This sermon goes together with a word and a graphic display below which shows how this topic fits together and the scriptures that go with it.

The topic is based on the scripture,

"My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways." Proverbs 23:26 NKJV

God always begins from the inside and works outward, and Satan always works from the outside in. Exactly opposite.

On this basis we find that the top arrow depicts God's method of working, how He bypasses the circles labeled: Activities, Emotions and Senses, but goes directly to the heart.

Each of those circles represents a resistance barrier that Satan sets up. Why? Because, when a person hears the call of God, contrary to what we normally think, the devil whispers in the ear of the individual, who becomes serious to give his heart to the Lord, and says, `Yes, that is exactly what you ought to do.'

`You ought to give your heart to the Lord,' and then he says, `Let me show you how.'

You didn't know that?

Well, Ellen White says that in every evangelistic campaign, our God is bringing true converts into the church and Satan brings unconverted souls into the church.

Has Satan been very successful at this? Let us find out.

What actually happens when a person decides that he wants to give his heart to the Lord, the devil says, the way to do this is to get busy for God.

That is why the outside circle is called the `activity' ring.

Notice the heading though, God has only one way of imparting His divine nature to man and that is through righteousness by faith.

However, the devil has a substitute. That is why he says, Get busy for God.

That means if he can get a person who has given his heart to the Lord keep him busy in activities, he is happy.

There are many people today, who are very busy doing things for God, so busy that they have not learned how to live for God. For you see, it is much easier to do for God, then it is to be for God. There is a vast difference.

To actually do for God, keeps self very much alive, but to be for God, crucifies self. The devil does not want us to know this, and he does not want us to enter into that kind of an experience, so he keeps you busy doing things that we consider to be actually good things. Please notice that within all of these circles there are two Bible verses, `consecration', `kindness', `Bible study', and Satan promotes these just as much as God does. Of course we know that Christ was constantly quoting scriptures and He has done that throughout all the ages of time working with human beings. So you find at the bottom, `Satan's plan is not underlined and God's plan is underlined.'

There comes a time in every person's life, that activity does not suffice and so they decide there must be something more to religion than this.

That is when the devil takes them to the next circle and that is the circle of emotions.

It may surprise you but it is a fact that about 90 - 95% of the Christian world live their religious life in their emotions. The most recent charismatic movement is a demonstration of the effectiveness of this program, for it has swept through every solitary organization including the SdA church.

We have many charismatics within the SdA church, whether we believe it or not.

In my area such a church has grown in 5 years from 300 to 3000 members and last Sabbath this church has grown to the point where they held 4 services on every Sunday.

They were having so many SdAs attending their services, that they started their first Sabbath service last Sabbath to accommodate SdAs.

This is making an impact in the SdA church - Emotional Religion based on satisfying self. Pleasing self. Feeling good. This is Satan's plan.

But if there comes a time in an individuals life when they say, `Well, that is not enough, I mean, there must be something more to religion.' The devil still has one more circle to hold them in.

That is the innermost circle which represents feelings, our senses, etc.

One of the five senses is in the area where Satan takes the individual and they become fanatics.

Every fanaticism is built on one of the five senses. Out of proportion? Yes.

But once a person becomes a fanatic in anyone of these areas, it is extremely difficult to actually touch them with the Word of God and Godly council.

You notice the top arrow goes directly to the heart and works out from the heart and actually begins with the five senses 'let thine eyes observe my ways' - and from that it spreads out to the emotions and the activities.

This is God's plan which is actually the reverse of Satan's plan.

At the bottom of the page you notice that Satan's arrow never reaches the heart for he works through the senses, that is why Ellen White says, that we need to guard well our avenues to the soul and then she defines this by telling us that the avenues to the soul are the five senses. They are the devil's playground, and he makes us feel religious, makes us feel happy - makes us feel anyway he chooses to make us feel, which then becomes the substitute to the true thing. Study this chart at you leisure and you discover some of the hidden secrets of Satan's actual method of working.

My subject is, `How Good is Perfect?'

I like you to read Nahum 1:9: "What do you imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time."

This scripture contains the most incomprehensible promise that you can find in the Bible. God promises here that human beings taken from this planet and placed in an earth made new are never, even in thought going to rebel against him.

Can anyone understand how God can do this?

This He says, in spite of the fact that actually in John 8:36, God says,

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

In this realm of freedom, God promises actual and complete - to the entire universe - to the angelic heavens and inhabitants on other worlds that we, we rebellious, sinful, fallible human beings will be able to be depended upon throughout eternity that sin will never arise again.

So I ask you one thing, `If you would have to pick out individuals that would fit in that picture, what would you do?'

Where would you start?

What kind of an examination would you give that would qualify a person for that kind of faith.

You can readily see that it is God's faith in us and not our faith in Him, that allows him to do this. For man's faith has always failed.

But it is God's faith in us that enables this to become a reality.

You see, the promise of Nahum 1:9 is actually a promise that defies all the history of mankind. In reality, the natural man has proven over and over again, for 6000 years, that he is totally and completely undependable. He simply cannot be depended upon.

Still, in spite of this, God in reality makes this promise.

How does He do this?

Well, in the first place, as he said to Nicodemus who came to Him that night because he was a proud Jew who did not want to be seen by anyone coming to see lowly Jesus, he started to compliment him and Jesus simply shrugged all his compliments aside and said, `Nicodemus, you are not going to see the kingdom of God unless you are born again.'

Picture, if you can, the mind of Nicodemus. A man who was wealthy, who could buy anything he wanted to. As a member of the Sanhedrin he had influence with the Jews, he was well respected by the Romans, for Pilate allowed Joseph and Nicodemus to bury Jesus in that new tomb.

But when Jesus said, "You must be born again," I can see the wheels turning in his mind saying, my money is not going to do me any good, the Roman and Jewish influence is not going to help me any ...

His conclusion was, how can this be. Its impossible.

And Jesus said, you are right. With man it is impossible. But he followed that by saying, for that which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. And Nicodemus says, `I don't understand this. How can this be?' Jesus says, `You are a master in Israel and you don't know this?'

You see, what Jesus wanted Nicodemus to face is what he wants us to face, to realize that it is impossible for us to do one solitary thing toward perfection.

Nicodemus thought he had that already. Just like the rich, young ruler. `Is there anything more that I need to do? Just point it out and I do it.' Nicodemus felt just like that.

Jesus told him, `Nicodemus, you haven't even started. You must first become a new man entirely.

That was a dilemma to Nicodemus. How can a man be born again? It can't be done.

You see, the things of God, as far as the human mind is concerned, are ridiculous. In no way can we actually reason through the plan of salvation. You can't do it. It must be done by faith. And so Nicodemus must reach out by faith and see that what God actually wanted him to see.

You see, the new born Christian is entirely a new creation. He is not a made over individual. That is why Paul says in 2.Cor. 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

New from the top of the head to the soles of the feet.

That is why Ellen White wrote,

"The Christian's life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit." DA 172.

You see, we are still plagued with the same kind of theology that Nicodemus was plagued with, that some way or other we can by effort resist, by determination we can do, by a little help of God along the way that we can actually improve that which possesses us now.

But God says, that is not true.

The born again person is an entirely new nature. Why is that necessary? Paul says, that "the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8:7.

You cannot bring the human mind in harmony with God in any sense of the word. Now the word enmity simply means `hatred.'

The natural man hates God. That hatred is manifested in many, many different forms.

Sometimes it is even cloaked with a religious garb, but it is nevertheless still hatred for God and cannot be brought into harmony with God's law. There is no way it can be. So obviously, there is only one destination for that natural man, that is the nature in which you and I were born - and that is the grave. It must die.

When that old nature dies, then that new creation that God brings forth, God is capable and able to work with.

He cannot work with the old nature, he can work only with the new nature.

"Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden, the paradise of bliss. All who wish for security in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of God. ... Our only hope is perfect trust in the blood of Him who can save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him." {5BC 1132.8}

That is our only hope and we must never forget this gospel truth, sink it deep down into our hearts. [100]

There is no hope for us except by placing our perfect trust in Him. You may call it faith, because Ellen White tells us that faith is actually belief coupled with trust.

Faith is not faith unless it combines these two characteristics: belief and trust.

That is why the Bible says, that the devils believe but they tremble. There is no faith here; there is no trust. There is belief but no trust.

In order for faith to be faith, it must combine the two.

When belief and trust are combined, we have faith.

You see, actually the very root of sin itself is completely burned off of us - in the `incinerating fires' of trials it is actually going to be possible for the fulfillment of Nahum 1:9 to be completed.

We read,

"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." Mal. 4:1.

The very roots of sin are going to be burned away. You may wonder, when the very root is going to be destroyed and the devil is no more, then it ought to be easy to live in fulfillment of God's promise of Nahum 9.

But let us be reminded that it was in this kind of a condition when angelic perfection failed!

Still, God promises that you and I, are never going to disappoint the angelic host in heaven. We are never going to even in thought rebel against God. It is in this condition of even a lack of the presence of evil, when no temptation actually existed, that Lucifer rebelled and human perfection failed on earth.

When we analyze this, we realize that this condition has already been reached in the heavens above, and Lucifer was cast out. It has actually already been achieved in the worlds flung afar who were tempted and Satan has no longer access to them.

Satan has zeroed in on our planet which has become the theater which is being watched by all the worlds above. And only since Jesus Christ pledges His own life as it were, by His own word, that they can trust us, would they ever accept the human family?

Do you think, that just because we would promise that we never sin again that angels in the worlds out there would say, yes, let him come?

No. Never. Only by the pledge of Jesus is it possible. That is the only way it could be. Can we understand now how important it is that we have no trust in self at all? To trust wholly in Him? And then, until we actually do this and trust completely in Him, Jesus can never make that promise for us.

What does it actually involve? How deep does it literally go?

Let us read a couple quotations that will take us a little deeper.

We read,

"The enemy is preparing for his last campaign against the church."

"He has so concealed himself from view that many can hardly believe that he exists, much less can they be convinced of his amazing activity and power. They have to a great extent forgotten his past record; and when he makes another advance move, they will not recognize him as their enemy, that old serpent, but they will consider him a friend, one who is doing a good work."

That is the church members who don't recognize Satan's work. Please notice what actually follows.

"Boasting of their independence they will, under his specious, bewitching influence, obey the worst impulses of the human heart and yet believe that God is leading them. Could their eyes be opened to distinguish their captain, they would see that they are not serving God, but the enemy of all righteousness. They would see that their boasted independence is one of the heaviest fetters Satan can rivet on unbalanced minds." {5T 294.1}

Have you ever heard anyone say in recent times, `I want to do my own thing.' ?

Could it be that this great surge of independent thinking throughout the entire country is this very last deception that Satan is perpetrating upon the human family?

Could it be that we see independence arising all over the world along every avenue, from nations rebelling, demanding their sovereignty, cities, villages, homes, families - breaking up on this one basis of independence?

`I don't have to take it?'

And could it be that even within the church of God, we hear the same thing echoing?

Seeking independence?

Could it be that even - and I hesitate to say this lest I be misunderstood - the `Woman's Lib' movement is a part of this same deception?

What did we read?

"They would see that their boasted independence is one of the heaviest fetters Satan can rivet on unbalanced minds."

You see, independence is the total opposite to God's plan. God never wanted us, in any sense of the word, independent but rather to be totally dependent - `come now and let us reason together' - and God says, won't you let me come in and let me be actually the motivating power in your life and do in you ...

God wants us to actually recognize His leadership. Our rightful condition, before, God expected man to always live by total dependence upon Him, for that is the way He made us.

God's power, not man's power.

And yet, man has been changed from an `actual dependence centered state,' that actually had God at its center, to a `self-centered' condition, where self and independent thinking is man's greatest aim.

You see this is even a large portion of our education. Self-worth is thought to be of the greatest value. And when a person falls into the slightest bit - out of harmony to that what is taught - we have a tendency to say, Oh, they do not have a sense of self-worth, therefore, they cannot reach the goal.

I wished that we did have a true sense of self-worth.

One statement says, selfish thoughts not only unfit us for heaven, but ... "When self is woven into our labors, then the truth we bear to others does not sanctify, refine, and ennoble our own hearts; it will not testify that we are fit vessels for the Master's use." {1SM 405} Oh, we must recognize that we must be free from this "self".

How can this be? How can we possibly be free from our "self"?

Let us read a scripture,

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us ..." Hebr. 12:1.

What is the difference between "sin" (singular) and "sins" (plural) according to the Bible?

There is a vast difference in the Bible and in the writings by Ellen White on the matter of "sin" and "sins".

"Sins" are transgressions of God's law and God is always ready and willing to forgive, but "sin" God cannot forgive.

Paul says here, "... let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us ..."

Oh, how we have misunderstood. We think that my particular sin of this kind, my transgression, my weakness is that which Paul is talking about.

No. That is not what he means.

For you see "sin" is the very center. "Sin" is the very nature. It is the disease. "Sins" are the symptoms of the disease and this matter of "sin" can only be dealt with one way.

Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary to earn the right to forgive me my "sins" but that did not earn Him the right to forgive me my "sin."

That is my very nature, and He says, it has to go to the Cross. It has to be crucified with Him. It has to die.

Why?

Because it is incorrigible.

Forgiving my sin nature would not change me in the slightest bit. I would still go on sinning. Because that sin nature has to be completely dead and I have to become a new person.

Ellen White makes this very, very clear.

But Paul goes on, and he says, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." Hebr. 12:2-4.

No. But it takes that.

And we should learn how hard it is to be willing to die. To be willing for this nature of ours, to actually go to the cross, that act, which is absolutely essential; and Paul says, you have not striven against sin unto blood.

That is our problem. We like to actually die without it being a painful experience at all.

If we could go through it without any real torture, we might be more willing to follow in that pathway. But you see, sin wants to hold on, because `self' does not want to die.

Paul says, "... ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?"

You see, it is absolutely necessary before we become sons of God, oh, we could become members of the church ...

That is not the problem. And we have nearly 3 million members of the church today.

We become members of the church by a process called baptism. And that process of baptism is in reality a symbol of a death, burial and a resurrection.

In some way or other we have it in our mind, that it is baptism, what its all about.

But baptism is a symbol of an experience that is supposed to have already taken place - before we were baptized.

Do you believe that?

But, you see, Ellen White says,

"Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ." (MS 148, 1897){6BC 1075.7}

You see, this is the tragic part because this means that a great many people must actually come to this death experience after they have been baptized.

In other words, what we are talking about is conversion and baptism are not necessarily the same thing. Do you believe that? That is what we are tryimg to explain.

We all must learn what it actually means to be born again.

In Hebr 12 we find a whole list of individuals who actually endured this chastening of the Lord, and recognized, that in the chastening of the Lord, God is perfecting those who He actually loves to be sons and daughters of His. Sons and daughters now fit to actually be trusted throughout eternity.

How good is perfect?

Perfection is a matter of total and complete trust and nothing else.

"As the leaven, when mingled with the meal, works from within outward, so it is by the renewing of the heart that the grace of God works to transform the life. No mere external change is sufficient to bring us into harmony with God."

You see, when we go out and work with people, many times we say, all they have to do now is to leave off their cigarettes and they will be ready, or all they have to do now is to kick this or that bad habit and they are ready.

You have never heard that?

Oh, yes.

You see, we look at the externals and if a person doesn't do this or doesn't do that, then we are ready to baptize them.

No mere external change is sufficient to bring us into harmony with God.

"... There are many who try to reform by correcting this or that bad habit, and they hope in this way to become Christians, but they are beginning in the wrong place. Our first work is with the heart." {COL 97.1}

God says, My son, give me thine heart and let thine eyes observe my ways.

God works the change, when we allow Him to work from the inside out. And we see the things and the habits drop off, ...

I am not suggesting that we baptize all these people with these bad habits. That is not the point.

But we must work from the inside out and not from the outside in.

You see, the man who keeps the commandments of God from a sense of obligation, because he is required to do so, will never enter the joy of obedience. He does not obey when the requirements of God are accounted a burden because they cut across human inclination, we may know that mind is not a Christian mind.

Do the requirements of God ever actually cut across your human inclination? Is it the "I" that feels threatened?.

Brothers and sisters, you see, it is absolutely essential that we have a new heart, a new mind, so we be new creatures, because you can never bring yourself to the point where every command of God is your joy and rejoicing until you are a new creature. Why? Because the carnal nature hates God. It is enmity against God and it is not subject to the law of God.

And it will be constantly cutting across human inclination.

You see, the new life springs from a love of righteousness, the love of the law of God. Yes, righteousness and perfection is God's goal. The law requires righteousness, a righteous life, a perfect character. That is God's only goal for you and for me and all who call themselves by His name.

How is this life of perfection actually possible?

Christ came to earth as a man, He lived a holy life, developed a perfect character .. these he offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. His life stands for the life of man. Thus they have remission of sins through the forbearance of God.

Still wondering how to understand this Christian life? Please click the last link for more on the subject.

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[100] The difference between God's true gospel and a false gospel has been described by preacher John MacArthur this way. "The gospel in vogue today holds forth a false hope to sinners. It promises them they can have eternal life yet continue to live in rebellion against God. Indeed it encourages people to claim Jesus as Savior yet defer until later the commitment to obey Him as Lord. It promises salvation from hell but not necessarily freedom from iniquity. It offers false security to people who revel in the sins of the flesh and spurn the way of holiness. By separating faith from faithfulness, it teaches that intellectual ascent is as valid as wholehearted obedience to the truth." {John MacArthur quoted in Loron Wade, The 10 Commandments, R&H, 2006, p. 105.}