[0:00] Well, thank you guys. It is a great blessing to fellowship with you. I've been serving in India now almost 20 years. This March will be 20 years. You could say that practically speaking, I'm a miserable failure.
[0:16] I didn't establish a business. I didn't make lots of money. I didn't even see a lot of lives radically changed, and I haven't been killed yet. So something must be wrong, right?
[0:27] If you're a faithful servant of God, well, many people will hate you. Will you endure? Will you bring forth fruit? So even though I've known many of you for maybe at least 12 years, we were really blessed.
[0:45] Almost some 15 years ago, I think, I had traveled preaching, and we saw a lot of wonderful work, stirring hearts and reviving. And I know that many of you have heard a lot of truth, and I think in these days we're not lacking knowledge in general.
[1:03] We're lacking application and obedience to the knowledge we have. We're lacking a fervent love for the Lord, without which we can't fervently love one another. Love one another with a pure heart, fervently.
[1:15] And it's easy to get distracted. And distracted long enough to be dulled or hardened or quenching the Spirit or choking the seed.
[1:30] To use some very painful biblical terms. The lusts of other things creeping in, the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches. Anything we can do to grieve the Spirit.
[1:43] The interesting thing is, we don't often see the dullness that's coming to our hearts and minds and ears. The sad thing is, we don't often see how fast fruit is choked.
[1:55] We don't often see the serious eternal loss of moments wasted. I know God has a powerful plan for all of our lives.
[2:10] And let me just share plainly, simple scripture truth. I believe a simple promise that God will honor those who honor Him. If we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.
[2:23] There's something of a conditional provision given to us, whereby there's great honor and glory to God and Jesus Christ through us. Every single individual based on the gifting and ability He's given.
[2:37] And none of us could know our gifting and ability apart from being yielded to God, filled with His Spirit in life and cultivating that spiritual life. And we are in a very interesting generation.
[2:51] An amazing opportunity to learn theory and knowledge. We have more access to accurate truths now than ever in history. We have more opportunities now to connect with anyone around the world.
[3:08] We have the opportunities to pray and to fellowship with anyone around the world. Some of the meetings that I have, we have meetings from 10 different countries. I connect with people around the world.
[3:20] One-on-one mentoring and so on. A lot of my ministry has been digital since we've been traveling a lot. And actually right now we are here in America for some unknown time period. We may be here longer dealing with immigration.
[3:33] We'll see how the Lord leads. But right now we're not far from you guys. We're in Missoula for maybe some months, maybe some years. We don't know. Maybe the Lord will call us. Maybe the government will call us somewhere for immigration.
[3:45] We don't know. Back to India or somewhere in America. But keep us in prayer as I know you all have thought about us. But brothers and sisters, may we provoke one another to love and to good works.
[3:58] To be fruitful in every good thing. To be zealous of good works. Why did Jesus die? To save us from our sins. Yes. But that he might redeem us unto himself.
[4:14] Redeem us unto himself. To be a peculiar people, a different people, zealous of good works. He redeemed us from all iniquity.
[4:25] Well, look with me for a moment at 2 Peter. Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Again, Holy Father, we come before you.
[4:40] In a time of assembly before you and your word and your spirit and your people, we sing together. We fellowship together. We pray together. And Lord, we want to bear one another's burdens.
[4:50] Lord, in our lives and in our fellowship, deep and disastrous are some of the trenches that have been dug. Terrible are some of the roots that are choking and the fruits that are dying.
[5:05] God, would you search us and cleanse us? Deep are the areas of struggle and lack of revelation and clarity. God, would you heal us? Lord, in our humility, we come to you with only confidence in your word and your spirit.
[5:19] God, you will, as you always do, speak. And Lord, you will speak to those who will listen. And God, we thank you that you answer prayer. Would you lead us through, Lord, onto a life of spiritual communion with you in prayer and the word?
[5:31] Lord, that we will hear clearly from heaven daily in your word alone, in your word together as families, in your word and prayer as a fellowship of believers.
[5:45] Little assemblies throughout the week, general assemblies during the weeks. God, would you have mercy to raise up a clear standard. Lord, we know the division and tragedy and brokenness of the professed church around us is the reality of the loss of the fire of your spirit, the vision of your spirit, the fruitfulness of the spirit, the truth of the spirit.
[6:04] Because, Lord, we know your fire bends and binds all together. And, Lord, we need a deep brokenness in our heart where there's a revelation from heaven. That soul searching that's so essential to bring deliverance.
[6:16] O God, would you search till thy fiery glance hath cast its holy light through all. And we, by grace, are brought at last before thy feet to fall.
[6:28] Would you, Lord, touch us by your spirit? Would you fill us again with your fire? A fresh zeal, a fresh hope, a fresh vision, a fresh faith. A fresh vision that you would answer prayer.
[6:39] That we, human beings, as weak and frail and confused as we are, if we're slipping in the word of God in prayer, we're slipping everywhere. And, God, we can be so filled with doubt and unbelief. But, Lord, we thank you those chains are broken when we enter into your presence.
[6:53] Lord, in secret in prayer. When we learn to break through time and time again. It is your power and your word and your vision and your strength. And, God, we thank you that spiritual development brings forth fruit.
[7:06] And, God, we want to be fruitful in every good work. Would you heal our families? Would you heal this fellowship? Would you heal this town? Lord, as flame does, join seamlessly with flame.
[7:26] Whether little or great, Lord, if there be something real, if there be something sincere, if there be something solid in fellowship with God in Christ, if it be of your spirit, if it be of your word, Surely, Lord, we can testify that we've experienced you and that we can write and teach and speak these things to each other because we have fellowship with you.
[7:44] And truly, our fellowship, one with another, is because of you. O God, would you draw us closer in a deeper communion with you in any areas that are choking the seed of your word?
[7:57] Would you show us? Give us a sensitivity. And Lord, what burdens you would like to lay on every man and woman here? Would you speak clearly that it wouldn't be burdens of man?
[8:10] O God, how oft we've fallen into the traditions of man. Some little level of some little thing done and yet not the full yielding of the heart to truth. O God, we want the inspiration of your spirit.
[8:21] What would you have for us? For Lord, we don't want to compare ourselves among ourselves as wise or rich or smart or strong, sweet or handsome, good or bad.
[8:31] God, we want to compare ourselves with not what we think you want for us, but Lord, truly, what you want to change us into. Would you give us a fresh image today of what you could do in our lives? A fresh vision of the glory and revolution that you could bring through our lives, even just by prayer.
[8:47] Even just by a life of practical obedience. How many souls may be touched through our lives that could be lit on fire and carry that fire through the world? Not thinking merely even of our own lives and our opportunities, of our children and their opportunities.
[9:02] O God, how much could you do? But Lord, even so much more, how much could you do in a town or a city or a state? In a country, Lord, that's reeling with a religious idea that lacks substance and fire.
[9:17] An altar that lacks fire. A pulpit that lacks powerful, clear truth that pierces to the conscience. Would you revive our nation and those that profess the word of God? Let them depart from iniquity and let there be a grace and glory.
[9:29] God, just in these simple times of meditation and prayer, would you bless and challenge us and encourage us afresh as we want our life ever aligning in the light of eternity?
[9:40] To see you as you are. That every day's sacrifices would seem small. The trials and pains and afflictions that seem to burn so deep and hurt so much would seem so sweet in how that after we have suffered a little while, that the Lord himself would make us perfect, matured, established, strengthened, settled, with clarity, purpose, and unity.
[10:03] Would you purify us as brothers and sisters, our hearts and minds, in clarity of covenant with you, that we call to you and you answer, we draw near to you and you draw near to us. You've given all grace and provision.
[10:15] Would you help us to enter in? And because of that covenant from on high in our union and communion with you, God, we would really begin to bear one another's burdens. The fire of your spirit would come upon us to pray for each other and to pray for our families, to pray for our town, that we'd have a fresh vision in the light of eternity.
[10:35] Bless us, Lord. Just speak, God, for your glory. Minister for your kingdom. Open our eyes and show us what you want today and speak, Father, continually as you've been speaking. In Jesus' name, amen.
[10:48] 2 Peter. You all know very well, but there's amazing resources given, a whole treasury given to us. 2 Peter 1, verse 2, and it can go all the way onward, but basically right now, 2 through 4, quickly.
[11:06] Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. According as His divine power hath given unto us, according as His divine power hath given unto us, all things that pertain unto life and godliness, all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.
[11:39] whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these, ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that's in the world through lust.
[11:58] Verse 5, And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge. Verse 8, If these things be in you and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[12:16] Verse 9, But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Verse 10, Wherefore the rather brethren, Wherefore the rather brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, ye shall never fall.
[12:43] Brothers and sisters, God's given great treasure, resource, promises, precious promises, blessing, success, and fame, it may come, and it may go just as fast.
[12:57] Can you take it, receive it, work faithfully in it, and joyfully let it go? That's where our heart needs to stay, because many could choke the seed of the word of God. God honors those who honor him, and if we love him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we can be fruitful in every good work, no matter how hard we work.
[13:14] And there are seasons that are much more intense in work. There is a time and season, there is a season for sowing, there's a season for watering, and there's a season for reaping, a season for rest.
[13:27] Be very careful, like King David, a time when kings go out to war, and he wasn't in the place where his duty was calling him to, a time when we ought to be seeking the Lord, when we have a little more free time than other times.
[13:42] Don't waste what you have. God is not going to measure you with a measuring stick of man. If we would compare you among other men, we would say, oh, you are so good. Your thoughts, oh, they're so much better than others.
[13:57] Your time, oh, how you use it so much more wisely than others. God is not comparing you among others, per se. I'll come back to that.
[14:07] But God is judging you according to standard he has for your own life. Amen. Praise the Lord that he's willing to show us what he wants, and he'll inspire us. But he calls us all to love him with all of our heart, with all of our soul, with all of our mind, with all of our strength, and with that, to love our neighbor as ourself.
[14:23] God will judge us, according to the standard among us also, in that sometimes there's an example of godliness.
[14:38] There's an example of reality. There's an example of truth. And so in that way, God will hold us accountable according to the knowledge we have. And sometimes God amplifies his knowledge through example.
[14:53] That when sinners see it, they know this is good and right. When we as believers look and we see a brother or sister's lives, we say, wow, that's a glorious virtue that I feel the Lord wants in my life.
[15:05] That's an aspect of diligence that I want and that I need. We all adore Jesus Christ in each other, for he shines in unique ways through every life. I want to pull out a few words.
[15:17] Peter is giving some commandments here. He shares in general principle, here's a treasure chest, a feast of glorious fullness and precious promises for you.
[15:30] And yet because of this, he says, give diligence. Verse 5, and beside this, showing everything that God has done, because of this, give diligence to add the faith, virtue, and so on.
[15:49] And he goes through all of these glorious virtues and fruits. So let these things be supplementing. Let these things be included together. Let there be a fruitfulness in every good work. Let there be a growth in maturity.
[16:00] Did you know you can grow just by thinking? You can grow fruits, yes. If you're born again and you believe on Jesus Christ, and you know him and you love him, and you're walking in simple obedience to him, you're praying, you're reading the word, you're in the spirit.
[16:16] If you intentionally let your heart and mind be transformed by the renewing of the word of God, and you are spending time with him, we are transformed. As beholding is in a glass, the glory of the Lord are changed in the same image from glory to glory.
[16:29] And throughout the day or week, if maybe this week I give you an assignment, maybe your character quality for this week is diligence. So I lay a glorious word before you, bearing so much power and promise, diligence.
[16:44] A strength, an endurance to do good, a strong desire and a strong labor to do good. To give some energy and passion, give diligence.
[16:55] To really know the Lord and walk with him. What would be the opposite of diligence? Laziness, lawfulness, negligence, and so on.
[17:12] If you were to think about this word for this week, in this one word as a commandment, if I were to urge you, the commandment to be diligent this week. Give prudence.
[17:25] Let the Holy Spirit guide you in this week. To give your heart a softness to discern when you should choose that. Maybe I haven't been walking in diligence. Lord, would you help me to be more prudent, to be more sober concerning things, to align my schedule, a little bit more fine-tuned, my thought life, my internet, cell phone use, my communications with people, my prayer time.
[17:50] Am I giving diligence? diligence. If you carry that one word with you, and you respond to the Spirit of God this week, you will grow amazing fruits.
[18:05] You'll understand simple revelation of truth, and the Holy Spirit will lead, even in a more fruitful way, in this one week. Now, if I could lay in order and arrange of diligence, I would urge you not to compare yourselves among yourselves, but would you give diligence in prayer?
[18:24] And I'll urge you more later, but diligence. If you wear glasses, and your glasses are fogged or muddy, you can't see as clear.
[18:36] Right? In these days, and mud and snow and ice and all that other stuff, and you don't have windshield wiper fluid, you may run your wipers, but it'll scratch your windows, and you can't see. And many of us live like looking through a glass dimly.
[18:53] Sometimes we're living without that diligence, without that fire, without that faithfulness. And oh, how many things are wanting and lacking in those things. Did you hear that?
[19:08] Grace and peace. Right? Grace is the favor of God, the power of God, the strength of God given to us freely. through Christ and mercy, through His work, and peace.
[19:21] That's powerful. That's a peaceful power. It's multiplied through the knowledge of Him. As we grow fruitful, we continue to grow in the knowledge of Him.
[19:32] We continue to enter in more into His fullness. And He's given us these wonderful, glorious, powerful truths because of what He's done.
[19:43] Let's give diligence to add. Let's give diligence to grow. Let's give diligence to be fruitful. Let our knowledge be aided by practice.
[19:55] Practical disobedience is one of the greatest stumbling blocks. We all know we should pray. Do you pray? We could all say, yeah, we know we should pray more, but really, how much prayer does God want you to pray?
[20:08] How much does He want you to pray? Now I'm speaking first and primarily about intentional prayer, focused prayer, diligent prayer, dedicated time in prayer. I'm not going to judge you by hours or times or measures.
[20:22] And it's easy to compare ourselves among ourselves, but there will be some times and seasons that you will lose great ground because you slept in the time you ought to have been watching.
[20:33] I can't believe Jesus brought all of His disciples with Him and said, watch with me. And He shared of the sorrows of His coming, death, and His sufferings. And then He left those disciples and brought three other disciples closer, Peter, James, and John.
[20:50] And He again spoke to them the same words, but then added to it, now you watch and pray. And when He departed from those three, He went a little bit further. Who knows how much a little bit is? But I've never heard a man groaning in agony and prayer and burden that couldn't be heard.
[21:08] And I can imagine such a glory of a holy wrestling that the disciples heard and they were moved. One gospel records that they were sleeping for sorrow. Maybe overwhelmed with lack of revelation as to, wow, how could I pray?
[21:23] What could I pray? Who knows? We don't know, but Jesus taught us some amazing things of glorious freedom, entering in prayer. Let me give you a few different communications.
[21:35] One, God's given us every provision in Christ, every promise in Christ, the power and truth of His word. He calls us, Peter's calling in his final epistle as his final word, some of his final message to the churches spread abroad and he's crying to them saying, look at all the resource, look at all the provision.
[21:54] And he says, give diligence, give all diligence. Oh, brothers and sisters, I pray you'll be fruitful next week and next year and after 10 years, oh, that you'd be greatly fruitful.
[22:09] If these things are abounding in you, you will be fruitful in the knowledge of Christ. If you continue to grow fervently, diligently in the Lord, you'll be fruitful in every good work.
[22:23] You'll continue to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Listen again. They'll make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[22:34] But he said, you already have the knowledge. We've received the knowledge of Jesus Christ, an intimate knowledge that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. That if we believe on His death, burial, and resurrection, if we yield to His Lordship, we are born again by the Spirit of God.
[22:49] His Spirit now dwells within us. And the life that we live isn't by our strength, energy, power, or excitement, hoping something is true here, but something that sustains, something that's solid.
[23:04] I think you know that poem within the veil. Beloved, be this thy portion within the secret of thy Lord to dwell, beholding Him till thy life His love, thy lips His praise shall tell.
[23:19] Within the veil, beloved, be this thy portion. within the veil, thy spirit deeply anchored. Thou walkest calm above a world of strife.
[23:32] Within the veil, His hand shall tune the music which sounds on earth the praises of thy God. Beloved, God has such a provision for us. Now, if we're all lukewarm and compromised, yes, how easy, we could keep slipping.
[23:45] And if one or two should rise up fervent and God should touch them, we may smile for a while until it makes us feel uncomfortable. Then we're sometimes like trying to quiet them a little bit because it makes us feel uncomfortable.
[24:02] Amen. I know you guys don't do that, but it's a common tendency for all of us to feel uncomfortable. I like it when I see people more zealous. Now, I do appreciate honest communications.
[24:16] I appreciate John Wesley loving some other preacher that was just a good believer maybe, but a Calvinist. And John Wesley wrote, I strongly dislike this and this and this doctrine you are teaching.
[24:29] I strongly dislike the way you are speaking with your company. I strongly dislike and he just rebuked this guy openly. And he said, I'm writing this to you because I want to be sweet brothers in Christ. Meditate on these things without bias that you might respond and repent that we might have unity and fellowship in Christ.
[24:46] He's talking like a far side of Arminianism and a far side of Calvinism. Something sweet and simple and the balance in the middle. Brothers, are you willing for your enemy to write a letter about you? Job said, I bind it to my shoulder.
[24:59] Wear it like a crown. Well, God help us. Most people don't want to hear from their parents. They don't want to hear from church leaders. Don't tell me anything. Who do you think you are? I know you were preaching to me or something else.
[25:11] Well, brothers and sisters, Peter's ready to die. He gives final words. Listen carefully. You know this.
[25:22] But from verse 10 onwards, wherefore, the rather brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure.
[25:33] For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. Never fall. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
[25:49] Wherefore, I will not be negligent. I will not be negligent. I will not neglect this exhortation.
[26:02] I will not neglect to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them. You know them and be established in the present truth.
[26:15] Yea, I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance, knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has showed me.
[26:31] He's saying, brothers and sisters around the world, I'm about to die. I want to stir a fire of remembrance in your heart, the power and glory of God, the glory of Jesus Christ, the glory we saw in the mount.
[26:43] We've declared to you the gospel of God. We've lived in the power of the Spirit and I'm ready to die as Jesus showed me. Can you imagine that in the tradition they hung Peter on a cross in the shape of an X and upside down?
[27:00] He said, I'm not worthy to be crucified with my Lord. A testimony of life, a testimony of perseverance, a testimony of diligence.
[27:11] He said in these dying words, I won't neglect to put you in remembrance. in remembrance. Chapter 3, verse 1. The second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance.
[27:29] I want to put you in remembrance of the simple truth that sets free the glorious hope of the gospel. What are you living for?
[27:40] What do you want? If this was your dying breath, would you be ready to speak clearly those things that you would love to see passed on to the next generation and the next generation and the next generation?
[27:59] Look with me at chapter 3. From verse 9, speaking of the judgment to come, the judgment of the great day. verse 9, the Lord is not slack concerning His promise.
[28:13] This is the promise of His coming and judgment. The Lord is not slack. He's not slow or delaying the promise of His coming judgment. As some men count slackness, but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
[28:34] Because of creation and redemption, brothers and sisters, God is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth and He hath long patience for it until He receive the early and latter rain as spoken of by the other prophets.
[28:46] Look at verse 10 carefully. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall meld with fervent heat.
[29:00] The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Poof! There went your house, your car, your shoes, your clothes, your physical body if you're still here.
[29:16] Who knows at what time the Lord will consume everything, but all those graves will also be burnt up. Those tombstones will also be dissolved of powder. Everything in this world will be dissolved, burnt up.
[29:31] Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon and many will meet their doom. But brothers and sisters, give diligence. Verse 11 starts out with the word seeing.
[29:46] Verse 12 starts out with the word looking and hastening. Okay? Now read with me verse 11. See then that ye... I'm sorry, verse 11.
[29:57] See then that all these things, seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved. What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.
[30:21] Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.
[30:34] Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless.
[30:46] Praise the Lord because you look for these things. Be diligent that you might be ready to be found in peace, not guilty, without blood on your hands, not defiled, pure and undefiled in the way.
[31:03] Ready, watching. So watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation. Lest your heart be overcharged with surfeiting and the lusts of this world and the many things and cares of this life and the seed be choked and we're not ready.
[31:17] Brothers and sisters, be diligent. What does that mean this week? What does that look like? I'd like to challenge you and I realize sometimes that sometimes we have to be really, really aggressive.
[31:35] I share and witness to a lot of people, Christian, non-Christian, and sometimes I am giving a commandment to somebody. I've actually started framing my words properly so there's no confusion in the hearts and minds of my children when I'm giving them a commandment and when I'm speaking to some people I'm mentoring and they hear me and they're like, yes, and their head bobs and they're like, yes, yes, yes.
[31:56] I gave them homework. He's like, yes, yes, yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm commanding you. I'm commanding you. Give time to the Lord in sensitivity this week.
[32:12] Give some time and say, Lord, I want to be sensitive to just let my heart be fresh and soft and impressionable. A gentleman was bemoaning his agony in life, professed Christian and so on.
[32:26] I gave him scriptures for memorization. I've been mentoring him and praying with him often very early morning and he's struggling and I spoke clearly to him about memorizing a couple scriptures. Yeah, I'll get to it and I said, okay, in the next 20 minutes tonight, I'll see if I can get to it tonight.
[32:44] I said, nope, that's not good enough. That won't do. If you really want to get right with God, you're going to surrender and obey and as you said you are in every other area, then I'm going to urge you clearly meditate and memorize in these scriptures.
[32:58] Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I said, okay, repeat after me and I helped him to memorize the scriptures while he was driving. I do the same for my children, right?
[33:10] No matter what we're doing when we're memorizing scriptures, I say, okay, repeat after me and it's a commandment that helps shake off the emotional tizzy that a child may be in, an explosion, a fit, a meltdown, you name it, but it helps bring something to a clear communication.
[33:27] Sometimes I give a command, put your hands together because it's an intentional thing that we can do that shows our willingness to obey in spite of how the emotions might be raging, especially maybe for a child or other situations.
[33:44] Brothers and sisters, will you learn the discipline of stopping and intentionally stilling your heart before the Lord?
[33:58] I urge you as though it were a last breath, commanding you, draw near to him, he will draw near to you. Give diligence that you might be found of him in peace without spot and blameless.
[34:13] He's coming and he's going to burn everything up. That doesn't mean we throw off everything, but it means that we give diligence, we give diligence, we give diligence. Did you know there's a lot of commandments in the New Testament?
[34:26] Did you know we're under the commandments? Did you know we're under a new law? Just in case, I know there's a lot of trouble with laws and rules and people try to bring people back under Old Testament or ceremonial or feasts and fasts and you name it, but we are under the law of the Spirit and you are saved through obedience.
[34:41] Did you know that obedience? Ye were the servants of sin, Romans 8, ye were the servants of sin, Romans 6, ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you.
[34:53] Not under the law of the old law, the law of flesh, the law of sin, the law of death, but under the law of the Spirit. Peter right here says, seeing ye have purified your souls and obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren.
[35:06] And Paul says in Galatians, the book of Galatians, who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth. Did you hear me? Okay, that's in the book of Galatians because I know a lot of people say, Galatians, we're all free.
[35:21] Didn't you know Peter also preaches about greasy grace? He does. In this portion I just skipped through the end of chapter 3, he said, Paul is writing about the mercy and grace of God that strengthens and helps us in his care for us.
[35:33] And in some of those things that people are not properly applying but they're using it as a license for sin basically is one of the aspects of the communications of Paul. But he's saying, Paul is speaking from God, he's speaking as the other scriptures.
[35:46] But listen for a second. Talking about Paul, verse 16, as also in all his epistles speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable rest as they do the other scriptures under their own destruction.
[36:07] That means that there's a carnality and ungodliness that's covered over and made spiritual. Well, he speaks a lot about it. If you don't remember 2 Peter, read all of chapter 2 and he'll share the nature of selfishness and I, me, and my.
[36:21] As a prophet or as a preacher or whatever it may be in the name of religion, we can claim a lot and yet possess absolutely nothing but a life of selfishness, a life of carnality.
[36:33] But beloved, you will know them by their fruits. So follow righteousness and faith and peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Amen. Verse 17 in its context.
[36:49] Ye therefore, beloved, seeing that ye know these things before, beware, lest ye also being led away with the error of the wicked fall from your own steadfastness.
[37:03] A command and blessing. Verse 18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever.
[37:15] Amen. And the last words written by Peter or communicated by Peter to the churches scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, right? Amazing brothers and sisters.
[37:28] The knowledge of God is not merely nice theoretical, biblical knowledge. I've studied a lot. I know a lot of scholars who have studied a lot. But this is speaking primarily specifically about the intimate knowledge.
[37:43] And somebody who will love Christ and seek good and walk in prayer and the word of God and love God with all their heart and love their neighbor as their self will be fruitful in every good works and they'll be increasing in the knowledge of God.
[37:57] But if we're only reading, studying, and learning, and we're fighting and debating full of strife and envy, this wisdom descended not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. Devilish.
[38:08] There's confusion in every evil work found there. Oh, we have churches and denominations built on such. But I trust that you, brothers and sisters, will grow in grace in the knowledge of our Lord and that the fire of your love will burn stronger and purer.
[38:25] I trust that you are obedient hearers, not just hearers of the word, but doers of the word and you'll be blessed in your deed and that this week even you may draw near to the Lord in prayer and that you may draw near to the Lord to be sensitive.
[38:40] And if the Lord would not have you take that next little project or not do such a thing or do such a thing, be sensitive and beware of covetousness to have more, enjoy more, use more, spend more, work more, make more, spend more, enjoy more.
[38:59] Have you seen that rat race? Some people still say that I left blisters on their conscience. I preached the message long ago and it kind of went abroad here and there but busy, busy, too busy.
[39:10] And still people chide with me, well no, it's just not practical. I didn't give any commandments like leave your job and let your family fast for a few months. I didn't say that. But brothers and sisters, beware.
[39:22] That's your harpy overcharged with suffering and comforts and pleasures of this life and that day come upon you unawares. It just means let's sharpen one another in love and good works and prayer and the word.
[39:35] There's a world dying and going to hell. If I could take you from here for one week, you would come back here after a week and you would never be the same. Because with your knowledge and with observation comes powerful impact.
[39:48] And that's why we should know clearly really what is the rest of the world looking like. That's why when we start and care going to the lives of sinners and see the emptiness and brokenness they're in, it moves us with practical passion.
[40:01] like wow this family of seven children wouldn't be as sick if they would just clean their bathroom. There's many other such practicals but we really grow so accustomed to our own nice little life and well we have our struggles in life.
[40:20] Friends of mine have been to Ukraine and the front lines and training in the medical field and missions and so on and what a tragic desperate desperate emptiness and brokenness.
[40:31] Many are crying out to God in prayer and begging for mercy and now in this dreadful bitter cold and fresh attacks on power grids and so on. War is destroying but doors are opening.
[40:44] The whole issue of our generation is coming to a culmination and we need to be ready as the people of God with a word in season because judgment is coming on this nation and on the world and war is coming around the world and in times of war there's man and their pride in pleasure and power and that's a very small remnant in those times.
[41:05] Everyone else falls into a place of panic. Who doesn't panic? Who doesn't panic? Those that do know their God. They're strong doing exploits.
[41:16] They can hold the helm of the ship when everything is raging because it's not our care. If we live we live for the Lord if we die we die for the Lord but who's ready to speak a clear word in season of something that will establish the soul?
[41:28] Peter said it that after you have suffered a little while the Lord make you perfect establish strengthen and settle you. Your daily obedience though it may be difficult will be honored with great reward.
[41:41] So store up treasures in heaven. Store up treasures in heaven. Where your treasures are your heart will be where your heart is your treasures will be.
[41:54] Just be wise be sensitive. I'm not into selling everything and taking vows of poverty. I'm not into chasing a lot of money and there may be times and seasons of many things.
[42:10] But yeah. We're nearby so if you guys ever come to Missoula we'd love to fellowship with you and I know we've talked to the brother and maybe we'll have some fellowship there maybe we'll have some prayer meeting there or some big curry party or curry dinner.
[42:23] We love you guys. We've prayed a lot for you guys always and you may have forgotten us because sometimes I just fall off the map because it's hard to connect. It's hard to communicate. We're in dangerous situations. I don't want to communicate a lot.
[42:36] It's not my forte to sit and do cute writing of newsletters and put together pictures and share things to excite people. I think it's profitable but somebody else is going to have to help me with that. Let another praise you and not your own lips.
[42:46] So whatever we've done God knows and we're sorry if we've not kept you informed to keep us in prayer and we're pressing on by the grace of God. serving him and pray over this next couple days as well as this next couple months as we're working on a more solidified intensive discipleship.
[43:04] Mentoring online one-on-one and more just fervent prayer times together. Little assignments 15 to 30 minutes a week just to grow in this simple practicals of some certain fruits to grow in, certain things to obey and certain ways to apply.
[43:19] So you can also join something like that. We may have some little morning devotions or something but in essence there's a lot with it for the issue of holistic Bible training. We have any different academic field aspect as far as life, history, Old Testament, New Testament and so on.
[43:34] A lot of wonderful things but coveting your prayers. We look forward to keeping in touch on WhatsApp and thank you guys for the time. Let's pray and we might learn to pray. Lord Jesus as you spoke to us in times past by the prophets.
[43:53] You've now spoken unto us by your son. And if any man speak, let him speak as of the oracles of God that God in all things might be glorified. So Lord, I presented the word as you've given it as much as you would inspire and lead it.
[44:07] And I do pray, Lord, that you would awaken us to the diligence you require us to. What degree does our fire need to be at? Where are we at, Lord? Lord, you know fully and we know partly.
[44:20] But Lord Jesus, would you ignite a fresh fire of love in our hearts? Would you ignite a fresh fire of reality and truth? Would you anoint us afresh in your presence and teach us to pray that will break through the lesser levels of distraction and break through into a place of sweetest communion to be fruitful in every good word and work?
[44:40] The name of Christ to be glorified and magnified in us and through us. For you said, Lord, if we're growing and flourishing in this intimate knowledge of you, in this fruitful obedient knowledge of you, we shall never fall.
[44:53] We shall never fall. And I thank you, Lord, for a firm footing, a witness of the spirit, a witness of history, a witness of the word of God, and a witness through a living life. Oh, God, may we call even upon men in this room to say, how is your walk?
[45:08] And when we can testify that the grace of God is sufficient and there's power in communion with you in prayer. And oh, what a blessing when we can start to come together in humility and unity.
[45:19] Would you help us to learn to cultivate a fervent prayer life? That we might have a fervent love for you and a fervent love one for another.
[45:30] Bless us, Lord, to love one another with a pure heart, fervently. To be diligent that we might be found of you in peace without spot and blemish. That we might be found walking in the provisions of your grace and the sweetness of your power.
[45:43] This week, Lord, you're calling. There's something, Lord, you want this week. Would you help us this week, Lord? Maybe there's some specific radical things you want to do this week.
[45:56] Just guide us, Lord. Especially, Lord, as I've shared simply, I take the challenge to myself as you've spoken. Let the temperature be turned up in our prayer time.
[46:07] More clarity, more passion, more purpose in prayer. prayer. It may not be longer, but it can be stronger. And a blazing fire gives off a lot of heat, O God. And we know that when our heart is on the altar, when your fire comes upon it, O God, what a sweetest of glory and power that can be manifest.
[46:24] God, please, draw us for your glory. Ignite us in the secret place of prayer. Ignite us with a vision. We think about souls that are going to hell. We think about nations being plunged in deep darkness and attack and affliction.
[46:40] In these times of war, nations are fighting, people are dying. Many have never heard the Savior's name for life and liberty. They are calling but perish in their guilt and shame. Too long have Christians heard their wailing, their death cries out of pagan night, and their prayers in vain for gospel light.
[46:58] We pray it and we cry it, Arise, O church of God, and awake for Jesus' sake. March on, march on, all hearts aflame for Christ, the world to take. God, would you soften our hearts?
[47:14] Would you soften our hearts? I ask, God, that you would give us guidance in this week as we want to grow in fruitfulness. Would you help us to be diligent, to be prudent, to discern what things are more important and what things are not?
[47:30] Lord, we're often so busy and so distracted, but in spite of that, would you help us to sense somewhat of a spiritual anchoring where we would have in our heart and mind some spiritual plumb line that we can often check in with throughout the day just to stop and really give even five minutes to close our eyes and intentionally pray?
[47:53] To quickly recharge in communion with you? something to sweetly, quickly refine our vision, maybe our tone, maybe our thoughts, maybe a fresh inspiration from heaven of the scriptures.
[48:07] God, you know our needs. But Lord, we don't trust in our strength, but in your power. But Lord, you will honor those who honor you, and if we draw near to you, you will draw near to us.
[48:18] You've given us many commandments to be diligent, to be looking and watching for this day of God, and that we would be ready to meet you at your appearing without spot and blameless, without shame.
[48:34] That when you come upon us in a surprised way, we won't be ashamed, lest that day come upon us unawares, and our hearts be overcharged with many things, or the deceitfulness of riches and lusts of other things choking the seed of the word.
[48:49] Oh God, we have so much knowledge. Would you bring about great fruit from that knowledge, the embracing of the truth that brings forth fruit? I thank you for the sweet and simple steps of obedience.
[49:00] So today, God, we confess our sins, forgive us for being lazy, maybe spiritually lazy, forgive us for not giving diligence or discipline to go to bed on time or wake up on time, whatever it may be, to wake up early and spend time alone with you, intentionally, desirously, that we would come not just with our body, but with our heart.
[49:22] And that we would, Lord, continue to sow those thoughts that are most provoking to your honor and kingdom, remembering that everything in this world is going to burn. Then we know what kind of people we ought to be.
[49:35] Bless us today, God, as we seek you. We confess our sins that we might be forgiven. We want to pray fervently to be purged from any causes of our slack.
[49:47] Lord, if we were to die now, Lord, only you know how many of our words and works would be burnt up by fire. But Lord, we thank you that today we can know that you're calling us to sweetness of love, practical faithfulness, and obedience with joyfulness, and yet a fervency of love that's ready to sacrifice all, ready to surrender all, ready to give all, ready to lay down everything.
[50:15] As we hear in the New Testament that they heard the truth and they yielded to your Lordship. Many of them dispersed of the things that they had. They didn't say that the things they had were their own, but there was something of heavenly glory where people, knowing each other, knowing real needs, had some glorious vision of reality and life and love with you and others.
[50:37] Would you help us, Lord, to be sensitive to your spirit in these days that we live to discern what you want and to provoke one another? We have such opportunities to connect with each other. Often throughout the day, Lord, it's mind-blowing that here we are in a building, and yet we could be far away across the world, scattered, and yet still connect with each other, still carrying one another's burdens, still watching, still praying.
[51:02] Lord, it's amazing to think, God, that we could come together often. You exhorted that we should fellowship together often, not in a collecting the assembly of the saints. Oh, how wonderful to come together physically, and yet how wonderful to know that we have a body of believers we're radically committed to.
[51:17] God, would you just stir a fresh fire of love? We need revival in all the churches that we might be drawing close to you. Would you change us for your glory? We bless you and we praise you, Holy Father. Thank you for this time. In Jesus' holy name we pray.
[51:28] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.