WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Purity Publishing Date: 2016-01-31T05:00:44-08:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/purity/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.000 Before I left we were talking about Ezekiel 47.12, as in the whole thing about a river 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:14.000 where it flows from the sanctuary and it flows uninterrupted wherever it goes, it gives life. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:20.000 One of the things that's required if the water from the sanctuary is to flow through you 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.000 is that you or your life be coated inside and outside with purity. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:29.000 Purity must coat you inside and out because we talked about how the water 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:37.000 that flows from the sanctuary is crystal pure and so for it to affect lives 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:41.000 it must flow through lives that are coated with purity. 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:45.000 And so I want to talk about that today. 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:49.000 And remember guys, the purity of heart is a work in progress. 00:00:49.000 --> 00:00:57.000 The purity of heart is a work in progress and both God and you share a responsibility. 00:00:57.000 --> 00:01:03.000 Both God and I share a responsibility in having pure hearts. 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:10.000 In the sense that he has made me pure and placed his spirit in me. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:16.000 God has taken care of one part of the responsibility where he has made me pure 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:21.000 and placed his pure spirit in me. 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:28.000 That's not all he has to do but that's one major obstacle that he took care of. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:36.000 Now, as it says in James chapter 4 verse 8, I have to draw near to him 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:43.000 and as I do he will draw near to me and in the process I'll be able to work out the purity of heart 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:48.000 because it's a work that is progressive and it will continue till the day I leave this earth. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:58.000 While there may be many reasons why I am called to purity as in the father is holy so I am called to be holy 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:03.000 the one that I really want us to focus on and perhaps look at it again next week 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:08.000 is blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:13.000 Guys, if we can see God all our problems are solved. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:18.000 And what do I mean by seeing God? As in seeing his ways, seeing how his mind works. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:25.000 Seeing him even before he emerges. If I am able to see God, see the way he works 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:30.000 then life gets sorted out. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:35.000 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:40.000 It's in Matthew 5 verse 8. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:43.000 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:48.000 And when I talk about purity guys, when we talk about purity over maybe a couple of weeks 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:52.000 we are not talking about purity as in freedom from sexual immorality. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:55.000 That's just a part of it. 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:58.000 Because nowadays in the world whenever we talk about purity we are always thinking of 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:01.000 oh purity means I should be sexually pure. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:04.000 That's a part of it. What about purity in speech? 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:06.000 What about purity in my thinking? 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:09.000 What about purity in my relationships? 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:14.000 What about purity in my 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:17.000 What about purity in my generosity? 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:20.000 What about purity in my affection? 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:22.000 What about purity in what I grieve over? 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:24.000 What about purity in what I rejoice over? 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:31.000 Suddenly you find that purity is not limited to sexual morality but it goes way beyond that. 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:36.000 So when we think of the word purity don't limit it to sexual purity. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:42.000 In Psalm 51 verse 6 he said, Oh God you desire truth in the inward parts. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:45.000 It's a degree of purity and honesty. 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:47.000 A combination of honesty and holiness. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:50.000 Not just holiness. There's an honesty in it. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:53.000 And David said you want it from my inward parts. 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:55.000 You want truth in my inward parts. 00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:59.000 That's what he said to God. 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:02.000 Why are we pursuing those guys? 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:05.000 While there are many reasons our emphasis 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:08.000 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:12.000 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:16.000 If you and I are able to see God even slightly better 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:22.000 six months from now we got a huge part of our life sorted out. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:27.000 I mean it's like increasing what Betty said a million times. 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:30.000 She said I don't know I really have no testimony to share except that 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:34.000 God has become present in my life. 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:39.000 We increase that a million times where because of the purity 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:45.000 because of the honesty and the desire to have a heart that 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:49.000 yearns for a godlikeness or a godliness 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:51.000 God becomes more and more evident. 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:53.000 We begin to see him. 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:56.000 We begin to see how his mind works. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:59.000 The Bible says to the pure all things are pure. 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:02.000 One of the things God is trying to convey there Jacob 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:06.000 We begin to yearn after that you easily see me. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:09.000 You easily see me. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:13.000 It's like having night vision goggles. 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:17.000 We are able to identify things of God easily. 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:21.000 Any questions before we go on? 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:23.000 I'm so wrong with you when you still ask who sees me, 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:25.000 sees your father. 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:29.000 The more we read the Bible, the more we know how God is. 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:31.000 True. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:34.000 Blessed are the pure for they shall see God. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:37.000 I'm talking about seeing how his mind works, 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:41.000 seeing his ways, seeing him even before he emerges. 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:44.000 I'm talking about seeing how his mind works, 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:48.000 seeing his ways, seeing him even before he emerges. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:51.000 As in we don't need confirmations, we don't need a verse, 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:54.000 we don't need a prophetic word, we just know 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:57.000 because we've gotten so accustomed to attuning our hearts to him. 00:05:57.000 --> 00:06:00.000 It's like a couple who've been together for so long 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:03.000 that they know without knowing. 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:06.000 They know without knowing. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:09.000 But that doesn't come necessarily through prayer 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:11.000 or even through reading the word. 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:14.000 It has to go way beyond that. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:17.000 When it gets to a point where your heart is yearning 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:20.000 to become so much like Jesus's, 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:23.000 that you begin to see God. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:29.000 I mean, physical examples are so limited, guys. 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:33.000 It's like I never noticed a Hyundai Tucson 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:35.000 till I bought one. 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:38.000 I mean, I never noticed a Hyundai Tucson 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:41.000 till I bought one. 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:44.000 I never noticed a Hyundai Tucson till I bought one. 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:47.000 And then everywhere I go, I see Hyundai Tucson's. 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:53.000 I never noticed a Kia till I bought a Kia 16 years ago. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:59.000 I started noticing Land Rovers because I want to buy one. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:07.000 It's where your heart begins to resonate 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:10.000 with whatever you have now a desire for. 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:12.000 That's what I mean by, 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:14.000 Blessed are the pure, for they shall see God. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:16.000 And where did Jesus borrow this from? 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:19.000 I mean, once you see God, everything is simplified. 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:22.000 Once you see God, everything is simplified. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:25.000 Once you see God, everything is simplified. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:32.000 Guys, there are very few things that I do during times of worship 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:34.000 that are Jacob-led. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:36.000 Most of them are spirit-led. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:38.000 If they don't have the quality of God, 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:40.000 it is only because of my inadequacy, 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:43.000 not because I don't know what God wants. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.000 So, for instance, today in the middle of worship, 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:51.000 how is it that I pick up her singing? 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:52.000 I'm not listening to her sing. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:53.000 I never listen to her sing. 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:55.000 I'm not interested in listening to her sing. 00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:59.000 Now that we know how disinterested I am, 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:02.000 how come God picks her out to sing 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:04.000 when she's not feeling well? 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:05.000 Because that's what he wants to do. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:07.000 You begin to see things of God 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:09.000 as you begin to resonate with his heart. 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:12.000 And that was just because my heart was worshipful with God. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:15.000 What if my heart begins to yearn for a degree of purity 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:18.000 that I've never had in the last 28 years as a Christian? 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:21.000 What will life be like if I suddenly elevate myself 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:23.000 to that platform of purity? 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:25.000 I'm not talking about sexual morality. 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:27.000 I'm talking about purity in every which way. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:31.000 Affection, speech, relationship, thoughts, intents, motives, 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:34.000 generosity, in everything, a new level of purity, 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:36.000 a new level of honesty. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:38.000 Ah, it'll be so brilliant, man. 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:41.000 Life gets simplified because you see God. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:44.000 And don't be surprised if you actually see God, 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:48.000 as in not in his brilliance because you'll die, 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:53.000 but actually see God as in God begins to visit 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:55.000 or sometimes speaks to you audibly. 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:57.000 Don't be surprised by that either. 00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:59.000 Don't be surprised to see heaven open. 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:02.000 Really. 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:04.000 Happened to Isaiah. 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:09.000 Where did Jesus borrow this whole thing of 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:11.000 blessed are the pure, for they shall see God? 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:15.000 He goes, amazing, even though Jesus was fully God, 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:18.000 even he would go to scripture to take out scripture 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:21.000 and then interpret it differently, but he would go to scripture. 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:23.000 So he's borrowing this whole idea of blessed are the pure, 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:27.000 for they shall see God from Matthew 24, verses 3 to 6, 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:30.000 or Matthew 24, 1 to 3, where it says, 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:33.000 Who shall ascend on the holy hill? 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:34.000 And what is the holy hill? 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:36.000 The holy hill is Zion. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:39.000 Zion is the resting place of God. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:41.000 Who shall ascend the holy hill? 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:44.000 And it says, they who have clean hands, 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:49.000 a clean heart, and a mouth that does not swear deceitfully, 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:51.000 they shall stand before the Lord. 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:53.000 That's where Jesus is borrowing this from. 00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:55.000 Saying, and he's talking to Israel. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:57.000 Israel's one desire was, 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:59.000 we want to go to the mountain of God. 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:01.000 Because they remember how Moses went up to the mountain 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:04.000 Sinai, and since then Israel's been longing, 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:06.000 we want to go see God, we want to go see God. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:08.000 And that's why Jesus comes and says, 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:09.000 you want to see God? 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:10.000 Well, let me tell you how to see God. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:12.000 You don't have to go to any mountain. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:14.000 Blessed are the pure. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:18.000 That's where he brings this beatitude out of. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:21.000 And he says, anybody with clean hands, clean heart, 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:23.000 and a tongue that does not swear deceitfully. 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:26.000 Again, it goes back to clean hands, actions, clean heart, 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:30.000 motives and intents, and a mouth that does not swear deceitfully. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:33.000 Words. Three areas where purity is required. 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:36.000 Three areas where purity is required. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:39.000 So here are a few things that we can do, 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:41.000 which I think are practical and doable, 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:44.000 to move towards greater purity. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:46.000 To move towards greater purity. 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:49.000 First one, guys, is... 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:54.000 Self-control. Self-control. 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:58.000 Self-control. Self-control. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:02.000 Actually, it's all the grace of God, right? 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:04.000 It is and it is not. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:08.000 Because the grace of God has to be received. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:11.000 The receiving is left to you. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:13.000 Paul actually goes on to say, 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:16.000 it is possible to receive the grace of God in vain. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:20.000 Paul also says, it is possible to oppose the grace of God, 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:22.000 as many do. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:25.000 So it is all the grace of God, but as in, 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:28.000 I can give you a million dollars, but you can oppose it, 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:31.000 or you can waste it, squander it, receive it in vain. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:34.000 So that's why I said it's a shared responsibility. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:39.000 With God doing all the work, but I got to come alongside. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:45.000 It's like those barbecues we have at Acts 29. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:47.000 Someone else does all the work, 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:50.000 and then I come and pray for the food. 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:53.000 So, self-control. That's the first one. 00:11:53.000 --> 00:12:01.000 Self-control. This is actually a fruit of the Spirit. 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:04.000 And what do we really mean when we say a fruit of the Spirit? 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:10.000 All we mean is, it's a character of Jesus Christ 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:18.000 brought to me by His Spirit. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:20.000 That's what we mean when we say fruit of the Spirit. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:24.000 Because sometimes fruit of the Spirit seems quite distant. 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:30.000 Self-control is actually a character of Jesus Christ. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.000 I mean, boy, did He exert self-control. 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:35.000 Even on the cross, they taunted Him, saying, 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:40.000 hey, are you really God? Call a few legions of angels. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:42.000 And if I was on the cross and someone taunted me that way, 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:45.000 legions? I'd send thousands of legions. 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:47.000 But then you would all remain unsaved. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:51.000 So, self-control was something that God was. 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:53.000 It's a characteristic of Jesus. 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:55.000 Self-control is a characteristic of Jesus. 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:58.000 And let me define self-control. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:02.000 It's the mastery of self 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:13.000 so that you reflect the character of God. 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:16.000 The character of God. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:22.000 It's the mastery of self so that you reflect the character of God. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:26.000 It's the mastery of self so that you reflect the nature of God 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:28.000 or the character of God. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:30.000 That's what self-control is. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:32.000 Guys, whenever we think of self-control, 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:35.000 we always think of restraint, 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:40.000 as in we've got to restrain ourselves from things. 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:42.000 From God's perspective, 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:46.000 self-control is a disciplining towards things of God. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:50.000 Self-control is a disciplining towards things of God, 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:54.000 not a restraint from things. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:58.000 Very rarely does the Bible talk about abstinence. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:01.000 Abstinence does not carry much value in Christianity. 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:04.000 Abstinence may apply to all other religions. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:08.000 Penance, abstinence, all this stuff applies to other religions. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:10.000 But when it comes to Christianity, 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:13.000 very rarely do you hear God saying, 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:16.000 don't do this, don't do this, don't do this, abstain from this, abstain. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.000 No. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:19.000 So even self-control, 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:22.000 we must remove the negative connotation from it of, 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:24.000 oh, I've got to restrain myself from. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:25.000 No. 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:26.000 It's not a restraining myself from. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:29.000 It's disciplining myself towards. 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:34.000 So an athlete who's training for, say, the 100 meters, 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:36.000 does not restrain himself from. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:39.000 He disciplines himself towards. 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:42.000 Very different way of approaching things, eh? 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:44.000 It's not a holding back. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:46.000 It's working towards a goal. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:48.000 It's working towards a goal. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:51.000 And what is that goal? 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:53.000 At the end of the day, it can't be a project, 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:55.000 it can't be a mission trip, it can't be anything like that. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:58.000 The goal is, I want to be everything I need to be for Jesus. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:00.000 That is my goal. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:03.000 It's like some husbands who are deeply in love with their wives, 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:05.000 who say, I want to be everything she wants, 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:07.000 I want to be everything she wants me to be, 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:10.000 and so I will do whatever it takes to change in this area 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:12.000 so that I might be a more compatible spouse. 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:14.000 Anything it takes. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:17.000 I've had guys in this church who've come and said to me, 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:19.000 Jacob, anything it takes, I'll do, 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:22.000 so that it works out with her. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:24.000 Anything it takes. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:27.000 Every time I hear that, it thrills my heart. 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:29.000 When a husband says, anything it takes, 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:31.000 it thrills my heart. 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:33.000 Because at the end of the day, the first thing 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:35.000 and the last thing we can offer is our words. 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:38.000 In between, action happens, but you start with words. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:45.000 And so that's how we work self-control. 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:47.000 And guys, let's put it this way. 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:55.000 If any development without personal governing of self is impossible, 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:59.000 if I do not govern myself personally, mediocrity is guaranteed. 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:02.000 If I do not govern myself personally, 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:04.000 mediocrity is guaranteed. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:07.000 If there is no personal government, 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:11.000 as in if I don't govern my actions, my thoughts, my ways, 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:15.000 if I don't govern them, if I don't rule over them, 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:18.000 then mediocrity is guaranteed. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:23.000 Because there is no greatness apart from self-control. 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:26.000 There is no greatness apart from self-control. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:29.000 There is no greatness apart from self-control. 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:33.000 Very rarely do we talk about this because it's one of the hardest things to work on, we think. 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:37.000 But that's because we are always thinking of restraint instead of disciplining towards. 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:47.000 Anything that I really want to achieve in life, 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:50.000 I'm not talking about godly things, I'm talking about mundane things, 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:54.000 anything I want to achieve in life, I find that I'm willing to do it. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:57.000 Anything. 00:16:57.000 --> 00:17:01.000 Small things. 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:05.000 I'll work towards it. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:22.000 We have this as a fruit, 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:33.000 in us, now that we have it, it must be developed. It's like, let's assume Tate is an amazing hockey player. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:42.000 He just has this amazing shot. How old is he? Five. At five, every time he hits a puck, it's like hitting a golf ball. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:50.000 And he's got this amazing shot. And you know he has the ability, but now it has to be trained. It doesn't matter how much ability you have. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:18:02.000 If it's not trained, it stays a wonderful ability. Nothing else. So we have this. It is in me. It is a character of Jesus Christ. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:10.000 It's actually resident in me by his spirit. I actually have it. Now I will be given opportunities to train in it. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:16.000 You cannot train without being given opportunities. It is possible. It is possible. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:22.000 Any questions before we go on? Any questions? 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:34.000 Is this doable? Self-control is doable. Surely. You'll have opportunities today, tomorrow to exert self-control. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:42.000 A man who does not have control over his spirit is like a city without walls, Proverbs 25-28 or 28-25. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:48.000 And therefore a city without walls can be entered into as and when required and can be exited as and when required. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:54.000 You can ravage a city without walls. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:19:00.000 Essential to build. Not build. To cultivate what we already have. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:08.000 Which leads us then to a second point which we can immediately continue into which is learned habits. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:12.000 Learned habits. From self-control we go to learned habits. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:16.000 Remember why we are doing this guys. Blessed are the pure for they shall see God. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:22.000 Blessed are the pure for they shall see God. Huge advantage in increasing in 2016 our level of purity. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:26.000 Perhaps we have achieved remarkable results guys. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:32.000 There are days in my life where the purity of my life is pretty good man. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:38.000 Like even I am impressed at times. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:42.000 But that's not every day. Some days. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:46.000 What if it went up by another 10? What will it be like man? 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:50.000 So the next one is learned habits. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:54.000 Ephesians 4.20 if you look at it in the message version. 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:58.000 Ephesians 4.20. Paul actually is saying to the guys in Ephesus. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:02.000 You learned Christ. I love that the way it's worded. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:06.000 You learned Christ. As in hey guys you learned Christ's ways. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:10.000 So there's learned habits. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:14.000 Over years you've learned if I do this this way things will work out. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:18.000 I mean one of the things that happened at Bahrain is I met this guy who's now a leader in that church there. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:22.000 His name is Legend. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:26.000 He put a simple principle into practice. 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:30.000 For a year. Since last year. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:34.000 And a simple principle was to learn the ways of God. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:38.000 And he put a simple principle into practice. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:42.000 And a simple principle was put first things first. 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:46.000 So he started practicing that. Every morning for a year 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:50.000 he put God first. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:54.000 It's just 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:58.000 in a good sense wrecked his life. 00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:02.000 As in it's completely turned things around. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:06.000 He said Jacob there were a couple of weeks when I would not and then I would go back. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:10.000 And he's entered into a place of consistency where the first thing he does is put God first. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:14.000 It's changed his marriage. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:18.000 It's changed his way of...that's why he's a leader today in the church. 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:22.000 The pastor there was saying Jacob no one has grown as rapidly as this guy has. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:26.000 And he did just one simple thing. Put God first. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:30.000 Put first things first. He I think is the only guy who's practiced 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:34.000 what we taught last year in this church as much as he has done. 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:38.000 Nobody including me has practiced it like him. At least the results don't bear it out. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:42.000 Perhaps there are people who are practicing it but the results haven't borne it out. Put first things first. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:46.000 So he's put God first 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:50.000 in his finances. Put God first in his marriage. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:54.000 Put God first in his day. What results man? 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:58.000 I'm thinking to myself really father this sermon could actually bring this 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:02.000 kind of results? You should have told me before I preached it. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:06.000 Praise the Lord. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:10.000 It's alive. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:14.000 So learned habits. These are learned habits. I've been trying so hard to do 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:18.000 that simple thing of putting God first. So hard. It's not easy man. Some days you just 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:22.000 want to sleep in. Especially after you watch three hours of Milo's round it's getting beaten. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:28.000 But I was thrilled that Serena lost. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:32.000 I shouldn't be that thrilled. But moving on. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:36.000 Yeah. Guys so learned habits 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:40.000 ask yourself this question. What learned habits do you have in your life 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:44.000 right now? What learned Christian habits do you have in your life right now? 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:48.000 I was traveling with Eddie 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:52.000 for three or four days. Just he and I. He took me on this road trip. 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:56.000 And 00:22:56.000 --> 00:23:00.000 he gets up every morning 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:04.000 before I get up. He'd be 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:08.000 sitting there with his Bible open reading it. Doesn't matter whether it's in India, 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:12.000 whether it's in South Africa, wherever it is. And you think to yourself these 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:16.000 old guys who seem so stuck up seem to be 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:20.000 doing so well because they have cultivated these habits man. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:30.000 Doesn't matter where he is he does that. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:34.000 Learned habits. First Peter 1.22 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:38.000 First Peter 1.22. Beautiful verse. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:42.000 Really cool verse. It says in First Peter 1.22 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:46.000 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:50.000 through the Spirit. Since you have purified your souls 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:54.000 through obeying the truth. By obeying the truth 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:58.000 through the Spirit. So one of the ways we step into 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:02.000 purity is by starting 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:06.000 with the simple premise of I'll obey the first few things that I know. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:10.000 Since you have purified your souls by obeying the truth 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:14.000 through the Spirit. So where do you begin with this whole purity thing? Tomorrow 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:18.000 by getting up and doing the simple things you already know. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:22.000 Remember guys, mediocrity is guaranteed. 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:26.000 If you can't govern yourself personally, it's guaranteed. 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:30.000 Mediocrity is 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:34.000 neither high nor low. Lukewarm. Average. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:38.000 Yeah. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:42.000 Crazy. Everything mediocrity is like 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:46.000 passionless. No. Mediocrity has a violence in it. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:50.000 Because it destroys life. Proverbs 1.32. The complacency 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:54.000 or the mediocrity of fools will kill them. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:58.000 Yeah. Proverbs 1.32 says 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:02.000 the complacency or mediocrity of fools will kill 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:06.000 them. There's a certain violence in mediocrity. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:10.000 Proverbs 1.32. There's a 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:14.000 violence in mediocrity. Fight it guys. Especially you young 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:18.000 guys. You know the older people sitting at Acts 29 probably have 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:22.000 more discipline than, may I say, we younger guys? 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:26.000 Because these 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:30.000 things were insisted on when they were growing up. Oh, feels so good to say they. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:34.000 Because they have more years 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:38.000 of learning behind them. I don't think so, Gisela. It was just a different 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:42.000 way of growing up. Yeah. I don't think 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:46.000 so. Because I've met many who are your age who have zero discipline and are 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:50.000 totally mediocre. And churches are full of 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:54.000 them. Oh, absolutely Gisela. 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:58.000 I can show you. In any church you take me, I'll show you. So 00:25:58.000 --> 00:26:02.000 it really is based on our discipline. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:06.000 Guys, learn habits. Cultivate them. 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:10.000 Cultivate them. I pray God that I begin to cultivate this. You know 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:14.000 guys, here's the thing. If I cultivate them, I benefit. But if I cultivate them, anyone 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:18.000 I touch benefits. Which means Acts 29 benefits. 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:22.000 Anywhere I go they benefit. Everything changes when you benefit. 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:26.000 Everybody around you gets touched. Up your game, man. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:36.000 So obedience to the truth through the spirit purifies 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:40.000 my character. Why? Because the moment I start obeying truth on a regular basis, 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:44.000 I'm already creating a habit guys. The moment I obey 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:48.000 truth on a regular basis, I'm already cultivating 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:52.000 a habit. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:56.000 I'm already cultivating a habit. The moment you start making 00:26:56.000 --> 00:27:00.000 obeying the truth prerogative in any area in your life, 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:04.000 it already starts a habit. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:08.000 That aside, 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:12.000 seek environments that induce hunger. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:16.000 Seek environments that induce hunger. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:20.000 May I suggest to you, and suggest it very humbly, without us taking 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:24.000 any credit for it, but the sovereign work of God, may I suggest 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:28.000 to you that one of the reasons Betty could stand here and say what she said 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:32.000 was because she sought an environment that was conducive to hunger. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:36.000 And a year ago, perhaps 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:40.000 she couldn't have said the same thing. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:44.000 Find environments where hunger can be 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:48.000 cultivated. 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:52.000 And by the same token then, avoid things that hinder appetite. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:56.000 Avoid things that hinder appetite. Avoid things 00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:00.000 that hinder appetite. Appetite for what? Appetite 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:04.000 for purity in every area. Avoid things that hinder 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:08.000 appetite. Don't nibble at the world. Don't sleep the feeding, 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:12.000 don't feed the sleeping bear. Avoid nibbling at the 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:16.000 world. Don't feed the sleeping bear. 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:20.000 I remember reading this quote out to you, I don't 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:24.000 know who wrote it, but the person was saying that we keep nibbling 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:28.000 at the world and because we nibble at the world, we are like trees that are slowly 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:32.000 rotting from inside. But on the outside, everything still looks pretty good and strong. 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:36.000 And so we are not conscious 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:40.000 that when a storm comes, the tree of a life 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:44.000 just snaps in two. And the reason it snaps in two is for years we've been 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:48.000 nibbling away and there's a rottenness inside that was not exposed. And then along 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:52.000 comes a fierce wind and it snaps the tree in 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:56.000 two. And you wonder why. And it's happening to thousands of 00:28:56.000 --> 00:29:00.000 Christians across the world and some really well known Christians. Didn't happen overnight, guys. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:04.000 Hollowed out from inside. 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:08.000 But praise God, we don't have to allow this, right? 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:12.000 Guys, there's nobody here who's reached 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:16.000 any place of stunning purity in God. We are progressively 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:20.000 working towards it. None of you are glowing 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:24.000 with brilliance, trust me, like Jesus did on the Mount of Transfiguration. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:28.000 So as long as that isn't happening, know that you haven't arrived. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:36.000 The next one. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:40.000 This one we've talked about a million times so I'll quickly go over it. Fidelity. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:44.000 Fidelity. Fidelity. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:48.000 Fidelity is basically love based allegiance. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:52.000 Fidelity is love based allegiance. It's not just an allegiance 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:56.000 that is plain. It is love based allegiance. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:30:00.000 Love based allegiance. Fidelity is love based allegiance. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:04.000 Does anyone know where the erasers are? 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:08.000 I didn't take them with me to India. 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:12.000 What did you ask? 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:16.000 The... 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:42.000 Yeah. 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:46.000 We'll have to talk to the person in charge of the Sunday School. 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:54.000 Or the person who keeps taking this away for 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:58.000 purposes other than what it's meant for. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:12.000 Love based allegiance. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:16.000 Love based allegiance. 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:20.000 Guys, allegiance is the starting point of any relationship. 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:24.000 Allegiance is the starting point of any relationship. 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:28.000 Because the moment you swear allegiance or give your allegiance to something, 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:32.000 you will confront other allegiances. 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:36.000 And you will forge commitment. The moment you say, I have an allegiance 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:40.000 then it means that now I might have to confront my allegiance 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:44.000 to Chris and to Matt. 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:48.000 So allegiance is the starting point of any relationship. 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:52.000 And the thing with fidelity is 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:56.000 love propels what 00:31:56.000 --> 00:32:00.000 allegiance 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:04.000 prioritizes. Love propels 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:08.000 or love fuels or propels what allegiance 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:12.000 prioritizes. And the Bible is constantly going over this 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:16.000 again and again and again. In the Old Testament 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:20.000 and the New Testament. The Bible keeps coming back to this one thing. 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:24.000 Guys, so why is this important? Because when it comes to purity 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:28.000 you will fall. It's not a negative confession but unfortunately 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:32.000 given the track record I've seen of my past and given the track record I've seen 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:36.000 of people who've gone before me who were better than me in the future, 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:40.000 you will fall. There will be times when you'll really blow it. 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:44.000 But the first thing you do is return to your primary allegiance. 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:48.000 As in return to your first love. Return to allegiance. 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:52.000 That's to come back again and say, slain 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:56.000 lamb of God. I know I've blown it by but my allegiance 00:32:56.000 --> 00:33:00.000 is to you. I know that my undoing 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:04.000 of what I've constructed with your help for so long 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:08.000 is not the end of me. I start again. My allegiance is to 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:12.000 you. This sin does not define me. 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:16.000 I have done something evil. I may have done something wicked. 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:20.000 I may have done something unrighteous. But despite that 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:24.000 that is not who I am. For you have seen 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:28.000 how I've walked before you. You have seen how I've walked before you. 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:32.000 Today someone sent me a little 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:36.000 text message thingy from 1st Thessalonians which said that I remember 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:40.000 your faith and your labor of love. And as I was 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:44.000 looking at it I was thinking to myself, brilliant Father. Even though this is Paul saying it to somebody 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:48.000 I take it as you saying it to me. And suddenly it made me feel really good 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:52.000 because it doesn't matter how messed up I can get. 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:56.000 God remembers my faith and my labor of love. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:34:00.000 And I thought to myself, great. So that's how you think of me. 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:04.000 It's so easy to return to your allegiance when you know how 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:08.000 well God thinks of you. Keep doing that guys. Keep returning. 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:12.000 Hosea chapter 6 verse 6. Look at it. You'll see these scriptures 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:16.000 throughout the Bible. It keeps talking about that. Hosea 6 6. 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:20.000 Hosea 6 6. 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:24.000 Hey Derek, once you find Hosea 6 6 can you get me 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:28.000 a cup of Hosea 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:32.000 coffee? 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:36.000 Pardon? 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:40.000 Hosea 6 6 probably not. 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:44.000 No I think that was Hosea 2. 6 6 maybe something else. 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:48.000 Hosea 6 6. It says that for I 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:52.000 desire steadfast love and not sacrifice the knowledge of 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:56.000 God rather than burnt offerings. I desire 00:34:56.000 --> 00:35:00.000 steadfast love and not sacrifice the knowledge of God 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:04.000 rather than burnt offerings. Let's start at verse 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:08.000 4. 00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:12.000 What shall I do with you Ephraim? What shall I do with you Judah? 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:16.000 Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:20.000 Therefore I've hewn them by the prophets, I've slain them by the words of my mouth and my judgment goes forth 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:24.000 as the light. But then he returns to the simple thing. But look at what I really desire. 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:28.000 I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:32.000 It comes back to this love fueled or love based 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:36.000 allegiance. That's what God is continuously looking for. And it starts 00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:40.000 Hosea 6 starts off with the simple thing. Come let us return to the Lord. For he has 00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:44.000 torn us that he may heal us. He has struck us down that he may bind us up. Remember 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:48.000 anytime the Old Testament talks like that you're not to assume that God tears us up 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:52.000 so that he can heal us. I want to be healer God. Hmm let's look 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:56.000 for someone to tear up. That's not how he works. The Old Testament 00:35:56.000 --> 00:36:00.000 always would write that way because they could not understand God as 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:04.000 father. Nowhere in the Old Testament is God called father. They didn't even know 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:08.000 that it is characteristic. So never take an Old Testament statement 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:12.000 like that to think. God rips us up so he can heal us. God destroys us so he can build us up. 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:16.000 That's not a good God. That's a pretty nasty God. 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:20.000 So go to 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:24.000 So go to 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:28.000 Yep absolutely. Mark 834 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:32.000 Mark 834 00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:36.000 Mark 834 00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:40.000 comes back to this whole thing of allegiance. 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:44.000 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples he said to them 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:48.000 If anyone would come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross 00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:52.000 and follow me. Allegiance. 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:56.000 Allegiance to Christ confronts other allegiances. 00:36:56.000 --> 00:37:00.000 So whenever I mess up or I move away from purity 00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:04.000 my first thing is father I know 00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:08.000 I didn't do well but my allegiance is to you. It has been to you for the last 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:12.000 28 years. If anything it's increasing and that makes me more shame faced at what I did. 00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:16.000 But here I come to renew my allegiance to you. 00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:20.000 And my allegiance to you now confronts every other association 00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:24.000 or allegiance I've made and I come back to you. Keep coming back. Return. 00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:28.000 Return. Return. And don't take time eh. Return immediately. 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:32.000 One of the tricks the devil introduces is that 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:36.000 when we do something wrong he says take time to fix it and then 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:40.000 go back to God. And then you wait for another day and it's still not fixed. 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:44.000 And then you wait another day and it's still not fixed. And the devil is just rubbing his 00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:48.000 hands in glee because you're falling for the same trick again and again. He uses sin to 00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:52.000 keep you away from God. 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:56.000 As in saying show God that you really mean you're repentant. 00:37:56.000 --> 00:38:00.000 That's a trick guys. 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:04.000 That's a trick. 00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:08.000 Show God that you're really repentant and then you can begin to start again. 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:12.000 It's a trick. It's never true. God never says that. Show me you're 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:16.000 repentant. He says repent and then show the works of repentance. 00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:20.000 He doesn't say show me your repentance and repent. He says repent and then show me the 00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:24.000 works of repentance. 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:32.000 Revelations 2.25. 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:36.000 Revelations sorry. I'm speaking 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:40.000 too fast. Revelation 2.25. 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:44.000 Allegiances again. 00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:48.000 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:52.000 The one who conquers and keeps my works until the end. 00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:56.000 To him I will give authority over the nations. Only hold fast what you 00:38:56.000 --> 00:39:00.000 have until I come. Hold fast to what you've already achieved. 00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:04.000 Hold fast to what you've already achieved. Fidelity. 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:08.000 Fidelity is like a husband and wife walking together with 00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:12.000 great fidelity to each other and anytime they mess up they keep returning to 00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:16.000 but I have only one and that is you. I have only one and that is you. 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:20.000 And you start again. You start again. You start again. And we're not talking about 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:24.000 infidelity. Nobody in this room actually if you have given your 00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:28.000 life to Christ and have begun walking a Christian life nobody in this room will turn their backs on 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:32.000 Christ. I would go so far as to say guys that you would rather die than 00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:36.000 give up Christ. And you think to yourself really if I was persecuted 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:40.000 I would stand up for Christ? You would be surprised at how you would. 00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:44.000 You would be surprised at how you would not give up Christ. 00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:48.000 I was reading an article in the McLean's last issue 00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:52.000 and it talks about Christians in North Korea. It's talking about how 00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:56.000 this particular pastor called Folly, Nick Folly or something like that 00:39:56.000 --> 00:40:00.000 he says that he has no desire to get Christians 00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:04.000 out of North Korea. Because he says if he took all the Christians 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:08.000 out of North Korea there wouldn't be any Christians left in North Korea which would be pointless. 00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:12.000 So he helps them continue there and he says 00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:16.000 they are beginning to develop a faith that is so strong that they know to become a Christian 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:20.000 is to become a martyr. 00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:24.000 Open Door says that 50 to 70 thousand Christians are in camps and prisons 00:40:24.000 --> 00:40:28.000 in North Korea. 50 to 70 thousand. 00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:34.000 I trust guys not because of your character 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:38.000 or my character. I really believe that if it came, Shove came to Push 00:40:38.000 --> 00:40:42.000 you and I, or Push came to Shove, yeah. Push came to Shove. 00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:46.000 You and I would not turn our back 00:40:46.000 --> 00:40:50.000 on Christ. It's too late for that. It's too late for that. 00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:58.000 And God would give us the courage to do that. 00:40:58.000 --> 00:41:02.000 Let's move on and kind of begin to conclude. 00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:06.000 Another thing that really helps guys is beholding him. 00:41:06.000 --> 00:41:10.000 Beholding him. Beholding him. 00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:14.000 2 Corinthians 3, 18 00:41:14.000 --> 00:41:18.000 It says, And we all with unveiled faces 00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:22.000 behold the glory of the Lord and are being transformed 00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:26.000 into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from 00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:30.000 the Lord who is spirit. One of the ways we walk in purity is by finding 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:34.000 ways to behold God in our daily lives. Finding 00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:38.000 ways to behold God in our daily lives. How do we do that? 00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:42.000 One of the ways is what Gisela earlier mentioned. We behold God 00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:46.000 by beholding his word. Another way, we behold God by beholding 00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:50.000 him in worship. Another way, 00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:54.000 Psalm 16, verse 8. I continuously or constantly or steadfastly 00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:58.000 hold God before me. That's what it says. Beholding God 00:41:58.000 --> 00:42:02.000 is this thing that, what's her name, I was talking about, Betty 00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:06.000 where God has become evident and now if he is absent, that would be the strange thing 00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:10.000 because I would know he was absent. Guys, please 00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:14.000 understand that your children, and I really feel bad for 00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:18.000 you parents who have children now, like the Tate, 00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:22.000 Roxanne, Maximo age group, because you have to 00:42:22.000 --> 00:42:26.000 teach your children right now to reflect or try to 00:42:26.000 --> 00:42:30.000 see God face to face because their absorption with the world is beyond 00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:34.000 saturation levels to the point where it's getting demonic. 00:42:34.000 --> 00:42:38.000 Everywhere around them, they are surrounded 00:42:38.000 --> 00:42:42.000 by images, thoughts, talks, decision making, 00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:46.000 hearing things, seeing things. It's beyond saturation 00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:50.000 level. And it all bothers on the demonic, 00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:54.000 if it is not actually demonic. And if you don't teach your kids now 00:42:54.000 --> 00:42:58.000 to behold God's face by, in this 00:42:58.000 --> 00:43:02.000 messed up world that they live in, if they do not learn how to 00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:06.000 find God's face, then 00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:10.000 it'd be a shame because after all that they have learned, 00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:14.000 they won't be able to put it into practice. So don't feel 00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:18.000 like you're being a restrictive parent when you ask them 00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:22.000 to step away from certain television series or certain video games. 00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:26.000 Foolish would you be. I mean my dad would always tell me this story. 00:43:26.000 --> 00:43:30.000 It sticks with me. It's a terrible story, but it sticks with me. He'd say, 00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:34.000 and he'd always say this after he'd punish me. He'd talk about how 00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:38.000 it's a really gory story. He'd talk about how 00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:42.000 this kid would keep doing wrong and his dad wouldn't 00:43:42.000 --> 00:43:46.000 discipline him. 00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:50.000 And in the end he goes 00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:54.000 to jail. And 00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:58.000 so when he's going to jail, the kid tells his dad 00:43:58.000 --> 00:44:02.000 to come close to him. And when he comes close to him, he bites his 00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:06.000 nose off or bites his ear off. The whole point being, I wish 00:44:06.000 --> 00:44:10.000 you had corrected me when I was young. Now you think I'm going to jail 00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:14.000 and you're ashamed, I'll bite your nose off because that'll even bring more shame to you kind of thing. 00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:18.000 The whole idea was why didn't you correct me? 00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:22.000 And he'd always do that after he gave me a good spanking or good pun and I'd think, really I 00:44:22.000 --> 00:44:26.000 have to hear the story again. But the point of the story was 00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:30.000 that listen, I must correct you when you're young. 00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:34.000 Guys you've got no idea. There is, yeah, you've 00:44:34.000 --> 00:44:38.000 got to help your kids see God face to face. 00:44:38.000 --> 00:44:42.000 And you have to do that too eh? 00:44:42.000 --> 00:44:46.000 Behold him. Because in beholding him you will be transformed. And there are two things that you'll certainly 00:44:46.000 --> 00:44:50.000 behold him in. One is the word. One is the word. 00:44:50.000 --> 00:44:54.000 The word is a mirror. It's a mirror. The Bible says so. 00:44:54.000 --> 00:44:58.000 You behold him in the word. Especially in the gospels. You begin to see an accurate picture of him. 00:44:58.000 --> 00:45:02.000 Don't take your kids to the Old Testament. Don't take them to Jonah and David and Goliath. 00:45:02.000 --> 00:45:06.000 Those are nice stories. Take them to Jesus first. 00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:10.000 Let them see the face of God in Jesus. 00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:14.000 And then take them to David. 00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:18.000 And then help them to behold God in worship. 00:45:18.000 --> 00:45:22.000 Help them to behold God in worship. You need to behold God in worship. 00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:26.000 Guys at the end of the day 00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:30.000 whatever you devote yourself to, let me put it this way, 00:45:30.000 --> 00:45:34.000 people resemble what they devote themselves to. People resemble 00:45:34.000 --> 00:45:38.000 what they devote themselves to. Either for ruin or for restoration. 00:45:38.000 --> 00:45:42.000 This is why God would turn to Israel and the pagan nations 00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:46.000 and say, if you follow idols you shall become like your idols. 00:45:46.000 --> 00:45:50.000 God would say that. So idols are deaf and dumb. And God would say, therefore you will become deaf and dumb. 00:45:50.000 --> 00:45:54.000 Whatever you 00:45:54.000 --> 00:45:58.000 devote yourself to is what you will resemble. Therefore, what do you devote 00:45:58.000 --> 00:46:02.000 yourself to? And what do your kids devote themselves to? 00:46:08.000 --> 00:46:12.000 Beholding his character through the word, through worship and 00:46:12.000 --> 00:46:16.000 through senses. You know, I had this favorite 00:46:16.000 --> 00:46:20.000 pastime when I was in Bahrain. That's where I started my life as a Christian. I'd go 00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:24.000 hang out. Really, I would deliberately go hang out with three or four 00:46:24.000 --> 00:46:28.000 grown-ups who seemed to know a lot about Jesus Christ. 00:46:28.000 --> 00:46:32.000 Whenever they would come into town, I'd ask the guy who was hosting them if I 00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:36.000 could help carry the bags or bring them from the airport. 00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:40.000 And I would sit quietly in the back of the car. Not say a word, eh? Me not saying 00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:44.000 a word. I would not say a word. I'd just sit there and listen as 00:46:44.000 --> 00:46:48.000 these three or four men would talk about God. 00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:52.000 It would fascinate me. And I'd think to myself, man, I wish I knew the stuff that 00:46:52.000 --> 00:46:56.000 they knew. Man, I wish I knew the stuff that they knew. 00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:04.000 You behold God through the word, you behold God through worship, you also behold God through your senses 00:47:04.000 --> 00:47:08.000 by surrounding yourself, by putting yourself in environments where God's character 00:47:08.000 --> 00:47:12.000 is constantly being brought up. And in the process, you are changed. You are transformed 00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:16.000 from glory to glory. This is the scripture. By the same token then, whatever you behold 00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:20.000 that is not God will also transform you. Not from strength to strength, glory to glory, 00:47:20.000 --> 00:47:24.000 but from shame to shame and weakness to weakness. 00:47:24.000 --> 00:47:28.000 One last point and then we are done. 00:47:28.000 --> 00:47:32.000 If all this fails, if we blow it, lose 00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:36.000 self-control, 00:47:36.000 --> 00:47:40.000 seems like the right word to use but I won't, 00:47:40.000 --> 00:47:44.000 mess up fidelity, 00:47:44.000 --> 00:47:48.000 where love has suddenly vanished and you don't feel connected to God, 00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:52.000 if you start beholding other people's 00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:56.000 if you start beholding other things that are taking you from weakness to weakness 00:47:56.000 --> 00:48:00.000 and shame to shame, if all these things go wrong, 00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:04.000 there's still Hebrews 4.15. 00:48:04.000 --> 00:48:08.000 There is still Hebrews 4.15 which says 00:48:08.000 --> 00:48:12.000 that we don't have a priest who is out 00:48:12.000 --> 00:48:16.000 of touch with our reality. 00:48:16.000 --> 00:48:20.000 He's been through weaknesses and testing. I can't believe this. 00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:24.000 I can't believe the fact that Jesus has been tested in every 00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:28.000 area that I'm being tested in. That he's experienced 00:48:28.000 --> 00:48:32.000 every temptation, every testing that I've been through. 00:48:32.000 --> 00:48:36.000 There's nothing that I'm going through that he hasn't 00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:40.000 experienced except sin. 00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:44.000 As in he didn't sin. Hebrews 4.15 says we don't have 00:48:44.000 --> 00:48:48.000 a priest, as in we don't have a Jesus who is out of touch with 00:48:48.000 --> 00:48:52.000 Jacob's reality. He's been through the weaknesses and testing experienced by Jacob 00:48:52.000 --> 00:48:56.000 by all actually. But let's just think about Jacob. All but sin. 00:48:56.000 --> 00:49:00.000 And then it goes on to say, let us then approach the throne of grace. 00:49:00.000 --> 00:49:04.000 With what? With confidence. Why? 00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:08.000 So that first I may receive mercy and then 00:49:08.000 --> 00:49:12.000 I may receive grace in my time of need. When all else fails, 00:49:12.000 --> 00:49:16.000 there's still a fail safe. Hebrews 4.15. 00:49:16.000 --> 00:49:20.000 This is how we keep sustaining, maintaining and increasing 00:49:20.000 --> 00:49:24.000 in purity. Simple methods guys. 00:49:24.000 --> 00:49:28.000 Breathe. I mean I remember once asking God when 00:49:28.000 --> 00:49:32.000 I really messed up. I was telling God, Father just like you did with the bones 00:49:32.000 --> 00:49:36.000 in the valley, could you breathe pure holy life into me so that these 00:49:36.000 --> 00:49:40.000 wretched bones may live again? Because I know there is mercy. 00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:44.000 There is always mercy and there is always grace to revive me. So would you breathe 00:49:44.000 --> 00:49:48.000 your holy pure life into me again that these wretched bones may live? 00:49:48.000 --> 00:49:52.000 Wretched is rarely a word I associate with myself 00:49:52.000 --> 00:49:56.000 but those times I easily do. 00:49:56.000 --> 00:50:00.000 And at the end of the day guys, when you begin to live like this, 00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:04.000 Psalm 24 verse 3-6 kicks in and Psalm 24 verse 3-6 says this, 00:50:04.000 --> 00:50:08.000 lift up you ancient doors, lift up your gates 00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:12.000 for the king of glory may come in. Who is the king of glory? 00:50:12.000 --> 00:50:16.000 The Lord strong and mighty in battle. Guys, you know who opens 00:50:16.000 --> 00:50:20.000 ancient doors? By the way, what are ancient doors? Ancient doors are hidden doors 00:50:20.000 --> 00:50:24.000 or concealed doors. Ancient doors, guys these doors 00:50:24.000 --> 00:50:28.000 actually exist otherwise God wouldn't talk about them. He says 00:50:28.000 --> 00:50:32.000 in Psalm 24 verse 3-6, lift up your gates 00:50:32.000 --> 00:50:36.000 and be opened you everlasting doors or in some versions 00:50:36.000 --> 00:50:40.000 ancient doors. Ancient doors are hidden doors or 00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:44.000 concealed doors that have been since everlasting. As in before time began 00:50:44.000 --> 00:50:48.000 these doors exist. What do you mean these doors exist? 00:50:52.000 --> 00:50:56.000 Peter opened a door like this. 00:50:56.000 --> 00:51:00.000 When? When Jesus said to him, I give you the keys of the kingdom. 00:51:00.000 --> 00:51:04.000 Whatever you shall open shall stay open, whatever you shall shut shall stay shut. Peter 00:51:04.000 --> 00:51:08.000 stands up after the Holy Spirit comes and he opens the doors 00:51:08.000 --> 00:51:12.000 to the kingdom and the first day 3000 get saved. Daniel opened 00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:16.000 doors like this. For years Israel was in exile 00:51:16.000 --> 00:51:20.000 and Daniel says at such and such a time 70 times 7, in 490 00:51:20.000 --> 00:51:24.000 years you'll walk out of here free and yet he had 00:51:24.000 --> 00:51:28.000 kept some things locked. Paul opened 00:51:28.000 --> 00:51:32.000 doors. Paul opened doors in Corinth, 00:51:32.000 --> 00:51:36.000 Ephesus, Paul goes shut some doors and opens doors. 00:51:36.000 --> 00:51:40.000 So much so that the silver smiths in Ephesus got together and 00:51:40.000 --> 00:51:44.000 they said, man this Paul, he's come in and created havoc 00:51:44.000 --> 00:51:48.000 and our goddess Diana or Artemis of Ephesus 00:51:48.000 --> 00:51:52.000 is doing really badly because Paul has come in. He opened doors 00:51:52.000 --> 00:51:56.000 and when he opened doors to one kingdom the other kingdom started shutting down. 00:51:56.000 --> 00:52:00.000 But here's the thing, who gets to open doors to let the king of glory 00:52:00.000 --> 00:52:04.000 come in? They that can ascend the hill with clean hearts, clean 00:52:04.000 --> 00:52:08.000 hands and lips that don't swear deceitfully. One of the reasons we are called 00:52:08.000 --> 00:52:12.000 to be pure is so that we can see him and so that he can enter cause he 00:52:12.000 --> 00:52:16.000 allows us to open doors. The pure can open ancient doors. That's 00:52:16.000 --> 00:52:20.000 one other reason why I desperately want to increase my level of purity 00:52:20.000 --> 00:52:24.000 not let it stay where it is. What God does 00:52:24.000 --> 00:52:28.000 then is say, here are the keys son. You've begun to match or resonate 00:52:28.000 --> 00:52:32.000 with my heart in terms of purity. I will now allow you to open doors. 00:52:32.000 --> 00:52:36.000 Ancient doors, everlasting doors will be open. 00:52:36.000 --> 00:52:40.000 Actually 00:52:40.000 --> 00:52:44.000 authority to speak 00:52:44.000 --> 00:52:48.000 salvation and forgiveness to impending 00:52:48.000 --> 00:52:52.000 people. I just went to the bank 00:52:52.000 --> 00:52:56.000 and did something and I told everybody about Jesus 00:52:56.000 --> 00:53:00.000 and they sat here and I had a 00:53:00.000 --> 00:53:04.000 little chat with my brother about the life of God and the 00:53:04.000 --> 00:53:08.000 Jesus and when I was finished and soon she 00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:12.000 left and said and make sure 00:53:12.000 --> 00:53:16.000 trusting Jesus so that we meet in heaven. 00:53:16.000 --> 00:53:20.000 It's your brother she said. Think of it. Yep. I'm glad 00:53:20.000 --> 00:53:24.000 she agreed to. Guys 00:53:24.000 --> 00:53:28.000 I promise you 00:53:28.000 --> 00:53:32.000 this on the authority of the word of God that every time 00:53:32.000 --> 00:53:36.000 there's an upgrade in your purity. There's an increase in your authority. 00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:40.000 There's an increase in responsibility given to you. 00:53:40.000 --> 00:53:44.000 There is greater dominion in the spiritual 00:53:44.000 --> 00:53:48.000 and you begin to open things for other people that you couldn't open 00:53:48.000 --> 00:53:52.000 till you stepped into this new level. It's like a new level in a 00:53:52.000 --> 00:53:56.000 video game. You suddenly open bananas and 00:53:56.000 --> 00:54:00.000 batteries and bullets and all this stuff. You know that monkey that 00:54:00.000 --> 00:54:04.000 grabs the bananas once it gets to a new level and suddenly it gets more power? 00:54:04.000 --> 00:54:08.000 It's literally like that. You begin to operate like that. Go to 2 Samuel 00:54:08.000 --> 00:54:12.000 23, 7 and you'll see David talking about it. This is 00:54:12.000 --> 00:54:16.000 David just before he dies. 2 Samuel 23 00:54:16.000 --> 00:54:20.000 2 Samuel 23 00:54:20.000 --> 00:54:24.000 verse 7 00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:30.000 verse 6 00:54:30.000 --> 00:54:34.000 verse 6 00:54:34.000 --> 00:54:38.000 verse 6 00:54:38.000 --> 00:54:42.000 In some of your Bibles it says 00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:46.000 for worthless men. The actual word is Belial. Belial is another 00:54:46.000 --> 00:54:50.000 word for the devil. Like in 2 Corinthians 00:54:50.000 --> 00:54:54.000 Paul says what is common between the table of the Lord and the table of 00:54:54.000 --> 00:54:58.000 Belial. So it's talking about in some versions it says Belial. 00:54:58.000 --> 00:55:02.000 So here's what it says. But Belial or worthless men are like thorns that are thrown 00:55:02.000 --> 00:55:06.000 away for they cannot be taken with the hand. But the man who touches 00:55:06.000 --> 00:55:10.000 them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a 00:55:10.000 --> 00:55:14.000 spear and they are utterly consumed with fire. 00:55:14.000 --> 00:55:18.000 Now go to 2 Corinthians 6. 2 Corinthians 6 00:55:18.000 --> 00:55:22.000 So what is shaft of a spear and all that mean? How does it translate in the New Testament? 00:55:22.000 --> 00:55:26.000 2 Corinthians 6 verse 7 00:55:34.000 --> 00:55:38.000 Shaft and the spear. As in if you want to deal with things that are 00:55:38.000 --> 00:55:42.000 evil. If you want to restore to people the inheritance that has 00:55:42.000 --> 00:55:46.000 been robbed from them. Guys there is no way that Acts 29 will ever 00:55:46.000 --> 00:55:50.000 be able to accomplish what it is supposed to accomplish in Nandigama. As in restoring 00:55:50.000 --> 00:55:54.000 the desolate heritages of a group of people that have been 00:55:54.000 --> 00:55:58.000 labeled untouchable who have been oppressed for 4,000 years. There is no way we can 00:55:58.000 --> 00:56:02.000 break that oppression if Acts 29 does not commit to a greater 00:56:02.000 --> 00:56:06.000 level of purity. Because every time you move to a greater level of purity you get to 00:56:06.000 --> 00:56:10.000 undo things much easily. You get to deal with worthless things. 00:56:10.000 --> 00:56:14.000 You get to deal with Belial. You get to deal with them with spear and shaft. And what does spear 00:56:14.000 --> 00:56:18.000 and shaft represent in the New Testament? It's in 2 Corinthians 6. 7 where it says 00:56:18.000 --> 00:56:22.000 By truthful speech and the power of God with the weapons of righteousness 00:56:22.000 --> 00:56:26.000 for the right hand and the left. It goes back to purity. 00:56:26.000 --> 00:56:30.000 The greater your purity the greater the devils you can handle. 00:56:30.000 --> 00:56:34.000 The greater the purity the greater the devils you can handle. 00:56:34.000 --> 00:56:38.000 Hey if you are a part of this church you really don't have a choice. 00:56:38.000 --> 00:56:42.000 If you are a part of this church you are going to have 00:56:42.000 --> 00:56:46.000 to be involved in this. And you can say I'll stay on the side 00:56:46.000 --> 00:56:50.000 lines. Unfortunately if you stay on the side lines you'll still get the benefits 00:56:50.000 --> 00:56:54.000 and you'll still be involved in battle. 00:56:54.000 --> 00:56:58.000 It doesn't matter. 00:56:58.000 --> 00:57:02.000 Stay on the side lines and you'll still get the benefits. So let's say we win a million 00:57:02.000 --> 00:57:06.000 dollars we all get a million dollars. 00:57:06.000 --> 00:57:10.000 And let's say the enemy tries to harm us 00:57:10.000 --> 00:57:14.000 all of us get harmed if all of us don't jump into this. 00:57:14.000 --> 00:57:18.000 That's the way it works. Any questions? I'm sorry I forgot to ask you if any questions. 00:57:18.000 --> 00:57:22.000 I was quite excited about this teaching. Blessed are the pure for they shall 00:57:22.000 --> 00:57:26.000 see God. They shall see God. That's what we are after. 00:57:26.000 --> 00:57:30.000 Any questions before we finish? I'm done but any questions? 00:57:30.000 --> 00:57:34.000 Any questions guys? 00:57:34.000 --> 00:57:38.000 So I pray God that you and I begin to decide. It's still early in the years. 00:57:38.000 --> 00:57:42.000 Jan 31st we've got 11 months to practice this. Begin to say Father 00:57:42.000 --> 00:57:46.000 I've lived a relatively pure life. I've been doing pretty good. 00:57:46.000 --> 00:57:50.000 But I want to upgrade it. I want to move into a place that is far greater than this. 00:57:50.000 --> 00:57:54.000 And Father I'm not talking about sexual purity at all. I'm talking about purity in every area. 00:57:54.000 --> 00:57:58.000 I want purity in every area and I want to up my game. 00:57:58.000 --> 00:58:02.000 Even those things we don't see as pure like archipelagic. 00:58:02.000 --> 00:58:06.000 Yeah. I want to up my game. I want to walk pure. 00:58:06.000 --> 00:58:10.000 Blessed are the pure for they shall. 00:58:10.000 --> 00:58:14.000 Blessed are the pure for they shall see God. Matthew 5 00:58:14.000 --> 00:58:18.000 8. Blessed are the pure for they shall see God. And then these pure 00:58:18.000 --> 00:58:22.000 shall be the ones who shall open ancient doors. 00:58:22.000 --> 00:58:26.000 Who shall open ancient doors. Everlasting doors. God is continuously opening 00:58:26.000 --> 00:58:30.000 them eh? I just love the fact that there are doors left for Acts 00:58:30.000 --> 00:58:34.000 29 to open. 00:58:34.000 --> 00:58:38.000 I mean I don't care if Acts 29 doesn't exist 20 years from now. 00:58:38.000 --> 00:58:42.000 There will be a Maya and an Isaiah and a Tate and a 00:58:42.000 --> 00:58:46.000 Finn and an Ari and a 00:58:46.000 --> 00:58:50.000 Roxana and a Max and a 00:58:50.000 --> 00:58:54.000 Lance that will exist. That's how generations continue. 00:58:54.000 --> 00:58:58.000 It's not a... I mean haven't you seen churches that have existed 00:58:58.000 --> 00:59:02.000 for 100 years? What good is that? 00:59:02.000 --> 00:59:06.000 When I say we build 00:59:06.000 --> 00:59:10.000 a church, I don't mean that we should exist for 100 years. Let them call it 00:59:10.000 --> 00:59:14.000 whatever they want. But she should have the deposit to continue with it. 00:59:14.000 --> 00:59:18.000 I'm so excited about... I'm not 00:59:18.000 --> 00:59:22.000 faking excitement eh? Obviously I'm not jumping with joy or anything. But I'm so excited 00:59:22.000 --> 00:59:26.000 about the ancient doors. As in doors that existed before time 00:59:26.000 --> 00:59:30.000 existed. That are still left for Acts 29 to open. 00:59:30.000 --> 00:59:34.000 Everlasting doors. And the moment we open them two things will happen. 00:59:34.000 --> 00:59:38.000 Ahab will fall and the land will have rain. Ahab will fall 00:59:38.000 --> 00:59:42.000 and the land will have rain. Ahab will fall, Jezebel will be 00:59:42.000 --> 00:59:46.000 deposed, Jehus will be raised, Elisha will come forth and 00:59:46.000 --> 00:59:50.000 the land will have rain. This is what happens when you open ancient doors. 00:59:54.000 --> 00:59:58.000 One day if possible just come and visit 00:59:58.000 --> 01:00:02.000 with Jeevan and me, Nandigama. You'll see what's happening. 01:00:02.000 --> 01:00:06.000 And you'll be stunned. What a privilege 01:00:06.000 --> 01:00:10.000 to break a 4000 year oppression. What a privilege. When I first went there 01:00:10.000 --> 01:00:14.000 I remember coming back and saying to Jeevan, if 10 or 20 make it 01:00:14.000 --> 01:00:18.000 that'll be huge. This time when I went, if 80 don't make it 01:00:18.000 --> 01:00:22.000 I'll be disappointed. 01:00:26.000 --> 01:00:30.000 So sometimes come on these trips not to do 01:00:30.000 --> 01:00:32.000 anything.