0:00:05.636,0:00:07.907 "I would love for some help navigating 0:00:07.907,0:00:10.034 my Christian experience. 0:00:10.034,0:00:13.356 My question is how far can a person 0:00:13.356,0:00:16.226 really go as a false convert?" 0:00:16.226,0:00:18.936 He's asking this question for this reason: 0:00:18.936,0:00:21.277 "I've been reflecting on my own life, 0:00:21.277,0:00:23.337 and I'm a bit confused about some things 0:00:23.337,0:00:25.686 that might be evidences of salvation. 0:00:25.686,0:00:27.136 I believe the Gospel, 0:00:27.136,0:00:29.585 repented of my sin - or so I thought - 0:00:29.585,0:00:32.685 spent countless hours preaching [br]the Gospel to people, 0:00:32.685,0:00:33.896 evangelizing, 0:00:33.896,0:00:35.904 even street-preached a couple of times 0:00:35.904,0:00:37.416 overcoming much fear. 0:00:37.416,0:00:41.067 It seemed like the Holy Spirit [br]was working to some degree. 0:00:41.067,0:00:42.958 I also had a deep sensitivity, 0:00:42.958,0:00:44.292 conviction over sin. 0:00:44.292,0:00:45.896 I spent a lot of time in prayer 0:00:45.896,0:00:48.146 by which I was also deeply affected. 0:00:48.146,0:00:52.036 I wept over sin and for [br]others to get saved. 0:00:52.036,0:00:54.205 There seemed to be a real love for Christ, 0:00:54.205,0:00:55.824 for the brethren, for the lost. 0:00:55.824,0:00:58.787 I was doing my best to [br]walk in obedience to God, 0:00:58.787,0:01:01.305 though I suspect I wasn't wholehearted. 0:01:01.305,0:01:03.877 I may have been holding [br]back some secret idols. 0:01:03.877,0:01:05.783 I also fought hard and had victory 0:01:05.783,0:01:07.645 over much sin like pornography, 0:01:07.645,0:01:09.200 much worldliness, 0:01:09.200,0:01:11.087 though there were still a few things 0:01:11.087,0:01:12.695 that were an ongoing struggle 0:01:12.695,0:01:14.425 that I continue to fight really hard 0:01:14.425,0:01:16.826 like lust, pride, fear of man, 0:01:16.826,0:01:19.176 watching bad TV and movies 0:01:19.176,0:01:21.654 which often got the better of me. 0:01:21.654,0:01:25.105 Regardless, I made a lot of [br]progress in sanctification. 0:01:25.105,0:01:26.965 However, I ended up holding on 0:01:26.965,0:01:29.795 and toying with one or two of those sins 0:01:29.795,0:01:32.575 and fell into a very hardened heart 0:01:32.575,0:01:33.995 and lukewarmness 0:01:33.995,0:01:36.327 and just deliberate unrepentant sin 0:01:36.327,0:01:38.644 and stopped feeling conviction. 0:01:38.644,0:01:40.428 My question is: 0:01:40.428,0:01:43.986 Is it really possible to have such fruits 0:01:43.986,0:01:45.654 as I have had 0:01:45.654,0:01:48.039 and still not have saving faith? 0:01:48.039,0:01:52.390 How far can a person go in deception? 0:01:52.390,0:01:54.346 If so, how is an unsaved man 0:01:54.346,0:01:56.406 able to even feel that way 0:01:56.406,0:01:58.724 if not by the Spirit? 0:01:58.724,0:02:02.897 Any tips to help me [br]understand my past experience? 0:02:02.897,0:02:05.827 Could God have caused me to fall like this 0:02:05.827,0:02:08.827 so it would become [br]clear that I'm not saved? 0:02:08.827,0:02:10.447 Giving some hope 0:02:10.447,0:02:16.606 since only a lost person can be saved? 0:02:16.606,0:02:19.037 I'm trying to seek the Lord [br]now for salvation, 0:02:19.037,0:02:21.907 but my past experiences have [br]been a cause of confusion. 0:02:21.907,0:02:25.451 Hence, my question. Thanks." 0:02:25.451,0:02:27.371 I just want to look at several texts. 0:02:27.371,0:02:29.908 How far can a person go? 0:02:29.908,0:02:34.845 He's asking this: how far can a [br]person go in deception? 0:02:34.845,0:02:38.097 How far can a person really go 0:02:38.097,0:02:40.647 as a false convert? 0:02:40.647,0:02:42.439 I just want to look at several texts. 0:02:42.439,0:02:46.935 The first one is Hebrews 6. 0:02:46.935,0:02:51.843 How far can they go? 0:02:51.843,0:02:56.916 When I was a brand new convert, 0:02:56.916,0:03:02.149 I read a Puritan book by Matthew Mead - 0:03:02.149,0:03:03.619 the Puritan Matthew Mead - 0:03:03.619,0:03:06.367 called "The Almost Christian Discovered." 0:03:06.367,0:03:08.997 Anybody heard of that book before? 0:03:08.997,0:03:11.608 Have you ever read it? 0:03:11.608,0:03:13.538 As a brand new Christian, 0:03:13.538,0:03:18.628 I found myself falling on my face 0:03:18.628,0:03:21.907 on the floor often as I read that book, 0:03:21.907,0:03:23.065 pleading with the Lord 0:03:23.065,0:03:25.008 that if I wasn't genuine 0:03:25.008,0:03:30.222 that He would search that out and show me 0:03:30.222,0:03:33.728 because that book really rattled me. 0:03:33.728,0:03:35.478 I had come to the Lord, 0:03:35.478,0:03:38.300 but it had never occurred to me - 0:03:38.300,0:03:40.599 you know what? 0:03:40.599,0:03:44.601 Because I was around such lost people, 0:03:44.601,0:03:46.459 I just assumed - 0:03:46.459,0:03:48.439 because I was around such lost people 0:03:48.439,0:03:52.833 and around nominal Catholicism, 0:03:52.833,0:03:54.638 I just thought if people claimed 0:03:54.638,0:03:56.650 to be true Christians, they were. 0:03:56.650,0:03:58.908 That's what I thought [br]when I was first saved, 0:03:58.908,0:04:00.457 so to come across that book, 0:04:00.457,0:04:02.647 it really jolted me. 0:04:02.647,0:04:08.789 Hebrews 6:4. Somebody [br]begin reading right there. 0:04:08.789,0:04:11.498 "For it is impossible in the case of those 0:04:11.498,0:04:13.277 who have once been enlightened..." 0:04:13.277,0:04:14.748 Tim: Okay. 0:04:14.748,0:04:16.158 What he's going to say 0:04:16.158,0:04:18.859 is it's impossible to renew unto 0:04:18.859,0:04:22.088 or to restore unto or [br]to bring back to a state 0:04:22.088,0:04:23.967 of repentance 0:04:23.967,0:04:27.306 somebody who has been - 0:04:27.306,0:04:29.999 so this is a person who it's impossible 0:04:29.999,0:04:31.488 to be saved. 0:04:31.488,0:04:33.507 So one thing we know for certain: 0:04:33.507,0:04:35.157 They've never been saved 0:04:35.157,0:04:38.848 if it's impossible for them to be saved. 0:04:38.848,0:04:41.118 They've been enlightened. 0:04:41.118,0:04:43.016 That was the first thing that was said. 0:04:43.016,0:04:45.328 They have been enlightened. 0:04:45.328,0:04:47.430 What does that mean? 0:04:47.430,0:04:49.359 Light. 0:04:49.359,0:04:51.550 You know what it's like. [br]It's dark outside. 0:04:51.550,0:04:54.017 You come to the light, you can see things. 0:04:54.017,0:04:56.277 If you guys go stand on my porch, 0:04:56.277,0:04:57.570 and the light's not on, 0:04:57.570,0:04:58.749 you can't see things. 0:04:58.749,0:05:00.269 If I turn the light on - whoa! 0:05:00.269,0:05:03.809 All of a sudden, everything [br]appears around you. 0:05:03.809,0:05:09.008 Light we are told makes manifest. 0:05:09.008,0:05:10.429 What is it about light? 0:05:10.429,0:05:11.658 Enlightenment. 0:05:11.658,0:05:14.388 It means I am brought to see 0:05:14.388,0:05:16.535 what I never saw before. 0:05:16.535,0:05:19.750 So, how far can a person go? 0:05:19.750,0:05:22.688 They can be exposed to preaching, 0:05:22.688,0:05:24.209 to the Word of God. 0:05:24.209,0:05:28.207 They can be exposed to the light of truth 0:05:28.207,0:05:31.859 and brought to a place that [br]they never were before. 0:05:31.859,0:05:34.467 What's the next thing said there? 0:05:34.467,0:05:36.349 "...Who have tasted the heavenly gift." 0:05:36.349,0:05:39.467 Tim: Okay, isn't that amazing? 0:05:39.467,0:05:41.118 They've tasted. 0:05:41.118,0:05:43.728 It's like the heavenly gift - 0:05:43.728,0:05:47.438 it's like they've taken salvation. 0:05:47.438,0:05:49.898 They've put it in their mouth. 0:05:49.898,0:05:54.339 And they've rolled it [br]around on their tongue. 0:05:54.339,0:05:57.589 They've got the flavor of it. 0:05:57.589,0:06:00.580 Keep going. 0:06:00.580,0:06:02.888 "...Who have shared in the Holy Spirit." 0:06:02.888,0:06:04.618 Tim: Okay. 0:06:04.618,0:06:05.986 You know what's interesting? 0:06:05.986,0:06:08.378 He said this: 0:06:08.378,0:06:12.777 "Is it really possible [br]to have such fruits?" 0:06:12.777,0:06:13.797 Or he says this: 0:06:13.797,0:06:16.489 "How can an unsaved man 0:06:16.489,0:06:18.938 be able to even feel that way 0:06:18.938,0:06:20.858 if not by the Spirit?" 0:06:20.858,0:06:23.610 Well, I would say this, 0:06:23.610,0:06:26.138 it probably was by the Spirit. 0:06:26.138,0:06:27.977 You say, what do you mean? 0:06:27.977,0:06:29.178 I'm saying this, 0:06:29.178,0:06:35.669 the Spirit of God works in many people 0:06:35.669,0:06:39.939 who come short of genuine salvation. 0:06:39.939,0:06:42.199 The Word of God can be preached. 0:06:42.199,0:06:45.003 You know what you find [br]oftentimes in times of revival? 0:06:45.003,0:06:47.377 Or you find this even on a given Sunday. 0:06:47.377,0:06:50.260 Somebody stands up and preaches a message. 0:06:50.260,0:06:54.360 You get people who - they're moved. 0:06:54.360,0:06:55.889 They're swayed. 0:06:55.889,0:06:57.328 They're convicted. 0:06:57.328,0:07:02.057 They feel some power in the preaching. 0:07:02.057,0:07:05.737 They go out and they're [br]concerned for their souls. 0:07:05.737,0:07:09.099 Their conscience has been made alive. 0:07:09.099,0:07:10.995 (incomplete thought) 0:07:10.995,0:07:17.258 They've participated in [br]the work of the Spirit. 0:07:17.258,0:07:20.158 It's possible for that to happen 0:07:20.158,0:07:23.348 and truly be of the Spirit, 0:07:23.348,0:07:25.939 and yet they get to a [br]place where it's impossible 0:07:25.939,0:07:27.399 for them to repent. 0:07:27.399,0:07:30.898 Keep going. 0:07:30.898,0:07:32.949 "...And have tasted the goodness 0:07:32.949,0:07:34.717 of the Word of God 0:07:34.717,0:07:37.011 and the powers of the age to come." 0:07:37.011,0:07:39.628 Tim: See? They've tasted of the Word. 0:07:39.628,0:07:41.408 They've tasted the truths. 0:07:41.408,0:07:47.157 That's swirled around [br]in their mouth as well. 0:07:47.157,0:07:51.190 And even the world to come. 0:07:51.190,0:07:53.349 There's power. 0:07:53.349,0:07:57.959 They're actually experiencing the power 0:07:57.959,0:08:00.098 of the supernatural. 0:08:00.098,0:08:01.768 And not just any supernatural, 0:08:01.768,0:08:04.139 this is actually the power of God 0:08:04.139,0:08:07.107 that they're being exposed to. 0:08:07.107,0:08:09.251 Something even that's representative 0:08:09.251,0:08:11.578 of the world to come. 0:08:11.578,0:08:15.148 There's exposure. 0:08:15.148,0:08:17.119 Keep going. 0:08:17.119,0:08:19.188 "...And then have fallen away." 0:08:19.188,0:08:26.909 Tim: Okay, now these [br]people have fallen away. 0:08:26.909,0:08:30.512 Here's the reality we looked at before. 0:08:30.512,0:08:34.279 When it's genuine salvation, 0:08:34.279,0:08:41.219 it can't be lost. 0:08:41.219,0:08:43.428 So these people - 0:08:43.428,0:08:47.419 it's impossible once they've tasted - 0:08:47.419,0:08:52.449 look, when it says [br]that they've fallen away, 0:08:52.449,0:08:55.497 you can't fall away from true salvation. 0:08:55.497,0:08:57.308 Why? Because He puts His fear in us 0:08:57.308,0:09:00.618 that we not fall away; 0:09:00.618,0:09:02.449 that we not go away from Him. 0:09:02.449,0:09:04.859 Christ says if you come to Me, 0:09:04.859,0:09:07.438 I will raise you up at the last day. 0:09:07.438,0:09:08.750 You see, these people, 0:09:08.750,0:09:10.120 (incomplete thought) 0:09:10.120,0:09:13.751 what they fell away from [br]is not being saved. 0:09:13.751,0:09:16.209 They've fallen away from the very things 0:09:16.209,0:09:17.741 that are described there. 0:09:17.741,0:09:21.770 They've fallen away from the impact. 0:09:21.770,0:09:25.078 This is a person 0:09:25.078,0:09:31.288 who is exposed to truth. 0:09:31.288,0:09:34.647 They may claim to believe the truth. 0:09:34.647,0:09:36.219 They may make a profession. 0:09:36.219,0:09:38.030 They may get baptized. 0:09:38.030,0:09:39.525 They may join the church. 0:09:39.525,0:09:41.559 They feel they've been impacted. 0:09:41.559,0:09:44.558 They feel they've been convicted. 0:09:44.558,0:09:47.250 And look, based on that text, 0:09:47.250,0:09:53.516 it's real supernatural [br]operations of the Spirit. 0:09:53.516,0:09:57.189 But it comes short because they fall. 0:09:57.189,0:09:59.178 They go away. Remember this: 0:09:59.178,0:10:02.763 If you're sealed with the Spirit, 0:10:02.763,0:10:06.208 He's the guarantee of your inheritance 0:10:06.208,0:10:08.783 until you acquire possession of it. 0:10:08.783,0:10:10.029 It's a guarantee. 0:10:10.029,0:10:12.438 These operations of the Spirit right here 0:10:12.438,0:10:16.208 fall short of that. 0:10:16.208,0:10:18.880 (incomplete thought) 0:10:18.880,0:10:21.967 All those things right there 0:10:21.967,0:10:25.297 a person can have happen and come short. 0:10:25.297,0:10:27.397 Let me take you somewhere else in Hebrews. 0:10:27.397,0:10:33.855 Turn to Hebrews 12:16. 0:10:33.855,0:10:37.307 This is Esau. 0:10:37.307,0:10:40.849 Esau is another great example to look at 0:10:40.849,0:10:43.527 as far as how far a person can go 0:10:43.527,0:10:45.748 and still come short. 0:10:45.748,0:10:49.749 Somebody read v. 16. 0:10:49.749,0:10:51.628 "...That no one is sexually immoral 0:10:51.628,0:10:53.317 or unholy like Esau 0:10:53.317,0:10:57.858 who sold his birthright [br]for a single meal." 0:10:57.858,0:10:59.297 Tim: Keep going. 0:10:59.297,0:11:01.387 "...For we know that afterward, 0:11:01.387,0:11:03.707 when he desired to inherit the blessing, 0:11:03.707,0:11:05.014 he was rejected, 0:11:05.014,0:11:07.099 for he found no chance to repent 0:11:07.099,0:11:09.267 though he sought it with tears." 0:11:09.267,0:11:11.977 Tim: Here's the thing. [br]We know he was lost. 0:11:11.977,0:11:15.159 "Jacob I have loved; Esau I have hated." 0:11:15.159,0:11:19.252 This text says he's an evil person. 0:11:19.252,0:11:21.366 But what was true of him? 0:11:21.366,0:11:24.118 I'll tell you two things that [br]can be true of a person 0:11:24.118,0:11:27.457 and yet they fall short. 0:11:27.457,0:11:28.866 You see them there. 0:11:28.866,0:11:32.398 You can repent of sorts. 0:11:32.398,0:11:34.258 Remember, that's a change of mind. 0:11:34.258,0:11:37.136 He had a change of mind 0:11:37.136,0:11:40.209 where he easily cast away his birthright. 0:11:40.209,0:11:43.308 He then later had a change of mind. 0:11:43.308,0:11:45.138 He wanted it back. 0:11:45.138,0:11:48.218 In fact, he even wept tears. 0:11:48.218,0:11:50.238 A person can weep. 0:11:50.238,0:11:54.225 A person can change their mind, 0:11:54.225,0:11:56.147 but fall short. 0:11:56.147,0:11:57.840 I want you to see another one. 0:11:57.840,0:12:04.139 Turn to Luke 8. 0:12:04.139,0:12:12.798 Somebody read verse 13. 0:12:12.798,0:12:15.088 "And the ones on the rock 0:12:15.088,0:12:18.547 are those who when they heard the Word 0:12:18.547,0:12:20.035 received it with joy." 0:12:20.035,0:12:21.858 Tim: Okay, you can have people 0:12:21.858,0:12:25.707 who hear the true Word. 0:12:25.707,0:12:28.238 Something has happened in them. 0:12:28.238,0:12:31.089 The Spirit may be moving and convicting. 0:12:31.089,0:12:33.749 They may see something in this 0:12:33.749,0:12:36.189 that their eyes have been opened to - 0:12:36.189,0:12:41.910 enlightenment like we saw in Hebrews 6. 0:12:41.910,0:12:44.423 They embrace it. 0:12:44.423,0:12:46.987 They receive it with joy, 0:12:46.987,0:12:49.229 but keep reading. 0:12:49.229,0:12:50.797 "...But these have no root. 0:12:50.797,0:12:52.217 They believe for awhile..." 0:12:52.217,0:12:56.489 Tim: Notice that. They believe for awhile. 0:12:56.489,0:12:58.803 Very interesting. 0:12:58.803,0:13:01.283 Keep going. 0:13:01.283,0:13:03.238 "And in time of testing fall away." 0:13:03.238,0:13:04.337 Tim: They fall away. 0:13:04.337,0:13:06.488 So they weren't genuine. They had no root. 0:13:06.488,0:13:07.647 They never had any root. 0:13:07.647,0:13:09.077 It's not like they were saved, 0:13:09.077,0:13:10.649 and then they weren't saved. 0:13:10.649,0:13:12.627 They were defective from the beginning. 0:13:12.627,0:13:13.828 But here's the thing, 0:13:13.828,0:13:15.540 you can be enlightened. 0:13:15.540,0:13:17.878 You can taste of the heavenly gift. 0:13:17.878,0:13:25.627 You can taste of this good gift. 0:13:25.627,0:13:29.437 You can participate in [br]the operations of the Spirit. 0:13:29.437,0:13:30.858 You can repent. 0:13:30.858,0:13:32.347 You can weep tears. 0:13:32.347,0:13:34.098 You can even believe. 0:13:34.098,0:13:37.896 You can receive gladly. 0:13:37.896,0:13:41.527 You know what Matthew 7 says. 0:13:41.527,0:13:43.419 You can say, "Lord, Lord." 0:13:43.419,0:13:45.157 You can know the right lingo. 0:13:45.157,0:13:47.797 They say, "Lord, Lord." What did they do? 0:13:47.797,0:13:50.368 Well, we cast out demons, 0:13:50.368,0:13:53.148 and we prophesied in Your name. 0:13:53.148,0:13:55.646 We cast out demons in Your name. 0:13:55.646,0:13:57.338 In Your name! 0:13:57.338,0:13:58.688 We prophesied in Your name. 0:13:58.688,0:14:01.458 We did many mighty works in Your name. 0:14:01.458,0:14:04.378 You remember Judas? 0:14:04.378,0:14:06.897 He undoubtedly cast out [br]just as many demons 0:14:06.897,0:14:12.227 and healed people as well as the others. 0:14:12.227,0:14:15.628 You can do many mighty works in His name. 0:14:15.628,0:14:20.746 He's not saying the people didn't do them. 0:14:20.746,0:14:22.424 Many of these things can happen 0:14:22.424,0:14:24.586 and still people fall short. 0:14:24.586,0:14:27.416 You know the church at Sardis? 0:14:27.416,0:14:31.266 "You have a name that you're [br]alive, but you're dead." 0:14:31.266,0:14:33.985 Oh, you can call yourself [br]all the right names. 0:14:33.985,0:14:35.264 I'm a Christian. 0:14:35.264,0:14:37.225 I'm a child of God. I'm born again. 0:14:37.225,0:14:40.244 You can say all the right things. 0:14:40.244,0:14:41.921 You can say, "Lord, Lord." 0:14:41.921,0:14:44.994 And He says it's not everybody [br]that says to Me, "Lord, Lord." 0:14:44.994,0:14:47.896 You can have a name that you're alive, 0:14:47.896,0:14:50.185 but the name is a lie. 0:14:50.185,0:14:53.676 People run around calling themselves [br](incomplete thought). 0:14:53.676,0:14:57.664 When Jesus comes, He's [br]going to set all names right. 0:14:57.664,0:15:00.935 He's going to put the [br]right names on people. 0:15:00.935,0:15:03.673 You know, there's a place there in fact, 0:15:03.673,0:15:06.276 Jesus talks about the people [br]who say they're Jews, 0:15:06.276,0:15:08.954 but they're not. They lie. 0:15:08.954,0:15:10.223 Physically they were Jews, 0:15:10.223,0:15:12.244 but they weren't really Jews. 0:15:12.244,0:15:15.013 And Jesus is going to set all names right. 0:15:15.013,0:15:17.128 People love to call themselves by names. 0:15:17.128,0:15:18.898 You can call yourself many names 0:15:18.898,0:15:23.496 and still fall short of being genuine. 0:15:23.496,0:15:27.965 So, I just want us to think. 0:15:27.965,0:15:32.279 Okay, how does all of that 0:15:32.279,0:15:35.334 compare to the genuine? 0:15:35.334,0:15:41.553 And that's the thing. 0:15:41.553,0:15:44.835 And James preached through [br]Philippians not long ago 0:15:44.835,0:15:47.304 and I think I mentioned it last week 0:15:47.304,0:15:49.065 or one of the last times. 0:15:49.065,0:15:51.785 But Philippians 3:3 - 0:15:51.785,0:15:58.194 can anybody quote it besides James? 0:15:58.194,0:16:00.594 James, can you quote it? 0:16:00.594,0:16:03.814 "For we are the circumcision, [br]who worship by the Spirit of God 0:16:03.814,0:16:06.873 and glory in Christ Jesus and [br]put no confidence in the flesh..." 0:16:06.873,0:16:09.854 Tim: Yeah, worship in the Spirit. 0:16:09.854,0:16:13.943 So, this is the reality 0:16:13.943,0:16:18.474 that their glory is in Christ. 0:16:18.474,0:16:19.925 They worship in the Spirit. 0:16:19.925,0:16:22.814 They put no confidence in the flesh. 0:16:22.814,0:16:25.583 Their confidence is in Christ. 0:16:25.583,0:16:28.665 I mean, look, listen. 0:16:28.665,0:16:32.443 If somebody falls away [br]because of persecution, 0:16:32.443,0:16:34.546 you know what? 0:16:34.546,0:16:37.336 You know what they really believed? 0:16:37.336,0:16:40.886 They didn't believe that Jesus [br]was to be had at all costs. 0:16:40.886,0:16:46.166 What will make a man [br]walk away from Christ? 0:16:46.166,0:16:48.724 Only if he truly believes that Christ 0:16:48.724,0:16:50.985 isn't the most necessary thing. 0:16:50.985,0:16:55.435 Because as persecution goes up, 0:16:55.435,0:16:58.024 why does it cause people to fall away? 0:16:58.024,0:17:03.885 Because they put suffering [br]and Christ in the scale, 0:17:03.885,0:17:08.086 and they say my own not suffering, 0:17:08.086,0:17:10.246 my own ease, 0:17:10.246,0:17:14.233 my own not being [br]persecuted and feeling bad 0:17:14.233,0:17:17.404 is more important than having Christ. 0:17:17.404,0:17:20.496 The reason the true believer [br]will not let go of Christ 0:17:20.496,0:17:21.958 is because he truly believes. 0:17:21.958,0:17:24.134 He believes he's got [br]to have Christ or perish 0:17:24.134,0:17:26.855 and he won't let go of Him for anything. 0:17:26.855,0:17:28.064 He glories in that. 0:17:28.064,0:17:29.655 That is his hope. 0:17:29.655,0:17:33.245 He worships God in the Spirit. 0:17:33.245,0:17:37.196 That's what Christ said [br]the Father's looking for. 0:17:37.196,0:17:39.696 Not worshiping in the flesh. 0:17:39.696,0:17:42.336 You say, what do you mean? 0:17:42.336,0:17:45.203 You know what worship in the flesh is? 0:17:45.203,0:17:55.115 It's praying like the heathen do. 0:17:55.115,0:17:57.464 They think by their repetitions, 0:17:57.464,0:18:01.726 they're going to get God. 0:18:01.726,0:18:05.306 Believing that because you pray - 0:18:05.306,0:18:07.034 it's trusting your prayer. 0:18:07.034,0:18:09.026 Trusting the repetition of your prayer. 0:18:09.026,0:18:11.325 It's trusting in what you do. 0:18:11.325,0:18:14.420 The person who worships by the Spirit, 0:18:14.420,0:18:15.718 what's happening? 0:18:15.718,0:18:16.890 From the heart, 0:18:16.890,0:18:19.961 they delight in God. 0:18:19.961,0:18:23.661 From the heart, they admire 0:18:23.661,0:18:25.701 and they adore 0:18:25.701,0:18:27.169 and they're amazed 0:18:27.169,0:18:28.649 and they're in awe, 0:18:28.649,0:18:31.539 and they find God glorious 0:18:31.539,0:18:34.666 and they're shaken by His majesty 0:18:34.666,0:18:40.326 and by His purity and by His holiness. 0:18:40.326,0:18:43.305 When they sing, there's a joy that comes. 0:18:43.305,0:18:47.147 You see, those who don't [br]worship by the Spirit, 0:18:47.147,0:18:50.024 it's a work. 0:18:50.024,0:18:53.006 What's happening in the worship 0:18:53.006,0:18:56.767 is it's an exercise that they go through 0:18:56.767,0:19:00.415 because they're [br]accumulating points with God. 0:19:00.415,0:19:04.119 Versus the worship that's of the Spirit - 0:19:04.119,0:19:08.846 it's when the Spirit [br]takes the blinders off 0:19:08.846,0:19:10.885 and allows us to see the beauty 0:19:10.885,0:19:13.225 and majesty of God 0:19:13.225,0:19:16.466 and we worship Him from the heart level 0:19:16.466,0:19:18.934 because we're thankful, 0:19:18.934,0:19:21.667 because we find beauty. 0:19:21.667,0:19:23.725 We're legitimately thankful. 0:19:23.725,0:19:27.416 We come to God thankful that He saved us 0:19:27.416,0:19:29.756 based on the merits of Jesus Christ. 0:19:29.756,0:19:31.407 Not like the Catholic comes 0:19:31.407,0:19:33.117 who counts the beads. 0:19:33.117,0:19:36.788 What is bead counting? 0:19:36.788,0:19:38.857 Why? Why each one? 0:19:38.857,0:19:40.696 Because it's merit. 0:19:40.696,0:19:42.896 I'm doing it to get something. 0:19:42.896,0:19:45.877 So I count all these out. I'm rigorous. 0:19:45.877,0:19:48.607 I walk on my knees till they bleed. 0:19:48.607,0:19:50.535 I told you guys this. 0:19:50.535,0:19:52.223 I went to high school with a guy 0:19:52.223,0:19:53.836 that became a Jesuit priest. 0:19:53.836,0:19:56.531 He likes to tell people [br]that when he was a kid 0:19:56.531,0:19:59.166 back when he was my friend - 0:19:59.166,0:20:00.735 I grew up with this guy - 0:20:00.735,0:20:03.777 that he put rocks in his shoes. 0:20:03.777,0:20:05.556 He likes to tell people. 0:20:05.556,0:20:06.785 Why? 0:20:06.785,0:20:09.256 Because it's another notch in the belt 0:20:09.256,0:20:10.595 of his righteousness 0:20:10.595,0:20:12.906 that he's earning this merit. 0:20:12.906,0:20:14.616 That's what it's all about. 0:20:14.616,0:20:16.346 What do you think purgatory is? 0:20:16.346,0:20:19.276 Purgatory is where you go pay in the fire. 0:20:19.276,0:20:21.896 If you weren't able to [br]pay well enough here 0:20:21.896,0:20:23.666 and get enough here 0:20:23.666,0:20:25.233 and do enough here, 0:20:25.233,0:20:26.616 then you pay more there. 0:20:26.616,0:20:28.355 It's all this merit system. 0:20:28.355,0:20:32.317 When you worship God in the Spirit, 0:20:32.317,0:20:33.886 it's totally different 0:20:33.886,0:20:36.664 because what the Spirit [br]does is exalts Christ. 0:20:36.664,0:20:39.557 You see there. There's appreciation 0:20:39.557,0:20:40.966 and there's thankfulness 0:20:40.966,0:20:43.915 that He has saved you. 0:20:43.915,0:20:45.597 And it's based on Him. 0:20:45.597,0:20:48.116 And there's thankfulness and gratefulness. 0:20:48.116,0:20:50.166 And you don't put confidence in the flesh. 0:20:50.166,0:20:51.987 Counting those beads is all flesh. 0:20:51.987,0:20:54.436 It's what you can do in your own strength. 0:20:54.436,0:20:56.761 But you see, we cast that away. 0:20:56.761,0:20:57.945 That's what Paul did. 0:20:57.945,0:20:59.908 That's what Philippians 3 is. 0:20:59.908,0:21:02.157 It's this great big list [br]of all these things 0:21:02.157,0:21:04.316 that he put his confidence in. 0:21:04.316,0:21:05.279 But you know what? 0:21:05.279,0:21:08.925 That's what it is to [br]worship in the Spirit. 0:21:08.925,0:21:11.805 The Spirit comes in and just devastates 0:21:11.805,0:21:14.715 all the confidences that we formerly had. 0:21:14.715,0:21:16.316 All the hopes we formerly had 0:21:16.316,0:21:18.205 of how we were going to get to heaven - 0:21:18.205,0:21:19.797 He just devastates them all 0:21:19.797,0:21:22.194 until we're broken, we're [br]empty, we're bankrupt, 0:21:22.194,0:21:24.116 and there's only one hope, 0:21:24.116,0:21:26.935 and that's we glory in Christ Jesus. 0:21:26.935,0:21:30.407 Those three things stated [br]there in Philippians 3:3. 0:21:30.407,0:21:32.325 That's the essence of it. 0:21:32.325,0:21:34.905 Sometimes people can feel discouraged 0:21:34.905,0:21:37.625 or you feel like when I [br]was a brand new convert 0:21:37.625,0:21:39.085 reading this Puritan book 0:21:39.085,0:21:40.815 and falling on my face all the time. 0:21:40.815,0:21:42.725 But the reality is even though 0:21:42.725,0:21:44.917 so many things can be real of your life 0:21:44.917,0:21:47.805 and you fall short of [br]being the real thing, 0:21:47.805,0:21:50.446 you never fall short [br]of being the real thing 0:21:50.446,0:21:53.952 if your only confidence [br]is in Jesus Christ. 0:21:53.952,0:21:56.216 You will not be put to shame. 0:21:56.216,0:21:57.725 No matter what else may happen, 0:21:57.725,0:21:59.445 no matter whatever winds may blow, 0:21:59.445,0:22:00.946 whatever persecutions may come, 0:22:00.946,0:22:03.005 whatever attacks you may suffer, 0:22:03.005,0:22:05.759 whatever thoughts may [br]run through your mind, 0:22:05.759,0:22:06.873 I'll tell you this - 0:22:06.873,0:22:10.737 if your sole confidence in [br]being saved before God 0:22:10.737,0:22:14.474 rests in the merits, [br]the death of Jesus Christ, 0:22:14.474,0:22:16.226 that's your only hope, 0:22:16.226,0:22:17.885 that's your only confidence, 0:22:17.885,0:22:20.019 and you have none in the flesh - 0:22:20.019,0:22:22.205 in your own doings, in your own worship, 0:22:22.205,0:22:23.455 in your own merit - 0:22:23.455,0:22:25.636 none in your own goodness, 0:22:25.636,0:22:27.608 it's not there, it's only in Him, 0:22:27.608,0:22:29.595 I'll guarantee you this: you are saved. 0:22:29.595,0:22:31.125 You are going to glory. 0:22:31.125,0:22:35.605 Scripture promises it. 0:22:35.605,0:22:43.799 You have root if that's the case. 0:22:43.799,0:22:48.908 So, this guy, I would say this to him. 0:22:48.908,0:22:52.868 He said, "I made a lot [br]of progress in sanctification." 0:22:52.868,0:22:57.758 But he says, 0:22:57.758,0:23:01.199 "I've ended up holding [br]on to one or two sins." 0:23:01.199,0:23:05.198 He says, "...lust, pride, fear of man, 0:23:05.198,0:23:08.377 watching bad TV, bad movies... 0:23:08.377,0:23:13.857 often gets the better of me." 0:23:13.857,0:23:18.577 I would say this, 0:23:18.577,0:23:22.537 that that isn't a good [br]picture of sanctification. 0:23:22.537,0:23:25.257 He says, "I've made lots[br]of progress in sanctification." 0:23:25.257,0:23:30.356 I don't think that is lots of [br]progress in sanctification likely. 0:23:30.356,0:23:33.177 If lust, pride, fear of [br]man, watching bad TV 0:23:33.177,0:23:36.585 and bad movies are often [br]getting the better of him, 0:23:36.585,0:23:39.683 that's not a good [br]picture of sanctification. 0:23:39.683,0:23:44.167 And so, what I would [br]say to people like this 0:23:44.167,0:23:55.696 is if you look at your life 0:23:55.696,0:24:03.194 and you recognize something's wrong - 0:24:03.194,0:24:08.615 look, people are looking for the solution. 0:24:08.615,0:24:10.497 They're looking for the magic formula. 0:24:10.497,0:24:11.668 But I'll tell you this, 0:24:11.668,0:24:13.216 if something's wrong, 0:24:13.216,0:24:14.777 there's only One who can fix it, 0:24:14.777,0:24:16.386 and you can't. 0:24:16.386,0:24:18.775 And the thing is you've got to be 0:24:18.775,0:24:20.327 like blind Bartimaeus 0:24:20.327,0:24:22.827 where you cry out until He fixes it. 0:24:22.827,0:24:25.558 You cry out until He sets your eyes right. 0:24:25.558,0:24:26.987 Because if you don't, 0:24:26.987,0:24:29.007 if you just go back to your life, 0:24:29.007,0:24:30.736 go back to your sin, 0:24:30.736,0:24:33.197 go back to your religion, 0:24:33.197,0:24:37.096 you just ignore these kinds of things, 0:24:37.096,0:24:39.057 and you just let them go, 0:24:39.057,0:24:42.017 he's going to drift deeper and deeper 0:24:42.017,0:24:45.337 into what he describes as lukewarmness, 0:24:45.337,0:24:47.516 unrepentant sin, 0:24:47.516,0:24:51.187 stop feeling conviction, 0:24:51.187,0:24:52.927 hard heart. 0:24:52.927,0:24:56.536 And you just wake up in hell. 0:24:56.536,0:25:04.294 You cry out until the Lord heals you 0:25:04.294,0:25:06.666 or you perish. 0:25:06.666,0:25:09.095 If something's wrong, 0:25:09.095,0:25:10.875 there's only one place to go. 0:25:10.875,0:25:13.274 It's not the church. [br]The church doesn't heal you. 0:25:13.274,0:25:16.245 It's not the pastors - any of them. 0:25:16.245,0:25:17.676 All of us together - 0:25:17.676,0:25:19.556 all the pastors in our church, 0:25:19.556,0:25:21.597 all the pastors from every church in town, 0:25:21.597,0:25:22.777 we can come together 0:25:22.777,0:25:24.278 and we can all lay hands on you 0:25:24.278,0:25:25.907 and we can't do anything for you. 0:25:25.907,0:25:27.037 We can pray for you, 0:25:27.037,0:25:29.187 but in the end, we're [br]going to call upon Him 0:25:29.187,0:25:30.777 who is your only hope. 0:25:30.777,0:25:33.391 That's the only hope [br]of anybody sitting here, 0:25:33.391,0:25:34.536 anybody listening. 0:25:34.536,0:25:36.497 If something's wrong, 0:25:36.497,0:25:40.186 if you're spiraling into sin, 0:25:40.186,0:25:42.328 look, what we can say is this: 0:25:42.328,0:25:46.152 Scripture says in no uncertain terms 0:25:46.152,0:25:47.986 you've been raised to newness of life. 0:25:47.986,0:25:50.833 Sin shall not have dominion over you. 0:25:50.833,0:25:54.307 You need to reckon yourselves dead to sin. 0:25:54.307,0:25:56.037 The reality of Scripture is 0:25:56.037,0:25:59.718 without holiness, you don't see the Lord. 0:25:59.718,0:26:03.437 The reality is God is in the business 0:26:03.437,0:26:05.895 of transforming people 0:26:05.895,0:26:07.957 into the image of Jesus Christ. 0:26:07.957,0:26:09.646 And if that is not happening 0:26:09.646,0:26:12.208 in some stark, very real, 0:26:12.208,0:26:14.527 very recognizable fashion, 0:26:14.527,0:26:15.937 something is wrong. 0:26:15.937,0:26:18.297 Like I say, if something is wrong, 0:26:18.297,0:26:20.208 only Jesus can set it right. 0:26:20.208,0:26:21.686 Only He can heal this. 0:26:21.686,0:26:24.457 Only He is the doctor to do 0:26:24.457,0:26:26.966 the kind of surgery that's necessary 0:26:26.966,0:26:30.008 on the heart of people. 0:26:30.008,0:26:31.582 You go to Him. You go to Him. 0:26:31.582,0:26:34.748 You cry to Him. You look to Him. 0:26:34.748,0:26:38.048 Scripture says if you call [br]upon the name of the Lord 0:26:38.048,0:26:40.086 you will be saved. 0:26:40.086,0:26:42.159 So you call. You call. You go there. 0:26:42.159,0:26:43.616 That is the only hope. 0:26:43.616,0:26:47.988 There is no other place to direct people. 0:26:47.988,0:26:50.644 I would give the Lord no rest 0:26:50.644,0:26:52.968 if you're in a position [br]where you're uncertain. 0:26:52.968,0:26:54.987 And whether there's such things happening 0:26:54.987,0:26:56.967 in your life with regards to lukewarmness 0:26:56.967,0:26:59.645 and hardness and spiraling into sin 0:26:59.645,0:27:01.133 and just not really knowing 0:27:01.133,0:27:03.337 what it even means to worship the Lord 0:27:03.337,0:27:06.401 in the Spirit and glory in Jesus Christ 0:27:06.401,0:27:08.848 and to find all your hope there. 0:27:08.848,0:27:10.568 Give Him no rest. 0:27:10.568,0:27:12.695 Look, hell is real and once you're there, 0:27:12.695,0:27:14.897 it's permanent. It's done. It's over. 0:27:14.897,0:27:18.822 And you're devastated forever. 0:27:18.822,0:27:20.686 You're damned. 0:27:20.686,0:27:22.517 You're destroyed. 0:27:22.517,0:27:25.136 And there's no hope. Fire is real. 0:27:25.136,0:27:27.987 You wouldn't cast yourself into a bonfire. 0:27:27.987,0:27:29.997 Think of the lake of fire. It's real. 0:27:29.997,0:27:32.096 You're going to be cast in there. 0:27:32.096,0:27:35.267 You don't want to just play with your soul 0:27:35.267,0:27:37.776 as though it's some cheap little toy, 0:27:37.776,0:27:39.748 something easily squandered. 0:27:39.748,0:27:41.276 You don't want to do that. 0:27:41.276,0:27:42.997 You lose your soul - Jesus said, 0:27:42.997,0:27:46.438 what will a man give in [br]exchange for his soul? 0:27:46.438,0:27:48.028 There's nothing. 0:27:48.028,0:27:50.685 You'll give everything in [br]exchange for your soul. 0:27:50.685,0:27:52.647 There's nothing to hold on to 0:27:52.647,0:27:54.498 at the cost of your soul. 0:27:54.498,0:27:58.367 This sin that you think [br]that you have to have? 0:27:58.367,0:28:01.538 You will curse yourself one [br]day for holding on to it 0:28:01.538,0:28:03.147 if it costs you your soul 0:28:03.147,0:28:05.535 and you end up perishing. 0:28:05.535,0:28:09.446 Especially when you were so close. 0:28:09.446,0:28:12.237 If you perish after having sat 0:28:12.237,0:28:13.807 under the preaching 0:28:13.807,0:28:17.157 that you people have sat under, 0:28:17.157,0:28:19.056 what a horror in that! 0:28:19.056,0:28:20.142 Can you imagine? 0:28:20.142,0:28:22.628 It's one thing to end up in hell 0:28:22.628,0:28:24.516 and how devastating that is, 0:28:24.516,0:28:25.826 but can you imagine? 0:28:25.826,0:28:29.007 Can you imagine if you came this close? 0:28:29.007,0:28:32.348 It was like, wow, God put me in church 0:28:32.348,0:28:34.876 where they taught the truth 0:28:34.876,0:28:36.644 and I heard the truth 0:28:36.644,0:28:38.246 and I entertained the truth 0:28:38.246,0:28:40.857 and I saw it from the pages of Scripture 0:28:40.857,0:28:42.705 and I heard Christ proclaimed 0:28:42.705,0:28:45.236 and He was lifted up as the only hope. 0:28:45.236,0:28:46.666 And you know there were times 0:28:46.666,0:28:49.597 I even experienced some of [br]that power of the Holy Spirit 0:28:49.597,0:28:51.027 and I felt convicted 0:28:51.027,0:28:52.647 and I came this close. 0:28:52.647,0:28:54.737 And there were times I was even reaching. 0:28:54.737,0:28:56.938 There were times I asked the Lord to save. 0:28:56.938,0:28:58.926 Oh, I look back now and I recognize 0:28:58.926,0:29:00.867 I wasn't totally committed to that. 0:29:00.867,0:29:02.377 I didn't totally want it. 0:29:02.377,0:29:04.390 I wasn't really being honest. 0:29:04.390,0:29:06.217 But there was some movements 0:29:06.217,0:29:07.631 and I was this close! 0:29:07.631,0:29:11.427 Can you imagine if you got that close 0:29:11.427,0:29:12.935 to the Treasure? 0:29:12.935,0:29:15.987 To touching the Treasure 0:29:15.987,0:29:17.018 and then you turned 0:29:17.018,0:29:19.265 and you chose your sin instead? 0:29:19.265,0:29:21.140 And you perished. 0:29:21.140,0:29:24.037 You will curse yourself forever. 0:29:24.037,0:29:27.537 You came that close. 0:29:27.537,0:29:29.916 And you will hear those words. 0:29:29.916,0:29:31.889 It is now going to be more tolerable 0:29:31.889,0:29:35.688 for Sodom than for you. 0:29:35.688,0:29:41.627 That's what Scripture says. 0:29:41.627,0:29:45.266 Oh Father, I pray that there would be 0:29:45.266,0:29:48.027 some serious dealings with You 0:29:48.027,0:29:51.045 by hopefully some of these young men 0:29:51.045,0:29:53.547 who have written will hear these things 0:29:53.547,0:29:58.796 and others like them. 0:29:58.796,0:30:01.496 Lord, I pray, 0:30:01.496,0:30:04.027 have compassion upon sinners. 0:30:04.027,0:30:07.147 We pray You'd bring revival to our land. 0:30:07.147,0:30:08.727 Bring a stirring. 0:30:08.727,0:30:11.206 Sweep people into Your kingdom. 0:30:11.206,0:30:14.668 Cause salvation to fall down from above. 0:30:14.668,0:30:16.924 We ask it in Christ's name, Amen.