We'll jump into
tonight's message;
00:02:51.56\00:02:53.20
it's entitled "No
turning Back as You
00:02:55.63\00:02:57.80
Can Imagine."
And tonight we want
00:02:57.80\00:03:00.43
to look through
God's word and answer
00:03:00.43\00:03:04.10
the question of,
are we prepared to
00:03:04.10\00:03:06.10
follow Him? That is to say when
00:03:06.10\00:03:09.03
Jesus comes to us and says;
00:03:09.03\00:03:11.40
will you follow
me, will you? Will you?
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Bow your heads with me
as we pray one more time.
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Blessed Heavenly
Father, Lord, we're here again
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at GYC
Convention, excitement fills
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our minds, our
hearts, our desires,
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we've come into a new city,
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into new hotels and a
new convention center.
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And as we meet here tonight,
00:03:55.70\00:03:57.23
it would be a mistake
for us to invite you in.
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Because you were here before us,
00:04:01.53\00:04:03.53
so rather than that
Lord we open our hearts to
00:04:05.73\00:04:08.73
receive an a
message from your throne.
00:04:08.73\00:04:11.56
We open our hearts
knowing that you'll bless us;
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we open our hearts
with an expectation that
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you'll change us.
And we open our hearts
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humbly knowing
that you can form us and
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mold us into the
youth you wanted.
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The youth you need
to finish your work,
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Lord as we embark
on a journey to fully
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understand and
answer the question if we're
00:04:50.03\00:04:53.33
prepared to
follow. I pray that you'll
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bless me, bless my speaking,
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take the human and
push him to the side,
00:05:02.10\00:05:04.60
take the
messenger and eliminate him.
00:05:04.60\00:05:06.73
And give us a message
tonight from your throne;
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change us in
Jesus name amen, amen.
00:05:11.80\00:05:17.96
It was late at
night, it was a Friday night
00:05:19.60\00:05:23.60
just pretty recently after last
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year's convention.
We, we typically have
00:05:27.13\00:05:31.30
a tacos on Friday night
and then we have company
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over and so on this
particular night the,
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the company had gone home the,
00:05:36.56\00:05:38.60
the ingredients for
the tacos were put away.
00:05:38.60\00:05:41.53
Our little cats were
band into the garage for the
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nights and all was
seemingly at piece at the
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McNeilus residence.
I was preaching soon
00:05:48.06\00:05:52.20
and so I was browsing the net,
00:05:52.20\00:05:54.56
I was looking
specifically for a meaning to a,
00:05:54.56\00:05:57.73
a specific Greek
word. And through the
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process my fingers
clicked across a blog,
00:06:01.03\00:06:04.66
now I often don't
read blogs but for whatever
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reason this
particular blog excited me.
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It, it got me enthused,
it was deeply spiritual,
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at times it was troublesome.
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It was questioning
me how am I a youth?
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What am I doing with my life?
00:06:20.26\00:06:21.60
What are my
expectations for the future?
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How is God leading
out? And I kept reading and
00:06:23.36\00:06:28.00
reading and reading.
And it was late tonight
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I ran across
this intriguing blog,
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I'll give it a pseudonym
to resist the temptation
00:06:39.26\00:06:43.50
of you even searching
for him in this or him or
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her in this room.
And so I call him or
00:06:46.16\00:06:49.20
her hope
seeking, it was late I ran
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across it, it's entitled
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"Human Limitation" and
allow me just to read a
00:06:54.50\00:06:57.80
few excerpts from it.
Hope seeking said this:
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Human life is fragile,
meek, and a very precious
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thing that we can
not take for granted.
00:07:05.96\00:07:09.30
We must remember that
our meekness is what God
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uses to remind us on what he,
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what we need and
only He provides.
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Remember that
he writes our days,
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we might die in a giant attack,
00:07:20.80\00:07:23.06
we might die of
an incurable disease,
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or we maybe healed,
live life wonderfully
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for many years, or
be a short inspiration
00:07:29.33\00:07:32.56
that lives only
about 6. The examples go
00:07:32.56\00:07:35.53
on and on. So,
cherish your life,
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live every day as
if it was your last,
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make sure you do what
you can to make people
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joyous and happy
with what God gave you,
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and then no
matter how long you live,
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no matter where you
live, no matter what
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you can do, live
the life designed
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to the fullest. Stand strong,
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never lose sight
of God's Kingdom!
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Only the faithful will enter.
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Will you? Will
you? Will you? Will I?
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The questions plagued my mind.
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Seconds turned to
minutes, which turned to hours
00:08:24.43\00:08:27.06
and I began to
question my life even
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as a Christian,
even as a professed
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follower of Christ.
Am I living the life God
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designed for me to the fullest?
00:08:36.20\00:08:38.26
Am I cherishing the
opportunity of my youth?
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What am I doing with my life?
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Will I, will you?
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Will I live life to the fullest?
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Will I never lose
sight of God's Kingdom?
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What are my
priorities, what is prohibiting
00:08:55.66\00:08:58.63
me from living a
life of no turning back,
00:08:58.63\00:09:01.40
deducing from the evidence,
00:09:03.63\00:09:05.26
articulated by hope seeking?
00:09:05.26\00:09:07.50
He or she was prepared
to lay at all on the line,
00:09:08.03\00:09:11.30
you get the impression
and the assumption that
00:09:11.30\00:09:13.70
this is a, a old
and a decrepit person.
00:09:13.70\00:09:16.60
Living, looking
back on his vast,
00:09:16.60\00:09:18.90
his or hers vast
experience and saying
00:09:18.90\00:09:21.73
today I'm gonna follow Christ,
00:09:21.73\00:09:23.66
this minute I'm
gonna follow Christ,
00:09:23.66\00:09:25.30
this second I'm
gonna follow Christ,
00:09:25.30\00:09:26.76
I will follow Christ
no matter what it takes.
00:09:26.76\00:09:29.36
I tossed and turned
for most of the night,
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soon my thought says
as many times it does
00:09:36.26\00:09:39.23
turned to you. The youth of GYC,
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are you at a point
where you can say yes,
00:09:47.26\00:09:49.70
yes I will follow you
Christ no matter the cost,
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if not do you want
to be? Are you sold out
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totally to him,
are you surrendered
00:10:01.23\00:10:03.66
to him when
Christ asks you to follow
00:10:03.66\00:10:06.10
him will you? Will you?
00:10:06.10\00:10:09.50
As we prepare to
mentally embrace that
00:10:11.33\00:10:13.43
question and, and find an answer
00:10:13.43\00:10:15.76
into our lives. I
would submit to you,
00:10:15.76\00:10:17.66
we should go to our theme text.
00:10:17.66\00:10:20.10
Before we get there
though I would just invite
00:10:21.26\00:10:23.43
you that we should
first look at the context,
00:10:23.43\00:10:26.30
we should look at the
understanding as why Jesus
00:10:26.30\00:10:29.10
made such a vivid
and remarkable response.
00:10:29.10\00:10:32.53
Turn with me in
your Bible to Luke,
00:10:33.06\00:10:34.60
Luke 9 and verse
57, you have Matthew,
00:10:36.10\00:10:43.70
Mark and then Luke, if
you get the John you've
00:10:43.70\00:10:46.60
gone too far we are
on the New Testament.
00:10:46.60\00:10:48.66
Luke 9 and verse 57
when you get there say amen?
00:10:51.16\00:10:54.40
Amen. Not enough
people with us yet.
00:10:54.40\00:10:57.56
Luke 9 verse 57,
I'll be preaching from
00:10:57.56\00:11:01.53
the English standard version,
00:11:01.53\00:11:03.50
whatever version you
have in front to you.
00:11:04.96\00:11:06.86
Is fine with me
just so you're into the
00:11:07.63\00:11:09.66
word of God, Luke 9:57,
00:11:09.66\00:11:13.00
are we there yes or no? Amen.
00:11:13.00\00:11:15.26
Now, we've got people there.
00:11:15.26\00:11:16.46
As they're going along the road,
00:11:16.46\00:11:17.76
someone said to
Him, "I will follow You
00:11:17.76\00:11:21.06
wherever You
go." Where will they
00:11:21.06\00:11:23.33
follow Him? Wherever He will go,
00:11:23.33\00:11:26.96
now I get the, the sense that as
00:11:26.96\00:11:29.66
I read through this
and as I know Jesus is
00:11:29.66\00:11:31.63
response that this
person was kind of making a,
00:11:31.63\00:11:34.73
a nonchalant comment.
I almost get the sense
00:11:34.73\00:11:38.30
that this person did
not understand what they
00:11:38.30\00:11:40.53
were saying. That is to say this
00:11:40.53\00:11:42.13
person came up to
Jesus, a would be disciple
00:11:42.13\00:11:44.56
and said listen
Jesus I'll tell you what.
00:11:44.56\00:11:46.50
I'll follow you wherever you go.
00:11:47.00\00:11:49.40
Jesus I'll make the sacrifice,
00:11:50.16\00:11:52.13
I'll go where you want me to go,
00:11:52.13\00:11:54.23
I'll give up what
you want me to give up,
00:11:54.23\00:11:55.63
whatever it is
Lord, I will follow you.
00:11:56.00\00:11:58.10
But don't think they meant it,
00:11:58.10\00:12:00.63
I almost get the sense
of this person is making
00:12:01.26\00:12:03.93
a comment like you
and I here in church
00:12:03.93\00:12:06.10
most Sabbaths.
You've been there,
00:12:06.10\00:12:09.10
you walk into
church, you get there,
00:12:10.00\00:12:12.00
there is the
smiling greeter they say
00:12:12.00\00:12:14.53
good morning and, is
anyone going to church?
00:12:14.53\00:12:20.13
They come in, you come in,
00:12:22.60\00:12:23.93
you walk in the
greeter says good morning and
00:12:23.93\00:12:26.40
happy Sabbath. What is happy
00:12:27.56\00:12:30.46
Sabbath even mean?
You ever thought about
00:12:30.46\00:12:33.30
that and further more
when you say happy Sabbath,
00:12:33.30\00:12:36.73
do you mean it?
See I think the person
00:12:36.73\00:12:41.76
making this or excuse
me when we make the comment
00:12:41.76\00:12:44.26
of saying happy
Sabbath we do it because
00:12:44.26\00:12:46.76
it's comfortable.
And you and I will keep
00:12:46.76\00:12:52.26
going on saying
happy Sabbath not
00:12:52.26\00:12:54.43
because it's
bad, not because we do
00:12:54.43\00:12:57.40
or do not mean it.
But because we've done
00:12:57.40\00:12:59.80
it in the past,
friends I just wonder,
00:12:59.80\00:13:05.50
have we gotten too
comfortable we're saying
00:13:05.50\00:13:08.90
that will follow Jesus.
Well, we continue to say
00:13:08.90\00:13:14.36
yes Lord I will follow
you, simply because we've
00:13:14.36\00:13:18.66
done it in the past.
Yes, I will follow you,
00:13:18.66\00:13:25.30
GYC absolutely
I'll go, I'll join a
00:13:25.30\00:13:28.80
local congregation. Absolutely,
00:13:28.80\00:13:31.66
go to a youth
conference, absolutely,
00:13:31.66\00:13:34.10
go to an
Adventist academy will do,
00:13:34.10\00:13:36.40
go to an
Adventist college, you bet.
00:13:36.40\00:13:38.90
And then when we're
asked are you a Christian,
00:13:38.90\00:13:41.26
are you a Seventh-day Adventist?
00:13:41.26\00:13:42.83
Are we too quick to
respond indeed I am.
00:13:42.83\00:13:46.30
Could it be that as
we embark on the journey
00:13:49.56\00:13:55.40
to answer the
question of how you and I can
00:13:55.40\00:13:58.00
turn back or not
turned back that we may need
00:13:58.00\00:14:01.53
to have our
foundations, our biases and our
00:14:01.53\00:14:05.30
preconceived ideas of
what it means to follow
00:14:05.30\00:14:07.76
a knock down.
Could it be that through
00:14:07.76\00:14:10.63
the process of this
life the word follow has been
00:14:10.63\00:14:13.83
watered down to
mean something that Jesus
00:14:13.83\00:14:16.50
did not want it to
mean. Could it be that through
00:14:16.50\00:14:19.70
the processes of this
weekend you and I need
00:14:19.70\00:14:21.80
to understand not
what it means as a
00:14:21.80\00:14:24.20
human being to, to
use the word follow.
00:14:24.20\00:14:27.33
But what Christ
himself means when
00:14:27.33\00:14:29.83
he says follow. Are you,
00:14:29.83\00:14:34.53
am I prepared to
have the misconceptions,
00:14:36.63\00:14:40.30
the biases and the
preconceive notion shaken?
00:14:40.30\00:14:44.16
We're gonna
allow God to define it,
00:14:45.46\00:14:47.53
what it means to follow him?
00:14:49.36\00:14:51.80
Friends this is
not just another GYC,
00:14:53.63\00:14:57.73
if it was we would
have coined the theme
00:14:58.16\00:15:00.26
probably follow you.
If we're feeling edgy
00:15:00.26\00:15:03.16
or even
postmodern maybe just follow,
00:15:03.16\00:15:05.60
maybe just you, but it's not,
00:15:05.60\00:15:07.80
it cannot be it is.
We are not in the point
00:15:07.80\00:15:11.30
in earth's history,
where you and I be afford
00:15:11.30\00:15:13.63
can be affort be
sitting in our living room doing
00:15:13.63\00:15:15.96
absolutely nothing.
We're not there anymore,
00:15:15.96\00:15:19.26
this is not just another GYC,
00:15:19.26\00:15:21.93
and so we came up with a theme.
00:15:21.93\00:15:23.46
Gutsy in
nature, no turning back,
00:15:23.46\00:15:27.30
and we think about it
how could we and In fact
00:15:29.66\00:15:35.83
how dare we?
Think about how GYC has
00:15:36.50\00:15:42.00
grown over the
years, GYC at its inception,
00:15:42.00\00:15:47.60
a bunch of young
people risking it out.
00:15:47.60\00:15:49.86
You know, they actually
put the first confidence
00:15:49.86\00:15:52.30
on their parent's credit card.
00:15:52.30\00:15:53.76
Then there was
Alistair, his paralysis
00:15:57.96\00:16:01.30
in Minnesota,
another student who died
00:16:01.30\00:16:04.30
tragically on the
way back from GYC.
00:16:04.30\00:16:07.46
Think of the
outreach experiences,
00:16:08.36\00:16:11.73
you know one year we
actually sent out an entire
00:16:12.30\00:16:15.20
bus with no maps. But
amazingly by the grace
00:16:15.20\00:16:21.00
of God when all
the buses came back,
00:16:21.00\00:16:23.26
everyone had a
map in their hand.
00:16:23.26\00:16:25.80
And we're suggesting
that we've come so far
00:16:29.06\00:16:33.66
as a movement, as a
massive young people
00:16:33.66\00:16:36.16
that at this point
we must not turn back.
00:16:36.16\00:16:39.20
The theme is about
commitment to Christ,
00:16:40.03\00:16:42.56
who incidentally
never turned back.
00:16:42.56\00:16:44.70
It's about
sacrifice to our creator who
00:16:45.36\00:16:47.60
incidentally never turned back;
00:16:47.60\00:16:49.90
it's to say to our
creator I have found you.
00:16:51.50\00:16:55.20
I know you, the old life,
00:16:55.20\00:16:57.56
the past experiences are dead,
00:16:57.56\00:16:59.73
I've met you and there's no way,
00:16:59.73\00:17:02.06
no way on earth
I'm going back to where
00:17:02.06\00:17:04.60
I came from. No turnings back,
00:17:04.60\00:17:08.06
when Christ asks you
to follow him will you?
00:17:08.06\00:17:10.66
Will you? Back to the story
00:17:12.13\00:17:15.80
of Luke recall with
me that this would be
00:17:15.80\00:17:19.76
disciple approached Jesus with a
00:17:19.76\00:17:22.40
bold declaration.
He or she thought she
00:17:22.40\00:17:26.70
was prepared to
follow Jesus anyway,
00:17:26.70\00:17:29.03
but we have just
suggested that this casual
00:17:29.03\00:17:33.53
enlister has not
thought through the implications
00:17:33.53\00:17:38.23
of the
declaration. And notice how
00:17:38.23\00:17:40.80
this point is even more
developed as we read on,
00:17:40.80\00:17:44.30
Luke 9 and I'm in
verse 59: To another he said,
00:17:45.43\00:17:51.16
"Follow me." But he
said, "Lord, let me first,
00:17:51.16\00:17:56.93
let me first go and
bury my father." Lord,
00:17:57.83\00:18:01.50
let me first did you catch it?
00:18:01.50\00:18:03.36
Did you see the
insight that this give us about
00:18:04.70\00:18:06.80
the level of
commitment of this would
00:18:06.80\00:18:08.26
be disciple. Lord, let me first,
00:18:08.26\00:18:11.23
translation Lord,
let me first do something
00:18:11.23\00:18:14.36
before I follow you.
Lord, I follow you great,
00:18:14.36\00:18:17.53
but hold on just a second.
00:18:17.53\00:18:19.46
You see before I follow you,
00:18:20.40\00:18:21.70
I need to do this, I
need to accomplish this,
00:18:21.70\00:18:26.63
I need to attempt this.
And then I'll follow you,
00:18:27.00\00:18:30.53
for this would be
follower his or her first
00:18:30.53\00:18:33.33
priority was something else.
00:18:33.33\00:18:35.60
Incidentally
friends this is the type of
00:18:35.60\00:18:37.63
mindset that is at
the heart of what it means
00:18:37.63\00:18:40.96
to be looking back.
It is to delay the call,
00:18:40.96\00:18:45.76
it is to lay the
answer of a call from Jesus.
00:18:47.23\00:18:51.63
It is to hear and
appeal and say yeah I want
00:18:52.36\00:18:55.76
to but let me
first obtain my degree,
00:18:55.76\00:19:00.36
build my bank
account, get married,
00:19:01.03\00:19:04.03
have a child, go to school,
00:19:05.00\00:19:07.46
speak with my pastors,
speak with my counselor.
00:19:07.46\00:19:10.26
The list is
seemingly endless but there are
00:19:10.26\00:19:13.03
times when Jesus calls
for a decisive answer now,
00:19:13.03\00:19:17.40
don't give me wrong,
I'm not saying that some
00:19:17.86\00:19:19.46
of those things aren't okay.
00:19:19.46\00:19:21.00
It's not bad to
have your degree,
00:19:21.00\00:19:22.83
not bad to have
wealth, not bad to get married
00:19:22.83\00:19:25.80
and not bad to
have children if you're
00:19:25.80\00:19:27.16
ready for it. Just thought of
00:19:27.16\00:19:34.56
something really
important that I wanted to tell
00:19:34.56\00:19:35.93
you and I don't know if
I should take the second
00:19:35.93\00:19:38.13
to do it. I should,
00:19:38.13\00:19:40.43
maybe I shouldn't, this year,
00:19:45.23\00:19:49.10
this year very
quickly. This year we're doing
00:19:49.10\00:19:52.36
something new at
GYC, can I tell you about
00:19:52.36\00:19:55.63
it just for a
second, hold the place where
00:19:55.63\00:19:58.36
we're in Luke,
hold your thoughts
00:19:58.36\00:19:59.80
about will you follow Jesus.
00:19:59.80\00:20:01.53
This year we're doing
something called total
00:20:01.83\00:20:04.10
church on Friday,
we want to inspire
00:20:04.10\00:20:08.03
and train young
people on how to be involved
00:20:08.03\00:20:10.60
in the local level, amen?
00:20:10.60\00:20:13.53
Here at GYC you are
gonna learn how to be
00:20:14.13\00:20:17.13
involved at the local level,
00:20:17.13\00:20:18.86
we're gonna bring you
in, we're gonna teach you
00:20:18.86\00:20:20.80
about the Seventh-day
Adventist Church right
00:20:20.80\00:20:22.63
here as a large
group, as a large class.
00:20:22.63\00:20:24.96
We are then gonna go
into seminars where you
00:20:24.96\00:20:27.20
pick how to be an
elder, how to teach a Sabbath
00:20:27.20\00:20:30.03
school class, how to teach even
00:20:30.03\00:20:31.33
cradle role, how to teach
00:20:31.33\00:20:32.73
pathfinders et
cetera, et cetera?
00:20:32.73\00:20:34.50
I'm ecstatic about it
and you need to be there.
00:20:34.50\00:20:37.50
You are maybe
thinking that when I said
00:20:39.00\00:20:40.10
having children, because we have
00:20:40.10\00:20:41.76
someone that's
actually gonna be teaching a
00:20:41.76\00:20:43.23
class on how to
teach cradle role.
00:20:43.23\00:20:45.73
For us to say
that, that only elders,
00:20:46.30\00:20:48.66
only deacons are
important of a church is
00:20:48.66\00:20:50.20
a huge mistake.
We need Godly leaders
00:20:50.20\00:20:53.70
that can do even create a role,
00:20:53.70\00:20:55.40
so we brought in a
young lady sitting on
00:20:56.36\00:20:58.16
the front row. Red cheeks who's
00:20:58.16\00:21:00.36
gonna teach us
that, don't miss it.
00:21:00.36\00:21:02.66
Having children is not bad,
00:21:05.73\00:21:06.86
these things are important.
00:21:08.03\00:21:09.16
But my point is this
if Christ calls for a
00:21:09.16\00:21:12.40
decisive answer,
anything that stands
00:21:12.40\00:21:15.16
in the way of that
call, anything that can pause
00:21:15.16\00:21:17.53
us to delay his
response is to turn back.
00:21:17.53\00:21:21.40
Jesus is
beckoning for a decision,
00:21:22.53\00:21:24.86
a decision from you to
follow him do not delay.
00:21:25.30\00:21:28.73
No matter the glaring
accomplishments you think
00:21:29.40\00:21:32.00
you need before following him,
00:21:32.00\00:21:33.70
it is not worth it. Oh! Yes,
00:21:33.70\00:21:38.60
but there's always tomorrow,
00:21:39.93\00:21:41.06
friends for most of
us in our lives tomorrow
00:21:42.86\00:21:45.00
isn't a code for
never. Obedience delayed
00:21:45.00\00:21:51.66
is
disobedience; we sacrifice our
00:21:51.66\00:21:55.40
eternal destiny for
a shot at today's game.
00:21:55.40\00:22:00.10
Obedience
deferred is no obedience,
00:22:01.16\00:22:04.86
when Christ bids you
to follow him now and
00:22:05.30\00:22:08.03
you delay the
answer to the call,
00:22:08.03\00:22:09.70
it's as good as
not obeying him at all.
00:22:09.70\00:22:13.46
Tomorrow or
later will never come,
00:22:15.16\00:22:18.90
this is why the Bible
repeated these things,
00:22:20.06\00:22:22.80
today if you hear my voice,
00:22:23.50\00:22:25.03
today if you hear my voice,
00:22:25.03\00:22:26.73
today if you hear my
voice harden not your heart.
00:22:26.73\00:22:30.86
Perhaps one
reason we are not willing
00:22:31.23\00:22:32.96
to follow him, is
we are not willing
00:22:32.96\00:22:34.83
to sacrifice certain
things we are holding on to.
00:22:34.83\00:22:38.10
Friends the thesis, the climax,
00:22:41.03\00:22:44.33
the pinnacle of no
turning back is sacrifice.
00:22:44.33\00:22:48.40
What will you sacrifice for him?
00:22:50.13\00:22:51.56
For some of us, it
is to give up something
00:22:53.90\00:22:56.20
tangible today,
something we can see,
00:22:56.20\00:22:59.20
something we can
taste, something we can feel,
00:22:59.20\00:23:02.16
something we can listen to.
00:23:02.16\00:23:03.60
But for others it's
giving up something that we
00:23:05.20\00:23:07.83
may attempt or may try
to attempt in the future.
00:23:07.83\00:23:11.56
For many of us it's
God calling us to sacrifice
00:23:13.60\00:23:16.80
a carnal future
desire, clearly in this passage
00:23:16.80\00:23:21.83
from Luke those
who were called as with
00:23:21.83\00:23:24.26
all disciples
were being called to
00:23:24.26\00:23:27.10
sacrifice
something. Whether it was
00:23:27.10\00:23:30.06
present or future,
tangible or untangible,
00:23:30.06\00:23:33.10
they were called to
sacrifice something to
00:23:33.10\00:23:35.56
follow Jesus.
What are you willing
00:23:35.56\00:23:37.60
to give up to God
forever, not one year from now,
00:23:37.60\00:23:41.86
not one month from
now, not one day from now,
00:23:41.86\00:23:44.83
not one minute from
now, not one second from now,
00:23:44.83\00:23:47.23
what are you willing to
to give up to God today?
00:23:47.23\00:23:50.20
We give to God
with no expectation of
00:23:52.26\00:23:56.03
receiving it
back, when Christ asks
00:23:56.03\00:24:00.26
you to follow him
will you? Will you?
00:24:00.26\00:24:05.30
Under our theme text Luke 9:62:
00:24:07.66\00:24:13.26
Jesus said to him,
"No one who puts his
00:24:13.26\00:24:16.90
hand to the plow
and looks back is fit
00:24:16.90\00:24:19.66
for the kingdom of
God." Here Jesus gives an
00:24:19.66\00:24:24.23
example of a man
plowing, he is just listed out
00:24:24.23\00:24:27.90
some troubling
criteria for following him and
00:24:27.90\00:24:30.70
then he gives us an
example of what it is
00:24:30.70\00:24:32.96
like to follow
him. And notice with
00:24:32.96\00:24:35.70
me something this
man is actually plowing,
00:24:35.70\00:24:39.30
not too insightful
but that it is to say that
00:24:40.80\00:24:42.63
this man in order to not have,
00:24:42.63\00:24:45.33
not be turning
back. He had to be working
00:24:45.33\00:24:48.16
for Christ, you know I can't
00:24:48.16\00:24:51.60
help but wonder if
this is what fueled the
00:24:51.60\00:24:53.93
disciples that we read
about in the book of Acts.
00:24:53.93\00:24:57.46
In order to not turn
back we must be working,
00:25:01.53\00:25:05.00
Desire of Ages: A classic about
00:25:05.00\00:25:08.70
the life of Christ,
the inspired pan page 523:
00:25:08.70\00:25:12.36
Only those who
will become co-workers
00:25:13.23\00:25:15.46
with Christ, what are they?
00:25:15.46\00:25:17.03
What are they?
Only those who will
00:25:18.76\00:25:21.43
become co-workers
with Christ will be
00:25:21.43\00:25:24.03
acknowledged as sons
and daughters of God.
00:25:24.03\00:25:27.53
You wanna be a son
of God; you wanna be a
00:25:28.10\00:25:29.63
daughter of God.
Only those who are
00:25:29.63\00:25:31.93
co-workers with Christ,
all should consider what
00:25:31.93\00:25:35.63
it means to desire
heaven, and yet to turn away
00:25:35.63\00:25:38.56
because of the
conditions laid down,
00:25:38.56\00:25:41.23
think of it.
Think of what it means
00:25:41.90\00:25:44.06
to say no to Christ,
the savior offers to share
00:25:44.06\00:25:48.43
with us the work
God has given us to do.
00:25:48.43\00:25:51.00
He offers us, he offers to use
00:25:51.00\00:25:53.40
the means God has
given us to carry forward his
00:25:53.40\00:25:56.33
work in the world
only, only in this way can
00:25:56.33\00:26:00.93
he save us. Jesus tells the
00:26:00.93\00:26:05.60
group gathered around
him, in order to follow,
00:26:05.60\00:26:09.06
in order to not turn
back. You must have your
00:26:09.06\00:26:12.03
hand to the plow; he
can't help but wonder,
00:26:12.03\00:26:17.43
if that's what
filled the disciples.
00:26:17.43\00:26:20.16
Soon after Jesus
tells him these words,
00:26:20.16\00:26:23.00
soon after he's
crucified on the cross,
00:26:23.00\00:26:25.40
we read in the
book of Acts and it is
00:26:25.40\00:26:27.53
absolutely literate
with accounts of the
00:26:27.53\00:26:29.76
disciples going out
boldly. Boldly they spoke
00:26:29.76\00:26:34.23
to Sanhedrin,
boldly they spoke to
00:26:34.23\00:26:36.40
the Pharisees,
boldly they spoke to
00:26:36.40\00:26:38.33
the large
groups, boldly they spoke
00:26:38.33\00:26:39.96
to small groups,
and boldly they spoke
00:26:39.96\00:26:42.06
even when their
life was on the line.
00:26:42.06\00:26:44.63
But something
had to happen first,
00:26:47.40\00:26:50.33
before any sermon was preached,
00:26:53.03\00:26:58.50
before any
Bible study was given.
00:26:59.53\00:27:02.10
The disciples
had to have an upper
00:27:03.73\00:27:06.06
room experience,
can anyone recall with
00:27:06.06\00:27:12.53
me why the
disciples were in the upper
00:27:12.53\00:27:14.73
room initially? Can't hear you.
00:27:14.73\00:27:20.30
They were
scared, I think I heard
00:27:22.30\00:27:23.60
someone saying that,
scared, hunkered down,
00:27:23.60\00:27:27.60
someone ashamed
of their beliefs.
00:27:27.60\00:27:31.20
The Bible and the
spirit of prophecy tells us
00:27:31.50\00:27:33.93
that the
disciples were scared for
00:27:33.93\00:27:35.90
their own life,
but tolerate with me,
00:27:35.90\00:27:39.76
tolerate with me this thought.
00:27:39.76\00:27:42.00
Picture the upper
room in its early stages,
00:27:42.60\00:27:45.70
there's about a 120
or so of them up there,
00:27:45.70\00:27:48.36
they're thinking
about what they're gonna do.
00:27:48.36\00:27:50.26
They're praying
about what they're gonna do
00:27:50.26\00:27:52.03
and I picture in my
mind someone comes along
00:27:52.03\00:27:54.60
and thinks to themselves.
I've just had a stoke
00:27:54.60\00:27:58.53
of human brilliance,
the reason Jesus was,
00:27:58.53\00:28:03.96
was crucified is
because he was a little brash.
00:28:03.96\00:28:07.36
Can kind of picture the
wheels turning, could be.
00:28:09.60\00:28:14.86
Perhaps he didn't
really mean what he said,
00:28:16.33\00:28:20.70
perhaps we should
soften the message
00:28:22.70\00:28:28.43
a little bit. Yeah, that's it,
00:28:28.43\00:28:31.23
here's what we'll do?
We'll soften the message;
00:28:31.23\00:28:35.10
it will make an
appeasing to the Jews
00:28:35.10\00:28:37.90
and the Gentiles. No
point in getting people
00:28:37.90\00:28:40.63
too worked up, we just wanna
00:28:40.63\00:28:42.53
comfortably blend
in. Friends could it
00:28:42.53\00:28:48.66
be that many of
us today are hunkered
00:28:48.66\00:28:51.73
down on our
hypothetical upper room.
00:28:51.73\00:28:55.26
Could it be that we
are tempted to want to
00:28:57.26\00:28:59.90
live in this, this Utopian where
00:28:59.90\00:29:02.36
it's acceptable
to be an Adventist.
00:29:02.36\00:29:05.10
Isn't it so sweet
to be an Adventist,
00:29:09.76\00:29:12.23
the world loves us,
what's that you don't
00:29:13.60\00:29:17.70
believe in going to
church on Sabbath Saturday,
00:29:17.70\00:29:21.20
that's okay. No point being
00:29:22.43\00:29:26.66
abrasive or confrontational,
00:29:26.66\00:29:29.06
but believe what you
want. Give me a break,
00:29:29.06\00:29:35.66
the Christian message
is abrasive to the world,
00:29:37.90\00:29:42.76
the true Christian
message antagonizes the world.
00:29:42.76\00:29:48.50
It's abrasive in
nature, at every human being's
00:29:48.50\00:29:51.86
core there is a desire to sin,
00:29:51.86\00:29:54.10
to separate themselves from God.
00:29:54.10\00:29:55.93
And we are coming
into the world to say
00:29:55.93\00:29:57.93
that is
incorrect, you need a savior,
00:29:57.93\00:30:00.36
you need to worship
him, you need to not sin.
00:30:00.36\00:30:03.53
It is abrasive, it
is not comfortable,
00:30:03.53\00:30:07.16
but it is what we
have been called to do.
00:30:07.16\00:30:09.73
We need to stop
hiding behind our own truth
00:30:10.23\00:30:13.16
and our unsanctified opinions;
00:30:13.16\00:30:15.63
we need to stop attempting
to hijack God's truth.
00:30:15.63\00:30:18.53
If it is abrasive
find that's what God has
00:30:19.03\00:30:21.50
called us to do, if
it is uncomfortable,
00:30:21.50\00:30:23.90
find that's what our
creator told us to preach.
00:30:23.90\00:30:26.63
You don't have to
be obnoxious about it,
00:30:28.90\00:30:30.76
you don't have to
be arrogant about it,
00:30:30.76\00:30:32.56
a loving delivery is necessary.
00:30:32.56\00:30:34.53
But make no
mistake, the truth will cause
00:30:34.53\00:30:37.60
discomfort to sinners and sin,
00:30:37.60\00:30:40.23
it is not, if it is not
00:30:40.73\00:30:42.43
watered down it will
call for radical change
00:30:42.43\00:30:45.13
in people's
lives. If you can't tell
00:30:45.13\00:30:48.33
I have a strong
problem with the notion that we
00:30:48.33\00:30:51.43
can water down the
Bibles message to make
00:30:51.43\00:30:54.63
it accepting. As
if somehow we can
00:30:54.63\00:30:59.00
massage it enough to
where everyone will love us,
00:30:59.00\00:31:01.76
I've news for
you. We're never gonna
00:31:03.16\00:31:05.80
beloved on this
earth, Prophesy tell us it.
00:31:05.80\00:31:10.10
The Bible points to
it, we need to stop caring
00:31:10.50\00:31:13.36
about what people
think of us and start caring
00:31:13.36\00:31:16.00
about what God
thinks of us, amen.
00:31:16.00\00:31:19.23
Is it gonna be
uncomfortable it times
00:31:19.63\00:31:21.50
to follow Christ and
commit to no turning back.
00:31:21.50\00:31:23.96
Absolutely, will
it be on unpopular to
00:31:23.96\00:31:26.63
think to do, you
better believe it.
00:31:26.63\00:31:28.83
Peter in his first
book employees these words
00:31:30.00\00:31:32.60
1st Peter 4:12, 1st
Peter 4:12: Beloved,
00:31:33.20\00:31:40.30
do not be surprised at
the fiery trials when it
00:31:40.30\00:31:43.20
comes upon you to test you,
00:31:43.20\00:31:45.03
as though something strange were
00:31:45.56\00:31:47.46
happening to you.
Peter's telling us,
00:31:47.46\00:31:51.93
warning us to be
expected that trials
00:31:51.93\00:31:55.00
will be coming, expected,
00:31:55.00\00:31:57.46
expect to be
dispersed from the world,
00:31:57.46\00:31:59.80
expected for the
world not to accept you
00:31:59.80\00:32:02.00
as a Christian. But then he lays
00:32:02.00\00:32:03.60
down a striking
appeal directly after in
00:32:03.60\00:32:06.76
verse 14: "But rejoice to the
00:32:06.76\00:32:12.30
extent that you
partake of Christ's sufferings,
00:32:12.30\00:32:16.16
that when His glory is revealed,
00:32:16.16\00:32:17.96
you may also be
glad with exceeding joy."
00:32:17.96\00:32:22.16
Did you catch it,
it's an extremely strong
00:32:24.76\00:32:27.46
word for Peter to chose
to render that statement.
00:32:27.46\00:32:30.60
Rejoice not only
should we know hatred
00:32:30.60\00:32:34.13
will coming, not only should
00:32:34.13\00:32:35.50
we embrace the fact
that the Christian message
00:32:35.50\00:32:37.60
is antagonistic in
nature, not only should we
00:32:37.60\00:32:40.70
boldly proclaim God's truth,
00:32:40.70\00:32:42.33
but oh! By the way
when people don't like
00:32:42.33\00:32:45.26
you when they laugh at you,
00:32:45.26\00:32:46.36
when they make fun of
you. As a believer when
00:32:46.36\00:32:48.70
they call you
biblical Christian, sinner,
00:32:48.70\00:32:51.00
conservative, weird,
unique, rejoice in it.
00:32:51.00\00:32:54.60
No turning back,
capitalizing on this
00:32:56.00\00:33:01.60
line of
reasoning, Ellen White states
00:33:01.60\00:33:04.90
these words. Great Controversy
00:33:04.90\00:33:08.16
page 48: Why is it,
then, that persecution seems
00:33:08.16\00:33:13.23
in a great degree to slumber?
00:33:13.23\00:33:15.73
The only reason is that
the church has conformed
00:33:16.86\00:33:21.36
to the world's
standards, and therefore awakens
00:33:21.36\00:33:24.70
no opposition. And that was that
00:33:24.70\00:33:28.96
what would she say now?
The religion which isn't
00:33:30.80\00:33:35.10
current in our day is
not of the pure and holy
00:33:35.10\00:33:38.50
character that marked
the Christian faith in
00:33:38.50\00:33:41.76
the days of
Christ and His apostles.
00:33:41.76\00:33:43.83
It is only
because of the spirit of
00:33:44.93\00:33:47.10
compromise with sin,
because the great truths
00:33:47.10\00:33:51.03
of the world of God are
so indifferently regarded,
00:33:51.03\00:33:54.80
because there is so
little vital godliness
00:33:54.80\00:33:57.66
in the church,
that Christianity is
00:33:57.66\00:34:00.56
apparently so
popular in the world.
00:34:00.56\00:34:03.16
Did you catch that
her words not mine.
00:34:05.66\00:34:08.80
It is only because of
the spirit of compromise
00:34:08.80\00:34:11.03
with sin that
Christianity is apparently
00:34:11.03\00:34:14.96
so popular with the
world, then she tell us.
00:34:14.96\00:34:19.06
Let there be a
revival of the faith and power
00:34:19.06\00:34:22.80
of the early
church, and the spirit of
00:34:22.80\00:34:24.96
persecution will be revived.
00:34:24.96\00:34:27.00
Now I've thought about
it, I've prayed about it,
00:34:28.20\00:34:32.66
the practical
application of this point the,
00:34:36.10\00:34:38.96
the verses, the
spirit of prophecy
00:34:38.96\00:34:41.16
we just unpackaged
when you think about the
00:34:41.16\00:34:45.03
practicality of these points.
00:34:45.03\00:34:47.10
I realize, I realize that what
00:34:47.10\00:34:50.36
I'm about to say
could be misunderstood.
00:34:50.36\00:34:53.76
But I also much
forward fully realizing that it
00:34:55.80\00:34:58.73
could be cast
aside, trivialized,
00:34:58.73\00:35:03.60
a passionate youth missing for.
00:35:04.73\00:35:06.23
But I also
realize it much be said,
00:35:08.16\00:35:09.90
there is a movement
from within the Seventh-day
00:35:15.53\00:35:19.80
Adventist church to
soften and at times abandon
00:35:19.80\00:35:26.53
parts of our message.
Make it more comfortable,
00:35:26.53\00:35:32.10
comes under the guys
are being postmodern and
00:35:34.03\00:35:36.83
trying to appeal to
the postmodern mind.
00:35:36.83\00:35:39.10
Comes under the guys
of being youth friendly or
00:35:40.83\00:35:43.70
appealing to youth, many of you,
00:35:43.70\00:35:49.40
for all of us
actually. The reality is we are
00:35:49.40\00:35:53.33
either part of the
current or we are not and
00:35:53.33\00:35:56.96
the other reality is
this, especially with church
00:35:56.96\00:36:01.06
leadership at whatever level.
00:36:01.06\00:36:03.43
Some of you have
the capacity to either
00:36:04.13\00:36:06.60
support the movement
or stop it and what I need
00:36:06.60\00:36:11.70
to say I say
with the conviction,
00:36:11.70\00:36:13.80
with the boldness,
but also with the heart
00:36:14.30\00:36:17.00
filled with the love
and passion to see Christ
00:36:17.00\00:36:20.16
come soon. Don't
allow our beliefs
00:36:20.16\00:36:24.70
to be highjack,
don't allow others
00:36:24.70\00:36:28.43
to do it, please stand up
00:36:28.43\00:36:30.16
and be counted.
Understand this is
00:36:30.16\00:36:32.80
from the prospective
of a twenty six years
00:36:32.80\00:36:34.93
old youth; I've
had the privilege
00:36:34.93\00:36:36.76
of preaching our
distinct doctrines around
00:36:36.76\00:36:38.86
the world for
the last ten years.
00:36:38.86\00:36:41.43
I've seen it
first hand our messages
00:36:42.33\00:36:45.16
change lives, I've seen it fully
00:36:45.16\00:36:49.26
and I believe it
that this message.
00:36:49.26\00:36:51.30
The message ordain
by God is effective,
00:36:51.30\00:36:54.50
especially at this time
in earth history we must
00:36:55.03\00:36:57.80
not turned back from
our message or our mission
00:36:57.80\00:37:00.76
in the world. The
reason GYC continues
00:37:00.76\00:37:05.36
to grow and groups
like GYC are popping up
00:37:05.36\00:37:08.40
all around the globe is
because young people want
00:37:08.40\00:37:10.70
to follow God all the
way. They do not want to
00:37:10.70\00:37:14.20
turn back; they
are not satisfied
00:37:14.20\00:37:16.13
with cheap watered
down messages in standards.
00:37:16.13\00:37:19.40
They refuse to turn
back, they want to give
00:37:19.40\00:37:23.00
their all, and they do
00:37:23.00\00:37:24.23
not want to turn
back. I believe with all my
00:37:24.23\00:37:26.80
heart God is
raising an army of youth,
00:37:26.80\00:37:28.76
these large bodies
of young people are a
00:37:28.76\00:37:31.20
testimony of the
appreciation we have
00:37:31.20\00:37:33.63
for the truth. Represent a core
00:37:33.63\00:37:37.83
of committed youth
that are saying to others,
00:37:38.80\00:37:42.86
saying to our leadership
and saying to the world,
00:37:44.20\00:37:47.96
no turning back.
"The upper room must have
00:37:48.90\00:38:00.53
been one of the
most unique experiences
00:38:00.53\00:38:02.96
described in the
Bible. I can't wait to get
00:38:02.96\00:38:06.73
the heaven and fully
understand what went down,
00:38:06.73\00:38:09.60
I'm not preview
to all the details,
00:38:11.10\00:38:13.36
but some of the
things we do know as if they
00:38:14.33\00:38:16.56
went in hunkerer
down and they came out
00:38:16.56\00:38:19.30
filled with the holy spirit.
00:38:19.30\00:38:21.86
We would be wise to
have a conference on
00:38:24.90\00:38:28.03
the Holy Spirit, would you come,
00:38:28.03\00:38:31.43
a few of you. We don't know the
00:38:34.40\00:38:37.16
details but the
disciples went in ashamed,
00:38:37.16\00:38:41.06
scared for their own
existence and came out
00:38:41.06\00:38:44.10
preaching boldly. They came out
00:38:44.10\00:38:47.23
of the upper
room, hand to the plow,
00:38:47.23\00:38:49.73
clearly there was no
talk of turning back,
00:38:49.73\00:38:52.96
and we need it. You and I need
00:38:53.90\00:38:57.13
an upper room experiences,
perhaps we're afraid
00:38:57.13\00:39:01.33
of the world,
we're hunkered down,
00:39:01.33\00:39:04.90
we clumsily
proclaim I will follow you.
00:39:04.90\00:39:08.13
We don't
understand the implications of
00:39:08.86\00:39:11.50
our declaration,
the only way to fully
00:39:11.50\00:39:16.16
embrace the
truths in this Bible,
00:39:16.16\00:39:18.70
the only way to
eternalize them is to love them,
00:39:18.70\00:39:22.70
appreciate them and
let them change your live.
00:39:22.70\00:39:26.06
Jesus says you wanna follow me,
00:39:27.90\00:39:30.00
your hand needs
to be to the plow.
00:39:30.00\00:39:33.26
Now, I understand I'm
not talking about the,
00:39:34.70\00:39:37.46
becoming a Mark
Finley or a David Asscherick
00:39:37.46\00:39:41.40
and preaching
all around the globe.
00:39:41.40\00:39:43.20
My wife and I as a
result of this message on
00:39:44.60\00:39:47.30
things that we've been
talking about we're gonna
00:39:47.30\00:39:49.63
hold the
evangelistic series in our small
00:39:49.63\00:39:51.70
church this fall.
We'll pray for one
00:39:51.70\00:39:55.96
or two to be
baptized and can I be even
00:39:55.96\00:40:01.93
more real with
you. We're praying that
00:40:01.93\00:40:05.10
their last name
will be McNeilus,
00:40:05.10\00:40:07.10
see we're not at a
point in earth history where
00:40:09.00\00:40:11.20
we can effort to be
sitting in our living room.
00:40:11.20\00:40:13.93
They are there,
the signs are there
00:40:14.80\00:40:16.16
in Matthew 24 you
probably been through there
00:40:16.16\00:40:18.13
many times Jesus
is coming again soon.
00:40:18.13\00:40:21.63
Daniel II was right
there at the very toes,
00:40:22.86\00:40:25.16
at the cusp of
eternity, Jesus is coming
00:40:25.16\00:40:28.33
again soon, amen.
He says if you wanna
00:40:28.33\00:40:31.43
follow me put
your hand to the plow.
00:40:31.43\00:40:34.56
He needs our feeble
efforts even if it's just
00:40:35.53\00:40:37.90
a small effort to
find one or two baptized,
00:40:37.90\00:40:42.80
when Christ asks you
to follow him, will you?
00:40:43.60\00:40:46.36
Will you? You
say it to yourself,
00:40:48.56\00:40:52.53
self I'm committed already,
00:40:53.80\00:40:56.53
I've been come into GYC for the
00:40:58.26\00:41:00.13
last 3, 5, 8
years, I'm committed.
00:41:00.13\00:41:04.26
I'm immersed in my local church,
00:41:05.30\00:41:07.40
by the way here's my handy dandy
00:41:07.40\00:41:09.30
list of responsibilities.
Maybe you're a pastor,
00:41:09.30\00:41:13.60
you're preaching every Sabbath,
00:41:14.76\00:41:16.96
you say to
yourself I'm turned back.
00:41:16.96\00:41:19.36
Maybe you're even
presenting here at GYC
00:41:21.03\00:41:23.63
or you on the
executive committee,
00:41:24.76\00:41:26.40
you say with
yourself I'm there I'm,
00:41:28.00\00:41:29.26
I'm committed this
theme is not really
00:41:29.26\00:41:31.80
applicable to me.
You've kind of build
00:41:31.80\00:41:35.50
yourself a little
hedge, out on limb and so the
00:41:35.50\00:41:39.23
message tonight
the, the theme is all
00:41:39.23\00:41:42.36
irrelevant to you.
And if that's you tolerate
00:41:42.36\00:41:47.63
this for a
moment; everyone at this
00:41:47.63\00:41:51.70
conference has left
things behind in their life.
00:41:51.70\00:41:54.16
A, a
relationship, a bad experience,
00:41:55.53\00:41:58.43
moments of glory and
there is no turning back
00:41:58.43\00:42:01.50
from them, they are left behind.
00:42:01.50\00:42:03.76
But could it be,
could it be that some
00:42:03.76\00:42:06.63
of us through the
process of this life have left
00:42:06.63\00:42:09.70
Jesus behind.
Like Mary and Joseph,
00:42:09.70\00:42:16.23
we need to turn back
to Jerusalem to rediscover
00:42:17.43\00:42:20.40
something we thought
was with us but is not.
00:42:20.40\00:42:24.93
Let me give you a
very practical real
00:42:26.50\00:42:29.33
life example, the
creation evolution
00:42:29.33\00:42:33.73
debate rages war on
some of our campuses
00:42:33.73\00:42:37.43
what a shame.
The staunch defenders
00:42:38.53\00:42:41.96
of the church and
truth march out with their
00:42:41.96\00:42:45.43
texts and spirit of
prophecy quotes in hand;
00:42:45.43\00:42:48.30
earnestly ready to
pounce on any suspecting or
00:42:48.30\00:42:51.33
unsuspecting
victory. Honestly with the
00:42:51.33\00:42:55.36
advent of the
internet you could do it from
00:42:55.36\00:42:57.20
your own home and
remember we've just built from
00:42:57.20\00:43:02.43
the foundation of
truth. We can't sacrifice,
00:43:02.43\00:43:07.16
we can't water it
down its abrasive,
00:43:07.16\00:43:09.70
we have to
understand, we have to know it,
00:43:09.70\00:43:11.56
we have to love it.
But did you ever in the
00:43:11.56\00:43:19.56
process of your
carefully articulated attacks,
00:43:19.56\00:43:22.73
stop to pray for the
person you're attacking?
00:43:23.46\00:43:25.93
Did you study the
creation doctrine to discover
00:43:28.50\00:43:31.10
the beautiful creator
behind it or see you could
00:43:31.10\00:43:34.90
have some ammo
for your next attack?
00:43:34.90\00:43:37.66
I would submit you to
this some on the creation
00:43:39.70\00:43:42.63
side of the dialogue;
the absolute right side
00:43:42.63\00:43:45.86
to be on have lost
their salvation through
00:43:45.86\00:43:48.83
the process. Follow it to it's
00:43:48.83\00:43:54.26
logical
conclusion, could it be that a
00:43:54.26\00:43:59.16
person and their
stand for truth desperately
00:43:59.16\00:44:02.46
calling others to
lose their salvation do so
00:44:02.46\00:44:05.06
while manifesting a
spirit that will cause them
00:44:05.06\00:44:08.20
to lose their
salvation. Maybe none of this
00:44:08.20\00:44:12.86
is resonating with you,
perhaps it's just for me
00:44:12.86\00:44:17.90
because I've been
there wasn't the creation
00:44:20.73\00:44:25.06
evolution debate
that's just an example.
00:44:25.06\00:44:27.30
But through the
process of my life of living
00:44:29.56\00:44:32.06
things behind and
marching out to do
00:44:32.06\00:44:34.13
the right thing,
I've left Jesus behind
00:44:34.13\00:44:37.60
in the process.
For some of us we
00:44:37.60\00:44:42.30
need to rediscover
something we thought
00:44:42.30\00:44:44.60
was with us but is
not, we've just assume that
00:44:44.60\00:44:48.76
Jesus is in the caravan
of our lives but tonight
00:44:48.76\00:44:52.23
through this conference we may
00:44:52.23\00:44:54.26
discover
otherwise. Thus we need to
00:44:54.26\00:44:58.10
rediscover some lost values,
00:44:58.10\00:45:00.60
we need to rediscover Christ.
00:45:00.60\00:45:04.50
When Christ ask
you to follow him,
00:45:06.56\00:45:08.20
will you? Will you?
Whenever you're addressing
00:45:09.26\00:45:17.10
a change or a,
a potential change
00:45:17.10\00:45:20.13
in your life it is
vital, vital to understand
00:45:20.13\00:45:23.66
and to look at
our saviors example.
00:45:23.66\00:45:26.60
Jesus left his home in heaven,
00:45:27.70\00:45:29.83
he lived the perfect
life here on earth as
00:45:30.50\00:45:33.43
our example and then
he died on the cross it's
00:45:33.43\00:45:36.80
the lamb slain from the
foundation of the world.
00:45:36.80\00:45:39.90
Jesus is to be our
example and every facet of
00:45:41.46\00:45:44.63
our lives so I
would submit to you.
00:45:44.63\00:45:46.53
I would ask you
tonight did Jesus turn back,
00:45:46.53\00:45:51.36
did he act in a manner
of no turning back like we
00:45:51.36\00:45:55.16
are submitting we
should do tonight.
00:45:55.16\00:45:56.86
And it's in the
context of the last day that
00:45:59.66\00:46:02.00
I like to
approach that question,
00:46:02.00\00:46:03.83
for most of us there's
quite of bit of emotion
00:46:04.40\00:46:06.80
attached to the last
day. You think of your last
00:46:06.80\00:46:10.00
day of Christmas
break or, or summer before
00:46:10.00\00:46:14.10
returning to
school. Oh! You long to be
00:46:14.10\00:46:16.90
back in those
days of the good times,
00:46:16.90\00:46:19.60
for the
professionals in the room we,
00:46:20.60\00:46:22.26
we think of our last vacation.
00:46:22.26\00:46:24.33
The day before,
the last day before
00:46:25.86\00:46:27.93
going to back to
work we long to be back
00:46:27.93\00:46:29.93
on the beach or
on the mountain or on
00:46:29.93\00:46:32.20
the island wherever
it was on our vacation.
00:46:32.20\00:46:34.76
But soon the last day comes,
00:46:34.76\00:46:37.16
and then there are
those last days that require a
00:46:37.56\00:46:39.80
celebration. So, last day
00:46:39.80\00:46:42.83
of academy or college,
the last day before you
00:46:42.83\00:46:45.56
move into your new
home or a different car.
00:46:45.56\00:46:48.16
As humans we are
all too predictable,
00:46:48.16\00:46:50.86
we excitedly close the
chapter of our lives and
00:46:51.20\00:46:54.33
open a new one but
it's always meet with
00:46:54.33\00:46:56.53
just a little bit of fear.
00:46:56.53\00:46:58.03
Fear of what's to
come, fear of what the next
00:46:58.73\00:47:01.63
step is, fear of acclimating
00:47:01.63\00:47:03.96
to the new
environment, fear that we
00:47:03.96\00:47:05.80
won't make it.
But Jesus who shines
00:47:05.80\00:47:09.73
is our example
embrace each last day with
00:47:09.73\00:47:13.30
apparent confidence
and thus a lack of fear.
00:47:13.30\00:47:17.03
Think of his last
day in the carpenter shop
00:47:18.40\00:47:20.20
before going to the
river to be baptized.
00:47:20.20\00:47:22.53
Think of his last
embrace with his mother before
00:47:23.93\00:47:26.60
dying on the cross,
think of his last day
00:47:26.60\00:47:31.10
with his disciples
before returning to heaven.
00:47:31.10\00:47:35.16
But before any
of those last days,
00:47:37.23\00:47:39.56
there was a last
day that happened to our
00:47:41.36\00:47:43.00
creator in
heaven. Imagine with me
00:47:43.00\00:47:48.10
Jesus' last day in
heaven, the unfallen
00:47:48.10\00:47:52.56
representatives all
surrounded gathered in,
00:47:52.56\00:47:55.63
in a bit
curiosity. They embraced him
00:47:55.63\00:47:58.80
one last time,
will he actually go,
00:47:58.80\00:48:01.03
the angels bowed one
last time to their master
00:48:04.10\00:48:07.80
before he left.
And at some point he
00:48:07.80\00:48:11.60
embraced his Father
one more time before
00:48:11.60\00:48:15.70
embracing humanity
and there with heaven
00:48:15.70\00:48:19.50
portrayed in the
back on of his walk,
00:48:19.50\00:48:21.83
focusing on
earth the human race he
00:48:21.83\00:48:24.66
departed heaven.
Think of the sacrifice
00:48:24.66\00:48:29.06
he gave up, he knew he'd
00:48:29.06\00:48:33.30
be ridiculed, he knew he would
00:48:33.30\00:48:35.50
be laughed at,
he knew through the
00:48:35.50\00:48:37.63
bold preaching of the gospel he
00:48:37.63\00:48:39.53
would beheaded, he knew he would
00:48:39.53\00:48:42.03
come and his own
would receive him not.
00:48:42.03\00:48:44.50
He knew that spin on
it, beat him and eventually
00:48:46.13\00:48:50.53
crucify him, he could have
00:48:50.53\00:48:54.00
chose to stay in
heaven where the angels
00:48:54.00\00:48:56.00
would worship
him, but he didn't.
00:48:56.00\00:48:58.00
He could have chose
to stay in heaven where
00:48:58.76\00:49:00.70
all the unfallen
beings lovingly obeyed him,
00:49:00.70\00:49:03.23
but he didn't when
he walked out of heaven
00:49:03.23\00:49:07.46
to come to this
earth. He was thinking of
00:49:07.46\00:49:12.03
nothing but you,
he wasn't looking
00:49:12.03\00:49:15.86
back the Gabriel, the holy city,
00:49:15.86\00:49:20.33
the angels the
unfallen representatives.
00:49:21.46\00:49:24.66
He turned and
nurtures the human race
00:49:26.40\00:49:29.20
towards you, Ellen White in
00:49:29.20\00:49:31.93
the Desire of Ages
pronounces that Jesus did
00:49:31.93\00:49:34.90
not consider heaven
a place to desire while
00:49:34.90\00:49:38.23
he was here. When
Jesus left heaven,
00:49:38.23\00:49:42.26
he, excuse me when
Jesus left heaven he embraced
00:49:42.26\00:49:46.56
no turning back and
all the sacrifices and new
00:49:46.56\00:49:49.66
answers that went with
it. Friends when it comes
00:49:49.66\00:49:54.40
to his love for us,
he never looked back;
00:49:54.40\00:49:58.70
he had just one
desire your eternal destiny.
00:49:59.93\00:50:05.96
When Jesus asked you
and I in Luke 9 to follow
00:50:07.36\00:50:10.63
his commandments,
when he asks us to
00:50:10.63\00:50:13.46
put our hands to the
plow and not look back.
00:50:13.46\00:50:16.63
It's not like a
human saying do as I say,
00:50:17.36\00:50:19.93
he's asking us to
emulate our savior.
00:50:21.53\00:50:24.83
He's beckoning for
us to not turn back,
00:50:25.73\00:50:28.46
because he already
did. When Christ asks you
00:50:30.06\00:50:35.73
to follow him
will you? Will you?
00:50:35.73\00:50:40.76
It was a cold day in
the middle of February,
00:50:43.63\00:50:46.20
it was in Minnesota
and the wind was blowing,
00:50:48.50\00:50:51.43
the temperature
was far below zero.
00:50:52.40\00:50:54.60
For you and I it was
a day like any other,
00:50:56.30\00:50:58.90
you probably went by
without any eruptions,
00:51:01.70\00:51:04.36
interruptions but for
my Aunt Tracy it was a
00:51:04.36\00:51:08.66
day she had to
caringly and lovingly
00:51:08.66\00:51:12.13
approach her son.
See my little cousin
00:51:12.13\00:51:15.63
Weston had been
in enough of a battle
00:51:15.63\00:51:17.46
with cancer. He'd been in and
00:51:17.46\00:51:20.93
out of the hospitals many times,
00:51:20.93\00:51:23.30
through the chemo treatments,
00:51:25.43\00:51:27.76
through multiple
invasive surgeries.
00:51:27.76\00:51:30.26
That time see the
process had seemed as it
00:51:30.73\00:51:33.06
Weston was winning
the battle against cancer.
00:51:33.06\00:51:36.30
But on this particular
day in February my Aunt
00:51:38.16\00:51:40.83
had to tell her son
the battle was over.
00:51:40.83\00:51:44.30
The cancer was
terminal and soon he would die,
00:51:46.03\00:51:49.63
shortly, shortly after
hearing the news Weston
00:51:52.73\00:52:04.20
called for his
laptop. He been blogging
00:52:04.20\00:52:13.80
throughout the
fight, Weston logged in
00:52:13.80\00:52:20.16
for what end up,
ended up being hope
00:52:20.16\00:52:22.33
seekers last post. It was,
00:52:23.13\00:52:28.13
it's one of those
post I'd like to read with
00:52:28.13\00:52:30.30
you in closing.
May have been is last,
00:52:30.30\00:52:33.76
it may not have been,
see hope seeker wasn't
00:52:33.76\00:52:37.73
an old man peering down the vast
00:52:37.73\00:52:39.53
expense of his life,
He was my cousin Weston,
00:52:39.53\00:52:45.03
a 21 year old
because of the brain damage
00:52:46.53\00:52:51.33
school was tough,
at time fitting and
00:52:51.33\00:52:54.00
seemed awkward and
so I read another post
00:52:54.00\00:52:57.66
from hope seeker. A
21 year old boy all to
00:52:57.66\00:53:02.60
familiar with the pain
and agony of this world.
00:53:02.60\00:53:05.80
The dangers and
tribulations will
00:53:08.30\00:53:10.23
be coming, Only by living
00:53:10.23\00:53:13.23
with God and
living by His standards we
00:53:13.23\00:53:15.76
will be alive and
well. God's ways are too
00:53:15.76\00:53:21.30
great and too good
for a man to comprehend!
00:53:21.30\00:53:25.06
The Way the Truth
and Life will never be
00:53:26.30\00:53:28.60
tolerated in the
world, but never lose hope and
00:53:28.60\00:53:32.53
stand strong in the
Truth and your calling!
00:53:32.53\00:53:35.80
Carry your crosses
to the end of the road
00:53:37.00\00:53:40.00
and God make it all
well! I myself am going
00:53:40.00\00:53:44.03
through many crazy
and freaky trials and
00:53:44.03\00:53:46.86
I know only by trusting
God and following Jesus'
00:53:46.86\00:53:51.90
example I will be
able to live well and safe!
00:53:51.90\00:53:55.73
I personally am ready
to be a martyr and die
00:53:57.13\00:54:00.23
today for the calling
of God and do the right
00:54:00.23\00:54:03.70
things! I only
want to be in Heaven,
00:54:03.70\00:54:08.63
Be strong and well
in the Lord and remember
00:54:10.63\00:54:15.00
His promises! He has a wild and
00:54:15.00\00:54:19.16
nutty calling for
you! Are you willing
00:54:19.16\00:54:21.46
to go there? Amen,
00:54:21.46\00:54:23.30
or you just gonna
sit around and do noting?
00:54:24.30\00:54:26.96
He won't tolerate that either,
00:54:28.70\00:54:30.93
just so you
know! May God open your
00:54:31.56\00:54:35.90
hearts and make it
all well and have you able
00:54:35.90\00:54:40.10
to enter the
Kingdom in His glory!
00:54:40.10\00:54:43.23
God bless all your
souls and I only do what
00:54:44.70\00:54:48.90
I can to make
all well in the Lord!
00:54:48.90\00:54:52.60
Weston died a few days later,
00:54:54.63\00:54:56.53
etched on his
gravestone are the words he so
00:54:58.33\00:55:01.33
poetically
proclaimed. I have no regret
00:55:01.33\00:55:06.50
for the life God chose for me,
00:55:07.43\00:55:09.80
I have no regret for
the life God chose for me.
00:55:10.93\00:55:16.40
Life is tough,
but I have no regret
00:55:16.40\00:55:19.73
for the life God chose for me.
00:55:20.70\00:55:22.63
Weston fully
understood sacrifice;
00:55:24.26\00:55:27.30
he fully understood
what it meant to surrender
00:55:27.30\00:55:30.56
it all to God, no matter what's
00:55:30.56\00:55:33.03
going on in your life.
00:55:33.03\00:55:35.20
I still remember the
last time I visit him
00:55:39.46\00:55:41.06
in the hospital, my wife and I
00:55:41.06\00:55:43.90
entered the room and,
his family was gathered
00:55:43.90\00:55:48.60
around. Incidentally
they're not Adventist,
00:55:48.60\00:55:54.16
they're not
necessarily even Christian
00:55:55.70\00:55:58.53
at the times. But they were
00:55:58.53\00:56:01.60
gathered around Weston and he,
00:56:01.60\00:56:03.76
he was boldly
proclaiming messages from God.
00:56:04.90\00:56:08.90
We walked in and
there he's preaching from
00:56:09.53\00:56:11.80
his bedside, he's family nestled
00:56:11.80\00:56:15.70
around listening
intently. There were three
00:56:15.70\00:56:19.73
friends from his
school that came,
00:56:19.73\00:56:21.93
the nurse had even
stopped from what she was
00:56:21.93\00:56:24.26
doing and came to hear him.
00:56:24.26\00:56:26.90
And there he was
unfolding the truths
00:56:27.60\00:56:30.50
in the Bible, proclaiming God's
00:56:30.50\00:56:32.76
love for him, proclaiming his
00:56:32.76\00:56:34.86
absolute trust and faith in God,
00:56:34.86\00:56:37.26
despite what he
was going through.
00:56:37.26\00:56:39.50
And I remember them
getting to the end and one
00:56:41.70\00:56:44.03
of the boy said you know Weston;
00:56:44.03\00:56:45.60
I'm not going to have
to go to church on Sunday.
00:56:46.73\00:56:48.86
Because I just got my sermon,
00:56:48.86\00:56:50.53
to which he replied
with a little dissertation on
00:56:51.83\00:56:54.96
why Sabbath is it
Saturday was a day you
00:56:54.96\00:56:58.23
should go to church.
00:56:58.23\00:56:59.50
Weston knew wholeheartedly what
00:57:04.46\00:57:06.03
it meant to follow
him, even at times while it
00:57:06.03\00:57:10.36
was uncomfortable and uncommon.
00:57:10.36\00:57:13.36
He understood what it
meant to sacrifice and
00:57:13.93\00:57:18.60
he was unashamed
about the Bible truth and he
00:57:18.60\00:57:22.60
boldly proclaimed
them everywhere he went.
00:57:22.60\00:57:26.33
He knew without a
shadow of a doubt Jesus was
00:57:27.10\00:57:30.53
with him every step of the way.
00:57:30.53\00:57:33.30
I only want to be in Heaven,
00:57:34.16\00:57:37.20
when Christ came to
Weston and asked him
00:57:38.23\00:57:40.96
to follow him. He
unequivocally said yes,
00:57:40.96\00:57:45.03
when Christ asks you
to follow him will you?
00:57:46.90\00:57:52.16
Will you? Will you?
00:57:54.83\00:57:59.86