A WOW Moment with Vicki, Mercedes and Jeff

Honey you just started All right, good evening everyone. And welcome to our Bible study. This is a pre-recorded Bible study due to the fact that Mercedes and I will be at women's retreat when this airs and When we're at women's retreat we're basically at retreat we're retreating so.

But this is a beautiful Saturday afternoon that we are Recording this so I'll say good afternoon also. Um. Today we have the wonderful. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Vicki. Everyone remembers Mercedes her hair still not Awkward colored yet, but it it'll get there soon.

I promise it'll be something bright and cheery and Very colorful, you know, I guess I do but I really like blue better. I like the aqua. I'm thinking about going pink next time like a bright pink. What do you think Jeff?

I was actually thinking blue.

I really was thinking blue, but that was before she said it.

Everybody remembers Mercedes today. We have the wonderful and the most talented. Mr. Jeff Shipley. And we have been having the Shipley's on quite often lately, I mean we've had. We had a show last week we had brother Jeff the week before and This is a Jeremiah recently.

Jeremiah was recently right before he got married and You know the one that we always had on was just I. I guess he's coming up soon. Yes, he is coming up. But So this is Jeff's first time being on here with us and I'm super excited.

Because you know Jeff I know being the youngest isn't the easiest especially the youngest of five.

Yeah. Well in a lot of families it is but especially not in the Shipley house. In the Shipley house. It's a very intense household. Yeah, I was always and be on my toes and very intense with putt-putt.

Yes, yeah.

Always losing everything. Yeah, but you know, it has made you the man you are today. Which I have to say that I would have not have laughed at you.

Good. What if he's really bad. What if you like hit it and went over the railing like every fourth head.

So anyways, but a Jeff is the youngest of five. Jeff is also One of the two of the Shipley's that's not married now. So you're semi single, but yet you're not single because you do right you are dating someone particular so.

That's a good thing, too. Maybe. No, it definitely is. Well, I mean, I'm not. I'm not saying that it's not good who you're dating because I love her. Very much. So but you know now you're gonna be on YouTube and who knows.

Okay, you might get. Some famous person might see you and be like, oh, he's a hottie maybe. But anyways, no, I love your girlfriend she's magnificent and she is. She's been on here with us. Yes, she's very always bright and cheery and She is a ray of sunshine.

Especially on a cloudy day because she just wants everybody to feel better if they don't feel good. She wants them to feel better. You know what? I mean, but that's the love she has for people. So Anyways, well, that's enough talking about her.

I didn't say her name because I didn't want to put it out there in case you didn't want everybody to know but that's okay anyway, so. What is the verse? It's not really new but I Have I have a big print Bible.

I don't think they make the pages extra thick for big print. Do they she doesn't read it often. Galatians 5. We're talking there's a. See, you've got a big print. You've got your red Bible. You've got your purple Bible.

You had a maroon Bible.

So that's what I collect more. There's different translations. Yeah, I won't have I won't have two Bibles at the same translation.

Usually I do. I have a big print and then I have a study Bible in the same translation and then I have a regular Translation. I've got an IV. This is smaller one for like whenever we do mission trips.

Yeah, I have three then this study Bible, which is and they're all Holman, but also have a spur Spurgeon study.

Yeah, if I may use different Bible they use for different things, but also different translations. So I have like probably three King James from like when I was a kid. And I have a new King James and ESV and a Holman that are all different sizes like my new King James is.

It's like a brick. It's a really hard cover. This one's not my go-to like every day at ESV and then my Holman I had for probably seven or eight years and now I don't really use it that much because it's in that brittle state where it's like this far from just.

Yeah, yeah.

When we left when we left Isha's and Jeremiah's house Thursday night Jeremiah was helping put the stuff back into the back of my car and I said Don't think I'm one of those Christians that your dad talks about.

How I don't ever get my Bible out the back of my car. I said you have one everywhere. I have one and I have three more in the house. I have. I just have them in the different places. So I don't ever forget it.

That's actually one of the hard parts about my old job is that I would clean out people's houses. I would find their Bibles and I can't throw them away. So I'd always end up being like I don't know what to do with this.

So I would like I'd put it in like the cab of the truck and what we'd always go donate to Goodwill. So every time we'd go I just think put the Bible in Goodwill. I just kept on giving to Goodwill. I don't know if they threw them away or not.

But other way or like if I knew someone who needed one, then I'll just bring them one of them.

Yeah, but they're always poorly taken care of. Yeah, or they're just worn. Yeah, it could have been really really old. Yeah. Because I know I have my great-grandmothers. I have my grandmothers. But anyways, we just really got off on a whole different conversation all to ourselves.

Sorry y 'all. So tonight we're going to be in. What'd you say? Galatians 5. What's the verse?

Uh 22 and 23 specifically. But we can go around if we get started and get talking about it. We'll try.

All right, Mercedes. So Jeff has picked Galatians 5 22 and 23, will you please read the scripture, please? But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace patience kindness goodness faith Gentleness self-control against such things.

There is no law.

The Fruit of the Spirit and Eternal Security

So I guess I should start by explaining why I picked this passage. I've spoken to a couple of different people lately very lately and the Commonality between all of them is that they really don't understand The fruit of the Spirit.

Because they're still worried about I don't know if I'm a Christian. What is a Christian? What makes them different or Like They are insecure in their eternal security. I Their seal meant by the Holy Spirit that they are a child of God and there's nothing that they can do to overcome The sacrifice and regeneration that's happened in their heart.

So, I guess I wanted to Have a chance to speak to more people about this because it seems to be a common problem. A lot of people don't understand the difference between a Christian and non-christian.

Because you see here when it starts off. But the fruit of the Spirit is you know, I always say like do you have this Holy Spirit inside of you? Yes, then the fruit the Outcome the result of that situation of that position in your life is these virtues.

Because if you look up in 19 Yeah Yeah Now the works of the flesh are obvious sexual immorality moral impurity prompt promiscuity idolatry sorcery hatreds strife jealousy outbursts of anger selfish ambitions Dissensions factions in the drunkenness Carousing and anything similar.

I tell you about these things in advance as I told you before. Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God because that finally just states the world very much so. So if you're living in in this way, I Mean it's it's one of those, you know, you need to have your checklist for yourself.

Absolutely. Each individual person needs to check their own life and Be Held accountable by these things in.

Is this what you're showing people is this how you live exactly because uh, I forgot to mention it. But yeah, but the first word in 22 is but so it's in contrast to what I just said. This is the other side of the coin.

But When I was a younger Christian, I I had the same struggles these people did. I had struggles of like, okay. Am I a Christian? You know, like did I lose my salvation? I don't know if I ever had it all these questions and it comes down to.

You don't understand eternal security. Because it'll be times in your life. When I was a kid, I was like, I know I'm a Christian. I absolutely am positive and then I understood fully eternal security.

That I did nothing for my salvation. So, how can I do anything to lose my salvation and then you can Ward off all those thoughts all those debates in your head and focus on. Okay. How can I be a more mature Christian?

How can I grow in my faith? How can I do? Steps two three and four and now that I got one Firm solid as a foundation and I think too many people don't have that as solid foundation. And then when I moved to step two and three the building collapses.

Yep, because then Jesus says now those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

And Not to say of course because it's becoming kind of a thought. That perfectional sanctification that a Christian can be sanctified for so many years and blah blah blah that they become Perfect as a human that they stop sinning because they're so sanctified.

That's not true. And and to Re-clarify We're not saying that No, non-christian can be a good person. We're not saying that Christians can't be turds a lot of days so but it is a spiritual Change in a person's life when the Holy Spirit is living inside of them.

Yes, there is a peace to God.

There is a joy there is love where there was not right, right. And with new Christians It's really I Find it amazing to watch Because you watch the transformation and when that's one of the things whenever I meet people and when I get to know them I have to balance out in my head with this scripture in your States because sometimes I so bad want to see these things in people and Because they're good people.

But then There's then there's that Where you don't have that feeling of the Holy Spirit.

Then they don't have that feeling. Well, like when you meet somebody new like sometimes I meet somebody new. You just know like you start talking about God and you just know this person's a Christian.

And sometimes like you're saying you want to but it's just like I don't think this person's a Christian.

Yeah, but I will tell you though. There are some out there that can really really really I mean you think they got it. And then three months into your friendship with them they start turning a little bit and it's kind of like Have you misled me this whole time?

You know what? I mean? Because then you start seeing another side of this person. So I would have to say that there are some that They have gotten this facade. They've learned this lie. And they try to carry it out in their life.

But after time goes you figure out that They've gotten it down pat so good That it's really not in them. You see what I'm saying? Yeah, and those are the ones that are most heartbreaking. Mm-hmm because you've learned to open up to them and to be Because you're thinking that they're your brother or sister in Christ and you're thinking oh they got it.

Oh, we're good to go. Oh, you know, we can talk about this stuff. And then all of a sudden they do that flip on you and you're going man. Because that means then you need to start making sure that you're living By these Rules or by these, you know.

Thank you that I forget words all the time that You can show the grace and mercy that's been shown to you to this person that has misled you. Because that's what we're supposed to do. That's what we're calling it.

So You sometimes it kind of flips on you. I've had it happen.

You can almost use this like what you were saying as an accountability like Checked when you when you're speaking to your long-term friends and stuff be like, hey, are you? following in these because through the Spirit is very dependent on your obedience because if you are Constantly disobedient and everything one you will be getting disciplined by God and stuff.

But you won't feel peace. You won't feel a joy as part of like and so like you also have to balance that is if you are Every step of the way dragging your feet fighting God on every step through sanctification You will not feel the peace and joy of God in your life.

But it's not because you're not saved because you're fighting every single bit of him. So when you're looking at People who you know you who I know, you know are Christians and They're your accountability partners when stuff and you don't see the stuff in them.

That could be a Brother, where you at? Right, you know, where are you at?

Right, right because I'll tell you it's really hard for me to I mean I have bad days. Don't get me wrong but There is not a day ever That the joy the Lord can't bring me out of absolutely where I'm at and sometimes it takes me meditating on the word or me.

You know, sometimes I can start humming a song that we sing here at church and that will just completely wipe out a moment of submission. Yeah, just give it it up and say it. Okay Lord, and there are days where I actually have to say that.

Okay, Lord, I'm in this. I'm in this, you know where I'm at right now and it's not good for me and so.

It's just it's funny because one of them one of the members of my accountability group I said that if he does that stuff all the time. He's like brother I don't feel the joy of the Lord in you and in you today.

So I know you're not doing well. Go ahead and tell me what's wrong. He does that stuff all the time. He's always right. He's about always right. That's good, he's like I know you're not doing well today let's go talk about it.

So he's looking for all of these in each one of y 'all in the group. Which needs to be done speaking of Sanctification and not dragging your feet and just obey John 15 1 through 5. It says I am the true vine and my father is the vineyard keeper.

Every branch in me that does not produce fruit. He removes and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I've spoken to you.

Remain in me and I in you just as a branch is unable to produce fruit By itself unless it remains on the vines and neither can you unless you remain in me. That's Sanctification. Pruning away The things in you that is not of God.

So that you can produce good fruit, which is right here. Yeah, because if you don't if you have some of those old Limbs. Yeah, I mean if you look at a tree and you have dead limbs on the tree. Every ounce of that trees Nourishment is going to go to those dead branches to try to bring it back to life.

You cut those branches off and It no longer has to use Its resources to get to those branches. They can focus on the healthy and the good ones producing more and more fruit.

I remember the first time I learned about that because Back when I was younger we used to garden a lot. We had this big garden in our backyard and stuff and always hated pruning because I felt like it was mean.

But then my dad, all right, he told me this but in his own words, he's like no no, you have to prune them. It's good for them. Yeah, and I was like, I know. Years later it kind of like clicked and I was like sometimes it sucks.

But it's needed. Yeah, I get it. Yeah, it is painful, you know when it happens to you it is painful. It is tough a lot of times because that you know that old branch is an old friend, you know the stuff that's got to go or a habit you have or a lot of people it's like a a mental rut they go into you know that you gotta Cut off.

You have to cut off those mental thoughts to not fall into a rut, you know.

I know. She knows I hurt sometimes but it's it's a needed thing. You know, you're you're speaking truth and mercedes said Yeah. Well, there was another there was some more scripture you wanted to discuss also.

Jeff what was that? Uh, it was john 3 we were talking about it earlier. And yeah, it's uh, it's pretty nice. I love this passage um I love this passage because one. Most people when they hear john 3 they're like, oh boy 16.

I love it. No, no, but I bet that's not what we're talking about. No the first passage. Um. The first passage of john 3 starting in verse 1 is awesome to me because you have this man. Named nicodemus and he's a extremely high ranking, uh pharisee.

Which the cool thing about pharisees? Um, because there's a different culture. Uh, they were Very high religious but also political figures. They didn't really have politicians. Or priests they were kind of one and the same at that point um, which is recipe for disaster.

To say the least right like, you know, let's not make someone Religious figure it's also political power, right the pope right same thing. Let's not do that. It's not smart but um. You have this man. And he comes in the middle of night to ask you just a whole bunch of questions.

So since you want to read it What am I starting one one three? Yeah, three one three one. Okay the whole thing. No, you can just go to like Till someone has something to say but at the very most like 13 or 14.

There was a man from the pharisees named nicodemus a ruler of the jews. This man came to him at night and said rabbi we know that you have come from god as a teacher. For no one could perform these signs unless you do unless god were with him.

Jesus replied I assure you unless someone is born again. He cannot see the kingdom of god. But how can anyone be born when he is old nicodemus asked him? Can he enter. Can he enter his mother's womb a second time and be born?

Jesus answered I assure you unless someone is born of water in the spirit. He cannot enter the kingdom of god. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh and whatever is born of the spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you That you must be born again.

The wind blows where it pleases and you hear it sound but you do not but you don't know where it comes from. Or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the spirit. All right.

Okay, so you have the first eight verses right there and. So nicodemus starts by calling him rabbi. Who is a teacher of the law? So I mean that word literally means teacher. So he says, you know teacher we know you are come from god.

Explain yourself. So he's saying we know you come from god because of all the things you do. Because all all the signs you do, uh, it's impossible to do without god. And then jesus starts trying to explain to him regeneration.

Of yeah, you're born physically, but then you must be born in the spirit. So going right back to what we're talking about in galatians 5 as it is between the spirit and the flesh jesus is distincting these.

To nicodemus and nicodemus doesn't understand it. He's like I don't understand regeneration and jesus, um. He starts making poking fun of him like how do you not understand this? Um, wait, hold on, uh, no, that's right.

That's verse 10. I'm getting ahead of myself, but he starts then he starts trying to explain it by using the wind um saying you don't understand that. Uh, you don't. You don't understand where it comes from but yet you see the effects of it, you know sound blah blah blah.

Well, let me ask you this.

Because In the in the holman, I don't know when it says there's something we can determine it. Um, it says I in five it says I assure you unless someone is born of water and the spirit so he's saying i'm Born physically and spiritually.

So water being from the mother. And spirit being from the holy spirit, correct. Then then it says he cannot enter the kingdom of god so that. Well, everybody that's born is born from water, right. But you also have to be born with the spirit to.

So basically the water part is just the word part and then the spirit part is in he's explaining you have to be born twice.

And that's when nicotine was getting stuck up. So he was he was he was being specific. No, he needs to be born from the womb and then again. Right. Okay. Um, I just wanted to get that clarified. No, no, you're all good um so.

Okay, so just nine and ten, okay.

How can these things be as nicodemus? Are you a teacher a visual and don't know these things jesus replied?

So right so nicodemus Jesus tries to explain it again to him using the wind As an example, but he's saying I don't understand how this can possibly be. Now understand nicodemus is not stupid, you know, like he's not a dumb person.

He's obviously very intelligent. Because he has about this much as the bible memorized, right? So he's not a dumb person. But what he doesn't understand? Is that All he knows is the law. He doesn't understand regeneration.

That's. It's a little unfair almost because it's not even a doctrine yet in this time period. He's explained him to him something that no one else has Explained because what do you mean regeneration by the holy spirit?

Pentecost hasn't won't happen for gotcha 15 years. No, I actually have no idea when this happened. So more like five years five years. So pentecost won't happen for a few more years. So regeneration by the holy spirit is technically impossible.

I mean there is um faith. You know faith is credited to his righteousness if you want to count that as regeneration. Yes, but Regeneration by the holy spirit like an indwellment of the holy spirit Has never happened before.

Because when the holy spirit would come on to people in the old testament, it would be like samson It would come and then it would leave. Yeah. There was never an indwellment, right permanent um. Housing right housing of the holy spirit.

Thank you um so he's being a little unfair because nicodemus, but jesus like he's he's. He's challenging him. He's like you don't understand this very simple doctrine of regeneration.

Um. We know you haven't experienced it yet, but you really.

Right, right. Hey, he's trying to humble him. He's like, you don't understand this. But um, but yeah, that's why that's why this is kind of funny to me. But because this this intelligent man is like, okay.

I know you're a god. So let's let's try to figure this out if we're allies or not. If you're gonna be working with us, you're not. Um, I just picture this happening being pretty funny. Yeah, I can imagine jesus just like all right this guy.

This is his motives. Let's mess with him. Let's help. I love that. Let's see where you're really at. Um, okay, so in 12 uh 12 and 13 he starts making it more apparent Uh that he's challenging him.

If if i've told you about things that happen on earth and you don't believe How will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from man the son of descended from heaven the son of man.

Okay, so which goes on that study. Yeah, it does. Sorry, i'm sorry. Right. Right. Because you know, we did a whole study on did god did jesus descend Into hell. Oh, okay. We did a whole study. Yeah, and that was one of the verses that was brought up in in an argument.

And I was like In order to descend you have to in order to ascend you have to descend first. So, okay.

Anyway, sorry, we just. That's cool, that's one of my favorite things that happens when something clicks when you read another passage, yeah, that's an awesome feeling. Yeah. Um, so because nicodemus to understand the the wind thing of uh the wind Metaphor jesus used he's like, okay if you can't even understand things on earth, how can you understand things in heaven?

Right, and then he goes. And then he does what jesus always does in these arguments with pharisees. He then says I'm the son of god and pisses them off. Oh my gosh. He always does that stuff. He goes um.

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven the son of man. Okay so into a historian Philosopher thinker like nicodemus who's intelligent everything He understands that no one the son of man is not a historical figure.

So he understands he's referring to himself so. While this is happening.

It it has. The crucifixion hasn't happened yet. No, absolutely not. So he's actually speaking in future tense. He's saying No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, but it hasn't happened yet.

Technically not it I guess it depends on what you mean by ascended to heaven um, well. Then he did. Okay. So yes, technically. Yeah, he he hasn't ascended the ascension hasn't happened but the same time it is you could take that as like a worth or a Pre-incarnate christ came to earth and went back several times, but no it very well.

Yeah future could be right as well, but In 14, he makes another metaphor and in this one When jesus makes metaphors To pharisees from the old testament I see that as him actually trying to get them to understand.

Yeah, and he uses an authority And information that they fully understand In their mind. Yes. Now, do they fully understand totally? No because The prophecies were filled right in front of them and they deny it and everybody knows who moses is right familiar with.

So they know this this metaphor. He's about to use very well. Um, and as moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the son of man, uh. So must the son of man be lifted up. That whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

So he tries to explain again he's saying no no just as moses brought salvation. Yeah, so The son of man will bring salvation. Yeah. It is an awesome thing and we never We don't really know how nicodemus received this, um We do see him again Later, I believe at the crucifixion I believe nicodemus was at the crucifixion but um I absolutely love the different things.

He does first thing he does is he just explains it. He doesn't understand he tried to use like a physical metaphor about the earth. He doesn't explain it. Okay. What does this guy actually know? The law so then he uses the author of the law as an example of Look at the guy, you know all every word he ever wrote down Use him as an example.

Now, do you understand? And I wish I wish I knew nicodemus's reply. Yeah to that, but it's not written, but then he goes straight into Uh salvation and eternal life and then that leads us into john 3 16.

Yeah, which 3 17 has been in 3 16. Yes. I love 3 17. Yes. For god did not send his son into the world that he might condemn the world. That that the world might be saved through him.

Can you imagine that like I mean the son of god come into the world. But not on an evil dark world. The only part of it that has cursed the entire universe with the sin. And death has reigned from sin.

He doesn't come to condemn it but to save it.

That is such an act of mercy and grace, right? Because so many people look at it as. Especially people that aren't christians that look at it that that he Is here just to say you do this wrong you do this wrong you do this wrong.

All of them to condemn them.

You know what i'm talking about? Yeah, he's not a passive aggressive mother. He doesn't just complain. No.

No, like there's such a reward. There's such a reward. And that's how that ties that ties nicely in with ephesians. One talking about you know. Redemption we can talk about it. I love the one one and two my favorite.

Very good. What exactly do you have in mind in the infusions?

I just it just popped in my head. Okay. Yeah.

But yeah, so connecting everything I guess from galatians 5 to john 3 is. There's a distinct difference between flesh and spirit and Those of flesh like in the very beginning of john, uh, galatians 5 that we started in 16 17.

It says you know What is of the flesh is against the spirit and the spirit is against the flesh. There is a distinct then it. It describes the flesh then describes the spirit saying these things are opposite and it goes it.

Just hit me. The reminder of you can only serve one master. Somebody cannot serve two masters because you will hate one and love the other so you are of the flesh. Or of the spirit. You have to decide and you are only one and you cannot be both.

You can't live in two worlds. And if you think you're in both. You're actually in the flesh. You're not in the spirit. You're actually in the flesh.

Yeah, you think you're in both. You are not there's no doubt. Because he doesn't let you teeter-totter. No. Because you're either 100 his or you're 100 not.

There's no half a sandwich there. There's no juice. Doesn't want half a sandwich. No who wants the whole cookie.

God that was good. Well, it looks like I think we've done this. I think not being at regular time. I don't even know what time we started but i'm not sure that we have Gone the 30 minutes that we should have.

We always go over the phone names. I don't think we've ever done one short.

You get starting to talk and it kind of just. Keeps going. Good conversations good conversation. That's why.

Um, I like doing these live because people feel like that they're actually with us in the study and this all started because mercedes and I um. Would study every sunday afternoon when she first came here.

Uh, well, it was a little while after he came here and it was Ephesians we were studying. And then coveted. And pastor said I really want you women to do something on the facebook page. And me and vicky said hey, we're already studying so we'll just do our study live.

So once she and I decided that you know, well. We'll just have a guest per week people that want that aren't scared of covet and people that are okay with us coming to their House with them coming to the church and that's how all this started and it's wonderful and fabulous.

And it's over a year. It's been great. I know we celebrated our one year. What a couple weeks ago. I don't even remember. Sometime about too long. Yeah, that first one was a humdinger, wasn't it? Man, yeah Mercedes actually felt the holy spirit that day.

She did she was like, what did I just say? I was like, honey, you took over the holy spirit just took over your entire body. Because she was rolling. But yeah, it was great and I was sitting like this.

And people they asked me afterwards, why were you staring at her like that. I said because she wasn't going to talk I said and I physically watched the holy spirit work completely through her. And took her out of her shell and made her speak and give her partial testimony right there.

Because she didn't remember it at all that was. That's awesome. I mean, that's why I was just like I I couldn't I couldn't speak. But then again, I think he made me shut up for her to speak.

That's very true. Don't interrupt when the holy spirit's working. No, sir, because I was in such awe. I was like I was thinking in my mind.

Holy spirit because most people say holy cow. I'm like Just a holy spirit right here. It was amazing. It was amazing and it's amazing to watch how. Every thursday night when we get together Something else comes out or something else we learn something new.

Every thursday, it doesn't matter how long you do this. It doesn't matter how many times you've read scripture. It doesn't matter how many times you yourself have studied it. Would you get somebody else sitting in between us?

We always learn something new and every time somebody says something like that. I point them to john 3. Because it's like that man knew all scripture he studied it every day for hours. Yes, but didn't understand regeneration, right?

He Didn't understand nearly as much as he thought right?

Right, and we won't ever understand it all fully. No, of course not. Then we can ask the one. But what we really ask. Because really. Well, I don't care. So. Well, thank you so much this was incredible and awesome, of course I expected it to be.

As a matter of fact, I knew it would be. But you are such a busy young man. I am. But always make time for something like this. Yes, and and um. Because your thursday nights are packed so that's why I think mercedes came up with the idea to pre-record you for this moment because um, well and.