And we welcome you
back to Camp Meeting.
00:00:48.95\00:00:51.63
I'll tell you: it is so
much fun to see familiar faces
00:00:51.73\00:00:56.23
and to just visit and
fellowship with one another.
00:00:56.53\00:00:59.66
But we've been having some
good meetings, have we not?
00:00:59.69\00:01:02.79
Great messages.
The Word of the Lord
00:01:02.99\00:01:06.23
is not sparse on this campus.
00:01:06.43\00:01:08.87
We want to introduce to
you today our special speaker
00:01:09.07\00:01:13.71
who is Pastor James
Venegas. He is the senior pastor
00:01:13.91\00:01:17.43
for the Carter Report Center.
00:01:17.63\00:01:20.09
You know that John
Carter is the founding pastor.
00:01:20.29\00:01:23.24
And I have to tell
you: my first interaction
00:01:23.44\00:01:26.84
with Pastor Venegas... I had
e- mailed him to invite him to
00:01:27.04\00:01:31.83
participate in this Camp
Meeting and he's so precious.
00:01:32.03\00:01:35.50
He e-mailed me back
this beautiful e-mail
00:01:35.64\00:01:40.36
just telling some things
about himself 'cause I said
00:01:40.56\00:01:43.66
"Looking forward to
getting to know you. "
00:01:43.76\00:01:45.15
And you know what?
This man is a people person.
00:01:45.35\00:01:48.19
He loves people. He
has a pastor's heart
00:01:48.39\00:01:51.49
and I have no doubt that God
has brought him to the kingdom
00:01:51.69\00:01:55.19
for such an hour as this.
00:01:55.39\00:01:56.97
And if you were with
us last night you heard...
00:01:57.17\00:01:59.99
He's doing a 3-part
series on the sanctified life.
00:02:00.19\00:02:02.80
Last night was A Sanctified
Life: Biblical Understanding.
00:02:03.00\00:02:07.32
Today is something I think
we're all going to have to stay
00:02:07.62\00:02:10.30
awake and pay attention to:
00:02:10.40\00:02:11.77
A Sanctified
Life: A Reality Check.
00:02:11.90\00:02:15.35
So we're going to look
at that in just a moment
00:02:15.56\00:02:17.89
when he joins us. But
first we've got our own pastor
00:02:18.09\00:02:22.30
John Lomacang who is going
to sing a beautiful song for us.
00:02:22.50\00:02:26.08
I always know it's going to
be beautiful if John sings it
00:02:26.28\00:02:28.77
because he is a true minister
of music. Come on out, John.
00:02:28.97\00:02:32.27
And the title of the song is God
Leads His Dear Children Along.
00:02:32.47\00:02:36.41
Thank you, John.
00:02:36.72\00:02:38.09
In shady green pastures,
00:02:58.45\00:03:03.58
so rich and so sweet,
00:03:03.88\00:03:08.11
God leads His dear children
00:03:08.97\00:03:13.58
along;
00:03:13.88\00:03:17.97
Where the water's cool flow
00:03:18.91\00:03:22.47
bathes the weary one's feet,
00:03:22.77\00:03:27.72
God leads His dear children
00:03:28.02\00:03:33.10
along.
00:03:33.40\00:03:37.19
Some thro' the water and
00:03:39.41\00:03:43.53
Some thro' the flood,
00:03:43.83\00:03:47.14
Some thro' the fire,
00:03:47.44\00:03:52.13
but all thro' His blood;
00:03:52.33\00:03:57.37
Some thro' great sorrow,
00:03:58.44\00:04:01.56
yet God gives a song;
00:04:01.66\00:04:05.79
In the night seasons
00:04:06.59\00:04:11.24
and all the day
00:04:11.34\00:04:15.70
long.
00:04:15.80\00:04:21.56
Tho' sorrows befall us,
00:04:30.67\00:04:34.44
and Satan oppose,
00:04:34.64\00:04:38.39
God leads His dear children
00:04:38.70\00:04:42.63
along;
00:04:42.83\00:04:46.14
Through faith we will conquer
00:04:46.44\00:04:50.09
and defeat all our foes,
00:04:50.29\00:04:54.13
for God leads His dear children
00:04:54.33\00:04:58.95
along.
00:04:59.15\00:05:01.97
He leads some through the water
00:05:02.27\00:05:07.05
and some through the flood,
00:05:07.26\00:05:11.25
Some thro' the fire,
00:05:11.55\00:05:15.14
but all
00:05:15.34\00:05:19.33
thro' His blood;
00:05:19.53\00:05:23.95
Some thro' great sorrow
00:05:24.25\00:05:28.13
yet God gives a song;
00:05:28.33\00:05:32.34
in the night seasons...
00:05:32.64\00:05:38.57
in the night seasons
00:05:42.30\00:05:48.05
and all
00:05:48.35\00:05:53.40
the day
00:05:53.50\00:05:56.32
long.
00:05:56.52\00:06:02.51
Amen!
00:06:16.31\00:06:17.68
Praise God for beautiful music.
00:06:19.77\00:06:23.35
What you don't know about
me being from a fair distance
00:06:23.65\00:06:27.88
and a new face to you all
00:06:28.09\00:06:29.46
is that music has always played
a very big role in my heart
00:06:29.49\00:06:33.43
and my life. It is a power that
not many other things can match,
00:06:33.63\00:06:37.85
sometimes even more
powerful than the spoken word
00:06:38.05\00:06:40.10
where God can speak
to us through music.
00:06:40.40\00:06:42.91
I thought today just to
lighten things up a little bit
00:06:43.11\00:06:45.69
I'd tell you a little bit
more about who I am and my heart
00:06:45.80\00:06:48.24
because I am new to
you and I understand that.
00:06:48.38\00:06:51.27
And many of you would
like to I guess get to know
00:06:51.58\00:06:53.72
my background.
What brought me here?
00:06:53.82\00:06:55.85
What do I stand
for? What do I do?
00:06:56.05\00:06:58.35
You've heard already that I
am a pastor in Los Angeles now.
00:06:58.65\00:07:02.00
I pastor the
Carter Report Center.
00:07:02.20\00:07:04.35
I'm the week-to-week
pastor there. I'm in charge of
00:07:04.55\00:07:06.77
visitation and preaching and
Bible studies with our members.
00:07:06.97\00:07:11.64
But that's only been going
since February of this year.
00:07:11.94\00:07:14.74
I've been on such an
amazing journey in 2012.
00:07:14.94\00:07:19.35
At this time last year I
was pastoring in a small little
00:07:19.65\00:07:22.52
place - and some of the
members will be watching -
00:07:22.55\00:07:25.26
in Tamworth in New
South Wales Australia.
00:07:25.46\00:07:27.80
Not unlike here, it's a rural
setting and it's like Nashville,
00:07:28.00\00:07:31.80
the central music
capital of Australia.
00:07:31.94\00:07:34.64
So all of the musicians -
country music and all of that -
00:07:34.95\00:07:37.89
is based there. And that's
where we ministered for the last
00:07:37.99\00:07:40.03
three years before
arriving in Los Angeles.
00:07:40.23\00:07:42.68
But before that I had
the privilege of pastoring
00:07:42.88\00:07:45.46
in Avondale
Memorial Church in Cooranbong
00:07:45.66\00:07:49.32
which is the
pioneer church there.
00:07:49.52\00:07:52.06
And so I know that there's
a lot of our members watching
00:07:52.36\00:07:54.87
today from there as we
have a big viewership for 3ABN
00:07:55.08\00:07:58.84
in Avondale. But the
journey has been incredible
00:07:59.04\00:08:04.66
just watching how God
has been leading my life
00:08:04.76\00:08:07.38
like the song said... along.
00:08:07.48\00:08:10.35
You know, my heart is
simply a heart for people.
00:08:10.55\00:08:14.44
Shelley said that
I am a people person.
00:08:14.65\00:08:16.38
And that is not a boast
it's really just a description
00:08:16.48\00:08:18.93
because I truly, truly have
a love for seeing people walk
00:08:19.13\00:08:22.44
closer to God and
walking with them.
00:08:22.54\00:08:24.88
I love seeing the Word of God
make a difference in their lives
00:08:25.08\00:08:28.13
and drawing them into
the presence of Jesus.
00:08:28.33\00:08:31.04
That's what I live for.
00:08:31.24\00:08:32.76
And having grown up in a Spanish
church for the early years
00:08:32.96\00:08:35.75
of my life has really
equipped me to just...
00:08:35.85\00:08:38.96
just live my life in
full for the ministry of God.
00:08:39.26\00:08:43.01
I don't really
value the time as my own.
00:08:43.21\00:08:47.30
Everything that we do
is permeated by the...
00:08:47.50\00:08:51.98
the desire to
minister for Christ.
00:08:52.18\00:08:54.50
It is something
that was instilled early.
00:08:54.70\00:08:57.04
It is something that I
still carry with me today.
00:08:57.24\00:08:59.08
I also need to make mention
of my beautiful wife Kaylene
00:08:59.38\00:09:01.80
who's at home. She has my heart.
00:09:02.00\00:09:05.39
She's not so much... She would
tell you she's not a people
00:09:05.59\00:09:07.22
person. She prefers
to be in the background.
00:09:07.33\00:09:09.43
Doesn't like to be in the front.
00:09:09.63\00:09:11.49
But she's my partner in crime.
She's praying right this minute
00:09:11.69\00:09:15.17
for us. She's a godly
woman who spends many hours
00:09:15.37\00:09:20.06
in God's presence praying for
her husband, for her children.
00:09:20.26\00:09:23.49
I'm very honored to have her
as my wife. Her name's Kaylene.
00:09:23.69\00:09:27.36
Maybe someday
you'll get to meet her.
00:09:27.56\00:09:29.60
She's a singer as well
and we do duets together.
00:09:29.80\00:09:34.28
But for now you'll just have
to hear the sound of my voice
00:09:34.78\00:09:37.45
in terms of preaching. We'll
do the singing at a later time.
00:09:37.65\00:09:40.60
Now the last meeting we
had together I introduced
00:09:41.00\00:09:43.71
the concept of a sanctified
life. It's something that's been
00:09:43.91\00:09:46.45
burning a hole in my
heart for a long time.
00:09:46.55\00:09:49.74
I told you that it was a burden
because I am just not seeing
00:09:49.94\00:09:53.56
the sanctified life
in our churches anymore.
00:09:53.59\00:09:56.60
And I do put that down to
the times in which we live
00:09:56.80\00:09:59.74
because we are under an
attack because the devil knows
00:09:59.94\00:10:03.19
that his time is
short. And if he can sabotage
00:10:03.39\00:10:06.56
the character of
the church then he wins.
00:10:06.76\00:10:09.62
And so my burden has been
to try to reintroduce this
00:10:10.03\00:10:15.96
age-old concept of
sanctification through my
00:10:16.16\00:10:19.01
preaching through the churches
that I've been a part of.
00:10:19.14\00:10:21.49
And we learned last night
that the Bible commissions us
00:10:22.59\00:10:25.74
as Christians - as
Seventh-day Adventists -
00:10:25.94\00:10:27.87
to strive for a sanctified life.
00:10:28.07\00:10:30.37
We talked about how a sanctified
life was a life that means
00:10:30.57\00:10:34.75
that we are different. But not
for the sake of being different.
00:10:34.95\00:10:38.34
We are different
because Christ lives in us
00:10:38.54\00:10:40.97
and He lives through us.
00:10:41.17\00:10:42.98
And it just happens that He
is reflected in our character
00:10:43.19\00:10:46.72
simply because we love
Him and we love His Word.
00:10:46.82\00:10:49.50
Not something that we have to
work hard for, to will ourselves
00:10:49.70\00:10:53.07
to do it or to behave a
certain way. It just flows out
00:10:53.17\00:10:56.47
of a life that is close to
Christ... or it should flow out!
00:10:56.67\00:11:00.58
It is my conviction that
evangelism and our reaching
00:11:00.78\00:11:05.48
of the gospel to the world
will be boosted if the church
00:11:05.68\00:11:09.42
wakes up and
lives a sanctified life
00:11:09.52\00:11:11.84
and we all link arms
together and represent Christ
00:11:12.04\00:11:14.92
in this way. It will motivate
us to get out of our pews
00:11:15.12\00:11:19.08
and go beyond our churches.
00:11:19.28\00:11:21.36
And so for me the sermon
series The Sanctified Life
00:11:21.66\00:11:26.27
is going to be one
that we will build on.
00:11:26.47\00:11:28.51
So we've laid the
Biblical foundation.
00:11:28.71\00:11:30.74
Today we're going to
take it a little deeper
00:11:30.94\00:11:32.57
and we're going to
have a reality check of what
00:11:32.77\00:11:35.13
the church is like at the
moment... the Adventist church,
00:11:35.33\00:11:38.08
our church. Where are we at?
00:11:38.18\00:11:39.74
We're going to
have a health check.
00:11:39.94\00:11:42.58
But before that I want to
invite you to open up your
00:11:42.78\00:11:44.74
Bibles - the Word of
God - to Luke chapter 11.
00:11:44.94\00:11:49.57
This is what I call
an introductory verse -
00:11:49.77\00:11:51.58
a springboard
verse - for the topic.
00:11:51.78\00:11:54.00
Luke chapter 11
and we will be reading
00:11:54.20\00:11:57.84
from verse 37 and onwards.
00:11:57.94\00:12:01.29
Luke chapter 11 37 and onwards.
00:12:01.89\00:12:06.51
And while you're looking
for that I'm just going to get
00:12:07.66\00:12:09.42
my notes in order here.
They got shuffled a little bit.
00:12:09.52\00:12:12.59
OK.
00:12:13.94\00:12:15.99
Luke chapter 11 verse 37
and I'll read 38 as well.
00:12:19.92\00:12:23.73
"When Jesus had
finished speaking... " it says
00:12:25.14\00:12:28.52
"a Pharisee invited
Him to eat with him.
00:12:28.72\00:12:31.89
So He went in and
reclined at the table
00:12:32.09\00:12:35.40
but the Pharisee was surprised
when he noticed that Jesus
00:12:35.60\00:12:39.41
did not first
wash before the meal. "
00:12:39.61\00:12:44.64
So Jesus is invited to
the house of a Pharisee
00:12:46.22\00:12:48.84
which is a feat in itself.
00:12:49.04\00:12:50.83
And He sits down to
eat - He reclines to eat -
00:12:51.03\00:12:54.91
but the Pharisee notices
that He fails to wash His hands
00:12:55.11\00:13:00.14
before that meal.
00:13:00.34\00:13:02.31
Now let me tell you that
the non-washing of the hands
00:13:02.62\00:13:05.02
or the washing idea is
certainly not a hygienic thing
00:13:05.22\00:13:09.29
back in the first century.
00:13:09.39\00:13:10.76
There was no thought in
the minds of the Pharisees
00:13:10.79\00:13:13.09
or Jewish people that
one needed to wash your hands
00:13:13.19\00:13:16.02
before a meal for hygiene.
00:13:16.22\00:13:17.80
Now germs were
discovered in the 19th century.
00:13:18.00\00:13:20.82
This was a
ritualistic, ceremonial washing
00:13:21.02\00:13:24.56
consecrating as it
were that meal to God.
00:13:24.76\00:13:28.54
It was a preparation so
that meal and that encounter
00:13:28.84\00:13:33.29
would be a holy encounter.
00:13:33.49\00:13:35.97
And so when Jesus
fails to wash His hands
00:13:36.17\00:13:39.92
He does it knowing that this
is a tradition or an expectation
00:13:40.12\00:13:43.63
for the Jewish
world at that time.
00:13:43.83\00:13:46.63
So He deliberately chooses
to not wash before that meal.
00:13:46.83\00:13:51.93
I find that very interesting
because nothing that Jesus does
00:13:52.13\00:13:55.29
is by coincidence.
Every action of Jesus being
00:13:55.40\00:13:58.84
God Himself is
meaningful for us to learn from.
00:13:59.04\00:14:02.36
And so I just want to
read on a little further
00:14:02.56\00:14:04.52
so we can see a
little bit more of what Jesus
00:14:04.72\00:14:06.82
is trying to teach
through this experience.
00:14:07.02\00:14:10.31
Verse 39:
00:14:10.62\00:14:11.99
"Then the Lord
said to him in response:
00:14:12.11\00:14:14.96
'Now then you Pharisees
clean the outside of the cup
00:14:15.17\00:14:19.17
and dish but inside
you are full of greed
00:14:19.47\00:14:24.51
and wickedness. You
foolish people, ' He says,
00:14:24.72\00:14:29.27
'did not the one who made the
outside make the inside also?
00:14:29.48\00:14:33.19
But now as for
what is inside you
00:14:33.39\00:14:35.89
be generous to the poor
and everything will be clean
00:14:36.10\00:14:39.86
for you. ' "
00:14:40.06\00:14:42.21
Interesting teaching.
00:14:42.41\00:14:44.52
Interesting in
terms of sanctification.
00:14:44.72\00:14:47.54
We're going to unpack
it, but first, let's ask God
00:14:47.74\00:14:49.60
to be with us as
we study. Let's pray.
00:14:49.70\00:14:52.09
Our Father in heaven, You
know that my pure and sincere
00:14:53.19\00:14:55.77
motivation is to
draw our minds to You.
00:14:55.87\00:14:58.78
But Lord, being human, I
need the anointing from on high.
00:14:59.08\00:15:04.21
I ask, Lord, that You
will clear my mind and speak
00:15:04.45\00:15:07.74
through me. That You
will cleanse my heart.
00:15:07.84\00:15:09.90
I ask, too, that You
prepare our hearts and minds
00:15:10.10\00:15:12.68
to receive the message...
to discern what You are trying
00:15:12.88\00:15:16.43
to teach us through Your Word.
00:15:16.53\00:15:18.62
And that may be
different for different people.
00:15:18.72\00:15:20.55
But I just pray that Your
Word will go forth and will not
00:15:20.76\00:15:23.51
return void just as You promised
is my prayer in Jesus' name.
00:15:23.62\00:15:28.66
Amen.
00:15:28.86\00:15:30.31
I wanted to share
with you a little story
00:15:31.58\00:15:35.09
that is told about these giant
redwood trees that exist here
00:15:35.29\00:15:39.65
in the United States.
And in introducing this story
00:15:39.75\00:15:42.47
I have to admit that I have
never witnessed one of these
00:15:42.68\00:15:45.33
giant trees. I've seen
the eucalyptus gum trees
00:15:45.43\00:15:48.48
of Australia which
are fairly tall and big
00:15:48.58\00:15:51.25
but they are nothing like
what I've heard these giant
00:15:51.45\00:15:54.50
redwood trees are. And I look
forward to someday seeing them.
00:15:54.60\00:15:57.59
But a story is told
of a giant redwood tree
00:15:57.79\00:16:00.13
that had lived for 400 years.
00:16:00.23\00:16:03.71
And apparently this
redwood tree had survived many,
00:16:03.91\00:16:07.08
many storms and earthquakes
and natural disasters.
00:16:07.28\00:16:11.02
In fact, it had survived
14 separate lightning strikes.
00:16:11.22\00:16:15.53
And for 400 years it
had stood strong and tall
00:16:16.62\00:16:20.91
and had withstood just
about anything that nature could
00:16:21.11\00:16:26.13
throw at this redwood tree.
00:16:26.23\00:16:28.26
But then all of a
sudden without any prompting,
00:16:29.49\00:16:31.53
without any notice, this
tree came tumbling down to earth
00:16:31.73\00:16:36.10
with a humongous thud.
00:16:36.30\00:16:38.71
And what was curious
is that the tree fell
00:16:39.76\00:16:44.15
not because a timber
cutter chopped it down
00:16:44.35\00:16:47.34
or because it was struck
by a massive lightning bolt
00:16:47.54\00:16:50.65
but it just fell
with no apparent reason.
00:16:50.89\00:16:53.84
And so when the inspectors
went in there to investigate
00:16:54.63\00:16:57.44
what had felled this
tree... what was it that
00:16:57.64\00:17:00.76
dropped this giant powerful
majestic tree to the ground...
00:17:00.96\00:17:04.99
interestingly they discovered
that it was tiny little beetles
00:17:05.12\00:17:10.37
that had found their way
inside the bark of this tree.
00:17:10.57\00:17:15.95
And over time,
slowly but surely over time,
00:17:16.25\00:17:20.11
they had started to eat
away the giant tree from within.
00:17:20.32\00:17:25.30
Those tiny little beetles
and few of them started to rot
00:17:25.50\00:17:29.32
that tree from within so
no one knew that that tree
00:17:29.52\00:17:32.63
was rotten and dead,
emaciated from within,
00:17:32.73\00:17:36.56
until the day that it fell.
00:17:36.66\00:17:39.08
These tiny little
beetles accomplished something
00:17:40.99\00:17:43.91
that massive natural disasters
could never accomplish:
00:17:44.11\00:17:48.13
they felled that
tree. They killed it
00:17:48.33\00:17:51.34
from the inside out.
00:17:51.54\00:17:54.67
What looked majestic and solid
and beautiful on the outside
00:17:55.92\00:18:01.12
was truly rotting away
on the inside over time.
00:18:01.53\00:18:06.21
And eventually such a decay
led to its complete destruction.
00:18:09.25\00:18:14.27
And I want you to notice
the theme that I'm trying to
00:18:14.37\00:18:17.03
get across here. To
me it's an obvious theme
00:18:17.13\00:18:19.74
that something could be
eating us away from within
00:18:19.94\00:18:23.30
and no one else will know
about it. Everything may appear
00:18:23.50\00:18:26.96
nice and well and
good from the exterior...
00:18:27.17\00:18:30.03
We may look strong
and yet a small sin
00:18:30.23\00:18:35.98
or a small something could be
eating us away from the inside
00:18:36.19\00:18:38.83
as Christians. To
give you an example of this
00:18:39.13\00:18:42.74
I need to mention
probably a classic example
00:18:42.94\00:18:46.26
and that is Ted Haggard.
00:18:46.37\00:18:48.24
He is an American... or
was an American preacher.
00:18:48.44\00:18:52.27
And many of you are
familiar with that name.
00:18:52.47\00:18:54.34
I only mention him in terms of
00:18:54.55\00:18:55.92
illustrating what
I'm talking about.
00:18:55.98\00:18:58.23
He was the founder of a
large church in Colorado called
00:18:58.36\00:19:01.01
New Life Church. He was
the leader of the National
00:19:01.21\00:19:04.01
Association of Evangelicals.
00:19:04.12\00:19:06.34
He was a man in good
and regular standing.
00:19:06.74\00:19:10.28
He was a leader amongst
men. He was a great speaker.
00:19:10.48\00:19:13.48
People looked up to
him... he was an example.
00:19:13.78\00:19:16.28
He was a majestic solid tree.
00:19:16.58\00:19:19.25
And then suddenly
the newspapers and the TV
00:19:19.65\00:19:23.91
stations got a phone
call from a male prostitute
00:19:24.11\00:19:28.58
who claimed that
this upright Christian man
00:19:28.78\00:19:32.51
in the public eye was in
fact one of his customers.
00:19:32.71\00:19:36.00
And of course when
the media confronted Ted
00:19:38.23\00:19:42.03
he immediately rejected it.
He said: "I don't know this man.
00:19:42.23\00:19:44.68
I don't know what you're
talking about. " And he put up
00:19:44.88\00:19:46.92
a facade. And then the man
was incensed... This person...
00:19:47.02\00:19:50.90
this anonymous
person... again insisted:
00:19:51.10\00:19:53.00
"No, I know this man.
We do drugs together, "
00:19:53.10\00:19:56.27
he said, "and he is
one of my clients. "
00:19:56.37\00:19:58.45
Seems impossible, and yet
with time the truth came out
00:19:58.76\00:20:03.66
and we realized that somehow
this man for 50 or more years
00:20:03.96\00:20:09.06
had lived a lie. He was
truly rotting from within
00:20:09.26\00:20:12.30
and we didn't know it.
00:20:12.50\00:20:14.47
And he wasn't honest
enough to admit it either.
00:20:15.95\00:20:20.44
And so today we want to deal
with what is a reality check
00:20:21.97\00:20:26.49
for us as Seventh-day
Adventist Christians.
00:20:26.69\00:20:29.14
I really want this to be
an experience where we look
00:20:29.25\00:20:32.74
upon ourselves and
just see where we truly are.
00:20:32.84\00:20:35.52
I really want to encourage
you to stop those thoughts
00:20:35.55\00:20:38.24
coming into your head that
tell you: "This is something
00:20:38.44\00:20:40.89
that so and so needs to
be listening to right now.
00:20:40.99\00:20:43.10
If only they were tuning in
00:20:43.30\00:20:44.67
or if only they
were sitting here. "
00:20:44.70\00:20:46.07
I want you to go beyond
that and just ask yourself:
00:20:46.14\00:20:48.80
"What is God's Word
trying to say to me on this day
00:20:48.90\00:20:51.72
about my life? "
00:20:51.92\00:20:53.70
Because a vast majority
of us are really not as clean
00:20:55.29\00:21:01.27
as what we look on the outside.
00:21:01.47\00:21:04.87
I couldn't say that as a state-
ment when I was a younger man
00:21:05.90\00:21:08.62
because I just didn't know it.
00:21:08.82\00:21:10.19
I thought it was my own journey.
00:21:10.22\00:21:11.59
But having been around
the block a few times now
00:21:11.62\00:21:14.09
I know that most of us
look better on the outside
00:21:14.40\00:21:18.73
than we do... than
we are on the inside.
00:21:18.93\00:21:22.32
Most of us are clean,
00:21:24.54\00:21:30.34
majestic, beautiful, look
strong, look "wow," look OK
00:21:30.54\00:21:33.84
and yet we are rotting -
many of us - from within.
00:21:34.24\00:21:40.04
Mind you there are a few
people that look the same on the
00:21:40.24\00:21:43.07
outside as they
are on the inside.
00:21:43.17\00:21:44.71
They have committed a grievous
sin or fallen flat on their face
00:21:44.91\00:21:48.94
and they can no longer pretend.
00:21:49.14\00:21:50.64
Whatever you see
is what they are.
00:21:50.84\00:21:52.21
They've reached that
point - rock bottom -
00:21:52.32\00:21:53.90
where they
cannot hide any longer.
00:21:54.00\00:21:56.00
But most of us - for the
most part - if we are honest
00:21:56.20\00:21:58.85
with ourselves we live with
what they call incongruity -
00:21:58.95\00:22:03.58
inconsistency -
00:22:03.78\00:22:05.85
where we project something
here and yet there is trouble
00:22:06.05\00:22:09.48
within.
00:22:09.68\00:22:11.05
Imagine... And they've
invented a new iPhone recently
00:22:15.73\00:22:19.26
and I haven't tried it out.
But imagine if they invented
00:22:19.36\00:22:21.81
a gadget like that where they
could attach it to your head
00:22:21.91\00:22:25.76
and it could encode
the thoughts of your mind
00:22:25.96\00:22:30.08
and project those thoughts
on a screen of some sort.
00:22:30.29\00:22:34.06
Imagine if someone offered
to you to experiment with you
00:22:34.16\00:22:37.69
and attach you to a machine
that would throw all your
00:22:37.79\00:22:40.79
thoughts of every single
day in Times Square on that big
00:22:40.89\00:22:44.06
giant screen there.
00:22:44.26\00:22:46.07
Imagine you were
offered to do that experiment.
00:22:46.37\00:22:49.83
How many of you here?
How many of you out there
00:22:50.03\00:22:52.11
would accept such an offer?
00:22:52.31\00:22:54.57
Can I see some hands?
00:22:54.77\00:22:56.64
If someone offered to
read every thought of your mind
00:22:57.86\00:23:01.13
and not only that,
project it on a big screen?
00:23:01.33\00:23:03.26
Would anyone here volunteer
for such an experiment?
00:23:03.46\00:23:06.71
If we are honest with ourselves,
there are many things that
00:23:09.12\00:23:13.59
go on in our brains...
00:23:13.69\00:23:15.98
things that we'd
often rather others not see.
00:23:16.19\00:23:21.41
Thoughts that are secret.
00:23:22.61\00:23:25.74
Secret fantasies.
00:23:26.86\00:23:29.09
Negative thoughts.
00:23:29.39\00:23:31.83
Angry thoughts.
Sometimes violent thoughts.
00:23:32.13\00:23:36.20
And a spirituality that is
not as strong as we sometimes
00:23:37.69\00:23:42.31
let on. So the human situation
00:23:42.51\00:23:48.42
is that there's dirt on
the inside. We struggle.
00:23:48.52\00:23:50.77
There's a battle going on.
00:23:50.87\00:23:52.24
There's often putridness
and decay in many of our lives.
00:23:52.27\00:23:55.25
There's a battle raging.
And the first step is that
00:23:55.35\00:23:57.67
is that we need to admit it.
00:23:57.77\00:23:59.47
Not so much from the front
here where you need to come
00:24:00.55\00:24:02.45
and tell everyone your dirty
laundry, but we need to be able
00:24:02.55\00:24:05.08
to acknowledge our
desperate need for God
00:24:05.18\00:24:09.34
and our sinful state.
00:24:09.45\00:24:11.31
If we don't start from
that point, we cannot venture
00:24:11.51\00:24:14.58
forward into a
life of sanctification.
00:24:14.68\00:24:16.58
We need to start there.
00:24:16.78\00:24:18.26
It's not great
news to learn that
00:24:18.66\00:24:21.23
but we need to acknowledge.
00:24:21.43\00:24:22.87
Men, we need to acknowledge
our struggle with sin.
00:24:23.07\00:24:25.43
We need to start with an
acknowledging of where we are
00:24:25.63\00:24:29.86
if you want to get
clean on the inside.
00:24:30.36\00:24:32.92
So from there where do we go?
00:24:33.12\00:24:34.49
How do we become sanctified?
00:24:34.68\00:24:36.93
How are we to be set
apart, consecrated, Christ-like
00:24:37.13\00:24:40.18
on the inside? How does
it work? How does it happen?
00:24:40.38\00:24:43.05
Well let me tell you something
about the Pharisees' solution
00:24:43.25\00:24:45.91
because the Pharisees' solution
is a very common solution
00:24:46.11\00:24:49.96
but it wasn't a good solution.
00:24:50.16\00:24:52.88
The Pharisees in order to deal
with their struggle within -
00:24:53.08\00:24:56.58
and let me tell you, they
knew their struggle within -
00:24:56.78\00:24:59.90
in fact, even the most
consecrated monk in the
00:25:00.10\00:25:03.35
Middle Ages knew
their struggle within -
00:25:03.55\00:25:05.77
in fact, many of them would
go off and isolate themselves
00:25:05.98\00:25:10.15
to try to wrestle with
their sinfulness, these monks,
00:25:10.35\00:25:12.65
and even when they did
that it would follow them
00:25:12.85\00:25:15.50
and they would struggle there.
00:25:15.70\00:25:17.23
So these Pharisees
knew their struggle within.
00:25:17.43\00:25:19.36
And the way that they dealt
with it was through an external
00:25:19.47\00:25:23.63
form of religion. They
would work on external rituals
00:25:23.83\00:25:28.22
external performances,
external behaviors and beliefs.
00:25:28.42\00:25:33.10
They believed that they could
achieve that purity of heart,
00:25:34.46\00:25:37.92
that
sanctification that they longed,
00:25:38.12\00:25:40.72
through ceremonial washing
on the outside so to speak.
00:25:40.93\00:25:45.86
So they would work
hard at their religiosity.
00:25:46.06\00:25:48.09
They would be very strict down
the line, very black and white,
00:25:48.29\00:25:51.57
because that was
their fire insurance.
00:25:51.77\00:25:53.76
That would keep them out
of hell. That would guarantee
00:25:53.87\00:25:56.50
that they were closer to
God. "If I could just do this
00:25:56.71\00:25:59.23
and do that and not do that
00:25:59.43\00:26:01.06
then I can affect
change in my heart. "
00:26:01.26\00:26:03.99
And they were really
just following a tradition,
00:26:04.19\00:26:07.01
and that tradition basically
said that if you had the right
00:26:07.21\00:26:10.95
set of beliefs and that if
you do all the right things
00:26:11.05\00:26:14.27
then you will achieve that
holiness that we all hunger for,
00:26:14.47\00:26:19.04
that cleansing inside.
00:26:19.14\00:26:20.77
And you know I have to
admit this form of religion
00:26:22.32\00:26:24.52
is still very,
very popular today.
00:26:24.72\00:26:27.73
This form of religion is
attractive for various reasons
00:26:28.03\00:26:32.17
because it has some
advantages. You see, an external
00:26:32.37\00:26:35.53
rigid, ritualistic-type religion
00:26:35.73\00:26:38.51
is one that is
very tangible and clear.
00:26:38.71\00:26:41.00
There are very clear boundaries;
it is very black and white.
00:26:41.21\00:26:44.08
"Just tell me what I need to do
00:26:44.28\00:26:46.36
and just tell me
what I need to not do
00:26:46.56\00:26:49.35
and then I'll be right. "
00:26:49.55\00:26:51.03
And it's very clear
and easy to understand.
00:26:51.23\00:26:53.78
And so we just head out
trying to adhere to all of our
00:26:53.81\00:26:58.73
beliefs... which are
all good things to do...
00:26:58.93\00:27:01.74
and we try to behave
the right way as well.
00:27:01.95\00:27:05.43
And it also takes into
account the gravity of sin.
00:27:07.88\00:27:12.59
And it also takes into account
the importance of obedience.
00:27:12.80\00:27:16.18
So for many people, this
is a desirable way to live.
00:27:16.38\00:27:20.04
A way that focuses on
making sure that we are clean
00:27:20.25\00:27:23.02
on the outside and that
we look nice and presentable
00:27:23.22\00:27:26.25
because it's the easier way.
00:27:26.55\00:27:29.16
It's black and white thinking.
00:27:29.57\00:27:31.79
But I want to just tell you that
there are three major, major
00:27:32.19\00:27:35.81
problems with just dusting
yourself off on the outside.
00:27:36.01\00:27:40.12
Three major problems.
00:27:40.46\00:27:42.21
The first one is that it
presupposes a non-Christ-like
00:27:42.41\00:27:46.68
image of God the Father.
00:27:46.88\00:27:49.33
It presupposes a
non-Christ-like image of God
00:27:49.53\00:27:53.92
because it tells you
that God values your behavior
00:27:54.12\00:27:59.20
and that God values your belief
00:28:00.77\00:28:04.01
more than He values you.
00:28:04.21\00:28:07.60
Just hear me out and
listen to what I've just said.
00:28:09.02\00:28:11.35
It presupposes a non-Christ-like
view of God because it tells us,
00:28:12.85\00:28:17.23
it tells you, that God values
more your behavior than you.
00:28:17.34\00:28:21.72
And so this is tantamount
to a father having no intimate
00:28:22.12\00:28:26.42
relations with his son.
Not hugging him; not speaking
00:28:26.52\00:28:29.28
loving words, not
relating to him at all...
00:28:29.48\00:28:31.71
just tough love
expecting that son to conform
00:28:31.91\00:28:37.81
to the way he
wants that son to live.
00:28:38.01\00:28:40.89
In my country we call
that a Victorian Era way of
00:28:42.14\00:28:45.49
bringing up children:
tough love, minimal affection.
00:28:45.59\00:28:49.07
And what that has done is
many children have rebelled
00:28:49.37\00:28:52.40
because there was no love
in it. There was just rules and
00:28:52.60\00:28:54.67
regulations. "It seemed like
Dad just wanted me to achieve,
00:28:54.77\00:28:58.23
just wanted me
to do this and that,
00:28:58.43\00:29:00.20
but he never
really loved me for me. "
00:29:00.40\00:29:02.79
Have you heard that before?
00:29:02.99\00:29:04.66
"I just felt like I
had to please Dad. "
00:29:07.32\00:29:09.72
"I had to get good
grades because that's what was
00:29:09.92\00:29:12.77
important to him... but he
never really loved me for me. "
00:29:12.87\00:29:17.27
Now imagine
thinking of God like that:
00:29:17.57\00:29:20.67
as a Father that only loves
you if you behave a certain way.
00:29:20.87\00:29:25.53
Our picture of God needs
to be centered on the person
00:29:28.56\00:29:32.41
of Jesus Christ.
00:29:32.61\00:29:34.45
And Jesus Christ when He
was on the earth was very hard
00:29:34.65\00:29:40.57
on those who were
clean on the outside
00:29:40.60\00:29:44.12
and He had a lot of
time for those who were dirty
00:29:44.52\00:29:50.05
on the outside.
00:29:50.25\00:29:52.47
When Jesus came to this
world He was always rebuking
00:29:52.67\00:29:56.27
the religion of the Pharisees
and teachers of the law
00:29:56.47\00:29:59.50
because they
worried about the externals.
00:29:59.70\00:30:01.75
But those who were messed
up on the outside: prostitutes,
00:30:01.95\00:30:05.25
tax collectors... those are
the people that He hung around.
00:30:05.45\00:30:08.50
Those are the
people that He loved.
00:30:08.60\00:30:10.35
That should tell us something.
00:30:10.45\00:30:11.99
That it wasn't about the
externals. That Jesus looked
00:30:12.19\00:30:14.53
beyond that to the
heart of the individual.
00:30:14.63\00:30:17.78
So the first problem with
an external view of religion
00:30:17.99\00:30:21.33
is that it just
doesn't look like Jesus.
00:30:21.53\00:30:24.73
He never valued that
more than the individual.
00:30:24.93\00:30:27.96
Second to that
00:30:29.21\00:30:31.37
is that there's no
life in external religion.
00:30:31.77\00:30:36.11
You see, even when you
do all the right things,
00:30:36.31\00:30:40.84
even when you get it right,
00:30:41.04\00:30:43.08
even when you've
got everything in place
00:30:43.28\00:30:45.96
you still end up with
a hunger in your heart.
00:30:47.31\00:30:53.23
Now let me explain.
I've met some Adventists
00:30:55.84\00:31:00.15
who over twenty years
ago decided to move away
00:31:00.35\00:31:04.64
from the organization in
search for a greater holiness.
00:31:04.84\00:31:08.85
Our church was kind
of divided at the time.
00:31:10.01\00:31:12.23
And they wanted to
live their lives by the Word
00:31:12.43\00:31:15.41
and they kind of
removed themselves from the
00:31:15.61\00:31:19.81
contamination of the
world and from the church.
00:31:20.01\00:31:23.32
And I've had the privilege of
meeting some of these brethren
00:31:24.53\00:31:27.92
that have returned, that have
re-established relationships
00:31:28.12\00:31:31.25
with us. In fact, I buried the
wife of one of these gentlemen
00:31:31.35\00:31:34.46
that had estranged themselves
for 20 years from the church.
00:31:34.66\00:31:38.38
I met the
family... I met the children.
00:31:38.62\00:31:40.64
And you know, one
thing I learned was that
00:31:41.14\00:31:43.54
they were so hungry to
do all the right things
00:31:44.67\00:31:48.50
that they ended
up really destroying
00:31:49.00\00:31:53.91
the lives of their children
that they never quite got
00:31:54.11\00:31:57.81
the legacy that
they wanted to pass on.
00:31:58.01\00:32:00.33
I'm being very frank with you.
00:32:01.32\00:32:03.06
In speaking to some of these
young people, they just didn't,
00:32:03.26\00:32:07.17
they didn't see
the love of God there.
00:32:07.27\00:32:09.01
These groups went on to
splinter amongst themselves
00:32:09.21\00:32:12.88
because it didn't meet
the hunger of the heart
00:32:13.22\00:32:16.52
for the love of Christ.
00:32:16.72\00:32:18.09
It was a very
external, rigid existence.
00:32:18.12\00:32:20.76
It didn't give them the love,
the worth, the significance
00:32:20.96\00:32:23.85
that they were hungering for.
00:32:23.95\00:32:25.39
And so let me tell you: if
you are trying to please God
00:32:25.59\00:32:28.63
through just those external
means, then you will always...
00:32:28.66\00:32:32.00
trust me, you will
always come up short
00:32:32.20\00:32:34.57
and so will your children
and so will your grandchildren.
00:32:34.67\00:32:37.59
Because they would never see
Christ in the type of religion
00:32:37.79\00:32:40.66
that you're wanting to pass on.
00:32:40.76\00:32:42.13
Christ needs to
be front and center.
00:32:42.19\00:32:45.05
His love needs to
permeate our interactions.
00:32:45.25\00:32:48.34
It will leave us empty
00:32:49.45\00:32:52.39
and we'll never truly understand
the unconditional love of God
00:32:52.69\00:32:58.35
when we strive for an external
00:32:58.75\00:33:01.85
form of religion.
00:33:02.15\00:33:05.77
There's one other problem
here that I need to mention.
00:33:05.87\00:33:07.92
This is the
greatest one of them all.
00:33:08.12\00:33:09.58
The third problem
with an external focus
00:33:09.78\00:33:12.45
of trying to be right with
God is that it doesn't address
00:33:12.65\00:33:16.82
the inside. It
doesn't get to the root
00:33:17.02\00:33:19.94
or heart of the problem.
00:33:20.14\00:33:22.30
In fact, it doesn't get
there and so it cannot transform
00:33:22.51\00:33:27.62
the life of the believer.
00:33:27.82\00:33:29.47
External religion
simply... and listen to this!
00:33:29.67\00:33:32.26
I need you to hear this.
An external form of religion
00:33:32.46\00:33:35.43
simply conceals the sin that
can be going on in our lives.
00:33:35.73\00:33:41.64
An external form of
religion conceals the wounds.
00:33:43.90\00:33:46.77
It conceals the
sin and it cannot heal
00:33:46.97\00:33:50.57
and it cannot eradicate the sin.
00:33:50.77\00:33:53.36
This approach teaches us
to mask, to hide our problems.
00:33:54.54\00:33:58.02
It involves putting up a facade.
00:33:58.22\00:34:00.30
Covering up, lying to ourselves,
lying to those around us,
00:34:00.71\00:34:05.30
and lying to God Himself.
00:34:05.40\00:34:06.89
And you know, any system of
religion that follows this -
00:34:08.22\00:34:10.89
this is a big thing to say -
00:34:11.09\00:34:13.30
any religion that
follows this form, this system,
00:34:13.50\00:34:18.60
ends up rewarding
those who are better
00:34:19.84\00:34:23.82
at hiding their weaknesses
00:34:24.02\00:34:26.93
and devaluing those
who are meek and honest.
00:34:27.23\00:34:31.09
Any external religious
system will reward those
00:34:32.82\00:34:36.65
who are able to clean up nicely
00:34:36.85\00:34:39.07
and it will devalue
those who strive for an honest
00:34:40.83\00:34:44.20
relationship with God.
00:34:44.70\00:34:48.22
When we hide our problems,
when we cover up our sin,
00:34:50.02\00:34:54.19
we become worse.
00:34:54.39\00:34:57.28
We never
conquer; we NEVER conquer.
00:34:57.48\00:35:01.66
And you know, sometimes
when you get to know such people
00:35:01.96\00:35:06.84
and you just peel
back... you peel back the veneer
00:35:07.05\00:35:10.96
a little bit,
just a little bit...
00:35:11.16\00:35:12.67
When you just get behind
the curtain a little bit,
00:35:12.88\00:35:15.16
just behind the scenes to what
these people are truly like -
00:35:15.26\00:35:19.24
these upright, religious people
that work on the externals -
00:35:19.44\00:35:22.88
what you find often is
people that are completely...
00:35:22.91\00:35:27.07
completely messed up.
00:35:27.27\00:35:29.99
I'm not talking about the
people that are sincere in their
00:35:32.27\00:35:34.41
journey with God. I'm talking
those who try to keep a facade.
00:35:34.51\00:35:38.05
You peel that back a little
and you find people that are...
00:35:38.25\00:35:41.50
have really big
struggles with sin.
00:35:41.71\00:35:46.38
Who are very, very sick.
00:35:46.58\00:35:48.92
And so it is my belief
that this is what happens
00:35:49.12\00:35:52.24
when someone like Ted
Haggard falls from grace
00:35:52.34\00:35:54.74
and has been an exemplary
Christian for 30, 40 years.
00:35:54.94\00:35:59.28
Surely it can only
mean that he has been hiding
00:35:59.48\00:36:03.68
something that has been eating
away at him for some time.
00:36:03.88\00:36:07.64
Things don't happen just
overnight just like that.
00:36:09.20\00:36:12.07
Sometimes these people are
completely enslaved to sin.
00:36:14.90\00:36:20.05
Sometimes these people
are masking grievous sins
00:36:20.45\00:36:24.29
like
pornography or even worse...
00:36:24.49\00:36:28.66
pedophilia.
00:36:30.12\00:36:31.58
And it happens, and it doesn't
just happen outside the church.
00:36:32.08\00:36:36.71
It happens from
within. Something is wrong.
00:36:36.91\00:36:39.75
Something has gone wrong if
people are projecting an image
00:36:39.95\00:36:42.97
and living something
different behind closed doors.
00:36:43.17\00:36:46.86
We dare not reveal it.
00:36:48.39\00:36:49.76
Christians
shouldn't act like that.
00:36:49.91\00:36:51.97
And we conceal. We live a lie.
We even hide it - so we think -
00:36:52.17\00:36:56.79
from God.
00:36:56.99\00:36:58.59
I do want to make note
that the opposite belief
00:36:58.99\00:37:02.00
that everything is permissible
and that externals don't matter
00:37:03.26\00:37:06.82
at all is
completely wrong as well.
00:37:06.93\00:37:09.45
I just want to make that clear.
00:37:09.65\00:37:11.02
I've been talking about
how important it is to work on
00:37:11.20\00:37:14.43
the inside but I am not
putting down the importance
00:37:14.54\00:37:17.07
of externals at all.
What I'm saying very clearly
00:37:17.27\00:37:20.88
is there has to be a consistency
or a congruency from what is
00:37:21.02\00:37:25.98
outside to what is
inside or vice versa...
00:37:26.18\00:37:29.01
what is inside
to what is outside.
00:37:29.21\00:37:32.14
There needs to be consistency
in what is going on in here
00:37:32.44\00:37:36.56
to what is happening
out here and vice versa.
00:37:36.80\00:37:39.38
I cannot claim to be a Christian
00:37:39.68\00:37:42.48
and live a sanctified life
00:37:42.69\00:37:44.54
and be committing grievous
things - cherished things -
00:37:44.74\00:37:49.40
behind the scenes.
00:37:49.70\00:37:51.13
It just cannot happen and
we have to deal with that.
00:37:51.23\00:37:54.68
There must be a
consistency between what is seen
00:37:54.71\00:37:57.47
to what is
unseen and vice versa.
00:37:57.67\00:38:00.33
That is what I'm talking about.
00:38:00.56\00:38:02.12
The externals are
still very much important
00:38:02.32\00:38:05.19
but there must be a
consistency in our experience.
00:38:05.39\00:38:08.57
There must be a meekness
and a lowliness that reflects
00:38:11.18\00:38:17.18
that of Christ.
And I need to share
00:38:17.38\00:38:21.44
an experience with you. I
need to share an experience
00:38:21.64\00:38:24.28
of someone that I met. I'm just
trying to find my notes here.
00:38:24.48\00:38:27.55
Someone that I met I
think it was two years ago
00:38:28.73\00:38:32.44
back in Australia.
00:38:32.64\00:38:34.01
I contacted him in the last
few days just to ask permission
00:38:34.16\00:38:36.87
to share his story
because it's an amazing story.
00:38:36.97\00:38:39.77
It's a story about a
young boy who was really the age
00:38:39.97\00:38:43.53
of my children now.
00:38:43.74\00:38:45.11
Twelve to fourteen.
00:38:45.31\00:38:46.91
His name is Shayne, and
when he was a younger boy
00:38:47.11\00:38:50.27
he told me that he grew
up in a very religious home.
00:38:50.47\00:38:54.63
And by his own admission
this home was extremely
00:38:55.60\00:38:58.83
focused on external religion
and making sure that everything
00:38:58.93\00:39:02.87
was right in terms of
obedience and church attendance
00:39:02.97\00:39:06.00
and all of those
important things.
00:39:06.20\00:39:07.58
But something was wrong with
this experience because there
00:39:10.18\00:39:12.72
was never a
regeneration in his heart.
00:39:12.83\00:39:14.95
There was never a true
understanding of the gospel
00:39:15.15\00:39:17.42
and the love of God for him.
00:39:17.52\00:39:18.89
He doesn't blame his
parents... they meant well.
00:39:19.03\00:39:21.48
It's often not the
parents that are at fault.
00:39:21.68\00:39:23.36
It's just the way we
are brought up to live.
00:39:23.46\00:39:26.00
We know we need to
keep the commandments.
00:39:26.20\00:39:28.12
We know we need to
live a righteous life
00:39:28.32\00:39:29.98
but we don't get it
that it has to start inside
00:39:30.18\00:39:32.56
through a
relationship with Christ.
00:39:32.76\00:39:34.48
An inadvertently, this
young boy didn't get it.
00:39:34.68\00:39:39.00
Shayne tells me that his family
were very good at serving others
00:39:39.60\00:39:45.16
and helping people...
especially those downtrodden.
00:39:45.46\00:39:47.81
And he remembers
one day as a young boy
00:39:48.11\00:39:50.00
walking past one of the
people that they were helping.
00:39:50.20\00:39:52.93
It was a drug addict man.
00:39:53.14\00:39:56.62
And he remembers
feeling sorry for this man.
00:39:57.02\00:39:59.41
He was stooped in addiction;
he was really struggling.
00:39:59.61\00:40:02.91
And my understanding is that
the family helped that young man
00:40:03.12\00:40:06.23
at the time. And you know,
young Shayne never would have
00:40:06.34\00:40:10.05
imagined that that man
that he saw there on that day
00:40:10.15\00:40:13.63
when he was very young
00:40:13.83\00:40:16.18
would represent his
reality only twenty years later.
00:40:17.37\00:40:21.12
And it started
small... with small, petty crime
00:40:22.09\00:40:25.19
and small things.
He went to the pub.
00:40:25.39\00:40:28.26
He tried a bit of
alcohol because his friends
00:40:28.46\00:40:30.75
tempted him to do that.
00:40:30.95\00:40:32.76
But that led to a life
that got deeper and worse.
00:40:33.81\00:40:37.03
And all the while he
still sensed God in his life.
00:40:37.24\00:40:40.14
We're not talking
about a worldly person.
00:40:40.17\00:40:42.07
We're talking about a
God- fearing young man
00:40:42.27\00:40:43.97
but really never got it
00:40:44.17\00:40:45.69
about Jesus and
the love of Christ.
00:40:45.89\00:40:48.49
And so slowly but
surely he started moving away
00:40:48.69\00:40:52.49
from that ideal. So it
went from alcohol to smoking.
00:40:52.60\00:40:56.65
It went from
smoking to marijuana.
00:40:56.89\00:40:58.82
It went from marijuana to
heavier drugs that I don't even
00:40:59.02\00:41:01.50
understand. He laughs
when I talk about them because
00:41:01.60\00:41:04.42
I can't even... I don't
even understand what they do
00:41:04.62\00:41:06.44
and what they are called.
But he tells me that he was
00:41:06.65\00:41:10.23
on cocaine. He tells
me that he was on heroin.
00:41:10.43\00:41:14.06
He tells me that he was
pimping for prostitutes.
00:41:15.29\00:41:18.70
I'm not sure if
that's the appropriate term.
00:41:18.90\00:41:20.38
He tells me that he
used to carry a gun.
00:41:20.58\00:41:23.15
He tells me that he
used to go to clubs.
00:41:23.35\00:41:24.88
He tells me that he
slept under the stars,
00:41:25.09\00:41:27.58
that he was homeless. He
was completely messed up,
00:41:27.68\00:41:29.57
completely addicted.
00:41:29.67\00:41:31.25
But I've learned a
few things from Shayne.
00:41:32.61\00:41:35.04
You know what he said? He
told me that he would meet
00:41:36.06\00:41:38.65
Seventh-day Adventists
out there in the world...
00:41:38.85\00:41:40.89
like him. And he
said: "You know what?
00:41:42.24\00:41:44.98
Seventh-day Adventists
are the worst people out there
00:41:46.26\00:41:51.30
when they are
running away from God.
00:41:51.60\00:41:54.12
As God is my
witness Shayne tells me
00:41:55.25\00:41:57.34
and he is watching today
probably - "Hi, Shayne! " -
00:41:57.54\00:41:59.65
he says that Seventh-day
Adventist people that are
00:41:59.85\00:42:03.00
running from God are the
worst out there in the world.
00:42:03.20\00:42:06.67
They are the worst.
00:42:06.87\00:42:08.24
And the reason they are the
worst is because they are going
00:42:08.28\00:42:10.70
against their conscience.
They know they should be doing
00:42:10.80\00:42:12.88
something different but they're
going against it because they
00:42:12.98\00:42:15.32
never truly
understood the gospel.
00:42:15.42\00:42:17.68
It was a very sad story. I
met him when he was in prison
00:42:19.32\00:42:22.35
or he was about to go to prison
00:42:22.65\00:42:24.69
and his life was
just completely messed up.
00:42:26.12\00:42:28.82
But I look at my son and I
pray that God will help him
00:42:29.02\00:42:33.17
not to have to go through
that by the grace of God.
00:42:33.37\00:42:36.17
And I will do my
best as a father.
00:42:36.37\00:42:38.00
But that's a terrible thought
that a young Adventist boy
00:42:38.40\00:42:42.32
that went through Sabbath School
00:42:42.52\00:42:44.22
would end up in such
a situation like that.
00:42:44.42\00:42:47.10
His parents died years ago but
his mother never stopped praying
00:42:48.40\00:42:51.24
for Shayne. And as I stand here
before you today I can tell you
00:42:51.34\00:42:55.54
that this story
ends on a good note
00:42:55.64\00:42:59.68
because Shayne has turned his
life around thanks to the grace
00:43:00.65\00:43:04.42
of God. Amen! And Shayne
watches 3ABN religiously.
00:43:04.52\00:43:08.57
He loves all the programming.
This is his lifeblood.
00:43:08.77\00:43:11.87
He's at home with a
bad back at the moment,
00:43:12.17\00:43:14.24
but I'm sure he's watching
3ABN because it is the testimony
00:43:14.28\00:43:17.73
of people like Doug
Batchelor, Pastor Doug,
00:43:17.93\00:43:19.62
that really spoke to him.
00:43:19.82\00:43:21.89
And he was able to understand
the truth of the gospel
00:43:22.09\00:43:24.75
and get beyond
all the externals.
00:43:24.95\00:43:26.71
And they're all
good... but he got beyond those
00:43:26.91\00:43:28.86
to the person of Jesus
Christ and the gospel of Christ.
00:43:29.06\00:43:33.37
And so today he is
now happily married
00:43:33.67\00:43:36.34
with a wife,
Leandah. She's a godly woman
00:43:36.54\00:43:38.54
that he's blessed with.
00:43:38.64\00:43:40.01
And his life has been
completely transformed.
00:43:40.13\00:43:42.82
And I am talking about a person
that was not a worldly person.
00:43:43.02\00:43:47.16
I'm talking about a Christian
- a Seventh-day Adventist
00:43:47.26\00:43:49.59
Christian - that went
out as far as you could go.
00:43:49.79\00:43:52.18
But God answered the
prayer of that praying mother
00:43:52.38\00:43:55.36
and reeled him back in
and transformed his life.
00:43:55.57\00:43:57.82
And you know, even though
we may not be able to relate
00:43:58.02\00:44:00.40
to that extremity
I believe that God
00:44:00.60\00:44:03.97
through Christ and
through the Holy Spirit
00:44:04.18\00:44:06.40
can regenerate even those of us
00:44:06.60\00:44:08.62
who perhaps have always main-
tained our external appearance
00:44:08.82\00:44:14.71
but who may be struggling
behind the scenes as well.
00:44:14.91\00:44:18.00
I believe that the same
transformation that Shayne
00:44:18.30\00:44:21.65
experienced can be
your transformation
00:44:21.76\00:44:23.95
even though you have never
let on that there is something
00:44:24.25\00:44:27.69
going on in your life.
00:44:27.79\00:44:29.72
Ezekiel chapter 36.
00:44:32.17\00:44:34.87
And I just want to
touch on a couple of verses
00:44:35.07\00:44:36.75
as we land this
plane... as we wrap up.
00:44:36.95\00:44:40.31
Ezekiel chapter 36 and verse 25.
00:44:40.51\00:44:44.67
Ezekiel chapter 36 and verse 25,
00:44:45.27\00:44:49.04
and it's good to
hear those Bibles turning.
00:44:49.14\00:44:51.06
I'll make no apologies of
opening up the Word of God.
00:44:52.55\00:44:55.70
We believe that this is
the only truth in a sermon.
00:44:55.90\00:44:59.52
Everything else I've got to
say is just trying to interpret
00:45:00.02\00:45:02.78
as best I can, but when we
read the Bible, it is the only
00:45:02.88\00:45:06.64
truth from God's own Word.
00:45:06.84\00:45:10.15
Ezekiel 36 verses 25 to 27.
00:45:10.35\00:45:13.75
And I'll just turn the page.
00:45:13.95\00:45:15.47
Ezekiel 36 verses 25 to 27.
00:45:17.16\00:45:20.64
God says: "I will
sprinkle clean water on you
00:45:23.63\00:45:27.15
and you will be clean. "
00:45:27.35\00:45:30.70
This is a promise.
00:45:30.90\00:45:32.46
"I will sprinkle clean
water... you will be clean.
00:45:33.49\00:45:36.12
I will cleanse you
from all your impurities
00:45:36.32\00:45:39.62
and from all your idols...
" Speaking to the Israelites.
00:45:39.82\00:45:43.11
"I will give you... " What?
00:45:43.41\00:45:45.63
"a new heart and
put a new spirit in you.
00:45:45.93\00:45:50.94
I will remove from
you your heart of stone
00:45:51.14\00:45:54.76
and give you a heart of flesh.
00:45:54.96\00:45:57.90
And I will put My Spirit in you
00:45:58.10\00:46:00.56
and move you to follow
My decrees and be careful
00:46:00.76\00:46:03.71
to keep My laws. Then
you will live in the land
00:46:03.91\00:46:07.47
that I gave your
ancestors, " God says.
00:46:07.67\00:46:10.06
"You will be My people
and I will be your God. "
00:46:10.26\00:46:14.06
So God makes a promise.
00:46:17.37\00:46:19.31
He makes a promise that
He won't just justify you
00:46:19.51\00:46:24.28
or make you right
thanks to the blood of Christ.
00:46:24.38\00:46:26.40
But that He will
begin a good work in you.
00:46:26.70\00:46:29.82
That He will renew you; that
He will give you a new heart.
00:46:30.02\00:46:32.87
That He will put His
Holy Spirit within you
00:46:33.07\00:46:35.34
and He will transform you.
00:46:35.54\00:46:36.99
He will transform you, and
even if you've been around for
00:46:37.85\00:46:41.34
20, 30, 40, 50
years in the faith
00:46:41.44\00:46:45.17
if you haven't experienced
this kind of transformation,
00:46:45.57\00:46:48.70
this kind of
sanctification in your life,
00:46:48.90\00:46:51.23
then it's not too late.
00:46:51.53\00:46:53.54
As sure as God lives today
and as sure as you have breath
00:46:53.74\00:46:56.88
in your nostrils, it is not too
late for you to be transformed
00:46:57.08\00:47:01.73
in this way through God.
00:47:01.93\00:47:04.12
It is never too late.
00:47:04.33\00:47:06.48
One other verse that I want to
show you from the New Testament
00:47:08.09\00:47:10.34
is II Corinthians
chapter 5 verses 17 and 18.
00:47:10.64\00:47:16.53
II Corinthians chapter 5
00:47:16.73\00:47:19.78
verses 17 and 18.
00:47:19.98\00:47:22.19
II Corinthians 5:17 reads:
00:47:29.23\00:47:33.83
"Therefore if
anyone is in Christ
00:47:33.96\00:47:37.43
the new creation has come.
00:47:37.63\00:47:41.76
The old has gone.
00:47:43.71\00:47:46.29
The new is here.
00:47:46.49\00:47:48.25
All this from God who
reconciled us to Himself
00:47:48.45\00:47:52.22
through Christ and gave us the
ministry of reconciliation. "
00:47:52.42\00:47:58.40
Let me point out some
truths from this passage.
00:47:58.84\00:48:01.50
This passage says that
if you are in Christ...
00:48:01.60\00:48:05.50
It doesn't say that if
you are keeping all the right
00:48:05.70\00:48:09.23
commandments. It
doesn't actually say
00:48:09.34\00:48:11.82
"If you are attending church
or if you are paying your tithe
00:48:12.02\00:48:14.88
or if you have all the
right beliefs or even if you are
00:48:14.98\00:48:18.25
vegetarian or vegan. "
It doesn't say that. It says
00:48:18.35\00:48:20.31
"If you are in Christ
you are a new creation. "
00:48:20.51\00:48:25.78
"If you are in Christ
you are a new creation. "
00:48:26.49\00:48:29.74
I want you to hear me clearly
00:48:29.94\00:48:31.48
because I am a Seventh-day
Adventist since I was born
00:48:31.68\00:48:35.60
and I believe that
our church has the truth.
00:48:35.80\00:48:38.29
I believe it. I believe
Jesus Christ is coming soon.
00:48:38.59\00:48:40.85
I believe in the
Ten Commandments.
00:48:41.05\00:48:42.50
I believe in the Sabbath.
00:48:42.60\00:48:43.97
I believe in the
state of the dead.
00:48:44.00\00:48:45.44
I believe that all of
these things are important,
00:48:45.54\00:48:47.54
they're true. We
need to be preaching them.
00:48:47.65\00:48:49.57
The world needs to hear them.
00:48:49.67\00:48:51.04
But what I am saying is
that these things devoid
00:48:51.14\00:48:55.77
of the presence of
Christ in our lives
00:48:55.97\00:48:58.52
are worth nothing.
00:48:59.78\00:49:01.46
That is a strong statement
to say, but all of these things
00:49:01.76\00:49:05.41
are worth nothing
without the presence of Christ
00:49:05.51\00:49:07.93
in our lives.
00:49:08.13\00:49:10.18
You can preach the Sabbath
till you're blue in the face
00:49:10.38\00:49:13.06
but if you do not know
the Lord of the Sabbath
00:49:13.26\00:49:16.61
then you do not know the gospel
00:49:16.81\00:49:18.43
and that will just be a theory
that people will either accept
00:49:18.53\00:49:21.92
or reject but it
will never change them
00:49:22.02\00:49:23.62
because it's never changed you.
00:49:23.72\00:49:25.24
You don't know the
Lord of the Sabbath.
00:49:25.34\00:49:27.28
If you know about the state
of the dead and the resurrection
00:49:28.47\00:49:31.53
and yet you don't know Christ
and the One who is coming back,
00:49:31.73\00:49:35.01
then again it's just a theory.
00:49:35.21\00:49:37.92
It means nothing.
It's my idea vs. yours
00:49:38.12\00:49:41.26
and who can be more persuasive.
It's never changed you.
00:49:41.46\00:49:44.96
And the second coming
which we all look forward to...
00:49:45.26\00:49:48.52
If we look forward to the second
coming and we know the truth:
00:49:48.72\00:49:52.54
that it's soon and
that the signs are happening
00:49:52.74\00:49:54.75
and yet we don't
know the One who is coming
00:49:54.95\00:49:56.91
how can we long for it?
00:49:57.11\00:49:58.97
How can we long for a second
coming that we know in theory
00:49:59.37\00:50:02.88
but we don't know the One
that is coming back for us?
00:50:03.08\00:50:05.88
The presence of Christ -
an internal transformation -
00:50:08.19\00:50:12.15
is what needs to
happen in our churches.
00:50:12.35\00:50:16.11
It needs to be a sanctification
that happens from within
00:50:16.31\00:50:20.27
and not from without.
00:50:20.47\00:50:22.14
And the passage that
we read at the very outset
00:50:23.34\00:50:26.36
about cleansing the cup on the
outside and not on the inside
00:50:26.56\00:50:30.09
Jesus finished
that with a punch line.
00:50:30.29\00:50:32.29
I don't know whether you noticed
it at the end of the section
00:50:32.49\00:50:34.78
that we read at the outset
00:50:34.88\00:50:36.25
but Jesus talked
about giving to the poor.
00:50:36.28\00:50:39.85
Do you remember that statement?
00:50:40.05\00:50:41.42
That loving the poor... I
mean, if you've forgotten it
00:50:41.50\00:50:43.79
let me just... I'll
just finish with that.
00:50:43.89\00:50:45.90
Let's go back to Luke and we'll
look up the original chapter
00:50:46.20\00:50:50.23
just so you can be
reminded of where it says that.
00:50:50.44\00:50:53.00
Luke chapter 11 verse 41.
00:50:53.14\00:50:57.71
Let me remind you because this
is an important little caveat
00:50:58.11\00:51:02.27
at the end of Jesus' experience.
00:51:02.48\00:51:04.52
Luke chapter 11 and
I'll just read verse 41
00:51:04.72\00:51:09.11
at the very tail end of
what He said to the Pharisee.
00:51:09.31\00:51:11.88
He says: "But now as
for what is inside you... "
00:51:12.38\00:51:16.63
What does He say?
"be generous to the poor
00:51:16.83\00:51:20.77
and everything
will be clean for you. "
00:51:20.97\00:51:24.75
So does this mean we should
be more like denominations
00:51:24.95\00:51:29.27
that just serve the
poor and that look after the
00:51:29.48\00:51:32.23
homeless and that sort
of thing? Should be abandon
00:51:32.43\00:51:34.61
all of our truths and follow
that sort of religion that is
00:51:34.81\00:51:38.76
completely practical?
00:51:38.96\00:51:40.49
The truth is is that
Jesus is not saying that.
00:51:40.79\00:51:43.22
He's not devaluing our truths.
00:51:43.53\00:51:46.67
You know what He's saying?
00:51:46.98\00:51:48.72
According to Jesus
this sort of behavior -
00:51:48.92\00:51:51.26
loving and giving to the
poor - is a major evidence
00:51:51.46\00:51:55.47
of a process of sanctification
in our lives. You see,
00:51:55.67\00:52:00.14
when we are truly
sanctified we start losing
00:52:00.34\00:52:04.27
that selfishness
that we wrestle with.
00:52:04.47\00:52:07.22
We start experiencing
a spirit of selflessness.
00:52:07.42\00:52:11.77
We no longer are prejudiced.
We no longer stereotype people.
00:52:11.97\00:52:14.95
We no longer look at
people and pigeonhole them
00:52:15.15\00:52:18.31
and look down upon them.
00:52:18.42\00:52:19.79
We no longer are
preoccupied on how we look.
00:52:19.94\00:52:22.71
It is a regenerated
heart that is no longer selfish
00:52:25.41\00:52:29.11
that sees people
like Jesus would see them.
00:52:29.31\00:52:33.09
And so there is
an outward outcome...
00:52:33.29\00:52:36.17
but it's just not about us.
00:52:36.47\00:52:39.11
It's just not about me.
00:52:39.32\00:52:41.06
I need to say at this
point that we often condemn
00:52:41.26\00:52:45.34
those who are proud and
who are lifting themselves up
00:52:45.44\00:52:47.71
and think they're all
that and you know, "I'm... "
00:52:47.74\00:52:50.83
Whatever they
say. "I'm on television
00:52:51.13\00:52:53.12
and look at me, look at me. "
00:52:53.32\00:52:54.69
We don't condone
that sort of behavior.
00:52:54.88\00:52:57.68
But you know, the
opposite can be true, too.
00:52:57.89\00:52:59.63
If we're constantly
putting ourselves down,
00:52:59.94\00:53:02.53
we're constantly
talking negatively in our minds,
00:53:02.73\00:53:05.56
constantly... always
thinking badly of ourselves
00:53:05.76\00:53:08.54
I will tell you that we
still have our eyes on "me. "
00:53:08.64\00:53:12.52
Whether we're on this
extreme and we are proud
00:53:13.23\00:53:15.66
and we're vocal about
it or whether we're...
00:53:15.86\00:53:18.54
we think that we're
nothing it still focuses on me.
00:53:18.74\00:53:23.01
Our focus needs to be
away from me to Jesus Christ.
00:53:23.11\00:53:27.65
And as we focus on Jesus Christ
00:53:27.85\00:53:29.82
our focus will
inevitably be focused around us
00:53:30.02\00:53:35.00
to those who are downtrodden,
to the poor, to the lost.
00:53:36.14\00:53:41.26
We will start to experience
an unquenchable love for Christ.
00:53:41.56\00:53:45.22
We will start to
experience an unquenchable love
00:53:45.42\00:53:48.30
for lost souls.
00:53:48.50\00:53:50.83
You heard Pastor
Carter here last night.
00:53:51.23\00:53:53.54
You will hear him
again. The reason that he's so
00:53:53.74\00:53:56.03
passionate about evangelism
is because a sanctified life
00:53:56.13\00:54:00.22
is always looking out. A
sanctified life recognizes
00:54:00.42\00:54:04.16
that we are in the last days
and we may be safe in the ship.
00:54:04.36\00:54:07.60
We may understand the
gospel and we know Christ
00:54:07.80\00:54:10.62
and our salvation may be sure
00:54:10.82\00:54:12.26
but around us there
are people floundering.
00:54:12.46\00:54:14.74
There are people drowning.
There are people lost in their
00:54:14.94\00:54:17.06
sins. And so a sanctified
life is always looking out.
00:54:17.17\00:54:21.09
"What can I do to
take this message of life -
00:54:21.29\00:54:25.11
the gospel, the good
news - to somebody else? "
00:54:25.31\00:54:27.40
A sanctified life
never keeps it to ourselves.
00:54:27.70\00:54:31.47
A sanctified life never sits
on its hands and does nothing.
00:54:31.67\00:54:35.23
A sanctified life never
gloats about "we have the truth
00:54:35.43\00:54:38.79
and all these others are lost. "
00:54:38.99\00:54:40.60
A sanctified life is about
an urgency, a love for souls
00:54:40.80\00:54:44.02
as Christ loves
them. An urgency, a desire
00:54:44.12\00:54:46.64
to do something. I
might be too old to go to PNG
00:54:46.84\00:54:50.39
and do what
Pastor Carter is doing.
00:54:50.59\00:54:53.05
Though he's
getting on a little bit...
00:54:53.15\00:54:54.52
don't tell him I said that.
00:54:54.55\00:54:55.92
You're never too old, but
perhaps I don't have the vigor
00:54:55.95\00:54:58.41
and the energy that I once
had but there are still ways
00:54:58.51\00:55:01.02
that we can be used to
save the lost around us.
00:55:01.22\00:55:04.20
I mean, next door to
you. The neighbor next door.
00:55:04.40\00:55:07.39
The lady down the road at the
shop that you meet every day.
00:55:07.59\00:55:10.71
There are so many ways
that we can continue to serve.
00:55:10.91\00:55:13.80
We can continue to pray.
We can continue to donate
00:55:13.83\00:55:16.59
to ministries such as this.
00:55:16.79\00:55:18.19
There are so many ways.
00:55:18.39\00:55:19.76
And each of us have family
members that still don't know
00:55:19.79\00:55:22.96
the Lord. Time is short.
00:55:23.07\00:55:25.23
We have cousins, we have
grandchildren, we have family
00:55:25.43\00:55:28.34
that... even
children - our own children -
00:55:28.54\00:55:31.38
still don't know the Lord.
00:55:31.58\00:55:32.95
And we need to be
earnest in our love for them,
00:55:32.98\00:55:35.45
and our conversations to them
00:55:35.65\00:55:37.71
need to be conversations
drawing them back to Christ.
00:55:37.92\00:55:41.20
Ellen White says:
"When human agents choose
00:55:41.40\00:55:43.00
the will of God they are
conformed to the character
00:55:43.20\00:55:45.95
of Christ. Jesus acts through
their organs and faculties.
00:55:46.15\00:55:49.59
They put aside selfish pride.
00:55:49.79\00:55:51.66
All
manifestations of superiority
00:55:51.86\00:55:53.81
and all arbitrary
exactions are put aside
00:55:54.01\00:55:58.23
and they manifest
meekness, lowliness. "
00:55:58.44\00:56:00.65
That was what
Jesus would manifest.
00:56:00.85\00:56:04.20
The meekness and
lowliness of Christ.
00:56:04.40\00:56:06.31
"It is no more
themselves that live and act
00:56:06.51\00:56:09.09
but it is Christ that
lives and acts through them. "
00:56:09.29\00:56:13.04
That is a sanctified life.
00:56:14.28\00:56:16.46
Do you want Christ to
live and act through you?
00:56:16.56\00:56:19.08
Do you want a life of
consistency and continuity
00:56:19.29\00:56:22.72
and congruity?
00:56:22.83\00:56:24.20
Are you sick and
tired of living a lie?
00:56:24.23\00:56:26.82
Isn't it time
that you came clean
00:56:28.45\00:56:31.07
and that you
allowed God to stop the rot?
00:56:31.27\00:56:34.36
Isn't it time that you
through the Holy Spirit
00:56:34.56\00:56:37.19
allowed Jesus to transform
you from the inside out?
00:56:37.40\00:56:41.89
If that is your prayer today,
00:56:42.56\00:56:45.03
if you want that for you,
00:56:45.24\00:56:47.09
then I invite you to join
me as we pray and ask God to
00:56:47.29\00:56:49.99
search us and change us
and transform us from within
00:56:50.09\00:56:54.26
because it is a work that
only can be achieved by God.
00:56:54.46\00:56:57.36
We cannot will
ourselves to do it.
00:56:57.56\00:56:59.52
We need to surrender
to Him, submit and yield
00:56:59.72\00:57:02.52
and to cooperate in the
work that He wants to do
00:57:02.82\00:57:05.84
for us. Let's just pray
together and ask Him to do that.
00:57:06.04\00:57:08.89
Our Father in heaven, we
have laid our lives bare.
00:57:09.19\00:57:12.72
There are many listening to
me today that are struggling
00:57:12.92\00:57:16.57
with sin, with temptation,
but we want it to stop...
00:57:16.77\00:57:20.50