There are things that are heard
all over as Connor just said,
00:00:20.29\00:00:23.18
but one place that
we recently went to
00:00:23.21\00:00:27.87
was Las Vegas, Nevada.
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And many of you know about
00:00:29.47\00:00:31.39
what we did in Las Vegas,
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it was a combination of--
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It is Written ASI in
the Nevada-Utah Conference
00:00:34.50\00:00:38.13
because if you can do lot,
00:00:38.16\00:00:39.19
if you could do
evangelism in Las Vegas,
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you can what? You
could do it anywhere.
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And so we had a wonderful time,
00:00:45.52\00:00:47.77
a ministry that actually
was formed back in the fall--
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The project was formed
back in the fall of 2008.
00:00:51.13\00:00:54.51
And, John, tell us
what happened in May
00:00:54.54\00:00:56.65
of last year and
January of this year.
00:00:56.68\00:00:58.65
May of last year, we started
00:00:58.68\00:00:59.94
a short series
called Babylon Rising,
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a four part series
00:01:01.94\00:01:02.97
that was a seed-sowing
series to revelation today.
00:01:03.00\00:01:05.56
And then earlier this
year we began Revelation Today,
00:01:05.59\00:01:08.45
the month long
Bible prophecy series.
00:01:08.48\00:01:11.10
What was
interesting about this is
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it was a three way
cooperative venture.
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Elder Larry Unterseher
from the Nevada-Utah Conference,
00:01:15.94\00:01:18.58
the president of the
Nevada-Utah Conference
00:01:18.61\00:01:21.11
is present but only
in text message form,
00:01:21.14\00:01:23.72
here's what he's sent me
just a little bit earlier.
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The Revelation Today
meetings drew all our members
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from all walks of life
together with one common cause
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sharing Jesus with hurting
lost people in Las Vegas.
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We still have over
200 active Bible studies
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generated by It is Written,
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and the activities
leading up to the meetings
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that's in spite of
the fact that they've been
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somewhere in the area
of 175 baptisms so far.
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We are so grateful
that It is Written,
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Steps to Christ, a
project Steps to Christ
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and ASI
facilitated the distribution
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of Steps to Christ to
every household in Las Vegas.
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We still receive over
a 100 Bible study leads
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per month from It is Written.
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We could use more Bible workers!
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We'll never
know the total impact
00:02:10.26\00:02:12.02
of the
Revelation Today meetings.
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And what so
interesting about this one
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not only was It is Written there
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and we were
thrilled to be there,
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we had wonderful cooperation
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and support from the
Nevada-Utah Conference
00:02:21.33\00:02:23.23
but, Terry, what
was different about this
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is that ASI was involved with
a dozen or more ASI ministries
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participating in this
event which made it unique.
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You know, John, it was unique
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because this is the
first time that I know of
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and other people I
have talked to that
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so many ministries came
together to work on one project.
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And, Leasa, you
were part of that.
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I was, I
actually represented ASI
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and Eden Valley Institute.
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And as an ASI representative,
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you heard about the DVD
training program this morning?
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It's not just done overseas,
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it's done right
here in North America
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and we took a team of ASI people
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and we went to Las Vegas
00:03:05.09\00:03:06.48
and we did an ASI DVD training
00:03:06.51\00:03:08.82
where people, the church members
00:03:08.85\00:03:10.76
can take the
material that they receive
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and they could hold a
whole evangelistic meetings
00:03:12.89\00:03:15.15
in their home as
part of the pre work.
00:03:15.18\00:03:18.36
And then as Eden Valley
Lifestyle Center Institute,
00:03:18.39\00:03:22.84
the Eden Valley
Institute's Lifestyle Center,
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we took a health
team to Las Vegas
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and we did a health outreach
00:03:28.41\00:03:30.75
training program
for the church members.
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And so it was really
exciting actually to see
00:03:32.97\00:03:35.81
how ASI and It is Written
and the conference church,
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we can join together
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and our Pastor
Wilson read a statement
00:03:42.79\00:03:45.70
either this
morning or yesterday that
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when that
happens, this church will--
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the work will be
finished in the church
00:03:50.71\00:03:52.26
and we can all go home.
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So it was exciting
to see that happening.
00:03:53.70\00:03:56.38
Oh, we said it was,
00:03:56.41\00:03:57.67
and to see all the ministries
working together was fabulous,
00:03:57.70\00:04:02.06
especially the health
message that you brought
00:04:02.09\00:04:04.57
in the combination
of the evangelistic work
00:04:04.60\00:04:07.22
and the gospel.
00:04:07.25\00:04:08.61
You know, when we did,
we did a health expo there
00:04:08.64\00:04:11.38
and we didn't think that
it was very well attended,
00:04:11.41\00:04:15.67
maybe it wasn't very successful
00:04:15.70\00:04:17.52
but about two months later,
00:04:17.55\00:04:19.29
we heard from a
person that had come through,
00:04:19.32\00:04:22.11
it was actually
a training session
00:04:22.14\00:04:23.68
for the church
members, and they said that
00:04:23.71\00:04:25.85
they were so
excited about that program
00:04:25.88\00:04:28.31
that they took
it to their church.
00:04:28.34\00:04:30.00
And their church is going to
do a form of a health outreach
00:04:30.03\00:04:33.59
like every single semester
00:04:33.62\00:04:35.49
at the University
of Nevada, Las Vegas.
00:04:35.52\00:04:40.50
Thank you, Leasa.
00:04:40.53\00:04:42.45
John, tell us what else
has happened since that time?
00:04:42.48\00:04:46.17
Well, I'd like to tell you that
00:04:46.20\00:04:48.27
there is power
in the word of God
00:04:48.30\00:04:50.03
and I need to
hear, say amen. Amen.
00:04:50.06\00:04:52.09
See, ladies and gentlemen,
when we share the Word of God,
00:04:52.12\00:04:55.71
the Spirit of God
does something great.
00:04:55.74\00:04:58.94
God's Word won't
come back to in void,
00:04:58.97\00:05:00.98
isn't that right?
00:05:01.01\00:05:02.29
I think that's
what the Bible says
00:05:02.32\00:05:04.30
and so I want to, you know,
00:05:04.33\00:05:05.83
I'm gonna tell you about
eight stories or seven stories
00:05:05.86\00:05:08.10
or six stories pretty quickly
00:05:08.13\00:05:09.59
and I wish I could show
you a documentary on each one
00:05:09.62\00:05:12.92
because when you
have a young mother
00:05:12.95\00:05:15.03
with a young son
coming and talk with you
00:05:15.06\00:05:18.58
and weep, really cry
and say, "I'm a Christian.
00:05:18.61\00:05:22.91
My husband is not, I'm praying
00:05:22.94\00:05:25.12
he'll give his life to
Jesus in this meeting."
00:05:25.15\00:05:28.41
And then she comes back
the next day weeping again,
00:05:28.44\00:05:31.98
now they're tears of joy.
00:05:32.01\00:05:33.13
She says, last night,
00:05:33.16\00:05:34.19
I've looked down
on my husband's cot
00:05:34.22\00:05:35.72
and he checked to accept
Jesus as his Lord and Savior
00:05:35.75\00:05:38.67
and then she says
but now, I wish that
00:05:38.70\00:05:40.89
he would be baptized
00:05:40.92\00:05:42.95
and by the time
the meeting was over,
00:05:42.98\00:05:45.10
both the mother who'd been
00:05:45.13\00:05:46.32
attending a
difference church altogether
00:05:46.35\00:05:48.02
and the husband were baptized,
00:05:48.05\00:05:49.78
their family was united
00:05:49.81\00:05:51.28
and united
together with Jesus Christ.
00:05:51.31\00:05:53.31
It's powerful.
00:05:53.34\00:05:54.37
A lady came to me first day,
00:05:54.40\00:05:55.76
I must tell you, I
was little nervous really.
00:05:55.79\00:05:57.45
She said, oh, I watch
00:05:57.48\00:05:59.22
It is Written every
weekend I have for years.
00:05:59.25\00:06:01.01
What a thrill to
meet you. Oh, I'm so glad.
00:06:01.04\00:06:03.15
I watch It is
Written every weekend,
00:06:03.18\00:06:04.37
and I thought, you
know, George Vandeman
00:06:04.40\00:06:05.87
began this ministry
so that people who saw
00:06:05.90\00:06:08.01
It is Written on TV
00:06:08.04\00:06:09.31
would come to these
meetings to be baptized.
00:06:09.34\00:06:11.50
Lord, we pray, this
lady must be baptized,
00:06:11.53\00:06:14.62
halfway through the
meeting, she said I don't know
00:06:14.65\00:06:16.10
what I'm gonna
do about my husband,
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his mother drilled it
into him when he was young,
00:06:17.28\00:06:19.37
never to have anything
to do with any other church.
00:06:19.40\00:06:21.52
Now I've learned
so much, I'm on board
00:06:21.55\00:06:23.67
but what about my husband,
00:06:23.70\00:06:24.76
he won't even
come to these meetings,
00:06:24.79\00:06:26.36
I'm so here
attending with a man,
00:06:26.39\00:06:27.62
a man I've never seen
about three days later,
00:06:27.65\00:06:29.61
I hope for the
best, it was the best,
00:06:29.64\00:06:31.95
it was her husband.
00:06:31.98\00:06:34.32
And then I saw her and that man
00:06:34.35\00:06:35.96
walk together
into a swimming pool
00:06:35.99\00:06:37.63
to be baptized at the
end of Revelation Today.
00:06:37.66\00:06:40.75
God added to the church
and God grew the church.
00:06:40.78\00:06:43.47
A couple came from Wisconsin,
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he'd been offered
a job in Las Vegas.
00:06:45.40\00:06:47.17
I said, oh, the good thing is
00:06:47.20\00:06:48.23
we can go and
play, we like to gamble.
00:06:48.26\00:06:50.16
What they didn't gamble on
was one of the new co-workers
00:06:50.19\00:06:53.24
giving them an
invitation to Revelation Today.
00:06:53.27\00:06:56.00
And now they said
just the other day
00:06:56.03\00:06:57.33
to new pastor they said,
oh, he were on Las Vegas,
00:06:57.36\00:07:00.50
we thought we'd have plenty
to do with all of the casinos
00:07:00.53\00:07:03.51
but we got nothing to do anymore
00:07:03.54\00:07:05.82
'cause we were baptized.
00:07:05.85\00:07:06.88
You understand
what she was saying,
00:07:06.91\00:07:08.49
jokingly we came to play
00:07:08.52\00:07:10.42
and the Lord
changed our lives entirely.
00:07:10.45\00:07:13.28
This was fun.
00:07:13.31\00:07:15.12
Eight or so
years ago, there was an
00:07:15.15\00:07:19.63
It is Written
evangelistic series
00:07:19.66\00:07:21.07
held in north of
Seattle in Washington State,
00:07:21.10\00:07:23.13
Dan Bentzinger was an
00:07:23.16\00:07:24.71
It is Written
evangelist at the time
00:07:24.74\00:07:25.96
and held that series of meetings
00:07:25.99\00:07:27.65
and a man was baptized.
00:07:27.68\00:07:28.79
He immediately
started witnessing to his dad.
00:07:28.82\00:07:30.86
Dad, I want to share
with you what I've learned.
00:07:30.89\00:07:33.24
Dad, I want to encourage you
to go to church where you live.
00:07:33.27\00:07:36.65
Dad, this is the best
thing since slice bread.
00:07:36.68\00:07:39.23
Dad never took the bait until
00:07:39.26\00:07:42.64
the son called
his dad and said, dad,
00:07:42.67\00:07:45.38
It is Written is
bringing Revelation Today
00:07:45.41\00:07:48.24
to your hometown in Las Vegas,
00:07:48.27\00:07:50.83
you got to go.
This was interesting.
00:07:50.86\00:07:52.88
I found this out late
that this man was coming
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of course was twice a day,
he was coming in the morning
00:07:54.56\00:07:57.14
and most of the time
in the evening as well.
00:07:57.17\00:07:59.73
So 10 years apart,
the son and the dad
00:07:59.76\00:08:03.08
were both baptized in
00:08:03.11\00:08:04.14
It is Written
evangelistic series
00:08:04.17\00:08:05.96
and this wouldn't have happened
00:08:05.99\00:08:07.30
if it wasn't for
the cooperation between
00:08:07.33\00:08:09.46
It is Written, ASI,
the Nevada-Utah Conference
00:08:09.49\00:08:12.97
and then God's people
doing what God's people can do.
00:08:13.00\00:08:15.52
I already shared this
story on Thursday morning,
00:08:15.55\00:08:17.50
so I'll give you the
real spit up version.
00:08:17.53\00:08:19.58
A couple have followed a lead,
00:08:19.61\00:08:22.32
they couldn't
find the man at home,
00:08:22.35\00:08:23.84
they brought the lead
back, and now the couple said,
00:08:23.87\00:08:26.21
well, we'll go
and find this man.
00:08:26.24\00:08:28.32
They found a way
into the gated community.
00:08:28.35\00:08:30.11
They knocked on his
door, he wasn't home.
00:08:30.14\00:08:32.03
They tried it a
second time, a third time,
00:08:32.06\00:08:34.19
a fourth time, the seventh time,
00:08:34.22\00:08:37.31
they went to the man's house.
00:08:37.34\00:08:39.41
Would you have
gone back seven times?
00:08:39.44\00:08:42.56
Don't ask me that question later
00:08:42.59\00:08:43.92
because I know
what I'd tell you.
00:08:43.95\00:08:45.36
They went back seven times
and after the seventh visit,
00:08:45.39\00:08:49.41
they found him at home.
00:08:49.44\00:08:51.50
They dropped Bible studies off,
00:08:51.53\00:08:52.95
after the fourth
Bible study visit,
00:08:52.98\00:08:55.61
he said would you come inside,
00:08:55.64\00:08:56.80
I got some questions to ask you.
00:08:56.83\00:08:59.27
You know, when I came to town,
00:08:59.30\00:09:00.33
he only had one
question to ask me.
00:09:00.36\00:09:02.93
He said should I be re-baptized
00:09:02.96\00:09:05.61
or should I join this
church on profession of faith.
00:09:05.64\00:09:08.06
All I could say was hallelujah.
00:09:08.09\00:09:10.44
He said the Lord kept me alive,
00:09:10.47\00:09:11.73
I know why God
has spared my life.
00:09:11.76\00:09:14.42
He has kept me alive this long
00:09:14.45\00:09:15.73
so that I could learn His truth,
00:09:15.76\00:09:17.39
isn't that wonderful?
00:09:17.42\00:09:19.01
An additional 200
people in the area
00:09:19.04\00:09:21.40
in Las Vegas are
studying right now.
00:09:21.43\00:09:24.80
I was so thrilled
00:09:24.83\00:09:26.80
to have someone
approach me at a camp meeting
00:09:26.83\00:09:29.04
and they said, you know,
we went and told our pastor,
00:09:29.07\00:09:31.15
little church in
California, we told our pastor
00:09:31.18\00:09:33.03
we want to do
Revelation Today in our church.
00:09:33.06\00:09:35.14
And the pastor
said it will never work.
00:09:35.17\00:09:39.94
God loves to
hear people say that.
00:09:39.97\00:09:42.25
It will never work.
00:09:42.28\00:09:43.41
They said well, if it
won't work, let us try.
00:09:43.44\00:09:45.65
He said go through your life,
00:09:45.68\00:09:48.04
this little church is rejoicing,
00:09:48.07\00:09:49.54
they had somewhere between,
00:09:49.57\00:09:50.75
I forgot the number,
it was somewhere between
00:09:50.78\00:09:52.04
6 and 12 baptisms at
the end of the meeting
00:09:52.07\00:09:54.21
that the pastor
said would never work
00:09:54.24\00:09:56.13
and they haven't
baptized that many people
00:09:56.16\00:09:57.83
and they can't
remember how long,
00:09:57.86\00:10:00.22
just because when
you share the Word of God
00:10:00.25\00:10:03.32
something great happens.
00:10:03.35\00:10:04.42
And I was at the
southern New England Conference
00:10:04.45\00:10:06.07
camp meeting and
then someone came to me
00:10:06.10\00:10:08.22
and said, you must
have lunch with us.
00:10:08.25\00:10:11.03
I mean the answer is always
yes when somebody says that.
00:10:11.06\00:10:13.75
But they said you
must have lunch with us
00:10:13.78\00:10:15.26
because we help
Revelation Today,
00:10:15.29\00:10:16.72
we've got a whole
lot of new church members
00:10:16.75\00:10:18.25
and they want to
meet you and so on.
00:10:18.28\00:10:20.74
You know friends I
just want to encourage you,
00:10:20.77\00:10:23.22
God is reaching people
00:10:23.25\00:10:24.52
and through ASI working
together with the conference
00:10:24.55\00:10:26.49
and that It is
Written, God did great things.
00:10:26.52\00:10:27.98
I do want to interrupt.
00:10:28.01\00:10:29.05
You got to tell the
quick story about the lady
00:10:29.08\00:10:31.35
who came to Los
Vegas on vacation,
00:10:31.38\00:10:32.91
who had the restaurant?
00:10:32.94\00:10:33.97
Oh man, she was in
Las Vegas on vacation,
00:10:34.00\00:10:37.85
she had a restaurant.
00:10:37.88\00:10:42.28
Somewhere else, she
saw the advertising.
00:10:42.31\00:10:45.48
She said, well,
I'm not a Christian
00:10:45.51\00:10:47.22
but may be I ought to
think about something like this.
00:10:47.25\00:10:50.83
She went home, she
checked the website out.
00:10:50.86\00:10:52.45
She said, I'm going to show this
00:10:52.48\00:10:55.14
in my
restaurant in the evenings.
00:10:55.17\00:10:58.51
Now that I was
told that the lady was,
00:10:58.54\00:11:01.28
you know, she wasn't
a member of the choir,
00:11:01.31\00:11:04.08
let's just put it that way
00:11:04.11\00:11:05.80
but somewhere she
felt the need in her heart.
00:11:05.83\00:11:10.04
She started making
changes to the restaurant menu.
00:11:10.07\00:11:13.58
She decided to
close the restaurants,
00:11:13.61\00:11:15.46
the restaurant on Saturdays.
00:11:15.49\00:11:17.16
She was involved in...
00:11:17.19\00:11:18.98
how we say, an
alternative lifestyle
00:11:19.01\00:11:22.50
and she took
measures to clean up
00:11:22.53\00:11:24.46
the aspect of her life
00:11:24.49\00:11:25.62
because she felt like
God had spoken to her.
00:11:25.65\00:11:27.71
We didn't talk
about any of that and so--
00:11:27.74\00:11:31.37
simply by
miracle of all mighty God
00:11:31.40\00:11:33.66
this was shown night after
night after night after night
00:11:33.69\00:11:36.79
in a restaurant not
a Christian restaurant,
00:11:36.82\00:11:39.73
not the usual way and even via
00:11:39.76\00:11:42.58
that means in a unexpected way
00:11:42.61\00:11:44.64
God touched hearts and
God materially changed lives
00:11:44.67\00:11:48.88
and we say, praise the Lord.
00:11:48.91\00:11:51.37
Thank you so much, John
00:11:51.40\00:11:52.80
for what It is
Written did with ASI.
00:11:52.83\00:11:55.24
Thank you, Leasa.
Thanks, God bless you.
00:11:55.27\00:11:57.51
Praise God, You
know great things happen
00:11:57.54\00:12:02.29
and I want to just take a
few seconds here to talk about
00:12:02.32\00:12:04.74
what went on
yesterday afternoon.
00:12:04.77\00:12:07.72
A group of us, we
put it in the program
00:12:07.75\00:12:11.46
a group of us
about 20 to 30 went out
00:12:11.49\00:12:13.98
and handed out
the Great Controversy
00:12:14.01\00:12:15.53
between about one
and four in the afternoon
00:12:15.56\00:12:18.73
and in that period of
time we handed out about
00:12:18.76\00:12:20.73
900 Great Controversies
here in the Cincinnati area.
00:12:20.76\00:12:24.61
And I'll tell
you there was already
00:12:24.64\00:12:26.13
stories that came from that.
00:12:26.16\00:12:27.93
Very quickly the first one
00:12:27.96\00:12:30.13
I talk to a
couple, they were a little,
00:12:30.16\00:12:35.37
they have been doing some
extracurricular activities
00:12:35.40\00:12:38.45
but they said they
asked me what the book about?
00:12:38.48\00:12:40.82
And I said, well, it's about
00:12:40.85\00:12:42.74
where this earth is headed
and the soon coming of Jesus.
00:12:42.77\00:12:44.69
And they said, oh! We
will take and read that
00:12:44.72\00:12:47.80
and then the woman
turned to the gentleman
00:12:47.83\00:12:51.17
and said, we got to get
another one for our friend.
00:12:51.20\00:12:53.83
So they took another
book for their friend.
00:12:53.86\00:12:56.18
So here they were,
they weren't not quite
00:12:56.21\00:12:58.21
in the state to
understand that book
00:12:58.24\00:12:59.93
but they took the book.
00:12:59.96\00:13:01.41
Another group, a
construction workers
00:13:01.44\00:13:03.86
that was kind at
the end of the day,
00:13:03.89\00:13:06.02
they came, they were working
00:13:06.05\00:13:07.77
and I walked up told them
the same thing about the book.
00:13:07.80\00:13:10.14
They were drinking their beer,
00:13:10.17\00:13:12.37
two of them took the book.
00:13:12.40\00:13:13.50
They said we will read it,
so you pray for those books
00:13:13.53\00:13:16.82
because the power of
the Great Controversy
00:13:16.85\00:13:19.47
can change lives.
00:13:19.50\00:13:20.75
We've seen that over
and over in our church.
00:13:20.78\00:13:22.87
And I encourage
you and next year
00:13:22.90\00:13:25.31
make that part of your ministry,
00:13:25.34\00:13:27.60
giving the Great Controversy.
00:13:27.63\00:13:29.32
One of the largest
evangelistic outreaches
00:13:36.60\00:13:40.91
in the history of North America
00:13:40.94\00:13:43.33
will take place in New York City
00:13:43.36\00:13:46.27
in the late summer and
early fall of next year.
00:13:46.30\00:13:51.45
NY'13 is going to
be an exciting event
00:13:51.48\00:13:55.47
that will reach into
the burrows of New York
00:13:55.50\00:13:58.37
into Connecticut
into the various states
00:13:58.40\00:14:01.94
around New York.
00:14:01.97\00:14:03.55
It is an exciting adventure
00:14:03.58\00:14:05.21
that is being under
taken by the world church,
00:14:05.24\00:14:07.62
the North American division
00:14:07.65\00:14:09.59
by two unions
and five conferences
00:14:09.62\00:14:12.21
in the North American division.
00:14:12.24\00:14:13.55
You have on your chair today
00:14:13.58\00:14:16.52
a little fast fax brochure
00:14:16.55\00:14:19.06
that identifies a
number of exciting things.
00:14:19.09\00:14:21.67
Not only does it identify
the reality of what is coming
00:14:21.70\00:14:26.11
but it says to you and
gives you an invitation
00:14:26.14\00:14:29.64
that there are
a number of things
00:14:29.67\00:14:31.31
that you can be involved in.
00:14:31.34\00:14:33.86
Number one you can be
00:14:33.89\00:14:35.35
one of the more
than 5,000 individuals
00:14:35.38\00:14:39.30
who will become
prayer warriors for NY'13.
00:14:39.33\00:14:43.68
You can give Bible studies.
00:14:43.71\00:14:45.14
You can distribute literature.
00:14:45.17\00:14:47.38
One of the things
that we are encouraging
00:14:47.41\00:14:49.22
every one to do is this.
00:14:49.25\00:14:51.66
If you are
interesting or interested,
00:14:51.69\00:14:54.18
I hope you are interesting,
00:14:54.21\00:14:55.63
but if you are
interested in NY'13,
00:14:55.66\00:14:59.62
we want to encourage
you to become involved,
00:14:59.65\00:15:02.32
but if you have a program
or something you wish to offer,
00:15:02.35\00:15:05.66
we want to invite
you to go to the website.
00:15:05.69\00:15:08.94
It's a simple
website, it is www.ny13.org
00:15:08.97\00:15:15.23
and register your
particular program
00:15:15.26\00:15:17.51
or what it is that
you would like to do.
00:15:17.54\00:15:20.77
Other
interesting facts are these.
00:15:20.80\00:15:23.09
On September 21 and 22
in the city of New York,
00:15:23.12\00:15:27.00
there is going to be a
huge prayer rally in that city,
00:15:27.03\00:15:30.72
it's going to be uplink
to the whole city of New York
00:15:30.75\00:15:34.46
and it will be
broadcast live on Hope Channel.
00:15:34.49\00:15:39.01
Now, what I want
to ask you all to do
00:15:39.04\00:15:41.20
and encourage you all
to do is to begin even now
00:15:41.23\00:15:44.95
to pray for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:15:44.98\00:15:47.80
that God will be able to
work through men and woman
00:15:47.83\00:15:50.92
like you and me to
reach into that city
00:15:50.95\00:15:54.23
and find those who
are ready to meet Jesus
00:15:54.26\00:15:58.00
and to be
members of his kingdom.
00:15:58.03\00:16:00.62
God bless you,
let's all pray for NY'13.
00:16:00.65\00:16:04.68
Thank you very much.
00:16:04.71\00:16:06.03
The greatest
00:16:32.76\00:16:35.87
want of the world
00:16:35.90\00:16:41.88
is the want of men
00:16:41.91\00:16:49.67
The greatest want of the world
00:16:49.70\00:16:55.48
is the want of men
00:16:55.51\00:17:00.96
Men,
00:17:11.91\00:17:14.43
men who will not
be bought or sold
00:17:14.46\00:17:21.69
Men,
00:17:21.72\00:17:24.29
men who in their inmost souls
00:17:24.32\00:17:31.47
are true and honest
00:17:31.50\00:17:36.76
Men, men who do not fear
00:17:40.01\00:17:47.30
Who do not fear to call sin
00:17:47.33\00:17:53.10
by its right name
00:17:53.13\00:17:56.75
Men whose
conscience is as true to duty
00:18:01.78\00:18:08.04
As true to duty as
the needle to the pole
00:18:08.07\00:18:14.46
As true as the
needle to the pole
00:18:14.49\00:18:22.46
Men who will stand for right
00:18:31.90\00:18:36.49
Though the heavens fall
00:18:36.52\00:18:42.84
Men who will stand for right
00:18:42.87\00:18:47.27
Though the heavens fall
00:18:47.30\00:18:52.76
Men who will stand for right
00:18:55.94\00:19:01.85
Who stand for right
00:19:01.88\00:19:04.32
Though the heavens fall
00:19:04.35\00:19:10.32
Though the heavens fall
00:19:10.35\00:19:18.32
The greatest want
00:19:26.07\00:19:31.67
of the world
00:19:31.70\00:19:35.01
is the want of men
00:19:35.04\00:19:38.25
Is the want of men
00:19:38.28\00:19:46.25
I want to
personally thank in the spirit
00:20:00.64\00:20:03.91
for that marvelous rendition
00:20:03.94\00:20:06.54
of what the Spirit
of Prophecy has written
00:20:06.57\00:20:08.96
on page 57 of
the book education.
00:20:08.99\00:20:12.65
What a wonderful
challenge to each of us,
00:20:12.68\00:20:14.75
the greatest want of the
world is the want of each of us,
00:20:14.78\00:20:19.79
who will stand for truth
00:20:19.82\00:20:22.89
and I'm going to
talk about that tonight.
00:20:22.92\00:20:26.55
And praise God that
the Lord has led in spirit
00:20:26.58\00:20:30.38
to speak and to actually sing
00:20:30.41\00:20:33.30
and to speak to
our hearts about that.
00:20:33.33\00:20:36.60
I'm just delighted to have been
00:20:36.63\00:20:39.29
able to be present
at the ASI Convention,
00:20:39.32\00:20:42.90
on behalf of the
General Conference
00:20:42.93\00:20:44.69
and the world
field, I want to thank ASI,
00:20:44.72\00:20:48.63
for all that it has done
00:20:48.66\00:20:50.32
for many years
and is doing today.
00:20:50.35\00:20:53.56
The projects
that have been funded
00:20:53.59\00:20:55.71
just today by your generosity
are absolutely incredible.
00:20:55.74\00:21:01.69
Also I'm delighted that
00:21:01.72\00:21:04.37
people have been
able to go to the booths
00:21:04.40\00:21:06.16
to be able to
see what ministries
00:21:06.19\00:21:08.27
are being
accomplished and it amazes me,
00:21:08.30\00:21:12.03
how the Holy
Spirit speaks to people,
00:21:12.06\00:21:15.99
encourages them
in their own ways
00:21:16.02\00:21:18.13
to use their own gifts
00:21:18.16\00:21:19.67
and then to be able to go out
00:21:19.70\00:21:21.63
and actually be sustained
00:21:21.66\00:21:24.13
by God's people in
every way possible,
00:21:24.16\00:21:27.54
some very modestly and
others in a grander way.
00:21:27.57\00:21:32.58
This is the moving
00:21:32.61\00:21:34.08
of the Holy
Spirit upon God's people.
00:21:34.11\00:21:38.47
I'm also delighted that
00:21:38.50\00:21:40.25
we have seen such an emphasis
00:21:40.28\00:21:42.28
in this afternoon's
program on the great cities.
00:21:42.31\00:21:48.39
As many of you know
the General Conference
00:21:48.42\00:21:50.23
has called the
attention to the world field
00:21:50.26\00:21:54.28
regarding the great cities.
00:21:54.31\00:21:57.29
Over 50% of the
world's population
00:21:57.32\00:21:59.48
now lives in those urban areas.
00:21:59.51\00:22:03.09
It is our responsibility
00:22:03.12\00:22:05.00
to take this
precious advent message,
00:22:05.03\00:22:08.47
the Three Angels' Messages
to those metropolitan areas.
00:22:08.50\00:22:13.48
We need to follow this
Spirit of Prophecy council.
00:22:13.51\00:22:17.56
We need to allow
the biblical principles
00:22:17.59\00:22:20.11
of being able to
reach people to be shown.
00:22:20.14\00:22:26.47
Luke 19:41 says that
00:22:26.50\00:22:32.04
"When he drew
near he saw the city,
00:22:32.07\00:22:34.37
that was Jerusalem
00:22:34.40\00:22:35.86
and instead of being overjoyed
00:22:35.89\00:22:38.36
it says he wept."
00:22:38.39\00:22:41.77
My question to
you at this point,
00:22:41.80\00:22:43.82
this evening as you have
listened to these reports.
00:22:43.85\00:22:47.12
As you have seen
what God is doing
00:22:47.15\00:22:49.78
in many places, not
only in this country
00:22:49.81\00:22:51.93
but around the
world in the large cities,
00:22:51.96\00:22:54.81
are you willing
to weep with Jesus
00:22:54.84\00:22:56.91
for the people of the cities?
00:22:56.94\00:22:59.57
Are you willing to do something
00:22:59.60\00:23:03.30
for God's great last
final cry to this world?
00:23:03.33\00:23:09.73
In the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:23:09.76\00:23:11.06
we read in that magnificent book
00:23:11.09\00:23:14.30
which is a favorite of
mine "Medical Ministry"
00:23:14.33\00:23:18.42
page 304.
00:23:18.45\00:23:21.69
When the cities are
worked as God would have them,
00:23:21.72\00:23:24.53
the result will be
the setting in operation
00:23:24.56\00:23:26.98
of a mighty movement
00:23:27.01\00:23:29.03
such as we have
not yet witnessed.
00:23:29.06\00:23:32.53
Brothers and sisters,
we have not yet witnessed
00:23:32.56\00:23:35.05
that mighty movement.
00:23:35.08\00:23:36.38
There are many people
and I even see one brother
00:23:36.41\00:23:40.07
seated over in
this section over here
00:23:40.10\00:23:42.15
who had spent a lot
of time in New York City.
00:23:42.18\00:23:45.42
A lot of people who have
spent time in various cities
00:23:45.45\00:23:48.58
and God has blessed
in a magnificent way
00:23:48.61\00:23:51.90
but we have not yet
seen that mighty movement.
00:23:51.93\00:23:55.79
By God's grace we
want to see it happen.
00:23:55.82\00:23:58.85
Thank you ASI for featuring
the cities of the world
00:23:58.88\00:24:04.86
and thank you for
the emphasis on NY'13.
00:24:04.89\00:24:10.26
Little less than a year from now
00:24:10.29\00:24:13.33
that program will kick into gear
00:24:13.36\00:24:16.34
in a dynamic way and
last over many months,
00:24:16.37\00:24:20.71
for our comprehensive
urban evangelism approach
00:24:20.74\00:24:23.74
is not simply to be an
event oriented situation.
00:24:23.77\00:24:27.43
But it is a process it
is defiantly a way of life,
00:24:27.46\00:24:32.43
a life style to
bring the Adventist message
00:24:32.46\00:24:35.75
to the people of the cities
00:24:35.78\00:24:37.79
but it will have at
times public activity.
00:24:37.82\00:24:44.34
Little less than a
year from now in June,
00:24:44.37\00:24:47.51
I along with many others
intend to spend three weeks
00:24:47.54\00:24:51.71
at least in New York City
00:24:51.74\00:24:53.88
and to preach
from multiple sites.
00:24:53.91\00:24:57.18
In fact Don King,
00:24:57.21\00:24:59.04
the President of
the Atlantic Union
00:24:59.07\00:25:01.01
and the chair of the
coordinating committee
00:25:01.04\00:25:03.44
is hoping for at
least 300 plus sites
00:25:03.47\00:25:07.34
in the
metropolitan New York area.
00:25:07.37\00:25:10.15
I want you to pray for NY'13
00:25:10.18\00:25:13.64
and for some of
you who are interested
00:25:13.67\00:25:15.55
more in trying to
find out, you can certainly
00:25:15.58\00:25:18.33
get one of these fact
cards in the exhibition area.
00:25:18.36\00:25:23.67
You can go on to www.ny13.org
00:25:23.70\00:25:29.94
and find out more.
00:25:29.97\00:25:31.63
As Elder Jackson has indicated,
00:25:31.66\00:25:33.18
we will be having a prayer rally
00:25:33.21\00:25:35.40
next month in New York City
00:25:35.43\00:25:38.00
and I plan to be there.
00:25:38.03\00:25:39.46
But, in June I plan to preach
00:25:39.49\00:25:42.84
the precious message of God
00:25:42.87\00:25:45.66
soon return to
the people of New York
00:25:45.69\00:25:48.80
along with many others.
00:25:48.83\00:25:50.59
In fact I'm going to have
the privilege of preaching it
00:25:50.62\00:25:52.92
in the very
church on a 11th street
00:25:52.95\00:25:56.66
in Greenwich
Village where God allowed me
00:25:56.69\00:25:59.77
to start my
ministry in New York.
00:25:59.80\00:26:03.00
I want you to pray for me
00:26:03.03\00:26:04.15
and for so many
others as we reach every soul
00:26:04.18\00:26:10.76
through the power
of the Holy Spirit
00:26:10.79\00:26:13.19
in these great
cities of the world.
00:26:13.22\00:26:15.85
Mission to the cities
00:26:20.26\00:26:23.04
goes along with
revival and reformation.
00:26:23.07\00:26:27.49
And if we are not revived,
00:26:27.52\00:26:29.29
we cannot impart
this precious message.
00:26:29.32\00:26:33.54
We need to humble ourselves
before the Lord, all of us.
00:26:33.57\00:26:38.55
Regardless of what opinions
we hold on various subjects,
00:26:38.58\00:26:42.36
we need to humble ourselves
00:26:42.39\00:26:44.97
before each other and the Lord.
00:26:45.00\00:26:47.09
In fact I want to share with you
00:26:50.32\00:26:53.48
an incredible quotation
from Spirit of Prophecy,
00:26:53.51\00:27:00.49
Selected
Messages book 2, page 397.
00:27:00.52\00:27:04.91
I am instructed to say
to Seventh-day Adventists
00:27:04.94\00:27:07.21
the world over including
Cincinnati and each of us here,
00:27:07.24\00:27:12.31
God has called
us as a people to be
00:27:12.34\00:27:14.25
a peculiar
treasure unto Himself.
00:27:14.28\00:27:16.58
He has appointed
that His church on earth
00:27:16.61\00:27:18.67
shall stand perfectly united.
00:27:18.70\00:27:25.16
That's what God wants
00:27:25.19\00:27:27.30
and I want to tell you
00:27:27.33\00:27:28.98
that is what is
going to happen. Amen.
00:27:29.01\00:27:32.82
Perfectly united in
the spirit and counsel.
00:27:32.85\00:27:39.64
You see, you can't
just have the spirit,
00:27:39.67\00:27:41.49
you got to have God's word.
00:27:41.52\00:27:44.51
You got to have
the Spirit of Prophecy
00:27:44.54\00:27:47.87
in order to be united.
00:27:47.90\00:27:50.32
Perfectly united in the spirit
00:27:50.35\00:27:51.85
and counsel of the Lord
of hosts to the end of time.
00:27:51.88\00:27:57.99
You are going to
see a great emphasis
00:27:58.02\00:27:59.67
in the next few months
from the General Conference
00:27:59.70\00:28:02.03
and throughout the world
on medical missionary work.
00:28:02.06\00:28:05.76
The right arm that helps
the gospel to move forward.
00:28:05.79\00:28:09.53
A blended ministry,
00:28:09.56\00:28:11.28
a reemphasis on the
need to pull together
00:28:11.31\00:28:15.41
and to follow God's counsel.
00:28:15.44\00:28:20.35
I'm so delighted with the way
00:28:20.38\00:28:23.12
that the Great
Controversy project
00:28:23.15\00:28:25.25
is evolving around the world.
00:28:25.28\00:28:27.75
And North America,
those of you who live here,
00:28:27.78\00:28:30.44
you are now beginning
to hear more information
00:28:30.47\00:28:34.66
and there are goals
of trying to distribute
00:28:34.69\00:28:38.21
upwards of five million
copies of the Great Hope
00:28:38.24\00:28:42.32
which is a condensed version,
00:28:42.35\00:28:46.37
excuse me, of the
Great Controversy.
00:28:46.40\00:28:50.42
My great prayer goal
00:28:50.45\00:28:53.63
and I want to
challenge you to night
00:28:53.66\00:28:55.85
here in North America,
00:28:55.88\00:28:57.40
those who are
watching on television,
00:28:57.43\00:28:59.02
those who are here
in this auditorium,
00:28:59.05\00:29:01.08
there is no
reason why North America
00:29:01.11\00:29:04.75
and its strength and its members
00:29:04.78\00:29:06.95
cannot distribute 50
million copies of that book.
00:29:06.98\00:29:12.32
At 39 cents a copy, we
could distribute five million
00:29:12.35\00:29:17.77
just out of this group here.
00:29:17.80\00:29:22.75
I want to tell you
that as we listen to those
00:29:22.78\00:29:26.61
who are preaching God's word
00:29:26.64\00:29:28.29
and what a precious sermon
00:29:28.32\00:29:29.40
we heard from
Pastor Boonstra today
00:29:29.43\00:29:32.48
about getting to our mission,
00:29:32.51\00:29:34.34
about trying to
save the last soul.
00:29:34.37\00:29:38.21
I want to tell you
my heart is thrilled.
00:29:38.24\00:29:41.62
I'm of good courage tonight,
00:29:41.65\00:29:43.94
God's church is moving ahead.
00:29:43.97\00:29:47.77
And as we participate
in all things here at ASI
00:29:47.80\00:29:51.43
I just marvel, this morning
00:29:51.46\00:29:52.96
I had opportunity
to touch base about
00:29:52.99\00:29:56.54
the exciting New
Beginnings project.
00:29:56.57\00:29:59.26
Then I was able to
talk with the early teens
00:29:59.39\00:30:02.36
and with the youth and
then back here again to talk
00:30:02.39\00:30:05.49
on the one day church and
all of those kinds of things.
00:30:05.52\00:30:08.98
All of the projects that are
involved here help us to know
00:30:09.01\00:30:12.99
we are coming
to the end of time.
00:30:13.02\00:30:16.49
Do you believe its time
to do our father's business?
00:30:16.52\00:30:24.18
Believe versus unbelief.
00:30:24.21\00:30:29.10
Do you really believe it?
00:30:29.13\00:30:30.78
I want to tell you that
this is God's advent movement,
00:30:30.81\00:30:34.70
this is His remnant church, this
is His Three Angels' Messages,
00:30:34.73\00:30:40.24
the sanctuary
message is His message.
00:30:40.27\00:30:43.04
His final warnings to the world
00:30:43.07\00:30:45.36
are the message
we are to proclaim.
00:30:45.39\00:30:47.93
We are a people of promise
to share the straight message
00:30:47.96\00:30:52.58
to the world of
Christ's precious love
00:30:52.61\00:30:56.16
and His soon coming but to hold
people to know the word of God
00:30:56.19\00:31:03.24
and what the message
says, the straight message.
00:31:03.27\00:31:08.49
Do we believe it?
00:31:08.52\00:31:10.34
It's time to be about
our father's business.
00:31:10.37\00:31:15.56
You know, when you reflect
00:31:15.59\00:31:16.80
on the children of Israel
and how they had so many signs
00:31:16.83\00:31:21.95
that told them that
they were being lead by God.
00:31:21.98\00:31:25.63
Repeatedly God gave them
all kinds of physical signs,
00:31:25.66\00:31:29.42
everything from the
cloud and the pillar of fire,
00:31:29.45\00:31:35.41
all the way to manna to
demonstrations of water and food
00:31:35.44\00:31:40.11
and preserving
them in the wilderness
00:31:40.14\00:31:42.61
and yet they
doubted all along the way.
00:31:42.64\00:31:46.14
Is that not an indication
for those of us in the last days
00:31:46.17\00:31:49.46
as spiritual Israel to
understand that the devil
00:31:49.49\00:31:52.98
will try to bring in
every possible deception,
00:31:53.01\00:31:56.48
every possible form of unbelief,
so that you will not be able
00:31:56.51\00:32:01.23
to believe even your very eyes
except that you know this word.
00:32:01.26\00:32:05.92
Amen. Do you believe?
00:32:05.95\00:32:12.01
You know, it is time.
00:32:12.04\00:32:17.34
It is time for
the Elijah message.
00:32:17.37\00:32:22.79
It is time to stand up
and speak the truth in love
00:32:22.82\00:32:27.69
but to speak the truth.
00:32:27.72\00:32:31.38
Jesus is coming soon.
00:32:31.41\00:32:36.59
You know that wonderful story
that's familiar to all of you.
00:32:36.62\00:32:39.75
I want to touch on for
the next 15 minutes or so.
00:32:39.78\00:32:43.83
And I want to make an
appeal to you at the end,
00:32:43.86\00:32:48.92
to ask if you really
do believe if its time.
00:32:48.95\00:32:54.20
That marvelous
story about Elijah,
00:32:54.23\00:32:58.20
the very humble individual.
00:32:58.23\00:33:02.90
Elijah, the
Tishbite, the reformer,
00:33:02.93\00:33:08.47
the simple man, the
straightforward person,
00:33:08.50\00:33:12.80
who had a burden for Israel.
00:33:12.83\00:33:17.84
That man prayed to God to
change the course of Israel.
00:33:17.87\00:33:24.40
I want to challenge every single
one of you, prayer is powerful.
00:33:24.43\00:33:30.01
God can do incredible
things as you pray to Him
00:33:30.04\00:33:34.52
to change the course of whatever
is facing you or the church.
00:33:34.55\00:33:42.41
Never minimize
the power of prayer.
00:33:42.44\00:33:46.02
I can't tell you how
many people have come up
00:33:46.05\00:33:48.85
to me at this very
meeting and have told me
00:33:48.88\00:33:53.52
I'm praying for
you, I'm praying for you,
00:33:53.55\00:33:56.29
I'm praying for God's church.
00:33:56.32\00:33:59.06
No matter what we go
through brothers and sisters,
00:33:59.09\00:34:01.47
no matter what we
face, no matter what meetings
00:34:01.50\00:34:03.95
we have to go to, no
matter where we have to stand
00:34:03.98\00:34:07.46
for truth, I want to tell you,
00:34:07.49\00:34:09.81
God will see
this church through.
00:34:09.84\00:34:14.12
Prayer is a powerful enemy
00:34:14.15\00:34:18.78
to the devil's incredible plans.
00:34:18.81\00:34:23.07
Prayer is the victory
that God can give to us.
00:34:23.10\00:34:27.88
Well, Elijah prayed that prayer,
00:34:27.91\00:34:30.08
Elijah was given
a message for Ahab,
00:34:30.11\00:34:33.23
we read in 1
Kings 16, "That Ahab
00:34:33.26\00:34:40.24
did more to provoke the
Lord, God of Israel to anger
00:34:40.27\00:34:43.09
than all the kings of
Israel who were before him."
00:34:43.12\00:34:47.44
Well, Ahab was an
extremely wcked person,
00:34:47.47\00:34:50.53
but the day Elijah walked
to some area into the palace
00:34:50.56\00:34:54.32
he passed by the
guards, he gave no apology
00:34:54.35\00:34:57.05
because he was on a mission.
00:34:57.08\00:34:58.64
It's about time
brothers and sisters
00:34:58.67\00:35:01.49
to be on our father's business.
00:35:01.52\00:35:05.03
He made no apology, he
came, he gave his message,
00:35:05.06\00:35:07.82
Chapter 17 "As the
Lord God of Israel lives,
00:35:07.85\00:35:11.74
before whom I stand,
there shall not be dew nor rain
00:35:11.77\00:35:14.89
these years, except at my word."
00:35:14.92\00:35:17.53
And then he disappeared,
the guards couldn't stop him.
00:35:17.56\00:35:20.43
Nothing could hold them
because he was on God's mission.
00:35:20.46\00:35:25.37
Well, people heard
about the prophecy,
00:35:25.40\00:35:29.41
the way they do today you know.
00:35:29.44\00:35:32.03
They make fun of God's church.
00:35:32.06\00:35:36.69
There are lot of skeptics.
00:35:36.72\00:35:38.66
There are lot of cynical people.
00:35:38.69\00:35:41.74
Ah, What's Elijah know,
00:35:41.77\00:35:44.81
so is rained,
it's going to rain.
00:35:44.84\00:35:47.24
They ridiculed
what Elijah had to say.
00:35:47.27\00:35:50.54
I want to tell you as you
preach the Elijah message today,
00:35:50.57\00:35:54.85
you will be ridiculed.
00:35:54.88\00:35:58.90
Be prepared for it.
00:35:58.93\00:36:00.75
And thank God and claim Mathew 5
00:36:00.78\00:36:04.52
that if you suffer
in the name of the Lord,
00:36:04.55\00:36:07.49
the Lord will bless you.
00:36:07.52\00:36:09.39
Don't be afraid.
00:36:09.42\00:36:12.56
Well, soon the
vegetation began to wither.
00:36:12.59\00:36:16.26
Now the priests of Baal had
insisted that Baal gave the rain
00:36:16.29\00:36:20.62
and so they continued to worship
and offer their sacrifices.
00:36:20.65\00:36:24.62
One year no rain, the
fields were like deserts.
00:36:24.65\00:36:28.46
The groves where
the idols were leafless,
00:36:28.49\00:36:31.49
the forests were like skeletons.
00:36:31.52\00:36:33.80
Dust storms came,
hunger and thrust everywhere
00:36:33.83\00:36:37.01
and Jezebel denounces Elijah
as the source of the problem.
00:36:37.04\00:36:44.74
Now, here is an
interesting point.
00:36:44.77\00:36:46.87
Many times when you
are standing for truth,
00:36:46.90\00:36:49.86
those who receive the truth
denounce you as the problem.
00:36:49.89\00:36:56.60
And so Elijah said, if
we put him out of the way,
00:36:56.63\00:36:59.63
all our troubles will be over.
00:36:59.66\00:37:02.35
They searched for Elijah
but he couldn't be found,
00:37:02.38\00:37:06.65
because God had
protected Elijah at a brook,
00:37:06.68\00:37:10.10
He fed him by the
raisin, the ravens
00:37:10.13\00:37:12.78
and when the brook dried up,
He took him to a very special
00:37:12.81\00:37:15.96
place another family
that was about to give up
00:37:15.99\00:37:19.94
and God performed
an incredible miracle
00:37:19.97\00:37:22.68
there which we don't
have time tonight to go into.
00:37:22.71\00:37:27.19
But Jezebel was so furious, she
killed all of God's prophets.
00:37:27.22\00:37:33.45
The drought and famine
continued throughout the lands.
00:37:33.48\00:37:37.52
Parents watch
their children die,
00:37:37.55\00:37:41.21
Israel still held
to its pagan ways.
00:37:41.24\00:37:46.08
Years of neglect of God
00:37:46.11\00:37:50.30
were seen in the land.
00:37:50.33\00:37:54.55
They needed To turn to God.
00:37:54.58\00:37:57.02
We need to turn
to God as we prepare
00:37:57.05\00:38:00.79
for the last days
of earth's history.
00:38:00.82\00:38:05.17
Well finally God
told Elijah to go to Ahab
00:38:05.20\00:38:10.83
and in verse 8 verses
1 of chapter 18 it says
00:38:10.86\00:38:14.49
"And it came to
pass after many days,
00:38:14.52\00:38:16.29
that the word of the Lord came
to Elijah in the third year,
00:38:16.32\00:38:19.08
saying, go
present yourself to Ahab
00:38:19.11\00:38:21.11
and I will send
rain on the earth."
00:38:21.14\00:38:25.36
And so Elijah went to
present himself to Ahab
00:38:25.39\00:38:27.84
and there was a severe
famine in Samaria and Ahab
00:38:27.87\00:38:30.56
had called Obadiah, who
was in charge of his house.
00:38:30.59\00:38:34.24
Now Obadiah feared the
Lord, Elijah met Obadiah
00:38:34.27\00:38:41.45
and he says go tell
your master, Elijah is here.
00:38:41.48\00:38:45.43
And Obadiah of
course was terrified because
00:38:45.46\00:38:47.49
he knew that they have been
searching for Elijah everywhere,
00:38:47.52\00:38:51.37
he was afraid for his life but
Elijah said go you will not die.
00:38:51.40\00:38:57.90
It's time to be about
our father's business.
00:38:57.93\00:39:02.48
Don't be afraid to
obey the voice of God,
00:39:02.51\00:39:08.40
and so finally the
meeting was set up.
00:39:08.43\00:39:11.89
Obadiah went to
meet Ahab and finally
00:39:11.92\00:39:16.59
there they are face to face.
00:39:16.62\00:39:20.60
Ahab a proud king and Elijah
00:39:20.63\00:39:26.21
a humble servant.
00:39:26.24\00:39:30.33
And Ahab asks the
most interesting question.
00:39:30.36\00:39:34.70
Verse 17. It's a question that
00:39:34.73\00:39:38.50
if you stand for God's
truth, people will ask you.
00:39:38.53\00:39:45.78
Is that you, O
troubler of Israel?
00:39:45.81\00:39:51.71
Are you the one who is
troubling Israel Elijah?
00:39:51.74\00:39:57.88
Be prepared when you go forward
00:39:57.91\00:40:03.96
in doing God's business.
00:40:03.99\00:40:07.87
Its pretty strange question.
00:40:07.90\00:40:11.01
God had tried to
turn Israel around.
00:40:11.04\00:40:13.46
Ahab knew he was doing wrong,
00:40:13.49\00:40:17.27
but Ahab tried
to justify himself.
00:40:17.30\00:40:20.53
Listen to what
Prophets and Kings,
00:40:20.56\00:40:23.99
page 139 says "It is natural
00:40:24.02\00:40:27.32
for the wrongdoer to
hold the messengers of God
00:40:27.35\00:40:30.43
responsible for the calamities
that come as the sure result
00:40:30.46\00:40:34.85
of a departure from
the way of righteousness.
00:40:34.88\00:40:39.15
Those who place
themselves in Satan's power
00:40:39.18\00:40:43.10
are unable to see
things as God sees them.
00:40:43.13\00:40:46.65
When the mirror of
truth is held before them,
00:40:46.68\00:40:50.81
they become indignant
00:40:50.84\00:40:52.98
of the thought of
receiving reproof."
00:40:53.01\00:40:58.59
Well, what about
you and what about me?
00:40:58.62\00:41:02.67
Are we ready to receive
God reproof in our own lives,
00:41:02.70\00:41:08.16
as we go forward in
God's business? It is time.
00:41:08.19\00:41:14.37
Another beautiful quotation
from that same book page 140.
00:41:14.40\00:41:18.17
Today there is need of
the voice of strong rebuke.
00:41:18.20\00:41:22.10
I want to say this with
wonderful love and kindness
00:41:22.13\00:41:24.92
because every time we
say something that is truth,
00:41:24.95\00:41:28.45
it ought to be
couched in the love of Christ.
00:41:28.48\00:41:32.25
And yet it says,
"Today there is need
00:41:32.28\00:41:34.62
of the voice of strong rebuke,
00:41:34.65\00:41:36.71
for grievous sins have
separated the people from God.
00:41:36.74\00:41:39.95
Infidelity is fast
becoming fashionable."
00:41:39.98\00:41:44.32
Now, can you
imagine when those words
00:41:44.35\00:41:46.16
were written what
she would say today?
00:41:46.19\00:41:49.06
Political
correctness is the theme
00:41:49.09\00:41:52.06
of the day, fashionable.
00:41:52.09\00:41:55.76
I'm quoting now,
"The smooth sermons
00:41:55.79\00:41:59.43
so often preached
make no lasting impression,
00:41:59.46\00:42:04.02
the trumpet does not
give a certain sound."
00:42:04.05\00:42:08.69
What we rebuke to each of us?
00:42:08.72\00:42:10.83
Are you ready?
00:42:10.86\00:42:12.56
Is it time to go about our
father's business, quoting,
00:42:12.59\00:42:18.24
"Men are not cut to the heart
00:42:18.27\00:42:21.54
by the plain sharp
truths of God's word."
00:42:21.57\00:42:25.98
Are you and I willing, are
we willing to humble ourselves
00:42:26.01\00:42:32.20
and to accept God's
changes for our lives.
00:42:32.23\00:42:36.10
Well, Elijah
showed great courage
00:42:36.13\00:42:38.28
and we had to
follow his example.
00:42:38.31\00:42:40.30
He was the person who
said, "Thus saith the Lord."
00:42:40.33\00:42:44.78
He spoke truth bravely.
00:42:44.81\00:42:47.43
God needs strong men and women
00:42:47.46\00:42:51.10
today to speak His truth
clearly and do it in love,
00:42:51.13\00:42:57.57
do it with the
power of the Holy Spirit.
00:42:57.60\00:43:01.12
Well, Elijah gave his
powerful answer in Verse 18,
00:43:01.15\00:43:05.12
"I have not troubled Israel,
00:43:05.15\00:43:06.44
but you and your father's house
00:43:06.47\00:43:07.90
have in that you have
forsaken the commandments
00:43:07.93\00:43:10.47
of the Lord and it
followed the Baals.
00:43:10.50\00:43:13.81
And then he launches his appeal.
00:43:13.84\00:43:16.38
"Now therefore send,
and gather all Israel
00:43:16.41\00:43:18.66
to me on Mount Carmel,
00:43:18.69\00:43:19.92
the four hundred and
fifty prophets of Baal
00:43:19.95\00:43:22.18
and the four
hundred prophets of Asherah,
00:43:22.21\00:43:24.75
who eat at Jezebel's table."
00:43:24.78\00:43:26.78
Ahab could do nothing else
but to follow Elijah's command.
00:43:26.81\00:43:31.14
And so then all Israel
was assembled at Mount Carmel.
00:43:31.17\00:43:37.32
I had the great
privilege a few weeks ago
00:43:37.35\00:43:39.70
for the first
time to be in Israel
00:43:39.73\00:43:42.29
and to see from a distance,
00:43:42.32\00:43:44.18
I didn't get close to
it but to see Mount Carmel,
00:43:44.21\00:43:47.69
I wanted to go
there but our time limit
00:43:47.72\00:43:49.77
was so limited that I could
not, to see that incredible
00:43:49.80\00:43:54.89
place where this
magnificent event took place.
00:43:54.92\00:44:01.34
Ahab at once obeyed he
sent for all the people to come.
00:44:01.37\00:44:06.33
Mount Carmel had
been a beautiful place.
00:44:06.36\00:44:09.34
The altars to Baal
and Asherah were seen
00:44:09.37\00:44:12.26
in the leafless groves
of that great mountain.
00:44:12.29\00:44:16.95
And on the summit of
one of the highest ridges
00:44:16.98\00:44:21.98
was the broken
down altar of God.
00:44:22.01\00:44:26.83
Elijah chose Mount Carmel,
as a most conspicuous place
00:44:26.86\00:44:31.75
to display God's power.
00:44:31.78\00:44:34.35
It was early
morning, every one gathered
00:44:34.38\00:44:36.32
near the top of the mountain.
00:44:36.35\00:44:37.41
Jezebel's prophets
marched in all of their array,
00:44:37.44\00:44:39.94
the king in his
regal robes arrived
00:44:39.97\00:44:44.94
and Elijah stands alone.
00:44:44.97\00:44:49.50
His countenance was
lighted with solemnity.
00:44:49.53\00:44:53.28
The people
waited for him to speak,
00:44:53.31\00:44:55.22
and in verse 21 it
says, he challenged them,
00:44:55.25\00:44:59.37
"How long will
you halt or falter
00:44:59.40\00:45:02.32
between two opinions?"
00:45:02.35\00:45:06.42
If the Lord is God,
follow Him, if Baal, follow him.
00:45:06.45\00:45:09.28
But the word,
the people answered
00:45:09.31\00:45:11.14
him not a word.
00:45:11.17\00:45:15.11
It's time to be
about God's business.
00:45:15.14\00:45:19.02
Are you willing to
stand firm for Him?
00:45:19.05\00:45:23.71
Well, people were
afraid to reveal anything
00:45:23.74\00:45:27.16
and slowly Elijah began
00:45:27.19\00:45:31.21
to repair that altar.
00:45:31.24\00:45:35.94
You know, in Prophets and
Kings, page 148, we read this.
00:45:35.97\00:45:41.69
"The Lord abhors
indifference and disloyalty
00:45:41.72\00:45:44.49
in a time of crisis in His work.
00:45:44.52\00:45:48.84
The whole universe is watching
with inexpressible interest
00:45:48.87\00:45:53.18
in the closing scenes
of the great controversy
00:45:53.21\00:45:56.26
between good and evil."
00:45:56.29\00:45:59.56
The whole universe is
watching us right now to see
00:45:59.59\00:46:03.85
what we will be doing.
00:46:03.88\00:46:05.33
Let us stand
loyally for God's truth.
00:46:05.36\00:46:10.04
Well, Elijah explains
what he wanted to see happen,
00:46:10.07\00:46:15.65
You know the story, told those
00:46:15.68\00:46:18.59
who are followers of
Baal, you prepare an alter,
00:46:18.62\00:46:20.88
I'll prepare an altar
and then we will pray.
00:46:20.91\00:46:24.26
We don't have time to
go into the entire story
00:46:24.29\00:46:27.16
but you know
exactly what happened.
00:46:27.19\00:46:29.44
The whole day
those priests of Baal
00:46:29.47\00:46:31.48
were flailing themselves
self inflicting wounds,
00:46:31.51\00:46:35.38
trying to get their prophet,
their God and their prophets
00:46:35.41\00:46:40.27
to be able to provide
some kind of fire and Elijah
00:46:40.30\00:46:44.88
was been very careful to
watch that they didn't slip
00:46:44.91\00:46:47.66
something in on the side.
00:46:47.69\00:46:51.90
And then of course, Elijah
kind of began to tease them.
00:46:51.93\00:46:54.39
Cry it loud for he is a
God, may be he is meditating
00:46:54.42\00:46:58.34
or busy or on a
journey, may be he is sleeping.
00:46:58.37\00:47:01.00
I want to tell you
brothers and sisters,
00:47:01.03\00:47:02.76
the God of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:47:02.79\00:47:05.43
does not sleep. Amen.
00:47:05.46\00:47:08.00
We have a God who will
hear us and will see us
00:47:08.03\00:47:10.15
through to the very end.
00:47:10.18\00:47:12.79
And then at the end of the day,
00:47:12.82\00:47:16.06
Elijah build that,
rebuild that altar.
00:47:16.09\00:47:20.09
And then he asked for
something very unusual,
00:47:20.12\00:47:24.12
put a little trench around,
00:47:24.15\00:47:27.27
bring water and
pour it on the sacrifice.
00:47:27.30\00:47:29.97
I wondered where they
got the water but of course
00:47:30.00\00:47:31.92
the Mediterranean
Sea was not far away.
00:47:31.95\00:47:34.02
He had probably planned
in advance and told them
00:47:34.05\00:47:36.43
to bring water,
because I want to show
00:47:36.46\00:47:38.32
something magnificent.
00:47:38.35\00:47:39.82
God is going to do
something extraordinary.
00:47:39.85\00:47:42.85
Poured water on it, not
only once, not only twice,
00:47:42.88\00:47:47.56
three times and the
water filled the trenches,
00:47:47.59\00:47:52.30
then it came to pass at the time
00:47:52.33\00:47:53.81
of the evening
sacrifice that Elijah prayed.
00:47:53.84\00:47:57.46
Verse 37, "Hear
me, O Lord, hear me,
00:47:57.49\00:48:00.28
that the people may know
that you are the Lord God,
00:48:00.31\00:48:02.99
that you have turned
their hearts back to you.
00:48:03.02\00:48:06.78
Then the fire of the Lord fell,
00:48:06.81\00:48:09.79
and consumed the
burnt sacrifice."
00:48:09.82\00:48:12.60
I tell you, I wish I
could have been there that day,
00:48:12.63\00:48:16.76
as people were
listening it was quite.
00:48:16.79\00:48:20.09
And as Elijah
finished that prayer,
00:48:20.12\00:48:23.67
fire came down in such
power that it not only burned up
00:48:23.70\00:48:29.47
the sacrifice, it
burned up the wood,
00:48:29.50\00:48:33.00
it burned up the
stones, it burned up the dust,
00:48:33.03\00:48:36.24
it burned up the
water, it dazzled
00:48:36.27\00:48:38.62
the eyes of the multitude.
00:48:38.65\00:48:40.39
Those who were
in the valleys could
00:48:40.42\00:48:42.01
clearly see it and like a
pillar of fire which separated
00:48:42.04\00:48:45.53
the children of Israel
from the Egyptian army,
00:48:45.56\00:48:47.83
God was demonstrating
His power once again
00:48:47.86\00:48:50.62
that He truly was
the God of the universe.
00:48:50.65\00:48:54.56
And that same
God will go with you
00:48:54.59\00:48:59.12
as you go about
your father's business.
00:48:59.15\00:49:03.81
And the people bowed
in submission to God.
00:49:03.84\00:49:08.71
The Lord, he is God.
00:49:08.74\00:49:11.69
The Lord, he is God.
00:49:11.72\00:49:14.73
That was a great opportunity
00:49:14.76\00:49:16.12
for revival and reformation
after that experience.
00:49:16.15\00:49:20.20
The prophets of
Baal were killed.
00:49:20.23\00:49:24.59
And God had an opportunity,
although we know the story
00:49:24.62\00:49:28.96
about it afterwards
that Elijah became afraid
00:49:28.99\00:49:31.79
after seeing all those
signs, he became afraid and God
00:49:31.82\00:49:35.72
had to remind him and that
7,000 were still loyal to him.
00:49:35.75\00:49:40.39
Brothers and
sisters, don't ever feel
00:49:40.42\00:49:42.07
that you are
alone, God is there.
00:49:42.10\00:49:45.89
And you have many faithful
brothers and sisters around.
00:49:45.92\00:49:49.53
Tonight as we
close, I want to ask you,
00:49:49.56\00:49:51.72
how long will you
halt between two opinions?
00:49:51.75\00:49:55.32
How long will I halt
between two opinions?
00:49:55.35\00:49:58.72
It's time to go about
our father's business.
00:49:58.75\00:50:03.38
I want to challenge
each of you to understand
00:50:03.41\00:50:05.90
and remember that we must
not be distracted by anything.
00:50:05.93\00:50:10.47
We must not allow
disunity to come into the church
00:50:10.50\00:50:14.23
to take our eyes off of
the great Elijah message
00:50:14.26\00:50:18.02
that God has
entrusted to each of us.
00:50:18.05\00:50:20.52
Romans 12:2 in the
Phillips Translation
00:50:20.55\00:50:24.24
"Don't let the world around
you squeeze you into its mold."
00:50:24.27\00:50:30.43
Don't allow the
devil to challenge
00:50:30.46\00:50:32.24
you on biblical
authority, on the Sabbath,
00:50:32.27\00:50:35.73
on creation, on
the sanctuary service,
00:50:35.76\00:50:40.21
on righteousness by faith,
the uniting of justification
00:50:40.24\00:50:43.57
and sanctification,
both which are so important
00:50:43.60\00:50:46.83
to the righteousness of Christ
00:50:46.86\00:50:48.96
and that which
we receive from Him.
00:50:48.99\00:50:52.91
Don't allow
people to dissuade you,
00:50:52.94\00:50:57.00
to give you a
cloudy understanding
00:50:57.03\00:50:58.56
about lifestyle about how
to dress, about what to eat.
00:50:58.59\00:51:03.25
You know, we are
saved only by grace
00:51:03.28\00:51:06.00
but I want to tell
you the same savior
00:51:06.03\00:51:07.98
that saves us by
grace, also gave us
00:51:08.01\00:51:10.65
the original diet in Genesis 2.
00:51:10.68\00:51:13.94
And He asks that whatever we do,
00:51:13.97\00:51:15.52
we ought to give God the glory.
00:51:15.55\00:51:19.10
And so as we go
about, don't be distracted
00:51:19.13\00:51:22.06
by what the world
says about lifestyle
00:51:22.09\00:51:24.55
or music or your
principles or your lifestyle,
00:51:24.58\00:51:28.53
but remember that God
is leading His people.
00:51:28.56\00:51:33.78
A shaking is
coming, we know that.
00:51:33.81\00:51:38.74
God is asking you
to stand firm for Him.
00:51:38.77\00:51:41.90
It's time to be about
our father's business.
00:51:41.93\00:51:46.49
It's time for
revival and reformation.
00:51:46.52\00:51:49.03
It's time for
mission to the cities.
00:51:49.06\00:51:51.27
It's time to be
revived by His word.
00:51:51.30\00:51:53.73
It's time for
medical missionary work.
00:51:53.76\00:51:55.96
It's time to preach the Gospel
of Jesus Christ to the world,
00:51:55.99\00:51:59.80
so that the world may know
in the cities and the country
00:51:59.83\00:52:03.16
that the Lord, He is the God.
00:52:03.19\00:52:06.57
Are you willing tonight,
00:52:06.60\00:52:10.32
to go about your
father's business?
00:52:10.35\00:52:13.76
Are you willing to go
from this ASI Convention
00:52:13.79\00:52:16.15
renewed in the
Spirit of the Lord,
00:52:16.18\00:52:18.99
to help you to
know, this is God's hour.
00:52:19.02\00:52:22.88
We are part of the
Elijah message and it is time
00:52:22.91\00:52:26.56
to be about God's business.
00:52:26.59\00:52:30.55
If you are willing
to do that and you want
00:52:30.58\00:52:34.48
to be part of
the dynamic activity
00:52:34.51\00:52:38.23
of this advent movement.
00:52:38.26\00:52:40.84
Would you just stand
in commitment right now?
00:52:40.87\00:52:43.96
Loving Father,
you see Your people
00:52:48.51\00:52:50.26
standing before You.
00:52:50.29\00:52:52.20
We again had made a commitment
00:52:52.23\00:52:54.30
to follow You in
everything we do.
00:52:54.33\00:52:58.13
Lord, this is the time
for the Elijah message.
00:52:58.16\00:53:02.72
This is the time to
speak truth in love.
00:53:02.75\00:53:05.75
This is the time
to open God's word
00:53:05.78\00:53:08.83
and to share it with people
everywhere to keep in our minds
00:53:08.86\00:53:12.51
the vision and the
mission of this church.
00:53:12.54\00:53:15.89
Help us not to be
distracted in anyway
00:53:15.92\00:53:19.48
but help us to keep
ourselves as true to duty
00:53:19.51\00:53:26.75
as the needle to the pole.
00:53:26.78\00:53:29.73
Lord, we submit to you now
and ask that you will guide us.
00:53:29.76\00:53:34.26
We know, it's time to
be about Your business.
00:53:34.29\00:53:40.41
Fill us now with the Holy
Spirit as we do just that.
00:53:40.44\00:53:45.95
In Jesus' precious
name we ask it, amen.
00:53:45.98\00:53:50.52
Please be seated.
00:53:50.55\00:53:52.39
Oh, Lord, I will lift
00:54:22.06\00:54:26.01
My eyes to the hills
00:54:29.07\00:54:34.51
Knowing my health
00:54:39.07\00:54:44.83
Is coming from You
00:54:44.86\00:54:49.16
Your peace
00:54:56.91\00:55:00.56
You give me in
00:55:00.59\00:55:05.86
Times of the storm
00:55:05.89\00:55:10.00
You are the source
00:55:15.58\00:55:19.87
Of my strength
00:55:19.90\00:55:24.32
You are the strength
00:55:24.35\00:55:28.33
Of my life
00:55:28.36\00:55:32.90
I lift my hands
00:55:32.93\00:55:37.43
In total praise to You
00:55:37.46\00:55:42.29
Lord, I will lift
00:55:49.31\00:55:56.29
Mine eyes
00:55:56.32\00:55:59.26
To the hills
00:55:59.29\00:56:05.57
Knowing my health
00:56:05.60\00:56:13.10
Is coming from You
00:56:13.13\00:56:17.35
Your peace You give
00:56:22.68\00:56:28.02
Me in times
00:56:28.05\00:56:33.54
Of the storm
00:56:33.57\00:56:40.52
You are the source
00:56:40.55\00:56:44.33
Of my strength
00:56:44.36\00:56:48.94
You are the strength
00:56:48.97\00:56:52.61
Of my life
00:56:52.64\00:56:57.12
I lift my hands
00:56:57.15\00:57:01.55
In total praise to You
00:57:01.58\00:57:06.87
You are the source
00:57:13.87\00:57:17.76
Of my strength
00:57:17.79\00:57:22.26
You are the strength
00:57:22.29\00:57:25.72
Of my life
00:57:25.75\00:57:30.29
I lift my hands in
00:57:30.32\00:57:35.40
Total praise to you
00:57:35.43\00:57:40.44
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
00:57:43.57\00:57:47.91
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
00:57:51.45\00:57:55.90