My faithful Father,
00:01:04.18\00:01:09.19
enduring Friend,
00:01:12.23\00:01:16.73
Your tender mercy
00:01:17.03\00:01:20.19
is like a river
00:01:20.39\00:01:23.76
with no wind
00:01:24.52\00:01:27.13
It overwhelms me
00:01:27.33\00:01:33.23
Covers my sin.
00:01:34.85\00:01:38.71
Each time I come into
00:01:39.01\00:01:44.05
Your presence
00:01:44.15\00:01:46.23
I stand in wonder
00:01:46.53\00:01:49.84
once again.
00:01:50.04\00:01:54.68
Your grace
00:01:54.98\00:01:58.42
still amazes me.
00:01:58.82\00:02:02.39
Your love
00:02:02.69\00:02:05.59
is still a mystery.
00:02:05.99\00:02:09.64
Each day
00:02:09.94\00:02:13.69
I fall on my knees.
00:02:13.99\00:02:19.33
Your grace
00:02:19.63\00:02:21.75
still amazes me.
00:02:22.06\00:02:26.90
Your grace
00:02:27.20\00:02:29.26
still amazes me.
00:02:29.56\00:02:35.50
Oh patient Savior,
00:02:48.36\00:02:53.48
You make me whole.
00:02:55.91\00:03:00.79
You are the author
00:03:01.09\00:03:04.46
and the healer
00:03:04.56\00:03:08.09
of my soul.
00:03:08.39\00:03:10.96
What can I give You?
00:03:11.26\00:03:15.53
Lord, what can I say?
00:03:18.05\00:03:22.83
I know there's no way to
00:03:23.13\00:03:27.40
repay You.
00:03:27.61\00:03:30.07
Only to offer You
00:03:30.37\00:03:34.60
my praise.
00:03:34.80\00:03:38.67
Your grace
00:03:38.97\00:03:41.88
still amazes me.
00:03:42.28\00:03:45.93
Your love
00:03:46.23\00:03:49.31
is still a mystery.
00:03:49.61\00:03:53.30
Each day
00:03:53.70\00:03:56.57
I fall on my knees.
00:03:56.88\00:04:02.42
Your grace
00:04:02.72\00:04:04.74
still amazes me.
00:04:05.04\00:04:10.13
Your grace
00:04:10.23\00:04:12.36
still amazes me.
00:04:12.56\00:04:16.78
It's deeper,
00:04:16.98\00:04:18.97
It's wider,
00:04:19.37\00:04:22.79
It's stronger,
00:04:23.09\00:04:26.48
It's higher,
00:04:26.88\00:04:29.96
It's deeper,
00:04:30.36\00:04:33.98
It's wider,
00:04:34.28\00:04:37.62
It's stronger,
00:04:37.92\00:04:41.22
It's higher than anything
00:04:41.62\00:04:47.24
my eyes can see.
00:04:47.54\00:04:50.97
Oh grace
00:04:51.17\00:04:54.67
still amazes me.
00:04:54.97\00:04:58.15
Your love
00:04:58.55\00:05:01.39
is still a mystery.
00:05:01.70\00:05:05.42
Each day
00:05:05.82\00:05:08.51
I fall on my knees.
00:05:08.92\00:05:14.32
Your grace
00:05:14.62\00:05:16.85
still amazes me.
00:05:17.05\00:05:22.01
Your grace
00:05:22.22\00:05:24.39
still amazes
00:05:24.69\00:05:29.60
me.
00:05:30.84\00:05:36.76
Amen.
00:05:49.93\00:05:52.68
Praise the Lord!
00:05:52.98\00:05:54.57
There's been so many
blessings that we have received.
00:05:56.64\00:06:00.47
I'm having so many
people tell me what a blessing
00:06:00.60\00:06:04.11
this Camp Meeting
has been to them. Amen.
00:06:04.41\00:06:07.66
These two men of
God: Elder Mark Finley
00:06:07.79\00:06:11.56
and Elder Charles Bradford
00:06:11.76\00:06:13.25
have been bringing us
messages that we need to hear.
00:06:13.55\00:06:19.41
And messages that
encourage and lift
00:06:19.71\00:06:22.80
and prepare us
for these last days.
00:06:23.10\00:06:26.95
We praise the Lord for it.
00:06:27.15\00:06:28.81
Elder Bradford will
be coming in a moment
00:06:28.91\00:06:30.74
to bring a message to us
entitled We Are Assigned.
00:06:30.94\00:06:36.51
And before he comes
00:06:37.67\00:06:40.61
Yvonne Lewis is
going to sing for us
00:06:40.91\00:06:44.93
one of my favorite
songs: Via Dolorosa.
00:06:45.23\00:06:49.46
Down the Via Dolorosa,
00:07:22.46\00:07:25.87
in Jerusalem that day,
00:07:26.07\00:07:29.66
The soldiers tried to clear
00:07:29.96\00:07:32.78
the narrow streets,
00:07:32.98\00:07:36.12
But the crowd pressed in to see
00:07:36.42\00:07:40.11
the Man condemned
to die on Calvary.
00:07:40.21\00:07:46.17
He was bleeding from a beating,
00:07:49.27\00:07:53.38
there were
stripes upon His back,
00:07:53.58\00:07:56.26
And He wore a crown
of thorns upon His head.
00:07:57.06\00:08:02.97
And He bore with ev'ry step
00:08:03.27\00:08:07.02
The scorn of those who
cried out for His death!
00:08:07.33\00:08:13.30
Down the Via Dolorosa
00:08:13.70\00:08:17.43
Called "the way of suffering"
00:08:17.63\00:08:20.81
Like a Lamb came the Messiah,
00:08:21.11\00:08:24.04
Christ the King.
00:08:24.14\00:08:27.71
But He chose to walk that road
00:08:28.01\00:08:31.28
out of His love for you and me.
00:08:31.48\00:08:37.43
Down the Via Dolorosa
00:08:38.21\00:08:41.26
all the way
00:08:41.46\00:08:44.53
to Calvary.
00:08:44.74\00:08:50.66
Por la Vía Dolorosa
00:08:51.83\00:08:54.80
Triste vía en Jerusalén
00:08:55.20\00:08:58.14
Los soldados le
abrián paso a Jesús
00:08:58.44\00:09:04.40
Mas la gente se acercaba
00:09:04.80\00:09:08.99
Para ver al que
llevaba aquella cruz
00:09:09.29\00:09:14.52
Por la Vía Dolorosa
00:09:14.92\00:09:19.02
Que es la vía del dolor
00:09:19.32\00:09:22.56
Como oveja vino Cristo
00:09:22.86\00:09:25.58
Rey y Señor
00:09:25.78\00:09:29.53
Y fue El quien quiso ir
00:09:29.74\00:09:32.66
Por amor a ti
00:09:32.86\00:09:36.54
y a mi
00:09:36.74\00:09:39.28
Por la Vía Dolorosa
00:09:39.68\00:09:42.93
al Calvario a morir
00:09:43.04\00:09:48.97
The blood that would cleanse
00:09:49.81\00:09:53.39
the souls of all men
00:09:53.59\00:09:56.72
Made its way through the heart
00:09:57.02\00:10:00.34
of Jerusalem
00:10:00.54\00:10:05.26
Down the
00:10:05.66\00:10:09.51
Via Dolorosa
00:10:09.71\00:10:12.63
called "the way of suffering"
00:10:12.84\00:10:16.19
Like a lamb came the Messiah,
00:10:16.39\00:10:19.25
Christ the King
00:10:19.45\00:10:23.23
But He chose to walk that road
00:10:23.53\00:10:26.80
out of His love for you and me
00:10:27.00\00:10:32.95
Down the Via Dolorosa,
00:10:34.76\00:10:38.73
all the way
00:10:38.93\00:10:41.29
to Calvary.
00:10:41.49\00:10:46.37
Well my cup runneth over.
00:11:26.43\00:11:29.10
Amen.
00:11:29.41\00:11:30.88
All of these meetings... I don't
know what to do with myself.
00:11:31.18\00:11:34.28
I'm like the preachers who
had a little circle that they
00:11:35.39\00:11:38.72
met every week and talked
about their parish and other
00:11:38.93\00:11:42.99
things. And one
was one denomination
00:11:43.09\00:11:45.99
the other was another
and third... maybe one was
00:11:46.19\00:11:47.96
Adventist. And one
said: "I tell you, brethren,
00:11:48.16\00:11:50.69
I have a little
problem with such and such. "
00:11:50.79\00:11:52.83
Another one: "I
have a little problem. "
00:11:52.93\00:11:54.80
Began to having a little
confession, come-to-Jesus moment
00:11:55.00\00:11:58.08
and the third one, I don't know
if he was an Adventist preacher
00:11:58.09\00:12:00.57
or not, he said: "I
can't wait to get out of here
00:12:00.67\00:12:02.89
to tell
everybody what I heard! "
00:12:03.09\00:12:04.98
And so I can't wait till I
get back to Huntsville, Alabama.
00:12:05.39\00:12:10.93
Tell those people: "You
ain't seen nothing yet. "
00:12:11.23\00:12:14.69
Amen.
00:12:14.89\00:12:16.04
Now you've got to protect
me because they won't like it
00:12:16.34\00:12:21.21
but I've got to say it anyhow.
00:12:21.51\00:12:23.21
Now we are here
on this Sabbath day
00:12:23.31\00:12:26.85
and I'm wanting to
talk about our assignment.
00:12:27.25\00:12:33.15
You used to have
assignments, didn't you?
00:12:34.44\00:12:36.52
And they were due on
Thursday morning at 10 AM.
00:12:37.79\00:12:41.60
And you had a
sleepless night on Wednesday
00:12:41.80\00:12:45.34
because you knew you had
to bring your assignment.
00:12:46.45\00:12:49.31
I'm looking at a man
right here that I met years ago
00:12:49.51\00:12:52.02
in Memphis, Tennessee. He
was one of the Superintendents
00:12:52.12\00:12:54.58
of Schools in
Memphis. He looks like my son
00:12:54.68\00:12:57.11
he's so young but
he said he's retired.
00:12:57.31\00:12:59.08
But I know he has given a
lot of assignments in his day.
00:12:59.28\00:13:02.07
But more than that
00:13:03.26\00:13:05.80
Jesus has given
us all an assignment.
00:13:06.10\00:13:11.83
We are under assignment.
00:13:12.13\00:13:14.28
We're not just a people
who come to meetings and enjoy
00:13:14.58\00:13:18.63
things. We do and we should.
00:13:18.84\00:13:20.88
And it's God's plan that
we come and meet together.
00:13:21.28\00:13:24.44
That's fine!
00:13:24.74\00:13:26.21
But the Seventh-day Adventist
church, the remnant of God
00:13:27.37\00:13:31.83
in these last days,
has a special assignment.
00:13:32.03\00:13:36.79
Amen.
00:13:36.99\00:13:38.09
Go ahead, enjoy
the music. Amen I say!
00:13:38.39\00:13:42.42
You make fun of me, and
so you're not new to me.
00:13:42.62\00:13:46.32
My own children make fun of me.
00:13:46.42\00:13:48.80
And my
grandchildren are almost worse.
00:13:49.20\00:13:51.26
And the great-grand is coming
along, and he's the toughest
00:13:51.46\00:13:53.72
of all! And so they said:
"Granddaddy, is such and such? "
00:13:53.82\00:13:58.46
And one time I heard them call
me "Old hard nut man" you know.
00:13:58.56\00:14:03.34
They call me... What
did they call me, Ethel?
00:14:03.54\00:14:06.89
You know what they call...
She doesn't want to say it.
00:14:07.09\00:14:08.86
I know she
doesn't want to say it.
00:14:09.06\00:14:10.42
But a little old name they have
for me that I was a tightwad
00:14:10.62\00:14:13.04
you know. And I notice, however,
00:14:13.24\00:14:16.13
that the little old...
the old granddaddy tightwad
00:14:16.33\00:14:19.20
that they laughed
at every now and then
00:14:19.30\00:14:21.82
they've got to sidle up
to him and say: "Granddad,
00:14:22.02\00:14:23.81
I think I need a
little something, you know. "
00:14:24.01\00:14:25.61
So they're glad for him then.
00:14:25.81\00:14:26.80
They don't call me... they say
"Wonderful Dad" at that time.
00:14:26.84\00:14:31.17
But we're here on assignment.
That's what I'm trying to say.
00:14:31.47\00:14:34.96
I'm asking the Lord to
help me to say the right words
00:14:35.77\00:14:41.74
here at this meeting...
this important meeting.
00:14:41.84\00:14:46.23
We are assigned. I want to
take that assignment seriously.
00:14:49.58\00:14:53.80
These people - end-time people -
00:14:54.30\00:14:56.65
you're God's end-time people.
You've got to accept that.
00:14:56.75\00:14:59.93
You didn't take
it; He gave it to you.
00:15:00.23\00:15:03.33
He called you.
Didn't He call you?
00:15:03.53\00:15:05.98
Amen.
00:15:06.18\00:15:07.47
Placed you here.
00:15:07.77\00:15:09.29
And we appeared on time.
00:15:09.69\00:15:13.24
After the stars had fallen.
00:15:13.54\00:15:15.81
Before the heavens are
split wide open, we are here
00:15:16.21\00:15:20.12
between the
already and the not yet.
00:15:20.42\00:15:23.00
We come on the stage. You
know, it's like you as a people
00:15:23.30\00:15:27.91
come on this stage at
such and such a time...
00:15:28.11\00:15:31.24
a specific time.
00:15:31.54\00:15:34.46
You have a distinct identity.
Didn't we talk about that?
00:15:34.76\00:15:37.84
Your identity. Who are you?
00:15:38.14\00:15:40.66
So many people are
confused about their identity.
00:15:41.98\00:15:45.53
They don't know who they are.
00:15:45.73\00:15:47.07
But you know who you are:
00:15:47.57\00:15:49.64
the people of God,
God's end-time people.
00:15:49.84\00:15:52.14
I think I'll read this
text and then have a prayer.
00:15:53.87\00:15:56.82
Revelation 14 and verse 12.
00:15:57.42\00:16:03.41
"Here... " Here... I'm looking
at you and pointing at you.
00:16:04.67\00:16:10.20
"Here is the
patience of the saints. "
00:16:10.50\00:16:14.02
Here! Tell the devil that.
00:16:14.32\00:16:18.38
You don't need to
tell him, he knows already.
00:16:18.58\00:16:20.25
He's already marked this spot.
00:16:20.55\00:16:22.36
If he could throw some
kind of bomb here he would.
00:16:22.56\00:16:24.72
But we've got good
relationship with somebody.
00:16:25.02\00:16:29.13
Amen! I know somebody
00:16:29.23\00:16:31.53
who can handle any situation,
so you don't need to fear.
00:16:32.72\00:16:35.42
Here they are:
the people of God!
00:16:35.62\00:16:40.98
"They keep the
commandments of God
00:16:42.08\00:16:44.88
and the faith of
Jesus. " Oh, dear Lord,
00:16:45.18\00:16:49.35
dear Lord. You
called us here together
00:16:49.55\00:16:53.12
and we just need by Your
grace to be reminded today
00:16:53.42\00:16:58.61
of who we are and
what we ought to be about.
00:16:58.91\00:17:03.64
Thank you for Your
promise, and we rely upon it now
00:17:04.85\00:17:08.36
because we are
weak and You are strong.
00:17:08.56\00:17:10.48
In Jesus' name, Amen. Amen.
00:17:10.69\00:17:13.80
Now the apostle Peter says
a few words to you and to me.
00:17:14.10\00:17:19.08
He says in I Peter the
second chapter and verse 9
00:17:20.53\00:17:25.76
he says: "But you are
a chosen generation. "
00:17:25.97\00:17:30.78
That's who you are. Now
I get a little tough with
00:17:31.72\00:17:35.33
people because
people keep telling me:
00:17:35.43\00:17:37.35
"I'm just a layman. "
00:17:37.45\00:17:38.99
What do you mean
you're just a layman?
00:17:39.19\00:17:40.39
You're just a stone in the
body of Christ in the temple.
00:17:40.60\00:17:43.91
I'm just a layman?
00:17:44.31\00:17:46.11
Now I'm going to confess to you
00:17:46.31\00:17:48.77
I think you're a
wonderful layman.
00:17:49.07\00:17:50.99
I think you're great people
because you have supported
00:17:51.19\00:17:54.46
this work all these years.
00:17:54.56\00:17:56.53
And I was a little,
pitiful boy preacher.
00:17:56.83\00:18:00.21
I was barely 21 years old.
00:18:00.41\00:18:03.18
I didn't have a dime.
00:18:03.38\00:18:05.26
I went out to preach, and I
haven't suffered in all those
00:18:05.46\00:18:09.84
sixty years! Amen.
00:18:09.94\00:18:12.36
Why? Because somebody
supported the work of God.
00:18:12.46\00:18:14.98
So I ain't gonna
let nobody downtalk you.
00:18:15.18\00:18:17.77
Amen. You know you're somebody?
00:18:17.97\00:18:20.72
If you have wisdom
enough, sense enough,
00:18:21.94\00:18:26.27
gumption enough to hear that
preacher or whoever came to you
00:18:26.47\00:18:30.31
give you the message of
truth for these last days
00:18:30.51\00:18:33.53
and you saw it and you
believed it and you accepted it
00:18:33.73\00:18:37.12
I have respect for you.
00:18:37.32\00:18:40.33
Amen. So you're somebody to me.
00:18:40.63\00:18:43.29
They might not know
you're down on Broad Street
00:18:44.38\00:18:47.43
but I know you're here
on God's Street - Amen -
00:18:47.63\00:18:51.28
because you have kept
the work of God moving along
00:18:51.58\00:18:55.00
with your bounties and
your gifts and your love
00:18:55.20\00:18:58.44
and your labor.
00:18:58.75\00:19:01.36
So you are priests of God.
00:19:01.66\00:19:06.21
Chosen
generation... peculiar people.
00:19:06.61\00:19:09.89
"That ye should... " I'm
going to your assignment now...
00:19:10.12\00:19:13.04
"That ye should show forth
the praises of Him who hath
00:19:13.24\00:19:16.59
called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light.
00:19:16.69\00:19:19.62
Which in time past
were not a people. "
00:19:20.90\00:19:23.70
The Lord didn't call you
because you're good looking.
00:19:25.14\00:19:27.29
You may be good looking.
00:19:28.04\00:19:29.44
He didn't call you
because you're wealthy.
00:19:29.65\00:19:31.90
You may be wealthy.
00:19:32.10\00:19:33.84
You were not anything
in the past but now you are
00:19:34.04\00:19:37.59
the people of God. Amen.
00:19:37.89\00:19:40.49
"Which had not
obtained mercy before but now...
00:19:41.63\00:19:45.13
but now you have
obtained mercy. "
00:19:45.33\00:19:49.52
You are living stones.
You are part of the building,
00:19:49.73\00:19:54.16
the building that
He is erecting here.
00:19:54.26\00:19:56.87
You're building...
building every day a temple.
00:19:57.07\00:20:01.17
It's not made with hands
and you are a part of it.
00:20:01.31\00:20:04.86
You're lively stones.
00:20:05.06\00:20:06.36
You've built up a spiritual
house and holy priesthood
00:20:07.84\00:20:11.54
and you are to offer
up spiritual sacrifices.
00:20:11.84\00:20:16.64
You are!
00:20:16.94\00:20:18.56
And they have a big thing
about ordination in our church.
00:20:19.81\00:20:22.84
I don't care what the
brethren say, you are ordained
00:20:23.14\00:20:26.67
already.
00:20:26.88\00:20:29.24
You are ordained.
Nobody said "Amen. "
00:20:29.54\00:20:31.62
Maybe you don't believe me?
00:20:31.72\00:20:32.81
You don't believe what this
preacher is preaching to you
00:20:32.91\00:20:34.48
here today. I
picked up a little book:
00:20:34.58\00:20:39.08
Ephesians by Marcus Barth...
00:20:39.38\00:20:43.73
son of Karl Barth...
00:20:43.93\00:20:46.73
where he's writing in volume
2 of that series of commentaries
00:20:46.93\00:20:52.61
on page 449 he
says and I believe him:
00:20:52.81\00:20:56.17
"All members are
chosen tools" - you are -
00:20:56.37\00:21:00.35
"chosen tools of the
Head for communicating
00:21:00.55\00:21:06.26
the nourishment,
vitality, unity, solidity
00:21:06.46\00:21:10.98
to the body as a
whole. The weakest member
00:21:11.18\00:21:14.05
is in this case as essential
to the life of the body
00:21:15.76\00:21:21.72
as the strongest. "
00:21:21.92\00:21:24.25
Now I look up to
Elder Ted Wilson.
00:21:25.50\00:21:27.96
I know his daddy; I
worked with him 20 years
00:21:28.16\00:21:31.18
"cheek and jowl" as
the Brits would say.
00:21:31.38\00:21:34.23
Know the family, but
he's president of the General
00:21:34.43\00:21:37.48
Conference. I look up to him.
00:21:37.58\00:21:39.26
But that doesn't
mean I look down to you.
00:21:40.72\00:21:43.38
Everybody ought to
say "Amen. " Come on, now.
00:21:43.58\00:21:45.60
I look up to
Elder Mark Finley. Amen.
00:21:45.80\00:21:48.90
One of the greatest
evangelists we've ever had.
00:21:49.03\00:21:51.70
Amen. He would go
into the jaws of a lion
00:21:51.90\00:21:55.24
to preach the message. Amen.
00:21:55.54\00:21:57.94
He's almost like old
Charles what you call him
00:21:58.14\00:22:00.13
the early evangelist. He
went to Rome and preached in the
00:22:00.23\00:22:03.53
shadow of the Vatican.
00:22:03.63\00:22:05.56
Preach
anywhere. I look up to him
00:22:05.76\00:22:08.16
but that doesn't
mean I look down to you.
00:22:08.36\00:22:10.65
And that doesn't mean
that you are not a part of him.
00:22:10.95\00:22:15.52
And he has a
responsibility to you.
00:22:15.92\00:22:19.03
Well what are we trying to say?
00:22:19.24\00:22:22.03
We're trying to say
we're all bound up together
00:22:22.23\00:22:26.27
brothers and sisters
here in the cause of God
00:22:26.30\00:22:29.63
and there are no big "I's. "
There are no little "you's. "
00:22:29.83\00:22:33.28
At the foot of the cross
the ground is level. Amen!
00:22:33.48\00:22:37.00
So I can walk into the church
anywhere I go in the world.
00:22:38.63\00:22:41.21
I walked in the Seventh-day
Adventist church 1968.
00:22:41.52\00:22:45.67
I walked into the
church in Moscow... 1968.
00:22:45.87\00:22:50.31
We had a great day that day.
00:22:53.20\00:22:54.85
And after the
service somebody told me
00:22:55.05\00:22:58.61
"Did you see that man
way up in the balcony? "
00:22:58.81\00:23:00.72
"Yeah. " Said:
"He's from the KGB. "
00:23:00.92\00:23:04.06
It's almost like the
Lord. He sees all you do
00:23:05.39\00:23:07.67
and He hears all you say
and He's writing all the time. "
00:23:07.87\00:23:11.06
But you know, in Russia in
those days - I don't know how
00:23:11.36\00:23:13.49
it is now - but you
had to preach pretty long.
00:23:13.60\00:23:15.90
You know. You
remember that, don't you?
00:23:16.89\00:23:18.18
You can preach
about 20, 30 minutes.
00:23:18.38\00:23:20.30
What's the matter with you?
Can't you, preacher brother?
00:23:20.50\00:23:22.77
And so sometimes the old
spy would get a little tired
00:23:25.05\00:23:28.89
and he'd do like most Adventists
do, he'd just take a little nod,
00:23:29.09\00:23:31.83
you know. He was
almost like one of us.
00:23:32.03\00:23:35.29
But I felt at home there.
00:23:35.59\00:23:37.25
That's what I was trying to say.
00:23:37.35\00:23:38.77
I felt at home.
00:23:38.97\00:23:40.34
Some brethren from way
out in Siberia somewhere
00:23:40.64\00:23:43.68
came to see us. And we
said: "How did you know? "
00:23:43.88\00:23:46.60
He said: "We can't tell
you because you Americans
00:23:46.80\00:23:49.36
talk too much.
00:23:49.46\00:23:51.41
But we found out about it
and we came here to see you. "
00:23:51.71\00:23:55.76
Oh, it's a wonderful thing to
be a part of the family of God.
00:23:56.00\00:23:59.00
What about it? Amen!
00:23:59.10\00:24:00.62
I've been over in Africa
00:24:00.82\00:24:04.31
in some of the most remote areas
00:24:04.51\00:24:09.09
where they sit on a log.
00:24:09.19\00:24:11.22
And they are worshiping, and
the old deacon walks through.
00:24:11.42\00:24:16.23
He has a little stick,
00:24:16.43\00:24:18.37
and if anybody's nodding he
just taps them a little bit.
00:24:18.57\00:24:21.73
I said: "I'm in the
Seventh- day Adventist church! "
00:24:22.03\00:24:24.59
I feel at home... I feel at home
00:24:26.12\00:24:28.07
and I can't even speak... I
don't understand the language.
00:24:28.27\00:24:30.57
Elder Robert Carter and I,
my old friend... He was the
00:24:30.87\00:24:33.55
president of the
mission over in Uganda.
00:24:33.65\00:24:35.13
We were there at that
place that they had...
00:24:35.33\00:24:37.13
beautiful place up on the hill.
00:24:37.33\00:24:38.45
All the Adventists
are on the hill you know.
00:24:38.55\00:24:40.17
You go overseas most of
our schools and churches
00:24:40.37\00:24:42.61
are on the hill. And
we went up on the hill.
00:24:42.71\00:24:44.83
He lived there in the compound.
00:24:44.93\00:24:46.35
We sat down Sabbath
afternoon, Sabbath evening,
00:24:46.56\00:24:49.27
had a sundown worship service.
00:24:49.47\00:24:51.37
And the preachers - they
really respect you there -
00:24:51.57\00:24:53.52
they put us right up there
on the front and they took care
00:24:53.72\00:24:55.79
of us. Brought us a
little water, everything.
00:24:55.89\00:24:57.54
And then they sang.
And we got our songbook out
00:24:57.74\00:25:00.26
and they also had a songbook
with little symbols there
00:25:00.46\00:25:04.72
that you could make a little
sound, and we began singing.
00:25:04.92\00:25:08.26
Now we are ministers of
the gospel, baptized, ordained,
00:25:08.46\00:25:11.91
married, fathers. And
there we were reading.
00:25:12.11\00:25:16.29
And something happened
and I looked over at Bob
00:25:16.49\00:25:18.98
and he was trying to pronounce
it and I couldn't pronounce it.
00:25:19.18\00:25:21.38
And we started laughing
right in the house of God!
00:25:21.58\00:25:24.92
But we were at home
00:25:28.05\00:25:30.68
with our brothers and sisters.
00:25:30.98\00:25:34.03
Now I've got a little something
that's tough for the brethren.
00:25:35.14\00:25:38.44
You ought to know me by now.
00:25:39.84\00:25:41.60
I've tackled the
brethren every now and then.
00:25:41.90\00:25:44.88
Ellen G. White - Sister
White - says, Review and Herald
00:25:45.18\00:25:49.00
July 16, 1895, she said:
00:25:49.20\00:25:52.09
"The work of God is
retarded by the criminal
00:25:52.29\00:25:57.70
unbelief.. " That's
a hard word, isn't it?
00:25:57.80\00:26:01.45
"criminal unbelief in His
power to use the common people
00:26:01.75\00:26:06.73
to carry forward
His work successfully. "
00:26:07.03\00:26:10.77
Who am I to prevent
you from doing the work
00:26:12.27\00:26:16.94
that God has
called you to do? Amen.
00:26:17.15\00:26:20.88
I must not prevent
you. I'm not your father.
00:26:21.31\00:26:25.50
I'm not your
owner... I'm your brother.
00:26:25.80\00:26:29.90
And if the Lord
called you to do a ministry,
00:26:30.20\00:26:32.73
I must support
you to the hilt. Amen.
00:26:32.93\00:26:36.22
Also I mustn't let
you get away either.
00:26:36.45\00:26:38.64
If I am your pastor,
leader in your church,
00:26:38.95\00:26:42.71
I ought to be a talent scout.
00:26:42.91\00:26:45.99
You know they say... Some
people have a little saying.
00:26:46.39\00:26:49.80
They say that... they
said: "What is a Puritan? "
00:26:50.00\00:26:53.74
And I said: "A Puritan is
someone whose greatest fear is
00:26:53.94\00:26:57.60
that somewhere in the
world somebody may be happy. "
00:26:57.70\00:27:00.10
But as your pastor, I
must have a great fear...
00:27:03.09\00:27:08.25
As I look out over the
flock I must have a great fear
00:27:09.60\00:27:14.56
that somebody in this church
may not be using the gifts
00:27:14.76\00:27:20.10
God has given him,
and it ought to make me
00:27:20.20\00:27:22.48
break out in a cold sweat.
00:27:22.78\00:27:25.15
Because God gave
gifts to be used! Amen.
00:27:25.35\00:27:30.38
You have an assignment.
00:27:30.82\00:27:33.01
And so old Brother Bradford
is here today to remind you
00:27:34.11\00:27:37.27
of that assignment.
Yes, you came Sabbath.
00:27:37.37\00:27:40.34
You went to church and you
prayed and you did all that.
00:27:40.54\00:27:43.43
You came to Sabbath
School, gave your offering.
00:27:43.63\00:27:45.22
But that's just the beginning.
00:27:45.42\00:27:48.13
You're on duty 24 hours a day.
00:27:48.33\00:27:51.91
You must not... You
must REDEEM the time
00:27:52.21\00:27:56.15
because the days are evil.
00:27:56.36\00:27:58.65
So what we need desperately
00:27:58.95\00:28:03.12
is a renewed focus on the church
00:28:03.32\00:28:06.54
as God agency for salvation.
00:28:06.74\00:28:09.87
His response to the sin
problem... we know what He did.
00:28:11.15\00:28:15.10
And to rescue a planet
gone astray... I'm using a Bible
00:28:15.30\00:28:20.54
that George Vandeman gave me.
00:28:20.74\00:28:23.10
And George's... one of
his favorite phrases he almost
00:28:24.48\00:28:28.67
coined... he called earth
"the planet in rebellion. "
00:28:28.77\00:28:32.25
The planet gone astray. Of
course, there is first of all
00:28:34.19\00:28:38.22
as the pastor
spoke about here today
00:28:38.32\00:28:42.76
number one -
numero uno - is the cross.
00:28:42.99\00:28:46.84
You can't get
away from the cross.
00:28:49.41\00:28:51.96
At the cross, the instrument
of suffering and shame,
00:28:52.17\00:28:56.72
Yahweh God takes not the
blame but the responsibility for
00:28:56.92\00:29:02.17
the mess and He
reconciles, He clears the way.
00:29:02.27\00:29:07.37
He turns on the spotlight,
and Calvary covers it all.
00:29:07.47\00:29:12.57
But Calvary does not end it all.
00:29:12.80\00:29:16.02
Now I wrote this
so I'd say it right.
00:29:16.32\00:29:18.28
Usually I'm ad libbing
all the time and winging it.
00:29:18.48\00:29:20.80
But I'm not going to
fool around this time with it,
00:29:21.84\00:29:23.92
I wrote it down.
00:29:24.03\00:29:25.42
Calvary covers it all
but does not end it all.
00:29:27.99\00:29:33.92
Fifty days after came tsunami
00:29:34.22\00:29:39.09
in an upper room... whirlwind.
00:29:39.29\00:29:42.30
The greatest cyclonic force
since the creation takes place.
00:29:42.50\00:29:46.15
The unleashing of powers that
were restrained for generations
00:29:46.35\00:29:50.27
are now turned loose. Amen.
00:29:50.48\00:29:52.39
Now the plan could be
revealed in full. Amen.
00:29:52.49\00:29:56.38
Ah, my great God. You know
friend, we must not diminish
00:29:57.56\00:30:03.14
the power of God...
the magnitude of God.
00:30:03.34\00:30:06.90
Don't play around with God.
00:30:07.10\00:30:09.05
Don't mention His
name thoughtlessly. Amen.
00:30:09.25\00:30:12.75
God!
00:30:13.28\00:30:15.66
When the enemy raised his head
00:30:15.96\00:30:19.01
in the midst of His kingdom
00:30:19.21\00:30:22.44
He knew at once
what He had to do.
00:30:22.75\00:30:25.45
You know, elder, you
preached that, man. I loved it.
00:30:26.77\00:30:29.45
They came and took me out.
00:30:30.70\00:30:32.20
You saw they had to
pull me out of my seat here.
00:30:32.40\00:30:34.50
I was enjoying that
message and I'm angry with them
00:30:34.80\00:30:37.45
until now. I'm praying
the Lord will forgive them.
00:30:37.55\00:30:39.60
But you spoke it so well!
00:30:41.28\00:30:43.97
He had to pay the price.
00:30:45.00\00:30:48.16
He took the responsibility.
00:30:48.46\00:30:51.04
And you know what
Sister White says?
00:30:51.34\00:30:53.51
Sister White says we
don't commiserate and sympathize
00:30:53.71\00:30:58.27
with God in His
suffering. Huh? OK.
00:30:58.47\00:31:01.94
Somebody said: "Well,
I'm suffering so bad. "
00:31:02.24\00:31:04.79
Yes, God has been suffering
for more than 6,000 years.
00:31:04.99\00:31:09.81
God has never had a
painless day. Oh, my soul!
00:31:11.10\00:31:15.07
Never! My God... He took
the responsibility for it.
00:31:15.27\00:31:20.59
He could have snapped His
fingers and all would have been
00:31:20.89\00:31:23.84
gone and nicely cool
and sweet as Eden again,
00:31:23.94\00:31:27.36
but no, He took
the responsibility.
00:31:27.56\00:31:30.98
This plan that was
hid for generations
00:31:32.38\00:31:34.82
is opened up now, and the world
is invited to come and drink...
00:31:35.02\00:31:39.17
drink of the fountain of waters.
00:31:40.74\00:31:42.51
And when you drink of
the fountain of waters, you
00:31:42.71\00:31:44.32
become partners with Him.
00:31:44.42\00:31:45.94
Isn't that a beautiful thing?
00:31:46.14\00:31:47.54
We are laborers together
with God. Amen. Partners!
00:31:47.64\00:31:51.11
I had a teacher in Oakwood
College, a very fine woman.
00:31:51.31\00:31:55.19
She'd been on
Broadway and all that.
00:31:55.39\00:31:56.93
And she used to call...
she used to use a phrase...
00:31:57.13\00:32:01.26
She said: "This is the
house of God and sons. "
00:32:01.46\00:32:04.95
And over in England they
would say Ltd... limited.
00:32:05.25\00:32:08.48
And I would say
limited to those who are washed
00:32:09.63\00:32:11.50
in the blood of the Lamb.
00:32:11.60\00:32:13.60
Those who drink these waters
are now a part of the caravan
00:32:13.90\00:32:19.84
that's going into all the
world giving the invitation:
00:32:20.04\00:32:22.74
"Come buy without
money without price. "
00:32:22.94\00:32:24.70
And they... YOU...
become officers of the court
00:32:25.00\00:32:28.47
with subpoenas
and general amnesties.
00:32:29.69\00:32:34.64
Calvary. Yes, it was
the end of the beginning
00:32:34.84\00:32:38.09
but Pentecost was
the beginning of the end.
00:32:38.29\00:32:42.06
It's a seamless story.
Yahweh put it together.
00:32:42.27\00:32:45.16
This church... This church,
which I believe to be fully
00:32:45.36\00:32:49.11
authorized and
genuine remnant community...
00:32:49.21\00:32:52.95
is mandated by heaven
to be keepers of the flame.
00:32:53.05\00:32:57.01
To let it shine...
never let it go out.
00:32:57.21\00:32:59.47
It must now - this church
must now - look to itself,
00:32:59.67\00:33:03.28
take an inward look,
to discover - rediscover -
00:33:03.48\00:33:08.23
our roots and to be the
community that shows forth
00:33:08.44\00:33:13.58
the praises of Him who
called them out of darkness
00:33:13.78\00:33:17.09
into the marvelous light.
00:33:17.29\00:33:19.27
I say "let the church be
the church. " What about you?
00:33:19.57\00:33:22.94
Amen. Let the
church be the church.
00:33:23.15\00:33:25.12
Don't try to govern the church.
00:33:25.32\00:33:27.09
Huh? Don't try to influence
the church to go my way.
00:33:27.29\00:33:31.35
Huh? No, no! Let the
church be the church.
00:33:31.55\00:33:35.69
Tell the Holy Spirit to come
in. He's the Guardian, isn't He?
00:33:36.58\00:33:39.68
He's the Guide.
He is the Comforter.
00:33:39.89\00:33:42.66
Let the church be the church.
Pentecost was Inauguration Day.
00:33:42.86\00:33:46.89
Messiah was
enthroned on that day.
00:33:47.29\00:33:51.41
And where is His throne?
Right here among His people.
00:33:51.61\00:33:54.29
A nation was born, and all of
its subjects become ambassadors.
00:33:54.49\00:34:00.17
Moses, which came
through... You know, Moses...
00:34:01.53\00:34:03.61
Somebody said: "They're
over there prophesying. "
00:34:03.91\00:34:05.54
And Moses said: "I wish all
God's people were prophets. "
00:34:05.74\00:34:08.18
Witnesses and models
of this new situation.
00:34:10.50\00:34:14.84
So the newly baptized
become a saving community
00:34:15.04\00:34:19.99
where Christ is enthroned.
00:34:20.19\00:34:23.28
Where? What is Jesus' address?
00:34:23.58\00:34:26.70
Jesus' address is where two
or three are gathered together.
00:34:26.90\00:34:30.58
Ah, come on now: "I am there. "
00:34:30.78\00:34:33.58
Now I don't want
to get in any trouble.
00:34:33.88\00:34:37.41
I am very
careful. But Jesus said:
00:34:37.91\00:34:43.33
"When you want to see Me
00:34:43.53\00:34:44.86
you don't go to the
Conference committee. "
00:34:45.26\00:34:48.21
I'm sorry... I'm so sorry.
00:34:48.52\00:34:51.11
He's there... but
His place of residence
00:34:52.10\00:34:56.79
is in His church.
Amen. That's where He is.
00:34:57.00\00:35:01.04
That's where He lives!
00:35:01.14\00:35:03.70
Jesus is in His church,
and His church is the agency
00:35:04.00\00:35:06.95
that will bring this
rebel planet back to Him! Amen.
00:35:07.15\00:35:11.54
He's using us. We are
His first line of defense.
00:35:11.67\00:35:15.62
And the end, my
brother, my sister, the end
00:35:15.92\00:35:19.81
has already begun. Do
you believe that? Amen.
00:35:20.01\00:35:23.13
The end has already begun. Amen.
00:35:23.33\00:35:26.29
We cannot overemphasize
how great our God is
00:35:26.43\00:35:31.18
and what He is doing in
the plan that He has devised
00:35:31.99\00:35:35.36
for our salvation.
00:35:35.56\00:35:38.00
So I have got to be transparent.
I've got to look above all else
00:35:39.13\00:35:44.07
to see what the
people of God are doing.
00:35:44.27\00:35:49.47
What are you doing for Jesus
00:35:49.67\00:35:51.93
as the days go by?
00:35:53.41\00:35:55.91
And I must tell you that
His intent - God's intent -
00:35:56.21\00:35:59.34
was for you to be His mouthpiece
00:35:59.54\00:36:03.60
in the earth.
00:36:04.77\00:36:05.89
So each one, Peter says,
00:36:07.01\00:36:09.85
should use whatever gift he
has received to serve others.
00:36:10.15\00:36:14.51
Amen.
00:36:14.81\00:36:16.06
So we preachers can't
preach just to make the saints
00:36:16.46\00:36:19.92
feel comfortable.
00:36:20.02\00:36:22.78
Sometimes we've
got to stir you all up.
00:36:23.78\00:36:25.86
Amen.
00:36:26.16\00:36:27.66
Now you may be mad when you
go home for your Sabbath dinner
00:36:27.96\00:36:30.61
but that's all right.
00:36:30.81\00:36:32.85
If you're mad, you're
still alive. Come on now.
00:36:33.05\00:36:35.66
If you're dead you
would have no response at all,
00:36:36.06\00:36:38.86
but here you are
now. All of us are here.
00:36:39.06\00:36:41.25
And each of us is a part
of this grand assignment.
00:36:42.23\00:36:45.89
And it will not be
over until Jesus returns
00:36:47.25\00:36:51.86
in the clouds of glory. Amen!
00:36:51.96\00:36:54.69
Now I want to
go back to Malachi.
00:36:55.84\00:36:57.87
I've got some good
light. I don't say new light.
00:36:57.97\00:37:01.10
I spoke about new light
too much, and a dear person
00:37:01.20\00:37:05.42
came to me last night and
said: "I've got some new light
00:37:05.62\00:37:07.51
for you. " Right
here. And I accepted it.
00:37:07.61\00:37:11.33
That's right. I accepted
it and I thanked the person.
00:37:11.63\00:37:15.20
Didn't say male or
female. I thanked the person
00:37:15.40\00:37:18.22
for that wonderful light brought
to me which I needed all along.
00:37:18.42\00:37:21.71
So I'm going to
Malachi. Where are we going?
00:37:21.91\00:37:23.60
Malachi. We're going to Malachi
00:37:23.80\00:37:25.26
the third chapter. We're talking
to the people who are assigned.
00:37:25.36\00:37:29.73
God's assignment people.
00:37:29.93\00:37:31.39
Look at verse 1.
"Behold... " he says.
00:37:31.59\00:37:34.94
"I will send My messenger
00:37:35.14\00:37:38.59
and he will
prepare the way before Me.
00:37:38.79\00:37:41.31
And the Lord whom ye seek shall
suddenly come to His temple.
00:37:42.82\00:37:47.77
Even the
messenger of the covenant
00:37:47.97\00:37:50.71
whom ye delight in.
Behold, He shall come
00:37:51.01\00:37:54.89
saith the Lord of Hosts. "
00:37:55.09\00:37:57.82
He's speaking now to us
00:37:58.02\00:38:00.68
because Sister White
says Malachi and Revelation
00:38:00.88\00:38:05.42
go together. He's
speaking to us and he says:
00:38:05.62\00:38:09.50
"But who may abide
the day of His coming?
00:38:09.70\00:38:12.32
Who shall stand
when He appeareth?
00:38:12.52\00:38:14.56
For He is like a refiner's fire
00:38:14.76\00:38:16.86
and like fullers' soap. "
00:38:17.06\00:38:19.10
When He comes this is
what He does: He will purify.
00:38:19.30\00:38:23.63
"He shall sit as a
refiner and purifier of silver;
00:38:23.93\00:38:28.29
He shall purify
the sons of Levi,
00:38:28.49\00:38:31.00
purge them as gold and silver,
00:38:31.20\00:38:32.71
that they may offer
unto the Lord an offering
00:38:32.91\00:38:36.42
in righteousness. "
00:38:36.62\00:38:38.53
Now what is Malachi telling us?
00:38:38.83\00:38:40.89
He's telling us that...
What do we have there singing?
00:38:41.19\00:38:44.92
Somebody hear some singing?
00:38:45.22\00:38:47.00
I don't know how it got
on. Let's turn that singing off
00:38:48.37\00:38:52.42
because I don't want
you to hear them singing
00:38:53.89\00:38:55.91
I want you to hear me preaching.
00:38:56.01\00:38:57.72
I'm sorry. Thank you very much
00:38:58.58\00:39:01.65
for giving us a little
more calmness in our soul.
00:39:01.85\00:39:04.16
Well Ellen White
says - Sister White says -
00:39:04.36\00:39:06.87
that Jesus here
coming to His temple
00:39:07.37\00:39:13.35
is actually a
representation of what we call
00:39:13.55\00:39:18.40
the Investigative Judgment.
00:39:18.60\00:39:20.72
All right? Now
you've got to think now.
00:39:21.78\00:39:24.23
I'm not just entertaining you.
00:39:24.33\00:39:25.55
There's a little bit of
entertainment in preaching.
00:39:25.75\00:39:27.73
We're not doing any
kind of entertaining in this.
00:39:27.93\00:39:30.01
I was talking about something
that's as serious as it
00:39:30.12\00:39:33.19
possibly can be.
00:39:33.29\00:39:34.73
Sister White says that
this coming to the temple
00:39:35.91\00:39:39.82
is not the coming
in the clouds of heaven
00:39:40.02\00:39:41.74
but it is coming to set up
the Investigative Judgment.
00:39:41.94\00:39:45.98
Now let's go to Daniel.
00:39:47.32\00:39:49.30
I think you're listening
now. Let's go to Daniel.
00:39:50.55\00:39:52.66
Let's go to Daniel.
We'll go to Daniel chapter 7
00:39:53.93\00:39:57.62
which we all know so well.
00:39:57.82\00:39:59.70
Daniel chapter 7. And
we're going to talk here
00:40:00.01\00:40:03.34
in Daniel... We're going
to begin here in Daniel 7
00:40:04.58\00:40:08.24
where he says: "I
beheld till the thrones
00:40:08.44\00:40:12.85
were cast down... " OK?
00:40:13.05\00:40:14.68
That's verse 9.
00:40:14.88\00:40:16.86
"and the Ancient
of Days did sit. "
00:40:17.06\00:40:19.98
The Father.
00:40:20.18\00:40:21.71
"Whose garment was white as
snow, His hair like pure wool.
00:40:21.91\00:40:26.46
His throne was
like a fiery flame,
00:40:26.67\00:40:29.41
and His wheels
as burning fire. "
00:40:29.61\00:40:31.37
Look at verse 10.
00:40:31.57\00:40:32.68
"A fiery stream issued and
came forth from before Him.
00:40:32.88\00:40:36.80
Thousands,
thousands ministered unto Him.
00:40:37.00\00:40:39.50
Ten thousands times ten
thousands stood before Him. "
00:40:39.70\00:40:43.00
And what does it
say? "The judgment was set
00:40:43.20\00:40:46.18
and the books were opened. "
00:40:46.48\00:40:48.61
Then verse 11 he says:
00:40:50.05\00:40:51.97
"I beheld then because of
the voice of the great words
00:40:52.07\00:40:55.27
which the horn spake. I
beheld even till the beast
00:40:55.37\00:40:58.24
was slain, his body destroyed
and given to the burning flame.
00:40:58.35\00:41:01.33
As concerned the rest of
the beasts, they had dominion
00:41:01.53\00:41:04.33
taken away. Their lives
were prolonged for a season. "
00:41:04.43\00:41:07.78
And verse 13 says:
00:41:07.98\00:41:09.98
"I saw in the night visions
00:41:10.18\00:41:13.15
and behold, one
like the Son of Man
00:41:13.35\00:41:16.49
came with the clouds of heaven.
00:41:16.69\00:41:18.66
Came to the Ancient of
Days and they brought Him
00:41:18.86\00:41:21.96
near before Him. "
00:41:22.16\00:41:23.85
Look at the scene.
Never been before portrayed
00:41:25.02\00:41:30.15
in any literature.
00:41:30.35\00:41:32.17
The great God,
the Father of us all,
00:41:33.14\00:41:37.40
seated on His throne.
00:41:37.70\00:41:39.76
And now they bring
someone in in the night vision.
00:41:41.08\00:41:46.77
One like the Son of Man
came with the clouds of heaven
00:41:47.73\00:41:52.74
and came to the Ancient of Days
00:41:52.94\00:41:55.94
and they brought
Him near before Him.
00:41:56.14\00:41:58.62
That's the reason Adventists
never use the word trinity.
00:41:58.92\00:42:02.62
You know that, don't you?
00:42:02.82\00:42:03.95
The word trinity is not in
any of Ellen White's writings
00:42:04.15\00:42:06.91
and the preachers
didn't preach on it.
00:42:07.11\00:42:08.65
But before they understood
really what the trinity is
00:42:08.85\00:42:12.26
there was three Gods in one.
00:42:12.46\00:42:15.31
There was there
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
00:42:15.61\00:42:19.05
And these three are
one, and before we...
00:42:19.35\00:42:22.55
We don't need to concoct
any words to describe Him.
00:42:22.85\00:42:26.36
There He is:
Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
00:42:26.56\00:42:29.79
Amen!
00:42:29.99\00:42:31.09
And they brought the
Son in to the Father.
00:42:31.40\00:42:35.20
Presented Him to
the Ancient of Days.
00:42:36.54\00:42:39.87
"And there was given Him
dominion and glory and a kingdom
00:42:40.21\00:42:42.93
that all people, nations,
and languages served Him.
00:42:43.13\00:42:46.35
His dominion is an
everlasting dominion
00:42:46.59\00:42:49.52
which shall not pass away
00:42:49.55\00:42:51.90
and His kingdom that
which shall not be destroyed. "
00:42:52.10\00:42:56.70
Seventh-day
Adventist brothers and sisters,
00:42:57.00\00:42:58.91
we really need to
sharpen up this one.
00:42:59.21\00:43:02.32
We need to grasp and
we need to understand
00:43:03.47\00:43:06.36
the scene. We need to view
it carefully and distinctively.
00:43:06.56\00:43:10.61
We need to look at
what is really happening.
00:43:10.81\00:43:13.52
There it is, my
friends. During this time
00:43:13.72\00:43:16.68
between the
already and the not yet
00:43:16.88\00:43:18.88
something happens in glory!
00:43:19.08\00:43:21.05
The Father said: "It's
time to set up the end. "
00:43:22.29\00:43:26.09
"It's time to make choices
of who shall sit on those
00:43:27.34\00:43:31.19
thrones in glory. "
00:43:31.30\00:43:32.94
"It's time for us to
gather a people: every nation,
00:43:33.14\00:43:36.77
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:43:36.98\00:43:38.27
It's time for us to
bring them into a fellowship...
00:43:38.47\00:43:41.95
a communion one with another
00:43:42.25\00:43:44.92
so that they will learn
to live with each other and
00:43:45.22\00:43:47.62
agree with each
other. " By the way,
00:43:47.72\00:43:50.66
we are... We have great
doctrines and wonderful truths
00:43:50.86\00:43:54.88
and we can memorize them
all. And that would be good;
00:43:55.08\00:43:57.04
it would be
helpful. But you know,
00:43:57.24\00:43:59.93
that's not the end thereof.
00:44:00.13\00:44:03.29
The end thereof: to get a people
together who love one another
00:44:03.59\00:44:08.09
just like Jesus
loved them. Amen.
00:44:08.29\00:44:10.90
That's what it's all about.
00:44:11.10\00:44:12.11
F. Scott Fitzgerald... I
never read all of his stuff
00:44:13.44\00:44:15.83
but I read people who read them.
You know, I get a little reviews
00:44:16.03\00:44:18.78
here and there. F.
Scott Fitzgerald, greatest...
00:44:18.88\00:44:21.01
supposedly the
greatest novelist in the world
00:44:21.22\00:44:23.15
and wrote The Great Gatsby
and all that type of stuff.
00:44:23.25\00:44:25.57
He wrote... When he passed
away he left all of his writings
00:44:25.77\00:44:29.47
in the hand of his executor.
00:44:29.67\00:44:31.87
Now you never get through with
your writings... you know that.
00:44:32.08\00:44:36.18
And after... Now
this is terrible but Mark,
00:44:37.36\00:44:41.54
after Bro. Mark is gone
somebody'll be rumbling through
00:44:41.74\00:44:45.07
his sermons and some graduate
student will say: "Oh, this is
00:44:45.17\00:44:48.91
what he said here. " Well, when
F. Scott Fitzgerald passed on
00:44:49.01\00:44:52.94
they went through his writings
and they had a lot of plots
00:44:53.14\00:44:55.73
that he had never
finished. One of the plots was
00:44:55.83\00:44:58.26
a rich man on a hill had
six buddies down in a valley
00:44:58.46\00:45:02.22
who were poor as Joe's turkey
but he liked to play cards
00:45:02.42\00:45:05.27
and chess with them
and so forth and so on.
00:45:05.47\00:45:07.42
And so they had a
big time all the time.
00:45:07.62\00:45:09.70
And then he went to his palace,
they went to their little huts.
00:45:09.90\00:45:13.27
And he liked them a great
deal so he made up his will
00:45:13.47\00:45:16.77
and his will said:
"When I'm gone you six guys
00:45:16.97\00:45:20.89
will have my house. "
00:45:21.09\00:45:23.41
But there's a little... what you
call it? a little something here
00:45:23.61\00:45:27.28
Huh? Caveat! Man, you're smart.
00:45:27.48\00:45:30.02
Caveat... a little caveat here
00:45:30.32\00:45:33.00
and the caveat is: "you guys
have got to live in this house
00:45:33.21\00:45:37.79
one year without one
cross word between you
00:45:37.99\00:45:40.36
and then you will own it. "
00:45:40.56\00:45:42.98
And so my Lord has
called us together.
00:45:45.12\00:45:47.79
He said: "You've got to live
here and love one another. "
00:45:47.99\00:45:51.17
Come on now. Amen!
00:45:51.37\00:45:53.17
I have had deacons say: "I
ain't gonna work with him. "
00:45:53.47\00:45:57.11
And that's just where
you need to be. Come on now.
00:45:57.51\00:46:00.05
Because because because
I rub you and you rub me.
00:46:00.25\00:46:03.87
And that rubbing you
files me down makes me smooth
00:46:04.07\00:46:08.09
on that side. So sit
down next to that brother.
00:46:08.29\00:46:10.75
Shake hands with that sister.
00:46:12.29\00:46:14.82
And these people of
God... let me tell you about it.
00:46:15.12\00:46:17.76
These people of God are
going to learn to live together
00:46:17.96\00:46:22.00
and the whole universe is
going to look on them and say
00:46:22.31\00:46:25.76
"How could the
Lord ever do that? "
00:46:25.96\00:46:27.93
Well He's God
Almighty isn't He, friends?
00:46:28.13\00:46:30.08
He knows what He's doing.
00:46:30.28\00:46:31.48
He can bring enemies
together and make them friends.
00:46:31.68\00:46:34.60
And my Bible says "When a
man's ways please the Lord
00:46:34.80\00:46:38.15
He maketh even his enemies
to be at peace with him. "
00:46:38.35\00:46:41.48
Amen.
00:46:41.68\00:46:42.83
And God bless the
church that loves each other.
00:46:43.89\00:46:48.80
And that doesn't mean
that we are all just a bunch
00:46:50.31\00:46:52.50
of little...
give me another word.
00:46:52.60\00:46:54.57
The Lord doesn't want
us to just be here robots.
00:46:56.77\00:47:02.45
He wants us to speak the truth.
00:47:03.93\00:47:06.02
And if I made a mistake
in my sermon, you ought to
00:47:06.32\00:47:09.00
come see me. Say: "Brother,
you said the wrong thing. "
00:47:09.10\00:47:11.20
I may get a
little hot for one minute
00:47:11.50\00:47:14.33
and then I gather
myself and say: "You're right.
00:47:14.53\00:47:17.91
Let's pray about
it. " And you know?
00:47:18.11\00:47:20.30
I found this out
about my people -
00:47:20.50\00:47:23.63
and all you are my people,
00:47:23.83\00:47:25.45
you may not own me
but you're my people -
00:47:25.65\00:47:27.91
all of you are my people,
but I found out something about
00:47:28.11\00:47:32.06
my people: we have a hard time
going to my brother, my sister,
00:47:32.16\00:47:36.01
We go to the
phone... and we text it
00:47:37.53\00:47:43.04
and we spread it around.
00:47:43.34\00:47:46.93
And as you play that game Gossip
as it goes from one to the other
00:47:47.13\00:47:50.76
it begins to
grow and grow and grow
00:47:50.96\00:47:53.08
until the first man that put
it in won't even recognize it.
00:47:53.18\00:47:56.76
How much better it is
00:47:56.96\00:47:59.77
if something comes up
and I have a little problem
00:48:00.08\00:48:05.05
with you or you with me
00:48:05.25\00:48:06.89
that you come to me. Amen. Huh?
00:48:07.19\00:48:11.56
That's what He said.
When He set that church up...
00:48:12.17\00:48:14.57
when He set the
church up He gave it a
00:48:14.87\00:48:17.13
constitution and bylaws. Hmmm?
00:48:17.24\00:48:19.66
The con... Yes it is, yes it is.
00:48:19.86\00:48:22.46
Constitution. I'm
a constitutionalist!
00:48:22.66\00:48:26.13
The constitution said: "Upon
this rock I build My church.
00:48:26.33\00:48:30.13
Gates of hell shall
not prevail against it. "
00:48:30.33\00:48:32.69
But then it goes on and gives
you some bylaws to live by.
00:48:32.89\00:48:37.01
And they say: "If you have
ought against your brother... "
00:48:37.15\00:48:39.41
That's the bylaws.
00:48:39.61\00:48:42.85
Don't go to this one,
that one, and the other one.
00:48:43.05\00:48:45.64
Go to him or her.
00:48:45.94\00:48:48.96
And I have done it.
Now lots of times, friends,
00:48:49.16\00:48:52.05
I've got to admit
I'm sinful, I'm weak.
00:48:52.25\00:48:54.31
Lot of times just
didn't want to do it.
00:48:54.51\00:48:56.60
But whenever the Lord
got behind me and pushed me,
00:48:57.82\00:49:01.85
wouldn't give me rest.
00:49:02.15\00:49:04.61
That's why my dear old dad
used to pray about us boys.
00:49:04.81\00:49:08.20
Say: "Lord, give them
no rest day nor night. "
00:49:08.41\00:49:10.99
And I went to my brother.
00:49:14.09\00:49:16.50
I said: "I hear about
these things. What about it? "
00:49:16.80\00:49:21.88
He said: "This
is the way it was. "
00:49:22.08\00:49:23.75
And you know, most of the
time when I get to the brother
00:49:23.78\00:49:26.71
or sister and they tell
me the way it really was
00:49:26.91\00:49:30.11
it's new to me. I
didn't know it was like that.
00:49:30.31\00:49:32.43
But somebody brought
it to me the wrong way.
00:49:32.53\00:49:34.70
Now this is maybe a
little too practical.
00:49:35.91\00:49:38.53
This is not theoretical.
00:49:38.83\00:49:41.05
You can't win on this by
just saying in a quiz or test
00:49:41.25\00:49:46.77
for a grade... this is life!
00:49:46.87\00:49:49.83
This is life.
00:49:50.03\00:49:53.15
Momma and Daddy: the Lord told
you don't let the sun go down.
00:49:53.87\00:49:59.58
Hmmm?
00:49:59.78\00:50:02.05
And I'm going to pray for you.
I'll say: "Lord, don't give them
00:50:03.60\00:50:05.82
any rest day nor night. "
00:50:05.92\00:50:09.15
Because this church
has got to be one people
00:50:09.45\00:50:12.49
going through
together to the kingdom.
00:50:12.69\00:50:15.14
And let me tell
you this one thing:
00:50:15.34\00:50:16.97
the old African brethren say
"when the cattle stick together
00:50:17.18\00:50:21.01
the lions go hungry. "
00:50:22.54\00:50:25.34
So He says: "This is My
messenger. " He's right now
00:50:28.29\00:50:32.15
in the sanctuary.
That's where He is.
00:50:32.35\00:50:35.00
The Leader, our Jesus, is
there and said He'll sit like a
00:50:35.20\00:50:39.97
purifier of silver,
gold. He purifies you.
00:50:40.07\00:50:45.26
A refiner's fire
and a fuller's soap!
00:50:45.46\00:50:48.95
Grandma's lye soap.
00:50:49.25\00:50:51.86
Get any stain out of you.
00:50:53.44\00:50:55.24
Might kill you
after you wear it, but...
00:50:55.44\00:50:57.75
no stain can stand
Grandma's lye soap.
00:50:57.96\00:51:01.02
And He'll sit there.
Jesus, our Savior who loves us,
00:51:01.33\00:51:05.21
sits there. And
I'm here to tell you
00:51:05.41\00:51:07.97
that the church is the crucible.
00:51:08.17\00:51:11.70
And He throws us all in there
00:51:12.10\00:51:14.86
and He turns on the heat.
00:51:15.16\00:51:17.91
And the old
preachers used to say
00:51:19.34\00:51:21.55
that the refiner would tell
them when there was enough heat.
00:51:21.75\00:51:25.06
He didn't want to
just you know... when He
00:51:25.26\00:51:28.33
put up the heat a
little more a little more
00:51:28.53\00:51:30.06
it became molten.
And he said: "How long? "
00:51:30.26\00:51:32.59
He said: "I put the heat
on until I can look into it
00:51:32.79\00:51:36.52
and see the
reflection of my own face. "
00:51:36.72\00:51:39.16
And Ellen White says
"When the church" - huh? -
00:51:40.39\00:51:44.71
"reflects the
character of Christ
00:51:44.95\00:51:48.18
then He will... " do what? "Come
to claim them as His own. "
00:51:48.38\00:51:53.94
And so I'm here to tell you
like the preacher said before
00:51:55.14\00:51:58.89
"We are winners. " Now I'm
so sorry for my colloquialisms
00:52:00.99\00:52:06.34
and my common expressions,
but we used to tell the boys
00:52:06.44\00:52:09.57
on the
playground: "You can't win
00:52:09.77\00:52:15.16
because of the mess you're in.
00:52:15.19\00:52:18.26
But I can't lose
with the stuff I use. "
00:52:18.56\00:52:22.86
Now it's not good -
don't repeat it out of here -
00:52:23.06\00:52:25.51
but you understand what I mean.
I mean that God has given us
00:52:25.71\00:52:30.76
an advantage - Amen -
00:52:30.96\00:52:33.11
because the
refiner is purifying us.
00:52:33.31\00:52:36.30
And then when it's
purified He can stamp upon it
00:52:36.60\00:52:40.35
"hallmark, hallmark, hallmark, "
00:52:40.55\00:52:43.59
and that hallmark will carry you
through to the kingdom of God.
00:52:43.89\00:52:48.61
These are the words
the Lord gave me to speak.
00:52:49.01\00:52:52.52
These are the words I have tried
to bring you in my feeble way
00:52:52.82\00:52:56.34
today because the Spirit of God
has come and been poured out.
00:52:56.45\00:53:00.08
And Peter got up
on Pentecost Day;
00:53:00.18\00:53:02.48
he said the same thing.
He said: "Just like Joel said
00:53:02.68\00:53:06.26
it will happen now.
Everybody who receives Him
00:53:06.46\00:53:10.39
will receive the Holy
Spirit in His fullness. "
00:53:10.59\00:53:13.85
So I leave you with these
words: it only takes a what?
00:53:14.15\00:53:18.44
Spark to get the fire burning.
00:53:18.64\00:53:22.48
Right here, right here.
I know I'm a little longer
00:53:22.88\00:53:27.25
but I've got to finish
this little part. Right here,
00:53:27.45\00:53:30.46
right here: 3ABN Camp Meeting
00:53:30.66\00:53:36.57
Homecoming. Right
here let the fire fall.
00:53:36.77\00:53:42.01
Amen. Let the fire fall!
00:53:42.31\00:53:45.10
I want the people
to say with Bradford:
00:53:45.50\00:53:48.04
"Let the fire
fall... let the fire fall! "
00:53:48.24\00:53:51.69
It only takes a spark
to set the fire glowing.
00:53:52.09\00:53:58.02
And don't you get too near
to me 'cause you're going to get
00:53:58.42\00:54:01.29
some fire.
00:54:01.39\00:54:02.94
All right. God
bless you; God bless you.
00:54:03.24\00:54:07.30
It only takes a spark
00:54:09.47\00:54:14.37
to get a fire going.
00:54:14.57\00:54:20.21
And soon all those around
00:54:20.51\00:54:25.15
will warm up in its glowing.
00:54:25.35\00:54:30.98
That's how it is with
00:54:31.28\00:54:34.63
God's love...
00:54:34.83\00:54:37.66
once you've experienced it
00:54:38.06\00:54:42.68
you share His love
00:54:42.98\00:54:45.72
to everyone
00:54:45.92\00:54:48.65
You want to pass it
on. Hold that up a minute.
00:54:48.95\00:54:54.57
Hold that up...
evangelists are like this:
00:54:54.71\00:54:56.43
they butt in on everybody.
00:54:56.63\00:54:58.36
I want to say this to
you: you can do it now.
00:54:58.76\00:55:02.34
Right here you can
stand up on your feet.
00:55:03.32\00:55:06.88
Come on. Stand up on
your feet and say: "Lord,
00:55:07.09\00:55:09.29
let the fire fall on me
today. Let it fall on me. "
00:55:09.49\00:55:13.24
"Lord, breathe on
me breath of God. "
00:55:13.74\00:55:16.31
"Let the fire fall on me. "
00:55:16.41\00:55:18.54
Let's go out of here with
firebrands, every one of us.
00:55:18.84\00:55:21.56
Carrying a
firebrand and lighting others.
00:55:21.76\00:55:24.57
Lighting others with the fire
00:55:24.77\00:55:28.53
that we received at 3ABN. Amen.
00:55:28.83\00:55:32.26
Now sing one more time and
then we'll have the benediction.
00:55:32.36\00:55:36.14
Once more please now.
00:55:36.44\00:55:39.00
I wish for you my friend
00:55:39.20\00:55:42.86
this happiness that I've found.
00:55:43.06\00:55:48.91
You can depend on Him
00:55:49.21\00:55:53.99
it matters not
where you're bound.
00:55:54.39\00:56:00.32
I'll shout it
00:56:00.62\00:56:03.20
from the mountain tops.
00:56:03.31\00:56:07.95
I want the world to know
00:56:08.25\00:56:13.89
the Lord of Love
00:56:14.20\00:56:17.25
has come to me
00:56:17.28\00:56:20.78
I want to pass
00:56:20.98\00:56:26.96
it on.
00:56:27.26\00:56:33.13
Oh, Father in heaven,
00:56:33.33\00:56:35.30
we thank you, Lord,
00:56:35.70\00:56:37.73
for sending us this
message today through the power
00:56:39.60\00:56:42.59
of the Holy Spirit and through
your servant, Elder Bradford.
00:56:42.69\00:56:45.66
Father I pray that we
will take this to heart,
00:56:46.81\00:56:50.52
every part of it.
00:56:50.72\00:56:52.03
Father, I pray that
hurts will be healed.
00:56:53.40\00:56:56.59
That feelings will evaporate.
00:56:58.14\00:57:02.81
That the goals will be
set of spreading the gospel
00:57:04.01\00:57:08.86
together around the world
00:57:09.06\00:57:11.36
to a lost and dying world.
00:57:11.67\00:57:15.91
Father take us...
00:57:16.31\00:57:18.96
use us, human as we are, Father.
00:57:19.26\00:57:22.71
Use us we pray. In
Jesus' name, Amen. Amen.
00:57:23.82\00:57:29.81