Participants: Don Mackintosh (Host)
Series Code: 13ASIC
Program Code: 13ASIC000013
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00:18 Twenty three percent of Americans agreed
00:21 with same sex marriage in February. 00:24 As August was drifting away, it was 83 percent. 00:30 And now the remainder I embarrassed to stand. 00:35 We got to be very wise 00:37 I heard the chief say this once, 00:39 we got to be very wise about it but it is not right. 00:43 Jesus say, that's it was in the days of Noah, 00:46 so shall it be all so in the days 00:47 of the coming of Son of Man. 00:49 And then he said, likewise as it was in the days of Lot. 00:54 Lot lived in Sodom 00:55 and Sodom has given a name to upper version, Sodomy. 01:00 We all are clear what it means 01:01 and everybody in Sodom was not a sodomite. 01:05 Yet they burned in the same fire 01:08 because they supported the pools 01:11 that agreed with the filth. 01:16 I want to just bring up several questions 01:19 and thank you for that. 01:21 And then we want to move to signs within the church. 01:25 Several statements were written 01:26 in about various world religions, 01:28 major world regions other than Christianity. 01:31 And the idea was do these factor big in end time events? 01:38 World religions that lead people away, 01:43 you know, from the message. 01:45 What is the role of these world religions 01:49 and their almost increased activity and magnetism? 01:53 Is that have anything to do? 01:55 A number of people have written questions 01:56 similar that with the end time. 02:02 Okay. 02:04 Fifteen seconds or more. Seventeen. 02:08 It seems very clear from Revelation 13 and 17, 02:11 if there is a globalism that occurs at the end of time 02:14 and it has a religious overtone. 02:17 So therefore something is going to happen 02:20 whereby religion or a form of religion 02:23 seems to become a global goal. 02:27 I'm not smart enough to figure out 02:28 how this will happen 02:29 but it's predicted in the Word of God, 02:31 I can take that at pretty good value. 02:35 And we're gonna see some kind of unification globalism 02:38 at the end of time around a form of religion 02:41 is the ultimate threat sector for God's true people. 02:45 Elder Wilson. 02:46 Definitely these world religions 02:49 are playing a major role in shaping culture 02:52 and in eventually forming some kind of alliance 02:58 which will be against the main theme 03:02 of the Three Angels Messages are Revelation 14 03:05 and that is turning people back to the true worship of God. 03:09 Righteousness by faith, Christ righteousness 03:13 which is the core really of the Three Angels Messages 03:16 is in total contrast to every other religious belief system. 03:23 Because there is a self initiated approach 03:29 to working away through salvation 03:31 where as a complete reliance upon Christ 03:34 is the message of the Three Angels Messages. 03:37 And really I think we're seeing 03:40 a tremendous effort on the part of many world religions 03:46 to somehow place their influence 03:49 on the world's perspective. 03:52 And that's going to affect all of us 03:54 and we have to redouble our efforts 03:58 to present the complete full message. 04:01 That is the reason Seventh-day Adventists 04:05 have been called at this time. 04:07 Amen. 04:10 I just want to just mention, 04:11 I don't want to start like a broken record 04:13 but in Matthew 24 talks about love external signs. 04:18 And the verses that are often ignored of verses 12 to 14 04:24 where Matthew says, " 04:28 And because lawlessness will abound, 04:30 the love of many will grow cold. 04:33 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 04:37 And this gospel of the kingdom 04:39 will be preached in all the world." 04:41 And that verse that 04:42 but he who endures to the end is in contradistinction 04:45 to what is mentioned the lawlessness 04:49 and the love of many growing cold. 04:51 So that enduring to the end 04:53 when we look at Hebrews 12:2 which Mark read for us 04:57 that he endured the cross despising the shame. 05:01 1 Corinthians 13:7, 8 says, 05:04 that love endures all things, love never fails. 05:09 So in the end times one of the signs of the end 05:12 in God's people will be the God pay of Christ. 05:16 And, you know, it's easy to look outside 05:17 and see all these things 05:18 that are happening and get ready. 05:21 But I hate to see to think that the thing 05:23 that's gonna precipitate the second coming 05:26 is going to be just all these external things. 05:29 I think we as a people need to recognize, 05:32 look inside of own hearts 05:33 because that's what gonna precipitate the second coming. 05:36 I don't think it's going to be other things. 05:38 Thank you for that and that segue us 05:40 to then focus more on the signs of the church 05:43 and one of the signs you are suggesting 05:45 is that they'll be this endurant love for Christ 05:48 in the midst of conflict. 05:50 I might just say one thing you didn't say 05:51 on the panel even though I'm the moderate 05:54 which must be I'm a little more moderate than the rest of you. 05:58 You know I've read a number of books recently 06:00 one from Harvard and one from Stanford 06:02 where the number one course at Stanford for the public 06:05 that is yarn for as a desire to have self control. 06:11 And that's the number one course people are attending. 06:14 As I read the book of those class notes 06:17 and then another one that was related 06:20 from another Ivy League school, 06:22 it almost was the summary of the Adventist message. 06:26 They went through and they said, 06:28 if you want to have control in your life, 06:30 for instance one section was on bright-lines 06:33 and bright-lines were the Ten Commandments. 06:35 And they said the Ten Commandments 06:37 if you have something that sets you from God 06:40 and you just hang the Ten Commandments 06:42 up in your office studies now show 06:44 that you'll have less cheating, less dishonesty, 06:48 more compliance then if you handout a policy book 06:52 or if you look at this or that. 06:53 This was a secular thing and they were saying 06:56 what you really need is the Ten Commandments 06:58 displayed prominently in your building. 07:01 And I thought the early advent churches 07:03 that had the Ten Commandments on the front and they say 07:06 then not as the law that you had to keep 07:09 but as the promise God would keep in you. 07:11 And that somehow just brought, you know, focus to them. 07:14 So thank you panel, 07:16 for allowing me to use my position to make. 07:22 Just one small point in the midst 07:24 of your many points which are excellent. 07:27 Let's move on now to this idea of the church. 07:32 What are signs in the church that God needs to come, 07:40 maybe good, maybe bad? 07:41 Our last section we're gonna talk about 07:42 what we can do to hasten His coming, 07:45 so don't take all those 07:46 and I'm talking about signs in the church 07:48 and I have a number of questions here 07:52 if you need help, yes. 07:53 One of them is signs in the church, the Bible says, 07:57 "My people will be willing in the day of His power." 08:00 And it's incredible when Jesus last words recorded 08:03 in the first chapter of Acts, 08:05 you'll be witnesses to me and Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, 08:07 the outer most part of the earth. 08:09 And if you look at the projects were supported by ASI, 08:13 some are local, some are in conference, 08:15 some are worldwide. 08:16 And I can tell you when people are thinking 08:18 about their estate plans now they're thinking 08:20 what can we do for our local church, 08:22 what can we help the evangelism, our conference. 08:25 What are the world fields? 08:26 So these are positive things that I see and we're told 08:29 that near the end of people will give hundreds 08:31 as cheerfully as dollars are given today. 08:34 That is a good sign within our church, I believe. 08:37 Okay, let me just throw a question in here 08:41 that someone called in 08:44 and I'm gonna direct this to Elder Finley 08:46 since he was wanting to speak. 08:49 My question is, are we holding up the return of Jesus 08:52 by our current lifestyles within the church? 08:56 There seems to be relaxing of standards 08:58 and the churches looking a lot like 09:00 other churches in the world. 09:01 I've heard members say when I talk about these things, 09:05 this is not a salvation issue. 09:07 And what I'm talking about is modest dress 09:10 and jewelry and makeup and diet and Hollywood entertainment. 09:14 Is this a sign of the end in the church? 09:20 The solution to the standards problem 09:25 is not a judging others 09:27 whose standards may not be the same as my own. 09:31 Neither is that solution focusing on those standards. 09:37 The more I get to know Jesus, 09:39 the more my heart yearns to be like Him, 09:43 and the more selfishness and greed 09:46 and lust are no longer part of my lifestyle. 09:50 And so the solution, you know, Jesus says, 09:53 Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:20, 09:56 "We are ambassadors for Christ." 09:59 When I come to Jesus and I really know Him, 10:03 I wouldn't want to do one thing that displeases Him. 10:07 And if there is an article of dress, 10:09 if there is something I'm watching on television 10:11 that displeases Jesus, 10:13 I wouldn't want that in my life. 10:16 When I talk to young people and they say to me, 10:20 is it wrong to watch this on television 10:23 or what's wrong with movies, 10:25 my approach to them is simply this. 10:29 I would say to them in Philippians Chapter 4, 10:34 God gives us a screen for our minds. 10:38 When you put a screen on the window 10:40 in the summer time 10:41 it keeps out the mosquitoes and keeps out the bugs. 10:46 And God gives us a screen for our minds 10:49 in Philippians 4 God says, 10:51 "And the peace of God," verse 7, 10:53 "which passes all understanding, 10:55 will guard your hearts and minds 10:57 through Christ Jesus." 10:59 The devil wants to steal our minds, 11:02 Jesus wants us to keep our minds. 11:05 Then Paul says, " Finally, brethren, 11:07 whatever things are true," 11:09 or is whatsoever watching true, 11:11 "whatever things are noble, 11:13 it uplifts you builds your character. 11:15 Whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, 11:18 whatever things are lovely if its good report 11:21 if there is any virtue of this any praise think 11:24 on these things are meditate upon these things." 11:28 The Bible gives us eternal principles 11:31 and the question you ask is what is your motive in dress? 11:36 Is it to be an ambassador for Christ 11:39 or to draw attention to yourself? 11:42 What is your motive in what you watch 11:45 in what you watch on television and others? 11:48 Is that going to prepare you for the kingdom of Jesus 11:51 or is that gonna fill your mind with something 11:54 that deteriorates from that kingdom? 11:57 So to me focusing upon Jesus, 12:00 allowing the eternal principles of His word 12:03 to shape my mind solves the standards problem. 12:08 Elder Wilson. 12:09 I wanted to say something about a very positive sign 12:11 that I see within the church 12:13 as to the nearness of Christ coming. 12:17 We have humbly shared the idea of revival in reformation. 12:24 You would not believe 12:26 the incredible grass roots response 12:29 that we are receiving from around the world. 12:32 And as Nancy and I travel as others travel, 12:36 we visit local churches, areas, all over this globe. 12:41 And there is a resurgent of a humility before the Lord 12:47 that I think is absolutely a clear sign 12:51 that the Holy Spirit is doing something extraordinary. 12:55 The whole understanding of a return to scripture 12:59 to reading the Bible 13:00 and understanding it as it reads 13:03 and understanding of the Spirit of Prophecy, 13:05 a passionate prayer life and then a witnessing activity. 13:10 And this is most remarkably seen in our young people. 13:15 And I want to tell you even though 13:16 you can find challenges in the area of youth ministry 13:21 and challenges to try to draw our young people back in, 13:25 we're seeing an incredibly large interest 13:28 on the part of young people to get back to the basics 13:31 and to work for the Lord's soon coming. 13:33 Amen. Amen. 13:36 Okay, we have one minute left 13:38 and other signs in the church you want to bring out 13:40 I was not-- I was gonna ask your previous question 13:42 about the jury et cetera, et cetera. 13:44 I'm gonna answer that from the standpoint of a physician. 13:47 If someone comes to your office as a physician 13:49 with complaints of chest pain, 13:51 maybe some leg pain, 13:52 maybe some sweating diaphoreses. 13:55 You don't treat eat symptom, 13:56 there's a reason for the symptom. 13:58 And I think if we try to pick apart those things, 14:00 you see what is actually going on. 14:03 I just want to read one quote 14:04 that Ellen White wrote, she says, 14:07 "There is one great central truth 14:08 to be kept ever before the mind 14:10 in the searching of the scriptures, 14:12 Christ and Him crucified." 14:14 And I think if our young people came to church every week 14:18 and they saw an uplifted Savior every week powerfully 14:22 and convincingly presented from the pulpit, 14:25 we would not be having a problem with jury 14:27 and et cetera as you can name them, 14:30 you know, letting for an item. 14:32 So spoken as a radiological cardiologist word 14:37 get to the heart of the matter. 14:39 We're gonna have another special medley now, 14:42 Second Coming medley with Jennifer LeMountain 14:45 and I know that you're gonna be blessed 14:48 as we listen to these wonderful numbers. 15:12 That glorious day is coming 15:19 The hour is hastening on 15:25 Its radiant light is shining 15:31 Brighter than the sun 15:38 In yonder clouds of heaven 15:44 The Savior will appear 15:50 And gather all His chosen 15:57 To meet Him in the air 16:03 O Christian, hear the warning 16:10 To Jesus quickly fly! 16:15 Be prayerful, watchful, faithful 16:21 The trumpet soon will sound! 16:27 O Sinner, hear the warning 16:33 To Jesus quickly fly! 16:39 Then you, in that blest morning 16:45 May meet Him in the sky! 16:53 Lift up the trumpet, and loud let it ring 16:57 Jesus is coming again! 17:02 Cheer up, ye pilgrims, be joyful and sing 17:08 Jesus is coming again! 17:13 Coming again, coming again 17:18 Jesus is coming again! 17:30 I can hear the chariots rumble 17:35 I can see the marching throng 17:39 And the flurry of God's trumpets 17:43 Spells the end of sin and wrong 17:48 Regal robes are now unfolding 17:52 Heaven's grandstand's all in place 17:57 Heaven's choir now assembled 18:01 Start to sing Amazing Grace 18:08 O the King is coming 18:14 The King is coming 18:18 I just heard the trumpets sounding 18:22 And now His face I see 18:26 O the King is coming 18:32 The King is coming 18:36 Praise God 18:38 He's coming for me 18:44 Praise God 18:47 He's coming for me 18:57 For me 18:59 For me 19:05 Amen. Amen. 19:10 Well, welcome back those of you that maybe just joined us 19:15 we're in the midst of the panel discussion 19:17 on the second coming. 19:19 And we have considered several questions, 19:21 why are we still talking about the second coming. 19:23 And why has Christ not yet returned 19:26 and we had some vigorous answers to that 19:28 if you just joined us you may want to get the tape 19:31 or listen to it again as its aired 19:34 to see what the panel has said. 19:35 Then secondly what are some signs of the coming 19:37 both in the world and then in the church 19:40 and we heard some exciting things 19:42 about what Lord is doing in the church. 19:45 I want to just-- I know that section is done 19:47 but there was one other question 19:49 I want to add there that we did not get to. 19:51 And then we'll go to our final section 19:54 which hopefully is really the take home methods 19:57 what can we do as church members 20:00 to hasten the coming? 20:01 Can we in fact hasten it what can we do? 20:03 But before we get to that section 20:06 a number of people wrote in 20:07 so I felt like we needed to address this 20:11 and all the questions were similar 20:14 and I think they were grappling 20:16 and most of these questions with the delay. 20:20 And they were saying, 20:22 you know, well, maybe those prophecies made sense, 20:25 you know, back then. 20:27 But maybe they need to be reapplied again 20:30 taking some portions of scripture 20:32 and then reapplying those various prophecies 20:36 and what not. 20:37 So, I want to ask you what would you say 20:40 about these duel applications of prophecies 20:43 that we're seeing within the church? 20:52 I think when let Mark answer that 20:54 when he had a good answer backstage 20:56 but I want to talk to you about the delay. 20:58 And that we've discussed this briefly also 21:01 and Ellen White says, the apparent delay 21:04 or tearing time is not so in reality, 21:07 at the appointed time He will come. 21:09 I believe that Jesus wanted to come early 21:11 but He will not come late. 21:15 Amen. Thank you. 21:17 And now to the other section of the question, Elder Finley. 21:24 What about the reapplication of time prophecies? 21:27 You have to distinguish between application and fulfillment. 21:32 If you look for example and I'll give you an example, 21:34 if you look at the seven churches, 21:36 the seven churches apply in a historical period of time. 21:40 Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira et cetera. 21:44 But they were principles from those seven churches 21:47 that you can apply in every generation. 21:50 So when it comes to the application 21:52 of the principles of prophecy, 21:54 you can have more than one application. 21:57 The Bible is always relevant, it's always true. 22:01 But fulfillment is a different thing. 22:04 Every time prophecy of the Bible 22:07 that is routed historically in time has one fulfillment. 22:12 There is no exception 22:14 when you look at the fulfillment of prophecy. 22:17 Let me give you some examples the 1,260 years, 22:20 538, 1798, you have a fulfillment. 22:24 So Seventh-day Adventists look at historical continuum. 22:28 We look at-- we look at Daniel 2, Daniel 7, 22:31 Daniel 8, Daniel 11 as a historical continuum. 22:34 Babylon Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, the rise of the papacy, 22:38 the break-- the breakup of the Roman Empire 22:40 and eventually the coming of Christ. 22:43 So we look down that continuum. 22:45 Now what about taking prophecies 22:47 like in Daniel 12, the 1,290 days 22:50 and reapplying it saying that, 22:52 you know, that may not apply to 508 to 1798. 22:58 There are those and here is what at least I believe 23:00 and I'll give you my own personal opinion. 23:03 I think it's a fundamental Pharisee 23:06 to try to retime said today 23:09 and they were two reasons for that. 23:11 And one of them is found in Revelation 10, 23:16 where an angel swears where you have this angel 23:21 Revelation 10:7 and it says, Revelation says, 23:26 he swear by him who lives for ever an ever 23:29 that created heaven 23:30 and the things that are there in. 23:32 And earth the things that are there in 23:34 that there should be time no longer. 23:37 So here you have an angel lifting his hand to heaven 23:41 saying that after the fulfillment 23:43 of the 2,300 years in 1844 that prosthetic time 23:47 the word for time in Greek is chronos, 23:49 the chronos prosthetic time runs out. 23:52 So after 1844, 23:54 there is no longer a message based on time. 23:57 What is God looking for? He is looking for three things. 24:02 The development of a people 24:03 that reflect his lovely character. 24:05 That love him so much that they go out 24:06 and preach the gospel to the world. 24:08 He's looking for a people that are unselfishly served 24:11 that of a passion to serve the world for Christ. 24:15 So the issue is not figuring out on a time short. 24:22 The issue is no longer figuring out some time chart 24:27 that one person understands that nobody else understands 24:30 and if they only would understand it 24:32 Jesus would come. 24:33 The issue was now 24:35 the development of a character like Christ, 24:36 the passion to preach His love to the world. 24:39 And the reflection of His character 24:43 and the desire to see every human being, 24:47 no Christ and His love in a planet. 24:48 So looking at time is no longer an issue. 24:52 Here is a statement that really has helped me 24:54 on this the seventh volume of the Testimonies 971 24:58 which Ellen White says, 24:59 "The people of God will never again 25:01 have a message based on time." 25:04 So it's no longer time that we're looking for. 25:07 It's a people that are so committed 25:08 to taking the gospel to every nation, 25:10 kindred, tongue, and people in the world. 25:14 Thank you for that. 25:16 Going now forward to our next question, 25:19 our final question actually for the section 25:21 we have about 23 minutes to develop it. 25:24 And that is how can Church members, 25:27 members of the remnant church 25:30 be involved in working to finish the work? 25:35 How can we involve in that? 25:37 And I guess before we get into that 25:40 I have a specific question that I want to put before you 25:43 because a number of people wrote in. 25:45 And they were concerned with this emphasis 25:49 which I think also was a Bible text, 25:51 it's actually I don't know if they know it or not 25:53 but this is actual text from the Bible 25:55 that talks about hastening the coming of the Lord. 25:59 And so I probably got 15 or 20 questions that asked. 26:04 Can we really even hasten His coming? 26:08 And that seems one said 26:10 that seems like a real burden put on me. 26:13 If He hasn't coming this long and now I'm supposed to do it. 26:16 How can we even say we're supposed to hasten His coming? 26:21 And some of you're wanting to answer that. 26:24 Yes, let's go ahead. 26:26 I'd like to propose an answer 26:27 out of old time classic Adventism. 26:31 And that is to remember 26:32 when we're living the period in which we're living. 26:35 We are living if anything 26:37 we ever preached and believed is true 26:41 we are living in the Day of Atonement. 26:44 This is it we have been for 169 years 26:49 as I said the other day if that is not true 26:52 and we have no reason to be here. 26:55 If we are living in the Day of Atonement 26:58 then how should we live? 26:59 What did Israel do? They cleaned everything up. 27:02 They cleaned their hearts, 27:04 they stood in the door of their tents 27:06 which symbolize they didn't intend 27:08 to be in the desert very long, 27:09 they were headed home and so should we be. 27:13 Israel stood there and the Hebrew word used 27:16 to describe what they engaged in this or not. 27:19 It means deep self interceptions 27:23 searching of ones own life. 27:25 In what way am I still outside the will of God? 27:29 And I just believe that people living on the Day of Atonement 27:32 should take their relationship 27:34 with the Lord very, very seriously. 27:38 So but did that hasten has coming? 27:40 They knew when that was each year. 27:42 Could you hasten the Day of Atonement, 27:44 they came at a certain time. 27:45 The question was really 27:47 can we hasten the coming of Christ 27:50 and what do you think, Elder Wilson? 27:54 I definitely believe that 27:55 and if the Lord wants to use us to hasten His coming. 27:58 And I don't think we can do it ourselves, 28:01 as we place ourselves in God's hands. 28:03 I think now we are developing so many opportunities 28:07 for church members to become involve. 28:11 Any of you who have been involved in new beginnings 28:14 and the small group ministry in public evangelism, 28:20 some of us have just come out of wonderful experience 28:24 in the New York City area. 28:26 When you are involved in preaching the biblical truths 28:30 as Seventh-day Adventist understand them 28:33 and lifting up the Three Angels messages 28:36 with Holy Spirit power. 28:38 I want to tell you the changes 28:39 that take place in people's lives 28:42 and the messages which you actually preach 28:45 and as the one who was preaching 28:47 in one of those meetings. 28:49 It absolutely reinvigorates your belief 28:53 that Jesus is coming soon. 28:56 And it is one of those things which all of us 28:58 you may not be able to preach 29:00 but you can do medical missionary work. 29:02 You may not be able to proclaim something publicly 29:05 but you can talk to your neighbor. 29:08 You're going to see I might add a stronger emphasis 29:11 in this area of personal ministry of reaching out. 29:15 I mentioned comprehensive health ministry, 29:18 we're gonna have tremendous global conference on health 29:21 and lifestyle in Geneva next summer 29:25 sponsored by the General Conference 29:27 where people from all over the world 29:29 are gonna be coming to help know 29:31 how participate in the way that Jesus work. 29:35 So I think that there are many ways 29:38 in which each of us can now get involved. 29:40 If you have any questions, 29:41 just go down to the exhibit area 29:43 and you'll find all kinds of ways in which to witness. 29:47 And that I believe as we humble ourselves, 29:50 truly humble ourselves 29:52 and ask for the in filling of the Holy Spirit 29:55 and the latter rain, I believe that will hasten Jesus coming. 29:59 Okay. 30:01 Doctor, you have something to add? 30:03 Again I want to draw from my physician background. 30:07 You know, sometimes when you go to the doctor, 30:08 they give you a difficult diagnosis. 30:11 It's hard to swallow. 30:13 And I want to just look at Revelation 3 30:17 because I think that's how we can hasten 30:19 the soon coming of the Lord. 30:21 He gave us a diagnosis which we do not like. 30:24 He says, "enter the angel of the church of Laodicea write, 30:28 it says, I know your work, 30:29 that you are neither cold nor hot. 30:30 I could wish you cold or hot. 30:32 So, then because you are lukewarm 30:35 because you see I'm rich 30:36 but have become wealthy have need of nothing 30:39 and do not know that you are wretched, 30:41 miserable poor, blind and naked." 30:43 That's a tough diagnosis but praise the Lord. 30:46 He doesn't leave us there. 30:47 He says, "I counsel you 30:50 because you have all these medical issues, 30:53 spiritual issues to buy from me 30:55 gold refined in the fire. 30:56 That's the Christ or righteousness 30:59 that you have maybe rich and white garments 31:03 that you will be clothed 31:04 and the same of your nakedness may not be revealed." 31:07 And then in Zechariah 12:10, 31:10 "And I will pour on the house of David 31:12 and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 31:14 the spirit of grace and supplication. 31:17 Then they will look on me whom they have pierced, 31:20 they will mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, 31:24 and grieve for him as one grieves for a firstborn." 31:27 And I think that answer to this soon 31:30 to the hasting the coming of the Lord 31:32 is to recognize and accept or diagnosis. 31:35 At the same time of recognizing 31:37 that He who gave us the diagnosis 31:39 is loving and merciful and has a remedy for us. 31:43 Amen. Okay. 31:45 I want to get a couple questions, 31:47 I know you have other things you'd like to say 31:48 but the people are wanting to speak here as well. 31:53 Here's one for Elder Reid, since he raised his hand. 31:57 "I really believe that we're at the end of time 32:00 but I have believed that from 30 years. 32:02 But now I really know 32:04 that it definitely is the end of time. 32:07 But it's always hard to know what to do. 32:10 Do we invest the 401K 32:14 that we're about to invest to prepare for retirement. 32:17 What do we do with our funds? 32:19 I have asked the Lord in prayer for answers 32:21 that don't seem to come. 32:23 I feel that I perhaps have made bad choices in the past 32:27 thinking the Lord was coming soon. 32:28 Yet I know the end is near. The end is definitely in near. 32:32 I guess my question is 32:34 how should I repair for retirement 32:37 before the cloud of total financial collapse 32:41 that comes on the horizon." 32:43 Well, it's very interesting that people are concerned 32:46 about the economy, finances or something 32:48 we all have in common and it's amazing 32:49 that people are beginning to think 32:52 more seriously about that in relation to the end. 32:55 I think everybody here recognizes 32:57 this is important to understand now 32:59 that everyone who leaves this earth alive 33:02 that means you are in the save group. 33:05 Will have gone through a period of time 33:06 when you cannot buy or sell. 33:09 How do you prepare for that time? 33:10 The similar question is just like what you've asked. 33:13 And I personally think there are several things 33:15 that we've been told and one of them 33:17 is to develop our faith in God, 33:18 so that He can see us through these difficult times. 33:21 Put our lives in harmony of God's will. 33:23 Ellen White was such a strong stewardship preacher 33:26 that frequently when she spoke 33:27 people would come down the isle spontaneously 33:29 with tears in their eyes and say, 33:31 should we sell our house? 33:33 And she always gave the same answer. 33:34 Put it on the altar and if you have more than one 33:37 houses and lands divest yourself of these 33:40 and put the money in the cause. 33:42 Someday we're gonna have to walk off 33:43 and leave everything as we see it being burned up. 33:47 Was this true? 33:48 And that will, you know, reduce this value 33:50 considerable as you can imagine. 33:52 The whole idea is when we put ourselves in God's hands, 33:58 all we have is belongs to God 34:00 and that will be I think important. 34:01 There is a little trying that we put in faith 34:03 and finance the new book on stewardship 34:05 which is retirement in the end time same thing, 34:08 make sure your needs are met then the next level your family 34:12 and finally your spiritual legacy. 34:14 And if you have people like Cathy and I who, 34:16 you know, taking care of our debts 34:18 we're taking care of and so on. 34:20 We should have a great focus on finishing the work now. 34:24 We should all be audited by the RS every year. 34:27 On contributions only. Get that part. 34:32 Let me toss one in here, 34:33 I really agree with what Ed just said 34:35 but let the Lord lead. 34:38 The important thing is put it on the altar 34:40 and let the Lord make the decision. 34:43 We could make the wrong decision let the Lord lead. 34:47 Pastor Brooks question for you. 34:52 Does-- what role and this is talking about 34:57 how members could be involved 34:58 so I put the question in this section. 35:00 What part does church member activation, 35:04 in another words being inactive church members 35:06 having the process of receiving the latter rain. 35:11 Don't we get the latter rain 35:13 to empower us to do effective evangelism? 35:16 Why do it before then? 35:20 I was sitting here and thinking at my age 35:24 I don't hear as well that some of my brethren. 35:27 But I have a concern that I think 35:30 gets to the bottom of most of our problems. 35:33 God has a special love for this revenant church. 35:38 Now we know that this is true. 35:41 Satan despises you says the Spirit of Prophecy 35:46 and he hates to workers even more. 35:49 So we've got that aspect 35:51 of the Great Controversy before us. 35:54 And the remedy for many of our churches 35:57 is to simply preach the message God has given to us. 36:03 They need a hear it in church 36:05 and then share it in the streets. 36:09 Listen to what God had said. 36:11 We will not become discouraged, hear it 36:16 but I heard a young man say, he was a minister just a sign. 36:21 And he said to his friends, 36:24 I'm glad we don't have to preach 36:26 that old stuff anymore. 36:31 And I thought to myself how tragic that is. 36:35 God has given us an in time message. 36:40 Ellen White says the Three Angels messages are the last 36:45 and I sometimes ask what part of last 36:48 is it we don't understand. 36:50 It is the last warning message to the world. 36:54 We need to know it thoroughly second coming is a part of it. 36:58 I used to have people coming to me 36:59 and said, pastor, how do you do this 37:01 when you are going to repeat the same 37:03 evangelist sermons over an over? 37:06 I should know you don't have to do that 37:08 you must repeat the text and the proofs 37:12 but you don't have to. 37:13 You want to have 15 ways to preach the second coming. 37:17 And it all to be enjoyed discovering how do we do it. 37:20 And thus it is fresh 37:23 and when we understand our message 37:25 and when we pray and revival of strikes 37:30 and that sort of thing and we line up with it. 37:34 Then it will be a joy to share it 37:36 because we are certain about something. 37:40 I'm certain that this message is the truth. 37:46 I don't have any doubt, 37:47 I settled that at a longtime ago, 37:50 I'm certain and I would trust that all of us will be soon. 37:55 Elder Finley, you know the Bible says 37:58 it's more blessed to give then it is to receive. 38:02 One of the reasons to get actively involved in witness 38:05 and sharing your faith 38:06 is because as you do that you grow in Christ. 38:10 God could have reached the world without us. 38:14 But He gives us the glorious privilege 38:17 to participate with Him in His mission 38:19 in soul winning starves, selfishness to death. 38:24 Acts of the Apostles 105 says, "Strength to resist evil 38:28 is best gained through aggressive service." 38:31 The Pharisees prayed and they crucified Christ. 38:35 The Pharisees memorize the Bible 38:37 and they crucified Christ. 38:39 How can you pray and memorize the Bible 38:42 and crucify Jesus? 38:44 Because it focused on them self. 38:47 Sharing your faith, using the gifts 38:49 that God has given you, witnessing, 38:52 starve, selfishness to death. 38:55 The more I love Jesus, the more I share. 38:57 And the more I share, the more I meant to love Jesus. 39:00 Amen. Elder Wilson. 39:02 Yeah, I just want to touch on the point 39:04 about the latter rain. 39:06 I believe that the Holy Spirit 39:07 has been working in a powerful way 39:09 and is working right now. 39:10 But there is going to come a time 39:13 when the latter rain will fall in unprecedented power. 39:18 And that is something that the Lord asks us to pray for 39:21 and to humble ourselves for Hosea Chapter 6. 39:26 "This is call to repentance and revival and reformation." 39:29 And I think that's at going again 39:32 what attorney Walton was saying, 39:34 this is Day of Atonement, 39:36 the sanctuary message is not just 39:39 some nice collection of interesting apartments 39:42 and things that we can talk about. 39:44 It is a description of God's plan of salvation 39:47 and we're living in that very description. 39:51 And Hosea 6, "Come, let us return to the Lord, 39:55 he's torn but he will heal, 39:56 he will bind us up, he will revive us, 39:59 we'll that we may live in his sight, 40:01 let us peruse the knowledge of the Lord 40:03 is going forth is established as the morning." 40:06 And in verse-- the end of verse 3, 40:09 "He will come to us like the rain, 40:11 like the latter and former rain to the earth." 40:14 And I believe that latter rain is going to come. 40:17 How else are we gonna reach the entire world? 40:19 It doesn't mean we should stop our mission activity 40:23 which is so beautifully exemplified here at ASI 40:27 and how the churches working in general. 40:30 But God has promised something very unique at the end of time 40:34 and I think we need to pray for it earnestly. 40:37 Okay, follow up on the comments of Elder Wilson 40:40 because they were number of questions 40:41 that we're right to this idea of the latter rain 40:44 connecting it with the loud cry. 40:46 So a number of people wrote in and said, what is the loud cry? 40:49 Didn't I read somewhere that it already started? 40:54 So this I think is a very big concern 41:00 as I got a number of questions. 41:01 So what is the loud cry? 41:03 Didn't it already start, now we're talking about 41:05 it needs to come but didn't it already start? 41:09 Well, I let one of these two master evangelists, 41:13 answer if they wish. 41:15 But, you know, Revelation 18 41:19 which is already been Referenced 41:22 is one that describes the incredible power 41:25 that will come down, much of that connected 41:27 with the work of publications and media, 41:31 activity that will go into the hearts 41:34 and homes of people? 41:37 I truly believe that the loud cry will come 41:41 at a particular time in an expanded way, 41:45 when the conditions are such that 41:48 people will have to make an absolute decision. 41:51 And I think that is I think I can see the convergence 41:54 of so many things that are coming very soon 41:57 when that loud cry will be shared in a most dynamic way. 42:02 I'll read, one interesting thing 42:05 is we're told that the Holy Spirit 42:07 does not come on a waiting church 42:09 but a working church and that's what Elder Finley 42:11 is just mentioned Elder Wilson as well. 42:14 And so if we want to receive God's spirit 42:16 would become active and I think that's important. 42:19 One other thing I should say 42:20 when you study about the role of the Holy Spirit, 42:22 it seems to me that Ellen White makes this amazing statement 42:26 we should be praying for the early rains experience 42:29 as well when people got their early rain 42:32 carefully listen uneducated fishermen 42:36 were able to speak in languages 42:38 they had never learned without an accent. 42:40 So efficiently they won thousands of people 42:43 to the church. 42:44 In addition to that they were able to raise 42:47 sick people even raised the dead. 42:49 Now this is incredible and she says 42:52 the latter rain will be more abundant than that. 42:54 So I think our prayer will be started me 42:56 growing with the early rains like will be ready 42:58 to be finished off with the latter rain. 43:01 Well, thank you. 43:04 Okay, another question that came in under this idea 43:07 of how can ASI members be involved 43:09 and church members in finishing the work. 43:12 Does each church having their own pastor 43:16 have a negative affect on the churches 43:18 evangelistic nature. 43:20 And if so what are the plans to change that. 43:24 I know this person is trying to get 43:25 rid of their pastor and that Elder Wilson, 43:27 but how would you respond to them? 43:31 Is if each church, you know, has their pastor 43:35 doesn't that hand for evangelistic activity. 43:37 Oh, yeah, yeah, okay. 43:39 Well, actually-- 43:41 Elder Finley said it depends who the pastor is. 43:46 You know, when you go back into Adventist history, 43:49 you understand that pastors were not necessarily assigned 43:56 to individual churches. 43:59 But the church members were supposed 44:01 to carry on local activities within churches 44:04 and pastors or preachers were to be proclaimers 44:09 of the word in an evangelistic sense. 44:11 And the church members where to tell the pastor, 44:14 you go ahead and preach and we'll just take care 44:16 of all the needy gritty of running the church. 44:20 And I think that probably and in some parts of the world, 44:24 in our world church that's exactly what happens. 44:27 Where a pastor may have a district 44:29 with 30 churches, 40 churches 44:32 and he may only get around to a number of them 44:35 even during an entire year and yet local leadership 44:39 is driving the evangelistic activity. 44:43 So I think probably we need to get 44:46 back to more of a model like that 44:49 rather than what Ellen White, 44:53 the Spirit of Prophecy indicates 44:55 we should not have settled pastors so to speak. 44:59 And a settled situation where everyone simply pays 45:03 the preacher to tell them something nice 45:06 rather the church members are to be involved 45:10 to the maximum in evangelism 45:12 and the pastor ought to be instructing them 45:15 as to how to do that. 45:17 Okay. 45:21 If I was a pastor listening to this 45:22 I'd be start to do a lot of work, 45:24 you know, when I was a pastor I told my members 45:26 I'm gonna reach out to the other 45:29 non-Adventist ministers in the town 45:31 and you reach out to the others, 45:34 anyway but, Elder Finley. 45:37 Here is the incredible good news, 45:39 every single one of us has been called as a witness for Jesus. 45:43 Every single one of us has been gifted by Jesus. 45:47 We don't need a degree, we don't need authority, 45:50 we don't need a letter of permission. 45:53 When you become a Christian, you are a witness for Jesus. 45:57 And if we can go from this ASI Convention saying 46:00 Lord, what gifts have you given me 46:04 that I'm not currently using 46:06 that I can put into action in my local church for Christ. 46:11 What do you want me to do? 46:13 Here is it incredibly dangerous prayer. 46:16 To get on our knees and say, okay, Lord, 46:18 you've been blessing my life. 46:20 Okay, Lord, I've been witnessing 46:22 to a certain extent. 46:24 Okay, Lord, I'm here at ASI, I have desire to serve You. 46:29 But what more do you have? What larger vision do you have? 46:33 What do you want me to do that I'm not yet doing? 46:37 Don't wait for your pastor. 46:39 Don't wait for your conference or your local church board. 46:43 Say, Lord, place in my heart a desire 46:47 to witness for You in a broader way 46:49 and follow the vision God puts in your heart. 46:52 Amen. 46:54 We have about two minutes left 46:55 and I'm kind of toned with just talking myself 46:59 or asking another question. 47:01 So I won't do either. 47:03 I'll just read a statement 47:04 that I thought was a powerful statement. 47:07 And this is from seven, seventh volume 47:11 of the Testimonies 298 written in 1902. 47:16 And I thought this put into focus 47:18 this idea of hastening the Lord's coming. 47:21 "Let no one overtax his God-given powers 47:26 in an effort to advance the Lord's work more rapidly," 47:29 Pastor Finley. 47:33 "The power of man cannot hasten the work, 47:38 with this must be united 47:40 the power of heavenly intelligences. 47:44 Though all the workmen now bearing the heaviest burdens 47:47 should be laid aside, 47:49 God's work would be carried forward." 47:54 It's good news, isn't it. 47:55 So we need to work 47:57 but we have to recognize it's the angels 48:00 and those intelligences that are working with you. 48:03 Has this been a blessing to you? 48:05 Amen. 48:06 How many of you think that we should, 48:08 you know, in the early church, you know, what they said. 48:12 They said, leave, get out of here. 48:15 Tell someone else 48:17 before you forget when you hurt. 48:20 And as we leave ASI, 48:22 hopefully go back to our churches 48:25 and God can use us to indeed reflect His character 48:31 and thus hasten His coming. 48:34 May God bless you as we listen to this wonderful anthem. 49:53 Mine eyes have seen the glory 49:57 Of the coming of the Lord 50:03 He is trampling out the vintage 50:08 Where the grapes of wrath are stored 50:13 He has loosed the fateful lightening 50:18 Of His terrible swift sword 50:24 His truth is marching on 50:31 Glory 50:35 Glory 50:40 Hallelujah! 50:44 Glory, glory, hallelujah! 50:50 Glory, glory, hallelujah! 50:58 Glory, glory, hallelujah! 51:02 His truth is marching on 51:17 I have seen him in the watch-fires 51:20 Of a hundred circling camps 51:25 They have builded him an altar 51:29 In the evening dews and damps 51:33 I can read his righteous sentence 51:38 By the dim and flaring lamps 51:42 His truth is marching on 51:52 Glory, glory, hallelujah! 51:56 Glory, glory, hallelujah! 52:00 Glory, glory, hallelujah! 52:04 His truth is marching on 52:37 In the beauty of the lilies 52:44 Christ was born across the sea 52:51 With a glory in his bosom 52:57 That transfigures you and me 53:04 As he died 53:08 To make men holy 53:13 Let us live to make men free 53:17 While God is marching on 53:24 Glory, glory, hallelujah! 53:30 Glory, glory, hallelujah! 53:36 Glory, glory, hallelujah! 53:41 His truth is marching on 53:49 Glory, glory, hallelujah! 53:55 Glory, glory, hallelujah! 54:00 Glory, glory, hallelujah! 54:06 His truth is marching on 54:13 Amen 54:19 Amen 54:31 Hallelujah. 54:41 Please bow your heads with me for prayer. 54:44 Lord, incredible music. 54:46 Thank You so much this afternoon 54:49 that we were able to hear this varied peaces of music 54:52 they were powerful. 54:53 Thank You for wonderful discussion. 54:56 All this bring different perspectives to You 54:59 that what's gonna occur in the months and years ahead. 55:02 Help us to set aside our natural worries and concerns 55:06 and that we will focus on You. 55:09 Give us the desire Lord, to study more 55:12 so that we can confidently 55:13 and comfortably portray Your love to others. 55:17 Thank you that we're here together this evening, amen. |
Revised 2014-12-28