0:01
我将根据安东尼弟兄所读的经文，讲解约翰福音第 15 章。
0:11
这篇讲道是我两周前在罗德岛为一系列会议准备的
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本来应该是第一次布道，结果却是全部五次。所以我觉得我今天不会完成我的笔记了
0:25
除非你愿意待上十个小时。而我花了这么长时间才读完这篇文章的原因
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就像透过钥匙孔看东西一样。我希望你考虑一下。就像透过钥匙孔看东西一样
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进入整个宇宙。因为在这篇文章中总结的目的正是
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以及上帝为了他自己的荣耀而使用的方法来实现你的目的。
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上帝呼召你结出果实，你也能结出果实。你一定会结出果实。
1:06
他呼唤你，让你干净、毫无污点地站在他面前。
1:13
耶稣基督没有为你流血，所以当你走进荣耀时你看到的第一件事
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因你所有的失败而露出的愁容。
1:25
我想要你......好吧，让我这样说吧：作为基督的仆人，我不会让你受到谴责。
1:35
作为耶稣基督的代表，我不会容忍信徒陷入谴责。
1:44
为什么？因为基督所做的一切。基督教中有真正的谦卑。真正的谦卑。
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我们真正认识到了自己的罪孽，真正感到心碎，真正忏悔。
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但它不会指向死亡。它不会指向失败。它不会让信徒陷入泥潭。
2:12
那些自称认识基督却没有结出果子的人是未信主的人。我不是在说他们，而是在说你们。
2:19
你们当中的许多人已经认识了基督，你们的生活发生了改变并且结出了硕果，但是当你们照镜子时，你们会感到如此黑暗。
2:29
你感觉自己就像一个影子，感觉自己很肮脏。
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而且还有声音。总有一个声音会夺走你对自己的一切想法，并利用这些想法将你赶离基督。
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任何情况下让你远离耶稣基督的声音
2:51
是骗子的声音。你生活的方方面面，
2:57
每一次胜利和每一次失败都有一个目的，那就是促使你更加接近基督。
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你正在走向胜利？那么要知道这不是你自己的。让它提醒你，它会带你走向耶稣基督。
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你感觉到失败了吗？你又一次陷入了罪恶之中？
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不要留在那里！让这种感觉驱使你走向基督。
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因为你们已经被重价买来，以便结出果实。
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现在，我说“结出果实”，而不是说“做伟大的事情”。“做伟大的事情”已成为西方传教的陈词滥调。
3:42
它大部分意味着各种不符合圣经的事情。上帝可能并没有呼召你去做世人眼中的伟大事情。
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或者呼吁你去做伟大的事情，正如今天大多数福音派人士所看到的那样。
3:58
上帝呼唤你结出果实，当他走过你的树时，你会闻到美妙的香气。
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这让他很高兴。而这才是你真正关心的事情，不是吗？
4:14
取悦他。如果你能取悦他，你还需要什么呢？
4:22
如果他爱你树上的果实，那么让其他人嗤之以鼻并走开，
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这不应该减少你的快乐。这是为他而做的。
4:38
现在我们来看这段经文。他在第 15 章第 1 节中说道：
4:45
“我是真葡萄树。”现在，我不会就此结束，我现在就能看到这一点。
4:56
“我是真葡萄树。”以下是这些陈述。这些“我是”的陈述。
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为什么它们如此重要？好吧，我知道那些“我是”的陈述表明他是神。
5:08
他们用耶和华的话语来认定他——“我就是我。”但是让我们把它放在架子上稍微低一点的地方。
5:17
为什么耶稣说“我很重要”？
5:23
因为你不是。因为我也不是。
5:30
你看，每当你照着上帝的话的镜子，如果你是一个诚实的男人，如果你是一个诚实的女人，
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你必须坐在那里说：“我不是。”保罗甚至在腓立比书第 3 章中也这么说过。
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他还没有达到那个境界。他还没有达到完美。他还没有变得和基督一模一样。
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甚至在他自己的生命中，直到最后，也有一些不足之处。他不是，但当他是的时候，那也没关系。
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当基督存在时。那个“我是”是另一个钥匙孔，不是吗？
6:04
你看它，你会认为它只是两个小词，但突然间它就完全揭示了基督是谁。
6:14
我相信安东尼去年一直在寻求做的事情之一
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就是让你通过钥匙孔去看。
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因为实际上只有一件事可以让你饱腹，可以满足你的饥饿感。
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而且它不是一个东西，而是一个人。它是基督。让我用清教徒过去的说法来表达。
6:40
自从你皈依以来，你就变成了一个生物 - 好的语言 -
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你已经成为如此崇高的人了
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除了上帝之外，其他任何事物都无法让你感到满足。
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如果你能从上帝以外的事物中得到满足，
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你应该颤抖，因为那可能证明你还没有皈依。
7:12
你看，当你开始理解这一点时，一切都改变了。你会说：“我的生活不完整。”当然不是。你生活在堕落的世界里。
7:20
“我的工作不能给我带来满足感。”如果可以的话，你就会迷失。
7:25
“传道工作不能让我满足，也不能满足我的饥饿感。”摩西的传道工作是人类历史上最伟大的。
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但他说：“请让我看到你的荣耀，即使这会杀死我，因为传道还不够。”
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你说：“我的妻子不能让我完整。”如果她能，那你就是一个不信教的人。
7:45
你瞧，你已被重塑，唯一能让你满足的是基督。
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这就是为什么去做这些其他的事情是没有用的。让我告诉你一些关于基督徒生活的事情。
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因为圣化是渐进的，所以你会花费一生的大部分时间去追求其他事物。
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而那些其他的事情会让你感到空虚，这就是为什么要进行考验。
8:19
这就是你无法承受的胜利的原因。它们都是为了把你打回原形。
8:28
走向基督。看着他。
8:33
他说：“我是真葡萄树。”与什么相对立？你看，我们这里是反对的。
8:40
现在，如果他说：“我是一棵葡萄树”，世界就不会对他有任何意见。
8:46
即使他说：“我是葡萄树。”但他说：“我是真葡萄树。”
8:51
这里他做了一个对比。你看到了吗？一个很大的对比。耶稣告诉我们：“那里有很多葡萄藤，它们不是真的。”
8:59
你已经找到很多了，不是吗？你现在可能正被一大堆问题所困扰。
9:09
一直在寻找果实。一直在寻找生命。一直在寻找意义。
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除了耶稣基督以外，你不会在任何葡萄树上找到它。
9:22
这就是西方福音派的危险之处。他们给你的不仅仅是耶稣。
9:28
他们为你提供娱乐。他们为你举办研讨会。他们教你如何正确行事。如何过上最好的生活。
9:34
各种各样的事情，让你以为自己被填满了，但实际上你被填满了无法填满的东西。
9:41
你被欺骗了。你需要被放过。你需要被赐予基督。
9:48
你需要学习从他那里汲取养分。他说：“我是真葡萄树。”
9:55
现在，在礼拜的早期部分，在祈祷仪式中，安东尼朗读了《以赛亚书》第 5 章。
10:01
我们也可以读读《诗篇》第 80 篇，因为我们在那里看到一些非常重要的东西。
10:06
当耶稣说“我是真葡萄树”时，他的犹太听众明白了一些事情
10:13
或许我们不会理解。你看，在《以赛亚书》中，我们被告知上帝去了埃及并带出了一棵葡萄树。
10:20
那棵葡萄树就是以色列。他做了一切可以想象的事情
10:28
以色列像葡萄树一样兴旺。但最终，我们在以赛亚书和诗篇 80 章中看到，
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最后结果怎么样？葡萄藤被毁掉了。
10:42
它不仅被反抗的力量摧毁，而且葡萄藤还被上帝摧毁。
10:51
我们可以学到一些东西。很多东西，但我们今天不打算谈这些。我们可以从中学到一些东西。
10:58
第一，没有人类或人类机构
11:10
就能满足你精神生活的需要。
11:19
以色列是最好的国家。人们常常误判圣经中对以色列国的整个描述。
11:26
尤其是当我们读到罗马书第 3 章时。我来举个例子。让我快速翻到那一章，你不必翻到那一章。
11:32
但让我读一段经文给你听。“我们知道，律法上的话，都是对律法以下的人说的，好塞住各人的口。
11:39
让全世界的人都归在神审判之下。”（罗马书 3:19）现在，你读到这句话，你认为这句话是在说你。
11:45
嗯，不是直接说的。直接说的是以色列。以色列是受律法约束的国家。
11:51
它的基本意思是：以色列是被神召唤出来的民族，他们被赋予了神的神谕，
11:57
神的启示、圣殿礼拜、神赐予的一切。神能做的一切，他都给了他们。
12:03
他们遵守律法。他们不像我们这些邪恶的异教徒。他们遵守律法，但他们在律法的每一部分都失败了。
12:13
那么他说了什么呢？外邦人，看看最好的。但他们失败了。
12:19
现在用手捂住你的嘴，因为你的情况会更糟。
12:24
你明白了吗？没有人类机构，没有你可以依靠的人，
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没有任何人或任何事物能够填补你，
12:39
能够赐予生命。只有耶稣基督，只有他。
12:45
他是真葡萄树。这就是他在这里对自己的称呼。但他也是生命的粮。
12:51
听听耶稣是怎么说的。耶稣对他们说：“我就是生命的粮。”
12:56
这足以阻止任何针对基督神性的指控。
13:04
耶稣基督是道成肉身的神，或者他只是用这句话亵渎神灵。你听到他在说什么了吗？
13:10
人们说：“嗯，我不确定《圣经》中是否有很多关于基督神性的记载。”这里就有一处。你只需要理解。
13:16
任何站起来说：“我是生命的面包”的人
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取代了上帝。在这种情况下，一个人自称是神
13:30
这是理所当然的，因为他是面包！
13:36
信徒们，我总是听到信徒说：“我好饿，我好渴。”
13:43
今天你走进一家所谓的基督教书店。
13:48
我的意思是，它会让你哭泣。大多数书店里都充斥着所谓的基督教流行心理学。
13:59
这甚至不是好的心理学，甚至不是好的错误心理学。
14:07
你走进一家基督教书店，大多数书都是关于我们是多么空虚，多么渴望。
14:16
然后有人设计了一些新的基督教思想体系来填补你的空白。
14:24
你知道，耶稣从不空虚。他从不内心口渴。为什么？
14:32
因为他认识神。作为人，他认识神。不只是因为他是神
14:37
而是因为他认识上帝，并且他一直致力于遵行天父的意愿。
14:43
基督徒为何如此空虚？为什么那些愚蠢的小书永远无法填满你？
14:54
因为你需要的不只是一本书，你需要的不只是四个要点、五种方法或十个步骤。
15:01
你需要基督。
15:08
他是生命的粮，他是活水的泉源。现在，听听这句话：“现在，在节期的末日，就是盛大之日，
15:14
耶稣站着高声说：“人若渴了，可以到我这里来喝。”（约翰福音 7:37）
15:23
每次你口渴的时候，你会跑去哪里？通常是跑向别人抱怨你有多渴。
15:32
或者你甚至可能会去查阅《圣经》来尝试寻找一节经文。
15:38
或者也许您正在寻找系统神学中命题真理的某个方面。
15:48
这不一定是坏事，但也可能很糟糕。为什么？因为如果你去读圣经，然后停在那里，
15:54
你完全误解了圣经的要点。圣经的要点是引导你以正确的方式信奉基督。
16:02
你们可以从他那里得到喂养。你们不明白所有这些经文吗？
16:08
我亲爱的基督兄弟姐妹们，你们曾告诉过你们他嫉妒你们吗？
16:16
他对你的爱如此热忱？你不明白吗？
16:22
他真的嫉妒了！他真的不允许任何事物与他竞争。
16:31
这就是为什么耶稣说：“心灵纯洁的人有福了。”这里的意思是一颗纯粹的心。
16:36
意思是：内心没有相互竞争的忠诚之人是有福的。他们完全属于上帝。
16:44
你瞧，这就是你的生活被撕裂的原因。被来回折腾。
16:53
你可能认为这是世界，你可能认为这是撒旦，他们可能是工具，但在这一切的背后，
16:59
是上帝在撕裂你、改变你、筛选你
17:04
直到你意识到，也许伤痕累累，痛苦不堪，但他是唯一的一个。
17:10
他就是。
17:17
我尊重长老们在这里所做的事情的原因之一
17:25
他们可以给你很多他们没有给你的东西
17:33
来满足你的肉体并吸引更多的人。
17:41
他们想把基督带给你。那正是你所需要的。
17:47
问题是：这就是你想要的吗？基督？
17:52
他是生命之水的泉源。“现在，在节日的末日，就是节日的最大之日，耶稣站着高声说：
17:59
人若渴了，可以到我这里来喝。信我的人，就如经上所说：‘从他腹中要流出活水的江河来。’”
18:08
你……我不知道该如何形容你。
18:14
太快付出，如果这是个词的话。这能算个词吗？太快付出。
18:22
我想我刚刚说了一句话。我知道你的情况。
18:28
你是一个过早放弃的人，因为我也是。你不抗争，你放弃。
18:36
我的意思是，就像《旧约》里的国王喊道：“我们正处于分娩阶段
18:42
但却没有力气让孩子生下来！”
18:48
看看这个承诺！他说：“从你的内心深处将流出活水的江河。”
18:57
他不是在谈论以后的某个时代。他谈论的是现在。
19:04
那么你应该怎么做？当你注意到
19:10
你感觉不到生命之水在你体内流淌
19:17
不要被谴责。不要低下头。不要奔向黑暗。
19:24
不要逃避神。只要说：“现在这不是我生命中应该有的现实，
19:31
我会勇敢地带着我能找到的最大的水桶奔向基督
19:36
我会一直等待，一直等待，一直等待。我不会给他任何安宁，直到他填满我。”
19:47
你看？这对我们来说很艰难，不是吗？我们生活在微波炉和速溶咖啡的时代，速溶这个速溶那个。
19:57
我们根本不知道等候上帝的应许意味着什么，也不知道抓住祭坛的角意味着什么。
20:04
“保佑我能像雅各布一样战斗！”
20:09
“像雅各一样战斗。我不会让你离开。”寻求并成长。
20:14
嗯，我想你可以，但今天在大多数教堂里，这种语言
20:21
根本没有地方。没人想要这个。
20:28
他们只是想要：“我周日已经把该做的事做完了，别管我。现在我可以去玩了。”
20:36
我已经赢得它了。”基督里的兄弟姐妹们，永远不要放弃！
20:48
相信他的话语并且与他搏斗！
20:53
像耶路撒冷城墙上的守望者一样。上帝喜欢这种勇敢。
20:58
“除非这些事情在我的生活中成为现实，否则我不会让您安宁。”
21:06
现实在不断增长。但听我说，要带着喜悦去做这件事！我听过人们这么说。我听过人们对我说：
21:12
“你知道，保罗弟兄，教会开始在楼上的房间里痛苦不已，
21:18
圣灵就会降临到他们身上，美国的教堂很可能会在团契桌旁因吃饱喝足而消亡。”
21:26
嗯，第二部分可能是正确的，但是第一部分不正确。
21:31
我亲爱的朋友，那些使徒，早期的门徒并没有在楼上痛苦地祈祷。
21:41
他们为什么要痛苦呢？耶稣说过，不是吗？他们并没有痛苦地试图从他手中夺走什么。
21:50
仿佛他是一位吝啬的君王，说：“只有你自作主张，我才会给你这个。”不，他们在楼上的房间里等着，等着，
21:59
一心一意地等待着许多天。等待着，但等待着，充满喜悦。
22:05
他已经承诺了。他曾经对他们撒过谎吗？看看魔鬼会怎么做。
22:10
他会介入你的生活，你会听到这样的布道，你会兴奋地想要从基督那里得到更多
22:18
你会在那里呆上半个小时，什么也不会发生，你只会认为这是不可能的
22:24
或者你身上显然有问题。
22:29
你变得心怀不满。不！快乐地等待吧！当所有的地狱之徒都来找你并说：
22:36
“你这个傻瓜，你为什么在他的门口等着？”他承诺道！
22:42
“你这个傻瓜，你是一个乞丐，他为什么要开门？”因为他死了！
22:49
我会等待。我会寻找他。我会遵从他的诺言。
22:56
我会与他一起祈祷。我会等候主，因为他不会给予我比我所求的更少的东西。
23:07
他只会给予我超出我所能想象的一切。
23:12
现在，很多电视传教士说这些的时候，他们谈论的是房子和汽车。我们为什么要关心房子和汽车呢
23:20
谈论基督的存在？他利用我们，他的乐趣？
23:27
看到了吗？兄弟姐妹们！
23:33
对你来说，太多了，太多了！
23:38
对于那些想要进入的人来说，就这么多了。
23:44
献给那些愿意战斗的人。献给那些愿意坚持的人。献给那些愿意学习他的话语并祈祷的人。
23:51
现在我想谈一下假冒水箱的问题。
23:58
我们生活中的一大障碍就是假冒的水箱。
24:03
我们生活中引入的不含水的东西无法解除我们的口渴。
24:10
它们就像会干涸的海市蜃楼，无处不在。
24:15
即使是上帝赐予的美好事物也可能只是海市蜃楼
24:22
如果在他的存在和他的意愿之外出现。让我给你举几个例子：孩子、婚姻、一份好工作。
24:32
它们都可能是诱惑。做什么呢？把你的目光从耶稣身上移开。
24:41
祝福，健康。我不是说这些事情不好。
24:46
这些东西太棒了。我有一些，我很高兴。它们可能是诱惑。
24:54
这就是为什么你会看到——乔维特在他的小书《加略山学校》中很好地指出了这一点——
25:01
似乎需要更大程度的痛苦
25:07
使人更大程度地感受到基督的存在。
25:14
因为我们有些固执和冷酷
25:19
而美好的事物，甚至是礼物，可能会成为我们比送礼者更关心的事情。
25:28
听听耶利米书 2:11-13：“一个国家难道更换了本来不是神的神吗？
25:35
但我的百姓却用荣耀换取了无用的东西。天哪，你们要因这事惊恐，
25:42
战兢，极其凄凉，”耶和华说。“因为我的百姓犯了两件恶事：
25:47
离弃我这活水的泉源，为自己凿出池子，
25:53
池子破裂，不能存水。”虽然这出现在耶利米书中
25:58
只有在这里，我们才能始终看到这种趋势，不是吗？
26:05
我们在伊甸园里看到这一点，甚至在上帝对待埃及时也看到这一点，显示出他的大能。
26:12
我们在以色列看到它。我们在荒野看到它。我们在迦南地看到它。
26:18
我们在先知时代就看到了这一点。我们在自己的生活中也看到了这一点。我们倾向于寻求上帝以外的事物。
26:30
我想，这就是我们在《歌罗西书》第 3 章中得到劝诫的原因。
26:37
我们需要继续关注基督所坐的上方事物。问题是：即使我们的灵已经更新，
26:45
我们已经重生，我们仍然是渴望触摸的物质存在，
26:51
渴望用眼睛去看。我相信，在基督徒生活中取得最大进步的男女
26:58
那些见过更多其他世界的人。现在，我不一定是指梦境或幻象，
27:06
我只是说他们对即将发生的事情有了更深刻的认识。
27:12
他们看到了旧约先知的末世景象：羔羊与狮子躺在一起。
27:20
他们在启示录中看到一片清澈的水，他们和以西结一起看着那座新圣殿，
27:27
他们看到了未来的事情。摩西也是这样。他可以离开埃及的财富
27:35
因为他看见了那位看不见的。这就是为什么它如此重要
27:41
不仅要让神的话语充满你的心思。这是必要的！但我想告诉你一件事：
27:48
你可以拥有 99% 干净的水，但如果往里面放一滴污垢，它就会杀死你。
27:53
我亲爱的朋友们，特别是你们年轻人，你们永远看不到上帝的景象
27:58
当你被西方基督教所说的今天可以接受的东西填满时
28:04
就你眼睛所见的范围而言。我告诉你，如果你想要看到上帝，
28:12
您需要清除屏幕。
28:19
我只是对基督徒所做的事情感到震惊，
28:25
福音派人士，今天就观看。他们将看到的内容。
28:31
你知道吗，我甚至无法通过 Twitter 账户看别人。有时我会想：“嗯，谁在关注我？”
28:38
我会看，然后想：“好吧，我需要开始传福音
28:43
因为显然其中有些人已经迷路了。”看看他们的穿着！
28:49
你看，我们需要成为圣洁的人
28:54
以便我们能够真正认识他。
28:59
充满祂，对祂有更远大的眼光。但我们总是面临这些虚假水池的危险。总是。
29:08
我见过许多年轻人热衷于追随上帝。我的意思是，凡事追随上帝。
29:13
然后突然出现一位年轻女士。这没什么不对。
29:18
一位年轻女士出现在我的生活中。但却分散了他关注上帝的事情的注意力。
29:26
年轻人上大学了，要做出一番大事业。我记得很多：“我们要成为传教士，传教士，传教士。”
29:32
去年，我发现我大多数朋友都去面试了
29:39
在所有这些大公司里。我没有去任何一家，因为我想：“我们都会去中国，为基督而死。”
29:45
我当时就问：“什么？”“是啊，保罗，你得现实一点。我的意思是，你现在有点疯狂了。”
29:52
我的意思是，我们说了那些话，但是...”然后突然间，这些事情开始吸引他们的注意。
29:58
汽车。房屋。房主协会。
30:06
现在，我并不是说每个人都被召唤去传道，但我想说的是：如果你开始追随基督，将会发生——
30:13
弯路会接踵而至。生活中遇到的事情
30:18
你会试图从中汲取快乐、力量和生命，但最终它们会像胆汁一样苦涩
30:25
在你的嘴里和你的肚子里。要保持警惕。不要只注意那些明显不好的东西。
30:34
但要注意那些美好的事物和来自上帝的礼物。
30:40
在秘鲁，我们有句俗话：Sálvame de las aguas mansas, de las aguas bravas me salvo yo。
30:46
意思是：在平静的水面上救我，在波涛汹涌的水面上我也自救。
30:53
它的意思是：我能识别波涛汹涌的水域，并能为之做好准备。平静的水域才是危险的，是欺骗性的。
31:02
我们要努力追随基督。现在，在我们结束之前，我想快速看看这些结果。
31:08
就像我说的，我今天甚至不会介绍完。但我只是想看看一些常见的假冒水箱
31:16
首先，宗教仪式。当耶稣降临时，可能
31:22
从汲沦溪谷的楼上房间，他可能能看到前面，
31:28
因为我去过那里，你转过身，就可以看到汲沦溪的圣殿山。它虽然很高，但你还是能看到的。
31:35
有可能从他站着的地方你可以看到圣殿的大门
31:42
希律王在上面创造了这棵华丽的金色藤蔓
31:48
代表以色列国。耶稣很可能看着那棵葡萄树说：
31:55
“不。我是真正的葡萄树。圣殿里的所有仪式。你在那里看到的所有事物。
32:04
所有的牺牲，所有的一切。那不是真正的葡萄树。那不是你的传统，不是你的遗产。
32:13
事实并非如此，你与某个认识我的人有联系。
32:18
你们必须与我联合。不是仪式，不是宗教，不是传统，不是遗产。
32:29
你必须与我联系在一起。”现在，我希望我们以一种暂时的视角来看待这一点。
32:37
假蓄水池可以是会众。
32:43
会众。你知道，这太神奇了，我会去教堂网站，我会点击一个网站，对我来说最神奇的是——
32:51
你会看到这些美丽的人都对你微笑。现在，我知道耶稣说：
32:57
“他们会通过你们彼此相爱而知道你们是我的门徒。”但当你浏览这个网站时，
33:03
很多网站都存在一些令人不安的东西。是什么？你看到美丽的人的美丽面孔
33:10
愿意为你服务，肯定你，满足你的需要。你必须通过这个网站
33:17
找到一些关于耶稣的事情。这是会众，会众，促进会众。
33:24
不！如果你去参加聚会
33:30
因为会众满足了你的所有需求，这其中有一些好处
33:36
有些东西非常非常扭曲。
33:43
必须是基督。如果我们要在这个群体中被人认识的话。
33:51
这并不是因为我们是一个多么美好的会众，而是因为他是一个多么美好的救世主。
33:58
但是一群面带微笑、肯定你的人会接受你的本来面目，这并不丢人。
34:04
可耻的是，我们刚刚歌颂的救世主却为了人类的罪孽而死。
34:13
会众可能是一个虚假的水池，教堂活动本身也可能是一个虚假的水池。
34:19
当我游历各地并参观不同的教堂，有时是大型教堂时，我看到了这些人为周日所做的准备。
34:28
我说的不是几个小时的祈祷。我说的是灯光、音乐、迎宾员，
34:35
椅子要摆放整齐，屏幕要摆放整齐，一切都准备就绪，一切都安排好了，
34:41
一切都已准备就绪。就像身处麦迪逊广场花园！人们进来后，全神贯注于这场盛会。
34:51
他们的力量来自于事件本身。这是错的！
34:57
它必须来自基督。这就是为什么你经常看到信徒
35:05
他们拥有如此多的上帝，却在监狱里腐烂，除了耶稣基督，一无所有。
35:11
有一位圣人在东欧的监狱里度过了许多年，他们把他关在那里，无论冬天还是夏天，
35:18
没有暖气，没有空调，在雪地里冻死，在夏天被晒伤，
35:25
他们经常把他关在那里，不让他穿衣服，甚至不让他睡在正常的床上，他们让他睡在地板上
35:30
因为他们说他是一条狗。有人问他一个问题：“在那里呆了这么多年，感觉怎么样？”
35:36
他说：“这是与耶稣基督的十三年蜜月。”
35:42
你看到了吗？现在，我们应该成为一个充满爱的会众。充满圣经的爱。
35:51
我们要用自己的生命来装饰福音。但人们不应该因为教堂而来。
35:58
或者事件。但因为耶稣基督。另一个非常常见的蓄水池，
36:04
现在不太常见，但在八十年代和七十年代就常见了。
36:09
你们当中有些人甚至还没有出生。而那正是门徒训练和安静的时刻。
36:16
你有过安静的时光。你有过安静的时光，你已经做到了。你有过安静的时光，你正在与上帝同行。
36:21
这都是你的安静时间。你读你的章节，你祈祷，你浏览列表，
36:27
也许做了你的练习册。你的安静时间。你做了你的事情。不！
36:32
现在，我们一直说，这里的牧师，我本人在个人谈话中，
36:37
我们需要独自与主在一起，我们需要学习圣经，我们需要祈祷，但你来组织这一切
36:44
进入某种机械的安静时间，你可以从中勾掉任务清单。
36:49
我的朋友，你没有抓住重点！你完全没有抓住重点。
36:54
不。另一个水槽，老实说，你可以花一个小时来思考这些观点中的每一个，
37:00
而是另一个假水池，这是当今教会中最让人分心的因素之一，
37:09
以及当代西方福音派。
37:15
世俗智慧、哲学和人类传统。你说：“保罗兄弟，这怎么应用呢？”
37:22
首先，今天很多人甚至没有听说过我们所说的规范性或调节性原则。
37:29
而这意味着你在教堂礼拜中能做什么。现在，我不同意那些试图
37:36
严格地说，在这个问题上争论不休，有些人吹毛求疵，但这场争论的重点很简单：
37:45
我们怎么能有教会呢？我们能只做我们认为正确的事吗？
37:51
还是我们应该遵循圣经的指示？崇拜。我们应该只做最吸引当代人的事情吗？
38:00
还是我们应该遵循圣经的教导？关于教堂的一切。
38:05
我们是否只能独自做自己想做的事，还是基督教世界正在流传的最新心理脂肪
38:15
还是圣经教导我们应该做什么？圣经对这个问题的回答很明确。
38:22
保罗告诉提摩太：“万一我不来，我将这一切事写信告诉你，好让你知道在神的家中该怎样行。”
38:32
他们没有受到受洗礼的世俗心理学的影响。
38:40
我们不必研究当代趋势，然后看看我们应该如何改变
38:45
耶稣基督的教会以满足肉体人的欲望。
38:51
你看到了吗？如今的教堂里充满了这种东西。
38:57
让我给你举另外一个例子，这些教堂几乎完全是围绕着它建造的。
39:03
再说一遍，我对这些事工没有意见，其中一些事工很棒，但如果它们出了问题，它们就是错的，
39:10
那就是财务上的安宁。或者婚姻。
39:17
“你为什么来这个教堂？”“它修复了我的婚姻。它让我的婚姻保持健康。”“我在这里学到了一些很棒的原则。”
39:23
关于如何处理我的生活、我的事业，以及这、那和其他一切事情。”我亲爱的朋友，愿这一切都与你同在。
39:31
那是偶像崇拜。现在，一个认识基督并被他认识的人，
39:36
一个人，如果已经改变了，他生活的这些方面就会改变，
39:41
但我不希望耶稣基督借助某些计划来帮助你有经济偿付能力。
39:50
甚至修复你的婚姻。这一切都是为了基督！
39:56
甚至可以说，与他相比，再好的事物也不过是腐烂的。
40:04
这一切都是关于基督的。我要告诉你：我不是以先知的身份说话
40:09
但更多的是作为一名历史系的学生。记住我的话。这不会太久。
40:16
迫害始于这个国家。而且它不会持续太久，它会夺走你的一切。
40:25
大多数福音派教会彻底叛教了
40:33
而小团体则被责骂，然后你会看到基督就足够了
40:42
当你除了基督之外一无所有的时候。另一种是超自然的经历。
40:50
我们祈求复兴，我们祈求圣灵降临到这个地方，我们相信圣灵
40:56
能在这里如此显现，以致于能将我们击倒。
41:01
不是因为上帝赐予我们一辆新的奔驰而赞美他，而是因为他的圣洁、因为他的爱而让我们谦卑。
41:10
我们相信上帝可以显现，但我想告诉你一件事：有些人一生都在
41:16
从一种体验跳到另一种体验。他们的欲望，他们的蓄水池，就是体验。
41:22
我知道有些人一开始很好，但后来却误入歧途，因为他们现在谈论的只是复兴。
41:30
他们想要复兴、复兴、复兴。我不要复兴，我要基督！
41:39
如果我们有基督，就会有复兴。就会有复兴。
41:45
另外，我希望你们认真听我说，特别是那些为人父母的人，
41:50
尤其是对于孩子来说，有一个水箱是虚假的和致命的
41:55
我看到这个趋势在不断增长，尤其是在在家上学的学生中。
42:01
这就是道德主义。我想给大家读一下我在这里写的东西。
42:07
那些喜爱圣经的伦理、规则和原则的人，
42:13
他们的基督教信仰主要是一堆为什么、该做什么和不该做什么的清单。
42:19
他们试图重建西方文化的基础，以此来应对西方文化的消亡——
42:25
通过教授伦理道德来巩固开国元勋的根基。
42:35
他们常常会引用《申命记》第六章。“教导这些事情。”
42:41
当你走出家门，当你走进家门，当你坐下，当你站起来时，他们都错过了《申命记》第六章的全部要点。
42:49
他们应该教什么？“尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力爱主你的上帝。”
42:57
你明白了吗？光有原则是不够的。即使是圣经原则也不能拯救你的灵魂。
43:04
不，圣经的原则不能改变你的内心。我们在这里谈论的是仰望基督得救
43:13
继续仰望基督。是的，学习圣经。学习原则。
43:18
学习谚语的智慧和所有这些事情。但所有这些都指向大师。
43:25
以及人类的真正改变者。我宁愿让我的家人，
43:31
嗯，事实上，相当疯狂
43:37
但孩子们知道那里有对基督的热爱。
43:42
是的，认真对待圣洁。是的，让我们的孩子在对主的敬畏和警戒中成长。
43:48
但是是的，让他们看到对基督的真正热情。
43:59
这些经文谈论他。这些经文把我们带到他那里
44:04
因为当一个诚实的人审视所有这些原则、谚语和其他地方时，他发现自己并不符合这些原则，
44:10
他该去哪里？他必须去基督那里。必须去基督那里。
44:17
你知道，这很陈词滥调，但却是事实。这都是关于基督的。
44:26
一个人。这就是为什么我总是告诉人们：基督教不一定是一种伦理或道德主义的宗教。
44:35
你认为是吗？你错了。基督教有道德，有明确的伦理，但基督教从根本上来说不是一种道德宗教。
44:44
这是一种关系型宗教。它就是他。
44:50
被他束缚着。我们继续。另一个可怕的水池：
45:02
有影响力的传教士。或者一些基督教名人。哦，他们无处不在。
45:08
是的，魅力型人物派出身穿白大褂的人将人们摔倒在地。
45:13
福音派人士拥有大楼、预算和洗礼。
45:19
而那些改过自新的人，他们的手下脑袋很大，知识渊博
45:26
最聪明的人可以在所有的会议上发表演讲。
45:34
我在这个星球上最敬佩的人之一是约翰·派博医生。我非常爱他。
45:41
我尊重他。但我感到畏缩。我知道他会的。不，他不会畏缩，他会呕吐。
45:46
当我听到有人说：“伙计，我得打开我的 CD 播放器，听听 Piper
45:53
或者说我今天就无法坚强起来。” 给你一些 Piper 吗？
45:59
人是什么？一次充满一个鼻子的呼吸。
46:08
根据以赛亚书，人就是这样的。现在，在过去十年里，
46:13
最近，上帝为我们这里的这些人培养了一些出色的圣经教师。
46:20
理查德·欧文·罗伯茨 (Richard Owen Roberts) 和约翰·斯奈德 (John Snyder) 以及这些多年来一直与上帝同行的人……
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这真是太棒了。我亲爱的朋友，他们一定会把你引向基督。他们一定会把你引向基督。
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上帝没有伟人，只有伟大仁慈的上帝手下那些可怜又渺小、软弱又不忠诚的人。
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就这些了。继续下去，另一个就是知识。
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圣经仅仅是介词真理。
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你已经掌握了圣经，这是你拥有和控制的东西。一个年轻人曾经告诉我：
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“保罗弟兄，我只想掌握圣经！”我说：“什么？”他说：“我想掌握圣经。”
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我说：“儿子，我想让《圣经》掌控我。”你永远无法掌控《圣经》。
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就凭你的头脑？凭你的心？你就能掌握《圣经》吗？
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让大师掌控你。只有知识、知识、知识、知识、知识。
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哦，我亲爱的朋友，知识是如此重要。在圣经基督教中，思想和心灵之间没有分离
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正如当代福音派所言。不，绝对不是。但这不只是关于你知道多少的问题。
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不是的。这是关于他的。
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最后一个是老底嘉式的自力更生。
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或者源于西方物质主义和进取精神的自我导向。
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实用主义。教会成长。我这么说是什么意思呢？
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我亲爱的朋友，难道不是这样吗？你们当中许多成为基督徒多年的人都会证实这一点。
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你会发现某个乡村的小教堂，就像一个普通的教堂，里面有一些虔诚的人
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爱主的人。然后有一天，教会里真正受人爱戴的人
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患上了不治之症。
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教会中爆发的复兴，难道不奇妙吗？
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人们跪下，向上帝呼喊。为什么？因为他们终于陷入了这样的境地
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他们什么也做不了。他们是美国人。他们可以做任何事。
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“我们能解决问题，我们能使问题得到解决。”敢做敢为的精神。
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然后突然间，一阵强风袭来，无人能阻挡。
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当雷佩契普变成龙时，他对尤斯塔斯说了什么？纳尼亚传奇。
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他说：“尤斯塔斯……”尤斯塔斯是一个小男孩，他被变成了一条龙。这是一个很长的故事。
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雷佩契普是一只会说话的老鼠。他走到他面前，说道：“尤斯塔斯，
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不平凡的事发生在不平凡的人身上。”他的意思是：
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为了成为那个非凡的人，你必须经历非凡的事情。而且往往非常非常艰难。
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基督教确实如此。我所见过的最接近复兴的是美国
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当教会发展到一定程度，不再有发展助力时，
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没有人能帮助他们，只有上帝。这就是为什么耶稣说，
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好吧，让我先读一下这句话。“因为你们说我是富足的，已经发了财，什么都不缺，
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却不知道你是那困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身的。”
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你瞧，从某种意义上来说，能够聚在一起而不必担心遭受迫害会让我们感到痛苦。
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我记得在秘鲁战争期间，为了买一袋米要排几个小时的队，这是非常可怕的。
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到处都是死人。炸弹爆炸。26,000 人丧生。我们教堂的窗户被炸碎了。电线断了。
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一切你能想象到的。会众中的团契是如此甜蜜。
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我记得有一件事，一个恐怖组织向我发出警告，说他们要杀了我。我意识到我不能离开
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因为如果我离开，我就不能再回来了。如果牧师们要忍受，我也必须忍受。有一天，在这个小房间里躲了两个星期后
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我决定：“我要去教堂。”其中一位兄弟发现了这件事。
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我说：“我要去教堂，我要去布道。”我说：“我来这里不是为了躲在房间里。”所以我从那里走过去，
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走在人行道上，四个兄弟遇见了我。然后，当我们走着的时候，其中一个站在这里，另一个站在这里，
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其中一个站在这里，另一个站在这里。他们一直挡着我的路。小秘鲁人。我问：“你在干什么？”
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我走不了路，别挡着我的路。”他们说：“不。”
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我说：“为什么？”他们说：“我们知道所说的内容。
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它必须先袭击我们其中一人，然后才会袭击你。你是一名牧师。”这种事情是出于需要。
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这就是为什么在路加福音中，路加在这里做了一些非常奇怪的事情，因为当我们读到马太福音中的八福时，
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马太说：“虚心的人有福了。”路加说：“贫穷的人有福了。”
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不要以为他忘记了“在精神上”，他在这里试图做点什么。用基督的话，受圣灵的启发，
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基督的意思不同。整个意思就是：亲爱的朋友，当贫穷降临到你身上时，
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当你一无所有的时候，除了基督，没有人可以帮助你，
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那么基督对你来说就变得珍贵了。迫害从未伤害过教会，只有繁荣。
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事实上，我相信罗伯茨兄弟的教导是，我们最想避免的事情
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正是这种力量让我们变得神圣。
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现在，这些都是假水箱，我们需要非常小心。
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接下来的部分将持续大约两个小时，但让我将其浓缩到大约三分钟。
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就是这个：
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他是葡萄树，而天父是栽培葡萄树的人。
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如今，葡萄树提供力量和生命，而栽培葡萄树的人则提供方向。
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他塑造和塑造。他让葡萄树去他想要它去的地方。这就是基督徒生活的循环
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当你透过约翰福音第十五章的钥匙孔看时，它就在这里：
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你已经与基督联合了。他是葡萄树，你是枝子。
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但这里就是农业隐喻的那种……
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不适用。分支不必继续遵守，但你被告知要遵守。
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那就是：作为一个分支，你倾向于分散自己对基督的注意力。
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当你不再关注基督时，你就会失去一切目标和力量。
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栽培葡萄树的人，即天父，在他的护佑下，他正在做一切事情将你推回到葡萄树上。
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于是你来到葡萄树和树液旁——
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神圣的汁液、圣灵、葡萄树的生命——流入你的体内。
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我们现在所处的环境，还没有完全被救赎，我们仍然有肉体，
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我们容易分心，而分心会使我们失去目标，失去生命。
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而天父，在他的天意之工中，正在把我们推回到葡萄树那里。
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你生活中的一切都是阴影，
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你生命中的一切都是软弱，你生命中的一切都是罪恶——
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不要让生活中的那些东西筛选你
55:07
让你到这里来，让你自己离基督更远。每一个弱点，每一个阴影，每一个黑暗
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就是为了向你展示你的弱点。你完全没有能力过基督徒的生活。
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是父在把你推回到子身边。是父在把你推回到子身边。
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这就是为什么，一些最有成果的信徒
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自耶稣基督升天以来，有些人经历了非凡的困难。
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非同寻常的问题。或者本身就存在着非同寻常的弱点。
55:57
为什么我们要反对圣经并说它们没有说过一些话呢？
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让我举个例子。我会给你一个词，然后你就在脑海里想象，
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当我给你这个词时你看到了什么？参孙。
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你会想到阿诺德施瓦辛格，一个犹太人的阿诺德施瓦辛格。
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那么，如果事实如此，那么非利士人怎么会不知道他的力量来自哪里呢？
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他可能就像秘鲁农村的农民一样。
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大概这么高，胳膊很细。他哪来的力气？
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不管你有多少肌肉，你都无法拉起一座城门，把它背上山再扔下去。
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我不知道是否有人告诉过你这一点，但从生理上来说这是不可能的。
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他不是靠肌肉做到的，而是靠圣灵的力量。使徒保罗……
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我已经厌倦了参加关于使徒保罗的会议，他的伟大智慧，他的这个，他的那个。他们谈论的一切
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这正是他不谈论的事情。他谈论的是他的弱点，
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当上帝使他变得软弱时，上帝把他抛弃了，让他时刻担心自己的生命安全。
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他基本上整个基督徒生活都在狮子的嘴里。为什么？这样他的信心就不会在自己身上了
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而是在乎那位使死人复活的。你知道，司布真……
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这是我最喜欢的传教士。但是，当这些传记作者中有很多到了天堂，司布真可能会揍他们一顿。
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因为他们谈论司布真的才智，他们谈论他超强的记忆力以及所有这些不同的事情。
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司布真会谈论他的弱点。你的弱点是催化剂
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推动你更加努力地抓住基督
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好叫你们被充满。让我们祷告。天父，我感谢你的话语。
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主啊，我祈祷您能用它来鼓励您的子民的生活。
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主啊，最重要的是他们会奔跑、奔跑、奔跑，总是奔向你，而永远不会远离你。
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奉耶稣的名，阿门。
(google translate from:https://christianvisualmedia.com/christ-the-true-vine-paul-washer-transcript)
0:01
I'll be preaching from John 15, the text that Brother Anthony read.
0:11
This sermon I prepared actually for a series of meetings in Rhode Island two weeks ago
0:18
and it was supposed to be the first sermon and it ended up being all five. So I don't think I'll get through my notes today
0:25
unless you're willing to stay for about ten hours. And the reason why it took so long to get through this text
0:33
is that it's like looking through a keyhole. I want you to think about this. It's like looking through a keyhole
0:40
into an entire universe. Because in this text is summed up exactly the purpose
0:51
and the means that God is using to achieve that purpose in you for His own glory.
0:58
That God has called you to bear fruit and you can bear fruit. You will bear fruit.
1:06
He has called you to stand in His presence clean and without spot.
1:13
Jesus Christ did not shed His blood for you so that the very first thing you see when you walk into glory
1:19
is a scowl on His face because of all your failures.
1:25
I want you... Well, let me put it this way: As a servant of Christ, I will not have you condemned.
1:35
As a representative of Jesus Christ, I will not tolerate a believer walking in condemnation.
1:44
Why? Because of what Christ has done. There is a true humility in Christianity. A true humility.
1:53
There is a true recognition of our sin, a true brokenness, a true repentance.
1:59
But it is not onto death. It is not onto defeat. It does not drive a believer to wallowing in some mire.
2:12
Those who claim to know Christ and bear no fruit are unconverted. I'm not speaking of them. I'm speaking to you.
2:19
Many of you who've come to know Christ, your lives have been changed and you are bearing fruit but when you look in the mirror, you feel so dark.
2:29
You feel like such a shadow. You feel so dirty.
2:34
And there is a voice. There is always a voice taking everything you think about yourself and using it to drive you away from Christ.
2:45
Any voice that under any circumstance drives you away from Jesus Christ
2:51
is the voice of the deceiver. Every aspect of your life,
2:57
every victory and every failure has an intention and that is to drive you harder to Christ.
3:06
You're walking in victory? Then know that it is not your own. Let it be a reminder to you that it would drive you to Jesus Christ.
3:15
You're sensing a defeat? You've been swallowed up in a besetting sin once again?
3:21
Do not stay there! Let that drive you to Christ.
3:26
Because you have been bought with a price in order to bear fruit.
3:33
Now, I say "bear fruit" instead of saying "do great things". "Do great things" has become a cliché in western evangelism.
3:42
It means all sorts of unbiblical things for the most part. God has not called you probably to do great things as the world sees it.
3:53
Or called you to do great things as most evangelicals would see it today.
3:58
God has called to bear fruit that when He walks by your tree it is a beautiful aroma.
4:07
It pleases Him. And that's really all you're concerned about, isn't it?
4:14
Pleasing Him. And if you're pleasing to Him, what more do you need?
4:22
If He loves the fruit on your tree, let every other person turn up their nose and walk away,
4:30
it should not diminish your joy. It's for Him.
4:38
Now we'll look at this text. He says, in verse 1 of chapter 15:
4:45
"I am the true vine." Now, I'm not going to get finished with this, I can see that right now.
4:56
"I am the true vine." Here comes these statements. These "I AM" statements.
5:01
Why are they so important? Well, I know that those "I AM" statements identify Him with deity.
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They identify Him with the Yahweh statements - "I am who I am." But let's put it a little bit lower on the shelf.
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Why is Jesus saying "I am so important"?
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Because you're not. Because I am not.
5:30
You see, every time you look in the mirror of God's word, if you're an honest man, if you're an honest woman,
5:35
you have to sit there and go: "I am not." Paul even said it in Philippians chapter 3.
5:42
He had not attained it. He had not come to perfection. He had not come to be exactly like Christ.
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Even in his own life to the very end there were some deficiencies. He was not, but that's OK when He is.
5:58
When Christ is. That "I AM" is another one of those keyholes, isn't it?
6:04
You look through it, you think it's just two tiny words but then all of the sudden it opens up into the full revelation of who Christ is.
6:14
See, one of the things that I believe that Anthony has been seeking to do over this last year
6:21
is to get you to look though a keyhole.
6:27
Because there's really only one thing that can fill you, that can feed your hunger.
6:33
And it's not a thing, it's a person. It's Christ. Let me put it this way, in the way the Puritans used to speak.
6:40
Since you have been converted, you have become a creature - good language -
6:47
you have become a creature of such a sublime nature
6:54
that you can no longer be satisfied with anything other than God.
7:00
And if you can be satisfied with something other than God,
7:05
you ought to tremble because that may be an evidence that you are not converted.
7:12
You see, when you begin to understand this, it changes everything. You go: "My life's not complete." Of course it's not. You live in the fallen world.
7:20
"My job doesn't fulfill me." And if it could, you'd be lost.
7:25
"The ministry doesn't fill me up, it doesn't feed my hunger." Moses had the biggest ministry any man has ever had
7:32
and yet he said: "Show me Your glory even if it'd kill me because ministry is not enough."
7:37
You say: "My wife doesn't complete me." If she can, you're an unbeliever.
7:45
You see, you've been recreated and the only one who can satisfy you is Christ.
7:54
And that's why it is useless to go to these other things. Let me let you in on something about the Christian life.
8:02
Because sanctification is progressive, you will spend the greater part of your life chasing other things.
8:12
And those other things will leave you empty and that is why, the why, of trials.
8:19
That is the why of wins stronger than you can handle. They are all intended to blow you back to that one keyhole.
8:28
To Christ. To looking at Him.
8:33
He says: "I am the true vine." As opposed to what? You see, we have and opposition here.
8:40
Now if He'd said: "I am a vine," the world wouldn't have a problem with Him.
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Even if He said: "I am the vine." But He says: "I am the true vine."
8:51
And here He is drawing a contrast. Do you see that? A great contrast. Jesus is telling us: "There's a bunch of vines out there that aren't true."
8:59
You have found many of them, haven't you? You may be even right now tangled up in a whole bunch of them.
9:09
Always looking for fruit. Always looking for life. Always looking for meaning.
9:15
You will not find it in any vine except Jesus Christ.
9:22
And that's what's so dangerous about western evangelicalism. They're giving you more than Jesus.
9:28
They're giving you entertainment. They're giving you seminars. They're teaching you how to do things right. How to have your best life now.
9:34
All sorts of things so that you think you're being filled but you're being filled with things that cannot fill.
9:41
You're being deceived. You need to be left alone. You need to be given Christ.
9:48
And you need to learn to feed from Him. He says: "I am the true vine."
9:55
Now, in the earlier part of the service, in the prayer service, Anthony read from Isaiah 5.
10:01
We can also read from Psalms 80 because there's something very important that we see there.
10:06
When Jesus says "I am the true vine," His Jewish listeners were understanding something
10:13
that maybe we wouldn't understand. You see, in Isaiah, we are told that God went to Egypt and He brought out a vine.
10:20
That vine was Israel. And He did absolutely everything imaginable
10:28
for Israel to prosper as a vine. But in the end, we see in Isaiah and we see in Psalms 80,
10:35
in the end, what happens? The vine is destroyed.
10:42
And it's destroyed not just by opposing forces, but the vine is destroyed by God.
10:51
And there are some things that we can learn. Many things, but we're not going to touch them today. There are some things that we can learn from this.
10:58
Number one, there is no human or human institution
11:10
that will every be able to supply your need of spiritual life.
11:19
Israel was the best of the best. So many time people misjudge the whole biblical presentation of the nation of Israel.
11:26
Especially when we get to Romans chapter 3. Let me just give you an example. Let me turn there real quick, you don't have to turn there.
11:32
But just let me read a text to you. "Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law so that every mouth may be closed
11:39
and all the world may become accountable to God." (Romans 3:19) Now, you read that and you think it's talking about you.
11:45
Well, not directly. Directly it's talking about Israel. Israel was the one under the law.
11:51
And what it's basically saying is this: Israel was a people called out by God, they were given oracles of God,
11:57
the revelations of God, the temple service, everything else from God. Everything God could do, He gave it to them.
12:03
And they were under the law. They weren't like us vicious pagan gentiles. They were under the law and they failed in every part of it.
12:13
So what is he saying? Gentiles, look at the best of the best. And they failed.
12:19
Now put your hand over your mouth, because you would do even worse.
12:24
You see? There is no human institution, there is no man that you can lean on,
12:32
no person, no thing of this human fabric that is going to fill you,
12:39
that's going to be able to provide life. Only Jesus Christ and Him alone.
12:45
He's the true vine. That's what He calls Himself here. But also, He's the bread of life.
12:51
Listen to what Jesus said. Jesus said to them: "I am the bread of life."
12:56
Right there is enough to stop any accusation against the deity of Christ.
13:04
Jesus Christ is God in the flesh or He just blasphemed with that statement. Do you hear what He's saying?
13:10
People say: "Well, I'm not sure there's a lot of references in the Bible to Christ's deity" Here's one right here. You just need to understand.
13:16
Any man who stands up and says: "I am the bread of life"
13:22
is taking the place of God. And in this case it is a man claiming deity
13:30
And rightfully so because He is. He is the bread!
13:36
Believers, I always hear believers: "I'm so hungry, I'm so thirsty."
13:43
You go into a supposed Christian bookstore today.
13:48
I mean, it'll make you weep. Most of the bookstores are filled with so-called Christian pop psychology.
13:59
It's not even good psychology. It's not even good wrong psychology.
14:07
You go into a Christian bookstore, most of the books are written about how empty we are, how thirsty we are.
14:16
And then someone's contrived some new system of Christian thought in order to fill you.
14:24
You know, Jesus was never empty. He was never thirsty in the sense of inwardly. Why?
14:32
Because He knew God. As a man, He knew God. Not just because He was deity
14:37
But because He knew God and He has always set Himself to do the Father's will.
14:43
Why are Christians so empty? And why will all those silly little books never fill you?
14:54
Because you need more than a book. You need more than four points or five ways or ten steps.
15:01
You need Christ.
15:08
He's the bread of life. He's the fountain of living water. Now, listen to this: "Now, on the last day, the great day of the feast,
15:14
Jesus stood and cried out saying: If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." (John 7:37)
15:23
Every time you're thirsty, where do you run? Usually to someone else to complain how thirsty you are.
15:32
Or maybe even you run to Scripture to try to find a verse.
15:38
Or maybe you look for a certain aspect of propositional truth in systematic theology.
15:48
That's not necessarily bad, but it can be. Why? Because if you run to Scripture and stop there,
15:54
you've missed the entire point of Scripture. The point of Scripture is to send you on to Christ in a correct fashion.
16:02
That you might feed from Him. Do you not understand all those texts,
16:08
my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, that speak to you about Him being jealous about you?
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Being zealous with regard to His love for you? Don't you understand that?
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He really is jealous! He really will not allow anything to compete with Him.
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That's why Jesus said: "Blessed are the pure in heart." The idea there is an unalloyed heart.
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The idea is: Blessed are those who have no competing loyalties within them. Who belong wholly onto God.
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And you see, that's the reason for this tearing of the fabric in your life. This being tossed to and fro.
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You may think it's the world and you may think it's Satan and they might be instruments, but behind that all,
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it is God tearing you and shifting you and sifting you
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until you come to realize, maybe battered and sore, that He's the only one.
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He's it.
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One of the reasons why I respect what's being done here though the elders
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is they could give you a lot more things that they're not giving you
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to tantalize your flesh and to draw in a lot more people.
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They're seeking to give you Christ. That's what you need.
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The question is: Is that what you want? Christ?
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He's the fountain of living water. "Now, in the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying:
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If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"
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You... I don't know how to describe you.
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A giver-upper-too-soon, if that's a word. Could that be a word? A giver-upper-too-soon.
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I think I've just made a word. I know this about you.
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You're a giver-upper-too-soon because so am I. You don't fight, you quit.
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I mean, it's just like the king cried out in the Old Testament saying: "We're at the point of giving birth
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and yet there is no strength for the baby to be born!"
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Look at this promise! He says: "From your innermost being will flow rivers of living water."
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He's not talking about some age to come after some age to come. He is talking about now.
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And so what should you do? When you notice
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that there is no sense of living water flowing in and out of you
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do not be condemned. Do not drop your head. Do not run to the dark.
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Do not run away from God. Just say: "At this moment it's not the reality it should be in my life,
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I will run boldly to Christ with the biggest bucket I can find
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and I will wait and wait and wait and wait. I will give Him no peace until He fills me."
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You see? It's very hard for us, isn't it? We live in the day of microwaves and instant coffee, instant this and instant that.
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We have no sense of what it means to tarry and wait upon the promises of God. To grab a hold of the horns of the altar.
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"Bless me to fight like Jacob!"
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"To fight like Jacob. I will not let You go." Seek and grow.
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Well, I guess you could, but in most churches today this type of language
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has no place at all. No one wants this.
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They just want: "I did my thing on Sunday, leave me alone. Now I can go play.
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I've earned it." Brothers and sisters in Christ, don't ever give up!
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Take Him at His word and wrestle with Him!
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Be like a watchman on the walls of Jerusalem. God loves this kind of boldness.
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"I will give You no peace until these things become growing realities in my life."
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Growing realities. But listen to me, do this with joy! I've heard people say this. I've heard people say to me:
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"You know, brother Paul, the church began in the upper room agonizing,
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the Spirit would fall upon them, and the church will probably die in America around the fellowship table stuffing itself."
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Well, the second part may be true but the first part is not true.
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My dear friend, those apostles, the early disciples were not in the upper room agonizing in prayer.
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Why would they be agonizing? Jesus promised, didn't He? They weren't agonizing trying to wrench something out of His hand
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as though He was a miserly sovereign who said: "I'll only give you this if you inflict yourself." No, they were waiting in that upper room, waiting,
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and waiting many days, in one mind. Waiting, but waiting joyfully.
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He had promised. Had He ever lied to them? And see what the devil will do.
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He will intervene in your life and you'll hear a sermon like this and you'll get excited about wanting more from Christ
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and you'll go there for half an hour and nothing will happen and you'll just think that it's impossible
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or something is obviously wrong with you.
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You become disgruntled. No! Joyfully wait! And when all the horde of hell comes to you and says:
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"You fool, why do you wait at His door?" He promised!
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"You fool, you're a beggar, why should He open the door?" Because He died!
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I will wait. I will seek Him. I will go to His word.
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I will be with Him in prayer. I will wait upon the Lord because He will not grant me less than what I ask for.
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He will only grant me greater than what I can even conceive in my mind.
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Now, when a lot of these TV preachers say that, they're talking about houses and cars. What do we care about houses and cars
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talking about the presence of Christ? Him using us, His pleasure?
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Do you see that? Oh, brothers and sisters.
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So much for you, so much!
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So much to those who will enter in.
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To those who will fight. To those who will tarry. To those who will study His word and pray.
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Now I want to talk for a moment about the counterfeit cisterns.
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One of the great hindrances in our lives are counterfeit cisterns.
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Things that are brought into our lives that hold no water, cannot quench our thirst.
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They're like mirages that will dry up. They're everywhere.
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Even good things that are a gift from God can be nothing but mirages
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if seen outside of His presence and His will. Let me give you a couple: Children, marriage, a good job.
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They can all be temptations. To do what? Turn your eyes from Jesus.
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Blessings, health. I'm not saying these things are bad.
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These things are wonderful. I have some of them and I'm glad. They can be temptations.
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That is why you will see - and Jawett points this out very good in his little book School of Calvary -
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it seems that it requires a greater degree of suffering
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to bring a man to a greater degree of the presence of Christ.
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Because we are somewhat hard-headed and callous
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and the good things, even the gifts, can become things that we think of more than the giver.
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Listen to Jeremiah 2:11-13: "Has a nation changed gods when they were not gods?
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But My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. “Be appalled, O heavens, at this,
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and shudder, be very desolate,” declares the Lord. “For my people have committed two evils:
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they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns,
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broken cisterns that can hold no water." Now even though this appears in Jeremiah
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in this exact form only here, we see this tendency always, don't we?
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We see it in the garden. We see it even in God dealing with Egypt showing His mighty power.
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We see it in Israel. We see it in the wilderness. We see it in the land of Canaan.
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We see it in the days of the prophets. We see it in our own lives. We have a tendency to seek out things other than God.
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And I think that the reason for that is the reason why we have the admonition in the book of Colossians 3.
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That we need to keep focusing on things above where Christ is seated. The problem is: Even though we have been renewed in our spirit,
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we have been regenerated, we are still physical beings who long to touch,
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long to see with the eyes. I am convinced that the men and women who have made the most progress in the Christian life
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have been those who have seen more of the other world. Now, I don't necessarily mean dreams of visions,
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I just mean that they have a deeper sense of what is to come.
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They've caught the apocalyptic vision of the prophets of the Old Testament that saw lambs lying down with lions.
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They see in the book of Revelation a crystal clear water, they join with Ezekiel looking at that new temple,
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they see things that are to come. Moses was the same way. He could leave the riches of Egypt
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because he saw Him who was unseen. And that's why it is so important
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not only to saturate your mind in the word of God. That is essential! But I want to tell you something:
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You can have 99% clean water but you put a drop of filth in there and it'll kill you.
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My dear friends, especially you young people, you will never catch a vision of God
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while you're filling yourself up with much of what even western Christianity says it is acceptable today
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as far as you see with your eyes. I'm telling you, if you want a vision of God,
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you need to get the screen cleared.
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I am just astounded at what Christians, supposedly,
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evangelicals, watch today. The things that they will view.
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Do you know, I can't even look at people at my Twitter account. Sometimes I think: "Well, who's following me?"
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I'll look and I'm thinking: "Well, I need to start preaching the Gospel
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because obviously some of them are lost." Look at the way they dress!
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You see, we need to be a holy people
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so that we might truly know Him.
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Be filled with Him, have a greater vision of Him. But we're always in danger of these false cisterns. Always.
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I've seen so many young men hot after God. I mean just following God with everything.
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And then all of a sudden young lady appears. There's nothing wrong with that.
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A young lady appeared in my life. But distracts him from the things of God.
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Young man's in college, is going to do great things. I remember so many: "We're going to be missionaries, missionaries, missionaries."
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And when they came to last year, I found out most of my friends had gone for interviews
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in all these big companies. I didn't go to any because I thought: "We're all going to go to China and die for Christ."
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And I'm like: "What?" "Yeah, well, Paul, you've got to be realistic. I mean, you've gone a little wild here.
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I mean, we said those things, but..." And then all of the sudden the things just start grabbing them.
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Cars. Homes. Home-owner associations.
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Now, I'm not saying everyone's called into the ministry, but what I am saying is: If you began to pursue Christ, what will happen is -
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there will come detour after detour after detour. Things that come into your life
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from which you will attempt to draw joy, strength and life and in the end they will be as bitter as gall
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in your mouth and in your belly. Be aware. Not just of the things that are obviously bad.
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But be aware of the things that are even good and gifts from God.
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In Peru we have a saying: Sálvame de las aguas mansas, de las aguas bravas me salvo yo.
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What it means is: Save me from the calm waters, I'll save myself from the rough waters.
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And what it means is: I can recognize the rough waters and I can prepare for them. It's the smooth waters that are dangerous, that are deceptive.
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We want to go hard after Christ. Now I want to look at come of these really quick before we come to an end.
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Like I said, I'm not even going to get through the introduction today. But I just want to look at some common counterfeit cisterns
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First of all, religious ritual. When Jesus was coming down probably
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from the upper room through the Kidron valley, it's possible that He could see the front,
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because I've been through there, and you turn around, you can look at the temple mount there in the Kidron valley. It's way up there but you can see it.
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And it's possible that from where He was standing you could see the gate of the temple
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And over it Herod had created this magnificent golden vine
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that represented the nation of Israel. It's really possible that Jesus looked at that vine and He said:
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"No. I am the true vine. All the ritual of the temple. All the things that you see there.
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All the sacrifices, everything. That is not the true vine. It's not your tradition, it's not your heritage.
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It's not the fact that you're linked to someone who knew Me.
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You must be united to Me. Not ritual, not religion, not tradition, not heritage.
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You must be linked to Me." Now, I want us to put that in a kind of a temporary perspective.
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A false cistern can be the congregation.
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The congregation. You know, it's amazing, I'll go to church websites and I'll click on a website and what's most amazing to me -
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you see all these absolutely beautiful people smiling at you. Now, I know that Jesus said:
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"They will know you are my disciples by your love for one another." But as you look at the website,
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there's something very troubling in many of these websites. What is it? You see beautiful faces of beautiful people
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willing to serve you, affirm you and meet your felt needs. And you have to go all the way through that website
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to find something about Jesus. It's the congregation, the congregation, promoting the congregation.
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No! If you go to a congregation
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because the congregation is meeting all your needs, there is some good in that
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there is something very very distorted.
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It must be Christ. If we are to be known in this community
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it is not how wonderful of a congregation we are. It is how wonderful a Savior He is.
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But a bunch of smiling affirming people that will take you as you are, that's not scandalous.
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What is scandalous is the Savior we just sang about who died for the sins of men.
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Congregations can be a false cistern Also the church event itself.
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As I travel around and I'm different churches, and sometimes really big churches, and I see the preparation these people make for Sunday.
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I'm not talking about several hours of prayer. I'm talking about lights, music, greeters,
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chairs have to be a certain way, screens have to be a certain way, everything is ready, everything is choreographed,
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everything is done. It is like being in Madison Square Gardens! And people come in and they get wrapped up in the event.
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And their strength comes from the events. That is wrong!
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It must come from Christ. That is why often times you see believers
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who have so much of God who are rotting away in prison with absolutely nothing but Jesus Christ.
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One saint who spent many many years in an eastern European prison, they kept him in there winters and summers,
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no heat, no air conditioning, freezing to death in the snow, burning up in the summers,
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kept him in there often times without clothes, wouldn't let him even sleep in a normal bed, they made him sleep on the floor
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because they said he was a dog. Someone asked him a question: "What was it like to be there for so many years?"
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He said: "A thirteen-year honeymoon with Jesus Christ."
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You see that? Now, we ought to be a congregation that is loving. Biblically loving.
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We are to adorn the Gospel with our lives. But people should not be coming to this church because of the church.
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Or the event. But because of Jesus Christ. Another cistern that's very very common,
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not so much now, but back in the eighties and the seventies.
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Some of you weren't even born. And that was discipleship and quiet time.
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You had your quiet time. You had your quiet time, you've done it. You got your quiet time, you're walking with God.
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It's all about your quiet time. You read your chapter, you prayed your prayer, you went down through the list,
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maybe worked your workbook. Your quiet time. You did your thing. No!
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Now, we have always said, the pastors here, I myself in personal conversations,
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we need to be alone with the Lord, we need to study the Word, we need to pray, but you organize this thing
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into some sort of mechanical quiet time that you can check off your task list.
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My friend, you're missing the point! You're totally missing the point.
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No. Another cistern, honestly you could dwell an hour on each one of these points,
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but another false cistern, and this is one of the most distractive elements in the church today,
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and in contemporary western evangelicalism.
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Worldly wisdom, philosophy and traditions of men. And you say: "Brother Paul, how does this apply?"
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Well, first of all, many people today have not even heard of what we call a normative or regulative principle.
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And what that means is just what can you do in a church service. Now, I disagree with people who try to
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strictly fight back and forth on this matter, some people splitting hairs, but the whole point of this debate is simply this:
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how are we supposed to have church? Can we just do what we think is right in our own eyes
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or should we follow the dictates of Scripture? Worship. Should we just do what is most appealing to contemporary men
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or should we go to the dictates of Scripture? Everything about church.
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Are we just left out there on or own to do what we want or the latest psychological fat that is passing through Christendom
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or does the Scriptures teach us what we are to do? And the Bible is clear on the matter.
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Paul told Timothy: "In case I don't come, I'm writing to you about all these things so you will know how to conduct yourself in the household of God."
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They were not left to the baptized secular psychology.
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We are not left to study contemporary trends and then see how we ought to change
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the Church of Jesus Christ in order to fit the desires of carnal men.
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You see that? The church today is filled with this type of thing.
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Let me give you another one churches that almost seem entirely built around.
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And again, I have no problem with these ministries, some of them are wonderful ministries, but if they get out of order, they're wrong,
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and that is, well, financial peace. Or marriage.
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"Why are you in this church?" "It fixed my marriage. It keeps my marriage healthy." "I learn some great principles here
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about how to conduct my life and my business and this and that and everything else." My dear friend, may all that rot with you.
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That's idolatry. Now, a person who comes to know Christ and is known by Him,
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a person, who has been transformed, yes, these areas of their lives will be transformed,
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but I do not want Jesus Christ riding in on a coattail of some plan of how to get you solvent economically.
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Or even to fix your marriage. It is all about Christ!
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To the point that we can say even the good things are rot compared to Him.
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It's all about Christ. And I'll tell you this: I'm not speaking as a prophet
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but more as a student of history. You mark my words. It won't be long.
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Persecution begins in this country. And it won't be long and it strips everything from you.
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And most of the evangelical church goes totally apostate
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and little groups are left to be berated, then you will see that Christ is enough
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when you have nothing else but Christ. Another is supernatural experiences.
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We're praying for revival, we're praying for the Spirit of God to fall down upon this place and we believe that the Spirit of God
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can so manifest Himself here that it could lay us low.
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Not praising God for a new Mercedes but lay us low with His holiness, with His love.
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We believe God can manifest Himself but I want to tell you something: Some people spend their entire life
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jumping from one experience to another. Their desire, their cistern, is experience.
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I know some people who started out well and have gone astray because all they talk about now is revival.
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They want revival, revival, revival. I don't want revival, I want Christ!
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And if we have Christ, there will be revival. There will be revival.
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Another, and I want you to listen to me very carefully, especially those of you who are parents,
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especially with children, there is a cistern that is false and deadly
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and I see it growing, and I see it growing especially among homeschoolers.
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And this is what it is: Moralism. And I want to read to you something I've written here.
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Those who delight in the ethics, rules and principles of Scripture,
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their Christianity is primarily a list of why's, do's and don't's.
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They react to the demise of western culture by trying to rebuild its foundations -
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the foundations of founding fathers by means of teaching ethics.
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And often times they'll quote Deuteronomy 6. "Teach these things."
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When you go out of your house, when you come into your house, when you sit down, when you stand up, and they miss the entire point of Deuteronomy 6.
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What are they supposed to be teaching? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength."
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You see? Principles are not enough. Not even biblical principles can save your soul.
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No, biblical principles cannot change your inner man. What we're talking about here is looking onto Christ to be saved
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and continue looking onto Christ. And yes, study the Scriptures. Study the principles.
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Learn the wisdom of Proverbs and all these things. But all these things point to the Master.
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And the True Changer of men. I would rather have my household,
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well, as it is, rather wild
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but children knowing there is a passion for Christ there.
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Yes, taking holiness seriously. Yes, raising up our children in fear and admonition of the Lord.
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But yes, letting them see a real passion for Christ.
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These Scriptures talk about Him. These Scriptures send us to Him
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because an honest man when he looks at all those principles and proverbs and everywhere else, and he sees he doesn't match up,
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where is he to go? He must go to Christ. Must go to Christ.
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You know, it is so clichish but it is so true. It is just all about Christ.
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A person. That's why I always tell people: Christianity is not necessarily an ethical or moralistic religion.
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You think it is? You're wrong. Now, it has a moral, it has a defined ethic, but Christianity is not principally a moralistic religion.
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It is a relational religion. It's Him.
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Being bound to Him. Let's go on. Another horrible cistern:
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Powerful preachers. Or some Christian celebrity. Oh, they're everywhere.
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Yeah, the charismatics have their men in white coats that are throwing people to the ground.
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The evangelicals, they have their men with their big buildings and budgets and baptisms.
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And the reformed guys have their men with really big heads filled with a lot of knowledge
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and the smartest guy gets to preach at all the conferences.
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One of the men I admire most on this planet is doctor John Piper. I love him dearly.
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I respect him. But I cringe. And I know he would. No, he wouldn't cringe, he would vomit.
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When I hear somebody say: "Man, I got to turn on my CD player and I got to get me some Piper
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or I'm just not going to be strong today." Get you some Piper?
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What is man? One nose full of breath at a time.
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That's all man is, according to Isaiah. Now, surely in the last ten years,
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God has raised up some wonderful Bible teachers just recently having the men here that we had.
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Richard Owen Roberts and John Snyder and just these people that have walk with God for so many years and things...
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It's wonderful. My dear friend, they must drive you to Christ. They must drive you to Christ.
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There are no great men of God. There's just pitiful tiny weak faithless men of a great and merciful God.
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That's all that there is. It goes on, another is knowledge.
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The Scriptures of mere prepositional truth.
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Something you possess and control, you have mastered the Scriptures. A young man told me one time:
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"Brother Paul, I just want to master the Scriptures!" I said: "What?" He said: "I want to master the Scriptures."
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I said: "Son, I want the Scriptures to master me." You never master Scriptures.
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With that head of yours? That heart of yours? You're going to master the Scriptures?
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Let the Master master you. And just knowledge, knowledge, knowledge, knowledge, knowledge.
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And oh my dear friend, knowledge is so essential. There is no divorce in biblical Christianity between the mind and the heart
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as contemporary evangelicalism might present it. No, absolutely not. But it is not about just how much you know.
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It's not. It's about Him.
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The last one is a Laodicean self-reliance.
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Or self-direction born out of western materialism and a can-do spirit.
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Pragmatism. Church growth. And what do I mean by that?
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My dear friend, is it not true, many of you who've been Christians more than a few years you'll testify to this.
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You find some little country church somewhere just the kind of a normal church, some sincere people in it
48:30
who love the Lord. And then one day someone who's really beloved in the church
48:37
falls sick with a fatal disease.
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Isn't it amazing? The revival that breaks out in the church?
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People going to their knees, crying out to God. Why? Because they've finally been put in a situation
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where they can't do anything. They're Americans. They can do anything.
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"We can fix it, we can make it right." Can-do spirit.
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Then all of a sudden a strong wind comes that no one can take care of.
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What Reepicheep told Eustace when he was a dragon? Chronicles of Narnia.
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He said: "Eustace..." Eustace was a little boy who was turned into a dragon. It's a long story.
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And Reepicheep was a talking mouse. Comes up to him and says: "Eustace,
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extraordinary things happen to extraordinary people." What he's saying is this:
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In order to become that extraordinary person, you must go through extraordinary things. And often times very very hard.
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And in Christianity that is true. The closest I have seen revival in the United States
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is when a church gets to a point where church growth isn't going to help,
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where no one can help and they only have God. This is why Jesus says this,
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well, let me read this first. "Because you say I am rich and have become wealthy and have need of nothing,
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and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked."
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You see, there is a sense in which just being able to meet together without fear of persecution hurts us.
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I remember in Peru, during the war, when it was so horrible to stand for a couple hours in line just to get a bag of rice.
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People dead all over the place. Bombs blowing up. 26 thousand people were killed. Windows of our church blown out. Dead threads.
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Everything you could imagine. Fellowship in that congregation was so sweet.
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I remember a thing, it'd come against me put out by one of the terrorist groups that they were going to kill me. I realized that I could not leave
51:00
because if I left, I couldn't come back. If the pastors had to suffer it, I had to suffer it. And one day, after hiding out for two weeks in this small room
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I decided: "I'm going to church." And one of the brothers found out about it.
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I said: "I'm going to church and I'm going to preach." I said: "I did not come here to hide in a room." And so I'm walking down through there,
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walking down the sidewalk, and four brothers meet me. And then, as we're walking, one of of them standing here, one of them standing here,
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one of of them standing here, one of them standing here. And they keep getting in my way. Little Peruvians. I'm like: "What are you doing?
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I can't walk. Get out of my way." They said: "No."
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I said: "Why?" They said: "We know what's been said.
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It will have to hit one of us before it hits you. You are a pastor." That type of thing is born out of need.
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That is why in the book of Luke, and Luke does something very strange here, because when we get to the beatitudes in Matthew,
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Matthew says: "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Luke says: "Blessed are the poor."
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And don't just think he forgot "in spirit," he's trying to do something here. Using the words of Christ, inspired by the Holy Spirit,
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Christ was meaning something different. The whole idea is: My dear friend, there's a sense in which when poverty comes upon you,
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when you have nothing, no one can help you but Christ,
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then Christ becomes precious to you. Persecution has never hurt the Church, only prosperity.
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As a matter of fact, I believe it was what brother Roberts was teaching that the very thing that we most try to avoid
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is the very thing that most makes us holy.
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Now, these are false cisterns and we need to be very careful of them.
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The next part of this, it goes on for about two hours, but let me condense it in about three minutes.
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It's this:
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He is the vine and the Father is the vine dresser.
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Now, the vine provides power and life. The vine dresser provides direction.
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He shapes and molds. He makes that vine go where He wants it to go. And here's the cycle of the Christian life
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when you look through that keyhole of John 15, here it is:
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You have been united with Christ. He is the vine, you are the branch.
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But here is where the agricultural metaphor kind of...
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doesn't apply. Branches do not have to keep abiding but you are told to abide.
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And that is this: As a branch, you have the tendency to distract yourself from Christ.
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And in distracting yourself from Christ you lose all purpose and all power.
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The vine dresser, the Father, in His providence, He is working everything to push you back to the vine.
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And so you come to the vine and the sap -
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the divine sap, the Holy Spirit, the life of the vine - flows into you.
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Living in the place we do and still being not totally redeemed, we still have a body of flesh,
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we have a tendency to be distracted and in being distracted we lose our purpose, we lose the life.
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And the Father, in His providential work, is pushing us back to the vine.
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Everything in your life that is shadow,
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everything in your life that is weakness, everything in your life that is sin -
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do not allow that thing that's in your life that's sifting
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to cause you to get over here and separate yourself even further from Christ. Every weakness, every shadow, every darkness
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is set to show you your weakness. Your total inability to live the Christian life.
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And it is the Father pushing you back to the Son. Pushing you back to the Son.
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This is why, again, that some of the believers that have been most fruitful
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since the ascension of Jesus Christ were people who experienced extraordinary difficulties.
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Extraordinary problems. Or in themselves had extraordinary weakness.
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Why do we kick against the Scriptures and say that they something they do not say.
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Let me give you an example. I'm going to give you a word and then you just in vision in your mind,
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what do you see when I give you this word? Samson.
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You think of an Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Jewish Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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Well, if that was the case, then how is it that the Philistines didn't know where his power came from?
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He was probably just like a rural agricultural guy in Peru.
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Probably about this tall with really thin arms. Where does he get his strength?
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I don't care how many muscles you have, you can't pull up the gate of a city carry it on your back up a hill and throw it down.
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I don't know if anybody's ever told you that but physiologically it's impossible.
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He didn't do it by muscles, he did it by the power of the Spirit. Paul the apostle...
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I'm so tired of going to conferences on Paul the apostle, his mighty intellect, his this, his that. Everything they talk about
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is the very thing he doesn't talk about. He talks about his weakness,
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when God made him weak. God turned him over so that he feared for his life every moment.
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He was basically all his Christian life in the mouth of a lion. Why? So that his confidence wouldn't be in himself
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but in He who raises the dead. You know, Spurgeon...
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It's my favorite preacher. But boy, when a lot of these biographers get to heaven, Spurgeon is probably going to punch them.
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Because they talk about Spurgeon's intellect, they talk about his great photographic memory and all these different things.
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Spurgeon would have talked about his weakness. Your weakness is a catalyst
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to push you to grab harder onto Christ
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so that you might be filled. Let's pray. Father, I thank you for Your Word.
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Lord, I pray that You would use it as an encouragement in the life of Your people.
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Lord, most of all that they would run, run, run, always run to You and never from You.
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In Jesus' name. Amen.
link: https://christianvisualmedia.com/christ-the-true-vine-paul-washer-transcript
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