00:00:03:13 00:00:07:30 the most important work ever entrusted to human beings.

00:00:08:00 00:00:11:18 During the next hour, we will explore both our privilege

00:00:11:18 00:00:15:28 and our responsibility to become Christ-like in character.

00:00:15:28 00:00:19:23 Join us now for this powerful time of personal renewal

00:00:19:23 00:00:22:16 as Pastor Stephen Wallace takes us

00:00:22:16 00:00:24:27 "From Glory to Glory."

00:00:24:27 00:00:28:05 Spiritual Things... Are Spiritually Discerned

00:00:28:05 00:00:32:07 Good to have you here; I appreciate so much your presence.

00:00:32:07 00:00:35:21 I've been looking forward to this time with you for a...

00:00:35:21 00:00:39:00 ever since we first started talking about it,

00:00:39:00 00:00:42:17 which has been several weeks.

00:00:42:17 00:00:45:13 It's a privilege to be here.

00:00:45:13 00:00:51:03 I am so glad that you have chosen to come tonight,

00:00:51:03 00:00:55:27 and I hope and pray that you will choose to keep coming.

00:00:55:27 00:00:59:19 We launch tonight a very intensive seminar

00:00:59:19 00:01:03:25 entitled, "From Glory to Glory;"

00:01:03:25 00:01:07:25 and you can tell that if you have your binder there

00:01:07:25 00:01:13:02 with your inserts and lined paper for notes.

00:01:13:02 00:01:16:01 We are going to be studying together

00:01:16:01 00:01:23:16 the most important work ever entrusted to human beings.

00:01:23:16 00:01:25:15 What is it that we are going to be studying?

00:01:25:15 00:01:28:23 - the most important work ever entrusted to human beings,

00:01:28:23 00:01:29:29 and what is that?

00:01:29:29 00:01:35:23 What is the most important work ever entrusted to human beings?

00:01:35:23 00:01:42:08 With the notebook in hand I hear the answer, "character building,"

00:01:42:08 00:01:45:29 and that's a good, logical answer to give.

00:01:45:29 00:01:50:05 But, you know, typically when we ask that question,

00:01:50:05 00:01:56:14 people respond, "Soul-winning, sharing our faith,

00:01:56:14 00:01:58:10 that's the most important work;"

00:01:58:10 00:02:00:26 and I would guess that that's what went through many of your minds

00:02:00:26 00:02:05:20 when I asked the question.

00:02:05:20 00:02:11:03 But is that really the most important work?

00:02:11:03 00:02:12:17 Question:

00:02:12:17 00:02:19:27 Can we be successful soul-winners if we are not Christ-like in character?

00:02:19:27 00:02:26:02 Can we? No, we cannot.

00:02:26:02 00:02:30:05 My dear friends, that which makes us effective soul-winners

00:02:30:05 00:02:33:06 is being loving and lovable Christians.

00:02:33:06 00:02:37:15 Do I hear an "amen"? {Amen}

00:02:37:15 00:02:39:15 How does Paul put it?

00:02:39:15 00:02:41:14 Though I speak with the tongue of men and of angels

00:02:41:14 00:02:45:28 but have not love, I am a sounding brass and a

00:02:45:28 00:02:49:30 tinkling cymbal. {1 Cor 13:1}

00:02:50:00 00:02:59:14 Please know, dear fellow-believers, that we might be able

00:02:59:14 00:03:05:17 to argue someone into the corner on all 27 fundamental beliefs...

00:03:05:17 00:03:11:04 No, it's 28 now, isn't it? ...all 28 fundamental beliefs,

00:03:11:04 00:03:16:24 with all key texts recorded in our memory bank,

00:03:16:24 00:03:21:09 and in the process drive them away from Jesus Christ.

00:03:21:09 00:03:29:07 Come on now, will you admit that? Is that possible? I'm afraid it is.

00:03:29:07 00:03:32:16 Please know that that which truly

00:03:32:16 00:03:36:07 brings people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ

00:03:36:07 00:03:44:08 is not so much convincing the mind as it is capturing the heart.

00:03:44:08 00:03:48:27 Amen? {Amen}

00:03:48:27 00:03:55:22 Yes, the mind needs to be convinced regarding the truth,

00:03:55:22 00:04:04:18 but the heart has to be captured by Him who is the Truth. Amen? {Amen}

00:04:04:18 00:04:09:21 Only then is the will, the governing power, the power of choice,

00:04:09:21 00:04:19:12 conquered by the Lord of love, and that leads to genuine conversion;

00:04:19:12 00:04:24:03 and my dear friends, to bring someone into that kind of an experience,

00:04:24:03 00:04:26:14 we need to be able to do more that just

00:04:26:14 00:04:29:13 convince them that we have the truth.

00:04:29:13 00:04:38:15 We have to let Him who is the Truth love them through us. Amen? {Amen}

00:04:38:15 00:04:42:17 That's precisely why

00:04:42:17 00:04:47:29 there is an even more important work than soul-winning,

00:04:47:29 00:04:51:29 precisely because it is an essential prerequisite

00:04:51:29 00:04:55:16 to effective soul-winning.

00:04:55:16 00:04:57:14 Let's turn to lesson one.

00:04:57:14 00:05:02:17 It's actually called "Introduction" in your printout,

00:05:02:17 00:05:07:24 and I want to read an inspired answer to the question I asked.

00:05:07:24 00:05:12:07 What's the most important work ever entrusted to the human beings?

00:05:12:07 00:05:18:27 It's found in the book Education, page 225; first entry, page 3.

00:05:18:27 00:05:21:02 Quote; listen closely:

00:05:21:02 00:05:26:26 "Character building is the most important work

00:05:26:26 00:05:29:00 ever entrusted to human beings;

00:05:29:00 00:05:37:30 and never before was its diligent study so important as now."

00:05:38:00 00:05:41:04 What is the most important work, my friends? What is it?

00:05:41:04 00:05:44:13 - character building.

00:05:44:13 00:05:46:15 "Character building is the most important work

00:05:46:15 00:05:48:13 ever entrusted to human beings,"

00:05:48:13 00:05:49:23 and please note that last phrase:

00:05:49:23 00:05:55:25 "and never before was its diligent study so important as," when? "now."

00:05:55:25 00:06:07:10 Why so important now? Because the King is coming soon.

00:06:07:10 00:06:11:30 I heard two, I think, very faint "amens."

00:06:12:00 00:06:14:22 I'm going to give you a second chance on that one.

00:06:14:22 00:06:18:23 Why is the diligent study of character building so important now -

00:06:18:23 00:06:20:14 in fact, never more important than now?

00:06:20:14 00:06:25:03 Because, get ready, the King is coming soon. {Amen!}

00:06:25:03 00:06:32:01 Yes, I thought we had some Adventists here tonight,

00:06:32:01 00:06:39:19 those that believe in the imminence of the return of Jesus Christ.

00:06:39:19 00:06:42:04 My dear friends, with my whole heart

00:06:42:04 00:06:46:23 I believe that Jesus is coming soon, with my whole heart.

00:06:46:23 00:06:50:20 In fact, I insist - please hear me on this -

00:06:50:20 00:06:54:28 I insist that it is impossible

00:06:54:28 00:07:00:02 to have an intelligent understanding of prophetic, end-time events

00:07:00:02 00:07:03:29 combined with an understanding of current events

00:07:03:29 00:07:08:20 without coming to the conclusion that Jesus is coming very, very soon.

00:07:08:20 00:07:09:23 {Amen}

00:07:09:23 00:07:15:06 The signs of the times are loud and clear.

00:07:15:06 00:07:21:09 Are you aware of how little time there is?

00:07:21:09 00:07:24:13 And yet there's much to be done.

00:07:24:13 00:07:29:17 There's much to be done; there's a world to be warned,

00:07:29:17 00:07:32:25 a gospel to be taken to every nation, kindred, tongue and people,

00:07:32:25 00:07:41:19 a special message; it's called the three angels' messages,

00:07:41:19 00:07:45:18 a message that this church was raised up to proclaim

00:07:45:18 00:07:52:03 as the last merciful call into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

00:07:52:03 00:07:53:17 That work has got to be done.

00:07:53:17 00:07:59:22 That message has got to be taken to the whole world;

00:07:59:22 00:08:06:08 and our own lives must be prepared to go home with Jesus when He comes.

00:08:06:08 00:08:09:10 That essentially is the job that we have to do.

00:08:09:10 00:08:11:20 We have the gospel to take to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people

00:08:11:20 00:08:14:25 and we have our own lives to prepare.

00:08:14:25 00:08:18:22 But please hear me my dear friends; please hear me.

00:08:18:22 00:08:22:28 The successful accomplishment of both of those tasks

00:08:22:28 00:08:28:10 depends upon the very same thing, and what is that?

00:08:28:10 00:08:35:02 - the development of a Christ-like character. {Amen} Amen? Why?

00:08:35:02 00:08:38:16 Because we can be neither effective witnesses for the King,

00:08:38:16 00:08:47:19 nor fit citizens for the kingdom unless we have a Christ-like character.

00:08:47:19 00:08:48:22 I want to repeat that,

00:08:48:22 00:08:53:24 and you'll probably hear that again as the series goes on.

00:08:53:24 00:08:56:12 We can be neither effective witnesses for the King

00:08:56:12 00:09:06:18 nor fit citizens for the kingdom unless we have a Christ-like character;

00:09:06:18 00:09:10:07 and because the King is coming soon, my dear friends,

00:09:10:07 00:09:12:00 and because it takes time,

00:09:12:00 00:09:14:17 it takes time to develop a Christ-like character,

00:09:14:17 00:09:18:16 I insist on the truthfulness of that opening statement,

00:09:18:16 00:09:23:11 Education, page 225: "Character building is the most important work

00:09:23:11 00:09:25:02 ever entrusted to human beings

00:09:25:02 00:09:31:30 and never before was its diligent study so important as now."

00:09:32:00 00:09:37:07 ...so important as now;

00:09:37:07 00:09:41:17 and that is precisely what we are going to be doing

00:09:41:17 00:09:43:30 these next several days together.

00:09:44:00 00:09:47:01 We are going to be diligently studying

00:09:47:01 00:09:53:06 what saith the Lord on this ultimately important topic;

00:09:53:06 00:09:57:02 and I want to assure you right off the bat

00:09:57:02 00:10:01:17 that I have not come all the way from Montana

00:10:01:17 00:10:04:10 to share with you my own personal theories

00:10:04:10 00:10:10:24 or opinions regarding character building; God forbid.

00:10:10:24 00:10:11:21 My dear friends,

00:10:11:21 00:10:15:12 when you're dealing with something as important as character building,

00:10:15:12 00:10:19:19 you need something a whole lot more dependable and trustworthy

00:10:19:19 00:10:25:03 than the opinions of some poor mortal. Amen? {Amen}

00:10:25:03 00:10:31:18 When you're dealing with a subject that you must understand

00:10:31:18 00:10:34:02 in order to be effective witnesses for the King

00:10:34:02 00:10:35:27 and fit citizens for the kingdom,

00:10:35:27 00:10:43:22 you need to have something much more than just somebody's philosophy.

00:10:43:22 00:10:47:29 You need to know what saith the Lord on the topic;

00:10:47:29 00:10:49:19 and I want to assure you

00:10:49:19 00:10:53:12 that that is what we have come to share with you,

00:10:53:12 00:10:58:19 what saith the Lord on the topic.

00:10:58:19 00:11:00:25 As you have looked at your handout,

00:11:00:25 00:11:05:08 you might have noticed something rather unique.

00:11:05:08 00:11:09:10 There is nothing from Steve Wallace in here.

00:11:09:10 00:11:13:04 Well, with a few minor exceptions,

00:11:13:04 00:11:15:17 little notes slipped in once in a while.

00:11:15:17 00:11:22:07 But it is almost entirely what inspiration has to say about this topic;

00:11:22:07 00:11:27:15 and you see, that is what we want to base our study on.

00:11:27:15 00:11:33:21 I am simply going to serve, by God's grace, as a tour guide

00:11:33:21 00:11:35:04 to consider with you what saith the Lord

00:11:35:04 00:11:38:06 on this ultimately important topic.

00:11:38:06 00:11:41:00 Will you let me do that?

00:11:41:00 00:11:44:16 I am earnestly praying that the Holy Spirit will guide and direct me

00:11:44:16 00:11:53:12 as I guide and direct you to consider what saith the Lord on this topic.

00:11:53:12 00:12:03:06 We will be using as our primary textbook the Bible, Scripture.

00:12:03:06 00:12:06:20 I will be using, and I hope this doesn't upset anyone,

00:12:06:20 00:12:12:06 I will be using the New King James version of the Bible.

00:12:12:06 00:12:17:12 Now I appreciate the King James; it is the people's Bible.

00:12:17:12 00:12:21:24 It's the Bible that this church was born and raised on,

00:12:21:24 00:12:24:15 and it is the Bible of preference for many,

00:12:24:15 00:12:28:04 particularly the silver-haired saints amongst us.

00:12:28:04 00:12:32:08 But the Elizabethan English is getting increasingly difficult

00:12:32:08 00:12:35:01 for the younger generation;

00:12:35:01 00:12:40:00 and for that reason, I have selected the New King James.

00:12:40:00 00:12:44:13 It has exactly the same manuscript heritage behind it as the King James.

00:12:44:13 00:12:47:03 It is so similar that if you have the King James

00:12:47:03 00:12:50:16 you probably won't have any trouble following along as I read

00:12:50:17 00:12:55:23 from the New King James, and actually, in certain instances,

00:12:55:23 00:12:58:04 and we will be pointing out some of these,

00:12:58:04 00:13:01:30 the New King James has rendered more precisely

00:13:01:30 00:13:04:17 some of the original language.

00:13:04:17 00:13:06:16 So I really appreciate the New King James,

00:13:06:16 00:13:11:01 and I recommend it as an excellent study Bible.

00:13:11:01 00:13:15:25 I need to let you know right from the onset as well,

00:13:15:25 00:13:23:18 that we will be supplementing, and I underscore that word "supplement,"

00:13:23:18 00:13:27:12 we will be supplementing our study of Scripture

00:13:27:12 00:13:32:01 with the study of the inspired commentary on Scripture

00:13:32:01 00:13:39:03 that we enjoy as a people known as the "Spirit of Prophecy."

00:13:39:03 00:13:42:18 Now I want to go on record right from the onset

00:13:42:18 00:13:49:22 as one who has been profoundly affected, positively influenced

00:13:49:22 00:13:56:16 and blessed by the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy.

00:13:56:16 00:14:05:02 My dear friends, I wouldn't be here without that gift, I don't think.

00:14:05:02 00:14:10:10 The Lord has tremendously blessed me through the study

00:14:10:10 00:14:16:26 of those wonderful books, and I value tremendously

00:14:16:26 00:14:22:25 the insight that they give in the study of Scripture;

00:14:22:25 00:14:25:18 and that's the way we will be using them -

00:14:25:18 00:14:31:17 not to supplant Scripture, but to supplement the study of Scripture.

00:14:31:17 00:14:37:23 We will be referring to the Spirit of Prophecy as inspired commentary

00:14:37:23 00:14:42:09 on the Biblical passages that we will be studying

00:14:42:09 00:14:48:21 to help us better understand the principles enfolded in Scripture,

00:14:48:21 00:14:54:04 and to help us practically apply those principles to the daily life;

00:14:54:04 00:14:57:05 and that, by the way, is where the Spirit of Prophecy really shines.

00:14:57:05 00:15:02:21 It's in practical application of Biblical principle,

00:15:02:21 00:15:07:22 and I could not possibly deprive you of those precious insights.

00:15:07:22 00:15:10:22 Therefore we will be referring to them frequently,

00:15:10:23 00:15:13:07 and you see that in your handout,

00:15:13:07 00:15:18:01 as inspired commentary on the Scriptures.

00:15:18:01 00:15:24:23 I have your permission to do that, do I? {Amen} Good, thank you.

00:15:24:23 00:15:30:01 There's another point that I must very, very emphatically underscore

00:15:30:01 00:15:40:04 in this introductory study, and that is, as our title summarizes it,

00:15:40:04 00:15:47:24 spiritual things are what? ...spiritually discerned.

00:15:47:24 00:15:50:05 My dear friends, what does that mean?

00:15:50:05 00:15:54:01 "Spiritual things are spiritually discerned."

00:15:54:01 00:16:00:27 Well, basically that says that without the help of the Holy Spirit,

00:16:00:27 00:16:07:25 we simply don't have what it takes to come to understand the truth

00:16:07:25 00:16:10:15 to the point of experiencing

00:16:10:15 00:16:16:06 it's liberating, sanctifying power in our lives.

00:16:16:06 00:16:22:05 Did you hear what I just said there?

00:16:22:05 00:16:26:24 The passage from which we take the title, let's read it.

00:16:26:24 00:16:32:17 It's found in 1 Corinthians 2:13-14.

00:16:32:17 00:16:40:28 "These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches,

00:16:40:28 00:16:44:06 but which the Holy Spirit teaches,

00:16:44:06 00:16:47:18 comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

00:16:47:18 00:16:51:06 But," Paul is warning us here:

00:16:51:06 00:16:56:23 "the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God,

00:16:56:23 00:17:01:06 for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them,

00:17:01:06 00:17:06:25 because they are," what? "spiritually discerned."

00:17:06:25 00:17:12:04 Now, the natural man, who's that? Well, that's all of us except

00:17:12:04 00:17:18:03 for the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

00:17:18:03 00:17:24:14 That's human nature without divine help; that's the natural man;

00:17:24:14 00:17:29:20 and please notice, to the natural man the things of God are what?

00:17:29:20 00:17:33:19 ...foolishness; they're foolishness.

00:17:33:19 00:17:36:28 Why? Because they're only spiritually discerned.

00:17:36:28 00:17:40:12 Now, that word "discerned" in the Greek is an interesting term.

00:17:40:12 00:17:46:01 It not only means rightly understood, but it more particularly means

00:17:46:01 00:17:51:03 rightly valued, rightly appreciated.

00:17:51:03 00:17:55:09 You see, it takes the power of the Holy Spirit, my dear friends,

00:17:55:09 00:18:01:01 not only to make it possible for us to understand with the intellect

00:18:01:01 00:18:05:02 the truth, but it takes the power of the Holy Spirit for us to

00:18:05:02 00:18:10:17 rightly value the truth, and appreciate it with our hearts,

00:18:10:17 00:18:17:20 and choose to apply it to our lives.

00:18:17:20 00:18:24:27 Without the help of the Holy Spirit, we cannot possibly experience,

00:18:24:27 00:18:29:00 I repeat, the liberating, sanctifying power of the truth;

00:18:29:00 00:18:30:02 and you do know that

00:18:30:02 00:18:32:05 there is liberating and sanctifying power in the truth,

00:18:32:05 00:18:34:05 don't you? {Amen}

00:18:34:05 00:18:38:15 Jesus puts it this way: John 8:32,

00:18:38:15 00:18:42:07 By Beholding We Are Changed]]> http://dabar.webnode.sk/news/e-shop-has-been-launched-/ By Beholding We Are Changed]]> Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:25:00 +0100 http://dabar.webnode.sk/news/e-shop-has-been-launched-/ News Our new e-shop has been launched!

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