1 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:09,280 Now, it's of very, very great importance to 2 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:11,580 you and to me, being enthralled by the 3 00:00:11,580 --> 00:00:13,300 Holy Spirit of God, that He has His 4 00:00:13,300 --> 00:00:14,200 way in our lives. 5 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:16,120 He will occupy us with Christ. 6 00:00:16,500 --> 00:00:17,900 As we said the other night, and I 7 00:00:17,900 --> 00:00:21,480 think it bears repeating, the burden of the 8 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,300 Spirit of God is to bring Christ before 9 00:00:25,300 --> 00:00:25,540 us. 10 00:00:25,540 --> 00:00:28,500 The burden of Christ was to bring the 11 00:00:28,500 --> 00:00:29,720 Father before us. 12 00:00:31,439 --> 00:00:36,080 And what blessed anticipation when the Spirit of 13 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,040 God has His way in our lives. 14 00:00:38,460 --> 00:00:42,520 He will not only bring Christ before us, 15 00:00:42,580 --> 00:00:44,960 but He will bring us, by His mighty 16 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:49,560 power, into the very image of Christ. 17 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,040 Now, we already have the Christ, the life 18 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:54,420 of Christ, within us. 19 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:57,600 That life was put within us, as we 20 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:01,180 noticed last night, by the Holy Spirit of 21 00:01:01,180 --> 00:01:01,540 God. 22 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,020 The Spirit of God took the life of 23 00:01:05,020 --> 00:01:06,600 Christ and put that life within us. 24 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:08,680 And the life that I now live in 25 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:09,220 the flesh. 26 00:01:10,860 --> 00:01:15,060 The apostle says in Galatians 2.20, I 27 00:01:15,060 --> 00:01:17,680 am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet 28 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,520 not I, but Christ liveth in me. 29 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:24,500 Christ liveth in me, and the life that 30 00:01:24,500 --> 00:01:26,080 I now live in the flesh, I live 31 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:27,620 by the faith of the Son of God, 32 00:01:27,700 --> 00:01:29,760 who loved me and gave Himself for me. 33 00:01:30,460 --> 00:01:33,220 Christ just wants to live through us. 34 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:35,700 He wants to live in us and through 35 00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:36,080 us. 36 00:01:36,980 --> 00:01:38,580 That's the life that counts. 37 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:40,080 That's the life that wins. 38 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:42,180 The life of Christ. 39 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,640 But that life, of course, is His life. 40 00:01:47,460 --> 00:01:48,320 It's from Him. 41 00:01:48,420 --> 00:01:50,880 He is the author of all life, in 42 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:51,780 Him was life. 43 00:01:51,780 --> 00:01:53,860 And the life of the light of men. 44 00:01:58,020 --> 00:02:01,880 But, of course, that life must be nurtured, 45 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,440 that life must be empowered, and the Spirit 46 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:07,539 of God will produce Christ in us. 47 00:02:07,539 --> 00:02:11,760 That life will grow and be manifest through 48 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:12,280 us. 49 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:20,120 Now, the ministry of the Spirit in teaching 50 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,880 us will cause us to remember, cause us 51 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,440 to review the fact and consider it, that 52 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,560 He is the author of the Bible. 53 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:32,300 The Spirit of God is the author of 54 00:02:32,300 --> 00:02:32,720 the Bible. 55 00:02:33,180 --> 00:02:35,420 And then we will notice that the Spirit 56 00:02:35,420 --> 00:02:38,900 of God is the expounder of the Bible. 57 00:02:39,140 --> 00:02:41,420 He explains the book that He caused to 58 00:02:41,420 --> 00:02:41,860 be written. 59 00:02:42,620 --> 00:02:46,860 Now, we read in 2 Timothy chapter 3 60 00:02:46,860 --> 00:02:56,870 about the 61 00:02:56,870 --> 00:02:57,230 Scripture. 62 00:02:57,910 --> 00:03:01,490 This is important as a preliminary to the 63 00:03:01,490 --> 00:03:03,990 little study, the ministry of the Spirit in 64 00:03:03,990 --> 00:03:07,170 leading us, because the Spirit of God leads 65 00:03:07,170 --> 00:03:09,290 us in accordance with the Word of God. 66 00:03:09,290 --> 00:03:13,650 In 2 Timothy chapter 3, verse 16. 67 00:03:13,870 --> 00:03:17,010 This is one of the famous three 16's 68 00:03:17,010 --> 00:03:17,550 of the Bible. 69 00:03:19,410 --> 00:03:23,010 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. 70 00:03:23,550 --> 00:03:26,070 Now, the Spirit is not singled out here, 71 00:03:27,010 --> 00:03:29,610 but it's God the Spirit that's before us. 72 00:03:29,610 --> 00:03:31,590 We'll notice that from Peter in just a 73 00:03:31,590 --> 00:03:31,870 moment. 74 00:03:32,570 --> 00:03:36,110 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. 75 00:03:36,910 --> 00:03:40,750 The inspiration here is God breathed. 76 00:03:43,010 --> 00:03:48,410 And, of course, breathed strongly suggests that wind 77 00:03:48,410 --> 00:03:51,530 that we talked about last night, which is 78 00:03:51,530 --> 00:03:52,270 the Spirit. 79 00:03:52,270 --> 00:03:55,550 The word for spirit and the word for 80 00:03:55,550 --> 00:03:57,910 wind are the same word. 81 00:03:59,010 --> 00:04:01,150 They're God breathed. 82 00:04:01,910 --> 00:04:03,590 That's highly suggested. 83 00:04:04,850 --> 00:04:08,450 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God 84 00:04:08,450 --> 00:04:12,610 and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for 85 00:04:12,610 --> 00:04:16,690 correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man 86 00:04:16,690 --> 00:04:19,410 of God may be perfect, truly furnished, and 87 00:04:19,410 --> 00:04:20,990 to all good works. 88 00:04:21,670 --> 00:04:25,150 Now, Peter tells us what is not told 89 00:04:25,150 --> 00:04:25,690 us here. 90 00:04:26,010 --> 00:04:29,270 We're simply told in 2 Timothy 3.16 91 00:04:29,270 --> 00:04:32,370 that all Scripture is given by inspiration of 92 00:04:32,370 --> 00:04:32,710 God. 93 00:04:33,430 --> 00:04:35,150 But Peter does not leave us in doubt 94 00:04:35,150 --> 00:04:36,830 as to which member of the Godhead is 95 00:04:36,830 --> 00:04:37,510 before us. 96 00:04:37,510 --> 00:04:41,830 Shall we notice, please, 2 Peter, chapter 1, 97 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:59,880 verse 16, For we have not followed cunningly 98 00:04:59,880 --> 00:05:05,180 devised fables, when we made known unto you 99 00:05:05,180 --> 00:05:07,680 the power and coming of our Lord Jesus 100 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:08,640 Christ. 101 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:14,580 But we're eyewitnesses of his majesty. 102 00:05:16,060 --> 00:05:19,400 What Peter is writing to these Christians scattered 103 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:26,260 abroad is not the concoctions of men, not 104 00:05:26,260 --> 00:05:29,740 the vaporings of a mind, however cleverly presented, 105 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:31,960 and he wants them to know it. 106 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:39,320 We've not followed cunningly devised fables, when we 107 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,020 made known unto you the power and coming 108 00:05:41,020 --> 00:05:42,900 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 109 00:05:42,900 --> 00:05:44,620 But we're eyewitnesses of his glory. 110 00:05:45,060 --> 00:05:48,420 For he received from God the Father honor 111 00:05:48,420 --> 00:05:51,180 and glory, when there came such a voice 112 00:05:51,180 --> 00:05:53,220 to him from the excellent glory, this is 113 00:05:53,220 --> 00:05:55,640 my beloved Son, in whom I am well 114 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:56,100 pleased. 115 00:05:56,100 --> 00:05:58,900 And this voice, which came from heaven, we 116 00:05:58,900 --> 00:06:01,420 heard when we were with him in the 117 00:06:01,420 --> 00:06:02,060 holy mount. 118 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,960 And, of course, he's talking about the Mount 119 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:05,940 of Transfiguration. 120 00:06:06,100 --> 00:06:08,840 And will you please notice here that Peter 121 00:06:08,840 --> 00:06:12,380 doesn't even mention Elijah and Moses. 122 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,520 You remember on that occasion he was so 123 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:21,380 occupied, so overwhelmed by the presence of Elijah 124 00:06:21,380 --> 00:06:24,420 and Moses, that he makes the suggestion, Lord 125 00:06:24,420 --> 00:06:27,560 let us build here for thee three tabernacles, 126 00:06:27,820 --> 00:06:30,460 one for thee, one for Moses, and one 127 00:06:30,460 --> 00:06:31,200 for Elijah. 128 00:06:32,220 --> 00:06:34,640 And you remember there was a bright cloud 129 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:37,300 overshadowed them, and there was a voice out 130 00:06:37,300 --> 00:06:39,720 of that cloud, and that voice said, this 131 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,080 is my beloved Son, in whom I am 132 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:42,360 well pleased. 133 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:46,640 Hear ye him. 134 00:06:47,980 --> 00:06:48,660 Not Peter. 135 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:54,960 But Peter, after that experience, they were seized 136 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:55,800 with fear. 137 00:06:56,820 --> 00:06:58,900 And when the Lord opened their eyes again, 138 00:06:59,380 --> 00:07:01,800 they saw no man save Jesus only. 139 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:08,720 Yet, it wasn't long when Peter began to 140 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:12,120 make that suggestion that Moses and Elijah and 141 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,480 the Lord have a tabernacle built to their 142 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:15,120 memory. 143 00:07:15,820 --> 00:07:18,380 It wasn't long until God just took Moses 144 00:07:18,380 --> 00:07:19,780 and Elijah off the scene. 145 00:07:21,220 --> 00:07:23,020 And when they opened their eyes, they saw 146 00:07:23,020 --> 00:07:25,200 no man save Jesus only. 147 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:26,620 And you know, God will do that. 148 00:07:27,860 --> 00:07:29,820 God will do that for you and for 149 00:07:29,820 --> 00:07:30,160 me. 150 00:07:33,260 --> 00:07:36,240 We should never idolize men. 151 00:07:37,780 --> 00:07:40,140 We should never give man a place that 152 00:07:40,140 --> 00:07:41,320 he does not deserve. 153 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:45,680 We are doing that person a grave injustice 154 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:49,540 when we exalt man and put too much 155 00:07:49,540 --> 00:07:50,660 confidence in him. 156 00:07:51,460 --> 00:07:55,400 Because it may be absolutely necessary for God 157 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,360 to deal with that man, or perhaps take 158 00:07:58,360 --> 00:07:59,520 him off the scene. 159 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:04,360 That he and he alone might reign in 160 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:05,580 the hearts of men and women. 161 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,260 Now, I'm not saying for a moment that 162 00:08:09,260 --> 00:08:12,960 God takes one's mates away from him, that 163 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,840 he might put his trust more in God. 164 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,680 But I have heard the testimony of many 165 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:26,120 Christians that God meant more to them when 166 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:27,360 their mates were gone. 167 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:33,000 Now, here he does not even mention Moses 168 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,120 and Elijah. 169 00:08:36,980 --> 00:08:39,500 It was Christ and Christ alone. 170 00:08:40,179 --> 00:08:42,039 Wouldn't that be wonderful if you and I 171 00:08:42,039 --> 00:08:43,660 could only see Christ? 172 00:08:44,980 --> 00:08:47,660 Christ and Christ alone. 173 00:08:49,340 --> 00:08:53,020 Well, he speaks about that wonderful experience. 174 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,420 This voice which came from heaven we heard 175 00:08:56,420 --> 00:08:57,740 when we were with him on the holy 176 00:08:57,740 --> 00:08:58,040 mountain. 177 00:08:58,160 --> 00:08:59,660 This is my beloved son in whom I 178 00:08:59,660 --> 00:09:00,660 well please. 179 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,220 But then he goes on in verse 19 180 00:09:03,220 --> 00:09:06,900 to say, We have also a more sure 181 00:09:06,900 --> 00:09:12,740 word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that 182 00:09:12,740 --> 00:09:14,400 ye take heed as unto a light that 183 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:15,560 shineth in a dark place. 184 00:09:15,560 --> 00:09:20,620 Now, lest we feel cheated, lest we feel 185 00:09:20,620 --> 00:09:24,620 cheated that we haven't had a mountaintop experience 186 00:09:24,620 --> 00:09:29,440 like this one, Peter says, the word of 187 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:33,820 prophecy is more sure than my experience. 188 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:38,360 Because experiences can be enlarged, they can be 189 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,220 emphasized, they can be blown up out of 190 00:09:41,220 --> 00:09:44,900 proportion, and they can also be forgotten. 191 00:09:46,180 --> 00:09:50,140 But Peter says we have a more sure 192 00:09:50,140 --> 00:09:52,260 word of prophecy. 193 00:09:52,460 --> 00:09:56,420 Now, you and I have that right here. 194 00:09:57,140 --> 00:09:57,920 Here it is. 195 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:03,820 What a treasure offered by the Holy Spirit 196 00:10:03,820 --> 00:10:05,260 of God. 197 00:10:05,980 --> 00:10:08,200 We have also a more sure word of 198 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:12,160 prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take 199 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:13,980 heed as unto a light that shineth in 200 00:10:13,980 --> 00:10:16,960 a dark place, until the day dawn and 201 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:18,760 the day star rise in your hearts. 202 00:10:19,140 --> 00:10:21,900 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the 203 00:10:21,900 --> 00:10:24,300 scripture is of any private interpretation. 204 00:10:24,820 --> 00:10:27,120 It must be taken in its context. 205 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:30,780 And it must also be taken in the 206 00:10:30,780 --> 00:10:32,440 light of the rest of the word of 207 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:33,100 God. 208 00:10:34,100 --> 00:10:36,780 For the prophecy came not in old time 209 00:10:36,780 --> 00:10:39,240 by the will of man, but holy men 210 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:43,420 of God speak as they were moved by 211 00:10:43,420 --> 00:10:44,420 the Holy Ghost. 212 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,980 Now, the word moved here has been translated, 213 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:51,480 carried along. 214 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:57,780 And it suggests how the wind may carry 215 00:10:57,780 --> 00:11:02,720 along objects that are caught up under its 216 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:03,140 power. 217 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:07,220 They were carried along by the Holy Spirit 218 00:11:07,220 --> 00:11:11,460 of God, and it was not the will 219 00:11:11,460 --> 00:11:11,940 of man. 220 00:11:11,940 --> 00:11:17,200 It wasn't that Isaiah decided to write a 221 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:17,660 prophecy. 222 00:11:19,100 --> 00:11:23,080 My, when he saw the failure in Israel, 223 00:11:23,820 --> 00:11:27,060 and especially when Jeremiah saw the failure in 224 00:11:27,060 --> 00:11:29,560 Israel, writing even later than Isaiah. 225 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:33,360 One might say, well, Jeremiah just was so 226 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,880 overwhelmed with the failure of Israel, he decided 227 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:36,940 to write a prophecy. 228 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:40,900 To rebuke the children of Israel and to 229 00:11:40,900 --> 00:11:42,200 lead them back to the Lord. 230 00:11:43,060 --> 00:11:44,460 No, that wasn't it at all. 231 00:11:46,580 --> 00:11:49,320 Amos, on one occasion, you remember, was reproached. 232 00:11:49,560 --> 00:11:52,480 Amos was a prophet, and he rebuked the 233 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:53,280 children of Israel. 234 00:11:54,620 --> 00:11:57,720 And they told him, Amos, go someplace else 235 00:11:57,720 --> 00:11:58,360 and prophesy. 236 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:00,960 No prophesying here. 237 00:12:01,300 --> 00:12:02,720 Go someplace else and prophesy. 238 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,800 And Amos says, I was a herdsman. 239 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:09,000 My father was a herdsman. 240 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:12,740 And the Lord told me, now I'm not 241 00:12:12,740 --> 00:12:13,160 a prophet. 242 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:14,660 I don't have a prophet's background. 243 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:16,840 But when God speaks, what can you do? 244 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:19,860 I wasn't a prophet. 245 00:12:20,460 --> 00:12:21,480 That wasn't my business. 246 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,520 I didn't even make my living that way. 247 00:12:28,500 --> 00:12:31,860 Most people are very, very concerned about their 248 00:12:31,860 --> 00:12:32,080 living. 249 00:12:32,220 --> 00:12:34,760 And I'm sorry to say tonight, that in 250 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,100 this world today, that some preachers are in 251 00:12:37,100 --> 00:12:40,280 the ministry because they get a living out 252 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:40,540 of it. 253 00:12:42,700 --> 00:12:45,020 I heard a man say to another man, 254 00:12:45,580 --> 00:12:47,240 whom he had not seen for years. 255 00:12:50,180 --> 00:12:51,200 I heard of this. 256 00:12:51,680 --> 00:12:53,140 I did not know the man, but I 257 00:12:53,140 --> 00:12:53,680 heard of it. 258 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:56,920 That they compared notes. 259 00:12:58,060 --> 00:13:01,560 So, finally, one asked his pal of former 260 00:13:01,560 --> 00:13:03,100 years, he says, what are you doing now? 261 00:13:04,560 --> 00:13:06,260 He says, well, I'm a preacher. 262 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:09,060 A preacher? 263 00:13:09,660 --> 00:13:11,940 He says, you a preacher? 264 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,520 He says, that's hard for me to believe. 265 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:16,800 He says, yes, I am a preacher. 266 00:13:18,020 --> 00:13:19,840 And he says, believe me, I'll tell you, 267 00:13:19,940 --> 00:13:23,180 it's the slickest racket you've ever got into. 268 00:13:24,820 --> 00:13:26,100 How about that? 269 00:13:27,380 --> 00:13:30,200 Now, Amos wasn't in it for the money. 270 00:13:30,820 --> 00:13:31,720 He had his living. 271 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:33,600 He was a herdsman. 272 00:13:34,140 --> 00:13:36,560 But he says, the Lord told me to 273 00:13:36,560 --> 00:13:39,800 prophesy, and I'm doing it. 274 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,400 What can you do when God tells you 275 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:43,200 to do something? 276 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:45,760 And believe me, he impressed them with the 277 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:47,560 fact that that just wasn't his business. 278 00:13:48,020 --> 00:13:49,180 It wasn't his vocation. 279 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:53,900 Now, God spoke through these men. 280 00:13:54,380 --> 00:13:55,420 It wasn't their idea. 281 00:13:56,420 --> 00:13:59,080 The Spirit of God spoke through these men. 282 00:13:59,660 --> 00:14:01,680 The prophecy came not in old time of 283 00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:04,060 the will of man, but holy men of 284 00:14:04,060 --> 00:14:08,460 God speak as they were carried along by 285 00:14:08,460 --> 00:14:09,160 the Holy Ghost. 286 00:14:09,740 --> 00:14:12,800 Now, in the first chapter of 1 Peter, 287 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,020 we have another reference here that I think 288 00:14:16,020 --> 00:14:18,060 is very significant. 289 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:22,560 Verse 9 of the first chapter of 1 290 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:25,260 Peter, receiving the end of your faith, even 291 00:14:25,260 --> 00:14:27,520 the salvation of your souls, of which salvation 292 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:31,280 the prophets have inquired, and searched diligently who 293 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,600 prophesied of the grace that should come unto 294 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:34,180 you. 295 00:14:35,780 --> 00:14:38,260 Searching what, or what manner of time, the 296 00:14:38,260 --> 00:14:42,000 Spirit of Christ, which within them did signify 297 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,600 when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ 298 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,940 and the glory that should follow, unto whom 299 00:14:47,940 --> 00:14:51,620 it was revealed that not unto themselves, but 300 00:14:51,620 --> 00:14:54,340 unto us did they minister the things which 301 00:14:54,340 --> 00:14:58,380 are now reported unto you by them that 302 00:14:58,380 --> 00:15:00,900 have preached the gospel unto you, with the 303 00:15:00,900 --> 00:15:03,000 Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, which things 304 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:04,160 the angel did say. 305 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:08,600 Now, the Spirit of Christ gave these men 306 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:10,340 their writings, and what did they do? 307 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:14,880 They searched their own writings. 308 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:19,160 They puzzled over their own writings. 309 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:25,400 They prayed for wisdom to understand that which 310 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:26,060 had been written. 311 00:15:27,780 --> 00:15:29,660 Now, do you think that that was of 312 00:15:29,660 --> 00:15:32,560 their making? 313 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:34,080 It was not. 314 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:39,980 They studied their own scriptures, and God had 315 00:15:39,980 --> 00:15:42,460 to reveal to them that they weren't writing 316 00:15:42,460 --> 00:15:45,220 for themselves, they were writing for us. 317 00:15:46,740 --> 00:15:49,260 They were writing for you and for me, 318 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:54,220 and those men couldn't understand even parts of 319 00:15:54,220 --> 00:15:54,880 their own writings. 320 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:56,440 We see that in the book of Daniel. 321 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:01,800 Daniel was given revelations, and then he pondered 322 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,460 over them, and he prayed over those revelations 323 00:16:05,460 --> 00:16:06,760 that were given to him. 324 00:16:07,300 --> 00:16:09,160 The Spirit of God is the author of 325 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:09,540 this book. 326 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:11,180 It is not offered by man. 327 00:16:11,180 --> 00:16:13,420 We could talk for the rest of the 328 00:16:13,420 --> 00:16:15,440 evening over the wonder of the Bible, the 329 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:19,660 continuity of the Bible, how that it dovetails, 330 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:23,080 how it fits together, the beautiful way that 331 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:24,440 the Word of God supports it. 332 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:28,780 Written by some 40 authors over a period 333 00:16:28,780 --> 00:16:33,620 of some 1,600 years, 66 books, and 334 00:16:33,620 --> 00:16:37,620 a wonderful integrated message. 335 00:16:37,620 --> 00:16:39,760 Well, there's a reason for it. 336 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:45,740 It has one author, and that author is 337 00:16:45,740 --> 00:16:47,780 the Spirit of God. 338 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:53,040 Now, of course, he did use human instrumentality, 339 00:16:53,580 --> 00:16:58,760 and the style of those instruments, the human 340 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:01,140 instruments that he used, is preserved. 341 00:17:01,140 --> 00:17:04,020 I think of that wonderful statement that David 342 00:17:04,020 --> 00:17:07,440 made in the 45th Psalm, and I'd like 343 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:08,500 you to see that. 344 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:09,780 Psalm 45. 345 00:17:18,609 --> 00:17:43,010 David says, Now, 346 00:17:43,010 --> 00:17:46,210 David's tongue, of course, would sound like David, 347 00:17:46,330 --> 00:17:46,690 wouldn't it? 348 00:17:48,110 --> 00:17:52,090 Now, when Paul writes, he has his peculiar 349 00:17:52,090 --> 00:17:52,650 style. 350 00:17:53,530 --> 00:17:56,950 When Peter writes, he has his peculiar style. 351 00:17:58,050 --> 00:18:02,370 Isaiah does not sound like Ezekiel, and Ezekiel 352 00:18:02,370 --> 00:18:05,030 does not sound like Jeremiah or Daniel. 353 00:18:06,030 --> 00:18:08,750 There is a peculiar style in the Pentateuch, 354 00:18:08,770 --> 00:18:10,210 and I love that style, too. 355 00:18:11,330 --> 00:18:15,270 John wrote with a most remarkable style, the 356 00:18:15,270 --> 00:18:16,110 Apostle John. 357 00:18:17,270 --> 00:18:23,130 And you can see the personality of these 358 00:18:23,130 --> 00:18:26,950 men in their writing, and one might be 359 00:18:26,950 --> 00:18:28,830 inclined to say, well, they authored them, but 360 00:18:28,830 --> 00:18:29,290 they didn't. 361 00:18:32,590 --> 00:18:35,850 The message, as it reaches you and me, 362 00:18:35,990 --> 00:18:39,030 takes on the characteristics of the channel. 363 00:18:40,230 --> 00:18:42,530 But the message is from the Holy Spirit 364 00:18:42,530 --> 00:18:43,010 of God. 365 00:18:43,150 --> 00:18:44,790 It is God-breathed. 366 00:18:46,330 --> 00:18:49,230 And though these men spoke these words, we 367 00:18:49,230 --> 00:18:51,750 have the truths of God, as the Spirit 368 00:18:51,750 --> 00:18:53,790 of God intended that we should have them, 369 00:18:54,630 --> 00:18:58,550 but we also have the personality of the 370 00:18:58,550 --> 00:18:58,870 writers. 371 00:19:02,330 --> 00:19:05,710 Now, this is not hard to understand. 372 00:19:06,910 --> 00:19:08,510 You know, you and I can give the 373 00:19:08,510 --> 00:19:09,170 same message. 374 00:19:09,290 --> 00:19:11,130 We won't, perhaps, use the same words. 375 00:19:12,270 --> 00:19:14,290 Now, I'm not undermining, and I trust that 376 00:19:14,290 --> 00:19:17,050 I'm not undermining your confidence in the Word 377 00:19:17,050 --> 00:19:19,090 of God, because I believe in the verbal 378 00:19:19,090 --> 00:19:21,870 inspiration, the plenary inspiration of the Scriptures. 379 00:19:22,430 --> 00:19:25,430 Every word comes from God, but God knew 380 00:19:25,430 --> 00:19:27,690 that these men would use those words. 381 00:19:27,690 --> 00:19:29,950 Now, how did the Spirit of God do 382 00:19:29,950 --> 00:19:30,150 it? 383 00:19:30,410 --> 00:19:34,030 Was there a still, small voice that Elijah 384 00:19:34,030 --> 00:19:37,010 heard at Horeb? 385 00:19:37,610 --> 00:19:38,790 I don't know. 386 00:19:40,890 --> 00:19:44,030 Was there an audible voice in the room? 387 00:19:45,630 --> 00:19:46,570 I don't know. 388 00:19:47,530 --> 00:19:50,010 But I do know that there is plenty 389 00:19:50,010 --> 00:19:52,310 of evidence in the Word of God that 390 00:19:52,310 --> 00:19:57,090 these Scriptures are Spirit-breathed, that we have 391 00:19:57,090 --> 00:20:00,250 the mind of God in the Holy Word 392 00:20:00,250 --> 00:20:00,990 of God. 393 00:20:02,230 --> 00:20:05,850 It's a marvelous book, and it's a treasure. 394 00:20:06,250 --> 00:20:07,790 Thank God for it. 395 00:20:09,740 --> 00:20:11,680 And you and I ought to treasure our 396 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:13,560 Bibles more and more. 397 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,200 We sing that little song of A.P. 398 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:22,260 Gibbs, Precious Holy Bible, Treasure Rich and Rare. 399 00:20:23,340 --> 00:20:25,240 Oh, what a treasure we have. 400 00:20:25,620 --> 00:20:26,980 In the Word of God, just think of 401 00:20:26,980 --> 00:20:27,140 it. 402 00:20:27,340 --> 00:20:31,100 You and I do not have to accept 403 00:20:31,100 --> 00:20:34,460 what we, our knowledge of God, pass down 404 00:20:34,460 --> 00:20:35,280 through tradition. 405 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:38,280 It has been frozen. 406 00:20:39,580 --> 00:20:41,460 Frozen in words. 407 00:20:43,260 --> 00:20:46,020 Words that were authored by the sphere of 408 00:20:46,020 --> 00:20:46,440 God. 409 00:20:46,540 --> 00:20:48,500 And you have the mind of God, and 410 00:20:48,500 --> 00:20:52,000 I have the mind of God, uncolored, untainted 411 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:54,700 by human instrumentality. 412 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:56,720 I say uncolored. 413 00:20:57,560 --> 00:20:59,400 Perhaps I shouldn't say that. 414 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:01,500 I say uncolored in the sense that it's 415 00:21:01,500 --> 00:21:02,340 not the wrong color. 416 00:21:02,340 --> 00:21:05,380 It does bear the personality of the writers. 417 00:21:06,460 --> 00:21:08,480 But believe me, we have the message that 418 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:09,900 God intended that we have. 419 00:21:10,860 --> 00:21:13,020 Precious, Precious Holy Bible. 420 00:21:13,980 --> 00:21:16,900 Now, the Spirit of God is not only 421 00:21:16,900 --> 00:21:19,620 the author of the Bible, but he teaches 422 00:21:19,620 --> 00:21:21,360 the Bible that he writes. 423 00:21:21,500 --> 00:21:23,960 He explains the Bible that he writes. 424 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:42,660 1 Corinthians 2, verse 425 00:21:42,660 --> 00:21:45,560 9, But as it is written, I have 426 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:49,460 not seen nor heard, neither have entered into 427 00:21:49,460 --> 00:21:52,080 the heart of man the things which God 428 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,200 hath prepared for them that love him. 429 00:21:56,860 --> 00:21:59,520 Now, man here I believe is the unregenerate 430 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:01,380 man, because we see it right down in 431 00:22:01,380 --> 00:22:02,300 the verses that follow. 432 00:22:03,780 --> 00:22:07,160 The unregenerate man does not realize the wonderful 433 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:08,920 things that God has got in store for 434 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:09,600 you and for me. 435 00:22:11,180 --> 00:22:13,800 I have not seen nor heard, neither have 436 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:15,280 entered into the heart of man the things 437 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:17,140 which God hath prepared for them that love 438 00:22:17,140 --> 00:22:17,400 him. 439 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:19,720 They don't love him, they don't know him, 440 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:23,800 and therefore they cannot understand the wonderful provision 441 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:25,340 that we have in Christ, in God. 442 00:22:27,100 --> 00:22:30,660 But, we read in verse 10, But God 443 00:22:30,660 --> 00:22:33,920 hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. 444 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:38,200 For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the 445 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:39,220 deep things of God. 446 00:22:40,020 --> 00:22:42,100 Now, in contrast to man, I should have 447 00:22:42,100 --> 00:22:43,040 read it with this emphasis. 448 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:48,460 But God hath revealed them unto us by 449 00:22:48,460 --> 00:22:49,080 his Spirit. 450 00:22:49,300 --> 00:22:50,220 Men can't see them. 451 00:22:51,340 --> 00:22:53,300 Men cannot see the glories of God. 452 00:22:53,860 --> 00:22:56,040 They just do not see them. 453 00:22:56,360 --> 00:22:56,940 But we do. 454 00:22:57,860 --> 00:22:58,400 Why? 455 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:01,960 Because they're revealed to us by the Spirit 456 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:02,480 of God. 457 00:23:03,020 --> 00:23:05,520 He is the author of this book, and 458 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:06,660 he expounds it. 459 00:23:07,100 --> 00:23:08,760 He is the expounder of this book. 460 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:12,300 But God hath revealed them unto us by 461 00:23:12,300 --> 00:23:12,980 his Spirit. 462 00:23:13,660 --> 00:23:16,380 For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the 463 00:23:16,380 --> 00:23:17,500 deep things of God. 464 00:23:17,620 --> 00:23:20,120 For what man knoweth the things of a 465 00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:21,940 man, save the Spirit of man which is 466 00:23:21,940 --> 00:23:22,440 in him? 467 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:25,460 Even so, the things of God knoweth no 468 00:23:25,460 --> 00:23:27,000 man but the Spirit of God. 469 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:29,860 Now, we have received not the Spirit of 470 00:23:29,860 --> 00:23:32,340 the world, but the Spirit which is of 471 00:23:32,340 --> 00:23:35,760 God, that we might know the things that 472 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:38,200 are freely given to us of God. 473 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:42,580 Which things also we speak, not in words 474 00:23:42,580 --> 00:23:45,860 which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy 475 00:23:45,860 --> 00:23:50,740 Ghost teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 476 00:23:51,360 --> 00:23:53,720 But the natural man receiveth not the things 477 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:55,020 of the Spirit of God, for they are 478 00:23:55,020 --> 00:23:56,200 foolishness unto him. 479 00:23:56,840 --> 00:23:58,480 Neither can he know them, because they are 480 00:23:58,480 --> 00:23:59,860 spiritually discerned. 481 00:24:00,140 --> 00:24:03,820 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, 482 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,160 or discerneth all things, yet he himself is 483 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:07,220 discerned of no man. 484 00:24:07,940 --> 00:24:09,680 For who hath known the mind of the 485 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:11,900 Lord, that he may instruct him? 486 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:13,780 But we have the mind of Christ revealed, 487 00:24:13,860 --> 00:24:15,980 of course, by the Spirit of God. 488 00:24:18,620 --> 00:24:21,120 Now, the Spirit of God is the teacher. 489 00:24:22,940 --> 00:24:26,760 This same truth is brought out in 1 490 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:27,920 John chapter 2. 491 00:24:33,470 --> 00:24:35,530 And what a precious holy ministry this is 492 00:24:35,530 --> 00:24:36,270 to you and to me. 493 00:24:37,190 --> 00:24:39,190 The Spirit of God is the teacher. 494 00:24:48,250 --> 00:24:51,930 Verse 20 of the 2nd chapter of 1 495 00:24:51,930 --> 00:24:52,370 John. 496 00:24:52,370 --> 00:24:55,710 But we have an unction from the Holy 497 00:24:55,710 --> 00:24:57,650 One, and ye know all things. 498 00:24:58,270 --> 00:25:00,950 Now, an unction means an anointing. 499 00:25:01,710 --> 00:25:04,510 And the anointing is connected with the Spirit. 500 00:25:05,990 --> 00:25:08,810 The Spirit coming down on Christ is spoken 501 00:25:08,810 --> 00:25:10,150 of as an anointing. 502 00:25:19,010 --> 00:25:22,770 The anointing which ye have received of him 503 00:25:22,770 --> 00:25:24,030 abideth in you. 504 00:25:24,350 --> 00:25:26,130 And, of course, this is the Spirit of 505 00:25:26,130 --> 00:25:27,350 God that's abiding in us. 506 00:25:28,110 --> 00:25:30,670 The anointing which ye have received of him 507 00:25:30,670 --> 00:25:33,190 abideth in you, and ye need not that 508 00:25:33,190 --> 00:25:35,770 any man teach you. 509 00:25:36,650 --> 00:25:40,470 But as the same anointing teacheth you of 510 00:25:40,470 --> 00:25:43,190 all things, and is truth and is no 511 00:25:43,190 --> 00:25:48,450 lie, even as it hath taught you, ye 512 00:25:48,450 --> 00:25:50,570 shall abide in him. 513 00:25:50,630 --> 00:25:52,590 That anointing is the Holy Spirit of God. 514 00:25:52,910 --> 00:25:54,490 Now, we're not indebted to men. 515 00:25:55,830 --> 00:26:00,870 Man in all his wisdom is not qualified 516 00:26:00,870 --> 00:26:02,990 to teach the Bible to you and me. 517 00:26:02,990 --> 00:26:04,970 I don't care how well informed he is. 518 00:26:05,490 --> 00:26:08,150 I don't care how highly educated he is. 519 00:26:08,630 --> 00:26:10,090 If he does not have the Spirit of 520 00:26:10,090 --> 00:26:13,010 God to teach him, he has absolutely nothing. 521 00:26:13,150 --> 00:26:16,150 Oh, he might give you some historical information, 522 00:26:16,770 --> 00:26:19,550 but he will not be able to teach 523 00:26:19,550 --> 00:26:21,970 you the deep things of God, because he 524 00:26:21,970 --> 00:26:22,950 doesn't have the Spirit. 525 00:26:27,290 --> 00:26:29,590 Now, I don't say that he wouldn't know 526 00:26:29,590 --> 00:26:31,370 them as he had been taught. 527 00:26:31,990 --> 00:26:33,650 Now, I'd better clear this up, because it 528 00:26:33,650 --> 00:26:36,290 may confuse some of you, and it might 529 00:26:36,290 --> 00:26:37,370 even stumble some of you. 530 00:26:38,330 --> 00:26:40,730 Now, this is true. 531 00:26:41,990 --> 00:26:44,530 That man may go to a seminary that 532 00:26:44,530 --> 00:26:45,790 is fundamental in character. 533 00:26:47,130 --> 00:26:49,990 He may be able to absorb some of 534 00:26:49,990 --> 00:26:51,710 that teaching and pass it on to you. 535 00:26:51,710 --> 00:26:55,720 But that's really not from himself. 536 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:59,620 That came from his instructors and by the 537 00:26:59,620 --> 00:27:03,180 writings which they taught, and those writings may 538 00:27:03,180 --> 00:27:04,940 have been directed by the Spirit of God. 539 00:27:06,460 --> 00:27:08,940 All that you and I know about Christ 540 00:27:08,940 --> 00:27:12,200 comes by reason of the ministry of the 541 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:13,000 Spirit of God. 542 00:27:14,140 --> 00:27:17,320 Now, you may be studying your Bible, and 543 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:19,620 the Spirit of God can reveal to you, 544 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:21,420 can teach you. 545 00:27:23,670 --> 00:27:26,510 He can teach you as an individual, and 546 00:27:26,510 --> 00:27:28,170 I think that's the best way that our 547 00:27:28,170 --> 00:27:32,230 teaching has possibly received, is when the Spirit 548 00:27:32,230 --> 00:27:34,190 of God gives us good things. 549 00:27:34,910 --> 00:27:38,470 But if he gives you anything from any 550 00:27:38,470 --> 00:27:41,730 speaker, that speaker had to get it from 551 00:27:41,730 --> 00:27:42,670 the Spirit of God. 552 00:27:42,770 --> 00:27:44,330 The Spirit of God had to reveal it 553 00:27:44,330 --> 00:27:47,470 to that speaker, or if that speaker is 554 00:27:47,470 --> 00:27:51,550 quoting another speaker, the Spirit of God had 555 00:27:51,550 --> 00:27:52,690 to reveal it to him. 556 00:27:53,830 --> 00:27:57,410 You trace the truth back, and you will 557 00:27:57,410 --> 00:28:00,730 find that the Spirit of God reveals the 558 00:28:00,730 --> 00:28:02,110 truth of God to you and me. 559 00:28:02,250 --> 00:28:05,730 We do not obtain it through human wisdom. 560 00:28:07,110 --> 00:28:09,390 Sometimes we hear the Word of God taught. 561 00:28:10,510 --> 00:28:13,490 We hear things brought out from the Scriptures, 562 00:28:13,910 --> 00:28:17,070 and they are so evident, so precious, and 563 00:28:17,070 --> 00:28:19,710 they so thrill us that we often ask 564 00:28:19,710 --> 00:28:21,790 the question, well now, why didn't I see 565 00:28:21,790 --> 00:28:22,650 that before? 566 00:28:23,370 --> 00:28:25,170 Well, I'll tell you why you didn't see 567 00:28:25,170 --> 00:28:25,670 it before. 568 00:28:26,230 --> 00:28:29,150 The Spirit hadn't revealed it to you before. 569 00:28:29,690 --> 00:28:31,990 That's why you hadn't seen it, and you 570 00:28:31,990 --> 00:28:33,870 don't see it until the Spirit does reveal 571 00:28:33,870 --> 00:28:34,370 it to you. 572 00:28:35,290 --> 00:28:38,330 He is the revealer of the Word of 573 00:28:38,330 --> 00:28:38,690 God. 574 00:28:39,030 --> 00:28:40,330 He reveals Christ. 575 00:28:41,350 --> 00:28:44,170 He opens up this book to you and 576 00:28:44,170 --> 00:28:44,950 to me. 577 00:28:45,750 --> 00:28:49,110 But I'll tell you, in all reverence, the 578 00:28:49,110 --> 00:28:51,490 Spirit of God cannot reveal to you truth 579 00:28:51,490 --> 00:28:53,990 that you've never read. 580 00:28:55,870 --> 00:29:00,490 It's your portion, and my portion, to read 581 00:29:00,490 --> 00:29:01,130 the Word of God. 582 00:29:01,230 --> 00:29:03,190 It's our privilege, perhaps I'd better say this 583 00:29:03,190 --> 00:29:04,170 is a better chosen word. 584 00:29:04,610 --> 00:29:08,030 It's your privilege, and my privilege, to read 585 00:29:08,030 --> 00:29:09,770 the Word of God. 586 00:29:10,630 --> 00:29:13,490 And then the Spirit of God has something 587 00:29:13,490 --> 00:29:14,430 to work on. 588 00:29:15,710 --> 00:29:17,910 It's very, very important to read the Scriptures, 589 00:29:18,150 --> 00:29:23,010 and to store your heart and mind with 590 00:29:23,010 --> 00:29:27,110 the Scriptures, because it's the good seed, and 591 00:29:27,110 --> 00:29:30,190 the Spirit of God can work on that 592 00:29:30,190 --> 00:29:33,750 Word, both to the unsaved and to the 593 00:29:33,750 --> 00:29:34,230 saved. 594 00:29:35,610 --> 00:29:37,570 I heard of a man that went away 595 00:29:37,570 --> 00:29:41,150 to Australia to escape a Christian environment. 596 00:29:42,110 --> 00:29:44,310 And he went down under, to the land 597 00:29:44,310 --> 00:29:49,290 down under, and stayed there for all his 598 00:29:49,290 --> 00:29:51,030 long life. 599 00:29:52,210 --> 00:29:57,390 Until that poor man, now many, many miles 600 00:29:57,390 --> 00:30:00,490 away from home, all that he knew, many 601 00:30:00,490 --> 00:30:04,010 of his loved ones dead before him, passed 602 00:30:04,010 --> 00:30:06,890 on before him, and he became troubled about 603 00:30:06,890 --> 00:30:08,870 the fact that he knew that he was 604 00:30:08,870 --> 00:30:09,950 going to leave this life. 605 00:30:10,990 --> 00:30:13,010 And he was not prepared to leave this 606 00:30:13,010 --> 00:30:13,250 life. 607 00:30:13,310 --> 00:30:14,790 He did not know the Lord as his 608 00:30:14,790 --> 00:30:15,170 Savior. 609 00:30:16,330 --> 00:30:18,870 And that man went over some of the 610 00:30:18,870 --> 00:30:19,250 things. 611 00:30:19,410 --> 00:30:21,330 He got a hold of the Bible, and 612 00:30:21,330 --> 00:30:22,970 he went over some of the things that 613 00:30:22,970 --> 00:30:24,950 he had gone over in his youth. 614 00:30:25,070 --> 00:30:26,270 I don't know whether he even got a 615 00:30:26,270 --> 00:30:27,070 hold of the Bible. 616 00:30:27,210 --> 00:30:29,470 I've read the story, and I'm not clear 617 00:30:29,470 --> 00:30:30,210 on that point. 618 00:30:30,850 --> 00:30:33,150 But I will say this, the things that 619 00:30:33,150 --> 00:30:35,570 he had taught, the memory verses that he 620 00:30:35,570 --> 00:30:38,630 had memorized in his youth, were used of 621 00:30:38,630 --> 00:30:39,590 God the Spirit. 622 00:30:40,430 --> 00:30:43,290 And the man would say, it's a good 623 00:30:43,290 --> 00:30:43,810 seed. 624 00:30:44,830 --> 00:30:47,190 It's a seed that never rots. 625 00:30:47,830 --> 00:30:49,010 You can't burn it. 626 00:30:49,090 --> 00:30:50,390 You cannot destroy it. 627 00:30:50,430 --> 00:30:53,550 The indestructible Word of God. 628 00:30:53,910 --> 00:30:55,790 And the Spirit of God can use it, 629 00:30:56,070 --> 00:30:58,150 and he can reveal to you and to 630 00:30:58,150 --> 00:31:00,570 me, he must reveal to you and to 631 00:31:00,570 --> 00:31:02,790 me, what we know of the Word of 632 00:31:02,790 --> 00:31:03,110 God. 633 00:31:04,350 --> 00:31:08,430 Now, it's true that we do have teachers, 634 00:31:08,590 --> 00:31:09,610 God-given teachers. 635 00:31:09,970 --> 00:31:12,050 They are part of the gift of Christ 636 00:31:12,050 --> 00:31:12,790 to the Church. 637 00:31:13,830 --> 00:31:16,090 I certainly reverence the men from whom I 638 00:31:16,090 --> 00:31:19,030 receive so much from the Word of God. 639 00:31:19,710 --> 00:31:19,970 C. 640 00:31:20,010 --> 00:31:20,210 W. 641 00:31:20,270 --> 00:31:20,830 Ross, A. 642 00:31:20,830 --> 00:31:20,930 M. 643 00:31:20,990 --> 00:31:22,590 O'Brien, and men of that caliber. 644 00:31:23,110 --> 00:31:24,870 I thank God for them. 645 00:31:24,870 --> 00:31:27,710 But I'll tell you one thing, God wants 646 00:31:27,710 --> 00:31:29,370 to give it to us directly, and I 647 00:31:29,370 --> 00:31:33,050 say it's best straight from the Lord. 648 00:31:33,670 --> 00:31:36,250 It is best when the Spirit of God 649 00:31:36,250 --> 00:31:38,830 just shines upon the written page, so to 650 00:31:38,830 --> 00:31:41,910 speak, and speaks to your heart and to 651 00:31:41,910 --> 00:31:42,210 mine. 652 00:31:42,390 --> 00:31:43,390 It's the sweetest. 653 00:31:43,830 --> 00:31:45,490 And it thrills the soul. 654 00:31:46,150 --> 00:31:47,670 And I'll tell you, I think there ought 655 00:31:47,670 --> 00:31:50,390 to be more among us of sharing these 656 00:31:50,390 --> 00:31:53,230 things, and being able to say, when God 657 00:31:53,230 --> 00:31:55,550 has thrilled our heart and we have seen 658 00:31:55,550 --> 00:31:58,390 something that we never saw before, and nobody 659 00:31:58,390 --> 00:32:00,250 has ever brought to our attention before, and 660 00:32:00,250 --> 00:32:01,910 be able to take it to a brother 661 00:32:01,910 --> 00:32:04,570 or sister in Christ, let me show you 662 00:32:04,570 --> 00:32:05,870 what the Lord showed to me. 663 00:32:06,590 --> 00:32:07,790 And then open it up. 664 00:32:08,410 --> 00:32:09,870 Maybe you'll have two happy hearts. 665 00:32:10,310 --> 00:32:12,150 Maybe you'll have two hearts that are thrilled. 666 00:32:13,070 --> 00:32:15,030 And I say that's the best way to 667 00:32:15,030 --> 00:32:17,190 get it, is directly from the Lord. 668 00:32:17,690 --> 00:32:19,390 But the Spirit of God, and the Spirit 669 00:32:19,390 --> 00:32:22,670 of God alone, can give it to you. 670 00:32:23,010 --> 00:32:25,710 You'll not discern the things of God by 671 00:32:25,710 --> 00:32:28,790 human ingenuity and human intelligence. 672 00:32:29,230 --> 00:32:32,330 It's a revelation of the Spirit of God. 673 00:32:32,330 --> 00:32:33,910 Salvation is a revelation. 674 00:32:34,570 --> 00:32:36,710 The truths of the Scripture come to you 675 00:32:36,710 --> 00:32:39,610 and to me by the gracious ministry of 676 00:32:39,610 --> 00:32:40,310 the Spirit of God. 677 00:32:40,390 --> 00:32:43,250 And, if he uses a human instrument, that 678 00:32:43,250 --> 00:32:46,370 human instrument must get his teaching from the 679 00:32:46,370 --> 00:32:47,170 Spirit of God. 680 00:32:47,250 --> 00:32:49,130 You trace it to that source. 681 00:32:50,270 --> 00:32:52,370 And he occupies us with the Lord Jesus 682 00:32:52,370 --> 00:32:52,830 Christ. 683 00:32:56,910 --> 00:32:59,850 Now, the Spirit of God can also lead 684 00:32:59,850 --> 00:33:01,670 us as well as teach us. 685 00:33:02,650 --> 00:33:05,990 And these two thoughts go together. 686 00:33:06,990 --> 00:33:09,750 Because often he leads us through the Word 687 00:33:09,750 --> 00:33:11,770 of God that he has taught us. 688 00:33:12,190 --> 00:33:14,630 But lead us he must, and lead us 689 00:33:14,630 --> 00:33:17,070 he will, if we will be subjected to 690 00:33:17,070 --> 00:33:17,350 him. 691 00:33:17,970 --> 00:33:21,430 There is a verse, I think, that is 692 00:33:21,430 --> 00:33:23,810 one of the key verses of this thought 693 00:33:23,810 --> 00:33:24,970 in the 8th chapter of Romans. 694 00:33:25,090 --> 00:33:26,190 Romans chapter 8. 695 00:33:39,470 --> 00:33:42,410 This is the chapter of the Holy Spirit. 696 00:33:42,550 --> 00:33:45,610 The Holy Spirit is mentioned 19 times in 697 00:33:45,610 --> 00:33:47,210 the 8th chapter of the book of Romans. 698 00:33:47,890 --> 00:33:50,770 The book of Romans is divided into three 699 00:33:50,770 --> 00:33:52,470 parts like Gaul of old. 700 00:33:53,630 --> 00:33:58,210 But those three parts, the first eight chapters 701 00:33:58,210 --> 00:34:02,270 are doctrinal, the next three chapters are dispensational, 702 00:34:02,730 --> 00:34:05,230 and the last five chapters are practical. 703 00:34:07,580 --> 00:34:09,639 But this is the end of the doctrinal 704 00:34:09,639 --> 00:34:10,940 section of the book of Romans. 705 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:13,480 First of all, in the book of Romans 706 00:34:13,480 --> 00:34:16,060 we have God the Father active, God the 707 00:34:16,060 --> 00:34:16,980 Father before us. 708 00:34:16,980 --> 00:34:19,780 And then we have Christ the Son of 709 00:34:19,780 --> 00:34:21,800 God following that. 710 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:24,400 And then in the 8th chapter of the 711 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:26,880 book of Romans you have the ministry of 712 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:27,400 the Spirit. 713 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:30,199 The Spirit is not mentioned much in the 714 00:34:30,199 --> 00:34:31,420 chapters prior to this. 715 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:34,440 But in this chapter it's mentioned some 19 716 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:34,860 times. 717 00:34:35,580 --> 00:34:37,300 And it's a chapter of comfort. 718 00:34:38,219 --> 00:34:40,159 The 8th chapter of Romans is one of 719 00:34:40,159 --> 00:34:41,760 the favorite chapters of the Bible. 720 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:43,840 It's one of my favorite chapters. 721 00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:47,659 And it's a chapter of great comfort. 722 00:34:47,920 --> 00:34:50,520 We can't, perhaps when we talk about the 723 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:52,480 Spirit, the ministry of the Spirit of God 724 00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:56,160 and comforting us, perhaps we can consider the 725 00:34:56,160 --> 00:34:57,240 8th chapter of Romans. 726 00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:02,400 But for the moment, verse 14 says, for 727 00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:05,700 as many as are led by the Spirit 728 00:35:05,700 --> 00:35:09,960 of God, they are the sons of God. 729 00:35:11,560 --> 00:35:15,460 Now, the characteristic of a son is to 730 00:35:15,460 --> 00:35:16,440 be led by the Spirit. 731 00:35:17,580 --> 00:35:21,060 Now, this is true of our Lord Jesus 732 00:35:21,060 --> 00:35:21,620 Christ. 733 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:24,720 He was a son. 734 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:25,880 He was the perfect son. 735 00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:32,250 Notice in the 4th chapter of Matthew, Matthew 736 00:35:32,250 --> 00:35:45,240 chapter 4, the 737 00:35:45,240 --> 00:35:47,360 last verse of chapter 3 reads, and lo, 738 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:49,420 a voice from heaven saying, This is my 739 00:35:49,420 --> 00:35:51,860 beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 740 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:54,800 This was the occasion of the baptizing of 741 00:35:54,800 --> 00:35:55,980 our Lord Jesus Christ. 742 00:35:57,340 --> 00:36:01,080 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit 743 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:04,040 into the wilderness to be tempted of the 744 00:36:04,040 --> 00:36:04,300 devil. 745 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:09,560 Now, unfortunately, in this portion, the word Spirit 746 00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:10,800 is not capitalized. 747 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:12,840 But in Luke, it is capitalized. 748 00:36:13,740 --> 00:36:15,600 And it is capitalized in such a way 749 00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:19,960 that there's no mistaking that it's the Spirit 750 00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:21,240 of God that is before us. 751 00:36:21,240 --> 00:36:23,180 We might notice that. 752 00:36:23,380 --> 00:36:24,600 That might be interesting to you. 753 00:36:24,700 --> 00:36:25,580 Luke chapter 4. 754 00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:32,080 But I'm reading the Matthew account because of 755 00:36:32,080 --> 00:36:33,700 its connection, and I want to mention that. 756 00:36:34,720 --> 00:36:36,900 I want to mention the connection, the significance 757 00:36:36,900 --> 00:36:40,340 of it occurring as it does where it 758 00:36:40,340 --> 00:36:40,700 occurs. 759 00:36:42,060 --> 00:36:46,400 Luke chapter 4, verse 1, And Jesus, being 760 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:49,900 full of the Holy Ghost, returned from Jordan, 761 00:36:50,060 --> 00:36:53,400 and was led by the Spirit into the 762 00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:58,680 wilderness, being tempted of the devil, and so 763 00:36:58,680 --> 00:36:58,940 on. 764 00:36:58,940 --> 00:37:04,440 Now, God announces from heaven itself when our 765 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:07,520 Lord Jesus Christ is baptized, This is my 766 00:37:07,520 --> 00:37:11,780 beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 767 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:18,660 Immediately, immediately, Jesus is led by the Spirit 768 00:37:18,660 --> 00:37:23,820 into the wilderness for some glorious experience. 769 00:37:23,820 --> 00:37:26,900 Now, to be hungry. 770 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:31,100 For he fasted for forty days and forty 771 00:37:31,100 --> 00:37:31,420 nights. 772 00:37:32,820 --> 00:37:35,500 Now, the Spirit does not always lead us 773 00:37:35,500 --> 00:37:36,760 into a glorious experience. 774 00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:39,440 Some people seem to think that being led 775 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:41,680 by the Spirit of God is to have 776 00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:47,000 a supernatural power, and to have an overpowering 777 00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:49,120 look out of your eyes, almost a hypnotic 778 00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:49,400 look. 779 00:37:50,040 --> 00:37:52,500 To be able to speak in tongues, to 780 00:37:52,500 --> 00:37:57,560 sway people to tears, or to transport them 781 00:37:57,560 --> 00:37:59,260 to joy, and all that sort of thing. 782 00:38:01,300 --> 00:38:02,860 And they think that's being led of the 783 00:38:02,860 --> 00:38:03,120 Spirit. 784 00:38:03,120 --> 00:38:08,150 Now, the Spirit of God will really, actually, 785 00:38:08,350 --> 00:38:11,210 sometimes quiet us down as we read about 786 00:38:11,210 --> 00:38:12,850 the effects of being filled with the Spirit 787 00:38:12,850 --> 00:38:18,130 in the fifth chapter of Ephesians. 788 00:38:18,250 --> 00:38:20,090 It'll certainly lead us to obedience. 789 00:38:20,690 --> 00:38:23,530 Husbands to wives, masters to servants, children to 790 00:38:23,530 --> 00:38:24,670 parents, and so on. 791 00:38:25,610 --> 00:38:26,810 The effects of the Spirit. 792 00:38:27,290 --> 00:38:29,130 The effects of being filled with the Spirit. 793 00:38:30,330 --> 00:38:32,930 Now, Christ was led by the Spirit into 794 00:38:32,930 --> 00:38:36,850 the wilderness for a very, very trying experience. 795 00:38:38,610 --> 00:38:41,910 And after he was there for forty days, 796 00:38:42,350 --> 00:38:43,870 the devil came. 797 00:38:44,890 --> 00:38:47,190 The devil came and he tempted Christ. 798 00:38:47,290 --> 00:38:51,030 The first temptation was that he should cause 799 00:38:51,030 --> 00:38:55,590 the stones that he pointed out, that the 800 00:38:55,590 --> 00:38:57,550 Lord should make them into bread. 801 00:38:57,550 --> 00:38:58,890 To satisfy his hunger. 802 00:38:59,590 --> 00:39:01,470 He said, if thou be the Son of 803 00:39:01,470 --> 00:39:01,810 God. 804 00:39:02,950 --> 00:39:04,290 Now, Satan can hear. 805 00:39:06,130 --> 00:39:10,210 And he heard the Father say, this is 806 00:39:10,210 --> 00:39:14,110 my beloved Son, in whom I am wealthy. 807 00:39:16,590 --> 00:39:19,250 And Satan attacked him on that basis. 808 00:39:19,850 --> 00:39:22,710 If thou be the Son of God, prove 809 00:39:22,710 --> 00:39:22,950 it. 810 00:39:23,750 --> 00:39:25,670 And man these stones be made bread. 811 00:39:26,970 --> 00:39:30,050 You know, I can't prove this from the 812 00:39:30,050 --> 00:39:32,110 Bible, but I think the stones that he 813 00:39:32,110 --> 00:39:36,570 pointed to looked like loaves of bread. 814 00:39:38,900 --> 00:39:41,820 Because Satan uses the lusts of the flesh, 815 00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:43,580 the lusts of the eyes, and the pride 816 00:39:43,580 --> 00:39:44,920 of lies as well. 817 00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:49,120 Each temptation was upon the basis that he 818 00:39:49,120 --> 00:39:50,140 was the Son of God. 819 00:39:50,320 --> 00:39:51,960 Show your dependence on your Father. 820 00:39:54,530 --> 00:39:56,870 Cast yourself without reservation on your Father. 821 00:39:57,570 --> 00:40:00,370 The subtlety of it was that if Christ 822 00:40:00,370 --> 00:40:01,750 had done it, he would have done it 823 00:40:01,750 --> 00:40:04,230 without the permission of his Father. 824 00:40:04,650 --> 00:40:06,350 As the suggestion of the devil. 825 00:40:07,810 --> 00:40:09,470 The type doesn't fall for that. 826 00:40:10,550 --> 00:40:13,270 He is the omniscient Son of God. 827 00:40:13,870 --> 00:40:15,330 God manifests in the flesh. 828 00:40:15,330 --> 00:40:18,830 And each time he quoted to Satan a 829 00:40:18,830 --> 00:40:21,070 passage from the Word of God. 830 00:40:22,330 --> 00:40:23,970 And Satan couldn't touch him. 831 00:40:24,170 --> 00:40:26,770 Couldn't move him to act in independence of 832 00:40:26,770 --> 00:40:27,150 his Father. 833 00:40:27,550 --> 00:40:29,210 Now, it is true of our Lord Jesus 834 00:40:29,210 --> 00:40:32,870 Christ, the more severe the temptation that he 835 00:40:32,870 --> 00:40:36,590 endured, the greater he glorified his Father. 836 00:40:36,710 --> 00:40:40,210 The more severe your temptations and mine, the 837 00:40:40,210 --> 00:40:41,350 greater we failed. 838 00:40:43,990 --> 00:40:46,170 Now, the important point was he was the 839 00:40:46,170 --> 00:40:47,730 Son of God and he was led by 840 00:40:47,730 --> 00:40:48,030 the Spirit. 841 00:40:49,690 --> 00:40:51,690 Now, you and I have a great example 842 00:40:51,690 --> 00:40:53,650 in our Lord Jesus Christ himself. 843 00:40:54,370 --> 00:40:56,130 He was led by the Spirit of God 844 00:40:56,130 --> 00:40:56,770 into the wilderness. 845 00:40:57,370 --> 00:40:59,150 Now, you and I, as sons, have the 846 00:40:59,150 --> 00:41:02,250 privilege of being led by the Spirit of 847 00:41:02,250 --> 00:41:02,470 God. 848 00:41:02,550 --> 00:41:03,850 What does it mean to be led by 849 00:41:03,850 --> 00:41:04,690 the Spirit of God? 850 00:41:06,130 --> 00:41:07,530 Well, I'll tell you one thing. 851 00:41:07,630 --> 00:41:10,030 The Spirit of God wants to lead me. 852 00:41:11,330 --> 00:41:14,070 And we're told in that eighth chapter of 853 00:41:14,070 --> 00:41:17,770 Romans, as many as are led by the 854 00:41:17,770 --> 00:41:19,490 Spirit of God, they are the sons of 855 00:41:19,490 --> 00:41:19,850 God. 856 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:23,140 He wants to lead me. 857 00:41:23,880 --> 00:41:25,960 How can he lead me? 858 00:41:27,020 --> 00:41:29,360 Well, we noticed in the book of Acts 859 00:41:29,360 --> 00:41:31,560 the other night that he led by direct 860 00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:32,000 command. 861 00:41:33,060 --> 00:41:34,720 I still wish it were that way. 862 00:41:34,780 --> 00:41:35,560 It would be a lot simpler. 863 00:41:36,780 --> 00:41:39,040 I just wish sometimes that the Spirit of 864 00:41:39,040 --> 00:41:40,440 God would say, all right, go. 865 00:41:41,560 --> 00:41:42,780 Or don't go. 866 00:41:43,120 --> 00:41:44,680 Just like he did in the book of 867 00:41:44,680 --> 00:41:44,960 Acts. 868 00:41:46,620 --> 00:41:48,360 Or just like he did in the case 869 00:41:48,360 --> 00:41:49,060 of Peter. 870 00:41:51,320 --> 00:41:53,120 I don't think we referred to that the 871 00:41:53,120 --> 00:41:53,420 other night. 872 00:41:53,500 --> 00:41:55,280 Let's notice it in the tenth chapter of 873 00:41:55,280 --> 00:41:55,540 Acts. 874 00:41:56,480 --> 00:41:58,240 I wish that I could have an experience 875 00:41:58,240 --> 00:41:59,240 just like Peter's. 876 00:42:02,140 --> 00:42:04,800 Acts chapter 10. 877 00:42:10,900 --> 00:42:12,660 Peter has been given the vision of the 878 00:42:12,660 --> 00:42:16,320 great sheep let down from God, and he 879 00:42:16,320 --> 00:42:18,560 is being prepared to receive the Gentiles. 880 00:42:19,440 --> 00:42:21,780 In verse 17, now while Peter doubted in 881 00:42:21,780 --> 00:42:24,620 himself what this vision which he had seen 882 00:42:24,620 --> 00:42:27,320 should mean, behold, the men which were sent 883 00:42:27,320 --> 00:42:30,740 from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, 884 00:42:30,860 --> 00:42:32,280 and stood before the gate, and called and 885 00:42:32,280 --> 00:42:35,020 asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were 886 00:42:35,020 --> 00:42:35,760 lodged there. 887 00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:39,000 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit 888 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:41,140 said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee, 889 00:42:41,300 --> 00:42:44,540 arise therefore, and get thee down, and go 890 00:42:44,540 --> 00:42:48,520 with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent 891 00:42:48,520 --> 00:42:48,660 them. 892 00:42:49,700 --> 00:42:51,220 I wish it were that way today. 893 00:42:51,320 --> 00:42:52,740 I wish the Spirit of God would say, 894 00:42:52,860 --> 00:42:54,340 all right, go. 895 00:42:55,120 --> 00:42:56,140 Or don't go. 896 00:42:56,340 --> 00:43:00,020 As he does in the sixteenth chapter of 897 00:43:00,020 --> 00:43:01,780 the book of Acts in connection with the 898 00:43:01,780 --> 00:43:03,700 apostle Paul and his company. 899 00:43:05,120 --> 00:43:06,940 But unfortunately, it's not that way. 900 00:43:08,300 --> 00:43:10,860 Now, the Spirit of God can lead us. 901 00:43:10,940 --> 00:43:11,840 How does he do so? 902 00:43:13,080 --> 00:43:16,680 Well, he leads us by the Word of 903 00:43:16,680 --> 00:43:17,060 God. 904 00:43:19,400 --> 00:43:21,600 As you and I know the Word of 905 00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:24,340 God, the more we know the Word of 906 00:43:24,340 --> 00:43:26,500 God, the easier it is to be led 907 00:43:26,500 --> 00:43:27,820 of the Spirit of God. 908 00:43:27,820 --> 00:43:30,580 Now, the Spirit of God has the power 909 00:43:30,580 --> 00:43:35,520 to recall certain things to our mind, to 910 00:43:35,520 --> 00:43:38,260 recall scriptures to our mind. 911 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:40,380 You remember what the Lord said in the 912 00:43:40,380 --> 00:43:44,260 fourteenth chapter of John, do you not? 913 00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:46,580 I'm going to suppose that you may have 914 00:43:46,580 --> 00:43:46,900 forgotten. 915 00:43:48,120 --> 00:43:49,860 John, chapter fourteen, please. 916 00:43:50,960 --> 00:43:53,840 The Lord Jesus says in verse twenty-six, 917 00:43:54,640 --> 00:43:58,380 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, 918 00:43:59,600 --> 00:44:02,300 whom the Father will send in my name, 919 00:44:02,860 --> 00:44:06,780 he shall teach you all things, and bring 920 00:44:06,780 --> 00:44:11,920 all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have 921 00:44:11,920 --> 00:44:12,740 said unto you. 922 00:44:14,820 --> 00:44:16,900 Now, the Spirit of God can bring things 923 00:44:16,900 --> 00:44:21,400 to our remembrance, but we have to know 924 00:44:21,400 --> 00:44:21,920 the scriptures. 925 00:44:23,560 --> 00:44:26,200 We read in the Bible, Thy word have 926 00:44:26,200 --> 00:44:28,280 I hid in my heart, that I might 927 00:44:28,280 --> 00:44:29,360 not sin against thee. 928 00:44:30,340 --> 00:44:32,420 All right, store your heart with the Word 929 00:44:32,420 --> 00:44:32,920 of God. 930 00:44:33,260 --> 00:44:38,080 The temptation comes, and something reminds you of 931 00:44:38,080 --> 00:44:41,630 a certain scripture, and you're delivered. 932 00:44:43,050 --> 00:44:47,330 I say something, excuse me, someone. 933 00:44:48,690 --> 00:44:54,820 Someone reminds you of that scripture, and you're 934 00:44:54,820 --> 00:44:56,020 alerted immediately. 935 00:44:58,400 --> 00:45:01,580 The Spirit can remind us of things. 936 00:45:02,960 --> 00:45:07,960 The Spirit can call scriptures to mind, brethren 937 00:45:07,960 --> 00:45:09,600 and sisters in Christ. 938 00:45:10,660 --> 00:45:15,780 It is important to know this book. 939 00:45:17,360 --> 00:45:20,920 It is important to read this book. 940 00:45:21,760 --> 00:45:26,560 It is important to store our hearts and 941 00:45:26,560 --> 00:45:33,090 our minds with this book, and the Spirit 942 00:45:33,090 --> 00:45:37,530 of God will bring these things to our 943 00:45:37,530 --> 00:45:39,850 remembrance at the right time. 944 00:45:41,410 --> 00:45:42,110 It's amazing. 945 00:45:43,110 --> 00:45:44,990 This to me is one of the sweetest 946 00:45:44,990 --> 00:45:46,830 confirmations of my faith in Christ. 947 00:45:47,370 --> 00:45:50,830 One of the sweetest evidences of the supernatural 948 00:45:50,830 --> 00:45:55,870 character of the Christian life, the promptings of 949 00:45:55,870 --> 00:45:58,950 the Spirit of God, when we're at wit's 950 00:45:58,950 --> 00:46:01,130 end's corner and don't know which way to 951 00:46:01,130 --> 00:46:01,510 turn. 952 00:46:03,190 --> 00:46:05,190 Now, that not only takes on the form 953 00:46:05,190 --> 00:46:07,890 of leading us in regard to our pathway, 954 00:46:08,270 --> 00:46:10,150 it takes on the form of comfort. 955 00:46:11,730 --> 00:46:13,430 For He is the Comforter. 956 00:46:13,550 --> 00:46:15,590 He is even sent to be the Comforter 957 00:46:15,590 --> 00:46:17,550 in that verse that we read in John 958 00:46:17,550 --> 00:46:20,110 chapter 14, that when He the Comforter has 959 00:46:20,110 --> 00:46:23,150 come, He shall guide you into all truth. 960 00:46:23,250 --> 00:46:24,150 He shall teach you. 961 00:46:25,230 --> 00:46:27,130 He shall bring you to remember the things 962 00:46:27,130 --> 00:46:29,770 that I've said, and He can. 963 00:46:29,910 --> 00:46:32,510 He has access to our mind, and He 964 00:46:32,510 --> 00:46:34,430 does bring things to our remembrance. 965 00:46:35,450 --> 00:46:38,250 Now, as we grow older, and as we 966 00:46:38,250 --> 00:46:40,350 read the Word of God more and more, 967 00:46:41,470 --> 00:46:44,250 it is easier to determine the will of 968 00:46:44,250 --> 00:46:45,170 God for remembrance. 969 00:46:46,050 --> 00:46:48,370 The Spirit of God will never lead you 970 00:46:48,370 --> 00:46:49,710 contrary to the will of God. 971 00:46:50,470 --> 00:46:53,270 He will lead you into the will of 972 00:46:53,270 --> 00:46:53,550 God. 973 00:46:54,470 --> 00:46:57,170 And I say, it is a matter of 974 00:46:57,170 --> 00:46:59,030 experience with me, and I think many of 975 00:46:59,030 --> 00:47:01,530 you would say, amen, you have borne this 976 00:47:01,530 --> 00:47:04,110 out in your own experience, that as you 977 00:47:04,110 --> 00:47:08,310 grow older, determining the will of God becomes 978 00:47:08,310 --> 00:47:08,850 easier. 979 00:47:09,250 --> 00:47:11,190 Now, I say easier. 980 00:47:11,770 --> 00:47:13,050 I'm using the comparative. 981 00:47:13,050 --> 00:47:15,130 I'm not saying easy. 982 00:47:16,630 --> 00:47:18,450 I'm saying easier. 983 00:47:19,610 --> 00:47:21,410 We read that the path of the just 984 00:47:21,410 --> 00:47:25,610 shineth more and more, and then the rendering 985 00:47:25,610 --> 00:47:28,770 is under the full-orbed day. 986 00:47:30,650 --> 00:47:34,030 The sun is rising in the beginning of 987 00:47:34,030 --> 00:47:34,410 the verse. 988 00:47:35,250 --> 00:47:38,950 The path is becoming lighter and lighter until 989 00:47:38,950 --> 00:47:42,770 the full-orbed day, until the sun is 990 00:47:42,770 --> 00:47:43,530 clear up. 991 00:47:44,490 --> 00:47:46,210 The path is becoming brighter. 992 00:47:46,350 --> 00:47:46,950 That's experience. 993 00:47:47,810 --> 00:47:51,490 Experientially, the path becomes easier to detain. 994 00:47:52,090 --> 00:47:54,010 The path of the just shineth more and 995 00:47:54,010 --> 00:47:54,330 more. 996 00:47:58,470 --> 00:48:00,510 Now, you and I need to know the 997 00:48:00,510 --> 00:48:01,050 Word of God. 998 00:48:01,430 --> 00:48:02,910 The Spirit of God will lead us, but 999 00:48:02,910 --> 00:48:04,530 never contrary to the Word of God. 1000 00:48:05,610 --> 00:48:08,090 Now, also, the Spirit of God is God, 1001 00:48:08,170 --> 00:48:10,610 and He gives the God of circumstances, and 1002 00:48:10,610 --> 00:48:12,410 if we're depending upon Him for His leading, 1003 00:48:12,770 --> 00:48:15,030 He will shape those circumstances. 1004 00:48:17,150 --> 00:48:19,010 I have heard this. 1005 00:48:19,330 --> 00:48:23,250 I believe it was Miss Gillian Darby that 1006 00:48:23,250 --> 00:48:25,350 said this, and it's history with me. 1007 00:48:27,210 --> 00:48:29,770 Miss Gillian Darby said that oftentimes Christians are 1008 00:48:29,770 --> 00:48:32,290 puzzled about their pathway, and they will ask 1009 00:48:32,290 --> 00:48:35,290 the Lord to lead them, and definite guidance 1010 00:48:35,290 --> 00:48:36,950 does not seem to come. 1011 00:48:38,250 --> 00:48:40,910 And, they ask in humility, they ask in 1012 00:48:40,910 --> 00:48:43,130 meekness for the guidance of the Lord, and 1013 00:48:43,130 --> 00:48:45,090 the Lord has promised a meekly guided judgment. 1014 00:48:46,150 --> 00:48:49,090 They ask for that guidance, and finally the 1015 00:48:49,090 --> 00:48:50,150 deadline has arrived. 1016 00:48:50,230 --> 00:48:51,970 They must make a decision, they must do 1017 00:48:51,970 --> 00:48:54,210 something, so they just do the best they 1018 00:48:54,210 --> 00:48:54,930 can, and J. 1019 00:48:54,970 --> 00:48:55,110 M. 1020 00:48:55,170 --> 00:48:59,030 Darby says, God will remember their decision, and 1021 00:48:59,030 --> 00:49:05,230 then the circumstances to meet their decision, to 1022 00:49:05,230 --> 00:49:07,450 further their decision, and I believe that's true. 1023 00:49:08,250 --> 00:49:09,950 Now, you and I have a right to 1024 00:49:09,950 --> 00:49:13,050 expect leading and guidance, and the Spirit will 1025 00:49:13,050 --> 00:49:15,950 do it, and the Spirit will do it 1026 00:49:15,950 --> 00:49:18,710 as we are indeed the sons of God. 1027 00:49:18,970 --> 00:49:20,470 Now, that implies a lot. 1028 00:49:22,210 --> 00:49:24,410 They that are led by the, they that 1029 00:49:24,410 --> 00:49:28,400 are the, I am a bad one when 1030 00:49:28,400 --> 00:49:29,940 it comes to just quoting scripture. 1031 00:49:30,080 --> 00:49:31,300 The Lord doesn't seem to let me learn 1032 00:49:31,300 --> 00:49:31,400 it. 1033 00:49:31,400 --> 00:49:31,960 I've got tons. 1034 00:49:32,320 --> 00:49:33,500 I think he wants to keep me coming 1035 00:49:33,500 --> 00:49:33,800 back. 1036 00:49:34,800 --> 00:49:36,560 For as many as are led by the 1037 00:49:36,560 --> 00:49:38,420 Spirit of God, they are the sons of 1038 00:49:38,420 --> 00:49:38,700 God. 1039 00:49:41,330 --> 00:49:42,350 That implies a lot. 1040 00:49:43,330 --> 00:49:44,170 We're like Christ. 1041 00:49:45,810 --> 00:49:48,990 We have our finite interests at heart, and 1042 00:49:48,990 --> 00:49:50,550 believe me, the Spirit will lead us. 1043 00:49:51,530 --> 00:49:53,490 He must be earnest, he must be real, 1044 00:49:53,570 --> 00:49:56,510 he must be seeking the Spirit, but he 1045 00:49:56,510 --> 00:50:00,530 will lead us, and his leading ministry is 1046 00:50:00,530 --> 00:50:00,910 wonderful. 1047 00:50:01,690 --> 00:50:04,450 Now, we could talk about the fact that 1048 00:50:04,450 --> 00:50:05,670 he gives a certain impression. 1049 00:50:07,670 --> 00:50:08,930 I'll tell you one thing. 1050 00:50:08,990 --> 00:50:12,390 If you have any doubt, if you have 1051 00:50:12,390 --> 00:50:14,650 any doubt about a certain pathway, or a 1052 00:50:14,650 --> 00:50:16,150 certain course, or a certain thing that you're 1053 00:50:16,150 --> 00:50:17,890 doing in your life, don't do it. 1054 00:50:18,710 --> 00:50:21,210 If there is any doubt in your mind 1055 00:50:21,210 --> 00:50:24,430 whatsoever, don't do it, because I believe the 1056 00:50:24,430 --> 00:50:26,070 Spirit can give us impression. 1057 00:50:26,850 --> 00:50:29,370 Now, this is dangerous ground, and I trust 1058 00:50:29,370 --> 00:50:31,650 you'll take me very carefully here. 1059 00:50:31,710 --> 00:50:34,230 I want to speak carefully, but the Spirit 1060 00:50:34,230 --> 00:50:37,130 can bring things to our memory, and I 1061 00:50:37,130 --> 00:50:39,750 think the Spirit can give us an unceasing 1062 00:50:40,390 --> 00:50:41,290 uncertain occasion. 1063 00:50:41,910 --> 00:50:45,390 There's something that we can't quite analyze, but 1064 00:50:45,390 --> 00:50:47,190 things don't ring true. 1065 00:50:48,010 --> 00:50:49,810 They don't sound right. 1066 00:50:51,880 --> 00:50:57,100 Don't you ever, I beg of you, move 1067 00:50:57,100 --> 00:51:01,000 when you're in uncertainty and doubt about these 1068 00:51:01,000 --> 00:51:01,340 things. 1069 00:51:01,460 --> 00:51:02,640 That is, I mean if there is a 1070 00:51:02,640 --> 00:51:05,080 doubt, if there's a shudder, a test of 1071 00:51:05,080 --> 00:51:05,900 going that way. 1072 00:51:06,820 --> 00:51:10,060 If there's an uneasiness, wait, if you possibly 1073 00:51:10,060 --> 00:51:12,140 can, until the matter clears up, and I 1074 00:51:12,140 --> 00:51:14,000 don't know what you would do to be 1075 00:51:14,000 --> 00:51:16,340 practical about this matter, if the deadline comes 1076 00:51:16,340 --> 00:51:17,120 and you have to act. 1077 00:51:17,540 --> 00:51:19,280 But, I think the Scripture says that we 1078 00:51:19,280 --> 00:51:21,040 need plenty of guidance and judgment, and I 1079 00:51:21,040 --> 00:51:22,740 think if we're me, if we're dependent upon 1080 00:51:22,740 --> 00:51:24,360 the Lord, I think that that Scripture will 1081 00:51:24,360 --> 00:51:26,680 be proven true to your heart and to 1082 00:51:26,680 --> 00:51:26,880 mine. 1083 00:51:26,920 --> 00:51:28,560 A sister asked me, yes, but she says, 1084 00:51:28,580 --> 00:51:29,480 I don't know, and I hate. 1085 00:51:30,880 --> 00:51:32,360 And I said, well, are you asking the 1086 00:51:32,360 --> 00:51:33,020 Lord for guidance? 1087 00:51:33,160 --> 00:51:34,300 And she says, I certainly am. 1088 00:51:34,380 --> 00:51:36,460 She had a specific problem of mine. 1089 00:51:36,920 --> 00:51:37,940 I said, all right, you're me. 1090 00:51:38,760 --> 00:51:40,280 You're asking the Lord for guidance. 1091 00:51:40,740 --> 00:51:42,680 You're not depending on what you say. 1092 00:51:43,480 --> 00:51:45,040 You're not depending on what you determine. 1093 00:51:45,300 --> 00:51:48,200 Your task is on the Lord, and the 1094 00:51:48,200 --> 00:51:51,500 Lord has promised that he will guide us 1095 00:51:51,500 --> 00:51:52,580 in judgment. 1096 00:51:53,420 --> 00:51:55,800 Now, our time is up. 1097 00:51:56,780 --> 00:51:58,980 I hope I haven't said anything, and I 1098 00:51:58,980 --> 00:52:01,000 do beg of you, if I have said 1099 00:52:01,000 --> 00:52:03,060 anything or do say anything, I get myself 1100 00:52:03,060 --> 00:52:05,560 into more trouble by not saying enough on 1101 00:52:05,560 --> 00:52:06,260 certain subjects. 1102 00:52:06,800 --> 00:52:08,680 Now, sometimes I get myself in trouble by 1103 00:52:08,680 --> 00:52:11,900 saying too much, but more often than not, 1104 00:52:11,940 --> 00:52:13,720 I'll get myself in trouble by not saying 1105 00:52:13,720 --> 00:52:14,000 enough. 1106 00:52:14,020 --> 00:52:16,260 I'll introduce a thought, and I'll drop it 1107 00:52:16,260 --> 00:52:18,320 in mid-air or not saying enough about 1108 00:52:18,320 --> 00:52:19,640 it, and I'll leave people with the wrong 1109 00:52:19,640 --> 00:52:20,020 impression. 1110 00:52:20,780 --> 00:52:22,480 And I'm certainly wide open to keep corrected, 1111 00:52:22,980 --> 00:52:25,580 and believe me, I would appreciate it. 1112 00:52:25,920 --> 00:52:27,780 You're frankly speaking to me as if I 1113 00:52:27,780 --> 00:52:30,780 have not made anything if I have not, 1114 00:52:30,980 --> 00:52:34,680 if I made something unfair to you, and 1115 00:52:34,680 --> 00:52:38,280 I would really appreciate that. 1116 00:52:39,380 --> 00:52:41,020 Brother Lyon, would you please close with us?