Participants: Matt Parra
Series Code: 11ASIC
Program Code: 11ASIC000004
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00:21 Music
05:10 Friends, today we have Haiti Helpers with us, 05:14 and we'll be talking to them about some work 05:16 of course that they're doing in the country of Haiti. 05:20 We have Michael and Brenda Cooper 05:23 and also Brenda Palmer. 05:26 Michael, tell us a little bit about Haiti Helpers? 05:28 Yes, Haiti Helpers has been conducting 05:31 short-term mission trips for about the last 10 years 05:34 and we've been formally organized 05:36 since the year 2002, a nonprofit organization. 05:39 A typical mission trip with us 05:41 would be taking doctors and nurses, 05:45 having rural medical clinics 05:46 and the regions were we working, 05:48 also have the ShareHim programs 05:51 at night in the local churches. 05:53 We also conduct vacation Bible schools 05:56 and we do the Wildwood Health there also. 06:00 Now ones focused that we -- 06:02 special focus that we have now at this time 06:04 is what's we call a Haiti Roof Project. 06:08 So I hear you talking about VBS 06:10 and health talks and evangelism ShareHim 06:15 and now we're talking about roofs, 06:16 that sounds like a really practical thing. 06:17 Brenda, tell us what does it mean, 06:20 what is, what is this roof project about? 06:22 Well, we started this when we saw 06:24 a need for roofs, because they were 06:26 made of banana leaves or coconut leaves. 06:29 And our focus is on getting tin roofs put on 06:35 and we have a volunteer team there 06:37 in Haiti where we are working. 06:39 That put these roofs on for free. 06:42 Okay, so these, who are you 06:45 putting these roofs on for again? 06:47 Widows with children. 06:49 So you have focused specifically on 06:51 widows with children that have a situation 06:55 where the roof may be a banana leaf roof 06:58 and they're needing additional shelter. 07:01 Right, because everything gets wet 07:03 when it's raining and especially 07:05 with Emily the storm they just had, 07:07 it just dumped tons of rain 07:09 on that country and everything is wet. 07:11 They have to stand at night to sleep 07:13 and hold their children. 07:14 Oh, my, that's terrible. 07:17 Now Brenda I know that you just recently 07:19 had the privilege of doing 07:21 some work in Haiti with Haiti Helpers. 07:23 And went on one of their tips, 07:24 tell us a little bit about 07:25 your personal experience there? 07:27 The first morning Edelin woke me up, 07:29 he says come, come, come. 07:31 Anyway the first lady that we were helping was pregnant. 07:36 And she had already walked three kilometers into town 07:39 and she was going to carry the tin 07:41 for her roof rolled up on her head 07:42 all the way back to her little hut. 07:44 Oh my! 07:46 It was really challenging, 07:49 we got on our mud bikes 07:51 and rode out to the site ahead of her. 07:54 Oh you didn't walk? No, we didn't walk. 07:57 Oh, oh, you're missing out on your exercise there. 07:59 I know, I know but we got. 08:00 And you didn't carry the tin roof on your head? 08:02 No, Steve. Okay. 08:06 So, a lady that's three months pregnant 08:08 walked in and got the roof 08:10 and carried it out to the site. 08:11 She was more pregnant than that. 08:15 But we got to her hut long before she got there, 08:18 the children there were four children, 08:20 they were naked. 08:22 I looked in their little hut and they were some clothes 08:25 probably on the floor that 08:26 they might had been sleeping on. 08:28 Over there beside the hut was a little fire, 08:34 was some soup in it. 08:35 It didn't have anything solid in it. 08:37 And this is what the children were gonna have for breakfast. 08:40 The hut itself was maybe 8X8 or something, 08:44 you know, and the banana leaves 08:46 on the roof were just shredded. 08:49 But what did encourage me was Edelin 08:51 had taken some of his own money 08:53 and he enlarged her house. 08:55 He put a framework around it, 08:57 now she will have to make the walls. 08:58 But anyway, her roof was gonna 09:00 make her house about four times bigger. 09:03 But it was a very touching experience 09:08 to watch these children. 09:11 Now I know that we've seen some pictures 09:13 of the roofs and there is a finished roof right there 09:15 that's in Haiti, that's one of the roof that you finished. 09:18 And, but Brenda I know that 09:21 we're not just talking about you know a general people, 09:24 we're talking about specific cases where 09:26 lives have been impacted by 09:28 what you're doing, reaching out. 09:30 Jesus in fact said, if you've done it 09:31 unto one of the least of these, 09:33 you've done it unto me. 09:34 So, as you put roofs on for Jesus in Haiti, 09:37 tell us a story or two about a life 09:40 that has been impacted by what you've done there? 09:42 Well, she referred to Edelin 09:44 and he is our in country coordinator. 09:47 And he's made some pictures of before and after roofs 09:50 and you saw some here. 09:52 But he also sent me stories that the ladies 09:54 themselves told about how their life had been changed. 09:58 One said, all I can say about my new roof 10:01 is thank you because I'm ashamed 10:03 to tell you how I was living. 10:05 There's a mother of five, that said she was 10:08 discouraged with life when it was raining, 10:09 because everything got wet, 10:11 but when Edelin offered me this new roof 10:14 I just could not be able to believe it 10:16 because I felt like I was dreaming. 10:19 And I thank the people who paid for my brand new roof. 10:23 I was the poorest women in the area where I live 10:25 because I was the only one who had leafs on my roof. 10:29 And then after receiving the brand new roof 10:31 with tin I felt rich, because I can sleep at night. 10:36 This new roof was my prayer request, 10:38 I thank God because he answers my prayer. 10:40 God will bless the people who give me this roof. 10:45 My husband passed away for many years ago 10:48 and I had no one to support me. 10:49 I was in a bad condition, 10:51 this roof means a lot to me 10:53 it is a gift from God in heaven. 10:55 I'm praying for God to bless the people who provided it. 10:59 I was ashamed with that bad roof 11:01 when friends come to my house I was uncomfortable, 11:03 but now I feel happy when they came to see me 11:06 because I have a new roof. 11:07 I used to be unhappy when it was raining, 11:10 but now I don't care about the rain. 11:13 I'm 70 years old, my husband passed away a long time ago. 11:17 I have no one to take care of me, 11:19 the tins of my first roof was rotten. 11:21 Now everything would get wet, 11:23 now I sleep with peace. 11:25 God bless the people who provide my new roof. 11:28 Amen. Now, friends, 11:30 let me ask you something this morning, 11:32 how many of you did not have 11:34 a roof over your head last night? 11:37 Or how many of you slept under a few banana leafs? 11:41 I didn't see any hands did you? 11:44 I think everyone here had a roof. 11:46 And I believe that it is our Christian duty 11:48 to reach out to those around the world 11:50 who are less fortunate. 11:52 Are there any more roofs that are needed in Haiti 11:54 or have you finished the job for all of Haiti? 11:56 Oh no it's not finished. 11:58 Edelin says the ladies come to him 12:00 and especially now this rainy season and say, 12:04 please can we have a roof too. 12:06 So there is still a big need. 12:09 So some of these mothers are sleeping, 12:11 standing up, holding their children when it rains. 12:14 Friends, if you wanna contact, 12:15 what's your booth number, Brenda? 12:17 Well, we don't have a booth at this time, 12:19 but we will in the fall, but you can contact us 12:23 through Haitihelpers.org that's our website. 12:26 Thank you so much for sharing with us this morning, 12:28 my God bless you. Thank you. 12:35 I know a lot of you are familiar with 12:37 Laymen Ministry, Laymen Ministry is an 12:41 organization that has been ASI for quite a while, 12:44 we have Jeff Reich with us this morning. 12:47 Jeff, thank you for joining us and thank you 12:49 for sharing with us a little bit about this morning. 12:52 Tell us what is Laymen Ministry, 12:55 just give us a little review of that. 12:56 Well, Laymen Ministry is a lay organization 12:58 and we have been involved with lay ministry 13:01 since 1981 when we move to the backwoods of North Idaho 13:05 and the beautiful forest of North Idaho and built a home. 13:08 Some of you maybe familiar with the spiritual 13:09 journey series that we've showed on 13:10 3ABN where we take you actually to our home 13:13 and show you how we built our home 13:14 with the chainsaw and kind of, 13:17 people thought we were a little bit crazy. 13:19 But, and we never dreamed it would 13:21 take off to be what it is today, 13:22 by God's grace a lot of things have happened 13:24 over the last few years. 13:26 So, Jeff, I know that God leads us 13:29 all on a different journey. 13:30 Tell us a little bit about your personal journey 13:32 and how God has led you to be involved 13:35 in this form of ministry. 13:36 Oh Steve, I mean, I couldn't. 13:39 Even do that in a couple of minutes we have here, 13:40 but I would recommend if you want to 13:43 know more about the story. 13:44 Come by our booth and get the spiritual journeys, 13:45 DVDs and its got the whole story on there. 13:48 Of how our ministry got started, 13:50 it's really quite amazing. 13:51 And I remember back in, we started actually 13:55 as a publishing ministry in the 80s. 13:57 And we were publishing lots of books 13:58 and then finally I had a friend 14:00 from New York who called and he said, 14:02 you should get involved with Eastern Europe, 14:05 the Wall just collapsed in Eastern Europe. 14:08 And Victor Kuczek, who was just up here 14:10 just a little while ago, he was the first student 14:12 that came to our ministry and we trained him 14:14 on a printing press and such, 14:15 and we printed a lot of book and such. 14:17 And then we got involved with going to 14:19 different countries and finally to India, 14:21 was one of the countries in 1993 we started working in. 14:25 How do God impress you 14:26 when you went to the country of India. 14:27 When we went the India, we started a ministry 14:30 with Pastor Shadrach Samuel and later Pastor Johnson 14:33 and what we noticed was, 14:36 one day I was out in the bush in India. 14:38 And I saw this little grass hut 14:41 and it was a one-room hut with a dirt floor 14:44 and there was a TV antenna on the outside of it. 14:46 And I looked around inside and there was a 14:48 new Sony Television set, and I'm like, 14:50 how in the world you know, 14:51 how in the world did they afford 14:52 to buy a television was one of the ideas. 14:55 A grass hut with a Sony TV. 14:56 Yeah, but the other thing was people were 14:59 watching television and it dawned on me, 15:00 this was gonna be the wave of the future, 15:02 this is the way that we're gonna have to reach people. 15:05 Just as we've been publishing books 15:06 and we have councils about publishing books, 15:08 publishing media is also another form of being 15:11 able to reach people, a very, very powerful form. 15:14 So God kind of impressed you that maybe 15:17 Laymen Ministry should start getting involved 15:19 in some TV work, how did that workout? 15:21 Back in early 90s, we started buying, 15:24 we brought one of our first nonlinear editing systems, 15:26 boy, it was primitive days back. 15:28 Then you know, if you had, 15:29 if you had one megabyte you really had something you know. 15:32 But in 1996, we built a television studio 15:35 in a backwoods of Idaho and in early 1997 15:39 we started production for 3ABN 15:41 and then later with the Hope channel 15:43 and it just started to grow. 15:44 Then finally we went to India 15:47 and we helped behind the scenes 15:49 with our offices there with Doug Batchelor 15:51 when he did his Television Evangelist Series there, 15:54 right, later Mark Finley. 15:55 We started using his DVDs and other DVDs 15:58 of presenters with the translation there. 16:00 And they would, we had Bible workers 16:02 that are working for us, and they started using 16:04 these DVDs and doing outreach ministry 16:06 to people in the community. 16:07 We found out this would attract 16:08 a large group of people into a house 16:10 and we could play these DVDs 16:12 completely in their own language. 16:13 And they were just like riveted, you know, 16:15 you could just see that these people were 16:16 riveted to the television screen. 16:18 And we started thinking, you know, 16:19 we need to get on television in India. 16:21 So we started producing television programs in India 16:24 and we, our Laymen Ministers actually pioneered 16:27 the Adventist Television Ministry in India today. 16:30 And we got on one network and then 16:33 we finally are on six networks now. 16:35 Praise the Lord. 16:36 One of networks is Jaya Television. 16:38 Jaya Television is one of the largest 16:41 Hindu networks in India in a Tamil language 16:43 that's broadcast to a potential audience 16:45 of about 95 million people. 16:47 Wow! That's amazing. 16:48 And we are doing contextual broadcasting there. 16:51 So you know the singing and everything is done in India, 16:54 I've been to India so many times, 16:55 it's like my second home. 16:57 And when I'm talking to all my friends, 16:58 they always say that they speak India -- 17:00 English just as good as we can. 17:01 And they say, that's amazing however, 17:02 where are you gonna speak it. 17:04 And they say, you can do that better than we can. 17:08 And so anyhow we've had just tremendous response, 17:12 we're in Telugu, and Tamil 17:13 and English on six different networks. 17:16 Jaya Television is a totally Hindu network 17:19 and we're the only Christian program on that. 17:21 After one of the most well received 17:24 Hindu worship services on Saturday morning. 17:27 Our program comes on and we get contacts 17:29 from just all kinds of people, 17:31 high caste Hindu people and such. 17:33 So anyhow its kind of, we started to realize now, 17:36 boy, we're down the two minutes already look at that. 17:40 But we realized that we needed to 17:42 advance in the form of media. 17:44 Because you know people are 17:45 communicating different today, 17:46 they are on the iPhone, they are on iPads, Tablets, 17:49 in front of the Internet, and television sets. 17:50 And we need to reach the people where they are, 17:53 so we are developing what is called DVD tracks. 17:56 Little short seven minute videos 17:58 that are on potentially different, different subjects 17:59 that people can watch, 18:01 a lot of people are going to YouTube. 18:03 Nowadays you can put something on YouTube, 18:04 with a few months you can have 50,000 hits on there. 18:07 People who watch that video, 18:09 people are getting information in small amounts. 18:11 We have just really quick one minute video clip 18:14 I like to share with you on the state of the dead, 18:16 it's life after death if we can roll that, 18:18 because only got one minute left here, boy! 18:22 If you stop and think about it, 18:23 if people go to heaven or hell when they die 18:26 and what's the point of them coming back later 18:28 at the time of the resurrection to be 18:29 reunited with their body and to be judged. 18:31 Wouldn't they have been judged already 18:33 and received their reward or punishment. 18:35 The scripture clearly tells us that people will receive 18:38 their just reward at the time of the resurrection. 18:45 In fact when Jesus was holding a feast, 18:47 He said to his disciples, 18:49 call the poor, the maimed, 18:51 the lame and the blind, because he said, 18:54 "For they cannot recompense thee, 18:56 for thou shalt be recompensed 18:58 at the resurrection of the just." 19:00 So we receive our reward at the resurrection, 19:04 when will the resurrection take place? 19:06 According to the Bible the resurrection occurs 19:09 at the second coming of our Lord. 19:22 Anyhow, so it's just a short little clip, 19:24 showing those up on YouTube 19:26 in different places we've hit some hits now. 19:28 I know it's about mediums, 19:29 about a lot of stuff going on, 19:30 Jeff share a story. We have probably 4 seconds. 19:33 We got 4 seconds. I guess no story today? 19:37 Come by your booth, where is your booth? 19:38 Our booth is 1119, we just launched 19:40 a new website this last week, our old website 19:43 was kind of getting outdated and we're kind of doing on 19:45 cutting edge stuff, go to lmn.org, www.lmn.org 19:50 check our website, we have video streaming there 19:52 and come by our booth and get some of the DVDs 19:54 I think you'll be really interested in 19:55 what's happening with this new technology 19:58 in reaching people that way. 19:59 Thank you for sharing with us, Jeff. 20:00 God bless your ministry. 20:04 Good morning everyone. 20:07 It's good to be with you. 20:11 Study the Bible and to learn God's will for our lives. 20:16 The message that we have 20:17 to consider this morning is entitled, 20:20 'why should you believe in you. 20:24 'Father in heaven, we thank you 20:28 that you've brought us here together to worship, 20:32 to learn and to grow. 20:35 I ask that you would anoint this message, 20:40 you give it your spirit, 20:44 help it to be an encouragement, 20:45 an inspiration to someone here. 20:50 Father, we thank you for your love 20:52 and for your mercy, for your grace 20:53 that has given us an opportunity 20:55 to be a part of your family, a part of your kingdom. 21:02 Lord in heaven, help us to see, 21:04 in Jesus name we pray, amen. 21:08 As I said, the message is entitled 21:10 this morning, why should you believe in you. 21:12 And we begin by turning to the book of First Timothy, 21:16 First Timothy Chapter 2 beginning in verse 1, 21:19 we'll begin reading together this morning. 21:21 First Timothy Chapter 2 and beginning in verse 1. 21:36 In First Timothy Chapter 2 21:38 beginning in verse 1, we read together. 21:42 "Therefore I exhort first of all that 21:45 supplications, prayers, intercessions, 21:48 and the giving of thanks be made for all men, 21:53 for Kings and all who are in authority, 21:56 that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life 21:59 in all godliness and reverence. 22:02 For this is good and acceptable 22:05 in the sight of God our Savior, who desires," 22:09 how many men to be saved? All. 22:12 My Bible says, "who desires 22:14 all men to be saved and to come 22:18 to the knowledge of the truth. 22:21 For there is one God and one Mediator 22:24 between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 22:30 who gave Himself a ransom," for how many? 22:36 For all, to be testified in due time. 22:42 The Bible says that God desires 22:45 every body to be saved. 22:48 Now to desire something and to desire 22:53 to do what it takes to get something 22:56 are two very different things. 23:00 God can want everyone to be saved 23:02 but if God is not willing to do what it takes, 23:05 to offer everyone salvation, 23:08 then even God's infinite desire 23:10 for all to be saved will amount to nothing. 23:14 You can determine how bad someone 23:17 wants something by what they're willing to do for it. 23:21 Do you follow that yes or no? 23:23 God has a desire, he has a passion, 23:26 his passion is for the salvation of the lost, 23:29 for the restoration of the hurting 23:31 and the broken, the blind and the confused, 23:34 that's his desire, that's his passion. 23:38 But just like any person a passion to attain something 23:43 is not enough, rather it takes a desire 23:46 to get what you have a passion to obtain or 23:50 what you have a passion to get. 23:54 God doesn't just, according to scripture, 23:56 want all men to be saved, 23:58 but He does what it takes to offer all men salvation. 24:08 The Bible communicates to us 24:10 in Revelation Chapter 22 in verse 17 it says, 24:14 "the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" 24:17 let him who hears say, "Come!" 24:21 And whoever thirsts let him come 24:23 and take the water of life freely. 24:27 "So in scripture we see that God has a desire 24:29 for all to be saved, that God does 24:31 what it takes in order to offer salvation to all, 24:35 He gives a ransom for all and more than that, furthermore, 24:39 he actually sends an invitation to all. 24:43 To everyone black, white, red, yellow, 24:46 poor, rich, American, non-American, 24:49 Democratic, Republic, Muslim, Hindu. 24:53 He pays a ransom for every single one 24:55 and he sends an invitation to every single one. 24:58 This communicates that God values every single one. 25:04 You don't pay a ransom for all if you do not value all. 25:08 Does that make sense? Amen. 25:10 Now it's interesting, because God it seems 25:12 has a different way of valuing people than I do. 25:16 If people who have no benefit to me 25:18 or of no service to me, or of no use to me, 25:21 I don't value them. 25:24 It just makes common sense, 25:26 if you can do nothing for me, 25:27 then why would I value you, 25:29 because you need to be of service to me 25:31 if I'm going to value you. 25:33 I don't pay ransom for people 25:36 if I don't think that they're gonna be of use to me. 25:39 There are a very few human beings 25:41 who are of use in a practical sense to God. 25:45 In a practical, physical sense 25:48 very few people are of use to God. 25:51 God doesn't value people obviously the way 25:53 that I value people because He pays a ransom for all 25:56 and I wouldn't pay a ransom for all if I, 25:59 if I'm not benefited by all. 26:01 Does that make sense? 26:04 Here in scripture we see that God must value all 26:07 because he pays a ransom for all, 26:09 I wouldn't pay a ransom for all 26:10 because not everybody is of use to me. 26:13 Not everybody is of benefit to me, 26:14 I'm a selfish individual person. 26:16 And if I assess other people and I can come 26:19 to the logical conclusion that they're selfish too 26:22 and they're looking out for number one. 26:24 If they're not gonna be of service to me 26:25 or benefit me, then I'm not going to value them. 26:32 God has a different way of valuing people 26:34 than you and I obviously. 26:37 And that's exhibited by the fact 26:39 that he's willing to do what it takes 26:41 in order to offer everyone salvation. 26:45 As I said before, you can determine how much 26:49 someone really wants something 26:50 by what they're willing to do in order to get 26:52 what they say that they want. 26:54 How much does God want your salvation, 26:57 how much does God want the salvation of all. 27:03 He wants it more than He wants to exist. 27:11 God wants you more than He wants to exist. 27:16 And that's demonstrated by 27:17 what He was willing to give for you. 27:21 He has a different value system than you. 27:25 And He has a different value system than me 27:28 because He paid a ransom for all, 27:30 even though not everyone is of use or of service to Him. 27:34 He's not selfish like you are, 27:37 He's not selfish like me. 27:39 He has a different standard of determining value 27:41 than you or I, He must, 27:45 because He paid a ransom for all. 27:48 Now I just wanted to make a point here, 27:50 that I think will be practical 27:52 and beneficial for you personally 27:54 and in your ministry as a servant of Christ. 27:59 If God desires all to be saved 28:00 and if God pays a ransom for all, 28:02 and if God sends an invitation to all, 28:04 obviously God values all. 28:08 Why does He value all? 28:10 If all are not of use to Him? 28:12 It must be that He, God, our heavenly Father, 28:17 our Creator doesn't just see us as a race, 28:21 as we are, He sees us as we can be. 28:26 He sees us in Christ, we see what people are 28:31 that's why we only value people 28:33 if they're of use to us, 28:34 they're selfish, they're twisted, 28:36 they're covetous, they're greedy, 28:38 they're just looking out for number one 28:40 and that's what we see, and that's why 28:43 we don't value everybody. 28:45 But God doesn't see us the way we see others. 28:50 Amen. Amen. 28:51 He sees people for what they can be, 28:55 that's why he values all and that's why 28:57 he pays a ransom for all. 29:02 I was baptized about 13 years ago 29:08 at an ASI convention in Orlando, Florida. 29:12 And, you know, several months before 29:16 I was baptized, I couldn't actually believe 29:20 that I would've been baptized. 29:21 Oh, this thing is super heavy. 29:24 I thought I was just gonna go over 29:25 and get a little stool but this thing is massive. 29:29 ASI knows how to get, purchase good stools, 29:32 it's very heavy. 29:34 So I almost couldn't pick it up. 29:39 I was baptized 12, 13 years ago something like that 29:43 at an ASI convention in Orlando, Florida. 29:46 And I was only at the Youth for Jesus Meetings 29:50 that Pastor Asscherick was preaching at, 29:52 because I had received an invitation from my mom. 29:56 My mom is a very determined person 29:58 and that's the kindest way to describe her, 30:00 when it came to her approach 30:03 to sharing the gospel with her children. 30:06 Determined, some people would say stubborn, 30:09 hardheaded, and aggressive. 30:11 I'll say she was determined and she invited me to come 30:15 and hear the messages being preached 30:17 by the team, the evangelistic team 30:19 that ASI have funded to preach in Orlando, Florida. 30:23 And when she ask me to come I considered 30:25 in my mind, do I want to go? 30:26 No, I don't want to go, but if I say to mom, 30:30 I'm not going, oh it just gonna have, 30:33 I'm gonna have a few weeks of conflict 30:35 and headaches and arguments and I'll just say yes. 30:40 And so I said to my mom, yeah, I'll go 30:43 and listen to this preaching. 30:47 And I thought to myself that she'd forget. 30:50 And that's why I said yes, 30:51 because the chances of her forgetting 30:53 if I say yes, I'll go, were better than the chances 30:56 of her leaving me alone if I said, no I won't go. 31:00 So I said, yes I will go, 31:03 and when the meetings came much to my chagrin 31:06 at the time, she hadn't forgotten. 31:09 And she said to me she said, hey, you know, 31:11 these meetings are happening 31:12 this great young preacher's preaching. 31:14 He's a lot like you and he has similar hobbies 31:18 and likes and dislikes. 31:19 And so you might want to come and listen to him preach. 31:22 I wasn't all that impressed and I didn't want to go, 31:24 but I went anyways and I remember 31:28 through the course of those meetings, my mom. 31:30 I ended up going one night, two nights, 31:32 three nights and I appreciated the messages 31:33 and I appreciated the passion and the conviction. 31:36 It wasn't something that I was going to 31:38 avail myself of, or give myself to 31:41 I just kind of was gonna go through the motions 31:43 and sit through these meetings and be, 31:46 you know, a person who avoided the conflict with my mom. 31:50 And through the course of the meetings 31:51 my mom decided that she was gonna be baptized 31:54 in that series of meetings, re-baptized actually. 31:57 And so every night since she was my ride 32:01 I would sit in the baptismal classes that they had 32:05 there in the tent at that evangelistic series. 32:10 And so my mom's here, the group of people 32:12 are behind us and I'm sitting here. 32:14 And one of these evenings as I'm sitting 32:16 there listening to the re-baptismal class, 32:20 a pastor came up to me, he used to work with ASI 32:23 as an evangelism coordinator, 32:24 his name was Louie Torres. 32:26 And he is a very unique individual 32:28 and in many different ways, you know he wears like the 32:30 old-fashion like tight pant suits, 32:33 and he has like the sleek, you know, 32:35 kind of 1950s, like you don't know if it's 32:38 plastic hair hairdo kind of a thing. 32:41 And you know he's a very distinguished man, 32:45 a very self-possessed confident 32:48 looking man you know. 32:49 And from the perspective of a non-Adventist, 32:52 you know, worldly minded crazy guy, 32:54 and he is a very unique character you know. 32:58 And I remember I am sitting there, 33:00 kind of just going through the motions, 33:01 listening to these classes, 33:03 thinking whatever I was thinking. 33:05 And Pastor Louie Torres came walking up to me. 33:12 You know with his calm casual swagger 33:16 and he had known who I was as a kid 33:19 and he recognized me sitting in the re-baptismal class 33:25 and I remember he looked me and he said, 33:30 son, I'm so happy to see, 33:35 I'm so happy to see 33:37 that you are going to be re-baptized. 33:43 And I thought to myself, boy, 33:44 this little guy is crazy? 33:48 I was just sitting there I was like, whatever, 33:54 crazy old guy, you know with this 33:55 crazy shiny suit and swagger, yeah right? 34:00 Like sure I'm gonna be re-baptized right, you know. 34:04 Son, I'm so happy to see 34:05 that you are going to be re-baptized. 34:07 And you know it was just, 34:10 it was very unusual to me and I looked at him 34:12 and I said, sir, you know with all due respect, 34:15 I'm not getting baptized you know, 34:18 I'm just here with her you know I'm just. 34:23 And literally ASI, he looked at me 34:27 totally unfazed as if I hadn't even spoken and he said, 34:32 son, I'm so happy to see 34:36 that you are going to be re-baptized. 34:42 And I literally I was like, crazy old man. 34:49 Okay, God values all because he doesn't just 34:55 see all as they are, he sees us as we can become. 35:02 So Pastor Torres, he didn't just see me 35:07 for what I was, he saw me for what I could become. 35:12 And in seeing me for what I could become, 35:15 he helped me to see how God sees me. 35:17 And he empowered me to be more than I was. 35:20 Turn with me if you would to Matthew Chapter 9. 35:26 Matthew Chapter 9, beginning in verse 9. 35:32 Matthew Chapter 9 in verse 9. 35:43 The Bible says there in Matthew 9 and verse 9, 35:46 "As Jesus passed on from there, he saw," 35:50 now keep that word in your mind. 35:51 "He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office." 35:58 Most likely he's looking at a man who was an extortioner, 36:03 whose love for money was greater 36:07 than his love for principles. 36:10 An unscrupulous man who would compromise 36:13 relationships and righteous principles for greed sake. 36:19 That's what he saw, a depraved, 36:22 perverted little sinner name Matthew the tax collector. 36:26 He saw an extortion, that's physically what Matthew was, 36:29 that's what Matthew was sitting there. 36:33 Jesus saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. 36:38 And lo and behold he says him, "Follow Me." 36:44 So Matthew arose and followed Him. 36:48 If Jesus is saying, follow me to Matthew, 36:53 he is obviously communicating to Matthew 36:57 that he has confidence that Matthew can follow Him. 37:02 And he's communicating to Matthew, 37:04 I don't just see you as you are. 37:08 I see you as you can be, 37:11 I see you for what you can become. 37:14 I don't just see an extortioner, I see a profit. 37:18 I don't just see a covetous, 37:19 greedy little man, I see an apostle. 37:23 I don't just see a selfish person 37:25 who's so narrow, right. 37:27 So narrow and myopic, that his ability to 37:31 concern himself with the better good others 37:33 is basically nonexistent. 37:35 I see an unselfish person who can reflect 37:38 perfectly the glory of God. 37:41 I don't just see as you are now, I see as you can be. 37:47 That's what Louie Torres did for me. 37:49 And that's what Jesus did for Matthew, 37:51 and that's what we're called to do for others, 37:54 see them as they can be. 37:56 You understand that Louie Torres 37:58 was taking a risk, he was taking a risk. 38:05 Wasn't he, he was acting in faith, 38:08 I ridiculed him, I mocked him for his faith. 38:11 I thought he was ridiculous, 38:14 didn't he see what I was? 38:16 Didn't he understand reality? 38:18 He's a delusion old guy. 38:20 How come he's treating me 38:21 as if I'm going to be baptized? 38:23 How come he's communicating this confidence in me? 38:26 I'm not what he thinks, I'm not what he knows, 38:29 interestingly enough he knew more about me 38:31 than I knew about me, 38:32 he knew what I could be and I didn't. 38:38 He gave me a great gift, he helped me to see 38:41 myself as God sees me, 38:43 so that I could become more that I was. 38:46 Jesus did that for Matthew, 38:48 he sees Matthew and he doesn't just see what he is. 38:52 Follow me, Matthew, I can disciple you, 38:55 I can train you, I can work with you. 38:58 And after I work with you're gonna be 38:59 something that you can't imagine. 39:01 You can be more than you ever dreamed. 39:05 The book, Desire of Ages, 39:06 I wanna read you just a quote here. 39:10 About the disciples and Jesus' perspective of the disciples. 39:16 Desire of Ages says in page 250, 39:18 "In the common walks of life there is many a man 39:21 patiently treading the round the daily toil, 39:25 unconscious that he possesses powers 39:27 which if called into action would raise him 39:29 to an equality with the world's most honored men. 39:35 The touch of a skillful hand is needed to 39:37 arouse those dormant faculties. 39:39 It was such men that Jesus called to be His co-laborers; 39:43 and He gave them the advantage of 39:45 association with Himself. 39:47 Never had the world's great men such a teacher. 39:50 When the disciples came forth 39:52 from the Savior's training, 39:53 they were no longer ignorant and uncultured. 39:56 They had become like Him in mind and in character, 39:59 and men took knowledge of them 40:01 that they had been with Jesus." 40:05 Many people don't understand 40:06 the powers that they possess. 40:09 Many people don't understand 40:10 that if called into action 40:12 the powers that they possess would raise them 40:14 to an equality with the world's most honored men, 40:16 but God knows that. 40:18 He knows it about you, 40:19 and He knows it about other people. 40:22 Now, I just want to make a point here 40:25 that will kind of turn our direction 40:28 and kind of help us turn the corner in this Bible study. 40:33 Although all men and women have been ransomed 40:37 not all will be saved eternally, 40:40 is that true, yes or no? 40:43 Yeah, of course. 40:45 Did God know this before him? 40:51 Jesus says, strive to enter into the strait gate, 40:54 because broad is the path and wide is the gate 40:57 that enters into destruction and many they are who find it. 41:01 But strait is the gate and narrow is the way 41:02 that leads into life and few there be that find it. 41:05 Obviously Jesus knows and knew that most would be lost. 41:12 Isaiah 46 verses 9 and 10. 41:14 I'm the Lord and there is no other, 41:16 I'm God and there is none like me, 41:17 knowing the end from the beginning 41:20 and declaring what will happen 41:22 in the future from the former times. 41:25 Surely scripture communicates that God knows 41:28 the end from the beginning 41:29 and God knew from the beginning 41:32 that in the end most would be lost. 41:36 So then why pay a ransom for all 41:39 when all will not be saved? 41:43 I mean, try to convince 41:45 an investor to give all of his resources, 41:49 invest them all into a corporation 41:51 that he knows is going to fail. 41:54 See how that strategy works, 41:57 it's not gonna work, 41:58 people make investments because they want 42:01 a return on their investment, 42:03 is that true, yes or no? 42:05 I mean, there's a lot of business people here, 42:07 I'm not a business person, I'm a minister. 42:09 Most ministers shouldn't be business people, 42:12 because they're too optimistic often, 42:14 but the fact of the matter is, 42:16 is there is a lots of business people here 42:19 and you business people know 42:21 that you don't make investments 42:23 when you're not going to make a return, 42:26 or even especially if you don't 42:27 even have a hope of return? 42:31 But here we see God in scripture 42:33 paying a ransom for all 42:35 when he knows very well 42:38 that all will not be saved, knowing very well 42:41 that he will not in many cases 42:43 receive a return on his investment. 42:49 Why? Why? 42:53 Why make such a monumental investment 42:59 and get no return? 43:03 I want you to turn with me 43:04 to First Corinthians Chapter 13. 43:09 The message is entitled 43:10 why should you believe in you, 43:14 you're beginning to see the answer, 43:16 you should believe in you, number one, 43:18 because God doesn't see you as you are, 43:20 He sees you as you can be, as you can be. 43:24 Secondary to that, notice what the Bible says 43:26 in First Corinthians Chapter 13, 43:29 we'll begin reading in verse 4, 43:31 familiar passage for most of us. 43:35 First Corinthians Chapter 13 and verse 4, 43:38 the Bible says, speaking of Godly love 43:43 and in our minds we understand 43:45 that Scripture teaches that God is love. 43:48 The Bible says, 43:49 "Love suffers long and is kind, 43:52 love does not envy, love does not parade itself, 43:55 it's not puffed up, does not behave rudely, 43:58 does not seek its own, is not provoked, 44:00 thinks no evil, does not rejoice iniquity, 44:04 but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes," 44:10 how many things? 44:11 "All things." 44:12 Love does what everyone? 44:14 Believe all. 44:15 "Love believes all things and love hopes all things, 44:22 love endures all things." 44:26 Okay, God pays a ransom 44:30 for all because He values all, 44:31 He is not going to get a return 44:32 in every case for his investment. 44:35 Well, then why pay for all? 44:38 Because love believes, now follow this. 44:42 Love believes all things, love hopes all things. 44:48 This means, now follow the logic here, 44:51 this means that what God knows, okay. 44:55 What God knows doesn't change who God is. 45:00 Who is God? What is God? 45:01 God is love, love believes all things. 45:04 Love hopes all things. 45:06 God will not stop believing in what you can become, 45:10 whether or not you become that or not, 45:12 because what He knows doesn't change 45:15 who he is as a person. 45:17 He pays a ransom for all, 45:19 because as a father loves his children, 45:21 He loves every single one of us 45:23 with a depth and a breadth 45:25 that we can't even begin to comprehend, 45:27 and whether or not you accept salvation 45:30 and whether or not you become 45:31 what God has destined you to become, 45:33 and whether or not anybody becomes 45:34 what God has destined for them to become. 45:36 He will pay a ransom for all 45:38 because love believes all things, 45:40 love hopes all things. 45:41 God is love and what He knows 45:44 and what you choose isn't gonna change who He is. 45:47 He is gonna believe in you till the end, 45:49 He's gonna believe in you till the end, 45:50 He's gonna hope in you till the end, 45:52 He is not gonna choose to see you as you are, 45:55 He's gonna chooses to see you can become. 45:57 He is gonna choose to see you in Christ. 45:59 And you have the opportunity and the privilege 46:02 to decide to see yourself as God sees you. 46:06 You have the privilege, 46:08 you have the blessing to say, 46:10 God, I'll decide, 46:11 I'll choose not to see myself as I am, 46:14 I'll choose to see myself the way that you see me. 46:18 I'll believe about myself what you believe about me. 46:23 We're lost, we're lost 46:26 when we just choose not to believe 46:28 what God believes about us. 46:31 He believes all things and He hopes all things. 46:34 Why should you believe in you? 46:35 Because God doesn't just see you as you are. 46:38 He sees as you can be. 46:40 Why should you believe in you? 46:41 Because God does, God believes in you. 46:46 And if you would believe about yourself 46:47 what God believes in you, 46:48 you wouldn't be what you are today. 46:51 I would be more than I am today, 46:52 if I actually believed about myself 46:54 what God believes about me. 46:59 God doesn't just see covetous people. 47:05 Greedy, luxurious, living Americans and Canadians, 47:11 He sees sacrificial servants. 47:16 God doesn't just see people 47:20 who love their TVs 47:21 more than they love the reading 47:22 of the word of God, you know. 47:25 God doesn't just people who are legalistically minded 47:29 and who don't understand the gospel. 47:31 God does not just see Antinomians 47:33 who are angry at the church 47:34 because their grandma was mean to them. 47:38 God does not just see people, right, 47:42 who love position like Judas 47:45 more than they love the service of Christ. 47:47 He doesn't see those things 47:49 even though that's what in so many instances we are. 47:54 He doesn't just see people who sit on boards 47:58 and play the holy role, 48:00 but yet don't even have a devotional life. 48:04 He sees you as you can become, 48:06 and He treats you that way. 48:12 In Matthew Chapter 23 we see a picture 48:15 that could seem confusing, a picture of Jesus, 48:20 he's at the end of his public, 48:21 earthly ministry and he is lamenting 48:26 over the circumstances in Jerusalem. 48:30 I want to read with you verses 37 through verses 39 48:34 through verse 39 in Matthew Chapter 27 48:37 and just point out something to you 48:39 that could seem a little unusual, 48:42 could seem a little bit awkward 48:43 or out of place really. 48:46 Matthew 23, did I say 27? 48:51 I meant 23, Matthew Chapter 23 48:55 beginning in verse 37, 48:57 notice what the Bible says here. 48:59 This is Jesus lamenting the situation in Jerusalem. 49:04 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 49:07 the one who kills the prophets 49:09 and stones those who are sent to her. 49:13 How often I wanted to gather 49:14 your children together as a hen gathers 49:16 her chicks under her wings, 49:18 but you were not willing. 49:20 See, your house is left to you desolate, 49:24 for I say to you, 49:26 you will not see Me again until you say, 49:29 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'" 49:33 Now when Jesus here is speaking, 49:37 we ought not picture a man 49:40 who's speaking in a casual or relaxed tone. 49:46 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 49:50 you who stoned the prophets 49:52 and reject those who are sent to her. 49:55 Oh man! How often I wanted to gather you 49:58 together under my wings, as a chick gathers 50:02 or as a hen gathers her chicks. 50:04 I don't see that when I read this text of scripture, 50:07 I see a man who's being torn apart emotionally, 50:13 who's conflicted between 50:15 what he knows and what he is. 50:21 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 50:26 you who stoned the prophets, 50:29 you who killed those who are sent to her. 50:33 Why wouldn't you allow me to protect you 50:35 and to guide you and to lead you? 50:38 It was your destiny to become a light to the nations, 50:42 an example who would demonstrate 50:44 the glory of God to the nations. 50:46 What a high and holy privilege you had, 50:48 but you rejected the prophets 50:50 because of your proud and stubborn and obstinate hearts. 50:54 And because of, because of the fact 50:56 that you became too much in your own eyes. 51:00 I wanted to lead you, I wanted to guide you 51:02 but you reject me. 51:05 You left to yourself, you see a man in conflict, 51:10 a hurting person, and the first time 51:15 I read this passage the first time. 51:19 I thought to myself, 51:20 why is he so seemingly upset? 51:25 Didn't he know that 51:26 they were going to reject him for a long time? 51:29 I mean, even on his way to Jerusalem here, 51:32 Matthew Chapter 16, Matthew Chapter 17, 51:35 Matthew Chapter 20, 51:36 Jesus communicates to his disciples, 51:38 I'm going to Jerusalem, they're going to reject me, 51:41 they're going to spit in my face, 51:42 they're going to pull out my beard 51:44 and I am going to be crucified, 51:45 but I'll be raised the third day. 51:47 He knew what he was getting into 51:49 when he went to Jerusalem the last time. 51:53 It was when he was 12 years old that he understood 51:55 that he was the Savior of the world 51:56 there in Luke Chapter 2. 51:58 You can see that the way that he figured it out 52:00 was by watching the ceremonial services. 52:03 The rites, the rituals that were being practiced 52:06 there at the Temple in Jerusalem, 52:08 he saw himself as the Lamb of God. 52:11 He knew that he was going to come to his own, 52:13 and that he knew that his own would not accept them, 52:16 that he would be rejected. 52:18 So he's 12 years old and he begins to understand this. 52:21 Here he is post 30 years old, 52:24 so for 18 years the guy knows that 52:27 he is going to be rejected. 52:28 But yeah when he is rejected, 52:31 he's really, really bumped, 52:33 he's falling to pieces, 52:36 he almost can't contain the emotion 52:38 that's pouring forth from a broken heart, 52:40 because of the doom that's gonna come upon a people 52:42 that wouldn't allow him to be their Savior, 52:45 to be their God. 52:48 Oh why are you so bummed, Jesus? 52:50 You had 18 years to prepare for this let down, 52:53 me I prepare for these things. 52:56 If I know that someone is going to disappoint me 52:58 or let me down or reject me, 53:00 I emotionally prepare myself for it, 53:02 so that I'm not so beat up once it happens. 53:07 You see what I know changes who I am, 53:11 because I'm selfish. 53:13 But follow what Jesus knew about Jerusalem, 53:17 didn't change who he was, and it didn't change 53:21 his desire to see them as they could be, 53:25 it didn't stop him from the hoping all things, 53:28 believing all things. 53:29 And that's why we see him in conflict, 53:32 that's why we see him hurting and in pain. 53:35 So, recap in one minute. 53:41 God wants all to be saved, 53:43 and we should all say amen. Amen. 53:46 Even though He wants people to be saved, 53:48 who we don't like. Amen. 53:52 It's always easy to hear, oh God can save my cousin, 53:55 God can save my mom, 53:56 God can save me no matter how bad we get. 53:59 And that's a great feeling 54:01 when it's appropriated to the people that you like, 54:03 but when it's appropriate to people 54:04 that you don't like. 54:05 Oh, why would He want to save all? 54:08 And you only think that because you don't realize 54:10 that your sins are just as repugnant as theirs. 54:13 So we should all say amen that God wants to save all, 54:15 because all the evil that's in the world 54:17 rests within the confines of your own sinful heart. 54:20 And so when you see scriptures saying, 54:22 God pays a ransom for all, you should say hallelujah. 54:25 Even if it's those that God, those that you find repugnant 54:30 because you're just as repugnant as they are, 54:32 you just don't realize it. 54:34 God pays a ransom for all, praise Jesus, 54:37 He's not just the kind of person 54:38 who desires and hopes, 54:40 he's the kind of person who puts his, 54:42 puts his hopes into action and pays a ransom for all. 54:49 He sends an invitation to all because he values all. 54:52 Why does He value all? 54:54 Because He doesn't just see us as we are, 54:55 He sees us as we can be. 54:58 He believes in you, He believes in you 55:01 because He knows what you can become. 55:03 And even if you chose to be lost, 55:05 He's gonna believe in you till the end. 55:08 He chooses to, because what He knows doesn't change 55:11 who He is and what He is. 55:14 Lastly, I just want to read a quote here 55:17 and just share with you a story. 55:20 I'm gonna go crazy today 55:21 and preach one minute overtime. 55:24 This is from "Counsels to Teachers" page 267. 55:27 Ellen White says, "We're living in a hard, 55:29 unfeeling, uncharitable world. 55:32 Satan and his angels are using every means 55:35 in their power to destroy souls. 55:37 The good that a teacher will do to his students 55:39 or for his students will be proportionate 55:42 to his belief in them." 55:44 You want to do good for the world, 55:46 believe in people, because God does. 55:49 You want to do a good for yourself 55:50 believe about yourself will God believes in you. 55:53 My cousin Mike Ruby, he was a coach, 55:58 a baseball coach I was a little kid 56:00 who aspired to play baseball. 56:03 I went to tryouts, 56:05 and I was informed by Mike Ruby my cousin 56:07 that I didn't have to tryout. 56:09 And he put me on his team. 56:12 I became one of the best players on his team, 56:15 Home Run Champ. 56:17 You know, that was important to me as a kid of course. 56:19 Hit a lots of Home Runs, 56:21 always made it to the All-Star Teams 56:24 and made Mike Ruby it look like a great coach. 56:28 Later in life when I was older I asked Mike Ruby, 56:30 I said, hey man, why didn't you make me tryout? 56:35 Why did you just accept me on your team? 56:37 Why did you believe in me? Why did you believe in me? 56:43 Did you know, like did you know that 56:46 I would become a good baseball player 56:49 and make you look good as a coach? 56:51 And he said, I didn't know, 56:53 but I believed in you. 56:56 Not because of what I saw, but because of what 56:59 I saw you could be if I believed in you. 57:03 You are my cousin, you're my cousin 57:08 and because I'm your cousin I chose to believe in you 57:12 because of who I am. 57:13 And, my friends, I became an All-Star 57:17 because he saw me as I could become. |
Revised 2014-12-17