Our next song for our
song service is All the Way,
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''All the Way My
Savior Leads Me.''
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All the way my Savior leads me
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What have I to ask beside?
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Can I doubt His tender mercy
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Who through life
has been my guide?
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Heavenly peace, divinest comfort
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Here by faith in Him to dwell
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For I know whate'er befall me
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Jesus doeth all things well
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For I know whate'er befall me
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Jesus doeth all things well
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All the way my Savior leads me
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Cheers each winding path I tread
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Gives me grace for every trial
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Feeds me with the living bread
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Though my weary steps may falter
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And my soul athirst may be
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Gushing from the Rock before me
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Lo, a spring of joy I see
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Gushing from the Rock before me
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Lo, a spring of joy I see
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All the way my Savior leads me
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O the fullness of His love!
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Perfect rest to me is promised
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In my Father's house above
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When I wake to life immortal
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Wing my flight to realms of day
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This my song
through endless ages
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Jesus led me all the way
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This my song
through endless ages
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Jesus led me all the way
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Last of all we're going to
do our theme song, "The Stage"
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The stage has been set
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All creation looks on
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Two kingdoms are warring
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Between right and wrong
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The choices you make
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Have a very high cost
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Eternity's won
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Or eternity's lost
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Before men and angels
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Which side will you choose?
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The Savior is waiting
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There's no time to lose
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Before men and angels
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Each soul plays a part
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For you are the world
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And the stage is your heart
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Invisible forces
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Are vying to win
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Is God in your heart
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Or is darkness and sin?
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For greater than angels
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Above God's own voice
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The power that's strongest
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Of all is your choice
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Before men and angels
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Which side will you choose?
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The Savior is waiting
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There's no time to lose
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Before men and angels
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Each soul plays a part
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For you are the world
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And the stage is your heart
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It's God's reputation
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In question today
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It's His vindication
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For which you should pray
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His glory is shown
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Through the universe wide
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When you let Him
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Into your heart to reside
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Before men and angels
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Which side will you choose?
00:05:07.09\00:05:10.03
The Savior is waiting
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There's no time to lose
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Before men and angels
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Each soul plays a part
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For you are the world
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And the stage is your heart
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Good morning, it's God...
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Okay, I won't sing that for you,
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but good morning.
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Let me hear one
more time, good morning.
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Good morning.
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I am proud of all you
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for waking up
early this morning,
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our breakfast is
before morning devotional
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and so maybe it's just a
little bit easier to get here,
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but we want to welcome you
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to the 7:30 morning devotional
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be happening
every single morning,
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invite your friends.
00:06:01.01\00:06:02.75
Now just one quick announcement.
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I was told to mention
something that you need to know.
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It was said last
night that Outreach,
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it was kind of implied
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that Outreach
was gonna be today,
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but it's actually on Friday,
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so just don't forget
that Outreach is on Friday
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and we can continue
to pray for Outreach.
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I am excited about the
speaker for morning devotional.
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Her name is Siku and I asked her
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how do you
pronounce your last name
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and she said don't try,
so I am not going to try.
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But Siku is
originally from Zimbabwe
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and she didn't want
to move to United States
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because it was the
beast in Bible prophecy
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and she did not want to be here,
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so she moved to Canada first,
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was there for two years
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and now has been
in the United States
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because God had
a different plan.
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She's been here for 11 years.
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She's studying at
Andrews University,
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taking her masters
there with an emphasis
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in the systematic theology,
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and she would like me to read
from Psalm 73:28 which says,
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"But it is good for
me to draw near to God,
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I have put my trust in the Lord
00:07:03.57\00:07:06.14
O God, that I may
declare all Your works."
00:07:06.17\00:07:09.88
So why don't we bow our
heads and ask God to be with us.
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Lord, we thank you so much
for this beautiful morning.
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We dedicate this
morning and this day to You.
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We love you.
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We invite Your
Holy Spirit to be here
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to open our hearts
in Your name, amen.
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When the storm raged about them
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The disciples were afraid
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For the waves were
high and the ship was tossed
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They could not find their way
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Then they awoke the master
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Saying Lord please save us now
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He rebuked the winds
and the sea grew calm
00:08:03.77\00:08:07.93
And they all wondered how
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God sees the storm
from the other side
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He knows the lessons learned
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And just beyond the
clouds He sees clear skies
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He speaks peace
to the raging storm
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When peace cannot be found
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He already sees the rainbow
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When we see only clouds
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Like the man on the sea did
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I have called on God in prayer
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When it seemed to me all hope
was gone and in my deep despair
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I remembered what the Lord said
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When He calmed that troubled sea
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And I know once more
how He sees the storm
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And peace floods over me
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God sees the storm
from the other side
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He knows the lessons learned
00:09:35.95\00:09:39.59
And just beyond the
clouds He sees clear skies
00:09:39.62\00:09:46.76
He speaks peace
to the raging storm
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When peace cannot be found
00:09:50.34\00:09:53.76
He already sees the rainbow
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When we see only clouds
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And when the storms of life
come crashing in and trouble me
00:10:02.69\00:10:09.76
I can feel God's arms
around me and he whispers
00:10:09.79\00:10:16.76
Let it be
00:10:16.79\00:10:20.21
Let it be
00:10:20.24\00:10:23.98
God sees the storm
from the other side
00:10:24.01\00:10:30.73
He knows the lessons learned
00:10:30.76\00:10:34.09
And just beyond the
clouds He sees clear skies
00:10:34.12\00:10:41.26
He speaks peace
to the raging storm
00:10:41.29\00:10:44.65
When peace cannot be found
00:10:44.68\00:10:48.21
He already sees the rainbow
00:10:48.24\00:10:54.04
When we see only clouds
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Amen.
00:11:07.99\00:11:09.68
Morning GYC.
00:11:19.33\00:11:20.83
Morning.
00:11:20.86\00:11:22.65
How are you doing this morning?
00:11:22.68\00:11:24.69
Good. Awesome.
00:11:24.72\00:11:29.01
I am wondering
how many of you guys
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are from the west
coast by show of hands.
00:11:31.75\00:11:35.45
Wow!
00:11:35.48\00:11:37.77
The entire front
section is from the west coast.
00:11:37.80\00:11:41.74
You realize you are here at
00:11:41.77\00:11:43.86
what time is it, west coast
00:11:43.89\00:11:45.07
4:30 in the morning.
00:11:45.10\00:11:47.72
That is incredible.
00:11:47.75\00:11:49.49
Praise the Lord for you.
00:11:49.52\00:11:51.97
You make me feel better.
00:11:52.00\00:11:53.25
I think I was
introduced already,
00:11:58.65\00:12:00.09
they told you my
name is Siku, yes.
00:12:00.12\00:12:03.98
My name is
Sikululekile Hiatshwayo.
00:12:04.01\00:12:07.19
Jeff, he came to ask me
how he should introduce me
00:12:07.22\00:12:09.75
and I said don't
worry about my last name
00:12:09.78\00:12:11.17
'cause I knew he
was going to butcher it
00:12:11.20\00:12:13.84
and you know so
don't worry about it.
00:12:13.87\00:12:16.65
I am originally from Zimbabwe,
00:12:16.68\00:12:18.14
so I want to say hi to my
family if they are watching.
00:12:18.17\00:12:22.13
And I am so
blessed to be here at GYC.
00:12:22.16\00:12:26.74
You know, after I
got over the initial
00:12:26.77\00:12:29.86
and subsequent shock
from the president of GYC
00:12:29.89\00:12:33.24
giving me a call to
invite me to speak this year.
00:12:33.27\00:12:36.87
I got really
excited about the topic,
00:12:36.90\00:12:39.99
the Great Controversy.
00:12:40.02\00:12:42.19
I worked for
several years as counselor
00:12:42.22\00:12:47.55
at secular
universities and I remember
00:12:47.58\00:12:51.78
giving a Bible study to a
group of four young ladies.
00:12:51.81\00:12:55.36
Three of them
were not Adventist.
00:12:55.39\00:12:57.31
And it was a Bible study
on the Great Controversy.
00:12:57.34\00:13:01.55
The look on their
faces as the reality of what
00:13:01.58\00:13:05.42
the metanarrative in
the Bible is hit them.
00:13:05.45\00:13:11.70
It was indescribable.
00:13:11.73\00:13:13.54
It was like whoa, the
world make sense kind of look.
00:13:13.57\00:13:19.72
And from that moment I
realized that we have truths,
00:13:19.75\00:13:23.97
we have truths that the world
is hungering and thirsting for.
00:13:24.00\00:13:28.34
It gives, kind of gives
a framework to understand
00:13:28.37\00:13:31.67
why things are, how they are
00:13:31.70\00:13:33.10
and how the world
works and all these things.
00:13:33.13\00:13:35.13
And I just came to really love
00:13:35.16\00:13:37.42
the message of
the Great Controversy.
00:13:37.45\00:13:40.14
So I was very excited
to be invited to share
00:13:40.17\00:13:43.97
and praying about
what exactly to talk about.
00:13:44.00\00:13:50.11
What the Lord impressed me
was and what we're going to do
00:13:50.14\00:13:52.33
for the next few
mornings is to talk about issues
00:13:52.36\00:13:56.09
in the Great Controversy.
00:13:56.12\00:13:58.18
So not
specifically necessarily going
00:13:58.21\00:14:01.49
through the story of
the Great Controversy,
00:14:01.52\00:14:03.36
but issues in
the Great Controversy
00:14:03.39\00:14:05.45
as I've come to
experience them in my own life.
00:14:05.48\00:14:07.98
So that is what we're going
to do in the next few mornings.
00:14:08.01\00:14:10.91
Is that all right? All right.
00:14:10.94\00:14:15.63
Oh, I made a mental
note to give a disclaimer.
00:14:15.66\00:14:18.99
My friends say that
00:14:19.02\00:14:20.68
when I get
excited about something
00:14:20.71\00:14:22.98
that my accent changes.
00:14:23.01\00:14:26.63
Since I came to America,
00:14:26.66\00:14:27.79
I've learnt how to roll
my R's a little bit more
00:14:27.82\00:14:30.82
so that Americans
can understand me.
00:14:30.85\00:14:33.66
Funny story, I
went to a restaurant
00:14:33.69\00:14:34.91
with some friends.
00:14:34.94\00:14:36.84
The waitress
comes and she's asking,
00:14:36.87\00:14:38.52
oh, what would
you like to drink?
00:14:38.55\00:14:40.15
And I said, oh, could I just
have a glass of water please.
00:14:40.18\00:14:42.95
And she said, excuse me.
00:14:42.98\00:14:44.90
I said, oh, a glass of
water as if that would help.
00:14:44.93\00:14:51.08
And she said, oh, I'm sorry,
00:14:51.11\00:14:52.94
I don't understand,
could you come again.
00:14:52.97\00:14:55.13
And my friend had to
intervene and he said,
00:14:55.16\00:14:56.99
oh, she just
wants a glass of water.
00:14:57.02\00:15:01.99
Oh, my God, really.
00:15:02.02\00:15:05.05
I said water W-A-T-E-R
00:15:05.08\00:15:08.13
and she couldn't
understand me so.
00:15:08.16\00:15:09.60
I've learnt how
to, I try to roll,
00:15:09.63\00:15:12.70
you know, the water
and those kind of things,
00:15:12.73\00:15:14.88
but sometimes I forget
00:15:14.91\00:15:18.19
and the accent
becomes more accentuated,
00:15:18.22\00:15:22.19
so that's my disclaimer,
I've said it, you know, so.
00:15:22.22\00:15:25.36
Shoma, if you are
out there, forgive me.
00:15:25.39\00:15:28.32
Okay.
00:15:28.35\00:15:29.94
All right, let's have
a world of prayer again.
00:15:29.97\00:15:32.06
This is for mine sake.
00:15:32.09\00:15:33.12
And then we'll then jump
right into the word of God.
00:15:33.15\00:15:36.67
Loving Father, we're privilege
to spend time in Your word,
00:15:36.70\00:15:41.57
to hear You speaking to
us through the Holy Spirit.
00:15:41.60\00:15:45.44
We invite his presence now
00:15:45.47\00:15:48.27
so that the time that
we spent together here
00:15:48.30\00:15:50.16
would not be an
exercise in futility,
00:15:50.19\00:15:52.56
but it will be an opportunity
00:15:52.59\00:15:53.70
for the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit,
00:15:53.73\00:15:55.92
so that our
lives will be changed.
00:15:55.95\00:15:57.38
Father, we
recognize the time is short
00:15:57.41\00:16:00.04
and Jesus is coming soon.
00:16:00.07\00:16:01.92
Prepare us to prepare the world
for that soon return of Christ,
00:16:01.95\00:16:06.30
we pray this in your name, amen.
00:16:06.33\00:16:09.35
Turn with me in your Bibles
to the Book of Luke Chapter 18.
00:16:09.38\00:16:12.83
Luke Chapter 18.
00:16:17.46\00:16:18.95
And we're going to read together
from verse 1 in Luke Chapter 18.
00:16:23.26\00:16:29.02
Luke 18:1.
00:16:29.05\00:16:31.77
I'm reading from
the King James Version
00:16:31.80\00:16:33.59
not because I have anything
against other versions per se,
00:16:33.62\00:16:35.89
it's just my favorite
version to study out of.
00:16:35.92\00:16:41.27
Luke 18:1 says, "And he spake
00:16:41.30\00:16:44.71
a parable unto them to this end,
00:16:44.74\00:16:49.38
that men ought always
to pray, and not to faint."
00:16:49.41\00:16:54.95
And so this
parable we're given already
00:16:54.98\00:16:57.92
what the goal was
in giving this parable.
00:16:57.95\00:17:00.38
It was that man ought
always to pray and not to faint.
00:17:00.41\00:17:03.91
Meaning that it is possible
for men to pray and yet faint.
00:17:03.94\00:17:11.06
And this is what Jesus said that
"There was in a city a judge,
00:17:11.09\00:17:15.79
which feared not
God, neither regarded man.
00:17:15.82\00:17:19.92
And there was a
widow in that city,
00:17:19.95\00:17:21.52
and she came unto him, saying,
00:17:21.55\00:17:23.11
Avenge me of mine adversary."
00:17:23.14\00:17:26.59
So in verse 2 it tells us that
00:17:26.62\00:17:28.11
there was in a
city a man of power.
00:17:28.14\00:17:32.01
He was a judge in that city.
00:17:32.04\00:17:33.71
He was a man who could say
things and things happened.
00:17:33.74\00:17:37.69
But there's something peculiar
00:17:37.72\00:17:39.36
about this judge because usually
00:17:39.39\00:17:41.33
when you think
about public servants,
00:17:41.36\00:17:43.54
they're people who
want to help people.
00:17:43.57\00:17:46.72
But this judge was
not that kind of a guy.
00:17:46.75\00:17:49.73
He was a kind of a
power tripping judge.
00:17:49.76\00:17:53.55
Because he wasn't
there to help people,
00:17:53.58\00:17:55.36
he didn't care
about what God said
00:17:55.39\00:17:57.46
was right or wrong.
00:17:57.49\00:17:58.64
He didn't have a
particular moral code
00:17:58.67\00:18:00.39
that he operated
under, nor did he regard man
00:18:00.42\00:18:04.17
because sometimes
people will do the right thing
00:18:04.20\00:18:07.27
just because they fear God.
00:18:07.30\00:18:11.09
They'll treat you well
not because they like you,
00:18:11.12\00:18:13.79
not because they care about you,
00:18:13.82\00:18:15.98
but because it's
the right thing to do.
00:18:16.01\00:18:18.56
You know I was
in elementary school
00:18:18.59\00:18:20.86
and this is an
embarrassing story
00:18:20.89\00:18:21.98
to tell that's the
person that comes to mind.
00:18:22.01\00:18:25.24
And there was
this kid in my class
00:18:25.27\00:18:26.85
and he was so annoying.
00:18:26.88\00:18:28.78
He was so annoying,
00:18:28.81\00:18:30.70
super annoying kid in my
class in elementary school
00:18:30.73\00:18:33.79
so I was really young.
00:18:33.82\00:18:35.31
But I loved Jesus
and I was a Christian
00:18:35.34\00:18:37.50
even then and this kid,
00:18:37.53\00:18:40.07
he would just pester and pester.
00:18:40.10\00:18:42.05
Everybody in the class
thought he was annoying.
00:18:42.08\00:18:43.76
Okay, it wasn't just me.
00:18:43.79\00:18:46.06
And one day he was just getting,
00:18:46.09\00:18:52.82
he was testing my Christianity
00:18:52.85\00:18:55.68
and I failed, okay.
00:18:55.71\00:18:58.72
And the embarrassing
thing is I slapped him, okay.
00:18:58.75\00:19:02.05
My little sister knows
that I struggled with violence
00:19:07.65\00:19:10.15
when I was young.
00:19:10.18\00:19:12.59
But the Lord
helped me overcome, amen.
00:19:12.62\00:19:16.63
I went home that day
00:19:16.66\00:19:18.25
and the Lord
would not give me rest.
00:19:18.28\00:19:21.27
And all night I
probably slept a long time
00:19:21.30\00:19:24.84
but as a kid, you know,
00:19:24.87\00:19:25.90
I felt like I
didn't sleep at all
00:19:25.93\00:19:27.27
because I was so
stressed out, like Lord
00:19:27.30\00:19:29.57
I shouldn't have done that,
00:19:29.60\00:19:32.57
and He brought
conviction to my heart,
00:19:32.60\00:19:34.02
I needed to apologize.
00:19:34.05\00:19:35.28
Now it's so
embarrassing to apologize
00:19:35.31\00:19:37.39
to the annoying kid, right.
00:19:37.42\00:19:39.37
Because everybody
thinks he is annoying
00:19:39.40\00:19:40.73
and then I have to apologize,
00:19:40.76\00:19:41.94
but I went to
school the next day
00:19:41.97\00:19:43.85
under the
conviction of the Holy Spirit
00:19:43.88\00:19:45.68
and I said X, I
won't mention his name.
00:19:45.71\00:19:49.68
I am so sorry that I
slapped you yesterday.
00:19:49.71\00:19:55.01
And I don't know
if he was just scared
00:19:55.04\00:19:56.63
that I would do it
again but he said that's okay.
00:19:56.66\00:20:01.69
I didn't apologize
because I cared about him.
00:20:01.72\00:20:06.86
But because I feared God,
00:20:06.89\00:20:09.15
because of my
relationship with God,
00:20:09.18\00:20:11.42
out of
obligation, out of duty to God
00:20:11.45\00:20:14.07
I went and I gave that apology.
00:20:14.10\00:20:16.01
So you understand that
sometimes people do things
00:20:16.04\00:20:18.77
just strictly
out of fear for God,
00:20:18.80\00:20:20.98
not out of love for man.
00:20:21.01\00:20:23.83
And sometimes on the other hand
00:20:23.86\00:20:25.56
people do things
just to look good
00:20:25.59\00:20:27.50
in front of other people, right.
00:20:27.53\00:20:31.32
Will behave in a
proper way just so that
00:20:31.35\00:20:33.49
other people will
think we are so awesome
00:20:33.52\00:20:36.48
that we will
address, sit and wait
00:20:36.51\00:20:38.44
so people will
regard us as holy,
00:20:38.47\00:20:40.66
or address, sit and wait
00:20:40.69\00:20:42.63
so people regard us
as pretty, I don't know.
00:20:42.66\00:20:44.73
But we behave in a certain
way for the sake of people,
00:20:44.76\00:20:49.63
but this guy, this judge,
00:20:49.66\00:20:53.09
he didn't do anything for God,
00:20:53.12\00:20:56.40
he didn't do anything for man
00:20:56.43\00:20:59.86
which left only who?
00:20:59.89\00:21:02.36
Self.
00:21:02.39\00:21:05.73
The judge feared neither
God, neither regarded man.
00:21:05.76\00:21:08.99
And there was in
that city a widow.
00:21:11.32\00:21:14.76
And this widow
had a problem you see,
00:21:17.36\00:21:19.67
because she had a situation
00:21:19.70\00:21:21.50
that she couldn't
resolve on her own.
00:21:21.53\00:21:26.17
She had lost her
husband to death.
00:21:26.20\00:21:30.25
And she had to manage her
husband's estate and you see,
00:21:30.28\00:21:33.67
she didn't have the resources
00:21:33.70\00:21:35.78
to deal with a
particular adversary
00:21:35.81\00:21:38.21
who was on her case so to speak,
00:21:38.24\00:21:41.18
so she needed
help in her situation
00:21:41.21\00:21:43.42
and you know this
woman was desperate
00:21:43.45\00:21:45.23
because of all people to go to,
00:21:45.26\00:21:47.85
who did she go to for
help? That judge, right.
00:21:47.88\00:21:51.98
That guy who
doesn't care about anybody.
00:21:52.01\00:21:54.83
She went to that judge
and she begged the judge,
00:21:54.86\00:21:58.45
avenge me of mine adversary.
00:21:58.48\00:22:02.90
See this woman was in
a desperate situation.
00:22:02.93\00:22:07.40
She was in a situation that
she couldn't do anything about.
00:22:07.43\00:22:12.02
She was in financial
straits. She was going bankrupt.
00:22:12.05\00:22:16.51
And some of us are in
a desperate situation.
00:22:19.31\00:22:24.82
And some of us
in our desperation
00:22:24.85\00:22:26.43
go to broken cisterns.
00:22:26.46\00:22:28.06
I don't know what
your desperation is,
00:22:33.04\00:22:35.40
it could be
financial, I don't know
00:22:35.43\00:22:37.13
how I am going to
pay for next semester's
00:22:37.16\00:22:38.93
classes kind of situation.
00:22:38.96\00:22:42.36
It could be
emotional bankruptcy.
00:22:42.39\00:22:47.09
In a relationship that is devoid
00:22:47.12\00:22:49.70
of any kind of
fulfillment emotionally
00:22:49.73\00:22:52.92
and there is a desperation
00:22:52.95\00:22:54.85
that you
experience in your life.
00:22:54.88\00:22:58.62
But there is a
bankruptcy that I know
00:22:58.65\00:23:01.80
each and everyone of us has.
00:23:01.83\00:23:05.95
Let's turn real quick
to Zechariah Chapter 3.
00:23:05.98\00:23:08.32
Zechariah Chapter 3.
00:23:15.39\00:23:16.67
See the Bible
tells us that all of us,
00:23:20.23\00:23:24.50
not just some, not just me
00:23:24.53\00:23:26.65
who is evil and
beats people up in school
00:23:26.68\00:23:28.87
when I'm
inelementary, not just me,
00:23:28.90\00:23:30.60
all of us have this problem
00:23:30.63\00:23:31.82
because all have sinned
00:23:31.85\00:23:33.87
and fall short
of the glory of God.
00:23:33.90\00:23:38.62
So this is the
problem that we all have.
00:23:38.65\00:23:41.92
And in Zechariah Chapter
3 from verse 1, Bible says,
00:23:41.95\00:23:45.97
"And he showed me
Joshua the high priest
00:23:46.00\00:23:48.84
standing before
the angel of the Lord,
00:23:48.87\00:23:50.41
and Satan standing at
his right hand to resist him.
00:23:50.44\00:23:54.11
And the Lord said unto Satan,
The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan;
00:23:54.14\00:23:57.76
even the Lord that hath
chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee:
00:23:57.79\00:24:00.82
is not this a brand
plucked out of the fire?"
00:24:00.85\00:24:03.85
Now Joshua was
clothed with filthy garments,
00:24:03.88\00:24:07.22
and stood before the angel.
00:24:07.25\00:24:09.91
And he answered and spake
00:24:09.94\00:24:11.24
unto those that
stood before him, saying,
00:24:11.27\00:24:12.91
Take away the
filthy garments from him.
00:24:12.94\00:24:15.29
And unto him he
said, Behold, I have caused
00:24:15.32\00:24:17.34
thine iniquity
to pass from thee,
00:24:17.37\00:24:19.16
and I will clothe thee
with change of raiment."
00:24:19.19\00:24:21.13
And we'll pause there.
00:24:21.16\00:24:22.42
The scene that
we have just seen.
00:24:22.45\00:24:25.03
Joshua, the high priest standing
on behalf of the people of God.
00:24:25.06\00:24:30.10
And he is
wearing filthy garments
00:24:30.13\00:24:33.23
which represents that Joshua
and God's people are unclean.
00:24:33.26\00:24:38.48
We have nothing
pure to bring before God.
00:24:38.51\00:24:42.76
And he stands there in his
filthy garments and it says,
00:24:42.79\00:24:46.14
that Satan was staring at
his right hand to resist him.
00:24:46.17\00:24:51.66
And so you have Satan,
the accuser of the brethren
00:24:51.69\00:24:54.98
the Bible tells
us in Revelation.
00:24:55.01\00:24:56.62
This guy who has been
accusing the brethren for ever,
00:24:56.65\00:25:00.38
you know, ever since
time, our time began,
00:25:00.41\00:25:03.36
he is standing at his
right hand to accuse him
00:25:03.39\00:25:06.25
and what is he accusing him off?
00:25:06.28\00:25:07.91
This guy, filthy, look at that.
00:25:07.94\00:25:14.70
No way you can
accept him... her.
00:25:14.73\00:25:17.91
Completely unworthy of
you affections even God.
00:25:21.02\00:25:26.24
How can you take this
person into Your kingdom?
00:25:29.24\00:25:34.58
How can You accept
them as Your child?
00:25:34.61\00:25:39.46
You know, what they
do in their private time.
00:25:39.49\00:25:42.57
You've seen.
00:25:42.60\00:25:44.17
You've seen what they do
when nobody else is looking.
00:25:44.20\00:25:48.41
You've seen how they act.
00:25:48.44\00:25:50.46
You even know
God, You know things
00:25:50.49\00:25:52.01
that I don't
even know Satan says,
00:25:52.04\00:25:53.35
like you know what they think.
00:25:53.38\00:25:57.29
When they see people walking by,
00:25:57.32\00:25:58.96
you know those passing thoughts
that pass through their mind.
00:25:58.99\00:26:02.55
And he says these are
filthy, filthy people.
00:26:02.58\00:26:07.47
And Joshua is standing
there with nothing to say.
00:26:07.50\00:26:13.14
And why does he
have nothing to say?
00:26:16.02\00:26:20.83
Because it's true.
00:26:20.86\00:26:23.99
He looks at himself and
he says I am filthy rags.
00:26:24.02\00:26:28.92
All my righteousness
is like filthy rags.
00:26:28.95\00:26:31.09
Everything I bring before
God, filthy, filthy, filthy.
00:26:31.12\00:26:33.95
With what can I
come before the Lord?
00:26:36.28\00:26:41.52
And he has no answer to give.
00:26:41.55\00:26:45.41
And when we have
look at ourselves,
00:26:45.44\00:26:48.73
there is no way
that we could be saved.
00:26:48.76\00:26:53.62
Look, even the good
things that we do you know,
00:26:53.65\00:26:55.75
they come out
of selfish motives.
00:26:55.78\00:26:58.46
And so this woman,
she goes before the judge
00:27:04.20\00:27:06.75
and she says judge, look,
I have a situation in my life
00:27:06.78\00:27:10.67
that I can do nothing about.
00:27:10.70\00:27:13.37
It's not just that
I do sinful things,
00:27:13.40\00:27:15.68
but I'm a sinful person.
00:27:15.71\00:27:19.77
And I need your help
00:27:19.80\00:27:21.51
because I cannot
do this by myself.
00:27:21.54\00:27:26.04
This high ideal that we
have of being a Christian,
00:27:26.07\00:27:28.63
I cannot attain to it.
00:27:28.66\00:27:31.86
I am worse when I look at Jesus.
00:27:31.89\00:27:35.62
He is so perfect and that's
what I'm supposed to be like.
00:27:35.65\00:27:38.57
There is no way, no way.
00:27:38.60\00:27:43.50
And it's true.
00:27:43.53\00:27:46.12
And she goes
pleading to this judge,
00:27:46.15\00:27:48.38
because she has a situation
that she can do nothing about,
00:27:48.41\00:27:52.77
just as we have a situation
that we can do nothing about.
00:27:52.80\00:27:58.18
It's the beautiful thing.
00:27:58.21\00:28:01.98
You've already read it
here in Zechariah Chapter 3,
00:28:02.01\00:28:06.83
because the Lord steps
in on our behalf, amen.
00:28:06.86\00:28:13.59
You see Jesus,
He came to do for us
00:28:13.62\00:28:16.73
what we could
never do for ourselves.
00:28:16.76\00:28:21.05
And that's the whole
point of Christianity
00:28:21.08\00:28:23.73
is that we need to savior.
00:28:23.76\00:28:26.07
Without Him, hopeless.
00:28:26.10\00:28:29.41
But Jesus came, He
steps in and He says, mm-hmm,
00:28:29.44\00:28:34.23
it's not because she is awesome.
00:28:34.26\00:28:37.29
No.
00:28:37.32\00:28:39.09
He says this is a brand
plucked out of the fire.
00:28:39.12\00:28:42.26
And you know what?
00:28:42.29\00:28:43.32
Jesus Himself came into
the fire to pluck us out, amen.
00:28:43.35\00:28:47.06
He didn't just stand
by and send an angel,
00:28:47.09\00:28:48.92
okay, you know, go
pluck that person out.
00:28:48.95\00:28:51.89
No. He came into the fire.
00:28:51.92\00:28:54.91
He put his life on the line,
00:28:54.94\00:28:57.12
so that we could
have a hope in the world.
00:28:57.15\00:29:00.26
Praise the Lord.
00:29:00.29\00:29:02.63
This is the brand
plucked out of the fire
00:29:02.66\00:29:04.33
and so when we look at Jesus,
00:29:04.36\00:29:07.08
when we look at Jesus
and what He has done for us,
00:29:07.11\00:29:09.03
there is no way we
could be lost, no way.
00:29:09.06\00:29:13.52
Salvation is
assured in the cross.
00:29:13.55\00:29:18.90
We have a hope that is secured.
00:29:18.93\00:29:20.33
Turn back with me
to Luke Chapter 18.
00:29:20.36\00:29:22.43
The story continues in verse 4.
00:29:30.26\00:29:34.75
This woman came to
the judge and she said
00:29:34.78\00:29:37.65
"avenge me of mine adversary."
00:29:37.68\00:29:39.48
And the story
tells us not surprisingly
00:29:39.51\00:29:42.07
that the judge would not.
00:29:42.10\00:29:44.29
"He would not for a while,
00:29:44.32\00:29:45.48
but afterward he
said within himself,
00:29:45.51\00:29:48.66
though I fear not
God, nor regard man,
00:29:48.69\00:29:52.09
yet because this
widow troubleth me,
00:29:52.12\00:29:56.17
I will avenge her, lest by her
continual coming she weary me."
00:29:56.20\00:30:01.22
You know I, I used to do this
00:30:01.25\00:30:04.13
but let me use
other people as a--
00:30:04.16\00:30:06.32
I think I've put myself
out there too much already.
00:30:06.35\00:30:10.73
We'll talk about little kids.
00:30:10.76\00:30:11.84
Have you ever seen little kids
00:30:11.87\00:30:13.30
when they have candy
like, you know, an aunt.
00:30:13.33\00:30:17.85
Okay, fine, I do this sometimes,
00:30:17.88\00:30:19.11
you know, my nieces and nephews.
00:30:19.14\00:30:20.78
I'll take candy to them,
and I know candy is not good.
00:30:20.81\00:30:24.81
Thou shall not eat candy,
bad for your teeth, bad, bad.
00:30:24.84\00:30:29.44
But you know it's so hard,
00:30:29.47\00:30:30.62
you want to be
the favorite aunt.
00:30:30.65\00:30:32.23
So, you know, bring
the candy to the kids.
00:30:32.26\00:30:34.41
And, you know, now the
parents have a dilemma, right,
00:30:34.44\00:30:36.27
because they can't
let the kid eat the candy.
00:30:36.30\00:30:38.70
And so momma will
say, oh, no, not now,
00:30:38.73\00:30:41.87
no candy for you right now
00:30:41.90\00:30:44.23
and the kid will be
holding the candy in your hand
00:30:44.26\00:30:48.48
and they ask again.
00:30:48.51\00:30:50.65
May I please eat the candy.
00:30:50.68\00:30:53.64
You know, using the
really cute kid voice.
00:30:53.67\00:30:55.98
And mom will say,
no, you had enough candy
00:30:56.01\00:30:58.29
for the next 10 years and...
00:30:58.32\00:31:02.40
All right, and the kid will--
00:31:02.43\00:31:03.77
and it's almost as
if the child thinks
00:31:03.80\00:31:06.26
by asking 10 times
mom's mind will change, right.
00:31:06.29\00:31:11.96
But please.
00:31:11.99\00:31:16.60
And don't we do
that with God sometimes.
00:31:16.63\00:31:22.28
You know, like
this thing that we know
00:31:22.31\00:31:24.17
is not necessarily good for us.
00:31:24.20\00:31:26.10
We're like but, but, but God,
00:31:26.13\00:31:28.26
but, I know You
already said in Your word
00:31:28.29\00:31:30.87
that I shouldn't
but, but, but please.
00:31:30.90\00:31:36.47
You know someone in
the Bible who did that.
00:31:36.50\00:31:39.47
Balaam, you remember the story.
00:31:39.50\00:31:41.98
He gets an invitation
to go curse God's people.
00:31:44.46\00:31:47.11
Okay, he gets an invitation
to go curse God's people,
00:31:47.14\00:31:50.40
so he comes to God and says,
00:31:50.43\00:31:53.01
God, may I please go
curse Your people, please.
00:31:53.04\00:31:59.35
Seriously
Balaam, I mean come on.
00:31:59.38\00:32:01.35
Okay, but we do that, right.
00:32:01.38\00:32:02.99
We come to God,
00:32:03.02\00:32:04.12
I know You've already
revealed in Your word.
00:32:04.15\00:32:08.07
But please, can I
just be the exception
00:32:08.10\00:32:10.86
just this one time, please.
00:32:10.89\00:32:13.62
Let's turn to another instance
of that in Genesis Chapter 3.
00:32:17.53\00:32:22.97
I was reminded of this instance
00:32:23.00\00:32:24.03
as I was thinking
about that concept.
00:32:24.06\00:32:26.83
Genesis Chapter 3, this is,
00:32:26.86\00:32:28.83
Genesis 3 is my favorite
chapter in the whole Bible.
00:32:28.86\00:32:34.94
I should have it
memorized by now.
00:32:34.97\00:32:37.24
But I was impressed
00:32:37.27\00:32:40.03
you know in
yesterday's presentations.
00:32:40.06\00:32:41.92
Anyone else is going to
memorize more scripture, amen.
00:32:41.95\00:32:45.97
Okay, only five
people, but that's all right.
00:32:46.00\00:32:49.49
The rest of you probably,
you know, are almost there.
00:32:49.52\00:32:53.42
Genesis Chapter 3.
00:32:53.45\00:32:56.59
I love this chapter
because it is a picture
00:32:56.62\00:33:01.17
of how we ended up
where we're right now.
00:33:01.20\00:33:03.09
How we got into this mess?
00:33:03.12\00:33:05.09
For me it helps make
sense of a whole lot of stuff.
00:33:05.12\00:33:08.82
Sometimes I read them,
I'm like, oh, no wonder,
00:33:08.85\00:33:10.89
I struggle with that.
00:33:10.92\00:33:12.73
It's all their fault.
00:33:12.76\00:33:14.17
Okay, Genesis
Chapter 3 from verse 1.
00:33:14.20\00:33:18.12
"Now the serpent was more subtle
than any beast of the field
00:33:18.15\00:33:21.37
which the Lord God had made."
00:33:21.40\00:33:23.44
We know who the serpent is.
00:33:23.47\00:33:24.67
Revelation tells us,
who is it? The devil, right.
00:33:24.70\00:33:28.87
That old serpent
called the devil and Satan.
00:33:28.90\00:33:32.21
And he said unto the
woman, Yea, hath God said...
00:33:32.24\00:33:37.32
Did God really say,
you shouldn't do this.
00:33:37.35\00:33:43.24
Yea, hath God
said, thou shall not eat
00:33:43.27\00:33:45.72
of every tree of the garden?
00:33:45.75\00:33:49.58
And the woman goes on to engage
00:33:49.61\00:33:52.47
the devil in a conversation.
00:33:52.50\00:33:54.90
Needless to say,
let's not do that, right.
00:33:54.93\00:33:58.39
No, no need to
have that conversation.
00:33:58.42\00:34:00.88
"And the woman
said unto the serpent,
00:34:03.65\00:34:05.99
We may eat of the fruit
of the trees of the garden.
00:34:06.02\00:34:09.37
But of the fruit of the tree
00:34:09.40\00:34:10.60
which is in the
midst of the garden,
00:34:10.63\00:34:12.11
God hath said, Ye
shall not eat of it,
00:34:12.14\00:34:14.27
neither shall ye
touch it, lest ye die."
00:34:14.30\00:34:17.29
And so much we could talk
about in just those three verses
00:34:17.32\00:34:20.58
but, I would like for us
to focus on verse 4 and 5.
00:34:20.61\00:34:25.37
"The serpent says to the woman,
00:34:25.40\00:34:27.71
You shall not surely die.
00:34:27.74\00:34:33.91
For God doth know that
in the day ye eat thereof,
00:34:33.94\00:34:36.46
then your eyes shall be opened,
00:34:36.49\00:34:38.52
and ye shall be as
gods, knowing good and evil."
00:34:38.55\00:34:42.29
So the devil comes
to the woman and says,
00:34:45.15\00:34:48.17
so God told you
that you shouldn't
00:34:48.20\00:34:51.02
eat of the tree, right.
00:34:51.05\00:34:53.02
And she's like,
yeah, you know, He said
00:34:53.05\00:34:54.58
we shouldn't eat of the tree.
00:34:54.61\00:34:56.05
And he's like, you know
why He said that, right.
00:34:56.08\00:35:00.17
There is more to it
than meets the eye even.
00:35:04.69\00:35:08.71
Let me break it down to you.
00:35:08.74\00:35:10.19
You see, God is thinking
00:35:10.22\00:35:15.68
if I let these humanoids,
00:35:15.71\00:35:19.20
human beings eat of the tree
00:35:19.23\00:35:24.08
they will be like Me,
00:35:24.11\00:35:27.87
which doesn't make sense, right,
00:35:27.90\00:35:29.00
because He's already
created us in His image.
00:35:29.03\00:35:31.17
But anyway He says
00:35:31.20\00:35:32.52
if I let them eat of the
tree they will be like Me.
00:35:32.55\00:35:36.57
And that is to say
there is an aspect of God
00:35:36.60\00:35:39.53
that we cannot
attain to even though
00:35:39.56\00:35:41.48
we are made in His image.
00:35:41.51\00:35:42.72
And then he's saying
00:35:42.75\00:35:44.03
God is withholding
certain aspects of who He is,
00:35:44.06\00:35:47.62
so if you eat of the
tree, you're gonna be like Him.
00:35:47.65\00:35:50.17
And God is
selfish. He is power hungry.
00:35:50.20\00:35:55.74
And He doesn't want you
to be like Him in that way.
00:35:55.77\00:36:01.27
You're hearing it. You
see it in the text, yeah.
00:36:01.30\00:36:07.14
God wants to withhold
certain things from you.
00:36:07.17\00:36:13.11
So I mean, given that
His motives are not right.
00:36:13.14\00:36:17.62
Can you really trust Him?
00:36:17.65\00:36:19.14
I mean, Eve, come
on. Think with me.
00:36:24.40\00:36:28.76
Look, I am touching
the fruit right now,
00:36:28.79\00:36:31.98
eating the fruit, I'm not dead.
00:36:32.01\00:36:36.15
Could really God is trying
to hold something back from you.
00:36:36.18\00:36:41.22
And in those words
the devil places doubt
00:36:41.25\00:36:47.98
about the character of God.
00:36:48.01\00:36:51.40
And you see in the
Great Controversy the thing
00:36:51.43\00:36:54.73
that is in question
really is the character of God.
00:36:54.76\00:36:59.62
Can you trust Him?
00:36:59.65\00:37:02.40
When He tells you
not to eat of that tree
00:37:02.43\00:37:04.64
which is in the
middle of the garden,
00:37:04.67\00:37:06.28
just that one thing
that He says not to do.
00:37:06.31\00:37:10.24
Every thing else is open to you.
00:37:10.27\00:37:13.56
Every day of the
week you can work,
00:37:13.59\00:37:15.18
just one day, the
Sabbath day is mine.
00:37:15.21\00:37:18.31
Ninety percent, just ten percent
00:37:22.09\00:37:26.36
I want you to dedicate.
00:37:26.39\00:37:28.62
Don't even touch it.
But can you trust Him.
00:37:28.65\00:37:33.74
God only says that
'cause He is greedy.
00:37:33.77\00:37:37.62
Yeah, Him and His
servants, the pastors,
00:37:37.65\00:37:39.35
the ones who
preach about tithes, yeah.
00:37:39.38\00:37:41.90
They just want your
money. You can't trust them.
00:37:41.93\00:37:43.85
The character of God
is what's in question.
00:37:47.40\00:37:53.35
So you see when
Eve took of that fruit,
00:37:53.38\00:37:57.76
she looked at it.
00:37:57.79\00:37:59.91
I want you to know
what she said in her mind.
00:37:59.94\00:38:03.44
Verse 6, "When the woman saw
that the tree was good for food,
00:38:03.47\00:38:07.98
pleasant to the eyes,
00:38:08.01\00:38:09.66
a tree to be
desired to make one wise,
00:38:09.69\00:38:13.11
she took of the
fruit thereof, and did eat,
00:38:13.14\00:38:15.22
and gave also unto
her husband with her;
00:38:15.25\00:38:16.57
and he did eat."
00:38:16.60\00:38:19.65
So even though
God had already said
00:38:19.68\00:38:21.19
don't eat it, don't touch it,
00:38:21.22\00:38:22.64
I didn't know, he
didn't say don't touch it,
00:38:22.67\00:38:24.05
she said he said don't.
00:38:24.08\00:38:25.60
He said don't eat it.
00:38:25.63\00:38:28.76
Even though God had already
specifically said not to eat it.
00:38:28.79\00:38:34.01
In her mind she reasoned
that this was good for food.
00:38:34.04\00:38:39.32
If God says don't eat
it, it's not good for food.
00:38:39.35\00:38:42.65
But in that action
of eating that fruit.
00:38:47.68\00:38:52.33
You know action
speak louder than words.
00:38:52.36\00:38:54.25
You know, I can't imagine
00:38:54.28\00:38:55.98
Eve actually
saying I don't trust God.
00:38:56.01\00:39:00.19
I can't imagine her saying that.
00:39:00.22\00:39:02.49
But in that action
of eating the fruit,
00:39:02.52\00:39:05.88
she declared that
she didn't trust God.
00:39:05.91\00:39:08.76
And so ever since then
we struggled with appetite.
00:39:15.24\00:39:19.72
God says don't eat it.
00:39:19.75\00:39:23.45
We want to eat it. Yeah.
00:39:23.48\00:39:27.05
I struggle too.
00:39:27.08\00:39:28.13
As a matter of fact I
know all of us struggle.
00:39:28.16\00:39:30.72
I just know it as a
fact because Eve struggled,
00:39:30.75\00:39:34.75
hence all of us, we
have the same problem.
00:39:34.78\00:39:37.31
Okay, don't look at me
like I'm wore sinner than you.
00:39:37.34\00:39:40.69
Okay, maybe I am, yeah,
00:39:40.72\00:39:41.96
but still we
have the same problem.
00:39:41.99\00:39:44.23
All right, let's
turn to Luke Chapter 4.
00:39:44.26\00:39:46.41
Interestingly as Jesus came up
00:39:50.25\00:39:52.66
out of the
water from His baptism
00:39:52.69\00:39:55.65
and the Holy Spirit
led Him into the wilderness
00:39:55.68\00:39:59.23
and He was fasting
and praying for 40 days.
00:39:59.26\00:40:03.70
And the devil comes
to Him with temptations.
00:40:03.73\00:40:06.47
What's the first
area that he's tempted in?
00:40:06.50\00:40:10.86
Appetite, the very first thing
00:40:10.89\00:40:14.03
and I mean the man has
been fasting for 40 days.
00:40:14.06\00:40:19.94
Some of us, you make
us fast for 40 minutes
00:40:19.97\00:40:23.58
and we're struggling.
00:40:23.61\00:40:26.09
Forty days He's
been fasting and praying
00:40:26.12\00:40:28.98
and the Lord and God
00:40:29.01\00:40:30.33
supernaturally sustained
Him through those 40 days,
00:40:30.36\00:40:34.04
but at the end of
it the Bible tells,
00:40:34.07\00:40:36.11
let's just turn
to Luke Chapter 4.
00:40:36.14\00:40:40.79
Oh, I think Chapter
5, did the wrong thing.
00:40:40.82\00:40:43.02
Okay, Luke 4:2,
00:40:43.05\00:40:46.42
"And being forty
days tempted of the devil.
00:40:46.45\00:40:48.91
And in those days
he did eat nothing,
00:40:48.94\00:40:52.04
and when they were ended,
the Bible almost states...
00:40:52.07\00:40:55.80
What's that,
00:40:58.52\00:40:59.55
I had such an elegant
word for it and I lost it.
00:40:59.58\00:41:02.13
Like a, you know,
an obvious thing, okay.
00:41:02.16\00:41:07.84
The Bible says that He
was afterward hungered.
00:41:07.87\00:41:11.50
But he states that
00:41:14.33\00:41:15.36
because that's an
important element to the story.
00:41:15.39\00:41:18.95
Jesus was actually hungry.
00:41:18.98\00:41:21.95
It's not that He was standing
there and He's just like,
00:41:21.98\00:41:24.25
oh, you know,
soups full whatever.
00:41:24.28\00:41:27.81
He was hungry and
the devil comes to him
00:41:27.84\00:41:33.16
and strikes at
His weakest point.
00:41:33.19\00:41:39.86
The man is hungry and he says,
00:41:39.89\00:41:41.85
Jesus, You have the power
00:41:41.88\00:41:44.34
to turn these stones into bread.
00:41:44.37\00:41:48.65
I'd like for you to
know how he says that.
00:41:48.68\00:41:51.79
In verse 3, "The
devil said unto him,
00:41:51.82\00:41:54.81
If thou be the Son of
God, command this stone
00:41:54.84\00:41:57.33
that it be made bread."
00:41:57.36\00:42:02.56
Just prior to
this we've mentioned
00:42:02.59\00:42:04.36
Jesus had been baptized
00:42:04.39\00:42:06.74
and when you
read in Luke Chapter 3
00:42:06.77\00:42:08.46
in the middle I
think around verse 22.
00:42:08.49\00:42:11.66
It says that when He
came up out of the water,
00:42:11.69\00:42:14.28
there was-- the Holy Spirit
came down in the form of a dove
00:42:14.31\00:42:18.55
and alighted upon Him
and then there was the voice
00:42:18.58\00:42:21.74
that came from
heaven and what did it say.
00:42:21.77\00:42:24.89
This is my beloved Son.
00:42:24.92\00:42:28.09
Am I pleased in Him or not?
00:42:28.12\00:42:30.88
Yes, God had already
said, this is My beloved Son.
00:42:30.91\00:42:35.52
God's word had already spoken.
00:42:35.55\00:42:38.13
This is My beloved Son.
In Him I'm well pleased.
00:42:38.16\00:42:43.14
And the devil comes 40
days later and he says,
00:42:43.17\00:42:49.39
I don't know about
what you heard back then,
00:42:49.42\00:42:53.80
because I mean look at you,
00:42:53.83\00:42:55.85
you're in the
wilderness and who led you here,
00:42:55.88\00:42:58.02
the Holy Spirit in
the middle of nowhere.
00:42:58.05\00:43:03.53
And you're hungry, God
couldn't even feed you,
00:43:03.56\00:43:06.24
I mean come on.
00:43:06.27\00:43:09.70
Are you really the Son of God?
00:43:09.73\00:43:12.17
Look at the state You are in.
00:43:12.20\00:43:15.30
He said okay, okay, okay.
00:43:15.33\00:43:18.40
I'll hand it to you.
00:43:18.43\00:43:19.57
If and only if you
are the Son of God,
00:43:19.60\00:43:24.42
then You will do this.
00:43:24.45\00:43:27.03
And Jesus in that
moment, He had the option,
00:43:27.06\00:43:30.91
like He's
struggling against appetite,
00:43:30.94\00:43:34.55
He wants food.
00:43:34.58\00:43:38.15
And yet He has God's word
00:43:38.18\00:43:40.08
that has already
declared Him to be His Son.
00:43:40.11\00:43:45.34
And the devil
casting doubt on God's word.
00:43:45.37\00:43:47.63
Do you trust what God said?
00:43:47.66\00:43:52.22
Because I mean a God
who calls you His Son
00:43:52.25\00:43:55.03
and then treats you like this.
00:43:55.06\00:44:01.43
Well, here is one thing
that may be would pacify me.
00:44:01.46\00:44:04.85
Turn these stones into bread.
00:44:04.88\00:44:08.37
But Jesus said, "It is written,
00:44:08.40\00:44:14.41
that man shall not
live by bread alone,
00:44:14.44\00:44:17.89
but by every word of God."
00:44:17.92\00:44:21.27
Amen.
00:44:21.30\00:44:24.32
He said no matter what
my circumstance looks like,
00:44:24.35\00:44:29.96
no matter what the
situation around me looks like,
00:44:29.99\00:44:33.12
no matter what
other people may say,
00:44:33.15\00:44:35.11
I have the
assurance of God's word
00:44:35.14\00:44:37.03
and God has already declared
in His word that I am His Son,
00:44:37.06\00:44:39.69
I don't need to prove it to you.
00:44:39.72\00:44:45.14
I have nothing to prove to you.
00:44:45.17\00:44:48.65
He said no, you know what?
00:44:48.68\00:44:50.36
Even though I am hungry
00:44:50.39\00:44:51.81
there is something
that's more important to me.
00:44:51.84\00:44:55.01
It's the word of God.
00:44:55.04\00:44:59.86
And God's word
is important to me
00:44:59.89\00:45:02.33
because I trust His
word because I trust God.
00:45:02.36\00:45:06.91
I trust God.
00:45:06.94\00:45:07.97
If Eve in the Garden of Eden
had trusted the word of God.
00:45:08.00\00:45:11.97
He just said, you know what?
00:45:12.00\00:45:14.05
I don't care what
this fruit looks like.
00:45:14.08\00:45:18.10
Even though it
looks good for food,
00:45:18.13\00:45:20.22
pleasant to the eyes
00:45:20.25\00:45:21.78
and I think it's going
to make me smarter, wiser,
00:45:21.81\00:45:24.18
I don't care about all
the appearances of things
00:45:24.21\00:45:27.31
because I have God's word
00:45:27.34\00:45:28.77
and His word said don't eat it,
00:45:28.80\00:45:30.39
I am not eating it
because I trust God.
00:45:30.42\00:45:32.64
Turn back with me
to Luke Chapter 18
00:45:36.75\00:45:39.14
drawing to a close.
00:45:39.17\00:45:40.20
And I must
mention this you know.
00:45:50.78\00:45:53.43
Luke Chapter 18 comes
after Luke Chapter 17.
00:45:53.46\00:45:58.60
Ah, I am so smart, okay.
00:45:58.63\00:46:02.63
In Luke Chapter 17,
00:46:02.66\00:46:05.01
Jesus has been talking
about the signs of the times,
00:46:05.04\00:46:08.01
about the end times.
00:46:08.04\00:46:09.71
And then He spake
this parable onto them
00:46:09.74\00:46:13.42
saying that men are
always to pray and not faint.
00:46:13.45\00:46:16.05
The parable comes in the
context of an end time scenario.
00:46:16.08\00:46:20.75
And I thought that
was super appropriate
00:46:20.78\00:46:23.00
because we are
living in the end times.
00:46:23.03\00:46:25.33
I don't care
what other people say,
00:46:25.36\00:46:26.64
oh, we've been
saying that forever.
00:46:26.67\00:46:28.32
Yes, and we'll keep
saying it until He comes back.
00:46:28.35\00:46:31.09
We're living in
the end of times.
00:46:31.12\00:46:32.41
We're living in the toes
00:46:32.44\00:46:33.50
of that image in
Daniel Chapter 2.
00:46:33.53\00:46:35.67
Jesus coming back
and in that context,
00:46:35.70\00:46:38.41
Jesus Himself told this parable
00:46:38.44\00:46:40.47
and for Jesus
to tell the parable
00:46:40.50\00:46:42.24
in that context makes
it pertinent to us, amen.
00:46:42.27\00:46:47.52
The Lord said in verse 6,
00:46:47.55\00:46:50.17
"Hear what the
unjust judge saith."
00:46:50.20\00:46:55.02
And what did the
unjust judge said?
00:46:55.05\00:46:56.64
He said even
though I don't fear God,
00:46:56.67\00:46:58.40
I don't regard man
00:46:58.43\00:46:59.64
but so that she
stops bugging me,
00:46:59.67\00:47:01.16
I am going to give
her what she wants.
00:47:01.19\00:47:03.45
And then Jesus said in verse 7.
00:47:03.48\00:47:05.78
"Shall not God
avenge his own elect,
00:47:05.81\00:47:10.86
which cry day
and night unto him,
00:47:10.89\00:47:13.48
though he bear long with them?
00:47:13.51\00:47:17.24
He draws a contrast here.
00:47:17.27\00:47:19.06
He says, look, I
want you to consider
00:47:19.09\00:47:21.64
what the unjust judge did.
00:47:21.67\00:47:24.36
He finally gave in
00:47:24.39\00:47:25.85
because a woman
was so persistent.
00:47:25.88\00:47:29.35
And he says, do you think
God is like an unjust judge.
00:47:29.38\00:47:35.62
Is that your view
of God's character,
00:47:35.65\00:47:38.21
He's self serving, power hungry.
00:47:38.24\00:47:42.11
The only reason He
tells you to do stuff
00:47:42.14\00:47:43.59
'cause He is power tripping.
00:47:43.62\00:47:45.78
He's just trying to
make your life miserable.
00:47:45.81\00:47:48.31
That's your view of God.
00:47:48.34\00:47:49.45
And He says, no.
00:47:53.53\00:47:55.70
God isn't like
that because in verse 8
00:47:55.73\00:47:57.81
he says, "I tell you
that he will avenge them,
00:47:57.84\00:48:00.81
and He won't just avenge them
00:48:00.84\00:48:02.38
but He will
avenge them speedily."
00:48:02.41\00:48:04.63
And then he ends the parable,
00:48:08.66\00:48:10.01
"Nevertheless when
the Son of man cometh,
00:48:10.04\00:48:13.52
shall he find
faith on the earth?"
00:48:13.55\00:48:15.27
In order to
experience a faith experience.
00:48:21.39\00:48:27.44
Faith is predicated on trust.
00:48:27.47\00:48:31.07
You see because in Hebrews 11:6
00:48:31.10\00:48:33.04
it tells us right there.
00:48:33.07\00:48:34.77
"Without faith it is
impossible to please him,
00:48:34.80\00:48:37.03
because he that comes to
God must believe that he is,
00:48:37.06\00:48:39.69
and that he is
a rewarder of them
00:48:39.72\00:48:41.23
that diligently seek him."
00:48:41.26\00:48:42.63
You have to
believe something about God
00:48:42.66\00:48:44.67
in order to exercise faith.
00:48:44.70\00:48:48.18
And so when I am
doubting God's character.
00:48:48.21\00:48:53.31
When I don't think that
God is actually trustworthy,
00:48:53.34\00:48:59.53
I don't think
He's a nice guy even.
00:48:59.56\00:49:01.02
You know sometimes you
don't even think God is nice.
00:49:01.05\00:49:02.87
We think we are
nice and God isn't.
00:49:02.90\00:49:04.47
It's so sad.
00:49:04.50\00:49:06.40
When we have this picture
of God that is inaccurate,
00:49:06.43\00:49:09.56
we cannot exercise faith in Him.
00:49:09.59\00:49:12.50
And then Jesus says
when the Son of Man comes
00:49:12.53\00:49:17.49
because this isn't a parable
from the end time context.
00:49:17.52\00:49:21.26
Will he find faith on the earth?
00:49:21.29\00:49:23.69
And then that
brings it home to us.
00:49:23.72\00:49:28.64
When Jesus comes back, is
He going to find faith in me?
00:49:28.67\00:49:31.04
Is He going to find somebody
00:49:35.12\00:49:36.92
who trusts Him no matter
00:49:36.95\00:49:38.92
what the
circumstances I find myself in.
00:49:38.95\00:49:41.29
Now on the trust
thing, you know, this is where
00:49:45.37\00:49:48.71
Christianity becomes real.
00:49:48.74\00:49:51.60
This is where it stops
00:49:51.63\00:49:52.78
being about just
stuff you read on a page.
00:49:52.81\00:49:56.05
This is where you start
applying stuff to your life
00:49:56.08\00:49:58.42
and it gets uncomfortable.
00:49:58.45\00:50:02.66
Remember, 10 years
ago-- Literally 10 years ago,
00:50:02.69\00:50:07.69
I was at the GYC and
the speaker made an appeal
00:50:10.43\00:50:14.00
that I did respond to,
but it stuck in my mind.
00:50:14.03\00:50:17.64
And the appeal was to give 7
years tied your life, he said.
00:50:17.67\00:50:20.54
Give 7 years of your
life in service to God,
00:50:20.57\00:50:23.69
in dedicated service.
00:50:23.72\00:50:24.81
We always serving God,
but in full-time ministry.
00:50:24.84\00:50:27.30
He said, "Ties your
lives as young people."
00:50:27.33\00:50:29.35
And I didn't go
up because I knew
00:50:29.38\00:50:31.55
what I was
gonna do with my life.
00:50:31.58\00:50:32.61
I was gonna go to Med School,
00:50:32.64\00:50:34.59
become a doctor and then
00:50:34.62\00:50:35.97
I would serve the
Lord while I made money.
00:50:36.00\00:50:37.92
That was my goal.
00:50:37.95\00:50:41.69
So I didn't go up,
00:50:41.72\00:50:42.75
but God called me not just once,
00:50:45.84\00:50:51.70
He had to it a couple of
times because I'm so stubborn,
00:50:51.73\00:50:56.51
and eventually I yielded.
00:50:56.54\00:50:58.14
It came to a
point where I knew that
00:50:58.17\00:51:00.87
not to do this would be
indirect as obedience to God.
00:51:00.90\00:51:07.56
And so instead of going to
my "dream job" after college,
00:51:07.59\00:51:12.77
I said, "Okay, one year.
00:51:12.80\00:51:16.16
I just give you one
year as a campus missionary
00:51:16.19\00:51:20.08
or the campus ministry.
00:51:20.11\00:51:21.14
Go, get trained to
campus ministry and then I can--
00:51:21.17\00:51:23.06
I'll support other
students as they do ministry.
00:51:23.09\00:51:25.07
Just one year."
00:51:25.10\00:51:26.13
And that's what
I told my parents.
00:51:26.16\00:51:27.83
Okay.
00:51:27.86\00:51:30.38
Seven years
later they were like,
00:51:30.41\00:51:31.60
"Are you ever
going back to school?"
00:51:31.63\00:51:36.61
But it took-- And for me,
00:51:36.64\00:51:40.33
that was-- It was
a crazy experience
00:51:40.36\00:51:43.02
because I had never
had to trust God like that.
00:51:43.05\00:51:48.42
And I'm not saying
00:51:48.45\00:51:49.48
everybody needs to go
to or something like crazy,
00:51:49.51\00:51:51.92
that's gonna
make your parents mad
00:51:51.95\00:51:53.18
and you're wondering if
they're gonna disown you
00:51:53.21\00:51:55.93
or that's not I'm talking about,
00:51:55.96\00:51:57.22
but I'm talking
about, you know, trust in God
00:51:57.25\00:51:59.31
when He tells us to do stuff
00:51:59.34\00:52:00.75
and it doesn't really make
sense in the plan of my life
00:52:00.78\00:52:06.69
because my plan is to get
married and have 2.5 kids.
00:52:06.72\00:52:09.69
Right?
00:52:13.92\00:52:17.15
And sometimes God
says, "You know what?
00:52:17.18\00:52:19.03
I need you to go China
00:52:19.06\00:52:22.64
because there
are lepers colonies
00:52:22.67\00:52:24.13
that you need to serve."
00:52:24.16\00:52:26.90
And it doesn't make any sense,
00:52:26.93\00:52:30.65
I'm a computer engineer.
00:52:30.68\00:52:33.41
What do I know about
taking care of lepers?
00:52:33.44\00:52:35.98
Oh, God says, "You know what?
00:52:39.86\00:52:43.47
I know you are the only single
young person in your church,
00:52:43.50\00:52:49.00
but I want you to
stay there to do ministry."
00:52:49.03\00:52:53.13
And you say, "No, Lord,
00:52:53.16\00:52:55.11
I want to go to
the Adventist Mecca
00:52:55.14\00:52:58.31
where there are many options.
00:52:58.34\00:53:03.34
True stories, right?
00:53:03.37\00:53:05.02
You're laughing
'cause you know it's true.
00:53:05.05\00:53:06.80
But to trust God and stay
in that Podunk town of yours
00:53:11.54\00:53:18.42
to reach out to
the people there,
00:53:18.45\00:53:21.43
to trust God
when it doesn't seem
00:53:21.46\00:53:24.23
to align with everything
00:53:24.26\00:53:25.58
that you want to
do with your life.
00:53:25.61\00:53:27.67
This is where it becomes real.
00:53:27.70\00:53:29.28
This is where
Christianity became real for me,
00:53:34.37\00:53:38.81
and this is where the
Great Controversy is centered.
00:53:38.84\00:53:42.40
Do you trust God?
00:53:42.43\00:53:45.30
Do you trust Him?
00:53:45.33\00:53:48.45
Do you trust what
He's doing in your life?
00:53:48.48\00:53:51.38
That in spite of everything
that He really does love you.
00:53:51.41\00:53:57.48
And we'll end on this note
that we talked about earlier.
00:53:57.51\00:54:02.63
Main issue that was
addressed in here about this.
00:54:02.66\00:54:05.33
Women's desperate situation
and this is our desperation.
00:54:05.36\00:54:10.53
Will we trust
God that when He says
00:54:10.56\00:54:13.61
we're forgiven, we're forgiven?
00:54:13.64\00:54:19.01
God, and then
with the forgiveness,
00:54:19.04\00:54:23.19
He not only forgives us,
00:54:23.22\00:54:24.25
but then He gives
us power to overcome.
00:54:24.28\00:54:28.47
Will we trust God in that?
00:54:28.50\00:54:31.75
And say, "Jesus, I know that
I have the victory through you.
00:54:31.78\00:54:36.49
Not because I'm anything
00:54:36.52\00:54:37.72
because I know
when I look at myself
00:54:37.75\00:54:39.08
there's no way I could be saved,
00:54:39.11\00:54:40.85
but when I look at you, Lord,
00:54:40.88\00:54:43.55
there's no way I could be lost.
00:54:43.58\00:54:46.80
Will you trust
God with me today?
00:54:46.83\00:54:48.39
Jesus overcame in our behalf
00:54:52.46\00:54:54.30
so that we could
have this victory,
00:54:54.33\00:54:56.97
through Christ we can do this.
00:54:57.00\00:54:58.82
We can do this.
We can trust God.
00:54:58.85\00:55:02.40
We can do this
because Jesus did it for us.
00:55:02.43\00:55:07.81
That re was a
super-simple message,
00:55:07.84\00:55:09.33
but this is what I
came when I prayed.
00:55:09.36\00:55:15.74
This is how I've experienced
00:55:15.77\00:55:17.39
the Great
Controversy in my life.
00:55:17.42\00:55:19.65
Moment by moment
will I trust Him?
00:55:19.68\00:55:23.07
Moment by moment
do I trust His word?
00:55:23.10\00:55:27.01
Moment by moment
will I put my life
00:55:27.04\00:55:28.68
in His hands completely.
00:55:28.71\00:55:32.41
Will you bow your
heads and pray with me?
00:55:32.44\00:55:37.11
"Loving Father,
00:55:37.14\00:55:38.30
when Eve made that
decision to eat the fruit
00:55:41.47\00:55:46.01
that you told her not to eat
00:55:46.04\00:55:48.47
and by so doing she declared
that she didn't trust You.
00:55:48.50\00:55:51.67
Ever since then,
00:55:51.70\00:55:53.13
humanity is have this
problem of trusting you.
00:55:53.16\00:55:56.33
And even though You have done
00:55:56.36\00:55:58.04
everything to
show Your trustworthy,
00:55:58.07\00:56:00.78
even though You've laid
Your all life on the line
00:56:00.81\00:56:04.04
so that we could have salvation,
00:56:04.07\00:56:05.49
still we
struggle with this thing.
00:56:05.52\00:56:08.32
But, Father, we're so thankful
00:56:08.35\00:56:09.64
and Jesus came
and that He overcame.
00:56:09.67\00:56:13.37
And that through Him,
we can have the victory,
00:56:13.40\00:56:16.31
that we can trust Your
word because Jesus has overcome
00:56:16.34\00:56:19.55
in our behalf and
so we ask, Father,
00:56:19.58\00:56:23.51
that the righteousness of Christ
00:56:23.54\00:56:25.73
that His life and His
victory would be imparted to us
00:56:25.76\00:56:29.85
that You would give us
the ability to overcome
00:56:29.88\00:56:32.87
through Christ Jesus our Lord.
00:56:32.90\00:56:34.91
May this be our
experience today,
00:56:34.94\00:56:36.95
may we be an argument in favor
of the character of God today
00:56:36.98\00:56:41.21
because we choose to trust You
00:56:41.24\00:56:43.85
and these things we
pray in Your name, amen.
00:56:43.88\00:56:46.39