On Jordan's stormy banks I stand
00:00:49.49\00:00:55.50
And cast a wishful eye
00:00:55.51\00:01:01.86
To Canaan's fair and happy land
00:01:01.87\00:01:07.88
Where my possessions lie
00:01:07.89\00:01:14.00
No chilling winds
or poisonous breath
00:01:22.06\00:01:28.34
Can reach that healthful shore
00:01:28.35\00:01:34.28
Sickness and
sorrow, pain and death
00:01:34.29\00:01:38.82
Are felt and feared
no more Feared no more
00:01:38.83\00:01:48.19
O the
transporting, rapturous scene
00:01:59.67\00:02:05.95
That rises to my sight
00:02:05.96\00:02:12.55
Sweet fields
arrayed in living green
00:02:12.56\00:02:18.17
And rivers of delight!
00:02:18.18\00:02:24.52
All o'er those
wide extended plains
00:02:32.66\00:02:38.94
Shines one eternal day
00:02:38.95\00:02:45.35
There God the Son forever reigns
00:02:45.36\00:02:52.54
And scatters night away
00:02:52.55\00:03:01.67
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:03:07.44\00:03:12.65
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:03:12.66\00:03:17.37
Oh who will come and go with me?
00:03:17.38\00:03:21.94
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:03:21.95\00:03:26.84
When I shall
reach that happy place
00:03:26.85\00:03:31.63
I'll be forever blest
00:03:31.64\00:03:36.48
For I shall see my Father's face
00:03:36.49\00:03:44.42
And in His bosom rest
00:03:44.43\00:03:50.19
For I shall see my Father's face
00:03:50.20\00:03:59.52
And in His bosom rest.
00:03:59.53\00:04:10.64
I would like to invite
you to go to Revelation 12:17,
00:04:26.48\00:04:31.90
"And the dragon was
wroth with the woman,
00:04:34.50\00:04:38.35
and went to make war
with the remnant of her seed,
00:04:38.36\00:04:43.82
which keep the
commandments of God,
00:04:43.83\00:04:46.87
and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:04:46.88\00:04:50.51
I have fixed my mind
00:05:13.30\00:05:16.71
On another time, on another time
00:05:16.72\00:05:25.31
And here I mean to stand until
00:05:25.32\00:05:31.79
God gives me more light
00:05:31.80\00:05:37.85
And that is today,
today Today until He comes
00:05:37.86\00:05:49.89
I have fixed my mind
00:05:49.90\00:05:53.59
On another time, on another time
00:05:53.60\00:06:04.09
I have set my course
00:06:06.04\00:06:09.03
On the narrow
way, on the narrow way
00:06:09.04\00:06:17.12
For I know the
day is close at hand
00:06:17.13\00:06:23.50
For which I watch and pray
00:06:23.51\00:06:28.88
Even so Lord come quickly
That is my fervent prayer
00:06:28.89\00:06:40.52
For I've caught
a glimpse of glory
00:06:40.53\00:06:46.56
And I'm longing to be there
00:06:46.57\00:06:53.71
When shall the Son of Man appear
00:07:03.01\00:07:08.99
The trumpet sound its blast
00:07:09.00\00:07:14.11
And Christ
descend with glorious fire
00:07:14.12\00:07:20.07
With all the saints amassed
00:07:20.08\00:07:25.36
We'll rise with
those who sleep no more
00:07:25.37\00:07:31.43
To meet Him in the air
00:07:31.44\00:07:37.07
When shall the Son of Man appear
00:07:37.08\00:07:46.45
The Son of Man appear
00:07:46.46\00:07:53.47
Even so Lord come quickly
That is my fervent prayer
00:07:53.48\00:08:04.87
For I've caught
a glimpse of glory
00:08:04.88\00:08:10.66
And I'm longing to be there
00:08:10.67\00:08:16.79
For I've caught
a glimpse of glory
00:08:16.80\00:08:23.69
And I'm longing to be there
00:08:23.70\00:08:37.09
I have fixed my mind
00:08:37.10\00:08:41.25
On another time, on another time
00:08:41.26\00:09:06.55
Thank you so much for
that beautiful rendition
00:09:17.29\00:09:20.37
of the words of William Miller.
00:09:20.38\00:09:22.35
What a wonderful day of hope
00:09:23.68\00:09:26.18
we have to look forward to.
00:09:26.19\00:09:29.24
I hope each of us
are fixing our minds
00:09:29.25\00:09:33.45
on that beautiful day that will
come in the very near future.
00:09:33.46\00:09:41.07
It's a great privilege to
be with the ASI Convention
00:09:41.08\00:09:46.39
and I want to thank
you for your prayers,
00:09:46.40\00:09:48.98
you don't know how many people
00:09:48.99\00:09:50.63
as I have wondered the
house have mentioned to me,
00:09:50.64\00:09:55.25
I'm praying for
you, I'm praying for you.
00:09:55.26\00:09:58.13
I want to tell you that
means an enormous amount
00:09:59.93\00:10:05.33
to Nancy and to me
and to your world church.
00:10:05.34\00:10:09.01
ASI is one of God's
great missionary organizations,
00:10:10.64\00:10:18.40
that is a tremendous blessing
to the entire world church
00:10:18.41\00:10:23.58
and its outreach for the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:10:23.59\00:10:29.05
You just saw a
beautiful demonstration
00:10:29.06\00:10:31.51
of the cooperative endeavor
that we are accelerating
00:10:31.52\00:10:36.66
between supporting ministries
and the denominational entities.
00:10:36.67\00:10:43.06
I want you to know
that the General Conference
00:10:43.07\00:10:45.38
appreciates you
as members of ASI
00:10:45.39\00:10:51.26
and we're delighted with
your strong supported activities
00:10:51.27\00:10:55.19
reflecting the many
supporting ministries
00:10:55.20\00:10:58.15
that make up this
dynamic organization.
00:10:58.16\00:11:02.50
Your emphasis on soul winning
00:11:02.51\00:11:04.47
through the power
of the Holy Spirit
00:11:04.48\00:11:07.24
is how God wants you to work
00:11:07.25\00:11:10.13
sharing Christ
in the marketplace.
00:11:10.14\00:11:14.49
Your support of so many
00:11:14.50\00:11:15.56
evangelistic outreach
projects are thrilling,
00:11:15.57\00:11:19.80
projects such as
the one-day church,
00:11:19.81\00:11:22.22
the one-day school
00:11:22.23\00:11:23.36
and so many other
marvellous projects.
00:11:23.37\00:11:27.13
Recently, it was a
privilege to attend
00:11:27.14\00:11:29.35
the ASI Europe
Convention in Konstanz, Germany,
00:11:29.36\00:11:33.85
and to see hundreds
of dedicated, energized,
00:11:33.86\00:11:37.79
spirit-filled church members
00:11:37.80\00:11:40.05
who want to experience
revival and reformation
00:11:40.06\00:11:43.42
and a renewed mission emphasis
00:11:43.43\00:11:46.41
for the evangelistic outreach
00:11:46.42\00:11:48.36
on the European continent.
00:11:48.37\00:11:51.42
Please pray for our
brothers and sisters in Germany,
00:11:51.43\00:11:57.39
and in Europe, pray for them,
00:11:57.40\00:12:00.99
plead with the
Lord for a renewed
00:12:01.00\00:12:03.11
sense of mission to proclaim
00:12:03.12\00:12:05.41
the three angels' messages
00:12:05.42\00:12:07.40
with power in that secular
and materialistic society.
00:12:07.41\00:12:13.29
There are millions of
people in Europe and yes,
00:12:13.30\00:12:15.90
all over the
world who are waiting
00:12:15.91\00:12:18.91
for Seventh-day
Adventists to stand up,
00:12:18.92\00:12:22.54
speak out, and
share the precious
00:12:22.55\00:12:25.56
Biblical message
of Revelation 14.
00:12:25.57\00:12:31.07
Now the giving of
those three angels' messages
00:12:31.08\00:12:33.90
is the reason God has raised up
00:12:33.91\00:12:37.04
the Seventh-day
Adventist movement.
00:12:37.05\00:12:40.68
We have a mandate
from heaven to preach
00:12:40.69\00:12:44.99
the everlasting Gospel
and Christ's righteousness,
00:12:45.00\00:12:48.65
to boldly proclaim
00:12:48.66\00:12:50.50
the fall of
Babylon's apostate religion,
00:12:50.51\00:12:53.65
and to warn the world
00:12:53.66\00:12:55.08
not to receive
the mark of the beast,
00:12:55.09\00:12:58.57
but instead be sealed
00:12:58.58\00:13:00.95
with the seal of God's
everlasting mark of authority,
00:13:00.96\00:13:05.81
the seventh-day Sabbath.
00:13:05.82\00:13:09.05
Brothers and sisters here at ASI
00:13:09.06\00:13:11.26
and those
watching around the world,
00:13:11.27\00:13:13.74
we have the great
privilege as a church body
00:13:13.75\00:13:18.19
to belong to a
heaven-born Advent movement.
00:13:18.20\00:13:23.84
We belong to the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:13:23.85\00:13:27.23
God's remnant church.
00:13:27.24\00:13:30.36
A church that has
been called by God
00:13:30.37\00:13:32.27
at the end of time
for a unique purpose.
00:13:32.28\00:13:35.32
A church that has gone
through challenging times
00:13:35.33\00:13:37.65
in the past
00:13:37.66\00:13:38.68
and will go through
very challenging times ahead
00:13:38.69\00:13:42.83
according to Bible prophecy
00:13:42.84\00:13:45.20
and the writings of
the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:13:45.21\00:13:48.70
A church that does not rely
00:13:48.71\00:13:51.45
on traditions
or human reasoning,
00:13:51.46\00:13:54.58
but relies
completely on the Word of God
00:13:54.59\00:13:58.91
as its sole foundation.
00:13:58.92\00:14:02.04
And the Living
Word, Jesus Christ.
00:14:02.05\00:14:05.63
A church that does not
derive its power from itself,
00:14:05.64\00:14:09.51
but accepts fully the admonition
00:14:09.52\00:14:11.61
of the Lord in
Zechariah 4:6 which says,
00:14:11.62\00:14:14.41
"Not by might nor by power,
00:14:14.42\00:14:16.09
but My Spirit'
says the Lord of hosts."
00:14:16.10\00:14:19.51
I like your theme for
the 2011 ASI Convention,
00:14:19.52\00:14:24.13
"Inspired to Finish
Strong" Inspired by God,
00:14:24.14\00:14:30.44
the Father,
Inspired by God, the Son,
00:14:30.45\00:14:34.77
inspired by
God, the Holy Spirit.
00:14:34.78\00:14:38.25
The three Persons
of the Godhead in one,
00:14:38.26\00:14:41.29
who are from
everlasting and are everlasting.
00:14:41.30\00:14:45.14
God wants His
church to finish strong
00:14:45.15\00:14:48.79
as has been
prophesied that it will.
00:14:48.80\00:14:52.80
John records in Revelation
Chapter 21, verses 1 to 3,
00:14:52.81\00:15:00.31
"Now I saw a new
heaven and a new earth,
00:15:00.32\00:15:04.13
for the first
heaven and the first earth
00:15:04.14\00:15:05.73
had passed away.
00:15:05.74\00:15:07.03
Also there was no more sea.
00:15:07.04\00:15:10.18
Then I, John, saw the holy city,
00:15:10.19\00:15:13.91
New Jerusalem, coming
down out of heaven from God,
00:15:13.92\00:15:17.93
prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband.
00:15:17.94\00:15:21.50
And I heard a loud
voice from heaven saying,
00:15:21.51\00:15:24.05
'Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men,
00:15:24.06\00:15:27.51
and He will dwell with them,
00:15:27.52\00:15:29.09
and they shall be His people.
00:15:29.10\00:15:31.50
God Himself will be
with them and be their God.
00:15:31.51\00:15:36.04
And God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes.
00:15:36.05\00:15:40.52
There shall be no more death,
00:15:40.53\00:15:44.16
no sorrow, nor crying.
00:15:44.17\00:15:47.51
There shall be no more pain,
00:15:47.52\00:15:49.52
for the former
things have passed away.'
00:15:49.53\00:15:52.88
Then, He who sat
on the throne said,
00:15:52.89\00:15:54.93
'Behold, I make all things new.'
00:15:54.94\00:15:59.80
And He said to me,
00:15:59.81\00:16:01.28
'Write, for these words
are true and faithful."'
00:16:01.29\00:16:07.12
True and
faithful, God has promised,
00:16:07.13\00:16:11.12
His words are true and
faithful that His church,
00:16:11.13\00:16:15.00
under His personal
direction, will finish strong!
00:16:15.01\00:16:20.96
His church will finish
strong through His grace
00:16:20.97\00:16:23.82
and through His power.
00:16:23.83\00:16:26.50
You will finish
strong through His power.
00:16:26.51\00:16:31.05
This is not just
hyperbole and triumphalism,
00:16:31.06\00:16:35.21
this is Biblical truth!
00:16:35.22\00:16:39.52
On that great and wonderful day
00:16:39.53\00:16:41.72
when we all look
forward to seeing
00:16:41.73\00:16:44.44
the culmination
of the Blessed Hope.
00:16:44.45\00:16:47.26
We will see Jesus
appear with power and glory,
00:16:47.27\00:16:53.03
the Blessed Hope
that will finish strong.
00:16:53.04\00:16:57.50
Matthew records in
Chapter 25, verse 31
00:16:57.51\00:17:01.62
that "When the Son of
Man comes in His glory,
00:17:01.63\00:17:04.17
and all the
holy angels with Him,
00:17:04.18\00:17:06.99
then He will sit on
the throne of His glory."
00:17:07.00\00:17:11.12
Christ will come in power
to claim His remnant people.
00:17:11.13\00:17:17.45
This is God's remnant
church and through God's power,
00:17:17.46\00:17:23.59
it will finish strong.
00:17:23.60\00:17:27.37
I don't know about you,
00:17:27.38\00:17:29.04
but I'm looking
forward to that day
00:17:29.05\00:17:33.15
when I will see
my parents again.
00:17:33.16\00:17:38.05
And you will see those
who have died in Christ
00:17:38.06\00:17:40.87
because the great
blessed hope is just before us.
00:17:40.88\00:17:45.94
Now how is it that
we can humbly claim
00:17:45.95\00:17:48.04
to be God's remnant church?
00:17:48.05\00:17:51.33
There are those, even
Seventh-day Adventist,
00:17:51.34\00:17:54.09
who would dispute that
we are the remnant church.
00:17:54.10\00:17:58.77
Some may say, "Well we
are a part of the remnant."
00:17:58.78\00:18:02.14
Perhaps others might say,
00:18:02.15\00:18:03.42
"Well the
remnant is yet to come."
00:18:03.43\00:18:06.95
My brothers and
sisters, in order to say
00:18:06.96\00:18:09.11
that God's church
will finish strong,
00:18:09.12\00:18:12.43
we need to know who we are
00:18:12.44\00:18:15.07
and why we are here
as an Advent movement.
00:18:15.08\00:18:18.78
We need to understand
00:18:18.79\00:18:19.85
our special
calling from the Lord.
00:18:19.86\00:18:22.59
We don't say any of
this in a self-centered,
00:18:22.60\00:18:26.63
egotistical
manner, but we say it
00:18:26.64\00:18:32.28
in humility indicating that
we fulfill the qualifications
00:18:32.29\00:18:38.34
of God's remnant people who know
00:18:38.35\00:18:41.19
that the church
will finish strong.
00:18:41.20\00:18:45.68
Now, God, has told us
00:18:45.69\00:18:46.66
in Testimonies for the
Church, volume 7, page 138,
00:18:46.67\00:18:52.36
that ''Seventh-day Adventists
have been chosen by God
00:18:52.37\00:18:55.75
as a peculiar people,
separate from the world,
00:18:55.76\00:19:00.45
He has made them
His representatives
00:19:00.46\00:19:02.76
and called them to
be ambassadors for Him
00:19:02.77\00:19:06.37
in the last work of salvation.
00:19:06.38\00:19:09.75
The greatest wealth of truth
00:19:09.76\00:19:11.14
ever entrusted to
mortals, the most solemn
00:19:11.15\00:19:14.16
and fearful warnings
ever sent by God to man,
00:19:14.17\00:19:19.91
have been committed to them,
00:19:19.92\00:19:23.01
that's to you and to me
to be given to the world."
00:19:23.02\00:19:30.38
But do we believe that? Yes.
00:19:30.39\00:19:32.88
How can we
understand this from scripture?
00:19:32.89\00:19:37.20
A few years ago at
a meeting, a large,
00:19:37.21\00:19:41.50
well, a large
meeting, many people attending
00:19:41.51\00:19:45.69
I had a very bright
and intelligent person
00:19:45.70\00:19:48.47
come to my supper
table as I was eating
00:19:48.48\00:19:52.03
and asked a
challenging question.
00:19:52.04\00:19:54.60
He asked me what my
greatest challenge was.
00:19:54.61\00:19:59.04
And I thought for a moment
00:19:59.05\00:20:00.05
and then I
responded by indicating
00:20:00.06\00:20:02.97
that probably one of
the greatest challenges
00:20:02.98\00:20:05.13
that we face, that I face
was to keep the vision alive
00:20:05.14\00:20:10.26
in the
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:20:10.27\00:20:11.96
that we are a unique movement.
00:20:11.97\00:20:15.76
Well, he kind of
looked at me and he said,
00:20:15.77\00:20:19.03
"Really, are we, are we
really an unique movement?"
00:20:19.04\00:20:24.49
He said, "I am a Christian first
00:20:24.50\00:20:26.20
and then I am a
Seventh-day Adventist."
00:20:26.21\00:20:29.35
Well, I want to tell
you brothers and sisters,
00:20:29.36\00:20:30.73
of course, we are Seventh-day
Adventist Christians,
00:20:30.74\00:20:34.41
we are part of the
Christian community,
00:20:34.42\00:20:37.02
but I want to tell you
that we have a special task
00:20:37.03\00:20:40.61
that others are not doing.
00:20:40.62\00:20:45.22
Well, this particular gentleman
00:20:45.23\00:20:49.55
proved my point
right then and there.
00:20:49.56\00:20:53.89
He didn't seem to
think that we were unique.
00:20:53.90\00:20:58.66
Who are we as a
special movement?
00:20:58.67\00:21:03.28
Are we better than other people?
00:21:03.29\00:21:05.37
Of course not.
00:21:05.38\00:21:06.71
We're all in need
of Christ's justifying
00:21:06.72\00:21:09.61
and sanctifying power.
00:21:09.62\00:21:11.58
We are in need of
revival and reformation
00:21:11.59\00:21:14.41
through the Holy
Spirit that will lead
00:21:14.42\00:21:17.21
to the outpouring
of the latter rain.
00:21:17.22\00:21:20.45
We are indebted to
Christ for salvation
00:21:20.46\00:21:23.34
and His all-encompassing
grace and righteousness.
00:21:23.35\00:21:28.20
But we are a unique movement,
00:21:28.21\00:21:32.10
people of the Book,
a prophetic movement,
00:21:32.11\00:21:35.80
people who
believe in the prophecies
00:21:35.81\00:21:37.86
of Daniel and Revelation.
00:21:37.87\00:21:39.81
People who
understand those books
00:21:39.82\00:21:42.00
from the historicist viewpoint.
00:21:42.01\00:21:45.84
We are not preterists,
those who assign the events
00:21:45.85\00:21:50.37
predicted in the
Bible to a singular event
00:21:50.38\00:21:54.27
in the distant past.
00:21:54.28\00:21:55.66
No, we are not preterists,
00:21:55.67\00:21:58.25
we are not futurists
who assign prophetic events
00:21:58.26\00:22:01.62
as having some place
in the distant future
00:22:01.63\00:22:04.95
and have no relevance to history
00:22:04.96\00:22:07.02
either current or past.
00:22:07.03\00:22:10.15
We are
historicists who understand
00:22:10.16\00:22:13.47
that the seven
churches for example
00:22:13.48\00:22:15.71
of Revelation 2 and 3 represent
00:22:15.72\00:22:18.36
not only historical places,
but periods of church history
00:22:18.37\00:22:23.89
represented by
the characteristics
00:22:23.90\00:22:25.91
of those original churches.
00:22:25.92\00:22:28.74
We believe in the
prophetic landmarks
00:22:28.75\00:22:31.03
throughout history
which were predicted
00:22:31.04\00:22:33.72
before they happened
00:22:33.73\00:22:35.43
and led us to an understanding
00:22:35.44\00:22:37.62
of who we are and where we are
00:22:37.63\00:22:40.61
in earth's history.
00:22:40.62\00:22:42.14
You see it helps to know
00:22:44.16\00:22:46.99
that we are
living in the very end
00:22:47.00\00:22:50.75
of those toes
in Daniel Chapter 2
00:22:50.76\00:22:54.85
and that the next event
will be the stone appearing
00:22:54.86\00:23:00.49
that was cut without hands
00:23:00.50\00:23:03.31
representing Jesus
soon second coming.
00:23:03.32\00:23:08.32
Daniel 8:14 tells us
exactly what happened in 1844
00:23:08.33\00:23:13.57
and that the sanctuary message
00:23:13.58\00:23:15.30
which is replete in scripture
00:23:15.31\00:23:18.52
is a powerful and
meaningful message
00:23:18.53\00:23:21.34
for the world throughout time
00:23:21.35\00:23:23.30
and even more so
00:23:23.31\00:23:24.86
during these end
time days of this earth.
00:23:24.87\00:23:30.73
The sanctuary message
of God's plan of salvation,
00:23:30.74\00:23:33.75
how Christ, our High Priest,
00:23:33.76\00:23:35.63
is interceding for us
in the most holy place
00:23:35.64\00:23:38.67
of the heavenly
sanctuary at this very time.
00:23:38.68\00:23:42.22
It is one of the most
precious Biblical beliefs
00:23:42.23\00:23:45.08
that needs to be
shared fully with the world.
00:23:45.09\00:23:48.38
Christ is our
Creator, our Redeemer
00:23:48.39\00:23:51.60
as the Humble
Broken Lamb on the cross,
00:23:51.61\00:23:54.35
our Example, our High Priest,
00:23:54.36\00:23:56.95
and our coming King.
00:23:56.96\00:24:00.09
The sanctuary
message shares it all.
00:24:00.10\00:24:05.80
Brothers and sisters,
00:24:05.81\00:24:06.78
we are living in a
most incredible time
00:24:06.79\00:24:09.33
in earth's history.
00:24:09.34\00:24:10.91
We have been
called to proclaim God's
00:24:10.92\00:24:12.65
incredible message of
salvation through Christ
00:24:12.66\00:24:15.85
and His righteousness
00:24:15.86\00:24:17.54
and we need to know who we are
00:24:17.55\00:24:22.24
if we are to
deliver that message
00:24:22.25\00:24:24.88
with Holy Spirit power.
00:24:24.89\00:24:28.78
Now there are
many Biblical texts
00:24:28.79\00:24:30.53
which give us a
picture of who we are
00:24:30.54\00:24:32.40
as a unique movement
that will finish strong.
00:24:32.41\00:24:36.19
But I want to tell
you there is one text
00:24:38.04\00:24:40.75
that identifies us so clearly
00:24:40.76\00:24:42.73
it cannot be misunderstood.
It is the great identifier.
00:24:42.74\00:24:47.76
It is the "Caller ID"
of the Biblical prophecy.
00:24:47.77\00:24:52.45
Just as your cell
phone or your home phone
00:24:52.46\00:24:55.33
can identify the
calling number and name,
00:24:55.34\00:24:58.76
in some cases, of
those calling you,
00:24:58.77\00:25:02.69
giving you the opportunity
00:25:02.70\00:25:03.99
to decide whether or not
you want to take that call,
00:25:04.00\00:25:07.70
so the Bible in
Revelation Chapter 12 verse 17
00:25:07.71\00:25:12.92
identifies God's
remnant church or people
00:25:12.93\00:25:17.07
at the end of time.
00:25:17.08\00:25:19.06
That marvellous
text tells us who we are.
00:25:19.07\00:25:22.40
It reads, "And the
dragon, that's Satan,
00:25:22.41\00:25:26.33
was wroth or
angry with the woman,
00:25:26.34\00:25:29.93
the church, and went to make war
00:25:29.94\00:25:32.54
with the remnant of her seed,
00:25:32.55\00:25:34.58
which keep the
commandments of God,
00:25:34.59\00:25:37.04
and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ."
00:25:37.05\00:25:40.63
Now verse 9 tells us
that the dragon is Satan.
00:25:40.64\00:25:45.37
Verses 1 and 2 identify
the woman as God's church.
00:25:45.38\00:25:49.33
Verse 4 tells us of the
war against God's church
00:25:49.34\00:25:53.65
and Jesus Christ who
is then caught up to God
00:25:53.66\00:25:56.53
and His throne.
00:25:56.54\00:25:58.34
But who are the remnant?
00:25:59.91\00:26:02.25
The remnant of her
seed, God's last day church,
00:26:02.26\00:26:07.60
will consist of people
with two characteristics,
00:26:07.61\00:26:12.37
those who keep the
commandments of God
00:26:12.38\00:26:15.43
and secondly, they have
the testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:26:15.44\00:26:20.79
That first
characteristic of keeping
00:26:20.80\00:26:22.38
the commandments of God means
all the commandments of God
00:26:22.39\00:26:27.17
including the fourth commandment
00:26:27.18\00:26:29.76
to "Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy."
00:26:29.77\00:26:34.95
Now those who are part of
the remnant church will keep,
00:26:34.96\00:26:37.27
through the power of
God, not as a legalistic,
00:26:37.28\00:26:41.08
self initiated, pull yourself up
00:26:41.09\00:26:44.13
by the boot
straps type of religion,
00:26:44.14\00:26:46.33
but through the power of God,
00:26:46.34\00:26:48.16
they will keep not just
a few of the commandments,
00:26:48.17\00:26:53.33
not even nine of
the commandments,
00:26:53.34\00:26:56.14
but all ten of the commandments.
00:26:56.15\00:26:59.47
The fourth commandment
about God's holy Sabbath
00:26:59.48\00:27:02.65
is a sign of God's
creative and redemptive power.
00:27:02.66\00:27:08.34
It is a sign that
He alone is the Creator
00:27:08.35\00:27:13.27
who recently and let
me underscore the word
00:27:13.28\00:27:17.08
recently created this
earth in six literal days
00:27:17.09\00:27:21.73
and capped the marvellous
and miraculous process
00:27:21.74\00:27:25.93
with the
seventh-day Sabbath as a day
00:27:25.94\00:27:29.40
in which to
specifically remember
00:27:29.41\00:27:32.92
that He did create by
the word of His mouth.
00:27:32.93\00:27:37.82
The Sabbath is not
only a sign of God's power,
00:27:37.83\00:27:40.68
but it will be a seal
placed upon us as His people,
00:27:40.69\00:27:46.58
God's mark in the
universe and on us.
00:27:46.59\00:27:51.34
In the very last days
00:27:51.35\00:27:52.32
during the most
difficult times of persecution,
00:27:52.33\00:27:56.39
and yes, brothers and
sisters that time will come.
00:27:56.40\00:28:01.41
During that period of time,
00:28:01.42\00:28:04.00
stand fast for
God's Bible Sabbath.
00:28:04.01\00:28:08.91
Finish strong
through God's power.
00:28:08.92\00:28:11.77
Don't let anything detour you
00:28:11.78\00:28:14.77
from faithfully adhering
00:28:14.78\00:28:16.81
to God's only
true day of worship,
00:28:16.82\00:28:20.61
the seventh-day Sabbath.
00:28:20.62\00:28:24.44
When you
worship on this very day
00:28:24.45\00:28:28.37
on which we are worshiping
00:28:28.38\00:28:30.01
in this
auditorium in Sacramento,
00:28:30.02\00:28:32.83
you testify to the world
00:28:32.84\00:28:35.29
that God is the
omnipotent Creator
00:28:35.30\00:28:39.36
who accomplished this
work through His power
00:28:39.37\00:28:42.67
and not through an
evolutionary process.
00:28:42.68\00:28:46.49
We are to preach this,
00:28:46.50\00:28:49.80
to teach this, and believe this.
00:28:49.81\00:28:56.88
Don't let anyone and I
mean anyone intimidate you
00:28:56.89\00:29:02.11
into believing that
this is an outmoded,
00:29:02.12\00:29:04.57
uneducated or
unsophisticated belief,
00:29:04.58\00:29:08.98
the belief in a
literal six-day creation week
00:29:08.99\00:29:13.16
with the Sabbath as the weekly
00:29:13.17\00:29:15.32
memorial of God's
creative power is very much
00:29:15.33\00:29:19.80
a major part of the
final characteristics
00:29:19.81\00:29:24.11
of God's remnant church.
00:29:24.12\00:29:27.72
Let me also
indicate that God the Father,
00:29:27.73\00:29:30.47
God the Son,
God the Holy Spirit,
00:29:30.48\00:29:32.98
all participated in
the literal creation
00:29:32.99\00:29:35.94
of this world,
they are the Godhead,
00:29:35.95\00:29:39.10
Three in One and have existed
00:29:39.11\00:29:42.30
since eternity and will
exist throughout eternity.
00:29:42.31\00:29:46.69
They are omnipotent, omniscient,
00:29:46.70\00:29:49.73
omnipresent and
everlasting, three distinct,
00:29:49.74\00:29:54.05
eternal persons, one
God, our almighty God!
00:29:54.06\00:30:01.64
We are Seventh-day Adventists.
00:30:01.65\00:30:05.52
Don't ever forget that.
00:30:05.53\00:30:07.55
We are a unique
people with a unique message.
00:30:07.56\00:30:11.76
In Selected
Messages, Book 2, page 397,
00:30:11.77\00:30:15.98
we read, "I am instructed to say
00:30:15.99\00:30:19.08
to Seventh-day
Adventists the world over.
00:30:19.09\00:30:23.06
God has called us as a people
00:30:23.07\00:30:25.04
to be a peculiar
treasure unto Himself.
00:30:25.05\00:30:28.86
He has appointed
that His church on earth
00:30:28.87\00:30:31.48
shall stand
perfectly united in the Spirit
00:30:31.49\00:30:36.11
and counsel of the Lord
of hosts to the end of time."
00:30:36.12\00:30:42.84
Now that second
characteristic listed
00:30:42.85\00:30:44.75
in Revelation 12:17 is
that God's remnant church
00:30:44.76\00:30:49.99
will have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:30:50.00\00:30:54.41
Revelation Chapter 1
verses 2 and 9 talk about
00:30:54.42\00:30:58.41
the testimony of Jesus.
00:30:58.42\00:31:00.98
Revelation 14:12 talks
about the patience of the saints
00:31:00.99\00:31:05.14
who keep the commandments
and the faith of Jesus.
00:31:05.15\00:31:09.71
And Revelation
Chapter 19 verse 10,
00:31:09.72\00:31:13.85
plainly indicates and tells us
00:31:13.86\00:31:16.63
that "The testimony of Jesus
is the Spirit of Prophecy."
00:31:16.64\00:31:21.93
Here we have a clear indication
00:31:23.12\00:31:24.74
from the Bible
that the remnant church
00:31:24.75\00:31:28.69
will have a special
voice that God will provide
00:31:28.70\00:31:31.68
which is the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:31:31.69\00:31:35.20
This is a mark of the remnant.
00:31:35.21\00:31:38.58
Now I believe that God
spoke through Ellen G. White
00:31:38.59\00:31:42.14
as a fulfilment
of Revelation 12:17
00:31:42.15\00:31:46.11
to provide God's instructions
00:31:46.12\00:31:48.20
to His last-day, remnant church.
00:31:48.21\00:31:51.64
And I want to
thank you for the support
00:31:51.65\00:31:53.35
that you are
giving in your offering
00:31:53.36\00:31:55.66
towards a special
project for the widest state
00:31:55.67\00:32:00.58
and the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:32:00.59\00:32:02.91
Now as I've said before,
00:32:02.92\00:32:04.68
and I will say it
many times into the future
00:32:04.69\00:32:07.95
as long as God gives me breathe
00:32:07.96\00:32:10.83
I believe the
Spirit of Prophecy,
00:32:10.84\00:32:13.58
the writings of Ellen White.
00:32:13.59\00:32:15.66
The Spirit of Prophecy
is one of the greatest gifts
00:32:15.67\00:32:18.73
given to the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:32:18.74\00:32:22.01
There are many who
attack the Spirit of Prophecy
00:32:22.02\00:32:26.27
and we shouldn't
be at all surprised.
00:32:26.28\00:32:28.90
The Spirit of Prophecy contains
00:32:28.91\00:32:30.35
direct counsel and truth
00:32:30.36\00:32:32.79
which the devil does not
want available to people.
00:32:32.80\00:32:38.12
Listen to this Selected
Messages, Book 1, page 48,
00:32:38.13\00:32:42.63
it indicates that
"Satan is constantly pressing
00:32:42.64\00:32:46.67
in the spurious
that which is not correct
00:32:46.68\00:32:51.46
to lead away from the truth.
00:32:51.47\00:32:54.26
The very last deception of Satan
00:32:54.27\00:32:57.44
will be to make of none effect
00:32:57.45\00:33:01.35
the testimony of
the Spirit of God.
00:33:01.36\00:33:05.45
There will be a hatred kindled
00:33:05.46\00:33:07.68
against the
testimonies which is satanic.
00:33:07.69\00:33:13.20
The workings of Satan
will be to unsettle the faith
00:33:13.21\00:33:16.42
of the churches in
them, for this reason,
00:33:16.43\00:33:19.71
all right, here it is,
00:33:19.72\00:33:21.56
Satan cannot
have so clear a track
00:33:21.57\00:33:24.37
to bring in his deceptions
00:33:24.38\00:33:25.98
and bind up
souls in his delusions
00:33:25.99\00:33:28.62
if the warnings are reproofs
00:33:28.63\00:33:31.82
and counsels of the
Spirit of God are headed."
00:33:31.83\00:33:36.05
If they are heated
then of course, he has lost.
00:33:36.06\00:33:39.61
That is why currently
there are so many attacks
00:33:39.62\00:33:42.41
against the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:33:42.42\00:33:44.22
That's why people simply choose
00:33:44.23\00:33:46.11
not to read the instructions.
00:33:46.12\00:33:49.42
But this is one of the
two important characteristics
00:33:49.43\00:33:53.88
of the remnant church
according to Revelation 12:17,
00:33:53.89\00:33:58.45
this is part of the
"Caller ID" of who we are.
00:33:58.46\00:34:05.59
Now listen to Ellen White's plea
00:34:05.60\00:34:07.78
for revival and reformation,
00:34:07.79\00:34:09.29
and the latter rain explained
00:34:09.30\00:34:11.27
in Testimonies
volume 8, pages 297 to 298.
00:34:11.28\00:34:16.88
"The Lord calls for a renewal
00:34:16.89\00:34:19.45
of the straight
testimony borne in years past.
00:34:19.46\00:34:23.22
He calls for a
renewal of spiritual life.
00:34:23.23\00:34:26.29
The spiritual
energies of His people
00:34:26.30\00:34:28.86
have long been torpid,
00:34:28.87\00:34:31.31
we don't use that
word very often, do we?
00:34:31.32\00:34:33.72
Just kind of
means not there much,
00:34:33.73\00:34:36.71
but there is to
be a resurrection
00:34:36.72\00:34:38.86
from apparent death.
00:34:38.87\00:34:41.79
By prayer and confession of sin,
00:34:41.80\00:34:43.58
we must clear
the King's highway.
00:34:43.59\00:34:45.79
As we do this,
00:34:45.80\00:34:46.83
the power of the
Spirit will come to us.
00:34:46.84\00:34:49.07
We need the Pentecostal energy.
00:34:49.08\00:34:51.31
This will come, for
the Lord has promised
00:34:51.32\00:34:53.91
to send His Spirit as
the all-conquering power.
00:34:53.92\00:34:59.40
Perilous times are before us.
00:34:59.41\00:35:01.12
Everyone who has a
knowledge of the truth
00:35:01.13\00:35:02.95
should awake and place himself,
00:35:02.96\00:35:05.10
body, soul, and spirit,
00:35:05.11\00:35:06.91
under the discipline of God.
00:35:06.92\00:35:09.32
We must follow
the directions given
00:35:09.33\00:35:11.19
through the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:35:11.20\00:35:12.86
We must obey,
00:35:12.87\00:35:14.02
love and obey the
truth for this time.
00:35:14.03\00:35:16.61
This will save us from
accepting strong delusions.
00:35:16.62\00:35:21.73
Let me stop here for a moment
00:35:21.74\00:35:23.11
brothers and sisters.
00:35:23.12\00:35:24.47
Those delusions will
not only come in the future,
00:35:24.48\00:35:28.24
they are present right now.
00:35:28.25\00:35:30.71
I'm continuing now, "God has
spoken to us through His word.
00:35:32.50\00:35:37.66
The Bible, He has spoken to us
00:35:37.67\00:35:40.27
through the
testimonies to the church,
00:35:40.28\00:35:42.63
the Spirit of
Prophecy, and through the books
00:35:42.64\00:35:45.06
that have helped to make plain
00:35:45.07\00:35:46.49
our present
duty and the position
00:35:46.50\00:35:49.07
that we should now occupy."
00:35:49.08\00:35:53.53
Now what is the position
that we should now occupy?
00:35:53.54\00:35:58.13
Is it that we are
the remnant of her seed?
00:35:58.14\00:36:03.70
We are a unique
movement of destiny.
00:36:03.71\00:36:06.88
We are to proclaim
Christ's great message
00:36:06.89\00:36:09.58
of warning and salvation found
00:36:09.59\00:36:11.61
in the three angels'
messages of Revelation 14.
00:36:11.62\00:36:15.08
We are not to allow
anything to distract us
00:36:15.09\00:36:19.17
from our mission
that will finish strong.
00:36:19.18\00:36:24.28
God has called us to proclaim
00:36:24.29\00:36:25.71
this last day
message with power.
00:36:25.72\00:36:28.78
The three angels' messages
00:36:28.79\00:36:30.22
must be on our lips
and presented in love.
00:36:30.23\00:36:34.19
Brothers and
sisters, don't beat people
00:36:34.20\00:36:35.96
over the head with the Gospel,
00:36:35.97\00:36:37.93
love them into the church.
00:36:37.94\00:36:40.72
I am thankful
for the great support
00:36:40.73\00:36:42.36
that ASI in the
massive evangelistic
00:36:42.37\00:36:45.65
outreach
activities of the church
00:36:45.66\00:36:47.52
worldwide are
providing to his remnant people.
00:36:47.53\00:36:51.30
I ask for your continued
support for all of our plans,
00:36:51.31\00:36:56.09
the overall plan,
the evangelistic plan
00:36:56.10\00:36:59.01
of "Tell the World."
00:36:59.02\00:37:01.54
All of these plans are
based on our humble submission
00:37:01.55\00:37:05.06
to the Lord and built
00:37:05.07\00:37:06.66
on the foundation of
revival and reformation
00:37:06.67\00:37:09.93
in our personal lives
00:37:09.94\00:37:11.72
and the life of
the church as a body.
00:37:11.73\00:37:16.37
Let us never forget
00:37:16.38\00:37:17.51
that anything we
accomplish is only done
00:37:17.52\00:37:20.54
"by my Spirit,
saith the Lord of Hosts."
00:37:20.55\00:37:24.35
And one of the aspects of
the Tell the World project
00:37:24.36\00:37:27.64
is the Great
Controversy Project.
00:37:27.65\00:37:31.37
Pastor Baker,
shared that with you
00:37:31.38\00:37:32.99
during Sabbath school today.
00:37:33.00\00:37:35.41
And I request that
you give your full support
00:37:35.42\00:37:37.59
to this magnificent project.
00:37:37.60\00:37:40.29
This is a result of
that second characteristic
00:37:40.30\00:37:44.03
of God's Caller ID
in Revelation 12:17
00:37:44.04\00:37:48.40
which indicates
that His remnant church
00:37:48.41\00:37:50.64
will have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:37:50.65\00:37:54.69
The Great Controversy Plan,
00:37:55.76\00:37:57.83
which has been
accepted by the world church,
00:37:57.84\00:38:01.38
asks church
members to read or reread
00:38:01.39\00:38:05.44
the Great Controversy
during this year of 2011.
00:38:05.45\00:38:09.22
Nancy and I are rereading
it and it is so powerful.
00:38:09.23\00:38:15.30
Then in 2012 and 2013
a massive distribution
00:38:15.31\00:38:20.71
of that book is going to
take place around the world,
00:38:20.72\00:38:25.25
in an incredible
evangelistic opportunity.
00:38:25.26\00:38:28.78
Various editions
are going to be used.
00:38:28.79\00:38:31.98
Bible study cards
or imprinted websites
00:38:31.99\00:38:34.71
will be included to
take readers to resources
00:38:34.72\00:38:37.54
where they can
take Bible studies,
00:38:37.55\00:38:39.36
download Biblical information,
00:38:39.37\00:38:41.50
and if needed,
download the entire book,
00:38:41.51\00:38:44.01
connect with Seventh-day
Adventists television networks,
00:38:44.02\00:38:47.05
and find
truth-filled Bible information.
00:38:47.06\00:38:51.13
Some have asked, well,
00:38:51.14\00:38:52.71
"Why distribute
the Great Controversy?"
00:38:52.72\00:38:55.45
I mean it's really not
that politically correct today.
00:38:55.46\00:39:00.13
Why not distribute
00:39:00.14\00:39:01.24
Steps to Christ or
the Desire of Ages?
00:39:01.25\00:39:04.53
I think it would be great
to distribute those books.
00:39:04.54\00:39:07.38
I love those books,
they are wonderful books.
00:39:07.39\00:39:11.19
But the fact is
that Ellen White herself
00:39:11.20\00:39:15.65
said that she wished
The Great Controversy
00:39:15.66\00:39:18.29
circulated more
than any other book
00:39:18.30\00:39:21.16
she had written.
00:39:21.17\00:39:22.68
It tells the story
of the Christian church
00:39:22.69\00:39:25.14
from the beginning to the end.
00:39:25.15\00:39:26.92
It tells how
God's remnant church
00:39:26.93\00:39:29.48
will finish strong
only through God's power.
00:39:29.49\00:39:34.44
It has been exciting
to see the world divisions
00:39:34.45\00:39:36.80
and the church
membership around the world
00:39:36.81\00:39:39.17
become so excited
about this project.
00:39:39.18\00:39:42.17
We'd set a goal of 50 million
00:39:42.18\00:39:43.93
as pastor Baker
said to be distributed.
00:39:43.94\00:39:46.97
Most of these books worldwide
00:39:46.98\00:39:48.74
will be
personally given to friends,
00:39:48.75\00:39:51.00
and to relatives, and
neighbours, and others.
00:39:51.01\00:39:54.97
Now I had a personal
prayer goal of 100 million.
00:39:54.98\00:39:59.31
The latest
estimated total of the classic
00:39:59.32\00:40:02.99
and abridged versions,
00:40:03.00\00:40:04.60
reported from the
divisions at this time
00:40:04.61\00:40:07.48
and undoubtedly the
total will go much higher,
00:40:07.49\00:40:11.43
is now approximately
127 million and counting.
00:40:11.44\00:40:16.85
And that doesn't
include any of the projected
00:40:17.77\00:40:21.15
Internet-generated downloads.
00:40:21.16\00:40:24.27
God has inspired His
people around the world
00:40:24.28\00:40:26.78
to spread the three
angels' messages with power.
00:40:26.79\00:40:30.93
You know, I received the
lovely note the other day
00:40:30.94\00:40:33.58
from a sister in
Anderson, South Carolina,
00:40:33.59\00:40:37.75
I don't know her, but she said,
00:40:37.76\00:40:40.65
"I am rereading
the Great Controversy"
00:40:40.66\00:40:43.88
and I know that you said
you want to, in 2011 and 2013,
00:40:43.89\00:40:50.04
flood the earth with it!"
00:40:50.05\00:40:52.55
She indicated
in her little note,
00:40:52.56\00:40:54.68
that she and her husband
00:40:54.69\00:40:55.83
plan to send it
to over 200 people.
00:40:55.84\00:40:59.69
She said, "As Mrs. White said,
00:40:59.70\00:41:02.45
of all her
books, this is the one
00:41:02.46\00:41:04.61
she would want everyone to have
00:41:04.62\00:41:06.73
and it is the very one
Satan did not want printed.
00:41:06.74\00:41:12.34
May God continue to bless you
and Mrs. Wilson and your staff
00:41:12.35\00:41:15.51
as we all press
forward to the kingdom.
00:41:15.52\00:41:19.67
I am a 4th
generation Seventh-day Adventist
00:41:19.68\00:41:22.03
and I praise God for that.
00:41:22.04\00:41:25.22
I don't know how
I was so blessed.
00:41:25.23\00:41:30.87
My brothers and sisters,
00:41:30.88\00:41:32.47
we are all blessed to
be Seventh-day Adventists
00:41:32.48\00:41:37.57
and participate
in the proclamation
00:41:37.58\00:41:39.90
of the great Advent message.
00:41:39.91\00:41:43.48
On Sabbath, March 24, 2012,
00:41:43.49\00:41:47.00
I plan to spend the day
in Sao Paulo, in Brazil,
00:41:47.01\00:41:51.00
where they plan to pass
out on that Sabbath alone
00:41:51.01\00:41:55.01
three million
copies in that city
00:41:55.02\00:41:58.10
and 18 million
copies that Sabbath
00:41:58.11\00:42:01.53
throughout the
South American Division.
00:42:01.54\00:42:03.62
Last Sabbath I was
at the Hendersonville,
00:42:04.47\00:42:06.75
North Carolina church,
where I shared appreciation
00:42:06.76\00:42:09.95
to that particular
church and one of its members
00:42:09.96\00:42:13.05
for helping to
start this great project
00:42:13.06\00:42:15.59
which has now
encompassed the globe.
00:42:15.60\00:42:18.89
Let us never forget
00:42:18.90\00:42:20.82
that we are one great
global family in Christ
00:42:20.83\00:42:26.14
and one part can affect
the whole church family.
00:42:26.15\00:42:31.95
Brothers and sisters reread
00:42:31.96\00:42:33.83
The Great Controversy this year
00:42:33.84\00:42:35.85
and next year
join the world family
00:42:35.86\00:42:38.65
in distributing
The Great Controversy
00:42:38.66\00:42:41.32
like the leaves of autumn. Amen.
00:42:41.33\00:42:43.76
I want to share
another enormous initiative
00:42:43.77\00:42:46.56
that God has
placed on our hearts.
00:42:46.57\00:42:49.08
This October at
the Annual Council,
00:42:49.09\00:42:52.02
we are going to be
unveiling by God's grace,
00:42:52.03\00:42:54.64
the most
comprehensive urban evangelism
00:42:54.65\00:42:57.96
initiative in the history
00:42:57.97\00:42:59.44
of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:42:59.45\00:43:01.67
It is to be an
ongoing, sustained program
00:43:01.68\00:43:05.49
until the Lord returns.
00:43:05.50\00:43:08.80
Half of the
world's population now
00:43:08.81\00:43:10.91
lives in the urban
centres of the world.
00:43:10.92\00:43:14.68
At times our big city evangelism
00:43:14.69\00:43:16.95
has been
spasmodic, much has been done
00:43:16.96\00:43:19.98
and we give God the glory
to those who have participated.
00:43:19.99\00:43:23.74
But many times with
large evangelistic campaigns,
00:43:23.75\00:43:27.13
sometimes those
are followed by months
00:43:27.14\00:43:30.16
and even years of silence.
00:43:30.17\00:43:33.57
The Spirit of Prophecy
model is very different,
00:43:33.58\00:43:37.62
and involves a sustained
00:43:37.63\00:43:39.85
Biblical and
compassionate approach
00:43:39.86\00:43:42.78
to doing urban evangelism.
00:43:42.79\00:43:45.85
This model is best described
00:43:45.86\00:43:47.55
as
comprehensive urban evangelism
00:43:47.56\00:43:50.74
with the
emphasis on comprehensive.
00:43:50.75\00:43:54.06
The model includes
establishing working units,
00:43:54.07\00:43:57.45
centres of influence,
and activities in the cities
00:43:57.46\00:44:01.22
that use the skills and
gifts of local churches,
00:44:01.23\00:44:04.34
young people, small groups,
medical missionary workers,
00:44:04.35\00:44:07.83
pastors, social
workers, literature evangelists,
00:44:07.84\00:44:11.01
and all the
available media platforms.
00:44:11.02\00:44:14.42
The church needs to develop
00:44:14.43\00:44:15.79
comprehensive and
sustainable programs
00:44:15.80\00:44:19.45
for evangelizing
the cities of the world.
00:44:19.46\00:44:23.08
We must not have one
big evangelistic program
00:44:23.09\00:44:27.32
once in a while and then forget
00:44:27.33\00:44:29.22
the people of the cities.
00:44:29.23\00:44:31.34
We must work in a
united, sustained work
00:44:33.09\00:44:37.56
to accomplish
God's plan for the cities
00:44:37.57\00:44:39.64
as outlined in the
Spirit of Prophecy.
00:44:39.65\00:44:42.21
God's servant has indicated
00:44:42.22\00:44:44.09
in Medical Ministry,
page 304, the following.
00:44:44.10\00:44:48.09
"There is no
change in the messages
00:44:48.10\00:44:50.30
that God has sent in the past.
00:44:50.31\00:44:52.71
The work in the cities the
essential work for this time.
00:44:52.72\00:44:58.87
When the cities are
worked as God would have them,
00:44:58.88\00:45:01.66
the result will be the setting
00:45:01.67\00:45:04.08
in operation of
a mighty movement
00:45:04.09\00:45:06.80
such as we have
not yet witnessed."
00:45:06.81\00:45:11.08
And that
movement has yet to come,
00:45:11.09\00:45:14.23
I want to be part
of it, do you? Amen.
00:45:14.24\00:45:16.97
For those of you who may hear
00:45:16.98\00:45:18.30
my sermon on October 8
00:45:18.31\00:45:21.55
this year at the Annual Council,
00:45:21.56\00:45:24.00
you're going to
hear much more about
00:45:24.01\00:45:26.17
comprehensive urban evangelism.
00:45:26.18\00:45:29.14
Now another highly
important component
00:45:29.15\00:45:31.92
of
comprehensive urban evangelism
00:45:31.93\00:45:34.20
and our church
work for the future
00:45:34.21\00:45:36.38
is what is termed in
the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:45:36.39\00:45:39.89
"Medical Missionary Work."
00:45:39.90\00:45:43.26
This is a marvellous work
00:45:43.27\00:45:44.52
that encompasses
everything from sharing
00:45:44.53\00:45:46.94
simple health principles
and a loaf of whole wheat bread
00:45:46.95\00:45:51.84
with friends and neighbours
00:45:51.85\00:45:54.15
all the way to
clinics and health centres.
00:45:54.16\00:45:57.58
However, much of
medical missionary work focuses
00:45:57.59\00:46:00.62
on what local
church members can do
00:46:00.63\00:46:03.34
to help people
find physical, mental,
00:46:03.35\00:46:05.44
social and spiritual health.
00:46:05.45\00:46:08.07
It also involves Seventh-day
Adventist health professionals
00:46:08.08\00:46:11.81
working in a blended ministry
00:46:11.82\00:46:14.11
with pastors and
spiritual health.
00:46:14.12\00:46:17.28
It also involves
health professionals
00:46:17.29\00:46:19.59
working in a blended
ministry with these workers.
00:46:19.60\00:46:23.72
We will have a committee
to be chaired by Mark Finley
00:46:23.73\00:46:27.36
to work on this
vital initiative to unveil
00:46:27.37\00:46:30.63
a comprehensive
medical missionary work program
00:46:30.64\00:46:34.54
and plan at the 2012
Annual Council. Amen.
00:46:34.55\00:46:39.10
We will look
forward to working closely
00:46:39.11\00:46:43.23
with ASI supporting medical
missionary ministries. Amen.
00:46:43.24\00:46:48.68
God has promised that
as we follow His counsel
00:46:48.69\00:46:50.98
and His ways that
His work will prosper
00:46:50.99\00:46:53.99
and we will finish strong.
00:46:54.00\00:46:58.00
However, the
devil does everything
00:46:58.01\00:47:00.28
he can to deter God's people
from following Biblical counsel.
00:47:00.29\00:47:06.59
He brings in every
possible aberration
00:47:06.60\00:47:09.39
and confusing
idea-- that's going
00:47:09.40\00:47:13.17
to throw God's people off-track.
00:47:13.18\00:47:17.09
Now I felt
convicted in the past weeks
00:47:17.10\00:47:20.50
and I feel
convicted for the future
00:47:20.51\00:47:24.67
to speak out in a stronger way
00:47:24.68\00:47:28.38
about certain
subjects that, in my opinion,
00:47:28.39\00:47:33.09
are removing us
from God's mission
00:47:34.14\00:47:37.65
for this remnant church.
00:47:37.66\00:47:39.86
Things that will take
us out of the position
00:47:39.87\00:47:41.95
to which God has called us.
00:47:41.96\00:47:43.78
Let me briefly share
just a few of them with you.
00:47:43.79\00:47:47.65
Number one, guard
against mystical beliefs
00:47:47.66\00:47:52.53
and practices that
are finding their way
00:47:52.54\00:47:56.09
into the church through formats
00:47:56.10\00:47:58.77
like spiritual formation
and the emerging church. Amen.
00:47:58.78\00:48:03.29
The basis of much
of this is an emphasis
00:48:03.30\00:48:06.31
on the
experiential and emotional
00:48:06.32\00:48:09.64
rather than a strong foundation
00:48:09.65\00:48:12.43
on the Word of God. Amen.
00:48:12.44\00:48:14.62
Read helpful
information on this subject
00:48:14.63\00:48:18.23
in the current Adventist Review,
00:48:18.24\00:48:20.34
which many of you have
received an ASI Special,
00:48:20.35\00:48:23.84
it was passed out
here at the convention.
00:48:23.85\00:48:26.67
And note in
particular a two page article
00:48:26.68\00:48:30.00
by Mark Finley and
watch for more material
00:48:30.01\00:48:33.79
in the very near future on
this very important subject.
00:48:33.80\00:48:38.99
I ask you to read
the Adventist Review.
00:48:39.00\00:48:42.10
Bill Knott and
his professional staff
00:48:42.11\00:48:44.71
produced a magazine
that can benefit you
00:48:44.72\00:48:48.26
spiritually in a
very positive way.
00:48:48.27\00:48:51.48
Number two, stay away from
the mystical forms of prayer
00:48:51.49\00:48:55.24
such as contemplative
prayer, prayer labyrinths,
00:48:55.25\00:48:59.13
repetitive prayer using one word
00:48:59.14\00:49:01.42
or certain
phrases or centring prayer
00:49:01.43\00:49:04.62
that seems to
have become popular,
00:49:04.63\00:49:06.80
but leads to the
occult since in many cases
00:49:06.81\00:49:10.77
all thoughts are
eliminated from your mind,
00:49:10.78\00:49:14.19
thus allowing the
evil one to invade
00:49:14.20\00:49:17.26
rather than have a
simple and humble prayer
00:49:17.27\00:49:20.71
of sharing your
concerns with the Lord.
00:49:20.72\00:49:23.67
Number three,
resist worship styles
00:49:27.31\00:49:30.83
and music that have more to do
00:49:30.84\00:49:33.51
with self-centered entertainment
00:49:33.52\00:49:36.69
than a humble
worship of God. Amen.
00:49:36.70\00:49:39.45
We have to recognize
00:49:39.46\00:49:40.79
that we have many
different cultures in the church
00:49:40.80\00:49:43.30
and styles of worship
in our world wide church.
00:49:43.31\00:49:47.24
I accept that
and you should also.
00:49:47.25\00:49:49.82
But everything that is done
00:49:49.83\00:49:51.64
should bring glory to God
and not to the participants.
00:49:51.65\00:49:54.96
Amen. Whether it
be the preachers,
00:49:54.97\00:49:57.33
musicians or
everyone participating.
00:49:57.34\00:50:00.79
We need to focus
on worshipping God
00:50:00.80\00:50:03.85
and elevating and
not elevating self.
00:50:03.86\00:50:07.48
We should lift, I
should say worship and music
00:50:07.49\00:50:13.93
should lift us to the
throne room of heaven. Amen.
00:50:13.94\00:50:18.83
I don't wish to offend anyone
and this is my personal opinion,
00:50:18.84\00:50:25.16
but if music sounds like it
belongs to a hard rock concert
00:50:25.17\00:50:31.53
or a nightclub,
it should stay there.
00:50:31.54\00:50:36.40
This week's
Sabbath School lesson
00:50:45.57\00:50:48.54
by the principal
contributor Rosalie H. Zinke,
00:50:48.55\00:50:53.16
has some very helpful points.
00:50:53.17\00:50:55.96
In Thursday's section, it said,
00:50:55.97\00:50:58.17
"What is
important for worship music
00:50:58.18\00:51:01.43
is that it point
us to the noblest
00:51:01.44\00:51:05.34
and the best,
which is the Lord."
00:51:05.35\00:51:08.79
Thank you Dr. Swartz
for teaching the lesson
00:51:10.38\00:51:13.18
this morning and
to Cliff Goldstein,
00:51:13.19\00:51:16.37
whom I saw here in the audience
for editing our lessons.
00:51:16.38\00:51:22.54
Number four, and this
is a little sensitive,
00:51:24.48\00:51:27.84
but I want you to
understand it completely.
00:51:27.85\00:51:31.65
Avoid the practice and I
speak to our church leaders,
00:51:31.66\00:51:36.73
locally and in our
organized entities.
00:51:36.74\00:51:43.51
Avoid the practice of inviting
major spiritual speakers
00:51:43.52\00:51:50.06
who are not
Seventh-day Adventists.
00:51:50.07\00:51:53.33
Avoid having them
speak to church meetings,
00:52:01.49\00:52:05.64
men's meetings,
women's meetings,
00:52:05.65\00:52:07.64
retreats, pastoral meetings,
00:52:07.65\00:52:10.01
youth meetings and
large convocations. Amen.
00:52:10.02\00:52:14.01
Now I want you to fully
understand what I'm saying,
00:52:14.02\00:52:19.24
I am not talking about
refusing or not inviting civic,
00:52:19.25\00:52:26.21
government or religious
leaders to attend a meeting.
00:52:26.22\00:52:31.06
We need to make
friends with these people,
00:52:31.07\00:52:34.06
we need to share
our faith with them.
00:52:34.07\00:52:37.20
But, what I am
talking about is asking them
00:52:37.21\00:52:40.52
to give a major
spiritual presentation
00:52:40.53\00:52:44.61
where they
probably simply do not have
00:52:44.62\00:52:49.49
the concept of the
Great Controversy theme.
00:52:49.50\00:52:55.71
I want to tell you that we
certainly can learn from others
00:52:55.72\00:53:00.28
who are not members and
we should encourage them
00:53:00.29\00:53:04.53
in their own walk with
the Lord to find truth.
00:53:04.54\00:53:08.69
However, we need
to be very proactive
00:53:08.70\00:53:12.23
in requesting humble,
00:53:12.24\00:53:14.65
Bible-centered
Seventh-day Adventist speakers
00:53:14.66\00:53:18.43
to instruct our church
members in fully understanding
00:53:18.44\00:53:22.19
God's great Biblical
messages for this time. Amen.
00:53:22.20\00:53:26.84
Brothers and sisters of ASI,
if we want to finish strong,
00:53:26.85\00:53:32.08
we must focus upon Jesus Christ,
00:53:32.09\00:53:35.15
upon His righteousness,
and His almighty word.
00:53:35.16\00:53:40.76
As in the
Protestant Reformation,
00:53:40.77\00:53:42.58
the Bible must
become our foundation.
00:53:42.59\00:53:46.04
The Spirit of Prophecy indicates
00:53:46.05\00:53:47.91
that God never intended
for the Protestant Reformation
00:53:47.92\00:53:51.93
to end with Martin Luther,
00:53:51.94\00:53:54.67
but that we were to
continue that great reformation.
00:53:54.68\00:53:59.55
I will never
forget visiting recently
00:53:59.56\00:54:02.88
the Wartburg Castle in Germany
00:54:02.89\00:54:06.11
where Martin
Luther was sequestered
00:54:06.12\00:54:08.21
for almost a year for
his own personal protection
00:54:08.22\00:54:11.84
and to protect him
from personal pride.
00:54:11.85\00:54:15.34
Read about the details
in The Great Controversy.
00:54:15.35\00:54:18.20
While Martin Luther
was there God led him
00:54:18.21\00:54:21.19
to translate the New Testament
00:54:21.20\00:54:23.62
from Greek to
German in ten weeks
00:54:23.63\00:54:27.42
using 16
different German dialects
00:54:27.43\00:54:30.93
effectively creating the
official German language.
00:54:30.94\00:54:35.73
The printing press,
which had just been invented,
00:54:35.74\00:54:40.14
God's plan became
the vehicle to place
00:54:40.15\00:54:43.44
the Bible in the
hands of the common people
00:54:43.45\00:54:47.32
and allow them to
more fully understand
00:54:47.33\00:54:49.92
their relationship with God.
00:54:49.93\00:54:53.03
Let's use these
Bibles in our hands
00:54:53.04\00:54:57.46
to fully
understand God's mission
00:54:57.47\00:54:59.58
for the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:54:59.59\00:55:01.65
and through His
power finish strong.
00:55:01.66\00:55:06.06
Brothers and
sisters, Jesus is coming soon
00:55:06.48\00:55:10.52
and His church
will finish strong!
00:55:10.53\00:55:14.69
The signs of Christ's
return are all around us,
00:55:14.70\00:55:17.44
ever-increasing
natural disasters,
00:55:17.45\00:55:19.96
political
challenges that elude answers,
00:55:19.97\00:55:23.11
economic misery based on greed,
00:55:23.12\00:55:26.99
social and moral
decay, and ecumenical advances
00:55:27.00\00:55:31.52
that will deny us
religious freedom.
00:55:31.53\00:55:34.58
I just want to add or indicate
00:55:36.10\00:55:37.98
that we should
support all organizations
00:55:37.99\00:55:40.86
and any effort to increase
religious liberty and freedom.
00:55:40.87\00:55:45.72
But not align
ourselves with any organization
00:55:45.73\00:55:50.89
that will neutralize
our ability to proclaim
00:55:50.90\00:55:54.30
the three angels' messages
and finish strong. Amen.
00:55:54.31\00:55:58.46
Let us focus upon
Christ and His soon return.
00:55:58.47\00:56:03.54
In the beautiful book in
Heavenly Places, page 127,
00:56:03.55\00:56:07.12
we read "The
more we behold Christ,
00:56:08.98\00:56:12.23
talk of His merits,
and tell of his power,
00:56:12.24\00:56:15.83
the more fully we
shall reflect His image
00:56:15.84\00:56:19.41
in our own
characters and the less
00:56:19.42\00:56:22.21
we shall submit our
minds and affections
00:56:22.22\00:56:25.04
to the paralyzing
influences of the world.
00:56:25.05\00:56:29.73
The more our
minds dwell upon Jesus,
00:56:29.74\00:56:32.71
the less they will be
enveloped in the fog of doubt,
00:56:32.72\00:56:37.35
and the more easily
shall we lay all our trials,
00:56:37.36\00:56:42.30
all our burdens,
upon the Burden Bearer."
00:56:42.31\00:56:48.10
How many of you today
wish to lay your trials
00:56:50.72\00:56:57.08
and your burdens
upon Jesus? Amen.
00:56:57.09\00:57:01.16
How many of you wish
to rededicate your lives
00:57:01.17\00:57:04.05
and yourselves to
Christ and His saving power?
00:57:04.06\00:57:09.63
How many of you want
to reaffirm your belief
00:57:09.64\00:57:15.54
that this is
God's remnant church
00:57:15.55\00:57:18.40
with a unique message
00:57:18.41\00:57:19.96
based on God's caller
ID of Revelation 12:17?
00:57:19.97\00:57:25.13
How many wish to proclaim
this precious Advent message
00:57:25.14\00:57:31.59
through the power
of the Holy Spirit,
00:57:31.60\00:57:35.11
so that God's church
will finish strong? Amen.
00:57:35.12\00:57:42.48
If you do, would
you quietly join me
00:57:42.49\00:57:46.82
in standing in commitment
before the Lord? Amen.
00:57:46.83\00:57:53.22