May GYC serve as
an example both to
00:00:11.80\00:00:16.03
other supporting
organizations and
00:00:16.03\00:00:18.40
denominationally organized
00:00:18.40\00:00:20.83
church structures
in showing cooperative
00:00:20.83\00:00:24.46
involvement in the
mission of the church,
00:00:24.46\00:00:27.83
an example to
Seventh day Adventists
00:00:27.83\00:00:30.20
of all ages?
Now, as we reflect on
00:00:30.20\00:00:34.56
cooperative mission involvement,
00:00:34.56\00:00:37.43
we can ask the
rhetorical question
00:00:37.43\00:00:39.93
posed or found in
Amos chapter 3, verse 3,
00:00:39.93\00:00:44.26
"Can two walk together,
00:00:44.26\00:00:46.56
unless they are agreed?"
00:00:46.56\00:00:48.33
Now, let me tell you,
00:00:48.33\00:00:50.36
the special
relationship that the
00:00:50.36\00:00:51.60
Seventh-day
Adventist Church share
00:00:51.60\00:00:53.50
with supporting
ministries like GYC
00:00:53.50\00:00:56.03
is possible only by
the commitment of each
00:00:56.03\00:01:00.10
to Christ and the prophetic work
00:01:00.10\00:01:02.86
with which He has entrusted us
00:01:02.86\00:01:04.86
in these last days.
There has never been
00:01:04.86\00:01:08.26
a more important
time to walk together
00:01:08.26\00:01:11.96
and to work
together as God's remnant
00:01:11.96\00:01:16.00
people then in
these last closing days
00:01:16.00\00:01:18.53
of earth's history.
00:01:18.53\00:01:19.53
We must take
seriously the instruction
00:01:19.53\00:01:22.10
in Hebrews chapter
10 verses 24 and 25,
00:01:22.10\00:01:26.26
"to consider one
another in order to
00:01:26.26\00:01:29.40
stir up love and good works,
00:01:29.40\00:01:31.96
not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves
00:01:31.96\00:01:34.93
together, as is
the manner of some,
00:01:34.93\00:01:37.13
but exhorting one another,
00:01:37.13\00:01:39.00
and so much the more as you see
00:01:39.00\00:01:41.00
the Day approaching."
00:01:41.00\00:01:43.93
I wanna tell you the
day is approaching, amen,
00:01:43.93\00:01:46.80
Jesus is coming.
00:01:46.80\00:01:47.80
Now, just a few
months ago at the
00:01:47.80\00:01:50.13
59th General Conference session,
00:01:50.13\00:01:52.30
in Atlanta, I shared
with the world church
00:01:52.30\00:01:55.10
my firm conviction that the Lord
00:01:55.10\00:01:57.40
has established the
Seventh-day Adventist
00:01:57.40\00:01:59.70
Church in these
last days to "Go Forward"
00:01:59.70\00:02:03.96
in faith and, by the power of
00:02:03.96\00:02:06.53
the Holy Spirit,
finish the work of proclaiming
00:02:06.53\00:02:10.00
the Three Angels' Messages
00:02:10.00\00:02:11.73
to the entire world.
00:02:11.73\00:02:13.63
Now, I believe it
is providential that
00:02:13.63\00:02:17.30
I'm speaking to you under GYC's
00:02:17.30\00:02:20.03
corresponding theme
of "No Turning Back."
00:02:20.03\00:02:25.40
There is no doubt in my mind
00:02:25.40\00:02:27.80
that the Lord is
bidding us as a people,
00:02:27.80\00:02:30.73
a remnant people
to "go forward" with
00:02:30.73\00:02:34.66
"no turning back." Amen.
00:02:34.66\00:02:37.83
In your walk with Christ,
00:02:37.83\00:02:39.76
turning even the
slightest bit from
00:02:39.76\00:02:44.63
absolute faithfulness to God
00:02:44.63\00:02:47.70
and His Word can have
disastrous consequences.
00:02:47.70\00:02:50.96
When Eve turned just slightly
00:02:50.96\00:02:53.86
from God's Word,
she left herself open
00:02:53.86\00:02:56.56
to the serpent's deceptions.
00:02:56.56\00:02:59.23
When Lot's wife turned her head
00:02:59.23\00:03:01.53
just one time for
a forbidden glance
00:03:01.53\00:03:04.23
at her former
home, she lost her life.
00:03:04.23\00:03:07.23
When the children of Israel
00:03:07.23\00:03:09.53
wanted to turn away
from the Promised Land
00:03:09.53\00:03:12.40
and turn back to Egypt,
00:03:12.40\00:03:13.73
their bodies were
left lying in the desert.
00:03:13.73\00:03:17.53
We must all live
out the counsel of Paul
00:03:17.53\00:03:20.83
who wrote in our
scripture reading
00:03:20.83\00:03:22.86
as it was read to us
Philippians 3:13 and 14:
00:03:22.86\00:03:26.40
"Brethren, I do not
count myself to have
00:03:26.40\00:03:28.83
apprehended; but one thing I do,
00:03:28.83\00:03:31.63
forgetting those
things which are behind
00:03:31.63\00:03:34.20
and reaching
forward to those things
00:03:34.20\00:03:37.03
which are ahead, I
press toward the goal
00:03:37.03\00:03:40.60
for the prize of
the upward call of God
00:03:40.60\00:03:44.13
in Christ Jesus.
" No turning back.
00:03:44.13\00:03:48.83
This was the walk
of faith experience
00:03:48.83\00:03:51.63
by Abel, Enoch,
Noah, Abraham, and Sarah.
00:03:51.63\00:03:56.30
In fact Hebrews
chapter 11:13 declares:
00:03:56.30\00:04:01.00
"These all died in faith,
00:04:01.00\00:04:04.33
not having
received the promises,
00:04:04.33\00:04:06.80
but having seen them
afar off were assured
00:04:06.80\00:04:10.03
were assured of
them, embraced them
00:04:10.03\00:04:11.70
and confessed that
they were strangers
00:04:11.70\00:04:13.90
and pilgrims on the earth."
00:04:13.90\00:04:15.86
Now, notice
carefully that though
00:04:15.86\00:04:19.50
they may have died
never seeing the fulfillment
00:04:19.50\00:04:23.40
of God's promises,
they nonetheless lived
00:04:23.40\00:04:26.40
with their eyes of
faith fastened to the promises
00:04:26.40\00:04:30.46
of God's Word. It
goes on to tell us
00:04:30.46\00:04:33.76
how they were able to maintain
00:04:33.76\00:04:35.26
this level of
commitment in verse 15. "
00:04:35.26\00:04:37.63
And truly if they
had called to mind
00:04:37.63\00:04:42.30
that that country
from which they had come,
00:04:42.30\00:04:44.70
they would have had
opportunity to return."
00:04:44.70\00:04:49.23
These great men
and women were heroes
00:04:49.23\00:04:52.33
of faith because they
never allowed the place
00:04:52.33\00:04:55.70
from which they came
out to occupy their minds.
00:04:55.70\00:04:59.63
Once they left, they
left with no turning back.
00:04:59.63\00:05:05.16
This
single-minded commitment to God
00:05:05.16\00:05:07.86
and a
straightforward understanding
00:05:07.86\00:05:10.80
of His Word was
the Lord's intent
00:05:10.80\00:05:13.40
for His chosen people, Israel.
00:05:13.40\00:05:15.63
Deuteronomy 5
verses 32 to 33, tell us:
00:05:15.63\00:05:21.80
"Therefore you
shall be careful to do
00:05:21.80\00:05:24.50
as the Lord your
God has commanded you;
00:05:24.50\00:05:26.33
you shall not turn
aside to the right hand
00:05:26.33\00:05:28.93
or to the left.
You shall walk in
00:05:28.93\00:05:31.76
all the ways
which the Lord your God
00:05:31.76\00:05:33.76
has commanded you,
00:05:33.76\00:05:34.83
that you may live
and that it may be well
00:05:34.83\00:05:37.26
with you, and that
you may prolong your days
00:05:37.26\00:05:40.60
in the land which
you shall possess."
00:05:40.60\00:05:43.93
As long as they
were unwavering in their
00:05:43.93\00:05:47.83
devotion to the
Lord and His Word,
00:05:47.83\00:05:51.93
success was
guaranteed. Yet instead,
00:05:51.93\00:05:56.20
repeatedly the
Lord's people exchanged
00:05:56.20\00:05:58.93
moving ahead in
faith with turning back
00:05:58.93\00:06:02.10
in fear. In Numbers
chapter 14 verses 3 and 4
00:06:02.10\00:06:07.80
we hear them exclaim:
00:06:07.80\00:06:08.96
"Why has the Lord
brought us to this land
00:06:08.96\00:06:13.20
to fall by the sword,
00:06:13.20\00:06:14.50
that our wives and
children should become
00:06:14.50\00:06:16.60
victims? Would it
not be better for us
00:06:16.60\00:06:18.93
to return to Egypt?
I've nothing against Egypt,
00:06:18.93\00:06:22.66
I think some of you
know I grew up in Egypt
00:06:22.66\00:06:24.66
and it's a wonderful country,
00:06:24.66\00:06:26.06
but unfortunately
they had been slaves there
00:06:26.06\00:06:29.00
and had a very
difficult experience.
00:06:29.00\00:06:31.20
But they wanted to return there.
00:06:31.20\00:06:32.73
So they said to one another,
00:06:32.73\00:06:34.03
'Let us select a
leader and return to Egypt.'
00:06:34.03\00:06:36.10
Many years later
in Second Timothy
00:06:36.10\00:06:39.46
chapter 4 verses 3 to 4,
00:06:39.46\00:06:42.13
the Apostle Paul instructed
00:06:42.13\00:06:44.03
his young protege, Timothy,
00:06:44.03\00:06:46.23
to preach the Word:
00:06:46.23\00:06:47.80
"For the time will
come when they will not
00:06:47.80\00:06:51.10
endure sound doctrine,
00:06:51.10\00:06:53.10
but according to
their own desires,
00:06:53.10\00:06:55.43
because they have itching ears,
00:06:55.43\00:06:57.83
they will heap up
for themselves teachers;
00:06:57.83\00:07:01.23
and they will turn their ears
00:07:01.23\00:07:03.33
away from the truth,
00:07:03.33\00:07:04.90
and be turned aside to fables."
00:07:04.90\00:07:07.86
Now, it's important
to note that in both
00:07:07.86\00:07:10.76
ancient Israel and
the Christian church,
00:07:10.76\00:07:13.76
God's people had
no problem submitting
00:07:13.76\00:07:17.60
to leadership just
as long as the leaders
00:07:17.60\00:07:21.06
capitulated to their
desire to be led away
00:07:21.06\00:07:25.76
from the Lord's commandments
00:07:25.76\00:07:27.50
and be turned back to the world
00:07:27.50\00:07:30.03
from which the
Lord had delivered them.
00:07:30.03\00:07:31.93
But this cannot be
for God's people now.
00:07:31.93\00:07:39.30
We must never
deviate from the direction
00:07:39.30\00:07:44.70
the Lord leads us
according to His Word.
00:07:44.70\00:07:49.66
Amen. The closer we come to the
00:07:49.66\00:07:52.30
second coming it
becomes more evident
00:07:52.30\00:07:55.40
why Jesus declared
Satan the ruler of this world.
00:07:55.40\00:07:59.50
As the stream of
modern culture rushes
00:07:59.50\00:08:03.46
headlong toward destruction,
00:08:03.46\00:08:05.83
standing firm on the
solid rock of Scripture
00:08:05.83\00:08:10.00
will make it
appear as though you are
00:08:10.00\00:08:12.66
removing yourself from society.
00:08:12.66\00:08:15.53
Yet seeking the approval of God
00:08:15.53\00:08:18.60
must always be
the single objective
00:08:18.60\00:08:22.36
of our lives
with no turning back.
00:08:22.36\00:08:27.10
In our
entertainment there must be no
00:08:27.10\00:08:33.30
turning back. Ever
increasing technological
00:08:33.30\00:08:37.56
advances are
becoming commonplace
00:08:37.56\00:08:39.60
in our society. For example,
00:08:39.60\00:08:41.46
how many of you
have sent or received
00:08:41.46\00:08:44.83
a text message in
the last 24 hours?
00:08:44.83\00:08:47.30
I would be so bold
as to say that a number
00:08:47.30\00:08:50.26
of you had even
texted while I've been
00:08:50.26\00:08:53.20
preaching here, amen.
00:08:53.20\00:08:54.20
My point is that
through modern technology
00:08:54.20\00:08:58.20
we have unlimited
access to literally
00:08:58.20\00:09:01.10
an entire world of communication
00:09:01.10\00:09:03.73
and media that, for
all its evangelistic
00:09:03.73\00:09:06.63
potential, is
often more detrimental
00:09:06.63\00:09:10.43
than beneficial to
our Christian walk. Amen.
00:09:10.43\00:09:13.13
Though we live
in the Internet age
00:09:13.13\00:09:15.36
and are almost
continually subjected
00:09:15.36\00:09:17.66
to the most powerful temptations
00:09:17.66\00:09:19.46
through
television, movies, music,
00:09:19.46\00:09:21.26
and literature, we
must always guard the
00:09:21.26\00:09:23.80
avenues of the soul.
00:09:23.80\00:09:25.56
Even in the 21st century,
00:09:25.56\00:09:27.73
Philippians 4
verse 8 is God's formula
00:09:27.73\00:09:33.66
for right thinking,
charging us to think
00:09:33.66\00:09:37.06
on only those
things that are true,
00:09:37.06\00:09:39.30
and noble, just, pure, lovely,
00:09:39.30\00:09:42.83
of good report, and virtuous.
00:09:42.83\00:09:44.86
Young people let
these Biblical principles
00:09:44.86\00:09:50.36
and the counsels of
inspiration in the Spirit
00:09:50.36\00:09:52.90
of Prophecy guide
you in your entertainment
00:09:52.90\00:09:56.83
choices. Amen.
00:09:56.83\00:09:58.93
In our personal relationships
00:09:58.93\00:10:00.80
there must be no turning back.
00:10:00.80\00:10:03.00
While we should
always be outgoing
00:10:03.00\00:10:06.00
and friendly to everyone,
00:10:06.00\00:10:07.30
I hope this afternoon people
00:10:07.30\00:10:09.53
are known throughout Baltimore
00:10:09.53\00:10:11.66
the Seventh-day Adventist church
00:10:11.66\00:10:13.36
is known as the
friendliest church
00:10:13.36\00:10:15.30
as you go door to door, amen.
00:10:15.30\00:10:17.26
However we must be discerning
00:10:17.26\00:10:19.43
and judicious about
those in whom we place
00:10:19.43\00:10:21.86
our personal confidence.
Our closest relationships
00:10:21.86\00:10:26.06
and are most
trusted relationships
00:10:26.06\00:10:27.83
and
companionships should be built
00:10:27.83\00:10:30.00
on the solid
foundation of a common faith
00:10:30.00\00:10:33.20
in God and the
truths of His Word.
00:10:33.20\00:10:36.16
After the instruction
of Second Corinthians
00:10:36.16\00:10:39.06
chapter 6, verse 14:
00:10:39.06\00:10:41.33
"Do not be
unequally yoked together
00:10:41.33\00:10:44.33
with unbelievers,"
the passage continues
00:10:44.33\00:10:47.50
with the salient
rhetorical questions,
00:10:47.50\00:10:50.26
"For what
fellowship has righteousness
00:10:50.26\00:10:53.00
with lawlessness?
And what communion
00:10:53.00\00:10:57.00
has light with darkness?"
00:10:57.00\00:10:59.20
Young people,
choose godly associates
00:10:59.20\00:11:04.50
who will encourage
your walk with Christ.
00:11:04.50\00:11:06.93
If you have any relationships,
00:11:06.93\00:11:09.13
platonic or romantic,
00:11:09.13\00:11:13.03
that are
displeasing to the Lord.
00:11:13.03\00:11:15.70
I implore you to
muster the holy boldness
00:11:15.70\00:11:20.90
to separate
yourself for their salvation
00:11:20.90\00:11:24.00
and for your own. Amen.
00:11:24.00\00:11:26.43
In our behavior there
must be no turning back.
00:11:26.43\00:11:29.16
Today much
encouragement is given
00:11:29.16\00:11:31.63
to behaviors that society deems
00:11:31.63\00:11:34.33
acceptable and I
say "acceptable,"
00:11:34.33\00:11:37.60
even laudable.
00:11:37.60\00:11:40.40
But these are things that the
00:11:40.40\00:11:42.96
Lord abhors. Promiscuity,
00:11:42.96\00:11:46.73
homosexuality,
violence, vulgarity,
00:11:46.73\00:11:52.16
overindulgence, greed, and pride
00:11:52.16\00:11:56.96
and all of these
are seen as normal
00:11:56.96\00:12:00.26
in current society
while a godly lifestyle
00:12:00.26\00:12:03.50
marked by purity and temperance
00:12:03.50\00:12:06.26
is ridiculed and mocked.
00:12:06.26\00:12:08.83
But young people do not let
00:12:08.83\00:12:11.96
that discourage you! For those
00:12:11.96\00:12:14.23
who would face the
struggles of a godly
00:12:14.23\00:12:16.43
life in an evil world,
00:12:16.43\00:12:18.03
the words of Jesus are recorded
00:12:18.03\00:12:20.10
in John chapter
15 verses 18 and 19:
00:12:20.10\00:12:23.60
"If the world hates you,
00:12:23.60\00:12:25.43
you know that it hated Me
00:12:25.43\00:12:27.13
before it hated you.
00:12:27.13\00:12:28.13
If you were of the world,
00:12:28.13\00:12:29.96
the world would love its own.
00:12:29.96\00:12:32.10
Yet because you
are not of the world,
00:12:32.10\00:12:34.73
but I chose you
out of the world,
00:12:34.73\00:12:37.10
therefore the world hates you."
00:12:37.10\00:12:39.56
What a blessing
to know that the Lord
00:12:39.56\00:12:44.06
never asks you to walk a path
00:12:44.06\00:12:46.00
He has not trod before.
00:12:46.00\00:12:48.93
What an encouragement is ours
00:12:48.93\00:12:52.16
when you read beautiful passages
00:12:52.16\00:12:53.20
like in Hebrews
chapter 4 verses 15
00:12:53.20\00:12:56.13
and 16 that: "we do
not have a High Priest
00:12:56.13\00:12:59.60
who cannot
sympathize with our weaknesses,
00:12:59.60\00:13:02.40
but was in all
points tempted as we are,
00:13:02.40\00:13:05.80
yet without sin.
Let us therefore come
00:13:05.80\00:13:10.90
boldly to the throne of grace
00:13:10.90\00:13:14.60
that we may obtain
mercy and find grace
00:13:14.60\00:13:17.06
to help in time of
need." Brothers and sisters,
00:13:17.06\00:13:21.70
the same Jesus who
has been where you are
00:13:21.70\00:13:25.30
and faced what you
faced has promised to give you
00:13:25.30\00:13:30.43
the strength you
need to walk with Him
00:13:30.43\00:13:33.46
victoriously. In
our diligence at work
00:13:33.46\00:13:38.43
and at school there
must be no turning back.
00:13:38.43\00:13:42.73
The Bible repeatedly
declares that our God
00:13:42.73\00:13:47.00
is a God of excellence.
As His representatives
00:13:47.00\00:13:50.53
who were originally made in
00:13:50.53\00:13:52.66
and are being
restored to His image,
00:13:52.66\00:13:55.60
we should strive
for the excellence
00:13:55.60\00:13:58.83
in all our
undertakings as a witness
00:13:58.83\00:14:01.90
for the glory of
God. Complacency, apathy,
00:14:01.90\00:14:06.96
and mediocrity at
home or in the school
00:14:06.96\00:14:11.83
should never be seen in
the life of a Christian.
00:14:11.83\00:14:15.30
I am reminded of
the prophet Daniel
00:14:15.30\00:14:18.73
whose excellence in
all things won the favor of
00:14:18.73\00:14:22.36
the King and the
envy of his peers.
00:14:22.36\00:14:25.10
In Daniel
chapter 6 verse 4 we read
00:14:25.10\00:14:28.76
the following: "So the governors
00:14:28.76\00:14:31.63
and satraps sought
to find some charge
00:14:31.63\00:14:34.00
against Daniel
concerning the kingdom;
00:14:34.00\00:14:36.26
but they could
find no charge or fault,
00:14:36.26\00:14:38.76
because he was faithful;
00:14:38.76\00:14:40.90
nor was there any
error or fault found in him."
00:14:40.90\00:14:45.33
I like the way the words are
00:14:45.33\00:14:49.23
indicated in the New
America Standard Bible,
00:14:49.23\00:14:53.06
that "no
negligence or corruption
00:14:53.06\00:14:57.23
was to be found in him."
00:14:57.23\00:15:00.40
Not only was Daniel's life free
00:15:00.40\00:15:03.46
from corruption, it was
also free of negligence.
00:15:03.46\00:15:08.43
This combination of
integrity and diligence
00:15:08.43\00:15:12.13
was a witness
for the glory of God.
00:15:12.13\00:15:14.70
And I pray that
Daniel's legacy of excellence
00:15:14.70\00:15:18.20
is seen in the
lives of each young person
00:15:18.20\00:15:22.00
in the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:15:22.00\00:15:23.90
as we finish the work of God
00:15:23.90\00:15:25.73
and hasten the coming of Christ.
00:15:25.73\00:15:27.80
In our pursuit of science
00:15:27.80\00:15:31.00
there must be no turning back.
00:15:31.00\00:15:33.93
In recent years
great concern has developed
00:15:33.93\00:15:38.53
about the relationship
of science to Scripture.
00:15:38.53\00:15:41.10
The Lord desires us to consider
00:15:41.10\00:15:43.53
all aspects of His
creation from biology
00:15:43.53\00:15:47.70
and geology to psychology
00:15:47.70\00:15:49.83
and sociology. However,
00:15:49.83\00:15:51.56
we must always keep in mind
00:15:51.56\00:15:55.36
that for every
truth God has established,
00:15:55.36\00:15:58.86
Satan conjures a counterfeit
00:15:58.86\00:16:01.83
in an effort to turn minds away
00:16:01.83\00:16:04.73
from understanding
the will and works of God.
00:16:04.73\00:16:09.30
Nothing could improve
on what has already been
00:16:09.30\00:16:15.70
written by heavenly inspiration
00:16:15.70\00:16:17.53
in the little book called
00:16:17.53\00:16:19.33
"The Faith I Live By,"
00:16:19.33\00:16:21.03
which is incredibly pertinent
00:16:21.03\00:16:24.23
information for us today.
00:16:24.23\00:16:25.66
"To many,
scientific research has become
00:16:25.66\00:16:30.10
a curse. God has
permitted a flood of
00:16:30.10\00:16:32.80
light to be
poured upon the world
00:16:32.80\00:16:34.56
in discoveries
of science and art.
00:16:34.56\00:16:36.90
But even the greatest minds,
00:16:36.90\00:16:39.70
if not guided by the Word of God
00:16:39.70\00:16:41.96
in their
research, become bewildered
00:16:41.96\00:16:45.73
in their attempts to investigate
00:16:45.73\00:16:47.53
the relations of
science and revelation.
00:16:47.53\00:16:50.53
God is the
foundation of everything.
00:16:50.53\00:16:55.10
All true science is in
harmony with His works;
00:16:55.10\00:17:01.06
let me repeat
that, all true science
00:17:01.06\00:17:05.30
is in harmony with His works,
00:17:05.30\00:17:07.00
all true
education leads to obedience
00:17:07.00\00:17:09.56
to His
government. Science opens new
00:17:09.56\00:17:12.43
wonders to our
view; she soars high,
00:17:12.43\00:17:15.16
and explores new depths;
00:17:15.16\00:17:17.13
but she brings nothing from her
00:17:17.13\00:17:19.60
research that conflicts
with divine revelation."
00:17:19.60\00:17:24.13
Amen. Believe it young people,
00:17:24.13\00:17:26.56
I urge all those who are engaged
00:17:26.56\00:17:29.16
in scientific
pursuits either as students,
00:17:29.16\00:17:31.83
educators,
researchers, or practitioners
00:17:31.83\00:17:35.00
to heed this counsel
as you seek to explore
00:17:35.00\00:17:39.06
the wonders of God's creation.
00:17:39.06\00:17:41.43
And the way we
dress there must be
00:17:41.43\00:17:45.43
no turning back:
Jesus was highly-respected
00:17:45.43\00:17:48.73
and deeply-loved while having
00:17:48.73\00:17:50.33
what Isaiah
chapter 53 verse 2 says:
00:17:50.33\00:17:54.36
"There was no
beauty that we should
00:17:54.36\00:17:56.93
desire Him." In
all matters of life,
00:17:56.93\00:18:00.96
Christ is to be
our ultimate example
00:18:00.96\00:18:03.03
of Christian
appearance. Of course,
00:18:03.03\00:18:07.20
you know we're
aware that there are those
00:18:07.20\00:18:10.00
who go to extremes on either end
00:18:10.00\00:18:12.10
of this issue.
Some conform entirely
00:18:12.10\00:18:15.66
to the world, while others seem
00:18:15.66\00:18:19.46
to go out of their
way to be so unnecessarily
00:18:19.46\00:18:23.60
peculiar as to be purposefully
00:18:23.60\00:18:26.46
unattractive!
Neither one of these extremes
00:18:26.46\00:18:31.00
is right. Amen. Listen carefully
00:18:31.00\00:18:33.73
to the inspired
balance on this issue
00:18:33.73\00:18:36.20
found in Selected Messages,
00:18:36.20\00:18:37.76
book 3, page 245:
00:18:37.76\00:18:39.83
"We do not discourage taste
00:18:39.83\00:18:43.20
and neatness in dress.
00:18:43.20\00:18:45.20
Correct taste in
dress is not to be
00:18:45.20\00:18:47.80
despised or condemned."
00:18:47.80\00:18:50.23
Now, it goes on to
say in the same page,
00:18:50.23\00:18:52.80
"Self-denial in
dress is a part of our
00:18:52.80\00:18:56.76
Christian duty.
To dress plainly,
00:18:56.76\00:18:59.90
abstaining from
display of jewelry
00:18:59.90\00:19:03.03
and ornaments of every kind
00:19:03.03\00:19:04.90
is in keeping
with our faith." Amen.
00:19:04.90\00:19:09.33
Young people please
use these principles
00:19:09.33\00:19:13.30
from Scripture, and
the counsel from the Spirit
00:19:13.30\00:19:15.56
of Prophecy, and
the example of Jesus
00:19:15.56\00:19:18.86
as you choose what to wear
00:19:18.86\00:19:21.36
that will best
witness for the Creator
00:19:21.36\00:19:23.83
God you serve.
Amen. In our stewardship
00:19:23.83\00:19:27.80
there must be no turning back:
00:19:27.80\00:19:30.26
I hope that all
of you've been taught
00:19:30.26\00:19:32.76
somewhere along the line at home
00:19:32.76\00:19:34.66
or in church how to
manage your God-given
00:19:34.66\00:19:37.36
resources correctly.
00:19:37.36\00:19:39.26
Be good stewards of your money.
00:19:39.26\00:19:42.73
Faithfully
return the Lord's tithe
00:19:42.73\00:19:45.73
and give of your
freewill offerings.
00:19:45.73\00:19:48.70
Be good stewards of your body.
00:19:48.70\00:19:51.20
Consistently care
for yourself according
00:19:51.20\00:19:54.23
to God's
practical and healthy eight
00:19:54.23\00:19:56.90
natural remedies:
healthy vegetarian diet,
00:19:56.90\00:20:00.33
consistent exercise,
drinking enough water,
00:20:00.33\00:20:04.10
adequate sunlight,
abstaining from alcohol,
00:20:04.10\00:20:07.46
tobacco, and illicit drugs,
00:20:07.46\00:20:09.00
enjoying fresh air,
00:20:09.00\00:20:10.76
getting appropriate rest,
00:20:10.76\00:20:12.63
and trust in divine power.
00:20:12.63\00:20:14.20
Amen, let me tell you as someone
00:20:14.20\00:20:17.20
who is busy
traveling around the world
00:20:17.20\00:20:20.26
and doing all kinds
of things that seem good,
00:20:20.26\00:20:22.83
I need to pay
attention to that myself.
00:20:22.83\00:20:25.70
Amen, all of us do
to be good stewards
00:20:25.70\00:20:28.56
of God's beautiful creation.
00:20:28.56\00:20:31.96
Be good stewards of your time:
00:20:31.96\00:20:33.90
Make sure that you
set aside special time
00:20:33.90\00:20:36.83
each day for
prayer and for study.
00:20:36.83\00:20:40.66
Again I commend the young people
00:20:40.66\00:20:43.30
for what they did last night
00:20:43.30\00:20:44.53
and what they have
been doing for the prayer
00:20:44.53\00:20:46.73
time that you
have been engaged in.
00:20:46.73\00:20:49.06
Furthermore, keep
in mind that while you
00:20:49.06\00:20:53.50
have been given
six days to labor
00:20:53.50\00:20:55.46
and do all your work,
00:20:55.46\00:20:56.63
the seventh-day is the Sabbath
00:20:56.63\00:20:58.63
of the Lord your God.
00:20:58.63\00:21:00.83
Too often we see
Seventh-day Adventists,
00:21:00.83\00:21:04.46
I'm not condemning people,
00:21:04.46\00:21:06.03
I'm just saying this is reality
00:21:06.03\00:21:07.63
we see them
remembering that the Sabbath
00:21:07.63\00:21:11.30
exists but forgetting
to keep it holy. Amen.
00:21:11.30\00:21:16.26
I have to admit sometimes
00:21:16.26\00:21:19.33
I'm part of
that, how do we guard
00:21:19.33\00:21:22.90
the edges of the Sabbath.
00:21:22.90\00:21:25.40
The Sabbath is the seal of God's
00:21:25.40\00:21:28.10
authority, the
memorial of God's recent
00:21:28.10\00:21:30.26
creative power capping
six literal, consecutive,
00:21:30.26\00:21:34.13
contiguous days of
creating this earth
00:21:34.13\00:21:37.26
with the marvelous
seventh-day Sabbath,
00:21:37.26\00:21:39.73
the beautiful crowning act.
00:21:39.73\00:21:43.03
It demonstrates
His redemptive power,
00:21:43.03\00:21:45.80
a weekly invitation to
draw near to Him. Amen.
00:21:45.80\00:21:50.33
And it is and will
be the end-time sign
00:21:50.33\00:21:55.70
of God's faithful people. Amen.
00:21:55.70\00:21:58.93
Resist the
temptation to abuse the
00:21:58.93\00:22:02.06
Sabbath as merely
free time to do whatever
00:22:02.06\00:22:05.76
you like. Keep it holy through
00:22:05.76\00:22:08.30
God's power by ceasing
your normal activities,
00:22:08.30\00:22:11.86
by making necessary
preparations beforehand,
00:22:11.86\00:22:15.33
worshiping the
Lord and fellow shipping
00:22:15.33\00:22:17.90
with believers in church,
00:22:17.90\00:22:19.60
ministering to
the spiritual needs
00:22:19.60\00:22:21.96
of others, and
enjoying God's marvelous
00:22:21.96\00:22:24.50
handiwork in nature.
00:22:24.50\00:22:26.50
By these simple
stewardship practices,
00:22:26.50\00:22:30.10
you will
continually find in the mercies
00:22:30.10\00:22:33.06
of the Lord enough time,
00:22:33.06\00:22:35.73
enough money,
and enough strength,
00:22:35.73\00:22:39.70
not only for your daily needs
00:22:39.70\00:22:41.96
but also for use in
the cause of the Lord.
00:22:41.96\00:22:46.26
In our spiritual revivals there
00:22:46.26\00:22:50.10
must be no
turning back: On March 22,
00:22:50.10\00:22:53.73
1887 Ellen White
wrote the following
00:22:53.73\00:22:57.36
words in an
article for the Review
00:22:57.36\00:22:59.23
and Herald entitled
"The Church's Great Need:"
00:22:59.23\00:23:03.70
"A revival of true
godliness among us is
00:23:03.70\00:23:08.60
the greatest and most
urgent of all our needs.
00:23:08.60\00:23:12.43
To seek this
should be our first work."
00:23:12.43\00:23:16.16
Now, today I praise
the Lord that so many
00:23:16.16\00:23:20.20
Seventh-day
Adventists are earnestly seeking
00:23:20.20\00:23:22.30
the Lord's blessing
and praying for a genuine
00:23:22.30\00:23:25.20
revival and reformation
in the lives individually
00:23:25.20\00:23:29.53
and in the church collectively.
00:23:29.53\00:23:31.26
But we must remain alert,
00:23:31.26\00:23:35.50
because as we
have already mentioned,
00:23:35.50\00:23:37.80
the devil has a counterfeit
00:23:37.80\00:23:39.90
for every truth of God.
00:23:39.90\00:23:41.43
We have been
cautioned both in the Bible
00:23:41.43\00:23:44.10
and in the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:23:44.10\00:23:45.83
that in these last days Satan
00:23:45.83\00:23:48.13
will unleash false revivals,
00:23:48.13\00:23:51.73
revivals of his own
kind in an effort to deceive,
00:23:51.73\00:23:57.33
if possible,
even the very elect.
00:23:57.33\00:24:00.26
Ellen White wrote
pointedly to these
00:24:00.26\00:24:03.26
very things that we actually
00:24:03.26\00:24:05.56
see in our world today
moving within our ranks.
00:24:05.56\00:24:09.26
In Selected
Messages, volume 2, page 23
00:24:09.26\00:24:13.56
we read: "We are in continual
00:24:13.56\00:24:16.80
danger of getting
above the simplicity
00:24:16.80\00:24:19.80
of the gospel. Can I underscore
00:24:19.80\00:24:22.30
that to you my
dear friends of GYC
00:24:22.30\00:24:24.63
the simplicity
of the gospel. Amen.
00:24:24.63\00:24:27.06
Adventist, Seventh day Adventist
00:24:27.06\00:24:31.33
are simple
people, not simplistic,
00:24:31.33\00:24:34.16
simple people in their lifestyle
00:24:34.16\00:24:36.90
and in their
worship to the Lord,
00:24:36.90\00:24:39.36
but we are in
danger of getting above
00:24:39.36\00:24:43.10
the simplicity of the Gospel.
00:24:43.10\00:24:44.40
There is an intense desire
00:24:44.40\00:24:45.73
on the part of many
to startle the world
00:24:45.73\00:24:47.76
and I'm quoting here
00:24:47.76\00:24:49.30
"startle the world with some,
00:24:49.30\00:24:50.83
something
original, that shall lift
00:24:50.83\00:24:53.20
the people into a
state of spiritual ecstasy,
00:24:53.20\00:24:56.03
and change the
present order of experience."
00:24:56.03\00:24:58.13
There is certainly
great need and I'm quoting:
00:24:58.13\00:25:01.00
"There is certainly
great need of a change
00:25:01.00\00:25:02.83
in the present
order of experience,
00:25:02.83\00:25:05.26
for the
sacredness of present truth
00:25:05.26\00:25:08.23
is not realized as it should be,
00:25:08.23\00:25:10.43
but the change we
need is a change of heart,
00:25:10.43\00:25:15.96
amen. And can only
be obtained by seeking
00:25:15.96\00:25:19.36
God individually
for His blessing,
00:25:19.36\00:25:23.20
by pleading with
Him for His power,
00:25:23.20\00:25:25.66
by fervently
praying that His grace
00:25:25.66\00:25:27.76
may come upon us,
00:25:27.76\00:25:28.80
and that our
characters may be transformed.
00:25:28.80\00:25:32.60
This is the
change we need today,
00:25:32.60\00:25:36.26
and for the
attainment of this experience
00:25:36.26\00:25:39.40
we should
exercise persevering energy
00:25:39.40\00:25:43.43
and manifest
heartfelt earnestness."
00:25:43.43\00:25:47.46
What an appeal
from God's servant?
00:25:47.46\00:25:50.50
And why is it that
the General Conference
00:25:50.50\00:25:53.40
another church organization
00:25:53.40\00:25:55.30
and hopefully your
local church are lifting up
00:25:55.30\00:25:59.16
the theme of
"Revival and Reformation."
00:25:59.16\00:26:02.50
Why do we have
materials and seminars
00:26:02.50\00:26:04.90
on revival and reformation?
00:26:04.90\00:26:06.46
Why do we have websites like
00:26:06.46\00:26:08.26
revivalandreformation.org
that offer
00:26:08.26\00:26:11.56
vital
information? Why do we have a
00:26:11.56\00:26:14.00
General Conference Revival
00:26:14.00\00:26:15.33
and Reformation Committee?
00:26:15.33\00:26:16.86
Is it just a lot of
bureaucratic propaganda
00:26:16.86\00:26:20.20
and promotion?
00:26:20.20\00:26:21.70
No, it is for one
purpose and one purpose
00:26:21.70\00:26:26.90
alone to focus
our attention on our
00:26:26.90\00:26:31.43
greatest need which
is a need for Jesus.
00:26:31.43\00:26:35.03
Amen. His grace and His power
00:26:35.03\00:26:37.20
in our lives
through the word of God
00:26:37.20\00:26:39.66
and the Holy
Spirit so that we can
00:26:39.66\00:26:42.33
be reformed and remade, amen,
00:26:42.33\00:26:45.23
individually and
corporately and become
00:26:45.23\00:26:48.26
more and more like Jesus. Amen.
00:26:48.26\00:26:52.70
As the
Laodicean Church described
00:26:52.70\00:26:57.20
in Revelation chapter 3:
00:26:57.20\00:26:59.16
We desperately
need God's "gold tried
00:26:59.16\00:27:04.00
in the fire." The
white raiment of Christ
00:27:04.00\00:27:07.06
pure robe of righteousness
00:27:07.06\00:27:08.93
and the eyes have of God's power
00:27:08.93\00:27:12.53
so that we can see clearly.
00:27:12.53\00:27:15.26
God wants to do
something very special
00:27:15.26\00:27:18.13
in His church as we
come to the very end
00:27:18.13\00:27:21.36
of time. We realize
that he wants to revive
00:27:21.36\00:27:24.90
and reform and renew His people,
00:27:24.90\00:27:28.20
He wants His people to proclaim
00:27:28.20\00:27:30.23
the three angels messages
00:27:30.23\00:27:31.50
with latter rain power.
00:27:31.50\00:27:33.63
He wants His
people to fully know
00:27:33.63\00:27:35.63
the word of God, young people,
00:27:35.63\00:27:38.76
you are to be a
vital part of this
00:27:38.76\00:27:42.90
great movement,
we want to go home,
00:27:42.90\00:27:46.13
no turning back. Amen.
00:27:46.13\00:27:49.63
I am so glad
that your GYC leaders,
00:27:49.63\00:27:52.00
I just commend them,
00:27:52.00\00:27:53.06
I'm just excited
that they have placed
00:27:53.06\00:27:55.46
on each of your seats
and I hope you have your
00:27:55.46\00:27:58.26
copy of this exciting book
00:27:58.26\00:28:00.43
"True Revival The
Church's Greatest Need,"
00:28:00.43\00:28:04.26
it's a compilation of
the writings of Ellen White.
00:28:04.26\00:28:07.33
And I highly encourage
each of you to read it,
00:28:07.33\00:28:10.50
underline it, and
follow the counsel of this
00:28:10.50\00:28:13.90
wonderful Spirit
of Prophecy book.
00:28:13.90\00:28:16.36
I'm personally
doing that myself.
00:28:16.36\00:28:20.30
And those of you who
are watching on television
00:28:20.30\00:28:23.13
or hearing this or
seeing it on Internet
00:28:23.13\00:28:25.73
and don't have a copy
of this marvelous book,
00:28:25.73\00:28:28.53
be sure to get a copy from the
00:28:28.53\00:28:30.50
Adventist Book
Center, or your conference,
00:28:30.50\00:28:32.76
or the Review and
Herald Publishing Association.
00:28:32.76\00:28:35.40
Over 150,000 copies
of this important book
00:28:35.40\00:28:40.26
have already been sold.
00:28:40.26\00:28:41.36
Let's blanket the
world with multiple thousands
00:28:41.36\00:28:45.86
more in various languages.
00:28:45.86\00:28:48.03
Let us also
distribute by the millions
00:28:48.03\00:28:51.26
other Spirit of
Prophecy books including
00:28:51.26\00:28:54.13
Steps to Christ,
The Desire of Ages,
00:28:54.13\00:28:57.30
Christ's Object Lessons,
00:28:57.30\00:28:58.96
and the one
book that Ellen White
00:28:58.96\00:29:02.53
wished distributed
more than any other,
00:29:02.53\00:29:06.60
The Great Controversy, amen,
00:29:06.60\00:29:09.60
no turning back. Amen.
00:29:09.60\00:29:12.73
In our confidence, in
the Spirit of Prophecy
00:29:12.73\00:29:16.63
there must be no
turning back: Amen.
00:29:16.63\00:29:20.00
Among some of our church members
00:29:20.00\00:29:21.40
there is a tendency to downplay
00:29:21.40\00:29:23.16
or even dismiss the
counsels of the Spirit
00:29:23.16\00:29:26.20
of Prophecy. We
hear today that while
00:29:26.20\00:29:29.23
the writings of
Ellen White may have some
00:29:29.23\00:29:31.90
devotional value
we should not let her
00:29:31.90\00:29:35.66
"limited
19th-century perspective"
00:29:35.66\00:29:39.90
shape our 21st
century understanding
00:29:39.90\00:29:44.26
of Bible truth. But I believe,
00:29:44.26\00:29:49.13
and the Seventh
day Adventist Church
00:29:49.13\00:29:52.46
firmly and
unashamedly upholds that the
00:29:52.46\00:29:57.90
Spirit of
Prophecy is one of God's
00:29:57.90\00:30:00.93
greatest gifts to His end-time
00:30:00.93\00:30:03.30
remnant people. Amen.
00:30:03.30\00:30:05.46
Trust the Word of the God,
00:30:05.46\00:30:07.90
trust the Word of
the Lord and follow
00:30:08.63\00:30:12.00
the counsel of
His humble messenger,
00:30:12.00\00:30:14.90
Ellen White. Amen.
Listen to me carefully,
00:30:15.50\00:30:19.33
let no one, local
church leader, pastor,
00:30:20.73\00:30:27.30
teacher,
administrator, magazine or
00:30:28.33\00:30:33.46
literature or
anyone turn you away from
00:30:33.46\00:30:39.10
that complete
absolute trust and confidence
00:30:39.10\00:30:44.03
in the Spirit of
Prophecy. Amen. Because
00:30:44.03\00:30:47.76
the Spirit of
Prophecy points to the
00:30:47.76\00:30:50.73
Bible as God's
authoritative Word! Amen.
00:30:50.73\00:30:56.86
Today I echo
Paul's challenge in First
00:30:57.50\00:30:59.76
Thessalonians
chapter 5 verses 19 and 20:
00:30:59.76\00:31:05.00
"Do not quench the Spirit.
00:31:06.20\00:31:07.90
Do not despise prophecies."
00:31:07.90\00:31:11.13
And in Selected
Messages, Book 1,
00:31:12.16\00:31:14.36
P. 48 we read the
following, now this is,
00:31:14.36\00:31:20.20
this is so
pertinent for today it is,
00:31:20.20\00:31:22.53
it is unbelievably realistic.
00:31:22.53\00:31:24.96
"There will be a
hatred kindled against
00:31:24.96\00:31:27.63
the testimonies,
now those are the
00:31:27.63\00:31:29.66
testimonies to the
church written through
00:31:29.66\00:31:33.90
inspiration by God,
against the testimony
00:31:33.90\00:31:37.60
which is satanic.
The workings of Satan
00:31:37.60\00:31:40.73
will be to
unsettle the faith of the
00:31:40.73\00:31:42.83
churches in
them, for this reason,
00:31:42.83\00:31:45.33
here it is: Satan cannot have
00:31:46.10\00:31:49.03
so clear a track to
bring in his deceptions
00:31:49.03\00:31:52.26
and bind up souls
in his delusions if the
00:31:52.26\00:31:55.03
warnings and
reproofs and counsels of the
00:31:55.03\00:31:57.43
Spirit of God are heeded." Amen.
00:31:57.43\00:32:00.56
My friends, though some around
00:32:02.06\00:32:04.96
you may fall away,
for the safety of your
00:32:04.96\00:32:10.03
own soul I plead
with you to stay faithful.
00:32:10.03\00:32:14.86
Amen. Let neither
the subtle doubts nor
00:32:14.86\00:32:18.00
the open ridicule of
friends and family or
00:32:18.00\00:32:21.60
anyone else turn
you away from the truth
00:32:21.60\00:32:25.46
of God and what
he has shared with us
00:32:25.46\00:32:29.60
through his chosen
servant, Ellen G. White.
00:32:29.60\00:32:32.43
Just read the Spirit
of Prophecy and you will
00:32:33.06\00:32:37.30
see God's guidance in
what is written. Amen.
00:32:37.30\00:32:40.93
Such consistent
faithfulness to Christ
00:32:40.93\00:32:43.46
and His Word is
only possible through the
00:32:43.46\00:32:45.70
power of the Holy
Spirit. The level of spiritual
00:32:45.70\00:32:49.46
vitality to which
we are called is not
00:32:49.46\00:32:52.10
something that can be
achieve by human effort.
00:32:52.10\00:32:55.93
We must, in all that we do,
00:32:56.70\00:32:58.46
rely on the Spirit
of God to work in our
00:32:58.66\00:33:00.66
hearts so that
among God's faithful
00:33:00.66\00:33:02.60
remnant there will
be no turning back,
00:33:02.60\00:33:06.10
no turning
aside, no turning left,
00:33:06.50\00:33:09.50
no turning
right, no turning away,
00:33:09.50\00:33:11.96
no returning to
the world whatsoever.
00:33:11.96\00:33:14.46
Friends, God is
calling you to go forward in
00:33:15.40\00:33:19.00
faith until we
reach what Ephesians
00:33:19.00\00:33:21.43
chapter 4 verse 13
calls: "The measure of the
00:33:21.43\00:33:26.30
stature of the
fullness of Christ." Amen.
00:33:26.30\00:33:29.20
While society
bombards you with the
00:33:29.20\00:33:30.93
idea that youth is
a time for reckless
00:33:30.93\00:33:34.00
self- indulgence, God's
Word declares otherwise.
00:33:34.00\00:33:37.83
Paul's counsel to
young Timothy in First
00:33:38.53\00:33:41.26
Timothy 4:12 is
my counsel for all
00:33:41.26\00:33:44.43
Seventh-day
Adventist young people
00:33:44.43\00:33:46.50
whether here in Baltimore or
00:33:46.80\00:33:49.53
around the world.
"Let no one despise
00:33:49.53\00:33:54.00
your youth, but be an example
00:33:54.00\00:33:56.56
to the believers
in word, in conduct,
00:33:56.56\00:33:59.30
in love, in spirit,
in faith, in purity."
00:33:59.30\00:34:01.76
It is my prayer that
the greatest examples
00:34:02.10\00:34:04.83
of our faith and
lifestyle shown to the
00:34:04.83\00:34:07.96
world will be the youth of the
00:34:07.96\00:34:10.46
Seventh-day
Adventist Church. Amen.
00:34:10.46\00:34:13.20
The same God that
is calling you to go
00:34:13.43\00:34:15.13
forward in faith
with no turning back is
00:34:15.13\00:34:17.93
the God who established the
00:34:17.93\00:34:19.60
Seventh-day
Adventist Church as His
00:34:19.60\00:34:21.70
remnant people with a mandate to
00:34:21.70\00:34:23.56
proclaim the
Three Angels' Messages
00:34:23.56\00:34:26.40
to every nation,
tribe, tongue, and people.
00:34:26.40\00:34:28.93
This far-reaching and seemingly
00:34:29.73\00:34:31.80
insurmountable
goal cannot be attained
00:34:32.26\00:34:36.43
haphazardly but
must be accomplished
00:34:37.13\00:34:39.90
in an organized manner and with
00:34:39.90\00:34:42.30
the full
cooperation of both full-time
00:34:42.30\00:34:45.06
church workers and
dedicated lay members.
00:34:45.06\00:34:49.00
We are told
clearly in Gospel Workers,
00:34:49.40\00:34:51.20
page 352: "The
work of God in this
00:34:51.20\00:34:54.90
earth can never be
finished until the men
00:34:54.90\00:34:57.43
and women comprising our church
00:34:57.43\00:35:00.30
membership rally to the work,
00:35:00.30\00:35:02.73
and unite their
efforts with those
00:35:03.10\00:35:05.30
of ministers and
church officers."
00:35:05.30\00:35:08.96
This method of
work is not unique to
00:35:10.46\00:35:13.00
our time as we can
see that same expectation
00:35:13.00\00:35:17.50
of cooperative
effort in the history
00:35:17.50\00:35:19.80
of both ancient
Israel and the early
00:35:19.80\00:35:21.86
Christian church. For instance,
00:35:21.86\00:35:23.86
although there
were clearly prescribed
00:35:24.76\00:35:26.83
roles for the
leaders of Israel's
00:35:26.83\00:35:29.63
spiritual economy,
each citizen of that
00:35:29.63\00:35:33.93
chosen nation
was still expected to
00:35:33.93\00:35:37.86
be individually
faithful to the Lord.
00:35:37.86\00:35:41.30
In the book Exodus
chapter 19 verses 5 to 7
00:35:43.03\00:35:46.83
we read the Lord's
instructions to the
00:35:47.46\00:35:49.00
children of Israel
just prior to His giving
00:35:49.00\00:35:52.46
of the Ten
Commandments: "Now therefore,
00:35:52.46\00:35:55.86
if you will indeed
obey My voice and keep
00:35:56.50\00:36:00.06
My covenant, then you shall be a
00:36:00.06\00:36:02.73
special treasure to
Me above all people;
00:36:02.73\00:36:05.20
for all the earth is Mine.
00:36:05.20\00:36:06.83
And you shall be
to Me a kingdom of
00:36:07.20\00:36:10.00
priests and a holy nation."
00:36:10.00\00:36:12.33
Similarly in the
Christian church,
00:36:13.80\00:36:15.73
the same
requirements for every member
00:36:16.60\00:36:18.80
to work individually
for the cause of the
00:36:18.80\00:36:21.96
movement
remained. In his instruction
00:36:21.96\00:36:25.80
to the New
Testament body of believers,
00:36:25.80\00:36:28.30
the Apostle Peter
echoed that which is
00:36:28.30\00:36:31.33
found in the
book of Exodus when he
00:36:31.33\00:36:33.70
declared in
First Peter 2 verse 9 ,
00:36:33.70\00:36:36.86
" You are a chosen generation,
00:36:37.80\00:36:39.50
a royal
priesthood, a holy nation,
00:36:40.30\00:36:43.56
His own special
people, that you may proclaim
00:36:44.13\00:36:47.10
the praises of
Him who called you
00:36:47.10\00:36:48.93
out of darkness into
His marvelous light."
00:36:48.93\00:36:52.36
This counsel
wasn't addressed merely
00:36:53.80\00:36:56.46
to his fellow
apostles or other church
00:36:56.90\00:36:59.23
leaders but was
given to the entire
00:36:59.23\00:37:02.03
body of Christ, every member
00:37:02.03\00:37:04.70
included young and
old. Every member of the
00:37:05.16\00:37:09.40
church was
entrusted with the sacred
00:37:09.40\00:37:11.10
responsibility to
"proclaim the praises
00:37:11.10\00:37:14.73
of Him who called
you out of darkness
00:37:14.73\00:37:17.70
into His marvelous light."
00:37:17.70\00:37:20.00
I'm so glad that
in addition to many
00:37:21.06\00:37:22.80
young people here, we also have
00:37:23.26\00:37:25.30
a number of older people. Amen.
00:37:25.30\00:37:28.80
I guess like myself.
But for this next part,
00:37:28.80\00:37:33.30
I want to speak
primarily to those who
00:37:35.20\00:37:38.56
are 35 years or
younger. Now let's just take
00:37:38.56\00:37:44.36
a little, a little
example of your response,
00:37:44.36\00:37:50.60
by a show of hands,
00:37:51.36\00:37:52.66
respond to these questions.
00:37:53.66\00:37:55.46
How many of you
long to see Jesus
00:37:56.40\00:37:59.13
come again? Amen. Amen. How many
00:37:59.13\00:38:04.13
of you believe that
the Seventh-day Adventist
00:38:04.13\00:38:05.56
Church is God's
end-time movement raised
00:38:05.56\00:38:08.20
up to proclaim the
Three Angels' Messages
00:38:08.20\00:38:11.00
to the world and
hasten the soon coming?
00:38:11.00\00:38:13.03
Amen, amen. Now, let's
try a different question,
00:38:13.03\00:38:19.30
how many of you
attended your last local
00:38:21.06\00:38:24.43
church business meeting,
00:38:24.43\00:38:26.40
far fewer
hands, but thank you to
00:38:28.76\00:38:31.53
those who did,
amen. Okay let's try
00:38:31.53\00:38:34.26
another series of
exciting questions
00:38:34.26\00:38:37.40
how many of you
believe that we're living in
00:38:37.40\00:38:39.40
the very final
days of earth's history
00:38:39.40\00:38:42.06
and by the grace
of God you want to be
00:38:42.06\00:38:44.43
part of the 144,000
who will stand for the
00:38:44.43\00:38:47.80
right though the
heavens fall? Amen. Amen.
00:38:47.80\00:38:51.50
How many of you want to be part
00:38:52.20\00:38:53.26
of that army of
youth who are rightly
00:38:53.26\00:38:55.20
trained and willing
to finish the work in
00:38:55.20\00:38:57.43
this generation? Amen. Amen.
00:38:57.43\00:39:00.66
Now, you don't
have to raise your hands
00:39:02.10\00:39:03.63
on the following
although some of you
00:39:03.63\00:39:05.46
could but I'm not
asking you to raise
00:39:05.46\00:39:08.06
your hands because we may get a
00:39:08.06\00:39:09.60
similar response as
we did to the question
00:39:09.60\00:39:12.06
about the church
business meeting.
00:39:12.06\00:39:13.56
How many of you regularly attend
00:39:14.83\00:39:16.60
prayer meeting at
your local church?
00:39:17.76\00:39:19.73
How many of you
volunteer at your local
00:39:20.60\00:39:23.70
community services centers?
00:39:23.70\00:39:25.33
How many of you
regularly seek out
00:39:25.60\00:39:27.10
non-believers to
lead Jesus through
00:39:27.10\00:39:28.86
personal Bible
study? How many of you
00:39:28.86\00:39:31.00
teach in your
church's cradle roll or
00:39:31.00\00:39:33.50
beginner's
division, maybe kindergarten
00:39:33.50\00:39:35.83
or primary or
juniors or early teens or
00:39:35.83\00:39:38.43
even the youth
group. You've spent money
00:39:38.43\00:39:41.96
to come to a very
serious Bible conference
00:39:41.96\00:39:44.76
here at GYC. But
if we were to take
00:39:45.63\00:39:48.76
an accurate poll of
some of these questions,
00:39:48.76\00:39:52.03
we may find the responses
00:39:52.03\00:39:53.56
are far too low.
In fact what would we
00:39:53.56\00:39:57.73
discovered if we
surveyed the general
00:39:57.73\00:40:00.03
membership of the
Seventh-day Adventist
00:40:00.03\00:40:01.86
Church? Probably a
serious gap between
00:40:01.86\00:40:05.63
intentions and
actual participation.
00:40:05.63\00:40:08.86
My young
friends, through the Holy
00:40:10.50\00:40:12.76
Spirit's power we
must bridge the gap
00:40:12.76\00:40:16.46
between the grand
ideals we long for
00:40:16.86\00:40:20.03
and the practical
duties we are faced
00:40:20.03\00:40:23.16
with if we are to
finish the work in this
00:40:23.16\00:40:26.40
generation. Amen.
We must come to the
00:40:26.40\00:40:29.90
realization that the
first step in finishing
00:40:29.90\00:40:32.76
the work is
actually going to work.
00:40:32.76\00:40:35.73
As was God's plan
for Israel and the
00:40:37.13\00:40:39.80
apostolic church,
the lifeblood of the
00:40:39.80\00:40:41.80
Seventh-day
Adventist movement is the
00:40:41.80\00:40:43.56
participation of
each member in the
00:40:43.56\00:40:47.16
mission of the local church.
00:40:47.16\00:40:49.26
Today I am
particularly appealing
00:40:50.73\00:40:54.10
to the young
people of this church
00:40:54.73\00:40:57.00
worldwide in every
setting of the church.
00:40:57.40\00:41:02.40
In Christian
Service page 10 we read:
00:41:03.23\00:41:06.93
"We should all be
workers together with God.
00:41:07.70\00:41:10.06
No idlers are acknowledged
00:41:10.06\00:41:12.30
as His servants.
The members of the
00:41:12.30\00:41:14.36
church should
individually feel that
00:41:14.36\00:41:17.23
the life and
prosperity of the church
00:41:17.23\00:41:19.53
are affected by
their course of action."
00:41:19.53\00:41:23.03
Who is the church?
You are the church,
00:41:24.76\00:41:27.90
I am the church. Young people,
00:41:27.90\00:41:30.60
roll up your
sleeves and work for Christ.
00:41:30.60\00:41:33.60
Breathe life into
your local Sabbath School
00:41:34.10\00:41:37.13
program by showing up on time,
00:41:37.13\00:41:39.56
having studied
your Bible and your
00:41:39.56\00:41:41.36
Sabbath school
lesson and being prepared
00:41:41.36\00:41:44.00
to enthusiastically discuss what
00:41:44.00\00:41:46.90
you've learned.
Amen. Now, let me just
00:41:46.90\00:41:49.63
say something
about Sabbath school,
00:41:49.63\00:41:50.93
we are seeing in
some parts of the
00:41:50.93\00:41:52.93
world a decline
in Sabbath school
00:41:52.93\00:41:55.30
attendance by God's
grace we must reverse that.
00:41:55.30\00:41:59.13
Amen. Let's Sabbath
school be an important
00:41:59.13\00:42:01.90
part of your spiritual life,
00:42:01.90\00:42:03.70
a time when you
discover new truths
00:42:04.06\00:42:06.40
as you go through the Bible,
00:42:06.40\00:42:07.96
don't just
discuss any old topic,
00:42:07.96\00:42:10.23
discuss the Bible.
Amen. I wanna encourage
00:42:10.23\00:42:16.90
each of you to help
older members to see
00:42:16.90\00:42:21.00
young people in prayer meeting,
00:42:21.00\00:42:23.10
interceding for
others before God's
00:42:24.30\00:42:26.70
throne of grace.
Give the 85-year-olds a
00:42:26.70\00:42:29.70
hand and meet
some of the truly needy
00:42:29.70\00:42:31.80
people in your
area by volunteering at
00:42:31.80\00:42:34.33
your community services center.
00:42:34.33\00:42:36.06
Carry and distribute
evangelistic literature
00:42:36.06\00:42:39.56
wherever you
go. Request that for
00:42:39.56\00:42:42.46
one year your
local academy or college
00:42:42.46\00:42:46.70
apply the time,
energy, and money that
00:42:47.00\00:42:50.23
would have been
spent on varsity sports
00:42:50.23\00:42:52.60
to instead be spent
on evangelism training,
00:42:52.60\00:42:55.70
programming, and direct outreach
00:42:55.70\00:42:58.00
to the community.
Amen. Have a voice in
00:42:58.00\00:43:00.93
the direction of
your church by attending
00:43:00.93\00:43:03.40
church business
meetings and accepting,
00:43:03.40\00:43:05.90
when the
nominating committee calls,
00:43:05.90\00:43:07.96
positions of responsibility,
00:43:07.96\00:43:09.80
no matter how
large or small those
00:43:10.10\00:43:12.73
responsibilities
maybe. And for that matter,
00:43:12.73\00:43:15.90
be willing to serve on the
00:43:16.66\00:43:18.46
nominating committee if asked.
00:43:18.46\00:43:20.20
I'm so glad that
GYC has emphasized
00:43:21.90\00:43:25.13
the total church
seminars yesterday.
00:43:25.13\00:43:27.86
Amen. Many of my colleagues were
00:43:31.86\00:43:32.83
participating in
that and I praise
00:43:32.83\00:43:34.36
the Lord for
help you to understand
00:43:34.36\00:43:36.46
the need for
total involvement on
00:43:36.46\00:43:39.20
the part of young people.
00:43:39.20\00:43:40.63
If the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:43:41.33\00:43:43.00
is ever going to
meet the Lord's ideal
00:43:43.00\00:43:45.56
of being His
end-time remnant people,
00:43:46.30\00:43:49.66
not just "we" as a denomination,
00:43:50.83\00:43:54.10
not just "GYC" as a
supporting organization,
00:43:54.66\00:43:58.90
not just "the youth"
or other denominationally
00:43:59.50\00:44:02.93
organized events as a
particular demographic,
00:44:02.93\00:44:07.93
but it is you as an individual
00:44:08.43\00:44:12.60
who must get to work
for Christ in service
00:44:15.56\00:44:20.10
for others. Again on page 10
00:44:20.10\00:44:23.40
of that wonderful little book,
00:44:23.40\00:44:24.50
Christian Service,
we're cautioned that,
00:44:25.33\00:44:27.80
"Everywhere
there is a tendency to
00:44:28.00\00:44:30.20
substitute the
work of organizations
00:44:30.20\00:44:32.40
for individual
effort. Don't let the church
00:44:32.40\00:44:36.33
do it, you are the church.
00:44:36.33\00:44:37.76
Human wisdom
tends to consolidation,
00:44:39.00\00:44:41.10
to centralization,
to the building up
00:44:41.10\00:44:42.86
of great
churches and institutions.
00:44:42.86\00:44:44.56
"Multitudes leave
to institutions and
00:44:45.90\00:44:48.43
organizations the
work of benevolence;
00:44:48.43\00:44:50.66
they exercise themselves,
00:44:50.66\00:44:52.53
they excuse
themselves from contact with
00:44:53.30\00:44:55.26
the world, and
their hearts grow cold.
00:44:55.26\00:44:59.13
They become self- absorbed and
00:45:00.96\00:45:03.73
unimpressible.
Love for God and man
00:45:03.73\00:45:08.36
dies out of the
soul. Christ commits to His
00:45:08.36\00:45:12.73
followers an individual work,
00:45:12.73\00:45:14.83
"a work that
cannot be done by proxy."
00:45:16.46\00:45:20.03
There is no such
thing as a Christian drone
00:45:22.20\00:45:26.03
that is gonna do
the work for God where
00:45:26.03\00:45:29.23
He wants you to
be, you must be a part
00:45:29.23\00:45:34.13
of that continuing the quote.
00:45:34.13\00:45:36.20
"Ministry to the
sick and the poor,
00:45:37.06\00:45:39.53
the giving of the
gospel to the lost,
00:45:39.53\00:45:41.43
is not to be
left to committees or
00:45:41.43\00:45:45.10
organized charities. Individual
00:45:45.10\00:45:47.30
responsibility,
individual effort,
00:45:47.30\00:45:49.96
personal sacrifice, is the
00:45:49.96\00:45:52.40
requirement of the gospel."
00:45:52.40\00:45:54.63
For far too long
in the Seventh-day
00:45:56.40\00:45:59.16
Adventist
Church and perhaps even
00:45:59.16\00:46:01.56
within the GYC movement,
could it be that we have
00:46:01.56\00:46:06.06
responded to God's
call for workers with
00:46:06.06\00:46:08.86
a safe "here we
are, send us" instead of
00:46:08.86\00:46:13.10
the more daring "here am I,
00:46:13.10\00:46:17.66
send me" as Isaiah proclaimed.
00:46:18.10\00:46:22.90
The grand ideal
of a Generation of
00:46:24.76\00:46:26.53
Youth for Christ
that will finish the work
00:46:26.53\00:46:28.93
in this generation
will become a reality
00:46:28.93\00:46:31.93
only when we see
manifested in the
00:46:31.93\00:46:34.76
practical duties
of our local churches,
00:46:34.76\00:46:37.30
a Generation of
you for Christ that is
00:46:37.73\00:46:42.63
willing to
individually go to work wherever
00:46:42.63\00:46:46.16
the need
exists. I recently heard
00:46:46.16\00:46:50.80
a term coined for
people who claim to be
00:46:50.80\00:46:53.13
activists for a
cause, I don't know about
00:46:53.50\00:46:56.30
you but many of us
like to be involved
00:46:56.30\00:46:58.90
in something we
get, we get active,
00:46:58.90\00:47:01.03
we get really
excited about something.
00:47:01.03\00:47:03.40
But some of
these people and this
00:47:04.10\00:47:05.33
is a term, who
get excited but don't
00:47:05.33\00:47:08.90
actually do
anything they're called
00:47:08.90\00:47:11.30
"slacktivists." Now,
where an activist will
00:47:11.83\00:47:16.16
make a serious,
even painful sacrifice
00:47:16.16\00:47:19.10
of their time,
energy, reputation, money,
00:47:19.10\00:47:22.10
relationships, or
anything else that
00:47:22.10\00:47:24.66
the cause requires
that's in activist,
00:47:24.66\00:47:27.93
a "slacktivist"
may wear some special
00:47:28.40\00:47:32.46
symbol of
support, without actually
00:47:32.46\00:47:35.26
helping in any tangible way.
00:47:35.26\00:47:36.90
Slacktivists
think they're supporting
00:47:38.26\00:47:40.33
a cause because
they post a link or
00:47:40.33\00:47:43.10
comment on it in
their social network site,
00:47:43.10\00:47:46.63
or they wear a
t-shirt, or something else.
00:47:46.63\00:47:50.23
Young people, let
me challenge you to go
00:47:51.90\00:47:57.30
beyond the typical
expectations of youth.
00:47:57.30\00:48:01.40
Don't leave here
just excited enough
00:48:02.20\00:48:04.90
about the Advent
movement that you
00:48:04.90\00:48:07.10
merely wear your
GYC t-shirt or post a
00:48:07.10\00:48:11.86
bold but fleeting
comment about your
00:48:11.86\00:48:14.33
faith somewhere
online. Do better than that.
00:48:14.33\00:48:18.60
Amen. Be better than that! Amen.
00:48:18.60\00:48:22.86
In your walk with
Christ, genuinely focus on
00:48:22.86\00:48:27.10
the singular goal
of the glory of God.
00:48:27.10\00:48:30.46
Don't turn away
from God's Word and turn
00:48:31.43\00:48:34.56
back to the
allurements of the world.
00:48:34.56\00:48:36.63
Spend serious
time in daily prayer
00:48:37.16\00:48:40.56
and Bible study,
asking the Lord for
00:48:40.83\00:48:43.26
a special
outpouring of His Holy Spirit.
00:48:43.26\00:48:45.70
Humbly ask the
Lord for a revival of
00:48:45.70\00:48:49.80
spiritual fervor
and a reformation of
00:48:49.80\00:48:53.83
anything in your life
that is not in harmony
00:48:53.83\00:48:57.16
with the
commands of Scripture and
00:48:57.73\00:49:00.60
the counsels of
the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:49:00.60\00:49:03.16
Sabbath, January 1
2011, what an appropriate
00:49:04.86\00:49:13.73
time for revival
and reformation. Amen.
00:49:13.73\00:49:19.36
We want to go
home, no turning back.
00:49:19.36\00:49:26.20
Beyond just personal renewal,
00:49:27.36\00:49:28.80
determine to play an
active role in a genuine
00:49:28.80\00:49:33.03
revival and
reformation among God's remnant
00:49:33.03\00:49:37.30
church leading to
the latter rain of
00:49:37.30\00:49:39.86
the Holy Spirit.
As our consecrated
00:49:39.86\00:49:42.53
General Conference
Revival and Reformation
00:49:42.53\00:49:44.80
Committee has recommended,
00:49:44.80\00:49:46.20
take January 5 to 15
for ten days of prayer
00:49:46.56\00:49:51.23
as a special
emphasis to prepare us for
00:49:51.60\00:49:53.86
what is ahead. Reserve the first
00:49:53.86\00:49:56.20
Sabbath of every
quarter for fasting
00:49:56.20\00:49:59.66
and prayer.
Unite with millions of
00:50:00.00\00:50:02.60
Seventh-day
Adventist believers around the
00:50:02.60\00:50:04.46
world, at 7 in
the morning or 7 in
00:50:04.46\00:50:07.20
the evening or
anytime for that matter
00:50:07.20\00:50:09.76
to pray for the
Holy Spirit and reformed
00:50:10.33\00:50:13.10
lives through
focusing on the word of God
00:50:13.10\00:50:16.26
and the instructions
of the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:50:16.80\00:50:19.13
As young people of the worldwide
00:50:20.13\00:50:22.00
Seventh-day
Adventist movement through
00:50:22.00\00:50:24.06
God's leading
and the power of the
00:50:24.06\00:50:26.46
Holy Spirit
fulfill Malachi chapter 4
00:50:26.46\00:50:30.23
verses 5 to 6 by
the becoming part of
00:50:30.23\00:50:32.76
the Elijah message
turning the hearts of
00:50:32.76\00:50:35.13
the fathers to
the children and the
00:50:35.13\00:50:36.86
children to the
fathers. Uniting as one under
00:50:36.86\00:50:39.50
the power of the
Holy Spirit to proclaim
00:50:39.50\00:50:42.10
the final cry to a dying world.
00:50:42.10\00:50:45.03
Commit yourself
to a personal effort,
00:50:45.96\00:50:49.50
individual
involvement that will help your
00:50:50.60\00:50:54.90
church family finish
the work that God has
00:50:54.90\00:50:57.66
entrusted to it.
As members of GYC,
00:50:57.66\00:51:00.83
which is a
member of that wonderful
00:51:01.53\00:51:03.70
organization, ASI,
a group of strongly
00:51:03.70\00:51:07.50
supporting
ministries of the Seventh-day
00:51:07.50\00:51:10.50
Adventist
Church, continued to work
00:51:10.50\00:51:13.23
closely with your
local church. Now,
00:51:13.23\00:51:17.00
I want to underscore this,
00:51:17.00\00:51:17.96
I want you to
really get this point,
00:51:17.96\00:51:19.26
work with your local church,
00:51:19.63\00:51:21.36
your local
pastor, your local youth
00:51:21.70\00:51:24.20
organization,
church administrators,
00:51:24.20\00:51:26.80
your conference,
union, and division youth
00:51:26.80\00:51:29.30
departments and their directors.
00:51:29.30\00:51:31.60
Listen my
friends, never allow anyone
00:51:34.00\00:51:39.60
to accuse GYC of
not working with the
00:51:40.46\00:51:44.40
established church
organization. Amen.
00:51:44.40\00:51:48.16
Become so much a
part of the outreach
00:51:49.06\00:51:51.60
of this Advent
movement that you are
00:51:51.60\00:51:53.86
understood to be
part and parcel of your
00:51:53.86\00:51:57.16
local church and conference.
00:51:57.16\00:51:58.66
Support and nurture
other youth initiatives
00:51:59.40\00:52:02.13
of your local
church and conference
00:52:02.13\00:52:04.40
that are Bible and
Spirit of Prophecy-based.
00:52:04.40\00:52:08.36
Amen. As you work together,
00:52:08.36\00:52:10.00
your local church
and conference will see
00:52:10.00\00:52:11.96
you and your
spiritual commitment
00:52:11.96\00:52:16.10
to growing in
Christ, your commitment
00:52:16.93\00:52:19.00
to practical
service, your evangelistic
00:52:19.00\00:52:21.13
outreach and by God's grace your
00:52:21.13\00:52:23.20
local church will embrace you.
00:52:23.20\00:52:25.90
The challenge I
leave with you today,
00:52:27.03\00:52:28.66
the point of this
message is that the
00:52:29.46\00:52:32.20
Lord is calling
for more than merely a
00:52:32.20\00:52:34.66
Generation of Youth for Christ.
00:52:34.66\00:52:37.16
God wants to see a generation of
00:52:37.53\00:52:40.73
you for Christ. Amen.
As great as it is that
00:52:40.73\00:52:44.53
GYC exists and
continues to hold these
00:52:44.53\00:52:47.06
wonderful annual conferences,
00:52:47.06\00:52:49.33
what God really
wants is an army of
00:52:50.20\00:52:53.00
individuals who
daily commit themselves
00:52:53.00\00:52:55.80
to His working in
their lives and their
00:52:55.80\00:52:58.50
working in His body,
the Seventh-day Adventist
00:52:58.50\00:53:01.73
Church. When we each allow
00:53:01.73\00:53:05.53
the Holy Spirit
to change us into the
00:53:05.53\00:53:10.43
likeness of Jesus
Christ we will automatically
00:53:10.43\00:53:14.50
begin doing the
work that Jesus has
00:53:14.50\00:53:17.30
commanded us to
do. In this way the
00:53:17.30\00:53:20.50
character of
Christ will be seen in
00:53:20.50\00:53:23.03
what we do, not
merely in what we
00:53:23.03\00:53:25.86
don't do. Ellen White describes
00:53:25.86\00:53:29.60
the results of such
a revival in Christ's
00:53:29.60\00:53:31.93
Object Lessons page
69, a familiar quote to
00:53:31.93\00:53:34.70
many of you, "When the character
00:53:34.70\00:53:37.03
of Christ shall be
perfectly reproduced
00:53:37.03\00:53:39.30
in His people,
now I tell you that's
00:53:39.30\00:53:41.40
only by His
grace and only through
00:53:41.40\00:53:42.80
connection with
Him you can't work your
00:53:42.80\00:53:45.16
way to heaven,
only through connection
00:53:45.16\00:53:48.43
and reliance on
Christ. When this character
00:53:48.76\00:53:51.46
will be
perfectly reproduced in His
00:53:51.46\00:53:52.86
people then He
will come to claim them
00:53:52.86\00:53:54.66
as His own. It is the privilege
00:53:54.66\00:53:56.40
of every Christian
not only to look for
00:53:56.40\00:53:58.63
but to hasten the coming of our
00:53:58.63\00:54:01.73
Lord Jesus Christ.
We're all who profess
00:54:01.73\00:54:04.93
His name bearing
fruit to His glory,
00:54:04.93\00:54:07.83
how quickly the
whole world would be
00:54:08.83\00:54:10.46
sown with the
seed of the gospel.
00:54:10.46\00:54:13.40
Quickly the last
great harvest would be
00:54:14.60\00:54:16.60
ripened, and Christ
would come to gather
00:54:16.60\00:54:19.13
the precious
grain." Amen. I wanna tell
00:54:19.13\00:54:22.10
you I believe that
time is soon. Amen.
00:54:22.10\00:54:24.80
Brothers and
sisters, young and old,
00:54:24.80\00:54:26.60
go forward in faith
with no turning back.
00:54:26.60\00:54:29.63
Amen. Be part of
the generation that
00:54:29.63\00:54:31.70
will allow the Holy
Spirit to fully develop
00:54:31.70\00:54:34.46
within us the
character of Jesus. Amen.
00:54:34.46\00:54:38.26
Lean completely on
Him. Turn your back on self
00:54:38.60\00:54:43.73
and look to
Christ. As that wonderful
00:54:44.63\00:54:49.40
book by Ellen
White, "Faith and Works,"
00:54:49.40\00:54:51.16
indicates on page
24, I recommend to all of
00:54:51.16\00:54:55.16
you the two
books, there are so many
00:54:55.16\00:54:57.20
wonderful books in
the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:54:57.20\00:54:59.03
"Steps to Christ"
and "Faith and Works,"
00:54:59.36\00:55:01.50
those beautiful
volumes go together read them,
00:55:02.20\00:55:04.66
study them,
understand them. Amen.
00:55:04.66\00:55:06.70
On that page 24 it
says: "Christ for our sakes
00:55:07.63\00:55:11.73
became poor that
we through His poverty
00:55:11.73\00:55:15.36
might be made
rich. And any works that
00:55:15.36\00:55:17.80
man can render to
God will be far less
00:55:17.80\00:55:20.06
than nothingness, nothingness.
00:55:20.06\00:55:23.00
How can you everything
less than nothingness,
00:55:23.26\00:55:25.03
but that's what it
is. "My requests are
00:55:25.03\00:55:28.36
made acceptable
only because they
00:55:28.36\00:55:30.00
are laid upon
Christ's righteousness.
00:55:30.00\00:55:32.10
The idea of
doing anything to merit
00:55:32.10\00:55:34.13
the grace of
pardon is fallacy from
00:55:34.13\00:55:36.70
beginning to end. 'Lord,
00:55:36.70\00:55:38.50
in my hand no price I bring,
00:55:38.50\00:55:40.66
simply to Thy
cross I cling." Amen.
00:55:40.66\00:55:44.20
But when we
place ourselves at the
00:55:44.20\00:55:46.16
complete disposal
of the Holy Spirit,
00:55:46.16\00:55:49.73
He will do wonders
and miracles through us.
00:55:50.43\00:55:54.70
So, I challenge
you today to do more
00:55:56.10\00:55:58.73
than attend the
Generation of Youth for
00:55:58.73\00:56:00.60
Christ conference. Determine,
00:56:00.60\00:56:02.83
by God's grace,
to be the Generation
00:56:02.83\00:56:06.16
of you for Christ
that will hasten His soon
00:56:06.50\00:56:09.46
coming by finishing of the work
00:56:09.46\00:56:12.20
in this generation. Amen.
00:56:12.50\00:56:14.86
The Holy Spirit
is working in so many
00:56:15.30\00:56:17.60
incredible ways to
attract young people
00:56:17.60\00:56:19.83
into complete
service for Christ.
00:56:19.83\00:56:21.86
Recently, I was in Brazil and
00:56:22.73\00:56:25.30
heard about
Alex. By the age of 13,
00:56:25.30\00:56:28.76
Alex was a very
accomplished small
00:56:28.76\00:56:31.46
bike trickster,
a real expert and a
00:56:31.46\00:56:34.56
real show off. He developed
00:56:34.56\00:56:36.66
tremendous skill and, of course,
00:56:36.66\00:56:38.83
if you're not
careful, popularity will go
00:56:38.83\00:56:42.83
to your head and
turn you away from God.
00:56:42.83\00:56:46.86
Unfortunately over
time, Alex got into drugs
00:56:47.90\00:56:51.73
and the crime
scene and eventually
00:56:51.73\00:56:54.20
he ended up in
prison. His sister,
00:56:54.83\00:56:57.60
Daniella had a
real burden for Alex
00:56:57.60\00:57:00.60
and one day a
faithful literature evangelist
00:57:01.63\00:57:04.13
came to her door.
Amen. Young people,
00:57:04.13\00:57:07.66
use the
heaven-ordained power of the
00:57:08.33\00:57:11.10
printed word and
the electronic word.
00:57:11.10\00:57:13.26
Amen. In sharing the
three angels' messages.
00:57:13.26\00:57:16.00
Many of you have
had the opportunity to
00:57:16.73\00:57:18.63
share the precious
truth as door-to-door
00:57:18.63\00:57:21.80
Gospel workers or
student literature
00:57:22.20\00:57:24.23
evangelists.
Amen. Praise God for the
00:57:24.23\00:57:26.63
megabook
program, for the student
00:57:26.63\00:57:28.96
literature
program, and for full time
00:57:28.96\00:57:31.43
literature evangelists.
Well, in this situation
00:57:31.43\00:57:35.56
a literature
evangelist came to Daniella's
00:57:35.56\00:57:37.76
door and sold her
a copy of The Great
00:57:37.76\00:57:41.86
Controversy. Amen. I
love that book! Amen.
00:57:41.86\00:57:46.53
Heaven only knows
the times the Holy Spirit
00:57:47.26\00:57:49.73
has used that book to
convict people of truth.
00:57:49.73\00:57:53.50
Daniella bought
the book and realized
00:57:54.63\00:57:56.46
it was exactly
what Alex needed in
00:57:56.46\00:57:58.80
prison so she sent it to him.
00:57:58.80\00:58:00.60
He began to read it
along with his Bible
00:58:01.23\00:58:03.03
and soon was
taking Bible studies.
00:58:03.03\00:58:05.46
As a result of
his study he gave his
00:58:06.70\00:58:09.50
heart to God, was baptized, and
00:58:09.50\00:58:13.40
joined the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:58:13.40\00:58:15.53
Amen. Today, I'm happy to report
00:58:15.53\00:58:17.70
that Alex is out of
prison and is working
00:58:17.70\00:58:20.90
his way through an
Adventist college as
00:58:20.90\00:58:23.90
a literature
evangelist sharing with others
00:58:23.90\00:58:26.70
the precious three
angels' messages that
00:58:27.16\00:58:30.30
rescued him! Amen.
For Alex there is no
00:58:30.30\00:58:35.73
turning back. He is
part of that generation
00:58:36.23\00:58:40.66
of youth for Christ. Amen.
00:58:40.66\00:58:43.83
Are you willing
to be part of it?
00:58:43.83\00:58:45.43