1 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,300 There's a story that's taken from Max Lucado has booked the 2 00:00:06,300 --> 00:00:10,900 in the eye of the storm. And it's a, it's a story about a 3 00:00:10,908 --> 00:00:14,600 man named, Frank Kaku, illustrates the importance of 4 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,400 obeying, the laws of the lighthouse. 5 00:00:18,100 --> 00:00:21,500 And he says, is, I'm a quote from this excerpt here. 6 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:24,600 He says, two battleships assigned to the training. 7 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:28,600 Squadron had been at Sea On Maneuvers in heavy weather for 8 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:31,100 several days. I was serving on the lead 9 00:00:31,100 --> 00:00:34,200 Battleship and was on W on the bridge as night. 10 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:38,000 Filled the visibility was poor with patchy fog. 11 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,800 So, the captain remain on the bridge, keeping an eye on all 12 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:45,000 the activities, well shortly after dark to look out on the 13 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,400 wing. Reported light bearing on the 14 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:52,800 starboard belt and the captain called out, is it steady or 15 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:56,500 moving a Stern? The lookout replied study 16 00:00:56,500 --> 00:01:01,300 Captain, which meant that we run a dangerous Collision Course 17 00:01:01,300 --> 00:01:04,599 with that ship. Well, the captain in called to 18 00:01:04,599 --> 00:01:08,600 the signalman signal that ship and tell them we're on a 19 00:01:08,607 --> 00:01:12,200 collision course and advise that you change course, 20 degrees. 20 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,900 And the replying signal was advisable for you to change 21 00:01:17,900 --> 00:01:22,700 course, 20 degrees. The captain said, tell them. 22 00:01:22,700 --> 00:01:25,300 I'm a captain change course, 20 degrees. 23 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:30,400 I'm a seaman second class came, the reply, you had better change 24 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:34,800 course, 20 degrees by that time. The captain was Furious. 25 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:36,700 He spat out. Tell him. 26 00:01:36,700 --> 00:01:39,900 I'm a battleship change course. 20 degrees. 27 00:01:41,300 --> 00:01:45,400 Back came the flashing light. I'm a lighthouse. 28 00:01:47,100 --> 00:01:51,400 We changed course. You know, oftentimes in the 29 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,300 religious world people just aren't satisfied with 30 00:01:54,300 --> 00:01:57,400 surrendering themselves and their will holy unto God. 31 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,500 You know they convince themselves that a slight 32 00:02:00,500 --> 00:02:03,900 variation off course with a variation, may be only of 20 33 00:02:03,900 --> 00:02:07,700 degrees. Really, What mattered to them or 34 00:02:07,700 --> 00:02:10,800 to anybody. What they don't understand is 35 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,900 that our God is steadfast, and he is unchangeable and like that 36 00:02:14,900 --> 00:02:18,000 Lighthouse, he will tell us where to go, but he himself will 37 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,500 not move. We are the ones who are need to 38 00:02:21,500 --> 00:02:25,000 be guided, well like that ship up on the stormy sea. 39 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,600 We as humans are certainly are in need of guidance. 40 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:31,200 In life, we need help deciphering right from wrong and 41 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,200 we must be shown the course to follow. 42 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:36,600 If we plan to land safely on the far off shore and we must make 43 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:40,600 certain that our actions and decisions are Guided by one who 44 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:42,500 actually knows how to get us there. 45 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:47,400 Well, in this study this afternoon, We're going to first 46 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,500 of all take a look at why all true. 47 00:02:49,500 --> 00:02:53,500 Religious religious Authority comes from the almighty God. 48 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,400 And then secondly this afternoon we're going to take a look at 49 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,900 various ways in which God's will is made known unto Mankind and 50 00:03:00,900 --> 00:03:03,900 then thirdly this afternoon we're going to take a look at 51 00:03:03,900 --> 00:03:08,000 some few practical applications of which hits just a little bit 52 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:12,700 closer to home. And so let's begin about all 53 00:03:12,700 --> 00:03:16,000 true religious religious Authority originating. 54 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,700 And Coming from the almighty God. 55 00:03:18,900 --> 00:03:21,700 And the first reason that all true religious Authority comes 56 00:03:21,700 --> 00:03:25,700 from God, is because of the principle of ownership, the 57 00:03:25,700 --> 00:03:28,600 principle of ownership. Now, when you think about it, 58 00:03:28,700 --> 00:03:31,300 everything that you can think of everything in this universe, 59 00:03:31,300 --> 00:03:34,400 especially the church. It belongs to God. 60 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:40,100 And that alone demands our obedience you know you look at 61 00:03:40,100 --> 00:03:44,300 several verses that explain this one thing in this one thought 62 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:49,300 you look at what, what Luke wrote in Acts 17 and 24, God who 63 00:03:49,300 --> 00:03:55,500 made the world and everything in it since he is, Lord of Heaven 64 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,500 and Earth. You also look back to the Old 65 00:03:58,500 --> 00:04:01,400 Testament in first Chronicles, 29 11. 66 00:04:01,900 --> 00:04:04,900 It says they're declaring this about God's ownership. 67 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:09,400 You Yours O Lord is the greatness, the power and the 68 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:13,400 glory, the Victory. And the Majesty for all that is 69 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:19,000 in heaven and in Earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom. 70 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:24,200 Oh Lord, and you are exalted as head over all. even another 71 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,700 verse, as we skip on back to access to the book of Acts 72 00:04:27,700 --> 00:04:34,600 particularly 20:28, It also says At the Church of God, which he 73 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:36,600 has purchased with his own blood. 74 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,000 And so we see all these things about the ownership of God. 75 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:47,000 He owns everything well to practice things not authorized 76 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:51,100 by God is to fail to honor our head and our owner. 77 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,300 Now let's use an illustration about our own property. 78 00:04:55,900 --> 00:05:00,300 You know, no one has the right to use your property without 79 00:05:00,300 --> 00:05:03,900 your permission. And it's because it violates the 80 00:05:03,900 --> 00:05:07,000 principle of ownership. Now. 81 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:11,000 For example, no one can use your car without you telling him, 82 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:12,600 okay. You could use my car. 83 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,500 Now even then, even if you give someone permission to use your 84 00:05:16,500 --> 00:05:20,400 car, maybe you say you could use my car but you can only use it 85 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,700 to go down to the store. Now, that doesn't necessarily 86 00:05:23,700 --> 00:05:27,100 mean that they have Authority or permission to take it all over 87 00:05:27,100 --> 00:05:30,900 town or do whatever they want to with your car because you've 88 00:05:30,900 --> 00:05:35,000 said the limit and to allowing them to use part of your 89 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,900 property. And so likewise, if we belong to 90 00:05:38,900 --> 00:05:42,600 God, and specifically the church belong to Jesus, then right, 91 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:44,500 what, right? Two people have choosing a 92 00:05:44,500 --> 00:05:47,400 practice things that are different from what the owner 93 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:50,200 has already chosen for them to be practiced. 94 00:05:51,300 --> 00:05:51,800 What? Right? 95 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:55,700 Demand have making rules for the church or authorizing practices 96 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:00,200 that are not included in what God has already authorized. 97 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,700 Well, God does not have to specifically, say not to do 98 00:06:04,700 --> 00:06:08,200 certain things because all of such things are rom, simply 99 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,600 because they violate the principle of ownership. 100 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:14,600 And the fact of the matter is, no one has the right to use 101 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,500 God's Property without his own permission, and we get his 102 00:06:18,500 --> 00:06:24,600 permission in his own word. Now, moving on, to the second 103 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,800 principle. And the second reason that all 104 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,600 true religious Authority comes from God, is because of the 105 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:34,100 principle of Wisdom. Now, when you think about God's 106 00:06:34,100 --> 00:06:38,100 wisdom, God's wisdom, as we all know, is infinitely above that a 107 00:06:38,108 --> 00:06:42,200 man and it is upon his wisdom that we rely upon and not our 108 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,000 own wisdom, because what does our wisdom compared to God's 109 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,800 wisdom? Well, we look at several verses 110 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,900 such as Isaiah 55, which talk about God's wisdom. 111 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,800 It says their verses 8 through nine, for my thoughts are not 112 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:57,300 your thoughts. Neither are your ways. 113 00:06:57,300 --> 00:07:00,400 My ways says the Lord brezza Heavens are higher than the 114 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:02,900 Earth. We so are my ways higher than 115 00:07:02,900 --> 00:07:05,700 your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 116 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:11,700 Now understanding that, it's just, could you imagine knowing 117 00:07:11,700 --> 00:07:15,700 the mind of God and His Infinite, Wisdom and knowledge. 118 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:20,300 That be incredible. Just to go inside the mind of 119 00:07:20,300 --> 00:07:23,400 God. We obviously know the, we cannot 120 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:27,000 know God's will about a matter unless he reveals it to us 121 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:31,100 because God's thoughts and ways are above ours and might be 122 00:07:31,100 --> 00:07:34,600 completely different than our own ways and our own thoughts. 123 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:39,400 But also, we look at Jeremiah 10 verses 20 verse 23. 124 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,900 It says, oh Lord. I know the way of man is not in 125 00:07:41,907 --> 00:07:47,300 himself, it is not in man, who walks to direct his own steps. 126 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:51,700 So, Jeremiah, basically, say, man is not simply wise enough to 127 00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:55,100 know how to live apart from God's will he needs guidance. 128 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,300 Now, oftentimes people will defend some religious practice 129 00:07:59,300 --> 00:08:03,400 because it simply makes sense to them in their mind. 130 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,800 It's logical. I mean, why shouldn't we be 131 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,600 doing it a different way? It makes sense to them. 132 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:15,600 But here's the thing, if our human wisdom, except something, 133 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,800 then really, that proves nothing about whether or not God 134 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:22,000 approves of it, I mean, absolutely nothing. 135 00:08:23,100 --> 00:08:27,800 In Proverbs 14:23 a 2012 there is a way that seems right to a 136 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:32,400 man but it's end is the way of death. 137 00:08:33,799 --> 00:08:36,799 And so in our lives we frequently rely on the wisdom of 138 00:08:36,799 --> 00:08:40,400 others to make good decisions. For example are you got all 139 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:41,799 kinds of specialists in the world? 140 00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:45,500 You have mechanics, you have painters, you have roofers, you 141 00:08:45,500 --> 00:08:50,400 have a, we have doctors, we have all these people that we go to 142 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:54,200 because they know more about that specific area than we two 143 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,900 and we rely upon their expertise in in life. 144 00:08:58,500 --> 00:09:03,900 Well we trust them to make better decisions because Because 145 00:09:03,900 --> 00:09:07,100 we lack knowledge and wisdom in those fields. 146 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:10,800 But in terms of religion, God warned us against following 147 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,500 human wisdom. And whenever we practice, or 148 00:09:13,500 --> 00:09:16,800 allow things that are not revealed in the Bible, what 149 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:19,100 we're doing is we're following fallible. 150 00:09:19,100 --> 00:09:23,600 Human wisdom instead of God's infallible, wisdom and we failed 151 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:27,400 to acknowledge God's expertise, in all things is what we're 152 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,700 doing. Now, let's look at the third 153 00:09:30,700 --> 00:09:34,800 reason. Third reason of why all 154 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:36,400 religious Authority comes from God. 155 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:38,400 And it's because of the principle of worship. 156 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:43,200 Now, the purpose of worship is to please and glorify God, and 157 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:48,600 we honor and we respect him. For when we do what he says. 158 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,800 Now we all know what John 4:24 says. 159 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:57,200 We all know that God is spirit and those who worship Him must 160 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:01,000 Worship in spirit and Truth. We know that worship that 161 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:06,300 pleases, God must be directed by his truth, but building upon 162 00:10:06,300 --> 00:10:09,000 that John writes, in John 17 and 17. 163 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,100 He says sanctify them by your truth. 164 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:16,800 Your word is truth. And so we know where we can 165 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:21,200 obtain the truth from. But also we also find that all 166 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:25,200 truth that is revealed to us in the gospel as Peter writes and 167 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:29,000 second Peter, one and three, he says, as his divine power has 168 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,700 given us to us, all things that pertain to life and godliness 169 00:10:32,700 --> 00:10:36,000 through the knowledge of him who called us by glory and virtue. 170 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:42,500 And so having understood these things about truth and and and 171 00:10:42,500 --> 00:10:47,400 and we're all truth comes from every religious practice is 172 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:51,200 based either on. One of two things, it's either 173 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:55,100 based on God's Authority or it's based on man's Authority. 174 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,900 Now, God did not originate a practice. 175 00:10:59,900 --> 00:11:04,100 Then we can conclude that, man. Must have invented it. 176 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:09,800 Therefore making it unacceptable as a means of worship because 177 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:14,100 it's not truth. You know Matthew 15:9 as Jesus 178 00:11:14,100 --> 00:11:18,200 says there, he says that in vain, they worship me teaching 179 00:11:18,500 --> 00:11:20,400 as doctrines the Commandments of men. 180 00:11:21,700 --> 00:11:24,000 And that's what some people do nowadays. 181 00:11:24,500 --> 00:11:29,400 They teach the doctrines of men. So if we do what men say to do 182 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:34,300 instead of what God says to do, it is then impossible to honor 183 00:11:34,300 --> 00:11:38,000 and to respect God and worship and what we think might be 184 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,500 worship. Might just be vanity and just 185 00:11:42,500 --> 00:11:47,700 nothing to God. now fourth reason that our religious 186 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:50,500 Authority comes from God, is because of the principle of love 187 00:11:52,100 --> 00:11:57,300 Now, love when you think about it, it leads us to do what, what 188 00:11:57,300 --> 00:12:01,700 pleases the one whom we love. Because we're motivated to do 189 00:12:01,700 --> 00:12:04,800 something towards that being or that individual. 190 00:12:05,900 --> 00:12:10,400 Well, biblical love when we talk about that, it requires that, we 191 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:15,400 keep God's Commandments. This is where a lot of people do 192 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:18,900 not really understand what love is all about when it comes to 193 00:12:18,900 --> 00:12:22,400 loving God, they may proclaim the love God. 194 00:12:23,300 --> 00:12:26,200 But let's see what the Bible says about how we do love God. 195 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:32,200 Because first John 5:3 says, for this is the love of God that we 196 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:36,100 keep his Commandments. And his Commandments are not 197 00:12:36,100 --> 00:12:41,100 burdensome also 2nd 2nd. John 6 says, this is love that 198 00:12:41,100 --> 00:12:47,200 we walk according to his Commandments now Understanding 199 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:50,600 that to invent unauthorized practices. 200 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:55,900 Is to show love for men and not love for God. 201 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:00,400 Because we're not following God's commands, you know Luke, 202 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:04,300 16 15 says and he said to them, you are those who justify 203 00:13:04,300 --> 00:13:08,900 yourselves before men. But God knows your hearts for. 204 00:13:08,900 --> 00:13:11,300 What is highly? Esteemed among men is an 205 00:13:11,300 --> 00:13:15,400 abomination in the sight of God. So, doing what we want to 206 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:19,100 worship, you know, if I'm a Illustrated this way, it's kind 207 00:13:19,100 --> 00:13:23,200 of like a man who who gives his chainsaw to his wife for her 208 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:26,300 birthday simply because that's what he wants. 209 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:30,700 Now when he does that, does he show love for his wife? 210 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,800 Well no, he doesn't so love for his wife. 211 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:39,000 He's sewing love for himself, it's a selfish Kind of Love. 212 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:44,800 Now, if we love God, we will do only he wants and not what we 213 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:48,200 want. People do what they want because 214 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:52,600 they have a selfish part of them of what they want. 215 00:13:52,900 --> 00:13:55,100 Rather than being an excuse for overlooking. 216 00:13:55,100 --> 00:13:59,000 What the Bible says, love is actually a reason for doing only 217 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,000 what the Bible says and leaving all other things. 218 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:05,400 Untouched and left alone because where is the truth. 219 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:09,300 Authorize such a thing. I think, the reason that our 220 00:14:09,300 --> 00:14:12,400 religious Authority comes from God, is because of the principle 221 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:16,000 of Faith. Now, Faith, as we all know, is a 222 00:14:16,008 --> 00:14:20,200 visible proof of our Assurance in God. 223 00:14:20,500 --> 00:14:23,400 And if we are confident in God, we will seek to do his will in 224 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,400 all things. After all, when we look to 225 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:29,700 Hebrews chapter 11, it says in verse 6, but without faith, it 226 00:14:29,700 --> 00:14:33,500 is impossible to please him for, he who comes to God, must 227 00:14:33,500 --> 00:14:35,900 believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who 228 00:14:35,900 --> 00:14:40,400 diligently seek him. And so, we must seek to please 229 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:42,700 him. And we do that by faith. 230 00:14:43,300 --> 00:14:47,500 But when we lose our faith based upon though, well, we know that 231 00:14:47,500 --> 00:14:49,400 our faith is based upon God's word. 232 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,500 We know Romans 10:17. So then faith comes by hearing 233 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,600 and hearing what hearing by the word of God. 234 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,800 Now, also look at Proverbs 3 and verses 5 through 7 here. 235 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:06,000 Father 6, rather it tells us to trust in the Lord, with all your 236 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:11,600 heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways 237 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:16,100 acknowledge Him and He Shall direct your paths. 238 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:22,100 So now we get back to the source of where our guidance comes from 239 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,100 now to follow man-made doctrines. 240 00:15:25,100 --> 00:15:29,000 Is there for the put our faith in man instead of putting our 241 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:33,300 faith holy in God, it is impossible to practice anything 242 00:15:33,300 --> 00:15:36,000 by faith. If it cannot be found or 243 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:40,200 authorized by the Bible people who practice things that they 244 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,300 cannot find in the Bible. They're not putting their trust 245 00:15:44,500 --> 00:15:47,500 Foley and God. Instead they put their faith in 246 00:15:47,500 --> 00:15:50,200 the wisdom of men and to walk by faith. 247 00:15:50,300 --> 00:15:54,200 It actually requires us to restrict ourselves to do only 248 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,300 what God has revealed For All Mankind. 249 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,900 Now, there's a sixth and final reason here of why all religious 250 00:16:01,900 --> 00:16:04,000 Authority comes from God. And it's because of the 251 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,300 principle of authority. Now, the lordship of God Alone, 252 00:16:08,300 --> 00:16:11,200 it requires that we do everything, according to his 253 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:15,400 authority, you know, Colossians 3:17 says, and whatever you do 254 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:19,200 in word or deed. Do all the name of the Lord 255 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,500 Jesus. And so we see here to act in 256 00:16:22,500 --> 00:16:26,500 Jesus name is really to submit to his authority because we look 257 00:16:26,500 --> 00:16:30,000 to him for Authority, we look to him for guidance. 258 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:34,500 Now to do things that different from what God has said to do is 259 00:16:34,500 --> 00:16:39,100 really to fail to abide by his authority, his do Authority. 260 00:16:39,700 --> 00:16:42,900 You know, second John 9 says, whoever transgressions as Does 261 00:16:42,900 --> 00:16:44,800 not abide in the doctrine of Christ. 262 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:50,500 Does not have God. He Who abides in the doctrine of 263 00:16:50,500 --> 00:16:55,000 Christ has both the father and the son. 264 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:57,600 So we have two sides of the coin here. 265 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,500 We either abide or donor by, but there are consequences. 266 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:05,900 If we don't abide it Galatians 18, we find that the Apostle 267 00:17:05,900 --> 00:17:09,700 Paul said that, even if we or an angel from heaven, preach any 268 00:17:09,700 --> 00:17:14,300 other gospel to you, then what we have preached to you, let him 269 00:17:14,300 --> 00:17:17,000 be accursed. And so from just these few 270 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:21,700 verses alone as our ultimate Authority, we are required. 271 00:17:22,099 --> 00:17:26,900 It's not an option. We are required to obey God. 272 00:17:28,099 --> 00:17:33,100 Now, I want to say this at this point we're talking about this 273 00:17:33,100 --> 00:17:37,600 principle of authority, you know, when we study a practice 274 00:17:37,900 --> 00:17:42,400 we should never have the logic or never have in mind when we're 275 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:44,200 studying something from the Bible. 276 00:17:45,300 --> 00:17:49,700 Of saying we don't where does God say not to do this? 277 00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:56,100 Because when you build, when you build like a practice or when 278 00:17:56,100 --> 00:17:59,800 you're studying something with that logic, you then become to 279 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:04,700 rely upon Shaky Ground. But rather, when you study 280 00:18:04,700 --> 00:18:08,800 something you need to ask the question, where does God's word 281 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:13,100 authorize such a thing or act or practice? 282 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:17,200 Where can I find in the Bible that we can do this? 283 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,200 We need to have that kind of understanding, when studying 284 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:25,700 such things had God, specifically itemize, all the 285 00:18:25,700 --> 00:18:28,000 things that he did not want us to do. 286 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:31,900 I mean, would you imagine how huge the Bible would be? 287 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:37,900 It'd be enormous. But instead, God tells us what 288 00:18:37,900 --> 00:18:41,700 he does want us to do. And everything else. 289 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:46,200 Is not authorized and unacceptable. 290 00:18:47,900 --> 00:18:51,500 Now, having demonstrated through the principles of ownership, 291 00:18:51,500 --> 00:18:55,200 wisdom, love Faith and worship and Authority. 292 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,300 That all religious Authority comes from God. 293 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,600 I don't take a quick look at how has made his will, is made known 294 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:04,200 to us today. You know, we look back to the 295 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:08,400 time of Jesus, Jesus prepared the way for New Testament 296 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:12,300 Christianity, when he at that time revealed, God's will the 297 00:19:12,300 --> 00:19:15,200 man? It says in Hebrews 1 verses 1 298 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:18,400 through 2, it tells us that God who have Various times. 299 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,700 And in various ways spoke in time past by the van to the 300 00:19:22,700 --> 00:19:27,400 father's by the prophets hath in these last days spoken to us by 301 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:31,700 how by his son. By his son. 302 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:38,400 We also find in Matthew 28:18, that Jesus, he possessed this 303 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:40,300 Authority. When he reveals that all 304 00:19:40,300 --> 00:19:44,800 authority has been given to me on heaven and on Earth, and not 305 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:48,800 only that, but as he's revealing, his will, or God's 306 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,500 will unto us as he does have this Authority. 307 00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:55,600 We also find it in Ephesians 1 and verse 23. 308 00:19:55,900 --> 00:19:59,100 That he has authority over the church because it says, and he 309 00:19:59,100 --> 00:20:00,300 has put all things under his feet. 310 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,400 And gave him to be head, over all things to the church. 311 00:20:03,700 --> 00:20:08,400 And so Jesus has established himself as having this type of 312 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,400 authority to reveal. God's will unto us. 313 00:20:12,300 --> 00:20:15,100 Now when in the addition of the teaching of Jesus, it just 314 00:20:15,100 --> 00:20:19,500 didn't stop there because we look to other scripture as they 315 00:20:19,500 --> 00:20:21,700 reveal God's will to man as well. 316 00:20:21,900 --> 00:20:24,200 You know, you look at John 16:13. 317 00:20:24,500 --> 00:20:28,300 It says, we find that Jesus Promised the men who penned the 318 00:20:28,300 --> 00:20:30,300 New Testament that the spirit will guide them. 319 00:20:30,500 --> 00:20:33,900 All truth because it says however, when you when he the 320 00:20:33,900 --> 00:20:36,900 spirit of Truth has come, he will guide you into all Truth 321 00:20:36,900 --> 00:20:38,500 for. He will not speak on his own 322 00:20:38,500 --> 00:20:42,600 authority, but whatever. He hears he will speak and he 323 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:47,100 will tell you things to come. So we must realize that the 324 00:20:47,100 --> 00:20:50,600 other man of the, of the Bible, was it Paul? 325 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:54,800 Or Peter, James, John, Matthew, Mark, all those other guys did 326 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:56,800 it, right? Whatever they wanted to write, 327 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:59,200 they were guided. They were directed by way of the 328 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:01,900 Holy Spirit. Received his message from the 329 00:21:01,900 --> 00:21:06,200 almighty God. It wasn't something that it was 330 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:10,200 just their own opinion about all the holy spirit's opinion about 331 00:21:10,700 --> 00:21:15,200 now, we also see about the teachings of the New Testament 332 00:21:15,500 --> 00:21:19,400 at what Paul wrote to Timothy and second Timothy 3:16-17. 333 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:25,700 We find all scripture is given by inspiration of God, note that 334 00:21:25,700 --> 00:21:29,600 all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is 335 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:32,800 profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for 336 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:35,600 instruction in righteousness. Is that the mind of God may be 337 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:39,700 complete thoroughly equipped for every good work. 338 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:45,200 And then we find second Peter, 1:20-21 that no prophecy of 339 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:49,200 scripture is of any private interpretation for prophecy. 340 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:52,600 Never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as 341 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:57,300 they were what? As they were moved by the Holy 342 00:21:57,300 --> 00:22:00,600 Spirit, not moved by their own emotion. 343 00:22:01,300 --> 00:22:07,100 But by the Holy Spirit, you know, it's easy to see that God 344 00:22:07,100 --> 00:22:10,400 has recorded his will in the Bible to guide Our Lives. 345 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:16,500 You know, you look at John 16:13 the Holy Spirit revealed all 346 00:22:16,500 --> 00:22:20,700 truth to the apostles acts 20:20, Paul preach, the whole 347 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:25,400 counsel of God second Peter. We find that in Peters lap time 348 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:28,200 people, people received all things that pertain to life and 349 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:32,600 godliness James, 1:25, 25. We find that the word of Truth 350 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:36,000 is the perfect. I love Liberty, just from these 351 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:40,800 statements alone. And from other scripture, we do 352 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:43,300 not need to seek other revelation. 353 00:22:44,700 --> 00:22:46,500 It's already been revealed to us. 354 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:52,300 And from it, we can learn that, which pleases God and that which 355 00:22:52,300 --> 00:22:58,100 leads to Eternal salvation, And so, having gone over while 356 00:22:58,100 --> 00:23:00,900 religious Authority comes from God and how was built, his will 357 00:23:00,900 --> 00:23:03,100 has made known to us. I like to take a few practical. 358 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:07,000 Look at a few practical applications when it comes to 359 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,900 demonstrate the need for biblical Authority. 360 00:23:11,900 --> 00:23:17,200 We go back to Genesis chapter 6. Genesis 6 and 14. 361 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:23,500 We find that God told Noah to make an ark of gopher wood. now, 362 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:28,300 when he mentions gopher wood, You think of other materials 363 00:23:28,300 --> 00:23:33,400 metal or pine or walnut or any other material, it did not fit 364 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:37,700 the description of gopher wood now. 365 00:23:37,700 --> 00:23:43,000 God did not expressly say not to use them, but they would have 366 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:48,000 been wrong because he said, used gopher wood and was silent about 367 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:52,400 all other materials. Now, had God wanted to leave 368 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:54,400 Noah free to use any kind of material. 369 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:56,900 He could have simply said to make an arc and If I had no 370 00:23:56,908 --> 00:24:00,700 material at all and in that situation, Noah could have 371 00:24:00,700 --> 00:24:03,600 chosen any kind of material. But once God, specified and 372 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:08,200 material, Noah was left with no other choice, but that material 373 00:24:08,900 --> 00:24:12,700 now in contrast. God said to make an ark. 374 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:16,600 Now Noah could have used a hammer. 375 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,300 He could use a saw. He could use an ox cart to carry 376 00:24:19,300 --> 00:24:21,700 the wood. He could use all kinds of tools 377 00:24:21,700 --> 00:24:25,200 that Aid him in making and building the ark. 378 00:24:25,500 --> 00:24:27,800 None of these things. Mention but they would have been 379 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:31,000 acceptable because Noah would have still been following the 380 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:37,300 command to make the ark. Now Having said that? 381 00:24:38,700 --> 00:24:42,500 Let's bring a little bit closer to home now and talk about some 382 00:24:42,500 --> 00:24:46,800 things and worship. In Ephesians 5:19. 383 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:50,400 We're told the sing Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs 384 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:55,000 making melody in our hearts to the Lord and everywhere the New 385 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:58,100 Testament. Passage that mentions Music In 386 00:24:58,100 --> 00:25:03,200 Worship, it says to sing. To sing. 387 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:08,600 Nowhere. Does God ever say to play on 388 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:12,400 instruments? Now, to play on instruments, 389 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:15,300 then would fall outside the meaning of what God has said to 390 00:25:15,300 --> 00:25:16,800 do. Then now, the fact that God 391 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,800 expressly said to sing, but nowhere, says a playing 392 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:22,500 instrument shows that they're displeasing. 393 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:26,700 But, you know, you may have had someone, you know, argue this to 394 00:25:26,700 --> 00:25:30,100 you. Someone may say well the piano 395 00:25:30,100 --> 00:25:35,400 that we have o it is it just an aide to the singing, the guitar, 396 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:38,000 what other at whatever other instruments they use? 397 00:25:38,300 --> 00:25:40,100 All her. All they are just to help you 398 00:25:40,100 --> 00:25:45,400 sing. Well know A piano is an aid to 399 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:50,000 play just as a guitar or drums would be and playing is a 400 00:25:50,008 --> 00:25:51,700 different kind of music than singing. 401 00:25:51,700 --> 00:25:55,500 Just like the pine is different from gopher wood with the ark. 402 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:59,500 The piano was unauthorized because when we use it, we are 403 00:25:59,500 --> 00:26:02,900 doing something different from what God has said and authorized 404 00:26:02,900 --> 00:26:06,500 to do, on the other hand, if we sing songs that we find in the 405 00:26:06,500 --> 00:26:10,400 song book and read the notes to help us follow a Melody, we're 406 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:13,500 still doing what God said. We are singing and we are making 407 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:16,700 Melody in our hearts and the song book, all it is, is just a 408 00:26:16,708 --> 00:26:21,400 legitimate Aid. In our song service unto him, 409 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:27,400 you know, you another factor that we can look at we find is 410 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:32,700 the collection and in 1st Corinthians, 16 verses 1 and 2. 411 00:26:32,700 --> 00:26:35,700 God sent for the church to obtain funds, by taking up a 412 00:26:35,700 --> 00:26:38,800 collection on the first day of the week and each person is to 413 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:43,600 give according to their prosperity now nowhere. 414 00:26:44,900 --> 00:26:49,300 Did he say for churches to have rummage sales? 415 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:53,100 Or to have bake sales or to operate businesses. 416 00:26:53,100 --> 00:26:57,200 Such as having a Bible bookstore of, putting out a coffee cart 417 00:26:57,500 --> 00:27:01,400 out in front, to make a profit for the Lord's Church. 418 00:27:02,900 --> 00:27:06,100 To do, these will be different from what he said likewise to 419 00:27:06,100 --> 00:27:09,000 take up collections on some other day of the week, would 420 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:12,000 also be different from what God had specified. 421 00:27:12,700 --> 00:27:17,500 We may not Ximena, have Express, you said not to do these things, 422 00:27:17,500 --> 00:27:20,800 not to take up collection on Wednesday or Thursday or 423 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:24,500 whatever other day of the week, but when he said to take up 424 00:27:24,500 --> 00:27:28,200 collections on the first day of the week, then we can know that 425 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,100 to do, otherwise would displease him. 426 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:34,300 Now, on the other hand God said, The first day of the week, but 427 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,400 no particular time is mentioned, nor does he mention that what 428 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:41,200 part of the service or what type of AIDS you can have, he didn't 429 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,300 mention the have it at the beginning of worship at them in 430 00:27:43,300 --> 00:27:45,500 the middle of worship or towards the end of worship. 431 00:27:46,100 --> 00:27:49,000 He didn't say any of that, he just said on the first day of 432 00:27:49,008 --> 00:27:50,900 the week. Now, if we were to take a 433 00:27:50,900 --> 00:27:57,100 collection at the beginning of, of Sunday services and whatever 434 00:27:57,100 --> 00:28:01,300 type of container, whether it be a basket, whether it be a bag, 435 00:28:02,500 --> 00:28:07,500 or whatever you could think of You know, those are they would, 436 00:28:07,500 --> 00:28:10,200 we would still be doing what God says because all these things 437 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:14,200 are are just legitimate AIDS and what God has commanded for us to 438 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:16,500 do. Now. 439 00:28:17,900 --> 00:28:21,600 Our last illustration tonight or this afternoon, is that of the 440 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:25,800 Lord's Supper? Now we find that Jesus 441 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:30,700 instituted this, and Matthew 26. And we also find an x 20 and 7 442 00:28:30,700 --> 00:28:32,700 that we find. The church was told to partake 443 00:28:32,700 --> 00:28:35,300 of the, on the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week 444 00:28:35,300 --> 00:28:40,200 following the example that Jesus had demonstrated now to have the 445 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,000 supper on some other day the week or to change the example 446 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:46,300 that Jesus left, it would simply be doing different from what 447 00:28:46,300 --> 00:28:50,500 Jesus had said, likewise to add any other types of food or to 448 00:28:50,500 --> 00:28:53,000 change the loaf of unleavened bread or the fruit of the vine 449 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,800 to other things would, Also be duped, be doing different from 450 00:28:55,800 --> 00:29:00,700 what Jesus had said as well. You don't God, specify bread and 451 00:29:00,700 --> 00:29:05,400 God specified, the fruit of the vine and he and to do, otherwise 452 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:10,200 will displease him as surely using pine wood for the ark, 453 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:12,000 would have been displeasing to God. 454 00:29:12,100 --> 00:29:17,200 Now, on the other hand, the size of the table or the clots to 455 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:20,300 cover them or using a plate to hold the bread. 456 00:29:21,700 --> 00:29:25,000 He doesn't change the example at by Jesus nor does it change the 457 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:29,800 command by which we are given. These are simply legitimate 458 00:29:29,900 --> 00:29:34,100 AIDS. To observing the Lord's Supper. 459 00:29:36,900 --> 00:29:40,600 Now. In conclusion this afternoon. 460 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:47,000 When we understand the Bible principles, we realize that Many 461 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:52,500 religious practices are wrong even though they may not be 462 00:29:52,500 --> 00:29:57,900 expressly forbidden, but at the same time, there are practices 463 00:29:57,900 --> 00:30:00,300 that are, right? Even though they are not 464 00:30:00,300 --> 00:30:05,000 expressly mentioned either. but whether a practice is right or 465 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:09,500 wrong or whether it is, whether it is a tool or not, or 466 00:30:09,500 --> 00:30:13,800 legitimate Aid is determined by, whether it falls inside or 467 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:16,900 outside the meaning of God's terms of, which he has 468 00:30:16,900 --> 00:30:21,500 instructed us, when we practice that which we cannot find in 469 00:30:21,500 --> 00:30:26,300 God's word, what we do is we walk in the counsel of our own 470 00:30:26,300 --> 00:30:30,000 hearts, We fail to honor God as our owner. 471 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:33,100 We fail to honor Jesus as the head of the church. 472 00:30:33,500 --> 00:30:37,800 We fail to truly love and trust God, we failed to worship God 473 00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:40,600 and Truth. We fail to respect the wisdom 474 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:45,600 and authority of God and just like that ship at the sea until 475 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:49,600 we change course. We're heading for Destruction. 476 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:54,200 Now, I don't say these things here, this afternoon, because I 477 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:56,400 think there's some things wrong here in the congregation, 478 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:59,900 certainly not. But it re-establishes, why we do 479 00:30:59,900 --> 00:31:03,100 what we do. It's not like the members here 480 00:31:03,300 --> 00:31:07,200 got together when this church was where this congregation was 481 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,000 established and said they were going to do it this way. 482 00:31:10,500 --> 00:31:14,100 Simply because this is the way, the best way that we think would 483 00:31:14,100 --> 00:31:17,600 be the most worshipful unto the Lord. 484 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,200 It's that didn't happen at this place. 485 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:24,800 The reason why we do the things that what we do is because these 486 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:27,500 are the things that we find authorizing God's word. 487 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:30,900 And we're going to do what God tells us to do, and no, other 488 00:31:30,900 --> 00:31:36,300 means by our own infallible wisdom or fallible wisdom. 489 00:31:37,500 --> 00:31:39,200 That we're going to do these things. 490 00:31:40,100 --> 00:31:46,300 It all goes back to God's word. That's the standard. and if only 491 00:31:46,300 --> 00:31:52,900 denominations could realize that We thank you for listening to 492 00:31:52,900 --> 00:31:57,800 our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. 493 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:01,300 Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional 494 00:32:01,300 --> 00:32:04,600 information, or you would like to receive a free Bible 495 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:10,000 correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at her 496 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:12,500 Church of Christ Bakersfield.com. 497 00:32:13,100 --> 00:32:18,300 Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 498 00:32:18,300 --> 00:32:22,800 Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us. 499 00:32:23,300 --> 00:32:25,500 We would love for you to be our honored guest.