My past won't stop haunting me
00:00:37.90\00:00:43.25
In this prison
there's a fight between
00:00:43.28\00:00:46.82
Who I am and who I used to be
00:00:46.85\00:00:50.57
This thorn in my side is a grace
00:00:50.60\00:00:55.20
For because of it the
flesh and blood of God
00:00:55.23\00:00:59.61
Was offered in
my place, my place
00:00:59.64\00:01:07.46
You fought the fight in me
00:01:07.49\00:01:12.94
You chased me down
and finished the race
00:01:12.97\00:01:18.65
I was blind but now I see
00:01:18.68\00:01:23.62
Jesus You kept the faith in me
00:01:23.65\00:01:31.33
Where did my best friends go?
00:01:40.58\00:01:45.69
In my defense they disappeared
00:01:45.72\00:01:48.68
Just like Your
friends did to You, oh Lord
00:01:48.71\00:01:52.60
But You were there,
You gave me strength
00:01:52.63\00:01:57.19
So this little
one might come to know
00:01:57.22\00:02:01.13
The glory of
Your name, Your name
00:02:01.16\00:02:08.78
You fought the fight in me
00:02:08.81\00:02:14.21
You chased me down
and finished the race
00:02:14.24\00:02:19.87
I was blind but now I see
00:02:19.90\00:02:24.84
Jesus You kept the faith in me
00:02:24.87\00:02:31.32
I'm waiting
00:02:31.35\00:02:34.34
Set apart like
incense to Your heart
00:02:34.37\00:02:41.64
A libation I'm pouring out
00:02:41.67\00:02:46.38
Empty and beautiful
00:02:46.41\00:02:50.65
Beautiful, beautiful
00:02:50.68\00:02:58.65
You fought the fight in me
00:02:58.68\00:03:04.58
You chased me down
and finished the race
00:03:04.61\00:03:10.10
I was blind but now I see
00:03:10.13\00:03:15.08
Jesus You kept the faith in me
00:03:15.11\00:03:21.07
You fought the fight in me
00:03:21.10\00:03:26.75
You chased me down
and finished the race
00:03:26.78\00:03:32.22
I was blind but now I see
00:03:32.25\00:03:37.13
Jesus You kept the faith in me
00:03:37.16\00:03:42.84
Jesus You kept the faith in me
00:03:42.87\00:03:48.72
Savior, You kept the faith in me
00:03:48.75\00:03:56.45
So let me ask you a question
00:04:13.37\00:04:14.46
just before David
comes out here to speak.
00:04:14.49\00:04:16.90
Who has been blessed
by the messages thus far?
00:04:16.93\00:04:20.28
I have the
privilege to introduce to you
00:04:20.31\00:04:23.48
next year's theme.
00:04:23.51\00:04:25.81
Are you interested in that?
00:04:25.84\00:04:27.89
As I was nicely
reminded by Natasha,
00:04:27.92\00:04:30.51
one of our vice president,
00:04:30.54\00:04:31.57
she said, this
will be your last one
00:04:31.60\00:04:33.22
that you get to announce
00:04:33.25\00:04:35.26
and so I-- I don't know
00:04:35.29\00:04:36.49
if she was pushing me out
or trying to get me excited.
00:04:36.52\00:04:40.01
Nonetheless, I'm
very excited to announce
00:04:40.04\00:04:42.15
to you our theme
in Orlando, Florida.
00:04:42.18\00:04:45.36
Next year we're
gonna take a look
00:04:45.39\00:04:46.62
at the Great Controversy,
00:04:46.65\00:04:48.58
and the theme is
'Before Men and Angels'.
00:04:48.61\00:04:54.64
Can you tell us a
little bit about it Alvin.
00:04:54.67\00:04:56.49
Yes, Justin, I'm extremely
excited about this theme.
00:04:56.52\00:05:00.30
It's based on 1
Corinthians 4:9 which reads,
00:05:00.33\00:05:04.07
"For we are made a
spectacle unto the world,
00:05:04.10\00:05:06.06
and to angels, and to men.''
00:05:06.09\00:05:08.44
And basically the whole idea is,
00:05:08.47\00:05:09.90
we are not islands
living in isolation.
00:05:09.93\00:05:12.24
Everything we do has
eternal significance.
00:05:12.27\00:05:14.77
We are part of a much
bigger universal narrative
00:05:14.80\00:05:17.98
as found in the Bible, and
we're going to be examining
00:05:18.01\00:05:20.52
how the Great
Controversy fits into our life.
00:05:20.55\00:05:23.20
How significant it
is into our history
00:05:23.23\00:05:25.88
of the church and much more.
00:05:25.91\00:05:27.93
I'm just extremely,
00:05:27.96\00:05:29.72
extremely excited to
be preparing for that.
00:05:29.75\00:05:32.23
Absolutely, so
it's Orlando, Florida,
00:05:32.26\00:05:34.86
January 1 to January
5, we are hoping to have
00:05:34.89\00:05:38.60
a hundred buses
to go on outreach.
00:05:38.63\00:05:41.91
We want you there. We
want your friends there.
00:05:41.94\00:05:43.93
We want if you have enemies
that need to hear the message,
00:05:43.96\00:05:46.28
we want them there.
00:05:46.31\00:05:47.67
So we have postcards available,
00:05:47.70\00:05:49.38
you can pick them
up on your way out,
00:05:49.41\00:05:51.06
when you are going to
the booth to buy your DVD's.
00:05:51.09\00:05:54.08
Yes, yes, so
'Before Men and Angels',
00:05:54.11\00:05:58.00
we are just delighted
to have this conference,
00:05:58.03\00:06:00.12
we probably cannot wait,
00:06:00.15\00:06:02.89
but before that
we have David Shin
00:06:02.92\00:06:04.48
who will be preaching
another message to us tonight.
00:06:04.51\00:06:09.76
Let's bow our heads
together as we pray tonight.
00:06:09.79\00:06:16.38
Father in heaven,
00:06:16.41\00:06:20.40
it's the last night of 2012.
00:06:20.43\00:06:26.60
We have another year.
00:06:26.63\00:06:30.25
The unwritten pages
of history are before us.
00:06:30.28\00:06:37.63
What better place
to be than right here?
00:06:37.66\00:06:41.75
Father, we pray
that your Holy Spirit
00:06:46.10\00:06:47.62
would be in this place
00:06:47.65\00:06:53.15
that we would get a glimpse
00:06:53.18\00:06:58.46
of the sacrifice that
Christ made for us on Calvary
00:06:58.49\00:07:01.61
and that would
compel us to respond.
00:07:01.64\00:07:06.04
Father, we pray
tonight that You would grant us
00:07:10.30\00:07:17.61
a divine passion
to take the gospel
00:07:17.64\00:07:20.65
to the world in this generation.
00:07:20.68\00:07:26.99
Lord, we recognize
that before men and angels,
00:07:27.02\00:07:31.95
that we are a
spectacle on to the universe
00:07:31.98\00:07:34.74
and we pray tonight
00:07:34.77\00:07:37.85
that You would be in this place,
00:07:37.88\00:07:41.26
that Your Holy
spirit would be poured out,
00:07:41.29\00:07:45.28
hiding behind the cross,
00:07:45.31\00:07:49.01
may Jesus be seen,
may Christ be uplifted,
00:07:49.04\00:07:52.45
for we ask these
things in Jesus' name.
00:07:52.48\00:07:55.61
Amen.
00:07:55.64\00:07:57.06
Tonight before
we open our Bibles,
00:08:01.01\00:08:04.64
I want to be very
clear from the beginning
00:08:04.67\00:08:09.01
that tonight's
message is in the context
00:08:09.04\00:08:12.40
of last night's presentation.
00:08:12.43\00:08:17.45
As a minister of the gospel
00:08:17.48\00:08:18.77
it's always been
my passion and burden
00:08:18.80\00:08:23.27
to always give us a picture
of what God has done for us
00:08:23.30\00:08:29.78
before presenting what
we must do in response.
00:08:29.81\00:08:37.57
God never asks
us to do anything,
00:08:37.60\00:08:40.00
no matter the sacrifice
without first presenting to us
00:08:40.03\00:08:45.41
what Christ did
for us on Calvary.
00:08:45.44\00:08:47.62
Amen.
00:08:47.65\00:08:49.67
And so I want us
to remember tonight
00:08:49.70\00:08:51.62
as we open our Bibles that
it's in the context of Christ
00:08:51.65\00:08:56.35
being our motivation.
00:08:56.38\00:09:01.52
That the subjective response
00:09:01.55\00:09:04.74
is to the objective
passion of God for us.
00:09:04.77\00:09:11.57
And so tonight very quickly,
00:09:11.60\00:09:14.86
I would like to give
us a panoramic picture
00:09:14.89\00:09:22.51
of the rapid
expansion in the Book of Acts.
00:09:22.54\00:09:25.36
I pray tonight that you
have brought your Bibles
00:09:25.39\00:09:28.32
because, especially tonight
in order for this message
00:09:28.35\00:09:33.15
to be the most meaningful,
00:09:33.18\00:09:34.79
you are going to
need your Bibles.
00:09:34.82\00:09:36.69
Last night we spent
the majority of our time
00:09:36.72\00:09:38.85
in one passage Hebrews 12.
00:09:38.88\00:09:41.01
We're going to be going through
multiple passages here tonight
00:09:41.04\00:09:45.12
and I like to begin
in the Book of Acts.
00:09:45.15\00:09:47.57
Acts Chapter 2,
a panoramic picture
00:09:47.60\00:09:49.70
of the rapid
expansion in the Book of Acts,
00:09:49.73\00:09:51.60
Acts 2:41, 47.
00:09:51.63\00:09:57.58
Please turn with me there.
00:09:57.61\00:10:01.07
Acts 2:41, 47,
00:10:01.10\00:10:06.96
"Then those who gladly
received his word were baptized,
00:10:11.68\00:10:17.79
and that day about three
thousand souls were" what?
00:10:17.82\00:10:22.89
Are what? "Were added to them."
00:10:22.92\00:10:27.81
Verse 47, "Praising God,
00:10:27.84\00:10:31.21
and having favor with all
the people and the Lord" what?
00:10:31.24\00:10:36.18
"Added to the church daily
those who are being saved."
00:10:36.21\00:10:42.90
Acts 4:4,
00:10:42.93\00:10:48.83
"Many of those you
heard the word believed,
00:10:48.86\00:10:51.75
and the number of the men
came to about five thousand."
00:10:51.78\00:10:57.60
Rapid expansion,
rapid growth, baptisms,
00:10:57.63\00:11:01.32
churches being raised up.
00:11:01.35\00:11:04.46
Acts 5:14,
00:11:04.49\00:11:08.92
"And the believers
were increasingly" what?
00:11:08.95\00:11:13.79
Are you awake tonight GYC?
00:11:13.82\00:11:15.46
I know it's been
a long conference,
00:11:15.49\00:11:17.08
but "And the believers
were increasingly" what?
00:11:17.11\00:11:21.34
"Added to the Lord,
00:11:21.37\00:11:24.86
multitudes of
both men and women."
00:11:24.89\00:11:27.86
Acts 6:7, "Then
the word of God spread,
00:11:27.89\00:11:35.81
and the number of the disciples
multiplied greatly in Jerusalem
00:11:35.84\00:11:41.50
and great many of the priests
were obedient to the faith."
00:11:41.53\00:11:46.69
Acts 9:31,
00:11:51.45\00:11:58.98
"Then the churches
throughout Judaea, Galilee,
00:11:59.01\00:12:04.01
Samaria had
peace and were edified,
00:12:04.04\00:12:08.29
and walking in
the fear of the Lord,
00:12:08.32\00:12:10.98
in the comfort
of the Holy Spirit,
00:12:11.01\00:12:13.85
and they were multiplied."
00:12:13.88\00:12:18.21
The word of God spread.
00:12:18.24\00:12:20.85
There were many
people added to the church.
00:12:20.88\00:12:24.19
There was
exponential growth, multiplied.
00:12:24.22\00:12:29.66
Acts 12:24,
00:12:29.69\00:12:35.02
"But the word of God
grew and multiplied."
00:12:39.15\00:12:46.16
Acts 16:5,
00:12:46.19\00:12:52.94
"So the churches were
strengthened in the faith,
00:12:52.97\00:12:55.89
and increased in numbers daily."
00:12:55.92\00:13:00.66
Acts 19:20,
00:13:00.69\00:13:06.19
"So the word of the Lord
grew mightily and prevailed."
00:13:06.22\00:13:11.34
Acts 28, last
chapter of the Book of Acts
00:13:11.37\00:13:16.84
talking about
Paul Acts 28:30, 31,
00:13:16.87\00:13:21.99
"Then Paul dwelt two whole years
00:13:22.02\00:13:24.26
in his own rented house,
00:13:24.29\00:13:25.83
and received
all who came to him,
00:13:25.86\00:13:28.46
preaching the kingdom of
God, and teaching the things
00:13:28.49\00:13:32.39
which concerned
the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:13:32.42\00:13:35.33
with all confidence,
no one forbidding him."
00:13:35.36\00:13:43.06
We're seeing rapid
expansion in the Book of Acts,
00:13:43.09\00:13:45.95
added words like multiplied,
00:13:45.98\00:13:49.02
increased, daily, spread, grew.
00:13:49.05\00:13:55.35
Paul alone
traveled over 10,000 miles
00:13:55.38\00:13:57.74
spearheading
unprecedented growth
00:13:57.77\00:14:00.27
in the early Christian church.
00:14:00.30\00:14:03.25
Baptisms,
church plans, miracles,
00:14:03.28\00:14:07.27
they took the
gospel to the world
00:14:07.30\00:14:10.02
in their generation.
00:14:10.05\00:14:13.14
Paul could
write with his own pen
00:14:13.17\00:14:14.98
that the gospel had gone to
every creature under heaven.
00:14:15.01\00:14:20.24
The landscape of
the entire Roman Empire
00:14:20.27\00:14:24.75
was dramatically
changed in one generation.
00:14:24.78\00:14:29.00
Acts of the Apostles,
00:14:33.85\00:14:37.31
the disciples were overjoyed
00:14:37.34\00:14:41.95
and astonished at the greatness
00:14:41.98\00:14:46.00
of the harvest of souls.
00:14:46.03\00:14:48.34
Listen to this,
they did not regard
00:14:51.17\00:14:55.82
this wonderful in gathering
00:14:55.85\00:14:58.74
as the results of
their own efforts.
00:14:58.77\00:15:03.27
Let me read that again.
00:15:03.30\00:15:04.66
"They did not regard
this wonderful in gathering
00:15:04.69\00:15:08.15
as a result of
their own efforts."
00:15:08.18\00:15:14.09
They realized,
they were entering
00:15:14.12\00:15:17.42
into other men's labors.
00:15:17.45\00:15:23.17
This was the harvest.
00:15:23.20\00:15:26.31
It would have been
very exciting to live
00:15:26.34\00:15:28.52
during the time of Acts.
00:15:28.55\00:15:31.68
Rapid expansion,
multiple baptisms,
00:15:31.71\00:15:37.09
but we need to
recognize here tonight
00:15:37.12\00:15:40.31
that these are the
fruits of revelation,
00:15:40.34\00:15:45.50
fruits of
revolution I should say.
00:15:45.53\00:15:50.27
These are the
results of revolution
00:15:50.30\00:15:55.37
and in order
for us to understand
00:15:55.40\00:15:59.19
the fruits of revolution,
00:15:59.22\00:16:03.04
we need to understand the roots.
00:16:03.07\00:16:07.65
We need to understand
the beginning and the origin.
00:16:07.68\00:16:14.73
And if you want to understand
Seventh-day Adventism,
00:16:14.76\00:16:19.40
Biblical Christianity, we
need to understand Genesis 1.
00:16:19.43\00:16:25.24
Amen.
00:16:25.27\00:16:28.37
If we came from evolution,
00:16:28.40\00:16:30.14
it dramatically
changes our identity.
00:16:30.17\00:16:35.11
Origins is linked with identity,
00:16:35.14\00:16:38.52
that's why
children that are separated
00:16:38.55\00:16:40.13
from their
parents at a early age
00:16:40.16\00:16:41.57
when they get to a certain age
00:16:41.60\00:16:43.32
they want to find
their parents, why?
00:16:43.35\00:16:45.16
Because in
finding their parents,
00:16:45.19\00:16:47.64
there's an element
of finding themselves.
00:16:47.67\00:16:51.04
When we are looking at
the results of revolution,
00:16:51.07\00:16:53.83
rapid growth, rapid expansion,
00:16:53.86\00:16:56.23
we need to recognize
that these are the fruits
00:16:56.26\00:16:58.36
and not the roots.
00:16:58.39\00:17:02.27
In order for us to
understand the Book of Acts,
00:17:02.30\00:17:05.65
we need to go to the DNA,
00:17:05.68\00:17:09.40
the origins of this revolution
what made it possible.
00:17:09.43\00:17:17.14
This was the harvest.
00:17:17.17\00:17:19.82
I'd like to invite you to
turn with me in your Bibles
00:17:19.85\00:17:23.02
to Acts 1:12-22.
00:17:23.05\00:17:27.99
We are able to see
a hint into the roots
00:17:28.02\00:17:32.13
of revolution in
the Book of Acts.
00:17:32.16\00:17:34.87
The disciples recognized that
00:17:34.90\00:17:36.37
this was not the
result of their own labors
00:17:36.40\00:17:38.47
that they were building
upon the efforts of other men
00:17:38.50\00:17:41.79
that had gone before them.
00:17:41.82\00:17:45.54
Acts 1:12-22,
00:17:45.57\00:17:53.01
"Then they returned to Jerusalem
00:17:55.19\00:17:57.24
from the mount called Olivet,
00:17:57.27\00:17:59.75
which was near Jerusalem,
a Sabbath day journey.
00:17:59.78\00:18:04.07
And when they had entered
00:18:04.10\00:18:05.19
they went up
into the upper room,
00:18:05.22\00:18:06.45
where they were
standing Peter, James, John,
00:18:06.48\00:18:08.18
Andrew, Philip,
Thomas, Bartholomew,
00:18:08.21\00:18:10.59
Matthew, James
the son of Alphaeus,
00:18:10.62\00:18:12.91
Simon the Zelote, and
Judas the son of James.
00:18:12.94\00:18:15.80
They all continued
to one accord in prayer
00:18:15.83\00:18:18.38
and
supplication, with the women,
00:18:18.41\00:18:20.25
and the-- and Mary
the mother of Jesus,
00:18:20.28\00:18:23.02
and with his brothers.
00:18:23.05\00:18:25.68
And in those days Peter stood up
00:18:25.71\00:18:27.24
in the midst of the disciples,
00:18:27.27\00:18:28.75
all together
numbered the names was about
00:18:28.78\00:18:30.60
a hundred and twenty
and said 'Men and brother,
00:18:30.63\00:18:33.29
scripture had been fulfilled,
which the Holy Spirit spoke
00:18:33.32\00:18:38.84
before the mouth of
David concerning Judas,
00:18:38.87\00:18:41.29
who became a guide to
those who were arrested,
00:18:41.32\00:18:44.76
those who arrested Jesus.'
00:18:44.79\00:18:46.62
For He was numbered with us,
00:18:46.65\00:18:48.38
and had obtained
part of this ministry.
00:18:48.41\00:18:52.47
Now this man purchased a field
with the wages of iniquity,
00:18:52.50\00:18:57.27
falling headlong, he
burst open in the midst,
00:18:57.30\00:19:01.12
all his entrails gushed out.
00:19:01.15\00:19:04.39
And he became known to
those dwelling in Jerusalem,
00:19:04.42\00:19:07.41
so that the field is
called in their own language,
00:19:07.44\00:19:10.63
Aceldama that is field of blood.
00:19:10.66\00:19:14.02
For it is written
in the Book of Psalms,
00:19:14.05\00:19:15.68
Let his dwelling
place be desolate,
00:19:15.71\00:19:17.85
and let no one live in it,
let another take his office."
00:19:17.88\00:19:25.25
They were about to choose
00:19:25.28\00:19:26.43
another apostle
to replace Judas.
00:19:26.46\00:19:30.04
And I want you to
notice in the next verse,
00:19:30.07\00:19:35.13
the qualification for being
00:19:35.16\00:19:38.21
one of the original 12 apostles.
00:19:38.24\00:19:43.29
These were the building blocks
of the early Christian church.
00:19:43.32\00:19:46.47
They were going
to replace Judas,
00:19:46.50\00:19:49.98
a very important selection.
00:19:50.01\00:19:52.91
These individuals were going
to be the pioneers of revolution
00:19:52.94\00:19:58.43
and this was the qualification.
00:19:58.46\00:20:02.49
Verse 21,
"Therefore of all these men
00:20:02.52\00:20:08.12
who have
companied us all the time
00:20:08.15\00:20:10.46
that the Lord Jesus
went in and out among us."
00:20:10.49\00:20:15.58
Verse 22, "Beginning
with the baptism of John,
00:20:15.61\00:20:20.81
to the day when he
was taken up from us."
00:20:20.84\00:20:25.02
The qualification for an apostle
00:20:25.05\00:20:27.48
to be one of the original
12, was that you had to be there
00:20:27.51\00:20:31.25
beginning with John the Baptist
00:20:31.28\00:20:33.34
all the way up
to the resurrection.
00:20:33.37\00:20:37.17
You could not come
after John the Baptist,
00:20:37.20\00:20:40.39
you had to be there,
that was the criteria.
00:20:40.42\00:20:48.28
The roots of the Book of Acts,
00:20:48.31\00:20:52.91
the legacy had to be
linked with the ministry,
00:20:52.94\00:20:58.31
the life of John the Baptist.
00:20:58.34\00:21:04.03
Weeks before GYC,
00:21:06.63\00:21:09.64
I had the opportunity
to pray over the phone
00:21:09.67\00:21:13.34
with Pastor Wes Peppers.
00:21:13.37\00:21:18.91
I really enjoyed his
morning devotions, haven't you?
00:21:18.94\00:21:24.97
And we just
lifted our hearts to God
00:21:25.00\00:21:30.71
asking that the Lord
would fill us with His Spirit.
00:21:30.74\00:21:34.25
Sensing our unworthiness,
00:21:34.28\00:21:38.99
our thoughts were
still jelling and--
00:21:39.02\00:21:42.07
you remember on opening night,
00:21:42.10\00:21:44.89
he said that the
roots of revolution
00:21:44.92\00:21:46.69
in the Book of Acts
started with John the Baptist,
00:21:46.72\00:21:48.81
and I like to bring us
full circle here tonight,
00:21:48.84\00:21:53.76
recognizing that in the
DNA of the Book of Acts,
00:21:53.79\00:21:59.61
his ministry was so
critical, so crucial, so vital,
00:21:59.64\00:22:05.60
that in order to be
one of the original 12,
00:22:05.63\00:22:08.85
you had to understand the legacy
00:22:08.88\00:22:12.12
of the life of John the Baptist.
00:22:12.15\00:22:17.45
Very quickly I like to look at
different aspects of his life.
00:22:17.48\00:22:22.46
Turn with me in your
Bibles to Malachi 4:5, 6,
00:22:22.49\00:22:26.16
last book of the Old Testament.
00:22:26.19\00:22:29.89
The ministry of John the Baptist
00:22:29.92\00:22:31.11
was foretold in
the Old Testament,
00:22:31.14\00:22:33.74
one of the places is
in the Book of Malachi,
00:22:33.77\00:22:36.01
Malachi 4:5, 6...
00:22:36.04\00:22:39.03
and the prophet says,
00:22:43.40\00:22:44.45
"Behold, I send
you Elijah the prophet
00:22:44.48\00:22:46.28
before the coming of the great
and dreadful day of the Lord.
00:22:46.31\00:22:48.87
And he will turn the hearts
of the fathers to the children,
00:22:48.90\00:22:51.96
and the hearts of the
children to their fathers,
00:22:51.99\00:22:54.14
lest I come and strike
the earth with a curse."
00:22:54.17\00:22:58.05
The Old Testament foretold
of a time the coming of Elijah
00:22:58.08\00:23:02.13
and he would
prepare the way of the Lord.
00:23:02.16\00:23:04.16
Turn with me in your
Bibles to Luke 1:13-17.
00:23:04.19\00:23:11.15
Zacharias is in the temple,
an angel comes to him, Gabriel.
00:23:11.18\00:23:16.60
Luke 1:13, "But
the angel said to him,
00:23:16.63\00:23:21.49
do not be afraid, Zacharias,
for your prayer is heard,
00:23:21.52\00:23:24.53
and your wife
Elizabeth will bear you a son,
00:23:24.56\00:23:26.69
and you will call his name John.
00:23:26.72\00:23:29.00
And you will
have joy and gladness,
00:23:29.03\00:23:30.42
and many will
rejoice at his birth,
00:23:30.45\00:23:32.35
for he will be great
in the sight of the Lord."
00:23:32.38\00:23:36.93
Great in the sight of whom?
Great in the sight of the Lord.
00:23:36.96\00:23:43.13
"And shall drink
neither wine nor strong drink,
00:23:43.16\00:23:46.01
and he shall be
filled with the Holy Spirit,
00:23:46.04\00:23:48.28
even from his mother's womb.
00:23:48.31\00:23:51.04
And he will turn
many of the children
00:23:51.07\00:23:53.18
to the Lord their God."
00:23:53.21\00:23:54.49
This is almost a direct
quote of Malachi 4:5, 6.
00:23:54.52\00:23:58.36
Look in verse 17,
"And he will go out
00:23:58.39\00:24:00.35
before him in the
spirit and power of--" whom?
00:24:00.38\00:24:03.49
"Of Elijah, to turn here it is,
00:24:03.52\00:24:06.24
the hearts of the
fathers to the children,
00:24:06.27\00:24:08.46
and the disobedient to
the wisdom of the just,
00:24:08.49\00:24:10.93
to make ready a people
prepared for the Lord."
00:24:10.96\00:24:17.06
Mark 1:1-3 very quickly.
00:24:17.09\00:24:22.05
He was to prepare a people
for the coming of the Lord.
00:24:22.08\00:24:27.17
Mark 1:1-3, "The
beginning of the gospel
00:24:27.20\00:24:29.81
of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
00:24:29.84\00:24:31.54
And as it was
written in the prophets,
00:24:31.57\00:24:33.32
Behold, I send my
messenger before your face,
00:24:33.35\00:24:37.00
who will prepare
your way before you.
00:24:37.03\00:24:40.15
The voice of one
crying in the wilderness,
00:24:40.18\00:24:42.32
Prepare the way of the
Lord, makes his way straight."
00:24:42.35\00:24:48.24
Before there is a harvest
seeds have to be planted,
00:24:48.27\00:24:53.44
but before seeds are planted
00:24:53.47\00:24:55.64
the ground has to be
prepared and broken up.
00:24:55.67\00:24:59.78
And this was the
role of John the Baptist,
00:24:59.81\00:25:02.69
he was to break the ground
00:25:02.72\00:25:04.77
so that Christ
could sow the seeds.
00:25:04.80\00:25:08.56
Acts was the harvest.
00:25:08.59\00:25:11.12
"Prepare the way of the Lord."
00:25:14.69\00:25:19.34
I just like to make
three simple observations
00:25:25.13\00:25:30.27
about the unique
relationship that Jesus
00:25:30.30\00:25:33.26
had with John the Baptist.
00:25:33.29\00:25:34.51
This relationship was so
unique and so unprecedented
00:25:38.07\00:25:44.16
that I believe it will
never be duplicated again.
00:25:44.19\00:25:49.31
So unique, so unprecedented
00:25:49.34\00:25:51.77
that it will be
never duplicated again.
00:25:51.80\00:25:58.18
Observation number one,
00:25:58.21\00:26:01.31
Jesus and John were linked
00:26:01.34\00:26:08.06
in the prenatal stages.
00:26:08.09\00:26:13.79
Turn with me in your
Bibles to Luke 1:39-40.
00:26:13.82\00:26:20.01
Luke 1:39-40 a
unique relationship
00:26:23.73\00:26:27.17
between Jesus
and John the Baptist.
00:26:27.20\00:26:32.75
Luke 1:39, let's
actually read till verse 45.
00:26:32.78\00:26:37.23
"Now Mary arose in those days,
00:26:37.26\00:26:39.31
and went into the
hill country with haste,
00:26:39.34\00:26:41.27
to the city of Judas.
00:26:41.30\00:26:42.53
And entered into the house
00:26:42.56\00:26:43.60
of Zacharias and
greeted Elizabeth."
00:26:43.63\00:26:47.32
Now they're both pregnant.
00:26:47.35\00:26:49.47
Elizabeth is
pregnant, Mary is pregnant.
00:26:49.50\00:26:53.25
Verse 41,
00:26:53.28\00:26:54.43
"And it happened when Elizabeth
heard the greeting of Mary."
00:26:54.46\00:26:57.48
Listen to this "That
the baby, John the Baptist,
00:26:57.51\00:27:02.24
leaped in her womb."
00:27:02.27\00:27:06.71
Now this gives an
indication and elution
00:27:06.74\00:27:08.66
as to how the Bible has a view
00:27:08.69\00:27:13.03
of the prenatal
experience in where life begins.
00:27:13.06\00:27:17.65
"And it happened when Elizabeth
heard the greeting of Mary."
00:27:17.68\00:27:20.30
Now these women are pregnant.
00:27:20.33\00:27:23.92
Jesus is in the womb,
John the Baptist is in the womb
00:27:23.95\00:27:27.88
and when Mary
and Elizabeth meet,
00:27:27.91\00:27:32.63
John the Baptist leaps
in the womb of Elizabeth.
00:27:32.66\00:27:36.16
"And Elizabeth was
filled with the Holy Spirit.
00:27:36.19\00:27:38.25
And she spoke out
with a loud voice,
00:27:38.28\00:27:39.76
and said, Blessed
are you among women,
00:27:39.79\00:27:42.29
blessed it is a
fruit of your womb.
00:27:42.32\00:27:43.86
For why it is it granted to me,
00:27:43.89\00:27:45.96
that the mother of my
Lord should come to me?
00:27:45.99\00:27:49.69
For indeed as soon as the voice
00:27:49.72\00:27:51.08
of your greetings
sounded in mine ears,
00:27:51.11\00:27:53.16
the babe leaped
in my womb for joy.
00:27:53.19\00:27:56.95
Blessed is she who believed,
00:27:56.98\00:28:00.46
for there will be
fulfillment of those things
00:28:00.49\00:28:03.13
which were told
her from the Lord."
00:28:03.16\00:28:05.44
So even before birth
Jesus and John the Baptist,
00:28:05.47\00:28:10.41
I can't explain it,
but John the Baptist
00:28:10.44\00:28:13.76
even prior to being
born into this world
00:28:13.79\00:28:16.41
in the womb of
Elizabeth, recognized
00:28:16.44\00:28:19.23
that he was in the
presence of divinity.
00:28:19.26\00:28:24.37
A unique,
unprecedented relationship.
00:28:24.40\00:28:27.85
Observation number two...
00:28:33.36\00:28:34.73
Jesus and John
were ministry partners.
00:28:38.24\00:28:44.64
It was a relationship
00:28:49.05\00:28:52.39
of mutual respect and deference.
00:28:52.42\00:28:58.77
Ministry partners,
mutual respects and deference.
00:28:58.80\00:29:03.34
Jesus said in John chapter--
00:29:03.37\00:29:05.79
I should say John
said in John 3:27-31,
00:29:05.82\00:29:08.71
we won't read it.
00:29:08.74\00:29:09.77
He said 'He must
increase and I must decrease.'
00:29:09.80\00:29:14.38
Jesus called John the greatest
prophet that ever lived.
00:29:14.41\00:29:20.34
John had the unique privilege
of baptizing the son of God.
00:29:20.37\00:29:28.30
A unique relationship,
00:29:28.33\00:29:31.41
linked in the
prenatal experience
00:29:31.44\00:29:33.50
and in life, in ministry,
00:29:33.53\00:29:35.67
one of mutual
respect and deference.
00:29:35.70\00:29:40.78
The last one is
found in Luke 1:36.
00:29:40.81\00:29:48.05
"Now Elizabeth your
relative" some translation say
00:29:48.08\00:29:53.07
"Your cousin has
also conceived a son."
00:29:53.10\00:29:55.63
Elizabeth and Mary were cousins
which means Jesus and John
00:29:55.66\00:30:00.14
were second
cousins, they were family.
00:30:00.17\00:30:06.35
So you put all these together
the prenatal experience,
00:30:06.38\00:30:09.72
ministry partners
and to top it all of,
00:30:09.75\00:30:12.83
John was family.
00:30:12.86\00:30:17.05
A unique,
unprecedented relationship
00:30:17.08\00:30:19.48
between Jesus
and John the Baptist.
00:30:19.51\00:30:26.57
Later on John is
thrown in prison,
00:30:26.60\00:30:29.97
the prison life was
very difficult for him.
00:30:30.00\00:30:32.96
In Desire of Ages it says,
00:30:32.99\00:30:34.17
the life of John had been one
of active labor and the gloom
00:30:34.20\00:30:36.83
and inaction of his prison
life weighed heavily upon him.
00:30:36.86\00:30:42.78
Heavily upon him as week after
week pass brought no change,
00:30:42.81\00:30:48.06
despondency and
doubt crept upon him,
00:30:48.09\00:30:50.95
his disciples
did not forsake him,
00:30:50.98\00:30:52.77
they were allowed
access to the prison
00:30:52.80\00:30:55.19
and they brought him
tidings of the works of Jesus
00:30:55.22\00:30:57.96
and they told him
00:30:57.99\00:30:59.04
how the people
were flocking to him.
00:30:59.07\00:31:03.60
They should have stopped there.
00:31:03.63\00:31:05.87
The disciples
started to question,
00:31:05.90\00:31:07.64
why if this new
teacher was the Messiah,
00:31:07.67\00:31:11.49
he did nothing to
affect John's release.
00:31:11.52\00:31:14.92
Their conversation
went something like this.
00:31:14.95\00:31:18.00
This man's your
cousin, your flesh and blood,
00:31:18.03\00:31:23.54
your ministry partner,
00:31:23.57\00:31:26.31
you gave up
everything for this man
00:31:26.34\00:31:30.04
and here you rot in prison.
00:31:30.07\00:31:32.96
Why doesn't He do anything?
00:31:32.99\00:31:36.43
We need to be
careful what we say
00:31:36.46\00:31:38.70
to even godly men, amen.
00:31:38.73\00:31:42.44
We need to be careful,
00:31:42.47\00:31:44.21
when we share
doubts and criticism.
00:31:44.24\00:31:49.59
How could he
permit his faithful Herod
00:31:49.62\00:31:53.63
to be deprived of
liberty and perhaps life
00:31:53.66\00:31:57.95
and she goes on,
00:31:57.98\00:32:00.36
these questions
were not without effect.
00:32:00.39\00:32:06.61
Doubts which
otherwise never have arisen
00:32:06.64\00:32:12.01
were suggested to John.
00:32:12.04\00:32:18.04
He was a man that stood
unflinchingly for truth,
00:32:18.07\00:32:20.65
lived his whole
life for one purpose
00:32:20.68\00:32:22.38
to point others to Jesus Christ,
00:32:22.41\00:32:24.36
stood unflinchingly for truth.
00:32:24.39\00:32:27.27
He is in prison, his
friends spreads seeds of doubt
00:32:27.30\00:32:30.51
and it got to the place.
00:32:30.54\00:32:31.62
Turn with me in your
Bibles to Mathew 11:1-3.
00:32:31.65\00:32:38.44
It got to the place
where John sends his disciples
00:32:38.47\00:32:44.32
and I want you to notice
the way this question is framed.
00:32:44.35\00:32:49.32
"Now it came to pass,
00:32:49.35\00:32:50.40
when Jesus finished
commanding his twelve disciples,
00:32:50.43\00:32:52.67
that He departed
from there to teach
00:32:52.70\00:32:53.91
and preach in their cities.
00:32:53.94\00:32:55.64
And when John
had heard in prison
00:32:55.67\00:32:57.56
about the works of Christ,
00:32:57.59\00:32:58.68
he sent two of his
disciples, and he said to him."
00:32:58.71\00:33:01.25
Look in verse 3,
"Are you the coming one?
00:33:01.28\00:33:06.40
Are you the
Messiah? Are you the Christ?
00:33:06.43\00:33:11.27
Or do we look for another?"
00:33:11.30\00:33:17.03
It had gone from the place
00:33:17.06\00:33:18.16
where John saw the
dove come down from heaven
00:33:18.19\00:33:21.15
and said behold the lamb of God
00:33:21.18\00:33:22.82
which takes away
the sins of the world
00:33:22.85\00:33:24.26
and now he's got into the place,
00:33:24.29\00:33:27.67
where he is asking the question,
00:33:27.70\00:33:29.84
are you really him or
shall we look for someone else?
00:33:29.87\00:33:35.91
This was a low point
00:33:35.94\00:33:37.17
in the ministry
of John the Baptist.
00:33:37.20\00:33:43.03
Jesus answered him,
00:33:43.06\00:33:45.85
"Go and tell John the
things which he hear and see."
00:33:45.88\00:33:47.98
Our Lord is so merciful.
00:33:48.01\00:33:52.37
Full of grace.
00:33:52.40\00:33:54.87
Verse 5, "The
blind seed lame walk,
00:33:54.90\00:33:58.51
lepers are cleansed, deaf hear,
and the dead are raised alive,
00:33:58.54\00:34:03.76
poor have the
gospel preached to them."
00:34:03.79\00:34:05.55
And verse 6 is a slight
rebuke from-- from Jesus.
00:34:05.58\00:34:08.95
"Blessed is he, is not
offended because of me."
00:34:08.98\00:34:15.57
That was enough.
00:34:15.60\00:34:20.05
Few pages over Mathew 14:7-13,
00:34:20.08\00:34:25.07
it was Herod's
birthday we know the story.
00:34:25.10\00:34:28.91
Verse 6, "But Herod's
birthday was celebrated,
00:34:28.94\00:34:31.10
the daughter of Herodias danced
before them, and pleased Herod.
00:34:31.13\00:34:34.27
Therefore he promised
with an oath to give her
00:34:34.30\00:34:36.90
whatsoever she might ask.
00:34:36.93\00:34:38.74
So she had been
prompted by her mother,
00:34:38.77\00:34:40.53
Give me the head of John
the Baptist's on a platter.
00:34:40.56\00:34:43.68
And the king was sorry,
00:34:43.71\00:34:44.87
nevertheless
because of the oath,
00:34:44.90\00:34:46.29
and because of
those who sat with them
00:34:46.32\00:34:47.71
he commanded it
to be given to her.
00:34:47.74\00:34:49.96
So he sent, and had
John beheaded in prison.
00:34:49.99\00:34:55.36
And his head was
brought on a platter,
00:34:55.39\00:34:58.78
and given to the girl
00:34:58.81\00:35:00.77
and she brought
it to her mother.
00:35:00.80\00:35:05.04
Then his disciples came,
took away the body, buried it."
00:35:05.07\00:35:12.52
I wonder what
they were experiencing.
00:35:12.55\00:35:18.08
They were
burying the headless body
00:35:18.11\00:35:21.71
of John the
Baptist, the cousin of Jesus,
00:35:21.74\00:35:28.13
flesh and blood,
ministry partner,
00:35:28.16\00:35:32.80
the greatest
prophet that ever lived.
00:35:32.83\00:35:36.67
And the Bible says
00:35:36.70\00:35:37.74
"And they went and told Jesus."
00:35:37.77\00:35:45.00
Could Jesus have saved John?
00:35:48.42\00:35:49.95
You better believe it.
00:35:54.59\00:35:58.64
Jesus was not in heaven,
00:35:58.67\00:36:03.71
in the most Holy place
of the heavenly sanctuary
00:36:03.74\00:36:05.69
like he is right now.
00:36:05.72\00:36:08.76
Jesus was in Palestine,
00:36:08.79\00:36:15.03
Jesus was not far
away, He was right there
00:36:15.06\00:36:20.20
and here is the man with whom
00:36:20.23\00:36:22.44
He has a relationship
that is unprecedented.
00:36:22.47\00:36:25.85
Unlike any other individual,
you and I will never know
00:36:25.88\00:36:29.38
the type of
intimate relationship
00:36:29.41\00:36:31.22
that Jesus had
with John the Baptist,
00:36:31.25\00:36:33.24
just because of
the nature of the work.
00:36:33.27\00:36:37.45
And yet Jesus let
the greatest prophet
00:36:37.48\00:36:44.72
that ever lived,
His own flesh and blood,
00:36:44.75\00:36:49.67
die a martyr's death.
00:36:49.70\00:36:56.03
Why didn't He save
him? Why didn't He marshal?
00:36:59.14\00:37:06.77
The angels of heaven
to save John the Baptist,
00:37:06.80\00:37:12.10
this has puzzled
Christians for years.
00:37:12.13\00:37:16.45
The greatest
prophet that ever lived.
00:37:16.48\00:37:22.12
Here's his legacy,
Desire of Ages 224.
00:37:22.15\00:37:28.59
It's a challenging
passage for me to read.
00:37:33.28\00:37:37.31
"Gladly would the
Savior have come to John,
00:37:37.34\00:37:40.92
to brighten the dungeon
gloom with His own presence.
00:37:40.95\00:37:44.98
Gladly would He have
delivered His faithful servant."
00:37:45.01\00:37:52.74
Listen to this.
00:37:52.77\00:37:55.95
"But for the sake of thousands
who in after years must pass
00:37:55.98\00:38:00.49
from prison to death,
00:38:00.52\00:38:03.54
John was to drink
the cup of martyrdom.
00:38:03.57\00:38:11.17
As the followers of Christ
00:38:11.20\00:38:13.92
should languish in lonely cells,
00:38:13.95\00:38:16.43
perish by the sword,
the rack, or the fagot,
00:38:16.46\00:38:18.96
apparently
forsaken by God and man,
00:38:18.99\00:38:21.66
what a stay to their
hearts would be the thought
00:38:21.69\00:38:24.12
that John the
Baptist, to whose faithfulness
00:38:24.15\00:38:29.83
Christ Himself
had borne witness,
00:38:29.86\00:38:35.35
had passed through
a similar experience."
00:38:35.38\00:38:41.27
This was to be the legacy
00:38:41.30\00:38:46.29
of John the Baptist.
00:38:46.32\00:38:50.51
John the Baptist
never got married.
00:38:50.54\00:38:53.73
He never had a family.
00:38:53.76\00:38:56.30
He never got to hear
the sermon on the mount.
00:38:56.33\00:38:59.31
He didn't hear the
parables of Christ.
00:38:59.34\00:39:02.11
He didn't see the raising
of Lazarus from the dead.
00:39:02.14\00:39:05.85
He never saw the death bury
00:39:05.88\00:39:07.05
on resurrection of Jesus Christ.
00:39:07.08\00:39:08.60
He wasn't at
Pentecost or Peter's sermon.
00:39:08.63\00:39:11.09
He didn't see
the rapid explosion
00:39:11.12\00:39:12.46
of the Christian church.
00:39:12.49\00:39:13.74
He lived for one
purpose and one purpose alone,
00:39:13.77\00:39:16.40
to break the ground so
that the seeds of revolution
00:39:16.43\00:39:20.93
might be sown by Jesus Christ.
00:39:20.96\00:39:25.73
He lived into his 30s
00:39:25.76\00:39:28.26
and died a martyr, sacrificed.
00:39:28.29\00:39:34.90
Revolutions are
always born in sacrifice.
00:39:37.73\00:39:45.66
Revolutions are always
born in radical sacrifice,
00:39:48.29\00:39:52.75
suffering and even martyrdom.
00:39:52.78\00:39:55.60
Let's not romanticize
revolution here this evening.
00:39:55.63\00:40:00.26
It's one thing to get up
here and talk about revolution,
00:40:00.29\00:40:02.74
but it's another
thing to pay the price.
00:40:02.77\00:40:07.38
I want to be very
clear here this evening,
00:40:07.41\00:40:09.92
there is no merit in suffering,
sacrifices, and martyrdom,
00:40:09.95\00:40:13.27
it does not save us.
00:40:13.30\00:40:17.03
It's just the nature of
being a follower of Christ.
00:40:17.06\00:40:22.36
Revelation 14:4 says
00:40:22.39\00:40:24.24
they follow the
lamb wherever he goes.
00:40:24.27\00:40:26.71
And, friends, the lamb
is going to be sacrificed.
00:40:26.74\00:40:31.15
That's who we are following.
00:40:31.18\00:40:34.01
The lamb and the lamb
is going to the slaughter.
00:40:34.04\00:40:37.84
This is the nature of our work.
00:40:37.87\00:40:43.00
"Unto you it is given
in the behalf of Christ,
00:40:43.03\00:40:45.43
not only to believe on him,
but to suffer for his sake."
00:40:45.46\00:40:52.74
The Book of
Acts was the harvest,
00:40:52.77\00:40:57.38
but the disciples
recognized that the ministry
00:40:57.41\00:41:00.80
and the legacy
of John the Baptist
00:41:00.83\00:41:02.37
was so crucial, so pivotal
00:41:02.40\00:41:04.47
that in order to be
one of the 12 apostles,
00:41:04.50\00:41:06.81
you had to witness
what John sacrificed.
00:41:06.84\00:41:11.53
And he said you want to
be a part of the revolution,
00:41:11.56\00:41:14.08
well, this is what it's about.
00:41:14.11\00:41:21.08
Revolutions are always
00:41:21.11\00:41:25.22
born in sacrifice.
00:41:25.25\00:41:30.22
In order for
there to be harvest,
00:41:30.25\00:41:33.69
the seed has to die,
00:41:33.72\00:41:37.25
and the seeds are sown in blood.
00:41:37.28\00:41:44.70
Revolutions are
always born in sacrifice.
00:41:44.73\00:41:51.71
I had a privilege this
year of going to South Africa
00:41:55.98\00:41:58.90
and going to Robben Island,
00:41:58.93\00:42:01.87
looked at the 8x8
cell where Nelson Mandela
00:42:01.90\00:42:05.10
rotted for 27 years of his life.
00:42:05.13\00:42:09.74
He became instrumental
00:42:09.77\00:42:11.10
in the South African revolution.
00:42:11.13\00:42:16.28
April 03, 1968,
Memphis, Tennessee,
00:42:16.31\00:42:22.88
Martin Luther King Jr. gives
00:42:22.91\00:42:26.11
what it would
be his last speech.
00:42:26.14\00:42:29.22
Now I want you to notice
the words of what he says,
00:42:29.25\00:42:31.26
he says, in that famous speech,
I've been to the Mountaintop,
00:42:31.29\00:42:37.99
like any one I
would like to live.
00:42:38.02\00:42:40.98
Like any one I would to live
00:42:41.01\00:42:43.59
but that doesn't matter anymore,
00:42:43.62\00:42:46.67
I may not get there with you,
00:42:46.70\00:42:49.70
but I have seen
the Promised Land.
00:42:49.73\00:42:53.11
A few hours later
Martin Luther King Jr.
00:42:53.14\00:42:55.75
was assassinated, the
civil rights revolution.
00:42:55.78\00:42:59.72
Gandhi after five
attempts was assassinated,
00:43:03.97\00:43:07.74
the revolution in India.
00:43:07.77\00:43:11.32
Even secular revolutions
are born in sacrifice and blood,
00:43:11.35\00:43:15.68
it's the anatomy of revolution.
00:43:15.71\00:43:20.82
The Protestant
Revolution, Wycliffe martyred,
00:43:20.85\00:43:27.03
Huss martyred, Jerome martyred,
00:43:27.06\00:43:28.86
Tyndale martyred,
the Christian revolution,
00:43:28.89\00:43:31.79
Jesus died on the cross,
John the Baptist martyred,
00:43:31.82\00:43:34.20
Paul martyred,
eleven out of twelve
00:43:34.23\00:43:36.63
of the apostles were martyred.
00:43:36.66\00:43:38.86
Tertullian says "The
blood of martyrs is seed."
00:43:38.89\00:43:42.28
Revolution always
begins with sacrifice.
00:43:42.31\00:43:46.71
Henry Martin, he
was a Cambridge scholar,
00:43:50.87\00:43:54.62
he was a genius.
00:43:54.65\00:43:57.29
Hear a sermon one day
00:43:57.32\00:44:00.45
about missions, about India,
00:44:00.48\00:44:06.45
and the need to go
there, he gave up his career
00:44:06.48\00:44:11.62
and a future
relationship to go there.
00:44:11.65\00:44:14.76
He was dragged
across the desert in chains,
00:44:14.79\00:44:18.55
he died at the age of 31.
00:44:18.58\00:44:23.29
But you know what he
left the world before he died.
00:44:23.32\00:44:26.04
The translation of the
New Testament in Hindustani,
00:44:26.07\00:44:28.96
Persian and Arabic.
00:44:28.99\00:44:34.37
Jim Elliot says, ''He
is no fool who gives up
00:44:34.40\00:44:37.02
what he cannot keep to
gain what he cannot lose.''
00:44:37.05\00:44:42.71
In Jim Elliot's journal
00:44:46.13\00:44:50.96
he has these words.
00:44:50.99\00:44:54.70
He himself died a martyrs death
in Ecuador at the age of 29.
00:44:54.73\00:44:59.87
And I want you to notice
00:44:59.90\00:45:00.94
the language of
his words he says,
00:45:00.97\00:45:02.19
"He makes his
ministers of flame of fire,
00:45:02.22\00:45:06.72
am I ignitable?
00:45:06.75\00:45:09.44
God deliver me from the
asbestos of other things.
00:45:09.47\00:45:14.73
Saturate me with
the oil of the spirit
00:45:14.76\00:45:17.39
that I may be a flame,
00:45:17.42\00:45:20.25
make me the fuel
the flame of God.
00:45:20.28\00:45:27.30
We are not going to
revolutionize the world
00:45:27.33\00:45:29.93
by conformity to it,
00:45:29.96\00:45:32.41
but by our combustion within it,
00:45:32.44\00:45:35.95
with the lives
ignited by the spirit of God."
00:45:35.98\00:45:39.09
I want to read that again,
00:45:39.12\00:45:40.16
we are not going to
revolutionize the world
00:45:40.19\00:45:42.69
by our conformity to it,
00:45:42.72\00:45:44.72
but by our combustion within it,
00:45:44.75\00:45:46.88
of lives ignited
by the spirit of God.
00:45:46.91\00:45:52.40
Jesus said that John
was the greatest prophet,
00:45:52.43\00:45:55.53
unprecedented of all the
men that are born to women
00:45:55.56\00:45:59.08
there is no greater
than John the Baptist,
00:45:59.11\00:46:01.57
that one greater than
Moses who wrote the Penentu,
00:46:01.60\00:46:05.33
greater than Elijah the
call down fire from heaven,
00:46:05.36\00:46:07.93
greater than
Daniel, Enoch and Nova.
00:46:07.96\00:46:11.37
He is the greatest
and of all the gifts
00:46:11.40\00:46:15.77
that heaven can bestow upon men.
00:46:15.80\00:46:17.98
Desire of Ages says,
00:46:18.01\00:46:19.67
"Fellowship with
Christ in His suffering
00:46:19.70\00:46:24.28
is the most weighty
trust and the highest honor."
00:46:24.31\00:46:27.66
That is the highest honor.
00:46:27.69\00:46:33.05
I think we've gotten
certain things mixed up
00:46:33.08\00:46:35.23
about the hierarchy of heaven.
00:46:35.26\00:46:39.09
We say I want to be somebody,
00:46:39.12\00:46:43.03
I'm not saying it's
wrong to be ambitious
00:46:43.06\00:46:45.19
for the Master's glory,
00:46:45.22\00:46:46.26
but we should not
seek positions, amen.
00:46:46.29\00:46:49.08
And when the Lord does
call us, we should answer.
00:46:49.11\00:46:53.75
I've heard
statements of people saying
00:46:53.78\00:46:54.93
I want to be this
president or that president.
00:46:54.96\00:46:58.79
I want to be this evangelist
or this pastor or this speaker.
00:46:58.82\00:47:02.81
I want to be great
in the eyes of Lord.
00:47:02.84\00:47:04.37
I want to lead
thousands to Christ.
00:47:04.40\00:47:07.07
But from heaven's perspective,
00:47:07.10\00:47:09.25
the Lord looks
at John the Baptist
00:47:09.28\00:47:11.62
and says, that
man is the greatest,
00:47:11.65\00:47:15.00
it's the legacy
of John the Baptist
00:47:15.03\00:47:17.77
and it's the root of revolution.
00:47:17.80\00:47:20.10
Every revolution
is born in sacrifice.
00:47:20.13\00:47:26.59
Fellowship with
Christ in His suffering
00:47:26.62\00:47:33.99
is the highest honor.
00:47:34.02\00:47:40.29
Mother of Jesus,
00:47:40.32\00:47:43.35
I should say the mother of James
00:47:43.38\00:47:44.50
and John came to Jesus,
00:47:44.53\00:47:51.22
He said-- she said to Jesus,
00:47:51.25\00:47:56.47
when you come in your
kingdom can my two boys sit
00:47:56.50\00:47:59.48
one on your right hand
and other on your left?
00:47:59.51\00:48:04.79
I want them to be great.
00:48:04.82\00:48:07.94
I want them to be
the closest to you.
00:48:07.97\00:48:11.91
You remember what Jesus said,
00:48:11.94\00:48:15.68
''Are you able
to drink of the cup
00:48:15.71\00:48:17.23
that I'm going to drink of?''
00:48:17.26\00:48:19.93
They said yes, Lord.
00:48:19.96\00:48:23.80
And he said, you will
indeed drink of that cup.
00:48:23.83\00:48:30.67
James was the
first to be martyred,
00:48:30.70\00:48:33.90
John lived the longest
of all suffering privation,
00:48:33.93\00:48:37.03
loneliness and exile.
00:48:37.06\00:48:42.95
I'll be honest
with you here tonight,
00:48:42.98\00:48:48.25
tonight's message has
been very difficult for me
00:48:48.28\00:48:52.27
as a minister of
the gospel to swallow.
00:48:52.30\00:48:58.94
I question in my
own heart of hearts
00:48:58.97\00:49:02.94
whether I know what it
is to really sacrifice?
00:49:02.97\00:49:09.50
And I also recognize that
there are people in this room
00:49:09.53\00:49:17.14
that God will call to follow
00:49:17.17\00:49:21.89
in the path of John the Baptist.
00:49:21.92\00:49:28.70
Revolution always begins
00:49:28.73\00:49:34.15
with radical sacrifice.
00:49:34.18\00:49:37.94
This revolution is
going to happen, amen.
00:49:37.97\00:49:43.86
But it will be in sacrifice.
00:49:43.89\00:49:48.35
The revolution
that began in sacrifice
00:49:48.38\00:49:50.88
will end in sacrifice.
00:49:50.91\00:49:54.52
I want to invite
you to stand with me
00:49:57.91\00:49:59.68
as we prepare to pray
and close this evening.
00:49:59.71\00:50:05.41
Before we bow
our heads and pray,
00:50:11.88\00:50:13.58
I want to make a very
simple appeal here tonight.
00:50:13.61\00:50:18.68
It's not an
appeal for martyrdom.
00:50:23.27\00:50:27.30
The Lord will take care
of you when that time comes.
00:50:27.33\00:50:33.86
But large sacrifices
begin with smaller sacrifices.
00:50:33.89\00:50:41.21
And tonight perhaps
someone in this room
00:50:41.24\00:50:43.85
the Lord has been
calling to sacrifice,
00:50:43.88\00:50:45.75
maybe it's something even good.
00:50:45.78\00:50:48.37
But the Lord is calling you
to lay it on the altar for Him.
00:50:48.40\00:50:53.67
Perhaps someone here tonight,
00:50:53.70\00:50:57.10
you're being impressed
to go to the mission field,
00:50:57.13\00:50:59.47
to devote one year,
00:50:59.50\00:51:00.59
to take one year out of college,
00:51:00.62\00:51:01.86
go to mission
field, one year, two years,
00:51:01.89\00:51:03.78
five years, ten
years whatever it maybe,
00:51:03.81\00:51:05.77
the Lord is
calling you to sacrifice
00:51:05.80\00:51:08.39
and place your life in the hands
00:51:08.42\00:51:11.12
of God for one year
and you want to say,
00:51:11.15\00:51:14.61
Lord take my heart,
00:51:14.64\00:51:16.23
I want to lay that
on the altar tonight
00:51:16.26\00:51:18.22
because of what Jesus has done,
I want to respond to the call,
00:51:18.25\00:51:21.02
recognizing that revolution
00:51:21.05\00:51:22.91
that began in
sacrifice will end in sacrifice.
00:51:22.94\00:51:25.57
And I want to say,
I want to lay myself
00:51:25.60\00:51:27.24
on the altar tonight.
00:51:27.27\00:51:29.33
I want to invite you
to come forward tonight.
00:51:29.36\00:51:35.36
Some of us are
facing different challenges.
00:51:35.39\00:51:40.00
We're wrestling
with different issues,
00:51:40.03\00:51:44.39
and we want to
come forward tonight,
00:51:44.42\00:51:49.59
saying, Lord, I don't know
what You're calling me to do
00:51:49.62\00:51:54.84
or what You're calling me to be
00:51:54.87\00:51:56.71
but whatever it
is, I am going to do.
00:51:56.74\00:52:03.40
I want to invite you
to come forward tonight,
00:52:03.43\00:52:04.95
I don't know what
You're calling me to sacrifice
00:52:04.98\00:52:07.04
but in the future by
the grace of God I'm Yours.
00:52:07.07\00:52:10.90