Kevin Busl 5-18-24 How's Your Reception

The speaker shares their personal journey of coming to believe in God and finding purpose in life. They talk about the importance of the company we keep and how it influences our choices. They mention the presence of the Holy Spirit and how it guides us in making right decisions. They also talk about living with regrets and the need for forgiveness. The speaker concludes by giving advice on how to keep company with the Holy Spirit by rejoicing in the Lord, praying, and focusing on positive and true things. We just read what they call a love chapter in the Bible. And I'm hoping that I can get a smile from each one of you after that reading. Can we all smile? Frank, are you smiling? Thank you. It dawned on me today that when I'm asked to speak, I never am ready when it's time to speak. It's never like, oh, I'm ready. I'm good to go. It's never that way for me. So I'd like to begin with just sharing with you all a little bit about my history. I grew up unchurched. When I got married, on my marriage certificate at the church, it said disparity of cult. And so I was completely unchurched as a young adult. I didn't believe in God. You know, I don't know what I believed. I don't know that I believed in evolution. But I didn't believe in God. And it was in my early 20s, after I had been visiting my now wife. She had a girlfriend, Pam, that used to drip on me all the time about God. And she was a Catholic lady, Catholic gal. And one time after visiting Ellen at college, I went home back to where I was in New York, and I acquired this tooth that needed a root canal. And I was in so much pain. I've never been since, I can remember, in that much pain. And I didn't know God. But she had talked about God. And so in my desperation, I clenched my fist, and I said in a loud voice, if there's a God up there, will you please let me get some rest, will you, huh? And you know, I fell asleep like a baby. I fell asleep, I slept wonderfully, right instantly after that prayer. And that changed my whole paradigm. I started to believe in God. And because I believed that there was a God, for the first time in my life, I believed I had a purpose. If I was created, I had a purpose. And that started my quest to search out God's purpose for me being born. And to shorten a story a little bit, Pam Gagnon and Ellen graduated from college. My brother Kim came to visit me. At that time, I gave him a good news for Martin Mann, and he laughed at me. He had nothing to do with religion either growing up. But he read in that little paraphrased Bible something about Jesus that got his interest. And so he mentioned to his friend, Jeff Harrington, he says, you know, this Jesus, he was a pretty crafty fellow. He was pretty neat. And Jeff said, oh, if you want to hear about Jesus, he says, when we go back north, you'll have to visit the Fords. Eldon and Miriam Ford, they know about Jesus. So Kim went back, and he called me up one day. And he declared to me, this is after I was a Christian for a number of years, he declared to me that he was a Christian. And I said, come on, Kim, unbelief. And Kim says, no, no, no. He says, I am. I said, really? I said, who are you studying with? He says, I'm studying with Seventh-day Adventists. I never heard of Seventh-day Adventists. Never heard of them. At the time, I was living in a Lutheran church. I was going to college, and I had a job in an apartment in the church. And so the church was a large church, large Lutheran church. And I went to the head pastor. They had three pastors. And I said, listen. I said, my brother is yoked up with the Seventh-day Adventists. What can you tell me about them? And the Lutheran pastor, he helped marry us, Ellen and I. He says, oh, if your brother's with Seventh-day Adventists, he says, I wouldn't worry. He's in good hands. He says, they make a big deal about Saturday being the Sabbath. But they pay tithes. And so that was pretty impressive to the pastor. And so then Kim started to send us literature. And we started to share literature. And wouldn't you know it, after we'd become Seventh-day Adventists, the lady, Pam, that instigated me, that used to drip on me about Jesus, she and her husband were both parochial schoolteachers in Catholic school. And wouldn't you know that they became Seventh-day Adventists. It's just wonderful, just wonderful how God works in a life. So I'd like to share with us, the company we keep is of great importance in what I'm doing. The company I keep is more important to me than what I'm doing. The company I keep dictates, in a large measure, the choices I make. Proverbs 18.24 says, a man that has friends must show himself friendly. And there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Who do you suppose that friend is? Isaiah identifies who the brother is. In Isaiah 30, it says, in thine ear shall hear a word behind thee, saying, this is the way, walk ye in it when you turn to the right hand or you turn to the left. One author has said that conscience, conscience, anybody got a conscience here? Conscience is the voice of God. I'm sure, although I didn't know God in my younger years, I'm sure he was speaking to me. I had a conscience. I had an idea what was right and what was wrong. This voice that Isaiah heard was the voice of the Holy Spirit, telling us how to conduct our lives. The Holy Spirit is available. This is amazing. The Holy Spirit, which is what? Part of the Godhead? Right? The Holy Spirit is available to us moment by moment. The Holy Spirit is available to us 24-7. I grieve that I've not had the consciousness that the Holy Spirit is ever so present. I've missed a lot of time with him because I forget about him. But the Holy Spirit is God, and the Holy Spirit has promised to be with us 24-7. We can have communion. Galatians 5.16 refers to this voice. This I say, then walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Romans 8.1 adds, there is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk after the spirit and not the flesh. Romans 8.4 shares the same thought, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. Galatians 5.16 encourages us, this I say, then, walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. And Galatians 5.25 pleads with us. If you live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. All through the Bible, the spirit of God is very active. Brothers and sisters, we are constantly being influenced by the flesh. Can we all recognize that? Right? And brothers and sisters, we are always being influenced by the Holy Spirit. In our minds, we are contending with both forces. For the flesh wars against the spirit, and the spirit wars against the flesh. It's a continual life experience that we have, listening to the flesh or listening to the spirit. I've told this story before, so some of you will have to bear with me. But some things are worth repeating. There was an incident years ago in a country store. There was a young man that was wandering over by the apple barrel, and he managed to pick up an apple, and he shined it up. And he looked around. He put the apple back. And then he'd wander a little bit more, and he'd come back to the apple barrel, and he'd pick up an apple. And he'd shine it up, look at it, and he'd put it back. This happened a number of times, and so the store clerk came over. And he said, young man, are you trying to steal an apple? And the little fellow said, no, sir. I'm trying not to. Whenever we are tempted to do something wrong, at the same moment we're tempted or inclined to do right by the influence of our best friend, the Holy Spirit, at the moment of temptation, we excuse one of our guests, and we entertain the other. When temptation comes, we excuse one of our guests, our guests, and we choose to entertain the other. The company we keep is of the utmost importance. Keeping one brings sorrow and regret. Keeping the other brings joy and peace. Unfortunately, too often, I live with regrets and sorrow. You know, I have regrets that will last me a lifetime. That's just the way my life is. Some things have transpired that I wish never transpired. I think of my hope comes from Peter. You know, of all the pain that Jesus felt, we're told in his early ages that Peter's denial hurt Christ the most. So you can picture all that Christ went through, all the physical agony that he suffered. You know, mental anguish that Peter caused Jesus was the greatest pain of the crucifixion for Jesus. And you know, Peter lived with regrets. You know, three times the Lord talked to Peter afterwards and said, Peter, loveth thou me? And he said, Lord, you know I love thee. You know, Peter repented with bitter tears. In fact, again, Desire of Ages says that he went back as he left. He found himself in Gethsemane, where Jesus had prayed. Peter found himself. And on his face, he just repented as deeply as he could. However, Peter lived with that sorrow and that regret until the day he was martyred. You know, Peter asked to be crucified upside down because he said, I'm not worthy to be crucified the way my Lord was crucified. Actually, the Apostles mentions that although Peter knew that God had forgiven him, he never came to the place where he forgave himself. And so we live with regrets, and we'll live with regrets. Although we're forgiven, we'll live with regrets and sorrow until time passes. The Bible gives some advice on how to keep company with the Holy Spirit. Let's see if I can work this contraption. Lord, Philippians 4, 4 through 8, that your requests be known to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. And as we near, whoop. OK, let's turn in our Bibles. We'll read it firsthand. Let's turn in our Bibles to Philippians. We'll go to chapter 4. We'll start in verse 4 and read through 8. Are we there? All right. Now, this is a way to help us retain good company. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing, but in all things, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things. My mind, when I read that, for some reason, my mind went to Daniel. Now, when Daniel was taken captive and he was put in this special group of young men to be educated and cared for to serve the king, he had three friends and himself. And anyone remember their request, their caregiver? Daniel requested to the caregiver, remember? What was it? Pardon? Yeah, they were supplying all kinds of nice food, the king's food, for these young folks. And Daniel asked that, just give me a simple diet of pulse. Just give me vegetables. And the fellow, the prince of the eunuchs, was a little bit alarmed. He says, listen, this could mean my head. If you don't look as good as these other people look, I'm going to be called to task and it's not going to be good for me. David pleaded with him. And he says, you know, let's just do it for 10 days. Let's just do it for 10 days and you can compare us with the others. And if they look fairer and healthier than we are, then we'll eat. Well, after 10 days of that diet and 10 days of the other diet for the other people, Daniel and the three worthies, did they look better or worse? Better. Much better, right? And I suspect that they maintained that diet thereafter. And it was a healthier diet for them. And they excelled. They were 10 times smarter than all the others. Well, I believe that in Philippians 4.8, it gives us a diet, a spiritual diet. Whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, it says, think on these things. We've been given a diet for the mind here. And I wonder if we would be willing to try this diet for 10 days. We can read them again. This would be on your diet. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, you think on those things. Whatsoever things are honest, you think on those things. Whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things. Now, I know. Because, well, I have a little edge on you folks. Because I went on a news fast a while ago where I don't watch the news. I don't watch it on my computer. I don't watch it on the TV. I don't watch it on the radio. To maintain this diet, it would be difficult to take in these other things, wouldn't it? The good news you can read in the Bible, that news would be good. I know from experience that what I allow to come in through my ears and my eyes, I know it affects me. And I've concluded, and my wife may second it, that somehow I'm a kinder, easier person to be around if I'm not digesting all that the world has to offer me. It almost, you know, folks, it's almost like today. Well, and Daniel again. Daniel says, you know, in the last days, men will run to and fro and knowledge will be greatly increased. And certainly, that's the case. If there's ever a time when we need the counsel that we've just read, it must be at this very hour. Every conceivable invention of the enemy is coming into play. The path to trouble and wickedness has never been more available. At your fingertips, evil is available. Men shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be greatly increased. We can learn anything we want to learn today at the tips of our finger. You know, I remember laughing at, years ago, but years ago, I used to laugh at this same gal that Ellen and I knew in college. She went to, she planned her courses at her college around the soap operas. She couldn't miss her stories, you know? And so she organized her classes around the soaps, you know? It's almost like a little addiction, isn't it? You know, they got to know their, you know. And I'll tell you, folks, that the news isn't much better today. You can get hooked on the news. Every day, you want to see what else has transpired. What trouble did this guy get into now? You know, what court case is coming up? It's almost an addiction. It's almost like you're a little anxious if you can't get the latest news. I think that the, if we would practice this diet, this Philippian diet, for 10 days, I think it would have a telling effect, not only upon yourselves, but it would have an effect upon the people you wrote about. But it would have an effect upon the people you roll with, the people you live with. For the devil has come down onto you having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time. He can attack us today like he never could attack before. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. This great controversy is very real for every one of us. We are being programmed. You know, when I went to college, I took sociology. And the gal that taught sociology explained in the class that at the end of the day, in the class that at that time, this is back in the 70s, mid-70s, she said five corporations ran the news in our country. And they were programming us. We only heard what they wanted us to hear. And they were manipulating us to conclude what they wanted us to conclude. Now, I was just a youngster back then, you know, my early 20s. I went home, and I unplugged my television. And then I was so peeved that I was being manipulated. I just, for some reason, I hate manipulation, deceit and deceiving. I just hate it. And so after I unplugged it, I took a knife and I cut the cord so I couldn't plug it back in. You know, I knew myself too well. You know, it's like I quit smoking, you know. Mark Twain said, oh, it's easy to quit. I quit a million times, you know. That's how it was. There was some counsel here. And this is so true today. This is so true today. You folks are on the move. You folks and I were on the move. As we near the close of this Earth's history, we advance more and more rapidly in Christian growth, or we retrograde just as decidedly. As we near the close of this Earth's history, we advance more and more rapidly in Christian growth, or we retrograde just as decidedly. I'd like for each one of you to calibrate which way you're moving. We're on the move, folks. As time closes in on us, we grow in our Christian growth, or we diminish just as decidedly. I read that. I says, whoa, whoa, beware. This world has a million attractions, or should I say distractions? This world has a million attractions, or should I say distractions, to help the Holy Spirit, to keep the Holy Spirit at bay. If we would carefully, prayerfully, consider this wonderful counsel of Philippians 4, 8, consider this wonderful counsel of Philippians 4, 8, it will aid us in keeping the best company available. The Holy Spirit is a genuine gift. Genuine gifts are never given to generate indebtedness. Right? Genuine gifts are never calculated to generate indebtedness. You know, when God gives a gift, God never has and never will bless you with the motive to gain something personally. God does not give to get. Sometimes you get a gift from somebody. It's almost a little awkward, because you think there might be some strings attached. Like, because they gave you this, now somehow you're indebted to them. Has that ever happened to anybody? You know, God never gives a gift like that. He never wants for us to have a sense that we owe him. It's a gift. God does not give to get. Whatever God gives us or asks us to do is always for our good or for the good of someone else. Let's all recite John 3.16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have life eternal. God is love, and with an intense longing, desires you to accept his Holy Spirit. Your acceptance changes you, transforms you, and protects you. Your acceptance changes you. Your acceptance changes us. The Holy Spirit is critical for us to embrace. It's critical that we grow in an appreciation of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. You know, as we adopt this diet, not letting every Tom, Dick, and Harry into our brain, you'll experience more peace and more compassion. This diet will change you in 10 days. Do I have any takers? Is anyone willing to take the challenge of going with Philippians 4.8? Whatsoever things are, what's it say again? Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, let's try to cooperate with that. Let's just try. It'll be tough to get 100% in this world that we live in. Things come at us. But I think if we make an effort, I think just that effort will do enough to make a difference for each one of us. We'll close singing hymn number 532, day by day.