Participants: Charles E. Bradford
Series Code: 11HC
Program Code: 11HC000011
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01:04 My faithful Father,
01:12 enduring Friend, 01:17 Your tender mercy 01:20 is like a river 01:24 with no wind 01:27 It overwhelms me 01:34 Covers my sin. 01:39 Each time I come into 01:44 Your presence 01:46 I stand in wonder 01:50 once again. 01:54 Your grace 01:58 still amazes me. 02:02 Your love 02:05 is still a mystery. 02:09 Each day 02:13 I fall on my knees. 02:19 Your grace 02:22 still amazes me. 02:27 Your grace 02:29 still amazes me. 02:48 Oh patient Savior, 02:55 You make me whole. 03:01 You are the author 03:04 and the healer 03:08 of my soul. 03:11 What can I give You? 03:18 Lord, what can I say? 03:23 I know there's no way to 03:27 repay You. 03:30 Only to offer You 03:34 my praise. 03:38 Your grace 03:42 still amazes me. 03:46 Your love 03:49 is still a mystery. 03:53 Each day 03:56 I fall on my knees. 04:02 Your grace 04:05 still amazes me. 04:10 Your grace 04:12 still amazes me. 04:16 It's deeper, 04:19 It's wider, 04:23 It's stronger, 04:26 It's higher, 04:30 It's deeper, 04:34 It's wider, 04:37 It's stronger, 04:41 It's higher than anything 04:47 my eyes can see. 04:51 Oh grace 04:54 still amazes me. 04:58 Your love 05:01 is still a mystery. 05:05 Each day 05:08 I fall on my knees. 05:14 Your grace 05:17 still amazes me. 05:22 Your grace 05:24 still amazes 05:30 me. 05:49 Amen. 05:52 Praise the Lord! 05:56 There's been so many blessings that we have received. 06:00 I'm having so many people tell me what a blessing 06:04 this Camp Meeting has been to them. Amen. 06:07 These two men of God: Elder Mark Finley 06:11 and Elder Charles Bradford 06:13 have been bringing us messages that we need to hear. 06:19 And messages that encourage and lift 06:23 and prepare us for these last days. 06:27 We praise the Lord for it. 06:28 Elder Bradford will be coming in a moment 06:30 to bring a message to us entitled We Are Assigned. 06:37 And before he comes 06:40 Yvonne Lewis is going to sing for us 06:45 one of my favorite songs: Via Dolorosa. 07:22 Down the Via Dolorosa, 07:26 in Jerusalem that day, 07:29 The soldiers tried to clear 07:32 the narrow streets, 07:36 But the crowd pressed in to see 07:40 the Man condemned to die on Calvary. 07:49 He was bleeding from a beating, 07:53 there were stripes upon His back, 07:57 And He wore a crown of thorns upon His head. 08:03 And He bore with ev'ry step 08:07 The scorn of those who cried out for His death! 08:13 Down the Via Dolorosa 08:17 Called "the way of suffering" 08:21 Like a Lamb came the Messiah, 08:24 Christ the King. 08:28 But He chose to walk that road 08:31 out of His love for you and me. 08:38 Down the Via Dolorosa 08:41 all the way 08:44 to Calvary. 08:51 Por la Vía Dolorosa 08:55 Triste vía en Jerusalén 08:58 Los soldados le abrián paso a Jesús 09:04 Mas la gente se acercaba 09:09 Para ver al que llevaba aquella cruz 09:14 Por la Vía Dolorosa 09:19 Que es la vía del dolor 09:22 Como oveja vino Cristo 09:25 Rey y Señor 09:29 Y fue El quien quiso ir 09:32 Por amor a ti 09:36 y a mi 09:39 Por la Vía Dolorosa 09:43 al Calvario a morir 09:49 The blood that would cleanse 09:53 the souls of all men 09:57 Made its way through the heart 10:00 of Jerusalem 10:05 Down the 10:09 Via Dolorosa 10:12 called "the way of suffering" 10:16 Like a lamb came the Messiah, 10:19 Christ the King 10:23 But He chose to walk that road 10:27 out of His love for you and me 10:34 Down the Via Dolorosa, 10:38 all the way 10:41 to Calvary. 11:26 Well my cup runneth over. 11:29 Amen. 11:31 All of these meetings... I don't know what to do with myself. 11:35 I'm like the preachers who had a little circle that they 11:38 met every week and talked about their parish and other 11:43 things. And one was one denomination 11:46 the other was another and third... maybe one was 11:48 Adventist. And one said: "I tell you, brethren, 11:50 I have a little problem with such and such. " 11:52 Another one: "I have a little problem. " 11:55 Began to having a little confession, come-to-Jesus moment 11:58 and the third one, I don't know if he was an Adventist preacher 12:00 or not, he said: "I can't wait to get out of here 12:03 to tell everybody what I heard! " 12:05 And so I can't wait till I get back to Huntsville, Alabama. 12:11 Tell those people: "You ain't seen nothing yet. " 12:14 Amen. 12:16 Now you've got to protect me because they won't like it 12:21 but I've got to say it anyhow. 12:23 Now we are here on this Sabbath day 12:27 and I'm wanting to talk about our assignment. 12:34 You used to have assignments, didn't you? 12:37 And they were due on Thursday morning at 10 AM. 12:41 And you had a sleepless night on Wednesday 12:46 because you knew you had to bring your assignment. 12:49 I'm looking at a man right here that I met years ago 12:52 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was one of the Superintendents 12:54 of Schools in Memphis. He looks like my son 12:57 he's so young but he said he's retired. 12:59 But I know he has given a lot of assignments in his day. 13:03 But more than that 13:06 Jesus has given us all an assignment. 13:12 We are under assignment. 13:14 We're not just a people who come to meetings and enjoy 13:18 things. We do and we should. 13:21 And it's God's plan that we come and meet together. 13:24 That's fine! 13:27 But the Seventh-day Adventist church, the remnant of God 13:32 in these last days, has a special assignment. 13:36 Amen. 13:38 Go ahead, enjoy the music. Amen I say! 13:42 You make fun of me, and so you're not new to me. 13:46 My own children make fun of me. 13:49 And my grandchildren are almost worse. 13:51 And the great-grand is coming along, and he's the toughest 13:53 of all! And so they said: "Granddaddy, is such and such? " 13:58 And one time I heard them call me "Old hard nut man" you know. 14:03 They call me... What did they call me, Ethel? 14:07 You know what they call... She doesn't want to say it. 14:09 I know she doesn't want to say it. 14:10 But a little old name they have for me that I was a tightwad 14:13 you know. And I notice, however, 14:16 that the little old... the old granddaddy tightwad 14:19 that they laughed at every now and then 14:22 they've got to sidle up to him and say: "Granddad, 14:24 I think I need a little something, you know. " 14:25 So they're glad for him then. 14:26 They don't call me... they say "Wonderful Dad" at that time. 14:31 But we're here on assignment. That's what I'm trying to say. 14:35 I'm asking the Lord to help me to say the right words 14:41 here at this meeting... this important meeting. 14:49 We are assigned. I want to take that assignment seriously. 14:54 These people - end-time people - 14:56 you're God's end-time people. You've got to accept that. 15:00 You didn't take it; He gave it to you. 15:03 He called you. Didn't He call you? 15:06 Amen. 15:07 Placed you here. 15:09 And we appeared on time. 15:13 After the stars had fallen. 15:16 Before the heavens are split wide open, we are here 15:20 between the already and the not yet. 15:23 We come on the stage. You know, it's like you as a people 15:28 come on this stage at such and such a time... 15:31 a specific time. 15:34 You have a distinct identity. Didn't we talk about that? 15:38 Your identity. Who are you? 15:41 So many people are confused about their identity. 15:45 They don't know who they are. 15:47 But you know who you are: 15:49 the people of God, God's end-time people. 15:53 I think I'll read this text and then have a prayer. 15:57 Revelation 14 and verse 12. 16:04 "Here... " Here... I'm looking at you and pointing at you. 16:10 "Here is the patience of the saints. " 16:14 Here! Tell the devil that. 16:18 You don't need to tell him, he knows already. 16:20 He's already marked this spot. 16:22 If he could throw some kind of bomb here he would. 16:25 But we've got good relationship with somebody. 16:29 Amen! I know somebody 16:32 who can handle any situation, so you don't need to fear. 16:35 Here they are: the people of God! 16:42 "They keep the commandments of God 16:45 and the faith of Jesus. " Oh, dear Lord, 16:49 dear Lord. You called us here together 16:53 and we just need by Your grace to be reminded today 16:58 of who we are and what we ought to be about. 17:04 Thank you for Your promise, and we rely upon it now 17:08 because we are weak and You are strong. 17:10 In Jesus' name, Amen. Amen. 17:14 Now the apostle Peter says a few words to you and to me. 17:20 He says in I Peter the second chapter and verse 9 17:25 he says: "But you are a chosen generation. " 17:31 That's who you are. Now I get a little tough with 17:35 people because people keep telling me: 17:37 "I'm just a layman. " 17:39 What do you mean you're just a layman? 17:40 You're just a stone in the body of Christ in the temple. 17:44 I'm just a layman? 17:46 Now I'm going to confess to you 17:49 I think you're a wonderful layman. 17:51 I think you're great people because you have supported 17:54 this work all these years. 17:56 And I was a little, pitiful boy preacher. 18:00 I was barely 21 years old. 18:03 I didn't have a dime. 18:05 I went out to preach, and I haven't suffered in all those 18:09 sixty years! Amen. 18:12 Why? Because somebody supported the work of God. 18:15 So I ain't gonna let nobody downtalk you. 18:17 Amen. You know you're somebody? 18:21 If you have wisdom enough, sense enough, 18:26 gumption enough to hear that preacher or whoever came to you 18:30 give you the message of truth for these last days 18:33 and you saw it and you believed it and you accepted it 18:37 I have respect for you. 18:40 Amen. So you're somebody to me. 18:44 They might not know you're down on Broad Street 18:47 but I know you're here on God's Street - Amen - 18:51 because you have kept the work of God moving along 18:55 with your bounties and your gifts and your love 18:58 and your labor. 19:01 So you are priests of God. 19:06 Chosen generation... peculiar people. 19:10 "That ye should... " I'm going to your assignment now... 19:13 "That ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath 19:16 called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 19:20 Which in time past were not a people. " 19:25 The Lord didn't call you because you're good looking. 19:28 You may be good looking. 19:29 He didn't call you because you're wealthy. 19:32 You may be wealthy. 19:34 You were not anything in the past but now you are 19:37 the people of God. Amen. 19:41 "Which had not obtained mercy before but now... 19:45 but now you have obtained mercy. " 19:49 You are living stones. You are part of the building, 19:54 the building that He is erecting here. 19:57 You're building... building every day a temple. 20:01 It's not made with hands and you are a part of it. 20:05 You're lively stones. 20:07 You've built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood 20:11 and you are to offer up spiritual sacrifices. 20:16 You are! 20:19 And they have a big thing about ordination in our church. 20:23 I don't care what the brethren say, you are ordained 20:26 already. 20:29 You are ordained. Nobody said "Amen. " 20:31 Maybe you don't believe me? 20:32 You don't believe what this preacher is preaching to you 20:34 here today. I picked up a little book: 20:39 Ephesians by Marcus Barth... 20:43 son of Karl Barth... 20:46 where he's writing in volume 2 of that series of commentaries 20:52 on page 449 he says and I believe him: 20:56 "All members are chosen tools" - you are - 21:00 "chosen tools of the Head for communicating 21:06 the nourishment, vitality, unity, solidity 21:11 to the body as a whole. The weakest member 21:15 is in this case as essential to the life of the body 21:21 as the strongest. " 21:25 Now I look up to Elder Ted Wilson. 21:28 I know his daddy; I worked with him 20 years 21:31 "cheek and jowl" as the Brits would say. 21:34 Know the family, but he's president of the General 21:37 Conference. I look up to him. 21:40 But that doesn't mean I look down to you. 21:43 Everybody ought to say "Amen. " Come on, now. 21:45 I look up to Elder Mark Finley. Amen. 21:49 One of the greatest evangelists we've ever had. 21:51 Amen. He would go into the jaws of a lion 21:55 to preach the message. Amen. 21:58 He's almost like old Charles what you call him 22:00 the early evangelist. He went to Rome and preached in the 22:03 shadow of the Vatican. 22:05 Preach anywhere. I look up to him 22:08 but that doesn't mean I look down to you. 22:10 And that doesn't mean that you are not a part of him. 22:15 And he has a responsibility to you. 22:19 Well what are we trying to say? 22:22 We're trying to say we're all bound up together 22:26 brothers and sisters here in the cause of God 22:29 and there are no big "I's. " There are no little "you's. " 22:33 At the foot of the cross the ground is level. Amen! 22:38 So I can walk into the church anywhere I go in the world. 22:41 I walked in the Seventh-day Adventist church 1968. 22:45 I walked into the church in Moscow... 1968. 22:53 We had a great day that day. 22:55 And after the service somebody told me 22:58 "Did you see that man way up in the balcony? " 23:00 "Yeah. " Said: "He's from the KGB. " 23:05 It's almost like the Lord. He sees all you do 23:07 and He hears all you say and He's writing all the time. " 23:11 But you know, in Russia in those days - I don't know how 23:13 it is now - but you had to preach pretty long. 23:16 You know. You remember that, don't you? 23:18 You can preach about 20, 30 minutes. 23:20 What's the matter with you? Can't you, preacher brother? 23:25 And so sometimes the old spy would get a little tired 23:29 and he'd do like most Adventists do, he'd just take a little nod, 23:32 you know. He was almost like one of us. 23:35 But I felt at home there. 23:37 That's what I was trying to say. 23:38 I felt at home. 23:40 Some brethren from way out in Siberia somewhere 23:43 came to see us. And we said: "How did you know? " 23:46 He said: "We can't tell you because you Americans 23:49 talk too much. 23:51 But we found out about it and we came here to see you. " 23:56 Oh, it's a wonderful thing to be a part of the family of God. 23:59 What about it? Amen! 24:00 I've been over in Africa 24:04 in some of the most remote areas 24:09 where they sit on a log. 24:11 And they are worshiping, and the old deacon walks through. 24:16 He has a little stick, 24:18 and if anybody's nodding he just taps them a little bit. 24:22 I said: "I'm in the Seventh- day Adventist church! " 24:26 I feel at home... I feel at home 24:28 and I can't even speak... I don't understand the language. 24:30 Elder Robert Carter and I, my old friend... He was the 24:33 president of the mission over in Uganda. 24:35 We were there at that place that they had... 24:37 beautiful place up on the hill. 24:38 All the Adventists are on the hill you know. 24:40 You go overseas most of our schools and churches 24:42 are on the hill. And we went up on the hill. 24:44 He lived there in the compound. 24:46 We sat down Sabbath afternoon, Sabbath evening, 24:49 had a sundown worship service. 24:51 And the preachers - they really respect you there - 24:53 they put us right up there on the front and they took care 24:55 of us. Brought us a little water, everything. 24:57 And then they sang. And we got our songbook out 25:00 and they also had a songbook with little symbols there 25:04 that you could make a little sound, and we began singing. 25:08 Now we are ministers of the gospel, baptized, ordained, 25:12 married, fathers. And there we were reading. 25:16 And something happened and I looked over at Bob 25:19 and he was trying to pronounce it and I couldn't pronounce it. 25:21 And we started laughing right in the house of God! 25:28 But we were at home 25:30 with our brothers and sisters. 25:35 Now I've got a little something that's tough for the brethren. 25:39 You ought to know me by now. 25:41 I've tackled the brethren every now and then. 25:45 Ellen G. White - Sister White - says, Review and Herald 25:49 July 16, 1895, she said: 25:52 "The work of God is retarded by the criminal 25:57 unbelief.. " That's a hard word, isn't it? 26:01 "criminal unbelief in His power to use the common people 26:07 to carry forward His work successfully. " 26:12 Who am I to prevent you from doing the work 26:17 that God has called you to do? Amen. 26:21 I must not prevent you. I'm not your father. 26:25 I'm not your owner... I'm your brother. 26:30 And if the Lord called you to do a ministry, 26:32 I must support you to the hilt. Amen. 26:36 Also I mustn't let you get away either. 26:38 If I am your pastor, leader in your church, 26:42 I ought to be a talent scout. 26:46 You know they say... Some people have a little saying. 26:50 They say that... they said: "What is a Puritan? " 26:53 And I said: "A Puritan is someone whose greatest fear is 26:57 that somewhere in the world somebody may be happy. " 27:03 But as your pastor, I must have a great fear... 27:09 As I look out over the flock I must have a great fear 27:14 that somebody in this church may not be using the gifts 27:20 God has given him, and it ought to make me 27:22 break out in a cold sweat. 27:25 Because God gave gifts to be used! Amen. 27:30 You have an assignment. 27:34 And so old Brother Bradford is here today to remind you 27:37 of that assignment. Yes, you came Sabbath. 27:40 You went to church and you prayed and you did all that. 27:43 You came to Sabbath School, gave your offering. 27:45 But that's just the beginning. 27:48 You're on duty 24 hours a day. 27:52 You must not... You must REDEEM the time 27:56 because the days are evil. 27:58 So what we need desperately 28:03 is a renewed focus on the church 28:06 as God agency for salvation. 28:11 His response to the sin problem... we know what He did. 28:15 And to rescue a planet gone astray... I'm using a Bible 28:20 that George Vandeman gave me. 28:24 And George's... one of his favorite phrases he almost 28:28 coined... he called earth "the planet in rebellion. " 28:34 The planet gone astray. Of course, there is first of all 28:38 as the pastor spoke about here today 28:42 number one - numero uno - is the cross. 28:49 You can't get away from the cross. 28:52 At the cross, the instrument of suffering and shame, 28:56 Yahweh God takes not the blame but the responsibility for 29:02 the mess and He reconciles, He clears the way. 29:07 He turns on the spotlight, and Calvary covers it all. 29:12 But Calvary does not end it all. 29:16 Now I wrote this so I'd say it right. 29:18 Usually I'm ad libbing all the time and winging it. 29:21 But I'm not going to fool around this time with it, 29:24 I wrote it down. 29:27 Calvary covers it all but does not end it all. 29:34 Fifty days after came tsunami 29:39 in an upper room... whirlwind. 29:42 The greatest cyclonic force since the creation takes place. 29:46 The unleashing of powers that were restrained for generations 29:50 are now turned loose. Amen. 29:52 Now the plan could be revealed in full. Amen. 29:57 Ah, my great God. You know friend, we must not diminish 30:03 the power of God... the magnitude of God. 30:07 Don't play around with God. 30:09 Don't mention His name thoughtlessly. Amen. 30:13 God! 30:15 When the enemy raised his head 30:19 in the midst of His kingdom 30:22 He knew at once what He had to do. 30:26 You know, elder, you preached that, man. I loved it. 30:30 They came and took me out. 30:32 You saw they had to pull me out of my seat here. 30:34 I was enjoying that message and I'm angry with them 30:37 until now. I'm praying the Lord will forgive them. 30:41 But you spoke it so well! 30:45 He had to pay the price. 30:48 He took the responsibility. 30:51 And you know what Sister White says? 30:53 Sister White says we don't commiserate and sympathize 30:58 with God in His suffering. Huh? OK. 31:02 Somebody said: "Well, I'm suffering so bad. " 31:04 Yes, God has been suffering for more than 6,000 years. 31:11 God has never had a painless day. Oh, my soul! 31:15 Never! My God... He took the responsibility for it. 31:20 He could have snapped His fingers and all would have been 31:23 gone and nicely cool and sweet as Eden again, 31:27 but no, He took the responsibility. 31:32 This plan that was hid for generations 31:35 is opened up now, and the world is invited to come and drink... 31:40 drink of the fountain of waters. 31:42 And when you drink of the fountain of waters, you 31:44 become partners with Him. 31:46 Isn't that a beautiful thing? 31:47 We are laborers together with God. Amen. Partners! 31:51 I had a teacher in Oakwood College, a very fine woman. 31:55 She'd been on Broadway and all that. 31:57 And she used to call... she used to use a phrase... 32:01 She said: "This is the house of God and sons. " 32:05 And over in England they would say Ltd... limited. 32:09 And I would say limited to those who are washed 32:11 in the blood of the Lamb. 32:13 Those who drink these waters are now a part of the caravan 32:20 that's going into all the world giving the invitation: 32:22 "Come buy without money without price. " 32:25 And they... YOU... become officers of the court 32:29 with subpoenas and general amnesties. 32:34 Calvary. Yes, it was the end of the beginning 32:38 but Pentecost was the beginning of the end. 32:42 It's a seamless story. Yahweh put it together. 32:45 This church... This church, which I believe to be fully 32:49 authorized and genuine remnant community... 32:53 is mandated by heaven to be keepers of the flame. 32:57 To let it shine... never let it go out. 32:59 It must now - this church must now - look to itself, 33:03 take an inward look, to discover - rediscover - 33:08 our roots and to be the community that shows forth 33:13 the praises of Him who called them out of darkness 33:17 into the marvelous light. 33:19 I say "let the church be the church. " What about you? 33:23 Amen. Let the church be the church. 33:25 Don't try to govern the church. 33:27 Huh? Don't try to influence the church to go my way. 33:31 Huh? No, no! Let the church be the church. 33:36 Tell the Holy Spirit to come in. He's the Guardian, isn't He? 33:39 He's the Guide. He is the Comforter. 33:42 Let the church be the church. Pentecost was Inauguration Day. 33:47 Messiah was enthroned on that day. 33:51 And where is His throne? Right here among His people. 33:54 A nation was born, and all of its subjects become ambassadors. 34:01 Moses, which came through... You know, Moses... 34:03 Somebody said: "They're over there prophesying. " 34:05 And Moses said: "I wish all God's people were prophets. " 34:10 Witnesses and models of this new situation. 34:15 So the newly baptized become a saving community 34:20 where Christ is enthroned. 34:23 Where? What is Jesus' address? 34:26 Jesus' address is where two or three are gathered together. 34:30 Ah, come on now: "I am there. " 34:33 Now I don't want to get in any trouble. 34:37 I am very careful. But Jesus said: 34:43 "When you want to see Me 34:45 you don't go to the Conference committee. " 34:48 I'm sorry... I'm so sorry. 34:52 He's there... but His place of residence 34:57 is in His church. Amen. That's where He is. 35:01 That's where He lives! 35:04 Jesus is in His church, and His church is the agency 35:07 that will bring this rebel planet back to Him! Amen. 35:11 He's using us. We are His first line of defense. 35:15 And the end, my brother, my sister, the end 35:20 has already begun. Do you believe that? Amen. 35:23 The end has already begun. Amen. 35:26 We cannot overemphasize how great our God is 35:31 and what He is doing in the plan that He has devised 35:35 for our salvation. 35:39 So I have got to be transparent. I've got to look above all else 35:44 to see what the people of God are doing. 35:49 What are you doing for Jesus 35:53 as the days go by? 35:56 And I must tell you that His intent - God's intent - 35:59 was for you to be His mouthpiece 36:04 in the earth. 36:07 So each one, Peter says, 36:10 should use whatever gift he has received to serve others. 36:14 Amen. 36:16 So we preachers can't preach just to make the saints 36:20 feel comfortable. 36:23 Sometimes we've got to stir you all up. 36:26 Amen. 36:27 Now you may be mad when you go home for your Sabbath dinner 36:30 but that's all right. 36:33 If you're mad, you're still alive. Come on now. 36:36 If you're dead you would have no response at all, 36:39 but here you are now. All of us are here. 36:42 And each of us is a part of this grand assignment. 36:47 And it will not be over until Jesus returns 36:51 in the clouds of glory. Amen! 36:55 Now I want to go back to Malachi. 36:57 I've got some good light. I don't say new light. 37:01 I spoke about new light too much, and a dear person 37:05 came to me last night and said: "I've got some new light 37:07 for you. " Right here. And I accepted it. 37:11 That's right. I accepted it and I thanked the person. 37:15 Didn't say male or female. I thanked the person 37:18 for that wonderful light brought to me which I needed all along. 37:21 So I'm going to Malachi. Where are we going? 37:23 Malachi. We're going to Malachi 37:25 the third chapter. We're talking to the people who are assigned. 37:29 God's assignment people. 37:31 Look at verse 1. "Behold... " he says. 37:35 "I will send My messenger 37:38 and he will prepare the way before Me. 37:42 And the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His temple. 37:47 Even the messenger of the covenant 37:51 whom ye delight in. Behold, He shall come 37:55 saith the Lord of Hosts. " 37:58 He's speaking now to us 38:00 because Sister White says Malachi and Revelation 38:05 go together. He's speaking to us and he says: 38:09 "But who may abide the day of His coming? 38:12 Who shall stand when He appeareth? 38:14 For He is like a refiner's fire 38:17 and like fullers' soap. " 38:19 When He comes this is what He does: He will purify. 38:23 "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; 38:28 He shall purify the sons of Levi, 38:31 purge them as gold and silver, 38:32 that they may offer unto the Lord an offering 38:36 in righteousness. " 38:38 Now what is Malachi telling us? 38:41 He's telling us that... What do we have there singing? 38:45 Somebody hear some singing? 38:48 I don't know how it got on. Let's turn that singing off 38:53 because I don't want you to hear them singing 38:56 I want you to hear me preaching. 38:58 I'm sorry. Thank you very much 39:01 for giving us a little more calmness in our soul. 39:04 Well Ellen White says - Sister White says - 39:07 that Jesus here coming to His temple 39:13 is actually a representation of what we call 39:18 the Investigative Judgment. 39:21 All right? Now you've got to think now. 39:24 I'm not just entertaining you. 39:25 There's a little bit of entertainment in preaching. 39:27 We're not doing any kind of entertaining in this. 39:30 I was talking about something that's as serious as it 39:33 possibly can be. 39:35 Sister White says that this coming to the temple 39:40 is not the coming in the clouds of heaven 39:41 but it is coming to set up the Investigative Judgment. 39:47 Now let's go to Daniel. 39:50 I think you're listening now. Let's go to Daniel. 39:53 Let's go to Daniel. We'll go to Daniel chapter 7 39:57 which we all know so well. 40:00 Daniel chapter 7. And we're going to talk here 40:04 in Daniel... We're going to begin here in Daniel 7 40:08 where he says: "I beheld till the thrones 40:13 were cast down... " OK? 40:14 That's verse 9. 40:17 "and the Ancient of Days did sit. " 40:20 The Father. 40:21 "Whose garment was white as snow, His hair like pure wool. 40:26 His throne was like a fiery flame, 40:29 and His wheels as burning fire. " 40:31 Look at verse 10. 40:32 "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. 40:37 Thousands, thousands ministered unto Him. 40:39 Ten thousands times ten thousands stood before Him. " 40:43 And what does it say? "The judgment was set 40:46 and the books were opened. " 40:50 Then verse 11 he says: 40:52 "I beheld then because of the voice of the great words 40:55 which the horn spake. I beheld even till the beast 40:58 was slain, his body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 41:01 As concerned the rest of the beasts, they had dominion 41:04 taken away. Their lives were prolonged for a season. " 41:07 And verse 13 says: 41:10 "I saw in the night visions 41:13 and behold, one like the Son of Man 41:16 came with the clouds of heaven. 41:18 Came to the Ancient of Days and they brought Him 41:22 near before Him. " 41:25 Look at the scene. Never been before portrayed 41:30 in any literature. 41:33 The great God, the Father of us all, 41:37 seated on His throne. 41:41 And now they bring someone in in the night vision. 41:47 One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven 41:52 and came to the Ancient of Days 41:56 and they brought Him near before Him. 41:58 That's the reason Adventists never use the word trinity. 42:02 You know that, don't you? 42:04 The word trinity is not in any of Ellen White's writings 42:07 and the preachers didn't preach on it. 42:08 But before they understood really what the trinity is 42:12 there was three Gods in one. 42:15 There was there Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 42:19 And these three are one, and before we... 42:22 We don't need to concoct any words to describe Him. 42:26 There He is: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. 42:29 Amen! 42:31 And they brought the Son in to the Father. 42:36 Presented Him to the Ancient of Days. 42:40 "And there was given Him dominion and glory and a kingdom 42:43 that all people, nations, and languages served Him. 42:46 His dominion is an everlasting dominion 42:49 which shall not pass away 42:52 and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. " 42:57 Seventh-day Adventist brothers and sisters, 42:59 we really need to sharpen up this one. 43:03 We need to grasp and we need to understand 43:06 the scene. We need to view it carefully and distinctively. 43:10 We need to look at what is really happening. 43:13 There it is, my friends. During this time 43:16 between the already and the not yet 43:19 something happens in glory! 43:22 The Father said: "It's time to set up the end. " 43:27 "It's time to make choices of who shall sit on those 43:31 thrones in glory. " 43:33 "It's time for us to gather a people: every nation, 43:36 kindred, tongue, and people. 43:38 It's time for us to bring them into a fellowship... 43:42 a communion one with another 43:45 so that they will learn to live with each other and 43:47 agree with each other. " By the way, 43:50 we are... We have great doctrines and wonderful truths 43:55 and we can memorize them all. And that would be good; 43:57 it would be helpful. But you know, 44:00 that's not the end thereof. 44:03 The end thereof: to get a people together who love one another 44:08 just like Jesus loved them. Amen. 44:11 That's what it's all about. 44:13 F. Scott Fitzgerald... I never read all of his stuff 44:16 but I read people who read them. You know, I get a little reviews 44:18 here and there. F. Scott Fitzgerald, greatest... 44:21 supposedly the greatest novelist in the world 44:23 and wrote The Great Gatsby and all that type of stuff. 44:25 He wrote... When he passed away he left all of his writings 44:29 in the hand of his executor. 44:32 Now you never get through with your writings... you know that. 44:37 And after... Now this is terrible but Mark, 44:41 after Bro. Mark is gone somebody'll be rumbling through 44:45 his sermons and some graduate student will say: "Oh, this is 44:49 what he said here. " Well, when F. Scott Fitzgerald passed on 44:53 they went through his writings and they had a lot of plots 44:55 that he had never finished. One of the plots was 44:58 a rich man on a hill had six buddies down in a valley 45:02 who were poor as Joe's turkey but he liked to play cards 45:05 and chess with them and so forth and so on. 45:07 And so they had a big time all the time. 45:09 And then he went to his palace, they went to their little huts. 45:13 And he liked them a great deal so he made up his will 45:16 and his will said: "When I'm gone you six guys 45:21 will have my house. " 45:23 But there's a little... what you call it? a little something here 45:27 Huh? Caveat! Man, you're smart. 45:30 Caveat... a little caveat here 45:33 and the caveat is: "you guys have got to live in this house 45:37 one year without one cross word between you 45:40 and then you will own it. " 45:45 And so my Lord has called us together. 45:47 He said: "You've got to live here and love one another. " 45:51 Come on now. Amen! 45:53 I have had deacons say: "I ain't gonna work with him. " 45:57 And that's just where you need to be. Come on now. 46:00 Because because because I rub you and you rub me. 46:04 And that rubbing you files me down makes me smooth 46:08 on that side. So sit down next to that brother. 46:12 Shake hands with that sister. 46:15 And these people of God... let me tell you about it. 46:17 These people of God are going to learn to live together 46:22 and the whole universe is going to look on them and say 46:25 "How could the Lord ever do that? " 46:28 Well He's God Almighty isn't He, friends? 46:30 He knows what He's doing. 46:31 He can bring enemies together and make them friends. 46:34 And my Bible says "When a man's ways please the Lord 46:38 He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. " 46:41 Amen. 46:43 And God bless the church that loves each other. 46:50 And that doesn't mean that we are all just a bunch 46:52 of little... give me another word. 46:56 The Lord doesn't want us to just be here robots. 47:03 He wants us to speak the truth. 47:06 And if I made a mistake in my sermon, you ought to 47:09 come see me. Say: "Brother, you said the wrong thing. " 47:11 I may get a little hot for one minute 47:14 and then I gather myself and say: "You're right. 47:18 Let's pray about it. " And you know? 47:20 I found this out about my people - 47:23 and all you are my people, 47:25 you may not own me but you're my people - 47:28 all of you are my people, but I found out something about 47:32 my people: we have a hard time going to my brother, my sister, 47:37 We go to the phone... and we text it 47:43 and we spread it around. 47:47 And as you play that game Gossip as it goes from one to the other 47:50 it begins to grow and grow and grow 47:53 until the first man that put it in won't even recognize it. 47:56 How much better it is 48:00 if something comes up and I have a little problem 48:05 with you or you with me 48:07 that you come to me. Amen. Huh? 48:12 That's what He said. When He set that church up... 48:14 when He set the church up He gave it a 48:17 constitution and bylaws. Hmmm? 48:19 The con... Yes it is, yes it is. 48:22 Constitution. I'm a constitutionalist! 48:26 The constitution said: "Upon this rock I build My church. 48:30 Gates of hell shall not prevail against it. " 48:32 But then it goes on and gives you some bylaws to live by. 48:37 And they say: "If you have ought against your brother... " 48:39 That's the bylaws. 48:43 Don't go to this one, that one, and the other one. 48:45 Go to him or her. 48:49 And I have done it. Now lots of times, friends, 48:52 I've got to admit I'm sinful, I'm weak. 48:54 Lot of times just didn't want to do it. 48:57 But whenever the Lord got behind me and pushed me, 49:02 wouldn't give me rest. 49:04 That's why my dear old dad used to pray about us boys. 49:08 Say: "Lord, give them no rest day nor night. " 49:14 And I went to my brother. 49:16 I said: "I hear about these things. What about it? " 49:22 He said: "This is the way it was. " 49:23 And you know, most of the time when I get to the brother 49:26 or sister and they tell me the way it really was 49:30 it's new to me. I didn't know it was like that. 49:32 But somebody brought it to me the wrong way. 49:35 Now this is maybe a little too practical. 49:38 This is not theoretical. 49:41 You can't win on this by just saying in a quiz or test 49:46 for a grade... this is life! 49:50 This is life. 49:53 Momma and Daddy: the Lord told you don't let the sun go down. 49:59 Hmmm? 50:03 And I'm going to pray for you. I'll say: "Lord, don't give them 50:05 any rest day nor night. " 50:09 Because this church has got to be one people 50:12 going through together to the kingdom. 50:15 And let me tell you this one thing: 50:17 the old African brethren say "when the cattle stick together 50:22 the lions go hungry. " 50:28 So He says: "This is My messenger. " He's right now 50:32 in the sanctuary. That's where He is. 50:35 The Leader, our Jesus, is there and said He'll sit like a 50:40 purifier of silver, gold. He purifies you. 50:45 A refiner's fire and a fuller's soap! 50:49 Grandma's lye soap. 50:53 Get any stain out of you. 50:55 Might kill you after you wear it, but... 50:57 no stain can stand Grandma's lye soap. 51:01 And He'll sit there. Jesus, our Savior who loves us, 51:05 sits there. And I'm here to tell you 51:08 that the church is the crucible. 51:12 And He throws us all in there 51:15 and He turns on the heat. 51:19 And the old preachers used to say 51:21 that the refiner would tell them when there was enough heat. 51:25 He didn't want to just you know... when He 51:28 put up the heat a little more a little more 51:30 it became molten. And he said: "How long? " 51:32 He said: "I put the heat on until I can look into it 51:36 and see the reflection of my own face. " 51:40 And Ellen White says "When the church" - huh? - 51:44 "reflects the character of Christ 51:48 then He will... " do what? "Come to claim them as His own. " 51:55 And so I'm here to tell you like the preacher said before 52:00 "We are winners. " Now I'm so sorry for my colloquialisms 52:06 and my common expressions, but we used to tell the boys 52:09 on the playground: "You can't win 52:15 because of the mess you're in. 52:18 But I can't lose with the stuff I use. " 52:23 Now it's not good - don't repeat it out of here - 52:25 but you understand what I mean. I mean that God has given us 52:30 an advantage - Amen - 52:33 because the refiner is purifying us. 52:36 And then when it's purified He can stamp upon it 52:40 "hallmark, hallmark, hallmark, " 52:43 and that hallmark will carry you through to the kingdom of God. 52:49 These are the words the Lord gave me to speak. 52:52 These are the words I have tried to bring you in my feeble way 52:56 today because the Spirit of God has come and been poured out. 53:00 And Peter got up on Pentecost Day; 53:02 he said the same thing. He said: "Just like Joel said 53:06 it will happen now. Everybody who receives Him 53:10 will receive the Holy Spirit in His fullness. " 53:14 So I leave you with these words: it only takes a what? 53:18 Spark to get the fire burning. 53:22 Right here, right here. I know I'm a little longer 53:27 but I've got to finish this little part. Right here, 53:30 right here: 3ABN Camp Meeting 53:36 Homecoming. Right here let the fire fall. 53:42 Amen. Let the fire fall! 53:45 I want the people to say with Bradford: 53:48 "Let the fire fall... let the fire fall! " 53:52 It only takes a spark to set the fire glowing. 53:58 And don't you get too near to me 'cause you're going to get 54:01 some fire. 54:03 All right. God bless you; God bless you. 54:09 It only takes a spark 54:14 to get a fire going. 54:20 And soon all those around 54:25 will warm up in its glowing. 54:31 That's how it is with 54:34 God's love... 54:38 once you've experienced it 54:42 you share His love 54:45 to everyone 54:48 You want to pass it on. Hold that up a minute. 54:54 Hold that up... evangelists are like this: 54:56 they butt in on everybody. 54:58 I want to say this to you: you can do it now. 55:03 Right here you can stand up on your feet. 55:07 Come on. Stand up on your feet and say: "Lord, 55:09 let the fire fall on me today. Let it fall on me. " 55:13 "Lord, breathe on me breath of God. " 55:16 "Let the fire fall on me. " 55:18 Let's go out of here with firebrands, every one of us. 55:21 Carrying a firebrand and lighting others. 55:24 Lighting others with the fire 55:28 that we received at 3ABN. Amen. 55:32 Now sing one more time and then we'll have the benediction. 55:36 Once more please now. 55:39 I wish for you my friend 55:43 this happiness that I've found. 55:49 You can depend on Him 55:54 it matters not where you're bound. 56:00 I'll shout it 56:03 from the mountain tops. 56:08 I want the world to know 56:14 the Lord of Love 56:17 has come to me 56:20 I want to pass 56:27 it on. 56:33 Oh, Father in heaven, 56:35 we thank you, Lord, 56:39 for sending us this message today through the power 56:42 of the Holy Spirit and through your servant, Elder Bradford. 56:46 Father I pray that we will take this to heart, 56:50 every part of it. 56:53 Father, I pray that hurts will be healed. 56:58 That feelings will evaporate. 57:04 That the goals will be set of spreading the gospel 57:09 together around the world 57:11 to a lost and dying world. 57:16 Father take us... 57:19 use us, human as we are, Father. 57:23 Use us we pray. In Jesus' name, Amen. Amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17