Participants: Justin McNeilus
Series Code: 11GYC
Program Code: 11GYC000001
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00:11 Good evening. Good evening.
00:15 That was bordering on pathetic. 00:18 So I trust you're awake. Good evening. 00:22 Good evening. Much better. 00:24 There is a lot of you out there. 00:26 Praise the Lord for that. 00:27 It's been I think just about a year 00:29 since you and I met 00:30 in a convention center much like this. 00:33 For some of you probably your first time to GYC, 00:35 for others maybe four or five or even ten times. 00:40 But it's been about 365 days 00:43 since you and I met in a convention center. 00:45 Now I submit you a lot has happened across our nation 00:49 and across this world. 00:51 For instance, did you know this year? 00:53 Since we last met there have been seven--rather 00:56 the seventh billion person alive on this planet was born. 01:01 Some of you knew that some of you didn't. 01:02 You knew that yes or no? 01:04 Yes. Seven billion people, can you believe that! 01:08 Seven billion people on this planet. 01:11 A person was born in the Philippines. 01:13 The name is escaping me, 01:14 but it's because of this exponential growth 01:19 in the world population that people 01:20 are beginning to doubt the Bible. 01:22 They get all their collective wisdom 01:24 together and they say you know, seven billion people 01:26 it is impossible for the Gospel to go to the world. 01:31 And even Christians are saying this. 01:35 And I would submit you this. 01:37 The edges of this foolishness this-this doubt in God 01:42 is creeping into the-- Seventh-day Adventist church. 01:46 That this gospel will not go to the world. 01:49 But there is an army. 01:51 There is an army of young people who believe, 01:53 who know, without a shadow of doubt 01:55 this gospel will go to the world. 01:57 Take for instance, Australia. 01:59 The young people in Australia are alive and well 02:02 in the secular territory of Australia. 02:04 Young people are getting together 02:05 even as soon as next month. 02:07 We've met with them here. 02:08 They are putting forth evangelistic series 02:10 to witness to the country of Australia. 02:13 The young people are alive and well. 02:15 And well in Australia. 02:16 The young people in Australia 02:18 refused to believe in collective human wisdom 02:20 and side with Matthew 02:21 that this gospel will go to the world. 02:23 You head up to Australia and the young people 02:25 are alive and well in Australia. 02:27 If they go to Philippines the young people 02:29 are preaching their hearts out. 02:30 By the thousands they have been baptizing 02:32 the Adventists church 02:33 because of what young people are doing. 02:35 You think of the mountains in Mongolia, 02:37 they are preaching there. 02:38 You think of the young ladies in China, 02:41 they are preaching their hearts out. 02:42 Our church's experiencing growth in China. 02:46 Somebody is about to say amen. 02:47 Amen! In China the young people are preaching 02:49 their hearts out despite the cause. 02:52 The young people in Australia they refuse to believe 02:55 in collective human wisdom. 02:56 They side with Matthew that this gospel 02:59 will go to the world. 03:00 You think of Africa, there in Africa the young people 03:03 are putting us to shame in America. 03:06 A lot of times we think to ourselves, 03:07 oh, we seen send missionaries to Africa. 03:09 Let me assure you that is not the case. 03:12 In most places in Africa they should be sending 03:14 their missionaries here. 03:15 The young people in Africa are alive and well. 03:18 You think of Zambia, impact, inspired missionaries 03:22 proclaiming the advent of Christ today. 03:24 Since its inception two years ago, 03:26 3500 people have been baptized in the church in Zambia. 03:31 Amen. You think of Gabon, Ghana, Liberia... 03:36 what am I trying to say? 03:38 Yes. The young people are alive and well in there. 03:40 You think of Ethiopia, the capital city Addis Ababa, 03:44 it is against the law to do evangelism. 03:46 In august 1200 young people went out into the streets 03:49 in the capital city of Ethiopia. 03:52 The young people in Australia 03:53 refused to believe in collective human wisdom 03:55 inside with Matthew that this gospel will go to the world. 04:00 You had north into Europe, 04:01 some of the most secular territory in the world. 04:05 Did you know the young people are alive and well there. 04:08 You think of Germany, I was with young people 04:09 there in April, 12, no, 04:13 1800 young people in Sabbath 04:16 afternoon they rented a train and they went out 04:19 into the streets in Mannheim, Germany. 04:22 The young people are alive and well. 04:23 You think of Norway and Sweden, check this out. 04:27 The youth department there, every summer 04:29 they send up a group of young people in a bus. 04:31 They go to Northern Norway. 04:33 Guess how many Adventists are there? 04:36 Not one. They go they spend their whole summer 04:39 and they're preaching their heart out 04:40 and they are baptizing people in Northern Norway. 04:44 Check this out in Lafia. 04:46 Did you even know that was a country? 04:49 Lafia, they get together. 04:51 Almost every young person in, Seventh-day Adventist 04:54 young person, in that country gets together, 04:57 has the evangelistic outreach. 04:58 And at their conference guess, what they do? 05:02 They listen to the GYC recordings. 05:05 In Lafia, doing evangelism. 05:10 You know, we should do something in Europe. 05:16 GYC and Europe! 05:18 You probably wouldn't come, so it's irrelevant. 05:21 The young people are alive and well in Europe. 05:24 With or without GYC the young people in Europe 05:26 refuse to put any stock or credibility 05:28 in collective human wisdom and side with Matthew 05:31 that this gospel will go to the world. 05:34 You think of South America 05:35 you could find the same enlightening stories 05:37 that young people are alive and well there. 05:40 But a thousands they come to Brazil 05:41 they preach in the mountains of Chile. 05:43 The Peru and Ecuador cities, the young people 05:46 are going out and reaching out. 05:47 The young people are alive and well in South America. 05:51 They refuse to believe in collective wisdom. 05:53 Seven billion, eight billion, 20 billion it does not matter. 05:56 This gospel will go to the world. Amen. 06:00 And then the end shall come. 06:04 And it's no reason 06:05 that they should not put any stock in human credibility 06:08 or human enlarger with the seven billion, 06:12 because it's been done before. 06:14 Did you know that? 06:16 This gospel has gone to the world before. 06:20 Did you realize that? Check this out. 06:23 You get to the book of Acts, there in the upper room 06:26 just before the Holy Spirit falls on them, 06:29 just before they're praying out 06:30 and how many Bible students 06:32 were in the upper room. 06:34 How many? One hundred and twenty. 06:37 A 120 people. Now at that time 06:40 when they were in the upper room 06:41 there was about a 180 million people live in the world. 06:45 How many people? 06:47 Come on stay with me. 06:49 How many people? 06:51 Hundred and twenty. 06:52 Much better. So we have a 120 in the upper room. 06:54 We have a 180 million on the world. 06:58 The Holy Spirit descends on them and they begin to preach. 07:02 You get into the next chapter of Acts and Peter preaches 07:04 this bold enlightening sermon 07:07 and 3000 are baptized into the church. 07:09 You get to the next chapter, 07:10 another thousand are baptized in the church. 07:12 You read all through the book of Acts 07:14 and there are hundreds, thousands 07:15 and tens of thousands baptized into the church. 07:18 You get to the end of the book of Acts 07:20 and there is just about 07:22 one million Christians 07:26 in the church that have been reached. 07:29 One million, some on should say, amen. Amen. 07:32 So check this out. You have a 120 and a 180 million. 07:37 For every person that is 1.4 million 07:40 people they have to reach. 07:42 You're tracking with me, 1.4 million. 07:45 You get to the end of book of the Acts, 07:47 a book of Acts 60 years later there is a million 07:50 Christians that's one in every 180 people. 07:56 Say amen. Amen. 07:58 A 180 people from 1.4 million to 180. 08:03 Now check this out. 08:04 How many Seventh-day Adventists 08:05 are there in the world? 08:08 Come on, you're Seventh-day Adventists. 08:10 You're supposed be sharp. 08:11 Seventh-day Adventist, excitement, how many? 08:17 It's about 70 million. 08:19 I heard all kinds of different numbers, 08:20 but let's take 70 million. 08:23 Some skeptic who's sitting out there saying yes 08:24 there are 70 million, but those aren't active. 08:27 Fine. How many active? 08:30 How many are active in the Adventist church? 08:32 What percent? 08:37 Are you anywhere from 10 to 50? 08:39 So let's take the worse case scenario. 08:42 Let's just say there are 50 percent 08:43 of them that are active, okay. 08:46 So we have--what do we have 8.5 million 08:50 active Seventh-day Adventists. 08:51 You're tracking with me so far? 08:53 Okay, we have seven billion people in the world, 08:57 7.5, no 8.5, thank you, 09:02 8.5 divided by the seven billion is one to 09:07 823 people. 09:11 It's easy. Amen. 09:17 The disciples had 1.4 million people to reach, 09:20 you only have 823. Amen. 09:23 It actually ends up being 822.5, 09:26 but some of you are gonna have to be more 09:27 aggressive and get to 824. 09:29 But it's easy. It's been done before 09:31 in the book of Acts already. 09:33 It's no wonder that an army of young people 09:35 can raise up around the world 09:37 and say we can do this. Amen. 09:39 We can take the gospel to the world. 09:42 We can take the gospel to the world. 09:45 Let us pray. 09:48 Blessed Father, 09:51 here we are. 09:54 We are in a convention center. 09:57 We are in Houston, Texas. 10:00 Nothing special about the room, 10:03 nothing special about the stage or the presenter, 10:08 but it is special because You are here with us. 10:11 It would be a mistake for us to invite you into this room 10:14 because You are here before us. 10:17 So we pause to invite You into our hearts. 10:21 We've come tonight for many different reasons. 10:25 We've come tonight with many different backgrounds, 10:29 coming from many different geographical occasions. 10:33 But we come united under the banner of the cross. 10:37 Fill us, earnest plea, 10:42 fill us the individual plea 10:44 for the Holy Spirit to come into our lives. 10:48 Our earnest plea coming together corporately 10:51 as a movement here. 10:54 Plea for the Holy Spirit on our--our behalf. 10:59 Lord, tonight as you speak through me, 11:04 I pray that the messenger would be minimize 11:06 and the message would be maximize. 11:10 The people wouldn't leave 11:11 here saying just didn't preach a good sermon, 11:15 but they leave here saying that they were touched 11:20 by the throne of God. 11:23 It's our humble prayer in Jesus' name, amen. 11:29 We're heading to the book of Acts. 11:30 I'll invite you to turn there with me. 11:33 Acts is in the New Testament. 11:34 You have Matthew, you have Mark, you have Luke, 11:35 you have John and then you get to the book of Acts. 11:38 Acts and we're gonna be in the first chapter. 11:41 Some of you are waiting for a cute a little story 11:45 or a funny analogy for the sermon to start with, 11:49 you're not gonna get one. 11:51 Welcome to GYC. 11:53 We go straight to the word of God. 11:56 Acts Chapter 1, I typically start my presentations 11:59 with a little bit of a warning. 12:01 I am a layperson. 12:03 What am I? A layperson. 12:05 A layperson, much like most of you. 12:07 Now because I am a layperson my formal education 12:10 was not in the art of oral communication. 12:14 You're tracking with me? 12:16 So sometimes in my presentations 12:17 you get sermons that aren't--typical? 12:22 Tonight might be one of those times. 12:24 Tonight we're gonna do this. 12:25 We are gonna look at a effect to cause. 12:29 What are we gonna look at? The effect to cause. 12:31 Come on young people, what are we gonna look at? 12:34 Effect to cause. Effect to cause. 12:36 So I would submit to you this. 12:37 The effect is the gospel will go to the world. 12:41 We looked in the introduction that it has been done before. 12:45 You get to the book of Acts, 12:46 thousands, hundreds are being baptized. 12:48 I would submit to you this. 12:49 The disciples started a revolution 12:52 in the book of Acts. Amen. 12:54 I would submit to you that this revolution must continue. 12:58 It's not a revolution against our church, 13:00 it's not a revolution against a political state, 13:02 it is a revolution against the enemy, 13:04 the adversary, Satan and everything that he stands for. 13:08 They started a revolution and it must continue. 13:10 Seven billion, eight billion, twenty billion, 13:12 I don't care what the number is the gospel 13:15 will go the world before Jesus comes again. 13:17 It will happen before Jesus 13:19 comes again the Seventh-day Adventist church 13:20 will deliver the Three Angeles message to the world. 13:23 It will happen. 13:24 The effect is the gospel going to the world. 13:28 It will happen. 13:30 But what I want to explore with you tonight is the cause. 13:33 How does that happen? 13:35 The effect is, we've laid the foundation. 13:37 You're tracking with me? 13:39 The foundation for our presentation 13:41 is that the gospel You're with me, yes or no? 13:47 Yes. Yes or no? 13:48 Yes. The gospel will go to the world 13:50 that is our foundation. 13:51 We can now leave that because we want to understand why. 13:54 How does that happen? 13:56 So we are in the book of Acts. 13:58 The disciples are in the little bit 13:59 of a discombobulated state. 14:04 They've just lost or they're just about 14:06 to lose their master who they have spent 14:08 following around for three and half years. 14:11 They relied on him for everything. 14:13 Luke is just about to tell us how the Holy Spirit 14:16 just gonna descend on them. 14:17 So we find the disciples who are bit on crossroads 14:20 in their Christian experience. 14:22 They aren't sure of the future. 14:25 They aren't sure of the next step but they're on the cusp 14:29 of some of the most exciting times of their life. 14:32 And perhaps you might be able to sympathize 14:36 or empathize with the disciples. 14:39 You come into this convention center tonight 14:41 a little unsure of the future. 14:44 Maybe it is a career path. 14:45 You are at cross roads and you don't know exactly 14:47 where Jesus has you intended to go. 14:51 You might be in a relationship, 14:52 a little confused, should I be in it should I not? 14:56 You might have a family member who has just diagnosed 14:58 with a disease or worse yet a family member 15:01 that continues to ignore the plea of their savior. 15:06 Perhaps tonight you can empathize. 15:07 You can sympathize with the disciples. 15:11 But let me submit you this. 15:13 Exciting things are gonna happen at this conference. 15:17 Amen. Exciting things 15:18 are gonna happen at this conference. 15:20 I have been working with GYC for the last seven years 15:23 of my life, seven conferences, never, 15:28 never had we had such problems leading up to a conference. 15:31 You look at every department 15:33 we have and there are some colossal, 15:37 not failure because that's a wrong word 15:39 that will lead you to believe 15:40 it is some human type of thing. 15:42 But there is some sort of objection 15:44 that the devil has placed there. 15:47 Every department, take for instance 15:49 the--the logistics department, registration, 15:54 for many of you it was a nightmare. 15:57 Don't say yes or no. 16:00 It was a nightmare. 16:02 All I can do is apologize and promise 16:04 you we will do everything in our power 16:05 so it doesn't happen to you again. 16:07 But here is the appeal. 16:09 God wants to do exciting 16:11 things through this conference. Amen. 16:12 God wants to do exciting things through this conference 16:15 and there is an enemy who is trying to distract us. 16:19 But we're not gonna let him. 16:21 We are not gonna focus on the registration 16:22 or the food or whatever else 16:24 it is that is standing in the way. 16:25 We're gonna focus on the Creator 16:26 who is bigger than those. 16:28 Amen. We are gonna focus on the Savior 16:29 who is bigger than any of those problems. Amen. 16:32 God is gonna do incredible 16:33 things through this conference. 16:35 Your life may be on the cusp 16:36 of greatness just like the disciples. 16:39 You may be in this room with some sort of problem, 16:41 some sort of confusion, some sort of lack of direction 16:44 just like the disciples, but they are on the cusp 16:46 of greatness it could be that you are too. Amen. 16:48 It could be that Jesus has something impressive 16:53 that's about to happen in your life. 16:55 God will do incredible things through this conference. 16:59 We're in the book of Acts, Acts Chapter 1 verse 3. 17:02 You are there, yes or no? Amen. Yes. 17:04 Acts Chapter 1 verse 3, "He presented Himself alive." 17:09 Bible students who is that that's presenting 17:10 himself alive? 17:12 Who is it? Jesus! 17:14 Jesus He presented himself alive 17:17 to them after his suffering for many proofs, 17:20 appearing to them during forty days and speaking 17:23 about the kingdom of" who? God. 17:26 Come on. The kingdom of who? 17:28 God. You're at GYC. 17:30 Stick with me. "The kingdom of God." 17:32 Now I love the foundation 17:34 that act--that Luke builds in his letter. 17:37 He is writing to his letter to Theophilus. 17:40 I might be saying that incorrectly so I apologize. 17:42 But he is writing a letter and here is the foundation. 17:45 Listen he says, listen up readers 17:47 what's about to happen in the book of Acts 17:49 is all from the foundation because Jesus 17:52 suffered on the cross and Jesus rose again. 17:55 Amen. Everything you gonna find from Acts 17:56 going forward from this foundation 17:58 is because of what Jesus did on the cross. Amen. 18:02 You know, we have a very passionate 18:04 executive committee. We're all youth. 18:07 We're all volunteers and because of that we get some 18:11 real passionate debate. 18:13 Did you know that? 18:15 It takes about 14 months to plan a conference like this? 18:18 We've already started planning 18:19 our next conference in Seattle. 18:21 We've some exciting things to unveil 18:23 on Saturday night to you about it. 18:24 But I am not gonna tell you yet. 18:27 We have some passionate debate 18:29 and especially when it comes to theme. 18:32 Now undoubtedly, let me let you little peak 18:34 into the executive committee table. 18:37 We'll be seated around the table. 18:38 It will be time for the theme discussion 18:40 and one man who'll go unnamed always comes up with this. 18:44 All the elocution in the world, 18:46 all the logic he can possible pour into a theme thought, 18:50 he says "guys 18:52 I think we need a theme on Jesus only." 18:58 And inevitably, Sebastian's idea-- 19:03 Sorry, the man was gonna go unnamed. 19:08 Sorry, Sebastian. 19:09 Inevitably Sebastian's idea gets short down. 19:13 Not because it's not a fantastic idea. 19:16 Not because it's not something that we should focus on, 19:18 but the logic is this, and don't miss 19:21 this young people, Jesus said better be at the center 19:24 of every one of our themes. 19:26 Amen. Jesus said, better be at the foundation 19:28 of everything that we do. 19:29 We as a movement as GYC, the cross, 19:32 Christ suffering, Christ resurrected 19:35 should be at the foundation of everything that we do. 19:38 And the theme is no different. 19:40 Fill me: our earnest plea at the heart of it, 19:42 at the center of it, at the foundation of it as Jesus 19:45 is suffering on the cross and Jesus is resurrection. 19:49 Luke says listen up reader, the reason that this happens, 19:51 the reason that Jesus has the authority to speak 19:54 to us because He suffered on the cross. 19:56 Listen up young people the reason 19:57 that you and I can cry out fill me our earnest plea 20:01 is because what Jesus Christ did for you on the cross. 20:04 Amen. Make no mistake about it. 20:07 There will be a group of individuals 20:09 call the Adventist church who near the end of time 20:11 will be crying out, fill me, because of what Jesus 20:15 did for them at the cross. Amen. 20:17 There will be an army of young people assembled 20:20 known as the Generation Youth Christ, 20:23 GYC who will pray out earnestly fill me 20:28 because of what Jesus did for them at the cross. 20:31 The only question that remains unanswered, 20:34 will you as a child, as son or as a daughter of Christ, 20:40 cry out individually "fill me" 20:43 because of what He did for you at the cross? 20:46 Paul employs some fascinating 20:48 language to communicate the same idea. 20:51 Galatians Chapter 6 I think its verse 14. 20:54 He says, listen, listen up He just allured us to the fact 20:57 that he is writing in bigger letters. 21:00 Probably because of his eyesight but probably 21:02 because I think he doesn't want us to miss it. 21:04 He says listen up "far be it from me to boast 21:07 in anything but the cross." 21:09 Translation is because of the cross 21:12 that I had my conversion on the road to Damascus. 21:15 It's because of the cross 21:16 that I could preach to the Jews and the gentiles. 21:18 It's because of the cross that even from a damn mildew 21:21 forsaken prison that I could write to you. 21:24 "Far be it from me to boast in anything but the cross." 21:29 Jesus only it better be at the heart, 21:31 it better be at the center, 21:32 and it better be at the foundation 21:33 of everything that we do. 21:35 Jesus only. Head to the book of Peter, 21:40 first Peter, it is a letter written by Peter. 21:43 It is typically used for those who are suffering. 21:46 But I just love how Peter 21:48 takes this concept of the Holy Spirit 21:50 and the foundation of Jesus on the cross 21:52 and brings it forth circle. 21:54 First Peter, turn there quickly. 21:56 First Peter. We are in chapter 1, verse 10. 21:58 You're there, yes or no? 21:59 Amen. We'll wait so that everyone can catch up. 22:03 First Peter Chapter 1 and verse 10. 22:08 First Peter 1 and verse 10. Amen. 22:12 "Concerning this salvation, the prophets, 22:14 who prophesied about the grace." 22:16 Now Bible students what prophets is he talking to? 22:20 What prophets wrote about Jesus 22:22 is coming and Jesus is grace? 22:26 Who is it? 22:29 Isaiah. Isaiah might be one I would say the old, 22:30 Old Testament prophets. Amen. 22:33 So he is alerting us to the fact, listen up, 22:35 the Old Testament prophets wrote about grace, 22:39 wrote about Jesus' work here. 22:41 We are reading on that was "To be yours searched 22:44 and inquired carefully. 22:45 Inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ 22:47 in them was indicating 22:49 when he predicted" the what? 22:54 Come on young people, that what? 22:57 My translation renders at 23:00 "sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories." 23:04 The Old Testament prophets 23:06 prophesied about Jesus to come. 23:09 Jesus' work on the cross, Jesus' suffering, 23:12 Jesus' resurrection, and all that goes with it. 23:15 Then you get to Jesus, He comes here. 23:17 He walks with us and Jesus alerts us to the fact 23:19 in John 10 in verse 10 that He cancels that we are, 23:21 you and I might have life but not just life like more-- 23:25 Abundantly. Abundantly. 23:27 And then he goes on to say some very remarkable, 23:29 a very though provoking things to the disciples. 23:32 He says listen guys, 23:33 "it's to your advantage that I leave you." 23:36 You remember this, yes or no? Yes. 23:38 Let's go look at it. 23:39 Hold your finger in 1st Peter, but go to John. 23:42 John Chapter 14, 23:47 John Chapter 14. 23:49 No that's not right, 16. 23:52 You get to John Chapter 14. 23:53 You go to John Chapter 16. 23:57 We'll read seven for some context. 23:59 "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, 24:00 it is to your advantage." 24:02 It is for your, what? Advantage! 24:04 "Advantage that I go away, 24:05 for if I do not go away, the Helper--" 24:08 who do you and I know to be the helper? 24:11 Holy Spirit. "The Holy Spirit will not come to you. 24:14 But if I go, I will send him to you." 24:17 Now Jesus come to his disciples 24:18 and says listen guys, 24:19 I know you are right on me for so long. 24:21 I know that you relied on me for everything 24:23 that you do whether it be food, 24:24 whether it be direction, you followed me. 24:26 I am your master but listen 24:28 it's to your advantage that I go away. 24:32 Now you and I have the privilege 24:35 I would say to know the end of the story. 24:37 Yes. We know exactly what Jesus 24:40 is referring to, but think of the disciples. 24:42 Here they are relying on Jesus 24:43 for everything and Jesus is saying, listen, listen. 24:46 "I have got to go away and it's to your advantage." 24:50 But the understanding is this. 24:52 What if Jesus had left immediately at that instant, 24:56 would it event to their advantage? Yes or no. 25:00 No It's a trick question because we really don't know. 25:02 The answer is we cannot answer 25:04 that because we do not know, 25:05 but we can answer is this. 25:07 Jesus is referring to the fact that soon he would die 25:10 on the cross for all their sins. 25:12 Soon he would be resurrected 25:13 and go to the throne of God 25:14 and then be able to send the Holy Spirit. 25:17 Check this out. 25:18 He gives us the answer, verse 14. 25:21 He, speaking of who, 25:23 who we are just talking about? 25:25 Who is it? 25:26 Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit 25:27 "He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine 25:31 and declare to you. 25:32 Verse 15. "All that the Father has is mine, 25:34 therefore I said that he will take what is mine 25:36 and declare it to you." Amen. 25:40 Jesus says its He advantage. 25:44 I'll die on the cross for your sins. 25:47 I'll be resurrected after three days. 25:50 I'll go to the throne of God 25:51 for you and I'll send my help with the Holy Spirit for you. 25:56 Why is the Holy Spirit gonna come? 25:57 To remind you of what I did. 26:02 Back in First Peter verse 12. 26:07 "It was revealed to them" 26:10 then we are talking about the Old Testament prophets 26:12 "that they were serving not themselves but" who? 26:18 Who is it? Us. Us. You. 26:23 It's beautiful, isn't it? 26:29 The grace of Christ 26:30 was revealed to the Old Testament 26:31 prophets not just for them, but for you and I. 26:34 Jesus came so that we might have a life 26:36 and more life more abundantly. 26:38 The Holy Spirit who came down to remind us 26:41 of what he did and it says all done not primarily 26:44 for the Old Testament prophets, 26:45 not primarily for the disciples, 26:47 not primarily for the apostles 26:49 in the book of Acts, but for you and it. 26:52 "It was revealed to them that they were serving 26:55 not themselves but you." 26:59 Christ, the foundation of our lives and the foundation 27:04 of our earnest plea. 27:06 Remember with me tonight 27:08 we're looking at a effect to cause, yes. Yes. 27:11 Effect to cause. Is anyone looking at that with me? Amen. 27:15 Come on, young people. 27:17 We are at GYC. 27:18 The effect is the gospel will go to the world 27:21 and I'll submit to you one of the causes of that is Jesus 27:23 being at the foundation, Jesus being at the center, 27:26 Jesus being at the absolute foundation and center 27:30 of everything that we possibly do. 27:33 We're back in Acts, Acts Chapter 1 and verse 4. 27:39 This is about to get exciting. 27:42 "And while staying with them he ordered them" 27:44 You may be reading from the King James Version 27:46 or the New King James Version in that renders 27:48 that "He commanded them." 27:50 Now I don't know about you but when the Bible 27:51 says that Jesus ordered them or Jesus 27:53 commanded up I tend to listen up. 27:56 You do the same, yes or no? Yes. 27:58 He commanded them to do what 28:01 "not to depart from Jerusalem, 28:02 but to wait for the promise of the Father, 28:04 which he said, 'you heard from me.'" 28:08 Now before we unpack it, 28:11 what I think is a significant command, 28:13 a significant order from Christ. 28:15 It's time for little look in the mirror. 28:17 You ready for that? 28:19 A little look in the mirror of the millennial generation. 28:22 A few months ago Sebastian 28:23 put me on to this fantastic book. 28:25 It's called the "M Factor." 28:27 What is it called? "M Factor." 28:29 "The M Factor." 28:30 And what it does is it describes some of the things 28:32 that the millennial generation look for. 28:35 Now I am part of the millennial generation 28:37 and the majority of you out there are part 28:39 of the millennial generation. 28:40 You may be put on some of the edges 28:43 of it but indeed the majority of us are part 28:46 of the millennial generation. 28:47 Now this brought the "M Factor" 28:48 the subtitle is something to the effect 28:50 how the millennial generation is rocking the work place. 28:54 Basically what it does, it looks 28:56 at the millennial generation as a whole in it at signs, 28:59 some attributes that would be something 29:02 that all the generation would primarily look at, 29:05 or be a part of rather. 29:07 So the first one is this, 29:09 we as the millennial generation we like access. 29:12 What do we like? Access. 29:14 Access. And that is to say this, 29:16 our parents may have started 29:17 with a very small modest poor home, 29:20 if you will, and eventually 29:22 they worked up into a nicer home. 29:24 Well the millennial generation you and I come along 29:26 we say we don't wanna start down there where they were. 29:29 We wanna start where they ended up 29:31 and rise from there. 29:33 If you tracking with me? Amen. 29:35 So we typically demand access. 29:38 The other thing that we like 29:39 to do is we like to rally. 29:40 What do we like to do? Rally. 29:42 Rally. Especially if there is some element 29:45 where we can change the world. 29:47 So you and I as a generation we demand access, 29:50 we like to rally, and we like to change the world. 29:55 Is that kind of sound like some of us? 29:58 Yes, no? It's not necessary to say that every person 30:02 in the millennial generation is like this by any stretch 30:04 of the imagination, but as a broad stroke 30:07 that's kind of what we are like. 30:09 Now with those things in mind that we look again 30:12 at the command of Jesus, Acts Chapter 1and verse 4, 30:16 "while He staying with them He ordered them." 30:19 He commanded them do not depart from Jerusalem. 30:25 Wasn't that fascinating? 30:27 Jesus has just delivered the great gospel commission, 30:31 listen guys, disciples, go and preach everywhere but wait. 30:36 Go and make sure that everyone 30:37 in the inhabitable globe 30:38 knows who I am and what I've done on the cross but wait. 30:42 Before you can take the next step you must reach Jerusalem. 30:46 You must reach the very people 30:47 you're already in contact with. Amen. 30:51 And you and I as a church have been commissioned 30:53 by Christ to take the Three Angeles message to the world, 30:57 but could it be that you and I as a church 31:00 or like we are like the disciples were. 31:05 Could it be that the disciples 31:07 were there on the cause for greatness 31:08 just about the Holy Spirit poured on them and go through 31:12 some of the most exciting times of their life? 31:15 Could it be that our church emulates that today? 31:18 You know, as a church we believe that the Holy Spirit 31:20 will come again in this Latter Rain form. 31:24 You'll learn more about it tomorrow, 31:25 so I don't want to dive too much into it and spoil 31:27 the rest of the conference, but it's gonna happen. 31:30 We as a church believe that it's gonna happen. 31:32 So check this out. 31:33 The disciples are there. 31:34 They are in this--this state of awareness. 31:36 They have just been delivered the gospel message, 31:39 but Jesus commands the wait. 31:42 Reach Jerusalem. 31:43 So could it be that you and I as a church 31:45 as we wait for the Holy Spirit to be--to descend again 31:48 as we wait for the Latter Rain power to come out again? 31:51 Could it be that Jesus is commanding us to wait? 31:56 Let's keep looking at this. 32:02 Here is the beef. 32:04 The Loma Linda veggie beef, of course. 32:09 Most of us in the millennial generation 32:12 are not prepared to wait. 32:16 Most of us quite possibly even in this room 32:19 are not prepared to wait. 32:24 He said not--just that's not the case. 32:27 Jesus commands me to do something I am there. 32:29 I am all there. 32:31 He tells me to wait. I am gonna wait. 32:33 Check this out, what if I told you tonight 32:36 we start rallying for the world. 32:38 Tonight we rally and in 10 days 32:40 we can change the world. 32:42 I can see it in my minds are occupied 32:45 Houston Convention Center. 32:46 Right here in this room. 32:48 Ten days we rally. 32:50 Ten days we stay. 32:51 And ten days we can change the world. 32:54 In ten days we'll have a lawn to prepare 32:56 these nice meticulous meals. 32:57 So we will go through the line and we will eat together. 33:00 Shawn will have programming running around the clock 33:02 and every afternoon Chelsea will organize outreach 33:05 with the west side of the room, 33:06 we will go and reach the east side of the room. 33:08 Ten days we rally, ten days we change the world. 33:11 Are you with me, yes or no? Yes. 33:13 Come on show your hands. 33:14 Will you rally with me? Yes. 33:16 We will change the world. 33:17 Yes or no raise your hands. Show them high. 33:20 The majority of you would do that. 33:23 So check this out same scenario. 33:26 We rally. We're gonna make a big difference. 33:28 We're gonna change something. 33:30 We're gonna rally, and then in lawn 33:32 we will have the meals. 33:33 Shawn will have the program around the clock. 33:35 Chelsea, maybe this time should do the outreach 33:37 from the west to the east side of the room each afternoon. 33:39 Ten days we rally and at the end of ten days 33:42 you double the attendance at your prayer meeting. 33:46 Who is with me? Amen. 33:50 A significantly amount less. 33:53 Now let me ask this question. 33:56 You can't raise your hand unless 33:57 you've been to 12 prayer meetings at your local church. 34:00 That's one a month. Who is with me? 34:05 Still some, but could you picture 34:08 if we ask that question to all the Seventh-day Adventists? 34:13 Jesus commands them to wait, to hold on, 34:18 to reach locally, stay in Jerusalem. 34:24 Translation, you have no business making plans 34:28 to reach the world when your prayer meeting 34:30 near your church is suffering. 34:32 You have to revitalize it.Amen. 34:34 As young people this is for you. 34:37 I whole heartedly believe in the missionaries 34:39 the mission for us as Seventh-day Adventist 34:41 young people living right now is to revitalize 34:44 our local church to bring about reformation 34:47 in our local church. Amen. 34:48 To bring out our revival in our local church. 34:51 We must bring about revival in our local church. 34:54 Amen. Jesus commands them to stay in Jerusalem. 34:58 Translation, reach your local church. Amen. 35:02 Some of you say, well I've called 35:04 to be in foreign missionary. 35:05 That's fine. I am not talking about you. 35:07 Your Jerusalem is temporarily on the move. 35:10 Somebody say listen, 35:11 I gotta to go on short term mission trips. 35:13 That's fine with me. 35:14 Go on Maranatha, go on ShareHim, 35:15 we even have some at GYC do that. 35:19 What I am talking about those of you who sit 35:21 in the Adventist church each Sabbath 35:24 and are doing nothing to revitalize your local church. 35:28 You fill a pew each Sabbath, 35:32 but you do nothing to bring about revival 35:34 in your local church. 35:36 We have great aspirations of preaching to the thousands, 35:40 but we won't preach to the one. 35:42 We have great aspirations in reaching the world. 35:44 but our prayer meeting is dead. 35:46 We have great aspirations of preaching 35:48 to the thousands but our church 35:50 does not have a path line of program. 35:52 We have great aspirations to preach to the thousands 35:55 but our Sabbath school is dull. 35:58 Jesus commands them stay in Jerusalem 36:02 and it's a winning concept. 36:04 We get Acts towards 1 and verse 8 with me. 36:06 Excuse me chapter one and verse eight. 36:09 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit 36:11 has come up on you; 36:12 and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, 36:15 and in all Judea and Samaria, 36:18 and till the end of the earth." 36:20 Did you catch it? 36:22 For the disciples to reach the world, 36:24 they had to reach around them. 36:27 The disciples according to the book of Acts 36:28 were waiting for the Holy Spirit 36:30 to be poured out much like as is a church. 36:33 They had to reach to Jerusalem their local church 36:37 then to Judea their local state, 36:40 then to Samaria their country which eventually led 36:43 them to reach the world. 36:45 So wouldn't it be a logical conclusion. 36:48 That as you and I as a congregation, 36:50 as a movement are waiting for the Holy Spirit 36:52 to be poured out again 36:54 that we would be reaching out locally. 36:57 That before we had any aspirations of reaching 36:59 the world our workplace has been touched. 37:02 Before we start even thinking 37:03 about our neighboring country our neighborhood was reached. 37:07 That before we had aspirations of reaching 37:09 the world our family members were reached. Amen. 37:13 Listen this appearing is true to my heart. 37:16 I am not doing enough for my local church. 37:19 My wife and I had an evangelistic series 37:21 in the fall, had a church, little town of 3000 people, 37:25 30 visitors. Amen. 37:28 Some of them were family members 37:30 that aren't Adventists. 37:32 Not doing enough to reach my local church. 37:37 Remember we are looking at an effect to cause. 37:39 The effect is the gospel going to the world. 37:42 The cause is Christ being at the center 37:44 of everything that we do. 37:47 And the cause is to reach out to our local church. 37:50 Revitalize it. 37:52 For the disciples it was world 37:54 Samaria, Judea, Jerusalem. 37:58 For you and I world, country, state, 38:01 city, local church. 38:05 You wanna reach the world, 38:07 you have to reach your local church. 38:09 You wanna rally for the world 38:11 you have to rally for your church. 38:15 You want to change the world 38:17 you have to change your local church. 38:22 World, country, state, 38:25 city, local church. 38:29 It was a 11 or 12 or 13 months ago 38:34 something like that and I was in the city of Rome 38:38 on a reformation trip. 38:41 Now for whatever reason I am not a person 38:43 that just enjoy sitting ideally in my hotel room. 38:46 And so this particular night jet lag was set in there. 38:50 It was the middle of the day for me. 38:51 It was the middle of the night in Rome. 38:54 But you are there in a city and what you gonna do, 38:55 you are not gonna just sit in your room. 38:58 So I laced up my walking shoes 38:59 and I began to walk around the city. 39:02 Three or four hours that night I walked around 39:04 the entire city and when you are in a city 39:07 like that with so much history, 39:09 so many exposed relics you tend to get very reflective. 39:13 What was it that they had? 39:16 What did the early apostles, the early martyrs, 39:20 the early Christians, what did they have? 39:24 You know, walking around the Colosseum 39:25 in that particular night there were this big screensx 39:28 much like the ones we have here which were fire 39:30 those beam projected on them to stimulate 39:32 what you and I know as Nero burning the city. 39:36 Walked around the Colosseum 39:38 and thinking to myself they were Christians. 39:41 They were Christians who were dressed up as lambs 39:43 as lions were released in a Colosseum. 39:48 How would I respond to that? 39:51 Now I'm walking to the garden, 39:53 the very garden where Christians were dipped in tar 39:56 and used as torches, thank you, 40:00 as torches to light up the garden. 40:05 How would I respond to that? 40:07 I remember walking to the courtyard where Christians 40:10 were tied and chariots were raced opposite directions, 40:13 literally tearing Christians apart. 40:18 How would I respond to that? 40:21 What was it that these Christians have? 40:25 How could it that they could continue to reach even though 40:28 this was happening to them. 40:30 How could they continue to reach 40:32 as they were being dressed up as lambs? 40:35 How could they be continued to preach as they were dressed, 40:37 as they were dipped in tar? 40:41 And by extension how could they do it 40:43 in the book of Acts? 40:46 How could they preach when they eventually 40:48 they were martyred? 40:49 How could they reach out 40:50 when they critically trying to silence them? 40:52 How could they reach out when Christians 40:54 were trying to silence them? 40:57 What did they have? 40:59 Was it the Holy Spirit because that always seems to be sort 41:03 of a byproduct of the Acts church? 41:07 What did they have, 41:08 how could they continued to reach? 41:12 And it finally hit me. 41:15 I was there at the church where it's built over 41:17 where they believe Paul was in prison. 41:21 Just earlier that day I had gone down into that prison. 41:25 I could still taste the dampness of that prison. 41:28 I could feel, still feel the slime 41:31 on the walls of the rocks of that prison. 41:33 You can't even stand up. 41:35 It's this condensed hole in the ground. 41:39 What did Paul have? 41:40 How could he write such thought provoking 41:43 and convicting messages? 41:44 How could he glorify Christ 41:46 from the just so hole 41:50 in the ground? 41:52 And I stood up looking at that church. 41:55 And I remember the realization of what they had. 41:58 It was so simple, so beautiful 42:01 the truth was undeniable. 42:06 The disciples, the apostles, 42:09 they could continue to reach 42:13 because they were reached. 42:16 They could continue to reach 42:20 because they were reached. 42:24 They were a 100 percent committed to Christ. 42:26 They lived for Him and Him alone. 42:29 But inadvertently commitments or priorities 42:32 tying them down, they were reached. 42:37 Here is a fascinating thing. 42:39 It's the logical next step to the equation 42:42 in the book of Acts. 42:45 It's a logical equation to the gospel going to the world. 42:49 World, country, state, 42:52 city, local church... 42:58 You. You. 43:03 You. Young people 43:08 you want to reach the world, 43:10 you have to be reached. 43:13 Older people you want to take 43:14 the Three Angels message to the world, 43:18 you have to be reached. You. 43:23 You are eluded towards it in the introduction. 43:27 Peter preaches a mighty, earth shattering sermon 43:31 in the book of Acts. 43:33 Three thousand were baptized into the church. 43:36 But I would submit to you this Peter wasn't so bold. 43:42 Peter wasn't always sowed out to God's will. 43:46 Peter wasn't always so reached. 43:49 We're heading in conclusion to the night's presentation 43:51 to the book of Luke. 43:55 Luke Chapter 22. 44:06 Luke Chapter 22, we will set the scene just a little bit. 44:12 Again the critics of Jesus in an attempt to silence him, 44:15 in attempt to limit his access here on this earth, 44:19 they've arrested him. 44:21 They brought into the home of the high priest 44:23 and then there in front of the high priest home. 44:26 And in those days they didn't have TV's 44:29 they didn't have well insulated home 44:31 so when there is a reckless going outside like this people 44:34 wanna know what's going on. 44:36 It says Jesus is being dragged 44:38 to this--this high priest home. 44:40 There is quite a multitude, 44:41 if you will, that's following Him. 44:43 Probably a lot of them out of curiosity 44:45 but--but we picture in this multitude of people Peter. 44:50 Peter thought of slinking along chain 44:52 to just blend in with the crowd. 44:55 Peter try to slink along not been noticed 44:58 just--just wanting to observe Christ. 45:02 They get up to the high priest home 45:04 and there is a fire that's kind of kindle to the side. 45:07 So Peter ducks in behind the fireplace and in our minds eye 45:11 we can picture a fire. 45:13 We can picture many people gathering around it 45:16 and we can picture Peter in the midst of them. 45:19 Peter just kind of ignoring there will be one else 45:21 minding his own business. 45:23 We can picture everyone's breast 45:25 being projected because its cold outside 45:27 and they just trying to warm up from the fire. 45:30 Peter is there just--just warming up 45:32 and soon Peter feels it-- 45:36 that, that glare of eyes penetrating him. 45:42 It must you have been in that situation 45:44 in a public setting where, where maybe it was on a bus 45:47 or an airplane or some sort of park 45:49 where there is a lost of people. 45:50 Soon you can sense it when people are staring at you. 45:53 Can't you? You've already been in that situation, yes or no? 45:57 Yes. Yeah, you can kind of picture it. 45:59 You can feel it. 46:01 And then Peter, he is putting this awkward situation 46:04 where he doesn't wanna look at them. 46:06 He wants to avoid the awkward eye contact. 46:10 So in my minds I picture Peter 46:11 sort of overshooting the glance. 46:14 You done that before too. 46:15 You overshoot the glance, 46:17 you look at something off in the distance. 46:18 Peter is glaring out into darkness 46:20 and then--then he brings his eyes down to the person 46:22 where he feels like they are looking at him 46:24 and sure enough awkward eye contact. 46:29 Glaring penetration eyes. 46:33 And you remember something, actually just read 46:36 the verse for the context Luke 22 and verse 56. 46:40 Says this "Then a servant girl seen him, they lock eyes. 46:44 A servant girl seen him sat in the light 46:46 and looking closely at him, said this, 46:49 'This man also was with him.'" 46:54 This man right here that I am looking at he was with Jesus. 46:57 Listen sir, you were with Jesus. 47:01 And remember Peter's first response, 47:03 turn to Matthew very quickly. 47:04 Hold you finger in Luke. 47:06 But look at Matthew 26, just moments, just hours, 47:10 maybe even just minutes before. 47:13 Matthew 26 and verse 34, Jesus says to him to Peter 47:17 "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, 47:21 you will deny me" how many times? 47:23 Three times. "Three times." 47:24 But Peter says to Him, "Even if I must die with you, 47:27 I will not deny you!" 47:29 Lord, listen there maybe other people 47:31 out there who are they gonna deny you 47:32 but its not going to be me. 47:34 Listen Jesus, I have spent three and half years with you, 47:36 I am committed to you, I am committed to your will. 47:39 I will not deny you. 47:41 Its not gonna happen. 47:44 Each of the disciples 47:45 said the same so with that in our context 47:47 we head back to the awkward glace at the fireplace. 47:50 Luke 22 and verse 57 now, "but he denied it." 47:54 He what? Denied it. 47:56 "He denied it saying 47:58 'Woman, I don't know him.'" 48:04 If that's wasn't enough, you find a second incidence. 48:08 Someone looks at him and says listen, you must be the one. 48:12 I do not know him Peter says. 48:15 Finally a third time, it is you, it must be you. 48:18 We know it is you. 48:20 I do not know him. 48:22 Three times Peter explains I do not know Christ, 48:24 I do not know Christ, I do not know Christ. 48:29 Just after saying I would never do it. 48:33 And I don't know about you but I look at this story 48:35 and I am frustrated. 48:37 I am irritated. 48:38 Peter, how could you do it? 48:40 Three and half years you spent with Jesus Christ. 48:43 He is just about to die on the cross for all your sins, 48:46 all of my sins, how could you deny Him. 48:48 Three and half years, Peter. 48:50 Couldn't you be converted? 48:51 Couldn't you been reached? 48:52 How is that you can deny him? 48:56 Peter, you fool. 48:58 Why would you do it? 49:02 And I am gently reminded. 49:06 It's a little bit of Peter's personality in me. 49:14 You been in those situations I have. 49:17 Listen to a sermon, maybe it's even at a GYC. 49:22 The appeal comes and I commit. 49:26 I am gonna do more of that. 49:28 Could be more time in the word of God, 49:30 could be more time in prayer. 49:32 But I commit. 49:34 I am gonna do it. 49:36 As soon as the sermon is over, 49:38 the conference is over I'm backswept 49:40 into the crowd avoiding the awkward eye contact. 49:45 May be you can relate to Peter. 49:48 Maybe he was even at last GYC the Sunday charge. 49:53 You committed to give something up. 49:55 Christ came he convicted you. 49:58 The Holy Spirit convicted you of something 50:00 that was in your life that was misdirecting your priorities. 50:04 You say I'd rather die than do that again to get back home. 50:10 Get swept into the crowd to avoid the awkward eye contact 50:14 as you don't want to remember your commitment. 50:16 May be it's a sermon in church. 50:19 Your pastor has just preached a sermon 50:22 that you know is tailor-made to you. 50:25 You commit in your life 50:26 to do something more or give something up. 50:30 You are not committing to a preacher. 50:33 You are not committing to a prophet. 50:35 You are not committing to a well-executed, 50:38 logical thought progressing sermon. 50:41 You are committing to your Savior, 50:44 committing to your Creator. 50:47 Some of you have been with Him 50:48 for more than three and half years. 50:50 Come forward on the appeal of, do it Lord. 50:53 I give it up, Lord. 50:56 Soon as Sunday comes around you are swept back 50:59 into the multitude that just wants to see what's going on. 51:03 You avoid the awkward eye contact. 51:06 You see the Peter, the story of Peter angers us 51:11 because we can relate. 51:14 Story of Peter irritates 51:16 us because it reminds us of ourselves. 51:20 Peter, you fool because we act like a fool. 51:24 But check this out, this hope, 51:29 there was hope for Peter 51:31 and there is hope for you and I. 51:33 Peter comes to the upper room. 51:35 He is at a significant crossroads in his life. 51:39 His life about after this point in his junction, 51:42 after this point in his Christian 51:44 experience was not fully reached. 51:47 He gets to the upper room and he cries out 51:49 in how own words, fill me, fill me, fill me. 51:55 Lord, I am full of self, my ego is boastful. 51:59 Lord, take it from me. 52:01 Lord, I rely on myself. 52:02 I want to rely on. 52:03 You take it from me. 52:05 Cries out in the upper room, fill me. 52:08 His disciples pressing close to him. 52:11 Fill him Lord, fill him. 52:13 He wants to give up his self indignation. 52:16 Fill him. It was one of the most humble 52:19 and earnest prayers 52:20 ever recorded in the Bible. Fill him. Fill me. 52:25 And from the pen of Ellen White, she says this, 52:29 "Now his self-confidence was gone. 52:32 Never again were the old boastful assertions repeated." 52:36 There was hope for Peter and there is hope for you and I.. 52:39 Amen. I am reading from our 52:41 "10 Days in the Upper Room". 52:43 "Peter was a different man after Pentecost. Amen. 52:47 He no longer trembled and feared 52:48 at the accusations of the officers of the temple. 52:51 When he was confronted by the religious leaders 52:53 and they demanded that he stop preaching in Jesus' 52:56 name the apostle responded 52:58 "we are to obey God rather than man. 53:01 Like his master Peter single minded ambition 53:05 was to do the will of his heavenly Father. 53:09 The disciples were passionate about doing Jesus' will." 53:15 The disciples were passionate 53:17 about doing Jesus' will. 53:23 The gospel will go to the world. 53:25 It's the end game. 53:27 The final conclusion, if you will, to this earth's history. 53:31 The gospel will go to the world. 53:33 Make no mistake about it. 53:35 It's gonna take a centered 53:39 belief in Christ on the cross, 53:44 remembering his suffering, 53:46 remembering his resurrection. 53:50 Christ, Jesus only, the heart and center 53:55 of everything that we do. 53:59 It's gonna take a passion, a devotion, 54:02 and a sacrifice to your local church. 54:05 Jesus commanded them to stay. 54:07 Stay in Jerusalem. 54:09 Jesus commanded them to stay in Jerusalem 54:12 then you reach the world. 54:13 Reach your local church. 54:15 Reach your local workplace. 54:17 Reach your local neighborhood 54:18 then you reach the world. 54:21 World, country, state, 54:24 city, local church, you! 54:29 You wanna reach the world you have to be reached. 54:31 Listen the disciples are ready to lay it all on the line. 54:35 They are willing to face persecution. 54:37 They are willing to face imprisonment. 54:38 They are willing to face even death. 54:41 All these things, 54:42 they were living for were worth dying for. 54:47 What about you? 54:50 The things that you are living for worth dying for? 54:55 Are the priorities in your life 54:58 worth dying for? 55:01 I am gonna invite the Nebblett's to come out 55:03 and sing a song to us. 55:06 They gonna come up and I want you to think about this. 55:09 Peter came to the upper room 55:11 full of this--this ego and gave it up. 55:17 Never again she says, never again did it happen. 55:21 For many of us there is something in our life, 55:24 some priority that we need to give up. 55:28 I don't know what it is for you, 55:29 but certainly the Holy Spirit does. 55:32 As they sing our song you gonna think about this, 55:35 throughout this conference 55:37 what is it that you should give up. 55:40 What priority in your life is misaligned? 55:44 What priority in your life needs to be pushed out? 55:50 We can't do it ourselves. 55:52 But as we are crying out fill me out earnest plea, 55:56 it can free from us never to come again. 56:00 You see the disciples the things they were living 56:03 for were worth them dying for. 56:07 And the things you are living for worth dying for. 56:11 The priorities in your life worth dying for. 56:15 And I leave you this thought-provoking question, 56:17 think about as they sing. 56:21 There is an author, there is an evangelist and etched 56:24 on his tombstone is this thought-provoking question. 56:28 Leonard Ravenhill, He says this. 56:31 "Are the things in your life worth, 56:33 Christ dying for?" 56:38 Are the things you live for worth Christ dying for? 56:43 Are the priorities in your life worth Christ dying for? 56:48 Are the things in your life worth Christ dying for? 56:59 Breathe on me, breath of God 57:06 Fill me with life anew 57:12 That I may love what Thou dost love 57:20 And do what Thou wouldst do 57:28 Breathe on me, breath of God 57:34 Till I am wholly Thine 57:41 Until this earthly part of me 57:49 Glows with Thy fire divine 58:03 Breathe on me, breath of God 58:09 So shall I constant be 58:15 And live with Thee the perfect life of Thine eternity 58:36 Of Thine eternity Amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17