Participants: Justin Kim
Series Code: 13ASIC
Program Code: 13ASIC000008
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00:19 Good evening and happy Sabbath.
00:22 I have the privilege of introducing tonight 00:25 our speaker for the evening message. 00:27 My husband Ray and I have known Pastor Justin Kim 00:31 for quiet some number of years. 00:33 But my first memory or my earliest memory 00:36 is at a convention at GYC. 00:39 So I want to ask you first Pastor Kim, what is GYC 00:43 and what was your involvement with that organization? 00:46 Yeah, GYC is a organization 00:49 that stands for Generation.Youth. Christ. 00:53 We've had our evolution of our name, 00:56 and it was basically a group of young people 01:00 in almost ten years ago, mercy, ten years ago 01:04 where we tried to copy ASI. 01:05 Basically what you guys are doing here 01:08 and it was a meager attempt to be an adult. 01:14 And I understand that you moved from GYC 01:17 straight into pastoral ministry? 01:19 No, the last thing I wanted to be was a pastor, 01:22 and the last thing I wanted to be 01:23 was a public speaker in front of many people. 01:26 But GYC had a profound impact upon my life 01:28 I was doing some stem cell research at Mass General 01:33 and I was doing research there 01:36 and I thought that research is so boring and horrible 01:40 I'd rather witness to the people 01:41 in the hospital and slowly that was a slow evolution 01:45 there as well in to the pastorate. 01:47 Not that I believe in it anyways that's not the topic. 01:50 So what was the epiphany that you had there that 01:54 steered you then from research or to be a physician, 01:58 and that was your aspiration, to pastoral ministry? 02:01 Yeah, I was talking to a Muslim guy 02:03 at the hospital once 02:05 and he was the chief of Neuro Oncolo-- 02:08 Pediatric Neuro-oncology for children's hospital, Boston 02:11 which in the medical field, 02:12 I don't think you can get higher than that. 02:14 And he was talking about religion 02:17 and he was saying like what's the point of it? 02:19 And had known me and I talked to him 02:22 and he said hey, I like what you have, Justin. 02:25 I'm like what? What do I have? 02:28 You know you have purpose, you know where you're going, 02:30 you have solid belief in God 02:32 and that's a real testament to me 02:35 and that was revolutionary to me. 02:37 And I thought, man I got to learn 02:39 how to, to use opportunities like this for God's glory. 02:43 And that so that brought you to pastoral ministry, 02:45 and since then where have you served? 02:48 I've served various churches in different areas in Michigan 02:52 and now I'm director of communications 02:53 in Sabbath school for the conference. 02:55 And for the Michigan conference? 02:57 That's right. Okay. 02:58 And do you have a family? 02:59 I do, we-- I just got married 03:03 to the same person three times last year, 03:06 it's a long story- it's another sermon 03:09 and we will be expecting in December 03:13 the third party of our family. 03:17 And it's interesting because your birthday is in December, 03:20 Rachel's birthday is in December, 03:23 and God willing the little person's birthday 03:26 will be in December. 03:27 Yes, it's cheaper for that time to happen all at the same time. 03:32 So we are looking forward 03:33 to what God has laid on your heart to share with us. 03:37 Thank you for giving us a perspective 03:39 of what history you have 03:41 and that God has actually brought you 03:43 to this time, for this moment. 03:46 We will be praying for you, God bless you. 03:48 Please, thanks for that. 03:50 Good evening everybody. Good evening. 03:53 It's a very huge privilege to be with you here tonight. 03:59 ASI is an organization 04:01 that's dear to a lot of us at GYC. 04:04 We were just enamored with what's going on here 04:07 and incorporating some of the evangelism, 04:11 amazing facts and the organization of ASI 04:13 and the philosophy of campus ministries 04:15 and all these other things were happening in the 2000s 04:18 it just merged into GYC to what it is today 04:21 and it's a privilege to be standing here before you today. 04:24 Do you have your Bibles here tonight? 04:26 We're gonna be studying from the Book of John 04:29 and that question needs to be asked. 04:33 Do you have your bibles tonight? 04:34 It's becoming more and more common 04:36 for people not to bring their Bibles 04:37 and if you do bring your Bibles, 04:39 you leave them in the hotel room 04:40 or for whatever logistical reason 04:41 or sometimes you have it on your phone 04:43 but it's great to actually have the text in front of you. 04:47 Amen everybody? Amen. 04:48 Where I'm actually be delving into the text. 04:50 There are different philosophies 04:51 to understand scripture 04:52 which I believe a lot of these wrong philosophies 04:55 are entering into the church of saying, 04:56 hey, you don't need to know the text. 04:58 Just kind of know generally what stories are in there. 05:01 We want to get into what Jesus has to speak to us. 05:04 Amen everybody? Amen. 05:05 So if you have your Bibles 05:06 please open to the Book of John, 05:09 the Book of John. 05:10 John Chapter 3, John Chapter 3 05:14 and before we read from scripture 05:15 and ask you to bow your heads with me. 05:21 Father in heaven, we ask here tonight, 05:24 Lord, you have promised that 05:26 in gatherings and in convocations 05:28 and in conventions such as these, 05:31 these are Your media to pour forth your Holy Spirit. 05:37 Father, this prayer has been asked already 05:40 and we being evil- if we know 05:42 how to give good gifts to our own children, 05:45 how much more will you Father, 05:47 give us the Holy Spirit to us that ask? 05:50 So here tonight on this Friday night on this ASI Sabbath 05:54 we ask for your Holy Spirit be with our minds 05:57 to awaken us from the sober realities 06:00 that you would have us to realize 06:02 and to be with our hearts. 06:04 Cleanse us from the blood of Jesus 06:06 and may we here from the words of Jesus himself 06:09 in Jesus' name, amen. 06:11 Amen. 06:12 John 3:1. John 3:1. 06:15 The Sermon tonight is entitled, 06:17 to Jesus by night, to Jesus by night. 06:22 It is a byline or a nickname 06:26 for one character in scripture. 06:30 It's very interesting 06:31 how bylines follow you were ever you go. 06:35 I like to tell you a story. 06:36 Its actually two stories that happen to me 06:38 and I merged them into one for illustration sake. 06:41 I was once a little child 06:43 that was showcased before the church, 06:46 like we do on 13th Sabbath like we did here tonight. 06:49 Where, each of the divisions come out and show their kids 06:52 and they do the some little cute things 06:53 and for Jesus love and kindergarten 06:55 and primary to do those things 06:57 and they could do whatever, and it's cute. 06:59 Yes. 07:00 And I was like, you know, seven, eight, nine, ten, 07:02 eleven, twelve, years old, I don't remember 07:03 and I had to memorize the 13 memory verses. 07:07 I mean, stand up to the mike 07:08 and I had natural false settle voice back then 07:10 and, and I speak into this mike and say, 07:13 God made everything, Genesis 1:1. 07:17 You know all the Bible-- 07:18 obviously they shortened Bible verses, 07:20 but at early age, praise the Lord, 07:23 that they were teachers 07:24 who believed in scripture memorization. 07:27 Amen everybody. Amen. 07:29 And then we all finished the memory verses 07:31 the next person went up 07:32 and this is the Korean church we worship in the gym. 07:34 We're high above, just like kind of like we are here today 07:37 and is very nerve-racking kind of experience. 07:40 And you know when the kids are nervous, 07:41 the parents also kind of get nervous 07:43 and kind of that tension in the crowd. 07:45 And then this girl went up to the mike 07:47 and she about to say her 13 memory verses 07:49 and then her face insistently changes 07:52 and she becomes white. 07:55 Not rationally but the blood drains from her face. 07:59 She changed white, 08:00 this Korean girl like just completely white. 08:03 And then she pops up her cheeks 08:06 and she kind of hurls over into above--- 08:10 in front of everybody above the people breakfast in public. 08:15 It is the most nastiest experience 08:17 I ever had in my life. 08:18 And then as a little child, the unsanctified source 08:21 that we were, we all are just like 08:23 and we step away from her. 08:25 Excuse me. 08:26 At that point, everybody was looking for one person. 08:29 They were not looking for the Lord Jesus Christ, 08:30 they were looking for the girls mom, to cleanup. 08:35 From that point on, this story 08:38 or this experience followed her for the rest of her life. 08:44 We go and maybe two, three years later like hey, 08:48 remember couple of years ago 08:49 when you throw up at Sabbath school. 08:52 You have been in high school and you like hey, 08:54 remember a long time ago like we met at primary, 08:56 like may went to other Sabbath school 08:58 as nasty like breakfast. 09:01 We go to college and come back for thanksgiving 09:03 and say, hey, remember a long, long time. 09:07 It was you, you throw up at Sabbath school. 09:10 We go to wedding, and we get like 09:12 reunions coming together and you like, hey, 09:15 didn't something happen to you at Sabbath school, 09:17 that's why you threw up? 09:19 And we never make her forget it. 09:24 This is followed her, her entire life. 09:28 In John Chapter 3, by the way that's not advice, 09:30 that's not most godly think to do, 09:31 that's not a sanctified thing to do. 09:33 Well, we don't want to do anything more. 09:34 But here in the Book of John, there is one character, 09:38 his name is found in verse 1. 09:40 And if you are there please say, amen. 09:41 Amen. 09:43 Amen? Amen. 09:44 Can you say, amen louder than that. 09:45 Amen is a biblical word. 09:47 Amen everybody. It's not a bad. 09:49 Amen? Amen. 09:50 You have your Bibles, amen? Amen. 09:52 Hey, backseat people, do you have your Bibles? 09:54 Amen. 09:56 Okay, we pray for the backseat people. 09:58 Okay. John 3:1. 10:01 There was a man of the Pharisees, 10:04 named, What's his name? 10:05 Nicodemus. 10:06 Now many of you should be some what familiar with the story. 10:09 We're not gonna go into the details of it 10:12 but here, there is the man named Nicodemus. 10:15 Nicodemus in verse 1, he was a man of the Pharisees, 10:18 a ruler of the Jews, and verse 2, 10:21 "The same came to Jesus by" what? 10:24 By night. "By night." 10:25 Nicodemus as mentioned, three times 10:27 and three times alone in the gospel of John 10:30 and every time his name is mentioned, 10:33 this moniker this byline, follows him. 10:36 The one that through up as--- 10:39 the one that came to Jesus by night. 10:44 Nicodemus here in verse 1, is a Pharisee, 10:48 in my understanding the Pharisees, 10:50 they were not church officials. 10:51 It is, thus probably more of the Sadducees were priest 10:55 but these Pharisees were businessmen, 10:57 they were upper class 10:58 and they were very, very spiritual 11:00 and there living more conservative in their leanings. 11:03 Here in verse 1, he is a ruler of the Jews, 11:06 and in Desire of Ages he was a very capable leader. 11:10 And perhaps once a year he had, he go to ASI, I don't know. 11:14 Perhaps he is part of the leader-- 11:16 he is the ruler of the Jews. 11:18 He was someone who can move and shake 11:22 and he was top notch guy. 11:24 And something about the Pharisees were, 11:26 at an early age they had memorized scripture. 11:31 He was part of the culture at that day. 11:32 The education system, 11:33 that many children of the age 12 11:35 had to memorized Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, 11:39 Numbers and Deuteronomy. 11:41 And for those who were successful, 11:43 would graduate to the secondary level of education 11:45 and memorize from Judges to Malachi. 11:49 By the time they finished 11:50 the memorizing the Old Testament, 11:53 they would look for Rabbis to follow. 11:56 And the Rabbi would ask them many questions 11:58 and they pass these questions, the Rabbis would say, 12:01 two words, a two word statement. 12:04 He would say, follow me, 12:08 which basically meant, you graduated. 12:11 Where were I go, you go. Wherever I step, you step. 12:13 Whatever I eat, you eat. Whenever I sleep, you sleep. 12:17 You will now become my disciple. 12:18 This will make sense, when the 12 disciples, 12:20 especially the four fishermen, 12:22 when Jesus came to them and by the way, 12:23 if you didn't pass the first five books, 12:26 you are sent off to a technical trade school 12:28 and you learn fishing. 12:32 You understand? 12:33 So in comes a Rabbi, 12:35 and talks to four fishermen and he says, follow me. 12:39 And what does the Bible say, 12:40 And straightway they forsook their nets. 12:43 And straightway they forsook their fathers Zebedee, 12:45 left them in the ship with the hired servants, 12:47 and followed him. 12:50 Its like saying, Harvard Medical School, 12:52 gives you a free scholarship in all expenses paid, 12:56 you drop everything and go. 12:58 Yes or no? Well, some of us. 13:02 Here verse 1, Nicodemus is one of those Pharisees 13:05 and he's memorized huge portions 13:08 if not the entire Old Testament. 13:10 Now, I would submit you today at something Adventist, 13:13 we need to become a people that knows our scripture. 13:17 Amen everybody. Amen. 13:18 Not in the pharisaical way, amen, but in a way, 13:22 that the scriptures can fortified our mind. 13:26 And only those who have fortified their minds 13:29 of scripture will be able to survive the heresies 13:32 and the deceptions of the last day. 13:34 Amen? 13:35 Here is the one of these people in verse 1, 13:37 "A man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, 13:39 a ruler of the Jews, 13:40 the same came to Jesus by night, 13:43 " The context that here, he is coming to Jesus by night. 13:46 What is happening at night in these days? 13:49 Back than, today night time is just 13:52 whatever or you can do whatever you want, 13:53 you could go seminar at 11 13:55 and you can do everything do in day time 13:56 and you can do in night time. 13:57 But back then when it was night time, 13:59 you did absolutely nothing. 14:03 No lights, no luxury cities. 14:06 When the sun goes down, you go down. 14:09 When the sun goes up, you go up. 14:13 So here you have a man, high in education, 14:19 high in social status, high in finance, if you will. 14:24 And he sneaking around in the neighborhood 14:28 to make sure he is not caught. 14:30 And he is not going to visit some city place, 14:33 he is gonna visit a Jewish Rabbi. 14:36 Verse 2, "The same came to Jesus by night, 14:38 and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that 14:40 thou art a teacher come from God" 14:41 and he is butter Jesus up. 14:43 And here, I'm want to mention, 14:44 we're not gonna go into the actual the dialogue, 14:47 but here is what Jesus says, verse 3, 14:49 "Jesus answered and said unto him, 14:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, 14:53 except a man be born again, he" what's the next word? 14:57 "Cannot." 15:00 To a man of ability to say 15:02 that he couldn't do something was a shock. 15:06 You can't see the kingdom of God. 15:08 what? 15:10 And again Jesus said again in verses 5, 15:12 "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 15:13 Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 15:16 he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." 15:19 Verses 8, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, 15:22 and thou hearest the sound thereof, 15:26 but canst not tell whence it cometh." 15:28 Jesus says here three times, 15:30 you cannot, you cannot, you cannot. 15:34 Does this have Nicodemus attention? 15:38 What Jesus is doing? Here is the profound context. 15:42 Here Jesus is talking to Nicodemus one on one. 15:45 And by the way, its these one on one encounters 15:48 that makes Jesus so wonderful and charming and warm. 15:52 There's something attractive about Jesus 15:55 that the Nicodemus is willing to sneak around 15:58 and to meet one on one with Jesus. 16:01 This one on one context are found 16:02 throughout the Book of John. 16:03 In John Chapter 3, you have Nicodemus, 16:06 a guy of high stature. 16:08 In John Chapter 4, you have a girl of low stature. 16:12 And in John Chapter 3, you have Nicodemus 16:14 who is coming to Jesus. 16:16 In John Chapter 4, he had Jesus coming to the woman. 16:20 You have John Chapter 3, this is a deep in the night. 16:23 In John Chapter 4, this is at noon time. 16:26 You see the contrast between the two. 16:28 One on one encounters. 16:30 When he came Jesus knew 16:32 that Nicodemus was ashamed of Jesus. 16:36 This is the reason why he came to Jesus by night. 16:39 He did not want to the community to know, 16:41 he wanted Jesus to be in a pride relationship 16:44 and nothing to be known in public. 16:47 And Jesus says, you cannot, you cannot, you cannot. 16:49 What He doing is this, because that you are ashamed 16:53 because of the darkness of your heart, 16:56 you cannot see or walk or discern spiritual thing. 17:02 Is it making sense? 17:03 He's actually using the night as an object lesson. 17:07 Verses 10, "Jesus answered and said unto him, 17:10 are you a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?" 17:12 Verses 11, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 17:15 We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen, 17:17 and ye receive not our witness. 17:19 If I have told you earthly things, 17:20 and ye believe not, how shall you believe, 17:22 if I tell you of heavenly things?" 17:23 Verses 13, get this. 17:25 "No man has ascended up to heaven, 17:27 but he that came down from heaven, 17:29 even the Son of man which is in heaven. 17:31 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 17:34 even so must the Son of man be lifted up." 17:37 Here Jesus gives Nicodemus an insight 17:42 about what's to happen. 17:44 Just like how that serpent was lifted up, 17:46 Jesus is supposed to lift up. 17:48 And this comes back little bit later. 17:50 Go to verse 16, we know verse 16 very well. 17:53 This is the famous verse and go down to the verse 19, 17:55 again he talks about light. 17:56 "This is the condemnation, 17:58 that light is come into the world, 18:00 and men loved" what? 18:03 "Darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 18:07 For every one that does evil hates the light, 18:10 neither comes into the light, 18:12 lest his deeds should be reproved. 18:14 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, 18:17 that his deeds may be made manifest, 18:19 that they are wrought in God." 18:22 Here Jesus is being super straight. 18:26 He is saying, you're ashamed. 18:29 Question, how many of you here are ashamed of Christ? 18:34 Maybe, you are not here ashamed of Christ at ASI 18:37 but when you go back your home, 18:38 and in your cubicles or in your offices, 18:40 or in your neighborhood or in your business, 18:43 you are ashamed of Christ. 18:45 Maybe, you're in schools, 18:47 maybe you are in a civil community organizations 18:51 and you are afraid of speaking or afraid of being like, 18:55 or afraid of being a straight up, 18:57 bold and confident Seventh-day Adventist. 19:01 And your relationship with the Lord Jesus 19:03 is a private one. 19:05 My father is a taller man, for an Asian this is very rare. 19:12 He is taller than me. 19:15 All sons are taller than their fathers in Korea 19:18 except for our family. 19:21 My father in the 60's or 70's was a hippie. 19:24 So just imagine a Asian Korean hippie. 19:28 He had longer hair and as the pastor, he told me, 19:31 you got to grow your hair out. 19:32 And I was like, no, I'm a pastor, 19:33 I want my head to be short and we have these discussions 19:36 that goes back and forth. 19:37 And finally he says, didn't Jesus have long hair? 19:39 And there is no biblical support for that. 19:41 I don't know that. 19:43 One time I went into my dad closet, 19:46 with my mom and dad closet. 19:47 And I don't know about you, 19:48 there's always that one room in houses 19:51 where you put all your stuff in 19:53 that you never want to see ever again. 19:55 Well, this is magical grounds for young children. 19:58 So I was only child, I have a very vivid imagination 20:01 and I crawled and explore this closet. 20:04 And there are, there are dresses in there, 20:06 that I never seen my mom wear, 20:08 there was hideous things in there. 20:10 There was some old stuff in there 20:11 and there was moths in there and it was like 20:13 dry cleaning plastic bags to cover everything. 20:16 It was just wonderful wired stuff. 20:18 As I dump deeper into this jungle of closet 20:21 I want all the way to the back of the closet, okay. 20:24 Isn't some C. S. Lewis story by the way. 20:27 And at the back of the closet 20:28 there was, get this, an orange leather suit. 20:36 Now for those who are laughing, 20:37 you are laughing because this was in fashion, 20:39 when you were young, you know what I'm talking about. 20:41 But for the younger generation like, this is so, 20:44 this is disturbing for me and I still remember this. 20:47 Why in the world, is there is a suit made out of leather? 20:51 Let alone, why is it color orange. 20:54 And with this orange suit, 20:55 there was a nice lime green tie hanging with it. 20:59 For some you, that's your kitchen, 21:00 your kitchen looks like this. 21:03 And I screamed out loud. I was like, God what is this? 21:07 And my father and my mother 21:08 come out thinking I've got into trouble 21:10 and I take out this and like, what is this? 21:12 How is responsible for this kind of fashion? 21:16 I wish my father responded in a smile, 21:20 kind of, its one of those like 21:21 reminiscing smiles from like the olden days 21:23 when he used to be young kind of imagination. 21:26 Oh, that's my suit. 21:30 Oh man, why? 21:35 And he offered to give me the suit. 21:37 And I said, no, no, no, no, no, no, no I don't want it. 21:41 And he is thinner than I'm and taller than I'm. 21:43 And so I wouldn't be able to in fit in this suit. 21:46 And I asked him this, dad, why do you have this suit? 21:51 I'm trying to imagine, you know, 21:52 skinny Asian tall guy with long hair in a purple--- 21:57 orange, orange with a green tie. 21:59 And he said this, that's the suit, 22:02 when I met your mother. 22:05 At some party or at airport or something, 22:08 some kind of memory attached to it that he wore. 22:11 And my mom looking like, yeah, you look pretty dad. 22:13 I'm like, no I don't, 22:14 I don't want this to be happening right now. 22:18 But here is the point, at that point I said, 22:21 hey dad, this is old, throw it away. 22:24 And he said, no I can't. 22:26 It just hold too much sentimental memories, 22:30 its too good. 22:31 Okay, then why don't you wear it? 22:35 And what did he say? 22:36 No, I can't, because I'm ashamed of it. 22:39 And so this suit is in a intermediate terry state. 22:45 It can't be thrown away and rejected, 22:48 but it can't be worn out in public. 22:50 It just stuck in closet in private somewhere 22:54 and as long as it stuck, it's safe. 22:58 Everything the status quo can be maintained. 23:03 But it is stuck in the privacy of a closet. 23:06 For Nicodemus, his relationship with Jesus 23:10 was a orange leather suit. 23:14 He came to Jesus, 23:16 but he came to Jesus by, by night. 23:19 Is this making sense? 23:21 For some of us, the Lord Jesus 23:23 is a wonderful Lord God and Savior. 23:26 He is the one who saved us, 23:28 we have great memories with Him. 23:30 The churches are bright, we love the Adventist church, 23:33 we love the haystacks, 23:34 we love the ABC and 3ABN and ASI and GYC 23:38 and every other acronym in this church, 23:40 we love it to death. 23:42 But the minute we enter into publics fear, 23:45 we turn to private 23:49 and we refuse to talk about the Lord Jesus. 23:52 Let alone be like Lord Jesus in the public market place. 23:57 Isn't that making sense? 23:59 Now some of you, I know that some of you 24:00 will think that, that's not me. 24:02 I go around and I'm a public Christian. 24:06 Second time Nicodemus is mentioned is found 24:08 in John Chapter 7, go to John Chapter 7. 24:14 John Chapter 7, if you there, please say amen. 24:16 Amen. 24:17 Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, John Chapter 7. 24:21 John 7:32, "The Pharisees heard 24:28 that the people murmured such things concerning him 24:31 and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent 24:33 officers to take him." 24:34 Here the Pharisees, the same Pharisees 24:38 that the Nicodemus as part of, they are in a community meeting 24:42 and they finally make a decision. 24:44 Do we have a motion, we have a motion. 24:46 We were at second, yes, we were second. 24:47 And they pass the motion to take Jesus and rifle Him up, 24:52 maybe to kill Him, take His life. 24:54 Well, I don't know where they got these officers. 24:56 I don't know, if they went to the yellow book, 24:58 they went to the internet and go to assigns.com 25:00 but they got two guys, okay. 25:02 In my imagination, there just a huge guy with muscles 25:06 and they have, you know, tattoos and their bald, 25:08 I don't know why they are bald but they are bald. 25:10 Maybe thick necks and bulging and they are out to get Jesus. 25:14 Verse 37, "In the last day, that great day of the feast, 25:18 Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, 25:20 let him come unto me, and drink. 25:22 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, 25:25 out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." 25:27 And He is preaching in verse 40, 25:30 lot of people therefore, 25:31 "Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, 25:33 they said, of a truth this is the Prophet." 25:36 Verse 41, "Others said, This is the Christ." 25:38 And some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?" 25:41 Verse 43, "There was a division 25:43 among the people because of him." 25:45 Verse 44, and I love this. I see humor in scripture. 25:48 "For some of them would have taken him; 25:51 but no man laid hands on him." 25:55 So these two big guys, I don't know why, 25:57 but there names are Bructes and Groutes. 25:59 They are thinking we're gonna take Jesus, 26:01 we want to get Jesus. 26:02 They go to Jesus and Jesus is preaching in the public square. 26:05 We're gonna get Jesus and we're gonna get Him. 26:07 And as they are gonna get Him, 26:09 they are listening to the Jesus preach. 26:11 And while they're listening to the words of Jesus, 26:14 they get lost in the words of Jesus. 26:17 Isn't that amazing that even the prosecutors 26:20 are getting lost in the sermons of Jesus? 26:24 And they forget, 26:26 why they were even where to begin with. 26:28 Verse 45, "Then came the officers 26:31 to the chief priests and Pharisees," 26:33 and I love this "and they went back" 26:36 and I'm asking myself why did they go back? 26:40 Bructes and Groutes come back 26:41 and then the communities well, did you get Him? 26:43 Get who? Get Jesus. 26:45 Oh, yeah, you told we forget about Jesus. 26:48 Verse 45, " Why have ye not brought him? 26:51 "And the officers answered" and I love this, 26:55 "Never man spake like this man." 26:58 Awesome. 26:59 Verse 47, 27:00 "Then answered them the Pharisees, 27:02 Are ye also deceived?" 27:04 Have any of the rulers 27:05 or of the Pharisees believed on him? 27:07 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed." 27:10 Verse 50, what is the first word in verse 50? 27:13 Nicodemus. Nicodemus. 27:14 Nicodemus is part of that board meeting. 27:19 "Nicodemus said unto them," 27:23 just in case you forgot who Nicodemus was. 27:26 verse 50, he that through up at Sabbath school, 27:29 is that what the Bible says? 27:31 He that came to Jesus by, 27:35 the one who was originally ashamed, 27:38 the one who was originally shy, 27:40 the one who was originally introverted, 27:43 the one that came to Jesus by night, what does he do? 27:45 He raises his hand and he says this in verses 51. 27:50 "Does our law judge any man, before it hears him, 27:53 and knows, know what he doeth?" 27:56 Basically he is saying, hey, this is just really fair, 27:58 maybe we should give him a fair chance. 28:02 And Desire of Ages says, 28:03 there was an uncomfortable silence. 28:06 Meaning what? Nicodemus, was right. 28:09 And out of sarcasm they say this is verse 52, 28:13 "They answered and said unto him, 28:14 are you also of Galilee? 28:16 Search, and look, for out of Galilee arise no prophet." 28:18 And verse 53, "Every man went unto his own" what? 28:22 They just walk out. Level two Nicodemus is this. 28:26 This whole process of Nicodemus 28:29 coming around is taking three years. 28:32 How long everybody? 28:34 Three years. For three years. 28:35 Sometimes there are some people out there 28:36 it takes three years to win them. 28:37 Amen everybody? 28:39 Its not an excuse, some people it takes for years. 28:42 Level one, Nicodemus says, oh, you know, 28:46 I want to meet Jesus, but I'm ashamed. 28:49 I'm gonna go to Jesus but its gonna be at night time. 28:52 Level two Jesus-- oh Nicodemus, 28:54 level two Nicodemus, he in the board meeting, 28:57 Jesus is being attacked and he raises his hand 29:02 and he defense Jesus in the board meeting. 29:06 Today, we need people 29:08 who are willing to stand for truth, 29:10 to stand for Jesus, to stand for 29:14 what's right in board meetings. 29:17 Even if it means incurring an awkward silence 29:22 or sarcasm from the other side. 29:25 But still, this was not the level 29:27 that Nicodemus had to be act. 29:29 Amen. 29:30 Level one, who shy, level two, he is kind of peeping up, 29:35 but he is still silent. 29:38 The third time, the Nicodemus is mentioned 29:39 is found in John Chapter 19, 29:42 John Chapter 19, turn to chapter 19. 29:46 If you there please say amen? 29:49 Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, we've done a lot of time here. 29:53 John 19:30. 29:58 Amen? Amen. 30:01 "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, 30:03 he said, It is finished, 30:05 he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. 30:07 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, 30:09 that the bodies should not remain 30:10 on the cross on the Sabbath day, 30:11 for that Sabbath day was an high day, 30:13 besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, 30:16 and that they might be taken away." 30:18 Many of you are familiar the crucifixion 30:20 is dead by suffocation. 30:23 When the arms are raised up 30:25 and your poor cavity sinks down, 30:27 you have no space to breath. 30:29 So when you are feet are nail to the cross, 30:33 you have to stand up on your legs, 30:35 take a breath and because you so tired, 30:37 you sink that down unto you need to breath again. 30:40 Basically, they are gonna up and down 30:42 and breathing like this. 30:44 Because it's Sabbath and because you want Sabbath 30:46 look nice on a high day, 30:49 they said, hey lets brake his legs. 30:52 If you brake his legs He can't stand up, 30:55 if He cant stand up, he suffocates and dies 30:57 at earlier weight, at earlier time. 31:00 Verse 32, "Then came the soldiers, 31:02 and brake the legs of the first, 31:03 and of the other which was crucified with him. 31:05 But when they came to Jesus, 31:06 and saw that he was dead already, 31:08 they brake not his" what? 31:11 And praise the Lord, 31:12 this is a fulfillment of prophecy. 31:15 Verse 34, "One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, 31:18 and forthwith came there out blood and water. 31:21 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true 31:24 and he knoweth that he saith true, 31:27 that you might believe." 31:29 These things were done, 31:30 that the scripture should be fulfilled, 31:31 a bone of him shall not be broken. 31:33 And again another scripture said, 31:35 they shall look on him whom they pierced." 31:39 You see, what's happening here? 31:41 Jesus is fulfilling all these Old Testament prophecies. 31:47 If you what, a careful study of Psalms Chapter 22, 31:52 the first words of Psalms 22 is, 31:55 "My god, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 31:59 These words were said by Jesus. Yes. 32:03 And the last words of Psalms 22 in the Hebrew is, 32:08 It is done or it is finished. 32:11 Of which the last words of Jesus were, 32:13 it is finished or it is done. 32:17 And many scholar says, that while Jesus was on the cross, 32:21 if you have a chance tonight, read Psalms 22. 32:25 The Jesus is on the cross and heaven has closed, 32:30 the Father has turned away, even the clouds are coming on. 32:33 Everyone has rejected Him and He is on the cross 32:36 and He only source of encouragement 32:39 He gets, its from Psalms 22, its from Bible memorization. 32:45 And in many ways, He is rebuking, 32:48 that all the Pharisees who have memorized 32:50 the all the whole Old Testament 32:52 and here He is memorizing-- He is quoting Psalms 22. 32:56 And as He is quoting Psalms 22, 32:59 that the actual events are happening to Him. 33:04 He wanted to brake His legs and here He has already died. 33:07 Okay. 33:08 He talks about His mother, He is talking about thirsting, 33:10 He said all found in Psalms 22. 33:13 Well, at this point what happens. 33:14 Verse 38. 33:16 "After this Joseph of Arimathaea, 33:18 being a disciple of Jesus, 33:19 but secretly for fear of the Jews, 33:21 besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus 33:24 and Pilate gave him leave. 33:25 He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus." 33:28 Verse 39, "There came also," what's the name? 33:33 "Nicodemus, which at the first" 33:35 and just in case you forget who he was, 33:38 this was the one who threw up at the one 33:42 "at first came to Jesus by night." 33:45 The one who is originally shy or at second level 33:48 he kind of peeped up in a board meeting, 33:50 but on level three Nicodemus is this. 33:52 Verses 39, "There came also Nicodemus, 33:54 which at the first came to Jesus by night, 33:57 and he brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, 34:00 about a hundred pound weight. 34:02 And they took the body of Jesus, 34:04 and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, 34:06 as the manner of the Jews is to bury." 34:09 Here Nicodemus has gone through a profound transformation 34:13 that he buys very expensive things 34:16 and instead of coming to Jesus by night, 34:19 he is coming to Jesus by day. 34:23 And he comes to the foot of the cross 34:25 and he doesn't care who is watching. 34:29 He doesn't care how much these things work. 34:34 He doesn't care how much education he has 34:38 or other people have over to thinking. 34:39 He just doesn't care anymore. 34:43 He is free from all these things 34:46 and the only thing he cares about is the Lord Jesus. 34:52 Because at that moment, all those memory verses 34:55 that he memorized, are coming to life. 34:59 They're flipping to his mind. 35:02 Genesis 3:15 this is the seed of the woman. 35:05 Exodus, this is the law giver from Mount Sinai. 35:10 He sees the blood patterns, this is Pentecost pass over, 35:14 pass over is pointing forth to this moment in time now. 35:18 In Leviticus, all those sacrifices 35:20 are pointing to this point now. 35:23 In Numbers the Shekinah Glory 35:24 this is the bodily formed to Shekinah now. 35:28 This is the covenant maker of Deuteronomy. 35:30 This is the King of Kings, judge of judge. 35:33 This is the guy the whole Old Testament is pointing too 35:38 and all these texts are flying through his mind 35:43 and he just can't be shy anymore. 35:49 He realizes, it is his moment in time. 35:55 Some day Adventist brothers and sister, 35:56 we know a lot of stuff. 35:58 Amen? We know a lot of stuff. 36:01 Yes, amen. Yes or no? 36:03 Amen. But don't be humble tonight. 36:04 Do you know lot of stuff, yes or no? 36:06 You know, 2,300 day prophecy 36:08 like the back of your hand, yes or no? 36:09 Amen. You should. 36:16 With all that Bible knowledge if Jesus is not the focal point 36:23 then Seventh-day Adventist becomes 36:25 one of the most dangerous religions out there. 36:29 But if Jesus is right at the center of 36:32 this is the most liberating faith on earth. 36:37 Amen? Amen. 36:40 Here Nicodemus goes all out 36:43 and in the book of Acts of Apostles 36:46 what I call level four Nicodemus, 36:49 seven in the Bible. 36:51 Ellen White says, that Nicodemus emptied 36:55 his accounts is my words for the early church. 37:01 All those high contacts he had he used them for the church, 37:06 he used them for the gospel, he used them for Jesus Christ. 37:09 And if he was not for him 37:11 and his best friend Joe of Arimathea. 37:14 By the way which is very interesting 37:16 he is looking over at his best friend, 37:18 he is live wow, best friend, you are a rich man. 37:21 There's a prophecy 37:22 that Jesus will be buried in a tomb of a rich man. 37:27 Like he is living within the prophecy itself. 37:30 I mean, he is having this experience. 37:32 He realizes I need to go all out for Jesus right now. 37:37 And Acts of Apostle says this, he died a poor man, 37:40 he died a lonely man but he died a happy man 37:43 because he gave it all for Jesus. 37:50 The sacrifice that Nicodemus portrayed in the early church 37:58 will be the same sacrifice necessary 38:01 in the later day church. 38:03 I'm not telling later day saints, amen everybody. 38:06 I'm talking about today. 38:09 This is the time for the Father's business 38:14 and we need to empty all for the Lord Jesus Christ. 38:18 I'm not saying like just empty your bank. 38:20 I'm not talking about finances, 38:22 I'm talking about empty your reputation 38:25 for the Lord Jesus Christ. 38:27 Empty your energy that you have, 38:30 empty-- I don't care if you are young or old, 38:32 even if you're 90 years old 38:34 the Lord has a work for you to do. 38:36 You're still alive, amen? Amen. 38:41 We need to empty all for the Lord Jesus Christ. 38:46 This isn't some youth meeting where there's a lot of young-- 38:49 no, young, youth meetings are very interesting. 38:52 Young people don't have much. 38:55 So when you ask them to give all 38:56 they willing give all 38:57 because they don't have much to begin with. 39:00 Amen. 39:01 I've been in enough youth meetings, 39:03 give all for Jesus and they look out their pocket 39:05 and say only have $2, yeah, I can give all. 39:09 They go all. 39:13 Young people the larger sacrifice 39:15 is give the rest of your life. 39:18 Sacrifice your time. 39:20 Sacrifice your 20s, your 30s for Lord Jesus. 39:25 You know, the world wants 39:26 our young people in their 20s and their 30s. 39:29 The fashion industry they go for the girls 39:31 in their teens 20s and 30s. 39:33 The sports industry goes for guys in their 20s. 39:35 The military goes for the 20s. 39:36 The business world goes for the 20s and 30s. 39:38 Why is it that our church rejects 39:41 those people in their 20s and 30s? 39:43 And I'm asking you intentionally, 39:45 amen everybody? 39:46 Just happens. 39:48 Praise the Lord for proms like ASI Youth for Jesus. 39:51 Praise the Lord for all His other programs 39:53 I can't mention to you tonight. 39:56 But for people who don't have a lot of time 40:01 empty your accounts, empty the rest of your health, 40:06 pensions and 501Ks, 401Ks or 301Ks 40:10 or you know Windex or whatever, 40:12 whatever all those things out there. 40:14 Empty your reputations for Lord Jesus Christ. 40:19 This is not easy to do. Why? 40:24 Because we rather be the ones who come to Jesus by night. 40:30 And here tonight I make a call her ASI, 40:34 I pray if it's Lord willing that this be the last ASI. 40:40 Not because ASI-- other people have preached about it, 40:42 other people have prayed this 40:44 but let tonight be a demarcation line. 40:47 There are some of you here tonight, you know, 40:49 you're not even in level one Nicodemus. 40:51 You just hear because as the crowd hear. 40:53 You need to be level one Nicodemus 40:55 and encounter Jesus one on one in your spare time 41:00 and have a personal intimate encounter with Jesus. 41:04 Amen. Amen. 41:06 If that's you I'm talking to you here tonight. 41:10 You know, me-- 41:12 it's just the experience of the Holy Spirit, amen. 41:15 Level two, there's some of you, 41:18 you're comfortable in just the one on one experience 41:22 but the Lord is calling you to come out in a board meeting 41:25 and to stand out for faith, stand out for principle, 41:29 stand out for truth. 41:30 Do the right thing even though 41:32 your reputation may disappear because of it. 41:36 You're called whether you are in a class room to call 41:40 and to say something against the professor. 41:43 To say something against the chair 41:45 or the board chair or the moderator. 41:48 And there are some of us today if not all of us, 41:52 we're called to come out to the foot of the cross 41:57 and to give the Lord Jesus the best 41:59 and the most expensive of our gifts. 42:03 And I pray that every person in this room 42:06 that we end up being poured and lonely 42:12 but happy in the Lord Jesus Christ. 42:14 Amen. 42:15 Amen. Amen. 42:18 Fathers and mothers, sacrifice your children. 42:22 Children, sacrifice your parents. 42:24 Husband's, sacrifice your wives. 42:27 Wives, sacrifice your husbands. 42:30 Our soul focus from this point on 42:33 is the Lord Jesus Christ. 42:37 And some time 42:39 we need to demarcating point for that to happen 42:41 and I'm tempted to give a call and ask you to come out 42:44 but I'm thinking with such a wonderful group 42:47 such as this you already come to many a things like this 42:50 and you stood up already in the past. 42:53 The Lord is not calling you to stand up here at ASI, 42:57 the Lord is asking you to stand when you are one on one 43:00 in your bedroom all by yourself. 43:02 The Lord is calling to stand in those small board meetings 43:05 and the Lord is calling you to stand up 43:08 when you're front of many, many other people not here at ASI. 43:13 Amen. Amen. 43:15 How many of you here today 43:16 want to be a level four Nicodemus? 43:20 How you ask and say Lord, 43:21 I want to be part of latter rain 43:23 and I want to be the Joseph of Arimathea or the Nicodemus. 43:26 Raise your hands on. 43:27 I mean, you're not that tired, are you? 43:29 You know, that embarrassed are you, 43:30 raise your hands high. 43:33 Now this hand is for the cameras to see, yes. 43:36 You're making a public testament 43:38 to the entire internet world. 43:42 Amen. 43:44 But I want to ask you here how many of you 43:46 are tired for a call like this and say Lord, 43:48 I don't know whether you're calling me to, 43:51 I don't know what this entails, 43:52 I don't know if you are asking me 43:53 to empty my bank accounts, 43:55 I'm not talking about money you understand 43:56 I'm talking about just giving a mindset of that. 43:59 You say Lord, I can't do it. 44:00 I can't do it. 44:02 I enjoy the darkness and I need to be broken of it. 44:09 If that's You and the Holy Spirit has spoken 44:12 through a wired Korean preacher to you tonight 44:15 I want you to stand up here tonight. 44:18 This is not for the cameras this is for the angels 44:21 to look and say, man, that person has a problem, 44:23 let's help this person out. 44:25 If you're struggling with darkness 44:29 and you can't give all to the cause of Christ 44:32 but you want and you're asking the Lord's help 44:35 stand up at this time right now. 44:42 God bless you, brothers and sisters. 44:46 In a cause age as this there are some of you 44:49 still sitting down and you are sitting down 44:53 because you are leaders of large organizations 44:56 and you are thinking what will people think of me? 44:59 You are going through a Nicodemus experience. 45:02 Listen, this is a message for you. 45:04 Maybe you're not a CEO but you're a leader of small 45:08 little subsume ministry in the middle of no where, yes? 45:12 And you're like man, what will all my employees think of me, 45:14 what will all of staff think of me 45:16 but I can't give all to the cause of Christ. 45:19 God is calling you today stand up and give it up 45:22 and the Lord Jesus will help you. 45:24 Lord's calling you today. 45:26 How many of you want to be a Nicodemus 45:29 for Lord Jesus Christ, stand up now? 45:36 Hurry up, hurry up, we don't have time. 45:43 For those who are standing up God bless you. 45:44 I want to have a word of prayer with you. 45:46 For those who are sitting down 45:49 do you want to be part of the latter rain? 45:51 And my assumption is that already, we all are, amen. 45:57 God bless you guys, let's pray. 46:01 Father in heaven, 46:05 Lord, prophecy has a wonderful affect 46:11 of helping you see the larger picture. 46:15 And Lord, Nicodemus saw the largest picture possible. 46:18 He saw Your son in every Old Testament text. 46:23 This cause the certain unction out of him. 46:26 A certain zeal that wasn't some kind of fanatical emotionalism 46:32 but it was a fervent principle that refused to be closeted up. 46:39 And Father, I pray that You use organization like ASI 46:42 and Lord, help us to get outside of the camera's 46:45 outside of the largeness of this convention, 46:47 outside of logistics and unto wonderful order here 46:53 and help us to see what Your saying to our hearts right now. 46:56 Lord, as we go home tonight, as we go to our hotel rooms 47:00 there are some people in this room Lord, 47:02 grant us no sweep unto we surrender 47:06 before Your sight. 47:08 And Lord, we know that, we here at ASI 47:10 we've already give you our hearts 47:12 but, Lord, there are other components in our lives 47:15 help us to get outside of ourselves. 47:18 And Father, for the people who are standing up 47:21 Lord, inject into their hearts, injecting through their minds 47:27 the engrafted word of truth that can save our souls 47:33 and into cause a love for the light board 47:39 then we may issue darkness. 47:41 Lord, maybe no longer be proud, confident in our riches, 47:47 education, social stature reputations 47:52 and maybe we solely focused on the cross of Jesus 47:57 and that His work that He is currently doing 47:59 in the heavenly sanctuary. 48:01 This we pray humbly in Jesus name 48:05 and that all of God's people say, amen. 48:56 Just imagine 49:00 a city made of gold 49:09 Imagine the day 49:11 When the Father's radiant 49:15 Glory we'll behold 49:21 Imagine a time 49:24 where there will be 49:26 no crying, no more pain 49:33 Imagine when Jesus comes again 49:44 Imagine a place 49:49 Where there's no more night 49:56 Where the glory of God 49:59 Will forever shine with eternal light 50:08 We'll gather round the throne 50:13 Of the great I Am 50:20 What glory 50:23 When Jesus comes again 50:31 The trumpet will sound 50:35 And the dead in Christ will all be raised 50:43 He will come in the twinkling of an eye 50:53 And then those who believe in Him 50:58 As savior and Lord 51:03 Will be caught up to meet him in the sky 51:18 Just imagine what glory that will be 51:30 On the day when our 51:34 Precious savior's face we will see 51:42 We will bow before Thy throne 51:47 Singing praises to the Lamb 51:57 What glory when Jesus comes again 52:08 Imagine when Jesus comes again 52:19 Comes again 52:27 Amen. 52:44 When you prayed beneath the trees 52:48 It was for me, O Lord 52:52 When you cried upon your knees 52:56 How could it be, O Lord? 53:00 When in blood and sweat and tears 53:04 You dismissed your final fears 53:08 When you faced the soldiers' spears, 53:12 You stood for me, O Lord 53:25 When their triumph looked complete, 53:29 It was for me, O Lord 53:34 When it seemed like your defeat 53:37 They could not see, O Lord! 53:42 When you faced the mob alone, 53:46 You were silent as a stone 53:50 And a tree became your throne 53:54 You came for me only, O Lord 54:15 When you stumbled up the road 54:19 You walked for me, O Lord 54:24 When you took your deadly load 54:28 That heavy tree, O Lord 54:32 When they lifted You on high 54:37 And they nailed You up to die 54:42 And when darkness filled the sky 54:46 It was for me 54:49 For me, O Lord |
Revised 2014-12-17