Desires of Your Hearts (06/30/2002)

Park Meadows Church

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Last time, if you remember, we started with Proverbs 16 .1

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and it wouldn't hurt for you to turn to that one just to give you a springboard for this message. How does it come to pass that our way can be in the way?

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Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the

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Father but by me. If we're going to be in the way, it's only by Jesus Christ.

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We must be in fellowship with him. Many ways the Bible expresses this that I believe are the same thing, but God approaches it from different directions to get us to think about it and try to learn about it.

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We might call it being spirit -filled. It is a union between our spirit, the new man, and the

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Holy Spirit in union. Just as a husband and wife have union physically, we have spiritual union with the

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Lord. Only when we are in that union are we truly walking in unity with God, which then allows us to be in fellowship with one another and with him, he and us, us and him.

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Many verses dealing with all these sorts of ideas that God reveals to us as he reveals himself and his beautiful relationship that he's created for us.

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Probably the most beautiful and often used example of this salvation relationship that we have is marriage.

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Given many times in the scriptures, it's taught that when we're filled with the spirit, we are one with the

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Holy Spirit. There's a unity there, a connection, a vital union. And that's the only way we're really in the way, because it is not a process or a list of things.

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Jesus wasn't just an example. He was not one who came and pointed the way. He is the way.

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So we must be attached. Jesus said it another way once.

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He said, if you're not attached, if the vine is not attached, I'm sorry, the branches are not attached to the vine and then ultimately to the root, you can do nothing.

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And he is the root, the root of Jesse. So Proverbs 16, one says the preparations of the heart in man.

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And the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. The last time we started to see that.

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By way of thinking of us being in the way. That that means it has to do with a union with God himself.

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And we began to see some things that the scripture specifically says that God is doing in the life of his own.

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For example, let me give you the ones we covered last time. Number one, the words we say.

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And that's what I want you to write on the back of your book. Number one, the words we say. That's found in Proverbs 16, one.

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You might, when you put the words we say, put parentheses beside it, put PR 16 .1. Give you the reference for later.

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The preparations of the heart in man. Yes, man is responsible. Man has responsibility.

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God holds him responsibility. He is responsible for what he thinks. He is responsible for his motives.

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But when man comes to the point of answering with his tongue, the Bible says that's from the Lord. Why is that?

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Because God is sovereign. Man cannot change God's history.

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Man is a part of it. But God has ordained everything. In fact,

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God has already seen it happen. Come to pass because he's the eternal I am. He's not in time.

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He's the eternal now. He has seen your glorification just as surely as he saw your justification, just as surely as he saw your calling, just as surely as he knew you with a loving knowledge before anything was created.

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If you're his child this morning, your salvation did not surprise God. God has known you and loved you with a loving knowledge forever and ever.

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And if you were in adult Sunday school class, you know those. But God has also seen the end, and he's also seen all the means to the end.

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And though we have the responsibility and the right to think, to praise

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God, to thank God, to think upon God, to meditate upon his word, to think about our motives and our actions and what we may and may not do, when it comes to the speaking of it, that's from the

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Lord. Now, as we look at the second point, when we make plans,

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God establishes that. We think we're doing it. I understand that.

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And I cannot explain to you how these two work together. All I can give you is what

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God has revealed to us in his word, and we wouldn't know it if he hadn't. Because if all we had was our own observation and thoughts, we'd think we were doing everything, wouldn't we?

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Wouldn't we think we were in control? We'd be the perfect humanists. We'd be the center of the whole universe.

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I mean, you're here just for my sake. You're here for my benefit so I can have fun in this life.

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That's how the humanist looks at it. And he will use you, by the way, to accomplish that end.

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Most of us who are raised in the government schools have been taught that philosophy well.

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Look out for number one. Sometimes even Mama teaches us men that. Look out for number one.

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Look out for the family. But when we look at the fact that God really is the one who is sovereign, he's revealed that in his word.

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He holds us responsible, and yet at the same time, he establishes these things. The words that come from our mouth are from the

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Lord. He says very clearly in verse 3 of Proverbs chapter 16, Jesus said you've got enough evil in today not to worry about tomorrow, but he never said don't try to make some plans.

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But the point is, this verse says, And he will begin to direct you and show you what to do right now.

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And sometimes what to do in about an hour. And sometimes maybe tomorrow.

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Sometimes a little further down the road. But you know what? He gives it when you need it. The information is there and it's established by him.

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So the first thing is the words we say. The second thing is the plans we make. The third thing is the

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Bible says that God directs the steps we take. So number 3 would be the steps we take.

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And we find that in Proverbs 16, 9. A man's heart devises his way.

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You see, God acknowledges that we think we're doing it all. And it seems that way to us. But then he says, but the

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Lord directs his steps. God is sovereign. He's in control of his children.

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You know what? If you back up to verse 4. You'll see he's in control of Satan's children too. He's in control of Satan as a matter of fact.

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The verse 4 says, That's just a little rabbit trail.

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The scripture has those in there too. Not just preachers. It's not really a rabbit trail.

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Because when you put it together with verses 3 through 9. We see God is sovereign.

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He is in control. I don't know why we sometimes wish to think he wasn't. Because where would we be if we were in control?

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Where would we be this morning? Can you men absolutely promise me that you have the wherewithal.

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To perfectly take care of your children. So that no harm will come to them. And your wife.

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And to be the perfect husband. So that she would not be tempted. So that nothing could happen to her.

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Did I say wife? I meant to be the perfect husband. So that she wouldn't be tempted and nothing could happen.

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Can you do that gentlemen every day? Let God. Let God be sovereign.

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And rest in that. Yes we're responsible. He does not work just without us.

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He works together with us. The Bible says. And within us. But I sure like the emphasis on the he.

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Now the fourth thing we saw. Is that. The Lord also.

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Disposes of the choices that we make. In. Proverbs chapter 16 verse 33.

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This interesting. Picture that God places in our minds of a. Person with a.

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Perhaps with an apron. And this apron filled with choices.

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Things going on in the life. Gifts God's given us. Children.

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Friends. Everything is in this lap. Everything is in this apron. It's all there. God puts it there for us.

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And we think about it. We. Prepare our hearts inside of our own minds.

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But look what it says. But the whole disposing thereof. Is of the

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Lord. So who is it ultimately. Who is in control. Of how you dispose of the things

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God's given you. God is. An amazing thing to think about.

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But a wonderful thing. Then if we go into Psalm. Chapter 21.

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Verse 2. Psalm 37 for we see. That God is even.

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In control of the desires that we have. So long as we are.

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In that vital connection with the Holy Spirit. When we're spirit filled. We're connected with God.

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Then the desires that come into our hearts. Will be from him. The only way that you can have an evil desire.

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Is to be. Out of fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Not filled with the Holy Spirit. Not connected in unity.

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With the Holy Spirit. And I understand. Doctrinally. It is a fact. That he never leaves you.

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If you're his. The Holy Spirit. And dwells your body. Your body is the temple. Of the living God.

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And he is there. But. Ladies and gentlemen. If you're married. You can probably. Answer this question.

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Has there been a time. That you and your wife. Are out of fellowship. You were both.

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In the same house. Because you're still married. But. You just weren't in unity.

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Doesn't mean the marriage. Isn't real. Doesn't mean that both spouses. Aren't walking around. In the same house. And so.

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The born again. Child of God. Has times. When for whatever strange reason. He chooses.

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To be out of fellowship. With God. And it doesn't mean. God leaves you. Doesn't mean the Holy Spirit. Is not still in dwelling.

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Your body. Your temple. Which is his temple. Just means you are not.

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Connected with him in unity. You're in. Your spirit and his spirit. Are not one. And you might have an evil desire.

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Even as a Christian. At that time. Sometimes we bad. Just call it backsliding.

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Bible uses that word. Few times as well. But. God is even.

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Sovereign over that. Because you know. That sometimes. You and I grow the most.

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When hard times are there. I can't understand that. But if you as a parent.

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Ever allowed your child. You knowingly allowed them to. Perhaps. Do something.

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That brought them. A slight little bit of harm. Because you knew they would. Learn a lesson from it. And they were wanting.

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To do it anyway. And you'd already told them. Before not to do it. And you're watching. And you can protect them.

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And under your protecting eye. Let them do this thing.

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And guess what? It's not academic anymore. All of a sudden. They've experienced. The bruised knee.

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And they know. Not to do that thing. Well you do that. As a human. As a father. As a parent.

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As a mom. We don't like the thought. It greats against us. That God is in control of us.

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But I will say this. Psalm 37. For delight thyself. Also in the Lord.

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You see that's the vital connection. You can't delight in the Lord. Unless you're in spirit field. Your flesh can't do that.

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You see. That has to start with God. And go through that connection. To your spirit.

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And go from that spirit. To your soul. And mind. And go from that mind. To control that body. Which is not saved yet.

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By the way. The body fleshly part. It is merely an instrument. That God uses.

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And that you use. To get God's work done. In this world. But when you are delighting yourself.

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In the Lord. He shall then give thee. The desires of your heart.

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You discussed some. In adult Sunday school. About how to know God's will. I mean that wasn't the exact topic.

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But some of that. Came into the lesson this morning. One of the ways to do that. Is to be delighting.

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In the Lord. Start with being thankful. Start with praising him. For who he is.

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Start with thanking him. For all that he's brought to pass. In our lives. And then praise him.

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And then be aware of his presence. And begin to worship him. And begin to delight. In the

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Lord. Then he shall give you the desires. Of your heart.

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The desires that come into your heart. During those times. Are from him.

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So we see that. He. Gives the answer of our tongue.

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He. Gives the plans of our hearts. He directs the steps.

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Of our feet. He gives the choices that we make. He's in control of those.

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He places the desires. In our hearts that we have. That cause us to go out and do things.

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And accomplish things. In him. And with him. Actually he accomplished those things in us.

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And with us. Then that brings us to another. Look at.

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First Corinthians twelve four. And this is where we stopped last time. The sixth point is. That God is sovereign.

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And controls the energy. Behind our works. And our gifts. Now remember last time the question

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I asked. Was after we finished this list. Ask yourself what's left for us. To do. What does

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God do in us. And what's left for us after that. Because this list is.

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Amazingly complete. Almost everything that we do in our lives. These scriptures say.

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God is doing those things in us. It's really wonderful to know that.

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When you understand the flesh. And it's incapacity to do anything good.

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Perhaps the greatest Christian that lived. Was Paul. We don't know that. But many say that.

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And he said in this flesh. Dwelleth no. Zero. Good thing.

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Not one. So isn't it wonderful that as we. Become attached to the

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Lord. By the Holy Spirit in our hearts. And we're one with him. That he. Controls these very issues.

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We've discussed. Now this one in first Corinthians. Twelve four and some of these. Following verses show very clearly.

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That God is the one who provides the energy. Now you have to see the Greek. A little bit to get this. But I'll show it to you when we come to it.

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First Corinthians twelve four now. There are diversities of gifts. But the same spirit. There are differences.

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Of administrations. But the same Lord. There are diversities of operations.

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And that word in the Greek. Is the same word it's actually erg. Our word erg comes from it.

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We use it in physics and it means work. It's the unit of measure for work. Which is the energy required to play.

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Move an object from one place. To another in time and space. God is the one who provides.

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That energy in our lives. Whether it be to manifest a gift. Whether it be to do a work.

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Whether it be to praise him. To thank him. To come to him. We don't really initiate any of that.

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He does within us. What a wonderful thing. He's created this beautiful example.

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Of the bride and the groom. To try to teach us. That he's made us to be responders.

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The groom is the one who initiates. He's the one that woos and pursues. The young woman that he loves.

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She could think nothing of him. Perhaps at first. And he begins to bring her flowers.

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He begins to say beautiful poetry. He begins to bring her things she likes. And do things she enjoys together.

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And all of a sudden she responds and finds. Boy I love you. But he started it.

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He initiated it. God made it that way. It's the way it's supposed to be. Because that's a beautiful illustration.

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Of our relationship with the Lord. The Lord pursues us. Even after salvation.

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You come to a place in your life. He brings his thought of himself. Into your mind first.

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And then you begin to love him. I don't know where we would be. If he didn't bring that thought.

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I'd like to think I'd think of him on my own. But I don't want to find out.

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Not this side anyway. So he says the diversities of operations. But it's the same

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God. That's the Father. Because the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus. Has already been referred to in that passage.

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This is the Father. Which worketh all in all. And provides the urges. The energy.

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That cause you to love him. To praise him. To thank him. To do good works. He is in us.

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Working together with us. Both to will. Which means to make us want to do. The seventh point this morning.

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And this one is new. At least in this study. For us. Turn to Philippians.

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Chapter one. And verse six. And then we're going to look at.

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Verse twenty nine. But I wanted to have verse six. Because it. It continues to add weight.

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To the sixth point. And then verse twenty nine. We'll go into the seventh point. And then we're going to look at.

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How is it that we. That he himself. Is the way.

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Jesus talked about a narrow path. That few would walk down. That path is the way.

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How can we be in the way. Only by being in God. Only by being in unity with the

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Lord. Verse six says. Being confident of this very thing. That he which hath begun a good work in you.

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Will perform it. Until the day of Jesus Christ. You see how he supplies that energy.

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He's the one who began the work in you. The day he saved you. The day he let you know you were his. The day you received the

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Lord Jesus Christ. As your personal Lord. And Savior. On that day he began a good work.

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Remember the word work. Comes from the Greek word ergos. Energy for the work. But he says he will continue to perform this.

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Until Jesus comes back for us. That is a promise. That until the Lord comes back for us.

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That energy will be there. It will cause you to respond to him in love. From your heart.

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He will not leave you alone. Like the Lord Jesus was left alone on that cross. When he said my

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God my God. Why hast thou forsaken me. God will never leave you alone like that.

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Because as we learned again in Sunday school. He died for us.

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And our place substitutes. We don't have to experience that. God promises here again.

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In Philippians chapter 1 verse 6. That he will continue to perform this ergos. This energy.

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This placing of the energy within us. To have the wherewithal. To love him and praise him.

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And think of him throughout the day. Pray without ceasing is the admonition. To the born again Christian.

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This side of the cross. In the olden days Daniel used to come. Before the Lord in the morning.

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We can't do that. That's not it for us. Us is as we walk all the time.

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Continual attitude of prayer. That's impossible without being spirit filled.

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And walking with that oneness. With the Holy Spirit. But with that oneness. We have the energy.

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It's from God. It's God's energy. Now look at verse 29. It brings us to the seventh point.

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And that is that our very faith comes from God. The very faith that saved us.

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Comes from God. It didn't actually save us. We say that. But that faith was merely a hiss of weed.

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That applied the blood to the door post of our life. And that's what saved us. Really it wasn't just the blood.

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That's the dearest part to us probably. But it was his finished work. It goes back to Jesus the person.

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That's who saved us. I have to agree with Brother MacArthur.

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When he got in so much trouble. For saying it wasn't the blood. I know what he meant. Isn't it funny how we love to. What's the old saying?

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We love to shoot our wounded. You know you get them down a little bit. He said maybe he put something just slightly. Could have made it more clear in a book.

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So everybody just said oh he's a heretic. Yeah well go meet him and then say that. He might be the only man left with a voice.

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In this country that is still true to the word. I don't know. Most people know his name.

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I don't know how important that is. I guess God will show us. Because when there's none like that. We'll know it's not important to God.

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But right now he's still out there with a name. And with a voice. And he reads the scriptures. And interprets the scriptures.

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And executes the scriptures. And teaches the scriptures. And he made the comment once that everybody said.

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He said well he doesn't believe in the blood. That's not what he meant was it's the person. It's Jesus.

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That's part of that. I think he was trying to emphasize the person of Jesus. I can't fault him for that. For unto you.

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Philippians 129 look. For unto you it is given in behalf of Christ. Not only to believe on him.

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But also to suffer for his sake. So there are two things in that verse. That are given as a gift from God.

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The first one has to do with our topic this morning. To believe. Even the belief.

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That we thought when we were new babes. We thought well at least that's my part. And many theologians write books on salvation.

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And they make the mistake. At least to me it's a mistake. Of saying well if there's any. The part that we play in salvation.

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Is to believe. Well humanly speaking that's absolutely true. And all of us when we first got saved.

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That's exactly what we thought. I remember I was in my car driving to work one day. Half way between Waco and Mahea.

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When I got saved. It came into my heart. And I began to pray. And I said

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Lord for the first time in my life. I've always known about you. I've always believed you were there. Because my mama taught me that.

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But for the first time in my life. I give myself to you. I want you to be.

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The only way I knew to say it. Was I said I want you to be my boss. Instead of me being my boss. By that I think

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I meant Lord. My life changed that day. For we'll be the same.

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Thank him for that. Do you know who gave me that gift? God did.

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The one who knew me before the foundation of the world. Before anything was made. That was made.

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He knew me with love. That day in that car. He delivered that love into space and time.

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And put it in my heart. All of a sudden he turned on my receiver. And my responder.

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Transmitter. All from him. Go to point eight so we clear up here.

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Second Thessalonians chapter two. We've come from the words we say.

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To the plans we make. The steps we take. The choices we have. The desires of our hearts. The energy that's in us to do good things.

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Our very faith is from God. And now we see an eighth thing. This is the hardest to believe for some.

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The works we do. The things that God. Describes and would think of himself.

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As a good work. Not that we say is a good work. But the things that God himself in your life.

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And mine would recognize as a good work. Initiate. And come from him.

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To us by the Holy Spirit. Into our heart and mind. And then we do it. And sometimes we want to take credit for it.

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Can't do that. We need to keep those crowns secret. So we can toss them at his feet.

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When we get there to see him. Because they're from him. They're crowns at his feet.

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They recognize this verse and others. Second Thessalonians 2 .16. This truth I should say. Now our

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Lord Jesus Christ himself. And God even our father. Which hath loved us. And hath given us everlasting consolation.

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And good hope through grace. Comfort your hearts. And establish. Now remember this is talking about the

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Lord. Himself. Establish you in every good word.

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And work. And we can't take too much credit for that. Can we? And then.

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Second Thessalonians 3. I'm sorry second. I'm going to go. You don't have to turn to this one.

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I'm going to go to another one in second Thessalonians. But it's a different point. But I want to give you Philippians 2 .13. For this point.

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For it is God which worketh in you both to will. Cover this point. From the part of will.

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But now look what he says. It is

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God that works in us. To do. His good pleasure. You know that it's not even acceptable.

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You know how you can prove that? Go in the

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Bible. And see what happened to a man named Uzzah. Or if you're Texan. Uzzah. Cousin Uzzah.

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They reached up and touched the ark of God. When they were trying to move it on a cart. Rather than carrying it with the stage.

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Like they were told by God to. Man's attempt to create worship.

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To create religion. To create a stairway to heaven. God does not accept. God only accepts his own way.

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And Jesus said. I am the way. And the life and the truth.

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And no man. No man comes to the father. But by me.

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God works in us. Both to will. But also to do. His own good pleasure. Now we see that the very works that we do.

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Come from God. Now let's move on to 2 Thessalonians 3. In verse 3. We see our 9th point.

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And you say now how many points are we going to have? It's almost lunch time. Well a good round number is 10. And we're on number 9.

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So number 9 is this. But the Lord is faithful. Who shall establish you.

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And keep you from evil. Some would say. That the Greek indicates there.

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So number 9. Our security. Comes from God.

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Not from us. Those. Who claim that you can lose your salvation.

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The born again child of God. Can lose his salvation. They're wrong on 2 points. Number 1 you can't lose it.

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Because you didn't supply the security. In the first place. God did. Says here that the

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Lord is faithful. Many think it has to do with our faithfulness. I'm glad that's not true.

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Aren't you? And this whole half over on Brother Roger's side. Is not here today. You need to do some pew packing my brother.

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This part of the building is going to cave in over here. And it will be like this. But. I'm glad it has nothing to do with our faithfulness.

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The Bible says. But the Lord is faithful. Who shall. Doesn't say might. Shall establish you.

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And shall not might. So our security comes from him.

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I said they're wrong on 2 points. Second thing is they always universally teach. That if you can lose your salvation. If you'll come to church and tithe.

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You can get it back. You know what? That violates Hebrew chapter 6.

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Which says it would be impossible. If you could lose your salvation. To gain it again. Because you would have to recrucify

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Jesus. And put him to open shame. Which is blasphemy. Totally bad doctrine my brother.

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It's a fact. So let's don't go there. I mean let's just don't. Because it is

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God who gives us. Security of our eternal life. First John chapter 5 verse 12.

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Could not have been plainer. That one's written for our little ones among us. It says he that hath the son.

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Hath life. It's not about our faithfulness. It's about having him. And where'd that come from?

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That was a gift. And it says these things have I written to you. That you may know.

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That you have. Which means in the grammar you already have. Eternal. Which means it can't stop because it lasts forever.

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Life. Which is his anyway. It's not ours. Jesus said I'm the way the truth and the life.

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How can you lose it? Something that's eternal. That's his. If you already have it.

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Because of the belief that God's given you. So it's amazing the doctrines.

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It's amazing the way we can get off. Let's ask the Lord to keep us true to the word.

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That's what we want. And where we aren't. To fix it. To keep us true to the word.

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So the ninth point is our security comes from the Lord. And the tenth point is. Our love.

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Comes from the Lord. Look at 2 Thessalonians chapter 3. Verses 5 and 6.

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And the Lord directs your hearts. Into the love of God. You know what?

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You can interpret that a couple of ways. If you wanted to. You could say.

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May the Lord direct us. To have the kind of love God has. Or you could say.

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May the Lord direct us. To love God. Or you could say.

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May the Lord direct us. To the place where God loves us. Which is impossible doctrinally.

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That's bad doctrine. Because he doesn't love us. For the place we're in.

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Or the thing we do. He loves us because we were his. Before the foundation of the world. In his mind and heart. So that one's out.

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So that leaves two. It could mean the Lord direct us. To have the kind of love God has.

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Or it could mean. The Lord direct us. To have love of God. Let's read it.

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The Lord direct your hearts. Into the love of God. Through Jesus Christ.

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That you withdraw yourself. From every brother that walketh disorderly. And not after the tradition. Which he received.

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From us. I believe the verse. Means that the Lord. The apostle

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Paul is praying. For his converts. Saying Lord. Would you direct their hearts.

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Into the love of God. Would you direct their hearts. So that their heart is surrounded by.

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Jesus Christ. Into God's love. It will cause them to both.

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Be aware of his love for them. But also for that responder. To be turned on. For them to love

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God. So Lord please. Direct their hearts into that love.

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One of the rebukes of one of the churches. In the book of revelations. Is they lost that. They went away from that first love.

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Will be unto us if we. Go to that place. In the way do we.

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It's going to be interesting enough. The Lord comes. We don't want him not to be here. In this local church.

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So there I ask you. We have ten things. The words we say. Plans we make.

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The steps we take. The choices we make. The desires we have in our heart. The energy to do things. And the will to do things from God.

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The faith that we have. In him.

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The security of eternal salvation. That he's given us. And the love and patience in our heart.

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That we have towards one another. And towards God. All of that comes from him. And is of God. The sovereign father.

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So what's left for us to do? Rest. That's what the word

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Sabbath means. We as Christians. Should be in an eternal.

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Everyday Sabbath. Keeping the

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Sabbath. Which is one day. We have it everyday. Same injunctions that are said.

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Of the Sabbath are true. However. Just as the Ten Commandments says. Not to murder.

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And Jesus comes back and says. If you hate your brother in your heart. You've murdered him already.

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And the Ten Commandments say to keep the Sabbath. And the Lord would come back and say. If you don't keep the rest.

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In your heart. You've murdered him already. It's all about the relationship.

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It's all about being. In the way. In God. Vital connection.

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Vital union. Oneness. Let's stand and have prayer together. Father we thank you so much.

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For your word. It is our light. And our guide. Light meaning that which enlightens.

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Our understanding in this world. And yet without the

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Holy Spirit. We could not understand it. You could not. And would not reveal your mind.

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And heart and self to us. Without the Holy Spirit. Bringing the energy. And enlivening.

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And quickening the words right off the page. And placing them in our hearts. We thank you that you've chosen this way.

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To speak to us. To have fellowship with us. We thank you that you place.

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Within our hearts. Prayer that we might. Converse back with you. And have that side of the relationship.

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Lord keep us in the way. Moment by moment. Today and Monday. And as we leave this place.

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And go out into this world. Keep us in the way. Keep energizing our hearts and minds.

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And keep us responding. And loving you. Keep us in the love of God. As we walk among our fellow men.

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And our families. And our church brothers and sisters. Here and everywhere in the world.

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We just thank you. That you promised to do this. And we see so much. That the doing.

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Is from you first. The energy. The will. And the doing.

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We thank you for this. We thank you that now. When we properly see these things.

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We truly can someday. Cast all of our crowns at the feet. We await that day

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Lord. Cause us to be. The servants we need to be. Give us the faith.

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Give us. The bravery. Give us the purpose. That we need to have until that day.

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Father bless the meal we're about to have together. And the fellowship. And we ask it in Jesus name. Amen.