[Music]
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Father in heaven.
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Lord, we thank You to
be in this place tonight
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and we ask that You would
speak through Pastor Kameron,
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as he delivers
the message tonight.
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We ask for You, the
presence of Your Spirit,
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to be in this place,
in Your name I pray, amen.
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Good evening, GYC. Good evening.
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That was weak,
we'll try it again.
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Good evening, GYC. Good evening!
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Thank you so much.
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Has it been a blessing
so far today, amen. Amen.
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Fantastic. As you've
heard repeatedly, at this point
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you should have
heard repeatedly at least
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that our theme
this year is Fill me,
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Our Earnest Plea, and
for all intents and purposes
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that's just a
fancy way of saying,
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the topic-- the theme
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that this conference
is revolving around is
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the Holy Spirit's
work in our lives.
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It's an important theme,
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in fact speaking
of the absolutely
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critical role of the
Holy Spirit we're counseled
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and this is Second
Manuscript release, page 15.
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"It is beyond the
power of language to express
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the blessings the Holy
Spirit brings to God's people."
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If received and appreciated,
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the Holy Spirit will
make us Holy, Christ like.
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Through its agency, we
are united with Christ,
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partakers of the divine nature.
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And here is the key.
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The reception of the
Holy Spirit in its fullness
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is the great need
of the church today.
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It is my hope.
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In fact it is my
most sincere prayer
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that tonight will be
not just another opportunity
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to be more informed
about the Holy Spirit,
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but by the grace of God
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and His indwelling
spirit be transformed
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into the
character of Christ. Amen.
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As we begin to
study God's word tonight,
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we must begin
with a word of prayer.
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Please bow your heads with me.
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Dear Heavenly Father.
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Lord, I thank You so much
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for the opportunity of bringing
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these young
people together at GYC.
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I thank You for the
theme that's been chosen
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and now Lord, I thank You
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that You have
promised to give us wisdom
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through Your Holy
Spirit as we open Your word.
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Please guide our minds.
Lord, sharpen our minds.
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And where is needed,
Lord, soften our hearts,
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so that we may not
only hear the words
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but be doers of the word.
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So we can reflect Your
character to the world,
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and by Your grace we
may haste your soon coming.
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We pray all of this
in Jesus name, amen.
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Above all of the other creatures
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that the Lord God
made in the creation week,
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we're going to
Genesis Chapter 1 by the way,
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so I'll give you a head start.
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Above all the creatures
that the Lord God made,
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He gave humanity, man and woman,
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man dominion over everything.
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And reflect on
this for me a moment.
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Why? If somebody asks you,
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why was man given
the responsibility
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of dominion over planet earth,
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what would be the reason?
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And many of you will say well,
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of course we
were given dominion.
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Who else was going to do it?
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You know, what
are the other options,
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I mean, we're special.
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We're unique,
we're one of a kind,
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we're the only one
to --in fact we were--
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and you might have
some theological reasons
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why we were given
dominion of the earth.
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You might say well,
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we were formed from
the dust of the ground.
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And while that's true
that doesn't make us unique.
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Apparently accordingly to
Genesis Chapter 2 in verse 19.
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The Lord God formed
every beast of the field
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out of the dust of the ground.
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Well, you say ah, ah, ah,
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but we were
designed in a plural,
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man and woman, you know,
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like God had
worked together in a unity
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and they create
and we've been given
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the ability to procreate.
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In fact we were commanded
to be fruitful and do what?
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Multiply. Multiply.
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And that's great and it's true.
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But the problem is the birds
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and the fish were
told to be fruitful
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multiply even
before man was created.
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That's not our uniqueness.
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You say yes, yes, but
we have the breath of life.
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But according to Genesis
Chapter 6 and Genesis Chapter 7,
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"The flood was given to wipe out
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all creatures that had
the breadth of life in them."
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So it's not that either.
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And I tell you something,
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it's not because we
were the strongest creatures
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God ever made, we're not.
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It's not because
we're the fastest creatures
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God ever made.
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It's not because
we're the best swimmers
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that God ever made, we're not.
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We don't have the coolest powers
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of any of the beings,
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you may look around
the world, we can't fly.
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I love to fly, I can't
fly. We can't breathe water.
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Fish can do
that, I can't do that.
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You know we don't have bio--
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what is it called, luminescence.
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We don't grow in the
dark, that would be awesome.
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We don't have--we don't
operate by photosynthesis,
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you know, we're
not fueled by the sun,
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which think about that,
how great would that be.
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Every night the sun goes down.
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When the sun
comes back up, you know,
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it's tremendous, you know,
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and we follow the
sun as it goes up,
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but -- I'm
living in Michigan now,
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so maybe that's
not the best thing.
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But those people in
Florida, and Arizona,
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boy I tell you, they be strong.
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I did not see that
coming, I'll be honest with you.
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We're not even the
hardiest of creatures,
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we're actually quite
fragile, think about it.
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How much luggage did
you pack for four days
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in the wild outback of Houston.
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All the other animals seemed
to get by without luggage,
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we have to carry on and pack in
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and get --my point is this,
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what makes us unique
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is not any physical attribute,
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but a spiritual something.
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Genesis Chapter 1 verse
26 tells us what that is.
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We get to
eavesdrop on the conversation
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that the Lord has
with himself which is cool.
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Says in verse 26
of Genesis Chapter 1.
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"Let us make man," what
are the next three words?
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I'm sorry, GYC, I just
can't hear you tonight,
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it's so sad, I'm
deaf. What is it in our?
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Image. Image.
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"According to our likeness,
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let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea,
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over the birds of the air,
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over the cattle,
over all the earth,
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and every creeping thing
that creeps on the earth."
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Verse 27, "So God created man,"
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what are the
words? "In his own image,
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in the image of
God He created him
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male and female,
He created them."
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The spiritual
significance of humanity is
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why we've been given dominion.
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Turn with me to Psalms 8.
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Psalms 8, in reflecting
on this creation week,
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and the significance rather
the seeming insignificance
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of humanity amongst
all the other creatures
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and beings and created worlds
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that the Lord
God had established,
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look at what Psalmist says.
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Psalms 8 starting with verse 3.
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It says, "When I
consider your heavens,
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the work of your fingers,
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the moon and the
stars, that you ordained."
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Verse 4, "What is man,
that you are mindful of him?
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And the son of man,
that you visit him?"
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He is thinking the same thought,
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of all the things that
you've made what are we?
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In verse 5, "For
you have made him
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a little lower than the angels,
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and you have crowned
him with glory and honor."
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Crowned with glory.
And then he goes onto say,
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"you have made
him to have dominion
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over the works of your hands,
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you put all
things under his feet."
00:10:22.84\00:10:24.31
But the rational for that is
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this crowning
with glory and honor.
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What is that mean to
be crowned with glory
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and how does it related to
being made in the image of God.
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You know, when I
think of the word glory,
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and I guarantee
you're thinking this too.
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When I hear glory I
think of like shiny,
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like a gleam, ting.
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You know when
you think about that,
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when you think of God
returning in all of His glory.
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You're thinking
brightness and splendor
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and shininess, sparkly may be.
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But here something is
different being said, yes,
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while there is an outward aspect
to glory, the greater importance
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the real significance is
the unseen, the inward glory
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which we're going to
see tonight is character.
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Go to Exodus
Chapter 3. Exodus Chapter 3,
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we're gonna go quickly
through the Bible tonight.
00:11:17.91\00:11:21.13
That's not an apology,
I'm just letting you know.
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Exodus Chapter 3, this
was the story of Moses being--
00:11:25.59\00:11:30.85
coming upon the burning bush.
00:11:30.86\00:11:32.87
And he decides to inspect it
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and go over and the Lord says,
00:11:34.35\00:11:35.54
not to do that,
in fact verse 6 says.
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"Moreover he said, I
am the God of your father,
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the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac,
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and the God of Jacob."
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And notice
these words carefully.
00:11:43.74\00:11:45.28
"And Moses hid his face,
for he was," what's the word?
00:11:45.29\00:11:51.35
Afraid. "Afraid
to look upon God.
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He was afraid to look upon God."
00:11:56.65\00:12:00.67
But what's
fascinating about this
00:12:00.68\00:12:01.91
is just go 30 chapters over,
00:12:01.92\00:12:03.93
30 chapters where I
go to Exodus Chapter 33.
00:12:03.94\00:12:07.35
And this same Moses, who
was afraid to look upon God.
00:12:07.36\00:12:10.96
Now in Exodus Chapter 33
makes the famous request.
00:12:10.97\00:12:14.96
Verse 18 and he
said to the Lord God,
00:12:14.97\00:12:17.68
"please show me
your," what? Glory.
00:12:17.69\00:12:22.54
In Exodus Chapter 3, he
is afraid to look on God.
00:12:22.55\00:12:25.01
In Exodus Chapter 33,
he's begging for more.
00:12:25.02\00:12:29.74
What's the difference?
Well, I would submit to you
00:12:29.75\00:12:32.54
that he is a
different Moses at this point.
00:12:32.55\00:12:35.15
The Moses who was
wandering around the wilderness,
00:12:35.16\00:12:36.96
unsure of himself,
00:12:36.97\00:12:37.97
not being called
into the ministry yet.
00:12:37.98\00:12:39.16
But now the
Lord God has used him
00:12:39.17\00:12:40.66
at this point in a mighty way
00:12:40.67\00:12:42.62
he has gone to
the before pharaoh,
00:12:42.63\00:12:43.98
he's delivered his
people by a mighty hand,
00:12:43.99\00:12:46.19
he's crossed the red sea,
00:12:46.20\00:12:47.33
they stood at the
foot of Mount Sinai.
00:12:47.34\00:12:51.29
They've received the law,
he's gone out to the mountain,
00:12:51.30\00:12:54.45
he's come close to the Lord.
00:12:54.46\00:12:56.53
In fact he's even shared
in the sufferings of the Lord
00:12:56.54\00:12:58.78
and dealing with the Israelites.
00:12:58.79\00:13:02.06
So much so that
when the golden calf of
00:13:02.07\00:13:03.68
Exodus 32 incident
occurred, he begged the Lord,
00:13:03.69\00:13:06.68
if it's not
possible to redeem them
00:13:06.69\00:13:08.44
put myself in their
place, blot my name out.
00:13:08.45\00:13:12.54
He is a different Moses.
00:13:12.55\00:13:14.78
And now he asks for
even more of the Lord's glory
00:13:14.79\00:13:17.42
and this is
crucial. This is crucial,
00:13:17.43\00:13:19.72
the answer given, verse 19.
00:13:19.73\00:13:22.54
"Then he said, I
will make all of my,"
00:13:22.55\00:13:25.44
what's the next word?
00:13:25.45\00:13:26.66
Goodness.
"Goodness pass before you."
00:13:26.67\00:13:30.30
Do you see the equivalence,
00:13:30.31\00:13:31.31
the glory of the
Lord is his goodness.
00:13:31.32\00:13:35.46
"Now I will make all my
glory, goodness pass before you,
00:13:35.47\00:13:38.68
and I will proclaim the
name of the Lord before you,
00:13:38.69\00:13:40.48
I will be gracious to
whom I will be gracious,
00:13:40.49\00:13:42.87
and I will have compassion
on whom I will have compassion."
00:13:42.88\00:13:45.79
And skip over to Chapter
6 of verse--of Chapter 34.
00:13:45.80\00:13:50.83
When it actually
occurred, this is what happened.
00:13:50.84\00:13:53.96
"And the Lord passed
before him, and proclaimed,
00:13:53.97\00:13:56.42
the Lord, the Lord
God, merciful and gracious,
00:13:56.43\00:14:01.08
longsuffering, and
abounding in goodness and truth,
00:14:01.09\00:14:04.47
keeping mercy for thousands,
00:14:04.48\00:14:06.97
forgiving
iniquity and transgression
00:14:06.98\00:14:09.30
and sin by no means
clearing the guilty,
00:14:09.31\00:14:12.54
visiting the iniquity
00:14:12.55\00:14:13.55
of the fathers
upon the children,
00:14:13.56\00:14:14.72
and children's children,
00:14:14.73\00:14:15.73
to the third and
the fourth generation."
00:14:15.74\00:14:19.96
This is the glory of
God, this is His goodness.
00:14:19.97\00:14:23.39
The glory of God
is His character.
00:14:23.40\00:14:25.65
His goodness is
mercy, his justice et cetera.
00:14:25.66\00:14:29.39
Man's creation
in the image of God
00:14:29.40\00:14:31.84
and being crowned with glory
00:14:31.85\00:14:34.37
means primarily that
God established humanity
00:14:34.38\00:14:37.79
to reflect the
character of His Creator.
00:14:37.80\00:14:42.07
Mrs. White puts it this way,
00:14:42.08\00:14:43.17
in Patriarch and
Prophets page 45.
00:14:43.18\00:14:46.19
"Christ alone is 'the
express image' of the Father,
00:14:46.20\00:14:50.19
but man was formed
in the likeness of God."
00:14:50.20\00:14:53.74
Then she explained
what she means by that.
00:14:53.75\00:14:56.29
"His nature was in
harmony with the will of God.
00:14:56.30\00:14:59.57
His mind was capable of
comprehending divine things.
00:14:59.58\00:15:03.15
His affections were pure,
his appetites and passions
00:15:03.16\00:15:08.11
were under the
control of reason.
00:15:08.12\00:15:09.42
He was holy and happy
in bearing the image of God
00:15:09.43\00:15:13.33
and in perfect
obedience to His will."
00:15:13.34\00:15:16.75
And as you see with
only with this inward glory,
00:15:16.76\00:15:19.17
this God like character,
00:15:19.18\00:15:21.95
only while that was maintained
could their outward glory,
00:15:21.96\00:15:25.00
the shininess or
their garments of light,
00:15:25.01\00:15:27.92
as we typically
refer to it, be maintained.
00:15:27.93\00:15:32.75
Continuing on in the
same page we read these words.
00:15:32.76\00:15:35.75
The sinless pair wore
00:15:35.76\00:15:36.96
no artificial
garments by luminescence.
00:15:36.97\00:15:42.56
They were
clothed with a covering
00:15:42.57\00:15:44.02
of the light and glory,
such as the angels wear.
00:15:44.03\00:15:48.16
And notice the next sentence.
00:15:48.17\00:15:49.78
So long as they
lived in obedience to God,
00:15:49.79\00:15:53.73
this robe of light
continued to enshroud them.
00:15:53.74\00:15:57.60
It was this inward glory,
00:15:57.61\00:15:59.52
this Christ like
character that qualified man
00:15:59.53\00:16:02.05
as that unique creature
formed in the image of God.
00:16:02.06\00:16:08.77
But of course we
know the sacred history.
00:16:08.78\00:16:12.55
We know that they did not
continue to live in obedience.
00:16:12.56\00:16:16.82
When Adam and Eve
rebelled against their creator,
00:16:16.83\00:16:19.82
it was this image
of God that was lost.
00:16:19.83\00:16:24.28
As devastating as
that must have been
00:16:24.29\00:16:25.89
to be thrown out of the garden,
00:16:25.90\00:16:28.28
to have increased pain
00:16:28.29\00:16:29.57
and to even lose
access to the tree of life
00:16:29.58\00:16:32.02
and the resulting living
forever that came along with it.
00:16:32.03\00:16:37.84
Those things were subordinate,
00:16:37.85\00:16:39.29
those things were
secondary to the real loss,
00:16:39.30\00:16:42.33
which was the
image of God in man.
00:16:42.34\00:16:45.06
How do I say this?
00:16:49.08\00:16:51.02
Sometimes I
think when we present
00:16:51.03\00:16:52.37
the great controversy theme,
00:16:52.38\00:16:54.29
we don't tell
enough of the story.
00:16:54.30\00:16:57.05
We need to represent
the greater controversy,
00:16:57.06\00:16:59.23
if you will. I mean,
00:16:59.24\00:17:01.15
we'll talk about
the Great Controversy
00:17:01.16\00:17:02.60
and we'll say things
like which are true things,
00:17:02.61\00:17:04.86
we'll go to
Genesis Chapter 1 and 2.
00:17:04.87\00:17:06.70
And we'll say, do you
see that Eden was established
00:17:06.71\00:17:08.70
and it was
good, good, good, good
00:17:08.71\00:17:10.38
and on day six,
it was very good.
00:17:10.39\00:17:11.78
And it had a, you know,
the water that ran through it
00:17:11.79\00:17:14.43
and down hill and
you have the tree of life
00:17:14.44\00:17:16.19
and they had all
these beautiful surroundings
00:17:16.20\00:17:18.89
perfect
environment, then sin came in
00:17:18.90\00:17:20.47
and everything, we lost Eden,
00:17:20.48\00:17:22.40
and we go
through the whole Bible,
00:17:22.41\00:17:23.84
then you get to
the end of the Bible
00:17:23.85\00:17:24.93
in Revelation 21 and 22.
00:17:24.94\00:17:26.41
And you see the restoration
of the Garden of Eden,
00:17:26.42\00:17:28.77
and there is the water of
life, there is the tree of life.
00:17:28.78\00:17:32.59
We saw how the
book ends of the Bible
00:17:32.60\00:17:34.61
start with Eden established
and Eden restored but
00:17:34.62\00:17:40.69
and as true and
as great as that is,
00:17:40.70\00:17:42.47
here's my point tonight
The restoration of a place
00:17:42.48\00:17:48.33
is not the point of
the story of redemption.
00:17:48.34\00:17:52.59
Salvation in Jesus Christ
00:17:52.60\00:17:54.51
involves the restoration
of people themselves.
00:17:54.52\00:18:00.08
Sometimes I fear
--follow this logic.
00:18:00.09\00:18:03.85
Sometimes I fear that we
focus on Christ's promise
00:18:03.86\00:18:06.97
to prepare a place for us,
00:18:06.98\00:18:09.88
while we neglect the
work of the Holy Spirit
00:18:09.89\00:18:11.96
to prepare us
for that place. Amen.
00:18:11.97\00:18:15.69
Do you see the difference? Yes.
00:18:15.70\00:18:18.93
Put it in other way.
00:18:18.94\00:18:19.93
Redemption in Jesus
Christ seems more than
00:18:19.94\00:18:21.59
simply His promise to physically
transport us to heaven.
00:18:21.60\00:18:26.58
And includes the
far greater promise
00:18:26.59\00:18:28.38
to spiritually
transform us for heaven.
00:18:28.39\00:18:32.63
Not merely to get us in
00:18:32.64\00:18:35.19
but to fit us in
before we get there.
00:18:35.20\00:18:39.09
Do you see the difference? Amen.
00:18:39.10\00:18:40.55
There's a difference between
getting in and fitting in.
00:18:40.56\00:18:47.51
Mrs. White puts it this way
00:18:47.52\00:18:48.52
in Christian
Education in page 64 and 65.
00:18:48.53\00:18:52.17
Sin has marred and
well-nigh obliterated
00:18:52.18\00:18:55.44
the image of God in man.
00:18:55.45\00:18:57.77
And notice these
words, "It was to restore this
00:18:57.78\00:19:01.33
that the plan of
salvation was devised,
00:19:01.34\00:19:03.07
and a life of
probation was granted to man.
00:19:03.08\00:19:06.03
To bring him
back to the perfection
00:19:06.04\00:19:07.64
in which he was first created,"
00:19:07.65\00:19:09.19
notice these words, "is
the great object of life,
00:19:09.20\00:19:13.65
the object that
underlies every other."
00:19:13.66\00:19:17.13
So whatever we do beyond
that the foundation issue
00:19:17.14\00:19:20.58
and the Great Controversy
is not just restoring a place,
00:19:20.59\00:19:22.91
it's restoring a
people for a better place.
00:19:22.92\00:19:26.49
Education page 125, the
central theme of the Bible.
00:19:26.50\00:19:32.04
The theme about which
00:19:32.05\00:19:33.39
every other in the
whole book clusters.
00:19:33.40\00:19:36.48
If someone asks you that,
00:19:36.49\00:19:37.49
what's the central
theme of the Bible.
00:19:37.50\00:19:38.57
Apparently that was rhetorical.
00:19:42.08\00:19:44.77
Jesus. But you
tell Jesus and His life,
00:19:44.78\00:19:47.52
His sacrifice on the cross,
you know, to get us to heaven.
00:19:47.53\00:19:49.49
"The central theme of the Bible,
00:19:54.00\00:19:55.17
the theme about
which every other
00:19:55.18\00:19:56.86
in the whole book clusters
is the redemption plan,"
00:19:56.87\00:19:59.62
which she defines as?
00:19:59.63\00:20:01.81
"The restoration
in the human soul
00:20:01.82\00:20:04.66
of the image of God."
00:20:04.67\00:20:07.37
From the first intimation
of hope in the sentence
00:20:07.38\00:20:09.47
pronounced in Eden to that
00:20:09.48\00:20:10.55
last glorious
promise of the Revelation,
00:20:10.56\00:20:12.50
that "They shall see His face,
00:20:12.51\00:20:13.71
and His name shall
be in their foreheads,"
00:20:13.72\00:20:15.83
the burden of every book
00:20:15.84\00:20:17.18
and every passage of the Bible
00:20:17.19\00:20:19.48
is the unfolding of
this wondrous theme,
00:20:19.49\00:20:22.68
man's uplifting,
the power of God,
00:20:22.69\00:20:25.64
"which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ."
00:20:25.65\00:20:30.96
Now of course
because of our sin problem,
00:20:30.97\00:20:33.45
that does exist.
00:20:33.46\00:20:36.65
We can't have the
open communion with God,
00:20:36.66\00:20:38.69
that our first parents enjoyed.
00:20:38.70\00:20:41.74
I mean, that promise
that Mrs. White referred to
00:20:41.75\00:20:43.57
in that previous
quotation of Revelation 22
00:20:43.58\00:20:45.78
that we shall see His face.
00:20:45.79\00:20:48.15
Sounds nice until
you counterbalance it
00:20:48.16\00:20:50.01
with God's warning to
Moses back in Exodus 33.
00:20:50.02\00:20:52.81
You cannot see my face,
00:20:52.82\00:20:54.48
for no man shall
see my face and what?
00:20:54.49\00:20:56.39
Live. Live.
00:20:56.40\00:20:59.88
You ever thought about
the tension that creates,
00:20:59.89\00:21:01.59
God's like you're
gonna see my face,
00:21:01.60\00:21:02.97
but if you do, you'll die.
00:21:02.98\00:21:04.36
Is that good news or not?
00:21:08.27\00:21:11.38
How can the God of Exodus
33 be the God of Revelation 22?
00:21:11.39\00:21:15.59
How can we see the face of a God
00:21:15.60\00:21:17.80
who declares that no one
can see his face and live?
00:21:17.81\00:21:24.24
I'm not gonna answer that
question for you right now,
00:21:24.25\00:21:25.97
it'll be later tonight but
I want you to take that idea,
00:21:25.98\00:21:27.98
that
contradiction, that paradox,
00:21:27.99\00:21:30.88
and I want you to place
it on a shelf in your mind.
00:21:30.89\00:21:33.35
Keep it dusted off
00:21:33.36\00:21:34.36
because we're gonna
come back to it, okay.
00:21:34.37\00:21:38.30
But we didn't
have the open communion
00:21:38.31\00:21:39.51
with God anymore after the fall
00:21:39.52\00:21:42.14
the only way we
could see God's glory
00:21:42.15\00:21:44.03
was in the veiled
person of Jesus Christ.
00:21:44.04\00:21:48.36
Hebrews Chapter 1
verses 1 through 3
00:21:48.37\00:21:52.57
describes Jesus as "the
brightness of God's glory,
00:21:52.58\00:21:57.06
and the express
image of his person."
00:21:57.07\00:22:00.69
Colossians
Chapter 2 verse 9 says,
00:22:00.70\00:22:02.63
"that in Christ dwells
00:22:02.64\00:22:03.99
all the fullness of
the Godhead bodily."
00:22:04.00\00:22:07.49
So somehow all the fullness
of the Godhead is in the person
00:22:07.50\00:22:10.65
and that person
is in Jesus Christ.
00:22:10.66\00:22:13.69
Jesus himself in
John Chapter 14 verses 6
00:22:13.70\00:22:16.08
and 7 made it
very plain he said,
00:22:16.09\00:22:18.65
"I am the way, the
truth, and the life,
00:22:18.66\00:22:21.57
no one comes to the father,"
00:22:21.58\00:22:23.18
but what? "By me."
00:22:23.19\00:22:26.35
He goes onto say,
"If you had known me,
00:22:26.36\00:22:29.80
you would have
known my father also,
00:22:29.81\00:22:32.95
and from now on, you
know him, and have seen him."
00:22:32.96\00:22:40.61
Go to the book of
Second Corinthians.
00:22:40.62\00:22:42.92
Second
Corinthians go to Chapter 3,
00:22:42.93\00:22:44.36
Second Corinthians Chapter 3.
00:22:44.37\00:22:47.40
Starting with verse 18.
00:22:52.21\00:22:55.81
The Apostle Paul lays out
an incredible picture for us.
00:22:55.82\00:23:03.12
Starting with verse 18,
Second Corinthians Chapter 3.
00:23:03.13\00:23:07.04
It says, "But we all,
with unveiled face beholding
00:23:07.05\00:23:11.08
as in a mirror the
glory of the Lord are being,"
00:23:11.09\00:23:15.25
what's the word?
"Transformed into the same image
00:23:15.26\00:23:20.74
from glory to glory,
00:23:20.75\00:23:22.94
just as by the
Spirit of the Lord."
00:23:22.95\00:23:27.89
Continuing on, and go
to Chapter 4 verse 16.
00:23:27.90\00:23:32.06
He says, therefore,
"We do not lose heart,
00:23:32.07\00:23:35.68
even though our
outward man is perishing,
00:23:35.69\00:23:37.83
yet the inward man is
being renewed day by day."
00:23:37.84\00:23:43.00
That's the main
thing about this life,
00:23:43.01\00:23:44.38
it's paradoxical.
The longer you live it,
00:23:44.39\00:23:46.72
you're physically, you die.
00:23:46.73\00:23:48.86
You get closer and
closer to death everyday.
00:23:48.87\00:23:50.45
But if you walk
hand in hand with Christ
00:23:50.46\00:23:52.58
you actually get renewed
in your inner man day by day.
00:23:52.59\00:23:56.90
This is what
Paul's talking about,
00:23:56.91\00:23:57.92
"the outward man is perishing,
yet the inward man is being,"
00:23:57.93\00:24:01.71
notice the process language,
not has been or will be,
00:24:01.72\00:24:05.01
but is, "being
renewed day by day."
00:24:05.02\00:24:11.50
Then he goes
onto say in verse 17.
00:24:11.51\00:24:13.81
"For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment,"
00:24:13.82\00:24:17.99
and this is a guy
who's been beating,
00:24:18.00\00:24:20.57
this is a guy
who's been threatened
00:24:20.58\00:24:21.81
with his life,
he's being shipped,
00:24:21.82\00:24:22.97
I mean all kinds of
horrible stuff was happening
00:24:22.98\00:24:25.22
and of course
that light affliction
00:24:25.23\00:24:28.36
in comparison
with the future light.
00:24:28.37\00:24:32.15
"For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment,
00:24:32.16\00:24:35.89
is working for us
a far more exceeding
00:24:35.90\00:24:39.14
and eternal weight of glory.
00:24:39.15\00:24:44.10
While we do not look at
the things which are seen,
00:24:44.11\00:24:46.00
but at the things
which are not seen.
00:24:46.01\00:24:48.36
For the things which
are seen are temporary,
00:24:48.37\00:24:50.13
but the things which
are not seen are eternal."
00:24:50.14\00:24:54.53
By not only accept--accepting
the sacrifice of Christ
00:24:54.54\00:24:57.46
but furthermore by beholding
the character of Christ,
00:24:57.47\00:25:01.46
as witnessed in
His sinless life,
00:25:01.47\00:25:03.18
His sacrificial death,
00:25:03.19\00:25:06.60
His complete victory over
Satan and every temptation
00:25:06.61\00:25:09.58
thrown at Him, we
see the glory of God
00:25:09.59\00:25:12.11
and through the
work of the Holy Spirit
00:25:12.12\00:25:13.75
we become more
and more like Him.
00:25:13.76\00:25:16.60
When Paul writes
that, "By beholding Christ,
00:25:18.22\00:25:21.05
we are being
transformed into the same image
00:25:21.06\00:25:23.85
from glory to
glory, He literally means
00:25:23.86\00:25:26.37
that our character that
inward man is being molded,
00:25:26.38\00:25:29.75
is being refashioned, it's
as if the Lord stooped down
00:25:29.76\00:25:32.40
once again out of the miry clay
00:25:32.41\00:25:34.07
and is reshaping
you into the image
00:25:34.08\00:25:35.91
we were originally
created to reflect.
00:25:35.92\00:25:37.77
Sons and
Daughter of God, page 125.
00:25:41.91\00:25:43.82
The Lord Jesus
came to strengthen
00:25:45.39\00:25:47.55
every earnest seeker for truth,
He came to reveal the Father.
00:25:47.56\00:25:52.82
He allowed nothing
to divert His mind from,
00:25:52.83\00:25:55.22
here's the words
again, the great work
00:25:55.23\00:25:59.22
of restoring the
moral image of God in man.
00:25:59.23\00:26:02.41
And we must see that the
great and important work for us
00:26:02.42\00:26:08.46
is to receive not just
His offer to get us in,
00:26:08.47\00:26:12.12
but the divine likeness,
00:26:12.13\00:26:16.09
to prepare a
character for the future life.
00:26:16.10\00:26:21.76
In Heavenly Places 142 again,
00:26:21.77\00:26:23.57
"We are individually
now testifying to the world
00:26:23.58\00:26:26.05
of the power of
the grace of Christ
00:26:26.06\00:26:28.68
in the transformation
of human character
00:26:28.69\00:26:30.82
from glory to glory,
from character to character."
00:26:30.83\00:26:33.79
Those are her words.
00:26:33.80\00:26:34.80
In fact if you want to
look up in your little CD ROM,
00:26:34.81\00:26:36.76
today people don't use
CD ROM, your app whatever.
00:26:36.77\00:26:41.10
If you want to look up
the phrase glory to gory,
00:26:41.11\00:26:43.30
I just don't have
time to go into it now
00:26:43.31\00:26:44.88
but every single
time Mrs. White employs
00:26:44.89\00:26:47.13
that phrase 'glory
to glory' or she quotes
00:26:47.14\00:26:48.89
Second Corinthians 3
verse 18, she always,
00:26:48.90\00:26:53.23
it's being referenced in
context of developing within us
00:26:53.24\00:26:56.63
the character of Christ.
00:26:56.64\00:26:57.68
In fact, often times
where it says glory to glory,
00:26:57.69\00:27:00.36
she will literally
insert, right next to it,
00:27:00.37\00:27:04.52
in little brackets,
character to character.
00:27:04.53\00:27:08.30
She sees an equivalence
between the glory of God
00:27:08.31\00:27:10.55
and the character of God,
00:27:10.56\00:27:11.56
and that is to be
restored in humanity
00:27:11.57\00:27:14.88
in preparation for the
life we're going to live.
00:27:14.89\00:27:18.78
Then she goes on,
00:27:18.79\00:27:21.27
"In beholding
Christ our pattern,
00:27:21.28\00:27:22.96
who is pure and
holy and undefiled,
00:27:22.97\00:27:25.69
we are being
prepared for the society
00:27:25.70\00:27:27.87
of the heavenly angels."
00:27:27.88\00:27:30.21
Have you ever been to a
party that you didn't fit into?
00:27:30.22\00:27:33.50
I mean you got in,
but once you got in,
00:27:33.51\00:27:35.11
you're like I just do
not belong with these people.
00:27:35.12\00:27:39.20
Either they were
well, I don't know,
00:27:39.21\00:27:41.31
I don't know what the difference
being you and them was,
00:27:41.32\00:27:42.87
but you knew it was there.
00:27:42.88\00:27:45.89
They didn't
have to say anything,
00:27:45.90\00:27:46.90
they didn't have a document,
they didn't have a list,
00:27:46.91\00:27:48.34
you just walked in and you're
like the air here is different.
00:27:48.35\00:27:54.40
Something smells, it looks,
it feels, these are not no, no.
00:27:54.41\00:28:02.20
There's a difference of getting
in and fitting in, notice this.
00:28:02.21\00:28:09.20
She asks this
beautifully rhetorical question,
00:28:09.21\00:28:11.72
it makes so much logical
sense, listen to it carefully.
00:28:11.73\00:28:15.02
"If Christ is to
be our head and Prince
00:28:15.03\00:28:17.62
in the heavenly courts,
it becomes us to inquire,"
00:28:17.63\00:28:22.23
I love her
language. We should ask.
00:28:22.24\00:28:27.79
It makes sense to question this.
00:28:27.80\00:28:30.95
"If Christ is to
be our head and Prince
00:28:30.96\00:28:34.38
in the heavenly court,
it becomes us to inquire,
00:28:34.39\00:28:37.90
what is Christ to us now?"
00:28:37.91\00:28:42.20
Have you ever
thought about that?
00:28:42.21\00:28:45.13
People who aren't
serving God at all
00:28:45.14\00:28:46.92
somehow fully
expect to serve Him
00:28:46.93\00:28:48.75
with joy in the heavenly courts.
00:28:48.76\00:28:51.62
It's like if you
have the audacity to think
00:28:51.63\00:28:53.02
that you're gonna get in,
00:28:53.03\00:28:54.14
would you fit in
even if He lets you.
00:28:54.15\00:28:59.18
If you're not into Him now
00:28:59.19\00:29:00.54
what makes you
think your affections
00:29:00.55\00:29:01.83
are gonna change on the way up.
00:29:01.84\00:29:03.90
The character that
will be ours for eternity
00:29:07.84\00:29:10.14
will not be given
at the second coming.
00:29:10.15\00:29:13.04
It will be developed right here
00:29:13.05\00:29:14.89
in the life you're
right now living this moment.
00:29:14.90\00:29:18.14
Romans Chapter 8.
00:29:21.15\00:29:24.65
Romans Chapter 8
Paul again comes back
00:29:24.66\00:29:26.57
to this idea, this theme
00:29:26.58\00:29:28.82
of the transformation in Christ.
00:29:28.83\00:29:30.16
Romans Chapter 8.
00:29:30.17\00:29:33.57
Again notice the
very similar language
00:29:33.58\00:29:35.26
to Second Corinthians Chapter 4.
00:29:35.27\00:29:36.76
This time Romans Chapter
8 starting with verse 18.
00:29:36.77\00:29:40.64
He says, for I consider,
and I love how he considers,
00:29:40.65\00:29:43.22
"I consider
this, I think about it,
00:29:43.23\00:29:44.92
I've thought about it, and
I've come to the conclusion
00:29:44.93\00:29:47.29
I consider -- he's
not shooting from the hip,
00:29:47.30\00:29:50.68
Paul's a thinker.
00:29:50.69\00:29:51.98
I consider that the sufferings
00:29:52.78\00:29:56.16
of this present time are
not worthy to be compared
00:29:56.17\00:30:02.61
with the glory
which shall be revealed
00:30:02.62\00:30:05.80
"Where?, "In us."
00:30:05.81\00:30:10.71
But I thought that the glory
00:30:10.72\00:30:11.69
we're waiting for was
on the Eastern sky with
00:30:11.70\00:30:13.48
you know, the
size of the man's hand
00:30:13.49\00:30:14.61
and it's gonna
get bigger and bigger,
00:30:14.62\00:30:15.79
that's the glory
we're waiting for, right?
00:30:15.80\00:30:19.90
He says, slow down.
00:30:19.91\00:30:20.88
It's like the
sufferings we're going through
00:30:20.89\00:30:21.86
in this present life
aren't anything compared
00:30:21.87\00:30:23.10
to the glory which
shall be revealed in us.
00:30:23.11\00:30:26.76
Look at the next verse 19,
"For the earnest expectation
00:30:26.77\00:30:31.43
of the creation eagerly
waits for the revealing"
00:30:31.44\00:30:34.71
and you were expected
to say of the son of God.
00:30:34.72\00:30:39.64
What's your Bible say?
00:30:39.65\00:30:41.71
Sons, small 's', plural.
00:30:41.72\00:30:47.04
The Sons of God. Is it possible
00:30:47.05\00:30:52.14
that the creation is
waiting not for the Son of God
00:30:52.15\00:30:56.14
but the Sons of God to
reveal the glory of God in us?
00:30:56.15\00:31:01.70
You know, I'll
make a shameless plug,
00:31:06.91\00:31:08.66
there's a fantastic sermon,
00:31:08.67\00:31:09.94
there's a lot of fantastic
sermons on audio verse.
00:31:09.95\00:31:12.09
But one in particularly
called the long campaign
00:31:12.10\00:31:14.39
and the speaker talks about how
00:31:14.40\00:31:16.11
if you notice Christ didn't
just destroy Satan immediately
00:31:16.12\00:31:20.73
As soon as
rebelled, he didn't just cast
00:31:20.74\00:31:22.13
the casting out of the
devil wasn't like straight
00:31:22.14\00:31:24.02
from the courts of
heaven down to the grave.
00:31:24.03\00:31:27.08
It wasn't one
shot to the bottom.
00:31:27.09\00:31:30.08
It was actually more like
a slinky on the staircase.
00:31:30.09\00:31:32.81
Right?
00:31:32.82\00:31:34.87
Like my arm can't do
that but you get the gist,
00:31:34.88\00:31:36.43
you played with a slinky.
00:31:36.44\00:31:38.88
It goes from one step to
00:31:38.89\00:31:39.89
in fact, there's four
stages of Satan's fall.
00:31:39.90\00:31:41.62
In the very fast
stage, when he was originally
00:31:41.63\00:31:43.38
cast out of the
kingdom of heaven,
00:31:43.39\00:31:45.04
God recognized and
rejected his rebellion,
00:31:45.05\00:31:48.07
'cause God know
everything. He sees the heart.
00:31:48.08\00:31:49.68
He's like I know
what you're doing, out
00:31:49.69\00:31:52.81
I'm not listening,
I'm not playing along.
00:31:52.82\00:31:54.31
You have no
sympathy here, you're done.
00:31:54.32\00:31:57.21
But He doesn't destroy
Him, because apparently
00:31:57.22\00:31:59.95
the rest of the created beings
had not stood the contrast
00:31:59.96\00:32:02.63
between the character of Christ
and the character of Satan,
00:32:02.64\00:32:06.14
but that all
changed at the cross.
00:32:06.15\00:32:09.94
The fury that was
within the violence
00:32:09.95\00:32:11.83
that Isaiah and
Ezekiel talk about being within
00:32:11.84\00:32:14.28
was unleashed upon
the sinless Savior.
00:32:14.29\00:32:19.10
In one climactic moment,
00:32:19.11\00:32:20.35
the entire
universe saw the difference,
00:32:20.36\00:32:22.34
at least the unfallen universe
who can watch from 40,000 feet
00:32:22.35\00:32:26.72
Saw the difference
between the character of Christ
00:32:26.73\00:32:28.53
who would give everything
and the contrast between that
00:32:28.54\00:32:32.04
and the character of
Satan, who would take everything
00:32:32.05\00:32:33.85
even the life of
God if it was possible.
00:32:33.86\00:32:37.52
Mrs. White says, "in that moment
00:32:37.53\00:32:38.89
when Jesus died on the
cross in a victorious sacrifice"
00:32:38.90\00:32:43.22
her words are, "the
last links of sympathy
00:32:43.23\00:32:45.69
between Satan and the
heavenly world were broken."
00:32:45.70\00:32:49.60
It's like there were people
still waiting in the balance,
00:32:49.61\00:32:51.49
yeah, we're
gonna be loyal to God
00:32:51.50\00:32:52.70
but at least let's hear Him out.
00:32:52.71\00:32:56.55
But when they saw the
cross, they said no more.
00:32:56.56\00:33:00.70
She goes on to say, henceforth
his work was restricted.
00:33:00.71\00:33:04.38
Whatever
attitude he might assume,
00:33:04.39\00:33:05.87
he could no
longer await the angels
00:33:05.88\00:33:07.41
as they came from
the heavenly courts.
00:33:07.42\00:33:10.91
They were done with him.
00:33:10.92\00:33:13.75
And, you know, and finally,
00:33:13.76\00:33:14.82
that step one is
God kicking him out;
00:33:14.83\00:33:16.98
step two, he was cast out
00:33:16.99\00:33:18.75
of the sympathies of the
unfallen heavenly beings.
00:33:18.76\00:33:21.64
I'm gonna leap over step three
00:33:21.65\00:33:22.78
and go to step four,
00:33:22.79\00:33:26.90
you get the picture.
00:33:26.91\00:33:29.94
In the final analysis of
the close of the millennium.
00:33:29.95\00:33:33.80
When the wicked are resurrected
00:33:33.81\00:33:37.25
to face the final judgment
and execution of judgment,
00:33:37.26\00:33:40.94
in that moment they will
too will see the contract
00:33:40.95\00:33:43.35
between the character
of Christ and the character
00:33:43.36\00:33:45.24
they have developed
through the deceptions of Satan.
00:33:45.25\00:33:48.27
And not out of
love and not out of joy,
00:33:48.28\00:33:49.84
not out of
repentance but they will say,
00:33:49.85\00:33:51.49
they will acknowledge
that Jesus Christ is Lord
00:33:51.50\00:33:54.66
to the glory of God the Father.
00:33:54.67\00:33:57.28
So if God recognized and
rejected the rebellion of Satan
00:33:57.29\00:34:00.40
and the rest of
the universe recognizes
00:34:00.41\00:34:02.03
and rejects the
rebellion of Satan,
00:34:02.04\00:34:03.49
and some day even
the wicked will recognize
00:34:03.50\00:34:06.73
the rebellion of
Satan for what it is,
00:34:06.74\00:34:08.84
and acknowledge that
Jesus Christ is Lord.
00:34:08.85\00:34:10.40
The question is, what
will the people who now
00:34:10.41\00:34:13.10
who claim to be Christ's
do with that same Christ.
00:34:13.11\00:34:18.15
Will they allow
Christ to make them heavenly?
00:34:18.16\00:34:23.93
This is stage
three. Will those who claim
00:34:23.94\00:34:27.03
the name of Christ live
lives of Christ likeness?
00:34:27.04\00:34:33.96
I believe it is
for the revealing
00:34:33.97\00:34:35.38
of these sons of God
00:34:35.39\00:34:37.41
that the
creation eagerly awaits.
00:34:37.42\00:34:41.04
Let's continue,= Romans
Chapter 8, go to verse 20,
00:34:41.05\00:34:44.84
"For the creation was subjected
00:34:44.85\00:34:46.13
to futility, not willingly,
00:34:46.14\00:34:47.51
but because of Him
who subjected it in hope.
00:34:47.52\00:34:50.29
"So he bound this creation
under the groaning pain,
00:34:50.30\00:34:53.04
not just to make
it suffer for a while,
00:34:53.05\00:34:54.57
but there's good news at
the end of it, there's hope.
00:34:54.58\00:34:57.69
Verse 21, "Because
the creation itself
00:34:57.70\00:34:59.92
also will be delivered
from the bondage of corruption
00:34:59.93\00:35:02.35
into the glorious
liberty of the children of God.
00:35:02.36\00:35:05.35
For we know that the
whole creation groans
00:35:05.36\00:35:07.88
and labors with birth
pains together until now.
00:35:07.89\00:35:11.68
Not only that, but we also
00:35:11.69\00:35:14.24
who have the first
fruits of the Spirit,
00:35:14.25\00:35:18.30
even we ourselves
groan within ourselves,
00:35:18.31\00:35:20.73
eagerly awaiting
for the adoption,
00:35:20.74\00:35:23.35
the redemption of
our "What the word?
00:35:23.36\00:35:26.08
"Body."
00:35:26.09\00:35:28.81
The redemption of our body.
00:35:28.82\00:35:32.76
Apparently what
we're going to get
00:35:32.77\00:35:33.74
at the second
coming is a new body,
00:35:33.75\00:35:36.07
not a new character.
00:35:36.08\00:35:41.72
Let me, let Mrs.
White help me out here.
00:35:41.73\00:35:44.21
Christ's Object Lessons 3:31.
00:35:44.22\00:35:47.28
"A character formed according
to the divine lightness
00:35:47.29\00:35:49.86
is the only
treasure that we can take
00:35:49.87\00:35:51.80
from this world to the next."
You ever think about that,
00:35:51.81\00:35:57.30
when Jesus Christ
comes in all of His glory,
00:35:57.31\00:35:59.43
will you be ready
to step seamlessly
00:35:59.44\00:36:01.21
from this world to the next?
00:36:01.22\00:36:06.10
Even more plainly,
I can't think of how
00:36:06.11\00:36:08.35
you could write
it anymore plainly,
00:36:08.36\00:36:09.73
verse, Our High
Calling, page 278,
00:36:09.74\00:36:12.76
"When Christ shall
come, our vile bodies
00:36:12.77\00:36:15.14
are to be
changed," Praise the Lord,
00:36:15.15\00:36:17.64
"and made like His glorious body
00:36:17.65\00:36:20.53
but the vile character
will not be made holy then.
00:36:20.54\00:36:27.59
The transformation of character
00:36:27.60\00:36:29.92
must take place
before His coming."
00:36:29.93\00:36:34.25
Friends, there is
a difference between
00:36:37.81\00:36:38.94
simply a
transaction that gets you in
00:36:38.95\00:36:40.56
and a
transformation that fits you in.
00:36:40.57\00:36:44.31
We need a higher picture
of the plan of salvation.
00:36:44.32\00:36:47.79
Basically, the change,
00:36:47.80\00:36:48.95
the glorification
that we're promised
00:36:48.96\00:36:50.25
that will take
place when Christ returns
00:36:50.26\00:36:52.05
is merely the
reception of a glorious body
00:36:52.06\00:36:54.91
that will correspond
harmoniously with the glorious
00:36:54.92\00:36:57.22
character we have formed through
Christ dwelling within us.
00:36:57.23\00:37:02.60
Philippines, Chapter 3,
00:37:02.61\00:37:04.08
again Paul comes
back to the same theme.
00:37:04.09\00:37:07.02
Philippines Chapter 3,
starting with verse 20,
00:37:07.03\00:37:11.73
Scripture reads "For our
citizenship is in," Where?
00:37:15.07\00:37:20.24
I must wait for you
to catch up. I'm sorry.
00:37:20.25\00:37:23.27
"For our citizenship is where?
00:37:23.28\00:37:25.99
In heaven.
00:37:26.00\00:37:27.79
Notice, it doesn't say,
00:37:27.80\00:37:29.41
our citizenship
will be in heaven.
00:37:29.42\00:37:32.11
Our citizenship is in heaven
00:37:32.12\00:37:34.92
right now, today if
we claim to be Christ's.
00:37:34.93\00:37:39.66
Now she says, now he said,
00:37:39.67\00:37:41.14
"From which" speaking of heaven
00:37:41.15\00:37:43.70
"we also eagerly
wait for the Savior,
00:37:43.71\00:37:49.95
the Lord Jesus
Christ," verse 21,
00:37:49.96\00:37:53.02
"Who will transform our lowly,"
00:37:53.03\00:37:55.52
What? "Body,
00:37:55.53\00:37:58.05
that it may be
conformed to his glorious body,
00:37:58.06\00:38:02.31
according to the
working by which He is able
00:38:02.32\00:38:05.18
even to subdue all
things to himself."
00:38:05.19\00:38:08.43
I love this
statement. "For those who
00:38:13.22\00:38:16.16
take no pleasure in thinking
and talking of God in this life
00:38:16.17\00:38:20.81
will not enjoy the
life that is to come
00:38:20.82\00:38:23.43
where God is ever present,
dwelling among his people."
00:38:23.44\00:38:27.13
Have you ever
thought about that?
00:38:27.14\00:38:28.44
If somebody has
rhetorically asked you,
00:38:28.45\00:38:29.79
"Would Jesus
enjoy what you're doing?
00:38:29.80\00:38:32.26
Could you do what you're doing
00:38:32.27\00:38:33.30
with God sitting
right next to you?"
00:38:33.31\00:38:35.01
And a lot of times, you're like,
00:38:35.02\00:38:36.45
ah, I hate that question.
00:38:36.46\00:38:39.12
But it has some validity. Right?
00:38:39.13\00:38:41.73
I mean, we're gonna
dwell with Him forever.
00:38:41.74\00:38:47.29
Those who take no pleasure
in thinking of talking of God
00:38:47.30\00:38:49.89
in this life, will not enjoy
the life that is soon to come,
00:38:49.90\00:38:52.58
where God is ever present
dwelling among His people.
00:38:52.59\00:38:54.89
But those who love to think of
God, will be in their element.
00:38:54.90\00:38:59.35
They're gonna walk in
the room, they're like,
00:38:59.36\00:39:00.70
ah, this is my place.
00:39:00.71\00:39:03.92
Breathing in the
atmosphere of heaven is like,
00:39:03.93\00:39:06.85
oh, this even smells like home.
00:39:06.86\00:39:10.59
This is good.
00:39:10.60\00:39:14.73
Those who on earth
love the thought of heaven
00:39:14.74\00:39:17.53
will be happy in its holy
associations and pleasures.
00:39:17.54\00:39:21.48
Then she quotes,
Revelation 22 again,
00:39:21.49\00:39:23.93
"They shall see His face
00:39:23.94\00:39:25.81
and His name shall
be in their foreheads."
00:39:25.82\00:39:27.26
As my friend David
Asscherick likes to say,
00:39:27.27\00:39:28.90
"God is going to
take everyone to heaven,
00:39:28.91\00:39:34.92
who would be happy there."
00:39:34.93\00:39:41.50
The question is, is not God
00:39:41.51\00:39:42.68
going to get you into heaven.
00:39:42.69\00:39:43.66
The question is, do you actually
00:39:43.67\00:39:44.91
want to fit into heaven or not?
00:39:44.92\00:39:47.78
Do you really even want to go?
00:39:47.79\00:39:49.44
Why is character
such a, why did God
00:39:56.00\00:39:57.90
put such a premium on character?
00:39:57.91\00:40:00.80
Why is it such
a big deal to Him?
00:40:00.81\00:40:03.40
Wants to take that idea
off the back of the shelf,
00:40:03.41\00:40:05.11
Exodus 33,
Revelation 22 paradox.
00:40:05.12\00:40:08.82
The God who invite
you to see His face,
00:40:08.83\00:40:10.31
but then says, if you
see my face you'll die.
00:40:10.32\00:40:14.04
How will this be resolved?
I think we find an answer
00:40:14.05\00:40:17.37
in First John
Chapter 2 and Verse 28,
00:40:17.38\00:40:22.81
"And now little
children, three critical words,
00:40:22.82\00:40:26.17
as we plea, fill me,
00:40:26.18\00:40:27.66
our earnest plea,
and now little children
00:40:27.67\00:40:31.31
abide in him," why?
"That when he appears,"
00:40:31.32\00:40:37.90
a reference to
the second coming,
00:40:37.91\00:40:40.19
"we may have confidence
and not be ashamed before Him
00:40:40.20\00:40:46.26
at His coming." How we can
see the face of a Holy God?
00:40:46.27\00:40:51.87
It's by allowing that
same God to make us holy
00:40:51.88\00:40:55.55
before He returns.
First John Chapter 3,
00:40:55.56\00:40:59.42
go one chapter over.
First John Chapter 3,
00:40:59.43\00:41:05.72
"Beloved, now we
are children of God,"
00:41:05.73\00:41:08.13
present tense, just like
our citizenship is in heaven,
00:41:08.14\00:41:11.19
now we are children of God,
00:41:11.20\00:41:14.24
and it has not yet been
revealed what we shall be"
00:41:14.25\00:41:17.80
So apparently, now
you can be a child of God
00:41:17.81\00:41:19.37
and there still be
growth in the future.
00:41:19.38\00:41:22.46
I'm not preaching
instant sanctification here.
00:41:22.47\00:41:25.68
I'm just saying that
God has a higher ideal
00:41:25.69\00:41:27.49
than simply getting you
and putting you in heaven.
00:41:27.50\00:41:31.14
He wants to make
you heavenly first.
00:41:31.15\00:41:35.83
Now we are the children of God
00:41:35.84\00:41:37.25
and it has not yet been
revealed what we shall be,
00:41:37.26\00:41:39.27
but we know. He's like
00:41:39.28\00:41:41.52
I don't know exactly what
it looks like but we know this
00:41:41.53\00:41:45.14
but we know that when
00:41:45.15\00:41:47.48
He is revealed we
shall be like Him.
00:41:47.49\00:41:53.25
Not we shall be made
like Him or transform like Him
00:41:53.26\00:41:56.34
or changed into being
like Him, we shall be like Him.
00:41:56.35\00:41:58.91
Well, how do we know it?
For we shall, what to say?
00:41:58.92\00:42:04.42
See Him as He is. You
know when Jesus comes back
00:42:04.43\00:42:09.67
He's not going to be
just the veiled, glory,
00:42:09.68\00:42:14.86
no beauty, or cleanliness that
we might be attracted to Him.
00:42:14.87\00:42:17.33
No, no, no, no, no.
00:42:17.34\00:42:19.20
You know, how every now and then
00:42:19.21\00:42:20.38
Mrs. White talks about divinity
flashing through humanity
00:42:20.39\00:42:22.59
like little pieces
of it shooting at...
00:42:22.60\00:42:25.77
no, no, no, no, no.
00:42:25.78\00:42:27.63
When Jesus comes back,
He's coming in all of His glory.
00:42:27.64\00:42:32.14
He's going to
burst through the sky.
00:42:32.15\00:42:36.83
This is as close as I can
come to reenacting it for you,
00:42:36.84\00:42:38.96
okay, but...
00:42:38.97\00:42:41.38
but He's not going to hide,
He's not going to be veiled,
00:42:41.39\00:42:42.98
He's like, here I am.
00:42:42.99\00:42:46.49
Are you ready to look at me yet?
00:42:46.50\00:42:50.17
Can you even look at me?
00:42:50.18\00:42:56.59
gospel writers says, we
are gonna be just like Him
00:42:56.60\00:42:58.74
because I know we're
going to get to see Him,
00:42:58.75\00:43:00.67
and the implication is and live.
00:43:00.68\00:43:04.04
Plenty of
people are going to see
00:43:05.58\00:43:06.69
Jesus come back and not live.
00:43:06.70\00:43:08.75
Do you see the difference?
00:43:08.76\00:43:15.41
Jesus Himself said it
in the most sublime way.
00:43:15.42\00:43:17.08
Matthew Chapter 5, verse 8,
00:43:17.09\00:43:18.51
"Blessed are the pure in heart"
00:43:18.52\00:43:20.60
why? "For they shall see God."
00:43:20.61\00:43:25.79
And again the implication is
00:43:25.80\00:43:28.27
and not die from it.
00:43:28.28\00:43:33.91
That's the
blessing, not a curse.
00:43:33.92\00:43:38.32
They shall see God.
So reason number one,
00:43:38.33\00:43:40.05
like character
development is so crucial,
00:43:40.06\00:43:41.84
because it actually gets
you through the second coming.
00:43:41.85\00:43:45.50
It prepares you
to meet a Holy God
00:43:45.51\00:43:47.18
and live in a holy place,
00:43:47.19\00:43:49.19
in the society of holy
beings. Does that make sense?
00:43:49.20\00:43:51.35
Yes or no? as
Seventh-day Adventists,
00:43:51.36\00:43:54.36
we have a greater
understanding of end time events
00:43:54.37\00:43:56.38
than do any other
people on the planet.
00:43:56.39\00:43:59.62
When we present the
themes of Daniel and Revelation
00:43:59.63\00:44:03.19
and time prophecy
and then we just oppose
00:44:03.20\00:44:05.74
that against the snap
shot of current world events.
00:44:05.75\00:44:07.90
It makes a pretty air tight case
00:44:07.91\00:44:09.68
that Jesus is
infact coming soon, Amen.
00:44:09.69\00:44:12.01
That's a powerful message,
it's an alarming messages,
00:44:14.60\00:44:18.17
it's a stirring
message, it's a needed message.
00:44:18.18\00:44:22.55
But if that's all we say
is that Jesus is coming soon,
00:44:22.56\00:44:27.70
that's not necessarily good news
00:44:27.71\00:44:29.21
for those who
don't like Jesus yet.
00:44:29.22\00:44:35.61
That can't be the
entirety of our message.
00:44:35.62\00:44:38.69
In his recent book
"Adventism's Greatest Need,"
00:44:38.70\00:44:41.61
Pastor Ron Clouzet
writes that Christ is far more
00:44:41.62\00:44:44.56
interested in our
fitness for His return
00:44:44.57\00:44:47.35
than we should be in
the timing of His return.
00:44:47.36\00:44:53.51
He tells us, He's coming soon,
00:44:53.52\00:44:54.75
not so that we can
know the day or hour,
00:44:54.76\00:44:56.45
so that we can be prepared to
go from this world to the next.
00:44:56.46\00:45:00.49
You know, when the term
Adventist was originally invoked
00:45:00.64\00:45:02.72
by our pioneers,
it wasn't because
00:45:02.73\00:45:04.11
they expected be the people
who live to the second coming.
00:45:04.12\00:45:07.36
They wanted to be the people who
live through the second coming,
00:45:07.37\00:45:11.49
and that's a big difference.
00:45:11.50\00:45:14.03
The earth will be
literally filled with people
00:45:14.04\00:45:16.27
who have lived to
the second coming.
00:45:16.28\00:45:18.35
But how many will survive?
00:45:18.36\00:45:20.22
I mean, I wholeheartedly
endorse and I embrace,
00:45:21.61\00:45:24.41
and I support
00:45:24.42\00:45:27.72
the idea the GYC has said
that we will see Jesus return,
00:45:27.73\00:45:30.63
and I believe it in my bones
00:45:30.64\00:45:32.10
that we will see
Jesus in our lifetime.
00:45:32.11\00:45:35.19
Amen.
00:45:35.20\00:45:36.68
But friends, living
to the second coming
00:45:36.69\00:45:39.16
has no inherent value.
00:45:39.17\00:45:41.23
The question is, will you
still be alive after He returns?
00:45:43.40\00:45:48.20
Or we just a bunch of
the coincidental people
00:45:48.21\00:45:50.03
who happen to be here at
this time in earth history.
00:45:50.04\00:45:52.59
There is a
difference between living to it
00:45:53.61\00:45:55.81
and living through it.
00:45:55.82\00:45:58.02
That's reason number one
00:45:58.03\00:45:59.48
why character
development is so important,
00:45:59.49\00:46:01.14
but did you know,
00:46:01.15\00:46:02.22
and this goes back to we need to
present a greater controversy.
00:46:02.23\00:46:04.84
There is more involved
in the great controversy
00:46:04.85\00:46:07.06
than simply saving you.
00:46:07.07\00:46:10.14
And I know, to
you that's a big deal,
00:46:10.15\00:46:11.88
'cause you're all the
you that you've got. Right?
00:46:11.89\00:46:15.65
Getting you to heaven
is big to you and I agree,
00:46:15.66\00:46:18.28
that should be a motivation.
00:46:18.29\00:46:19.43
You need to get ready
'cause Jesus is coming.
00:46:19.44\00:46:21.00
I'm fine with that.
But did you know that
00:46:21.01\00:46:22.68
there is more involved
in the great controversy
00:46:22.69\00:46:24.43
than simply saving you.
00:46:24.44\00:46:26.92
And I'm not even
talking about simply saving
00:46:26.93\00:46:28.46
other fallen
people on this planet.
00:46:28.47\00:46:31.83
And you're like, wait a
minute, there's fallen people
00:46:31.84\00:46:33.67
on other planet.
00:46:33.68\00:46:35.59
That's not what
I'm saying either.
00:46:35.60\00:46:37.32
But the plan of redemption, what
Jesus worked out on the cross,
00:46:39.54\00:46:43.84
His shed blood
00:46:43.85\00:46:45.17
does more than simply get
fallen people into heaven.
00:46:45.18\00:46:49.08
It actually
restores the universe,
00:46:49.09\00:46:52.15
and makes it
secure for eternity.
00:46:52.16\00:46:54.80
Amen. Amen.
00:46:54.81\00:46:56.38
There is more to
the plan of redemption
00:46:56.39\00:46:57.80
than simply saving lost people.
00:46:57.81\00:46:59.40
It's actually
recreating the entire universe
00:46:59.41\00:47:02.44
into the image and glory of God.
00:47:02.45\00:47:04.84
Let me, let me
explain this to you.
00:47:05.91\00:47:08.86
In Nahum Chapter 1 Verse 9,
God makes a very big promise.
00:47:08.87\00:47:13.08
I'd say, it's His
biggest promise ever,
00:47:13.09\00:47:14.96
and He's made some big promises
00:47:14.97\00:47:16.50
like I go to
prepare a place for you
00:47:16.51\00:47:18.48
and I'm going to
come back and get you.
00:47:18.49\00:47:19.74
Those are big promises.
00:47:19.75\00:47:21.71
But Nahum Chapter 1
Verse 9, listen to the words,
00:47:21.72\00:47:25.62
"What do you
imagine against the Lord?
00:47:25.63\00:47:28.16
He will make an utter end,
00:47:28.17\00:47:29.80
affliction will not
rise up the second time."
00:47:29.81\00:47:34.36
Once evil has run its course
00:47:34.37\00:47:35.92
and the great
controversy is ended,
00:47:35.93\00:47:37.48
there will not be
another controversy.
00:47:37.49\00:47:40.34
Amen.
00:47:40.35\00:47:41.58
So how can you wrap
your minds around it?
00:47:41.59\00:47:43.19
How can there be a God
00:47:43.20\00:47:45.53
who creates
freewill, free moral agents,
00:47:45.54\00:47:49.80
who can chose to do
whatever they feel like doing,
00:47:49.81\00:47:53.25
and yet that
same God can guarantee
00:47:53.26\00:47:56.94
that sin will never rise again.
00:47:56.95\00:47:59.61
How can that be possible
00:48:01.68\00:48:03.33
outside of the development
of the character of Christ
00:48:03.34\00:48:08.60
and each citizen of heaven?
00:48:08.61\00:48:11.40
Notice this, Sermons and
Talks, Volume 2, page 294,
00:48:11.41\00:48:15.00
"Without perfection of character
00:48:15.01\00:48:16.33
no one can enter the
pearly gates of the city of God.
00:48:16.34\00:48:18.80
For if with all
our imperfections,
00:48:18.81\00:48:20.36
we were permitted
to enter that city,
00:48:20.37\00:48:21.89
there would soon be in
heaven a second rebellion.
00:48:21.90\00:48:25.09
We must be tried and chosen
and found faithful and true
00:48:25.10\00:48:28.89
upon the purification of our
character rests our only hope
00:48:28.90\00:48:33.81
of eternal life.
00:48:33.82\00:48:37.02
Now that's not to say
that the Christ like character
00:48:37.03\00:48:39.94
causes us to be saved.
00:48:39.95\00:48:42.75
Only the blood of
Jesus saves sinners.
00:48:42.76\00:48:45.52
Are we agreed? Amen.
00:48:45.53\00:48:48.71
But a Christ like
character is the only guarantee
00:48:48.72\00:48:52.24
that we will never
chose to rebel again.
00:48:52.25\00:48:56.46
Think about it, there is a
lot riding on your character.
00:48:56.47\00:48:59.21
Gabriel wants you to be
there for the right reasons.
00:48:59.22\00:49:04.04
When Jesus was
executed on the cross
00:49:04.05\00:49:06.06
at the cruel hands of Satan,
00:49:06.07\00:49:08.11
Gabriel said to
Christ, sanctify imagination.
00:49:08.12\00:49:11.06
He was my friend that Lucifer,
00:49:13.45\00:49:16.46
and I really wanted to
see what he is all about.
00:49:16.47\00:49:20.09
But now I know
his true character.
00:49:20.10\00:49:21.78
He's a murderer.
He deserves to die.
00:49:21.79\00:49:24.52
Lord, the plan of
execution can go forward."
00:49:24.53\00:49:29.76
But then Jesus
turned to him and said,
00:49:29.77\00:49:31.38
that's great, thank you,
00:49:31.39\00:49:32.83
but I want to bring
some of them back here.
00:49:32.84\00:49:38.90
You see my plan is not
just the plan of execution,
00:49:38.91\00:49:41.06
my plan is the
plan of redemption.
00:49:41.07\00:49:44.57
I don't want to just end sin.
00:49:44.58\00:49:45.79
I want to actually save sinners,
00:49:45.80\00:49:47.94
and I'm going to make
them your neighbor, Gabriel.
00:49:47.95\00:49:51.61
I'm going to
take Kameron DeVasher
00:49:51.62\00:49:53.60
and put him in the
palace right next door to you.
00:49:53.61\00:49:58.72
And Gabriel is like, slow down.
00:49:58.73\00:50:01.89
You know, we keep a record here
00:50:07.98\00:50:11.40
and new, uh, uh, no.
00:50:11.41\00:50:16.99
Lord, I appreciate
that you want to get him in,
00:50:17.00\00:50:18.47
but he doesn't fit.
00:50:18.48\00:50:20.66
And Christ's
like, yeah, but he will.
00:50:23.29\00:50:26.11
Let me do some work in him.
00:50:26.12\00:50:29.19
He sents out the Holy Spirit.
00:50:29.20\00:50:33.35
Have you ever noticed that...
00:50:33.36\00:50:34.47
I'm sorry, we
haven't really talked
00:50:34.48\00:50:35.54
about the Holy Spirit
yet, and some of you are like,
00:50:35.55\00:50:37.23
there's a big sign,
00:50:37.24\00:50:38.28
it's talking about the
Holy Spirit right here.
00:50:38.29\00:50:42.12
You know, I came to GYC.
00:50:42.13\00:50:43.15
I wanted to learn
how to preach better.
00:50:43.16\00:50:45.22
That's the Holy Spirit.
I wanted to learn how to...
00:50:45.23\00:50:47.59
you know, I'm tired of
just finding my car keys.
00:50:47.60\00:50:49.80
I want to speak
in tongues, you know.
00:50:49.81\00:50:53.29
I want to raise the dead,
I want to be a missionary,
00:50:53.30\00:50:55.71
I want to do
something real for Christ,
00:50:55.72\00:50:57.24
I want to see the church of God,
00:50:57.25\00:50:58.56
God's remnant people galvanized
into an organism for evangelism
00:50:58.57\00:51:03.83
like an army with banners.
00:51:03.84\00:51:05.94
That's why I came to GYC,
00:51:05.95\00:51:07.16
but all you're doing is
talking about the second coming.
00:51:07.17\00:51:09.77
You might have
a false conception
00:51:12.53\00:51:15.03
of what the work of the
Holy Spirit actually is.
00:51:15.04\00:51:18.46
All those
things are good things,
00:51:18.47\00:51:19.99
they're great things,
they're necessary things,
00:51:20.00\00:51:21.83
they will be given
their promises of God
00:51:21.84\00:51:25.55
but they're secondary.
00:51:25.56\00:51:26.68
The primary
function of the Holy Spirit
00:51:26.69\00:51:29.43
is not to make you more powerful
00:51:29.44\00:51:32.07
but to make you
more Christ like.
00:51:32.08\00:51:34.70
Amen.
00:51:34.71\00:51:35.79
Do you see the difference?
00:51:35.80\00:51:39.43
The primary role
of the Holy Spirit
00:51:39.44\00:51:42.21
is to work in you to
make you more like Jesus.
00:51:42.22\00:51:46.73
Please don't, I've raised
all the money to get here,
00:51:46.74\00:51:50.52
travel hours in stuffy buses
00:51:50.53\00:51:52.42
and come all the way to
Houston over Christmas break,
00:51:52.43\00:51:54.91
just to become
informed about the Holy Spirit.
00:51:54.92\00:51:59.88
Make a commitment to God by
His grace and indwelling power,
00:51:59.89\00:52:03.92
you will be
transformed by the Holy Spirit
00:52:03.93\00:52:06.97
into a heavenly being
who is comfortable in heaven.
00:52:06.98\00:52:10.33
Amen.
00:52:10.34\00:52:13.52
In the Book Education, everybody
knows this famous quote,
00:52:13.53\00:52:16.52
"Higher than the highest human
thought can reach is, what?
00:52:16.53\00:52:18.73
God's ideal for His children
00:52:18.74\00:52:20.29
All right. Three
people knew that quote.
00:52:20.30\00:52:22.98
Higher than the highest human
thought can reach is, what?
00:52:22.99\00:52:26.10
God's ideal for His children.
00:52:26.11\00:52:28.83
We all know that sentence but
do you know that next sentence.
00:52:28.84\00:52:32.08
Godliness, Christ likeness,
00:52:32.09\00:52:35.01
God likeness is
the goal to be reached.
00:52:35.02\00:52:40.87
You know, the natural
inclination of sinful fallen man
00:52:40.88\00:52:43.16
to the revelation of
the glory of God is to hide.
00:52:43.17\00:52:47.21
This is what happened when Adam
and Eve were confronted by God
00:52:47.22\00:52:50.32
who was walking in the
garden in the cool of the day.
00:52:50.33\00:52:52.76
We were afraid and we hid.
00:52:52.77\00:52:55.98
Thus what happened to
Moses at the burning bush
00:52:55.99\00:52:57.61
before he was the
new man in Christ?
00:52:57.62\00:53:00.80
He was afraid to look upon God.
00:53:00.81\00:53:04.29
And in the book of Revelation,
00:53:04.30\00:53:05.48
we read the reaction of
those who are unprepared too,
00:53:05.49\00:53:08.13
who happen to be
living to the second coming
00:53:08.14\00:53:09.88
but are not
prepared to go through it.
00:53:09.89\00:53:12.56
Revelation Chapter 6 verse 16,
00:53:12.57\00:53:15.96
"They say to the
mountains and rocks,
00:53:15.97\00:53:17.87
Fall on us, and hide
us from the face of him
00:53:17.88\00:53:20.69
who sits on the throne,
and from the wrath of the Lamb,
00:53:20.70\00:53:23.89
for the great day
of his wrath is come,
00:53:23.90\00:53:25.44
and who is able to stand?"
00:53:25.45\00:53:26.56
And notice, they're
not afraid of the sickle
00:53:26.57\00:53:28.37
or the sword or the power
00:53:28.38\00:53:30.35
or the might,
they're afraid of His face.
00:53:30.36\00:53:32.92
I wanna close tonight with
00:53:39.19\00:53:41.82
Mrs. White's
description of what happened
00:53:41.83\00:53:43.45
when Jesus cleared the
temple for the first time.
00:53:43.46\00:53:45.47
You can find the Biblical
account in John Chapter 2.
00:53:45.48\00:53:49.22
But the picture I
always had in my mind,
00:53:49.23\00:53:50.60
when He cleared the temple,
when He purified that place was
00:53:50.61\00:53:52.87
that He came in with the whip,
00:53:52.88\00:53:53.98
you know, and it was all
chaos and doves and lambs
00:53:53.99\00:53:57.78
and there's
money changes and all,
00:53:57.79\00:53:59.27
and He just starts
ripping the place apart,
00:53:59.28\00:54:02.39
and it just is
chaos and utter torment.
00:54:02.40\00:54:04.32
And then all of a sudden,
00:54:04.33\00:54:05.33
everyone of you get out
of here, get out of here.
00:54:05.34\00:54:06.78
Once everybody's out there,
it finally gets quiet, you know,
00:54:06.79\00:54:09.05
and then the little
children come to him.
00:54:09.06\00:54:10.90
That's the picture I had.
00:54:10.91\00:54:17.29
"As He beholds the scene,
00:54:17.30\00:54:20.01
indignation,
authority, and power
00:54:20.02\00:54:21.82
are expressed
in His countenance.
00:54:21.83\00:54:24.85
The attention of the
people is attracted to Him."
00:54:24.86\00:54:28.33
When Jesus walks in a room,
00:54:28.34\00:54:29.39
He doesn't have
to flip over a table.
00:54:29.40\00:54:30.52
His presence just
commands authority.
00:54:30.53\00:54:33.92
Notice this.
00:54:33.93\00:54:35.43
"The eyes of those
engaged in their unholy traffic
00:54:35.44\00:54:37.55
are riveted upon His face.
00:54:37.56\00:54:40.27
They cannot withdraw their gaze.
00:54:40.28\00:54:42.55
They feel that this man
reads their inmost thoughts,
00:54:42.56\00:54:45.53
and discovers
their hidden motives.
00:54:45.54\00:54:48.05
Some attempt to
conceal their faces,
00:54:48.06\00:54:49.88
as if their evil deeds were
written upon their countenances,
00:54:49.89\00:54:53.09
to be scanned by
those searching eyes.
00:54:53.10\00:54:57.01
The confusion is hushed."
00:54:57.02\00:54:58.53
And notice He
hasn't flipped a table,
00:54:58.54\00:55:01.28
moved His arm at
all, He is just looking.
00:55:01.29\00:55:05.56
"The sound of traffic
and bargaining has ceased.
00:55:05.57\00:55:10.00
The silence becomes painful
00:55:10.01\00:55:15.53
A sense of awe
overpowers the assembly.
00:55:15.54\00:55:18.00
It is as if they were arraigned
00:55:18.01\00:55:19.55
before the tribunal of
God to answer for their deeds.
00:55:19.56\00:55:24.22
Looking upon Christ,
00:55:24.23\00:55:25.51
they behold divinity flashed
through the garb of humanity.
00:55:25.52\00:55:29.53
The Majesty of heaven stands
00:55:29.54\00:55:31.35
as the Judge will
stand at the last day,
00:55:31.36\00:55:33.97
not now encircled with the
glory that will then attend Him,
00:55:33.98\00:55:36.84
but with the same
power to read the soul.
00:55:36.85\00:55:40.75
His eye sweeps
over the multitude,
00:55:40.76\00:55:48.08
taking in every individual.
00:55:48.09\00:55:52.59
His form seems to rise above
them in commanding dignity,
00:55:52.60\00:55:57.10
and a divine light
illuminates His countenance.
00:55:57.11\00:56:00.36
He speaks, and His
clear ringing voice,
00:56:00.37\00:56:03.10
the same that upon
Mount Sinai proclaimed the law
00:56:03.11\00:56:05.47
that priests and
rulers are transgressing,
00:56:05.48\00:56:08.42
is heard echoing through
the arches of the temple,
00:56:08.43\00:56:10.80
"Take these things hence,
00:56:10.81\00:56:12.60
make not My Father's
house an house of merchandise."
00:56:12.61\00:56:16.69
"Slowly descending the
steps, descending the steps,
00:56:16.70\00:56:20.25
and raising the scourge of cords
00:56:20.26\00:56:22.12
gathered upon
entering the enclosure,
00:56:22.13\00:56:23.77
He bids the bargaining company
00:56:23.78\00:56:25.20
depart from the
precincts of the temple.
00:56:25.21\00:56:27.49
With a zeal and severity
as never before manifested,
00:56:27.50\00:56:30.18
He overthrows the
tables of the moneychangers.
00:56:30.19\00:56:32.58
The coins fall, ringing sharply
upon the marble pavement.
00:56:32.59\00:56:35.67
None presume to
question His authority.
00:56:35.68\00:56:38.99
None dare to stop to
gather up their ill-gotten gain.
00:56:39.00\00:56:42.17
Jesus does not smite
them with the whip of cords,
00:56:42.18\00:56:45.16
but in His hand
00:56:45.17\00:56:46.38
that simple scourge seems
terrible as a flaming sword.
00:56:46.39\00:56:50.35
Officers of the
temple, speculating priests,
00:56:50.36\00:56:53.87
brokers and cattle traders
with their sheep and oxen,
00:56:53.88\00:56:57.10
rush from the place,
00:56:57.11\00:56:58.89
with the one thought of escaping
00:56:58.90\00:57:01.03
from the
condemnation not of His whip,
00:57:01.04\00:57:04.72
not of His mighty right arm, the
condemnation of His presence."
00:57:04.73\00:57:11.07
I believe with all of my heart
00:57:15.12\00:57:17.95
that this is the generation that
will live to the second coming.
00:57:17.96\00:57:25.30
But that's not hopeful enough,
00:57:25.31\00:57:28.31
that's not promise enough
00:57:28.32\00:57:31.58
for countless people in the
world that's just coincidental.
00:57:31.59\00:57:35.00
The question I
want to know for myself
00:57:37.63\00:57:39.00
and I want you to be
asking for yourself is
00:57:39.01\00:57:40.87
if Jesus will... am I ready.
00:57:40.88\00:57:43.27
I don't want to
just go to heaven.
00:57:43.28\00:57:45.09
I want to be fit for heaven now.
00:57:45.10\00:57:47.82
When I walk into those gates
00:57:47.83\00:57:49.27
I want to
breathe the air and say,
00:57:49.28\00:57:51.59
oh, this makes
sense, this is home,
00:57:51.60\00:57:56.45
even more than that,
00:57:58.86\00:58:00.47
when the eyes of my Savior
00:58:00.48\00:58:03.24
scan the multitude
and land on my eyes.
00:58:03.25\00:58:08.15
I don't want to be
ashamed and hide my face.
00:58:08.16\00:58:12.53
I want to be pure in
heart because I want to see God.
00:58:12.54\00:58:17.55
I don't want to ask
you to question this,
00:58:22.37\00:58:25.45
even if you disagreed with
me, did at least make sense?
00:58:25.46\00:58:28.09
Raise you hand. Did
it at least make sense
00:58:28.10\00:58:29.56
what we're talking about?
00:58:29.57\00:58:30.94
Praise the Lord,
clear communication.
00:58:30.95\00:58:32.50
You might all disagree
00:58:32.51\00:58:33.51
but at least you
understood the message.
00:58:33.52\00:58:35.71
Now, I want to make an appeal.
00:58:39.06\00:58:41.22
It's simple, it won't be long,
00:58:41.23\00:58:43.46
but if you want to
00:58:43.47\00:58:45.91
not just think about salvation
in terms of the transaction
00:58:45.92\00:58:49.23
that gets you in,
that you're saying, Lord,
00:58:49.24\00:58:52.51
I want to step on higher ground.
00:58:52.52\00:58:54.58
I don't want to be here anymore,
00:58:56.55\00:58:57.61
I don't wanna just
be a citizen of heaven,
00:58:57.62\00:58:58.76
I want to be a citizen of earth,
00:58:58.77\00:59:00.14
I want to be a citizen of heaven
starting right now tonight.
00:59:00.15\00:59:03.00
Lord, I want You
to not just get me,
00:59:03.01\00:59:04.18
I want You to fit me in
to the society of angels.
00:59:04.19\00:59:08.45
Lord, transform my
character, make me like You.
00:59:08.46\00:59:12.92
If that's your wish,
will you stand with me now?
00:59:12.93\00:59:15.83