1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:02,840 I'm sure I speak for the rest of 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,080 you, I have been appreciating this special music. 3 00:00:05,740 --> 00:00:08,020 I so enjoyed the little girls last night. 4 00:00:08,120 --> 00:00:10,420 Not the little girls, I keep saying that, 5 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:11,980 and it was a mixed girls group. 6 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,140 There were some smaller girls, and some quite 7 00:00:15,140 --> 00:00:15,720 young ladies. 8 00:00:16,660 --> 00:00:19,600 And then, of course, Adele's solo tonight. 9 00:00:22,390 --> 00:00:24,570 Shall we turn our Bibles, please, to the 10 00:00:24,570 --> 00:00:28,970 2nd Epistle of Timothy, chapter 4. 11 00:00:28,970 --> 00:00:33,870 We want to continue in our study of 12 00:00:33,870 --> 00:00:37,590 the five crowns. 13 00:00:37,710 --> 00:00:43,870 First, Monday night, we studied our occupation with 14 00:00:43,870 --> 00:00:47,750 Christ, and now we would like to study 15 00:00:47,750 --> 00:00:50,950 our occupation for Christ. 16 00:00:54,910 --> 00:00:57,670 The Scriptures mention five crowns we have considered 17 00:00:57,670 --> 00:01:02,850 thus far, the incorruptible crown, and under that 18 00:01:02,850 --> 00:01:07,590 crown we saw the figure, the Christian, compared 19 00:01:07,590 --> 00:01:08,130 with a runner. 20 00:01:10,470 --> 00:01:14,050 Then last night we saw the sole winner's 21 00:01:14,050 --> 00:01:18,430 crown, the Christian compared with a messenger, an 22 00:01:18,430 --> 00:01:18,970 ambassador. 23 00:01:20,110 --> 00:01:24,150 Tonight we want to consider the crown of 24 00:01:24,150 --> 00:01:30,670 righteousness, and the Christian is compared with a 25 00:01:30,670 --> 00:01:33,990 warrior, or a warrior is brought before us. 26 00:01:35,210 --> 00:01:39,830 And both the experiences of the Apostle Paul 27 00:01:39,830 --> 00:01:44,290 and we who look for the Lord Jesus 28 00:01:46,670 --> 00:01:50,730 both the fighting character of the Christian faith 29 00:01:50,730 --> 00:01:53,110 and the longing and looking character of the 30 00:01:53,110 --> 00:01:56,210 Christian faith combine to produce the crown of 31 00:01:56,210 --> 00:01:56,710 righteousness. 32 00:01:58,050 --> 00:02:05,990 2 Timothy, chapter 4, verse 5. 33 00:02:06,830 --> 00:02:10,130 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, 34 00:02:11,390 --> 00:02:14,350 do the work of an evangelist, make full 35 00:02:14,350 --> 00:02:15,470 proof of thy ministry. 36 00:02:16,690 --> 00:02:18,810 For I am now ready to be offered, 37 00:02:18,990 --> 00:02:21,090 and the time of my departure is at 38 00:02:21,090 --> 00:02:21,450 hand. 39 00:02:22,790 --> 00:02:27,050 I have fought a good fight, more properly, 40 00:02:27,730 --> 00:02:30,310 I have fought THE good fight. 41 00:02:30,850 --> 00:02:35,110 I have finished my course, I have kept 42 00:02:35,110 --> 00:02:36,170 the faith. 43 00:02:37,450 --> 00:02:40,290 Henceforth there is laid up for me a 44 00:02:40,290 --> 00:02:41,810 crown of righteousness. 45 00:02:42,550 --> 00:02:46,290 Which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give 46 00:02:46,290 --> 00:02:47,550 me at that day. 47 00:02:48,470 --> 00:02:51,810 And not to me only, but unto all 48 00:02:51,810 --> 00:02:56,550 them also that love his appearing. 49 00:02:58,430 --> 00:03:00,990 Now this, I believe, is the warrior's crown. 50 00:03:02,190 --> 00:03:04,710 The Apostle speaks of his fighting the good 51 00:03:04,710 --> 00:03:07,630 fight, finishing his course. 52 00:03:07,630 --> 00:03:10,470 It would almost seem that that would bring 53 00:03:10,470 --> 00:03:13,270 before us again the Christian seen under the 54 00:03:13,270 --> 00:03:14,110 figure of a runner. 55 00:03:16,090 --> 00:03:18,250 I have kept the faith, and the word 56 00:03:18,250 --> 00:03:20,090 kept here is really guarded. 57 00:03:21,030 --> 00:03:22,970 I think the thought is military all the 58 00:03:22,970 --> 00:03:23,450 way through. 59 00:03:25,390 --> 00:03:28,630 He has fought the good fight, not a 60 00:03:28,630 --> 00:03:29,390 good fight. 61 00:03:29,710 --> 00:03:31,770 It was not simply that the Apostle Paul 62 00:03:31,770 --> 00:03:35,190 had done well, although he had done well 63 00:03:35,190 --> 00:03:39,770 in his service for the Lord. 64 00:03:41,050 --> 00:03:43,390 I'm sure that no one would gainsay that. 65 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,040 But he fought THE good fight, the very 66 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:49,980 good fight that you and I may fight 67 00:03:49,980 --> 00:03:51,020 as well. 68 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:53,060 And he was a warrior. 69 00:03:54,980 --> 00:03:58,940 I have finished my course, I have guarded 70 00:03:58,940 --> 00:03:59,600 the faith. 71 00:04:00,660 --> 00:04:02,940 Even as a warrior, and how it needs 72 00:04:02,940 --> 00:04:03,380 guarding. 73 00:04:04,580 --> 00:04:06,500 I have kept the faith in that sense. 74 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:12,240 Now why, why is the reward for this 75 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:16,200 kind of Christian life, why is it regarded 76 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:17,959 a crown of righteousness? 77 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,160 We have noticed already that all of these 78 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,400 crowns that we have considered thus far are 79 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:26,340 compensatory. 80 00:04:27,100 --> 00:04:29,740 And all the crowns that we are going 81 00:04:29,740 --> 00:04:31,780 to study are compensatory. 82 00:04:32,840 --> 00:04:37,140 They are given in compensation of the Christian 83 00:04:37,140 --> 00:04:38,220 life down here. 84 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:41,880 And this I believe is a compensatory crown. 85 00:04:42,140 --> 00:04:43,560 It's a special recognition. 86 00:04:44,620 --> 00:04:46,260 Now all the crowns are not literal. 87 00:04:46,820 --> 00:04:48,640 I wouldn't say that any of them were 88 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:48,960 literal. 89 00:04:49,180 --> 00:04:52,800 Even the Thessalonian Christians and the Philippian Christians 90 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,860 were in themselves the crown of rejoicing. 91 00:04:58,380 --> 00:05:04,620 And Paul considers himself distinguished by them when 92 00:05:04,620 --> 00:05:06,540 they get to glory in the presence of 93 00:05:06,540 --> 00:05:07,760 the Lord Jesus Christ. 94 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,700 Now these crowns will certainly set aside certain 95 00:05:12,700 --> 00:05:16,200 Christians for certain recognition. 96 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,440 A crown of course sets anybody aside who 97 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:20,360 wears that crown. 98 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:25,660 That crown sets that person aside for special 99 00:05:25,660 --> 00:05:26,700 distinction. 100 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,040 And the crowns that are given us, if 101 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,860 not literal, and we have feeling, I have 102 00:05:32,860 --> 00:05:35,500 a conviction that they are not literal, set 103 00:05:35,500 --> 00:05:40,000 us aside for special distinction, special honor. 104 00:05:40,540 --> 00:05:42,780 And of course it will be our privilege 105 00:05:42,780 --> 00:05:46,340 if we are fortunate enough to win these 106 00:05:46,340 --> 00:05:46,920 crowns. 107 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:50,620 And certainly God sets them before us as 108 00:05:50,620 --> 00:05:53,760 a goal to cast those crowns at the 109 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,380 feet of the Lord Jesus in that coming 110 00:05:56,380 --> 00:05:59,600 day and say of course that he alone 111 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:01,040 is worthy. 112 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:02,680 But back to our question. 113 00:06:03,660 --> 00:06:09,360 Why is it a crown of righteousness as 114 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:10,560 the warrior's crown? 115 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:16,400 And there are two, I believe, two as 116 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:22,260 we've already mentioned, two elements that go to 117 00:06:22,260 --> 00:06:23,020 make up this crown. 118 00:06:23,220 --> 00:06:25,880 A fight and then a longing for the 119 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:26,520 Lord Jesus. 120 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,240 Because he mentions here that this crown is 121 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:33,460 not only his but it belongs to everyone 122 00:06:33,460 --> 00:06:37,540 who longs for the appearing of our Lord 123 00:06:37,540 --> 00:06:37,900 Jesus. 124 00:06:37,900 --> 00:06:40,440 We'll see the connection a little later. 125 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,100 Now I think that it's a crown of 126 00:06:44,100 --> 00:06:47,140 righteousness because if we have to fight, if 127 00:06:47,140 --> 00:06:50,720 the Christian experience is a fight, then it's 128 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:52,500 a fight because we've got enemies. 129 00:06:54,140 --> 00:06:56,880 And we do have enemies. 130 00:06:57,900 --> 00:07:02,340 And I feel sometimes that we forget the 131 00:07:02,340 --> 00:07:05,660 fact that we do have enemies. 132 00:07:06,660 --> 00:07:10,980 But Christianity is a fight because of our 133 00:07:10,980 --> 00:07:11,480 enemies. 134 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:17,220 And those enemies are doing their best to 135 00:07:17,220 --> 00:07:20,360 destroy our righteousness. 136 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:27,160 They're doing their best to bring ill repute, 137 00:07:27,620 --> 00:07:31,120 to bring reproach against the name of Christ 138 00:07:31,980 --> 00:07:35,540 through destroying any practical righteousness in our lives 139 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:40,020 and any inwrought righteousness by the power of 140 00:07:40,020 --> 00:07:41,340 the Spirit of God. 141 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:44,660 Now I'm talking about practical righteousness. 142 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,860 I'm not talking about the righteousness that is 143 00:07:47,860 --> 00:07:50,420 imputed to you and to me the moment 144 00:07:50,420 --> 00:07:52,420 that we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, 145 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,620 which has been already expressed in prayer as 146 00:07:56,620 --> 00:07:58,700 the righteousness of our standing. 147 00:07:58,700 --> 00:08:01,980 I'm talking about the righteousness of our speech. 148 00:08:03,300 --> 00:08:06,580 Now Paul wouldn't have to limit the crown 149 00:08:06,580 --> 00:08:08,520 of righteousness to anybody. 150 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:11,480 He wouldn't have to speak as he does 151 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:13,760 here in this 8th verse of the 4th 152 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:17,460 chapter of 2 Timothy if indeed it's the 153 00:08:17,460 --> 00:08:19,660 righteousness that fits us for the presence of 154 00:08:19,660 --> 00:08:20,020 God. 155 00:08:21,780 --> 00:08:23,960 I believe this is the righteousness that is 156 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:25,940 seen under the figure of a garment. 157 00:08:27,340 --> 00:08:29,820 In another place in the scripture, in Revelation 158 00:08:29,820 --> 00:08:35,240 and in Psalm 45, it's the practical righteousness 159 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:38,159 that you and I have, the practical righteousness 160 00:08:38,159 --> 00:08:42,600 that our threefold enemy wants to destroy, wants 161 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:44,980 to obliterate, wants to besmirch. 162 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:51,000 The righteousness that indeed the Lord would like 163 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:53,480 to see in us, in you and me. 164 00:08:54,940 --> 00:08:56,300 Now we have an enemy. 165 00:08:57,620 --> 00:08:58,980 Christianity is a fight. 166 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:02,180 That enemy is a clever enemy. 167 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:06,900 The enemy is mentioned in his threefold character. 168 00:09:07,140 --> 00:09:08,420 I say threefold character. 169 00:09:08,540 --> 00:09:11,400 That would seem that he is an individual 170 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:14,400 that is just one entity, but that's not 171 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:14,740 true. 172 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,960 We have our threefold enemy mentioned in Ephesians 173 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:19,540 2. 174 00:09:20,540 --> 00:09:22,000 All of them right there. 175 00:09:24,750 --> 00:09:26,530 We may refer to him as him. 176 00:09:26,950 --> 00:09:29,090 All of them would be more proper. 177 00:09:30,090 --> 00:09:32,010 Ephesians 2, if you please. 178 00:09:35,950 --> 00:09:40,370 And you happy quickens who were dead in 179 00:09:40,370 --> 00:09:44,350 trespasses and sins, wherein in time past ye 180 00:09:44,350 --> 00:09:46,810 walked according to the course of this world. 181 00:09:47,810 --> 00:09:49,210 Now there's enemy number one. 182 00:09:50,570 --> 00:09:52,910 According to the prince of the power of 183 00:09:52,910 --> 00:09:56,090 the air, there's enemy number two. 184 00:09:56,430 --> 00:09:57,970 The prince of the power of the air 185 00:09:57,970 --> 00:10:01,290 is none other than Satan himself. 186 00:10:02,530 --> 00:10:04,990 The spirit that now worketh in the children 187 00:10:04,990 --> 00:10:09,230 of disobedience, among whom, among those children of 188 00:10:09,230 --> 00:10:13,510 disobedience also, we all had our conversation, manner 189 00:10:13,510 --> 00:10:16,670 of life, and times past in the lusts 190 00:10:16,670 --> 00:10:18,930 of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the 191 00:10:18,930 --> 00:10:22,790 flesh and of the mind, and were by 192 00:10:22,790 --> 00:10:25,590 nature the children of wrath, even as others. 193 00:10:26,290 --> 00:10:28,170 The lusts of our flesh. 194 00:10:29,110 --> 00:10:31,290 Enemy number three. 195 00:10:32,090 --> 00:10:36,190 We have the world and Satan and the 196 00:10:36,190 --> 00:10:36,650 flesh. 197 00:10:37,090 --> 00:10:40,490 Mentioned all three of them here in this 198 00:10:40,490 --> 00:10:41,970 one passage of Scripture. 199 00:10:41,970 --> 00:10:44,830 Now they are mentioned in other parts of 200 00:10:44,830 --> 00:10:48,550 the Scripture, but not mentioned as they are 201 00:10:48,550 --> 00:10:49,950 here altogether. 202 00:10:50,970 --> 00:10:53,590 Now we were under the complete dominance of 203 00:10:53,590 --> 00:10:56,230 that enemy at one time in our life. 204 00:10:57,970 --> 00:11:00,010 That was our helpless condition. 205 00:11:00,350 --> 00:11:01,970 First of all, we were dead. 206 00:11:03,690 --> 00:11:06,450 And then we walked according to the course 207 00:11:06,450 --> 00:11:09,850 of this world, which is ever downward, away 208 00:11:09,850 --> 00:11:12,430 from God, at enmity with him. 209 00:11:13,830 --> 00:11:15,710 According to the prince of the power of 210 00:11:15,710 --> 00:11:17,830 the air, we were blinded. 211 00:11:18,610 --> 00:11:20,790 If our gospel be hid, it is hid 212 00:11:20,790 --> 00:11:21,830 to them that are lost. 213 00:11:22,750 --> 00:11:24,410 In whom the God of this world hath 214 00:11:24,410 --> 00:11:26,510 blinded the minds of them which believe not, 215 00:11:26,510 --> 00:11:33,750 let the light of the glorious gospel of 216 00:11:35,380 --> 00:11:39,080 Christ, who is the image of God. 217 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,640 I forgot, but I thought I'd left out 218 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:43,620 a word there and it threw me. 219 00:11:45,560 --> 00:11:50,080 He is the one who seeks to blindfold 220 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:50,320 us. 221 00:11:51,380 --> 00:11:53,160 And we were blindfolded, absolutely. 222 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:55,000 We were oblivious of our danger. 223 00:11:55,100 --> 00:11:56,340 We did not realize it. 224 00:11:57,300 --> 00:11:59,340 We didn't realize, many of us. 225 00:12:00,940 --> 00:12:03,600 He had us so blindfolded that we thought 226 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:05,060 that we were perfectly all right. 227 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:08,320 And your speaker was one of those, because 228 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:09,940 he was a very religious person. 229 00:12:11,500 --> 00:12:15,000 I regretted that I had to say that. 230 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:16,600 I have to say that, but I think 231 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:20,240 that perhaps God permitted me to have a 232 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:24,680 religious experience, so that I would be better 233 00:12:24,680 --> 00:12:27,560 equipped to deal with people who are religious 234 00:12:27,560 --> 00:12:34,200 in character, who are religious by their activities 235 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:37,760 and their affiliations, and yet don't know the 236 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:39,520 Lord as their own personal Savior. 237 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,860 Because I was a very religious person, a 238 00:12:42,860 --> 00:12:43,860 very earnest person. 239 00:12:44,460 --> 00:12:46,640 And I was not saved, and I did 240 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:48,420 not know Christ as my Savior. 241 00:12:48,420 --> 00:12:51,140 And I think that that's just as much 242 00:12:51,140 --> 00:12:53,380 a part of the work of Satan, to 243 00:12:53,380 --> 00:12:54,440 give people religion. 244 00:12:54,620 --> 00:12:56,860 He is seen in the Scripture as an 245 00:12:56,860 --> 00:12:57,660 angel of light. 246 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,480 And I think, indeed, he did have me 247 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:02,020 deceived. 248 00:13:02,780 --> 00:13:06,440 And I have to say, with a very 249 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,480 famous preacher of the gospel who won many 250 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,260 souls for Christ, who is now in the 251 00:13:12,260 --> 00:13:17,480 glory, Oliver Smith, religion almost took me to 252 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:17,780 hell. 253 00:13:18,980 --> 00:13:21,320 Now, some people wouldn't understand that statement at 254 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:21,660 all. 255 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:24,860 But I'm telling you, I know what it 256 00:13:24,860 --> 00:13:25,180 means. 257 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:28,500 Now, that is the activity of Satan. 258 00:13:28,940 --> 00:13:30,900 He doesn't care how much religion we get, 259 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:34,480 just so we do not know that we 260 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,160 are saved, and just so that we will 261 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,760 trust in that religion, and then, of course, 262 00:13:39,860 --> 00:13:43,500 be depending upon a faulty foundation, where there 263 00:13:43,500 --> 00:13:46,860 is none other foundation laid than that is 264 00:13:46,860 --> 00:13:48,320 laid, which is Christ Jesus. 265 00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:51,700 He is the only foundation for eternity. 266 00:13:52,980 --> 00:13:54,220 And then there is the flesh. 267 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:56,360 We were under the domination of the flesh. 268 00:13:57,220 --> 00:14:00,100 And the flesh can be religious on occasion. 269 00:14:01,060 --> 00:14:03,580 And if we were religious at all, it 270 00:14:03,580 --> 00:14:05,560 was the flesh that was religious, because we 271 00:14:05,560 --> 00:14:06,540 didn't have Christ. 272 00:14:09,500 --> 00:14:12,880 Maybe we'd better distinguish between religion and salvation. 273 00:14:14,780 --> 00:14:16,220 There are lots of people that don't make 274 00:14:16,220 --> 00:14:23,060 any distinguishing, don't distinguish between them, and that's 275 00:14:23,060 --> 00:14:23,480 miscreant. 276 00:14:25,300 --> 00:14:27,440 Now, the scripture does talk about religion. 277 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:29,880 And you and I can have it. 278 00:14:32,370 --> 00:14:33,750 You and I can be religious. 279 00:14:34,090 --> 00:14:35,150 We can have religion. 280 00:14:36,790 --> 00:14:38,830 And I think God wants us to have 281 00:14:38,830 --> 00:14:39,050 it. 282 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:44,620 He wants us to have Christ. 283 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,140 Now, let's distinguish between the two. 284 00:14:48,060 --> 00:14:50,180 Religion is something that we do. 285 00:14:53,860 --> 00:14:56,200 Salvation is something that God has done. 286 00:14:57,260 --> 00:14:58,300 Now, that's just the difference. 287 00:15:00,460 --> 00:15:01,240 True religion. 288 00:15:02,420 --> 00:15:06,140 Let's notice James, just to distinguish between the 289 00:15:06,140 --> 00:15:06,900 two for the moment. 290 00:15:08,020 --> 00:15:10,780 James, chapter 1. 291 00:15:27,900 --> 00:15:30,020 Pure religion it is. 292 00:15:30,300 --> 00:15:31,640 James 1 and 27. 293 00:15:32,500 --> 00:15:35,680 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the 294 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:41,760 Father is this, to visit the fatherless and 295 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:47,020 widows in their affliction and to keep himself 296 00:15:47,020 --> 00:15:48,320 unspotted from the world. 297 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:49,520 Now, this is activity. 298 00:15:49,700 --> 00:15:51,280 One is positive and one is negative. 299 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:56,920 One is doing good, and one is keeping 300 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:58,420 himself from evil. 301 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:01,480 And that is pure religion. 302 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:02,900 And it's all right. 303 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:06,000 But it's something that we do. 304 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:10,060 Whereas salvation is something that God has done. 305 00:16:12,190 --> 00:16:13,970 Now, the devil would like to have us 306 00:16:13,970 --> 00:16:14,670 be religious. 307 00:16:16,450 --> 00:16:18,850 And he doesn't care how many carrybacks we 308 00:16:18,850 --> 00:16:19,190 do. 309 00:16:20,030 --> 00:16:23,050 And we can indeed walk on the clean 310 00:16:23,050 --> 00:16:25,350 side of the footpath, the broad road. 311 00:16:25,690 --> 00:16:28,090 We can take the footpath, the clean footpath. 312 00:16:29,830 --> 00:16:30,990 And he doesn't care. 313 00:16:33,590 --> 00:16:36,710 There are many, many people that are going 314 00:16:36,710 --> 00:16:38,410 to hell that are going to be the 315 00:16:38,410 --> 00:16:40,350 most miserable of all because they're going to 316 00:16:40,350 --> 00:16:42,010 have to associate with people that they wouldn't 317 00:16:42,010 --> 00:16:45,470 think of associating with in this world here 318 00:16:45,470 --> 00:16:45,730 below. 319 00:16:47,350 --> 00:16:50,150 They're going to have to associate with people 320 00:16:50,150 --> 00:16:52,350 that they wouldn't wipe their feet on, if 321 00:16:52,350 --> 00:16:53,530 I may use that figure. 322 00:16:54,690 --> 00:16:56,510 And they're going to be bound up with 323 00:16:56,510 --> 00:16:59,150 them in hell for all eternity because they 324 00:16:59,150 --> 00:17:01,950 didn't know the Lord Jesus Christ as their 325 00:17:01,950 --> 00:17:03,730 own personal Savior. 326 00:17:03,990 --> 00:17:07,550 They walked in the clean footpath, but on 327 00:17:07,550 --> 00:17:08,410 the broad road. 328 00:17:09,089 --> 00:17:11,609 And Satan doesn't care how much religion we 329 00:17:11,609 --> 00:17:15,970 have, just so we do not know Christ 330 00:17:15,970 --> 00:17:17,369 as our Savior. 331 00:17:18,490 --> 00:17:20,190 Oh, how wily he is. 332 00:17:21,010 --> 00:17:22,410 And then there is the flesh. 333 00:17:23,290 --> 00:17:25,470 Oh, we were talking about the flesh. 334 00:17:25,550 --> 00:17:27,050 Well, Satan and the flesh work together. 335 00:17:27,970 --> 00:17:30,370 The flesh can be religious because we can 336 00:17:30,370 --> 00:17:34,970 have religion even before God saves us. 337 00:17:34,970 --> 00:17:38,690 We can have dead works, not good works, 338 00:17:39,330 --> 00:17:43,210 and not wicked works, but dead works. 339 00:17:45,740 --> 00:17:48,500 There is a distinction to be made between 340 00:17:48,500 --> 00:17:50,380 dead works and wicked works. 341 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:55,460 There are many works of good and kindness 342 00:17:55,460 --> 00:17:57,800 that can be done in this world that 343 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:00,160 could not be classed as wicked works, but 344 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,020 God just sent a class of them as 345 00:18:02,020 --> 00:18:02,660 dead works. 346 00:18:03,940 --> 00:18:05,780 Good works have to be done, of course, 347 00:18:06,460 --> 00:18:07,680 by a child of God. 348 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,680 And I have plenty of dead works, to 349 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:11,640 my credit, I feel. 350 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:15,760 Now, here we have this threefold enemy, and 351 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,260 we commonly refer to them as the world, 352 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:20,620 the flesh, and the devil. 353 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:22,400 I don't know why we refer to them 354 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:23,040 in that way. 355 00:18:23,900 --> 00:18:26,020 They're not listed in that way in Ephesians. 356 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:29,100 But we refer to them as the world, 357 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:30,180 the flesh, and the devil. 358 00:18:31,020 --> 00:18:33,360 Now, the world is an external enemy. 359 00:18:33,540 --> 00:18:34,560 He's all around us. 360 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:37,980 The flesh is an internal enemy. 361 00:18:38,620 --> 00:18:40,720 He is within us, or the flesh is 362 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:41,240 within us. 363 00:18:42,940 --> 00:18:47,500 And the devil is an infernal enemy. 364 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:52,980 So we have the external, the internal, and 365 00:18:52,980 --> 00:18:54,600 the infernal enemy. 366 00:18:55,260 --> 00:18:59,880 And oh, how they combine, how they combine 367 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:02,380 to destroy our righteousness. 368 00:19:02,380 --> 00:19:05,400 Let's take the world, first of all, and 369 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:06,840 see what it is and see how it 370 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:07,200 works. 371 00:19:08,020 --> 00:19:10,820 Now, let's not forget our objective in these 372 00:19:10,820 --> 00:19:11,180 meetings. 373 00:19:11,940 --> 00:19:15,160 We're just not studying these crowns that we 374 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,760 might learn about them in an academic way. 375 00:19:18,420 --> 00:19:22,700 We are trying to provide ourselves with a 376 00:19:22,700 --> 00:19:25,960 means of winning these crowns as we talk 377 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:26,540 about them. 378 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:31,020 Now, the way to practical righteousness is to 379 00:19:31,020 --> 00:19:32,240 know our enemy. 380 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:34,940 I don't very often give the devil a 381 00:19:34,940 --> 00:19:36,560 satisfaction of talking about him. 382 00:19:37,360 --> 00:19:40,760 And when I do talk about him, sometimes 383 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:43,680 he makes himself manifest. 384 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:45,220 I've had that happen. 385 00:19:47,710 --> 00:19:49,230 And I wouldn't be a bit surprised when 386 00:19:49,230 --> 00:19:51,350 you do it here tonight, before the meeting 387 00:19:51,350 --> 00:19:51,790 is over. 388 00:19:51,890 --> 00:19:54,410 Although I know that greater is he that 389 00:19:54,410 --> 00:19:56,470 is within you than he that is in 390 00:19:56,470 --> 00:19:56,850 the world. 391 00:19:56,850 --> 00:20:02,190 I had a little experience out in a 392 00:20:02,190 --> 00:20:06,550 daily vacation Bible school in Paxton, Colorado, last 393 00:20:06,550 --> 00:20:07,190 spring. 394 00:20:08,510 --> 00:20:10,330 I drew a picture for the boys and 395 00:20:10,330 --> 00:20:12,330 girls in that daily vacation Bible school. 396 00:20:13,470 --> 00:20:15,730 This picture was about the activities of the 397 00:20:15,730 --> 00:20:16,070 devil. 398 00:20:17,690 --> 00:20:20,050 I drew a picture of a roaring lion 399 00:20:20,050 --> 00:20:21,730 seeking whom he might devour. 400 00:20:21,890 --> 00:20:23,370 And that was the lesson that day, and 401 00:20:23,370 --> 00:20:24,270 it was about the devil. 402 00:20:24,270 --> 00:20:28,270 And a woman had a little baby there 403 00:20:28,270 --> 00:20:32,050 that was one, oh, just about a year 404 00:20:32,050 --> 00:20:32,410 old. 405 00:20:35,350 --> 00:20:37,550 And the baby began to cry. 406 00:20:38,190 --> 00:20:40,850 Just about the time that I really was 407 00:20:40,850 --> 00:20:47,410 showing those boys and girls how that Satan 408 00:20:47,410 --> 00:20:49,350 would seek to keep them from being saved, 409 00:20:49,670 --> 00:20:50,890 that baby began to cry. 410 00:20:51,670 --> 00:20:55,510 And I've seen temper tantrums before, but I 411 00:20:55,510 --> 00:20:57,190 never saw one to compare with it. 412 00:20:58,750 --> 00:21:02,030 And strangely enough, the lady, the mother, did 413 00:21:02,030 --> 00:21:03,230 not take the child out. 414 00:21:04,410 --> 00:21:06,970 She was determined to conquer the child. 415 00:21:07,130 --> 00:21:11,070 Well, I'm telling you, it was most evident 416 00:21:11,070 --> 00:21:13,170 to me, I could almost smell a devil. 417 00:21:13,970 --> 00:21:18,260 So I thought, I didn't get much done. 418 00:21:20,660 --> 00:21:21,840 I'm telling you that. 419 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,220 I've had those things happen before. 420 00:21:28,630 --> 00:21:32,370 So the world is that fraternity of unbelievers. 421 00:21:34,740 --> 00:21:36,200 It is a fraternity. 422 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:40,640 That fraternity of unbelievers that are bound together 423 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:45,920 in their common objective of putting God out 424 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,980 of their thoughts, out of their lives, and 425 00:21:49,980 --> 00:21:52,920 out of their whole future. 426 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:56,620 The world is a fraternity. 427 00:21:57,220 --> 00:21:59,440 It acts together as a fraternity. 428 00:22:01,870 --> 00:22:05,550 Turn with me, please, to John chapter 15, 429 00:22:05,710 --> 00:22:06,290 if you please. 430 00:22:09,910 --> 00:22:12,270 We do not get a proper conception of 431 00:22:12,270 --> 00:22:19,110 the world by looking at an individual. 432 00:22:20,130 --> 00:22:22,890 We get a proper conception of the world 433 00:22:22,890 --> 00:22:29,910 by being a group of unsafe individuals together 434 00:22:29,910 --> 00:22:33,610 and then watching the course of action. 435 00:22:34,610 --> 00:22:36,170 Then watching what happens. 436 00:22:36,770 --> 00:22:39,430 Then you begin to see a picture of 437 00:22:39,430 --> 00:22:39,890 the world. 438 00:22:40,770 --> 00:22:46,390 Now, it is a closely-knit, well-organized 439 00:22:46,390 --> 00:22:53,150 fraternity with a real objective. 440 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:59,140 Now, notice in John chapter 15 and verse 441 00:22:59,140 --> 00:22:59,700 19. 442 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:04,800 If ye were of the world, the world 443 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:08,120 would love his own. 444 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:11,900 But because ye are not of the world, 445 00:23:12,980 --> 00:23:15,580 but I have chosen you out of the 446 00:23:15,580 --> 00:23:22,040 world, therefore the world hateth you. 447 00:23:23,260 --> 00:23:25,920 Now, we're not talking about something that's abstract. 448 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,800 The world hates. 449 00:23:29,420 --> 00:23:30,540 And who does it hate? 450 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:34,760 It hates you and me. 451 00:23:35,980 --> 00:23:40,260 We who belong to the Lord, we are 452 00:23:40,260 --> 00:23:41,560 hated. 453 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:45,140 The world hates you. 454 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:50,900 It's a real powerful force. 455 00:23:52,060 --> 00:23:54,900 Now, I think a lot of Christians do 456 00:23:54,900 --> 00:23:57,800 not distinguish between the world and the things 457 00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:58,700 that are in the world. 458 00:23:58,820 --> 00:24:01,440 They are distinguished in 1 John. 459 00:24:01,580 --> 00:24:04,520 Notice them if you will please. 460 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:09,580 Notice that distinction, rather, in 1 John chapter 461 00:24:09,580 --> 00:24:16,870 2, where the distinction is made. 462 00:24:23,020 --> 00:24:27,080 Verse 15 of 1 John chapter 2. 463 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:31,200 Love not the world, neither the things that 464 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:32,020 are in the world. 465 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:35,020 If any man love the world, the love 466 00:24:35,020 --> 00:24:37,080 of the Father is not in him. 467 00:24:38,120 --> 00:24:39,980 All that is in the world, the lust 468 00:24:39,980 --> 00:24:41,780 of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, 469 00:24:42,120 --> 00:24:44,100 and the pride of life, is not of 470 00:24:44,100 --> 00:24:46,800 the Father, but is of the world. 471 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:50,080 The world passeth away, and the lusts thereof, 472 00:24:50,620 --> 00:24:52,400 but he that doeth the will of God 473 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:53,920 abideth forever. 474 00:24:54,700 --> 00:24:57,360 Love not the world, neither the things that 475 00:24:57,360 --> 00:24:57,940 are in the world. 476 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:00,860 Now, some people, some Christians, think of the 477 00:25:00,860 --> 00:25:03,520 world as being the things that are in 478 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:06,240 the world that distract our eyes away from 479 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:06,860 the Lord. 480 00:25:07,540 --> 00:25:10,500 Now, there are indeed things in the world 481 00:25:10,500 --> 00:25:11,360 that will do that. 482 00:25:12,020 --> 00:25:18,260 But the world itself is a fraternity, a 483 00:25:18,260 --> 00:25:21,080 real powerful force. 484 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:24,660 A force that's personal enough to hate. 485 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:29,520 The world hates us, and they want to 486 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:30,160 swallow us up. 487 00:25:30,220 --> 00:25:31,860 Now, why does the world hate us so? 488 00:25:32,780 --> 00:25:35,340 Well, we read there in John 15, because 489 00:25:35,340 --> 00:25:36,360 the Lord chose us. 490 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:40,620 The Lord chose us out of this world 491 00:25:40,620 --> 00:25:43,620 for himself, and the world hates us. 492 00:25:44,740 --> 00:25:46,820 And by the fact that the Lord has 493 00:25:46,820 --> 00:25:49,420 chosen us, he has put his image upon 494 00:25:49,420 --> 00:25:53,140 us, and he reminds us that the world 495 00:25:53,140 --> 00:25:56,240 hates us because it first hated him. 496 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:59,680 That's in verse 18 of the 15th chapter 497 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:00,880 of John's Gospel. 498 00:26:01,460 --> 00:26:03,300 If the world hates you, you know that 499 00:26:03,300 --> 00:26:05,720 it hated me before it hated you. 500 00:26:07,860 --> 00:26:11,840 Now, the world hates us because we remind 501 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:12,660 them of Christ. 502 00:26:13,380 --> 00:26:17,480 They hated Christ because he brought their sin 503 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:18,040 before them. 504 00:26:18,970 --> 00:26:21,720 Notice, if you please, John chapter 3. 505 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:41,640 Verse 18, he that believeth on him is 506 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:42,360 not condemned. 507 00:26:43,060 --> 00:26:45,340 But he that believeth not is condemned already, 508 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:47,120 because he hath not believed in the name 509 00:26:47,120 --> 00:26:48,720 of the only begotten Son of God. 510 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:52,960 And this is condemnation, that light is come 511 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:53,680 into the world. 512 00:26:54,860 --> 00:27:00,660 And men loved darkness rather than light, because 513 00:27:00,660 --> 00:27:02,060 their deeds were evil. 514 00:27:02,940 --> 00:27:05,680 And every one that doeth evil hateth the 515 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:09,260 light, neither cometh to the light, lest his 516 00:27:09,260 --> 00:27:11,460 deeds should be reproved. 517 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:15,380 But he that doeth truth cometh to the 518 00:27:15,380 --> 00:27:17,220 light, that his deeds may be made manifest, 519 00:27:17,980 --> 00:27:19,660 that they are wrought in God. 520 00:27:21,180 --> 00:27:24,180 The world hates Christ because he reproved them. 521 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:26,180 He showed them up for what they are. 522 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:30,360 And the world hates us especially if we 523 00:27:30,360 --> 00:27:31,760 live for Christ. 524 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:36,620 Now, it's entirely possible that a Christian can 525 00:27:36,620 --> 00:27:37,980 be accepted by the world. 526 00:27:38,660 --> 00:27:41,920 That is, if he bears no testimony for 527 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:42,660 Christ at all. 528 00:27:43,500 --> 00:27:46,360 But if we live godly in Christ Jesus, 529 00:27:46,500 --> 00:27:47,940 we will suffer persecution. 530 00:27:49,700 --> 00:27:51,800 Now, I think sometimes that that's enough to 531 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:52,880 exercise any of us. 532 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:57,060 But I think that the world sometimes has 533 00:27:57,060 --> 00:28:00,920 more ways of showing their displeasure with us 534 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:04,980 than with sticks and stones and with the 535 00:28:04,980 --> 00:28:05,900 things that can hurt. 536 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:11,600 They leave us out of their plan, they 537 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:17,840 shun our company, and they smile sometimes when 538 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:20,180 our back is turned and talk with others 539 00:28:20,180 --> 00:28:20,760 about it. 540 00:28:21,060 --> 00:28:22,920 There are many, many forms of persecution. 541 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:24,580 But they don't like it. 542 00:28:27,260 --> 00:28:30,200 Now, the world will take a Christian that 543 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:32,120 is going on for the Lord, and they'll 544 00:28:32,120 --> 00:28:33,760 try to tone down that testimony. 545 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:37,680 But the only comfort that they can get 546 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:40,440 is to tone down that testimony. 547 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:45,080 The world, David complained that men fighting against 548 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:46,940 him daily would swallow him up. 549 00:28:48,020 --> 00:28:49,860 And I think the world would like to 550 00:28:49,860 --> 00:28:52,660 swallow us up and get us out of 551 00:28:52,660 --> 00:28:52,880 sight. 552 00:28:54,140 --> 00:28:55,560 Swallow our testimony. 553 00:28:56,780 --> 00:28:59,720 They want to destroy our practical righteousness. 554 00:29:00,820 --> 00:29:03,720 They want us to be one of them, 555 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:05,800 or try to make us one of them. 556 00:29:08,020 --> 00:29:18,360 Now, the devil, we've already mentioned, would 557 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:20,260 like to have us, would like to trick 558 00:29:20,260 --> 00:29:21,220 us into sinning. 559 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:25,960 The devil appeals to the flesh that is 560 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:26,520 within us. 561 00:29:26,660 --> 00:29:29,600 We hardly need talk about the flesh, because 562 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:33,880 the flesh is that internal soul that is 563 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:34,780 inside of us. 564 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:41,160 It's our nature, it's our tendency, our proneness 565 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:41,840 to evil. 566 00:29:42,860 --> 00:29:46,740 We have an evil nature within us that 567 00:29:46,740 --> 00:29:48,320 is a selfish nature. 568 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:53,080 And that nature wants, indeed, its own way, 569 00:29:53,620 --> 00:29:55,520 and it will raise its head up against 570 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:56,200 God. 571 00:29:57,040 --> 00:30:00,020 The flesh is at enmity with God at 572 00:30:00,020 --> 00:30:02,900 all times, and is not subject to the 573 00:30:02,900 --> 00:30:05,080 law of God, and neither indeed can be. 574 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:07,660 Now, the flesh is inside of us. 575 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:09,700 Now, there is where the devil gets his 576 00:30:09,700 --> 00:30:13,780 stronghold in you and me, is through the 577 00:30:13,780 --> 00:30:14,180 flesh. 578 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:19,860 Now, the flesh is the fifth column of 579 00:30:19,860 --> 00:30:20,420 our enemies. 580 00:30:22,260 --> 00:30:24,960 The fifth column works from within. 581 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:31,260 The term fifth column was, I understand, the 582 00:30:31,260 --> 00:30:34,220 term was born during the Spanish Civil War, 583 00:30:35,060 --> 00:30:37,600 when two Spanish generals were looking upon a 584 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:38,780 city that was to be taken. 585 00:30:39,780 --> 00:30:42,760 They were viewing the city, viewing the attacks 586 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:44,240 on the city with their binoculars. 587 00:30:45,540 --> 00:30:47,200 And one general said to the other, he 588 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:50,920 said, I see four columns attacking the city. 589 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:53,820 And the other general says, ah, but he 590 00:30:53,820 --> 00:30:54,840 says there are five. 591 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:58,580 And he says, he looked over the situation 592 00:30:58,580 --> 00:31:00,920 again, and he said, no, I only see 593 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:01,620 four columns. 594 00:31:02,740 --> 00:31:05,140 But the other general said, yes, but there 595 00:31:05,140 --> 00:31:05,760 are five. 596 00:31:06,860 --> 00:31:10,880 You're forgetting the column that is within the 597 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:11,880 city itself. 598 00:31:12,900 --> 00:31:15,960 And thus, the term fifth column was born. 599 00:31:17,140 --> 00:31:20,560 Now, the flesh is the fifth column of 600 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:21,140 our enemies. 601 00:31:21,660 --> 00:31:23,780 He is the enemy that is inside of 602 00:31:23,780 --> 00:31:26,180 us, ready to betray the force. 603 00:31:27,060 --> 00:31:29,840 Now, Satan works on that enemy. 604 00:31:30,780 --> 00:31:34,780 And all the cruel purchase that he has 605 00:31:34,780 --> 00:31:38,940 upon our soul through that flesh. 606 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:42,200 He works on that flesh. 607 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:45,940 Now, Satan has no power to command you 608 00:31:45,940 --> 00:31:46,440 and me. 609 00:31:47,180 --> 00:31:51,740 As Christians, we may be his children before 610 00:31:51,740 --> 00:31:53,840 God saves us, but after he saves us, 611 00:31:53,900 --> 00:31:54,840 we're God's children. 612 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:58,600 And Satan has no power to command you 613 00:31:58,600 --> 00:31:59,040 or me. 614 00:31:59,140 --> 00:32:00,560 But I'm going to tell you a power 615 00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:01,500 that he does have. 616 00:32:02,300 --> 00:32:05,340 He has the power of suggestion. 617 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:09,020 And that power is terrible. 618 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:13,860 Because he knows the flesh, and he knows 619 00:32:13,860 --> 00:32:16,800 what appeals to the flesh, and he makes 620 00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:19,000 it appeal through the flesh. 621 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:25,600 And it's tendency to selfishness. 622 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:30,160 Satan suggested to put it into the heart 623 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:34,920 of Judas Iscariot, the daring to betray our 624 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:35,880 Lord Jesus Christ. 625 00:32:38,830 --> 00:32:42,310 I suppose that Judas had a thought came 626 00:32:42,310 --> 00:32:44,030 into his mind, and he failed to identify 627 00:32:44,030 --> 00:32:44,310 it. 628 00:32:45,570 --> 00:32:47,610 He failed to realize where it came from. 629 00:32:47,610 --> 00:32:51,530 Judas one time thought, now listen, he said, 630 00:32:52,690 --> 00:32:55,850 I've seen the Lord Jesus Christ nearly captured 631 00:32:55,850 --> 00:32:59,910 before, and I have seen him work his 632 00:32:59,910 --> 00:33:06,330 way out of the most, the tightest net 633 00:33:06,330 --> 00:33:10,170 of the most impossible situations, and he has 634 00:33:10,170 --> 00:33:12,350 worked his way right through the crowd, and 635 00:33:12,350 --> 00:33:15,530 they cannot, they cannot lay hold of him. 636 00:33:16,130 --> 00:33:18,570 And I suppose that Judas thought, Judas thought, 637 00:33:18,830 --> 00:33:21,630 now I know that the priests and the 638 00:33:21,630 --> 00:33:23,750 Pharisees, the scribes and the Pharisees want to 639 00:33:23,750 --> 00:33:25,030 lay their hands on the Lord Jesus. 640 00:33:26,170 --> 00:33:27,070 Tell you what I'll do. 641 00:33:28,250 --> 00:33:29,370 I'll go to them. 642 00:33:29,930 --> 00:33:32,530 I'll sell him to them. 643 00:33:32,710 --> 00:33:33,750 I'll betray him. 644 00:33:34,810 --> 00:33:36,390 They will come to apprehend him. 645 00:33:37,130 --> 00:33:38,730 He will slip out of their fingers. 646 00:33:39,590 --> 00:33:41,570 I will have fulfilled my contract. 647 00:33:41,570 --> 00:33:45,810 I'll have the money, and they won't have 648 00:33:45,810 --> 00:33:46,290 their man. 649 00:33:49,130 --> 00:33:51,550 It was a clever design, only it didn't 650 00:33:51,550 --> 00:33:53,310 work out like Judas thought it would. 651 00:33:54,410 --> 00:33:57,710 They captured the Lord Jesus, and he was 652 00:33:57,710 --> 00:33:58,210 convicted. 653 00:33:58,950 --> 00:34:01,130 And when Judas saw that he was condemned, 654 00:34:01,670 --> 00:34:03,790 he went out and hanged himself. 655 00:34:05,710 --> 00:34:09,290 Satan has the power of suggestion to you 656 00:34:09,290 --> 00:34:11,190 and to me, and the power of suggestion 657 00:34:11,190 --> 00:34:16,070 can be a terribly powerful force. 658 00:34:16,389 --> 00:34:20,449 Hypnotism is nothing more nor less than the 659 00:34:20,449 --> 00:34:21,670 power of suggestion. 660 00:34:22,489 --> 00:34:26,670 And I think sometimes that the devil is 661 00:34:26,670 --> 00:34:28,449 the master hypnotist. 662 00:34:29,889 --> 00:34:32,929 The power of suggestion can be so strong 663 00:34:32,929 --> 00:34:34,330 that he cannot command us. 664 00:34:34,409 --> 00:34:37,350 I am thankful for that, that he can 665 00:34:37,350 --> 00:34:38,030 suggest. 666 00:34:38,030 --> 00:34:40,989 You and I ought to examine our thoughts, 667 00:34:41,150 --> 00:34:44,469 our ideas, as to what we do, because 668 00:34:44,469 --> 00:34:48,850 those thoughts may well be suggested by Satan. 669 00:34:49,070 --> 00:34:51,710 He has access to our minds. 670 00:34:52,610 --> 00:34:54,150 We ought to check up on them. 671 00:34:54,790 --> 00:34:57,190 I think that Satan is working today to 672 00:34:57,190 --> 00:35:00,490 destroy our practical righteousness, and may I suggest 673 00:35:00,490 --> 00:35:09,110 that his most effective weapon is yoking the 674 00:35:09,110 --> 00:35:12,770 saved and the lost together by the marriage 675 00:35:12,770 --> 00:35:13,370 yoke. 676 00:35:14,290 --> 00:35:17,810 I believe that if Satan can accomplish, I 677 00:35:17,810 --> 00:35:21,490 think that Satan can accomplish more by that 678 00:35:21,490 --> 00:35:24,970 one single act than any other single thing 679 00:35:24,970 --> 00:35:27,410 that he can do to spoil a Christian's 680 00:35:27,410 --> 00:35:27,910 testimony. 681 00:35:29,230 --> 00:35:31,550 Linking the saved with the unsaved in the 682 00:35:31,550 --> 00:35:34,650 marriage, in the bond of matrimony, in the 683 00:35:34,650 --> 00:35:35,270 marriage yoke. 684 00:35:36,910 --> 00:35:38,050 And he does it. 685 00:35:39,130 --> 00:35:40,490 And he's still doing it. 686 00:35:44,020 --> 00:35:45,480 And he's responsible for it. 687 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:48,380 Oh, he can always have one of his 688 00:35:48,380 --> 00:35:51,360 children around to attract the eyes and the 689 00:35:51,360 --> 00:35:52,900 heart of a Christian. 690 00:35:54,160 --> 00:35:56,840 He can always have his children around, and 691 00:35:56,840 --> 00:36:00,800 sometimes God's children are not so alert and 692 00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:02,580 sometimes they are not so aware of his 693 00:36:02,580 --> 00:36:06,300 devices, and they fall into the unequal yoke 694 00:36:06,300 --> 00:36:10,040 of the sorrow of their hearts. 695 00:36:14,050 --> 00:36:16,950 Now, this threefold enemy that we've talked about 696 00:36:16,950 --> 00:36:21,070 would like to destroy our practical righteousness. 697 00:36:22,050 --> 00:36:25,750 And fighting against the threefold enemy will leave 698 00:36:25,750 --> 00:36:26,270 us weary. 699 00:36:26,730 --> 00:36:27,810 It will leave us tired. 700 00:36:27,810 --> 00:36:31,790 But thank God for this threefold enemy, we 701 00:36:31,790 --> 00:36:34,550 have a divine antidote. 702 00:36:35,170 --> 00:36:39,990 Because we have it opposed against the flesh, 703 00:36:40,450 --> 00:36:42,650 we have the Spirit of God as his 704 00:36:42,650 --> 00:36:43,030 opponent. 705 00:36:43,370 --> 00:36:47,230 Now, how can we gain practical, practical victory 706 00:36:47,230 --> 00:36:48,810 over our threefold enemy? 707 00:36:48,930 --> 00:36:52,450 Let's notice Galatians chapter 5, if you please. 708 00:36:57,420 --> 00:37:04,490 We've already noticed the world and the Father 709 00:37:04,490 --> 00:37:06,550 in opposition in John's gospel. 710 00:37:09,020 --> 00:37:10,600 Perhaps we'd better notice it again. 711 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:13,540 Let's hold your finger, please, in Galatians 5, 712 00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:18,300 and notice 1 John chapter 2, if you 713 00:37:18,300 --> 00:37:18,720 please. 714 00:37:27,660 --> 00:37:29,160 1 John 2 and 15. 715 00:37:29,600 --> 00:37:33,220 Love not the world, neither the things that 716 00:37:33,220 --> 00:37:34,180 are in the world. 717 00:37:34,180 --> 00:37:36,820 If any man loved the world, the love 718 00:37:36,820 --> 00:37:39,040 of the Father is not in him. 719 00:37:40,740 --> 00:37:44,460 Now, the Father is opposed to the world. 720 00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:47,700 The world spreads its delicacies before our feet. 721 00:37:49,020 --> 00:37:52,480 It would seek to distract us from our 722 00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:56,660 journey to the celestial city by the things 723 00:37:56,660 --> 00:37:58,100 that it spreads at our feet. 724 00:37:58,100 --> 00:38:02,760 You remember in Pilgrim's Progress that it was 725 00:38:02,760 --> 00:38:06,860 said of Vanity Fair, that Vanity Fair was 726 00:38:06,860 --> 00:38:09,960 established right on the pathway from the city 727 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:12,420 of destruction to the celestial city. 728 00:38:13,700 --> 00:38:17,460 It was established, first of all, by the 729 00:38:17,460 --> 00:38:22,540 Lord of that land, to distract travelers in 730 00:38:22,540 --> 00:38:25,400 their journey to the celestial city. 731 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:30,060 That fair was placed right on the road. 732 00:38:32,190 --> 00:38:35,490 The device was so successful that the fair 733 00:38:35,490 --> 00:38:39,470 became a permanent thing, and it was called 734 00:38:39,470 --> 00:38:41,010 Vanity Fair. 735 00:38:42,090 --> 00:38:44,810 That is the picture of the world, and 736 00:38:44,810 --> 00:38:47,770 you remember, perhaps if you have read Pilgrim's 737 00:38:47,770 --> 00:38:51,010 Progress, that Christian and faithful came to Vanity 738 00:38:51,010 --> 00:38:54,790 Fair, and they immediately attracted a lot of 739 00:38:54,790 --> 00:38:55,250 attention. 740 00:38:55,250 --> 00:39:01,440 Their clothes were different, their speech was different, 741 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:07,260 and they would not buy any of their 742 00:39:07,260 --> 00:39:07,920 fairs. 743 00:39:09,660 --> 00:39:13,700 And they, first of all, derided them. 744 00:39:14,660 --> 00:39:18,200 Then they threw them in jail, and faithful 745 00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:20,520 was martyred. 746 00:39:21,220 --> 00:39:23,500 Now, the world can be very cruel, it 747 00:39:23,500 --> 00:39:26,400 can be seductive, but the world can be 748 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:27,140 very cruel. 749 00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:32,540 But there is in our Father the divine 750 00:39:32,540 --> 00:39:35,420 antidote to this enemy, the world. 751 00:39:36,460 --> 00:39:38,800 Now, the world spreads its things before us. 752 00:39:38,900 --> 00:39:42,040 Love not the world, neither the things that 753 00:39:42,040 --> 00:39:43,200 are in the world. 754 00:39:43,200 --> 00:39:48,380 Now, our Father gives us many, many things 755 00:39:48,380 --> 00:39:48,940 to enjoy. 756 00:39:49,120 --> 00:39:51,600 Let's notice Romans chapter 8, if you please. 757 00:40:03,050 --> 00:40:04,670 Romans 8 and 32. 758 00:40:05,790 --> 00:40:08,250 He that spared not his own son, but 759 00:40:08,250 --> 00:40:10,870 delivered him up for us all, how shall 760 00:40:10,870 --> 00:40:13,190 he not with him also freely give us 761 00:40:13,190 --> 00:40:15,230 all things? 762 00:40:16,310 --> 00:40:20,790 The world provides this thing, and our Father 763 00:40:20,790 --> 00:40:22,650 provides his things. 764 00:40:24,190 --> 00:40:26,850 And certainly the things of our Father are 765 00:40:26,850 --> 00:40:28,810 better than the things of this world. 766 00:40:29,750 --> 00:40:31,670 But it seems that there is a competition 767 00:40:31,670 --> 00:40:32,190 there. 768 00:40:33,750 --> 00:40:37,130 And our Father is the divine antidote to 769 00:40:37,130 --> 00:40:37,750 this world. 770 00:40:38,470 --> 00:40:40,470 The things that are in Christ are better 771 00:40:40,470 --> 00:40:42,170 than the things that are in this world. 772 00:40:42,170 --> 00:40:44,550 And if we go on for the things 773 00:40:44,550 --> 00:40:47,030 of the world, it's because we do not 774 00:40:47,030 --> 00:40:50,370 realize the preciousness of the things of God. 775 00:40:51,430 --> 00:40:54,250 Now, back to Galatians chapter 5. 776 00:40:55,110 --> 00:40:59,050 We have an opponent for the flesh in 777 00:40:59,050 --> 00:41:00,210 the form of the spirit. 778 00:41:01,830 --> 00:41:04,630 Verse 16 of the fifth chapter of Galatians, 779 00:41:04,630 --> 00:41:07,310 This I say then, walk in the spirit, 780 00:41:07,470 --> 00:41:09,290 and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of 781 00:41:09,290 --> 00:41:09,850 the flesh. 782 00:41:11,070 --> 00:41:14,850 For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and 783 00:41:14,850 --> 00:41:16,390 the spirit against the flesh. 784 00:41:17,190 --> 00:41:20,830 These are contrary, the one to the other, 785 00:41:21,470 --> 00:41:23,490 so that ye cannot do the things that 786 00:41:23,490 --> 00:41:23,970 ye would. 787 00:41:25,630 --> 00:41:28,350 Now, the spirit and the flesh are opponents. 788 00:41:29,150 --> 00:41:32,630 The flesh would rule us, but the spirit 789 00:41:32,630 --> 00:41:34,610 of God would rule us, too. 790 00:41:37,080 --> 00:41:39,820 And there is an opposition there, so that 791 00:41:39,820 --> 00:41:44,240 there's a continual warfare inside of us, going 792 00:41:44,240 --> 00:41:45,280 on within us. 793 00:41:46,380 --> 00:41:51,180 And this warfare is certainly an enervating thing. 794 00:41:51,680 --> 00:41:54,700 It will certainly wear us out. 795 00:41:54,700 --> 00:41:58,360 The flesh opposed to the spirit. 796 00:41:59,120 --> 00:42:00,400 But the rule is simple. 797 00:42:01,100 --> 00:42:03,020 Walk in the spirit, in the power of 798 00:42:03,020 --> 00:42:04,740 the spirit, in the fear of the spirit, 799 00:42:04,840 --> 00:42:06,960 in the light of the spirit, and ye 800 00:42:06,960 --> 00:42:10,280 shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. 801 00:42:11,500 --> 00:42:13,620 If we will follow the spirit of God, 802 00:42:14,460 --> 00:42:17,660 the flesh, indeed, will be minimized. 803 00:42:17,660 --> 00:42:20,360 And we're to put that flesh, that old 804 00:42:20,360 --> 00:42:23,900 man, the old man is more comprehensive than 805 00:42:23,900 --> 00:42:25,620 the flesh, but we are to put that 806 00:42:25,620 --> 00:42:27,320 flesh in the place of death, the old 807 00:42:27,320 --> 00:42:28,680 man in the place of death, and the 808 00:42:28,680 --> 00:42:30,500 flesh right along with it. 809 00:42:31,580 --> 00:42:35,380 Now, our Lord Jesus Christ and Satan are 810 00:42:35,380 --> 00:42:35,940 opposed. 811 00:42:36,760 --> 00:42:39,960 Our Lord Jesus is the one who is 812 00:42:39,960 --> 00:42:42,020 our Lord and who has a right to 813 00:42:42,020 --> 00:42:42,720 command us. 814 00:42:42,720 --> 00:42:47,380 But Satan, by his suggestions, would lead us. 815 00:42:48,400 --> 00:42:50,400 Now, we are to resist the devil. 816 00:42:51,840 --> 00:42:54,140 We're never told to flee from the devil. 817 00:42:55,520 --> 00:42:57,420 We're told to flee from the lusts of 818 00:42:57,420 --> 00:43:00,620 the flesh, but surprisingly enough, we're never told 819 00:43:00,620 --> 00:43:01,600 to flee from the devil. 820 00:43:02,300 --> 00:43:04,160 We're told to resist the devil. 821 00:43:05,060 --> 00:43:07,200 And that's exactly what God wants. 822 00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:08,840 You say, I'm no match for him. 823 00:43:09,380 --> 00:43:10,040 Resist him. 824 00:43:10,280 --> 00:43:12,500 Nevertheless, greater is he that is in you 825 00:43:12,500 --> 00:43:14,600 than he that is in the world. 826 00:43:16,840 --> 00:43:19,520 And Christ is in us, as well as 827 00:43:19,520 --> 00:43:20,320 the spirit of God. 828 00:43:21,660 --> 00:43:24,980 And he is the opponent of the devil. 829 00:43:25,840 --> 00:43:28,620 They always were opposed to one another. 830 00:43:29,120 --> 00:43:33,340 And we see that opposition in the desert 831 00:43:33,340 --> 00:43:35,100 when our Lord was tempted of the devil. 832 00:43:35,940 --> 00:43:39,400 The conflict of the ages, indeed, is the 833 00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:41,500 conflict of Christ and Satan. 834 00:43:42,080 --> 00:43:46,060 Satan is jealous of him, always and ever 835 00:43:46,060 --> 00:43:47,960 jealous of our Lord Jesus Christ. 836 00:43:48,260 --> 00:43:51,160 He tries to limitate him, even to having 837 00:43:51,160 --> 00:43:54,160 two horns like a lamb in the book 838 00:43:54,160 --> 00:43:54,780 of Revelation. 839 00:43:55,320 --> 00:43:56,920 And believe me, he's trying to have his 840 00:43:56,920 --> 00:44:00,340 church in the ecumenical church. 841 00:44:00,540 --> 00:44:03,260 Satan wants to have his church as Christ 842 00:44:03,260 --> 00:44:04,080 had his church. 843 00:44:04,080 --> 00:44:09,080 They're opposed all through to scriptural stories. 844 00:44:09,840 --> 00:44:11,900 Now, the world and the flesh and the 845 00:44:11,900 --> 00:44:14,840 devil have in the Trinity of God a 846 00:44:14,840 --> 00:44:15,700 perfect opponent. 847 00:44:16,400 --> 00:44:19,020 And you and I are not without recourse 848 00:44:19,020 --> 00:44:20,880 in the Christian battle. 849 00:44:21,640 --> 00:44:25,300 We can indeed depend upon what we have 850 00:44:25,300 --> 00:44:26,000 in the Godhead. 851 00:44:26,400 --> 00:44:28,600 And the battle is not lost. 852 00:44:29,660 --> 00:44:35,100 Now, if indeed we will fight the Christian 853 00:44:35,100 --> 00:44:36,900 fight, and the fight is on, old Christian 854 00:44:36,900 --> 00:44:40,460 soldiers, I don't know whether we're conscious very, 855 00:44:40,620 --> 00:44:44,180 very much of fighting in our Christian experience 856 00:44:44,180 --> 00:44:44,860 or not. 857 00:44:45,320 --> 00:44:46,960 But we should be conscious of it. 858 00:44:50,020 --> 00:44:51,180 And the fight is on. 859 00:44:52,480 --> 00:44:54,900 But oh, I'm so glad that the crown 860 00:44:54,900 --> 00:44:57,380 of righteousness is reserved for those who will 861 00:44:57,380 --> 00:44:58,620 fight the good fight of peace. 862 00:44:59,200 --> 00:45:01,100 Now, that is one side of it. 863 00:45:01,380 --> 00:45:03,160 Now, the other side of it is love 864 00:45:03,160 --> 00:45:04,000 to the Lord Jesus. 865 00:45:04,120 --> 00:45:08,440 Shall we turn back to 2 Timothy, chapter 866 00:45:08,440 --> 00:45:09,200 4, please. 867 00:45:30,930 --> 00:45:33,790 And you'll notice there that the crown of 868 00:45:33,790 --> 00:45:36,350 righteousness is not only for those who fight 869 00:45:36,350 --> 00:45:38,090 the fight of peace, not only for the 870 00:45:38,090 --> 00:45:38,910 Apostle Paul. 871 00:45:40,570 --> 00:45:42,510 He says in verse 8 of chapter 4, 872 00:45:42,510 --> 00:45:44,150 Henceforth there is laid up for me a 873 00:45:44,150 --> 00:45:47,610 crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous 874 00:45:47,610 --> 00:45:50,450 judge, shall give me at that day, and 875 00:45:50,450 --> 00:45:53,730 not to me only, but unto all them 876 00:45:53,730 --> 00:45:57,530 also that love his appearing. 877 00:45:59,390 --> 00:46:01,930 Now, loving the appearing of our Lord Jesus 878 00:46:01,930 --> 00:46:04,610 Christ also will produce righteousness. 879 00:46:05,030 --> 00:46:07,010 Now, one is the positive side of it, 880 00:46:07,070 --> 00:46:08,610 and one is the negative side of it. 881 00:46:09,570 --> 00:46:13,650 Love for the Lord will produce practical righteousness 882 00:46:13,650 --> 00:46:14,790 in you and me. 883 00:46:17,280 --> 00:46:20,700 And fighting against our enemies will keep those 884 00:46:20,700 --> 00:46:23,100 enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil, 885 00:46:23,200 --> 00:46:25,240 from taking that righteousness away. 886 00:46:26,800 --> 00:46:28,820 There are two sides of the same truth. 887 00:46:29,780 --> 00:46:34,220 Now, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 888 00:46:34,220 --> 00:46:36,900 has a very, very practical effect in our 889 00:46:36,900 --> 00:46:37,240 lives. 890 00:46:37,960 --> 00:46:40,920 Some say that it is entirely a devotional 891 00:46:40,920 --> 00:46:43,940 study, but I think it's a practical study 892 00:46:43,940 --> 00:46:44,580 as well. 893 00:46:45,480 --> 00:46:49,200 Now, notice, please, in 1 John, chapter 3, 894 00:46:51,930 --> 00:46:56,390 loving the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 895 00:47:08,300 --> 00:47:09,860 Just a moment, I have the wrong book. 896 00:47:09,860 --> 00:47:14,860 1 John, chapter 3, verse 2. 897 00:47:16,860 --> 00:47:20,060 Beloved, now are we the sons of God. 898 00:47:20,660 --> 00:47:22,600 And it does not yet appear what we 899 00:47:22,600 --> 00:47:25,400 shall be, but we know that when he 900 00:47:25,400 --> 00:47:29,160 shall appear, we shall be like him, or 901 00:47:29,160 --> 00:47:31,300 we shall see him as he is. 902 00:47:32,300 --> 00:47:34,860 And every man that hath this hope in 903 00:47:34,860 --> 00:47:41,220 him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 904 00:47:42,540 --> 00:47:44,700 Looking for the coming again of our Lord 905 00:47:44,700 --> 00:47:49,300 Jesus Christ will have a purifying effect in 906 00:47:49,300 --> 00:47:51,440 your life and in mine. 907 00:47:52,180 --> 00:47:55,500 And as a matter of fact, I would 908 00:47:55,500 --> 00:47:59,120 make bold to say that we cannot be 909 00:47:59,120 --> 00:48:01,200 living a life of sin and at the 910 00:48:01,200 --> 00:48:03,600 same time be loving the appearing of our 911 00:48:03,600 --> 00:48:04,640 Lord Jesus Christ. 912 00:48:04,920 --> 00:48:07,200 The two just do not go together. 913 00:48:08,120 --> 00:48:10,400 If we are expecting the return of our 914 00:48:10,400 --> 00:48:14,140 Lord Jesus Christ, we will evidence it by 915 00:48:14,140 --> 00:48:18,100 living a life that is a righteous life. 916 00:48:19,620 --> 00:48:20,920 There will be a difference. 917 00:48:21,700 --> 00:48:23,540 If we are really expecting the Lord to 918 00:48:23,540 --> 00:48:26,860 come, we will live as though we expected 919 00:48:26,860 --> 00:48:27,560 him to come. 920 00:48:27,980 --> 00:48:30,620 There is another verse in Romans, if you 921 00:48:30,620 --> 00:48:31,060 please. 922 00:48:31,940 --> 00:48:34,800 Romans, chapter 13. 923 00:48:46,650 --> 00:48:51,990 Verse 11 of Romans 13, and that, knowing 924 00:48:51,990 --> 00:48:54,710 the time that it is now, that now 925 00:48:54,710 --> 00:48:56,350 it is high time to awake out of 926 00:48:56,350 --> 00:48:56,630 sleep. 927 00:48:57,590 --> 00:49:00,670 For now is our salvation nearer than when 928 00:49:00,670 --> 00:49:01,230 we believed. 929 00:49:01,970 --> 00:49:03,810 The night is far spent. 930 00:49:04,990 --> 00:49:06,610 The day is at hand. 931 00:49:07,310 --> 00:49:09,990 Let us therefore cast off the works of 932 00:49:09,990 --> 00:49:15,050 darkness, and let us put on the armor 933 00:49:15,050 --> 00:49:15,870 of light. 934 00:49:16,690 --> 00:49:19,810 The day of our Lord's appearing is at 935 00:49:19,810 --> 00:49:20,210 hand. 936 00:49:20,210 --> 00:49:23,790 Let us therefore, or let us because of 937 00:49:23,790 --> 00:49:28,390 this, cast off the works of darkness and 938 00:49:28,390 --> 00:49:30,630 let us put on the armor of light. 939 00:49:31,490 --> 00:49:34,010 If we really believe and love the appearing 940 00:49:34,010 --> 00:49:36,490 of our Lord Jesus Christ, it's going to 941 00:49:36,490 --> 00:49:42,150 have the effect of personal righteousness in our 942 00:49:42,150 --> 00:49:42,930 lives. 943 00:49:44,130 --> 00:49:46,390 There are many things I'm sure that we 944 00:49:46,390 --> 00:49:49,570 would not want to be doing if our 945 00:49:49,570 --> 00:49:51,130 Lord Jesus Christ comes. 946 00:49:51,950 --> 00:49:53,530 As a matter of fact, I have seen 947 00:49:53,530 --> 00:49:56,270 a little motto that I think is so 948 00:49:56,270 --> 00:49:56,630 good. 949 00:49:57,810 --> 00:50:00,290 Do nothing that you would not wish to 950 00:50:00,290 --> 00:50:02,770 be doing when our Lord comes. 951 00:50:03,430 --> 00:50:06,090 Say nothing that you would not wish to 952 00:50:06,090 --> 00:50:08,670 be saying when our Lord comes. 953 00:50:09,450 --> 00:50:12,070 Think nothing that you would not wish to 954 00:50:12,070 --> 00:50:15,110 be thinking when our Lord comes. 955 00:50:16,290 --> 00:50:19,150 He is coming, and we would be embarrassed 956 00:50:19,150 --> 00:50:20,970 to be in some place, to be doing 957 00:50:20,970 --> 00:50:23,970 some things, to be saying some things, if 958 00:50:23,970 --> 00:50:26,190 our Lord Jesus comes again. 959 00:50:27,350 --> 00:50:30,190 I recall an incident that brought this most 960 00:50:30,190 --> 00:50:33,110 forcibly to me a number of years ago. 961 00:50:33,270 --> 00:50:35,470 Perhaps some of you have heard me talk 962 00:50:35,470 --> 00:50:36,810 about it. 963 00:50:37,330 --> 00:50:41,890 In Colorado Springs, I was listening to the 964 00:50:41,890 --> 00:50:43,710 news one day and also working in the 965 00:50:43,710 --> 00:50:44,030 basement. 966 00:50:44,170 --> 00:50:48,010 I had my radio turned up quite high 967 00:50:48,010 --> 00:50:49,750 because I wanted to hear it downstairs. 968 00:50:50,070 --> 00:50:51,330 It was not the kind that I could 969 00:50:51,330 --> 00:50:52,410 carry downstairs, either. 970 00:50:53,590 --> 00:50:56,670 So I turned it up quite high, and 971 00:50:56,670 --> 00:50:59,470 I was listening to the news. 972 00:50:59,470 --> 00:51:04,390 Well, the news was over, and an orchestra 973 00:51:04,390 --> 00:51:11,030 came on, and the radio began to jump. 974 00:51:12,790 --> 00:51:20,090 And it was very loud, and I began 975 00:51:20,090 --> 00:51:23,790 to start upstairs to turn the thing off. 976 00:51:24,650 --> 00:51:27,090 Because it wasn't the kind of music that, 977 00:51:27,650 --> 00:51:30,470 well, a Christian should be listening to. 978 00:51:32,070 --> 00:51:33,870 And just as I got up to the 979 00:51:33,870 --> 00:51:36,310 top of the stairs with this radio blaring 980 00:51:36,310 --> 00:51:38,610 out, there was a knock at the door. 981 00:51:40,330 --> 00:51:42,210 And I couldn't make up my mind whether 982 00:51:42,210 --> 00:51:44,050 to go to the door first or to 983 00:51:44,050 --> 00:51:44,610 the radio. 984 00:51:45,650 --> 00:51:48,790 But I went to the radio and turned 985 00:51:48,790 --> 00:51:49,330 it down. 986 00:51:50,110 --> 00:51:52,050 And I went to the door, and there 987 00:51:52,050 --> 00:51:55,770 stood one of the brethren in the meeting. 988 00:51:56,970 --> 00:51:58,830 I felt my face getting red. 989 00:52:00,610 --> 00:52:03,110 I wondered, does he think that I listen 990 00:52:03,110 --> 00:52:04,370 to that kind of music? 991 00:52:05,810 --> 00:52:07,130 And you know what I did? 992 00:52:07,950 --> 00:52:09,870 I explained the situation. 993 00:52:10,530 --> 00:52:13,530 I don't know whether I sold him entirely, 994 00:52:14,290 --> 00:52:16,350 but I explained it. 995 00:52:16,350 --> 00:52:18,610 I could not let that pass. 996 00:52:19,870 --> 00:52:24,130 I was embarrassed in that experience. 997 00:52:26,520 --> 00:52:30,000 You know, sometimes, it's not going to be 998 00:52:30,000 --> 00:52:31,320 a knock on the door, it's going to 999 00:52:31,320 --> 00:52:32,360 be a shout in the air. 1000 00:52:33,600 --> 00:52:35,080 And it's going to be the Lord. 1001 00:52:36,060 --> 00:52:37,640 And he's going to catch us up into 1002 00:52:37,640 --> 00:52:38,240 his presence. 1003 00:52:38,880 --> 00:52:42,020 Will I be ashamed before him at his 1004 00:52:42,020 --> 00:52:42,320 coming? 1005 00:52:43,440 --> 00:52:45,720 I know I'm making a misapplication of that 1006 00:52:45,720 --> 00:52:48,040 scripture by quoting it at this time. 1007 00:52:49,140 --> 00:52:52,420 But will I be ashamed because of his 1008 00:52:52,420 --> 00:52:52,640 coming? 1009 00:52:55,790 --> 00:52:58,050 You know, this should have a practical effect 1010 00:52:58,050 --> 00:52:58,710 in our lives. 1011 00:52:58,790 --> 00:53:00,050 The Lord Jesus is coming. 1012 00:53:00,790 --> 00:53:02,730 Now, if he were really coming, and we 1013 00:53:02,730 --> 00:53:06,210 really believed it, we would do something about 1014 00:53:06,210 --> 00:53:06,430 it. 1015 00:53:07,250 --> 00:53:08,930 The story is told, and with it our 1016 00:53:08,930 --> 00:53:09,170 flow. 1017 00:53:10,990 --> 00:53:15,980 A father left his children on a business 1018 00:53:15,980 --> 00:53:16,400 trip. 1019 00:53:18,120 --> 00:53:19,660 And he had a number of children, and 1020 00:53:19,660 --> 00:53:21,620 he said, Now, children, I'm coming back this 1021 00:53:21,620 --> 00:53:21,960 week. 1022 00:53:23,460 --> 00:53:25,600 And he says, I want you down to 1023 00:53:25,600 --> 00:53:27,240 meet the train, the train that he would 1024 00:53:27,240 --> 00:53:30,720 come in on, every evening until I come. 1025 00:53:31,180 --> 00:53:32,740 Now, I may come on Monday, I don't 1026 00:53:32,740 --> 00:53:33,280 know how long. 1027 00:53:33,300 --> 00:53:34,840 It will take me to complete my business. 1028 00:53:36,560 --> 00:53:39,380 And so, Monday evening, the children were all 1029 00:53:39,380 --> 00:53:41,340 down at the station to meet their father, 1030 00:53:41,620 --> 00:53:45,300 all nice and clean and nicely dressed. 1031 00:53:46,180 --> 00:53:49,060 The train came in, and their father was 1032 00:53:49,060 --> 00:53:50,000 not on the train. 1033 00:53:51,820 --> 00:53:56,260 So, Tuesday evening, they were all cleaned up, 1034 00:53:56,340 --> 00:53:59,420 all dressed up, and down at the station. 1035 00:54:00,220 --> 00:54:03,840 And the train did not come in. 1036 00:54:05,540 --> 00:54:09,340 Wednesday evening, the same thing, and no father. 1037 00:54:10,160 --> 00:54:13,560 Thursday evening, the same thing, and no father. 1038 00:54:15,240 --> 00:54:20,100 Friday evening, the same thing, and no father. 1039 00:54:21,640 --> 00:54:24,900 Well, they went down Friday evening, and their 1040 00:54:24,900 --> 00:54:27,000 father was on the train. 1041 00:54:27,880 --> 00:54:30,740 And they said, Daddy, why didn't you come 1042 00:54:30,740 --> 00:54:31,780 earlier in the week? 1043 00:54:33,320 --> 00:54:35,640 We were cleaned up, and we came down 1044 00:54:35,640 --> 00:54:37,440 to the station to meet you every night. 1045 00:54:38,700 --> 00:54:42,940 Well, he says, I kept you clean, didn't 1046 00:54:42,940 --> 00:54:43,180 I? 1047 00:54:44,380 --> 00:54:48,400 They were expecting him every night, and he 1048 00:54:48,400 --> 00:54:49,380 had kept them clean. 1049 00:54:50,360 --> 00:54:54,240 Now, these two things combined will move toward 1050 00:54:54,240 --> 00:54:56,640 producing for you and me a crown of 1051 00:54:56,640 --> 00:54:57,160 righteousness. 1052 00:54:58,100 --> 00:55:06,380 That is, the keeping of ourselves in a 1053 00:55:06,380 --> 00:55:11,800 state of personal righteousness, that is, being righteous 1054 00:55:11,800 --> 00:55:15,540 in our faith as well as in our 1055 00:55:15,540 --> 00:55:18,760 standing, and not letting Satan take that righteousness 1056 00:55:18,760 --> 00:55:19,200 away. 1057 00:55:20,620 --> 00:55:23,280 And then there is that personal righteousness which 1058 00:55:23,280 --> 00:55:27,990 will be produced by love of the Lord 1059 00:55:27,990 --> 00:55:30,930 Jesus Christ, through love of Him, and love 1060 00:55:30,930 --> 00:55:31,590 of His appearing. 1061 00:55:31,670 --> 00:55:33,990 And of course, it goes without saying, we 1062 00:55:33,990 --> 00:55:35,530 will not love His appearing unless we are 1063 00:55:35,530 --> 00:55:36,110 loving Him. 1064 00:55:37,310 --> 00:55:39,270 And I hardly can see, if you'll pardon 1065 00:55:39,270 --> 00:55:40,910 me for saying this, and I don't think 1066 00:55:40,910 --> 00:55:45,430 you'll need to, I hardly can understand how 1067 00:55:45,430 --> 00:55:48,690 we could be loving His appearing if we 1068 00:55:48,690 --> 00:55:50,630 didn't love Him, first of all. 1069 00:55:52,070 --> 00:55:54,530 And love of the Lord Jesus will indeed 1070 00:55:54,530 --> 00:55:57,030 produce righteousness in you and me, pleasing Him, 1071 00:55:57,030 --> 00:56:02,410 but especially in His appearing, because He is 1072 00:56:02,410 --> 00:56:05,350 coming to take us home, to be with 1073 00:56:05,350 --> 00:56:07,050 Himself and to reward us there. 1074 00:56:07,550 --> 00:56:09,810 And if we indeed are loving His appearing, 1075 00:56:10,170 --> 00:56:12,490 you can be sure we're going to live 1076 00:56:12,490 --> 00:56:15,590 the kind of life that will merit the 1077 00:56:15,590 --> 00:56:17,230 crown of righteousness. 1078 00:56:17,610 --> 00:56:20,830 And God help us in this respect. 1079 00:56:21,650 --> 00:56:23,790 Brother Nelson Cook, would you close with a 1080 00:56:23,790 --> 00:56:24,310 word of prayer? 1081 00:56:26,210 --> 00:56:28,270 We won't be able to take much time 1082 00:56:28,270 --> 00:56:29,890 tonight to review. 1083 00:56:30,730 --> 00:56:32,970 We've been studying about the crowns of scriptures, 1084 00:56:33,690 --> 00:56:36,630 the crowns in the scriptures, and we have 1085 00:56:36,630 --> 00:56:41,270 thus far considered the incorruptible crown, the crown 1086 00:56:41,270 --> 00:56:44,090 of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness. 1087 00:56:45,190 --> 00:56:47,690 We'd like to have before us tonight the 1088 00:56:47,690 --> 00:56:50,650 crown of glory and the crown of life. 1089 00:56:51,550 --> 00:56:53,330 We're going to try to budget our time 1090 00:56:53,330 --> 00:56:55,030 a little better than we did last night.