I've been
inspired and challenged
00:00:12.28\00:00:14.77
by each morning devotional
00:00:14.80\00:00:16.17
what Brother Wes
Peppers has been bringing.
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And I trust and I believe that
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we have a message from
on high again this morning.
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And we need to pray,
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we need to pray for
our speakers. Amen. Amen.
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At this time why don't we bow
our heads for a word of prayer.
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Heavenly Father,
we thank You so much
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for how You've been speaking
to our hearts this for in GYC,
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we need to hear a fresh message
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from on high
this morning from You.
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We pray that Your Holy Spirit
would rest upon Pastor Wes
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as he brings the
message to us this morning.
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Help our ears to hear
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and help our eyes to
truly see Jesus this morning.
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We thank You and
we praise You Lord
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for what you're going to say
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and help us accomplish
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by Your spirit
in Jesus name. Amen.
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Beneath the cross of Jesus,
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we can find hope and salvation.
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And we shouldn't
take it for granted
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but every day we
should meditate upon it.
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And bring into our
minds the great suffering
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that Christ had gone through,
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so that we can
have eternal life.
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Beneath the cross of Jesus
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I have found a place to stand
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And wonder at such mercy
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That calls me as I am
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For hands that should discard me
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Hold wounds which tell me, come
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Beneath the cross of Jesus
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My unworthy soul is won
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Beneath the cross of Jesus
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His family is my own
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Once strangers
chasing selfish dreams
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Now one through grace alone
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How could I now dishonor?
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The God who died for me
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Beneath the cross of Jesus
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See the children called by God
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Upon that cross of Jesus
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Mine eye at times can see
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The very dying form of One
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Who suffered there for me
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And from my stricken heart
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And my unworthiness
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Beneath the cross of Jesus
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Redeemed by unselfish love
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Beneath the cross of Jesus
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The path before the crown
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We follow in His footsteps
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Where promised hope is found
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How great the joy before us
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To be His perfect bride
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Beneath the cross of Jesus
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We will gladly give our lives
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We will gladly give our lives
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Are you awake today? Yes.
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Are you excited
to be here? Yeah.
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Are you excited as I am? Yes.
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I hope you are
because I'm pretty excited.
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It's a blessing to be with
you again today, New Year's Eve.
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Tomorrow starts a new year,
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a next page in our
chapter. Amen. Amen.
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And we have the
opportunity to serve God
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more passionately
than we've ever had before.
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We have the opportunity
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to be closer to Him
than we've ever had before.
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And I hope today that
you're making your commitments,
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not in your own
strength but in His strength
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to be faithful to
Him in 2013. Amen. Amen.
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How many of you went
on outreach yesterday?
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Praise the Lord.
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The people that come
to the morning devotionals
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always go on
outreach, right Yes.
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How many of you
had the opportunity
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to pray with somebody yesterday?
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How many of you
had the opportunity
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to give away some literature
to somebody yesterday?
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I want you to-- did
it impact your life? Yes.
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Was it powerful? Yes.
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Did you sense the
spirit of God with you? Yes.
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The angels of God
were told go with them,
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so they are walking beside
us as we go from door to door.
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Do you realize that yesterday
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you were
fulfilling Bible prophecy?
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Did you know that?
Fulfilling Bible prophecy.
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Ellen White had a vision
where she saw on the last days,
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young people
going from door to door
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sharing
literature, having prayer.
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Who knows that when
she saw that vision,
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she didn't see your face. Amen.
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Light it with the
glow of the glory of heaven
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and with the love of
Jesus in your hearts.
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What a privilege it
is to serve Jesus, amen.
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That's what we're gonna
talk about this morning.
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I invite you to please
pray for my wife this morning,
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I just found out that my son
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who is now getting
a little bit better
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has given this
nasty thing to my wife.
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So she is sick, the
whole family is sick
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and I have to go
there on Tuesday.
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So thankfully I didn't go
there before I came to GYC.
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But please pray
for her if you would
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and pray for my son as well.
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By the way I don't
think I've said his name,
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his name is Levi, Levi Wesley.
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So we gave him a Bible
name and a family name.
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And so he's the
joy of our hearts.
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I want to
invite you this morning
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if you would to
kneel with me together
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as we ask Lord's
blessing to be with us.
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Father in heaven,
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it's great privilege
to be here together today
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as the people of God in the
last days of earth's history.
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Shining brightly
for You, forsaking all.
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Drawing close to
our Savior in worship
00:09:06.10\00:09:09.69
and prayer and
study and service.
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And Lord today we want another
outpouring of Your Holy Spirit.
00:09:12.85\00:09:16.81
We want to ask that
Your spirit would come
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and we're drawn near
to each one of our hearts
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and that we would
be challenged today.
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We would be inspired by
the specially challenged.
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And that Your word
would open up to us
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and convict us of those things
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that we need to do and not do
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and how we need
to be closer to You.
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And we ask in a
special way today
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that You would be close
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in a way that You
haven't been before.
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And that You would transform
us by the power of Your word
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and by Your spirit.
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And we ask today that a special
outpouring spirit be given.
00:09:50.52\00:09:54.19
And we ask it in
Jesus' name, amen.
00:09:54.22\00:09:56.90
I remember a number of years ago
00:10:01.83\00:10:03.27
I was doing outreach,
I was going door to door
00:10:03.30\00:10:07.32
and I was doing
this in Denver, Colorado
00:10:07.35\00:10:09.59
when I was an AFCO student.
00:10:09.62\00:10:11.71
And it was in the middle
of winter, it was February.
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It was cold, there was a
lot of snow in the ground.
00:10:17.78\00:10:21.44
And we had to do outreach
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from early
afternoon till late at night.
00:10:23.18\00:10:26.75
Excuse me. Pray
for me this morning.
00:10:26.78\00:10:30.18
And when you do
outreach on times such as that,
00:10:30.21\00:10:33.96
you're out there in
the middle of darkness.
00:10:33.99\00:10:35.58
So we're knocking on doors,
00:10:35.61\00:10:36.64
they told us, "Do not start
before such and such a time."
00:10:36.67\00:10:40.06
Well, that was about 3
hours after it was dark
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because it was getting darker,
because it was the winter time.
00:10:42.68\00:10:45.19
So I'm going door to door
and it's cold, it's raining,
00:10:45.22\00:10:50.12
it's snowy, it's
dark and I'm hungry.
00:10:50.15\00:10:54.23
And every week after outreach
00:10:54.26\00:10:55.82
my partner and I,
Adam Randen my friend
00:10:55.85\00:10:57.99
who preached on Sabbath morning.
00:10:58.02\00:10:59.57
We have this
tradition every Thursday night
00:10:59.60\00:11:01.45
we would go to
the Thai restaurant
00:11:01.48\00:11:03.76
and get some Pad thai.
00:11:03.79\00:11:05.56
How many like Pad thai, amen.
00:11:05.59\00:11:07.37
One of my
favorite foods, I love it.
00:11:07.40\00:11:09.89
And so every week we would go
00:11:09.92\00:11:12.05
and that particular day
00:11:12.08\00:11:13.82
we didn't have a very
positive experience on outreach.
00:11:13.85\00:11:16.61
There were lot of
people that were rejecting us,
00:11:16.64\00:11:18.79
closing the door on our face,
00:11:18.82\00:11:20.42
getting in our
face and etcetera.
00:11:20.45\00:11:22.54
And as-- as time was ticking,
00:11:22.57\00:11:25.11
I was watching the clock
00:11:25.14\00:11:26.44
and I said, "You know,
it's almost time to go."
00:11:26.47\00:11:29.24
And all I wanted to do is
go get my Pad thai noodles.
00:11:29.27\00:11:33.31
Go home and take a hot shower
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and slide into bed
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because it had not
been a very good day.
00:11:37.09\00:11:39.39
So finally the time
came and it was time to quit.
00:11:39.42\00:11:42.93
And so I said, it's time
to quit, it's time to go.
00:11:42.96\00:11:45.62
And I took all my stuff
and I threw it in my truck
00:11:45.65\00:11:48.14
and I got in the
truck and I started it
00:11:48.17\00:11:49.84
waiting for my outreach partner.
00:11:49.87\00:11:51.75
The problem was is
that there were three houses
00:11:51.78\00:11:54.16
left on the street
that I had not done.
00:11:54.19\00:11:57.58
And I felt the
prickling in my heart,
00:11:57.61\00:11:59.36
the Holy Spirit said, "You need
to finish this street today."
00:11:59.39\00:12:04.37
And I said, "Lord, I'll
be glad to finish this street
00:12:04.40\00:12:06.60
on our next day of outreach."
00:12:06.63\00:12:07.76
It's time to go. "You
need to finish the street."
00:12:07.79\00:12:12.18
"Lord, it's getting late,
00:12:12.21\00:12:13.52
people are gonna
start getting annoyed
00:12:13.55\00:12:15.13
if I come to
their house this late."
00:12:15.16\00:12:16.87
"You need to
finish this street."
00:12:16.90\00:12:19.74
Reluctantly I
said, "Lord, please."
00:12:19.77\00:12:23.98
And the Lord said, "I'm
telling you, please go."
00:12:24.01\00:12:29.37
I got my stuff back out,
I went to the first door,
00:12:29.40\00:12:33.07
I knocked on the door, a
young dude answered the door.
00:12:33.10\00:12:36.87
I said, "Hi, my name is Wes
00:12:36.90\00:12:38.38
and I'm with such and such
00:12:38.41\00:12:39.53
and I'm here to do a
survey in your neighborhood,"
00:12:39.56\00:12:41.97
just like you
guys did yesterday.
00:12:42.00\00:12:43.94
The guy looks at me
and he looks outside
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and then he looks at me
00:12:47.31\00:12:48.60
and he looks
outside and he says,
00:12:48.63\00:12:50.44
"Do you realize that it's dark,
it's cold and it's raining."
00:12:50.47\00:12:53.96
And I said, "Yes."
00:12:53.99\00:12:55.09
I said, "That's
exactly why I'm here."
00:12:55.12\00:12:56.46
He says, "You must
be an absolute idiot,"
00:12:56.49\00:12:58.57
and he slammed
the door on my face.
00:12:58.60\00:13:02.42
I went to the next
door, a lady answers the door.
00:13:02.45\00:13:05.67
I said, "Hi, my name is Wes
00:13:05.70\00:13:07.09
and I'm here to
do a survey for you."
00:13:07.12\00:13:09.03
By the time I
could get my name out,
00:13:09.06\00:13:11.29
she closes the door.
00:13:11.32\00:13:13.51
And I'm like, "Lord, are
you testing my character?"
00:13:13.54\00:13:17.38
I said, it's time to go,
00:13:17.41\00:13:18.63
the Lord said go
to the last house.
00:13:18.66\00:13:20.79
I was hearing voices
00:13:20.82\00:13:21.85
but you understand that
impression in your heart.
00:13:21.88\00:13:24.78
And I went to the
last door and I knocked.
00:13:24.81\00:13:29.59
And a lady opened the door
and I said, "Hi, my name is Wes
00:13:29.62\00:13:33.08
and I'm here to do a survey."
00:13:33.11\00:13:34.96
And she says, "Please, come in."
00:13:34.99\00:13:37.04
I went in and when
I went in I sat down
00:13:37.07\00:13:40.92
and she says, "What
do you have to offer me?"
00:13:40.95\00:13:43.54
And I went through the canvas
00:13:43.57\00:13:44.82
and at the end of the canvas
00:13:44.85\00:13:46.29
I invited this lady
to do Bible studies.
00:13:46.32\00:13:49.84
And when I did this,
she sat there for a minute
00:13:49.87\00:13:53.79
and just had this
blank look on her face.
00:13:53.82\00:13:57.54
And then all of a sudden
she's like started to cry
00:13:57.57\00:13:59.50
and I was like, what
in the world did I do?
00:13:59.53\00:14:01.20
You know what I mean.
00:14:01.23\00:14:02.45
And I was like
"Ma'am, are you okay?
00:14:02.48\00:14:03.79
What did I--did I
say something offensive?
00:14:03.82\00:14:05.44
Are you all right?"
00:14:05.47\00:14:06.53
And she says,
"You don't understand."
00:14:06.56\00:14:09.43
She says "When I was growing up,
00:14:09.46\00:14:11.89
she says I lived
in an abusive home,
00:14:11.92\00:14:13.87
my father
claimed to be a Christian
00:14:13.90\00:14:16.15
when we went to church.
00:14:16.18\00:14:17.51
And on the way
home, he would scream
00:14:17.54\00:14:19.90
and holler at us,
kids and my mother.
00:14:19.93\00:14:22.04
And when we got home,
00:14:22.07\00:14:23.46
he would be beat us all
the way into our rooms."
00:14:23.49\00:14:27.13
Claimed to be a
Christian but he really wasn't.
00:14:27.16\00:14:29.72
And she says, "And as I grow up
00:14:29.75\00:14:31.19
I never was able
to get over that."
00:14:31.22\00:14:33.17
She had a number of
tragedies in her life.
00:14:33.20\00:14:35.76
And she said, "Three months ago,
00:14:35.79\00:14:37.49
I said to God."
00:14:37.52\00:14:38.56
She said, "God, if You're real,
00:14:38.59\00:14:40.67
I want You to
reveal Yourself to me."
00:14:40.70\00:14:43.10
And she says, "If You
have a purpose for my life,
00:14:43.13\00:14:45.08
You have meaning
for me in my life.
00:14:45.11\00:14:46.88
I want You to
reveal Yourself to me."
00:14:46.91\00:14:48.80
She says, "And if You don't."
00:14:48.83\00:14:50.12
She says, "I'm
giving You three months,
00:14:50.15\00:14:52.50
three months to do this.
00:14:52.53\00:14:54.90
And if You don't,
after three months
00:14:54.93\00:14:57.47
I'm going to end my life."
00:14:57.50\00:14:59.06
She was on disability,
00:14:59.09\00:15:00.36
she had all kinds of
problems, she couldn't work,
00:15:00.39\00:15:02.25
she couldn't even really
leave her house that much.
00:15:02.28\00:15:05.79
And she said, "God, I'm
giving You three months."
00:15:05.82\00:15:08.81
And she looked me in the eye
00:15:08.84\00:15:10.24
and she said, "Every
day I pray that prayer.
00:15:10.27\00:15:12.66
God, You have
this many days left."
00:15:12.69\00:15:15.58
And she said today
00:15:15.61\00:15:18.13
is the last day of
those three months.
00:15:18.16\00:15:21.28
What if I would
have waited until Sunday?
00:15:25.61\00:15:29.98
What if I would have waited
00:15:30.01\00:15:31.04
and said, no Lord there's--
there's always another day,
00:15:31.07\00:15:34.43
there's always another time.
00:15:34.46\00:15:37.41
I don't need to go
today, I can go tomorrow,
00:15:37.44\00:15:39.43
I can go the next day.
00:15:39.46\00:15:40.89
That day may have been too late.
00:15:40.92\00:15:42.30
When I knocked on
that house the next day
00:15:42.33\00:15:44.40
there may have been
yellow police tape around it.
00:15:44.43\00:15:49.34
I want to tell you today friends
00:15:49.37\00:15:51.90
that there are people all
around the world like this.
00:15:51.93\00:15:55.90
I want to read a
statement to you from the book,
00:15:58.96\00:16:00.47
Acts of the Apostles, page 109.
00:16:00.50\00:16:02.64
It's gonna be on the screen,
00:16:02.67\00:16:03.70
I asked them to
put that on the screen.
00:16:03.73\00:16:05.46
And it says this,
"All over the world
00:16:05.49\00:16:07.85
men and women are
looking wistfully to heaven.
00:16:07.88\00:16:11.74
Prayers and tears and inquires
00:16:11.77\00:16:13.54
go up from souls
longing for light,
00:16:13.57\00:16:15.92
for grace, for the Holy Spirit.
00:16:15.95\00:16:18.43
Many are on the
verge of the kingdom,
00:16:18.46\00:16:21.35
waiting only to be gathered in."
00:16:21.38\00:16:24.70
Can you imagine that, friends?
00:16:24.73\00:16:26.46
There are people all
across secular Seattle
00:16:26.49\00:16:29.59
who are praying in their homes
00:16:29.62\00:16:31.60
that God would
send someone to them
00:16:31.63\00:16:33.73
or in someway He
would reveal Himself.
00:16:33.76\00:16:36.14
There are people in
your neighborhoods at home
00:16:36.17\00:16:38.67
who are waiting for God
to send someone to them,
00:16:38.70\00:16:41.97
it could be your neighbor,
it could be your fellow student,
00:16:42.00\00:16:44.92
it could be anyone
that is very close to you.
00:16:44.95\00:16:47.60
But there are souls who
are waiting for God to show up.
00:16:47.63\00:16:52.30
And God wants to
show up through you. Amen.
00:16:52.33\00:16:57.29
God wants to
show up through you.
00:16:57.32\00:16:59.71
Yesterday, friends, we looked at
00:16:59.74\00:17:01.54
what drove the church
00:17:01.57\00:17:02.68
which was the
power of the, what?
00:17:02.71\00:17:05.27
The power of the word.
00:17:05.30\00:17:06.78
And we are
going today to look at
00:17:06.81\00:17:09.94
what it was that
gave life to the church.
00:17:09.97\00:17:13.35
Mission and evangelism
00:17:13.38\00:17:15.41
brought life to the
early testament church.
00:17:15.44\00:17:17.99
It was that which were
always in history of humanity,
00:17:18.02\00:17:21.73
it is always that which
has resurrected the church.
00:17:21.76\00:17:25.16
And in the last days it is
when God's people get serious
00:17:25.19\00:17:28.23
about mission and evangelism
00:17:28.26\00:17:30.15
that God would do great things
00:17:30.18\00:17:31.90
in and through His church. Amen.
00:17:31.93\00:17:34.47
I want to invite you
today to learn with me
00:17:34.50\00:17:36.85
to the Book of Acts,
the Book of Acts 1, Acts 1.
00:17:36.88\00:17:42.20
And we are going to
look at a very familiar text,
00:17:42.23\00:17:45.89
very familiar
text to most of us.
00:17:45.92\00:17:47.68
Acts 1:8, are you
there this morning?
00:17:47.71\00:17:54.02
The Bible says, "But
you shall receive power
00:17:54.05\00:17:59.34
when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you.
00:17:59.37\00:18:03.77
And you shall be
witnesses to me in Jerusalem,
00:18:03.80\00:18:07.73
and in Judea and in Samaria,
00:18:07.76\00:18:10.67
and to the other
ends of the earth."
00:18:10.70\00:18:14.61
Here were the 12 disciples
gathered together with Jesus
00:18:14.64\00:18:17.19
in the final moments
of their time with Him.
00:18:17.22\00:18:19.52
These were some
of the final words
00:18:19.55\00:18:21.19
that Jesus gave to them.
00:18:21.22\00:18:23.01
And He gave them one of
the most impossible task
00:18:23.04\00:18:25.87
that humanity could ever have.
00:18:25.90\00:18:28.10
He gave them the task
00:18:28.13\00:18:29.56
of reaching the world
with the gospel message,
00:18:29.59\00:18:33.22
something that was accomplished
00:18:33.25\00:18:35.57
only by the work of the spirit
00:18:35.60\00:18:37.00
and something that
has not been accomplished
00:18:37.03\00:18:38.99
since that time.
00:18:39.02\00:18:40.33
They gave them-- He
gave them impossible task
00:18:40.36\00:18:42.94
but He gave them a--
though the task was impossible,
00:18:42.97\00:18:46.08
He gave them a very
possible promise. Amen.
00:18:46.11\00:18:48.97
He said you will
receive, what everyone? Power.
00:18:49.00\00:18:51.63
Power when the Holy
Spirit comes upon you.
00:18:51.66\00:18:55.36
I want to-- I
want you to notice this
00:18:55.39\00:18:57.35
that the
apostles is very powerful
00:18:57.38\00:19:01.30
because in John 14,
00:19:01.33\00:19:03.12
Jesus says that He
would give them His spirit,
00:19:03.15\00:19:05.43
them His spirit
00:19:05.46\00:19:06.71
and He would be
with them and in them.
00:19:06.74\00:19:09.79
The disciples didn't
realize it in that moment.
00:19:09.82\00:19:13.17
But after Pentecost
Jesus was closer to them
00:19:13.20\00:19:19.30
than He was when He
walked with them on the earth.
00:19:19.33\00:19:23.03
Because instead of
being standing beside them
00:19:23.06\00:19:26.33
in human form,
00:19:26.36\00:19:27.56
He was now dwelling in them
00:19:27.59\00:19:29.87
by faith through
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
00:19:29.90\00:19:33.04
Christ wants to
be so close to us
00:19:33.07\00:19:35.27
that He would dwell in us.
00:19:35.30\00:19:37.21
And the promise
that was given to them
00:19:37.24\00:19:39.28
that they would
receive all power
00:19:39.31\00:19:41.15
by the faith in
Christ in the spirit,
00:19:41.18\00:19:44.16
He promises to give us today.
00:19:44.19\00:19:46.97
I want you to notice this
very interesting statement
00:19:47.00\00:19:49.69
from the book, Acts
of the Apostles, page 37.
00:19:49.72\00:19:52.89
It says this,
"Like a procession,
00:19:52.92\00:19:55.14
scene after scene
of His wonderful life
00:19:55.17\00:19:57.56
passed before them.
00:19:57.59\00:19:59.14
As they meditated
on His pure, holy life
00:19:59.17\00:20:01.97
they felt that no
toil would be too hard,
00:20:02.00\00:20:04.93
no sacrifice too great,
00:20:04.96\00:20:07.22
if only they could
bear witness in their lives
00:20:07.25\00:20:10.57
to the loveliness
of Christ's character."
00:20:10.60\00:20:12.95
Imagine that, friends.
00:20:12.98\00:20:15.05
How many of us today
shrink from hardship?
00:20:15.08\00:20:19.07
How many of us today
withdraw from the things
00:20:19.10\00:20:22.21
that we think are too hard?
00:20:22.24\00:20:23.80
We think oh, no,
that's too hard for me,
00:20:23.83\00:20:26.28
somebody else will do it.
00:20:26.31\00:20:29.27
Well, what if
everybody else says
00:20:29.30\00:20:31.64
somebody else will do it?
00:20:31.67\00:20:35.57
Then nobody else ever does it.
00:20:35.60\00:20:40.32
They were united in mission,
00:20:40.35\00:20:42.06
they recognized
that this mission
00:20:42.09\00:20:44.93
that Christ had called them to
00:20:44.96\00:20:46.78
was so much
bigger than themselves.
00:20:46.81\00:20:49.19
And it drove them to
their knees in the upper room.
00:20:49.22\00:20:52.82
You see, brothers and sisters,
00:20:52.85\00:20:54.03
today I don't think
that we truly understand
00:20:54.06\00:20:56.97
the greatness of our mission,
00:20:57.00\00:20:59.41
because if we did,
00:20:59.44\00:21:00.87
it would be
driving us to our knees
00:21:00.90\00:21:02.87
in our local church.
00:21:02.90\00:21:04.17
It would be driving us to
our knees at prayer meeting.
00:21:04.20\00:21:07.31
It would be driving us to
our knees on Sabbath morning.
00:21:07.34\00:21:10.41
And God would want to do
something great through us
00:21:10.44\00:21:13.53
if we could
only have the picture
00:21:13.56\00:21:15.28
of the mission that
He has laid before us
00:21:15.31\00:21:17.47
like He did the apostles.
00:21:17.50\00:21:20.61
They believed that
they could not fail.
00:21:20.64\00:21:24.14
How many of us
think that we cannot fail?
00:21:24.17\00:21:26.39
Let me ask you a
question, friends.
00:21:26.42\00:21:28.67
Does Jesus ever
fail? Yes or no. No.
00:21:28.70\00:21:32.67
If we have Christ
dwelling within us,
00:21:32.70\00:21:36.30
we cannot fail,
we cannot ever fail.
00:21:36.33\00:21:40.79
They had overcome the problems
00:21:40.82\00:21:42.22
that they had
prior to the cross.
00:21:42.25\00:21:44.89
Jealously, arrogance, pride
00:21:44.92\00:21:48.64
had been
dominating their hearts,
00:21:48.67\00:21:50.96
had been ruling their hearts
00:21:50.99\00:21:52.87
and through in
upper room experience
00:21:52.90\00:21:55.45
Christ transformed them. Amen.
00:21:55.48\00:21:59.94
How many of us today are
dealing with those same sins?
00:21:59.97\00:22:02.26
Don't raise your hand.
00:22:02.29\00:22:05.11
I want you to
notice this other statement
00:22:05.14\00:22:06.86
here from Acts of
the Apostle, page 37.
00:22:06.89\00:22:08.98
It says, "One
interest prevailed.
00:22:09.01\00:22:12.90
One object
swallowed up all others.
00:22:12.93\00:22:16.37
All hearts beat in--"
what everyone? "Harmony.
00:22:16.40\00:22:20.28
The only
ambition of the believers
00:22:20.31\00:22:23.34
was to reveal the
likeness of Christ's character,
00:22:23.37\00:22:26.80
and to labor for the
enlargement of His kingdom."
00:22:26.83\00:22:30.85
Can you imagine a
church filled with people
00:22:30.88\00:22:33.96
that had this mission,
00:22:33.99\00:22:35.72
this desire
burning in their hearts?
00:22:35.75\00:22:39.29
GYC is this, is this desire
burning in your hearts today,
00:22:39.32\00:22:43.38
to be one with Christ is
the only ambition in your life,
00:22:43.41\00:22:46.65
to reveal the
character of Christ
00:22:46.68\00:22:48.65
to a lost and dying world.
00:22:48.68\00:22:52.15
Today we see so many
problems in the church,
00:22:52.18\00:22:55.17
we see it even
right here at GYC.
00:22:55.20\00:22:59.05
Pride, arrogance, jealousy.
00:22:59.08\00:23:04.82
One ministry is
better than the other.
00:23:04.85\00:23:08.29
One evangelism training
school is better than the other.
00:23:08.32\00:23:12.60
One university is
better than the other.
00:23:12.63\00:23:16.08
I used to work at AFCO,
worked there for 5 years,
00:23:16.11\00:23:18.99
was some of the
greatest years in my life.
00:23:19.02\00:23:20.97
And people when I would come,
00:23:21.00\00:23:22.46
they would come to me at
the booth and they would say,
00:23:22.49\00:23:25.07
what makes AFCO
better than Arise
00:23:25.10\00:23:28.46
or what makes AFCO
better than Mission College
00:23:28.49\00:23:31.52
or Life or whatever.
00:23:31.55\00:23:32.90
You know what I
would tell people,
00:23:32.93\00:23:33.96
I would say you know what.
00:23:33.99\00:23:35.73
God uses every school to
reach different people. Amen.
00:23:35.76\00:23:39.85
There is no
place in God's church
00:23:39.88\00:23:43.21
for competition among
people up on ministries,
00:23:43.24\00:23:46.65
up on schools,
none of that, friends.
00:23:46.68\00:23:50.65
They delighted when someone else
00:23:50.68\00:23:53.61
did better than them.
00:23:53.64\00:23:55.72
Sometimes we get
jealous because people will ask
00:23:55.75\00:23:59.52
someone else to
do special music,
00:23:59.55\00:24:01.62
someone else to
teach Sabbath school,
00:24:01.65\00:24:03.73
someone else to preach,
00:24:03.76\00:24:05.41
someone else to do
something in the church.
00:24:05.44\00:24:07.82
We get jealous about that.
00:24:07.85\00:24:10.98
When we ought to be praising God
00:24:11.01\00:24:13.57
that God has chosen
somebody to do His work.
00:24:13.60\00:24:16.40
And God will use you
according to His will.
00:24:16.43\00:24:19.68
There is no place for this.
I got to tell you, friends.
00:24:19.71\00:24:23.26
I have a confession to make.
00:24:23.29\00:24:25.91
Several years ago,
00:24:25.94\00:24:27.85
I used to get very
jealous over other speakers.
00:24:27.88\00:24:34.15
I used to look
at youth conferences
00:24:34.18\00:24:36.92
and I'm just
being vulnerable here.
00:24:36.95\00:24:39.19
I used to look at
other youth conferences
00:24:39.22\00:24:40.91
and I would say, why does
that person asked to speak?
00:24:40.94\00:24:47.23
I'm just as good
of a speaker as them.
00:24:47.26\00:24:50.38
In fact, I think
myself better than them.
00:24:50.41\00:24:55.17
I had that problem in
my heart a few years ago.
00:24:55.20\00:24:58.64
And let me tell
you what, friends.
00:24:58.67\00:25:00.56
It took me laying on my back
00:25:00.59\00:25:03.18
in the hospital
dying from cancer
00:25:03.21\00:25:06.52
to realize that, that
is a bunch of foolishness.
00:25:06.55\00:25:10.30
And there was no place
for it in God's church.
00:25:10.33\00:25:12.99
And today by the grace of God,
00:25:13.02\00:25:15.21
I can honestly say I rejoice
when I see other speakers.
00:25:15.24\00:25:19.79
And I say you know what, Lord,
00:25:19.82\00:25:21.32
that speaker has this talent,
00:25:21.35\00:25:22.86
he's gonna speak to the
young people in this way.
00:25:22.89\00:25:25.61
And I praise God
00:25:25.64\00:25:28.07
that He taught me
that important lesson.
00:25:28.10\00:25:30.10
Brothers and sisters,
God was merciful to me
00:25:30.13\00:25:32.63
laying in that
hospital bed and He raised me up
00:25:32.66\00:25:36.00
because He knew I
was not ready to die.
00:25:36.03\00:25:39.08
He knew I was not ready to die.
00:25:39.11\00:25:41.66
He was merciful.
00:25:41.69\00:25:43.19
Friends, we see these
problems in our church,
00:25:43.22\00:25:45.86
we're trying to
compete with each other
00:25:45.89\00:25:48.48
while the world
around us perishes, perishes.
00:25:48.51\00:25:54.85
Have you looked in
the obituary section
00:25:54.88\00:25:56.93
of the newspaper lately?
00:25:56.96\00:25:59.16
Have you ever done that?
00:25:59.19\00:26:00.78
Sometimes I'll have a paper
00:26:00.81\00:26:02.18
and I look through
the obituary section,
00:26:02.21\00:26:03.84
the section that
announces the deaths.
00:26:03.87\00:26:06.62
And I think to
myself, my goodness
00:26:06.65\00:26:09.20
I wonder if this
person died without Christ.
00:26:09.23\00:26:13.60
I wonder if this person
knew Jesus before they passed.
00:26:13.63\00:26:19.32
Currently we assume
00:26:19.35\00:26:20.41
that we're
continuing in the Book of Acts,
00:26:20.44\00:26:22.26
we're continuing the
revelation or the revolution.
00:26:22.29\00:26:25.27
But really we are
like the apostles,
00:26:25.30\00:26:28.36
some of us are like the apostles
00:26:28.39\00:26:30.42
before the cross in
the upper room asking,
00:26:30.45\00:26:34.07
who is going to wash my feet?
00:26:34.10\00:26:37.00
Which one is the greatest?
00:26:42.46\00:26:44.89
These are the
reasons why young people
00:26:44.92\00:26:46.54
leave the church today?
00:26:46.57\00:26:47.60
We need to be
unitedly working together,
00:26:47.63\00:26:50.59
enough of selfish competition,
00:26:50.62\00:26:52.98
whether it's in your church,
00:26:53.01\00:26:54.61
whether it's in this conference
or whether it's in your heart.
00:26:54.64\00:26:58.84
God says enough is enough.
00:26:58.87\00:27:02.07
We need to have an
upper room experience.
00:27:02.10\00:27:04.53
Notice this statement,
Acts of the Apostles, 37,
00:27:04.56\00:27:07.28
"Putting away all differences,
all desire for the supremacy,
00:27:07.31\00:27:13.17
they came close together
in Christian fellowship."
00:27:13.20\00:27:17.80
If we could but see
the depth of our mission,
00:27:17.83\00:27:21.47
the way that
the apostles saw it,
00:27:21.50\00:27:24.22
how might our
attitudes be different today?
00:27:24.25\00:27:26.61
How might our
attitudes be different?
00:27:26.64\00:27:28.56
We need that
upper room experience.
00:27:28.59\00:27:31.94
One of their
greatest strengths was that
00:27:31.97\00:27:33.48
they had a
collective mission to accomplish
00:27:33.51\00:27:36.78
and it drove them to seek Christ
00:27:36.81\00:27:39.24
like they had never done before.
00:27:39.27\00:27:42.84
Mission,
revolutionary mission, amen.
00:27:42.87\00:27:45.96
That's what we need.
00:27:45.99\00:27:47.02
The second thing that we need
00:27:47.05\00:27:48.49
is to have
revolutionary evangelism.
00:27:48.52\00:27:52.55
Revolutionary-- what everyone?
00:27:52.58\00:27:53.99
Evangelism. Evangelism.
00:27:54.02\00:27:55.05
Are you guys awake this morning?
00:27:55.08\00:27:56.22
Yes. All right.
00:27:56.25\00:27:57.64
Look with me in the Book,
00:27:57.67\00:27:58.91
Chapter 2 of
Acts, Chapter 2 of Acts,
00:27:58.94\00:28:01.91
I'm gonna jump to the very end
00:28:01.94\00:28:04.11
of Acts in our
very end of the Chapter
00:28:04.14\00:28:06.02
and then we're gonna come back.
00:28:06.05\00:28:07.21
Acts 2:46, 47.
Notice what it says.
00:28:07.24\00:28:12.16
The Bible reads so--
00:28:12.19\00:28:14.72
I'm sorry verse 46, 47, it says,
00:28:14.75\00:28:17.53
"So continuing daily
with one accord in the temple,
00:28:17.56\00:28:21.86
and breaking their
bread from house to house,
00:28:21.89\00:28:25.25
they ate their
food with gladness
00:28:25.28\00:28:27.55
and simplicity of heart,
00:28:27.58\00:28:29.10
praising God and having
favor with all the people.
00:28:29.13\00:28:32.60
And the Lord added to the church
00:28:32.63\00:28:34.42
how often daily
those who would be saved."
00:28:34.45\00:28:39.22
Think about this, friends.
00:28:39.25\00:28:40.77
They were not having
baptisms once a quarter.
00:28:40.80\00:28:43.08
They were not having
baptisms once a year.
00:28:43.11\00:28:45.28
They were not having
baptisms once a decade,
00:28:45.31\00:28:47.66
like some of our
churches do today.
00:28:47.69\00:28:49.50
They were having
baptisms, how often?
00:28:49.53\00:28:51.53
Daily. Daily.
00:28:51.56\00:28:52.59
And what do you see,
there's two words in there
00:28:52.62\00:28:55.42
that I want you to take note of.
00:28:55.45\00:28:57.24
What was the church doing
00:28:57.27\00:28:59.46
when evangelism
was taking place?
00:28:59.49\00:29:02.30
What were they
doing? Praising God.
00:29:02.33\00:29:07.37
You know what the solution is
00:29:07.40\00:29:08.76
for many of our churches
today who have problems?
00:29:08.79\00:29:11.67
Go win somebody for Christ.
00:29:11.70\00:29:13.63
You know what the
solution is for you
00:29:13.66\00:29:15.22
and self pity and self--
feeling sorry for yourself.
00:29:15.25\00:29:19.99
Get out of yourself and
go win somebody for Jesus.
00:29:20.02\00:29:23.76
Get over yourself.
00:29:23.79\00:29:25.51
The best way to get
over your own problems
00:29:25.54\00:29:28.17
is to help somebody
else, help with their problems.
00:29:28.20\00:29:30.85
What I found many times that
00:29:30.88\00:29:32.37
people come to me with problems
00:29:32.40\00:29:34.50
and they say I had this problem,
00:29:34.53\00:29:35.70
that problem and I think, man,
00:29:35.73\00:29:37.20
I don't want to talk to
you about your problems,
00:29:37.23\00:29:38.73
I have my own problems, right?
00:29:38.76\00:29:41.91
But, you know,
in talking with them
00:29:41.94\00:29:43.51
and counseling
through with them,
00:29:43.54\00:29:45.54
I find the answer
00:29:45.57\00:29:47.04
and the counsel
to my own problem.
00:29:47.07\00:29:50.03
And God gives me what I need
00:29:50.06\00:29:52.24
by helping somebody else. Amen.
00:29:52.27\00:29:54.65
Evangelisms.
00:29:54.68\00:29:55.93
Thousands were
converted in a day.
00:29:55.96\00:29:57.99
What a real
evangelistic series. Amen.
00:29:58.02\00:30:01.90
They were
experiencing baptisms daily.
00:30:01.93\00:30:04.93
Evangelism brings new life
to the church in a major way.
00:30:04.96\00:30:09.71
Many times
we're spiritually dead
00:30:09.74\00:30:11.46
because we spend
too much time studying,
00:30:11.49\00:30:13.86
too much time praying
00:30:13.89\00:30:15.34
and not enough time out there
00:30:15.37\00:30:17.01
sharing what we
know with somebody else.
00:30:17.04\00:30:19.44
When Jesus said in Acts 1,
00:30:23.29\00:30:25.19
"You shall be witnesses
to Me in all the world."
00:30:25.22\00:30:27.30
He wasn't just
talking to those disciples
00:30:27.33\00:30:30.22
who were standing
there in front of Him.
00:30:30.25\00:30:31.96
He was speaking
to every disciple
00:30:31.99\00:30:34.17
that walks this earth claiming
00:30:34.20\00:30:35.95
the name of Christ,
00:30:35.98\00:30:37.54
claiming to be a
Seventh-day Adventist.
00:30:37.57\00:30:40.17
You are not a
Seventh-day Adventist
00:30:40.20\00:30:42.49
if you are not willing to share
00:30:42.52\00:30:45.01
what you know with someone else.
00:30:45.04\00:30:47.80
You are a seventh-day hermit.
00:30:47.83\00:30:49.52
Adventists believe
in the advent of Christ,
00:30:53.02\00:30:56.14
the second coming of Christ.
00:30:56.17\00:30:57.87
And they proclaim
00:30:57.90\00:30:59.51
the second
coming of Christ. Amen.
00:30:59.54\00:31:02.45
They proclaim it.
00:31:02.48\00:31:04.72
Each person in the early church
00:31:04.75\00:31:07.01
recognized,
every person recognized
00:31:07.04\00:31:09.75
that they had an individual
personal responsibility
00:31:09.78\00:31:14.11
and accountability
to win souls for Christ.
00:31:14.14\00:31:17.44
The thought of
precious souls being saved
00:31:17.47\00:31:20.14
in the kingdom eternally
drove the disciples forward.
00:31:20.17\00:31:25.55
They thought about those people
00:31:25.58\00:31:27.03
in their homes
who were hopeless,
00:31:27.06\00:31:29.25
who were-- who were sad
00:31:29.28\00:31:31.09
and who were
ridden down with sin
00:31:31.12\00:31:32.89
and they went out of themselves
to go and reach that person.
00:31:32.92\00:31:36.83
And God is
calling that to us today.
00:31:36.86\00:31:39.21
Notice this statement,
Christian Service, 145,
00:31:39.24\00:31:42.78
the ultimate, I call the
ultimate challenge says this
00:31:42.81\00:31:47.52
"Let every Seventh-day
Adventist ask himself,
00:31:47.55\00:31:51.87
'What can I do to proclaim
00:31:51.90\00:31:54.45
the third
angel's message?' Amen.
00:31:54.48\00:31:58.68
Somebody should have
said a louder amen. Amen.
00:31:58.71\00:32:01.12
Thank you, sister.
00:32:01.15\00:32:02.98
"Christ came to this
world to give this message
00:32:03.01\00:32:05.89
to His servant to
give to the churches.
00:32:05.92\00:32:08.07
It is to be
proclaimed to every nation,
00:32:08.10\00:32:10.87
kindred, tongue and people."
00:32:10.90\00:32:13.59
Christ gave His best
00:32:13.62\00:32:15.87
when He came to
this earth for you.
00:32:15.90\00:32:17.75
And He calls you
to give your best
00:32:17.78\00:32:20.20
for somebody else today.
00:32:20.23\00:32:21.72
He calls you to
win a soul to Him.
00:32:21.75\00:32:24.52
There is
individual accountability
00:32:24.55\00:32:27.35
in spreading
God's last day message.
00:32:27.38\00:32:29.28
Jesus said, "Go
into all the world."
00:32:29.31\00:32:32.20
But we're often too afraid
to even go across the streets.
00:32:32.23\00:32:37.57
You cannot go around the world
00:32:37.60\00:32:39.40
until you're willing to
go across the street, amen.
00:32:39.43\00:32:41.98
1 Peter 2:9, 10 says,
00:32:42.01\00:32:44.26
"But you are a
chosen generation,
00:32:44.29\00:32:47.09
a royal
priesthood, a holy nation,
00:32:47.12\00:32:48.89
His own special people,
00:32:48.92\00:32:50.35
that you may
proclaim the praises of Him
00:32:50.38\00:32:53.49
who has brought
you out of darkness
00:32:53.52\00:32:55.61
into His marvelous light.
00:32:55.64\00:32:57.25
Who once were
not a people of God
00:32:57.28\00:32:58.97
but now are the people of God,
00:32:59.00\00:33:00.67
who once that had
not obtained mercy
00:33:00.70\00:33:02.68
but have now obtained mercy."
00:33:02.71\00:33:04.98
There is no one better qualified
00:33:05.01\00:33:08.21
to share the message of Christ
00:33:08.24\00:33:10.60
and His last day
truth with others than you
00:33:10.63\00:33:13.95
because you were
called out of darkness.
00:33:13.98\00:33:16.43
Not even the angels
are better qualified.
00:33:16.46\00:33:18.58
We're always so worried
00:33:18.61\00:33:19.64
that we're not
qualified, friends.
00:33:19.67\00:33:21.80
We're always so worried that,
00:33:21.83\00:33:23.15
that we don't
have what it takes.
00:33:23.18\00:33:24.92
If you have been delivered
from the depths of sin,
00:33:24.95\00:33:27.87
the pit of sinning your life.
00:33:27.90\00:33:30.00
If Christ has drawn you
out and given you new life
00:33:30.03\00:33:33.06
and new hope,
00:33:33.09\00:33:34.12
then you are the one He
calls to go to someone else.
00:33:34.15\00:33:37.99
You are the one that
He is depending upon.
00:33:38.02\00:33:40.37
You are the one
that heaven wants to use.
00:33:40.40\00:33:43.54
When we look at the
results of the Book of Acts,
00:33:47.87\00:33:50.87
we often think the excitement
of the numbers, do we not?
00:33:50.90\00:33:56.31
We often think, oh, man,
00:33:56.34\00:33:57.61
3,000 in a day
etcetera, etcetera.
00:33:57.64\00:34:00.17
But I want you to
look at another perspective
00:34:00.20\00:34:03.05
that often times we don't see.
00:34:03.08\00:34:06.90
In Acts 2, very,
very powerful Chapter.
00:34:06.93\00:34:10.46
Peter and the
apostles in the upper room,
00:34:10.49\00:34:12.76
God begins to fill
them with the Holy Spirit.
00:34:12.79\00:34:15.43
The Holy Spirit comes
down on the day of Pentecost
00:34:15.46\00:34:18.27
and they go out to
preach the message.
00:34:18.30\00:34:20.55
And here they are
preaching their hearts out
00:34:20.58\00:34:23.50
full of the Holy Spirit.
00:34:23.53\00:34:25.46
And I want you to notice
something that happens here.
00:34:25.49\00:34:28.54
Acts 2 and verse--
00:34:28.57\00:34:32.01
well, let's just start,
let's just start in verse 8.
00:34:32.04\00:34:35.28
It says, "And how
is it that we hear,
00:34:35.31\00:34:38.48
each in our own
language in which we were born?"
00:34:38.51\00:34:41.63
And then they go onto list them.
00:34:41.66\00:34:43.81
And I want you to
drop down to verse 11,
00:34:43.84\00:34:46.12
"Cretans and Arabs--
00:34:46.15\00:34:48.22
we hear them
speaking in our own tongues
00:34:48.25\00:34:51.46
the wonderful works of God.
00:34:51.49\00:34:54.17
So they are all
amazed and perplexed,
00:34:54.20\00:34:56.65
saying to one another,
'What could this mean?'"
00:34:56.68\00:34:59.70
And notice verse 13,
00:34:59.73\00:35:01.19
here is a
passage, here is a verse
00:35:01.22\00:35:03.57
that is powerfully
pregnant with meaning.
00:35:03.60\00:35:06.53
It says, "Others mocking said,
00:35:06.56\00:35:10.40
'They are full
of--'"what? "New wine."
00:35:10.43\00:35:15.32
Think about this, the
apostles were there that day
00:35:15.35\00:35:19.78
full of Pentecost power
00:35:19.81\00:35:21.89
preaching the
gospel to thousands
00:35:21.92\00:35:25.49
in a divine miracle
that was obvious to many.
00:35:25.52\00:35:29.89
And here somebody is
standing beside and they said,
00:35:29.92\00:35:33.71
"These guys are a bunch
of drunks, a bunch of fools."
00:35:33.74\00:35:41.24
And they are preaching
00:35:41.27\00:35:42.38
and speaking a
bunch of nonsense.
00:35:42.41\00:35:44.26
They are full of
liquor, look at them, fools.
00:35:44.29\00:35:50.66
What are the things that made
the revolution in Acts powerful?
00:35:50.69\00:35:55.83
Was that despite what
anyone said against them,
00:35:55.86\00:36:00.87
the disciples
were wiling to endure
00:36:00.90\00:36:03.98
hard, cruel,
ridicule for Christ.
00:36:04.01\00:36:10.01
They were willing to stand
in the face of great opposition,
00:36:10.04\00:36:14.58
great opposition,
people who were mocking them.
00:36:14.61\00:36:18.30
How many of you have ever
been mocked for sharing Jesus?
00:36:18.33\00:36:22.31
How many of you--
and many times a day
00:36:22.34\00:36:24.07
when we get
mocked, we don't like it,
00:36:24.10\00:36:25.32
we want to tuck tail and ran.
00:36:25.35\00:36:27.42
But disciples were
willing to stand firm,
00:36:27.45\00:36:30.27
they were willing to
press through that wall
00:36:30.30\00:36:32.57
and that wall being
afraid of being mockers,
00:36:32.60\00:36:35.16
nothing but selfishness.
00:36:35.19\00:36:37.48
Because we're worried
about what others think.
00:36:37.51\00:36:41.49
Many people are afraid to
share Jesus for several reasons.
00:36:41.52\00:36:44.80
Number one, they're afraid
00:36:44.83\00:36:47.33
that they will
say the wrong thing.
00:36:47.36\00:36:49.47
How many of you have ever
been afraid of that before?
00:36:49.50\00:36:51.49
I want to give you
a quick illustration.
00:36:51.52\00:36:52.80
Let suppose that
you had ten people
00:36:52.83\00:36:55.08
that you were
going to witness to
00:36:55.11\00:36:56.69
and God impresses you
to witness to those people
00:36:56.72\00:36:59.70
and you go to them and you say,
00:36:59.73\00:37:01.85
"Hey, you know, I want
to tell you about Jesus.
00:37:01.88\00:37:03.82
Would you like to
have Bible studies?"
00:37:03.85\00:37:05.85
And out of those ten people,
four of those people say,
00:37:05.88\00:37:08.72
"Man, you must
be a complete idiot,
00:37:08.75\00:37:10.31
you must be out of your mind.
00:37:10.34\00:37:11.47
Absolutely not,
get out of my face."
00:37:11.50\00:37:13.81
And then the second
group of people say,
00:37:13.84\00:37:16.05
"Yeah, sure, I'll
study with you." Six people.
00:37:16.08\00:37:18.71
And then you study
with those six people
00:37:18.74\00:37:21.32
and three of those people
you say something really dumb.
00:37:21.35\00:37:25.10
How many of you
ever said something dumb?
00:37:25.13\00:37:27.45
Yeah, I can--I'm gonna
raise both hands on that one.
00:37:27.48\00:37:31.14
And the person
says, you know what,
00:37:31.17\00:37:33.08
"Thanks but no thanks.
00:37:33.11\00:37:34.46
I'm not going to
continue to study with you."
00:37:34.49\00:37:37.33
But three of
those people say yes,
00:37:37.36\00:37:39.80
I will study with you
00:37:39.83\00:37:41.02
and you can learn
from your mistakes.
00:37:41.05\00:37:42.99
And you continue
to study with them
00:37:43.02\00:37:44.44
and they say, yes, I
want to accept Jesus.
00:37:44.47\00:37:46.45
Yes, I want to be baptized.
00:37:46.48\00:37:47.92
Yes, I want to join
God's end time church."
00:37:47.95\00:37:50.22
How many people have
you won for the kingdom?
00:37:50.25\00:37:53.29
Think about this,
if you say nothing
00:37:53.32\00:37:57.06
because you are afraid
of saying the wrong thing.
00:37:57.09\00:38:01.67
How many of those
people might be lost? All ten.
00:38:01.70\00:38:05.98
Is it better to say nothing
00:38:06.01\00:38:08.67
because we're afraid
to say the wrong thing?
00:38:08.70\00:38:11.04
Or is it better to
say something trusting
00:38:11.07\00:38:13.47
and believing
that God will give us
00:38:13.50\00:38:14.94
the right words for the moment.
00:38:14.97\00:38:16.72
How many of you do
believe that it to be so? Amen.
00:38:16.75\00:38:22.69
With people,
it's not your mistakes
00:38:22.72\00:38:24.96
young people that
hold you accountable
00:38:24.99\00:38:28.42
that God holds you accountable
as much as your inactivity.
00:38:28.45\00:38:33.30
Did you hear what I
said? Let me say that again.
00:38:33.33\00:38:35.24
It is not as much your mistake
00:38:35.27\00:38:36.94
that God holds
you accountable for
00:38:36.97\00:38:38.94
as your
inactivity. Do not be inactive.
00:38:38.97\00:38:42.89
God will help you
learn from your mistakes.
00:38:42.92\00:38:45.91
God was gracious, He is merciful
00:38:45.94\00:38:48.27
and every
mistake is an opportunity
00:38:48.30\00:38:50.33
to build and to grow.
00:38:50.36\00:38:52.46
Second thing, people are
afraid that they will say no.
00:38:52.49\00:38:56.25
Are you afraid of that?
Let me ask you a question.
00:38:56.28\00:38:59.50
Did people ever say no to Jesus?
00:38:59.53\00:39:02.25
John 6:66, John 6:66.
00:39:02.28\00:39:09.47
Many of His disciples turned
and walked with Him no more.
00:39:09.50\00:39:13.80
Did people ever say
no to the disciples?
00:39:13.83\00:39:16.84
Yes or no? Yes.
00:39:16.87\00:39:18.30
Absolutely.
00:39:18.33\00:39:19.62
Did anyone say no to
you on outreach yesterday?
00:39:19.65\00:39:23.09
Was it the end of the world?
00:39:23.12\00:39:24.91
Are you still
alive? Are you still here?
00:39:24.94\00:39:28.46
It doesn't matter if they say no
00:39:28.49\00:39:31.50
because you're
bringing them to decision.
00:39:31.53\00:39:34.09
Did someone slammed
the door in your face?
00:39:34.12\00:39:35.92
Let me see, your hands.
00:39:35.95\00:39:37.74
Some of you got door
slammed in your face.
00:39:37.77\00:39:39.69
You know what I say to that?
00:39:39.72\00:39:41.17
Praise God. You know why?
00:39:41.20\00:39:43.31
Because it's teaching you
to depend more upon Christ
00:39:43.34\00:39:45.96
than upon yourself.
00:39:45.99\00:39:47.83
It's teaching you to
eliminate pride from your heart.
00:39:47.86\00:39:52.40
Praise God. That
will build your character.
00:39:52.43\00:39:56.29
Jeremiah 12:5, "If you
can't run with the footmen,
00:39:56.32\00:39:59.09
how are you going to
run with the horsemen?"
00:39:59.12\00:40:02.72
What are you gonna do
when the Calvary comes?
00:40:02.75\00:40:06.70
Look at the persecution.
00:40:06.73\00:40:08.10
The disciples
were thrown in jail.
00:40:08.13\00:40:10.24
Disciples were
beaten. Disciples were stoned.
00:40:10.27\00:40:13.32
They were dragged
out, they were cursed,
00:40:13.35\00:40:15.45
they were even killed.
00:40:15.48\00:40:17.46
And brothers and
sisters, it made them stronger.
00:40:17.49\00:40:20.80
We'd be willing to step
out of our comfort zones.
00:40:20.83\00:40:23.68
God does not ask us to
step out of our comfort zones,
00:40:23.71\00:40:27.12
He tells us, He tells us.
00:40:27.15\00:40:30.96
How comfortable
do you think it was
00:40:30.99\00:40:32.37
for Jesus to leave heaven
00:40:32.40\00:40:33.91
and come to save
your soul on this earth.
00:40:33.94\00:40:38.44
I don't think it was
very comfortable for Him.
00:40:38.47\00:40:41.78
I got to tell you a story,
I'm rapidly running out of time.
00:40:41.81\00:40:45.54
It seem like that clock
went twice as fast today.
00:40:45.57\00:40:50.29
When I was in
Ukraine, a few years ago,
00:40:50.32\00:40:51.73
there was a young man,
00:40:51.76\00:40:53.16
his name was
Andre, 20 years old.
00:40:53.19\00:40:55.66
I was doing an
evangelistic series,
00:40:55.69\00:40:57.27
the young man had never
heard of God before in his life.
00:40:57.30\00:40:59.85
He came to this
evangelistic series
00:40:59.88\00:41:01.95
and night after night he
heard the truth about Jesus
00:41:01.98\00:41:04.97
and he accepted
Christ into his life.
00:41:05.00\00:41:07.13
And he was embracing the truths
that are unique to our church,
00:41:07.16\00:41:10.65
unique to our message.
00:41:10.68\00:41:12.17
And this young man
was preparing for baptism
00:41:12.20\00:41:14.37
and I was so excited
because he had come so far
00:41:14.40\00:41:17.33
and on the day of
the baptism, guess what?
00:41:17.36\00:41:20.92
He didn't show up.
00:41:20.95\00:41:23.08
And I was like, what?
00:41:23.11\00:41:24.36
And so we
called him and he said,
00:41:27.90\00:41:29.24
"I woke up to
come to the baptism,"
00:41:29.27\00:41:30.67
he said, "My heart
began to skip beat."
00:41:30.70\00:41:34.07
And he said, "I
went to the hospital
00:41:34.10\00:41:35.62
and they said I have
a major heart problem."
00:41:35.65\00:41:38.60
And he says, "And
they've kept me in the hospital
00:41:38.63\00:41:40.29
and they will not let
me leave from the hospital
00:41:40.32\00:41:43.19
until like three weeks
when the surgeon can come."
00:41:43.22\00:41:45.93
He says, "But I
have to see you."
00:41:45.96\00:41:47.25
He says, "Is there
gonna be another baptism."
00:41:47.28\00:41:48.82
I said, "This weekend
there will be another one."
00:41:48.85\00:41:50.55
He says, "I'm gonna
come to the church to meet."
00:41:50.58\00:41:52.16
I said, "How are
you gonna get out?"
00:41:52.19\00:41:53.22
He says, "I don't
know but I'll get out."
00:41:53.25\00:41:54.75
He says, "Meet me on this
day at this time in the church."
00:41:54.78\00:41:56.99
I said, "Okay." I
came in, there he was.
00:41:57.02\00:41:59.96
I said, "Brother,
how did you get out?"
00:41:59.99\00:42:01.67
He said, "They had
a guard beside my door
00:42:01.70\00:42:04.33
because I told
them I needed to leave
00:42:04.36\00:42:05.75
and they said no."
00:42:05.78\00:42:06.82
He says, "So I
opened the window."
00:42:06.85\00:42:10.09
In the second
storey of the hospital,
00:42:10.12\00:42:13.54
he says, "I opened the window
00:42:13.57\00:42:15.32
and I jumped off the window
00:42:15.35\00:42:16.94
and I had to come
here and talk to you."
00:42:16.97\00:42:21.12
He says, "I
want to be baptized."
00:42:21.15\00:42:24.25
He says, "But there's a problem.
00:42:24.28\00:42:26.68
My parents have told
me," staunch orthodox.
00:42:26.71\00:42:30.79
He said, "My parents told
me that if I get baptized,
00:42:30.82\00:42:35.80
I'm no longer their son."
00:42:35.83\00:42:38.12
And they said,
do not come home."
00:42:38.15\00:42:39.56
They said, "If you do come home,
00:42:39.59\00:42:42.49
we will kill you
and they meant it."
00:42:42.52\00:42:45.84
He said, "But I
have to get baptized."
00:42:45.87\00:42:48.97
That next Sabbath there he was,
00:42:49.00\00:42:51.72
I said, "Brother,
how did you get out?"
00:42:51.75\00:42:52.89
He says, "I jumped
through the window again."
00:42:52.92\00:42:56.71
And he gave his life to Christ.
00:42:56.74\00:42:58.85
Let me ask you a
question this morning, friends.
00:42:58.88\00:43:01.00
If there are those who
are willing to give all,
00:43:01.03\00:43:05.00
to come to know
Jesus, to follow Christ.
00:43:08.08\00:43:12.49
Should we not be
willing to give up all
00:43:12.52\00:43:15.46
to lead them to Christ?
00:43:15.49\00:43:20.41
What about you today, friends?
00:43:20.44\00:43:21.98
"In a special sense we're told
00:43:25.56\00:43:27.48
Seventh-day Adventist,"
Evangelism, page 119."
00:43:27.51\00:43:30.51
Seventh-day Adventists
have been set in the world
00:43:30.54\00:43:33.49
as a watchmen and light-bearers.
00:43:33.52\00:43:36.34
To them has been
entrusted the last warning
00:43:36.37\00:43:39.67
for a perishing world.
00:43:39.70\00:43:42.28
On them is shining
00:43:42.31\00:43:43.77
wonderful light
from the word of God.
00:43:43.80\00:43:46.13
They have been given a work
of the most solemn import,--"
00:43:46.16\00:43:50.04
which means importance.
00:43:50.07\00:43:52.15
"The proclamation of the first,
00:43:52.18\00:43:54.08
the second, the
third angels' messages.
00:43:54.11\00:43:56.49
There is no other work
of so great importance."
00:43:56.52\00:44:00.28
Not your career,
not your doctor career,
00:44:00.31\00:44:03.64
not your nurse career,
not your janitor career,
00:44:03.67\00:44:06.83
not your, whatever career.
00:44:06.86\00:44:08.47
But the greatest work
to be done on this earth
00:44:08.50\00:44:10.66
is the proclamation of
God's last day truth. Amen.
00:44:10.69\00:44:14.85
"They are to allow nothing
else to absorb their attention."
00:44:14.88\00:44:20.85
Not a boyfriend,
not a girlfriend,
00:44:20.88\00:44:23.58
not school, not work,
00:44:23.61\00:44:25.00
I'm not saying
school is not important,
00:44:25.03\00:44:26.75
don't come up to me
and tell me all that,
00:44:26.78\00:44:29.82
I know it's important.
00:44:29.85\00:44:31.54
But this should be the
first priority in our lives,
00:44:31.57\00:44:36.44
proclaiming
Christ, living for Him
00:44:36.47\00:44:39.13
and telling others about Him.
00:44:39.16\00:44:42.22
Let nothing
distract you, young people.
00:44:42.25\00:44:44.71
Let not a
boyfriend, a girlfriend, a job,
00:44:44.74\00:44:47.04
let nothing distract you
because the devil will always
00:44:47.07\00:44:50.40
have something for you,
00:44:50.43\00:44:52.40
some path for you to walk down.
00:44:52.43\00:44:55.01
But rise above it to
accomplish great things for God.
00:44:55.04\00:44:58.94
Do whatever it takes to be
00:44:58.97\00:45:00.48
the most
affective for Him. Amen.
00:45:00.51\00:45:04.13
Self is often the
greatest obstacle of mission.
00:45:04.16\00:45:08.60
And if you are willing
to get self out of the way,
00:45:08.63\00:45:12.43
God will finish the Book
of Acts through your life,
00:45:12.46\00:45:16.08
God will finish the Book
of Acts through your life.
00:45:16.11\00:45:18.99
The revolution was
able to move forward
00:45:19.02\00:45:22.08
because they were
willing to take the bull
00:45:22.11\00:45:24.51
by the horn so to speak.
00:45:24.54\00:45:26.24
And God today in this
crowd, in this congregation,
00:45:26.27\00:45:29.72
God is looking
for some young person
00:45:29.75\00:45:32.18
who will take
the bull by the horns
00:45:32.21\00:45:34.18
and say, "Here I am,
Lord, use me, use me."
00:45:34.21\00:45:40.72
The final point I want to
make, we're drawing to a close.
00:45:40.75\00:45:44.12
Please turn with me to Acts 5.
00:45:44.15\00:45:46.95
This is a very
crucial point. Acts 5.
00:45:46.98\00:45:50.36
Acts 5, we're
gonna begin in verse 1.
00:45:58.19\00:46:03.19
The Bible says,
"But a certain man
00:46:03.22\00:46:06.66
named Ananias,
with Sapphira his wife,
00:46:06.69\00:46:09.97
sold a possession.
00:46:10.00\00:46:11.98
And he kept back
part of the proceeds,
00:46:12.01\00:46:14.55
his wife also being aware of it,
00:46:14.58\00:46:17.15
and brought a certain part
00:46:17.18\00:46:19.27
and laid it at
the apostles' feet.
00:46:19.30\00:46:22.82
But Peter said, 'Ananias,
00:46:22.85\00:46:24.96
why has Satan
filled your heart to lie,"
00:46:24.99\00:46:28.75
to what everyone? To lie.
00:46:28.78\00:46:31.48
"To lie to the Holy Spirit
00:46:31.51\00:46:35.34
and keep back part of the
price of the land for yourself?
00:46:35.37\00:46:39.00
While it remained,
was it not your own?
00:46:39.03\00:46:41.92
And after it was sold, was
it not in your own control?
00:46:41.95\00:46:45.12
Why have you conceived
this thing in your heart?
00:46:45.15\00:46:48.12
You have not lied
to men but to God.'"
00:46:48.15\00:46:52.97
I want you to notice
several real quick points
00:46:53.00\00:46:56.05
about these people.
00:46:56.08\00:46:57.43
We read in the book,
Acts of the Apostles.
00:46:57.46\00:46:59.81
There's a
chapter on these people.
00:46:59.84\00:47:01.78
We read that they were there,
00:47:01.81\00:47:03.98
Ananias and Sapphira
were there in the upper room
00:47:04.01\00:47:08.61
when the apostles prayed
00:47:08.64\00:47:09.95
and the Holy
Spirit was poured out.
00:47:09.98\00:47:12.75
They were filled,
filled with the Holy Spirit.
00:47:12.78\00:47:17.81
They were moved by his unction.
00:47:17.84\00:47:20.52
And they were moved
to make a commitment,
00:47:20.55\00:47:22.95
to make-- what everyone?
00:47:22.98\00:47:24.44
To make a commitment
00:47:24.47\00:47:25.97
and a vow to sell a
certain piece of property
00:47:26.00\00:47:30.13
and give the money
00:47:30.16\00:47:31.47
for the fording
work of the gospel.
00:47:31.50\00:47:34.83
They were there, we're
told in Acts of the Apostles 71
00:47:34.86\00:47:38.60
that "Under the direct
influence of the spirit of God
00:47:38.63\00:47:42.69
Ananias and
Sapphira made that pledge
00:47:42.72\00:47:45.59
to give the Lord proceeds."
00:47:45.62\00:47:48.08
But I want you
to think about this.
00:47:48.11\00:47:49.55
After they made the pledge
they then began to backtrack.
00:47:49.58\00:47:56.27
After the glamour
of the moment passed.
00:47:56.30\00:48:01.02
After they had made
that commitment to Christ,
00:48:01.05\00:48:05.12
they began to go
the opposite direction
00:48:05.15\00:48:07.64
and the selfish
desires of their hearts
00:48:07.67\00:48:11.20
began to drown out
00:48:11.23\00:48:12.84
the conviction
of the Holy Spirit
00:48:12.87\00:48:15.77
to do what God
had called them to do.
00:48:15.80\00:48:21.14
Do you see this, young people?
00:48:21.17\00:48:24.09
They talked it over and
they both decided not to do it.
00:48:24.12\00:48:28.69
Beware of peep talk
counseling with people,
00:48:28.72\00:48:31.24
we're gonna tell you
what you want to hear.
00:48:31.27\00:48:34.80
They were ashamed to
give nothing we're told,
00:48:34.83\00:48:37.33
so they gave just a little
bit of what they have sold
00:48:37.36\00:48:42.59
to maintain their
reputation with the church.
00:48:42.62\00:48:45.98
Today, are there not Ananias,
00:48:49.79\00:48:56.64
Ananias' and Sapphiras among us?
00:48:56.67\00:49:00.40
Some of you in past GYC's
00:49:04.06\00:49:10.49
have made commitments.
00:49:10.52\00:49:13.25
You have come
forward for the appeals
00:49:13.28\00:49:17.22
to do something for Christ.
00:49:17.25\00:49:21.97
Some preachers, great preachers,
00:49:22.00\00:49:24.48
remember Jeffrey
Rosario, a number of years ago,
00:49:24.51\00:49:27.01
Sebastien
Braxton, all these guys,
00:49:27.04\00:49:28.98
they have made
appeals for you to come
00:49:29.01\00:49:31.72
and to do mission
work, to give your life
00:49:31.75\00:49:33.49
in the years
worth of mission work.
00:49:33.52\00:49:35.53
They made appeals for
you to go get training
00:49:35.56\00:49:38.98
from some evangels
and missionary school
00:49:39.01\00:49:41.23
and you came
forward for those appeals.
00:49:41.26\00:49:44.99
But when you got home the
selfish desires of your life
00:49:45.02\00:49:51.05
took control once again.
00:49:51.08\00:49:53.50
And you said, "Oh, I
didn't really think that
00:49:53.53\00:49:58.32
I would have to do this
much to fulfill that commitment.
00:49:58.35\00:50:02.89
I didn't think that I
would have to go this far.
00:50:02.92\00:50:06.56
I didn't really think
that I had to quit my job,
00:50:06.59\00:50:08.50
I mean, I make six figures,
00:50:08.53\00:50:11.34
I support the
church financially."
00:50:11.37\00:50:15.00
But God was
calling you into ministry.
00:50:15.03\00:50:19.16
And you made a commitment to God
00:50:19.19\00:50:23.17
and you went home and you
forgot about that commitment.
00:50:23.20\00:50:27.16
Is it not the
same as what they did?
00:50:27.19\00:50:31.91
And the Bible
says that God was so--
00:50:31.94\00:50:34.76
that was such a tragic thing
00:50:34.79\00:50:36.25
in the early
church that they died.
00:50:36.28\00:50:38.82
I'm not saying
God's gonna kill you.
00:50:38.85\00:50:42.45
But a part of your
spiritual life may die
00:50:42.48\00:50:46.13
because you've not
been faithful to God.
00:50:46.16\00:50:47.74
It was a vow that you made.
00:50:47.77\00:50:50.31
All of those you
have made vows to God
00:50:50.34\00:50:52.23
in different areas of your life.
00:50:52.26\00:50:54.99
And you've not been
faithful in those vows.
00:50:55.02\00:50:58.28
Today, friends,
00:50:58.31\00:51:00.17
God is speaking to your
heart like He spoke to Elijah,
00:51:00.20\00:51:03.80
when Elijah ran from
what God called him to do
00:51:03.83\00:51:06.36
and he hid in the cave,
God came to him and said.
00:51:06.39\00:51:08.69
"Elijah, what doest thou
hear, what doest thou hear."
00:51:08.72\00:51:15.12
And young people today God
is asking you the question,
00:51:15.15\00:51:19.92
if you have ran from
your commitment to Him.
00:51:19.95\00:51:23.39
"What doest thou hear.
00:51:23.42\00:51:25.41
I have called you
to do a work for Me."
00:51:25.44\00:51:29.19
And do not listen to anyone else
00:51:29.22\00:51:31.31
but listen to the
voice of God of heaven.
00:51:31.34\00:51:35.26
Dear friends, we
cannot afford to go back.
00:51:35.29\00:51:38.74
I wonder friends,
00:51:38.77\00:51:40.42
if you had
followed the conviction
00:51:40.45\00:51:42.88
that Gods laid in your heart
00:51:42.91\00:51:44.60
when you made that
commitment to Him that year.
00:51:44.63\00:51:48.89
If we might not be
having GYC in heaven today.
00:51:48.92\00:51:53.66
If you had fall
through that commitment
00:51:53.69\00:51:55.29
and God could have used you
00:51:55.32\00:51:56.80
and the
thousands of young people
00:51:56.83\00:51:58.07
who backtracked in
their commitment to Him
00:51:58.10\00:52:00.42
to finish the work and
we could be in heaven today.
00:52:00.45\00:52:04.29
I wonder, I wonder.
00:52:04.32\00:52:07.37
In the end it will
not matter, young people,
00:52:07.40\00:52:09.94
if we say to God, I had
a career to take care of,
00:52:09.97\00:52:13.99
I had a family to take care,
well, those things are important
00:52:14.02\00:52:19.22
but God is calling us today,
00:52:19.25\00:52:21.48
be faithful in
those commitments.
00:52:21.51\00:52:24.28
For the love of God
GYC, do not go back home
00:52:24.31\00:52:28.83
and do nothing but
do something for God,
00:52:28.86\00:52:32.64
preach an evangelistic series,
00:52:32.67\00:52:34.88
start learning how
to give Bible studies.
00:52:34.91\00:52:37.67
Start a campus on your school,
00:52:37.70\00:52:40.19
do something for Christ,
00:52:40.22\00:52:42.12
make a commitment to Him today
00:52:42.15\00:52:44.88
that you will do
something for Him.
00:52:44.91\00:52:48.04
We're gonna close with a story
00:52:48.07\00:52:51.42
and I'm gonna
make a short appeal.
00:52:51.45\00:52:53.90
There was a man, a
number of years ago,
00:52:53.93\00:52:55.65
who had a dream.
00:52:55.68\00:52:56.93
He was a new pastor
00:52:56.96\00:52:58.54
and he went to his
new church and in a drawer
00:52:58.57\00:53:02.31
he found a number of
Bible study interest cards
00:53:02.34\00:53:05.49
that no body had
ever followed up on.
00:53:05.52\00:53:09.44
And he took those cards
00:53:09.47\00:53:10.50
and some of them were
just a few months old.
00:53:10.53\00:53:12.94
Some of them were
8, 10, 15 years old
00:53:12.97\00:53:15.87
and no one had ever
followed up on them.
00:53:15.90\00:53:19.75
And he said, man,
he said, "I'm so busy,
00:53:19.78\00:53:22.80
I cannot follow up on
these cards, they are old.
00:53:22.83\00:53:25.58
These people
probably moved away,
00:53:25.61\00:53:26.86
it's going to be a
big waste of my time."
00:53:26.89\00:53:29.76
And so he just
pushed them aside,
00:53:29.79\00:53:31.09
he put them back in
the drawer and closed it.
00:53:31.12\00:53:34.88
And one night he had a dream
00:53:34.91\00:53:37.26
and he dreamed that he
was inside the holy city
00:53:37.29\00:53:40.78
and as he looked through
the glass of those walls,
00:53:44.54\00:53:49.06
there were people who
were coming up to the wall,
00:53:49.09\00:53:54.17
looking at him,
00:53:54.20\00:53:56.65
and they pulled
out of their pocket
00:53:56.68\00:53:59.96
the Bible study interest card.
00:53:59.99\00:54:02.45
And he saw it and he recognized
00:54:02.48\00:54:04.91
the name that he had neglected.
00:54:04.94\00:54:08.94
And they said, we
asked for Bible studies.
00:54:08.97\00:54:14.57
We asked you to come.
00:54:14.60\00:54:17.56
Why didn't you come?
00:54:17.59\00:54:19.61
Why didn't you do
what God asked you to do?
00:54:19.64\00:54:23.18
And now here we
are, outside the city.
00:54:23.21\00:54:27.38
Young people, I'm not trying
to make you feel guilty today.
00:54:27.41\00:54:30.40
But I'm helping
you see the reality
00:54:30.43\00:54:31.86
that those whom you
neglect to share Christ
00:54:31.89\00:54:35.37
with whom He has
impressed you to share with.
00:54:35.40\00:54:37.77
You will have to face
those people in the judgment.
00:54:37.80\00:54:42.13
God today is
calling us to be faithful
00:54:42.16\00:54:45.53
to the commitment
that we made to Him.
00:54:45.56\00:54:48.46
Two appeals.
00:54:48.49\00:54:49.99
God is asking to do
something extremely big for Him.
00:54:50.02\00:54:54.34
And it doesn't even
always have to be big,
00:54:54.37\00:54:56.15
just do the work
that lies near us.
00:54:56.18\00:54:58.33
And as your faithful in that,
00:54:58.36\00:54:59.39
God will increase
your responsibilities.
00:54:59.42\00:55:02.57
But I challenge you today
to lead somebody to Christ,
00:55:02.60\00:55:08.19
to witness when
God impresses you,
00:55:08.22\00:55:10.67
to speak, to be bold, do
not be afraid of ridicule,
00:55:10.70\00:55:14.47
but to be willing to say,
00:55:14.50\00:55:15.56
God, I will be a fool for
you if that's what it takes.
00:55:15.59\00:55:19.57
There may be
somebody here today that says,
00:55:19.60\00:55:21.19
I want to accept that challenge
that Christ is giving to me.
00:55:21.22\00:55:24.36
I want to be the
one that God uses,
00:55:24.39\00:55:26.42
not because it's
about me but it's about Him.
00:55:26.45\00:55:29.17
And His glory is
displayed when He does a work
00:55:29.20\00:55:32.55
through a sinful
piece of clay like me.
00:55:32.58\00:55:35.66
If that's your
desire, I'm going to ask you
00:55:35.69\00:55:37.33
to stand wherever you are.
00:55:37.36\00:55:39.80
Stand wherever you are.
00:55:39.83\00:55:41.57
The second
appeal is very specific.
00:55:41.60\00:55:45.28
Some of you have
attended GYC for the first time
00:55:45.31\00:55:48.77
and I'm not speaking
to you in this moment,
00:55:48.80\00:55:50.30
I'm speaking to some
of you who are here today,
00:55:50.33\00:55:52.77
who may be watching
us well on the video.
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May be you made that
commitment to God years ago
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or last year or whenever it was.
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To go that year
of overseas service.
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To go to an
evangelism training school.
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To do whatever it
was that God called you
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and you've not
fulfilled that commitment.
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You made a vow before God
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and He expects
you to keep it today.
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And you want to
say in your hearts,
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Lord, I'm going to
fulfill that commitment.
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I'm going to
remember what I promised You.
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I'm gonna invite you
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to just raise your
hand wherever you are.
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Raise your hand and
let the God of heaven see
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that you're
renewing by the strength that
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He will give you to renew
that commitment in your life.
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May God help us
friends, to make a difference,
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to make an impact on the world
around us for Christ today.
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Is that your
desire this morning?
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I invite you to bow your
heads as we close with prayer.
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Father in heaven,
we thank You so much
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that You've
called us as a people
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to make a difference
in this world for You.
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To be faithful in the commitment
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that You've called us to.
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And Lord, we need Your spirit,
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we need Your grace,
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we need to recognize that we
have personal accountability,
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a personal responsibility to
play our part in this church.
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We are the only us that You have
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and we have the
unique personality
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to reach some soul for You.
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And I pray that
You will empower us.
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I pray that You will inspire us
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and that the love for Jesus
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and a desire to see
souls won to the kingdom
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will drive us on
through the ridicule,
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through the trial,
through the complications,
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through the difficulties.
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And we will see Your
glory displayed powerfully
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in our lives today.
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We ask it in Jesus'
name. Let everyone say, amen.
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