Have you been blessed this GYC?
00:00:13.62\00:00:15.31
Amen.
00:00:15.34\00:00:16.39
I have been
tremendously blessed.
00:00:16.42\00:00:19.02
I've been to
several different GYCs.
00:00:19.05\00:00:21.06
I actually went to the
very first GYC, year 2002
00:00:21.09\00:00:27.38
and I decided that
during some of the seminars
00:00:27.41\00:00:30.39
I was going to skip them
00:00:30.42\00:00:32.42
and go hang out with my friends.
00:00:32.45\00:00:36.14
So me and my friend decided
00:00:36.17\00:00:37.55
after one particular speaker
was continuing with his sermon,
00:00:37.58\00:00:41.30
we decided that we're gonna
go outside and take a walk.
00:00:41.33\00:00:44.88
We had enough.
00:00:44.91\00:00:46.25
Our minds could not
last more than 10 minutes
00:00:46.28\00:00:48.52
during the sermon.
00:00:48.55\00:00:50.31
So we went for a walk.
00:00:50.34\00:00:51.78
This was down in
Pine Springs Ranch.
00:00:51.81\00:00:54.13
And let me tell
you, we almost died.
00:00:54.16\00:00:57.72
What happened is, we
were walking around the trails
00:00:57.75\00:01:00.91
and there we saw
this fenced off area
00:01:00.94\00:01:03.53
that said, "Do not trespass."
00:01:03.56\00:01:05.82
And you know what we did?
00:01:05.85\00:01:08.74
Yeah, you know it.
00:01:08.77\00:01:10.07
We jumped over the fence
and we decided to take a walk.
00:01:10.10\00:01:13.29
We went walking for miles,
like sheep without a shepherd.
00:01:13.32\00:01:17.68
I mean we just
went out for miles.
00:01:17.71\00:01:19.88
We were going
further and further,
00:01:19.91\00:01:21.50
we were looking
at some of the hills
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and we were
watching all these things
00:01:23.62\00:01:25.41
and we were just like,
nature is so beautiful.
00:01:25.44\00:01:28.53
And as we continued to walk
00:01:28.56\00:01:30.70
all of a sudden, a
snow storm came in.
00:01:30.73\00:01:34.79
And this snow storm just
really poured out so much snow,
00:01:34.82\00:01:38.07
it was crazy.
00:01:38.10\00:01:39.43
I never forgot that like,
00:01:39.46\00:01:41.37
we couldn't even see
anymore any of the buildings,
00:01:41.40\00:01:44.69
nothing manmade and we got lost.
00:01:44.72\00:01:47.51
In fact, what was so
funny, I though to myself,
00:01:47.54\00:01:49.71
I'm not going to die out here?
00:01:49.74\00:01:51.84
Indian people do
not die in the snow.
00:01:51.87\00:01:54.20
Spelling bees,
yes, but snow, no.
00:01:58.14\00:02:03.71
And so we were out
there and we were just,
00:02:03.74\00:02:05.83
we were getting very
irritated with each other
00:02:05.86\00:02:07.49
and there we were and we
were just thinking to ourselves,
00:02:07.52\00:02:09.47
"All right, wish we
never skipped the seminars."
00:02:09.50\00:02:12.69
Ladies and
gentlemen, you skip a seminar
00:02:12.72\00:02:14.38
and maybe at the
pay of your own life,
00:02:14.41\00:02:18.17
especially on the
one on "apologetics."
00:02:18.20\00:02:22.85
The other thing I
learned is, God got us back
00:02:22.88\00:02:25.39
but we kept
walking in the direction.
00:02:25.42\00:02:27.26
I mean we had no
idea where we were going
00:02:27.29\00:02:29.45
and we began to pray,
00:02:29.48\00:02:30.55
"Lord, please show
us where we should go."
00:02:30.58\00:02:32.56
And we just continued
walking and walking and walking
00:02:32.59\00:02:35.84
and it just seemed like
for miles we were walking.
00:02:35.87\00:02:38.42
And finally we saw those
buildings and we went in there
00:02:38.45\00:02:41.37
and we were so happy to
see everybody at GYC again.
00:02:41.40\00:02:45.19
But I learned
the powerful lesson
00:02:45.22\00:02:46.87
and just thought
about this lesson
00:02:46.90\00:02:48.15
when I was back
stage and that is this,
00:02:48.18\00:02:51.14
you skip those seminars,
00:02:51.17\00:02:52.69
God may have you up
here presenting a sermon.
00:02:52.72\00:02:58.82
Better watch out,
00:02:58.85\00:02:59.88
the Holy Spirit is watching you.
00:02:59.91\00:03:02.27
Amen. Amen.
00:03:02.30\00:03:04.10
Why don't we start
with the word of prayer
00:03:04.13\00:03:05.31
and let's ask Jesus to
bless us with the Holy Spirit.
00:03:05.34\00:03:09.43
Father in Heaven, we
thank You so much for this time
00:03:09.46\00:03:12.17
and we pray and ask
that You would bless us,
00:03:12.20\00:03:15.40
God that you would invigorate us
00:03:15.43\00:03:17.87
as we are
preparing to head home.
00:03:17.90\00:03:20.19
Lord, we pray
00:03:20.22\00:03:21.25
that You would end in just a
powerful way this conference.
00:03:21.28\00:03:25.29
Thank You, for
all your blessings.
00:03:25.32\00:03:26.86
In Jesus name we pray, amen
00:03:26.89\00:03:29.80
All right
everybody take your Bibles.
00:03:29.83\00:03:33.60
Your iPhones whatever it is.
00:03:33.63\00:03:35.12
Take your Bibles
00:03:35.15\00:03:36.18
we are gonna be looking
at a very important verse.
00:03:36.21\00:03:38.67
Take your Bibles, go
to 1 Peter Chapter 1,
00:03:38.70\00:03:41.28
1 Peter Chapter 1.
00:03:41.31\00:03:42.75
1 Peter Chapter 1 is a
very beautiful chapter.
00:03:47.78\00:03:51.37
You are gonna be learning about
a very special group of beings.
00:03:51.40\00:03:56.26
1 Peter Chapter 1
00:03:56.29\00:03:57.85
and if you're
there go on and say amen.
00:04:01.46\00:04:03.22
Amen.
00:04:03.25\00:04:04.28
All right, 1 Peter Chapter 1:10.
00:04:04.31\00:04:09.91
Look what the
Bible says right here,
00:04:09.94\00:04:11.94
"Of this salvation,"
00:04:11.97\00:04:14.11
Peter here is
talking about the gospel
00:04:14.14\00:04:16.23
and he is talking
about the grace of God.
00:04:16.26\00:04:17.74
So he says, "Of this salvation,"
00:04:17.77\00:04:19.68
Look what he says next,
00:04:19.71\00:04:21.09
"The prophets have
inquired and searched carefully,
00:04:21.12\00:04:24.53
who prophesied of the
grace that would come to you,
00:04:24.56\00:04:27.65
searching what, or
what manner of time,
00:04:27.68\00:04:29.94
the Spirit of
Christ who was in them
00:04:29.97\00:04:31.73
was indicating when
He testified beforehand
00:04:31.76\00:04:34.55
the sufferings of Christ
00:04:34.58\00:04:36.16
and the glories
that would follow.
00:04:36.19\00:04:38.18
To them it was revealed
that, not to themselves,
00:04:38.21\00:04:41.00
but to us they were
ministering the things
00:04:41.03\00:04:43.13
which now have been
reported to you through those
00:04:43.16\00:04:45.56
who have
preached the gospel to you
00:04:45.59\00:04:46.91
by the Holy
Spirit sent from heaven,"
00:04:46.94\00:04:49.00
now watch this
caveat he adds at the end,
00:04:49.03\00:04:51.39
"things which angels
desire to look into."
00:04:51.42\00:04:56.17
Peter says something so
remarkable about the Gospel.
00:04:56.20\00:04:59.03
He says this is something
00:04:59.06\00:05:00.66
that unfallen
angels love to look into.
00:05:00.69\00:05:03.81
In fact, Hebrew says
00:05:03.84\00:05:05.00
that they love to
spread the gospel as well.
00:05:05.03\00:05:07.99
So here we hear
about entity one,
00:05:08.02\00:05:10.18
entity one loves
to preach the gospel,
00:05:10.21\00:05:12.67
they love to give the gospel,
00:05:12.70\00:05:14.15
they love to look
deeper into the gospel.
00:05:14.18\00:05:16.32
But now let me
introduce you to another entity.
00:05:16.35\00:05:18.84
Take your Bible and let's
go to 2 Corinthians Chapter 4.
00:05:18.87\00:05:21.53
Look what the
Scriptures are saying,
00:05:34.96\00:05:36.19
chapter 4 starting with verse 3,
00:05:36.22\00:05:38.88
"But even if our," what?
00:05:38.91\00:05:41.49
"Gospel is veiled,
00:05:41.52\00:05:42.60
it is veiled to
those who are," what?
00:05:42.63\00:05:45.10
"Perishing" now watch verse 4,
00:05:45.13\00:05:46.94
"whose minds the god
of this age has," what?
00:05:46.97\00:05:50.61
"Blinded, who do not believe,
00:05:50.64\00:05:52.09
lest the light of the
gospel of the glory of Christ,
00:05:52.12\00:05:55.43
who is the image of
God, should shine on them."
00:05:55.46\00:05:57.78
Now notice this, the Bible then
introduces us to another entity
00:05:57.81\00:06:01.90
and this entity is
purposed to make sure
00:06:01.93\00:06:04.93
that the gospel
should never be known.
00:06:04.96\00:06:08.32
So you have one group
00:06:08.35\00:06:10.12
that is determined to see
that the gospel go forward,
00:06:10.15\00:06:12.58
you have another group
00:06:12.61\00:06:13.71
that is determined to see
that the gospel is never given.
00:06:13.74\00:06:17.94
And the reason why
ladies and gentlemen,
00:06:17.97\00:06:19.89
is because when the
gospel goes to the entire world
00:06:19.92\00:06:22.59
the end will come,
Satan's end will come.
00:06:22.62\00:06:27.22
And he knows it.
00:06:27.25\00:06:29.34
If you take one country
00:06:29.37\00:06:30.64
and they're warring
with another country
00:06:30.67\00:06:32.32
and that country
develops a weapon
00:06:32.35\00:06:33.95
that will end the
world, ladies and gentlemen.
00:06:33.98\00:06:35.99
The other country is gonna
do whatever it takes to see
00:06:36.02\00:06:39.29
that that country
never transport that weapon,
00:06:39.32\00:06:45.54
or at least they stored it.
00:06:45.57\00:06:48.57
Ladies and gentlemen, we
are in the midst of this war
00:06:48.60\00:06:51.79
and when the gospel
goes to the entire world
00:06:51.82\00:06:54.26
the war is over.
00:06:54.29\00:06:56.69
He wants us to spread this
message in a very powerful way.
00:06:56.72\00:06:59.37
Can you say amen to that? Amen.
00:06:59.40\00:07:00.97
Now I love what Jeffery said,
00:07:01.00\00:07:02.16
if you take your Bible
go to Ephesians Chapter 3,
00:07:02.19\00:07:04.44
he talked about a
very powerful verse,
00:07:04.47\00:07:06.84
Ephesians Chapter 3.
00:07:06.87\00:07:08.41
Galatians, Ephesians,
Philippians, Colossians,
00:07:12.78\00:07:16.50
General Electric Power Company.
00:07:16.53\00:07:20.48
Think I'm trying to figure
00:07:20.51\00:07:21.54
with an Indian
rendition of that, I can't.
00:07:21.57\00:07:24.12
Okay, Ephesians
Chapter 3, are we all there?
00:07:24.15\00:07:28.17
You are gonna see
something very powerful.
00:07:28.20\00:07:30.11
Let's start with verse 8,
00:07:30.14\00:07:31.89
Paul here is
speaking about the gospel.
00:07:31.92\00:07:33.37
He says something extraordinary.
00:07:33.40\00:07:35.87
"To me, who am less than
the least of all the saints,
00:07:35.90\00:07:38.83
this grace was given,
00:07:38.86\00:07:40.38
that I should
preach among the," who?
00:07:40.41\00:07:42.94
"Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ,
00:07:42.97\00:07:45.74
and to make all see what is
the fellowship of the mystery,
00:07:45.77\00:07:48.78
which from the beginning of ages
00:07:48.81\00:07:50.72
has been hidden in God
00:07:50.75\00:07:52.14
who created all
things through Jesus Christ."
00:07:52.17\00:07:54.53
Now watch verse 10
because it's very important.
00:07:54.56\00:07:56.69
"To the intent" in other words,
00:07:56.72\00:07:58.50
for this reason Paul says
the gospel was given to him.
00:07:58.53\00:08:01.80
Now watch this,
00:08:01.83\00:08:02.86
"to the intent that now
the manifold wisdom of God
00:08:02.89\00:08:06.42
might be made
known by the," who?
00:08:06.45\00:08:09.49
"Church."
00:08:09.52\00:08:10.63
He says the
Gospel was given to me,
00:08:10.66\00:08:13.50
so I could
preach it to the church,
00:08:13.53\00:08:15.20
but watch he
doesn't end the point there.
00:08:15.23\00:08:16.77
Look what he says next,
00:08:16.80\00:08:20.47
"might be made
known by the church
00:08:20.50\00:08:21.96
to the principalities and powers
00:08:21.99\00:08:24.22
in the heavenly places,"
00:08:24.25\00:08:25.66
and Jeffery touched on this.
00:08:25.69\00:08:27.14
The gospel was given to Paul
00:08:27.17\00:08:28.85
so that he could preach
the gospel to the church
00:08:28.88\00:08:31.12
that they could preach
the gospel to the universe,
00:08:31.15\00:08:35.72
to the universe.
00:08:35.75\00:08:37.62
Now you just think about
that ladies and gentlemen,
00:08:37.65\00:08:40.05
God is actually using the church
00:08:40.08\00:08:42.49
to preach the gospel to
countless unfallen beings.
00:08:42.52\00:08:48.21
And we've so much about
this powerful meta-narrative.
00:08:48.24\00:08:51.84
This idea that there is
a bigger world out there
00:08:51.87\00:08:54.69
and if you miss that,
you go to Ellen White in UFOs
00:08:54.72\00:08:57.05
and you'll find out more
00:08:57.08\00:08:58.11
about this huge
universe that we live in.
00:08:58.14\00:09:00.97
And there are no
aliens that visit our world,
00:09:01.00\00:09:02.68
just letting you know.
00:09:02.71\00:09:05.42
But that's super important,
this huge meta-narrative.
00:09:05.45\00:09:09.28
We live in a much bigger
world, a much bigger universe
00:09:09.31\00:09:12.96
and our existence
somehow matters knowing this.
00:09:12.99\00:09:17.05
But now ladies and gentlemen,
I'm going to introduce you
00:09:17.08\00:09:19.47
to something much bigger
than this meta-narrative,
00:09:19.50\00:09:23.18
an ultra-narrative.
00:09:23.21\00:09:25.70
Now you're thinking to yourself
00:09:25.73\00:09:26.76
what in the world
is an ultra-narrative?
00:09:26.79\00:09:28.72
It is something that is much
bigger than a meta-narrative.
00:09:28.75\00:09:32.08
Amen. Amen.
00:09:36.86\00:09:39.28
Now go to Ephesians Chapter 2,
00:09:39.31\00:09:40.78
I'm about to introduce
you to this ultra-narrative.
00:09:40.81\00:09:45.13
You're thinking
to yourself well,
00:09:45.16\00:09:46.52
what could be much
bigger than the universe?
00:09:46.55\00:09:49.14
I'm about to show you.
00:09:49.17\00:09:51.30
Ephesians 2:4. Are we all there?
00:09:51.33\00:09:57.66
"But God, who is rich in mercy,
00:09:57.69\00:10:00.20
because of His great
love with which He loved us,
00:10:00.23\00:10:03.05
even when while we
were dead in trespasses,
00:10:03.08\00:10:05.82
made us alive
together with Christ
00:10:05.85\00:10:07.82
by grace you have been saved,
and raised us up together,"
00:10:07.85\00:10:11.17
now watch this,
00:10:11.20\00:10:12.23
"and made us sit
in the heavenly places
00:10:12.26\00:10:14.35
in Christ Jesus,
00:10:14.38\00:10:15.62
that in the ages to come
00:10:15.65\00:10:20.46
He might show the
exceeding riches of His grace
00:10:20.49\00:10:23.12
in His kindness
toward us in Christ Jesus."
00:10:23.15\00:10:25.69
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:10:25.72\00:10:26.81
ages to come is not a
reference to your grandchildren,
00:10:26.84\00:10:31.64
ages to come refers to eternity.
00:10:31.67\00:10:37.01
In other words
the ultra-narrative
00:10:37.04\00:10:38.77
has to do with
eternity, ladies and gentlemen.
00:10:38.80\00:10:43.02
And God is dealing with you
00:10:43.05\00:10:44.84
with this perspective
of eternity in His mind.
00:10:44.87\00:10:48.59
Can you imagine
the calculations?
00:10:48.62\00:10:52.72
Eternity is a perspective
in which God runs your life
00:10:52.75\00:10:59.33
and this whole great controversy
00:10:59.36\00:11:01.00
plays out throughout
all the entire universe.
00:11:01.03\00:11:04.68
God is doing things here now
00:11:04.71\00:11:06.64
because for all of
eternity it somehow matters.
00:11:06.67\00:11:12.03
Eternity is the ultra-narrative.
00:11:12.06\00:11:15.86
And God has given the
Gospel to Seventh-day Adventist,
00:11:15.89\00:11:18.45
but if you read the
three angels message,
00:11:18.48\00:11:20.34
the pledge of allegiance
for Seventh-day Adventist
00:11:20.37\00:11:23.15
you will find it starts
with the everlasting, what?
00:11:23.18\00:11:27.16
And normally we think,
the ever lasting gospel
00:11:27.19\00:11:29.42
that just applies
to eternity passed.
00:11:29.45\00:11:32.43
Wrong, it not only
applies to eternity passed
00:11:32.46\00:11:35.28
but ladies and gentlemen,
00:11:35.31\00:11:36.37
there's something we're missing,
00:11:36.40\00:11:37.57
it applies to eternity future.
00:11:37.60\00:11:42.65
There is a perspective in
which God is working our lives,
00:11:42.68\00:11:45.36
with that powerful
insight, eternity, eternity.
00:11:45.39\00:11:51.90
Now that being said,
00:11:53.93\00:11:59.40
Paul says the Gospel was given
to us that in ages to come.
00:11:59.43\00:12:04.72
He might show the
exceeding kindness of God.
00:12:04.75\00:12:10.27
In other words, there are things
00:12:10.30\00:12:11.68
that are going to be real
trillions of years from now
00:12:11.71\00:12:15.52
that are going to
say so much about God.
00:12:15.55\00:12:18.29
And somehow it
was because of things
00:12:18.32\00:12:20.62
that were taking
place today, today.
00:12:20.65\00:12:26.01
Some conversation that
you had with somebody else
00:12:26.04\00:12:28.47
about spiritual things somehow
in a million years from now
00:12:28.50\00:12:31.69
it's gonna matter
in some powerful way
00:12:31.72\00:12:35.48
and it just blows your mind.
00:12:35.51\00:12:38.13
Ladies and
gentlemen, there is something
00:12:38.16\00:12:39.45
that God is
trying to reveal to us
00:12:39.48\00:12:40.88
about the everlasting gospel
00:12:40.91\00:12:42.93
that He has entrusted
to Seventh-day Adventist.
00:12:42.96\00:12:45.28
It doesn't just
apply to eternity passed,
00:12:45.31\00:12:47.57
there is something
we need to understand
00:12:47.60\00:12:49.62
about eternity future.
00:12:49.65\00:12:53.65
Now
Christianity is about a race,
00:12:53.68\00:12:56.83
can you say amen to that?
00:12:56.86\00:12:58.89
You know, there is this fad
00:12:58.92\00:13:00.04
and I just want
to address this fad
00:13:00.07\00:13:01.37
and rebuke these people.
00:13:01.40\00:13:03.85
I've a lot of
friends that like to run.
00:13:03.88\00:13:08.81
I don't like to run,
that's why we have cars.
00:13:08.84\00:13:15.43
I have sometimes
friends that call me up
00:13:15.46\00:13:17.26
and they'll say, hey,
Anil we're gonna be doing a 5K,
00:13:17.29\00:13:20.17
you want to join us?
00:13:20.20\00:13:21.24
And I said, no.
00:13:21.27\00:13:25.00
I'll do the March of Dimes
but I'm not running in some 5K.
00:13:25.03\00:13:28.89
I've other friends that said,
00:13:28.92\00:13:29.95
"Hey we are going to go
training for half a marathon,
00:13:29.98\00:13:31.55
do you want to join us?"
00:13:31.58\00:13:32.61
No.
00:13:32.64\00:13:34.59
"Oh brother, we are
going to be doing tough mudder,
00:13:34.62\00:13:36.57
do you want to join us
and get some training in?
00:13:36.60\00:13:38.44
Nope, not for
me, I like exercise.
00:13:38.47\00:13:42.07
I like going in
some hole in the wall gym
00:13:42.10\00:13:44.94
and working out
and bench pressing.
00:13:44.97\00:13:46.59
I don't like running.
00:13:46.62\00:13:48.81
Indian people were
not made for running.
00:13:48.84\00:13:54.50
We calculate who the winner is.
00:13:54.53\00:13:56.18
I'm the only one who can
say those kinds of things.
00:14:07.81\00:14:12.43
Anybody else, I
would feel uncomfortable.
00:14:12.46\00:14:16.92
But I've lot of these friends
00:14:16.95\00:14:18.12
and they're fad and I'm
not really addressing all
00:14:18.15\00:14:20.15
I'm simply saying
ladies and gentlemen,
00:14:20.18\00:14:21.75
is that this is
a craze right now,
00:14:21.78\00:14:23.50
a lot of people like to run.
00:14:23.53\00:14:25.18
In fact, how many
people went on the 5K?
00:14:25.21\00:14:29.26
Amen. Three of you.
00:14:29.29\00:14:31.02
Amen.
00:14:34.84\00:14:36.39
In fact, when I was walking
through the registration booth
00:14:36.42\00:14:38.64
they were like, "Hey, do
you want to sign up for the 5K?"
00:14:38.67\00:14:40.82
And I was like, "aw."
00:14:40.85\00:14:43.52
And they said, "Please sign up."
00:14:43.55\00:14:44.81
And so somehow I signed up.
00:14:44.84\00:14:46.98
I paid $30 but I never ran.
00:14:47.01\00:14:51.11
And whoever you are, who
guided me to that decision,
00:14:51.14\00:14:54.90
I'll pay you back later.
00:14:54.93\00:14:57.20
But ladies and
gentlemen, life is a race.
00:14:57.23\00:15:00.27
Can you say amen to that?
00:15:00.30\00:15:01.95
And this morning I
was really impressed
00:15:01.98\00:15:03.51
with this concept about race,
00:15:03.54\00:15:05.29
like we are running
a race in Christianity.
00:15:05.32\00:15:07.92
Amen. Paul takes about that.
00:15:07.95\00:15:09.83
Now the cool thing about
Paul, he wasn't a runner,
00:15:09.86\00:15:12.13
but he was a spectator like
me, we watch the races, right.
00:15:12.16\00:15:15.69
We don't participate.
00:15:15.72\00:15:16.93
But he pulled out so
many different analogies
00:15:16.96\00:15:19.33
and illustrations
about people who are running.
00:15:19.36\00:15:22.02
In fact, I never
forgot, one morning I woke up
00:15:22.05\00:15:24.39
and it was sometime last year.
00:15:24.42\00:15:26.04
I heard this whacked outside.
00:15:26.07\00:15:28.12
And I got up real
wild-eyed and I came outside.
00:15:28.15\00:15:31.80
And I normally don't
have a smile on my face,
00:15:31.83\00:15:33.66
default is frown.
00:15:33.69\00:15:34.89
And so I walked outside
00:15:34.92\00:15:36.55
and there was a
marathon right outside my house,
00:15:36.58\00:15:40.40
right outside my house.
00:15:40.43\00:15:42.17
It's like they
couldn't find somewhere else,
00:15:42.20\00:15:43.63
just go in
front of Anil's house.
00:15:43.66\00:15:45.48
But this was the thing,
00:15:45.51\00:15:46.54
I started thinking about
that Christianity is a race.
00:15:46.57\00:15:52.26
It's about
running in this journey.
00:15:52.29\00:15:54.43
And many times many of
us just sort of back way,
00:15:54.46\00:15:57.73
halfway in the
journey many people fall
00:15:57.76\00:15:59.87
and they never get back up,
00:15:59.90\00:16:01.30
others start going backwards
00:16:01.33\00:16:03.90
but God wants us to
keep moving forward.
00:16:03.93\00:16:06.60
Can you say amen to that?
00:16:06.63\00:16:08.22
And it's a race, now
get this, for holiness.
00:16:08.25\00:16:13.37
God is wanting us to
reflect the Creator's glory.
00:16:13.40\00:16:17.66
To share more about Him.
00:16:17.69\00:16:19.16
To love Him and make Him
known to this entire universe,
00:16:19.19\00:16:22.85
but for all the eternity.
00:16:22.88\00:16:24.91
Can you say amen to that?
00:16:24.94\00:16:26.34
And that's powerful.
00:16:26.37\00:16:27.40
I never forgot, one
day I had this Sikh man,
00:16:27.43\00:16:29.75
you know what Sikhs are?
00:16:29.78\00:16:30.82
The ones with
the turbans, right.
00:16:30.85\00:16:33.57
I didn't say sick,
I said Sikh, Sikh man.
00:16:33.60\00:16:36.28
He was working on my neck,
00:16:36.31\00:16:37.61
I had neck problems and
he was working on my neck.
00:16:37.64\00:16:40.85
And always
unusual questions come up
00:16:40.88\00:16:44.11
when another Indian is
talking to another Indian
00:16:44.14\00:16:46.09
and it goes like this,
"What do you do for a living?"
00:16:46.12\00:16:50.94
And its usually uncomfortable
because when I say pastor,
00:16:50.97\00:16:54.56
all of a sudden
there is just this-- why?
00:16:54.59\00:17:00.77
And it happens all the time.
00:17:00.80\00:17:02.16
So when he asked that question,
"What do you do for a living?"
00:17:02.19\00:17:04.42
I said, "I am a pastor."
00:17:04.45\00:17:08.13
There was the
silence, awkward silence
00:17:08.16\00:17:10.37
and then he said, "Why?"
00:17:10.40\00:17:12.70
And I said, "Well,
here are certain reasons,"
00:17:12.73\00:17:14.89
and I begin to give my
description of Daniel Chapter 7
00:17:14.92\00:17:18.52
and talking about
the antichrist beast
00:17:18.55\00:17:20.45
and he was like,
at the very end of it,
00:17:20.48\00:17:21.98
he is like, "So, I think all
religions are pretty similar.
00:17:22.01\00:17:27.12
They all have very
similar ideals and actions
00:17:27.15\00:17:30.09
and all these things."
00:17:30.12\00:17:31.66
He said this, "At the
core of it, it's all the same."
00:17:31.69\00:17:36.36
And the Lord
impressed me with that moment,
00:17:36.39\00:17:38.06
just to say something to him.
00:17:38.09\00:17:39.40
I said,
"Brother, its not about it,
00:17:39.43\00:17:41.98
it's about Him and
discovering who He is,
00:17:42.01\00:17:46.45
the one who
existed before all things."
00:17:46.48\00:17:48.60
I said, "Life is a
journey about finding who He is
00:17:48.63\00:17:52.97
and then making His
glory known to this world."
00:17:53.00\00:17:55.63
Can you say amen to that?
00:17:55.66\00:17:57.48
I never forgot he was just--
00:17:57.51\00:17:58.73
the Spirit was really
working on this man's heart.
00:17:58.76\00:18:01.53
And that's what life is all
about, ladies and gentlemen.
00:18:01.56\00:18:04.26
It's about running in
this race of holiness.
00:18:04.29\00:18:07.76
Now when I say holiness,
00:18:07.79\00:18:09.00
I'm not just referring
to well learning not to sin,
00:18:09.03\00:18:11.62
or learning how to
keep the law perfectly.
00:18:11.65\00:18:13.53
I'm referring to becoming
more and more like our Maker.
00:18:13.56\00:18:17.61
Can you amen to that?
00:18:17.64\00:18:19.29
And I believe those
other things are part of it
00:18:19.32\00:18:20.89
but ladies and gentlemen,
if we focus on those things
00:18:20.92\00:18:23.28
we are gonna miss
the most important part,
00:18:23.31\00:18:25.81
which is becoming like Jesus.
00:18:25.84\00:18:27.98
Amen.
00:18:28.01\00:18:29.57
And so we need
to take a good look
00:18:29.60\00:18:31.40
at somebody who
was in this race.
00:18:31.43\00:18:34.55
His name was Joshua.
00:18:34.58\00:18:35.81
Take your Bible and let's
go to Zechariah Chapter 3.
00:18:35.84\00:18:39.96
Zechariah was
seeing this powerful vision
00:18:39.99\00:18:42.92
of the high priest Joshua.
00:18:42.95\00:18:46.79
And I love Bible
passages about angels.
00:18:46.82\00:18:49.36
Amen.
00:18:49.39\00:18:53.53
Joshua chapter, excuse
me, Zechariah Chapter 3.
00:18:53.56\00:18:56.11
We all there? Amen.
00:19:05.64\00:19:07.81
Zechariah 3:1,
"Then he showed me," who?
00:19:07.84\00:19:12.23
"Joshua the high
priest standing before," who?
00:19:12.26\00:19:15.38
"The angel of the Lord."
00:19:15.41\00:19:16.44
As we are going
through this passage
00:19:16.47\00:19:17.68
I want you to mark certain
things, ladies and gentlemen.
00:19:17.71\00:19:19.70
There are certain
repetitious phrases
00:19:19.73\00:19:21.40
that keep appearing
over and over and over again,
00:19:21.43\00:19:23.94
because God is
communication a point.
00:19:23.97\00:19:25.73
Zechariah 3:1,
00:19:25.76\00:19:27.71
"Then he showed me
Joshua the high priest
00:19:27.74\00:19:29.54
standing before," who?
00:19:29.57\00:19:31.36
"The angel of the Lord
00:19:31.39\00:19:32.46
and Satan standing at
his right hand to," what?
00:19:32.49\00:19:35.14
"Oppose Him."
00:19:35.17\00:19:36.21
Zechariah sees
this beautiful vision
00:19:36.24\00:19:37.89
and in this vision he
sees God on His throne
00:19:37.92\00:19:40.68
and he sees the angel
of the Lord standing nearby
00:19:40.71\00:19:42.91
and he sees Joshua there
00:19:42.94\00:19:44.67
and then he sees
Satan accusing Him.
00:19:44.70\00:19:47.39
In fact, the word accusing,
you know what it means?
00:19:47.42\00:19:49.19
It's the word Satan.
00:19:49.22\00:19:51.44
Satan was Satan him.
00:19:51.47\00:19:54.68
It's not only a
noun it's a verb.
00:19:54.71\00:19:57.90
That's what it says in Hebrew.
00:19:57.93\00:20:00.44
The word Satan means to
resist or oppose or accuse
00:20:00.47\00:20:06.00
and Satan was
doing what Satan does.
00:20:06.03\00:20:09.44
And was Satan
lying about Joshua's sin?
00:20:09.47\00:20:12.34
Absolutely not,
he don't need to lie.
00:20:12.37\00:20:15.76
Those sins are there.
00:20:15.79\00:20:17.79
And here he is, he is standing
and he is accusing Joshua
00:20:17.82\00:20:21.39
and he is saying,
"This guy does not deserve
00:20:21.42\00:20:23.65
a right to Your kingdom."
00:20:23.68\00:20:25.47
Watch what happens
next. Let's keep going.
00:20:25.50\00:20:29.54
Verse 3, "Now Joshua was
clothed with filthy garments,
00:20:29.57\00:20:32.51
and was," what? Was what?
00:20:32.54\00:20:36.46
"Standing before
the Angel of the Lord."
00:20:36.49\00:20:37.82
Let's keep going.
00:20:37.85\00:20:38.89
Verse 4, "He
answered and spoke to those
00:20:38.92\00:20:41.38
who stood before Him, saying,
00:20:41.41\00:20:42.90
'Take away the
filthy garments from him.'
00:20:42.93\00:20:45.06
And He said to him,
00:20:45.09\00:20:46.15
'See, I have removed
your iniquity from you,
00:20:46.18\00:20:48.50
and I will clothe
you with rich robes.'"
00:20:48.53\00:20:50.75
And I like verse 5
because you can give this
00:20:50.78\00:20:52.65
to a Bible study
to an Indian person.
00:20:52.68\00:20:54.99
"And I said, 'Let them put
a clean turban on his head.'"
00:20:55.02\00:20:59.62
Imagine giving that
to a Sikh person, right.
00:20:59.65\00:21:02.56
He is gonna smile
and he says, "Very good."
00:21:02.59\00:21:08.14
Zechariah actually joins
in to what's taken place.
00:21:08.17\00:21:13.14
The Lord rebuked
Satan and here Joshua is
00:21:13.17\00:21:15.59
standing before the
High Priest or before God
00:21:15.62\00:21:17.87
and all of a sudden the
angels begin to clothe him
00:21:17.90\00:21:20.18
and Zechariah gets so
00:21:20.21\00:21:22.17
just blown away
by what's happening,
00:21:22.20\00:21:23.55
he is like and he
just sort of speaks,
00:21:23.58\00:21:25.10
"put a clean
turban on his head too."
00:21:25.13\00:21:28.18
He joins in when he
sees others in the ministry.
00:21:28.21\00:21:32.27
And that excites you,
00:21:32.30\00:21:33.33
doesn't it,
ladies and gentlemen?
00:21:33.36\00:21:34.60
When you see a
lot of people on fire,
00:21:34.63\00:21:36.20
you catch on fire yourself.
00:21:36.23\00:21:38.02
And that's why ministry is
so important in groups too.
00:21:38.05\00:21:41.48
Let's keep going.
00:21:41.51\00:21:42.54
Let's find out
what happens next.
00:21:42.57\00:21:46.23
"So they put a
clean turban on his head,
00:21:46.26\00:21:47.91
and they put
the clothes on him."
00:21:47.94\00:21:49.44
Now watch that next
phrase, ladies and gentlemen.
00:21:49.47\00:21:51.10
What's that next phrase?
00:21:51.13\00:21:52.95
"And the" what?
00:21:52.98\00:21:54.74
"Angel of the
Lord" what? "Stood by."
00:21:54.77\00:21:58.23
That's very important.
00:21:58.26\00:21:59.53
Verse 6,
00:21:59.56\00:22:00.60
"Then the Angel of the
Lord admonished Joshua,
00:22:00.63\00:22:02.47
saying him, 'Thus
says the Lord of hosts,'"
00:22:02.50\00:22:05.11
and he begins to give
him this little mini sermon.
00:22:05.14\00:22:07.95
But I want you to see
something ladies and gentlemen,
00:22:07.98\00:22:10.10
in Joshua's walk.
00:22:10.13\00:22:12.05
He was somebody, who was
attempting to come before God
00:22:12.08\00:22:15.45
and you know who showed up?
00:22:15.48\00:22:16.88
The devil himself.
00:22:16.91\00:22:18.48
But you know who else was there?
00:22:18.51\00:22:20.02
The angel of the Lord.
00:22:20.05\00:22:21.78
And then when the devil is gone
00:22:21.81\00:22:23.78
Joshua is
recognizing his filthiness.
00:22:23.81\00:22:26.19
And you know who
is standing by him?
00:22:26.22\00:22:27.46
Not the devil.
00:22:27.49\00:22:29.01
The angel of the Lord.
00:22:29.04\00:22:30.37
And then when Joshua
gets brand new clothes,
00:22:30.40\00:22:33.17
you know who is
still standing by him?
00:22:33.20\00:22:35.34
The angel of the Lord.
00:22:35.37\00:22:36.74
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:22:36.77\00:22:37.80
God is trying to help
us understand something
00:22:37.83\00:22:39.79
and that is this,
00:22:39.82\00:22:40.87
in our journey of sanctification
00:22:40.90\00:22:43.53
God is with us at that point
00:22:43.56\00:22:45.87
when the devil is
wanting to destroy us.
00:22:45.90\00:22:47.93
God is with us at that point
00:22:47.96\00:22:50.05
when we are
recognizing, I'm a sinner
00:22:50.08\00:22:52.09
and God is still with
us when we are overcoming.
00:22:52.12\00:22:54.72
Can you say amen to that?
00:22:54.75\00:22:56.37
Those angels also never
abandon us during that time
00:22:56.40\00:23:00.39
as long as we are
heading in that right direction
00:23:00.42\00:23:02.72
ladies and gentlemen,
00:23:02.75\00:23:03.78
God will
continue to keep working.
00:23:03.81\00:23:05.93
Amen.
00:23:05.96\00:23:07.47
And this is so powerful.
00:23:07.50\00:23:09.29
Many times in my
life I've felt like
00:23:09.32\00:23:11.57
I was at that place
where the devil was saying,
00:23:11.60\00:23:13.88
"Look at his sins,
look what he has done."
00:23:13.91\00:23:16.97
And he was
accusing me before God.
00:23:17.00\00:23:20.24
But God did not abandon me.
00:23:20.27\00:23:22.70
And there were parts of my
life where I was experiencing,
00:23:22.73\00:23:25.23
"Lord, I am a guilty
sinner and I can't overcome."
00:23:25.26\00:23:28.86
And I was recognizing
what was wrong with me.
00:23:28.89\00:23:31.69
And God was saying, "I
am still by your side."
00:23:31.72\00:23:35.12
And then there
were times in my life
00:23:35.15\00:23:36.28
where I was
overcoming certain things
00:23:36.31\00:23:37.99
and God was saying to
me, "I am right here still."
00:23:38.02\00:23:41.14
Can you say amen to that?
00:23:41.17\00:23:42.22
And that's powerful.
00:23:42.25\00:23:43.37
The angels of God never abandon
us during our sanctification.
00:23:43.40\00:23:48.10
So while you may
be at the letter "A,"
00:23:48.13\00:23:49.97
even atheist
ladies and gentlemen,
00:23:50.00\00:23:51.51
the fact that you are here
00:23:51.54\00:23:52.70
is because God's
spirit is working with you.
00:23:52.73\00:23:55.18
And you may be in
another part of your experience,
00:23:55.21\00:23:57.33
what you are recognizing,
00:23:57.36\00:23:58.42
"God I am filthy but I
don't know what to do."
00:23:58.45\00:24:01.20
God is saying to you,
"I am right here with you."
00:24:01.23\00:24:04.26
And you may begin
to experience victory
00:24:04.29\00:24:06.00
and praise the Lord and
God is still saying to you,
00:24:06.03\00:24:08.76
"I have not left your side."
00:24:08.79\00:24:10.90
In the process
of sanctification,
00:24:10.93\00:24:12.93
in the journey of holiness,
00:24:12.96\00:24:14.49
in the race of life
ladies and gentlemen,
00:24:14.52\00:24:16.41
to reflect God's character
and His beauty to the Lord,
00:24:16.44\00:24:19.53
He never abandons us.
00:24:19.56\00:24:22.23
Amen.
00:24:22.26\00:24:23.30
And that's what so
beautiful about the gospel.
00:24:23.33\00:24:26.29
But you know,
what is so beautiful?
00:24:26.32\00:24:27.83
Is watch what the
angel says to him,
00:24:27.86\00:24:31.51
when Joshua experiences
00:24:31.54\00:24:33.55
the peace of
God's righteousness,
00:24:33.58\00:24:36.89
"Then the Angel of the
Lord admonished Joshua,
00:24:36.92\00:24:38.73
and said to him, 'Thus
says the Lord of hosts,
00:24:38.76\00:24:41.00
"If you will walk in My ways,
if you will keep My command,
00:24:41.03\00:24:43.89
Then you shall also,'" What?
00:24:43.92\00:24:45.72
"Judge My house,
00:24:45.75\00:24:46.78
and likewise have
charge of My courts"
00:24:46.81\00:24:49.28
now watch this last part,
00:24:49.31\00:24:50.34
"and I will give
you places to walk
00:24:50.37\00:24:52.63
among these who stand here."
00:24:52.66\00:24:54.35
Ladies and gentlemen, who
was standing around Joshua?
00:24:54.38\00:24:58.03
Angels.
00:24:58.06\00:25:00.46
And God was saying to him,
00:25:00.49\00:25:01.91
"If you are faithful,
you will walk with angels,
00:25:01.94\00:25:06.05
they will be your companions,
00:25:06.08\00:25:07.90
and wherever you
go they will be."
00:25:07.93\00:25:11.09
And I know there's
been a lot of angels
00:25:11.12\00:25:13.04
that have come to this GYC.
00:25:13.07\00:25:16.07
They could be sitting next
to you, ladies and gentlemen.
00:25:16.10\00:25:18.99
I hear they are
about 10 feet tall,
00:25:19.02\00:25:21.36
their faces are shining
and they look like colporteurs,
00:25:21.39\00:25:23.56
that's what I've been told.
00:25:23.59\00:25:27.58
But God wants us
to recognize something
00:25:27.61\00:25:30.27
that the angelic
ministry is all about humanity.
00:25:30.30\00:25:34.00
Amen.
00:25:34.03\00:25:35.26
And whatever we are at
in this march to holiness,
00:25:35.29\00:25:38.17
in this race of life,
00:25:38.20\00:25:39.26
in this
marathon of spirituality,
00:25:39.29\00:25:41.68
God is with us every step.
00:25:41.71\00:25:43.50
And like I said before,
00:25:43.53\00:25:44.57
we must never
forget this beautiful story
00:25:44.60\00:25:47.77
because you may be at one
part of your life experience
00:25:47.80\00:25:50.10
or you may be at another part,
00:25:50.13\00:25:51.59
but God is giving you
the same understanding
00:25:51.62\00:25:53.90
and that is keep moving
forward, I am still with you,
00:25:53.93\00:25:57.05
even when you took a step back,
00:25:57.08\00:25:59.21
but keep moving forward
in your spiritual growth.
00:25:59.24\00:26:03.09
And as I said before,
00:26:03.12\00:26:04.30
there have been times
that I have utterly fallen.
00:26:04.33\00:26:07.39
I mean, I have just been
destroyed by Satan himself
00:26:07.42\00:26:10.92
but God was still preserving
me during those times.
00:26:10.95\00:26:13.90
When I looked at my
own sins and I realized,
00:26:13.93\00:26:15.91
"God, I can't overcome."
00:26:15.94\00:26:17.97
There has been times I have
looked at my own circumstances
00:26:18.00\00:26:20.48
and things
weren't working out right
00:26:20.51\00:26:21.71
and I said, "God,
I'm so discouraged."
00:26:21.74\00:26:23.80
Other times the
church itself discouraged me,
00:26:23.83\00:26:27.76
and I wanted to abandon things.
00:26:27.79\00:26:30.71
And the zeal began
to just lag a little bit
00:26:30.74\00:26:33.36
and I was
getting tired and I said,
00:26:33.39\00:26:34.90
"God, I don't know
if I can keep going."
00:26:34.93\00:26:38.16
But then this beautiful
picture of the cross appeared,
00:26:38.19\00:26:41.82
ladies and gentlemen.
00:26:41.85\00:26:43.02
And whenever I see the cross,
my strength comes right back.
00:26:43.05\00:26:47.12
And many times to
myself, I just look at the cross
00:26:47.15\00:26:49.35
and I'm like, "God, I feel
better now, I can keep moving."
00:26:49.38\00:26:53.59
Another times when I'm so
weak and I'm just crawling,
00:26:53.62\00:26:56.39
you know, trying to
make it through this marathon
00:26:56.42\00:26:58.72
God says, "Look
at the cross again."
00:26:58.75\00:27:00.21
And I look at that cross
00:27:00.24\00:27:01.59
and I'm empowered
again to keep going.
00:27:01.62\00:27:04.55
There are times that I feel like
00:27:04.58\00:27:05.62
I have just fainted spiritually
00:27:05.65\00:27:07.28
and I can't keep moving on,
00:27:07.31\00:27:08.57
and God says,
"Look up to the cross."
00:27:08.60\00:27:10.83
And I saw that cross
ladies and gentlemen,
00:27:10.86\00:27:12.98
and it empowered me again.
00:27:13.01\00:27:14.57
Amen.
00:27:14.60\00:27:15.97
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:27:16.00\00:27:17.03
the cross becomes more
and more of our experience.
00:27:17.06\00:27:21.23
And I believe,
towards these end times
00:27:21.26\00:27:23.60
the cross is gonna take more
00:27:23.63\00:27:25.46
of our front
position in our church.
00:27:25.49\00:27:28.46
Now I believe, in many
of the beautiful teachings,
00:27:28.49\00:27:30.98
I believe all of them.
00:27:31.01\00:27:32.60
I believe God has
blessed our church
00:27:32.63\00:27:34.50
and I appreciate what Jeffery
was saying about weirdness.
00:27:34.53\00:27:41.02
I never forgot, one day
I talked to one individual
00:27:41.05\00:27:44.54
and he was like, "Yeah, we
just believe in weird things."
00:27:44.57\00:27:49.22
He said, "The
church is so weird."
00:27:49.25\00:27:52.17
I go, "What is
so weird about it?"
00:27:52.20\00:27:54.44
He was like, "Well, everybody
goes to church on Sunday
00:27:54.47\00:27:57.22
and we go on Saturday."
00:27:57.25\00:27:59.69
All right brother,
you need to get baptized,
00:27:59.72\00:28:00.91
that's what I was
thinking in my mind.
00:28:00.94\00:28:05.05
But then as we were talking,
I was thinking to myself
00:28:05.08\00:28:06.79
and then I said
something to him.
00:28:06.82\00:28:09.09
I said,
00:28:09.12\00:28:10.15
"Do you know the difference
between something that is weird
00:28:10.18\00:28:12.61
and something that is unique?"
00:28:12.64\00:28:14.29
And he said, "What?"
00:28:14.32\00:28:15.66
"Something that is weird is
an attribute or characteristic
00:28:15.69\00:28:18.31
that makes people
feel uncomfortable."
00:28:18.34\00:28:20.18
You know what I mean?
00:28:20.21\00:28:21.69
And then I said,
"Something that is unique
00:28:21.72\00:28:23.57
is an attribute
that actually attracts."
00:28:23.60\00:28:26.77
And I said to him and I
looked him straight in the eyes
00:28:26.80\00:28:28.78
and I said, "Our
beliefs are unique.
00:28:28.81\00:28:31.85
It's people who are weird."
00:28:31.88\00:28:36.14
And he knows that's the truth.
00:28:36.17\00:28:38.10
God has blessed us
with such a beautiful truth
00:28:38.13\00:28:40.27
and they are attractive.
00:28:40.30\00:28:42.22
They are so attractive.
00:28:42.25\00:28:44.21
I know we always
speak so much about
00:28:44.24\00:28:46.07
over correcting these
teachings in the communication,
00:28:46.10\00:28:48.58
and that is important.
00:28:48.61\00:28:49.70
But ladies and gentlemen,
our teachings are beautiful
00:28:49.73\00:28:52.62
and they attract.
00:28:52.65\00:28:53.84
In fact, what is so interesting
about our health message,
00:28:53.87\00:28:55.72
I shared this in
one of our seminars,
00:28:55.75\00:28:57.27
do you remember that story
00:28:57.30\00:28:58.58
when Jacob was brought
before the great pharaoh.
00:28:58.61\00:29:01.57
And do you know what Jacob did?
00:29:01.60\00:29:03.68
He blessed the pharaoh.
00:29:03.71\00:29:05.10
Ellen White says in
conscience superiority
00:29:05.13\00:29:07.74
he placed his hand
on the mighty pharaoh.
00:29:07.77\00:29:10.14
Can you imagine this?
00:29:10.17\00:29:11.24
This old man and this pharaoh
whom people can't even look at,
00:29:11.27\00:29:15.31
Jacob places his hand upon him
and the pharaoh bows his head
00:29:15.34\00:29:19.76
and he is thinking,
wow, no one touches me.
00:29:19.79\00:29:24.30
And Jacob prays a
blessing upon him.
00:29:24.33\00:29:27.77
What is so remarkable
is what he says after that.
00:29:27.80\00:29:29.89
Remember what the pharaoh said?
00:29:29.92\00:29:31.07
He looked at him and he
said, "How old are you?"
00:29:31.10\00:29:34.99
You want to know why?
00:29:35.02\00:29:36.24
Because Egyptian
never lived that long.
00:29:36.27\00:29:40.15
They never lived that
long and they saw this old man
00:29:40.18\00:29:42.04
and they were just
like, "How old are you, man?"
00:29:42.07\00:29:46.42
But Jacob was reaping
00:29:46.45\00:29:48.10
the fruits of
the health message.
00:29:48.13\00:29:50.00
And I know about
another group of people
00:29:50.03\00:29:52.39
who live a decade
longer than others.
00:29:52.42\00:29:56.54
And when people
see the longevity
00:29:56.57\00:29:58.41
ladies and
gentlemen, it's attractive.
00:29:58.44\00:30:00.30
I never forgot we
are poised to have
00:30:00.33\00:30:01.45
these things for a health fair
00:30:01.48\00:30:04.09
and we are passing all these
flyers out and stuff like that.
00:30:04.12\00:30:06.51
I met some lady at Jamba Juice,
00:30:06.54\00:30:08.33
I love Jamba
Juice its delicious.
00:30:08.36\00:30:10.36
And so we were
there and I've pastored
00:30:10.39\00:30:12.09
and she just
came from exercising.
00:30:12.12\00:30:14.19
And so here I
said, "Check this out."
00:30:14.22\00:30:16.10
And she is like, "Well, I don't
know if I want to go to this.
00:30:16.13\00:30:18.21
What's this about?"
00:30:18.24\00:30:19.29
And I said,
"It's a health fair."
00:30:19.32\00:30:20.48
And she is like, "Really?"
00:30:20.51\00:30:21.54
And I said, "Do you want to meet
00:30:21.57\00:30:23.56
the longest living
people on the earth?"
00:30:23.59\00:30:26.29
And she said, "Yes."
00:30:26.32\00:30:28.03
"Come to this health fair."
00:30:28.06\00:30:32.03
It works, amen.
00:30:32.06\00:30:34.33
The Egyptians should be saying,
00:30:34.36\00:30:35.50
"Wait a minute, how old are you?
00:30:35.53\00:30:39.31
Why are you living this long?"
00:30:39.34\00:30:41.24
And it was designed to
attract to the beautiful laws
00:30:41.27\00:30:44.89
that God has setup, to
the dynamics of existence
00:30:44.92\00:30:47.65
that God has given to us, amen.
00:30:47.68\00:30:49.38
I never forgot actually
00:30:49.41\00:30:50.54
when I was
flying on the plane here
00:30:50.57\00:30:52.92
and I flew from
Oakland to Chicago
00:30:52.95\00:30:56.19
and then from
Chicago to Florida.
00:30:56.22\00:30:58.41
The first part of my trip,
00:30:58.44\00:30:59.90
I was surrounded
by non Adventist,
00:30:59.93\00:31:01.45
second part there
was Adventist everywhere.
00:31:01.48\00:31:04.95
But the first part of my trip,
00:31:04.98\00:31:06.66
I was sitting next to
this professional couple.
00:31:06.69\00:31:10.25
She was a neurologist and
he was a software engineer.
00:31:10.28\00:31:14.27
Although they were not Indian,
00:31:14.30\00:31:15.35
those are two things that
Indians generally a part of.
00:31:15.38\00:31:19.24
But I was sitting there
and I was thinking to myself,
00:31:19.27\00:31:21.05
"Okay, I need to be a
powerful witness right now."
00:31:21.08\00:31:23.91
And when I'm flying I
don't like to witness,
00:31:23.94\00:31:25.64
I just like to sleep.
00:31:25.67\00:31:27.43
And so I was
there and I was like,
00:31:27.46\00:31:28.60
"Okay, God, I want
to witness to them."
00:31:28.63\00:31:31.27
And so I was praying
00:31:31.30\00:31:32.66
and I was like
all of a sudden like,
00:31:32.69\00:31:33.95
"Okay God, I have
courage, I have courage."
00:31:33.98\00:31:36.08
And I said, "Excuse me, hi."
00:31:36.11\00:31:38.01
And they said, "We have to
go to the bathroom right now."
00:31:38.04\00:31:41.07
And I was like, I
dropped that ball right here.
00:31:41.10\00:31:43.52
So I waited
again and I was like,
00:31:43.55\00:31:45.62
"Jesus take the wheel."
00:31:45.65\00:31:47.04
Okay and so it was like,
"Hi, how are you guys doing?
00:31:47.07\00:31:50.38
Where are you guys going?"
00:31:50.41\00:31:52.52
And they said, "We
are going to Chicago."
00:31:52.55\00:31:54.27
And they were sharing
with me about their trip.
00:31:54.30\00:31:55.90
But what was so interesting,
as we continued talking,
00:31:55.93\00:31:58.57
she shared with me that
they were of the Baha'i faith.
00:31:58.60\00:32:03.73
They also had a
background in Zoroastrianism.
00:32:03.76\00:32:06.69
Those are two things
00:32:06.72\00:32:07.83
that are part of
India's culture as well.
00:32:07.86\00:32:11.19
Now they were not
Indian, but I said to them,
00:32:11.22\00:32:14.34
I said, that's interesting.
00:32:14.37\00:32:15.64
I said I, when I went to
India to do some speaking,
00:32:15.67\00:32:17.84
I actually
toured a Baha'i temple.
00:32:17.87\00:32:19.86
I saw it over there they
have this big lotus temple.
00:32:19.89\00:32:22.58
And she was
just really impressed
00:32:22.61\00:32:24.34
that I took an interest
and I wasn't attacking it.
00:32:24.37\00:32:28.68
And then she is--
then I said to her, I said,
00:32:28.71\00:32:30.40
"When I was actually doing
some work in Royal Grandeur,
00:32:30.43\00:32:33.04
I actually studied
with the couple of people
00:32:33.07\00:32:35.63
who were
believers in Zoroastrianism.
00:32:35.66\00:32:37.85
Now that's a dying religion
00:32:37.88\00:32:39.14
because I really
believe what it is.
00:32:39.17\00:32:40.84
They are actually-- they
are not allowed to proselytize.
00:32:40.87\00:32:43.79
So either you are born
into it or you marry into it
00:32:43.82\00:32:46.23
and it just
shrinks more and more.
00:32:46.26\00:32:48.84
And so I was
sharing with them I said
00:32:48.87\00:32:49.95
that that was a lovely couple,
I studied the Bible with.
00:32:49.98\00:32:52.65
And she just-- her
eyes were binding up
00:32:52.68\00:32:54.23
that I had respect
for her and her culture.
00:32:54.26\00:32:57.94
Then I said this to her,
I said, "You want to know
00:32:57.97\00:32:59.80
what is so interesting
about the Baha'i faith?"
00:32:59.83\00:33:01.78
And she said, "Yes, tell me."
00:33:01.81\00:33:03.73
And I said this,
00:33:03.76\00:33:05.06
"Did you know that the Baha'i
faith started around the 1800?"
00:33:05.09\00:33:08.18
She said, "Yes,
I did know that."
00:33:08.21\00:33:10.21
Now what is really interesting,
00:33:10.24\00:33:11.33
if you go onto
the Baha'i website,
00:33:11.36\00:33:13.73
they actually started
during 1800, specifically 1844.
00:33:13.76\00:33:18.15
And the reason why is because
00:33:18.18\00:33:20.38
they had similar
calculations to us.
00:33:20.41\00:33:23.21
If you look on the website,
they are similar calculations
00:33:23.24\00:33:25.31
that are used in the Book
of Daniel to come to 1844.
00:33:25.34\00:33:28.09
However their conclusions about
what happened 1844 is wrong.
00:33:28.12\00:33:33.40
And so I was explaining
this her and she said,
00:33:33.43\00:33:34.99
"Yes, I am aware
of all these things."
00:33:35.02\00:33:37.07
And I said, "So you are aware
00:33:37.10\00:33:38.82
that the founder
of the Baha'i faith
00:33:38.85\00:33:40.48
declared himself to
be the messiah in 1844?"
00:33:40.51\00:33:43.04
She said, "Yes, I
am aware of that."
00:33:43.07\00:33:44.71
And then I said, "Did you know
about the rest of Christendom
00:33:44.74\00:33:47.28
that were studying
up the same prophesy?"
00:33:47.31\00:33:48.93
And she said, "Yes, I
am very well aware of that
00:33:48.96\00:33:51.07
and it didn't happen."
00:33:51.10\00:33:52.27
And I said, "You are correct."
00:33:52.30\00:33:54.13
But I said to her,
00:33:54.16\00:33:55.46
"There was
another group of people
00:33:55.49\00:33:59.55
who came to understand
something about 1844."
00:33:59.58\00:34:03.56
And she said, "Who are they?"
00:34:03.59\00:34:06.68
And I smiled, I said,
"Seventh-day Adventist."
00:34:06.71\00:34:14.12
And she is like,
"What about them?
00:34:14.15\00:34:16.54
What was their
conclusion about 1844?"
00:34:16.57\00:34:19.72
And then I did a quick
Bible study with my hands
00:34:19.75\00:34:23.41
about the
sanctuary and she says,
00:34:23.44\00:34:24.90
"I have never
heard that before."
00:34:24.93\00:34:27.36
Now what was so remarkable,
00:34:27.39\00:34:28.42
she was asking about
my diet all of a sudden,
00:34:28.45\00:34:30.86
and she is like that is amazing
00:34:30.89\00:34:32.96
that you guys
have this special diet.
00:34:32.99\00:34:34.62
And I was so blown
away because you know
00:34:34.65\00:34:36.78
you have 6 foot
tall hairy Indian
00:34:36.81\00:34:38.66
talking to people on plane--
00:34:38.69\00:34:40.31
you know, you always
got to be careful of that.
00:34:40.34\00:34:43.82
And I was right
by the exit door too.
00:34:43.85\00:34:50.53
Some of you
don't know my struggle.
00:34:50.56\00:34:53.95
But God gave me grace
as I was talking to her
00:34:53.98\00:34:56.25
and I was so blown away
00:34:56.28\00:34:57.38
because how quickly
she was attracted to this
00:34:57.41\00:35:00.38
and she wanted to know more.
00:35:00.41\00:35:01.49
I got their information,
00:35:01.52\00:35:02.74
I am gonna be inviting them to
some seminar in San Francisco.
00:35:02.77\00:35:06.10
But I was so blown
away ladies and gentlemen,
00:35:06.13\00:35:08.03
our teachings are attractive.
00:35:08.06\00:35:09.11
Amen.
00:35:09.14\00:35:10.17
And as we share them
God will bring people
00:35:10.20\00:35:13.06
whose hearts have
already been touched.
00:35:13.09\00:35:14.44
And by the way,
whenever you want to witness
00:35:14.47\00:35:16.23
to a person
always remember this,
00:35:16.26\00:35:17.78
"God has already met
that person before you did."
00:35:17.81\00:35:20.67
Amen.
00:35:20.70\00:35:21.77
But what is so awesome
about all our teachings
00:35:21.80\00:35:23.71
ladies and gentlemen,
as this, is that the Cross
00:35:23.74\00:35:26.94
as we nearing
closer to the end time
00:35:26.97\00:35:28.56
becomes more and more central.
00:35:28.59\00:35:31.15
It becomes the
greatest of all our teachings
00:35:31.18\00:35:34.00
and it takes the forefront.
00:35:34.03\00:35:35.41
It takes the stage.
00:35:35.44\00:35:37.14
And as we exalt the
Cross more and more,
00:35:37.17\00:35:39.53
it will be such a
00:35:39.56\00:35:40.59
beautiful picture of
Adventism to this world.
00:35:40.62\00:35:43.25
When I was a Hindu and people
would always say it to me,
00:35:43.28\00:35:45.28
"Hey, did you know
Jesus died for you?"
00:35:45.31\00:35:46.97
I would say, "So
what, Gandhi died for me."
00:35:47.00\00:35:49.91
They would say,
"Jesus died for you."
00:35:49.94\00:35:51.14
I would say,
"Martin Luther King Jr.
00:35:51.17\00:35:52.63
took a bullet for me,
00:35:52.66\00:35:53.78
that's why I can
be in this country."
00:35:53.81\00:35:56.37
But when I began to
learn all the various dynamics
00:35:56.40\00:35:58.98
about the Cross, about
the law, about the Sabbath,
00:35:59.01\00:36:01.68
about the state of the
dead, about the sanctuary,
00:36:01.71\00:36:03.75
all of a sudden the Cross
took on a beautiful picture,
00:36:03.78\00:36:07.33
I had never seen before.
00:36:07.36\00:36:10.84
And that's why these
teachings are super important
00:36:10.87\00:36:12.88
because they exalt the Cross,
00:36:12.91\00:36:14.52
they are not
separate from the Cross,
00:36:14.55\00:36:15.86
they exalt the Cross.
00:36:15.89\00:36:17.90
The pinnacle moment where God
forever secured this universe
00:36:17.93\00:36:23.22
took place 2,000 years ago.
00:36:23.25\00:36:25.53
And many times in my
life as I said before,
00:36:25.56\00:36:27.42
when I am struggling
in my spiritual walk,
00:36:27.45\00:36:29.30
God reminds me,
"Look at the Cross."
00:36:29.33\00:36:31.44
And I love
reading Desire of Ages,
00:36:31.47\00:36:33.11
and specifically a certain
quote that gives me power.
00:36:33.14\00:36:36.69
Let's show that quote right now.
00:36:36.72\00:36:37.88
There you go.
00:36:42.06\00:36:43.38
This is so beautiful
ladies and gentlemen,
00:36:43.41\00:36:45.10
and if you can memorize this,
00:36:45.13\00:36:46.72
this is the most powerful
quote out of all her writings.
00:36:46.75\00:36:49.48
When she is talking
about the second death
00:36:49.51\00:36:51.06
that Jesus was experiencing.
00:36:51.09\00:36:52.65
"The Savior could not
see through the," what?
00:36:52.68\00:36:55.51
"Portals of the tomb.
00:36:55.54\00:36:56.66
Hope did not present to Him
00:36:56.69\00:36:58.10
His coming forth
from the grave a conqueror
00:36:58.13\00:37:00.13
and tell Him of the Father's
acceptance of the sacrifice.
00:37:00.16\00:37:02.63
He feared sin was
so offensive to God
00:37:02.66\00:37:05.01
that their
separation was to be eternal."
00:37:05.04\00:37:07.72
Watch this, "Faith
and hope trembled in him--
00:37:07.75\00:37:12.03
in his expiring
agonies of Christ
00:37:12.06\00:37:14.22
because God had
removed the," what?
00:37:14.25\00:37:17.20
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:37:17.23\00:37:18.26
Jesus didn't have
assurance on the Cross.
00:37:18.29\00:37:22.50
"He had heretofore
given His beloved Son
00:37:22.53\00:37:25.94
of His
approbation and acceptance.
00:37:25.97\00:37:27.62
Denied even bright hope
and confidence in the triumph
00:37:27.65\00:37:30.92
which will be His in the future,
00:37:30.95\00:37:32.62
He cries with a loud voice,
00:37:32.65\00:37:34.28
'Father, into Thy
hands I commit my spirit.'"
00:37:34.31\00:37:37.33
Take a good look at
this ladies and gentlemen,
00:37:37.36\00:37:38.93
when Jesus was
dying on that Cross,
00:37:38.96\00:37:40.76
He did not experience assurance,
00:37:40.79\00:37:42.46
He had no hope of the future
00:37:42.49\00:37:44.25
and He had no sense
of His Father's presence.
00:37:44.28\00:37:46.52
These three
things is what the wicked
00:37:46.55\00:37:48.32
are going to
experience at the end of time.
00:37:48.35\00:37:51.39
He was going through the
experience of a lost man.
00:37:51.42\00:37:56.14
Saved men don't cry out, my
God why have You forsaken me?
00:37:56.17\00:37:59.22
Lost men do.
00:37:59.25\00:38:02.52
And as He was going
through that experience,
00:38:02.55\00:38:04.23
every time I behold the
Cross and I look at those words
00:38:04.26\00:38:07.51
my heart is
such gripped so much.
00:38:07.54\00:38:10.79
And what's so
beautiful ladies and gentlemen,
00:38:10.82\00:38:12.47
is this powerful point--
00:38:12.50\00:38:14.57
The very things He was
denied or the very things I get
00:38:14.60\00:38:20.60
when I look at the
Cross, denied assurance.
00:38:20.63\00:38:24.00
When I look at the
Cross ladies and gentlemen,
00:38:24.03\00:38:25.65
I find assurance.
00:38:25.68\00:38:28.38
Denied bright
hope of the future.
00:38:28.41\00:38:30.65
When I look at the
Cross ladies and gentlemen,
00:38:30.68\00:38:32.37
I feel like God says,
"I still got your future."
00:38:32.40\00:38:36.09
And even when I don't
sense the Father's presence,
00:38:36.12\00:38:37.99
I look at the
Cross and all of a sudden
00:38:38.02\00:38:39.72
I begin to sense
the Father's love again.
00:38:39.75\00:38:42.09
The very things,
00:38:42.12\00:38:43.15
He was denied ladies
and gentlemen, on the Cross
00:38:43.18\00:38:45.50
are the very things
we get when we behold it.
00:38:45.53\00:38:49.41
And this is why
angels marvel at the Cross
00:38:49.44\00:38:52.41
because of how beautiful He is.
00:38:52.44\00:38:54.43
You see, as I said
at one of my seminars,
00:38:54.46\00:38:56.33
they have an understanding
of the condescension, we don't.
00:38:56.36\00:38:59.77
We just think Jesus came
from the sky, and we look at it.
00:38:59.80\00:39:03.91
Oh, we look at
pictures and we say,
00:39:03.94\00:39:05.43
"Well, I think
Orion's Belt is right here,"
00:39:05.46\00:39:09.17
but angels who have
traveled the vast universe
00:39:09.20\00:39:11.62
see the length of
the condescension.
00:39:11.65\00:39:15.14
They know what
Jesus went through
00:39:15.17\00:39:17.84
and one day when we get to
the center of this universe,
00:39:17.87\00:39:21.23
we are gonna
say to these angels,
00:39:21.26\00:39:22.54
"Hey, by the
way, where is earth?"
00:39:22.57\00:39:26.11
And there are gonna say,
00:39:26.14\00:39:27.18
"All right, get
the star maps out,
00:39:27.21\00:39:30.16
get the star maps out,
you see this dot right here?"
00:39:30.19\00:39:32.94
"Yes" "That's not earth.
00:39:32.97\00:39:34.01
It is actually much
smaller than that dot."
00:39:34.04\00:39:36.88
"Okay where is it?"
00:39:36.91\00:39:38.46
"We have a
special map for that one."
00:39:38.49\00:39:41.32
And they show us this
special map and they say,
00:39:41.35\00:39:44.44
"Even the angels get
lost because it's so distant."
00:39:44.47\00:39:48.85
And it will dawn us, dawn
on us ladies and gentlemen,
00:39:48.88\00:39:51.41
that when Jesus became a man
00:39:51.44\00:39:54.05
the
condescension was far greater
00:39:54.08\00:39:55.77
than we had ever imagined,
00:39:55.80\00:39:57.02
when we are brought to
the center of the universe.
00:39:57.05\00:39:59.69
And we behold all
that God had created.
00:39:59.72\00:40:02.41
And as we see His
infinite greatness more and more
00:40:02.44\00:40:05.02
the condescension
becomes greater and greater
00:40:05.05\00:40:07.30
and we realize as I use
in one particular analogy,
00:40:07.33\00:40:10.10
a bungee jumping.
00:40:10.13\00:40:12.05
You know when
people are bungee jumping,
00:40:12.08\00:40:14.20
they may say to you,
00:40:14.23\00:40:15.27
"I jumped from a
150 foot bridge,"
00:40:15.30\00:40:18.17
and you may say,
"That's impressive."
00:40:18.20\00:40:20.83
What if they say to you,
00:40:20.86\00:40:22.10
"I jumped from a
300 foot bridge."
00:40:22.13\00:40:24.39
You would say, "Well
that's more impressive."
00:40:24.42\00:40:26.41
But then they say to you,
00:40:26.44\00:40:27.47
"I jumped from
a 500 foot bridge.
00:40:27.50\00:40:29.24
You would say,
"That's really impressive."
00:40:29.27\00:40:30.62
A 1,000 foot bridge.
00:40:30.65\00:40:31.93
And then they say to
you a 2,000 foot bridge,
00:40:31.96\00:40:33.84
you would be
blown away more and more
00:40:33.87\00:40:35.58
because you realizing
the distance was greater.
00:40:35.61\00:40:38.40
And as we behold
the greatness of God
00:40:38.43\00:40:40.39
more and more
throughout all of eternity,
00:40:40.42\00:40:42.31
we'll realize the distance
00:40:42.34\00:40:43.80
of the
condescension was far greater
00:40:43.83\00:40:47.19
then we had
ever imagined before.
00:40:47.22\00:40:49.53
And it will blow our minds away.
00:40:49.56\00:40:52.05
It'll utterly
blow our minds away.
00:40:52.08\00:40:54.87
The Cross is everything
to us ladies and gentlemen,
00:40:54.90\00:40:57.13
and more and more
00:40:57.16\00:40:58.19
I am starting to
recognize this in my experience.
00:40:58.22\00:41:00.13
If I don't daily
come to the Cross,
00:41:00.16\00:41:02.52
I'm not going to be empowered
00:41:02.55\00:41:04.28
to keep going
forward in this race.
00:41:04.31\00:41:06.76
Speaking of race,
00:41:06.79\00:41:08.20
my friend has a book
called "Born to Run."
00:41:08.23\00:41:09.83
You ever heard
of that book before?
00:41:09.86\00:41:12.19
Good, I like surprising people.
00:41:12.22\00:41:14.86
It's a book about
the Tarahumara tribe.
00:41:14.89\00:41:21.61
They are
different kinds of Indians.
00:41:21.64\00:41:22.79
Not my kind, different kind.
00:41:22.82\00:41:24.16
And they live in North
Mexico in Copper Canyon.
00:41:24.19\00:41:28.42
The hard thing is researchers
00:41:28.45\00:41:30.55
have a difficult
time trying to find them
00:41:30.58\00:41:31.99
because they are
what's called a running tribe.
00:41:32.02\00:41:34.00
They like to run everywhere.
00:41:34.03\00:41:38.11
I would never join them.
00:41:38.14\00:41:40.35
They like to run everywhere
00:41:40.38\00:41:41.51
and as the researchers
finally tracked them down
00:41:41.54\00:41:45.04
what they
discovered blows their mind.
00:41:45.07\00:41:47.03
This tribe actually can run
almost 500 miles in two days.
00:41:47.06\00:41:54.24
They tested marathon
runners against this tribe
00:41:54.27\00:41:57.19
and they blow the
marathon runners away.
00:41:57.22\00:42:00.55
They have even tested them
against ultra marathon runners
00:42:00.58\00:42:03.90
and they blow them away.
00:42:03.93\00:42:06.59
Now they have a
plant based diet.
00:42:06.62\00:42:08.11
Unfortunately they
also do tobacco, they drink.
00:42:08.14\00:42:12.16
But somehow they keep beating
these ultra marathon runners.
00:42:12.19\00:42:15.86
And they don't know why.
00:42:15.89\00:42:19.40
Some more study
into that group found out
00:42:19.43\00:42:22.77
that they like
running without shoes.
00:42:22.80\00:42:26.14
They get what they
use is actually a sandal
00:42:26.17\00:42:28.63
that they make out
of tire that they find.
00:42:28.66\00:42:32.43
One time somebody gave
them a bunch of Nike shoes,
00:42:32.46\00:42:34.83
and they found
all the Nike shoes
00:42:34.86\00:42:36.38
stashed in a bush later on.
00:42:36.41\00:42:40.22
They didn't like it.
00:42:40.25\00:42:41.50
They wanting that
natural feel may start running
00:42:41.53\00:42:43.61
and they run and they run.
00:42:43.64\00:42:45.28
And they run in groups.
00:42:45.31\00:42:47.42
They don't like
running individually.
00:42:47.45\00:42:49.08
They are family based clan.
00:42:49.11\00:42:51.18
In fact, what is also
so interesting about this
00:42:51.21\00:42:53.64
is that they are so
united in their running
00:42:53.67\00:42:58.57
that the women only
run 40 to 50 miles a day.
00:42:58.60\00:43:02.98
Unfortunately
they are left behind.
00:43:03.01\00:43:05.71
But they're so united
the males are in running
00:43:05.74\00:43:09.29
that some
researchers tried to find out
00:43:09.32\00:43:11.91
how athletic they were.
00:43:11.94\00:43:13.17
They call them super humans.
00:43:13.20\00:43:14.41
They took a Tarahumara
tribe from like many miles away
00:43:14.44\00:43:17.73
and said, "We are
going to put you together.
00:43:17.76\00:43:20.09
And what they discovered is
that there is this comradery
00:43:20.12\00:43:23.61
that immediately
develop that they thought
00:43:23.64\00:43:25.49
that the competition
would be able to distance them
00:43:25.52\00:43:27.72
and they'll find
out who was the winner.
00:43:27.75\00:43:29.51
And what they found is
00:43:29.54\00:43:30.61
they were all
crossing the line together.
00:43:30.64\00:43:37.44
Their goal is not to win.
00:43:37.47\00:43:40.15
You know, what's so
amazing about this tribe?
00:43:40.18\00:43:41.87
Their goal is to
win together as a group.
00:43:41.90\00:43:46.12
And when somebody
starts lagging behind,
00:43:46.15\00:43:47.97
you know what they do?
00:43:48.00\00:43:49.03
They all start slowing down
and one comes up behind them
00:43:49.06\00:43:52.50
and they like get them
encouraged and get the--
00:43:52.53\00:43:54.41
I shouldn't be running on stage.
00:43:54.44\00:43:55.48
But they get him up here.
00:43:55.51\00:43:57.62
And here they are and
they get him caught up
00:43:57.65\00:43:59.91
and they continue
running all together.
00:43:59.94\00:44:02.46
And they love winning as groups.
00:44:02.49\00:44:05.36
It's part of
their family culture.
00:44:05.39\00:44:07.79
They don't like
to win individually
00:44:07.82\00:44:10.61
and that's what's so
amazing about this group,
00:44:10.64\00:44:12.24
ladies and gentlemen.
00:44:12.27\00:44:13.30
But here we begin to understand,
00:44:13.33\00:44:14.82
God has given us a church
00:44:14.85\00:44:16.92
so that we can
encourage one another, amen.
00:44:16.95\00:44:19.76
And we are not to
abandon the church.
00:44:19.79\00:44:21.82
We need to keep going forward
00:44:21.85\00:44:23.17
because this moving will
make it towards the end of time.
00:44:23.20\00:44:25.77
Amen.
00:44:25.80\00:44:26.93
And as we continue
on this journey together
00:44:26.96\00:44:28.96
as a church
ladies and gentlemen,
00:44:28.99\00:44:30.85
more and more
we're going to discover
00:44:30.88\00:44:33.78
that we have greater strength
than if we did it individually.
00:44:33.81\00:44:37.58
God wants us to
come together more.
00:44:37.61\00:44:40.19
And those who
attempt to divide this Church
00:44:40.22\00:44:42.28
ladies and
gentlemen, they will fail
00:44:42.31\00:44:44.12
because God's spirit is
behind this church, right?
00:44:44.15\00:44:47.57
And that won't stop.
00:44:47.60\00:44:48.76
The church may even
look like it's about to fall
00:44:48.79\00:44:51.22
but it will not fall, it
will make it to the end of time.
00:44:51.25\00:44:55.03
And that's what's so powerful.
00:44:55.06\00:44:57.19
I praise God
ladies and gentlemen,
00:44:57.22\00:44:58.78
for the church
that we are part of
00:44:58.81\00:45:00.06
that has this
beautiful message of the Cross.
00:45:00.09\00:45:03.62
But what is even more
crazier ladies and gentlemen,
00:45:03.65\00:45:05.96
as I said to you earlier,
00:45:05.99\00:45:09.85
we are not the
only ones in this race.
00:45:09.88\00:45:12.46
There actually is
others who we will join.
00:45:12.49\00:45:18.36
You know, I
originally titled this message
00:45:18.39\00:45:20.33
called "Saving Angels."
00:45:20.36\00:45:22.28
This morning I
changed it to Racing Angels.
00:45:22.31\00:45:25.36
I'll tell you why.
00:45:25.39\00:45:26.94
Can we show that powerful quote?
00:45:26.97\00:45:29.99
"In His
instruction to His disciples
00:45:30.02\00:45:32.07
Christ dwelt upon the
great gift of the Sprit,
00:45:32.10\00:45:34.49
declaring that nothing
was too great to be expected
00:45:34.52\00:45:36.96
from the coming
of the divine Spirit.
00:45:36.99\00:45:38.78
He longed to quicken and enlarge
00:45:38.81\00:45:40.23
the conception of His disciples
00:45:40.26\00:45:41.85
by communicating to them
00:45:41.88\00:45:43.73
His own complete
appreciation of God's love
00:45:43.76\00:45:47.25
that they might
be able to comprehend
00:45:47.28\00:45:48.81
the value of the
gift of all gifts,
00:45:48.84\00:45:50.48
given by God with the
giving of His beloved Son,
00:45:50.51\00:45:52.75
the gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:45:52.78\00:45:54.08
On all who love and serve God
this gift has been bestowed."
00:45:54.11\00:45:57.34
Watch this. This is powerful.
00:45:57.37\00:45:59.00
"Christ has made provision
for all to receive His Spirit,
00:45:59.03\00:46:02.12
for He desires
to see human nature
00:46:02.15\00:46:04.81
released from
the bondage of sin,
00:46:04.84\00:46:06.46
and, by the
power which God gives,
00:46:06.49\00:46:08.36
renewed, restored,
00:46:08.39\00:46:09.75
raised to a holy
rivalry with the angels."
00:46:09.78\00:46:15.39
Many of you are
shocked right now
00:46:15.42\00:46:16.64
because you are
thinking to yourself,
00:46:16.67\00:46:18.00
"What in the world is
holy rivalry with the angels?"
00:46:18.03\00:46:24.14
It's not talking
about a football game
00:46:24.17\00:46:25.61
we are gonna have in
heaven, ladies and gentlemen.
00:46:25.64\00:46:28.98
It's referring to
something so beautiful
00:46:29.01\00:46:32.57
that for all
eternity, us and these angels
00:46:32.60\00:46:35.78
are gonna be
heading down the same path.
00:46:35.81\00:46:38.42
Right now we are
walking behind these angels,
00:46:38.45\00:46:41.79
but these angels are
trying to us caught up.
00:46:41.82\00:46:43.71
And as we go on this race
of life through all of eternity
00:46:43.74\00:46:47.00
to reflect more and
more of God's unselfish love,
00:46:47.03\00:46:50.35
to try to outdo one
another in good works
00:46:50.38\00:46:53.04
and helping others be
exalted above ourselves.
00:46:53.07\00:46:55.92
As we're on this race for
eternity ladies and gentlemen,
00:46:55.95\00:46:58.64
angels and
humans, angels and humans,
00:46:58.67\00:47:00.74
angels and humans
reflecting more and more
00:47:00.77\00:47:03.37
of God's glory
and His greatness.
00:47:03.40\00:47:05.27
It will be a holy rivalry
and are you ready for it?
00:47:05.30\00:47:11.00
Are you ready for it?
00:47:11.03\00:47:13.74
Do you want to keep moving
forward in this race of life?
00:47:13.77\00:47:16.58
Last verse and we are
finished. Hebrews 12:1.
00:47:16.61\00:47:22.38
We are making a
very special appeal.
00:47:22.41\00:47:25.39
Hebrews 12:1.
00:47:25.42\00:47:27.40
"Therefore we also,
since we are surrounded by
00:47:35.59\00:47:39.55
so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight,
00:47:39.58\00:47:44.22
and the sin which
so easily ensnares us,
00:47:44.25\00:47:46.98
and let us run with," what?
00:47:47.01\00:47:51.31
"Endurance."
00:47:51.34\00:47:52.58
Well, how do we
run with endurance?
00:47:52.61\00:47:54.34
"The race that is set before us,
00:47:54.37\00:47:56.45
looking unto Jesus,
the author and," what?
00:47:56.48\00:48:00.73
"Finisher of our," what?
00:48:00.76\00:48:02.90
"Faith"
00:48:02.93\00:48:04.97
Ladies and
gentlemen, the only way
00:48:05.00\00:48:06.30
we got to keep
going in this walk,
00:48:06.33\00:48:07.69
in this race, in this marathon
00:48:07.72\00:48:09.49
is by beholding
Jesus more and more,
00:48:09.52\00:48:11.44
by seeing that beautiful
Cross that will energize us,
00:48:11.47\00:48:14.45
that will
empower us to get back up
00:48:14.48\00:48:16.37
and keep
heading towards the end.
00:48:16.40\00:48:20.58
But it's not the end
though when we get to heaven,
00:48:20.61\00:48:23.22
it's the beginning
of a whole new race,
00:48:23.25\00:48:27.14
another marathon.
00:48:27.17\00:48:29.65
But there will be so much
joy, ladies and gentlemen.
00:48:29.68\00:48:32.50
God wants us to keep
moving forward, onward, upward.
00:48:32.53\00:48:36.68
He doesn't want us to
stay in the same place.
00:48:36.71\00:48:39.49
Higher than the highest thought,
00:48:39.52\00:48:40.95
its God's ideal
for His children.
00:48:40.98\00:48:43.21
God says, "Don't stay where
you are at, movement is life."
00:48:43.24\00:48:47.21
Movement is life.
Don't stay where you are at.
00:48:47.24\00:48:50.14
Desire more of
holiness, more of change,
00:48:50.17\00:48:53.51
more of God's
power, more of grace,
00:48:53.54\00:48:55.22
more of His spirit.
00:48:55.25\00:48:56.28
Keep desiring more of God
00:48:56.31\00:48:58.70
because He has
so much to give you.
00:48:58.73\00:49:01.10
When you take a good
look at the Old Testament
00:49:01.13\00:49:02.66
ladies and
gentlemen, you find out
00:49:02.69\00:49:04.51
that angels are
called sons of God
00:49:04.54\00:49:07.48
and men are called servants.
00:49:07.51\00:49:08.81
But there is a switching
00:49:08.84\00:49:10.57
that starts
happening in the New Testament.
00:49:10.60\00:49:12.43
You find out that men
are called sons of God
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and there's references to
angels being called servants.
00:49:16.06\00:49:20.24
Why? Because God is trying
to show us what's in store.
00:49:20.27\00:49:24.71
God says, "Keep moving on this
race don't stop, don't stop.
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Keep taking steps."
00:49:35.25\00:49:36.65
Many of you have been
convicted by the things
00:49:36.68\00:49:38.28
that you've heard today
00:49:38.31\00:49:39.34
and throughout
this whole weekend
00:49:39.37\00:49:40.66
and God is saying,
"Keep moving forward.
00:49:40.69\00:49:42.85
Don't stay where you are at.
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I brought you to this conference
00:49:43.94\00:49:45.32
so you can take the next step."
00:49:45.35\00:49:47.44
You may be tested right
now, ladies and gentlemen.
00:49:47.47\00:49:49.77
You may have burdens.
00:49:49.80\00:49:51.31
You may have sins in your
life that you can overcome.
00:49:51.34\00:49:54.14
God brought you here
because He is telling you
00:49:54.17\00:49:56.07
He is gonna help
you take that next step.
00:49:56.10\00:49:58.76
You may be somebody
who is struggling with Him
00:49:58.79\00:50:00.31
and He is saying to you,
00:50:00.34\00:50:01.37
"I brought you here so
you can take the next step."
00:50:01.40\00:50:04.59
But the place where that
starts ladies and gentlemen,
00:50:04.62\00:50:08.37
is with the choice.
00:50:08.40\00:50:11.08
I am an
evangelist, I make appeals.
00:50:11.11\00:50:13.96
I notice that there
wasn't a baptismal appeal yet.
00:50:13.99\00:50:17.30
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:50:17.33\00:50:18.36
if the Spirit of God
is working in your life
00:50:18.39\00:50:20.23
and you feel the need
that God has been calling you
00:50:20.26\00:50:22.20
to baptized or re-baptized,
00:50:22.23\00:50:23.99
please come to the
front ladies and gentlemen,
00:50:24.02\00:50:25.70
we are making an appeal today.
00:50:25.73\00:50:27.79
If you feel that
desire and you feel like
00:50:27.82\00:50:29.78
God has been
convicting my heart,
00:50:29.81\00:50:31.54
I want to make that
decision, you come to the front.
00:50:31.57\00:50:34.38
There is plenty of
room in heaven, amen.
00:50:34.41\00:50:36.95
Many times we talk about
these, the size of heaven
00:50:36.98\00:50:39.70
and we compare it to a few
states and many people say,
00:50:39.73\00:50:42.38
"That's all the
New Jerusalem is?"
00:50:42.41\00:50:44.94
The promise
ladies and gentlemen,
00:50:44.97\00:50:46.18
there will still be room.
00:50:46.21\00:50:48.47
There still be plenty
of room in New Jerusalem.
00:50:48.50\00:50:50.42
If God is calling you to make
that decision to be baptized,
00:50:50.45\00:50:53.65
please come up to the front.
00:50:53.68\00:50:54.81
Don't delay.
00:50:54.84\00:50:55.96
These are the times that
His spirit is calling people
00:50:55.99\00:50:58.79
to keep moving forward, amen,
00:50:58.82\00:51:02.16
to keep beholding
the Cross of Calvary.
00:51:02.19\00:51:05.70
These are those times
that the Spirit of God
00:51:05.73\00:51:08.24
is striving with
men, striving with them,
00:51:08.27\00:51:11.64
trying to get
them back in the race,
00:51:11.67\00:51:13.25
ladies and gentlemen.
00:51:13.28\00:51:14.34
He is trying to get you back
up and keep you going forward.
00:51:14.37\00:51:18.06
If the Spirit of God
is working in your life
00:51:18.09\00:51:19.71
and you sense that conviction,
please come up to the front.
00:51:19.74\00:51:23.77
There is no time to delay.
00:51:23.80\00:51:26.92
The other appeal is very simple
but so powerful, life changing.
00:51:26.95\00:51:33.94
If you are somebody that
has a burden on your heart,
00:51:33.97\00:51:36.61
it may be the burden of sins,
something you can overcome.
00:51:36.64\00:51:40.54
Specifically
something you are struggling.
00:51:40.57\00:51:42.82
I'm not here to
tell you how to overcome.
00:51:42.85\00:51:47.05
I'm simply gonna tell you,
00:51:47.08\00:51:48.93
how it's gonna start by you
coming to the Cross of Calvary.
00:51:48.96\00:51:53.29
Ladies and gentlemen,
is there sin in your life?
00:51:53.32\00:51:55.17
Is there burden on your heart?
00:51:55.20\00:51:56.96
Something in
your own life and idol
00:51:56.99\00:51:58.68
that you are struggling with?
00:51:58.71\00:52:00.46
I want you to come up to
the front ladies and gentlemen,
00:52:00.49\00:52:02.68
and say, "I want
to make this decision.
00:52:02.71\00:52:04.24
I'm not even
saying to anybody else.
00:52:04.27\00:52:06.01
I want to bring this
to the Cross of Calvary."
00:52:06.04\00:52:08.31
And that is the
first step of victory.
00:52:08.34\00:52:11.26
That is the
first step of victory.
00:52:11.29\00:52:12.83
If that's you and your
life ladies and gentlemen,
00:52:12.86\00:52:15.63
God is calling you to
bring that to the Cross,
00:52:15.66\00:52:19.16
to bring your burden to Him.
00:52:19.19\00:52:21.87
You may be somebody
in your life that feels
00:52:21.90\00:52:24.03
like God has failed you
in the plans of your life.
00:52:24.06\00:52:26.49
Ladies and gentlemen,
God is calling you back
00:52:26.52\00:52:28.56
to the foot of the Cross.
00:52:28.59\00:52:30.31
And as you come to
the foot of the Cross
00:52:30.34\00:52:32.32
angels behold
what you are doing.
00:52:32.35\00:52:35.69
You become a spectacle
throughout the universe,
00:52:35.72\00:52:38.39
but not just
throughout the universe
00:52:38.42\00:52:39.94
but for this ultra-narrative
throughout all of eternity.
00:52:39.97\00:52:43.04
Somehow the
decisions you make today
00:52:43.07\00:52:45.53
affect all of
eternity, all of eternity.
00:52:45.56\00:52:47.34
There is something in
your life ladies and gentlemen,
00:52:53.69\00:52:55.93
that God is calling you.
00:52:55.96\00:52:58.16
And I'm human, I
know what that's like.
00:52:58.19\00:53:01.57
I know what the
struggle's all about.
00:53:01.60\00:53:05.25
God is calling you to the
first step to come to the Cross.
00:53:05.28\00:53:11.40
And you may be
somebody in your life today
00:53:11.43\00:53:13.17
ladies and
gentlemen, that have felt
00:53:13.20\00:53:14.96
you needed spiritual
renewal in your life.
00:53:14.99\00:53:17.43
The first step is
coming to the Cross
00:53:17.46\00:53:20.01
and God will empower you.
00:53:20.04\00:53:21.53
You might have fallen
down in this marathon of life
00:53:21.56\00:53:23.66
and God is
saying, "Come to the Cross
00:53:23.69\00:53:25.32
and I will energize you again.
00:53:25.35\00:53:27.11
I will energize
your spirituality."
00:53:27.14\00:53:29.62
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:53:29.65\00:53:30.68
God is calling you
to the foot of the cross
00:53:30.71\00:53:32.52
and as you come
angels behold it.
00:53:32.55\00:53:35.31
You know we talk about
heaven and how heaven rejoices
00:53:35.34\00:53:38.24
when one sinner
turns from the way,
00:53:38.27\00:53:39.57
and we say it
during the baptism.
00:53:39.60\00:53:41.49
But ladies and gentlemen,
00:53:41.52\00:53:42.63
repentance is a
life long process
00:53:42.66\00:53:44.64
and every advance you make
angels rejoice, angels rejoice.
00:53:44.67\00:53:50.87
There is one who rejoices
even more than the angels,
00:53:50.90\00:53:54.36
the Father.
00:53:54.39\00:53:57.54
I invite our music
team to come on out.
00:53:57.57\00:54:02.24
We have gonna be
singing a very special song,
00:54:02.27\00:54:05.32
a medley of hymns
about the Cross of Calvary.
00:54:05.35\00:54:09.43
And as we say it,
keep your heart open
00:54:09.46\00:54:13.31
to what the Holy
Spirit is saying to you today
00:54:13.34\00:54:16.39
this moment.
00:54:16.42\00:54:17.45
On a hill far away
00:54:30.29\00:54:33.95
Join us.
00:54:33.98\00:54:35.02
Stood an old rugged cross
00:54:35.05\00:54:40.00
The emblem of
suffering and shame
00:54:40.03\00:54:46.20
And I love that old cross
00:54:48.84\00:54:53.28
Where the dearest and best
00:54:53.31\00:54:57.88
For a world of
lost sinners was slain
00:54:57.91\00:55:05.88
So I'll cherish
the old rugged cross
00:55:07.24\00:55:14.87
Till my trophies
at last I lay down
00:55:16.52\00:55:23.65
I will cling to
the old rugged cross
00:55:26.00\00:55:33.71
And exchange it
someday for a crown
00:55:35.19\00:55:43.18
Jesus, keep me near the cross
00:55:43.78\00:55:51.78
There a precious fountain
00:55:52.16\00:56:00.16
Free to all, a healing stream
00:56:00.83\00:56:08.83
Flows from Calvary's mountain
00:56:09.92\00:56:16.98
Sing it out.
00:56:17.01\00:56:18.72
In the cross, in the cross
00:56:18.75\00:56:26.69
Be my glory ever
00:56:27.92\00:56:35.92
Till my raptured soul shall find
00:56:37.22\00:56:45.22
Rest beyond the river
00:56:47.06\00:56:55.06
Alas! And did my Savior bleed
00:56:56.27\00:57:03.30
And did my Sovereign die?
00:57:03.33\00:57:10.46
Would He devote that sacred head
00:57:10.49\00:57:17.50
For sinners such as I?
00:57:17.53\00:57:24.11
At the cross, at the cross
00:57:24.14\00:57:27.70
where I first saw the light
00:57:27.73\00:57:31.38
And the burden of
my heart rolled away
00:57:31.41\00:57:38.45
It was there by
faith I received my sight
00:57:38.48\00:57:45.92
And now I am happy all the day!
00:57:45.95\00:57:53.17
There is a name I love to hear
00:57:53.20\00:57:58.80
I love to sing its worth
00:57:58.83\00:58:03.73
It sounds like music in mine ear
00:58:03.76\00:58:08.51
The sweetest name on earth
00:58:08.54\00:58:13.85
Oh, how I love Jesus
00:58:13.88\00:58:18.84
Oh, how I love Jesus
00:58:18.87\00:58:23.61
Oh, how I love Jesus
00:58:23.64\00:58:28.17
Because He first loved me!
00:58:28.20\00:58:33.13
It tells me of a Savior's love
00:58:33.16\00:58:38.31
Who died to set me free
00:58:38.34\00:58:43.55
It tells me of
His precious blood
00:58:43.58\00:58:48.28
The sinner's perfect plea
00:58:48.31\00:58:53.62
Oh, how I love Jesus
00:58:53.65\00:58:58.92
Oh, how I love Jesus
00:58:58.95\00:59:04.18
Oh, how I love Jesus
00:59:04.21\00:59:08.67
Because He first loved me!
00:59:08.70\00:59:13.79