Good evening and welcome
to GYC 2012 in Seattle WA.
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We are glad you're
here and happy Sabbath.
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I'm Kyle and this is Livvy.
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It is my honor this evening
to welcome you to GYC 2012
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and to the theme of
this conference: Acts,
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The Revolution Continues.
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We are gathered here from
42 countries around the world
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to join a continuing revolution.
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We have come in the
spirit of the book of Acts
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to open our
hearts to the Holy Spirit
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and to His working in our lives.
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But it's important
to remember that yes
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there is a
revolution. But it's not us.
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it's not GYC... Jesus
Christ is the revolution.
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And He has been in the business
of turning people's lives
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upside down throughout the ages.
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And recently He has seen
fit to raise up a revolutionary
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movement... the Advent movement.
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As we are gathered
here as young Adventists
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it is our great happiness to
play a part in this revolution.
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Amen! We believe with
all of our hearts that Jesus
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is coming soon. Amen!
That is why we are here.
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That is why we
are here this weekend.
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And you know, you may have come
to GYC for a variety of reasons.
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You may have come
for the great speakers,
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for the great seminars.
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You may have come
because your friend came
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or because your mom or
dad told you to. I don't know.
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Whatever the reason is
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that made you come here tonight
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God had a plan for you
to be here. Amen! Amen!
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And we know by the power
of His Spirit that as you give
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your heart to Him over these
next few days He can change you
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and do a work in your life
that will change you forever.
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So, in spite of all the
things that are going on,
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my heartfelt prayer for you
is that you will make these few
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days here in Seattle a
life-changing few days.
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Spend time on your
knees in prayer. Amen!
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Spend time with the Lord Jesus.
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And go to everything you can
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because you will receive
a tremendous blessing. Amen!
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At this time we want to
ask Pastor David Yeagley
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who is the Youth Director
for the Washington Conference
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of Seventh-day Adventists
to come out, and he is going to
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have our opening
prayer. Welcome Pastor Yeagley,
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we're glad you're here.
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Good evening GYC
and happy Sabbath
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to each and every one of you.
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We are so excited
to have you here in the
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Washington Conference. On
behalf of the thousands of
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youth and young adults
throughout our conference
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we want to welcome you here.
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And we know that God has
something very very special
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in store for you as you
spend this time with Him.
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For those of you who
packed umbrellas and rain boots
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and whatever else in
your luggage on your way here
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I have some good news for you:
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God has blessed us with
one of the best weekends
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weather-wise
we've had in months.
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So now you got home and
tell all of your friends:
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"No, it does not rain
in Seattle all the time. "
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And I hope you enjoy
the weather. I know we are.
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And it's a sign - I believe
- that God is doing something
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extraordinary
for us this weekend.
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And as you are here, as God's
Spirit moves in this place,
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it is my prayer that
your life will be changed,
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your heart will be warmed,
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and you will be
challenged to go and to serve
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and to make a difference in
your communities and your church
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back in your home conferences.
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I invite you to stand with
me now, and let's invite God's
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presence to be with us as
we begin this time together.
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Dear Lord, we invite You
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to come not into this
place because You have come long
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before us to be here, but
we invite You into our hearts
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tonight. Lord, tear
down the barriers...
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whatever stands in the way.
Lord, we ask that Your Spirit
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will have free and
complete access to our lives
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over the next few days.
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Lord, come into our
hearts. Change us; renew us;
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challenge us. May we
leave here new people,
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a new creation in You.
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We look forward to the old
being gone and the new coming.
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We look forward to what
You're going to do through us
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and in us over the
course of these next few days.
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So come now and be
the center of our worship.
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In Your name I pray, Amen.
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You may be seated.
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Ring the bells of heaven!
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there is joy today,
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For a soul,
returning from the wild;
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See the Father meets him
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out upon the way,
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Welcoming His
weary, wand'ring child.
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Glory! glory!
how the angels sing;
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Glory! glory! how
the loud harps ring;
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'Tis the ransomed
army, like a mighty sea,
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Pealing forth the
anthem of the free.
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Ring the bells of
heaven! there is joy today,
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For the wanderer
now is reconciled;
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Yes, a soul is
rescued from his sinful way,
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And is born a new
and ransomed child.
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Glory! glory!
how the angels sing;
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Glory! glory! how
the loud harps ring;
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'Tis the ransomed
army, like a mighty sea,
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Pealing forth the
anthem of the free.
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Ring the bells of
heaven! spread the feast today,
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Angels swell the
glad triumphant strain.
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Tell the joyful
tidings! bear it far away!
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For a precious
soul is born again.
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Glory! glory!
how the angels sing;
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Oh, how they sing!
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Glory! glory! how
the loud harps ring;
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'Tis the ransomed
army, like a mighty sea,
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Pealing forth the
anthem of the free.
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We'll sing the anthem
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of
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the free.
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Amen.
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Good evening everyone.
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I invite you at this
time to bow your heads with me
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in prayer as we begin
the message for this evening.
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Father in heaven, it is
impossible for a human mind
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and a human tongue to
communicate with things of God.
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At the same time it is
impossible for the human ear
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to understand them.
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And so, Lord, we are
in a bit of a fix tonight.
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We are in need of a miracle
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that You would use me
as an instrument today
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and that You would somehow
communicate the words from
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on high into the personal lives
of each individual here tonight.
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So Lord, we pray that You would
give us Your Spirit tonight
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as we study Your Word.
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We ask for these
things in Jesus' name, Amen.
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Acts chapter 2.
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Jesus has just risen again,
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and as He gathers
together with His disciples
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for the final time
before He goes back
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to begin His work for you
and for me in the sanctuary
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in heaven, He tells His
disciples that it will be their
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responsibility
from that point forward
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to communicate
to the entire world
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the message of a risen
and soon-coming Savior.
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And so it is that His parting
words are these to the disciples
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"You will receive power
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after that the Holy
Ghost is come upon you
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and you will be witnesses
unto Me both in Jerusalem
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and in Judea and in
Samaria" He says, "and in the
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uttermost parts of the world. "
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And with those final words
the disciples are left with
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perhaps the largest
responsibility ever given
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to humankind:
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to be a testament, to be
a testimony, to be a witness
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of Jesus Christ
and of His soon return
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before an entire world.
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And we find these words
penned: chapter 2 verse 1:
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"And when the Day of
Pentecost was fully come
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they were all with
one accord in one place.
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And suddenly there came
a sound from heaven as of a
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rushing mighty wind,
and it filled all the house
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where they were sitting.
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And there appeared unto them
cloven tongues like as of fire
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and it sat upon each of them.
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And they were all
filled with the Holy Ghost
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and began to
speak with other tongues
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as the Spirit
gave them utterance.
00:10:00.89\00:10:02.50
And there were dwelling
at Jerusalem Jews, devout men
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of every nation under heaven.
00:10:05.88\00:10:07.35
Now when this was noised abroad
the multitude came together
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and were confounded because
that every man heard them
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speak in his own language.
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And they were all amazed and
marveled, saying one to another:
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'Behold, are not all
these which speak Galilean?
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And how hear we
every man in our own tongue
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wherein we were born? ' "
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Skip down to verse 12:
"And they were all amazed
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and were in doubt
saying one to another:
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'What means this? '
Others mocking said: 'These men
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are full of new wine.
' But Peter, standing up
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with the eleven, lifted up
his voice and said unto them:
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'You men of Judea and all
you that dwell in Jerusalem:
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be it known unto you
and hearken to my words
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for these are not
drunken as you suppose
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seeing it is but the
third hour of the day.
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But this is that which was
spoken by the prophet Joel. ' "
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"And it shall
come to pass, " he says
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"And it shall come
to pass in the last days
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saith God 'I will pour
out My Spirit on all flesh
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and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy.
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And your young men shall
see visions and your old men
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shall see dreams. And on My
servants and on My handmaids
00:11:08.76\00:11:12.38
I will pour out in
those days of My Spirit
00:11:12.58\00:11:15.66
and they shall prophesy.
00:11:15.86\00:11:17.45
And I will show
wonders in heaven above
00:11:17.65\00:11:19.51
and signs in the earth beneath.
00:11:19.71\00:11:21.89
Blood and fire
of vapors of smoke.
00:11:22.09\00:11:24.40
The sun shall be turned
into darkness and the moon
00:11:24.60\00:11:27.29
to blood before that great and
notable day of the Lord comes.
00:11:27.40\00:11:30.52
And it shall come to
pass that whosoever shall call
00:11:30.82\00:11:35.68
on the name of the
Lord shall be saved. ' "
00:11:35.88\00:11:39.58
Verse 37 is a response:
00:11:39.88\00:11:41.83
"Now when they heard this, they
were pricked in their hearts.
00:11:42.33\00:11:45.45
And they said unto Peter
and to the rest of the apostles:
00:11:45.85\00:11:49.04
'Men and brethren,
what shall we do? '
00:11:49.24\00:11:51.40
Then Peter said unto
them: 'Repent and be baptized
00:11:51.60\00:11:53.90
every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ
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for the remission of sin
and you shall receive the gift
00:11:55.98\00:11:58.96
of the Holy Ghost. For
the promise is unto you
00:11:59.16\00:12:01.85
and to your children and
unto all that are afar off...
00:12:01.95\00:12:04.76
even as many as
the Lord shall call. '
00:12:04.96\00:12:08.17
Then they which gladly
received his word were baptized.
00:12:09.43\00:12:12.02
In the same day were
added unto the church
00:12:12.12\00:12:13.82
about 3,000 souls. And
they continued steadfastly
00:12:13.92\00:12:17.29
in the apostles'
doctrine and fellowship
00:12:17.39\00:12:19.80
and in breaking of
bread and in prayers.
00:12:20.00\00:12:21.87
And fear came upon every
soul and many wonders and signs
00:12:22.07\00:12:27.32
were done by the apostles.
00:12:27.52\00:12:29.32
And all that believed were
together and had all things
00:12:29.62\00:12:32.86
in common. And sold their
possessions and their goods
00:12:32.96\00:12:35.75
and they parted them to
all men as every man had need.
00:12:35.95\00:12:39.06
And they continuing daily
in one accord in the temple
00:12:39.46\00:12:42.53
and breaking bread
from house to house
00:12:42.63\00:12:44.49
did eat their meat with gladness
and singleness of heart,
00:12:44.69\00:12:47.43
praising God and
having favor with all people.
00:12:47.73\00:12:50.78
And the Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved. "
00:12:50.98\00:12:55.63
If there was ever a
revolution, this is it!
00:12:55.93\00:13:00.12
As a matter of fact, the book
of Acts is full of revolutions.
00:13:00.52\00:13:04.50
How is it possible
that God takes men and women
00:13:04.80\00:13:08.78
who were just previously
- not in the distant past -
00:13:08.98\00:13:11.91
afraid for their lives?
How does He take those people,
00:13:12.11\00:13:15.52
fill them with
courage and boldness,
00:13:15.92\00:13:18.34
in order to proclaim
the message of a Christ that
00:13:18.54\00:13:21.12
no longer is seen
that people think is dead?
00:13:21.22\00:13:24.84
If there is ever a revolution,
this is a revolution.
00:13:26.11\00:13:29.93
How is it that God
takes selfish individuals
00:13:30.13\00:13:33.25
and causes them to come together
00:13:33.46\00:13:35.58
in fellowship and in unity
for a singleness of purpose?
00:13:35.88\00:13:40.44
If there is ever a
revolution, Acts chapter 1
00:13:40.64\00:13:43.78
and Acts chapter 2
record for us that revolution.
00:13:43.98\00:13:47.91
I call it "the
revolution of power. "
00:13:48.85\00:13:52.86
And there are
lessons for us tonight.
00:13:53.16\00:13:56.42
Lesson number 1 is this:
00:13:56.72\00:13:58.09
that the revolution of power
recorded in Acts chapter 1 and 2
00:13:58.27\00:14:01.88
is a revolution that is
not dependent on who we are
00:14:02.08\00:14:04.77
yet at the same time it IS
very dependent on who we are.
00:14:04.97\00:14:08.85
It is a revolution that is
not dependent on who we are
00:14:09.15\00:14:11.96
yet at the same time
is very, very dependent
00:14:12.06\00:14:15.55
on who we are.
00:14:15.75\00:14:17.12
Not dependent on who
we are in terms of gifts.
00:14:17.90\00:14:20.54
Not dependent on who
we are in terms of talent.
00:14:20.74\00:14:23.49
But it is, however,
dependent on who we are
00:14:23.79\00:14:26.33
in terms of whether those gifts
00:14:26.53\00:14:28.79
are totally and 100%
00:14:28.89\00:14:31.00
sacrificed and committed
to the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:14:31.20\00:14:34.73
If you are not willing to
be a fool for Jesus Christ,
00:14:35.13\00:14:38.58
you are not ready for
the revolution of power.
00:14:38.78\00:14:42.15
If you are not willing
to be used - to be wasted -
00:14:42.55\00:14:46.01
for the service of Jesus Christ,
00:14:46.21\00:14:47.90
then we cannot be ready
for the revolution of power
00:14:48.10\00:14:51.26
if we have not yet prepared
ourselves to be used or unused
00:14:51.46\00:14:56.09
for whatever cause or purpose
00:14:56.40\00:14:58.54
Christ has in
store for you and for me
00:14:58.75\00:15:00.96
then we are not ready
for the revolution of power.
00:15:01.16\00:15:04.02
The revolution of
power teaches us first of all
00:15:04.22\00:15:06.66
that God is not bound by
the talents that you possess
00:15:06.86\00:15:10.00
or the talents
that I do not possess.
00:15:10.20\00:15:12.23
That is not what limits God.
00:15:12.43\00:15:13.80
What limits you
and what limits me
00:15:13.97\00:15:15.90
is our willingness to
surrender what we do have
00:15:16.10\00:15:19.14
to the Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
00:15:19.34\00:15:21.48
The first lesson that we learn
from the revolution of power is
00:15:21.78\00:15:24.20
this: that it is not dependent
00:15:24.30\00:15:26.22
upon the
talents that we possess.
00:15:26.32\00:15:27.84
It is not
dependent on who we are
00:15:28.04\00:15:29.69
yet at the same time it is
very dependent on who we are.
00:15:29.89\00:15:33.31
But there is another lesson
that we learn, and that is this:
00:15:33.81\00:15:37.61
that the revolution of power
is a revolution that is totally
00:15:37.81\00:15:43.66
dependent on the Word of God.
00:15:43.86\00:15:46.62
Just before
Jesus leaves this earth
00:15:47.54\00:15:50.41
the final words to
His disciples are these:
00:15:50.61\00:15:53.26
"You will receive power. "
00:15:53.46\00:15:56.32
"You will be My witnesses
00:15:56.62\00:15:58.73
both in Jerusalem... "
And He says: "As a matter
00:15:58.93\00:16:00.83
of fact, you will be My
witnesses in the entire world. "
00:16:00.93\00:16:04.17
A revolution cannot exist -
00:16:05.25\00:16:08.63
a revolution from the Word
of God, a revolution for Christ
00:16:08.83\00:16:11.74
cannot exist - outside of
the power of the Word of God
00:16:11.94\00:16:16.56
for it is totally 100%
dependent on the Word of God
00:16:16.66\00:16:20.79
to do what it says.
00:16:20.89\00:16:22.66
The one key ingredient,
the match that sets aflame
00:16:23.91\00:16:27.19
the entire world and
the complete individual
00:16:27.29\00:16:29.81
IS the Word of God.
00:16:30.11\00:16:32.78
Jesus Christ said:
"You will be My witnesses"
00:16:33.08\00:16:35.02
and so did the prophet Joel.
00:16:35.22\00:16:38.24
The prophet Joel
said: "Your young men
00:16:38.64\00:16:42.35
will see dreams; your
old men will see visions. "
00:16:42.65\00:16:47.69
"My Spirit shall fall
upon all flesh. Upon the old
00:16:47.89\00:16:52.06
and upon the young. It
will fall upon those who are
00:16:52.26\00:16:55.19
afar off and
those who are close. "
00:16:55.29\00:16:57.68
He says "It will fall upon
you and upon your children. "
00:16:57.88\00:17:01.21
"My Spirit... " He
says, "My Word, My power
00:17:01.52\00:17:04.76
will fall not just
on a few individuals
00:17:04.96\00:17:07.29
but upon anyone
that is called. "
00:17:07.49\00:17:09.93
This leads me to the next point.
00:17:10.33\00:17:12.75
The next lesson that we
learn - lesson number 3-
00:17:12.85\00:17:15.09
is this: that the revolution
is for those who are called.
00:17:15.19\00:17:18.69
The revolution is
for those who are called.
00:17:18.99\00:17:21.21
It is dependent
upon the Word of God.
00:17:21.41\00:17:22.90
It is not bound by
what you don't have
00:17:23.10\00:17:25.43
or by what you do have.
00:17:25.53\00:17:26.90
But it is at the same time
very much bound by what you
00:17:26.96\00:17:29.53
don't have and what
you are willing to do
00:17:29.63\00:17:31.37
with what you do have.
00:17:31.58\00:17:33.04
And the third thing is that
this revolution is for those
00:17:33.34\00:17:36.45
who are called. My
friends, God has never
00:17:36.65\00:17:40.76
ever called the qualified.
00:17:41.06\00:17:44.85
God has never called the
qualified, but rather He always
00:17:45.83\00:17:50.55
qualifies those that He calls.
00:17:50.85\00:17:53.65
In other words, the call
itself is the qualification.
00:17:53.95\00:17:59.27
And if God wants a
revolution to take place,
00:17:59.57\00:18:02.70
it doesn't matter
if you're old or young.
00:18:02.90\00:18:05.46
It doesn't matter if
you're a boy or a girl.
00:18:05.76\00:18:07.98
It doesn't matter if you
are near or if you're far.
00:18:08.18\00:18:10.74
We need not ask ourselves if
we are the descendants of Peter
00:18:11.04\00:18:15.04
but we need to ask ourselves
"Has the Lord Jesus Christ
00:18:15.24\00:18:18.44
called me to be
part of His revolution? "
00:18:18.64\00:18:21.99
God never calls the qualified;
00:18:22.39\00:18:24.22
He instead qualifies the called.
00:18:24.32\00:18:25.92
The call is the qualification.
00:18:26.12\00:18:27.84
The Desire of
Ages 250 says this:
00:18:28.14\00:18:30.00
"In the common walks of life
00:18:30.30\00:18:32.61
there is many a man patiently
treading the round of daily toil
00:18:33.79\00:18:38.53
unconscious that
he possesses powers
00:18:38.73\00:18:41.68
which if called into action
00:18:41.88\00:18:43.82
would raise him to an equality
00:18:44.02\00:18:45.96
with the world's
most honored men.
00:18:46.07\00:18:49.50
Touch of a
skillful hand is needed...
00:18:49.90\00:18:53.05
Leaders... church leaders...
the touch of a skillful hand
00:18:54.12\00:18:57.17
is needed to arouse
those dormant faculties.
00:18:57.37\00:19:00.30
It was such men that Jesus
called to be His co-laborers
00:19:00.61\00:19:04.07
and He gave them the advantage
of association with Himself.
00:19:04.27\00:19:07.57
Never had the world's
great men such a leader.
00:19:07.77\00:19:10.93
When the disciples came
forth from the Savior's training
00:19:11.24\00:19:14.34
they were no longer
ignorant and uncultured.
00:19:14.54\00:19:17.13
They had become like
Him in mind and character
00:19:17.34\00:19:21.24
and men took knowledge of them
that they had been with Jesus. "
00:19:21.74\00:19:27.67
The call is the qualification.
00:19:27.77\00:19:33.05
There is a supernatural
yet certain phenomenon that
00:19:34.36\00:19:38.51
takes place with the call.
00:19:38.72\00:19:41.16
There is a supernatural
yet certain phenomenon that
00:19:41.56\00:19:45.14
takes place with the
call. They have the advantage
00:19:45.24\00:19:48.17
of association with
Christ, and in this association
00:19:48.37\00:19:51.95
this association
somehow transforms the called
00:19:52.25\00:19:56.42
to become like Him
in mind and character
00:19:56.62\00:19:59.30
and people take note that
they have been with Jesus.
00:19:59.50\00:20:03.11
The called are qualified
because the call itself
00:20:03.31\00:20:06.88
is the qualification.
Young person, tonight
00:20:07.08\00:20:10.50
you need to
understand that you do not need
00:20:10.70\00:20:13.35
anything except the call
of Jesus Christ upon your life
00:20:13.65\00:20:18.56
to be successful in
labor for Jesus Christ.
00:20:18.77\00:20:22.23
Is there a dream in your
heart to do something for God?
00:20:22.73\00:20:28.48
The call is the qualification.
00:20:28.88\00:20:32.10
The call is the qualification
00:20:32.60\00:20:34.85
because it gives us
the advantage of communion
00:20:35.05\00:20:38.05
with Jesus. And communion
with Jesus transforms the life
00:20:38.25\00:20:41.66
so that you and I become
like Him in mind and character.
00:20:41.86\00:20:45.18
So much so that the
surrounding world takes note
00:20:45.39\00:20:49.07
that we have been with Christ.
00:20:49.27\00:20:51.71
Lesson #4 is that
the revolution of power
00:20:52.61\00:20:56.83
is always an outward
manifestation of something
00:20:57.13\00:21:00.43
greater that is within.
00:21:00.63\00:21:02.67
It is an iceberg.
00:21:02.97\00:21:04.34
It is a manifestation of some-
thing greater that takes place
00:21:04.46\00:21:08.62
within. What you see on
the outside - no matter how big
00:21:08.92\00:21:12.59
it is - is always smaller
than what is on the inside.
00:21:12.69\00:21:16.86
Perhaps the best and most
powerful words ever recorded
00:21:17.70\00:21:22.29
in the book of Acts are
found in Acts chapter 2...
00:21:22.49\00:21:25.10
the very first
words that we read.
00:21:25.20\00:21:26.57
"And on the Day of Pentecost
when the Day of Pentecost
00:21:26.97\00:21:30.51
was fully come" it says
"they were all with one accord
00:21:30.71\00:21:35.54
in one place. "
00:21:35.75\00:21:37.16
Perhaps the greatest and
most successful challenge
00:21:38.40\00:21:41.89
that the disciples
were able to overcome,
00:21:42.09\00:21:44.82
the greatest revolution
that ever happened even before
00:21:45.02\00:21:47.96
you read the rest
of Acts chapter 2,
00:21:48.06\00:21:49.72
is the revolution that
has already taken place
00:21:49.92\00:21:52.44
in the hearts of
each of the apostles.
00:21:52.64\00:21:55.01
And that is unity with
Christ that leads to unity
00:21:55.31\00:21:59.17
with one another.
00:21:59.37\00:22:00.74
It is always an iceberg.
00:22:00.77\00:22:03.72
This isn't some
type of yoga or karate
00:22:04.02\00:22:07.36
that the power
comes from within.
00:22:07.56\00:22:08.97
What I'm trying to say is this:
00:22:09.47\00:22:11.16
that greater than the role
that we play in the revolution
00:22:11.46\00:22:15.52
is the role that the
revolution plays in us.
00:22:15.72\00:22:18.79
Is it a genuine power
and force in our lives?
00:22:19.09\00:22:21.67
Is Jesus not only
someone that we believe in
00:22:21.87\00:22:24.96
but is He someone
that believes in us?
00:22:25.16\00:22:28.14
Because the revolution of
power is always first greater
00:22:29.30\00:22:33.62
in the life of the individual
00:22:33.82\00:22:35.27
before it becomes an
outward manifestation
00:22:35.57\00:22:38.38
of power in the
lives of numbers.
00:22:38.58\00:22:42.16
Acts chapter 1, Acts chapter 2
00:22:42.57\00:22:44.85
records for you and for me the
first revolution that we find
00:22:45.05\00:22:48.83
in the New Testament church.
And that is the revolution
00:22:49.03\00:22:51.75
of power.
00:22:51.95\00:22:53.42
But it is a power that
is unknown to you and to me.
00:22:53.72\00:22:56.77
It is a power that
we cannot comprehend
00:22:57.07\00:23:00.12
and we cannot fully understand.
00:23:00.22\00:23:01.81
The disciples thought
that when Christ was to leave
00:23:01.91\00:23:04.70
that He was to establish -
once again - an earthly kingdom.
00:23:04.90\00:23:08.40
And so they asked Jesus:
"Will You now restore Israel? "
00:23:09.27\00:23:12.14
And He said: "It is not
for you to know the time
00:23:12.24\00:23:14.66
but you shall receive power. "
00:23:15.06\00:23:18.14
Real power. "You will receive
power when the Holy Ghost
00:23:18.44\00:23:22.57
takes control of your
life and in that power uses you
00:23:22.77\00:23:27.40
to transform an entire world
for the sake of Jesus Christ. "
00:23:27.60\00:23:33.56
At the
conclusion of Acts chapter 1
00:23:35.72\00:23:38.22
the disciples are
left with the daunting task
00:23:39.09\00:23:41.50
of preaching the gospel -
newly-established church -
00:23:42.26\00:23:46.13
preaching the
gospel to the entire world.
00:23:46.43\00:23:48.40
And I often pause
00:23:48.60\00:23:51.07
right then at
the command of Christ
00:23:51.37\00:23:53.38
and try to place myself
in the place of the apostles.
00:23:54.64\00:23:57.89
And I can't help
but think: "Lord,
00:23:58.89\00:24:01.11
what would be going on in
my mind if I was one of them? "
00:24:01.41\00:24:05.47
If I was given the
task with my friends
00:24:06.69\00:24:10.58
to preach the
gospel to the entire world,
00:24:11.73\00:24:14.34
how would I respond?
00:24:15.48\00:24:17.05
How is an uneducated
unqualified group of people
00:24:20.55\00:24:23.64
going to reach the whole world?
00:24:24.91\00:24:27.64
Acts chapter 2:
speaking in tongues.
00:24:28.82\00:24:31.66
For me it's but a small glimpse
of the answer that is ahead.
00:24:31.96\00:24:34.97
It is as though God is
saying to me: "Israel, are you
00:24:35.47\00:24:38.70
at all aware of the
power of the omnipotent God? "
00:24:38.90\00:24:41.87
The God who knows no
challenge and has no limit.
00:24:42.66\00:24:45.23
A God whose concept of power
00:24:45.33\00:24:47.31
we are not even
able to fully grasp.
00:24:47.41\00:24:49.90
Because when we grasp
that the "ungraspableness"
00:24:50.86\00:24:55.06
of the power of God,
only then are we ready
00:24:55.16\00:24:58.15
to experience in our own lives
00:24:58.35\00:25:01.16
that revolution...
00:25:01.36\00:25:02.88
the revolution of power.
00:25:03.38\00:25:05.92
Acts chapter 3.
00:25:06.32\00:25:08.19
Peter and John went to pray.
00:25:09.49\00:25:12.27
You know the song. They
met a lame man on the way.
00:25:12.57\00:25:15.77
He asked for an alms
and he held out his palms
00:25:16.28\00:25:19.15
and this is what Peter did say.
00:25:19.35\00:25:20.79
"Silver and gold have I
not but that which I have
00:25:21.29\00:25:25.00
give I thee. In the
name of Jesus of Nazareth
00:25:25.20\00:25:28.48
rise up and walk. "
00:25:28.68\00:25:30.95
The Bible says that this
man went walking and leaping
00:25:31.25\00:25:33.43
and praising God.
00:25:33.63\00:25:35.00
The revolution of miracles.
00:25:38.70\00:25:42.18
Verse 11 says this:
00:25:42.48\00:25:44.29
"And as the lame man which
was healed held Peter and John
00:25:44.49\00:25:47.82
all the people
ran together unto them
00:25:48.02\00:25:50.13
in the porch that is called
Solomon's greatly wondering.
00:25:50.33\00:25:53.66
And when Peter saw it
he answered unto the people
00:25:53.86\00:25:56.34
'Ye men of Israel,
why marvel ye at this?
00:25:56.54\00:25:58.85
Or why look ye so earnestly
on us as though by our own power
00:25:59.26\00:26:03.55
or holiness we have
made this man to walk?
00:26:03.75\00:26:07.46
The God of Abraham
and of Isaac and of Jacob,
00:26:07.76\00:26:11.89
the God of our fathers,
has glorified His Son Jesus
00:26:12.09\00:26:15.30
whom you delivered up and denied
Him in the presence of Pilate
00:26:15.51\00:26:18.41
when he was
determined to let Him go. ' "
00:26:18.61\00:26:21.06
Why marvel at miracles?
00:26:21.26\00:26:24.90
The reason is
because we don't understand
00:26:25.20\00:26:28.69
the power of the
revolution of miracles.
00:26:28.90\00:26:33.44
Here we find several
lessons for our contemplation...
00:26:34.14\00:26:37.12
three of them. That is this:
00:26:37.32\00:26:39.98
that as certain as God's desire
to make people believe in Him...
00:26:40.29\00:26:45.42
as certain as we are of
God's desire to make people
00:26:45.62\00:26:50.61
believe in Him, so is His
ability and His willingness
00:26:50.72\00:26:55.08
to work miracles
today for you and for me.
00:26:55.29\00:26:58.36
We live in a society today
where we're afraid of miracles.
00:26:59.84\00:27:02.64
Where we are afraid to
experience the miracles
00:27:03.72\00:27:06.79
of Jesus Christ. But, when
Peter and John went to pray
00:27:06.99\00:27:10.10
they were not afraid of
the miracles of Jesus Christ.
00:27:10.40\00:27:13.13
And perhaps the reason
why we do not experience
00:27:15.20\00:27:18.33
the revolution of miracles which
the early church clearly had
00:27:18.54\00:27:22.43
is because we don't understand
the importance and the
00:27:23.52\00:27:26.46
willingness of God
to work on our behalf
00:27:26.56\00:27:30.53
in our lives today
for you and for me.
00:27:30.73\00:27:34.27
The Bible says that as a result
of Peter's miracle and John's
00:27:37.88\00:27:42.09
miracle that more people were
baptized and added to the church
00:27:42.19\00:27:45.53
than Peter's sermon itself.
00:27:45.74\00:27:47.92
Lesson #1 is that God is
willing to work miracles today.
00:27:50.08\00:27:53.11
We need to believe that.
00:27:53.61\00:27:55.19
Lesson #2 is this: that miracles
are designed to bring attention
00:27:57.27\00:28:01.03
from us to Jesus.
00:28:01.23\00:28:03.81
That is the purpose of miracles.
00:28:05.13\00:28:08.07
Lesson #3 is this:
00:28:09.40\00:28:11.18
that we have not because
we are not willing to ask.
00:28:11.38\00:28:15.87
I remember when I had my
first pastoral assignment
00:28:17.88\00:28:23.33
in the upper
peninsula of Michigan.
00:28:23.53\00:28:25.17
Beautiful place.
00:28:25.47\00:28:27.32
We went to a worker's meeting
and my boss - the president
00:28:28.59\00:28:31.60
of the conference - said:
"I'm going to make an effort
00:28:31.70\00:28:35.37
to visit every single pastor
in their home in the entire
00:28:35.57\00:28:38.57
conference. "
That's over 100 pastors.
00:28:38.67\00:28:40.33
And I was really
excited. I thought: "Man,
00:28:40.83\00:28:42.78
the conference... we are so
far away from the conference
00:28:42.88\00:28:46.47
headquarters that it is
closer for people to drive
00:28:46.57\00:28:49.82
from Michigan's capital to D.C.
00:28:50.02\00:28:52.85
than it is for me to go
to the conference office. "
00:28:52.95\00:28:54.74
It was cheaper for me
to fly to worker's meeting
00:28:55.86\00:28:58.53
than to drive. That's how far...
that's how long of a distance
00:28:58.63\00:29:00.86
it is. And so I was excited
that the president was going to
00:29:00.96\00:29:03.48
drive all the way to visit me.
00:29:03.58\00:29:06.12
And he said: "Israel, I'm going
to come and I'm going to preach
00:29:07.25\00:29:09.47
at all three of your churches. "
00:29:09.57\00:29:11.22
So I was excited.
00:29:12.32\00:29:13.99
He came and I got
to hear him preach.
00:29:14.29\00:29:15.66
Went to the first
church; he preached a sermon...
00:29:15.69\00:29:17.06
we were on the
way to the second.
00:29:17.16\00:29:18.90
And as we're driving...
he's riding shotgun...
00:29:19.30\00:29:23.90
we see a hitchhiker on the road.
00:29:24.30\00:29:28.16
I am facing now a moral dilemma.
00:29:30.44\00:29:33.04
If I pick the hitchhiker
up and we're late for church,
00:29:35.46\00:29:38.05
then he's going to
think I'm always late.
00:29:38.35\00:29:40.45
If I don't pick him
up, he's going to think
00:29:41.64\00:29:43.59
I'm not godly enough.
00:29:43.79\00:29:46.03
This is what's
going on in my mind.
00:29:46.33\00:29:47.70
And I look at
him... and I'm a smart guy.
00:29:49.76\00:29:53.90
I think that at that time
I was inspired and I said:
00:29:55.16\00:29:58.08
"Elder Gallimore,
what should we do? "
00:29:58.39\00:30:00.79
And I think he's a
little bit smarter than I am.
00:30:02.95\00:30:04.82
He said: "Do what
you normally do. "
00:30:06.35\00:30:08.98
So I did what I normally do...
00:30:14.63\00:30:17.21
passed the guy up.
00:30:17.51\00:30:20.09
And then I thought to myself:
"I've already lost my job...
00:30:22.47\00:30:26.07
might as well go back
and do the right thing. "
00:30:26.57\00:30:29.22
And so I turned
around... did a U-turn -
00:30:29.32\00:30:31.04
made us even
more late for church -
00:30:31.34\00:30:33.52
and then I picked the guy up.
00:30:34.82\00:30:36.67
He jumps in the back seat
00:30:37.86\00:30:39.23
and now things have
gone from bad to worse
00:30:40.81\00:30:43.21
'cause now I'm thinking
to myself: "Do I have to talk
00:30:44.39\00:30:45.92
to this guy about Christianity?
Because if I don't... "
00:30:46.02\00:30:48.78
So we had an awkward conver-
sation for about 45 minutes
00:30:53.32\00:30:56.19
till we reached
the church... late.
00:30:56.49\00:30:59.68
He goes in and preaches
00:30:59.98\00:31:01.35
and I stay back with
this guy to talk to him.
00:31:01.45\00:31:03.43
I give him my card and I
never hear from him again.
00:31:03.83\00:31:07.36
And I wonder to myself
00:31:09.23\00:31:10.85
how many times I have missed out
00:31:11.45\00:31:14.57
on opportunities
to witness a miracle
00:31:14.87\00:31:18.28
because I was too busy
or because I was unwilling.
00:31:18.48\00:31:22.66
Because if there's anything
that we learn from the life of
00:31:23.16\00:31:25.63
Peter and John in
Acts chapter 3 it is this:
00:31:25.83\00:31:29.86
that the Christian does
not need to look for miracles.
00:31:30.16\00:31:32.75
Miracles or divine appointments
00:31:33.15\00:31:35.52
or interactions
between two individuals
00:31:35.62\00:31:37.87
that have been
perfectly matched by God Himself
00:31:38.07\00:31:40.77
take place all the time
if you are willing to look
00:31:40.97\00:31:44.32
for them and if I am
willing to look for them.
00:31:44.42\00:31:46.87
And I ask myself a question:
"How many times have I passed up
00:31:47.17\00:31:50.94
a miracle that Christ had or
a divine appointment that Christ
00:31:51.14\00:31:54.69
had for me because I was
too busy or too scared? "
00:31:54.79\00:31:58.32
And if there's anything that
we learn from the revolution
00:31:58.55\00:32:01.23
of miracles it is
this: that God, my friends,
00:32:01.43\00:32:04.16
has lined up for you and for me
00:32:04.36\00:32:06.21
miracle upon
miracle upon miracle
00:32:06.41\00:32:08.73
that we pass by
because we are unwilling
00:32:09.14\00:32:14.17
to explore them.
00:32:14.47\00:32:16.02
It happens all the time.
00:32:17.30\00:32:19.08
We read about it all the time.
00:32:20.29\00:32:22.14
Man comes knocking on the door.
The person has been praying
00:32:23.24\00:32:26.03
that someone would
come to their house
00:32:28.50\00:32:30.94
and teach them about Jesus.
00:32:31.04\00:32:32.83
And yet we are
unwilling to put God at test.
00:32:33.03\00:32:36.66
I was working in New York City
00:32:37.40\00:32:39.19
selling books door-to-door.
00:32:39.60\00:32:41.35
Knocked on a
door... no one came.
00:32:41.65\00:32:43.32
We knew someone was
inside so we kept on knocking.
00:32:44.11\00:32:46.25
Finally a little
girl came to the door.
00:32:46.55\00:32:47.92
She said her mom could not come.
00:32:48.17\00:32:50.06
We asked why. She said she was
having a hard time breathing.
00:32:51.02\00:32:53.68
We opened the
door... went inside.
00:32:54.95\00:32:56.32
The lady was having a
heart attack. We called 911.
00:32:56.38\00:32:58.30
We saved her life that day.
00:32:59.50\00:33:01.75
If there was ever a
miracle that I could think of,
00:33:02.25\00:33:05.00
that in itself IS a miracle.
00:33:05.11\00:33:06.74
And there are many
miracles that happen
00:33:06.94\00:33:09.62
that are out there that we
pass by because we are afraid.
00:33:09.82\00:33:13.07
And my friend, if we
are afraid of failure
00:33:13.27\00:33:16.76
and if we are afraid
of looking like fools
00:33:17.06\00:33:19.26
we would never
experience the miraculous power
00:33:19.36\00:33:22.15
that the early church
experiences that becomes a part
00:33:22.25\00:33:25.80
of its very fabric it is
the revolution of miracles.
00:33:25.90\00:33:29.60
But there is
another type of miracle
00:33:31.20\00:33:33.98
that I want to
talk about this evening.
00:33:34.38\00:33:36.79
It is the third type
of revolution. Sorry.
00:33:37.09\00:33:40.46
The revolution of witnesses.
00:33:40.97\00:33:44.57
Acts chapter 4 verse
5: "And it came to pass
00:33:46.93\00:33:49.11
on the morrow that their
rulers and elders and scribes
00:33:49.51\00:33:52.68
and Ananias the high
priest and Caiaphas and John
00:33:53.08\00:33:55.96
and Alexander and as many
as were of the kindred of the
00:33:56.16\00:33:58.56
the high priest were
gathered together at Jerusalem.
00:33:58.66\00:34:00.50
And when they had set
them in the midst they asked
00:34:00.70\00:34:03.84
'By what power or by
what name have ye done this? '
00:34:03.94\00:34:07.13
Then Peter, filled with
the Holy Ghost, said unto them:
00:34:07.27\00:34:09.95
'Ye rulers of the
people and elders of Israel:
00:34:10.08\00:34:14.32
if we this day be
examined of the good deeds
00:34:14.46\00:34:18.87
done to this impotent man
by what means he is whole,
00:34:18.97\00:34:22.23
be it known unto you all
00:34:22.43\00:34:23.89
and to all the people of Israel
00:34:24.19\00:34:26.17
that by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth
00:34:26.27\00:34:28.67
whom you crucified, whom
God raised up from the dead,
00:34:28.77\00:34:31.35
even by Him does this man
stand before you whole. ' "
00:34:31.55\00:34:36.66
When I read this
I get goose bumps
00:34:37.81\00:34:39.73
because this is the same
Peter that in the same hall
00:34:40.67\00:34:44.12
just a little while before had
denied his Master with cursing.
00:34:44.32\00:34:48.77
But he is now a different Peter
00:34:49.07\00:34:52.00
because he has undergone a
revolution in his personal life.
00:34:52.21\00:34:55.70
He has been transformed
from a coward to a witness.
00:34:57.42\00:35:01.56
And the Bible says
that this man Peter
00:35:02.16\00:35:04.22
stands before
this group of people.
00:35:04.32\00:35:06.20
This group of people
stand before Peter knowing
00:35:06.41\00:35:09.16
that this guy is a weak coward.
00:35:09.36\00:35:11.26
That they will break this man.
00:35:11.56\00:35:13.42
But Peter stands
unflinchingly and he says:
00:35:13.72\00:35:16.58
"We have done this deed
by the power of the name
00:35:16.71\00:35:19.43
of Jesus Christ
whom you crucified. "
00:35:19.53\00:35:21.75
And the Bible says
that this group of people
00:35:22.15\00:35:24.48
is shocked and is put
in a difficult position
00:35:24.68\00:35:27.44
'cause they can't harm Peter.
00:35:27.74\00:35:29.51
And the Bible says
that they have taken note
00:35:29.81\00:35:32.84
that Peter has been with Jesus.
00:35:33.04\00:35:37.75
Peter has been with
Jesus for more than three years
00:35:39.35\00:35:44.26
and it is only now that we find
those words recorded of him.
00:35:45.55\00:35:50.67
That "they take note
that he has been with Jesus. "
00:35:51.17\00:35:55.69
It is a shame
yet at the same time
00:35:56.90\00:36:00.88
it is a testimony to the
mercy and the grace of God.
00:36:01.28\00:36:05.60
Verse 13: "Now when they saw
the boldness of Peter and John
00:36:08.44\00:36:11.12
and perceived that they
were unlearned ignorant men
00:36:11.22\00:36:13.24
they marveled and they
took knowledge of them that they
00:36:13.34\00:36:16.54
had been with Jesus.
" Verse 18: "And they
00:36:16.74\00:36:19.29
called them and commanded
them not to speak at all
00:36:19.49\00:36:23.09
nor teach in the name of
Jesus. But Peter and John
00:36:23.29\00:36:25.86
answered and said unto
them: 'Whether it is right
00:36:26.06\00:36:28.21
in the sight of God to hearken
unto you more than unto God
00:36:28.31\00:36:31.43
judge ye. ' "
Verse 20: "For we cannot
00:36:31.63\00:36:34.36
but speak the things
which we have seen and heard. "
00:36:34.56\00:36:39.05
This was the same John
00:36:43.14\00:36:45.37
that would later
on pen these words.
00:36:45.77\00:36:50.93
I invite you to turn with
me in your Bibles to the book
00:36:51.23\00:36:53.78
of I John
00:36:53.88\00:36:55.38
chapter 1.
00:37:01.63\00:37:03.28
"That which was from the
beginning which we have heard
00:37:05.12\00:37:07.82
which we have seen with our eyes
00:37:08.58\00:37:10.42
which we have looked upon
and our hands have handled
00:37:10.82\00:37:13.78
of the Word of life.
For the life was manifested
00:37:13.98\00:37:17.82
and we have seen it and
bear witness and show unto you
00:37:17.92\00:37:21.17
that eternal life which was with
the Father and was manifested
00:37:21.27\00:37:25.24
unto us, that which
we have seen and heard,
00:37:25.34\00:37:27.95
declare we unto you
00:37:28.25\00:37:30.31
that you also may have
fellowship with us and truly
00:37:30.61\00:37:33.13
our fellowship
is with the Father
00:37:33.23\00:37:35.13
and with His Son Jesus Christ. "
00:37:35.33\00:37:37.48
John says: "We cannot help
00:37:40.69\00:37:44.56
but be witnesses
of Jesus Christ. "
00:37:44.76\00:37:49.81
Did you know
that being a witness
00:37:51.41\00:37:53.56
is a revolutionary act?
00:37:53.59\00:37:55.85
I'm not talking
about any witness
00:37:57.19\00:37:59.66
but I'm talking
about the type of witness
00:38:00.16\00:38:02.33
that John and Peter were.
00:38:02.53\00:38:05.20
That is a revolutionary act
00:38:05.70\00:38:09.32
because they are not just
witnessing as someone would
00:38:09.62\00:38:13.37
witness in court.
00:38:13.47\00:38:14.84
They are not just telling of an
event that they saw and heard.
00:38:14.92\00:38:18.90
John later on says:
"That which we have heard:
00:38:19.71\00:38:22.67
that is what we
declare unto you. "
00:38:22.97\00:38:25.03
But you see, it is possible
for someone to hear the word
00:38:26.44\00:38:30.87
of Jesus yet at the same
time never see His countenance.
00:38:30.97\00:38:35.70
It is possible for someone
to hear the word of Christ
00:38:36.10\00:38:39.32
and yet at the same time
never be touched by its power.
00:38:39.52\00:38:42.54
I wonder how many times
Jesus preached to the multitude
00:38:43.45\00:38:46.26
and someone heard
as they were passing by
00:38:46.36\00:38:48.71
yet left without being
impacted in their personal life.
00:38:48.91\00:38:52.26
John is not just
talking about a casual witness
00:38:52.56\00:38:55.65
of someone who heard Jesus.
00:38:55.85\00:38:58.15
He said: "We didn't
just stop with the hearing. "
00:38:59.35\00:39:01.12
He says: "That which we have
heard but that which we have
00:39:01.32\00:39:03.51
seen with our very own eyes. "
00:39:03.61\00:39:05.88
But not just casually seen.
00:39:08.14\00:39:10.48
I live in Lansing, Michigan, now
00:39:12.55\00:39:14.34
and I have to
drive to Ann Arbor.
00:39:14.84\00:39:16.61
It's about an hour drive.
00:39:16.71\00:39:18.24
And I drive on the highway
00:39:18.44\00:39:19.81
and there's a sign that
always catches my attention.
00:39:20.03\00:39:23.48
But I cannot tell
you what that sign says.
00:39:24.11\00:39:26.36
I can tell you what it's about.
00:39:26.46\00:39:27.83
It's actually about
revolutionary people,
00:39:28.10\00:39:30.84
but I forget the exact
quotation because I'm driving
00:39:31.35\00:39:34.31
so fast and I'm trying
to concentrate on the road
00:39:34.41\00:39:37.02
and on the cops
that I miss the sign
00:39:37.12\00:39:39.49
and the value and
the power of the words.
00:39:39.69\00:39:42.74
Even though I see the sign
00:39:44.02\00:39:46.09
and even though
the sign impacts me
00:39:46.29\00:39:48.24
it's a casual seeing.
00:39:48.54\00:39:50.22
John says: "I
didn't just see Jesus... "
00:39:50.42\00:39:52.28
he says... "but I beheld Him. "
00:39:52.48\00:39:54.96
The difference between
seeing and beholding is this:
00:39:55.36\00:39:57.78
my wife... she's
not the romantic type.
00:39:58.96\00:40:02.89
If I buy her
flowers she will tell me
00:40:03.84\00:40:05.76
"Why did you waste the money? "
00:40:06.06\00:40:07.80
Now secretly I really
think that deep down inside
00:40:09.31\00:40:11.69
she likes the flowers.
00:40:11.79\00:40:13.16
But she's not the romantic type.
00:40:14.45\00:40:16.23
And so sometimes
romantic moments can be
00:40:18.01\00:40:21.63
kind of awkward.
00:40:21.93\00:40:23.38
And so there are times
when we will lie in bed
00:40:27.43\00:40:33.16
and I will wait
until she falls asleep...
00:40:33.46\00:40:35.28
which doesn't take much...
00:40:35.38\00:40:36.75
And when she falls asleep
and I know she is completely out
00:40:38.87\00:40:43.85
I will look over and
I will look at her face.
00:40:47.72\00:40:53.65
And I will look and
look and continue to look.
00:40:55.26\00:41:00.49
And it's not
awkward 'cause she's asleep.
00:41:00.69\00:41:02.29
And... and I will behold.
00:41:02.69\00:41:07.71
I will behold her face.
00:41:08.21\00:41:10.84
It's not like the sign.
00:41:12.06\00:41:14.24
It's not like
hearing the word of Christ
00:41:15.56\00:41:17.06
but not being impacted.
00:41:17.16\00:41:18.86
I will intentionally
stare at the beauty of the face
00:41:19.16\00:41:23.28
before me and marvel at
the fact that I was able
00:41:23.48\00:41:27.30
to trick her into marrying
me before it was too late.
00:41:27.50\00:41:30.74
But John said
00:41:35.81\00:41:37.38
"I'm a witness to
Jesus not just of the things
00:41:38.33\00:41:40.52
that I have seen or
heard or even beheld. "
00:41:40.62\00:41:43.70
He said: "These hands
00:41:45.11\00:41:46.89
have handled the Word of life. "
00:41:47.65\00:41:52.28
I have a friend of
mine... his name is Willie.
00:41:54.35\00:41:56.22
He's going to kill
me for saying this.
00:41:56.52\00:41:57.98
But when he was growing up
he was a Chicago Bulls fan.
00:42:01.77\00:42:04.32
And one time he was at
a game... baseball game.
00:42:06.75\00:42:10.51
And news went around
that Michael Jordan -
00:42:11.01\00:42:13.47
one of the most
popular athletes of our time -
00:42:13.87\00:42:17.54
was using the bathroom.
00:42:18.60\00:42:20.29
And he did what every fanatic
00:42:21.76\00:42:24.23
person that has
lost his mind would do:
00:42:24.43\00:42:26.43
he went to the
second floor bathroom B
00:42:28.54\00:42:30.64
and there he saw Michael Jordan
coming out of the bathroom.
00:42:31.94\00:42:37.11
And he tells me that he was
able to touch Michael Jordan.
00:42:39.17\00:42:43.28
And then if you ask him
"What happened next, Willie? "
00:42:47.05\00:42:49.00
and he said "The
security guard. "
00:42:50.26\00:42:52.32
And this is a perfect
illustration of the difference
00:42:55.32\00:42:58.95
between touching and handling.
00:42:59.15\00:43:01.39
He touched Michael Jordan;
00:43:02.66\00:43:04.43
the security guards
handled... handled him.
00:43:04.83\00:43:10.10
John says
00:43:12.28\00:43:16.55
that he is a witness.
00:43:16.85\00:43:18.50
That he has
personally, intimately,
00:43:19.84\00:43:24.29
handled Jesus Christ.
00:43:24.59\00:43:29.75
The greatest revolution that
the early church experiences
00:43:31.21\00:43:35.42
is that revolution:
the revolution of identity.
00:43:35.72\00:43:40.72
Looking at themselves as
witnesses of Jesus Christ.
00:43:41.02\00:43:45.27
Not just casual witnesses
00:43:45.67\00:43:47.94
but intimate witnesses that
have handled the Word of life.
00:43:48.34\00:43:52.53
And he says: "That is
what we share with the world. "
00:43:53.70\00:43:59.24
And so we go back
to the very beginning.
00:44:00.59\00:44:02.87
"You will be My witnesses
00:44:04.02\00:44:06.11
when the Holy Ghost
has come upon you. "
00:44:06.41\00:44:08.35
"You will receive power
00:44:09.79\00:44:12.36
and you will be witnesses
to Me for the entire world...
00:44:12.56\00:44:16.27
to the entire world. "
00:44:16.57\00:44:17.94
Witnesses of an intimate
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:44:18.08\00:44:20.99
You see, more than a
revolution of witnessing
00:44:21.19\00:44:23.96
this is a revolution of love.
00:44:24.26\00:44:27.25
The love of God transforming
the life of an individual...
00:44:28.23\00:44:31.29
so much so that that
individual is willing
00:44:31.39\00:44:33.87
to die for Jesus Christ.
And so we find these words
00:44:34.07\00:44:38.57
Desire of Ages 251:
00:44:38.77\00:44:41.30
"He who loves Christ the most
will do the greatest amount of
00:44:41.60\00:44:44.57
good. There is no limit
to the usefulness of one
00:44:44.67\00:44:48.28
who by putting self aside
00:44:48.49\00:44:50.18
makes room for the working of
the Holy Spirit upon his heart
00:44:50.38\00:44:53.26
and lives a life
wholly consecrated to God.
00:44:53.46\00:44:56.46
If men will endure the necessary
discipline without complaining
00:44:56.86\00:45:00.09
or fainting by the way,
00:45:00.29\00:45:02.07
God will teach them hour
by hour and day by day. "
00:45:02.10\00:45:06.28
You can be part of
the revolution that began
00:45:08.57\00:45:12.98
in the book of Acts.
00:45:13.18\00:45:14.82
You can be part of the
revolution that began in the
00:45:15.32\00:45:18.08
book of Acts: the
revolution of power.
00:45:18.18\00:45:20.30
You can be a powerful Christian
that experiences in your life
00:45:21.14\00:45:25.42
the daily power of
God to transform you
00:45:25.62\00:45:28.86
from being a
rebel to being a saint.
00:45:28.96\00:45:31.49
You can
experience the power of God
00:45:31.69\00:45:33.49
from failure into success.
00:45:33.59\00:45:37.15
You can experience the
power of God to work miracles
00:45:37.45\00:45:41.00
in your life and in
the lives of others.
00:45:41.20\00:45:43.24
And most important
and most powerfully of all
00:45:43.54\00:45:46.61
you can experience
the power of God to become
00:45:46.81\00:45:50.69
a witness to the things of God
that He has done in your life.
00:45:50.89\00:45:55.64
There are witnesses
in this room tonight
00:45:57.61\00:45:59.81
that have experienced
in their personal lives
00:46:01.15\00:46:03.93
the power of God... and we
don't have time to talk to you
00:46:04.23\00:46:07.19
but that have started this
ministry that you are a part of
00:46:08.28\00:46:13.42
today.
00:46:13.62\00:46:15.50
People who wanted to be
a witness for Christ so bad
00:46:16.59\00:46:19.23
that they said: "I'm
wiling to make this thing happen
00:46:21.52\00:46:25.59
at all costs... even if
00:46:25.69\00:46:28.58
I have to put my parents'
credit card on the line. "
00:46:29.30\00:46:31.12
That's not me by the way.
00:46:31.22\00:46:32.59
That's James Kim.
He's here somewhere...
00:46:34.14\00:46:36.00
you won't even see
him but he's here...
00:46:36.10\00:46:38.65
our first treasurer.
00:46:38.79\00:46:40.21
A doctor here in
the Seattle area.
00:46:40.51\00:46:42.42
People who were willing
to put everything on the line
00:46:44.72\00:46:48.37
for the sake of Jesus
Christ... they are here.
00:46:48.47\00:46:50.39
And you can be a part
of that group of people
00:46:50.59\00:46:53.51
if you have a yearning desire
to experience Christ intimately
00:46:53.71\00:46:59.11
and personally for yourself.
00:46:59.31\00:47:01.56
In closing I want to make
an appeal for you tonight.
00:47:02.81\00:47:08.19
First of all it's an
appeal for the power of God
00:47:12.08\00:47:16.87
working in your life.
00:47:16.97\00:47:18.92
You look at yourself
and you say: "I don't have
00:47:19.32\00:47:21.71
the power of the
living God in my life. "
00:47:22.11\00:47:25.03
Tonight I want to
make an appeal for you.
00:47:25.23\00:47:27.80
In your life you
might think: "Man, God...
00:47:29.29\00:47:32.61
I live my life every day.
00:47:32.64\00:47:35.54
I go to the supermarket.
00:47:35.74\00:47:37.61
I go to the gas
station; I go to my classes;
00:47:37.91\00:47:39.97
I go to work unaware of the fact
00:47:40.07\00:47:43.54
that the people that I work
with that I encounter every day
00:47:43.74\00:47:46.81
are people that
God wants to save
00:47:46.91\00:47:48.30
and I might be the
missing link. I'm afraid. "
00:47:48.41\00:47:54.09
I make an appeal for you.
00:47:54.22\00:47:55.71
Third appeal is going to be
00:47:55.91\00:47:58.21
to be a witness for Jesus.
00:47:58.52\00:48:00.61
You might say to
yourself: "I've been in ministry
00:48:01.89\00:48:04.01
for a long time yet I've
realized that my walk with God
00:48:04.11\00:48:08.02
is not intimate. I
hear Him all the time...
00:48:08.12\00:48:11.36
maybe every day. I
see Him all the time...
00:48:11.56\00:48:16.18
maybe every day... but
I never handled Jesus. "
00:48:16.32\00:48:19.27
I want to make an
appeal for you tonight.
00:48:19.58\00:48:23.27
Let's bow our heads for prayer.
00:48:23.41\00:48:25.05
Father in heaven,
00:48:27.49\00:48:28.96
we look in the book of Acts
00:48:29.46\00:48:31.22
and indeed it is a revolution.
00:48:32.52\00:48:35.68
Your church is a revolution.
00:48:36.08\00:48:39.06
You have placed us here at
this time in earth's history
00:48:39.56\00:48:43.75
to revolutionize
the entire world.
00:48:43.89\00:48:46.42
To show the world
the face and the love
00:48:46.72\00:48:52.36
and the heart of
Jesus Christ Himself.
00:48:52.66\00:48:56.20