WEBVTT 00:00:05.802 --> 00:00:07.867 I'm absolutely convinced what we need 00:00:07.867 --> 00:00:10.656 in our families more than anything else 00:00:10.656 --> 00:00:12.823 are men and women who are putting on the new man 00:00:12.823 --> 00:00:15.408 in the power of God. 00:00:15.408 --> 00:00:17.632 Men that are living by faith, 00:00:17.632 --> 00:00:21.636 women that are living lives looking to Christ. 00:00:21.636 --> 00:00:24.233 Full of the Spirit. Full of the power of God. 00:00:24.233 --> 00:00:26.319 Full of joy. 00:00:26.319 --> 00:00:31.180 I really believe that this is the heart and soul of healthy families. 00:00:31.180 --> 00:00:35.642 That's why I don't believe, brethren, that I've strayed at all. 00:00:35.642 --> 00:00:40.496 Last week, as I've been progressing through Ephesians 4 00:00:40.496 --> 00:00:44.126 I came across that verse there in 4:30 00:00:44.126 --> 00:00:48.677 that has to do with grieving the Spirit. 00:00:48.677 --> 00:00:56.610 Well, from there I jumped back into Ephesians 3, 00:00:56.610 --> 00:01:01.498 simply because one of the main operations 00:01:01.498 --> 00:01:06.211 of the Spirit is described there. 00:01:06.211 --> 00:01:10.260 And if we grieve the Spirit, 00:01:10.260 --> 00:01:14.950 then we quench such operations. 00:01:14.950 --> 00:01:17.926 So it's key. 00:01:17.926 --> 00:01:21.367 If we live in families where the Spirit of God is quenched, 00:01:21.367 --> 00:01:27.423 true Christians though you may be, 00:01:27.423 --> 00:01:36.409 you can not survive spiritually without the power of God. 00:01:36.409 --> 00:01:41.543 Jesus said it. "Without Me, you can do nothing." 00:01:41.543 --> 00:01:48.267 And of course, what He means by that 00:01:48.267 --> 00:01:50.554 as we look at His teaching, 00:01:50.554 --> 00:01:53.280 when He said that He was leaving, 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:56.036 How can we live with Him - 00:01:56.036 --> 00:01:58.193 without Him we can't do anything. 00:01:58.193 --> 00:02:00.033 How can we live with Him when He is departed? 00:02:00.033 --> 00:02:02.904 Well, He said, "I'm not going to leave you orphans." 00:02:02.904 --> 00:02:07.622 And what He did was He sent us the Spirit of God 00:02:07.622 --> 00:02:09.464 to be with us. 00:02:09.464 --> 00:02:12.183 And He lives with us. 00:02:12.183 --> 00:02:15.832 And in us, by way of that Spirit. 00:02:15.832 --> 00:02:19.039 That Spirit is the channel by which, 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:23.805 that Spirit is the Person of the Godhead 00:02:23.805 --> 00:02:28.958 that puts the fire and the energy 00:02:28.958 --> 00:02:32.286 into the life of the child of God. 00:02:32.286 --> 00:02:39.017 Now, brethren, I'm not ready to leave it. 00:02:39.017 --> 00:02:41.885 What we dealt with last week and not grieving the Spirit. 00:02:41.885 --> 00:02:44.949 Then I went back to Ephesians 3. 00:02:44.949 --> 00:02:46.377 I'm not ready to leave there. 00:02:46.377 --> 00:02:48.987 In fact, I'm probably going to stay there next week as well. 00:02:48.987 --> 00:02:54.741 And then after that, Mack Tomlinson's coming in. 00:02:54.741 --> 00:02:56.609 I don't know if this is going to just be more 00:02:56.609 --> 00:03:03.788 of a devotional this morning. 00:03:03.788 --> 00:03:05.567 I don't know what this is going to turn out to be. 00:03:05.567 --> 00:03:08.672 I know where I want to go with it. 00:03:08.672 --> 00:03:11.317 And I guess where I'd like us to go right now... 00:03:11.317 --> 00:03:17.838 there's that simple passage there in Ephesians 4:30, 00:03:17.838 --> 00:03:27.333 it says, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God." 00:03:27.333 --> 00:03:29.650 And by which we've been sealed 00:03:29.650 --> 00:03:32.515 to the day of Redemption. 00:03:32.515 --> 00:03:35.993 Now, brethren, let me just say something about that. 00:03:35.993 --> 00:03:40.362 Sealed. It's interesting - you find this idea 3 times 00:03:40.362 --> 00:03:43.463 in the New Testament, twice in Ephesians, 00:03:43.463 --> 00:03:46.778 that we've been sealed by the Spirit. 00:03:46.778 --> 00:03:50.081 Well, actually, the first time Paul talks about this concept... 00:03:50.081 --> 00:03:53.442 What's a seal? Before I jump any further? 00:03:53.442 --> 00:03:56.469 What's a seal? 00:03:56.469 --> 00:03:59.171 Basically, if you had a document, 00:03:59.171 --> 00:04:04.633 and they would have taken some melted wax possibly, 00:04:04.633 --> 00:04:08.559 and put it on that document right where it folded over, 00:04:08.559 --> 00:04:11.111 and pressed a ring into it or something. 00:04:11.111 --> 00:04:16.167 Basically, that seal would have been a mark 00:04:16.167 --> 00:04:18.824 as to who that document was composed by, 00:04:18.824 --> 00:04:20.384 or who it belonged to. 00:04:20.384 --> 00:04:23.724 Whose authority stood behind it. 00:04:23.724 --> 00:04:30.159 Now here's what the apostle says, the first time 00:04:30.159 --> 00:04:33.081 to the Ephesians back in chapter 1 00:04:33.081 --> 00:04:35.856 when he talks to them about the fact that they're sealed. 00:04:35.856 --> 00:04:41.306 He says that the Spirit of God has sealed them, 00:04:41.306 --> 00:04:44.649 and then He says this Spirit is the guarantee 00:04:44.649 --> 00:04:49.167 of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it. 00:04:49.167 --> 00:04:53.004 Brethren, the idea is this: 00:04:53.004 --> 00:04:55.248 The Spirit of God has been given to us 00:04:55.248 --> 00:04:58.080 who have not yet reached glory, 00:04:58.080 --> 00:04:59.559 as a guarantee. 00:04:59.559 --> 00:05:00.944 And I can tell you this: 00:05:00.944 --> 00:05:02.584 Something is not a guarantee unless 00:05:02.584 --> 00:05:05.444 you know it's there. 00:05:05.444 --> 00:05:08.734 It's basically the idea of a down payment. 00:05:08.734 --> 00:05:14.539 It's basically the idea of that pre-payment 00:05:14.539 --> 00:05:16.498 that's made that gaurantees that 00:05:16.498 --> 00:05:19.203 all the rest is going to come. 00:05:19.203 --> 00:05:20.620 And I can tell you this, 00:05:20.620 --> 00:05:22.921 if you were selling something and you demanded 00:05:22.921 --> 00:05:25.556 a down payment from somebody, and they say, 00:05:25.556 --> 00:05:28.271 "Well yes, I've given it to you, but you can't see it." 00:05:28.271 --> 00:05:30.046 It's invisible, it's hidden. 00:05:30.046 --> 00:05:32.536 There's no clear and visible marks to it. 00:05:32.536 --> 00:05:34.309 Well, that doesn't do any good. 00:05:34.309 --> 00:05:36.993 What guarantees us, what brings us that assurance 00:05:36.993 --> 00:05:41.022 in this life is that the Spirit of God is in our lives. 00:05:41.022 --> 00:05:44.221 He's within us; He's with us; He empowers us. 00:05:44.221 --> 00:05:46.859 He does things within us that we see, 00:05:46.859 --> 00:05:49.606 we feel, we experience, they affect us. 00:05:49.606 --> 00:05:53.364 And in so doing we look at that and we say, 00:05:53.364 --> 00:05:57.092 "Wow, I'm one of the Lord's." 00:05:57.092 --> 00:06:00.339 Have you never read right there in Romans 5 00:06:00.339 --> 00:06:01.964 that it says that the Spirit of God 00:06:01.964 --> 00:06:03.872 pours the love of God into our heart? 00:06:03.872 --> 00:06:06.228 Have you never read there in Romans 8, 00:06:06.228 --> 00:06:10.008 that it says that that Spirit bears witness with our spirit 00:06:10.008 --> 00:06:12.442 that we're children of God. 00:06:12.442 --> 00:06:15.174 That's what happens. We have a witness bearing. 00:06:15.174 --> 00:06:17.165 We have love being poured in. 00:06:17.165 --> 00:06:18.823 We have operations. 00:06:18.823 --> 00:06:23.266 The very heart of God is communicated to us 00:06:23.266 --> 00:06:25.005 by way of the Spirit. 00:06:25.005 --> 00:06:27.135 And that's exactly what we were looking at 00:06:27.135 --> 00:06:28.988 in Ephesians 3 last week, 00:06:28.988 --> 00:06:33.158 so let's go back there and read that. 00:06:33.158 --> 00:06:36.110 Ephesians 3:14 - you see, brethren, 00:06:36.110 --> 00:06:37.838 the reason I jump back here is 00:06:37.838 --> 00:06:40.076 because if we grieve the Spirit Who pours 00:06:40.076 --> 00:06:42.568 the love of God into our hearts, 00:06:42.568 --> 00:06:45.388 if we grieve the Spirit Who 00:06:45.388 --> 00:06:48.587 proclaims to us that we are children of God; 00:06:48.587 --> 00:06:51.656 if we grieve the Spirit Who makes 00:06:51.656 --> 00:06:55.489 the love of Christ comprehendable, 00:06:55.489 --> 00:06:59.442 then His fiery influences are quenched. 00:06:59.442 --> 00:07:01.439 And we don't want to do that. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:04.654 Oh, if there's anything that's key to healthy families, 00:07:04.654 --> 00:07:07.767 brethren, it's right here. 00:07:07.767 --> 00:07:11.305 I'll tell you this, the most transformed families, 00:07:11.305 --> 00:07:15.216 the most growing families, the most blessed families, 00:07:15.216 --> 00:07:19.483 are where the Spirit of God is most powerfully 00:07:19.483 --> 00:07:24.007 and actively demonstrating His influences. 00:07:24.007 --> 00:07:26.676 No question about it. Brethren, we want to be sensitive 00:07:26.676 --> 00:07:28.816 that we do not grieve Him. 00:07:28.816 --> 00:07:35.453 So let's go back there, Ephesians 3:14 00:07:35.453 --> 00:07:38.908 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 00:07:38.908 --> 00:07:41.876 from Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 00:07:41.876 --> 00:07:44.220 that according to the riches of His glory, 00:07:44.220 --> 00:07:47.120 He may grant you to be strengthened with power 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:51.598 through His Spirit in your inner being, 00:07:51.598 --> 00:07:53.836 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, 00:07:53.836 --> 00:07:55.534 that you being rooted and grounded in love 00:07:55.534 --> 00:07:58.553 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints 00:07:58.553 --> 00:08:01.196 what is the breadth, and length, and height and depth 00:08:01.196 --> 00:08:05.531 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, 00:08:05.531 --> 00:08:08.190 that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." 00:08:08.190 --> 00:08:11.510 Now brethren, I don't know whether 00:08:11.510 --> 00:08:14.325 it occurred to you just now, 00:08:14.325 --> 00:08:17.092 But this is a prayer. 00:08:17.092 --> 00:08:18.342 Do you all see that? 00:08:18.342 --> 00:08:21.758 Paul is bowing his knees in verse 14. 00:08:21.758 --> 00:08:25.485 Why? 00:08:25.485 --> 00:08:29.754 Because he's praying. This is a prayer. 00:08:29.754 --> 00:08:33.250 You bow your knees when you pray. 00:08:33.250 --> 00:08:39.331 He's lifting up the Ephesians 00:08:39.331 --> 00:08:41.204 in the sight of God. 00:08:41.204 --> 00:08:44.048 He's praying for them. 00:08:44.048 --> 00:08:48.158 Brethren, let me ask you this. 00:08:48.158 --> 00:08:50.540 Why? 00:08:50.540 --> 00:08:59.473 Why do you think he's praying for the Christians at Ephesus? 00:08:59.473 --> 00:09:03.746 Brethren, probably because as an apostle 00:09:03.746 --> 00:09:06.520 who had visited many churches and started many churches 00:09:06.520 --> 00:09:08.610 and planted many churches, and as one 00:09:08.610 --> 00:09:13.161 who was a Christian himself, 00:09:13.161 --> 00:09:17.225 he likely understood that the people at Ephesus 00:09:17.225 --> 00:09:19.682 were just like you and me. 00:09:19.682 --> 00:09:23.537 Struggling people. Real people. 00:09:23.537 --> 00:09:25.657 Brethren, I think sometimes we can get to thinking 00:09:25.657 --> 00:09:29.610 that because somebody - you know, the Ephesians, 00:09:29.610 --> 00:09:38.027 there they are, they're addressed by an apostle of Jesus Christ. 00:09:38.027 --> 00:09:40.712 They're called faithful. 00:09:40.712 --> 00:09:43.968 And I think sometimes we get the idea 00:09:43.968 --> 00:09:46.254 that because people are mentioned in the Bible, 00:09:46.254 --> 00:09:52.169 and they lived a long way away, a long time in the past, 00:09:52.169 --> 00:09:53.870 and because we don't know them personally, 00:09:53.870 --> 00:09:55.759 we can make super-Christians out of them. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:58.376 We can think them to be something that they weren't. 00:09:58.376 --> 00:10:02.634 You know what? Look, I know reality. 00:10:02.634 --> 00:10:05.350 Reality in this church. 00:10:05.350 --> 00:10:08.802 You know what reality in this church is? 00:10:08.802 --> 00:10:10.922 Men and women get married. 00:10:10.922 --> 00:10:14.614 They find out that Paul, when he said that 00:10:14.614 --> 00:10:17.667 he would spare people from difficulties, 00:10:17.667 --> 00:10:19.293 they get into marriage, and they find out, 00:10:19.293 --> 00:10:23.079 wow, that was true, we've got difficulties. 00:10:23.079 --> 00:10:25.207 We've got men who are striving to learn 00:10:25.207 --> 00:10:26.842 how to love their wives, 00:10:26.842 --> 00:10:28.191 women who are striving to learn how to 00:10:28.191 --> 00:10:30.370 submit to their husbands. 00:10:30.370 --> 00:10:32.686 Love their husbands. 00:10:32.686 --> 00:10:34.721 Men and women that are struggling to figure out 00:10:34.721 --> 00:10:36.948 how to raise their children; love their children. 00:10:36.948 --> 00:10:39.664 Properly discipline their children. 00:10:39.664 --> 00:10:43.727 I mean, you haven't had children if you think it's easy 00:10:43.727 --> 00:10:48.910 to just tow the line with regard to spanking and discipline 00:10:48.910 --> 00:10:54.591 and basically to set up the boundaries and to keep that perfectly, 00:10:54.591 --> 00:10:57.431 and to not compromise. 00:10:57.431 --> 00:11:01.050 Brethren, you know what? 00:11:01.050 --> 00:11:05.690 The ravages of divorce were real in that day. 00:11:05.690 --> 00:11:09.431 There were families without fathers, families without mothers. 00:11:09.431 --> 00:11:12.396 There were families where deaths occurred. 00:11:12.396 --> 00:11:15.601 There were people that were struggling. 00:11:15.601 --> 00:11:18.321 Look! Sometimes we have problems in our marraiges 00:11:18.321 --> 00:11:19.636 that we feel embarrassed. 00:11:19.636 --> 00:11:22.578 Sometimes there's sexual issues 00:11:22.578 --> 00:11:26.234 and there's struggles between husband and wife. 00:11:26.234 --> 00:11:28.369 Things that a lot of times we're embarrassed. 00:11:28.369 --> 00:11:31.181 Brethren, I'll tell you, it was real life back then. 00:11:31.181 --> 00:11:33.925 The same things that you struggle with, 00:11:33.925 --> 00:11:37.252 that you get angry over, that you have problems with, 00:11:37.252 --> 00:11:41.510 making ends meet, getting angry over your wife 00:11:41.510 --> 00:11:43.625 because she spent too much money, 00:11:43.625 --> 00:11:45.478 you don't know how you're going to be able to pay the bills 00:11:45.478 --> 00:11:48.859 and she's out there buying this and that. 00:11:48.859 --> 00:11:51.105 Men can do the same thing. 00:11:51.105 --> 00:11:53.977 Brethren, the realities, the things that cause frustration 00:11:53.977 --> 00:11:57.612 in your life, in my life, the greatest hindrances 00:11:57.612 --> 00:12:01.043 to moving and excelling in our families, 00:12:01.043 --> 00:12:03.836 they were real back then, brethren. 00:12:03.836 --> 00:12:07.833 The people back then were just like us. 00:12:07.833 --> 00:12:13.174 Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesians. 00:12:13.174 --> 00:12:15.166 When you and I read it, we find, 00:12:15.166 --> 00:12:17.553 wow, it helps us. It's really tremendous. 00:12:17.553 --> 00:12:19.837 It's helpful. You know what? 00:12:19.837 --> 00:12:21.294 It was to them too. 00:12:21.294 --> 00:12:24.303 Why? Because they're just like us. 00:12:24.303 --> 00:12:28.715 Brethren, the same thing... 00:12:28.715 --> 00:12:30.630 the reason Paul's words seem so real, 00:12:30.630 --> 00:12:33.496 so alive, so applicable to us, 00:12:33.496 --> 00:12:36.256 when they were in fact first spoken to the Ephesians 00:12:36.256 --> 00:12:38.667 is because we're the same. 00:12:38.667 --> 00:12:41.713 There's nothing new under the sun. 00:12:41.713 --> 00:12:44.346 But here's the thing. 00:12:44.346 --> 00:12:46.545 Brethren, think with me. 00:12:46.545 --> 00:12:48.533 Here we are. We're in prayer meeting. 00:12:48.533 --> 00:12:51.386 It's not Sunday morning anyways, it's Wednesday evening. 00:12:51.386 --> 00:12:54.344 We meet here. We get together to pray. 00:12:54.344 --> 00:13:01.058 Let's just say, a sister says, 00:13:01.058 --> 00:13:05.005 "I'm married to a lost husband." 00:13:05.005 --> 00:13:06.911 She's here by herself, with her children. 00:13:06.911 --> 00:13:08.631 I'm married to a lost husband. 00:13:08.631 --> 00:13:10.570 Church would you please pray for me? 00:13:10.570 --> 00:13:12.500 I'm really having problems. 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:15.195 Maybe the husband hits her. 00:13:15.195 --> 00:13:17.503 Maybe the husband is just lazy. 00:13:17.503 --> 00:13:20.750 Maybe he's a heavy drinker. 00:13:20.750 --> 00:13:24.903 Any number of these kind of problems can come up. 00:13:24.903 --> 00:13:28.937 Brethren, think about how we typically pray. 00:13:28.937 --> 00:13:31.210 How do we typically pray? 00:13:31.210 --> 00:13:34.507 Think. How would you? 00:13:34.507 --> 00:13:37.073 We have several brethren and they pray, 00:13:37.073 --> 00:13:42.874 "Lord, please help our sister." 00:13:42.874 --> 00:13:46.088 There's nothing wrong with that. That's good, that's fine. 00:13:46.088 --> 00:13:48.711 I mean what I'm about to say is just an example. 00:13:48.711 --> 00:13:51.249 I've been to prayer meetings for the last twenty years of my life. 00:13:51.249 --> 00:13:55.454 I've heard lots of them. I know how the brethren pray. 00:13:55.454 --> 00:13:58.937 And I'm not fault finding at all. 00:13:58.937 --> 00:14:00.834 It's fine. It's good. It's well. 00:14:00.834 --> 00:14:03.262 We'll get together and we'll pray. 00:14:03.262 --> 00:14:05.424 And there are different levels of maturity 00:14:05.424 --> 00:14:07.988 obviously in the prayers that come forth. 00:14:07.988 --> 00:14:12.235 But how often the prayer is, "Lord, bless them." 00:14:12.235 --> 00:14:14.095 That's a very common thing. 00:14:14.095 --> 00:14:18.084 "Lord, bless them." That's kind of where the new Christian goes. NOTE Paragraph 00:14:18.084 --> 00:14:21.986 There's not a whole lot of depth there, but just "bless them." 00:14:21.986 --> 00:14:26.208 "Lord, help them." "Lord, our sister..." 00:14:26.208 --> 00:14:29.759 we recite back the things that are happening. 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:32.494 "Lord, please protect her." 00:14:32.494 --> 00:14:38.702 A lot of times we pray, "correct the problem, Lord." 00:14:38.702 --> 00:14:41.140 She's got a lazy husband - make him work. 00:14:41.140 --> 00:14:44.119 She's got a drunk husband - make him quit. 00:14:44.119 --> 00:14:47.947 She's got a husband that beats her - make him stop. 00:14:47.947 --> 00:14:50.401 Lord, save him. 00:14:50.401 --> 00:14:53.197 Those are very common ways to pray. 00:14:53.197 --> 00:14:58.530 Listen. You know this is true. 00:14:58.530 --> 00:15:02.740 The ways that Paul prays 00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:04.678 they almost stagger us. 00:15:04.678 --> 00:15:06.848 It's almost like, "what?" 00:15:06.848 --> 00:15:09.292 It's like his words are so profound and so deep 00:15:09.292 --> 00:15:11.132 and he's got so many thoughts in there, 00:15:11.132 --> 00:15:13.433 it's like you almost have to read the thing for six weeks 00:15:13.433 --> 00:15:18.626 to even draw out what he's saying. 00:15:18.626 --> 00:15:22.418 Brethren, listen to this: 00:15:22.418 --> 00:15:24.694 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father." 00:15:24.694 --> 00:15:29.496 Ok, so far we're good. Right? We kind of get that. 00:15:29.496 --> 00:15:33.536 "From Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named." 00:15:33.536 --> 00:15:36.574 Now there I stop getting everything. 00:15:36.574 --> 00:15:40.424 "Every family in heaven and on earth is named." 00:15:40.424 --> 00:15:45.974 It's crossed my mind, I need to look at the original there 00:15:45.974 --> 00:15:47.772 and really scope that out. 00:15:47.772 --> 00:15:50.101 There's some concepts there that Paul's hitting on 00:15:50.101 --> 00:15:52.599 that I think are probably phenomenal. 00:15:52.599 --> 00:15:55.861 "That according to the riches of His glory, He may grant you 00:15:55.861 --> 00:15:59.489 to be strengthened with power..." 00:15:59.489 --> 00:16:03.106 Strength. Now, just catch that. 00:16:03.106 --> 00:16:05.558 That's a good thing. We want to be strong. 00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:08.119 And he's of course speaking about spiritual strength. 00:16:08.119 --> 00:16:11.037 And that spiritual strength comes from power. 00:16:11.037 --> 00:16:14.971 Right? Power. Energy. 00:16:14.971 --> 00:16:18.860 Power is what brings strength. 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:23.665 "Through His Spirit." So the Spirit is that Person 00:16:23.665 --> 00:16:29.544 Who dispenses this power of God to us. 00:16:29.544 --> 00:16:31.427 "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, 00:16:31.427 --> 00:16:34.199 that you being rooted and grounded in love." 00:16:34.199 --> 00:16:36.032 So, I mean, he's saying this stuff, 00:16:36.032 --> 00:16:37.849 "That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." 00:16:37.849 --> 00:16:41.360 We get that. By faith, He dwells in us. 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:45.466 Of course, He dwells in us by this very Spirit. 00:16:45.466 --> 00:16:48.748 "You being rooted and grounded in love." 00:16:48.748 --> 00:16:52.627 So it's like you're planted. You're a plant of God's planting, 00:16:52.627 --> 00:16:55.873 and you're planted in the soil of love. 00:16:55.873 --> 00:16:59.973 And in this soil of love, with by faith Christ and His Spirit 00:16:59.973 --> 00:17:04.221 dwelling within you, the Spirit Who is this power giver, 00:17:04.221 --> 00:17:06.774 That gives strength, to do what? 00:17:06.774 --> 00:17:09.523 What's all this strength about anyway? 00:17:09.523 --> 00:17:12.395 Verse 18, "may have strength to comprehend with all the saints 00:17:12.395 --> 00:17:15.147 what is the breadth and length and height and depth 00:17:15.147 --> 00:17:17.498 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge 00:17:17.498 --> 00:17:22.690 that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." 00:17:22.690 --> 00:17:26.883 Now brethren, this is the way to pray. 00:17:26.883 --> 00:17:29.945 Because let me tell you something. 00:17:29.945 --> 00:17:35.187 Think with me here, brethren. Think with me. 00:17:35.187 --> 00:17:39.126 You've got a mother. This is real life. 00:17:39.126 --> 00:17:43.845 A mother who is about going over the edge. 00:17:43.845 --> 00:17:48.192 Her head's about going under the water. 00:17:48.192 --> 00:17:51.528 I mean, here she is, she's trying to figure out how to be a mother. 00:17:51.528 --> 00:17:54.642 Trying to figure out how to raise some little children. 00:17:54.642 --> 00:17:57.631 She's trying to figure out how to dish out her time. 00:17:57.631 --> 00:17:59.173 And then her husband comes home. 00:17:59.173 --> 00:18:00.931 He wants her attention. He wants to talk to her. 00:18:00.931 --> 00:18:02.707 He wants to communicate with her. 00:18:02.707 --> 00:18:05.037 He wants dinner. He wants intimacy. 00:18:05.037 --> 00:18:08.220 He wants this... she's just staggering all over the place. 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:10.195 There she is at home one day, 00:18:10.195 --> 00:18:14.173 and you come along and pray like this. 00:18:14.173 --> 00:18:17.992 I come along and I call her up pastorally, 00:18:17.992 --> 00:18:19.282 and say, "Sister, I know you're struggling here, 00:18:19.282 --> 00:18:21.009 I'm going to bow my knees before the Father, 00:18:21.009 --> 00:18:23.363 I'm going to begin to pray to Him from Whom 00:18:23.363 --> 00:18:27.406 every family in heaven and on earth is named. 00:18:27.406 --> 00:18:29.345 That according to the riches of His glory He may grant 00:18:29.345 --> 00:18:31.269 you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit 00:18:31.269 --> 00:18:33.320 in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your heart 00:18:33.320 --> 00:18:36.886 through faith, sister, so that you being rooted and gounded 00:18:36.886 --> 00:18:38.855 in love may have strength to comprehend with all the saints 00:18:38.855 --> 00:18:41.342 what is the breadth and length and height and depth 00:18:41.342 --> 00:18:43.902 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge 00:18:43.902 --> 00:18:49.239 that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." 00:18:49.239 --> 00:18:53.709 Now I don't know, typically, but I'm thinking that 00:18:53.709 --> 00:19:01.636 if I just rattled that off, it'd just be like whew... 00:19:01.636 --> 00:19:07.360 that's nice, brother. 00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:09.586 But I think she gets off the phone 00:19:09.586 --> 00:19:15.988 and she goes back to being overwhelmed, right? 00:19:15.988 --> 00:19:22.816 Brethren, we can look at this and we can think, 00:19:22.816 --> 00:19:26.490 "Come on, Paul! You're dealing with real people 00:19:26.490 --> 00:19:31.201 here with real problems. Can't you just pray, 00:19:31.201 --> 00:19:35.755 God, help the ladies in the church that are 00:19:35.755 --> 00:19:38.231 struggling with raising children? 00:19:38.231 --> 00:19:41.469 Can't you just come down off your theological high horse here 00:19:41.469 --> 00:19:45.334 and just meet us where we live? 00:19:45.334 --> 00:19:51.195 Brethren, I can only imagine Paul might answer 00:19:51.195 --> 00:19:53.686 something like this, you know, you read it there 00:19:53.686 --> 00:20:02.222 1 Thessalonians 2, he had a nursing heart, 00:20:02.222 --> 00:20:04.864 like a mother who nursed her children. 00:20:04.864 --> 00:20:09.553 He said that he was like a father to his children. 00:20:09.553 --> 00:20:12.576 I'll tell you this, he'd come along and he'd say, 00:20:12.576 --> 00:20:15.403 "Oh, my precious, precious children, 00:20:15.403 --> 00:20:19.059 in the midst of all your struggles and trials, 00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:23.787 do you not realize that the reason I pray this way for you 00:20:23.787 --> 00:20:27.863 is this is exactly what you need more than anything else." 00:20:27.863 --> 00:20:30.187 Now it's true there may be complexities here, 00:20:30.187 --> 00:20:32.466 and there may be depth here, 00:20:32.466 --> 00:20:36.568 but brethren, 00:20:36.568 --> 00:20:39.295 this is what we need. 00:20:39.295 --> 00:20:41.831 More than anything else. 00:20:41.831 --> 00:20:45.956 If you could just comprehend. 00:20:45.956 --> 00:20:51.868 Brethren, I want you to see what's going on. 00:20:51.868 --> 00:20:55.495 Paul is praying for comprehension. 00:20:55.495 --> 00:21:00.319 He realizes this: He realizes that when that mother, 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:05.380 in that place, is sitting there with those children 00:21:05.380 --> 00:21:09.441 in that home, with her certain set of 00:21:09.441 --> 00:21:12.010 struggles and trials, 00:21:12.010 --> 00:21:14.911 or that man as he's trying to make ends meet 00:21:14.911 --> 00:21:16.195 as he's trying to provide for his family, 00:21:16.195 --> 00:21:19.173 lead his wife, love his wife, lead his children, 00:21:19.173 --> 00:21:22.027 instruct his children - in all these things, 00:21:22.027 --> 00:21:25.706 as he feels his failures, he feels the struggles of the flesh, 00:21:25.706 --> 00:21:27.813 he feels these things. 00:21:27.813 --> 00:21:31.817 Singles that are trying to keep single 00:21:31.817 --> 00:21:34.898 and to do it with contentment, 00:21:34.898 --> 00:21:37.043 as you feel these struggles of life. 00:21:37.043 --> 00:21:40.008 What Paul breaks in there and says, 00:21:40.008 --> 00:21:46.000 Look, it's fine to pray that God bless one another, 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:49.380 it's fine to pray that God help one another, 00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:51.585 but what you folks need more than anything 00:21:51.585 --> 00:21:53.926 is what I'm praying for right here. 00:21:53.926 --> 00:21:58.664 You need a comprehension of certain realities. 00:21:58.664 --> 00:22:00.948 But if you could just see them, if you could feel them 00:22:00.948 --> 00:22:02.334 if you could touch them, 00:22:02.334 --> 00:22:05.421 if you could have the hope in those things, 00:22:05.421 --> 00:22:09.460 you would come back to this world's cares and troubles 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:15.421 as one has said, like giants refreshed with new wine 00:22:15.421 --> 00:22:17.989 caring nothing for anything that might happen. 00:22:17.989 --> 00:22:21.161 Christ would be so sweetly and blessedly within you 00:22:21.161 --> 00:22:24.487 that you could bear the burden and think nothing of it. 00:22:24.487 --> 00:22:26.914 Brethren, that's precisely where Paul is going, 00:22:26.914 --> 00:22:28.580 that's what he's praying for. 00:22:28.580 --> 00:22:36.737 The ability in you, in me, to be able to comprehend. 00:22:36.737 --> 00:22:40.494 The greatest realities - 00:22:40.494 --> 00:22:45.072 the love Christ has for His chosen people. 00:22:45.072 --> 00:22:51.450 Brethren, what was it it said in that song? 00:22:51.450 --> 00:22:59.015 It was that last stanza of "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing." 00:22:59.015 --> 00:23:06.506 It said something about, "Lord, don't deny me Yourself." 00:23:06.506 --> 00:23:12.029 Brethren, the love of Christ... 00:23:12.029 --> 00:23:14.523 it was Spurgeon that said that giant thing. 00:23:14.523 --> 00:23:17.659 He's right. 00:23:17.659 --> 00:23:25.286 You will be like a giant refreshed with new wine, 00:23:25.286 --> 00:23:30.224 if you'll be struck by the love of Christ. 00:23:30.224 --> 00:23:36.918 You see, Paul wasn't trying to drown us theologically. 00:23:36.918 --> 00:23:41.183 He was bypassing the lesser things, 00:23:41.183 --> 00:23:42.957 the more trivial things, 00:23:42.957 --> 00:23:45.389 and he was going right to the heart of the matter. 00:23:45.389 --> 00:23:49.115 He knows if that sister with the lost husband 00:23:49.115 --> 00:23:52.832 would realize her true and heavenly Husband, 00:23:52.832 --> 00:23:55.273 and the love that He had for her, 00:23:55.273 --> 00:23:57.867 Oh, brethren, has it ever just swept into you 00:23:57.867 --> 00:24:01.793 where Christ is like there in John 17, 00:24:01.793 --> 00:24:08.197 and He's saying, "Father, I pray that they may be where I am." 00:24:08.197 --> 00:24:12.313 "I pray that they may see My glory." 00:24:12.313 --> 00:24:15.071 Brethren, I'll tell you this, have you ever read 00:24:15.071 --> 00:24:17.541 where it talks about the love that a man ought to have 00:24:17.541 --> 00:24:21.102 for his wife, but then Paul pulls back and 00:24:21.102 --> 00:24:24.574 shows us the love that Christ has for the church. 00:24:24.574 --> 00:24:34.316 Brethren, Christ - His whole heart is set on it. 00:24:34.316 --> 00:24:37.311 You have to understand something, 00:24:37.311 --> 00:24:42.741 God has chosen to put an infinite love on you. 00:24:42.741 --> 00:24:44.978 Do you know why Christ went to that cross 00:24:44.978 --> 00:24:49.797 and bore infinite wrath? He did it out of love. 00:24:49.797 --> 00:24:52.946 Scripture repeatedly tells us it's love that 00:24:52.946 --> 00:24:55.483 drove Him to that cross. 00:24:55.483 --> 00:24:59.129 It's love that as in the garden, He just trembled 00:24:59.129 --> 00:25:01.992 under that coming horror. 00:25:01.992 --> 00:25:04.692 He sorrowed nigh unto death. 00:25:04.692 --> 00:25:06.224 Why did He keep going? 00:25:06.224 --> 00:25:07.901 Yes, there was a joy there, brethren, 00:25:07.901 --> 00:25:10.338 but I'll tell you this, it's the joy. 00:25:10.338 --> 00:25:13.376 It is that joy to be with His people. 00:25:13.376 --> 00:25:17.137 It is that joy to have them and be with them. 00:25:17.137 --> 00:25:18.840 He longs for that. 00:25:18.840 --> 00:25:20.504 The Christ longs for it. 00:25:20.504 --> 00:25:22.772 He prayed to His Father for it. 00:25:22.772 --> 00:25:30.166 He wants you with inexpressible love to be where He is. 00:25:30.166 --> 00:25:35.269 Brethren, I'll tell you this, if it wasn't for love, 00:25:35.269 --> 00:25:39.063 for the purposes of love, and for the sake of love 00:25:39.063 --> 00:25:43.245 to leave you right here where you have your present struggles 00:25:43.245 --> 00:25:45.702 love would bust open right now 00:25:45.702 --> 00:25:48.730 and He would pull you into His arms and take you to glory. 00:25:48.730 --> 00:25:52.204 It is only love that keeps you here. 00:25:52.204 --> 00:25:56.002 Brethren, the love... 00:25:56.002 --> 00:25:59.343 and Paul is saying if you could just comprehend 00:25:59.343 --> 00:26:03.477 that Christ is there and His heart longs for you. 00:26:03.477 --> 00:26:06.334 He wants you to be where He is. 00:26:06.334 --> 00:26:08.303 He is your heavenly Lover. 00:26:08.303 --> 00:26:11.417 And He loves you with a love that this world does not know. 00:26:11.417 --> 00:26:14.899 That your husband and wife relationships don't know. 00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:16.905 He loves you passionately. 00:26:16.905 --> 00:26:19.694 He means to make you pure and spotless, 00:26:19.694 --> 00:26:25.998 and to bring you to Him an undefiled, chaste virgin. 00:26:25.998 --> 00:26:29.995 A virgin, brethren. 00:26:29.995 --> 00:26:32.914 A virgin pure. 00:26:32.914 --> 00:26:34.763 And He will take you to Himself, 00:26:34.763 --> 00:26:37.466 and He will love on you, 00:26:37.466 --> 00:26:40.916 and pour His love into you forever 00:26:40.916 --> 00:26:43.889 and forever and forever and forever. 00:26:43.889 --> 00:26:46.980 Brethren, you'll go to Him a virgin but you will not stay a virgin 00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:49.881 because He will love you in ways that what we have 00:26:49.881 --> 00:26:56.674 in the human realm, in the physical realm, are only but glimpses. 00:26:56.674 --> 00:26:59.130 And I'm telling you, brethren, He'd break through right now 00:26:59.130 --> 00:27:02.053 and come get you, if it wasn't for the fact 00:27:02.053 --> 00:27:06.152 that love stays His hand. 00:27:06.152 --> 00:27:10.770 Because it is the very temporary light afflictions 00:27:10.770 --> 00:27:15.628 that work in you the eternal weight of glory. 00:27:15.628 --> 00:27:17.724 And it's working. You see, brethren, 00:27:17.724 --> 00:27:22.718 you suffer now because it's granted you to suffer, 00:27:22.718 --> 00:27:25.360 because it's good for you right now. 00:27:25.360 --> 00:27:28.518 We're following that path where He went. 00:27:28.518 --> 00:27:32.660 And Paul's coming in and saying, "Brothers and sisters, 00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:35.885 I am not trying to lose you theologically. 00:27:35.885 --> 00:27:39.104 I am simply trying to pray that you would have the best thing, 00:27:39.104 --> 00:27:42.621 the greatest thing, brethren, we need to pray this way! 00:27:42.621 --> 00:27:46.063 When you see that brother, that sister, struggling, 00:27:46.063 --> 00:27:50.778 you pray that God open up to their comprehension 00:27:50.778 --> 00:27:55.618 an understanding of the love that Christ has for them. 00:27:55.618 --> 00:27:58.345 Because brethren, Spurgeon's right: 00:27:58.345 --> 00:28:00.619 Giants you will be, 00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:06.599 refreshed with the wine of Christ's own vintage. 00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:08.862 And you will face those things, and you will be able 00:28:08.862 --> 00:28:11.737 to march through them, and have victory. 00:28:11.737 --> 00:28:15.645 Brethren, when you're overcome with love, 00:28:15.645 --> 00:28:20.672 the problems and the struggles and the trials in this world 00:28:20.672 --> 00:28:25.496 they just, they don't disappear and go away altogether, 00:28:25.496 --> 00:28:27.920 but they become small in comparison. 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:30.826 Brethren, do you realize it? 00:28:30.826 --> 00:28:37.155 I went out front this morning of my house. 00:28:37.155 --> 00:28:39.243 And I've planted various trees there 00:28:39.243 --> 00:28:42.503 to try to recreate Michigan. 00:28:42.503 --> 00:28:45.975 Hey, don't laugh, it's kind of worked. 00:28:45.975 --> 00:28:52.999 I have maples that are red, and yellow, and orange. 00:28:52.999 --> 00:28:54.703 And I was out there looking at them, 00:28:54.703 --> 00:28:56.383 and I was admiring the beauty, 00:28:56.383 --> 00:29:02.859 and brethren, the love of Christ is like a garden, 00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:06.431 where as you walk through, there is beauty, 00:29:06.431 --> 00:29:10.787 there's roses, and the scents that comes, and there's fruits. 00:29:10.787 --> 00:29:13.140 And let me tell you something, brethren. 00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:17.195 Those that find eternal life, 00:29:17.195 --> 00:29:20.746 Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. 00:29:20.746 --> 00:29:24.213 Brethren, those that find Him are few. 00:29:24.213 --> 00:29:33.582 Do you realize, brethren, not just anybody can tread that garden. 00:29:33.582 --> 00:29:43.207 Only a few.. brethren, only a chosen few can tread there. 00:29:43.207 --> 00:29:47.141 In that garden, there is beauty and there are flowers. 00:29:47.141 --> 00:29:52.466 It is full of healing and singing and color and wonder. 00:29:52.466 --> 00:29:57.145 And I'm telling you folks, if you have license to walk there, 00:29:57.145 --> 00:30:01.541 Oh brethren, why do you forfeit it? 00:30:01.541 --> 00:30:07.916 Only a very choice few, select few, can walk there. 00:30:07.916 --> 00:30:12.808 How often we purposely do not walk there, brethren! 00:30:12.808 --> 00:30:17.800 But to walk in the air of that place, in that garden. 00:30:17.800 --> 00:30:21.578 Only the redeemed of the Lord can walk in that place. 00:30:21.578 --> 00:30:24.085 Only the redeemed of the Lord, brethren, 00:30:24.085 --> 00:30:27.865 can go up and smell those roses! Or pick that fruit! 00:30:27.865 --> 00:30:30.557 And you have the opportunity. 00:30:30.557 --> 00:30:33.242 Are you going to be like the man in Pilgrim's Progress 00:30:33.242 --> 00:30:35.810 where you're just raking the muck, raking the muck, 00:30:35.810 --> 00:30:37.874 here the garden is all about you. 00:30:37.874 --> 00:30:40.148 We're Christians, brethren, we're Christians! 00:30:40.148 --> 00:30:41.999 Christ loves us! 00:30:41.999 --> 00:30:44.815 And even in this world, there is a comprehension. 00:30:44.815 --> 00:30:49.821 If you don't grieve the Spirit, the Spirit has a power 00:30:49.821 --> 00:30:52.706 that He endows upon the children of God 00:30:52.706 --> 00:30:56.298 to cause us to comprehend such vastness, 00:30:56.298 --> 00:31:00.005 such breadth and length and height and depth, brethren, 00:31:00.005 --> 00:31:02.493 to stagger us, even in this life! 00:31:02.493 --> 00:31:07.133 We don't have to wait for heaven to get all of it. 00:31:07.133 --> 00:31:10.867 And oh, brethren, if we've been invited to walk here, why? 00:31:10.867 --> 00:31:16.585 Why so much of the world? Why so much of just raking, 00:31:16.585 --> 00:31:20.129 brethren, raking the muck? 00:31:20.129 --> 00:31:23.063 When it's held out there to us? 00:31:23.063 --> 00:31:28.676 Brethren, I just say in light of all this, 00:31:28.676 --> 00:31:31.918 don't grieve the Spirit. 00:31:31.918 --> 00:31:35.857 Brethren, when you grieve the Spirit, 00:31:35.857 --> 00:31:41.161 the scent wafts away. 00:31:41.161 --> 00:31:45.395 All of a sudden, in your sight, the fruit shrivels. 00:31:45.395 --> 00:31:52.431 The Spirit is the One that gives the comprehension. 00:31:52.431 --> 00:31:57.655 Brethren, listen to this: 00:31:57.655 --> 00:32:01.977 I came across this in my reading. 00:32:01.977 --> 00:32:06.200 And I really want to finish out this message on this note. NOTE Paragraph 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:08.376 A man by the name of Edward Payson, 00:32:08.376 --> 00:32:12.002 anyone ever hear that name? Edward Payson. 00:32:12.002 --> 00:32:16.319 He was a godly man who lived here in the United States 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:20.686 during the time just after the American Revolution. 00:32:20.686 --> 00:32:31.979 Listen, listen to him describe how the ungrieved Spirit... 00:32:31.979 --> 00:32:37.763 the Spirit wasn't grieved in his life - ungrieved. 00:32:37.763 --> 00:32:41.702 How that Spirit flooded His comprehensions. 00:32:41.702 --> 00:32:44.744 He says this, "The Son of Righteousness has been 00:32:44.744 --> 00:32:50.411 gradually drawing nearer and nearer." 00:32:50.411 --> 00:32:53.264 Brethren, I know we've been talking about revival. 00:32:53.264 --> 00:32:57.422 And I know that there have been times in history 00:32:57.422 --> 00:33:00.758 where the Spirit of God has fallen suddenly. 00:33:00.758 --> 00:33:02.530 But brethren, one of the things I'm encouraging 00:33:02.530 --> 00:33:07.048 and arguing for here is that you make it a practice 00:33:07.048 --> 00:33:12.748 to seek to habitually live with the Spirit ungrieved. 00:33:12.748 --> 00:33:18.474 Habitually living in the beauties of this garden. 00:33:18.474 --> 00:33:20.513 Oh, revival's great. 00:33:20.513 --> 00:33:22.526 And when people are smothered by the love of God 00:33:22.526 --> 00:33:26.245 instantaneously and miraculously and extraordinarily 00:33:26.245 --> 00:33:29.585 that's great, but brethren, there are people who walk 00:33:29.585 --> 00:33:34.033 in these choice places far more than others. 00:33:34.033 --> 00:33:37.311 They tend to live there. They tend to dwell there. 00:33:37.311 --> 00:33:39.222 And here's a man, brethren, here's a man 00:33:39.222 --> 00:33:41.012 that didn't always know it was so. 00:33:41.012 --> 00:33:44.245 He didn't know the realms into which it was possible. 00:33:44.245 --> 00:33:45.904 Listen to how he expresses this. 00:33:45.904 --> 00:33:49.416 It's like he gets to the end and he's just kicking himself. 00:33:49.416 --> 00:33:52.232 He's saying, "Oh, if only I would have realized 00:33:52.232 --> 00:33:56.259 twenty years ago that this was all real! That it was so!" 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:59.084 Listen to him, "the Son of Righteousness 00:33:59.084 --> 00:34:02.246 has been gradually drawing nearer and nearer. 00:34:02.246 --> 00:34:06.305 Appearing larger and brighter as He approached." 00:34:06.305 --> 00:34:08.993 I mean, through his spiritual senses he feels 00:34:08.993 --> 00:34:13.208 and senses and sees and hears and smells 00:34:13.208 --> 00:34:15.880 the approach of Christ. 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:19.799 "And now Christ fills the whole hemisphere. 00:34:19.799 --> 00:34:24.448 Pouring forth a flood of glory in which I seem to float, 00:34:24.448 --> 00:34:27.385 like an insect in the beams of the sun. 00:34:27.385 --> 00:34:31.047 Exalting yet almost trembling while I gaze on this almost 00:34:31.047 --> 00:34:33.920 excessive brightness and wondering with 00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:37.765 unutterable wonder why God should deign to shine 00:34:37.765 --> 00:34:40.547 upon a sinful world." 00:34:40.547 --> 00:34:43.348 Listen, he goes on, 00:34:43.348 --> 00:34:49.528 "Christians might avoid much trouble and inconvenience 00:34:49.528 --> 00:34:52.902 if they would only believe what they profess. 00:34:52.902 --> 00:34:56.310 That God is able to make them happy without anything else." 00:34:56.310 --> 00:34:58.961 Do you know what he's saying, brethren? 00:34:58.961 --> 00:35:02.297 He's saying take everything else away. 00:35:02.297 --> 00:35:06.626 Take all your comforts away. All your enjoyments away. 00:35:06.626 --> 00:35:09.133 All your pleasures away. All your toys away. 00:35:09.133 --> 00:35:13.367 All the idols away. All the stuff. Clear it all out. 00:35:13.367 --> 00:35:17.271 All the relationships. 00:35:17.271 --> 00:35:20.915 And walk through this garden. 00:35:20.915 --> 00:35:27.001 And it's enough. It will make you happy 00:35:27.001 --> 00:35:32.778 with a joy that only comes from heaven, folks. 00:35:32.778 --> 00:35:36.467 "They imagine that if such-and-such a dear friend were to die 00:35:36.467 --> 00:35:39.156 or if such blessings were to be removed, 00:35:39.156 --> 00:35:41.253 they would be miserable. 00:35:41.253 --> 00:35:44.634 Whereas God can make them a thousand times 00:35:44.634 --> 00:35:47.576 happier without those things. 00:35:47.576 --> 00:35:50.121 To mention my own case, 00:35:50.121 --> 00:35:55.232 God has been depriving me of one blessing after another. 00:35:55.232 --> 00:35:58.313 But as each one was removed, 00:35:58.313 --> 00:36:01.023 He has come in and filled its place. 00:36:01.023 --> 00:36:04.810 And now, when I'm a cripple, and I'm not able to move, 00:36:04.810 --> 00:36:07.483 I'm happier than ever. 00:36:07.483 --> 00:36:09.485 I'm happer than ever I was in my life 00:36:09.485 --> 00:36:13.963 before or ever expected to be. 00:36:13.963 --> 00:36:17.566 And if I had believed this twenty years ago, 00:36:17.566 --> 00:36:26.498 I might have been spared much anxiety." 00:36:26.498 --> 00:36:30.118 So here it is. NOTE Paragraph 00:36:30.118 --> 00:36:34.295 Listen to this. 00:36:34.295 --> 00:36:42.995 Here's a test put forth by the same man. 00:36:42.995 --> 00:36:46.077 He gives a very practical way to examine ourselves, 00:36:46.077 --> 00:36:49.498 in order to test where we're at with regards 00:36:49.498 --> 00:36:51.920 to the love of Christ. 00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:54.616 And whether we may have grieved the Spirit away 00:36:54.616 --> 00:36:56.875 from pouring the love of God into our hearts. 00:36:56.875 --> 00:36:58.320 Now listen to this: 00:36:58.320 --> 00:37:02.833 Brethren, I know this is true. 00:37:02.833 --> 00:37:05.033 It caught my attention because I know it. 00:37:05.033 --> 00:37:07.167 I know it. I've seen it as a Christian. 00:37:07.167 --> 00:37:08.995 I've felt it in my own life. 00:37:08.995 --> 00:37:10.674 I've gone through seasons. 00:37:10.674 --> 00:37:13.297 I've met other Christians. 00:37:13.297 --> 00:37:16.988 I've read of other Christians. 00:37:16.988 --> 00:37:19.933 Not just people who've had the Spirit of God fall on them, 00:37:19.933 --> 00:37:21.663 and been filled with the Spirit, 00:37:21.663 --> 00:37:24.771 and had some sensation of the love of Christ 00:37:24.771 --> 00:37:27.066 that was just momentary or for a short season. 00:37:27.066 --> 00:37:29.114 Now that's happened, and we certainly don't want 00:37:29.114 --> 00:37:31.436 to despise that, but I'm talking more here 00:37:31.436 --> 00:37:34.775 about a way of life. 00:37:34.775 --> 00:37:37.900 Listen to what Payson says, 00:37:37.900 --> 00:37:42.063 "Suppose professors of religion, 00:37:42.063 --> 00:37:46.484 (those who profess to be Christians), 00:37:46.484 --> 00:37:51.554 to be ranged in different concentric circles around Christ." 00:37:51.554 --> 00:37:55.832 So He's imagining Christ in the center, 00:37:55.832 --> 00:37:58.642 and then you have these concentric circles. 00:37:58.642 --> 00:38:03.951 A concentric circle is another circle with the same center. 00:38:03.951 --> 00:38:05.641 But they're getting bigger. 00:38:05.641 --> 00:38:09.867 Same center. Which is Christ. There He is in the middle. 00:38:09.867 --> 00:38:13.425 But then you have these concentric circles moving out from there. 00:38:13.425 --> 00:38:16.725 And he says each of these concentric circles is 00:38:16.725 --> 00:38:19.191 like different Christians. 00:38:19.191 --> 00:38:24.349 Different Christians live at these different concentric circles, 00:38:24.349 --> 00:38:29.654 moving out and away from the middle. 00:38:29.654 --> 00:38:35.932 He says, "Some value the presence of their Savior so highly 00:38:35.932 --> 00:38:41.524 they cannot bear to be at any removed from Him. 00:38:41.524 --> 00:38:43.478 Even their work, they will bring up and do it 00:38:43.478 --> 00:38:45.642 in the light of His countenance." 00:38:45.642 --> 00:38:48.410 And I want you to see what Payson recognized, 00:38:48.410 --> 00:38:52.121 you don't have to be a pastor or a missionary 00:38:52.121 --> 00:38:59.724 or in some certain designated church ministry 00:38:59.724 --> 00:39:03.114 for this to happen. 00:39:03.114 --> 00:39:06.881 That's not the case. 00:39:06.881 --> 00:39:10.211 Remember, brethren, remember! 00:39:10.211 --> 00:39:13.833 That you might have strength to comprehend 00:39:13.833 --> 00:39:16.059 with all the saints 00:39:16.059 --> 00:39:21.109 what is the breadth and length and height and depth. 00:39:21.109 --> 00:39:28.246 It's for all the saints, brethren, it's not just for the pastor. 00:39:28.246 --> 00:39:31.091 "They cannot bear to be at any removed from Christ, 00:39:31.091 --> 00:39:33.373 even their work they will bring up and do it 00:39:33.373 --> 00:39:36.561 in the light of His countenance. Whatever work that is. 00:39:36.561 --> 00:39:38.119 Whether it's in ministry, whether it's building, 00:39:38.119 --> 00:39:43.786 construction, plumber... and while engaged in it 00:39:43.786 --> 00:39:47.005 will be seen constantly raising their eyes to Him 00:39:47.005 --> 00:39:52.977 as if fearful of losing one beam of His light." 00:39:52.977 --> 00:39:55.571 Brethren, here's the truth, every child of God 00:39:55.571 --> 00:39:58.843 definitely knows the love of Christ. 00:39:58.843 --> 00:40:02.416 But not every child of God definitely knows that love 00:40:02.416 --> 00:40:04.077 to the same degree. 00:40:04.077 --> 00:40:07.140 Not all of us walk in the same circles. 00:40:07.140 --> 00:40:12.414 Not all of us live as close to Christ as others do or have. 00:40:12.414 --> 00:40:14.529 That's just a reality. 00:40:14.529 --> 00:40:19.371 Brethren, the innermost circle represents those... 00:40:19.371 --> 00:40:23.058 I can tell you this, 00:40:23.058 --> 00:40:27.278 when you live in the innermost circles, 00:40:27.278 --> 00:40:32.538 you are sensitive to Christ's love. 00:40:32.538 --> 00:40:38.920 Brethren, Christ saved us to love us. 00:40:38.920 --> 00:40:40.648 He loved us and He saved us, 00:40:40.648 --> 00:40:44.610 and He saved us to love us. 00:40:44.610 --> 00:40:50.289 And those that live closest, they are sensitive 00:40:50.289 --> 00:40:52.064 to His approaches, they are sensitive. 00:40:52.064 --> 00:40:57.800 That's what characterizes people here. 00:40:57.800 --> 00:40:59.523 They watch for that love. 00:40:59.523 --> 00:41:01.549 They watch to respond to that love. 00:41:01.549 --> 00:41:03.924 Brethren, this is the real test of whether you're 00:41:03.924 --> 00:41:05.733 maturing as a Christian. 00:41:05.733 --> 00:41:08.388 It isn't simple whether today you can articulate 00:41:08.388 --> 00:41:12.993 limited atonement where you couldn't a year ago. 00:41:12.993 --> 00:41:16.601 Brethren, the real test, the real key to maturing 00:41:16.601 --> 00:41:22.084 in the Christian life is how close to Christ you're walking. 00:41:22.084 --> 00:41:24.519 How close to Him you live. 00:41:24.519 --> 00:41:26.566 How much of His love you're bathed in. 00:41:26.566 --> 00:41:30.445 And I gaurantee this, just that reality of 2 Cointhians 3:18 00:41:30.445 --> 00:41:32.834 Brethren, the closer you live to the glory, 00:41:32.834 --> 00:41:34.746 the more you behold His glory, 00:41:34.746 --> 00:41:40.362 the more you are becoming conformed to that image. 00:41:40.362 --> 00:41:42.823 Brethren, some just live closer. 00:41:42.823 --> 00:41:45.681 That's a fact. 00:41:45.681 --> 00:41:50.261 They live where there's greater apprehensions of Christ's love. 00:41:50.261 --> 00:41:55.039 And I'll tell you this, children of God that live 00:41:55.039 --> 00:42:02.413 in this innermost circle, they must be careful. 00:42:02.413 --> 00:42:04.357 You say, what do you mean? 00:42:04.357 --> 00:42:07.909 Have you ever thought about Moses? 00:42:07.909 --> 00:42:11.317 God would say if I'm going to speak to one 00:42:11.317 --> 00:42:13.548 of the prophets, I'm going to do it through a vision, 00:42:13.548 --> 00:42:14.750 through a dream. 00:42:14.750 --> 00:42:19.828 He says when I speak to Moses, it's face to face. 00:42:19.828 --> 00:42:23.516 Can I tell you this? 00:42:23.516 --> 00:42:28.733 Moses struck the rock. 00:42:28.733 --> 00:42:32.420 How many of us have done some fool thing like that? 00:42:32.420 --> 00:42:35.546 in disobedience to God? 00:42:35.546 --> 00:42:40.776 Yet the consequences were not so severe. Why? 00:42:40.776 --> 00:42:43.359 Brethren, I'll tell you what, when you live 00:42:43.359 --> 00:42:50.391 in those inner circles, you must walk carefully. 00:42:50.391 --> 00:42:58.904 Martyn Lloyd-Jones says the air here is very pure 00:42:58.904 --> 00:43:01.170 and very rarified, 00:43:01.170 --> 00:43:04.690 and slight changes are immediately felt. 00:43:04.690 --> 00:43:09.008 Responsiveness to Christ's approaches must set us to 00:43:09.008 --> 00:43:11.169 a careful watch, brethren. 00:43:11.169 --> 00:43:13.141 Think about Moses. 00:43:13.141 --> 00:43:15.823 Those who walk in the innermost concentric circles, 00:43:15.823 --> 00:43:20.662 must develop a holy sensitivity to the advances of Christ. 00:43:20.662 --> 00:43:24.214 They must be sensitive to sin. Sensitive to their conscience. 00:43:24.214 --> 00:43:29.129 Sensitive to any grieving of the Spirit of God. 00:43:29.129 --> 00:43:31.831 Brethren, do you remember how it was? 00:43:31.831 --> 00:43:35.268 There in the Song of Solomon 5? 00:43:35.268 --> 00:43:38.743 We find that the woman there, 00:43:38.743 --> 00:43:42.383 she had taken her clothes off. 00:43:42.383 --> 00:43:46.238 She had removed her garment, it says, 00:43:46.238 --> 00:43:48.604 and she had washed her feet. 00:43:48.604 --> 00:43:50.229 And she was there at the bed, 00:43:50.229 --> 00:43:53.186 and her beloved came to the door. 00:43:53.186 --> 00:43:58.273 And you get that wonderful intimacy, that language there, 00:43:58.273 --> 00:44:05.093 that just flows out of that first part of Song of Solomon 5. 00:44:05.093 --> 00:44:11.611 But what happened? He's knocking on the door. 00:44:11.611 --> 00:44:17.363 Here's the advance. He's come to just immerse her in love. 00:44:17.363 --> 00:44:19.532 And there was hesitation. Did you catch that? 00:44:19.532 --> 00:44:21.460 There was a hesitation. 00:44:21.460 --> 00:44:24.311 She had the thought go through her head. 00:44:24.311 --> 00:44:27.395 Wait, I've put my garment off, I've washed my feet. 00:44:27.395 --> 00:44:29.934 There was the hesitation. 00:44:29.934 --> 00:44:31.823 Brethern, the people that walk in those 00:44:31.823 --> 00:44:33.632 innermost concentric circles... 00:44:33.632 --> 00:44:36.158 By the way, that lady was not at that moment 00:44:36.158 --> 00:44:41.813 living in the inner circle. 00:44:41.813 --> 00:44:44.547 There was a hesitation. 00:44:44.547 --> 00:44:49.095 And when she got to the door, her beloved was gone. 00:44:49.095 --> 00:44:54.791 Brethren, I guarantee you, there are times in life 00:44:54.791 --> 00:44:58.337 that Christ waits to smother you in His love. 00:44:58.337 --> 00:45:01.612 But you do not respond to His advances. 00:45:01.612 --> 00:45:04.022 You say, can you prove that from the Scriptures? 00:45:04.022 --> 00:45:06.647 Well, brethren, it's everywhere. 00:45:06.647 --> 00:45:08.829 But how about this? 00:45:08.829 --> 00:45:11.829 I mean, speaking to a church, 00:45:11.829 --> 00:45:16.615 speaking to a group of covenant people, 00:45:16.615 --> 00:45:19.444 not the lost indiscriminate masses. 00:45:19.444 --> 00:45:23.053 He's speaking to a church, brethren. 00:45:23.053 --> 00:45:28.622 And He says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." 00:45:28.622 --> 00:45:32.141 And He says, "if you will open to Me, I will come in." 00:45:32.141 --> 00:45:34.164 And do what? 00:45:34.164 --> 00:45:37.219 "Dine with you." Brethren, in that near Eastern, 00:45:37.219 --> 00:45:40.007 middle Eastern mindset, to have somebody 00:45:40.007 --> 00:45:42.338 come into your house and dine with you 00:45:42.338 --> 00:45:43.908 was a sign of intimacy. 00:45:43.908 --> 00:45:45.333 You know in the Muslim world, 00:45:45.333 --> 00:45:47.020 for them to bring you in 00:45:47.020 --> 00:45:49.779 and have you for dinner in their home 00:45:49.779 --> 00:45:54.451 means that they are now under an obligation now to protect you. 00:45:54.451 --> 00:45:56.317 Brethren, there's an intimacy I think that sometimes 00:45:56.317 --> 00:45:58.288 we don't feel in our culture. 00:45:58.288 --> 00:46:02.702 But Christ was saying, "I stand here." 00:46:02.702 --> 00:46:06.792 Brethren, those that have used that illustration for 00:46:06.792 --> 00:46:09.287 Christ calling the lost multitudes, 00:46:09.287 --> 00:46:11.466 that's just simply not what this is talking about. 00:46:11.466 --> 00:46:14.472 Don't use that verse in that context. 00:46:14.472 --> 00:46:16.031 That's not what it means. 00:46:16.031 --> 00:46:18.315 He's speaking to His covenant people, 00:46:18.315 --> 00:46:22.066 and He's saying, "Look, I stand here." 00:46:22.066 --> 00:46:26.927 He just got done saying, "Those that I love, I chasten." 00:46:26.927 --> 00:46:29.160 And He's saying, "I stand here." 00:46:29.160 --> 00:46:33.368 He's been talking to those He loves, brethren. 00:46:33.368 --> 00:46:44.537 Brethren, to live in this inner circle, 00:46:44.537 --> 00:46:47.643 here's what it takes: 00:46:47.643 --> 00:46:50.165 the slightest tug of heart... 00:46:50.165 --> 00:46:53.879 I mean, you're sitting down to a meal, 00:46:53.879 --> 00:46:56.607 and you feel "Christ wants me to fast," 00:46:56.607 --> 00:46:58.122 "He wants me to go be with Him." 00:46:58.122 --> 00:46:59.495 You're laying down on your bed, 00:46:59.495 --> 00:47:01.550 you feel Christ wants me to put my clothes on 00:47:01.550 --> 00:47:04.745 and go out and walk the fields and commune with Him. 00:47:04.745 --> 00:47:06.978 You're at work, you're in the middle of something, 00:47:06.978 --> 00:47:09.560 but you feel like God wants me to pray right now, 00:47:09.560 --> 00:47:11.127 the Lord is calling me. 00:47:11.127 --> 00:47:14.932 Brethren, we put it off. No, just not yet. 00:47:14.932 --> 00:47:16.985 But when we go there, it's like the young lady, 00:47:16.985 --> 00:47:19.136 she goes to the door and He's gone! 00:47:19.136 --> 00:47:20.999 Brethren, that happens. That happens when 00:47:20.999 --> 00:47:25.499 you put off the loving advances of a lover. 00:47:25.499 --> 00:47:28.904 That happens. That's how we cause grief. 00:47:28.904 --> 00:47:31.267 Brethren, it's not like Christ is somehow foreign 00:47:31.267 --> 00:47:34.333 and far removed. He's a Lover of His people. 00:47:34.333 --> 00:47:40.250 And we know what grieves two people that are in love. 00:47:40.250 --> 00:47:42.480 We know where the grief comes from. 00:47:42.480 --> 00:47:45.051 We know the kind of things... 00:47:45.051 --> 00:47:48.913 Brethren, when one lover is making an advance to another, 00:47:48.913 --> 00:47:51.271 and it's put off, and it's resisted. 00:47:51.271 --> 00:47:55.364 Or something is deemed to be more important, 00:47:55.364 --> 00:47:57.295 then we come to the door and He's gone. 00:47:57.295 --> 00:47:59.679 Boy, if we would have gone right when He called us. 00:47:59.679 --> 00:48:02.471 He was calling us to His Word. He wanted to speak to us. 00:48:02.471 --> 00:48:04.150 And when we get there... 00:48:04.150 --> 00:48:07.854 well, it's not there now. 00:48:07.854 --> 00:48:11.342 Brethren, if we're going to live in the innermost 00:48:11.342 --> 00:48:16.496 concentric circles, there must be sensitivity. 00:48:16.496 --> 00:48:20.956 Sensitivity, brethren, sensitivity! 00:48:20.956 --> 00:48:24.362 Too many of us have too much noise, 00:48:24.362 --> 00:48:25.825 too much clutter. 00:48:25.825 --> 00:48:28.891 We can't hear when He's knocking at the door. 00:48:28.891 --> 00:48:31.093 And brethren, you know how it is, 00:48:31.093 --> 00:48:33.187 when two people are in love, 00:48:33.187 --> 00:48:35.556 sometimes it's just - what? 00:48:35.556 --> 00:48:39.939 You catch a glance from one another, right? 00:48:39.939 --> 00:48:42.035 I mean, come on, you that are married... 00:48:42.035 --> 00:48:46.074 it's just a look. It's a fleeting glance of the eyes, 00:48:46.074 --> 00:48:47.958 and you saw something in your wife's eyes 00:48:47.958 --> 00:48:50.640 or your husband's eyes that just shot back to you, 00:48:50.640 --> 00:48:53.330 "I love you." 00:48:53.330 --> 00:48:56.444 Brethren, Christ is the same, and His ways 00:48:56.444 --> 00:49:00.794 of communicating His love are manifold. 00:49:00.794 --> 00:49:04.218 But brethren, so often we've got so much noise, 00:49:04.218 --> 00:49:05.814 we don't hear His voice. 00:49:05.814 --> 00:49:07.588 We don't hear the knock. 00:49:07.588 --> 00:49:09.886 Or we're so preoccupied with other things. 00:49:09.886 --> 00:49:13.026 Brethren, Payson's describing the people in 00:49:13.026 --> 00:49:17.362 these innermost circles, not as reading their Bibles perpetually. 00:49:17.362 --> 00:49:19.932 But even when they're in the workplace, 00:49:19.932 --> 00:49:22.145 they constantly have their eyes lifted up. 00:49:22.145 --> 00:49:24.538 "Lord, is this pleasing to You?" "Lord, is this right?" 00:49:24.538 --> 00:49:27.043 They're constantly talking. They're constantly singing. 00:49:27.043 --> 00:49:29.972 Their minds are constantly set on things above. 00:49:29.972 --> 00:49:33.121 They're constantly looking. They're constantly going there. 00:49:33.121 --> 00:49:36.354 They're afraid - they don't ever want to get to the place 00:49:36.354 --> 00:49:39.161 where they look up and "where is He?" 00:49:39.161 --> 00:49:42.000 "He's gone," or "I've drifted away," 00:49:42.000 --> 00:49:43.248 "I've wandered away." 00:49:43.248 --> 00:49:46.341 There's a fear, brethren, there's a fear 00:49:46.341 --> 00:49:48.712 to live in this circle. 00:49:48.712 --> 00:49:52.363 That you don't want to strike the rock 00:49:52.363 --> 00:49:53.874 and now I can't go into the land of Canaan. 00:49:53.874 --> 00:49:57.849 There's a sensitivity here. We need to be careful. 00:49:57.849 --> 00:50:00.332 Remember Moses, brethren, remember. 00:50:00.332 --> 00:50:04.689 The apostle Paul was one who sought to live in this realm. 00:50:04.689 --> 00:50:07.808 Do you know there in 1 Corinthians 4:4, he says, 00:50:07.808 --> 00:50:13.393 "I know nothing against myself." 00:50:13.393 --> 00:50:16.468 Paul was a man who lived with a conscience 00:50:16.468 --> 00:50:20.394 that was undefiled, all the time, before God and man. 00:50:20.394 --> 00:50:22.297 Nothing, brethren, nothing. 00:50:22.297 --> 00:50:24.233 I'm not saying he lived a perfect life, 00:50:24.233 --> 00:50:27.070 but I'm saying he kept his conscience clear. 00:50:27.070 --> 00:50:31.356 He let nothing stand between Him and Christ - nothing! 00:50:31.356 --> 00:50:34.290 No idol in his life. No sin in his life. 00:50:34.290 --> 00:50:37.235 Short accounts. He dealt with it right away, right away. 00:50:37.235 --> 00:50:40.293 People that dwell in this innermost circle 00:50:40.293 --> 00:50:43.813 of the love of Christ, that bask in that glow 00:50:43.813 --> 00:50:46.602 more perpetually than all the rest of us. 00:50:46.602 --> 00:50:50.886 Brethren, they're sensitive. They're sensitive. 00:50:50.886 --> 00:50:52.532 They don't want to grieve Him, they don't want to 00:50:52.532 --> 00:50:54.832 grieve His Spirit at all. 00:50:54.832 --> 00:50:57.714 And this power just floods them. 00:50:57.714 --> 00:51:00.457 And the more we strive, the more we give ourselves, 00:51:00.457 --> 00:51:03.684 the more we try to be attentive to His advances, 00:51:03.684 --> 00:51:05.890 and His glances, and His voice, brethren, 00:51:05.890 --> 00:51:08.399 the more we will find that voice being heard. 00:51:08.399 --> 00:51:11.209 And we will find that glance coming to our eye. 00:51:11.209 --> 00:51:13.286 The more, brethren, the more. 00:51:13.286 --> 00:51:19.731 Christ is not slow, brethren. 00:51:19.731 --> 00:51:21.623 We need to be sensitive. 00:51:21.623 --> 00:51:24.988 Brainerd. You guys know David Brainerd, many of you. 00:51:24.988 --> 00:51:30.512 He worked among the Indians in the 1700's. 00:51:30.512 --> 00:51:39.220 Brethren, he would confess his pride somewhat hourly 00:51:39.220 --> 00:51:43.240 trying to keep sensitive, trying to keep short accounts, 00:51:43.240 --> 00:51:45.660 trying to keep in the Presence. 00:51:45.660 --> 00:51:47.836 Oh, brethren, as you are more and more 00:51:47.836 --> 00:51:51.838 responsive to Christ and all His loving approaches, 00:51:51.838 --> 00:51:56.069 your comprehension of His love will grow. 00:51:56.069 --> 00:52:01.496 Don't let a frown of grief come across that Spirit at all. 00:52:01.496 --> 00:52:04.743 Keep all the channels open. All of them flowing. 00:52:04.743 --> 00:52:09.808 It's like that song says, "Nothing between, nothing between." 00:52:09.808 --> 00:52:13.535 All of it out of there. 00:52:13.535 --> 00:52:18.315 As Jude says, "Keep yourselves in the love of God." 00:52:18.315 --> 00:52:21.227 Brethren, that's not about being saved. 00:52:21.227 --> 00:52:27.570 That's about people, as our missionary in China loves to say, 00:52:27.570 --> 00:52:33.219 brethren, it's a sensible sense of God's love. 00:52:33.219 --> 00:52:35.158 Keep yourselves in the love of God. 00:52:35.158 --> 00:52:37.972 That doesn't mean that once God loves me, 00:52:37.972 --> 00:52:40.297 I can get away from His love. 00:52:40.297 --> 00:52:42.826 His love is eternal. His love is everlasting. 00:52:42.826 --> 00:52:44.554 When He lays His love upon somebody, 00:52:44.554 --> 00:52:46.874 nobody can pluck them out of His hand. 00:52:46.874 --> 00:52:48.795 That's not what He's talking about there. 00:52:48.795 --> 00:52:51.464 The idea is, brethren, there is a place 00:52:51.464 --> 00:52:54.958 where the love of Christ flows. 00:52:54.958 --> 00:53:00.899 Get you there. Get there. Sit there. Find that place. 00:53:00.899 --> 00:53:03.691 It takes sensitivity. It takes awareness. 00:53:03.691 --> 00:53:09.247 I'll tell you this, the lazy aren't going to find that place. 00:53:09.247 --> 00:53:11.715 Those that aren't committed to this; 00:53:11.715 --> 00:53:14.004 those that are in love with the world; 00:53:14.004 --> 00:53:16.225 those that would rather play at Christianity... 00:53:16.225 --> 00:53:20.393 you're not going to find this place. 00:53:20.393 --> 00:53:24.136 Keep yourselves sensitive, keep yourselves alert 00:53:24.136 --> 00:53:27.992 in this rarified air, brethren, of the inner circles. 00:53:27.992 --> 00:53:30.581 But then, here's Edward Payson. 00:53:30.581 --> 00:53:34.274 "Others, to be sure, 00:53:34.274 --> 00:53:39.424 would not be content to live out of Christ's presence, 00:53:39.424 --> 00:53:45.966 but they're yet less wholly absorbed by it than these first ones 00:53:45.966 --> 00:53:48.414 and may be seen a little further off, 00:53:48.414 --> 00:53:51.254 engaged here and there in other various callings; 00:53:51.254 --> 00:53:54.748 their eyes generally upon their work, 00:53:54.748 --> 00:53:59.635 but often looking up for the light which they love." 00:53:59.635 --> 00:54:03.789 You see, people, as we fall and we move further out 00:54:03.789 --> 00:54:07.539 of these concentric circles, 00:54:07.539 --> 00:54:11.710 the Spirit's work is somewhat more resisted. 00:54:11.710 --> 00:54:15.641 We allow somewhat more of the grieving of the Spirit. 00:54:15.641 --> 00:54:18.899 People in this category allow more noise, 00:54:18.899 --> 00:54:20.478 more distractions. 00:54:20.478 --> 00:54:23.484 Christ's knock at the door is less obvious. 00:54:23.484 --> 00:54:26.421 It gets mistaken for other noises. 00:54:26.421 --> 00:54:31.312 Their minds tend to stray from Christ for longer periods. 00:54:31.315 --> 00:54:32.958 The young lady from the Song of Solomon, 00:54:32.958 --> 00:54:35.393 at least at that point there where she put off her lover, 00:54:35.393 --> 00:54:40.580 at least at that moment, she was in more 00:54:40.580 --> 00:54:42.541 of these outward circles. 00:54:42.541 --> 00:54:45.278 Brethren, you know what happens? 00:54:45.278 --> 00:54:49.746 There's a hesitation in our obedience. 00:54:49.746 --> 00:54:52.237 There's a hesitation in our love. 00:54:52.237 --> 00:54:53.959 Isn't that what happened? 00:54:53.959 --> 00:54:57.746 That lady when her lover came to the door, 00:54:57.746 --> 00:55:01.414 she hesitated. Isn't that what happened? 00:55:01.414 --> 00:55:03.420 She got to thinking, "well, I put my garment off, 00:55:03.420 --> 00:55:06.972 I washed my feet." There was a hesitation. 00:55:06.972 --> 00:55:09.279 Brethren, that is often what characterizes 00:55:09.279 --> 00:55:12.664 what the difference is that characterizes 00:55:12.664 --> 00:55:15.725 those in the innermost circles from the outermost. 00:55:15.725 --> 00:55:17.812 We tend to move more outward from those 00:55:17.812 --> 00:55:20.791 concentric circles of the love of Christ 00:55:20.791 --> 00:55:23.614 when there's more hesitation. 00:55:23.614 --> 00:55:27.670 There's more justifying that which probably 00:55:27.670 --> 00:55:29.887 isn't good in our life. 00:55:29.887 --> 00:55:32.389 They may be somewhat neutral things, but they're just stuff. 00:55:32.389 --> 00:55:34.421 They're just filler. 00:55:34.421 --> 00:55:38.488 We move more into the realm - 00:55:38.488 --> 00:55:41.368 you know how it says in Philippians, 00:55:41.368 --> 00:55:43.790 we need to approve what is excellent. 00:55:43.790 --> 00:55:45.820 The ones in the innermost circles, they approve 00:55:45.820 --> 00:55:47.492 what is most excellent. 00:55:47.492 --> 00:55:50.927 As you begin to move out, people tolerate stuff that's good 00:55:50.927 --> 00:55:53.405 at the expense of stuff that's excellent. 00:55:53.405 --> 00:55:55.926 People in this realm, to be sure, 00:55:55.926 --> 00:56:04.337 they're people that do love Christ. 00:56:04.337 --> 00:56:07.256 People in this camp, the love for Christ is full, 00:56:07.256 --> 00:56:09.334 it's rich, it's strong. 00:56:09.334 --> 00:56:13.659 But that recently put off garment; those freshly washed feet, 00:56:13.659 --> 00:56:15.698 often are the kinds of things that give rise to 00:56:15.698 --> 00:56:22.030 such the hesitation that puts them in a class 00:56:22.030 --> 00:56:24.226 as to where they get to the door and they don't enjoy 00:56:24.226 --> 00:56:27.946 the overwhelming embraces of Christ. 00:56:27.946 --> 00:56:29.869 He's gone. 00:56:29.869 --> 00:56:31.891 Brethren, some of us are too calculated. 00:56:31.891 --> 00:56:33.465 Over much calculation, over much deliberation, 00:56:33.465 --> 00:56:36.071 over much hesitation - hesitations of doubt, 00:56:36.071 --> 00:56:38.717 distractions by the world. 00:56:38.717 --> 00:56:43.628 Brethren, it costs. 00:56:43.628 --> 00:56:46.095 But moving outward still, Payson goes on to describe 00:56:46.095 --> 00:56:48.205 this last category. He says this, 00:56:48.205 --> 00:56:53.101 "A third class beyond these, but yet within the life-giving rays." 00:56:53.101 --> 00:56:56.126 In his estimation, as he lived his life when he's writing this, 00:56:56.126 --> 00:56:58.116 he's at the end of his life. He's observed, 00:56:58.116 --> 00:57:01.175 there are people who are genuinely saved. 00:57:01.175 --> 00:57:04.520 They're within the life-giving rays. 00:57:04.520 --> 00:57:06.888 It includes a doubtful multitude. 00:57:06.888 --> 00:57:10.437 "Many of whom are so much engaged in their worldly schemes, 00:57:10.437 --> 00:57:13.772 that they may be seen standing sideways to Christ, 00:57:13.772 --> 00:57:16.376 looking mostly the other way, and 00:57:16.376 --> 00:57:20.436 only now and then turning their faces towards the light." 00:57:20.436 --> 00:57:22.140 Brethren, you can see the picture, right? 00:57:22.140 --> 00:57:25.314 Christ is here in the center, and they're in these fading 00:57:25.314 --> 00:57:29.605 concentric circles, and they're standing sideways. 00:57:29.605 --> 00:57:32.254 Which means, they can turn and glance. 00:57:32.254 --> 00:57:34.156 The people in the inner circles, 00:57:34.156 --> 00:57:36.219 they've got their eyes on Christ. 00:57:36.219 --> 00:57:39.999 They're just afraid, lest they take them off. 00:57:39.999 --> 00:57:42.983 The people as you move out, they tend to turn. 00:57:42.983 --> 00:57:46.277 They tend to turn more and more to the side. 00:57:46.277 --> 00:57:49.106 Until you get in the outer concentric circles 00:57:49.106 --> 00:57:52.745 of what still remains to be true Christianity. 00:57:52.745 --> 00:57:55.903 And brethren, a lot of people live there. 00:57:55.903 --> 00:57:58.701 It's kind of like that picture that Spurgeon paints 00:57:58.701 --> 00:58:03.423 of the love of Christ being an ocean to swim in. 00:58:03.423 --> 00:58:11.000 And that most Chrsitians wade ankle deep. 00:58:11.000 --> 00:58:18.842 Very, very few dive in to find it an ocean to swim in. 00:58:18.842 --> 00:58:22.027 Brethren, what I want to ask you right now 00:58:22.027 --> 00:58:25.286 is let's just bring it home. 00:58:25.286 --> 00:58:27.374 Where are you at? 00:58:27.374 --> 00:58:29.296 I mean is this true of you? 00:58:29.296 --> 00:58:33.569 Where are you living? What are you content with? 00:58:33.569 --> 00:58:37.044 Brethren, what happens in our life? 00:58:37.044 --> 00:58:38.362 Can I tell you this? 00:58:38.362 --> 00:58:44.533 Can you be a Christian and grieve the Spirit? 00:58:44.533 --> 00:58:48.220 Obviously, or Paul wouldn't be telling those Ephesians not to do it. 00:58:48.220 --> 00:58:49.517 Can you grieve the Spirit 00:58:49.517 --> 00:58:55.470 and then His fiery influences are quenched? 00:58:55.470 --> 00:58:59.075 And now this power doesn't flow in us, to comprehend this love? 00:58:59.075 --> 00:59:01.565 Obviously, brethren, that's why there's danger 00:59:01.565 --> 00:59:03.314 in quenching the Spirit. 00:59:03.314 --> 00:59:05.464 That's why there's danger in grieving the Spirit. 00:59:05.464 --> 00:59:08.813 We woudn't be told not to do it if it didn't matter. 00:59:08.813 --> 00:59:10.585 It does matter. 00:59:10.585 --> 00:59:13.087 It greatly matters. 00:59:13.087 --> 00:59:16.777 But think about grieving the Spirit. 00:59:16.777 --> 00:59:19.934 Think about it. What happens? 00:59:19.934 --> 00:59:22.318 Brethren, I can remember one time as a kid, 00:59:22.318 --> 00:59:25.017 my brother and I, we went to this carnival, 00:59:25.017 --> 00:59:28.173 up there in Michigan, and we got on this 00:59:28.173 --> 00:59:31.586 thing that went around in circles. 00:59:31.586 --> 00:59:35.673 And what made it fun was that once it got going around, 00:59:35.673 --> 00:59:45.513 it would shoot you way up in the air. 00:59:45.513 --> 00:59:48.533 So there we were. My brother and I got in this thing, 00:59:48.533 --> 00:59:51.262 we were spinning around, and every time we went around 00:59:51.262 --> 00:59:53.392 by the ride operator, he'd shout something at us. 00:59:53.392 --> 00:59:56.866 All the other cars are going up, ours wouldn't go up. 00:59:56.866 --> 00:59:59.069 We just kept going in circles. 00:59:59.069 --> 01:00:02.184 What made the ride fun was the fact you got to go up in the air. 01:00:02.184 --> 01:00:05.135 But he kept shouting something. We couldn't hear him. 01:00:05.135 --> 01:00:06.913 So we're moving around, moving this way, 01:00:06.913 --> 01:00:09.104 going over here, we thought he wanted us 01:00:09.104 --> 01:00:10.838 to move further in, further out. 01:00:10.838 --> 01:00:12.928 We're moving all over, we're doing all this stuff. 01:00:12.928 --> 01:00:16.670 In the end, the ride's over, and we never got to go up. 01:00:16.670 --> 01:00:19.929 But you know that's a lot like a lot of Christians. 01:00:19.929 --> 01:00:22.454 You know what he was saying, 01:00:22.454 --> 01:00:24.664 "Pull the safety bar back." 01:00:24.664 --> 01:00:27.787 We never did hear it. 01:00:27.787 --> 01:00:30.994 But it's like that with a lot of Christians. 01:00:30.994 --> 01:00:34.045 Brethren, you're being told by the apostle. 01:00:34.045 --> 01:00:36.167 He's the ride operator. You're on the ride. 01:00:36.167 --> 01:00:38.579 He's shouting to you: 01:00:38.579 --> 01:00:41.292 "Don't grieve the Spirit." 01:00:41.292 --> 01:00:43.958 "Pull into the inner circles, 01:00:43.958 --> 01:00:50.400 that you might comprehend the love of Christ." 01:00:50.400 --> 01:00:52.448 The vastness of it. 01:00:52.448 --> 01:00:56.533 To be filled with all the fullness of God. 01:00:56.533 --> 01:00:58.418 It will bring you power, folks. 01:00:58.418 --> 01:01:00.880 It will help you. It will pull you through this life. 01:01:00.880 --> 01:01:04.759 It will pull you through the problems. 01:01:04.759 --> 01:01:11.478 Brethren, what does grieve the Holy Spirit? 01:01:11.478 --> 01:01:14.317 And it comes back to this aspect of love. 01:01:14.317 --> 01:01:16.144 It really does. 01:01:16.144 --> 01:01:17.628 Somebody will come along and say, 01:01:17.628 --> 01:01:19.587 well, the only possible thing that could grieve 01:01:19.587 --> 01:01:24.044 the Holy Spirit is sin. 01:01:24.044 --> 01:01:26.966 You know what I find? 01:01:26.966 --> 01:01:31.461 I find even when there's sin, such as, 01:01:31.461 --> 01:01:35.456 remember the prodigal son? 01:01:35.456 --> 01:01:37.503 He lived in all sorts of sin. 01:01:37.503 --> 01:01:39.397 And when he came back to his father, 01:01:39.397 --> 01:01:43.381 his father didn't meet him with a grieved smile. 01:01:43.381 --> 01:01:46.197 Remember, what grieves the Father, grieves the Son, 01:01:46.197 --> 01:01:48.812 grieves the Spirit. They're all One. 01:01:48.812 --> 01:01:50.868 As far as what grieves them. What grieves the Spirit 01:01:50.868 --> 01:01:53.798 would be the same thing that grieves the Father. 01:01:53.798 --> 01:01:56.920 But here's the picture Christ is painting for us of the Father. 01:01:56.920 --> 01:02:00.118 Despite all the sin, the Father did not welcome him back 01:02:00.118 --> 01:02:03.711 with a frown of grief. 01:02:03.711 --> 01:02:07.119 There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents, 01:02:07.119 --> 01:02:09.774 than over 99 that need no repentance. 01:02:09.774 --> 01:02:13.039 Brethren, you cannot just nail it down to the fact 01:02:13.039 --> 01:02:16.165 that sin... 01:02:16.165 --> 01:02:20.146 brethren, it comes back to the intimacy thing. 01:02:20.146 --> 01:02:24.525 The Father's rejoicing because here comes one now, 01:02:24.525 --> 01:02:29.141 a repentant sinner, that's seeking the intimacy. 01:02:29.141 --> 01:02:31.686 Coming back, returning to the Father, 01:02:31.686 --> 01:02:37.115 the Father throws His arms, kisses, robes, sandals, 01:02:37.115 --> 01:02:39.852 fatted calf, rings on finger... 01:02:39.852 --> 01:02:43.474 brethren, again, it's intimacy. 01:02:43.474 --> 01:02:46.139 You want to know what grieves the Spirit? 01:02:46.139 --> 01:02:47.607 Listen to this, you say, well 01:02:47.607 --> 01:02:50.259 certainly not keeping His commandments. 01:02:50.259 --> 01:02:53.910 Yeah, but He says, listen to how He says it. 01:02:53.910 --> 01:02:56.717 Yes, that's true, but that's not all the truth of it. 01:02:56.717 --> 01:03:00.800 The truth is, if you love Me, keep My commandments. 01:03:00.800 --> 01:03:04.650 Even there, Christ is making it an intimacy thing. 01:03:04.650 --> 01:03:08.713 A relational thing. He's appealing, brethren. 01:03:08.713 --> 01:03:10.846 If you love Me, keep My commandments. 01:03:10.846 --> 01:03:13.187 I'm not so much interested in people 01:03:13.187 --> 01:03:14.974 walking around through life who coldly 01:03:14.974 --> 01:03:18.023 and mechanically just try to be law keepers. 01:03:18.023 --> 01:03:21.313 I'm looking for people who are like these people 01:03:21.313 --> 01:03:24.370 in the innermost concentric cirlces; they're afraid 01:03:24.370 --> 01:03:27.976 they fear lest they should fall out of His love, 01:03:27.976 --> 01:03:31.008 out of His loving beams, out of His gaze. 01:03:31.008 --> 01:03:33.447 Keep yourselves in the love of God. 01:03:33.447 --> 01:03:37.428 The reason that they're wanting to be so meticulous 01:03:37.428 --> 01:03:40.321 is lest they should have any cloud come between them. 01:03:40.321 --> 01:03:42.500 Brethren, when that's what drives you, 01:03:42.500 --> 01:03:45.338 look how pleasing that is to Him. 01:03:45.338 --> 01:03:49.957 Brethren, He says, have you ever read 01:03:49.957 --> 01:03:53.185 what was said of the Ephesian church there 01:03:53.185 --> 01:03:55.284 in Revelation 2? 01:03:55.284 --> 01:03:58.228 Brethren, they were a good church. They were good. 01:03:58.228 --> 01:04:00.038 If you go through the list of everything that Christ says, 01:04:00.038 --> 01:04:03.661 positively about them, they are a tremendous church. 01:04:03.689 --> 01:04:05.460 But in the end, He says this, 01:04:05.460 --> 01:04:08.734 despite all that looks tremendous, 01:04:08.734 --> 01:04:11.567 despite all that may seem to the contrary, 01:04:11.567 --> 01:04:13.442 "You've lost your first love, 01:04:13.442 --> 01:04:15.684 and that I hold against you." 01:04:15.684 --> 01:04:18.816 Brethren, you want to know something that grieves the Spirit? 01:04:18.816 --> 01:04:21.376 When you begin to lose this first love. 01:04:21.376 --> 01:04:26.441 That in itself is grieving. 01:04:26.441 --> 01:04:27.589 It's grieving. 01:04:27.589 --> 01:04:32.524 Brethren, when you look at these things? 01:04:32.524 --> 01:04:34.671 Where are we? 01:04:34.671 --> 01:04:37.006 Where are you? 01:04:37.006 --> 01:04:39.063 Where have you been? 01:04:39.063 --> 01:04:42.461 Where have you been living? 01:04:42.461 --> 01:04:49.591 Brethren, if we can press in. Press in. Press upward. 01:04:49.591 --> 01:04:53.474 Brethren, I not only love reading about these guys 01:04:53.474 --> 01:04:58.103 that have this burst of love come upon them. 01:04:58.103 --> 01:05:02.015 But these men, these women, who lived 01:05:02.015 --> 01:05:06.422 year in, year out, in the blazing glory. 01:05:06.422 --> 01:05:09.515 Samuel Rutherford, I'll just end on this: 01:05:09.515 --> 01:05:11.903 Spurgeon says of him, 01:05:11.903 --> 01:05:19.013 "Old Samuel Rutherford used expressions sometimes so rapturous," 01:05:19.013 --> 01:05:24.316 Spurgeon says, "I won't even quote them." 01:05:24.316 --> 01:05:26.014 And here's why. Spurgeon said, 01:05:26.014 --> 01:05:30.690 "Love letters are not to be read in the streets. 01:05:30.690 --> 01:05:33.495 And the words which souls inflamed with heavenly fire 01:05:33.495 --> 01:05:38.435 sometimes use towards Christ are not fit for public repetition. 01:05:38.435 --> 01:05:40.570 For there are passages of love, there are 01:05:40.570 --> 01:05:45.278 sweet embraces of affections of which we must not tell. 01:05:45.278 --> 01:05:48.292 For this were to commit treason such as Paul might have done 01:05:48.292 --> 01:05:52.686 if he had told on earth those things that He had heard in heaven. 01:05:52.686 --> 01:05:57.114 And which it would not be lawful for a man to utter here." 01:05:57.114 --> 01:05:59.029 Brethren, do you know anything of that? 01:05:59.029 --> 01:06:02.635 Do you know anything of such words, such exchanges 01:06:02.635 --> 01:06:11.436 between you and Christ that it's almost unfit for the public? 01:06:11.456 --> 01:06:15.909 They're there in the inner circles. 01:06:15.909 --> 01:06:19.921 That you might be able to comprehend with all the saints 01:06:19.921 --> 01:06:23.493 that you might be able to press into these inner circles 01:06:23.493 --> 01:06:25.584 that's what that means. 01:06:25.584 --> 01:06:29.483 Brethren, the power of the Spirit of God is there. 01:06:29.483 --> 01:06:30.847 Don't grieve Him. 01:06:30.847 --> 01:06:33.055 This is your life. 01:06:33.055 --> 01:06:38.802 This is it. Basking in the glow of Christ's love is it. 01:06:38.802 --> 01:06:42.594 That's what fills us with all the fullness of God. 01:06:42.594 --> 01:06:49.519 You can't go in further. 01:06:49.519 --> 01:06:54.879 There's no more further in than the innermost circles, brethren. 01:06:54.879 --> 01:06:59.611 Now we will get swept, unless it's just to go into Christ Himself, 01:06:59.611 --> 01:07:03.191 which we are in there. 01:07:03.191 --> 01:07:08.501 We'll just be swept off into glory forever and ever, 01:07:08.501 --> 01:07:15.683 just to be ravished by this love. 01:07:15.683 --> 01:07:22.053 Well, I'm sorry I can't - I can guarantee you 01:07:22.053 --> 01:07:25.796 there is a glory here to be brought out 01:07:25.796 --> 01:07:32.421 that I feel I fail tremendously to be able to do, 01:07:32.421 --> 01:07:36.356 but seek to dwell on these things. 01:07:36.356 --> 01:07:39.535 Go after them. 01:07:39.535 --> 01:07:41.958 Brethren, walk carefully. 01:07:41.958 --> 01:07:47.732 Strive to know nothing against yourself, nothing at all. 01:07:47.732 --> 01:07:49.373 Be careful. 01:07:49.373 --> 01:07:51.378 Don't hesitate. 01:07:51.378 --> 01:07:56.518 When Christ beckons you, go at once. 01:07:56.518 --> 01:07:59.522 When He calls you to prayer, jump. 01:07:59.522 --> 01:08:01.744 When He calls you to the Word, jump. 01:08:01.744 --> 01:08:05.722 When He calls you to fast, move, brethren. 01:08:05.722 --> 01:08:10.058 When He calls your name... don't be slow. 01:08:10.058 --> 01:08:12.578 "Here am I." 01:08:12.578 --> 01:08:15.796 When He puts that tinge in your conscience, don't go that way, 01:08:15.796 --> 01:08:18.403 brethren, don't go that way. 01:08:18.403 --> 01:08:24.021 When He knocks at the door, run to that door and open it. 01:08:24.021 --> 01:08:26.070 And may God help us.