Hello and welcome
back to GYC family.
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I know that you've been blessed
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by the sessions this
morning, weren't you?
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The revolution truly continues.
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It's a privilege
for us to gather again
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as we'll be
empowered by the speaker
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we're listening to this morning.
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Her name is Zippora Ansen.
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It's my privilege to
introduce her because
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I'm from Germany
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and that's a neighbor
country of the Netherlands.
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She has served in
several ministries before.
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And she will tell us more about
that as she will be speaking.
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But before we do so,
let's have a word of prayer
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to invite God's
spirit to be with us.
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Dear Father,
which art in heaven.
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We're thankful
that You're not ashamed
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to call us Your children.
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You're not
ashamed that we can call
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You our Father and our God.
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You're the most
excellent God we can serve.
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You're the only God
we would like to serve.
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Father, we thank You
that You've gathered us here
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for a purpose to
accomplish the mission.
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You gave us the message.
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Father we want
to have revolution
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that You started
will be continued.
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So that You can come.
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We pray that You'll empower us.
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So that we are able to share
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what You've done in our lives
this afternoon for outreach.
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We're blessed that You'll
anoint the lips of the speaker,
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so that we'll hear Your voice
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and we'll make a
decision for eternity.
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This we pray in
Jesus' name. Amen.
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Now we'll have the
opportunity to listen
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to heavenly music by
the Stateline Youth Choir.
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As the snow falls from heaven
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As it comes in swirling showers
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From the sky
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So is my Word
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As the rains bring the water
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To the earth that
is thirsty and dry
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So is my Word
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And the Word of my mouth
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It shall not return empty
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It will bless the
earth wherever it is heard
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This is my Word
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As the rain brings renewal
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And the tender
buds begin to come alive
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Begin to come
alive so is my Word
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Giving seed to the sower
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And the bread to the hungry 'til
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They thrive, So is my Word
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So is my Word
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And the Word of my mouth
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It shall not return empty
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It will bless the
earth wherever it is heard
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This is my Word
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This is my Word
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O Lord, when I am weary
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When I fell the days
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I'm living are in vain
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My God, help me be faithful
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To the Word You
have given to proclaim
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Proclaim the Word
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And you will go out in joy
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And be led forth in peace
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And the hills will
break before you into song
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So be faithful, brave and true
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For I will go before you
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And when your
earthly journey here is done
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I'll say well done
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I'll say well done
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I'll say well done
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Well done!
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As the snow falls from heaven
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And the rain comes in showers
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from the sky
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This is my Word,
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my Word
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I'm happy to be
here, little bit nervous.
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When GYC asked me
to share my testimony,
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I thought two things.
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The first was, have
they heard me speak.
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I mean I speak so fast sometimes
that my own mother and father
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need translation
to understand me.
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I'm not kidding.
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The other thing is, I thought
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to myself-- my life
isn't that interesting.
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I mean really can I-have I?
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Do I have something to
share to have you listen
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to me for the next 40 minutes?
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And but I said yes,
I'll think about it.
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There is always
something that I can share
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if you're walking with Christ.
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And the closer GYC
came-- actually especially,
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when I was already in the hotel.
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I thought to myself
this was such a bad idea.
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There is--I'm okay in, you
know, one to one that's fine.
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But there's,
there's a lot of you.
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But Luke 22:32 says,
"I have prayed for thee,
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that thy faith fail not,
and when thou art converted,
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strengthen thy brethren."
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That's Jesus saying
you have no excuses,
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when you have an opportunity
to share, go right ahead.
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So before I get
into my testimony,
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I'd like to pray
with you real quick.
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Dear Father in
heaven, I thank You
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for the opportunity to be here.
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It's our prayer
that in this time
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I'll spend
together it wouldn't be me.
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It wouldn't be about my
glory but about Your's alone.
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That You're name
might be lifted up
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and that we
would leave here being
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more comforted
of the power of God.
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Thank You for
hearing us is our prayer
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in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Okay, I was born
into the Adventist home
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of Jack and Cynthia Anson.
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They're two beautiful people
each in their very own way.
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My introduction to
Christianity was through them
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telling me and
reading me Bible stories.
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And seeing them very
active in our church.
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The church I grew
up in and still go
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to was one that would have
activities together regularly,
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have picnics in the park,
he is doing things together.
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My parents and their
friends would visit each other
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after Sabbath, sorry
after the church service,
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so we would have our
Sabbath afternoons together.
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So my idea of Christianity
was based on community
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and knowing I was
part of the bigger family.
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My parents
divorced when I was 6.
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My dad left the home
while my two younger sis
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and I stayed with my mom.
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I slowly started noticing
that my mom was an Adventist
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in her ways as
she had been before.
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It took another 14 years
for her to leave the church.
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But it's safe to say
that I didn't learned
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ins and outs of
Adventism from her.
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She would always make sure as
kids would get to church though.
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And the members in our
local church always loved that.
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So that church has
always been my home.
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My mom encouraged us to read.
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I read all the ten volumes
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of Maxwell children's
Bible by the time I was 10,
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you've the blue ten series set.
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And with the knowledge I've
gained from the children's Bible
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and later through by
adult Bible, normal Bible.
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I concluded that I
was a pretty good kid.
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I was working out what Adventism
was by looking at the church
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and the way we did
things there combined with
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what I've learned by reading.
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It has been my story and
may be you can recognize this.
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That when we hear of the
power of God's redeeming love.
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It's often from those
who come from the outside.
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I mean a nonbeliever turns
Christians and God delivers them
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from their sinful
habits and we rejoice.
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And that's good.
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However what we don't
often hear or such testimonies
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by those who are
already inside the church
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and this I think makes it easier
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for us or at
least it did for me,
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to believe that if
you're already inside,
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you don't have mistakes.
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You're already safe.
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You don't have to
be delivered anymore.
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If you guess people in
the inside they don't seems
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to have things they
need to be delivered from.
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And so it seems to me
that if I was obedient
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to my teachers and my parents,
if my gracing score are okay.
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If I made sure that I
wasn't mean to anyone,
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then I was doing all right.
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I never really got
out far into the world,
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at least my body did not.
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My mind is a
different story altogether.
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At this time I
knew there was a God,
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a Creator of all things
who established the rules
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that govern nature and us.
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I knew He wanted me to
live right but at the same time
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I stole candy from
the store with my cousin
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when I was around 8 years old.
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I joined my friends
as they went shoplifting
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when I was probably around 11.
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And I would lie about the
reason I was late for school
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often times just so that I
could get out of being punished.
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I share that with you to show
that I knew what right and wrong
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was but I was
little hypocrite believing
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that it was sort of
okay to bend the rules
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as long as I did not get caught
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and as long as I
wasn't hurting anyone.
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Though I didn't
know it back then.
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I had brought into the
Greek philosophy version of God.
00:12:38.66\00:12:41.83
You know, where God exists
00:12:41.83\00:12:43.86
but doesn't really
have feelings with humanity.
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When you have
this kind of mindset,
00:12:46.90\00:12:48.66
when you believe that
God is somewhere on the cloud
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and He doesn't really do
anything to reach out to you.
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Then you can't depend on
Him to do anything for you.
00:12:56.33\00:13:02.40
And when you can't depend
on God to do anything for you,
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you're going to
have to do it yourself.
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So I lived a life in a way
that I could get what I wanted.
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My concept of God
was that of a legislator.
00:13:12.66\00:13:15.83
Somewhere on the cloud and
not a God who is after my heart.
00:13:15.83\00:13:20.90
God to me was a distant entity.
00:13:20.90\00:13:24.10
I read about Him a lot.
00:13:24.10\00:13:25.26
I could even talk
about Him with enthusiasm
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but besides asking Him to
bless my food and my sleep,
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I had little to say to Him.
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This started to change when
Pastor Steve Farmer from England
00:13:36.73\00:13:39.66
took a group of his
young people to the Netherlands
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and held a
prayer weekend with us.
00:13:42.40\00:13:45.56
I have no idea what a prayer
weekend was and what we do there
00:13:45.56\00:13:48.13
but I knew some of
the people who were going,
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so I was excited to go.
00:13:49.76\00:13:52.20
So they came over
and we continued out
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to be quite amazing.
00:13:54.66\00:13:56.40
The sessions were led
out by the young people
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and they were
probably between age 17 and 25.
00:13:58.20\00:14:01.80
And for the first
time in my life besides
00:14:01.80\00:14:04.90
just reading the
Bible, they were teaching me
00:14:04.90\00:14:08.36
to ask questions, so
that I would understand
00:14:08.36\00:14:10.86
what I was reading much more.
00:14:10.86\00:14:13.93
I was studying the Bible
and it was so amazing to see
00:14:13.93\00:14:19.96
the deeper meaning of what God
was trying to tell me all along.
00:14:19.96\00:14:24.93
What was very astounding
to me that the young people
00:14:24.93\00:14:27.73
were teaching me?
00:14:27.73\00:14:31.60
Yeah, it's just--
it was very inspiring
00:14:31.60\00:14:33.60
and it still inspires me today.
00:14:33.60\00:14:35.46
They were my age.
00:14:35.46\00:14:37.23
They were normal young
people, I could relate to them.
00:14:37.23\00:14:39.86
For the first time I realized
00:14:39.86\00:14:41.46
you don't have to be an
old person or a stuffy person
00:14:41.46\00:14:45.20
to teach someone about Jesus.
00:14:45.20\00:14:46.70
If they could do
them, then certainly
00:14:46.70\00:14:48.23
I would be able to do it too.
00:14:48.23\00:14:51.00
We have many prayer
sessions that weekend.
00:14:51.00\00:14:53.26
But I remember the one we
had the last night most vividly.
00:14:53.26\00:14:56.60
We all got together in a circle.
00:14:56.60\00:14:58.50
We all
contributed to the prayer.
00:14:58.50\00:15:00.46
Thank God for all
He had done for us.
00:15:00.46\00:15:04.00
We asked Him to heal
us, to come near to us.
00:15:04.00\00:15:06.80
And for the
first time God's love
00:15:06.80\00:15:10.16
weren't just His
rules or His wisdom,
00:15:10.16\00:15:12.60
but His personal love
for me was so real to me
00:15:12.60\00:15:15.56
that I felt that
I could touch it.
00:15:15.56\00:15:18.86
It was that year that I decided
to take my devotional life
00:15:18.86\00:15:21.60
more personally, more seriously.
00:15:21.60\00:15:26.10
The year after about two
months before my 17th birthday,
00:15:26.10\00:15:29.40
I officially gave my life
to Jesus and was baptized.
00:15:29.40\00:15:33.73
I will tell you here by the way,
00:15:33.73\00:15:35.06
it has nothing to do
with my testimony per se.
00:15:35.06\00:15:37.76
I'm about 7 to 10 years
older than you think I'm.
00:15:37.76\00:15:40.83
I'm 27. So when you hear
me talk about my law degree.
00:15:40.83\00:15:46.86
I'm not a whizz-kid, I took
00:15:46.86\00:15:48.26
a long enough to
finish university.
00:15:48.26\00:15:51.13
All right, so I said yes to God
00:15:51.13\00:15:53.10
based on what I
understood of Him back then.
00:15:53.10\00:15:55.20
I knew I wanted
to live with Him.
00:15:55.20\00:15:56.96
But I wasn't clear
what to leave behind.
00:15:56.96\00:15:59.26
I stopped lying and
I determined to keep
00:15:59.26\00:16:02.06
the rest of the
commandments also.
00:16:02.06\00:16:04.10
But after, after you
know not lying anymore
00:16:04.10\00:16:08.30
and trying to be better person.
00:16:08.30\00:16:10.56
I wasn't sure what they
still ask forgiveness for.
00:16:10.56\00:16:13.86
I was doing well with
keeping the letter of the law,
00:16:13.86\00:16:16.43
but I was really
missing the spirit there of.
00:16:16.43\00:16:20.00
I didn't think about
being a good student of my time,
00:16:20.00\00:16:22.60
of my energy or my money.
00:16:22.60\00:16:24.86
And being a Christian
was more than refraining
00:16:24.86\00:16:27.13
from being mean to others
but actively caring about them.
00:16:27.13\00:16:31.43
More than I care
about my own interest.
00:16:31.43\00:16:34.63
And I didn't realize
that selfishness is shown
00:16:34.63\00:16:36.63
by not loving my
neighbor as myself.
00:16:36.63\00:16:39.53
It made me
still very much guilty
00:16:39.53\00:16:41.30
of the same set of commandments.
00:16:41.30\00:16:45.20
It shows in the
next story I did one year
00:16:45.20\00:16:47.60
of nursing
before I went into law.
00:16:47.60\00:16:49.66
And during that
year I met a boy.
00:16:49.66\00:16:53.23
We were just
friends the first two weeks.
00:16:53.23\00:16:57.80
Then I started liking him.
00:16:57.80\00:16:59.56
And he liked me too.
00:16:59.56\00:17:01.30
But he wasn't Adventist.
00:17:01.30\00:17:03.10
I knew we didn't live according
to the same principles.
00:17:03.10\00:17:05.86
So we decided we
just stay friends.
00:17:05.86\00:17:09.23
He told me he was
agnostic and opened to religion
00:17:09.23\00:17:11.46
and I thought may be with
time, he will get to know Jesus
00:17:11.46\00:17:14.33
and then we will get together
00:17:14.33\00:17:15.40
and live happily
after ever after.
00:17:15.40\00:17:17.33
He didn't. I still
got close to him though
00:17:17.33\00:17:20.93
and it became hard
to be just his friend.
00:17:20.93\00:17:23.23
Just friends was
still the label we used.
00:17:23.23\00:17:26.76
But then I would find myself
holding hands in the library
00:17:26.76\00:17:29.23
while studying
with my "just friends."
00:17:29.23\00:17:31.33
It doesn't make sense.
00:17:31.33\00:17:34.36
Let's pause this story for
little bit and I'm going to see
00:17:34.36\00:17:36.80
if you're all
here and listening.
00:17:36.80\00:17:39.30
If you ask a Christian with
or without the life partner.
00:17:39.30\00:17:42.93
Who is your number one?
00:17:42.93\00:17:44.96
Who has your priority?
00:17:44.96\00:17:46.23
What would they say?
00:17:46.23\00:17:48.50
Jesus. Jesus, God, yes, okay.
00:17:48.50\00:17:50.10
Good, you're here.
00:17:50.10\00:17:51.60
All right, if you don't have
a God but you do have a partner.
00:17:51.60\00:17:54.76
Whether you're most likely
to answer the same question.
00:17:54.76\00:17:59.80
Your partner. Yeah, yeah,
00:17:59.80\00:18:02.93
I think that's true
for most people, okay.
00:18:02.93\00:18:05.56
So what do you call something
that takes the place of God?
00:18:05.56\00:18:10.13
Right. So if we believe
that the first commandment
00:18:10.13\00:18:14.16
is that we love God.
00:18:14.16\00:18:15.76
We will not have
other gods before Him.
00:18:15.76\00:18:18.03
And the second is that we
will not make idols either.
00:18:18.03\00:18:20.93
Then I was well on my way
to break the second commandment
00:18:20.93\00:18:23.70
by making myself his idol.
00:18:23.70\00:18:26.46
And I was helping him break
the first by becoming his idol.
00:18:26.46\00:18:30.86
And I knew this but I didn't
really take the time to think
00:18:30.86\00:18:33.56
about it much and
because I didn't think about it,
00:18:33.56\00:18:35.56
I didn't-- it
didn't have to change me.
00:18:35.56\00:18:38.00
It was easy to discard it.
00:18:38.00\00:18:41.13
God was gracious besides
my, sorry despite my rebellion
00:18:41.13\00:18:45.20
and His spirit was
still pulling on my spirit.
00:18:45.20\00:18:47.40
So one day I'm walking
towards my friend's house
00:18:47.40\00:18:49.56
and they seem to
listen on my mini disc player.
00:18:49.56\00:18:51.70
And I'm praying like I
have been doing all this time
00:18:51.70\00:18:55.80
and I'm asking
God, please help me to,
00:18:55.80\00:18:58.03
you know, decide
what to do with this.
00:18:58.03\00:19:00.06
It's so hard. And I like him.
00:19:00.06\00:19:01.63
And please Lord, you
know, change his heart.
00:19:01.63\00:19:05.00
And the song I'm listening
to is saying words like.
00:19:05.00\00:19:07.66
"I try and sometimes I fail."
00:19:07.66\00:19:09.66
And I need you Lord.
00:19:09.66\00:19:10.80
Help me to make
better decisions.
00:19:10.80\00:19:12.30
And I'm still
walking and praying
00:19:12.30\00:19:15.53
and then all of a sudden it
was like I heard Jesus says.
00:19:15.53\00:19:19.16
"Zippora, you can
continue to ask me about this.
00:19:19.16\00:19:22.43
But you already know my answer."
00:19:22.43\00:19:25.90
And so we're at home that time.
00:19:25.90\00:19:27.80
I continued to walk.
00:19:27.80\00:19:30.96
We met, we had a
short but good conversation
00:19:30.96\00:19:34.13
and we ended our
kind of relationship.
00:19:34.13\00:19:39.20
And here comes the sad part.
00:19:39.20\00:19:41.00
When I spoke to
him a few months after,
00:19:41.00\00:19:42.96
He told me he was an atheist.
00:19:42.96\00:19:44.90
That was sad to hear
because before he had been open
00:19:44.90\00:19:47.90
to religion and now he was not.
00:19:47.90\00:19:50.60
I don't know how
much of that was my doing.
00:19:50.60\00:19:53.26
If what I showed
him of Christianity
00:19:53.26\00:19:55.16
was just that unappealing.
00:19:55.16\00:19:57.36
But I do know that if
I had not been so busy
00:19:57.36\00:20:00.23
trying to please
myself and my feelings,
00:20:00.23\00:20:02.86
that I would have
more time to show him
00:20:02.86\00:20:05.80
the wonderful love of Christ.
00:20:05.80\00:20:08.70
I know now that my actions
and dealings with people,
00:20:08.70\00:20:11.66
not just my words,
show what I believe
00:20:11.66\00:20:15.06
about the values I
claim to adhere to.
00:20:15.06\00:20:17.40
If my life doesn't
show that I believe
00:20:17.40\00:20:19.66
God's principles are true.
00:20:19.66\00:20:21.43
Why would anyone
who doesn't know God
00:20:21.43\00:20:23.36
would even want to try them.
00:20:23.36\00:20:26.60
So young people or
may be not the just young.
00:20:26.60\00:20:29.26
Be careful in
forming attachments.
00:20:29.26\00:20:32.00
Even if you come out okay,
00:20:32.00\00:20:34.16
you don't know what you're
doing to the other person.
00:20:34.16\00:20:38.70
Another major
event that happened
00:20:38.70\00:20:40.50
that dear
concerns my sister Karen.
00:20:40.50\00:20:43.70
She had been sick
for a couple of days
00:20:43.70\00:20:45.86
and missed school because of it.
00:20:45.86\00:20:48.30
She'd already
been to the doctor.
00:20:48.30\00:20:49.90
They took her blood.
00:20:49.90\00:20:51.23
They established that
she had some kind of anemia
00:20:51.23\00:20:53.96
and we were waiting
for the rest of results.
00:20:53.96\00:20:57.96
My classes were scheduled
to start late that day.
00:20:57.96\00:21:00.10
So I was home with her.
00:21:00.10\00:21:03.60
And I think in that
semester I just recently learned
00:21:03.60\00:21:06.90
that if your blood
is bad, you need water,
00:21:06.90\00:21:10.33
you need to eat healthy food
and you need to move around,
00:21:10.33\00:21:14.40
so that your body can
make new fresh healthy blood.
00:21:14.40\00:21:18.66
And my sister was
complaining she had a headache.
00:21:18.66\00:21:20.73
And so I knew why because
she didn't have enough blood
00:21:20.73\00:21:22.76
and she didn't have
enough blood because
00:21:22.76\00:21:24.03
she wasn't
drinking enough water,
00:21:24.03\00:21:25.16
she wasn't eating the good food.
00:21:25.16\00:21:26.26
And she wasn't moving,
00:21:26.26\00:21:27.36
she was just
sitting on the couch.
00:21:27.36\00:21:29.20
And she kept
complaining, she said, Zippora,
00:21:29.20\00:21:31.30
I have such a headache,
I have such a headache.
00:21:31.30\00:21:32.73
And I told her drink something,
00:21:32.73\00:21:34.30
do something which
she wouldn't do it.
00:21:34.30\00:21:36.76
But she kept
complaining and finally I said,
00:21:36.76\00:21:38.23
okay, you know what?
00:21:38.23\00:21:39.40
If you're so sick get
some Ibuprofen or something,
00:21:39.40\00:21:43.46
drink it and then
get on with your day.
00:21:43.46\00:21:46.20
So she finally reluctantly
gets up to do as I told her.
00:21:46.20\00:21:52.06
And not long after
she dropped to the floor.
00:21:52.06\00:21:55.86
She was
conscious but she said her
00:21:55.86\00:21:59.40
feet could no longer carry her.
00:21:59.40\00:22:02.46
So I'm panicking
because this is the part
00:22:02.46\00:22:03.90
they didn't teach me
about in my nursing school.
00:22:03.90\00:22:08.06
So I did the only thing I knew
to do how and I called my mom,
00:22:08.06\00:22:10.90
because she--her voice just,
you know, calms all my fears.
00:22:10.90\00:22:14.70
And she is also a doctor.
00:22:14.70\00:22:16.36
So she-- I called
her and she came home.
00:22:16.36\00:22:18.93
And then it was time
for me to go to class,
00:22:18.93\00:22:21.86
so I went to class
thinking mom is here now,
00:22:21.86\00:22:24.46
everything will be fine.
00:22:24.46\00:22:26.80
But then when I got back home.
00:22:26.80\00:22:29.86
One of my aunties was calling
me on the houseline saying,
00:22:29.86\00:22:32.23
"Zippora get your
sister Hadassah from school.
00:22:32.23\00:22:38.63
Rush to the hospital.
00:22:38.63\00:22:41.03
Go now as fast as you can."
00:22:41.03\00:22:47.26
And I knew that by the
way that she was saying
00:22:47.26\00:22:50.26
that that there was good chance
00:22:50.26\00:22:52.76
that I would not find
my sister there alive.
00:22:52.76\00:22:56.53
So I called my sister
to come home from school.
00:22:56.53\00:23:01.00
And as I waited
for her to come back.
00:23:01.00\00:23:03.76
I switched on my
computer checking to my emails.
00:23:03.76\00:23:09.60
I just emailed
every church friend
00:23:09.60\00:23:11.70
I knew inside Netherlands,
outside Netherlands.
00:23:11.70\00:23:14.76
If I'd spoken them last
week or three years ago,
00:23:14.76\00:23:18.16
I emailed them all.
00:23:18.16\00:23:20.03
Everyone who was at
the prayer conference
00:23:20.03\00:23:21.56
that three years
ago, I emailed them.
00:23:21.56\00:23:23.90
And I begged them
please, please beg God
00:23:23.90\00:23:27.13
to save my sister's life.
00:23:27.13\00:23:30.00
So my sister comes home.
00:23:30.00\00:23:31.60
And my aunty,
Margaret she meets us
00:23:31.60\00:23:35.76
at the bus stop and
when we go to the hospital
00:23:35.76\00:23:38.06
and as we get into
the room of my sister.
00:23:38.06\00:23:40.90
Sister is laying,
she looks really pale,
00:23:40.90\00:23:46.80
which is very
freaky when you consider
00:23:46.80\00:23:48.66
that when she is
healthy her complexion
00:23:48.66\00:23:51.00
is much darker than mine.
00:23:51.00\00:23:53.70
She was on to her
second bag of blood.
00:23:53.70\00:23:55.93
She needed the blood transfusion
to gain strength again.
00:23:55.93\00:24:00.56
And my mom was explaining
to us that when she got into
00:24:00.56\00:24:04.20
the hospital that day
her hemoglobin score was 2.7.
00:24:04.20\00:24:09.70
In a healthy person
it's between 7 and 10.
00:24:09.70\00:24:13.13
It's funny I can
hear that there is lot
00:24:13.13\00:24:15.23
of medical people in the room.
00:24:15.23\00:24:18.50
In a healthy person
it's between 7 and 10.
00:24:18.50\00:24:20.90
And when it drops
under 5 it's quite serious.
00:24:20.90\00:24:23.60
But 2.7 is more than dangerous.
00:24:23.60\00:24:25.86
And that she was alive
was a miracle in itself.
00:24:25.86\00:24:32.33
We prayed, God saw it
fit to save my sister.
00:24:32.33\00:24:37.30
My sister is still
here today and God is good.
00:24:37.30\00:24:43.80
This experience what they showed
me is that there is nothing
00:24:43.80\00:24:48.03
that I can trust God with.
00:24:48.03\00:24:50.63
I was growing in my
relationship with Him
00:24:50.63\00:24:52.60
and that was a good thing.
00:24:52.60\00:24:55.50
But my Christian
experience only really started
00:24:55.50\00:24:57.93
to get more
interesting when I started
00:24:57.93\00:25:00.06
to actively share Christ.
00:25:00.06\00:25:03.16
Probably since my
baptism my urge to share Jesus
00:25:03.16\00:25:06.06
had been intensifying.
00:25:06.06\00:25:08.46
My friends knew
I was an Adventist.
00:25:08.46\00:25:12.10
I was trying to
walk the Christian walk.
00:25:12.10\00:25:14.63
But I wasn't trained
or even used to explain
00:25:14.63\00:25:16.80
the reasons for my faith.
00:25:16.80\00:25:19.06
Yeah, I was reading my
Bible, so I'm encouraging people
00:25:19.06\00:25:21.50
who already knew that
Bible was true, was fairly easy.
00:25:21.50\00:25:24.76
But otherwise the best I could
do was debate Sunday worship
00:25:24.76\00:25:29.00
on the Sunday
worshippers on the Sabbath.
00:25:29.00\00:25:31.56
And truthfully they
never got me anywhere.
00:25:31.56\00:25:36.73
I remember talking to one of my
good friends Andrius on Skype.
00:25:36.73\00:25:41.33
And he was
telling me that he was
00:25:41.33\00:25:42.70
doing little bit experiments.
00:25:42.70\00:25:44.30
It's the simple one.
00:25:44.30\00:25:45.90
He would not
watch TV for a week.
00:25:45.90\00:25:49.10
And then he would see
what effects would be on him.
00:25:49.10\00:25:53.30
He is like a brother it to me.
00:25:53.30\00:25:54.56
And at the time he was one
of my few spiritual friends.
00:25:54.56\00:25:57.60
So anything he did or
thought was worth considering.
00:25:57.60\00:26:03.63
So I thought
about it and I thought,
00:26:03.63\00:26:04.80
well, may be I should
try TV this week myself.
00:26:04.80\00:26:08.36
So I did. I should tell you.
00:26:08.36\00:26:11.90
I have been TV junky.
00:26:11.90\00:26:14.23
Honestly, I don't know how
I got it through high school,
00:26:14.23\00:26:16.86
because I would come
home from school around 4 PM.
00:26:16.86\00:26:19.73
So watching my soap series
00:26:19.73\00:26:22.60
which we came kind of
difficult when they changed
00:26:22.60\00:26:24.86
that schedule up,
because my reference
00:26:24.86\00:26:28.60
would be on the one channel,
00:26:28.60\00:26:29.83
then the other would
be on the other channel,
00:26:29.83\00:26:31.10
but when they
are at the same time,
00:26:31.10\00:26:32.23
I would actually
go between the two,
00:26:32.23\00:26:33.50
so I could keep over both.
00:26:33.50\00:26:35.03
It was very complicated.
00:26:35.03\00:26:37.66
So then after the series I
would have may be hour and half
00:26:37.66\00:26:41.83
where I wouldn't
anything to do because you know
00:26:41.83\00:26:43.93
you can only watch
so much interesting
00:26:43.93\00:26:47.13
things or interesting to me.
00:26:47.13\00:26:49.63
So I would have a
break of hour and half.
00:26:49.63\00:26:53.03
And then I would come right
back watching other soap series
00:26:53.03\00:26:56.70
and two drama series
and go to bed around 10 PM.
00:26:56.70\00:27:01.70
And then on top
of that my sisters
00:27:01.70\00:27:03.33
and I would
usually-- yeah quite often
00:27:03.33\00:27:08.06
we would rent movies, then
we would have movie marathons.
00:27:08.06\00:27:11.06
We watched the movies
over and over and over again.
00:27:11.06\00:27:14.60
So not watching TV
that week was an eye-opener.
00:27:14.60\00:27:17.43
I had so much time on my hands,
00:27:17.43\00:27:18.66
I didn't know
what to do with myself.
00:27:18.66\00:27:20.96
I noticed that I actually
quite enjoyed not having to deal
00:27:20.96\00:27:23.40
with all of the information.
00:27:23.40\00:27:25.70
So I cut it all
out for a good while.
00:27:25.70\00:27:29.00
I came to the conclusion
that I could no longer
00:27:29.00\00:27:32.90
enjoy the type of entertainment
that celebrates or promotes
00:27:32.90\00:27:38.00
or endorses just
about everything that Jesus
00:27:38.00\00:27:40.90
likes to save us from.
00:27:40.90\00:27:44.03
When I stopped
allowing the TV and Hollywood
00:27:44.03\00:27:45.93
to dictate the
majority of my thoughts,
00:27:45.93\00:27:48.36
I started going
closer to my Savior.
00:27:48.36\00:27:51.33
I changed the
sources that could have input
00:27:51.33\00:27:53.93
on my thinking process
and it was very liberating.
00:27:53.93\00:27:57.46
Focusing in my
prayer became easier.
00:27:57.46\00:28:00.13
I mean I just remember trying
to pray and scenes of movies
00:28:00.13\00:28:04.70
just coming into my head
and it's just hard to focus.
00:28:04.70\00:28:09.10
I was learning more
during my devotional times.
00:28:09.10\00:28:12.26
I was less needy
for relationship.
00:28:12.26\00:28:14.60
You know, when you
watch Hollywood love stories
00:28:14.60\00:28:16.70
all the time and
you're the living on yourself,
00:28:16.70\00:28:18.86
you kind to start
wondering what's wrong with you.
00:28:18.86\00:28:20.96
Oh, really, may be just me.
00:28:20.96\00:28:24.66
But I learned to be
content with my singleness.
00:28:24.66\00:28:26.76
I was becoming more
interested in spiritual things
00:28:26.76\00:28:29.00
and I was hungry
for learning more.
00:28:29.00\00:28:34.96
Discovering audio
verse at work was a blessing.
00:28:34.96\00:28:39.93
I would listen to
sermons while cleaning my room,
00:28:39.93\00:28:41.90
cooking, going to university
and coming back from university,
00:28:41.90\00:28:44.83
going shopping all the time.
00:28:44.83\00:28:47.53
I was then hungry for
practical Bible based messages.
00:28:47.53\00:28:51.26
Through audio
verse I became more aware
00:28:51.26\00:28:54.83
of the need for evangelism.
00:28:54.83\00:28:57.56
Then a powerful
spirit filled sermon
00:28:57.56\00:29:00.50
was preached at a camp meeting
00:29:00.50\00:29:02.76
I attended in 2007,
and it took me over.
00:29:02.76\00:29:07.30
I knew God was moving me to
go and get mission training.
00:29:07.30\00:29:10.66
At that time I
was is in the middle
00:29:10.66\00:29:12.26
of my bachelor's degree in law.
00:29:12.26\00:29:15.40
And I wanted to reach more
people in my university classes.
00:29:15.40\00:29:18.33
I wanted to have an
answer when they ask me things.
00:29:18.33\00:29:20.80
I wanted to
have a bigger impact.
00:29:20.80\00:29:23.50
However, taking
out a year back then
00:29:23.50\00:29:27.00
would have been bit messy.
00:29:27.00\00:29:28.70
So I decided to go the
year after which would allow me,
00:29:28.70\00:29:32.73
you know, time to save up.
00:29:32.73\00:29:36.50
God totally
paved the way for me.
00:29:36.50\00:29:38.76
Because one of
the challenges I had,
00:29:38.76\00:29:40.03
I said I needed about
5,000 euros but I only had 2,
00:29:40.03\00:29:44.50
which means I was missing 3.
00:29:44.50\00:29:47.66
That translates to $6,500
00:29:47.66\00:29:53.36
the 5,000 euros did.
00:29:53.36\00:29:56.50
You know, that's a lot of money
00:29:56.50\00:29:58.66
but I was
determined in my heart,
00:29:58.66\00:29:59.90
I wouldn't stress about it.
00:29:59.90\00:30:02.80
If God wanted me
to go, then He would
00:30:02.80\00:30:04.80
have to make it happen.
00:30:04.80\00:30:08.23
So I send him my
application February times.
00:30:08.23\00:30:12.33
May came so that's
about a month before ARISE
00:30:12.33\00:30:15.66
will start asking you, you know,
00:30:15.66\00:30:18.80
it's time for
you to pay your fees.
00:30:18.80\00:30:21.40
And I still didn't have
the 3,000 euros I was missing.
00:30:21.40\00:30:25.56
But then in May we
were at this--it was like
00:30:25.56\00:30:31.40
a planning
meeting for the conference
00:30:31.40\00:30:32.73
we would have may
be 2 to 3 weeks later.
00:30:32.73\00:30:36.83
And this young woman who
was engaged to one of the guys
00:30:36.83\00:30:41.70
in the team and
she is driving us home.
00:30:41.70\00:30:43.73
She is driving
and she is looking
00:30:43.73\00:30:46.80
at me in a rearview mirror.
00:30:46.80\00:30:48.00
And she goes,
"Hey Zippora, do you,
00:30:48.00\00:30:49.66
I hear you want to go ARISE."
00:30:49.66\00:30:51.13
And I said,
"Yes, that's correct."
00:30:51.13\00:30:52.66
So do you have
the money for that"?
00:30:52.66\00:30:55.80
Like why would you
ask that, I was like no.
00:30:55.80\00:30:59.60
Said, okay, well I think I know
00:30:59.60\00:31:02.40
some people who
can help you out.
00:31:02.40\00:31:03.70
And I'm like ah.
00:31:03.70\00:31:06.23
Well, she wasn't kidding.
00:31:06.23\00:31:08.63
Two weeks later
those people found me.
00:31:08.63\00:31:11.50
I didn't go look for them.
00:31:11.50\00:31:13.23
I was at the conference.
00:31:13.23\00:31:14.93
They came to look for me.
00:31:14.93\00:31:17.20
They introduced themselves.
00:31:17.20\00:31:18.63
And they ended up sponsoring
me the remaining 3,000 euros.
00:31:18.63\00:31:23.86
Amen. God showed me that
money is not an issue for Him.
00:31:23.86\00:31:27.96
He has plenty of it.
00:31:27.96\00:31:31.10
And I praise God
for people who give
00:31:31.10\00:31:32.33
their money to
further the gospel.
00:31:32.33\00:31:35.26
So I flew over to
Michigan in September 2008.
00:31:35.26\00:31:41.56
When I got to this
school, I was almost immediately
00:31:41.56\00:31:44.50
set straight on what
I was coming to learn.
00:31:44.50\00:31:47.20
I had kind of had
this idea that they would
00:31:47.20\00:31:49.90
put some buttons on
me and I would turn into
00:31:49.90\00:31:51.90
super evangelizer you know.
00:31:51.90\00:31:55.16
Yeah, they didn't do that.
00:31:55.16\00:31:58.70
Instead they
showed me the importance
00:31:58.70\00:32:01.36
of my personal relationship
with God that there is no need
00:32:01.36\00:32:05.10
for me to turn to a female black
David Asscherick or whatever.
00:32:05.10\00:32:11.00
God wants me for me. Amen.
00:32:11.00\00:32:13.66
And that I can be most
useful to Him when I'm me.
00:32:13.66\00:32:19.60
Seeing those guys, my teachers,
00:32:19.60\00:32:21.30
my parents got
more David Asscherick,
00:32:21.30\00:32:23.00
in real life was good for me.
00:32:23.00\00:32:25.20
It showed me that
there were normal people too.
00:32:25.20\00:32:28.10
And we'll make some grades
and will bring some success,
00:32:28.10\00:32:31.03
is their
relationship with Christ.
00:32:31.03\00:32:32.66
And the choices
they make because of it.
00:32:32.66\00:32:35.90
My time at ARISE was splendid.
00:32:35.90\00:32:38.40
Having been
brought up in the church,
00:32:38.40\00:32:41.96
I knew we have 28 fundamentals.
00:32:41.96\00:32:45.20
But it was only when
it teaches they put it out
00:32:45.20\00:32:47.20
to me that all our doctrines
are centered around Christ.
00:32:47.20\00:32:49.66
It's that I realized
and indeed our fundamentals
00:32:49.66\00:32:52.13
are more than a creed.
00:32:52.13\00:32:53.76
You know
sometimes we just hear about
00:32:53.76\00:32:54.96
28 fundamentals
people refer to them,
00:32:54.96\00:32:57.30
but they are
not often explained.
00:32:57.30\00:33:01.86
I started to understand there
is much more that separates
00:33:01.86\00:33:04.66
us from Sunday
worshipping Christian
00:33:04.66\00:33:06.13
than just a Sabbath
or a State of the Dead.
00:33:06.13\00:33:08.76
That as a church we have
more unique views on the world
00:33:08.76\00:33:11.26
that will become more
evident towards the end of time,
00:33:11.26\00:33:13.90
but are important to have a
correct understanding of now.
00:33:13.90\00:33:18.50
ARISE helped me to one
to become more inquisitive,
00:33:18.50\00:33:21.80
to do more research more
thinking and as a result of it,
00:33:21.80\00:33:25.60
I became more
balanced, more genuinely
00:33:25.60\00:33:28.03
excited Seventh-day Adventist.
00:33:28.03\00:33:31.30
And doing
evangelism really makes
00:33:31.30\00:33:33.00
more sense when
you yourself have
00:33:33.00\00:33:34.86
an intimate
relationship with Christ.
00:33:34.86\00:33:37.76
Understanding that to Christ
all souls are of infinite value.
00:33:37.76\00:33:43.36
And then things
like door knocking,
00:33:43.36\00:33:45.06
something I absolutely
dreaded are less of a challenge
00:33:45.06\00:33:49.73
when you know that you can
explain why you're at that door.
00:33:49.73\00:33:55.16
At ARISE we had outreach
probably 3 or 4 times a week.
00:33:55.16\00:33:59.10
And so when I came
home in the Netherlands,
00:33:59.10\00:34:02.26
I kind of missed it.
00:34:02.26\00:34:03.33
So I went door
knocking with my cousin
00:34:03.33\00:34:04.50
a few times but
then exam time came.
00:34:04.50\00:34:07.20
And I decided you know what,
00:34:07.20\00:34:08.30
I don't really
have time to go out.
00:34:08.30\00:34:09.76
Lord, I don't like--it's just
going to take too much time so.
00:34:09.76\00:34:13.16
Everyone who comes to my
door I will witness of you.
00:34:13.16\00:34:18.56
I never had a busier 2 weeks.
00:34:18.56\00:34:23.30
My phone died twice,
had to be picked up twice,
00:34:23.30\00:34:26.13
I brought it back twice.
00:34:26.13\00:34:27.96
Then our central
heating needed service,
00:34:27.96\00:34:30.26
so someone came to do that.
00:34:30.26\00:34:31.76
And there is a guy
that would sell windows,
00:34:31.76\00:34:33.23
some kid that sold
me cards, some charity
00:34:33.23\00:34:35.03
that came to collect money.
00:34:35.03\00:34:36.56
Really, people just kept coming.
00:34:36.56\00:34:39.66
And even though
sometimes I struggle to bring up
00:34:39.66\00:34:41.46
the subject of God with them.
00:34:41.46\00:34:43.70
When I had finally
find the courage to do so.
00:34:43.70\00:34:46.40
I had meaningful conversations
with each and every one of them.
00:34:46.40\00:34:50.30
I'm such a
complete with sometimes.
00:34:50.30\00:34:52.86
I will be afraid
to bring up Christ
00:34:52.86\00:34:54.50
when I know it's a
perfect time to do so.
00:34:54.50\00:34:57.63
Sometimes I win the battle with
myself and sometimes I lose.
00:34:57.63\00:35:01.70
But whenever I have won,
00:35:01.70\00:35:03.33
I mostly have
positive experiences.
00:35:03.33\00:35:07.23
Like I was trying
shoes when I was in Australia
00:35:07.23\00:35:09.66
last year--because I
want a new church shoes.
00:35:09.66\00:35:12.86
And the store clerk,
she comes to me and says,
00:35:12.86\00:35:14.56
okay, so what you use them for.
00:35:14.56\00:35:15.93
And I think if I tell her
church, she is going to ask me.
00:35:15.93\00:35:19.10
Oh, you go to
church and you know,
00:35:19.10\00:35:20.46
so we're going to have
this long conversation.
00:35:20.46\00:35:21.93
People are listening,
it's going to be awkward.
00:35:21.93\00:35:24.10
And this is--oh, I'm thinking
this in two seconds, right.
00:35:24.10\00:35:26.96
And she's still looking
to me, so what they are for.
00:35:26.96\00:35:28.73
And I like "Oh, for church."
00:35:28.73\00:35:32.56
As soon as we started talking
all my inhibitions disappeared.
00:35:32.56\00:35:35.93
We had a really
good conversation.
00:35:35.93\00:35:37.46
Turns out that she is interested
in knowing more about God.
00:35:37.46\00:35:41.96
And she was really
happy with the Steps to Christ
00:35:41.96\00:35:44.20
I later delivered to her.
00:35:44.20\00:35:50.13
Another experience I had
recently was on Sabbath morning.
00:35:50.13\00:35:53.96
There was a lady standing
outside of church doors.
00:35:53.96\00:35:56.93
I was standing at
churchyard actually.
00:35:56.93\00:35:58.80
And she was staring
at the church doors.
00:35:58.80\00:36:00.93
And I'm usually not on
that side of the church
00:36:00.93\00:36:03.90
but at this particular day
I was and I saw her staring.
00:36:03.90\00:36:07.76
And I thought to myself, well,
why would she be doing that.
00:36:07.76\00:36:10.60
So I went outside and asked
her if she wanted to come in.
00:36:10.60\00:36:14.36
She said she did.
00:36:14.36\00:36:15.93
And I later found that
she walked pass the church
00:36:15.93\00:36:18.70
often times but she had
been afraid of coming in.
00:36:18.70\00:36:22.03
She needed
someone to pull her in.
00:36:22.03\00:36:29.26
Today she comes to
Sabbath school and divine hour.
00:36:29.26\00:36:32.03
She helps out at church events
and she is one of our more
00:36:32.03\00:36:35.36
faithful members
at the prayer meeting.
00:36:35.36\00:36:40.93
At first she just sat in church,
00:36:40.93\00:36:42.20
you know, just
listening, but now
00:36:42.20\00:36:43.60
she is asking
questions reading her Bibles.
00:36:43.60\00:36:45.53
It's really, really
encouraging to see her.
00:36:45.53\00:36:50.43
Evangelism is not just
something you do at conferences
00:36:50.43\00:36:53.46
or once in a while at church.
00:36:53.46\00:36:56.70
It's part of who we
are as followers of Christ.
00:36:56.70\00:37:00.26
Within Youth For All
which is the youth ministry
00:37:00.26\00:37:02.06
I represent in the Netherlands.
00:37:02.06\00:37:03.73
We call it evangeliving.
00:37:03.73\00:37:05.00
You know evangelism and
living because it's a lifestyle.
00:37:05.00\00:37:09.53
And God will use us as we
make ourselves available to Him.
00:37:09.53\00:37:13.76
Don't wait for all
your fears to disappear,
00:37:13.76\00:37:16.43
because for the
record I hate rejection
00:37:16.43\00:37:18.70
just as much as a next person.
00:37:18.70\00:37:20.76
And talking to
someone and risking
00:37:20.76\00:37:22.16
that they might
think I'm a mad person,
00:37:22.16\00:37:24.80
it's not
something I enjoy either.
00:37:24.80\00:37:27.33
But the more I walk with Christ,
00:37:27.33\00:37:30.16
I see the need for evangelism.
00:37:30.16\00:37:35.20
And once in a
while He allows me to see
00:37:35.20\00:37:38.66
the fruit of my labor
that I get through Him
00:37:38.66\00:37:43.16
and it brings joy to my hearts.
00:37:43.16\00:37:46.20
When the life is
changed, the person freed from
00:37:46.20\00:37:48.46
the snares of life, my
world gets a bit privative.
00:37:48.46\00:37:52.60
On top of that evangelism has
made me a more pleasant person.
00:37:52.60\00:37:56.66
Remember the verse I
read to you in beginning.
00:37:56.66\00:38:00.40
"I prayed for thee,
that thy faith fail not,
00:38:00.40\00:38:02.56
and when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren."
00:38:02.56\00:38:06.60
Well, that's a direct command
00:38:06.60\00:38:10.13
from our commander-in-chief.
00:38:10.13\00:38:15.13
You have to be
live like Christian.
00:38:15.13\00:38:17.36
To do something, to strengthen
the church is your task.
00:38:17.36\00:38:22.13
Because when I start doing
evangelism I'm doing something.
00:38:22.13\00:38:26.00
When I start doing
something, I stop doing nothing.
00:38:26.00\00:38:29.20
And it's when I
started to step out
00:38:29.20\00:38:30.56
in faith trusting that God
would be with me as I tried
00:38:30.56\00:38:33.03
my best to do as He
asked, that I could see
00:38:33.03\00:38:35.70
His power at work,
00:38:35.70\00:38:37.06
which increased my faith in Him.
00:38:37.06\00:38:45.03
Listen to this quote.
00:38:45.03\00:38:46.23
If you had the week of
prayer with your church,
00:38:46.23\00:38:49.86
then you've
probably already heard this.
00:38:49.86\00:38:51.50
But I tell you again.
00:38:51.50\00:38:53.66
"Nothing to do" is the reason
of trial among the brethren,
00:38:53.66\00:38:57.30
for Satan will fill the minds
of idlers with his own plans,
00:38:57.30\00:39:00.06
and set them to work.
00:39:00.06\00:39:01.96
Your unemployed heart
and mind afford him a plat
00:39:01.96\00:39:04.53
to sow the seeds of
doubt and skepticism.
00:39:04.53\00:39:07.20
Those who have nothing to
do, find time for gossiping,
00:39:07.20\00:39:10.43
tale-bearing,
backbiting, and mischief-making.
00:39:10.43\00:39:15.20
"Nothing to do" brings evil
testimony against the brethren,
00:39:15.20\00:39:17.80
and dissension into
the church of Christ.
00:39:17.80\00:39:19.50
Jesus says, "He that gathereth
not with me scattereth abroad."
00:39:19.50\00:39:23.90
So doing evangelism
prevents you from falling
00:39:23.90\00:39:27.70
into the devil's traps.
00:39:27.70\00:39:29.73
Doing evangelism will make you
00:39:29.73\00:39:31.16
not have time to
engage in nonsense.
00:39:31.16\00:39:33.70
It will prevent you from
becoming the devil slave again.
00:39:33.70\00:39:36.60
And we just heard Jesus say,
00:39:36.60\00:39:37.90
"By the way if
you're helping me gather.
00:39:37.90\00:39:39.83
You're effectively
working against me."
00:39:39.83\00:39:44.26
I need to come to close.
00:39:44.26\00:39:47.60
I'd like to show
something that illustrates
00:39:47.60\00:39:49.43
my experience and may
be you'll recognize it too.
00:39:49.43\00:39:52.63
Come with me to Exodus 1.
00:39:52.63\00:39:58.50
Are you there?
00:40:03.20\00:40:05.70
In Exodus 1 we see in New King.
00:40:12.10\00:40:15.43
"One that not known
Joseph and this king fears
00:40:15.43\00:40:19.83
that the Hebrews will
become a serious threat to him.
00:40:19.83\00:40:22.66
So he decided to
oppress and enslave them."
00:40:22.66\00:40:26.70
In verse nine it says,
"And he said unto his people--"
00:40:26.70\00:40:30.20
so this is pharaoh speaking.
00:40:30.20\00:40:31.93
"Behold, the people
of the children of Israel
00:40:31.93\00:40:33.86
are more and
mightier than we, come on,
00:40:33.86\00:40:36.26
let us deal wisely with
them; lest they multiply,
00:40:36.26\00:40:39.80
and it come to pass, that,
when there falls out any war,
00:40:39.80\00:40:42.73
they join also unto our
enemies, and fight against us."
00:40:42.73\00:40:47.66
So the question
that comes to my mind is.
00:40:47.66\00:40:52.76
How do you enslave a
people that is mightier and more
00:40:52.76\00:40:57.90
in numbers than you are?
00:40:57.90\00:41:00.86
Anyone ever thought about that?
00:41:00.86\00:41:03.30
Like they're
more, they're mightier
00:41:03.30\00:41:07.03
and not only that, these are
the people of the Most High God.
00:41:07.03\00:41:11.53
How do you make them
bow down to your commands?
00:41:11.53\00:41:16.13
Could it be that may be the
new king wasn't the only one
00:41:16.13\00:41:18.66
who didn't know Joseph or God?
00:41:18.66\00:41:22.16
That is Israelites
born into the faith
00:41:22.16\00:41:23.96
were may be
aware of their history,
00:41:23.96\00:41:26.13
aware of God's
promises for the future
00:41:26.13\00:41:27.66
and aware of the doctrines
or at least some of them
00:41:27.66\00:41:30.16
but failed to connect them
00:41:30.16\00:41:31.90
to the living God
of heaven and earth.
00:41:31.90\00:41:34.93
So that the idea of a
personal God who was interested
00:41:34.93\00:41:37.63
in their well being was
just too far from their mind.
00:41:37.63\00:41:41.76
Could it be that they
were merely going through
00:41:41.76\00:41:44.70
emotions and had empty religion.
00:41:44.70\00:41:48.40
So that when the will told them
00:41:48.40\00:41:49.66
they would have to be
slaves to it, they believed it.
00:41:49.66\00:41:53.50
Instead of putting up the
fight they would have won.
00:41:53.50\00:41:58.50
Could it be?
00:41:58.50\00:42:01.00
I was born in this church
00:42:01.00\00:42:02.86
that means that I grew up in
the so much safe environment,
00:42:02.86\00:42:07.96
where was a wealth of knowledge.
00:42:07.96\00:42:10.40
But just having that
doesn't secure my salvation.
00:42:10.40\00:42:14.63
For long time God
was impressing on to me.
00:42:14.63\00:42:17.40
And tough intellectually
I knew that He loved me,
00:42:17.40\00:42:19.96
I didn't experience that.
00:42:19.96\00:42:21.56
And so His love
wasn't moving me to live
00:42:21.56\00:42:23.73
a life according to His plans.
00:42:23.73\00:42:26.50
But when I finally had
my all experience with Him
00:42:26.50\00:42:28.80
which was greatly enhanced
because a group of young people
00:42:28.80\00:42:31.70
decided to invest time in me.
00:42:31.70\00:42:34.63
I understood that He
is real and He cares.
00:42:34.63\00:42:37.23
And if He has much to say
to me if only I will listen.
00:42:37.23\00:42:42.40
When I entered into
that relationship with Him,
00:42:42.40\00:42:44.20
I finally started to
allow Him to burn away the ropes
00:42:44.20\00:42:47.40
that bind me to this earth.
00:42:47.40\00:42:50.03
And its freedom
moves me to want to shares
00:42:50.03\00:42:52.00
it with others so
they can be free also.
00:42:52.00\00:42:55.90
Like the Israelites in Egypt,
00:42:55.90\00:42:57.86
I allow myself to be
enslaved by worldly ideas like
00:42:57.86\00:43:01.66
the Greek philosophy version
of god that won't intervene.
00:43:01.66\00:43:05.30
And I didn't even realize
that until God freed me from it.
00:43:05.30\00:43:09.43
And I know that God
doesn't just care about me.
00:43:09.43\00:43:12.36
It's not that He is
just on the cloud somewhere.
00:43:12.36\00:43:16.93
He cares for me so much
that He--from where He was,
00:43:16.93\00:43:19.46
He came down to this earth
and became like me to save me.
00:43:19.46\00:43:25.03
God send people on my
way to reckon to His word.
00:43:25.03\00:43:27.80
And they could not
make me believe in His word
00:43:27.80\00:43:30.93
but as soon as I started
studying it, I found him.
00:43:30.93\00:43:36.10
Because once you start looking
for God, you'll find Him.
00:43:36.10\00:43:41.23
He says, I'm not far from each
and every one of you in Acts 17.
00:43:41.23\00:43:46.46
And he says, "If
you abide in my word,
00:43:46.46\00:43:48.20
you are truly my disciples,
00:43:48.20\00:43:49.93
and the truth
will set you free."
00:43:49.93\00:43:52.93
So concluding now.
00:43:52.93\00:43:55.66
If you're born into this church
whether by birth or baptism
00:43:55.66\00:43:58.86
or both and
recognize that you've allowed
00:43:58.86\00:44:03.10
His will to enslave you again.
00:44:03.10\00:44:05.93
And you're left with
the world view of God,
00:44:05.93\00:44:09.13
so that you're
giving in where you
00:44:09.13\00:44:10.30
should be putting up a fight.
00:44:10.30\00:44:13.00
But you're tried of that
and you want a life with Him,
00:44:13.00\00:44:16.03
a life lived in His service.
00:44:16.03\00:44:19.80
Then determining
your heart to make
00:44:19.80\00:44:21.36
your relationship
with Christ your priority.
00:44:21.36\00:44:24.66
It will not
enclose conflict with him.
00:44:24.66\00:44:27.20
We can't really be sure
who we're taken orders from.
00:44:27.20\00:44:31.43
Please don't allow
the world to tell you
00:44:31.43\00:44:32.76
who you are, what they think.
00:44:32.76\00:44:36.20
When the people of God know
who they are and consequently
00:44:36.20\00:44:39.30
live out their purpose, they are
indeed aligned into the world.
00:44:39.30\00:44:43.26
But when they
don't know who they are,
00:44:43.26\00:44:45.36
they'll slowly but
surely be enslaved by the world,
00:44:45.36\00:44:49.33
by its ideas and its pleasures
and their light is dimmed.
00:44:49.33\00:44:52.63
And that would be
account to revolution.
00:44:52.63\00:44:56.53
We want to let our
light shine, right.
00:44:56.53\00:45:01.66
If it's your desire to
make Christ your priority,
00:45:01.66\00:45:03.80
then decide to have a
living relationship with Him
00:45:03.80\00:45:06.60
when you'll look for Him daily.
00:45:06.60\00:45:09.20
And when you're making
honest efforts to figure out
00:45:09.20\00:45:11.90
what Seventh-day
Adventist believes and why.
00:45:11.90\00:45:14.40
Is that our
collective desire? No. Is it?
00:45:14.40\00:45:18.66
Amen. Okay, I guess because
00:45:18.66\00:45:21.20
you're all stuffing,
this is a very general appeal.
00:45:21.20\00:45:23.46
I'm pretty sure we can
pretty much all say yes to that.
00:45:23.46\00:45:27.20
A bit more specific now.
00:45:27.20\00:45:31.56
We need to be
helping each other out.
00:45:31.56\00:45:34.50
You look at Acts 2
and we see a church
00:45:34.50\00:45:38.03
that's sharing
everything together.
00:45:38.03\00:45:39.80
They put their personal time
money energy into each other.
00:45:39.80\00:45:43.03
They're investing in each other.
00:45:43.03\00:45:45.93
And if you want to have
an Acts like revolution,
00:45:45.93\00:45:48.70
we need to start
investing in each other,
00:45:48.70\00:45:50.80
strengthening each other
as we go out into the world
00:45:50.80\00:45:54.00
and change it for ever.
00:45:54.00\00:45:56.03
Too often when we go to church,
00:45:56.03\00:45:58.80
we talk about the whole lot
of things but we forget to ask
00:45:58.80\00:46:01.86
or to inquire or to find out how
people are doing spiritually.
00:46:01.86\00:46:06.83
So I guess my
next appeal is this.
00:46:06.83\00:46:09.70
If you understand the importance
of strengthening the brethren.
00:46:09.70\00:46:12.33
If you're ever going to
have an Acts like revolution,
00:46:12.33\00:46:16.60
get your pen,
paper or your phone,
00:46:16.60\00:46:18.16
your tablet whatever you
want to write this down on.
00:46:18.16\00:46:22.10
And write down a name or
two of people you'll be sharing
00:46:22.10\00:46:25.70
your devotional
experiences with.
00:46:25.70\00:46:28.20
Think of ways that you
can strengthen your fellow
00:46:28.20\00:46:31.83
brothers and sisters with.
00:46:31.83\00:46:33.63
If you're in a small group
here at GYC that make your part
00:46:33.63\00:46:38.00
that you'll do your best to
stay in contact even after GYC.
00:46:38.00\00:46:41.73
So you can continue
to strengthen each other.
00:46:41.73\00:46:47.00
Those of you who are
not in a small group,
00:46:47.00\00:46:48.40
you think of
someone that you can assist
00:46:48.40\00:46:50.06
as we strengthen by
sharing your faith with.
00:46:50.06\00:46:55.86
I have been reading
the in prayer revival
00:46:55.86\00:47:00.50
and reformation
devotion everyday.
00:47:00.50\00:47:02.80
And I enjoy them.
00:47:02.80\00:47:04.30
I send them to my
cousin and my friend everyday,
00:47:04.30\00:47:10.13
well not now because my phone
won't connect to the internet.
00:47:10.13\00:47:12.86
But usually I send
them everyday and then
00:47:12.86\00:47:14.73
and when they learn something
they turn it back to me
00:47:14.73\00:47:16.76
and then we can talk about
and we're strengthened by it.
00:47:16.76\00:47:19.36
Those are easy ways
00:47:19.36\00:47:20.90
to share and strengthen.
00:47:20.90\00:47:28.46
With the power of
God you can choose
00:47:28.46\00:47:31.86
to be who he is
calling you to be.
00:47:31.86\00:47:34.76
There is no
reason for you to fail.
00:47:34.76\00:47:37.33
There is no reason for us
to settle for a small God,
00:47:37.33\00:47:40.63
when He wants to reveal
so much more of Himself.
00:47:40.63\00:47:46.00
I have learned in my life
that when I'm serious about God.
00:47:46.00\00:47:51.60
Then I see how
serious He is about me.
00:47:51.60\00:47:58.73
Following Christ
is a serious thing.
00:47:58.73\00:48:03.83
And once we start
doing it seriously.
00:48:03.83\00:48:11.53
We see much
opportunities to go and share
00:48:11.53\00:48:14.30
and do things that
matter for eternity.
00:48:14.30\00:48:18.43
That's what motivates me now.
00:48:18.43\00:48:20.60
And I pray that that's
what will motivate you too.
00:48:20.60\00:48:24.46
Did you write
down your names yet?
00:48:24.46\00:48:27.20
That you've already write down
00:48:27.20\00:48:28.33
who you're going to be
strengthening and calling.
00:48:28.33\00:48:31.86
If you did you can stand
up and we'll have our prayer.
00:48:31.86\00:48:34.30
Dear Father in heaven.
00:48:52.06\00:48:55.80
We thank You for
who You are to us.
00:48:55.80\00:48:58.63
A God who cares
about who we are.
00:48:58.63\00:49:01.60
A God who is interested
to see how we are doing.
00:49:01.60\00:49:06.26
Who is willing and able to
strengthen us to care for us.
00:49:06.26\00:49:12.60
Father, we recognize that
You're the only one's God.
00:49:12.60\00:49:16.90
And that we need You to survive.
00:49:16.90\00:49:20.23
We need You to
have this revolution
00:49:20.23\00:49:22.20
that we have been talking about.
00:49:22.20\00:49:24.50
We need you to
remind us that every morning
00:49:24.50\00:49:27.10
needs time with You.
00:49:27.10\00:49:29.40
And we need to get to know
you in a more intimate level.
00:49:29.40\00:49:33.66
That we need you to
go out to our friends
00:49:33.66\00:49:35.66
and share and encourage them.
00:49:35.66\00:49:38.93
That we need You for anything
00:49:38.93\00:49:40.06
that we wish to
accomplish in this life.
00:49:40.06\00:49:43.83
So Father as we're going to
the next part of the program.
00:49:43.83\00:49:47.23
We pray that You would
help us remember those names
00:49:47.23\00:49:49.66
that we wrote down just now.
00:49:49.66\00:49:51.76
Help us to indeed
00:49:51.76\00:49:56.06
try Your best to encourage them
00:49:56.06\00:50:00.03
like You've been encouraging us,
00:50:00.03\00:50:01.70
like You've been
sending people to encourage us.
00:50:01.70\00:50:05.00
We thank You for Your
patience, for Your love,
00:50:05.00\00:50:08.50
for Your never ending mercy.
00:50:08.50\00:50:13.76
All of this we pray now because
00:50:13.76\00:50:14.86
You deserve it but
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:50:14.86\00:50:17.60