhere.
38:01
If you're looking for the spiritual covering in your life,
38:05
don't just merely look for Doctrine as important as that is
38:08
look for the conduct that shows that that man believes what he
38:12
preaches. And that's why your pastor can't
38:18
live on a screen. You could have favorite teachers
38:23
that teach wonderful theology, but if those are your Shepherds,
38:26
you're not, you're not considering this verse, you
38:28
should be able to watch his life, not just here.
38:31
I'm at for an hour on a Sunday. How does he live?
38:35
How does he interact with people?
38:36
What's his family life like, does he love money?
38:40
Is he humble? How does he deal with problems?
38:46
And as you look at these leaders God by the Holy Spirit call is
38:50
calling each of us to have individuals in our life to say.
38:54
Look at the fruit of being under the word of God, I want to walk
38:59
in the same steps. In other words, there is an
39:03
influence in your life by who you sit under and who you allow
39:08
in your inner circle. It's clear.
39:13
It's clear here. It's clear what Paul is saying,
39:15
no, Those whom taught you, these things.
39:18
No, those who have who made these things known to you.
39:21
Reflect on them, know who they are.
39:24
Realize their way of life, because in doing, so you'd be
39:29
able to realize the Glorious results of being Sanctified unto
39:32
the Lord. And you would say I want that
39:35
for myself. So, here's my question for you
39:37
today. Because this is not just limited
39:40
to leaders. Remember he says know those whom
39:43
you've learned it from well, who did he learn it from his dad was
39:48
arguably, not even saved. He was a Greek Gentile.
39:50
Probably demon Believe In Christ.
39:52
It was his grandma, his grandmother.
39:55
It was his own mother. Those were the primary
39:58
influences in his life. Paul came much later.
40:02
And this is a question we can ask ourselves from this because
40:04
listen, the theme is this. This is how we remain faithful.
40:07
Here's how we get assistance, who are the people in your life
40:10
that inspire you for christ? Who are they?
40:18
Who are the individuals? That you can look to and draw
40:22
inspiration from. That when the word of God will
40:25
be attacked maligned and even have a price on it for obeying.
40:31
You can be able to look at other than say I've seen what this
40:34
word can do. And I'm not willing to let go of
40:36
it, even if it costs me my life. You might say, I don't I don't
40:43
have that Heritage. That Timothy had.
40:46
I don't have, I didn't have a Godly dad, Godly Mama didn't
40:49
have a line of preachers. My, my line, I don't have that.
40:55
I'm the first Christian that I can think of in my, my family
40:58
line. In fact, it is true.
41:02
That's true. You may not have had a choice of
41:05
who you were born with or what family you were born into.
41:08
But each of us has a choice of who we sit.
41:12
At their feet. We all have a choice of who we
41:16
draw encouragement from in our fellowship.
41:20
Every single one of us has that choice Timothy.
41:28
Had both. He had both, he had Paul and he
41:31
had his mom and his grandma, but I believe that this verse
41:35
encourages Us, in these last days, to make sure that if
41:38
you're going to be found, faithful be around those who
41:42
have been faithful. I read a quote in a bless me.
41:47
A preacher said don't look for the nearest church to your
41:50
house. Find the church closest to the
41:52
Bible. Don't look for the nearest
41:56
church to your house. Find the church closest to the
41:58
Bible. I hope that this would be a
42:02
community in which you come. And you are strangely
42:06
uncomfortable in your lukewarmness.
42:12
Who are the people that you can look and be like, man, when I
42:14
see that guy, when I hear that guy talk, it makes me want to
42:18
love Jesus more. You should have those kind of
42:21
people in your life. And if we're going to say in
42:24
this place, well, it's very hard to find such.
42:26
Okay, come Wednesday night and let's pray for Revival together.
42:34
Who's the sister in your life? The older woman.
42:37
Maybe the mother. Then when you see the way she
42:41
conducts herself, you say, I want to be like that.
42:45
I want to be more zealous because of this person.
42:47
I want to be more consistent. I want to be more studied, I
42:49
want to be more sacrificial. I want to, I want to be more
42:52
patient because I've seen this person's life and I seen what
42:54
God's word can do and I want it for myself.
42:58
That's a wholly jealousy that we should all have not to compete
43:01
with people, but to be inspired by people.
43:04
It's a big difference. I remember a gentleman.
43:08
Barely knew him. He was in a season in my life as
43:11
a Christian, the young Christian I knew his name would say hi to
43:15
him here and there after church. But he would pray during the
43:21
services and he would be there an old man and he would be there
43:25
during the prayer meetings and this man who was who lost his
43:30
wife to alzheimer's old school. When he prayed.
43:38
It inspired me. Because the way he talked to the
43:42
Lord crushed me there is such a Brokenness, there is such a
43:47
hunger. There is such a knowledge of the
43:49
reality of his existence. And when he spoke to the Lord,
43:54
it made me think, oh God, I don't want the show.
43:58
I want what that man has in his heart.
44:01
If you can do it to this man, do it to me.
44:04
I want to be like that kind of an old man.
44:10
Paul tells Timothy reflect on those that have invested in your
44:14
life whether directly or indirectly and we want it
44:16
directly, obviously, and realize the potential realize the power
44:20
of this word. How dare you even think about
44:22
not firmly holding on to it anymore?
44:25
Hold on to it. Every more believe that it can
44:28
actually translate into people's lives now And that is why let me
44:32
end on this point. That is why there is the most
44:34
responsibility of you. And I taking this word and
44:38
asking God for it to actually change us.
44:43
To change us and to mature us. Because I don't know if that
44:48
man, who is now with the Lord today.
44:49
Knew that his simple prayers were actually stirring my soul,
44:54
but it was the charge in these last days is not just to cling
45:01
to the word of God as people go from bad to worse.
45:03
That's the obvious. But let me add something that
45:05
may not be so obvious. Don't just cling to the book.
45:09
Cling to those who are gripped by this book.
45:14
Cling to those who are gripped by this book.
45:18
And we pray that in this place, the leaders that would be
45:21
developed here in the leaders. That would be elected here in
45:24
due time would be people that as you come and you watch not just
45:28
hear them, preach preaching isn't very hard to some, people
45:32
would be but for a person who can communicate, they can come
45:34
up here and say a few things. what's hard as they study week
45:39
after week and asking themselves, is this true and me
45:42
before I tell other people's what to do The God would raise
45:47
up such people that those who would be in this place would
45:49
say, as you heard last week, I want the god that they serve.
45:56
As Elijah said, I want the god of Elijah, maybe.
45:59
So in this place, not just the leaders, but the community, this
46:02
place should so brim with Holy Light.
46:05
And not in some weird strange, mystical way, when I'm practical
46:08
real-life that we would Inspire one another in these last days
46:12
to remain faithful and true. You know, when I come here on
46:15
Wednesday nights when it's black outside and when my skin screams
46:18
at me because it's frigid cold It never fails to encourage me,
46:24
never fails, for all of that to just disappear in the background
46:27
of nothingness of irrelevance. When I see souls in here,
46:31
saying, let's cry out to God together.
46:34
That makes me want to remain faithful to him.
46:37
That makes me want to continue to pray and when people pray,
46:41
Allah blesses me. Yes, Lord, Keep the fire on my
46:45
altar burning for you very, very simple points today.
46:50
And these last days cling to this book, I believe that it is
46:55
sufficient believe that it is enough, believe it is God's
46:58
perfect will but also be close to those who have allowed this
47:03
book to transform them and instead of an appearance of
47:07
godliness contaminating you and me, let some of that wonderful
47:11
burning passion, become a fragrance on our own garments.
47:15
Let's pray. Louis, thank you for these
47:39
instructions that are very relevant for us in these
47:42
perilous times. Will we tell you today that we
47:46
believe that these ancient paths are the only directions for rest
47:52
for the human soul? We thank you o God that you have
47:55
given us the understanding of just how profound this word is
47:59
not just in Mirror insights from a Pulpit, but how it has
48:05
changed, many of us in this place.
48:08
How does take it as from Darkness to light how it is?
48:10
Conformed, us convicted us shape us to be the people that we are
48:14
today, though. Imperfect nonetheless influence
48:18
by this Authority. Lord, we pray that this place
48:22
would be a true community of people that invest in one
48:25
another from the leadership down.
48:28
So that in times of doubt, in times of worry, or concern or
48:33
Temptation, even our minds would race to individuals who have
48:37
been faithful and we can say it's possible.
48:42
And I want that for myself. If they can remain for decades
48:46
Living For the Glory of God. So can I oh Lord may this word
48:51
be ever more attractive to us. May we sense the power of it as
48:55
we study it for ourselves and Lord no matter what happens in
48:58
churches or denominations, no matter what happens to the
49:02
popular podcast or YouTubers. Oh God, we pray that in this
49:05
place. Week after week, we would go to
49:08
the law and, to the testimony, and people would see that only
49:12
this word can heal and save be blessed and glorified in Jesus
49:18
name, we pray. Amen, let's stand together,
49:21
please.