Good morning GYC.
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Good morning.
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This is a wonderful conference
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and I know that God has
blessed the seminar speakers,
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the plenary speaker
and He's blessed you.
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And what a
privilege it was yesterday
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to go out on the GYC
outreach, Justin mentioned that.
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And let me tell you,
it was a great privilege
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and I think our
experience was the same
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as just about
everybody's experience.
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I am gonna be
anxious to hear the numbers
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that are gonna be coming back in
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as to how many contacts,
how many Great Controversies
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were-- they weren't sold,
they were kind of donated-sold.
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And how much money
was raised for the SALT,
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the Service and
Love Together project.
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Praise God that people
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in the
Seventh-day Adventist church
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are helping homeless people
get back on to their feet,
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helping young
children and young people
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in low income areas,
learn how to navigate in life
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and bringing people
the precious Word of God.
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It was a great privilege for me
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to go door to door with Serani.
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And let me tell you,
she is a great colporteur,
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I could tell.
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We had a great time
visiting, in so many places,
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we probably visited
at least 20 to 25 homes,
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we got an additional
two Great Controversies
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because we ran out, we
were praying with people,
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what a great privilege it was.
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Amen.
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I want to thank Justin
for his leadership in GYC.
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I want to thank the
Lord for leadership team
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and for the
opportunity of having GYC
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so closely aligned
with the world church.
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Amen.
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And I want to wish
Natasha and her team.
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God's very special blessing
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as we continue to
work closely together.
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You know what's important
for youth ministries for GYC
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for all
organizations to work together
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for the finishing of God's work.
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Amen.
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You know, the GYC
administrative group
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has taken very good care of me
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and I want to thank
them personally for that.
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There is a
special group of people
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who have helped me
while I've been here,
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Iko and Eko, so many others,
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Kurtz and James
and Joel and others.
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You know it's a privilege to
be surrounded by young people.
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I was very amazed at the
title that Justin gave me,
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President of young people.
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I want to tell you
that's a better title
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than even president of
the General Conference.
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And I just praise the
Lord for the opportunity
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of serving in anyway possible.
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You know it was just
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a great privilege to be with you
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and to see the
humble, zealous, enthusiast,
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fervor for Christ and His word.
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In fact let's look
at the Word of God.
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We're gonna be
doing quite a bit of that
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this morning as we
progress through this sermon.
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1 Corinthians 4:7-10.
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I invite you to
take your Bibles,
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iPads, iPhones whatever it is.
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"For who makes you
differ from another?
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And what do you have
that you did not receive?
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Now if you did
indeed receive it,
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why do you boast as if
you had not received it?
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You are already full!
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You are already rich!
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You have reigned
as king without us
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and indeed I
could wish you did reign
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that we also
might reign with you!
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For I think that
God has displayed us,
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the apostles, last, as
men condemned to death.
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For we have been made
a spectacle to the world,
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both to angels and to men.
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We are fools for Christ's sake,
but you are wise in Christ!
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We are weak, but you are strong!
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You are distinguished,
but we are dishonored!"
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Now, Paul was
concerned with the Corinthians
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many internal church challenges
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that were
influenced by pagan society.
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Let's review those as we look
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at the beginning
of 1 Corinthians 1
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and I invite you to
look at it verse 10,
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as we begin this
journey as to why it was
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that they were witnessing
before men and angels.
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In verse 10 of
Chapter 1 of 1 Corinthians,
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"Paul pleads with them
to speak the same thing
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and that there be
no divisions among you,
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but that you be
perfectly joined together
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in the same mind and
in the same judgment."
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Now skipping to verse 18,
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he rallied them to
the cross by saying,
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"The message of the
cross is foolishness
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to those who are perishing,
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but to us who are being
saved it is the power of God."
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Then verse 27 of
the same chapter,
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he reminded them that
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"God has chosen the
foolish things of the world
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to put to shame the wise."
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Verse 31 of the same chapter,
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he tried to bring
them back to Christ Jesus
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by repeating the
words of Jeremiah 9:23, 24
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"He who glories, let
him glory in the Lord."
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Now moving to
chapter 2, verse 2.
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He powerfully declares
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in these wonderful
words the following,
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"For I determined not
to know anything among you
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except Jesus
Christ and Him crucified."
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As you move to
verse 5, of chapter 2,
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he admonished them,
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"Not to put their
faith in the wisdom of men
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but rather in the power of God."
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You see, Paul
yarned in his heart
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for the internal fighting
and the self-centeredness
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to stop in Corinthians.
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In chapter 3 he shared that
although he planted the seed
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and the Apollos has watered it,
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it was God who gave the growth.
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I want to tell you,
young people here at GYC
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and others who are watching,
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everything is
dependent upon God.
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In verse 18, Paul
says, of chapter 3,
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"Let no man deceive himself.
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If any man among you
seems to be wise in this age,
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let him become a fool,
that he may become wise."
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Now this leads to
Paul's pleading in chapter 4
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that we began
just a few moments ago.
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To be fools for
Christ's sake, understanding
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that we are a
spectacle before angels and men,
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before the world to
be understood by all
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that we stand for
Christ and for His truth
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regardless of the circumstances.
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You know what,
powerful instruction from heaven
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for the
Corinthians and for us today.
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We face a lot of situations
where there is disputing,
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an internal bicker.
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It takes away
from our true mission.
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Now I have no ultimate
fear for the unity of the church
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as we proclaim the
Three Angels messages.
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The Bible and the
Spirit of the Prophesy
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show a united church
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in its mission at
the end of the time.
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We are nearing that end.
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God is calling for
us to submit to His will
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for His church in
becoming humble fools for God
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as we engage with
service for Christ
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before men and angels.
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I want to personally thank GYC.
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Each one of you who is
part of this great organization,
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for your faithful
adherence to the Word of God,
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to the Spirit of Prophecy,
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your strong belief
in the power of prayer
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and your total
commitment to personal
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and to public
witness in the service of God
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and before men and
angels just as Paul did.
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What a privilege to
walk in the footsteps of Paul
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figuratively as
well as literally.
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A few years ago I
had the great privilege
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of participating in a wonderful
international Bible conference
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organized by the
General Conference's
00:10:08.08\00:10:10.72
biblical research institute.
00:10:10.75\00:10:13.35
It took place in
the country of Turkey.
00:10:13.38\00:10:17.20
What an exciting opportunity
to visit various places
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where Paul himself had
proclaimed the message.
00:10:21.27\00:10:26.83
As Paul walked the hills
and valleys of Asia Minor
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he visited, he inspired,
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he preached in many
challenging settings.
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He ministered to
an evangelized people
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who were even harassing him.
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You know, it's
great to be a part of GYC
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to be here amongst all
these wonderful people.
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But what are you
going to take home with you
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when you leave Orlando?
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What challenges and
harassment will you meet
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and what are you
going to do about it?
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We're living in
very unusual times.
00:11:03.27\00:11:07.85
The convergence of
just about everything,
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political, economic,
financial, ecumenical, social
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is shaking people to the core.
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People realize something
is happening in the world.
00:11:19.96\00:11:24.58
It's pointing to a
great prophetic event to come.
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We're standing, I
believe on the edge of eternity
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in service to God
before men and angels.
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I believe with all of
my heart as you do also,
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Jesus is coming soon.
00:11:46.16\00:11:49.84
And after this conversion
on the way to Damascus,
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Paul knew nothing
except Christ crucified,
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risen,
interceding for each of us
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and coming again.
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It animated everything he did,
00:12:02.26\00:12:05.01
he couldn't stop
pointing people to Jesus,
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His righteousness,
His justification,
00:12:08.18\00:12:10.82
His sanctification
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and eventually
His glorifying power.
00:12:12.41\00:12:15.97
You know, I'll
never forget a sermon
00:12:16.00\00:12:17.37
by Elder George Brown,
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one of this
church's great statesmen,
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a mentor and a
wonderful friend of mine.
00:12:21.30\00:12:25.28
He will be 90
years old next month.
00:12:25.31\00:12:28.50
He lives not too far
from here in Avon Park.
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He made a statement in a sermon
00:12:32.53\00:12:35.62
which has stuck with me.
00:12:35.65\00:12:37.60
He said, when we get to heaven
00:12:37.63\00:12:41.14
we will gratefully look to Jesus
00:12:41.17\00:12:45.01
and we will proclaim
that we are justified,
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sanctified,
glorified and satisfied.
00:12:49.38\00:12:54.71
Amen.
00:12:54.74\00:12:56.13
As you leave
this GYC convention,
00:12:56.16\00:12:58.72
proclaim this same
precious advent message of Paul,
00:12:58.75\00:13:05.02
the message of the
advent hope in service to God
00:13:05.05\00:13:08.93
before men and angels.
00:13:08.96\00:13:12.24
There's nothing that
unifies this church worldwide
00:13:12.27\00:13:16.96
as much as the
power of the Holy Spirit
00:13:16.99\00:13:20.74
working through you,
00:13:20.77\00:13:22.77
the consecrated polls of today,
00:13:22.80\00:13:26.15
the great truth
that we hold dear
00:13:26.18\00:13:28.32
as Seventh-day Adventist.
00:13:28.35\00:13:30.02
This great advent message
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is the truth that
unifies us in Jesus Christ
00:13:33.60\00:13:37.79
through the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:13:37.82\00:13:41.52
Yes, of course,
00:13:41.55\00:13:43.21
we need to share
the truth in love,
00:13:43.24\00:13:46.36
in an appropriate
and compatible way
00:13:46.39\00:13:48.86
with various
cultures around the world.
00:13:48.89\00:13:51.96
But remember,
there is only one name
00:13:51.99\00:13:55.67
given among men
whereby we might be saved
00:13:55.70\00:13:58.78
and that is the
name of Jesus Christ.
00:13:58.81\00:14:00.43
Amen.
00:14:00.46\00:14:01.50
Proclaim it in your local church
00:14:01.53\00:14:03.91
through your service to
God and before men and angels.
00:14:03.94\00:14:09.35
Take your example from Paul
00:14:09.38\00:14:12.65
who left the
shores of Asia Minor
00:14:12.68\00:14:15.99
from Troas and
traveled towards Greece.
00:14:16.02\00:14:20.44
As we look at Acts Chapter 17,
00:14:20.47\00:14:23.96
and I invite you to
turn to that chapter
00:14:23.99\00:14:25.97
where we're gonna focus
quite a bit of attention.
00:14:26.00\00:14:28.81
We can see how God
used Paul on this journey.
00:14:28.84\00:14:33.80
In verse 14, Paul is
preaching in service to God
00:14:33.83\00:14:38.54
before men and
angels in Thessalonica,
00:14:38.57\00:14:41.72
and because of unrest
he then had to go to Berea.
00:14:41.75\00:14:45.80
Now some of the
Thessalonians followed him
00:14:45.83\00:14:48.89
and because of
additional difficulty
00:14:48.92\00:14:51.62
certain church
members sent Paul to Athens.
00:14:51.65\00:14:57.49
When he arrived in
Athens he sent those
00:14:57.52\00:15:00.36
who had
accompanied him back to Berea
00:15:00.39\00:15:03.28
to invite Timothy
and Silas to join him.
00:15:03.31\00:15:07.85
He found
himself in Athens alone.
00:15:07.88\00:15:13.28
Acts of the Apostles
tells us in page 233,
00:15:13.31\00:15:19.69
that he was oppressed
00:15:19.72\00:15:22.18
by the feeling of solitude.
00:15:22.21\00:15:27.91
Will you feel alone and
abandoned in a few days?
00:15:27.94\00:15:34.46
Will you feel without the
resources in service to God
00:15:34.49\00:15:39.27
before men and angels
00:15:39.30\00:15:40.95
that you've enjoyed
here at the GYC convention?
00:15:40.98\00:15:45.69
Just like Paul,
00:15:45.72\00:15:47.53
if you have Jesus
Christ as your anchor
00:15:47.56\00:15:50.86
and you are grounded in
this precious advent message
00:15:50.89\00:15:54.72
you will not be alone.
00:15:54.75\00:15:59.07
All of heaven's resources
are at your fingertips.
00:15:59.10\00:16:03.89
In verse 16 and 17
00:16:03.92\00:16:07.53
we see that Paul
while waiting had his heart
00:16:07.56\00:16:11.32
stirred by the Athenians.
00:16:11.35\00:16:14.24
They were absorbed in idolatry.
00:16:14.27\00:16:17.19
I want to tell
you, nothing as much--
00:16:17.22\00:16:19.13
nothing much has
changed even today.
00:16:19.16\00:16:21.96
Everywhere we see idolatry
in full bloom and full swing.
00:16:21.99\00:16:28.05
Self- centered secular
and post-modern attitudes
00:16:28.08\00:16:33.38
that are in
opposition to God's word.
00:16:33.41\00:16:36.86
Independent,
self-serving attitudes
00:16:36.89\00:16:40.59
that needed-- that
need to be softened
00:16:40.62\00:16:43.85
by the submission to Christ.
00:16:43.88\00:16:47.19
The three Angels
message, those precious messages
00:16:47.22\00:16:52.47
will bring people
to the realization
00:16:52.50\00:16:54.87
that we all, you and I included,
00:16:54.90\00:17:01.01
we all need this
submissive spirit of Christ
00:17:01.04\00:17:06.77
and we need to turn back
to the true worship of God.
00:17:06.80\00:17:11.11
Don't be afraid of
what you are going to face
00:17:11.14\00:17:13.75
in your local setting or
wherever God may lead you.
00:17:13.78\00:17:18.25
It has been faced before
00:17:18.28\00:17:20.58
and the Holy
Spirit will go with you
00:17:20.61\00:17:22.92
just as he did
with the apostle Paul.
00:17:22.95\00:17:27.24
When Paul saw the Athenians
00:17:27.27\00:17:29.88
he was compelled
to share with them
00:17:29.91\00:17:32.71
the beautiful
message of the one true God.
00:17:32.74\00:17:37.29
As the Paul talked to
the Jews and with gentiles
00:17:37.32\00:17:40.20
he understood the challenge
00:17:40.23\00:17:42.04
of multiple
God's surrounding them.
00:17:42.07\00:17:45.55
Leading Athenian
philosophers and thinkers
00:17:45.58\00:17:49.07
heard about Paul's
presence and presentations.
00:17:49.10\00:17:52.48
They intended to
come and make fun of him.
00:17:52.51\00:17:56.71
But in his presence,
in his manner of delivery
00:17:56.74\00:18:03.79
and his logical
thinking they held back.
00:18:03.82\00:18:09.54
Don't ever be afraid to share
00:18:09.57\00:18:13.33
the precious Word of
God in love, in simplicity
00:18:13.36\00:18:18.58
and with diplomacy
for the Holy Spirit
00:18:18.61\00:18:22.25
will help you to convict people
00:18:22.28\00:18:24.59
who otherwise are
trying to harass you.
00:18:24.62\00:18:29.23
You see, God is
calling you to fall in--
00:18:29.26\00:18:31.70
follow in the footsteps
of Paul in service to God
00:18:31.73\00:18:38.30
before men and angels.
00:18:38.33\00:18:41.71
The intellectual
capacity, the talent and skills
00:18:41.74\00:18:47.47
represented by
those in this room,
00:18:47.50\00:18:51.17
this auditorium this morning
is absolutely astounding.
00:18:51.20\00:18:58.07
I want to thank God for
what He does with the minds
00:18:58.10\00:19:01.71
and the talents of Seventh-day
Adventist young people
00:19:01.74\00:19:05.16
who commit
themselves in service to God
00:19:05.19\00:19:08.27
before men and angels.
00:19:08.30\00:19:10.96
Listen to what the Acts
of Apostles, page 235 says,
00:19:10.99\00:19:16.44
"They, the philosophers
00:19:16.47\00:19:18.45
and all others who
came in contact with him,
00:19:18.48\00:19:21.71
soon saw that he
had a store of knowledge
00:19:21.74\00:19:25.20
even greater than their own.
00:19:25.23\00:19:28.37
His intellectual power commanded
00:19:28.40\00:19:30.24
the respect of the
learned while his earnest,
00:19:30.27\00:19:33.21
logical reasoning and
the power of his oratory
00:19:33.24\00:19:37.87
held the attention
of all in the audience."
00:19:37.90\00:19:43.35
Then they took
him to Mars' Hill,
00:19:43.38\00:19:46.83
the seat of
polytheism and paganism.
00:19:46.86\00:19:50.74
Perhaps the equivalent
of today's secularism,
00:19:50.77\00:19:54.95
relativism,
pluralism and postmodernism.
00:19:54.98\00:19:59.45
It was in that environment
00:19:59.48\00:20:01.81
that Paul shared the
message of the advent hope
00:20:01.84\00:20:05.51
with the Athenian elite,
00:20:05.54\00:20:09.18
the artist, the poets, the
philosophers, the scholars.
00:20:09.21\00:20:14.42
God is calling you
today, young people in GYC
00:20:14.45\00:20:19.42
and throughout
this denomination,
00:20:19.45\00:20:21.93
He is calling you today to meet
not only the general population
00:20:21.96\00:20:27.10
but the elite of this world.
00:20:27.13\00:20:30.95
Interact with the
intellectual young people
00:20:30.98\00:20:34.17
and the
faculties of the campuses
00:20:34.20\00:20:38.16
on which you reside
and on which you study.
00:20:38.19\00:20:44.56
You see, the General Conference
is also recognized recently
00:20:44.59\00:20:47.38
that this is so important,
00:20:47.41\00:20:49.76
we are in the process
00:20:49.79\00:20:51.04
of assigning a
fulltime associate
00:20:51.07\00:20:54.36
in the youth
ministries department
00:20:54.39\00:20:56.81
who will care for nothing else
00:20:56.84\00:20:59.22
than public
ministry to young people,
00:20:59.25\00:21:03.21
public campus ministry.
00:21:03.24\00:21:06.23
Young people at
GYC, I want to tell you,
00:21:06.26\00:21:08.85
shake the Mars' Hills of today.
00:21:08.88\00:21:12.78
God will empower you
00:21:12.81\00:21:14.00
to share the full love of Christ
00:21:14.03\00:21:17.13
in service to God
before men and angels.
00:21:17.16\00:21:20.75
In verse 22, Paul pointed out
00:21:20.78\00:21:23.30
the great missing
truth of firm belief
00:21:23.33\00:21:25.86
and the one true unknown God
00:21:25.89\00:21:27.91
whom Paul knew, Jesus Christ.
00:21:27.94\00:21:31.30
Mars' Hill represents
today all the false theories
00:21:31.33\00:21:35.85
and twisted truths
that Satan has fabricated
00:21:35.88\00:21:40.09
in contrast to
the ennobling truths
00:21:40.12\00:21:43.42
of the ruler of the universe.
00:21:43.45\00:21:46.64
Mars' Hill
represents the efforts of Satan
00:21:46.67\00:21:51.35
to bring confusion into society,
00:21:51.38\00:21:55.08
culture and especially into
00:21:55.11\00:21:58.18
the Seventh-day
Adventist church.
00:21:58.21\00:22:00.79
The challenge of today's world
is represented by Mars' Hill,
00:22:00.82\00:22:04.76
a great
controversy, a great battle.
00:22:04.79\00:22:08.71
Nothing has changed
since the beginning of sin.
00:22:08.74\00:22:12.37
The Mars' hill
mentality has invaded society
00:22:12.40\00:22:16.52
and our own
lives and our church.
00:22:16.55\00:22:21.20
If not constantly
leaning on Christ and His word
00:22:21.23\00:22:25.82
we can be affected by it.
00:22:25.85\00:22:29.15
The lifestyle,
music, outreach approaches,
00:22:29.18\00:22:35.27
views of the future,
00:22:35.30\00:22:37.25
distorted views of the
Great Controversy theme
00:22:37.28\00:22:40.37
and improper
interpretations of the Bible
00:22:40.40\00:22:44.19
and of the
Spirit of the Prophesy.
00:22:44.22\00:22:46.90
It has affected the purity
and simplicity of God's church
00:22:46.93\00:22:52.68
and a personal
religious experience.
00:22:52.71\00:22:58.11
Young people,
leave this congregation,
00:22:58.14\00:23:02.99
this convocation
knowing that God has called
00:23:03.02\00:23:06.93
the Seventh-day Adventist church
00:23:06.96\00:23:09.30
as a prophetic people
to be a prophetic movement
00:23:09.33\00:23:13.01
with a prophetic
message and a prophetic mission.
00:23:13.04\00:23:17.81
Let me identify
four strong concerns
00:23:17.84\00:23:20.90
for the church today,
00:23:20.93\00:23:22.56
that we need to approach
with biblical understanding
00:23:22.59\00:23:25.66
and with the grace of the Lord.
00:23:25.69\00:23:28.30
The first concern is the loss
00:23:28.33\00:23:30.61
of Seventh-day
Adventist identity
00:23:30.64\00:23:33.21
among certain leaders
and members of the church.
00:23:33.24\00:23:36.83
The Seventh-day Adventist church
00:23:36.86\00:23:38.44
is much more than just
another denomination or church,
00:23:38.47\00:23:43.24
it was born of God
00:23:43.27\00:23:44.97
out of the
disappointment of 1844,
00:23:45.00\00:23:48.05
according to
Revelation Chapter 10.
00:23:48.08\00:23:51.27
He providentially
raised up a divine moment
00:23:51.30\00:23:55.60
of destiny to impact the world.
00:23:55.63\00:23:59.73
According to
Revelation 12:17, God's last day
00:23:59.76\00:24:04.16
people would be characterized
by keeping God's commandments
00:24:04.19\00:24:07.80
and having the
testimony of Jesus
00:24:07.83\00:24:10.71
which the angel
identifies in Revelation 19:10
00:24:10.74\00:24:16.50
as the gift of prophecy
or the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:24:16.53\00:24:21.28
According to Revelation 14:6-12,
00:24:21.31\00:24:24.93
God's end time
church would proclaim
00:24:24.96\00:24:27.96
the message of
the everlasting gospel
00:24:27.99\00:24:31.20
in the context
of the Three Angels
00:24:31.23\00:24:34.27
and the second coming of Christ
00:24:34.30\00:24:36.58
calling every
nation, kindred, tongue
00:24:36.61\00:24:39.66
and people to
worship their creator
00:24:39.69\00:24:42.75
by keeping His Sabbath.
00:24:42.78\00:24:46.02
There is no other
religious moment on this planet
00:24:46.05\00:24:51.54
that fits this pattern.
00:24:51.57\00:24:55.34
Too many have
either failed to recognize
00:24:55.37\00:24:59.26
or have forgotten the
divine prophetic calling
00:24:59.29\00:25:04.14
that God has given
to this precious church.
00:25:04.17\00:25:08.85
There's a growing tendency
to minimize our differences
00:25:08.88\00:25:13.36
with other denominations.
00:25:13.39\00:25:15.67
Now I am not saying you ought
to magnify those differences
00:25:15.70\00:25:19.28
but don't
minimize the differences.
00:25:19.31\00:25:24.12
Much of this comes from a
neutralization of the Bible
00:25:24.15\00:25:27.71
as God's word.
00:25:27.74\00:25:29.14
We must base of our
believes on the Word of God
00:25:29.17\00:25:31.97
using the historical biblical
00:25:32.00\00:25:34.19
or historical grammatical
method of studying the Bible
00:25:34.22\00:25:40.32
and approaching our
prophetic understanding
00:25:40.35\00:25:43.54
from a historicists perspective.
00:25:43.57\00:25:47.16
God's world must be foundational
00:25:47.19\00:25:50.08
to our belief, our faith
00:25:50.11\00:25:52.75
and our practical living
that strongly establishes
00:25:52.78\00:25:57.20
our identity as
Seventh-day Adventist.
00:25:57.23\00:26:00.96
The lack of identity
has even lead some to doubt
00:26:00.99\00:26:04.25
the literal seven
day creation week,
00:26:04.28\00:26:08.38
to deny a worldwide flood
00:26:08.41\00:26:10.95
and to reduce the Sabbath
to merely a rest from stress
00:26:10.98\00:26:16.16
rather than a last
day sign of God's people.
00:26:16.19\00:26:20.65
There are some who
would like to reinterpret
00:26:20.68\00:26:23.06
the prophecies of
Daniel and Revelation
00:26:23.09\00:26:25.72
to fit a more contemporary mold.
00:26:25.75\00:26:29.64
They see the historic
interpretation of prophecy
00:26:29.67\00:26:33.29
as a relic of
19th century thinking.
00:26:33.32\00:26:37.32
But I want to tell you
my young friends and others,
00:26:37.35\00:26:40.59
it is as current as today's news
00:26:40.62\00:26:44.07
because it is from God Himself.
00:26:44.10\00:26:45.84
Amen.
00:26:45.87\00:26:46.90
We have a life and death message
00:26:46.93\00:26:49.19
to present to the world.
00:26:49.22\00:26:51.64
Seventh-day Adventists
had been raised like Noah
00:26:51.67\00:26:54.45
to prepare the
world for its final hours.
00:26:54.48\00:26:57.66
I am absolutely
confident that guided by Jesus
00:26:57.69\00:27:02.06
and faithful to
our prophetic heritage,
00:27:02.09\00:27:05.55
this moment will triumph.
00:27:05.58\00:27:09.68
I appeal to you, young people,
00:27:09.71\00:27:13.72
I appeal to you
with all my heart,
00:27:13.75\00:27:17.15
be faithful to the
call God has given you
00:27:17.18\00:27:21.13
as Seventh-day
Adventist young people,
00:27:21.16\00:27:24.13
embrace this
message in it's fullness,
00:27:24.16\00:27:28.20
be filled with the Holy Spirit
as you share it with the world.
00:27:28.23\00:27:33.87
The second concern is growing
worldliness in many churches
00:27:33.90\00:27:40.22
and in our own lives.
00:27:40.25\00:27:42.68
Jesus stated that well,
when He prayed in John 17:17,
00:27:42.71\00:27:47.67
"I do not pray that you should
take them out of the world
00:27:47.70\00:27:51.13
but that you should
keep them from the evil."
00:27:51.16\00:27:54.98
In 1 John 2:15-17, John added,
00:27:55.01\00:28:00.61
"Do not love the world
or the things in the world.
00:28:00.64\00:28:04.49
If anyone loves the world,
00:28:04.52\00:28:06.21
the love of the
Father is not in Him.
00:28:06.24\00:28:08.60
For all that is in the
world, the lust of the flesh,
00:28:08.63\00:28:11.68
the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life
00:28:11.71\00:28:14.16
is not of the
Father but is of the world.
00:28:14.19\00:28:17.08
And the world is
passing away, and the lust of it
00:28:17.11\00:28:20.02
but he who does the
will of God abides forever."
00:28:20.05\00:28:23.85
Amen.
00:28:23.88\00:28:25.83
The church has always
faced the danger of compromising
00:28:25.86\00:28:30.98
it's loyalty to Christ
through a growing tendency
00:28:31.01\00:28:35.62
to allow the world
to shape its thinking.
00:28:35.65\00:28:41.81
The closer we get
to the end of time
00:28:41.84\00:28:44.14
the more the devil
will redouble his efforts
00:28:44.17\00:28:48.06
in this area.
00:28:48.09\00:28:49.79
Standards that
are once cherished
00:28:49.82\00:28:52.08
by Seventh-day Adventist
00:28:52.11\00:28:54.20
in the areas of
diet, dress, recreation,
00:28:54.23\00:28:57.74
amusement and Sabbath keeping
00:28:57.77\00:28:59.60
are fast becoming
things of the past.
00:28:59.63\00:29:02.40
Now let me
underscore the absolute fact,
00:29:02.43\00:29:05.36
we are not
saved by what we wear,
00:29:05.39\00:29:08.58
we are not saved
by eating correctly,
00:29:08.61\00:29:11.45
we are saved by the
blood of Jesus Christ.
00:29:11.48\00:29:14.20
But when the sanctifying
power of the Holy Spirit
00:29:14.23\00:29:17.52
enters into the life
00:29:17.55\00:29:19.01
we will do the things
that God wants us to do.
00:29:19.04\00:29:22.93
You see when members
are adorned like the world,
00:29:22.96\00:29:27.38
when they dress like the world,
00:29:27.41\00:29:29.32
when they love the
world's entertainment
00:29:29.35\00:29:31.35
and don't just point your finger
00:29:31.38\00:29:32.55
at somebody else,
00:29:32.58\00:29:33.64
think about your
own life and my own.
00:29:33.67\00:29:36.10
When we listen
to the world's music
00:29:36.13\00:29:37.69
and are captivated by everything
00:29:37.72\00:29:39.49
that comes out of
Hollywood in its glitziest way,
00:29:39.52\00:29:43.02
genuine spirituality is eroded
00:29:43.05\00:29:46.47
and the devil makes
inroads into our very souls.
00:29:46.50\00:29:50.87
And the Adventist health message
00:29:50.90\00:29:52.82
which is accepted
00:29:52.85\00:29:55.00
by so many honest
hearted people in the world
00:29:55.03\00:29:58.53
is considered by
many within the church
00:29:58.56\00:30:01.12
to be legalistic or fanatical
00:30:01.15\00:30:04.78
rather than a glorious
gift from a loving creator,
00:30:04.81\00:30:08.30
something's wrong.
00:30:08.33\00:30:10.14
We are to be
ambassadors for Christ.
00:30:10.17\00:30:13.12
We are to be the light
and the salt of the world.
00:30:13.15\00:30:16.44
In Matthew 5:16 it says,
00:30:16.47\00:30:20.99
" Let your light
so shine before men,
00:30:21.02\00:30:23.05
that they may
see your good works,
00:30:23.08\00:30:24.75
and glorify your
Father in heaven."
00:30:24.78\00:30:28.98
You see millions of
people all over the world
00:30:29.01\00:30:30.92
are aching for
something different
00:30:30.95\00:30:33.03
they long for genuine
authentic Christianity.
00:30:33.06\00:30:37.55
We will never reach them by
compromising God's standards
00:30:37.58\00:30:43.19
and our standards to
come down to their level.
00:30:43.22\00:30:46.63
We must lift up the standard
00:30:46.66\00:30:50.59
through the
grace of Jesus Christ.
00:30:50.62\00:30:53.36
This is no time to
just flirt with the devils
00:30:53.39\00:30:56.99
dress and diet and amusement
and worldly influences.
00:30:57.02\00:31:00.90
This is the time to
hold the standard high
00:31:00.93\00:31:04.25
for the world to see.
00:31:04.28\00:31:06.28
This is not legalism
this is Christ centered
00:31:06.31\00:31:10.00
justified and sanctified living
00:31:10.03\00:31:12.78
through the power
of the Holy Spirit
00:31:12.81\00:31:15.06
as a witness
before men and angels
00:31:15.09\00:31:17.76
as to how God can change a life.
00:31:17.79\00:31:20.36
Amen.
00:31:20.39\00:31:21.48
Now, third
concern is the challenging
00:31:21.51\00:31:23.63
danger of disunity.
00:31:23.66\00:31:26.27
In John 17 that powerful chapter
00:31:26.30\00:31:28.66
that Christ
prayed for you and for me
00:31:28.69\00:31:31.05
as well as for His disciples,
00:31:31.08\00:31:33.00
He prayed for
unity in the church.
00:31:33.03\00:31:36.10
One of the devil's strategies
is to attack this unity.
00:31:36.13\00:31:41.22
He knows if the
church is not unified
00:31:41.25\00:31:43.92
it will not effectively
accomplish its mission.
00:31:43.95\00:31:48.16
In Selected Messages
book 2 page 159, we read,
00:31:48.19\00:31:52.28
"Unity is the
strength of the church.
00:31:52.31\00:31:54.55
Satan knows this, and
he employs his whole force
00:31:54.58\00:31:57.75
to bring in dissension.
00:31:57.78\00:31:59.61
He desires to
see a lack of harmony
00:31:59.64\00:32:01.94
among the members
of the church of God.
00:32:01.97\00:32:04.14
Greater
attention should be given
00:32:04.17\00:32:05.93
to the subject of unity."
00:32:05.96\00:32:08.41
Now, the devil
uses all his forces
00:32:08.44\00:32:10.34
to bring in
dissention and conflict
00:32:10.37\00:32:12.75
to neutralize the
soul-winning efforts
00:32:12.78\00:32:15.46
of God's people.
00:32:15.49\00:32:17.03
Now is the time for
administrators, pastors,
00:32:17.06\00:32:19.96
teachers, young people
and all members to unite
00:32:19.99\00:32:23.59
under the banner
of Christ's truth,
00:32:23.62\00:32:26.35
in preaching the
message to the world.
00:32:26.38\00:32:29.33
God has given to
Seventh-day Adventist
00:32:29.36\00:32:31.40
a divinely inspired
church organization,
00:32:31.43\00:32:34.91
and mutual agreements
called Church Policies,
00:32:34.94\00:32:38.87
which under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit
00:32:38.90\00:32:41.64
are part of
what hold us together
00:32:41.67\00:32:43.87
as a world family.
00:32:43.90\00:32:46.06
To discard or ignore
these mutual agreements
00:32:46.09\00:32:50.38
violates a sacred trust
00:32:50.41\00:32:52.59
and creates unnecessary discord.
00:32:52.62\00:32:55.98
After Bible, study,
study of the Spirit of Prophecy
00:32:56.01\00:32:59.91
prayerful and careful sprit
00:32:59.94\00:33:02.28
led discussion in
appropriate church settings
00:33:02.31\00:33:06.06
let us lay aside
our personal opinions
00:33:06.09\00:33:09.86
for the good of
the body of Christ,
00:33:09.89\00:33:12.31
and march forward together
towards the kingdom of God.
00:33:12.34\00:33:16.96
Our fourth concern is
00:33:16.99\00:33:18.23
the spiritual
complacency and apathy
00:33:18.26\00:33:21.09
that leads to a lack of
church mission involvement.
00:33:21.12\00:33:25.00
You heard us talking about
it in the panel this morning.
00:33:25.03\00:33:28.38
There seems to be
a spiritual paralysis
00:33:28.41\00:33:30.51
in many members' lives.
00:33:30.54\00:33:32.39
Recent interviews or
surveys I should say, indicate
00:33:32.42\00:33:36.43
that the overwhelming
majority of church believe
00:33:36.46\00:33:40.39
the 28 fundamental beliefs,
00:33:40.42\00:33:42.54
but they have a
hard time sharing them.
00:33:42.57\00:33:45.97
They believe that
they are not really perhaps
00:33:46.00\00:33:50.82
that which they would
want to become involved
00:33:50.85\00:33:53.01
with in terms of the
mission of the church.
00:33:53.04\00:33:54.99
There is no fire or
passion in their bones.
00:33:55.02\00:33:58.70
Young people without active
involvement in service to God
00:33:58.73\00:34:04.22
before men and angels we
will not grow spiritually.
00:34:04.25\00:34:09.98
Desire of Ages, page 825 says,
"The very life of the church
00:34:10.01\00:34:14.96
depends upon her faithfulness
00:34:14.99\00:34:17.46
in fulfilling the
Lord's commission.
00:34:17.49\00:34:20.17
To neglect this
work is surely to invite
00:34:20.20\00:34:22.99
spiritual feebleness and decay.
00:34:23.02\00:34:26.72
Where there is no
active labor for others,
00:34:26.75\00:34:28.90
love wanes, and
faith grows dim."
00:34:28.93\00:34:32.82
I wan to tell
you that Holy Spirit
00:34:32.85\00:34:34.68
led involvement
in your local church
00:34:34.71\00:34:37.99
and in your
outreach to the community
00:34:38.02\00:34:40.31
is the answer to apathy.
00:34:40.34\00:34:42.99
If you want to be
spiritually alive,
00:34:43.02\00:34:45.02
get involved.
00:34:45.05\00:34:46.26
If you want a vibrant
prayer life, get involved.
00:34:46.29\00:34:49.22
If you want to
appreciate the Word of God more,
00:34:49.25\00:34:51.69
get involved.
00:34:51.72\00:34:53.00
If you want to have a
deeper love for others,
00:34:53.03\00:34:55.24
get involved.
00:34:55.27\00:34:56.68
If you want to see souls
won to Jesus, get involved.
00:34:56.71\00:35:00.56
If you want to
see Jesus come soon,
00:35:00.59\00:35:03.13
brothers and sisters
let's all get involved.
00:35:03.16\00:35:06.35
Amen.
00:35:06.38\00:35:07.49
As Paul did, we
are to get involved.
00:35:07.52\00:35:10.87
Stand firm and
proclaim the truth with clarity
00:35:10.90\00:35:14.71
and simplicity denouncing
the Mars' Hill mentality
00:35:14.74\00:35:19.01
by pointing to the
solid rock Jesus Christ.
00:35:19.04\00:35:23.56
As young people,
youth leaders, pastors,
00:35:23.59\00:35:26.26
faithful members we are
called to live and proclaim
00:35:26.29\00:35:29.66
this heaven initiated
prophetic advent message
00:35:29.69\00:35:35.17
that's exactly what
Paul did on Mars' Hill
00:35:35.20\00:35:38.71
in his aliquant
and masterful defense
00:35:38.74\00:35:42.01
of the only true
God in service to Him
00:35:42.04\00:35:46.39
before men and angels.
00:35:46.42\00:35:48.98
In Acts 17:24-26 Paul told
them about the unknown God.
00:35:49.01\00:35:56.62
We heard that Marvelous passage
00:35:56.65\00:35:59.35
read by Amy this
morning for scripture,
00:35:59.38\00:36:02.10
telling them that
the world was created
00:36:02.13\00:36:04.46
in six literal
consecutive days recently.
00:36:04.49\00:36:07.91
Paul explained that
this God created all humans
00:36:07.94\00:36:12.01
equal smashing elitism
00:36:12.04\00:36:14.62
and allows for the rise
and fall of people groups.
00:36:14.65\00:36:18.31
In verse 27 Paul begins his
appeal to the great thinkers
00:36:18.34\00:36:22.13
telling them that this
great true God has made it
00:36:22.16\00:36:25.34
completely possible to
seek Him, to feel after Him
00:36:25.37\00:36:30.54
and to find Him
because He is not far from us.
00:36:30.57\00:36:35.32
In verse 28, he
gives the real punch line.
00:36:35.35\00:36:38.99
He says, "For in him we live
and move and have our being."
00:36:39.02\00:36:45.26
He even contextualized
his presentation by quoting
00:36:45.29\00:36:48.63
from one of their prophets
and then in verses 29 to 31
00:36:48.66\00:36:52.74
he speaks against
polytheism and paganism.
00:36:52.77\00:36:56.59
As Seventh-day Adventist
young people in service to God
00:36:56.62\00:36:59.70
before men and angels,
00:36:59.73\00:37:02.23
you are called to
proclaim the Advent hope
00:37:02.26\00:37:06.06
with the need for
revival, for repentance,
00:37:06.09\00:37:09.18
and reformation all through
the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:37:09.21\00:37:13.37
We need a strong
influence of simplicity
00:37:13.40\00:37:16.64
regarding heaven guided theology
00:37:16.67\00:37:20.26
outreach methods and
church growth practices.
00:37:20.29\00:37:25.27
Unfortunately we become
smug in our sophistication
00:37:25.30\00:37:30.47
in our self evaluation.
00:37:30.50\00:37:32.91
We become fascinated
with our own understanding
00:37:32.94\00:37:36.32
of how we think
things should happen,
00:37:36.35\00:37:39.83
whether or not we
like it we are Laodicea.
00:37:39.86\00:37:45.52
We are the embodiment
of Revelation Chapter 3
00:37:45.55\00:37:50.14
through God's
grace righteousness
00:37:50.17\00:37:52.25
and the power of the Holy Spirit
00:37:52.28\00:37:54.19
we need to humble
ourselves in submission to God
00:37:54.22\00:37:58.30
for clarity of
purpose and mission
00:37:58.33\00:38:01.24
a fuller
understanding of who we are
00:38:01.27\00:38:04.45
as Seventh-day Adventist
God's end time movement.
00:38:04.48\00:38:08.84
His remnant people,
00:38:08.87\00:38:11.07
we don't say that in a
self-centered proud manner
00:38:11.10\00:38:16.15
but in complete humility
as a unique prophetic people
00:38:16.18\00:38:22.68
for a prophetic message
and a prophetic mission.
00:38:22.71\00:38:28.72
Listen to this
beautiful quotation
00:38:28.75\00:38:30.35
from Testimonies
volume 7, page 138.
00:38:30.38\00:38:34.35
"Seventh-day Adventist
have been chosen by God
00:38:34.38\00:38:36.84
as a peculiar people,
separate from the world.
00:38:36.87\00:38:40.02
He has made them
His representatives,
00:38:40.05\00:38:41.87
and has called them
to be ambassadors for Him
00:38:41.90\00:38:44.35
in the last work of salvation.
00:38:44.38\00:38:46.66
The greatest wealth of
truth ever entrusted to mortals,
00:38:46.69\00:38:49.83
the most solemn
and fearful warnings
00:38:49.86\00:38:51.75
ever sent by God to man,
00:38:51.78\00:38:53.59
have been committed to
them to be given to the world."
00:38:53.62\00:38:57.75
As a church we need to return
00:38:57.78\00:38:59.89
to a setting of
humble primitive godliness
00:38:59.92\00:39:04.20
through submission to Christ
00:39:04.23\00:39:06.77
realizing it is He
who provides the power
00:39:06.80\00:39:10.88
for this great advent movement.
00:39:10.91\00:39:13.45
There is to be no pluralism
or loss of mission focused
00:39:13.48\00:39:17.79
in God's ranks.
00:39:17.82\00:39:19.27
We will be united
in theology and mission
00:39:19.30\00:39:22.25
as we personally
and corporately connect
00:39:22.28\00:39:25.43
to Jesus Christ.
00:39:25.46\00:39:27.18
The great sin of Israel
was its disconnection from God
00:39:27.21\00:39:30.89
allowing the
pagan God's around them
00:39:30.92\00:39:33.62
to observe their attention.
00:39:33.65\00:39:36.50
Testimonies volume 9, Page
19 is admonition for us today
00:39:36.53\00:39:41.28
to not let anything absorb
our attention except one thing.
00:39:41.31\00:39:44.95
"In a special sense
Seventh-day Adventists
00:39:44.98\00:39:47.42
have been set in the world
as watchmen and light bearers.
00:39:47.45\00:39:51.32
They have been given a
work of the most solemn import,
00:39:51.35\00:39:54.61
the proclamation
of the first, second,
00:39:54.64\00:39:56.77
and third angels' messages.
00:39:56.80\00:39:58.56
There is no other work
of so great importance.
00:39:58.59\00:40:03.11
They are to allow nothing
else to absorb their attention."
00:40:03.14\00:40:08.64
From Bible prophecy
we know that the future
00:40:08.67\00:40:11.18
will be
difficult and challenging.
00:40:11.21\00:40:13.90
Tough times are ahead
00:40:13.93\00:40:16.61
and it's only as
we look to Christ
00:40:16.64\00:40:18.24
and His word that
we can stand united
00:40:18.27\00:40:20.80
and receive the latter
rain giving us the power
00:40:20.83\00:40:24.82
to proclaim those Three
Angels messages of Revelation 14
00:40:24.85\00:40:28.76
and the fourth
angel of Revelation 18.
00:40:28.79\00:40:33.28
Young people of GYC,
take this prophetic message,
00:40:33.31\00:40:38.07
preach it, share it, live it.
00:40:38.10\00:40:41.78
In verse 31 of Acts 17
00:40:41.81\00:40:43.90
Paul preach this message
to the Athenians telling them
00:40:43.93\00:40:47.93
that the Day of Judgment was
coming when those on Mars' Hill
00:40:47.96\00:40:53.97
heard about the
resurrection they mocked him.
00:40:54.00\00:40:57.73
In fact, scripture records
that Paul's evangelistic series
00:40:57.76\00:41:02.33
in Athens produced
only a few converts.
00:41:02.36\00:41:06.82
When you go to your own
Mars' Hill in just a few hours,
00:41:06.85\00:41:12.73
proclaiming this
precious last day message
00:41:12.76\00:41:15.94
don't worry about the harvest
00:41:15.97\00:41:18.26
because that is the
work of the Holy Spirit.
00:41:18.29\00:41:21.49
Our job is to
proclaim the advent message.
00:41:21.52\00:41:26.59
As you return to your
home churches to your schools
00:41:26.62\00:41:30.79
or where ever you are
going we double your efforts
00:41:30.82\00:41:34.25
in reaching out in
practical, personal witnessing
00:41:34.28\00:41:38.41
and public
evangelistic activity.
00:41:38.44\00:41:41.15
Lift up Christ
and His righteousness
00:41:41.18\00:41:43.85
and His distinctive truth.
00:41:43.88\00:41:46.22
Lift Christ up with passion.
00:41:46.25\00:41:49.85
As we leave this place,
renew your commitment to Christ
00:41:49.88\00:41:53.45
to His word and
the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:41:53.48\00:41:55.93
Walk in Paul's footsteps.
00:41:55.96\00:41:58.97
Stand for truth and
combat the Mars' Hill mentality.
00:41:59.00\00:42:03.04
Preach the word in
season and out of season.
00:42:03.07\00:42:06.23
In fact, Education page
57 takes on new significance
00:42:06.26\00:42:10.24
when we understand this,
"The greatest want of the world
00:42:10.27\00:42:13.19
is the want of men and of women,
00:42:13.22\00:42:15.59
men who will not
be bought or sold,
00:42:15.62\00:42:17.51
men who in their inmost
souls are true and honest,
00:42:17.54\00:42:20.87
men who do not fear to
call sin by its right name,
00:42:20.90\00:42:24.88
men whose
conscience is as true to duty
00:42:24.91\00:42:27.47
as the needle to the pole,
00:42:27.50\00:42:29.38
men who will stand for the right
00:42:29.41\00:42:31.22
though the heavens fall."
00:42:31.25\00:42:33.77
I want to tell you God is moving
00:42:33.80\00:42:35.33
on the hearts of
people all over this world,
00:42:35.36\00:42:38.23
young people and older people
00:42:38.26\00:42:40.56
I think about
Tatiana, an educated attorney
00:42:40.59\00:42:45.31
and the vice
mayor of a capital city
00:42:45.34\00:42:48.36
in a central Asian country,
a predominantly Muslim country.
00:42:48.39\00:42:53.99
Part of her
responsibilities were to care
00:42:54.02\00:42:56.30
for the
acquisition of certain items
00:42:56.33\00:43:00.72
that people
needed in construction.
00:43:00.75\00:43:03.52
One day, a pastor
came to her office
00:43:03.55\00:43:06.98
asking for
permission to buy some bricks.
00:43:07.01\00:43:12.26
As he came to that office,
he humbly made his request
00:43:12.29\00:43:17.00
and Tatiana
knowing nothing about
00:43:17.03\00:43:19.47
what this individual was doing
said come back in three days.
00:43:19.50\00:43:23.99
The pastor came
back in three days,
00:43:24.02\00:43:26.08
recognizing that
he needed in every way
00:43:26.11\00:43:28.25
to be courteous and
kind and respectful.
00:43:28.28\00:43:32.49
And Tatiana said, well,
00:43:32.52\00:43:33.94
I haven't had
time come back again.
00:43:33.97\00:43:36.67
I want to tell you when
God sends you on a mission
00:43:36.70\00:43:39.37
never give up, keep coming back.
00:43:39.40\00:43:42.45
The pastor came
back he was actually
00:43:42.48\00:43:44.01
a Seventh-day Adventist pastor.
00:43:44.04\00:43:46.03
He came back asking
00:43:46.06\00:43:47.69
for a certain amount of bricks.
00:43:47.72\00:43:54.32
Tatiana was frustrated said,
I know you can get some bricks
00:43:54.35\00:43:57.51
let me sign the papers move out
of this office get on your way.
00:43:57.54\00:44:02.16
The pastor went and
obtained the bricks.
00:44:02.19\00:44:07.09
Quite sometime later
00:44:07.12\00:44:10.82
Tatiana's 17-year-old son--
00:44:10.85\00:44:15.85
never minimize the
power of a young person.
00:44:15.88\00:44:21.18
There are probably some
here who are 17 years old.
00:44:21.21\00:44:24.55
Her 17-year-old son came to her
00:44:24.58\00:44:26.80
and said mother, my
birthday is coming up,
00:44:26.83\00:44:28.93
I want you to go
with me somewhere
00:44:28.96\00:44:30.99
I want you to
spend the day with me.
00:44:31.02\00:44:32.85
Tatiana thinking she
could simple give him some money
00:44:32.88\00:44:35.98
and be able to just have
with him have a good time
00:44:36.01\00:44:40.57
thought she would get
rid of him in that way.
00:44:40.60\00:44:42.85
I want to tell you parents
don't just provide good things
00:44:42.88\00:44:47.09
for your children
spend time with them.
00:44:47.12\00:44:52.14
Seventeen-year-old
son said, no mother,
00:44:52.17\00:44:53.78
I want you to
spend the day with me.
00:44:53.81\00:44:55.86
Finally, Tatiana
agreed the day came
00:44:55.89\00:44:58.49
she put her scarf over her head
00:44:58.52\00:45:00.98
not wanting anyone
to recognize who she was
00:45:01.01\00:45:04.01
and they proceeded
into the middle of the city.
00:45:04.04\00:45:08.12
They came of all
places to a church,
00:45:08.15\00:45:12.02
they entered the church sat down
00:45:12.05\00:45:15.14
and the pastor began to preach
00:45:15.17\00:45:17.15
an incredible sermon
on submitting to Christ.
00:45:17.18\00:45:22.75
Tatiana was absolutely astounded
00:45:22.78\00:45:25.61
when her 17-year-old
son stood up in response
00:45:25.64\00:45:29.34
to the pastor's
appeal and went forward.
00:45:29.37\00:45:34.30
She recognized this was a
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:45:34.33\00:45:39.55
Her son had been attending
this church for sometime.
00:45:39.58\00:45:43.06
In fact, it was the very church
for which she had assigned
00:45:43.09\00:45:47.42
the pastor to be
able to buy the bricks.
00:45:47.45\00:45:53.69
After the service was
over a baptism was planned.
00:45:53.72\00:46:01.59
Tatiana saw her 17-year-old son,
00:46:01.62\00:46:04.28
animatedly
talking with the pastor
00:46:04.31\00:46:06.93
and her son came back to
her and he said, please mother,
00:46:06.96\00:46:09.98
you can go with
us to the baptism.
00:46:10.01\00:46:12.02
You can ride in
the special mini van
00:46:12.05\00:46:14.11
that has been assigned for me.
00:46:14.14\00:46:17.01
She said, no, no, I'm
not interested in going
00:46:17.04\00:46:19.24
why would I want to go?
00:46:19.27\00:46:20.30
No, please, mother.
00:46:20.33\00:46:21.36
So because it was his
birthday she agreed to go.
00:46:21.39\00:46:26.57
They arrived at the
site for the baptism
00:46:26.60\00:46:29.04
all the
arrangements had been made
00:46:29.07\00:46:31.30
Tatiana noticed
her son speaking again
00:46:31.33\00:46:33.66
animatedly with the pastor
and running back to his mother
00:46:33.69\00:46:40.97
he said mother, I
just talked to the pastor
00:46:41.00\00:46:44.51
he said you can be baptized too.
00:46:44.54\00:46:48.54
Tatiana said, that ridiculous.
00:46:48.57\00:46:51.41
You have to know something about
00:46:51.44\00:46:52.59
an organization that you join.
00:46:52.62\00:46:54.69
I know nothing
about this church.
00:46:54.72\00:46:57.56
I'm not even a Christian.
00:46:57.59\00:47:00.70
But mother, the pastor
said you could be baptized.
00:47:00.73\00:47:03.86
Now I don't know
what the 17-year-old son
00:47:03.89\00:47:05.80
said to the
pastor because you know,
00:47:05.83\00:47:08.58
that we want people's lives
00:47:08.61\00:47:09.99
to demonstrate their
walk with Jesus every day
00:47:10.02\00:47:12.99
before they make a
commitment for baptism.
00:47:13.02\00:47:16.68
But some how he
persuaded the pastor
00:47:16.71\00:47:21.31
and because it was his
birthday Tatiana was baptized.
00:47:21.34\00:47:28.23
They went home
they took with them
00:47:28.26\00:47:31.12
the baptismal
certificate and her son
00:47:31.15\00:47:33.62
hid those
certificates in a safe place.
00:47:33.65\00:47:39.28
They didn't want
the father to find out
00:47:39.31\00:47:41.92
and that culture if you
did anything in a major way
00:47:41.95\00:47:44.52
without
consulting with the husband
00:47:44.55\00:47:46.47
and the father of the household
you would be in big trouble.
00:47:46.50\00:47:52.44
Tatiana, finally
came to the point
00:47:52.47\00:47:56.62
where she said, you know,
00:47:56.65\00:47:59.07
I think I better find
out what I was baptized into.
00:47:59.10\00:48:03.93
And so she
opened the Word of God
00:48:03.96\00:48:06.23
and she began to
read of God's love
00:48:06.26\00:48:09.12
and let me tell you Tatiana
was converted after her baptism.
00:48:09.15\00:48:14.40
She fell in love with Jesus.
00:48:14.43\00:48:18.47
She remembered interestingly
and this is how God guides,
00:48:18.50\00:48:22.43
when she was a small
girl about three years old
00:48:22.46\00:48:26.51
her father sent
her back to Ukraine
00:48:26.54\00:48:30.01
from where her mother had come
because her mother had died.
00:48:30.04\00:48:35.96
And she was sent
back to her grandmother.
00:48:35.99\00:48:38.61
Her grandmother raised her
from age three to about age 12.
00:48:38.64\00:48:43.83
She remembers her grandmother
00:48:43.86\00:48:45.98
taking her to church on Saturday
00:48:46.01\00:48:49.77
because her grandmother
was a Seventh-day Adventist.
00:48:49.80\00:48:53.50
When she was 12-years-old
00:48:53.53\00:48:54.66
she was sent back to
that central Asian country
00:48:54.69\00:48:57.21
and forgot all
about that experience
00:48:57.24\00:48:59.14
but God brought it
back to her memory.
00:48:59.17\00:49:03.61
About five months later,
00:49:03.64\00:49:06.06
her son came
rushing into the house.
00:49:06.09\00:49:09.92
He said, mother,
something terrible has happened.
00:49:09.95\00:49:15.03
Father has found the
baptismal certificates
00:49:15.06\00:49:20.41
and he is angry.
00:49:20.44\00:49:24.36
Tatiana knew that the evening
would be a very tough one,
00:49:24.39\00:49:27.76
that she would have to
face some unbearable questioning
00:49:27.79\00:49:32.01
and so she prayed to the Lord
give me the right thing to say.
00:49:32.04\00:49:35.30
I want to tell
you as you go back
00:49:35.33\00:49:36.84
to battle the
Mars' Hills around you
00:49:36.87\00:49:39.59
ask God for guidance
He will give it to you.
00:49:39.62\00:49:43.92
And so that
evening after the meal
00:49:43.95\00:49:46.51
Tatiana and her husband began
to talk and her husband said,
00:49:46.54\00:49:50.31
how could you dare defy
me and become a Christian?
00:49:50.34\00:49:57.13
How could you do this terrible
thing with out consulting me?
00:49:57.16\00:50:01.80
God gave Tatiana a
beautiful response.
00:50:01.83\00:50:08.44
She said, my dear husband,
00:50:08.47\00:50:11.78
you have the baptismal
certificate before you,
00:50:11.81\00:50:15.11
you have the date on
which I was baptized.
00:50:15.14\00:50:20.29
Yeah from the last five months
I have become a worse wife,
00:50:20.32\00:50:28.26
if I have cared for my son
and even worse way than before,
00:50:28.29\00:50:35.15
if I have become a
sad degenerated individual
00:50:35.18\00:50:41.08
I will give up this
religion but my dear husband,
00:50:41.11\00:50:45.48
if you have seen in
the last five months
00:50:45.51\00:50:47.35
that I become a sweeter person,
00:50:47.38\00:50:50.36
a nicer person, a
more helpful person
00:50:50.39\00:50:53.67
that something
has changed my life
00:50:53.70\00:50:55.33
then please take
that into consideration.
00:50:55.36\00:50:59.63
There was silence,
00:50:59.66\00:51:02.10
and her husband finally
spoke and said, no Tatiana,
00:51:02.13\00:51:08.98
you have become a
sweeter, nicer person.
00:51:09.01\00:51:15.10
It was not long after
that Tatiana's husband
00:51:15.13\00:51:18.80
began to study
the Bible for himself.
00:51:18.83\00:51:22.92
He was given
interestingly the book
00:51:22.95\00:51:25.48
the Great Controversy to read.
00:51:25.51\00:51:28.51
He understood
God's plan for his life
00:51:28.54\00:51:32.29
and he gave his heart
to Jesus and was baptized
00:51:32.32\00:51:36.66
into the
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:51:36.69\00:51:39.90
Today, Tatiana and her husband
are powerful pillars of that
00:51:39.93\00:51:46.10
central Asian
capital city church.
00:51:46.13\00:51:50.02
I want to tell you
brothers and sisters,
00:51:50.05\00:51:51.90
as we face the soon
coming of Jesus Christ,
00:51:51.93\00:51:55.02
and He is coming soon,
00:51:55.05\00:51:57.15
as you leave Orlando
preach the message of Paul,
00:51:57.18\00:52:02.86
Christ crucified, risen,
interceding and coming again
00:52:02.89\00:52:07.77
in what ever Mars' Hills
setting you find yourself
00:52:07.80\00:52:11.06
God will
encourage and stand by you
00:52:11.09\00:52:14.24
as you face the
greatest test ahead
00:52:14.27\00:52:17.51
in the
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:52:17.54\00:52:19.79
within the Great Controversy
theme will you submit today
00:52:19.82\00:52:25.76
to the king of the
universe and our coming Lord.
00:52:25.79\00:52:30.23
Are you ready for
God's great mission?
00:52:30.26\00:52:34.35
Are you ready to
do whatever it takes
00:52:34.38\00:52:36.39
to proclaim
God's last day message
00:52:36.42\00:52:39.31
as you focus on
mission to the cities
00:52:39.34\00:52:42.22
and rural areas as well?
00:52:42.25\00:52:44.47
Are you ready to participate
in medical missionary work,
00:52:44.50\00:52:47.72
comprehensive health ministry?
00:52:47.75\00:52:49.62
Are you willing to help people
to live life to the fullest
00:52:49.65\00:52:53.95
both now and for eternity?
00:52:53.98\00:52:57.43
Will you plead with the
Lord for revival and reformation
00:52:57.46\00:53:01.95
and for the latter
rain of the Holy Spirit
00:53:01.98\00:53:04.21
as we proclaim Bible truth?
00:53:04.24\00:53:07.92
Are you willing to march
forward in service to God
00:53:07.95\00:53:13.62
before men and angels?
00:53:13.65\00:53:18.58
If you accept this challenge,
would you quietly join me
00:53:18.61\00:53:26.43
in standing to your feet?
00:53:26.46\00:53:28.77
As you
personally submit right now,
00:53:36.69\00:53:40.50
to Jesus Christ
your Lord and your Savior
00:53:40.53\00:53:46.71
He is calling you to serve Him
00:53:46.74\00:53:51.05
before men and angels.
00:53:51.08\00:53:54.93
We are gonna pray
in just a few moments
00:53:54.96\00:53:58.49
but there may be some of you
00:53:58.52\00:54:00.90
who are facing a very unusual
circumstance when you go home.
00:54:00.93\00:54:05.68
May be you have an
unusual burden on your heart,
00:54:05.71\00:54:10.80
may be you want to
place it before the Lord.
00:54:10.83\00:54:15.31
I just ask that if you
do would you just join me
00:54:15.34\00:54:19.83
right here in the
front for a special prayer?
00:54:19.86\00:54:24.22
Any of you who have
a special circumstance
00:54:24.25\00:54:26.38
that may be coming to you
00:54:26.41\00:54:28.93
when you come
back to your place,
00:54:28.96\00:54:31.19
to your campus
to wherever it is,
00:54:31.22\00:54:33.38
that you find God calling
you may be there is someone here
00:54:33.41\00:54:40.52
who hasn't fully given
their heart to the Lord
00:54:40.55\00:54:43.73
and you are wanting to say Lord,
00:54:43.76\00:54:44.91
use me in every possible
way would you come forward?
00:54:44.94\00:54:49.96
Maybe there are
someone who has a burden
00:54:49.99\00:54:51.58
for a mother or a father
for a brother or a sister,
00:54:51.61\00:54:57.73
will you come forward?
00:54:57.76\00:55:00.14
May be the Lord is
putting you in such a situation
00:55:00.17\00:55:02.54
where you are gonna be
called upon to be like Paul
00:55:02.57\00:55:06.29
and to proclaim Christ in
every unusual circumstance
00:55:06.32\00:55:11.53
even though you may be harassed.
00:55:11.56\00:55:15.19
If you want personal guidance
and blessing from the Lord
00:55:15.22\00:55:18.99
as you leave this
place, would you come forward?
00:55:19.02\00:55:23.99
God is gonna bless you as
you go out to these places
00:55:24.02\00:55:27.98
all over this
country and beyond.
00:55:28.01\00:55:31.06
God is gonna
use you as a witness
00:55:31.09\00:55:35.08
before men and angels.
00:55:35.11\00:55:40.83
Let's bow our heads as we pray.
00:55:40.86\00:55:44.14
Our loving Father in
heaven, we come to You quietly
00:55:44.17\00:55:51.63
in this
wonderful GYC convocation.
00:55:51.66\00:55:55.93
We recognize all of
the support services,
00:55:55.96\00:55:58.53
all of the encouragement,
all of the affirmation
00:55:58.56\00:56:01.64
that exists in these
wonderful conferences
00:56:01.67\00:56:07.20
but when we leave here,
and go to our own Mars' Hill
00:56:07.23\00:56:13.23
please go with us, please bless
00:56:13.26\00:56:15.78
every young person
who has come forward,
00:56:15.81\00:56:17.74
every individual who
has a special burden,
00:56:17.77\00:56:20.39
some on who perhaps
wrestling with a convection
00:56:20.42\00:56:25.82
about what he or she should do
00:56:25.85\00:56:27.93
either for a life
partner or for their profession.
00:56:27.96\00:56:34.09
May be there is
personal conflict temptation
00:56:34.12\00:56:38.52
that has come into our life
and destroyed the full picture
00:56:38.55\00:56:42.60
of what God wants to see happen.
00:56:42.63\00:56:47.63
Maybe someone has
abused someone else.
00:56:47.66\00:56:53.78
May be an
individual standing here
00:56:53.81\00:56:55.97
has been a victim of difficulty.
00:56:56.00\00:56:59.42
Lord, help that
individual to feel
00:56:59.45\00:57:03.10
and to know that You
love them unconditionally
00:57:03.13\00:57:06.28
that You want to give them
00:57:06.31\00:57:07.80
the power to become the
mightiest voice for You.
00:57:07.83\00:57:12.31
Lord, bless these young
people as You send them out.
00:57:12.34\00:57:17.95
We are living in
the very end of time
00:57:17.98\00:57:21.05
we are just on
the edge of eternity,
00:57:21.08\00:57:24.85
the second coming
of Christ is so near.
00:57:24.88\00:57:29.43
Lord, use us in service
to You before men and angels.
00:57:29.46\00:57:36.48
Lord, we consecrate and commit
ourselves completely to You.
00:57:36.51\00:57:41.46
Thank You for
hearing us in this prayer
00:57:41.49\00:57:44.60
and thank You for
sending us from this place
00:57:44.63\00:57:48.61
filled with the power
that You invested in Paul
00:57:48.64\00:57:52.68
and in others to
proclaim the one true God
00:57:52.71\00:57:57.65
the one in whom we live
and move Jesus Christ our Lord.
00:57:57.68\00:58:05.13
Thank You hearing us and
bless this GYC convention
00:58:05.16\00:58:10.15
and each one
here in the powerful
00:58:10.18\00:58:13.55
and wonderful name
of our Lord and Savior,
00:58:13.58\00:58:17.79
our coming King, our high priest
00:58:17.82\00:58:21.38
and our best
friend Jesus Christ, amen.
00:58:21.41\00:58:25.76