Today I have the privilege
of introducing our speaker
00:00:12.07\00:00:14.93
for this morning:
Pastor Wes Peppers.
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Pastor Wes Peppers is
currently a pastor in the
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Michigan Conference
and before that he was
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an evangelist and a
pastor for Amazing Facts.
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As I chatted with him
backstage I got the impression
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that he's had a
very interesting life.
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As a young person he
was such a strong atheist
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that he decided he was
going to study the Bible
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to prove it to be wrong.
But as he studied the Bible
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the Bible proved
itself to be true.
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The Bible does that, doesn't it?
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It proves itself to be true.
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So I know that we're
going to have something exciting
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as God speaks
through him this morning
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and I'm looking forward to
hearing Pastor Wes Peppers.
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But before we go on,
let's bow our heads in prayer.
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Father in heaven, we have
so much to be thankful for
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this morning. I
just want to thank You
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for the opportunity
to be here this Sabbath
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to be with like-minded
believers and to worship You.
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I pray that You will
prepare our hearts, Father,
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that we will be ready
to receive the message
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that You have prepared for us.
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Send Your Holy Spirit
and help us to recognize
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Your voice. Help us to
respond to Your calling.
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I also pray that You will
be with Pastor Wes Peppers
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as he speaks. Give a special
measure of the Holy Spirit
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to him this morning and
guide his thoughts and words.
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In Jesus' name, Amen.
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As I see the day approaching...
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day when Christ will come again,
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here's a question I keep asking
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of myself and of all men.
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When He comes - when He comes -
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when He comes - when He comes -
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will I be ready when He comes?
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Have I banished all my sin?
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Do I have His peace within?
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Am I ready for the Lord
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to come?
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While the signs
are clearly showing
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that our Lord will soon return
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oh I pray these words I'm asking
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in your quiet heart will burn.
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When He comes - when He comes -
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when He comes - when He comes -
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will you be ready when He comes?
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Have you banished all your sin?
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Do you have His peace within?
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Are you ready for the Lord
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to come?
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When He comes - when He comes -
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when He comes - when He comes -
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will we be ready when He comes?
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Have we banished all our sin?
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Do we have His peace within?
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Am I ready?
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Are you ready?
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Are we ready for the Lord
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to come?
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Amen!
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Good morning GYC.
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Good morning!
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Thankful that three of
you are here this morning.
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Good morning GYC. Good morning!
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It's great to be here worshiping
with you this morning. Amen?
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Amen! It's great to be
a Seventh-day Adventist
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this morning and I'm
thankful to be at GYC.
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I'm thankful that you're
here and I'm looking forward
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to a very exciting
weekend. What could be greater
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than starting GYC on a
Sabbath morning? Amen? Amen!
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The only thing I
think could be better
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would be starting GYC in heaven.
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How many think that
might be possible next year?
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Wonderful. It's so good
to see each one of you here.
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I'm excited about what
the Lord's going to do.
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It's good to see that all of you
have survived the Mayan calendar
00:05:06.29\00:05:09.45
disaster. And that
was, you know, in the news
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and all these different things.
But I'm thankful, friends,
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that the hope that we have
is not built upon superstition.
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Amen? It's built
upon the Word of God,
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and the Word of God has been
proven down through the ages.
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And just so thankful today
that we have a solid hope...
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something that's
real, something that's pure,
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something that's true...
and we can celebrate that.
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We can worship
our God this morning.
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My wife is at home.
She's watching online
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with my 8-month-old son.
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And we actually I think
they have a picture of my son.
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I don't know if they're
going to be able to put that up.
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But there they are...
they're watching at home.
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And I tell you what, friends:
having a child will change your
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life for eternity.
And what a blessing it is.
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Little Levi is there at home.
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I hope this weekend that
we are going to leave GYC
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not the same
people as when we came.
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But we will be changed, we will
be filled with the Holy Spirit
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and we will be ready
to fulfill Revelation 18,
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the glory of God being
shown into all the world:
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that is my prayer this weekend.
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I've been praying
for each one of you
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that God's Word - God's Spirit
- would speak to your heart
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this weekend. And
friends, we want the Latter Rain
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to be poured out. How
many of you want to have
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that experience today? Amen!
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This weekend we're going to
look at four different themes.
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We're going to look at several
things from the book of Acts,
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some things that won't
be from the book of Acts.
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But today we're going to
talk about the roots of the book
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of Acts. And then tomorrow
we're going to look at the
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power line of Acts.
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The next day we're going to
look at the driving force of the
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book of Acts.
And then the last day
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we're going to look at
what it takes and what it took
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to continue in the book of Acts
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and what that means
for our generation today.
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The titles will be
Rediscovering Character today.
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Tomorrow: Redefining Culture.
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The next day:
Resurrecting the Church.
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And the last day:
Reaching the Cosmos.
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I'm looking forward
to a powerful weekend.
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You know, as I was on my
way out here I was on a plane
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and I sat... I
was flying Southwest.
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It was open seating.
00:07:19.40\00:07:21.24
And as I got on the
plane I have to confess
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there was a man sitting
in the seat by the window
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and he was
actually a very large man.
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Very large.
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In fact he kind of like
spilled over into the next seat.
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And I thought to myself...
I said: "You know, if I
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sit beside this man -
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and there's actually
extra seating available
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then nobody's going to
want to sit in the middle
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between me and him. "
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You were supposed to laugh.
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So I said: "I'm
going to sit down. "
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I felt heavily impressed
to sit by this man. I thought:
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"I'm going to be able
to witness to this man
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all the way to
GYC... four-hour flight. "
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Well all the people came
on and the stewardess said:
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"You know, this is going
to be a very full flight. "
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And so all the people came on.
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The last guy got on
and he walked past me
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and I thought: "Man!
This is it! I'm going to have
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a seat to myself. I'm
going to witness to this guy.
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It's going to be wonderful. "
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Then all of a sudden I
get a tap on the shoulder
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and it's the guy that
went past me. He came back
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and he said: "There's
no more seats back there. "
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This guy was about 6'4"
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and his shoulders
were about this wide.
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And so you have the three
biggest people on the plane
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all sitting in the same seats.
00:08:29.12\00:08:31.23
This brother - the very
large man - he like spilled over
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into the next seat. Then there
was this brother sitting beside
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him... and I sat
like this the whole time.
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You think I'm
joking? I'm totally serious.
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And the stewardess kept like
bumping into me with the cart.
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But I started talking
to this man in the middle.
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The dude on the
end... he like fell asleep
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and I thought I was
supposed to witness to this guy.
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But the guy in the
middle: he started telling me...
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He was of a certain
faith and he started telling me
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how much he
struggled with his faith.
00:09:01.05\00:09:02.77
And he said: "I
struggle with my faith
00:09:02.97\00:09:04.93
because the picture I
see of the character of God
00:09:05.14\00:09:08.53
in the Bible... " he
says... "I don't understand how
00:09:08.73\00:09:10.73
there could be such a loving
God and He would burn people
00:09:10.93\00:09:13.43
for all eternity. "
00:09:13.53\00:09:14.90
He made a list of
these things and I said:
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"Brother, " I said, "this
is not the true picture of God
00:09:17.24\00:09:20.41
in the Bible. " And we
opened our Bibles together
00:09:20.62\00:09:22.85
on the plane and we
had a Bible study. Amen!
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And at the end of that time
the man said: "Man, my faith
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has been
renewed. I'm so excited!
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Thank you for
sharing this truth with me. "
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You know, what that makes me
think of is that there are young
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people all around the
world who are not even in the
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Adventist church who want
to be a part of the revolution
00:09:39.20\00:09:42.66
that you're experiencing here.
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There are young
people around the world
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who would give anything to have
the seat that you're in today.
00:09:46.66\00:09:50.21
And friends, there are
young people who are going to be
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joining this church when
the Holy Spirit is poured out.
00:09:53.50\00:09:56.81
And the question is: what are
they going to be coming into?
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If they came to GYC,
00:10:01.86\00:10:04.01
what would they see in you?
00:10:05.15\00:10:06.93
Would they see Christ in you?
00:10:08.26\00:10:09.99
It is my prayer
this weekend, friends,
00:10:10.39\00:10:12.97
that we will have such
an experience with Jesus
00:10:13.38\00:10:16.02
it would
radically change our lives.
00:10:16.42\00:10:19.24
Please bow your
heads as we pray.
00:10:22.14\00:10:24.08
Father in heaven,
00:10:26.84\00:10:28.33
Lord, this weekend we need an
outpouring of Your Holy Spirit.
00:10:29.24\00:10:31.99
This weekend we
need to see Jesus.
00:10:32.72\00:10:34.66
This weekend we
need to shun worldliness,
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and selfishness,
and self-seeking.
00:10:39.54\00:10:42.05
We need the true love
that can only come from heaven.
00:10:43.13\00:10:45.79
We ask that Your Spirit
would draw near to us today.
00:10:46.00\00:10:49.02
We ask that You
would speak to our hearts
00:10:49.42\00:10:51.48
in a very powerful way.
00:10:51.89\00:10:53.94
We pray, Lord, that we
would not be the same people
00:10:54.34\00:10:57.00
when we leave as when we came
00:10:57.20\00:10:58.76
but we would be transformed,
we would be renewed,
00:10:59.07\00:11:02.02
we would be empowered, and
You would bless Your people
00:11:02.05\00:11:06.01
and we would know that
we have been in the presence
00:11:06.21\00:11:08.61
of Jesus today.
This is our prayer.
00:11:08.81\00:11:12.22
We ask it in His name, Amen.
00:11:12.42\00:11:15.34
In order to oftentimes
understand what lies ahead
00:11:17.30\00:11:20.82
many times you have to go
backward. Is that not true?
00:11:21.02\00:11:23.88
In Bible prophecy we under-
stand the book of Revelation,
00:11:24.18\00:11:26.63
and many of the symbols
and themes in the book of
00:11:26.83\00:11:30.01
Revelation we find
repeated - or first told -
00:11:30.11\00:11:33.94
in the Old
Testament. Is it true?
00:11:34.14\00:11:35.71
Every revolution has its roots.
00:11:36.01\00:11:39.37
Every revolution had
something that had to happen
00:11:39.57\00:11:42.34
before the
revolution could take place,
00:11:42.54\00:11:44.69
and that's what we're
going to look at today.
00:11:44.99\00:11:46.74
We're going to look at that
00:11:46.94\00:11:48.31
in the life of a
very interesting character
00:11:48.34\00:11:50.07
in the Bible. His
name is John the Baptist.
00:11:50.10\00:11:52.08
How many of you have heard
of John the Baptist before?
00:11:52.28\00:11:54.08
Now what's interesting
is without John the Baptist
00:11:54.58\00:11:57.61
there would be no book of Acts.
00:11:57.82\00:11:59.90
Because John the Baptist
introduces Jesus onto the scene
00:12:00.20\00:12:03.95
and then Jesus introduces - He
brings about - the Holy Spirit
00:12:04.15\00:12:08.04
after that. John the
Baptist is actually mentioned
00:12:08.24\00:12:11.29
nine times in the book of Acts.
00:12:11.50\00:12:13.70
Nine times. And
every time he's mentioned
00:12:13.90\00:12:16.54
it's with great reverence.
In fact, in Acts chapter 1
00:12:16.75\00:12:19.71
Jesus talks
about John the Baptist
00:12:19.91\00:12:21.66
in His closing
words with the disciples.
00:12:21.86\00:12:24.47
John the Baptist we find
in our study of scripture
00:12:24.87\00:12:27.36
he's actually a type
of the final generation
00:12:27.56\00:12:31.24
that will live upon the earth.
00:12:31.44\00:12:33.65
John the Baptist: his
role was to prepare the world
00:12:33.85\00:12:36.49
for the first coming of Jesus.
00:12:36.69\00:12:38.21
And the last generation: their
role is to prepare the world
00:12:38.41\00:12:41.36
for the second coming of Jesus.
00:12:41.56\00:12:42.93
How many of you
know this to be true?
00:12:43.13\00:12:44.68
You've seen this...
you've studied this.
00:12:44.88\00:12:46.32
And so John represents what
God wants His final generation
00:12:46.72\00:12:51.09
to be in the last
days. And that is why
00:12:51.29\00:12:53.67
we're going to look at John.
00:12:53.87\00:12:55.24
We're going to
see how he impacted.
00:12:55.27\00:12:57.10
The decisions he
made, the life he lived
00:12:57.20\00:12:59.63
set the stage for the
book of Acts. It was the root
00:12:59.83\00:13:03.12
of the revolution, and that's
what we're going to see today.
00:13:03.22\00:13:05.63
We're going to find a very
powerful, clear connection.
00:13:05.93\00:13:08.83
Jesus calls John the
Baptist one of the greatest
00:13:09.03\00:13:11.86
prophets that ever lived.
00:13:12.06\00:13:13.43
And if he's one of the
greatest that ever lived,
00:13:13.68\00:13:16.07
he is THE greatest, we
know that he represents
00:13:16.17\00:13:18.86
the last generation. And
the last generation will also be
00:13:19.06\00:13:22.11
the greatest.
00:13:22.31\00:13:24.20
Turn with me please in your
Bibles to the book of Matthew,
00:13:24.70\00:13:27.59
the gospel of Matthew chapter 3,
00:13:27.79\00:13:29.54
and that's where we're going
to begin our study this morning.
00:13:29.64\00:13:32.30
Some very powerful
points that we want to make
00:13:32.60\00:13:34.60
and I'm praying that
I'm going to finish on time.
00:13:34.91\00:13:38.10
How many of you are
going to pray for me?
00:13:38.30\00:13:40.01
I've been a little bit sick, so
if I cough you will forgive me.
00:13:42.03\00:13:45.79
But what I do not ask for
00:13:46.09\00:13:48.70
is a thousand people to come
up to me after the meeting today
00:13:48.90\00:13:52.04
and give me all kinds
of different home remedies.
00:13:52.24\00:13:54.56
I don't need cloves of garlic;
I don't need a bunch of stuff.
00:13:54.96\00:13:58.19
Just pray for me. Amen?
00:13:58.49\00:14:00.12
Man, I'm doing all those
things already, so please don't.
00:14:00.43\00:14:02.90
Thank you.
00:14:03.10\00:14:04.47
Matthew chapter 3 and verse 1:
00:14:04.50\00:14:07.24
the Bible
reads... Are you there?
00:14:07.64\00:14:09.57
Yes. If you're
there, say "Amen. "
00:14:09.88\00:14:11.75
Amen! All right.
Matthew chapter 3:
00:14:11.95\00:14:15.28
"In those days John
the Baptist came preaching
00:14:15.48\00:14:18.64
in the wilderness
of Judea and saying:
00:14:18.85\00:14:21.62
'Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.
00:14:21.82\00:14:25.46
For this is He who was
spoken of by the prophet Isaiah
00:14:25.66\00:14:28.64
saying: the voice of
one crying in the wilderness
00:14:28.84\00:14:31.46
prepare the way of the Lord;
make His paths straight. ' "
00:14:31.66\00:14:36.44
John the Baptist was
called to preach a message,
00:14:36.84\00:14:40.35
to bear a message of repentance
00:14:40.56\00:14:42.91
to a world who
was not repentant.
00:14:43.01\00:14:45.62
John was called to
prepare the way for Jesus
00:14:45.82\00:14:48.58
to come on the scene as
the Savior of the world.
00:14:48.78\00:14:51.26
We as Seventh-day Adventists
are called to prepare the world
00:14:51.56\00:14:54.61
for not the coming
of Jesus as a Savior
00:14:54.81\00:14:57.20
but the coming of Jesus
as a conquering King. Amen?
00:14:57.40\00:15:01.40
The Bible says that John
bore a message of repentance.
00:15:01.60\00:15:04.26
We ask the question:
"What is repentance? "
00:15:04.46\00:15:06.77
What is real,
genuine repentance?
00:15:07.69\00:15:09.73
It means that I
was once going this way
00:15:09.93\00:15:13.06
but I've made a turn
and now I'm going where?
00:15:13.26\00:15:15.89
I'm going the
opposite direction.
00:15:16.20\00:15:17.83
That's what a
message of repentance is.
00:15:17.93\00:15:19.96
A message of repentance
is a deep sorrow for sin that
00:15:20.36\00:15:24.38
leads us to want to please Jesus
in every area of our lives.
00:15:24.48\00:15:28.20
Not the areas
that are comfortable,
00:15:28.78\00:15:30.41
not the areas
that are convenient...
00:15:30.62\00:15:32.38
but in every area of our lives.
00:15:32.48\00:15:34.12
That is true repentance.
00:15:34.32\00:15:35.94
I wonder how many of us
today have actually experienced
00:15:36.24\00:15:39.32
that type of true
repentance in our lives.
00:15:39.52\00:15:41.54
I pray that before the
weekend is over every one of us
00:15:42.62\00:15:45.16
will have that experience.
It is the Holy Spirit's work
00:15:45.26\00:15:48.67
to change our
attitudes and our actions.
00:15:48.87\00:15:51.88
That is true repentance.
00:15:52.18\00:15:54.14
It is not a work that you
do, it is not a work that I do.
00:15:54.44\00:15:57.18
It's a work that the
Holy Spirit does in us. Amen?
00:15:57.48\00:16:00.73
Repentance is
absolutely necessary
00:16:01.13\00:16:03.80
to receive the Latter Rain.
00:16:04.00\00:16:05.97
How many of you would
agree with that today?
00:16:06.27\00:16:08.31
It's
necessary... it's essential.
00:16:08.51\00:16:11.17
Bearing a message of
repentance is not an easy work.
00:16:11.47\00:16:14.65
Some people actually have
the wrong idea of repentance.
00:16:14.85\00:16:18.21
I remember once I was in
charge of a certain group
00:16:18.62\00:16:22.61
of people. I can't
tell you who or what 'cause
00:16:22.71\00:16:24.97
then somebody would know.
00:16:25.07\00:16:26.44
But I remember I was in charge
of a group of young people.
00:16:26.59\00:16:30.11
And somebody brought me a
cell phone with a video on it.
00:16:30.31\00:16:34.87
And on this video was
one of the young people
00:16:35.27\00:16:38.33
whom I was in charge of.
00:16:38.53\00:16:40.32
And it was a picture of them
- not a picture but a video -
00:16:40.63\00:16:43.83
on the street corner standing
on top of a 5-gallon bucket
00:16:44.13\00:16:49.33
screaming at the
people across the street
00:16:49.63\00:16:52.88
"Repent or be burned in hell! "
00:16:53.08\00:16:57.17
And I was like... I stood
there for like five minutes.
00:16:58.82\00:17:02.66
I could not believe
that one of the young people
00:17:02.86\00:17:04.23
I was in charge of...
00:17:04.26\00:17:05.63
Friends, that is not
a message of repentance.
00:17:05.66\00:17:08.43
That's a message of annoyance.
00:17:08.63\00:17:11.04
Are you with me?
00:17:11.44\00:17:13.07
What is a message of repentance?
00:17:13.37\00:17:15.68
What is it that John
bore that we need today?
00:17:15.78\00:17:18.59
John's message
was one of great love.
00:17:18.79\00:17:21.35
He called the people
to turn from their ways.
00:17:21.56\00:17:24.08
In other words,
this: John told the people
00:17:24.28\00:17:27.23
not what they wanted to hear
00:17:27.53\00:17:29.78
but what they needed to hear.
00:17:30.92\00:17:33.43
John told the people
not what they wanted to hear
00:17:34.48\00:17:37.32
but what they needed to hear.
00:17:37.52\00:17:39.10
John the Baptist loved
the souls of the people
00:17:39.40\00:17:43.19
he was preaching to more
than their opinions of him.
00:17:43.29\00:17:47.19
Are you with me? Amen!
00:17:49.17\00:17:51.02
He loved their souls more than
what they thought about him.
00:17:51.70\00:17:55.60
We don't have that
same experience today.
00:17:57.36\00:17:59.95
We've come to the place where
we want to entertain people
00:18:02.26\00:18:05.27
instead of
directing them towards heaven.
00:18:05.57\00:18:07.84
We've come to the place where we
want to pat people on the back
00:18:08.14\00:18:11.04
and say: "Follow your heart
and do whatever makes you happy.
00:18:11.24\00:18:14.90
Do whatever pleases you. "
And we send them on their way
00:18:15.10\00:18:18.51
down to the road of destruction
00:18:18.71\00:18:20.46
because we're too afraid
of what people think about us.
00:18:21.65\00:18:24.86
I'm not talking about
being in peoples' face, friends.
00:18:27.18\00:18:30.50
I'm not talking about
being annoying or obnoxious
00:18:30.80\00:18:33.57
but I'm talking
about loving people enough
00:18:33.87\00:18:36.48
to tell them what is right.
00:18:36.68\00:18:38.49
To tell them what God
would have them to do.
00:18:38.99\00:18:41.75
This is the
message that John bore.
00:18:41.95\00:18:43.98
He was more interested in
their salvation than he was
00:18:46.94\00:18:51.21
their opinion.
00:18:51.31\00:18:52.68
This is a love, friends,
that can only come from heaven.
00:18:52.87\00:18:56.73
This is the type of love,
this is the type of power,
00:18:57.03\00:19:00.74
this is the type of experience
that the disciples had
00:19:00.94\00:19:04.21
in the book of Acts.
00:19:04.41\00:19:05.78
This is what enabled
Peter to stand up before the
00:19:05.89\00:19:08.82
Pentecost crowd and say:
"Repent! You nailed Jesus
00:19:08.92\00:19:12.55
to the cross! "
00:19:12.65\00:19:14.37
We need to have this type
of repentance in our lives.
00:19:15.69\00:19:18.58
That we value the
favor and the approval of God
00:19:19.48\00:19:23.25
more than those around us.
00:19:23.45\00:19:25.19
More than our
family... more than our friends.
00:19:25.49\00:19:27.93
More than anyone
else in our lives.
00:19:29.13\00:19:32.08
Today Seventh-day Adventists
are called, they've been raised
00:19:32.38\00:19:35.50
to call a world out of
spiritual and eternal darkness.
00:19:35.71\00:19:39.89
We've been called, we've
been raised in these last days
00:19:40.19\00:19:44.07
to lead people to bear
a message of repentance
00:19:44.28\00:19:47.79
and holiness.
00:19:47.99\00:19:49.65
This word "holiness" is
a word that is often taboo
00:19:50.05\00:19:52.95
in modern Adventism today.
00:19:53.05\00:19:54.77
Many times people will
criticize you. They'll laugh
00:19:55.07\00:19:57.36
at you, they'll make fun of
you. They'll say that is not
00:19:57.46\00:20:00.36
something that can be attained.
00:20:00.46\00:20:01.83
But let me tell you what,
friends: the New Testament
00:20:01.86\00:20:04.71
Bible, the works of the
Bible in the New Testament,
00:20:04.91\00:20:07.30
all call for
resounding acts of holiness...
00:20:07.50\00:20:12.12
a life of holiness.
00:20:12.32\00:20:13.69
And holiness can only
come when we have experienced
00:20:13.93\00:20:17.15
repentance first.
00:20:17.18\00:20:19.28
Let me give you a perfect
layman's version of holiness.
00:20:19.48\00:20:23.59
So many times we
have people in our church,
00:20:24.09\00:20:26.74
we have Adventists that
claim to know the truth...
00:20:26.84\00:20:29.27
And we know the
truth, do we not?
00:20:29.37\00:20:30.94
But they take that truth -
they take the 10 Commandments -
00:20:31.24\00:20:33.88
and they'll take it
like a spiritual 2x4
00:20:34.08\00:20:36.67
and they'll knock
somebody over the head!
00:20:36.87\00:20:38.73
And when the person
falls down they come over
00:20:39.03\00:20:41.31
and they start beating them.
00:20:41.71\00:20:44.04
You know what I'm talking about.
00:20:44.35\00:20:46.02
Some of you are victims of that.
00:20:46.22\00:20:47.59
I'm a victim of...
I've been a victim of that.
00:20:47.63\00:20:49.37
Some people think
we're preaching the truth.
00:20:50.51\00:20:52.52
Then there's the opposite end,
there's the other end of the
00:20:52.72\00:20:55.42
stick, there's the
opposite end of the ditch...
00:20:55.52\00:20:57.87
and that is lovingkindness.
00:20:58.17\00:20:59.77
And some people
take that to an extreme.
00:21:00.07\00:21:02.75
And when we take that to
an extreme we turn a blind eye
00:21:03.05\00:21:06.10
to sin in peoples' lives
00:21:06.13\00:21:08.77
and we're unwilling to
tell them what is right.
00:21:09.07\00:21:11.70
But let me tell
you what, friends:
00:21:12.10\00:21:13.82
true repentance - bearing
a message of repentance -
00:21:13.92\00:21:16.01
is having the
perfect blend of both.
00:21:16.11\00:21:19.10
It is achieving Christ-likeness.
00:21:19.40\00:21:22.17
Is achieving being
not just more like Jesus
00:21:22.47\00:21:26.48
but just like Jesus.
00:21:26.68\00:21:28.42
But in order to become
just like Jesus we have to
00:21:29.59\00:21:31.75
become more like
Him every single day.
00:21:31.85\00:21:34.90
What is holiness? It is a
pursuit of Christ-likeness
00:21:35.20\00:21:38.88
until we die or
until Jesus comes.
00:21:39.09\00:21:41.88
And we must have this, friends.
00:21:42.72\00:21:44.72
We must have it or we're
going to fall by the wayside,
00:21:45.02\00:21:48.33
we're going to
fall into Babylon.
00:21:48.44\00:21:50.07
This is what John
called the people to:
00:21:50.18\00:21:51.84
holiness, Christ-likeness,
being like Jesus.
00:21:52.04\00:21:55.90
It was the standard
throughout the book of Acts:
00:21:57.11\00:21:59.52
a perfect blend of the
law and lovingkindness,
00:21:59.72\00:22:02.09
mercy and truth, primitive
godliness and apostolic love.
00:22:02.39\00:22:06.38
That is the
experience we must have
00:22:06.68\00:22:09.13
if we are to be a
part of that revolution.
00:22:09.34\00:22:12.18
If we are to be a part of it.
00:22:12.38\00:22:13.75
What about you today, friends?
00:22:13.97\00:22:16.41
Do you love the opinions
of your friends more than the
00:22:16.64\00:22:21.03
opinion of God?
00:22:21.13\00:22:22.59
Do you love the opinion of your
boyfriend or your girlfriend
00:22:22.89\00:22:26.05
more than the opinion of God?
00:22:26.26\00:22:28.08
Let me get a little
bolder. Do you love the opinion
00:22:28.28\00:22:29.95
of your wife or your husband
00:22:30.15\00:22:32.44
above the approval of God?
00:22:32.74\00:22:34.78
The men of the book of Acts
were men who loved the approval
00:22:35.08\00:22:39.17
of God more
than their very life.
00:22:39.27\00:22:41.44
And they were willing if
necessary to lay down their
00:22:41.74\00:22:44.35
lives that God's name
might be glorified on earth.
00:22:44.45\00:22:49.17
I dare to say,
friends, I tremble to think
00:22:49.37\00:22:52.35
how many of us in this
room fit that same description.
00:22:52.55\00:22:56.61
We must be
faithful to heaven's call.
00:22:58.83\00:23:02.28
Holiness is nothing more than
loving God and loving others
00:23:02.58\00:23:07.67
like Jesus did.
Just as simple as that.
00:23:07.87\00:23:10.76
When we love God
the way Jesus did,
00:23:11.00\00:23:13.13
when we love
others the way Jesus did,
00:23:13.33\00:23:15.71
we will be
ready to go to heaven.
00:23:15.92\00:23:17.73
We will be ready as
Pastor Kameron said last year
00:23:18.03\00:23:20.58
to fit into heaven.
00:23:20.78\00:23:22.15
We will be ready to
stand in the presence of God.
00:23:22.93\00:23:25.30
How many of you want to
have that experience at GYC
00:23:25.70\00:23:28.10
this weekend, friends?
00:23:28.20\00:23:29.57
How many of you want
to have that experience?
00:23:29.81\00:23:31.58
Acts chapter 3 verse
19 Peter says "Repent. "
00:23:32.08\00:23:36.84
Let's look at it real quickly.
00:23:36.98\00:23:38.35
Acts chapter 3 verse 19.
00:23:38.39\00:23:40.37
Acts chapter 3 and
verse 19 Peter says:
00:23:44.16\00:23:47.01
"Repent
therefore and be converted
00:23:47.21\00:23:49.27
that your sins may be blotted
out and the times of refreshing
00:23:49.57\00:23:53.39
may come from the
presence of the Lord
00:23:53.53\00:23:55.49
and that He may send Jesus
Christ who was preached to you
00:23:55.69\00:23:59.03
before whom heaven must receive
until the times of restoration
00:23:59.23\00:24:02.99
of all things which God
has spoken by the mouth of all
00:24:03.19\00:24:06.17
His holy prophets
since the world began. "
00:24:06.27\00:24:09.66
Even back in the book of Acts
00:24:09.76\00:24:11.49
the deep longing of
their soul, friends,
00:24:11.69\00:24:14.38
was that Jesus would come.
00:24:14.58\00:24:16.30
The deep longing of the soul is
that the world would be turned
00:24:16.40\00:24:19.01
to Christ so that it
could be fitted and ready
00:24:19.11\00:24:21.31
for a soon-coming King.
Is that your goal today?
00:24:21.42\00:24:24.49
Is that your
primary objective today?
00:24:24.79\00:24:26.72
I beg that for
many of us it is not.
00:24:26.92\00:24:30.37
You see, friends, I've
heard all kinds of things
00:24:30.57\00:24:32.91
before coming to GYC.
00:24:33.11\00:24:34.95
I've heard people
actually dare to say
00:24:35.15\00:24:37.71
"GYC is becoming repetitious.
00:24:37.91\00:24:40.49
We've heard the same
messages time and time again.
00:24:40.79\00:24:44.18
They're getting recycled. "
00:24:44.48\00:24:46.58
"I've heard it all before. "
00:24:46.78\00:24:48.62
"What a joke! "
00:24:48.82\00:24:50.19
Then I think about
that young man on the plane
00:24:50.45\00:24:54.04
who would give
anything to be here.
00:24:54.24\00:24:55.83
I think: "How dare we
say something like this? "
00:24:56.03\00:24:58.16
Someone said that "I would
rather come and just pay $2,000
00:25:01.47\00:25:05.57
to come to GYC so I
can network with people
00:25:05.77\00:25:08.69
rather than hear the messages.
I've heard them all before. "
00:25:08.89\00:25:11.21
Friends, we think that
we're something that we're not.
00:25:12.38\00:25:15.60
We'd rather be at the
booth than in the prayer room.
00:25:16.50\00:25:19.63
We'd rather go to a restaurant
than to go to outreach.
00:25:22.15\00:25:25.46
We'd rather text in the meeting
because we've heard it all
00:25:27.92\00:25:30.32
before than to pray for
the non-Adventist or the weak
00:25:30.42\00:25:33.12
brother sitting beside us
00:25:33.22\00:25:34.59
that his heart might be touched,
that her heart might be touched.
00:25:34.87\00:25:37.93
We'd rather chat with
our friends about nonsense...
00:25:39.06\00:25:42.13
about what we bought downtown...
00:25:42.34\00:25:44.22
than to share the testimony
00:25:44.52\00:25:46.03
what Jesus has
done in our lives.
00:25:46.13\00:25:48.01
Oh yes, friends. We're
really ready for Jesus to come,
00:25:49.06\00:25:51.53
aren't we? We're really
an army of young people.
00:25:51.63\00:25:54.46
I wonder if Jesus were to
come today how many would He
00:25:54.66\00:25:57.60
take in this room with Him?
00:25:57.71\00:25:59.31
We are lukewarm.
00:26:04.88\00:26:07.42
We are lukewarm at the
most spiritual conference
00:26:07.73\00:26:10.45
on the earth.
00:26:10.55\00:26:12.48
Did you hear that?
00:26:13.55\00:26:14.97
Not the most spiritual
conference in Adventism...
00:26:16.40\00:26:18.85
the most spiritual
conference on earth!
00:26:19.15\00:26:21.59
And we are lukewarm.
00:26:21.89\00:26:23.26
Thank God for His mercy.
00:26:24.45\00:26:27.34
Thank God for His compassion.
00:26:27.65\00:26:30.06
Thank God for His patience...
00:26:30.16\00:26:32.61
because what we see
today will not always be!
00:26:33.01\00:26:36.09
God's going to be
victorious, Amen? Too many of us
00:26:37.39\00:26:40.81
are loving the world too much.
00:26:41.01\00:26:43.76
I want to read a verse to
you: I John chapter 2 verse 15.
00:26:44.06\00:26:48.19
"Do not love the world
or the things in the world.
00:26:48.39\00:26:50.91
If anyone loves the
world, the love of the Father
00:26:51.11\00:26:53.34
is not in him.
00:26:53.44\00:26:54.81
For all that is in the
world - the lust of the flesh,
00:26:54.84\00:26:56.59
the lust of the eyes
and the pride of life -
00:26:56.79\00:26:58.59
is not of the
Father but of the world.
00:26:58.80\00:27:00.82
And the world is
passing away and the lust of it.
00:27:01.02\00:27:04.07
But he who does the will of God
00:27:04.27\00:27:06.79
abides... " How
long GYC? How long?
00:27:06.99\00:27:09.79
"forever. " Forever!
00:27:10.65\00:27:13.33
Let me tell you what, friends:
00:27:13.56\00:27:14.99
in our church we are
loving the world way too much.
00:27:15.19\00:27:19.39
And the way that we
love... John says "Do not love
00:27:21.54\00:27:24.42
the world. " The way
that we love the world less
00:27:24.52\00:27:27.13
is by loving Jesus more.
00:27:30.01\00:27:31.84
We don't love Jesus more
by loving the world less.
00:27:32.14\00:27:35.21
We love Jesus... let me
make sure I get this right...
00:27:35.51\00:27:39.10
we love the world
less by loving Jesus more.
00:27:39.30\00:27:42.29
Too often we think that we
have to make this brick house
00:27:45.57\00:27:48.92
stand against the world.
00:27:49.12\00:27:51.47
We have to double up our
fists and tighten our belt
00:27:51.67\00:27:53.87
and say: "I'm going to stand
right here. I will not be moved
00:27:54.07\00:27:56.36
any more. " But how
many times are we moved?
00:27:56.46\00:27:59.35
It's because we're trying to
make a stand against the world
00:27:59.75\00:28:03.79
without making
a stand for Jesus!
00:28:03.99\00:28:06.14
We're not called to
stand against the world,
00:28:06.55\00:28:08.74
we're called to
stand for Christ.
00:28:08.94\00:28:11.12
And in standing for Christ
00:28:11.32\00:28:12.69
it's a natural
stance against the world.
00:28:12.76\00:28:15.27
Do you understand this?
00:28:15.47\00:28:16.90
This is the
experience that we need to have.
00:28:17.20\00:28:20.37
Today it seems like worldliness
is dominating our church.
00:28:20.68\00:28:25.87
But let me tell you something:
00:28:26.11\00:28:27.54
it will not have the final word.
00:28:27.84\00:28:29.76
God will remove
worldliness out of the church
00:28:29.96\00:28:33.22
one way or the other.
But you know what, friends?
00:28:33.42\00:28:36.12
You know what God's
deepest desire is today?
00:28:36.32\00:28:38.66
You know what His
deepest passion is?
00:28:38.86\00:28:40.59
It's not that you would
just simply grit your teeth
00:28:40.89\00:28:44.00
and stand up but you would
give your affection totally
00:28:44.10\00:28:46.72
to Jesus. You see, when we
look to Jesus and He fills our
00:28:46.82\00:28:50.04
hearts with love, it squeezes
the love of the world out
00:28:50.14\00:28:53.59
day by day, moment by moment,
until there remains no more
00:28:53.62\00:28:58.18
love for the world but a heart
that's full of love for Jesus.
00:28:58.38\00:29:01.81
You want to have a heart that's
full of love for Jesus today?
00:29:02.01\00:29:04.11
Amen? That's
what we need, friends.
00:29:04.31\00:29:06.66
That's what we need.
00:29:06.96\00:29:08.33
If we're going to carry
a message of repentance,
00:29:08.37\00:29:10.73
friends, we must
first experience it.
00:29:10.93\00:29:14.37
We must first experience it.
00:29:14.77\00:29:17.52
This is what separated
John from this generation.
00:29:17.82\00:29:20.57
This is what makes the
people in the book of Acts
00:29:20.97\00:29:23.78
different from us.
00:29:23.98\00:29:25.35
We need to have an
experience of repentance.
00:29:25.65\00:29:29.07
We need to have an experience
with forgiveness. Amen?
00:29:29.37\00:29:34.49
We need to rise to holiness.
00:29:35.84\00:29:37.88
The second point I
want to make to you
00:29:38.18\00:29:40.10
is that John had influence.
00:29:40.30\00:29:42.91
What did he have everyone?
00:29:43.11\00:29:44.89
He had influence.
Please look with me
00:29:45.09\00:29:46.46
back in Matthew
chapter 3 and verse 4.
00:29:46.51\00:29:49.40
The Bible says: Now
John himself was clothed
00:29:49.70\00:29:53.32
in camel's hair with a
leather belt around his waist.
00:29:53.52\00:29:55.93
And his food was
locust and wild honey. "
00:29:56.33\00:29:59.72
I want you to think
about this for just a minute.
00:30:00.22\00:30:02.48
Want you to think about John.
00:30:02.78\00:30:04.15
John was the kind of person
00:30:04.52\00:30:06.48
that like really stood out in
the crowd. You know what I mean?
00:30:06.68\00:30:09.61
Like he was not your
ordinary dude coming to GYC.
00:30:10.01\00:30:13.29
He would have
like probably wild hair
00:30:13.59\00:30:15.72
and he's
wearing this camel suit.
00:30:15.92\00:30:18.37
And for breakfast instead
of eating oatmeal and bananas
00:30:18.57\00:30:21.49
he's over there eating
like locust and wild honey.
00:30:21.59\00:30:24.87
He's the kind of
guy that would stand out
00:30:25.37\00:30:27.77
in any crowd... even a crowd
of like a bunch of hippies,
00:30:27.97\00:30:31.26
weirdos. He would stand out!
00:30:31.56\00:30:33.64
Not that John was a
weirdo. I'm not saying that.
00:30:33.67\00:30:35.86
But he was
different! Are you with me?
00:30:36.06\00:30:39.17
He was different.
00:30:39.47\00:30:41.01
As Seventh-day
Adventists, friends...
00:30:41.32\00:30:44.16
Let me back up. John the Baptist
00:30:44.36\00:30:46.61
was a peculiar person.
00:30:46.81\00:30:49.31
As Seventh-day Adventists
we are called to be peculiar.
00:30:50.47\00:30:56.45
We are called to eat
differently than the world.
00:30:56.75\00:30:59.72
We are called to dress
differently from the world.
00:31:00.02\00:31:03.13
We are called to talk
differently than the world.
00:31:03.43\00:31:06.31
We are called to be different...
to be peculiar people.
00:31:06.61\00:31:10.30
But today we've
become ashamed of that
00:31:11.22\00:31:14.19
and we say to ourselves:
"How in the world can I
00:31:14.69\00:31:17.99
influence other people if
I'm different than them? "
00:31:18.19\00:31:21.86
And so the temptation
has been for many of us
00:31:22.36\00:31:25.42
to compromise
what we know is right
00:31:25.62\00:31:29.37
in order to gain
influence over people.
00:31:29.68\00:31:33.13
And let me ask you a
quick question, friends:
00:31:33.44\00:31:35.60
how has that worked out for you?
00:31:35.80\00:31:37.61
How has that worked out for you?
00:31:39.11\00:31:41.02
I can't think of a
single instance ever
00:31:41.22\00:31:44.04
in the Bible or in modern times
00:31:44.44\00:31:48.20
when that's ever
worked for anybody.
00:31:48.50\00:31:50.67
Ever.
00:31:50.97\00:31:52.71
We are not called to compromise.
00:31:53.22\00:31:55.69
We are called to stand.
00:31:55.99\00:31:58.37
How to can I witness to
somebody whom I'm not like?
00:31:58.57\00:32:02.37
And so we compromise.
00:32:02.67\00:32:04.58
We get moved in a direction
that we don't ever want.
00:32:06.13\00:32:08.49
John never compromised.
00:32:08.70\00:32:10.91
I want you to
look at this, friends.
00:32:11.01\00:32:12.38
John was a peculiar person;
he had a simple lifestyle.
00:32:12.46\00:32:15.26
He had... Everything
in his life was simple
00:32:15.46\00:32:17.36
and he lived his
life to glorify God.
00:32:17.66\00:32:19.54
And you know what, friends?
00:32:19.64\00:32:21.01
He had some of the
most powerful influence
00:32:21.04\00:32:22.94
in the history of the Bible.
00:32:23.14\00:32:25.15
Watch this: the
guy is eating locust
00:32:25.55\00:32:28.47
and honey and he's
wearing a suit of camel hair.
00:32:28.67\00:32:31.76
And notice what
happens in verse 5:
00:32:31.96\00:32:33.80
"Then Jerusalem, all Judea,
and all the region around Jordan
00:32:34.10\00:32:38.05
went out to him and
were baptized by him
00:32:38.25\00:32:40.75
in the Jordan
confessing their sins. "
00:32:40.95\00:32:43.41
Think about that!
00:32:43.91\00:32:45.64
John stood for
what he knew was right.
00:32:46.41\00:32:48.92
He would not compromise.
00:32:49.12\00:32:50.85
And God gave him such
influence that the whole region
00:32:51.76\00:32:55.13
came out to hear him preach.
00:32:55.33\00:32:57.23
What about you?
00:32:58.91\00:33:00.41
Does your whole town
come out to hear you preach?
00:33:00.61\00:33:03.06
Maybe if we stood more
for the principles of God
00:33:03.36\00:33:06.01
in our lives God would
bring us into positions
00:33:06.11\00:33:08.99
of honor that we could
be able to be a witness
00:33:09.19\00:33:11.02
to somebody else. Amen?
00:33:11.12\00:33:13.58
John was
unwilling to compromise.
00:33:14.08\00:33:16.52
Uncompromising faithfulness is
what God is looking for today.
00:33:16.72\00:33:20.74
I'm not saying that
we should all go out
00:33:21.04\00:33:23.25
and buy camel
suits and camel skirts.
00:33:23.45\00:33:25.49
I'm not saying that we should
serve locust and wild honey
00:33:25.79\00:33:28.75
at GYC breakfasts.
00:33:28.85\00:33:30.49
I'd probably fast that morning.
00:33:30.59\00:33:32.80
But at the same time
we know the principles
00:33:35.54\00:33:38.85
that God has laid upon
our hearts as a people...
00:33:39.15\00:33:41.67
as a people of the last days
00:33:42.07\00:33:43.55
and we are called to
live by them, friends.
00:33:43.75\00:33:46.43
Not out of
obligation, not out of duty,
00:33:46.63\00:33:48.60
but out of dedication and
devotion to our Savior Jesus.
00:33:48.80\00:33:52.34
Amen? I want to read a
quote to you very quickly.
00:33:52.64\00:33:56.25
It says in the
book Desire of Ages:
00:33:57.90\00:33:59.81
"Jesus Himself never
purchased peace by compromise.
00:34:00.21\00:34:04.12
His heart overflowed with
love for the whole human race
00:34:04.32\00:34:07.07
but He was never
indulgent to their sins.
00:34:07.37\00:34:10.00
He was too much their
Friend to remain silent
00:34:10.30\00:34:13.29
while they were
pursuing a course
00:34:13.49\00:34:15.06
that would ruin their souls...
00:34:15.16\00:34:16.98
the souls He had
purchased with His own blood.
00:34:17.97\00:34:20.47
He labored that man
should be true to himself,
00:34:20.77\00:34:24.10
true to his higher
and eternal interests.
00:34:24.40\00:34:27.16
The servants of Christ
are called to do the same work
00:34:27.36\00:34:31.66
and they should be aware
lest in seeking to prevent
00:34:31.86\00:34:34.49
discord they
surrender the truth.
00:34:34.60\00:34:36.63
They are to follow after
the things which make for peace.
00:34:36.83\00:34:39.61
But real peace can never
be secured by compromising
00:34:39.64\00:34:42.25
principle, and no man can
be true to principle without
00:34:42.35\00:34:45.40
exciting opposition.
00:34:45.51\00:34:47.52
A Christianity that is spiritual
will be opposed by the children
00:34:48.65\00:34:51.88
of disobedience but
Jesus bade His disciples
00:34:51.98\00:34:54.37
'Fear not them which
kill the body but are not able
00:34:54.57\00:34:56.91
to kill the soul. '
Those who are true to God
00:34:57.01\00:34:58.87
need not fear the power of
men nor the enmity of Satan.
00:34:59.07\00:35:02.02
In Christ their
eternal life is secure.
00:35:02.22\00:35:04.65
Their only fear should be
lest they surrender the truth
00:35:04.85\00:35:07.72
and thus betray the trust with
which God has honored them. "
00:35:07.92\00:35:12.91
What is your only
fear today, friends?
00:35:13.21\00:35:15.96
Dishonoring your God or
dishonoring your friends?
00:35:16.36\00:35:21.36
John's example, the example
we find in the book of Acts,
00:35:22.97\00:35:27.23
is uncompromising faithfulness
00:35:27.33\00:35:30.88
to everything
in the Word of God.
00:35:31.08\00:35:35.11
A lot of young people ask
me about different issues.
00:35:35.61\00:35:38.12
One of them is jewelry.
00:35:38.32\00:35:39.69
Young people say:
"Isn't it OK to wear jewelry?
00:35:39.95\00:35:43.21
I mean, is it really that
bad? Is it really that bad? "
00:35:43.41\00:35:46.12
Well the Bible is actually
pretty clear about that.
00:35:46.25\00:35:48.15
We're not going to look these up
but let me give you two texts.
00:35:48.45\00:35:50.30
I Timothy 2 verses 8 and 9.
00:35:50.51\00:35:52.22
I Peter 3 verses 1 and 4.
00:35:52.42\00:35:54.80
But the real
question is this, friends...
00:35:55.10\00:35:56.47
You look these texts up and
it will answer that question
00:35:56.67\00:35:58.39
for you. But the
real question is this:
00:35:58.49\00:36:00.54
Why do you need it?
00:36:00.74\00:36:02.60
Why do you need it?
00:36:02.90\00:36:04.39
What good does it do to you?
00:36:04.89\00:36:06.80
Whenever I ask somebody that
question I've never received
00:36:06.90\00:36:10.22
a solid answer.
00:36:10.42\00:36:12.08
Most of the answers I get:
"Because it makes me feel good"
00:36:12.38\00:36:14.88
or "Just because I like it. "
00:36:16.08\00:36:17.84
I want to ask you this:
When somebody compliments
00:36:19.57\00:36:21.80
your jewelry, are
they complimenting you
00:36:21.90\00:36:24.97
or are they complimenting
the metal that's on you?
00:36:25.27\00:36:28.49
It's a false sense of security.
The question is this, friends:
00:36:28.79\00:36:32.82
can that jewelry or whatever
it is, that issue in your life,
00:36:33.92\00:36:37.30
can that thing give you
anything that Jesus cannot
00:36:37.50\00:36:42.68
give you? Let me
ask that question again.
00:36:42.88\00:36:46.71
I would expect an
answer from you GYC.
00:36:47.01\00:36:49.80
Can that thing
- whatever it is -
00:36:50.21\00:36:52.47
give you anything in your life
00:36:52.67\00:36:55.02
that Jesus cannot
give you? Yes or no?
00:36:55.22\00:36:57.98
No. No.
00:36:58.08\00:36:59.60
In Ephesians 1 verse 6
it says "We are accepted
00:37:01.34\00:37:04.34
in the beloved. " Jesus created
us exactly the way we are
00:37:05.53\00:37:09.16
and we don't need
anything to add to it. Amen?
00:37:09.46\00:37:12.59
If you look at the
pattern in the Bible,
00:37:12.79\00:37:15.04
when God's people... if
you look, trace this pattern
00:37:15.34\00:37:17.94
through the Old Testament,
when God's people strayed
00:37:18.04\00:37:20.99
away from Him you
know what they would do?
00:37:21.09\00:37:23.83
They would put on jewelry.
00:37:24.13\00:37:25.78
And every time God's people...
He called them back to Himself
00:37:26.09\00:37:29.36
you know what
He told them to do?
00:37:29.66\00:37:31.03
Take it off.
00:37:31.27\00:37:32.73
Why is that the case?
00:37:33.03\00:37:34.80
Because when we
leave the presence of God,
00:37:35.40\00:37:38.29
when we break our relationship
- our covenant relationship -
00:37:38.49\00:37:41.12
with Him, our
self-worth takes a plummet
00:37:41.22\00:37:44.13
and we need something
that the world says is valuable
00:37:44.43\00:37:47.51
to replace that.
00:37:47.71\00:37:49.21
And the world says gold is
valuable; pearls are valuable.
00:37:49.51\00:37:52.46
And so what we do
is we put that stuff on
00:37:52.66\00:37:54.78
trying to replace what we lost
in our relationship with Christ.
00:37:54.98\00:37:59.66
Young people
today: you don't need it!
00:37:59.96\00:38:03.43
You don't need
anything but Christ.
00:38:03.73\00:38:06.51
He will fulfill you.
00:38:07.01\00:38:08.84
Uncompromising faithfulness.
00:38:09.99\00:38:12.92
The Bible says II
Corinthians 6 verse 16
00:38:13.22\00:38:15.84
"And what agreement has
the temple of God with idols?
00:38:16.04\00:38:20.55
For you are the temple of
the living God. As God has said
00:38:20.99\00:38:24.27
'I will dwell in
them and walk among them.
00:38:24.47\00:38:27.16
And I will be their God and
they shall be My people. ' "
00:38:27.36\00:38:30.79
God wants so desperately
for us to be His people.
00:38:31.62\00:38:35.57
He wants to dwell inside of us.
00:38:35.77\00:38:37.96
That is the mystery of
the gospel, the hope of glory.
00:38:38.17\00:38:40.89
The last point I want to
make to you very quickly.
00:38:41.77\00:38:43.77
Time is running out.
Matthew chapter 3 verses 7-9.
00:38:43.97\00:38:48.48
Matthew chapter 3
verses 7 through 9.
00:38:48.68\00:38:52.15
"But when he saw many of
the Pharisees and Sadducees
00:38:52.65\00:38:57.07
coming to his
baptism he said to them:
00:38:57.27\00:38:59.99
'Brood of vipers. Who warned
you to flee from the wrath
00:39:00.19\00:39:04.86
to come? Therefore bear
fruits worthy of repentance. ' "
00:39:04.96\00:39:09.51
That is not exactly
something I'd want to say
00:39:09.81\00:39:12.25
to my baptismal candidates.
00:39:12.45\00:39:14.14
"You dirty little
snakes in the grass.
00:39:15.03\00:39:17.03
Why did you come here today?
00:39:17.23\00:39:19.57
Turn back around and
go out until you repent. "
00:39:19.77\00:39:22.18
I wouldn't say that.
00:39:22.38\00:39:24.43
There's a young man here
today who was just baptized
00:39:24.53\00:39:27.18
in my church two weeks ago.
00:39:27.29\00:39:28.78
I'm sure he's thankful
that I didn't say that to him!
00:39:28.98\00:39:31.84
But John the
Baptist knew their hearts
00:39:33.90\00:39:36.06
and he knew what was there:
unrepentance, unwillingness
00:39:36.26\00:39:40.26
to turn to Christ.
00:39:40.36\00:39:41.73
And this is what he says,
verse 9: "And do not think
00:39:41.79\00:39:45.52
to say to yourselves 'We
have Abraham as our father. '
00:39:45.72\00:39:49.42
For I say to you that
God is able to raise up
00:39:49.62\00:39:52.34
children to Abraham
from these stones. "
00:39:52.45\00:39:55.32
There is a huge
lesson for us right here.
00:39:56.38\00:40:01.41
These people thought
that they were excluded.
00:40:01.81\00:40:05.11
They thought that they were
above what John was offering,
00:40:05.51\00:40:10.02
what John was preaching
00:40:10.32\00:40:11.74
because they were
the sons of Abraham.
00:40:11.94\00:40:15.09
But he called them to
the fruit of repentance.
00:40:16.17\00:40:19.73
And today, my friends,
as Seventh-day Adventists,
00:40:20.13\00:40:24.26
as a lukewarm
Seventh-day Adventist church,
00:40:24.36\00:40:28.10
we somehow think
that we are above
00:40:28.31\00:40:32.48
what we are calling the
rest of the world to follow.
00:40:32.69\00:40:36.65
We attended all of
the Adventist academies.
00:40:37.76\00:40:42.98
We attended all of
the Adventist colleges.
00:40:43.28\00:40:46.41
We've been to all the GYCs.
00:40:46.71\00:40:49.94
We think that we're
something that we're not.
00:40:50.14\00:40:52.69
Paul says: "If any man thinks
that he's something better
00:40:52.89\00:40:56.42
than he is, God
has a lesson for him. "
00:40:56.52\00:41:00.45
We've become comfortable in our
wonderful Adventist lifestyle
00:41:02.44\00:41:07.06
eating our Vegelinks and
watching our 3ABN on satellite.
00:41:07.36\00:41:12.49
We love 3ABN. Amen?
00:41:12.79\00:41:14.16
Some people think they
ought to stay home from church
00:41:15.32\00:41:17.49
and watch 3ABN instead of
gathering with God's people.
00:41:19.10\00:41:22.06
We're comfortable
but we are lukewarm.
00:41:22.57\00:41:25.52
Just like in the days of John
there were a lot of people there
00:41:25.92\00:41:28.95
on that day that were convinced
but they were not converted.
00:41:29.05\00:41:32.73
Rather than a people who
the revival of the book of Acts
00:41:33.78\00:41:36.66
we have become the
epitome of Laodiceism.
00:41:36.86\00:41:41.04
We're so comfortable. We
thump our chest and we say
00:41:42.06\00:41:44.55
"We're GYC" like it's
some kind of good-old-boy club.
00:41:44.75\00:41:47.66
We thump our chest and
we say "We do more outreach
00:41:47.96\00:41:50.80
than anybody else. " "We
have the coolest booths. "
00:41:50.90\00:41:53.45
"We have all vegan meals. "
00:41:53.75\00:41:55.88
"We're really something. "
00:41:56.08\00:41:57.72
"We have arrived! "
00:41:57.92\00:41:59.36
We think that we're
like the savior of the church
00:41:59.56\00:42:03.20
while the God of
heaven sits on His throne
00:42:03.43\00:42:05.50
and His heart is breaking
and He's got tears in His eyes
00:42:05.71\00:42:09.21
and saying: "Yes, you
have all those things.
00:42:09.51\00:42:11.99
but these things you
should have done without leaving
00:42:12.20\00:42:14.48
the others undone.
00:42:14.58\00:42:15.95
You are void of My Spirit. "
00:42:16.21\00:42:18.09
We have vegan meals and
everyone is at breakfast
00:42:19.91\00:42:22.91
but the prayer room is empty.
00:42:23.11\00:42:24.60
We have booths
pleading for missionaries to go
00:42:24.91\00:42:27.44
but very few volunteers.
00:42:27.64\00:42:29.59
I wonder how many
of us would be here
00:42:30.78\00:42:34.56
if these devotions
were before breakfast.
00:42:34.86\00:42:38.50
What will it take
to wake us up, GYC?
00:42:41.91\00:42:44.69
The Great Controversy page 48
00:42:46.11\00:42:49.01
the apostle Paul declares
that "All who will live godly in
00:42:49.31\00:42:53.09
Christ Jesus shall suffer...
" What? "persecution. "
00:42:53.29\00:42:58.23
Why is it then
that persecution seems
00:42:58.73\00:43:01.84
in a great
degree to slumber today?
00:43:02.04\00:43:04.13
The only reason is that
the church has conformed
00:43:05.40\00:43:07.89
to the world's standard
00:43:07.99\00:43:09.78
and therefore
wakens no opposition.
00:43:10.08\00:43:12.65
The religion which
is current in our day
00:43:12.95\00:43:15.67
is not of the pure and
holy character that marked
00:43:15.87\00:43:18.99
the early church. "
00:43:19.19\00:43:21.01
The book of Acts.
00:43:21.31\00:43:22.69
"It is only because of the
spirit of compromise with sin,
00:43:27.44\00:43:31.11
because the great truths
of the Word of God are so
00:43:31.41\00:43:34.00
indifferently regarded,
00:43:34.10\00:43:35.69
because there is so little
vital godliness in the church,
00:43:35.89\00:43:38.94
that Christianity is apparently
so popular with the world.
00:43:39.14\00:43:42.78
Let there be a revival of faith
and power of the early church
00:43:45.30\00:43:49.87
and the spirit of
persecution will be revived
00:43:50.07\00:43:53.31
and the fires of
persecution will be continued. "
00:43:53.61\00:43:59.07
What will it take,
GYC? What will it take?
00:44:00.35\00:44:04.10
How dare we claim to be a
continuation of the book of Acts
00:44:04.33\00:44:07.45
when we really know little
of what it means to suffer
00:44:07.66\00:44:12.14
for Jesus? You
know what, friends?
00:44:12.24\00:44:14.74
The last generation we
are told will be Laodicea.
00:44:14.95\00:44:17.45
They will be the
generation that knows the least
00:44:17.55\00:44:22.09
about what it means
to suffer for Christ.
00:44:22.29\00:44:24.09
But by the time they go through
the little time of trouble
00:44:24.39\00:44:27.84
they will be the generation
that knows what it means
00:44:28.04\00:44:30.16
to suffer the most for Jesus.
00:44:30.37\00:44:32.14
I don't know about you
00:44:33.19\00:44:35.37
but if it's persecution
that it takes to wake me up
00:44:35.67\00:44:38.85
then by the grace of
God let them bring it.
00:44:39.15\00:44:42.08
Because where God
allows persecution
00:44:42.38\00:44:45.58
God also brings mercy
00:44:45.78\00:44:47.47
and He brings change and
He brings transformation.
00:44:47.87\00:44:50.54
We don't really want
true godliness, friends,
00:44:51.74\00:44:54.27
because we're afraid
of what it might cost us.
00:44:54.67\00:44:57.60
We are afraid of what the
penalty... not the penalty
00:44:58.00\00:45:01.96
but the consequence may be.
00:45:02.16\00:45:04.18
We're too comfortable
00:45:04.58\00:45:06.49
and we like it and
we want to stay there.
00:45:06.79\00:45:09.05
But God is too
loving, God is too merciful
00:45:09.36\00:45:13.55
to leave us there.
00:45:13.85\00:45:15.70
How many of you are
thankful for that today?
00:45:16.00\00:45:17.71
God will do what it takes.
00:45:18.01\00:45:19.76
God is calling us back
to our first love, friends.
00:45:20.73\00:45:23.45
The solution is the Holy Spirit.
00:45:23.76\00:45:25.95
And where the Spirit is little
thought of little will be given.
00:45:26.25\00:45:29.09
God will give us the
Spirit in the same measure that
00:45:29.39\00:45:33.50
we are serious
about receiving it.
00:45:33.70\00:45:35.90
How many of you
are serious today?
00:45:38.07\00:45:39.83
I want to take you to
very quickly our close.
00:45:40.14\00:45:43.28
If you'll turn with me I
have ten minutes' worth to say
00:45:43.58\00:45:45.94
in two minutes. So
please, turn with me to the book
00:45:46.14\00:45:48.78
of John. John chapter 1.
00:45:48.98\00:45:50.77
John chapter 1. We're
going to look at a very,
00:45:51.07\00:45:54.07
very powerful principle that's
going to apply to us today.
00:45:54.27\00:45:57.08
I want you to see
this. John chapter 1.
00:45:57.11\00:45:59.79
Quickly, quickly. Are you there?
00:46:00.69\00:46:02.30
If you're there, say
"Amen. " John chapter 1
00:46:02.50\00:46:04.45
verse 19 the Bible says:
00:46:04.65\00:46:07.26
"Now this is the testimony
of John when the Jews sent
00:46:07.47\00:46:10.45
priests and Levites
from Jerusalem to ask him
00:46:10.65\00:46:12.92
'Who are you? ' he
confessed and did not deny
00:46:13.22\00:46:17.17
but confessed: 'I am not... '
Who? 'I am not the Christ. ' "
00:46:17.37\00:46:21.90
They came to him;
they said: "Who are you? "
00:46:23.01\00:46:24.76
And the first thing that John
says is "I am not the Christ. "
00:46:24.86\00:46:28.10
Which means that John knew that
that's exactly what they were
00:46:28.50\00:46:33.10
thinking. Are you with me?
00:46:33.30\00:46:34.76
Desire of Ages tells
us... you can look it up...
00:46:35.06\00:46:37.97
Desire of Ages Ellen White says
00:46:38.27\00:46:40.00
that if John were to call for
an army to throw out the Romans
00:46:40.20\00:46:45.01
all of Israel
would have followed him.
00:46:45.21\00:46:46.72
They all thought
that he was the one.
00:46:47.64\00:46:50.03
And he comes to
them and he says...
00:46:50.34\00:46:52.06
or they come to him and he says:
00:46:52.26\00:46:53.91
"I am not the Christ. "
00:46:54.11\00:46:56.36
I want you to take note of this.
00:46:56.66\00:46:58.84
This was one of
the most crucial times
00:46:59.14\00:47:01.83
in the life of John the Baptist.
00:47:02.13\00:47:04.39
Why? Because it
was when he was tempted
00:47:04.59\00:47:08.52
to take what
solely belonged to Christ
00:47:08.92\00:47:11.87
and claim it as his own...
00:47:12.07\00:47:15.27
Are you with me? He
could have been the one
00:47:15.48\00:47:19.03
that they all looked to.
00:47:20.42\00:47:22.56
That had to be the biggest
temptation he ever experienced.
00:47:22.86\00:47:25.68
That had to be huge in his life
00:47:26.08\00:47:28.21
yet he lived by a principle
00:47:29.28\00:47:31.99
that all of heaven is looking
for in God's people today.
00:47:32.29\00:47:34.96
Turn over with me to
John chapter 3 verse 30.
00:47:35.36\00:47:37.94
We all know this verse.
00:47:38.24\00:47:39.76
The Bible says John
said "He must... " What?
00:47:40.06\00:47:42.90
"increase but I must decrease. "
00:47:43.20\00:47:47.37
At the crucial point
of his life, friends,
00:47:47.67\00:47:51.18
at a moment when
everything was on the line...
00:47:51.91\00:47:54.39
Imagine if John would
have made the wrong decision
00:47:54.59\00:47:56.83
and said: "Yes, I'm the Christ!
00:47:56.93\00:47:59.05
Raise an army. We're going
to go out and we're going to
00:47:59.35\00:48:01.35
conquer the Romans.
We're going to throw them out.
00:48:01.45\00:48:02.83
I'm your deliverer. "
00:48:02.93\00:48:04.30
We think that that's not
a huge temptation for John
00:48:04.52\00:48:07.12
but how many times
in our own personal life
00:48:07.32\00:48:09.43
when somebody
gives us a compliment
00:48:09.53\00:48:11.01
do we take the
credit for ourselves?
00:48:11.22\00:48:13.50
Everybody's looking
to you. You're the man.
00:48:13.90\00:48:15.65
You're the man of the hour.
00:48:15.95\00:48:17.32
Everybody's been saying
to me about preaching today
00:48:17.50\00:48:19.98
"Oh, you're the
man of the hour. "
00:48:20.18\00:48:21.55
Jesus is the Man
of the hour. Amen!
00:48:21.71\00:48:24.09
The Holy Spirit. At the
most crucial time in John's life
00:48:24.40\00:48:30.31
he had to decide who was
going to sit on the throne
00:48:30.61\00:48:34.83
of his heart.
00:48:35.03\00:48:36.63
And that decision...
On that decision hinged
00:48:37.84\00:48:41.12
the entire future
of the book of Acts.
00:48:41.22\00:48:43.79
Does that make sense, GYC?
00:48:44.69\00:48:47.31
If John would have
chosen to live for himself
00:48:47.51\00:48:50.57
in that moment, we might
not have a book of Acts today.
00:48:50.77\00:48:54.62
I've got to ask
you a question today.
00:48:55.90\00:48:58.07
His one choice could
have altered the whole course
00:48:59.18\00:49:01.45
of Christianity. And what
if your decision today at GYC -
00:49:01.75\00:49:06.62
the decision you make this
weekend either for or against
00:49:07.63\00:49:10.29
Christ - what if that decision
00:49:10.32\00:49:12.90
could hinge the future of
Christianity and have an impact
00:49:13.10\00:49:18.26
on the world and
in Jesus coming soon?
00:49:18.46\00:49:22.63
Don't miss this, friends.
00:49:24.16\00:49:25.86
God could do
great things through you
00:49:27.03\00:49:29.52
if you will choose today
to let Him sit unreservedly
00:49:29.72\00:49:33.90
on the throne of your hearts.
00:49:34.10\00:49:35.51
He could do powerful things...
00:49:35.91\00:49:38.11
greater than the book of Acts.
00:49:38.41\00:49:40.31
Greater than John the Baptist.
00:49:40.51\00:49:41.88
What John displayed in
his character before Pentecost
00:49:42.27\00:49:45.87
is what the
disciples did not figure out
00:49:46.07\00:49:48.90
until after the
cross and after Pentecost.
00:49:49.10\00:49:51.98
You understand? What Jesus
was trying to get the disciples
00:49:52.28\00:49:56.49
to figure out in their life was
exactly what John the Baptist
00:49:56.69\00:49:59.79
was: somebody completely
and utterly surrendered
00:49:59.89\00:50:04.04
to the will of God.
00:50:04.24\00:50:05.61
Now listen to
this... don't miss this.
00:50:05.77\00:50:07.88
If John is a type
of the last generation,
00:50:08.18\00:50:11.63
then his life before Pentecost
00:50:12.03\00:50:15.19
is living proof that we
can live fully for Jesus Christ
00:50:15.59\00:50:20.81
before the Latter Rain.
00:50:21.01\00:50:22.48
Did you hear that?
00:50:22.88\00:50:24.25
If John's life was pure
and holy... totally committed
00:50:24.54\00:50:28.47
to Jesus before the
Early Rain fell at Pentecost...
00:50:28.67\00:50:31.81
and he is a type of the
final generation - you and I -
00:50:32.11\00:50:35.92
then it is evidence
that you and I can live
00:50:36.64\00:50:39.56
full of the Holy Spirit
even before the Latter Rain.
00:50:39.76\00:50:42.80
In fact, we must! It is crucial.
00:50:43.68\00:50:47.07
A few years ago -
three years ago to be exact -
00:50:50.99\00:50:55.64
I was diagnosed with cancer.
I'm a two cancer survivor
00:50:57.50\00:51:01.85
by the grace and
the glory of God.
00:51:02.15\00:51:03.98
I was in the hospital
on my deathbed for 40 days.
00:51:07.11\00:51:11.68
I had my 40-day
wilderness experience.
00:51:11.88\00:51:14.32
Many of you prayed for me
00:51:14.73\00:51:16.69
and God worked a
miracle in my life.
00:51:16.99\00:51:19.46
And I'm standing here
before you today free of cancer.
00:51:20.16\00:51:24.13
And when I was on that bed
00:51:25.98\00:51:28.24
I began to realize what
things were really important.
00:51:29.57\00:51:32.22
I began to realize
00:51:33.49\00:51:36.09
that all the stuff
that we fight over,
00:51:36.39\00:51:38.60
all the stuff that we
just think is so precious,
00:51:39.00\00:51:43.40
is all going to melt
in the eyes of eternity.
00:51:44.00\00:51:48.29
And what's most important today
00:51:49.62\00:51:52.06
is the character that
Christ is developing in you.
00:51:52.37\00:51:56.45
What's most important
is the person next to you
00:51:57.51\00:52:00.44
who you lead to Jesus.
00:52:00.64\00:52:02.06
The world deserves to
see a people upon the earth
00:52:02.56\00:52:06.82
that fully reflect the character
of Christ in their lives.
00:52:07.22\00:52:11.98
The world deserves it.
00:52:12.28\00:52:13.99
That young man I
talked to on the plane...
00:52:14.19\00:52:16.06
he deserves it.
00:52:16.36\00:52:18.04
How else is God going to do it
unless He does it through you?
00:52:18.34\00:52:23.31
What's important
for you today, friends?
00:52:25.08\00:52:27.55
What are you
living your lives for?
00:52:27.95\00:52:30.47
If you want to be a
part of the revolution
00:52:31.59\00:52:34.02
that continues, we need to have
an experience with repentance.
00:52:34.23\00:52:39.36
We need to have an experience
of uncompromising faithfulness
00:52:40.71\00:52:44.26
to God. We need to be a people
00:52:44.46\00:52:48.94
that reflect His
image to the world.
00:52:49.24\00:52:52.65
Do you value the
opinions of your friends
00:52:54.50\00:52:57.04
more than the opinion of God?
00:52:57.34\00:52:59.18
God is calling you
today to be something greater
00:53:00.27\00:53:04.01
than this world can
ever have to offer you.
00:53:04.21\00:53:07.16
God is calling you today
to be a part of something
00:53:07.66\00:53:10.37
bigger than you
can even imagine.
00:53:10.57\00:53:13.13
Where are you at today?
00:53:13.44\00:53:15.01
I'm going to make
and appeal this morning
00:53:15.11\00:53:16.48
and then we're going to close.
00:53:16.51\00:53:17.89
In Romans chapter 8
it says that creation
00:53:18.40\00:53:22.85
is groaning. Very, very quickly
00:53:23.15\00:53:26.21
Romans chapter 8
verse 19. It says:
00:53:26.51\00:53:29.90
"The earnest
expectation of the creation
00:53:29.93\00:53:33.22
eagerly waits for the
revealing of the sons of God. "
00:53:33.42\00:53:39.19
God is waiting for a generation.
00:53:39.49\00:53:42.45
He's not waiting
for more earthquakes.
00:53:42.55\00:53:44.04
He's not waiting for the Pope.
00:53:44.24\00:53:45.81
He's not waiting for any
other thing, but He's waiting
00:53:46.02\00:53:48.75
for His church to wake up.
00:53:48.85\00:53:51.84
What is it going to take for
you to wake up today, friends?
00:53:53.59\00:53:55.98
What are you living for today?
00:53:56.38\00:53:58.30
I'm calling you today in
this moment to live for Jesus.
00:53:58.60\00:54:03.33
I'm calling you to leave behind
the opinions of your friends.
00:54:03.56\00:54:06.16
I'm calling you to leave behind
the opinions of Facebook...
00:54:06.36\00:54:09.93
the opinions of whatever it
is that's driving you today.
00:54:10.33\00:54:13.41
I'm calling you to live for the
approval of the God of heaven.
00:54:14.80\00:54:19.90
Maybe there's
somebody today that says
00:54:21.04\00:54:23.31
"I'm finished. I
will no longer live
00:54:23.71\00:54:27.44
for the opinions of others
00:54:27.75\00:54:29.47
but the opinion of
God and I want to be among
00:54:29.77\00:54:31.87
that number whom
God lives in today,
00:54:32.07\00:54:34.93
on whom God pours
His Spirit out today.
00:54:35.13\00:54:37.31
But also whom He's
preparing me day by day
00:54:37.51\00:54:39.93
to be filled with
the Latter Rain power. "
00:54:40.13\00:54:42.08
If that's you today, friends,
00:54:42.58\00:54:44.72
if you want to leave
those issues behind you
00:54:45.02\00:54:47.91
and look forward to Jesus,
00:54:48.21\00:54:50.20
I'm going to ask you
to stand wherever you are.
00:54:50.90\00:54:52.98
I'm not making a general appeal,
but if there's an individual
00:54:53.18\00:54:55.54
today who will
say: "Jesus, use me.
00:54:55.74\00:54:58.03
Fill me. Let me be the one
00:54:58.23\00:55:01.23
whom You will live
Your life through... "
00:55:03.87\00:55:06.26
would you stand with me?
00:55:06.56\00:55:07.99
Praise God!
00:55:08.49\00:55:09.86
GYC never forgets that
the mystery of the gospel
00:55:10.20\00:55:15.85
is Jesus living in you.
00:55:16.15\00:55:18.43
And that's His deepest passion;
00:55:18.73\00:55:20.84
that's everything
that He lives for.
00:55:20.94\00:55:22.73
Don't throw it away.
00:55:23.04\00:55:26.01
Amen? Let's
pray. Father in heaven,
00:55:26.31\00:55:29.56
Lord today we
want to be a people
00:55:29.87\00:55:32.39
who are fully and
utterly surrendered to You.
00:55:34.71\00:55:37.13
We don't want to be just
another GYC come and gone
00:55:37.63\00:55:40.85
but we want this
to be the last GYC.
00:55:41.05\00:55:43.12
We want to be in
heaven next year!
00:55:44.42\00:55:46.52
Lord, empty us of ourselves
and fill us with Yourself.
00:55:48.23\00:55:51.76
Empty us of sin and
fill us with Your Spirit.
00:55:52.26\00:55:55.21
Be in our hearts.
Be in our minds, Lord,
00:55:56.43\00:55:58.42
and do not let us
compromise with the world
00:55:59.56\00:56:01.96
but let us rise above the
world and lead others out of it.
00:56:02.26\00:56:05.20
This is our prayer, and
we ask it in Jesus' name,
00:56:05.50\00:56:09.28
Amen.
00:56:09.48\00:56:11.04