Hello, my name
is Evelyn Kissinger.
00:00:19.49\00:00:22.48
Twelve years ago, I had
the privilege of joining
00:00:22.51\00:00:24.82
the Lifestyle Matters team
with Vicki and Dane Griffin.
00:00:24.85\00:00:29.94
We have had the opportunity
00:00:29.97\00:00:31.25
of developing
materials for churches to use
00:00:31.28\00:00:33.75
for health outreach
with Lifestyle Matters.
00:00:33.78\00:00:36.87
Our recent program
is called Fit & Free.
00:00:36.90\00:00:40.53
Our speaker
today is Vicki Griffin
00:00:40.56\00:00:43.46
and you will be delighted
00:00:43.49\00:00:45.03
to leave here with lots of hope,
00:00:45.06\00:00:47.85
no matter what
you came here with,
00:00:47.88\00:00:49.34
you will leave with hope.
00:00:49.37\00:00:50.89
Vicki Griffin has her
Master of Science and Nutrition.
00:00:50.92\00:00:54.46
She is an author, a speaker
and international speaker.
00:00:54.49\00:00:58.64
She is a Bible
scholar and an evangelist.
00:00:58.67\00:01:02.10
She has done
evangelistic series.
00:01:02.13\00:01:03.80
We did a series in
Guam couple of years ago
00:01:03.83\00:01:07.96
and you will be delighted
to see how you can take
00:01:07.99\00:01:13.66
these obstacles in your life
00:01:13.69\00:01:15.25
and turn 'em into opportunities.
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Vicki has two grown children.
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They are both
emergency room nurses.
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She's expecting her
fourth grandchild in October
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and I'm privileged to introduce
my friend and colleague
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who will share the
program lessons on loss.
00:01:33.72\00:01:38.14
And you will leave with
hope in your hearts today.
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Thank you.
00:01:42.24\00:01:46.78
Good morning.
00:01:46.81\00:01:49.30
You know its 1983
when our family sang
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for the very first
time in an ASI Convention
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and we're very
happy to have our boys
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and their families here with us.
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And we have a song
for you this morning,
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"Count Your Many Blessings."
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When upon life's
billows you are tempest-tossed
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When you are discouraged,
thinking all is lost
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Count your many
blessings, name them one by one
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And it will surprise
you what the Lord has done
00:02:22.33\00:02:27.95
Count your
blessings, name them one by one
00:02:27.98\00:02:33.41
Count your
blessings, see what God has done
00:02:33.44\00:02:39.02
Count your
blessings, name them one by one
00:02:39.05\00:02:45.99
Count your many blessings
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See what God has done
00:02:48.18\00:02:55.75
Are you ever
burdened with a load of care?
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Does the cross seem
heavy you are called to bear?
00:03:01.32\00:03:06.66
Count your many
blessings, every doubt will fly
00:03:06.69\00:03:12.09
And you will keep
singing as the days go by
00:03:12.12\00:03:17.64
Count your
blessings, name them one by one
00:03:17.67\00:03:23.07
Count your
blessings, see what God has done
00:03:23.10\00:03:28.60
Count your
blessings, name them one by one
00:03:28.63\00:03:35.62
Count your many blessings
00:03:35.65\00:03:37.78
See what God has done
00:03:37.81\00:03:45.05
So, amid the conflict
whether great or small
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Do not be
discouraged, God is over all
00:03:50.53\00:03:56.04
Count your many
blessings, angels will attend
00:03:56.07\00:04:01.61
Help and comfort give
you to your journey's end
00:04:01.64\00:04:07.05
Count your
blessings, name them one by one
00:04:07.08\00:04:12.45
Count your
blessings, see what God has done
00:04:12.48\00:04:17.94
Count your blessings
00:04:17.97\00:04:22.09
Name them one by one
00:04:22.12\00:04:24.86
Count your many
blessings, see what God has done
00:04:24.89\00:04:31.76
Count your many
blessings, see what God has done
00:04:31.79\00:04:39.19
Good morning
everyone, and welcome to ASI.
00:04:46.57\00:04:52.70
I get you the first
morning when you're still awake.
00:04:52.73\00:04:55.96
What a blessing.
00:04:55.99\00:04:57.07
My name is Vicki Griffin
00:04:57.10\00:04:58.85
and I'm the Health
Ministries Director
00:04:58.88\00:05:00.42
for the Michigan Conference
00:05:00.45\00:05:01.69
and the Director
of Lifestyle Matters.
00:05:01.72\00:05:03.71
And it is a
genuine thrill to be here
00:05:03.74\00:05:05.94
with you this
morning and to share together
00:05:05.97\00:05:08.42
as we worship and
turn our faces toward God.
00:05:08.45\00:05:12.43
Would you bow your
heads with me in prayer?
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Father in heaven,
thank you, Lord Jesus,
00:05:15.64\00:05:17.20
for this time that we can spend
together focusing upon You.
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We ask You to
come and be our teacher
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that Your Spirit will be
present to move my heart,
00:05:22.76\00:05:25.84
my lips and the
hearts of the hearers.
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We ask these things
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:05:28.49\00:05:33.33
I saw a news
headline this morning
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that really
arrested my attention.
00:05:36.44\00:05:39.17
It was a
statement by John Bolton,
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former US ambassador
to the United Nations.
00:05:42.52\00:05:46.81
And it was quite a
stunning statement.
00:05:46.84\00:05:48.89
I didn't read the whole article,
00:05:48.92\00:05:50.68
but he said the world
is descending into chaos.
00:05:50.71\00:05:58.31
The United States has
lost its platform in the world
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and as a result
anarchy is on the way.
00:06:01.66\00:06:06.22
What an incredible
eye opener this morning
00:06:06.25\00:06:09.45
as I read that statement.
00:06:09.48\00:06:11.10
Do you feel and
sense in your hearts
00:06:11.13\00:06:13.48
that we are in an
incredible time of transition,
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transition raise your hand.
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Yes, we just sense
that so much is happening
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and I remember not
paying to much attention
00:06:22.71\00:06:26.18
to this word transition
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until I was pregnant
with our first child.
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And women who had
more experience than me
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would come to me and
talk to me about this thing
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that was gonna happen to
me at birth called transition.
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And they would
give me a dark look
00:06:41.34\00:06:43.06
and they would
say, you will think
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you are losing your mind
00:06:45.57\00:06:48.45
and I thought that's ridiculous.
00:06:48.48\00:06:50.36
This is got to
be a piece of cake.
00:06:50.39\00:06:52.08
It's psychological.
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So my husband and I
bought this little instrument,
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this little game called Simon.
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Does anybody remember Simon?
00:06:59.09\00:07:00.84
It was a light and
noise sequential game
00:07:00.87\00:07:04.07
and you follow the patterns
00:07:04.10\00:07:05.21
and see who far you
could go on this pattern
00:07:05.24\00:07:07.06
and it was to
distract attention.
00:07:07.09\00:07:09.65
And so we started out
really well with Simon
00:07:09.68\00:07:12.99
when labor came
until transition.
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Simon was thrown on the floor.
00:07:17.73\00:07:22.56
Dane said, my husband
Dane said bite my knuckle.
00:07:22.59\00:07:25.45
I said get your
hand out of my face.
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You will lose your finger.
00:07:28.32\00:07:30.48
There is no
teacher like experience.
00:07:30.51\00:07:33.65
And as I've been
reading the Bible,
00:07:33.68\00:07:35.01
I came to a very
significant passage in Mark 10.
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Let's turn their
quickly, Mark 10 talks about
00:07:39.16\00:07:42.80
an incredible time of transition
00:07:42.83\00:07:46.70
in the disciples' experience.
00:07:46.73\00:07:50.52
Mark 10, Jesus is
nearing the crisis of the cross.
00:07:50.55\00:07:57.15
He's nearing this
crisis and now He's beginning
00:07:57.18\00:08:00.88
to make these cryptic
remarks to the disciples
00:08:00.91\00:08:04.76
that they do not understand.
00:08:04.79\00:08:07.19
He talks to them in
Mark 10 several times about
00:08:07.22\00:08:10.98
how hard it is for the rich
00:08:11.01\00:08:13.13
to enter into the
kingdom of heaven.
00:08:13.16\00:08:14.96
They were
astonished and greatly amazed
00:08:14.99\00:08:18.72
and then He tells them
they need to forsake all
00:08:18.75\00:08:22.26
or they cannot be His disciples.
00:08:22.29\00:08:24.46
Well, they had
forsaken all or so they thought.
00:08:24.49\00:08:28.05
He tells them that they need
to take up their cross daily.
00:08:28.08\00:08:30.84
He asks them, are
you able to drink the cup
00:08:30.87\00:08:35.87
that is going to
be put to your lips.
00:08:35.90\00:08:37.37
He doesn't say are you willing?
00:08:37.40\00:08:39.51
He says are you
able to drink this cup?
00:08:39.54\00:08:42.83
Are you able to pay the price
00:08:42.86\00:08:46.08
for where you want to be
next to the throne of God?
00:08:46.11\00:08:49.65
For the third
time in this chapter
00:08:49.68\00:08:51.84
Jesus predicts His
death and resurrection.
00:08:51.87\00:08:55.21
And He darkly intimates
that this cup of suffering
00:08:55.24\00:09:00.02
is going to be placed
to His followers' lips.
00:09:00.05\00:09:02.81
He is now
transitioning from feeding
00:09:02.84\00:09:05.68
the multitudes to
facing torture and death
00:09:05.71\00:09:10.83
and submitting to
the evil tormentors
00:09:10.86\00:09:16.16
who are going to crucify Him.
00:09:16.19\00:09:18.41
Now, He is walking ahead
of the disciples briskly.
00:09:18.44\00:09:24.87
His face is away from
them. His pace is quickened.
00:09:24.90\00:09:30.18
His forehead is
set like a flint.
00:09:30.21\00:09:33.22
His disciples had to
scramble to keep up with Him
00:09:33.25\00:09:38.27
and to keep Him insight.
00:09:38.30\00:09:40.36
And in Mark 10:32 it says,
00:09:40.39\00:09:45.53
"And they were in the
way going up to Jerusalem,
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and Jesus walked ahead of them,
00:09:49.54\00:09:52.69
and they were amazed,
00:09:52.72\00:09:55.63
and as they
followed, they were afraid.
00:09:55.66\00:10:00.43
And He took again the
twelve, and began to tell them
00:10:00.46\00:10:03.27
again the things that
were going to happen,"
00:10:03.30\00:10:08.69
I really
resonated with this chapter
00:10:08.72\00:10:11.49
as I have gone
through the experience
00:10:11.52\00:10:14.19
of a major
transition in my life.
00:10:14.22\00:10:17.05
The loss of my ministry partner
00:10:17.08\00:10:18.80
and husband Dane,
and my background,
00:10:18.83\00:10:24.65
people will look
at me and they'll say
00:10:24.68\00:10:26.50
well, sure you know, you're
Health Ministries director.
00:10:26.53\00:10:28.89
It's easy for you to
tell people what to do.
00:10:28.92\00:10:30.81
You're kind of thin.
00:10:30.84\00:10:31.90
You look like a
librarian, probably line up
00:10:31.93\00:10:35.80
your paper clips same direction.
00:10:35.83\00:10:37.98
It's kind of true.
00:10:38.01\00:10:41.04
But the fact is I was not raised
00:10:41.07\00:10:42.84
as Seventh-day Adventist.
00:10:42.87\00:10:43.90
I was not raised
in a Christian home.
00:10:43.93\00:10:46.02
I was raised in an
incredibly brutal violent home.
00:10:46.05\00:10:49.24
I don't have a
memory of feeling safe.
00:10:49.27\00:10:52.09
I started running away from home
00:10:52.12\00:10:53.90
when I was five years old.
00:10:53.93\00:10:55.91
And got into
chronic trouble by the time
00:10:55.94\00:10:58.48
I was 11, I was
in major trouble.
00:10:58.51\00:11:02.07
All the runaway
stuff and also developed
00:11:02.10\00:11:06.77
a very severe
eating disorder bulimia,
00:11:06.80\00:11:09.25
which I had for 20
years until the age of 31.
00:11:09.28\00:11:12.23
So I ran away for
good when I was 17.
00:11:12.26\00:11:14.55
I ran away to
Canada. I was very angry.
00:11:14.58\00:11:18.68
I was-- my father left home
00:11:18.71\00:11:20.09
when I was young
and so I was left
00:11:20.12\00:11:22.31
in a very brutal
unpredictable situation.
00:11:22.34\00:11:25.72
The saving grace
there for me was that
00:11:25.75\00:11:28.08
I would hide out in libraries.
00:11:28.11\00:11:29.72
So I always kept my grades
up, so that was a real blessing.
00:11:29.75\00:11:33.70
But I grew up very
angry wanting justice,
00:11:33.73\00:11:38.58
and my early
career path reflected
00:11:38.61\00:11:41.90
this vengeance against evil,
even though I was evil myself.
00:11:41.93\00:11:46.21
I was raised in evil and
I did evil and I was evil.
00:11:46.24\00:11:50.71
But I still wanted justice.
00:11:50.74\00:11:53.39
I wanted something to happen
00:11:53.42\00:11:54.71
that was right
and fair and just.
00:11:54.74\00:11:57.66
And matter of fact at age 15,
00:11:57.69\00:11:59.44
I turned myself
into juvenile hall
00:11:59.47\00:12:01.48
as an incorrigible.
00:12:01.51\00:12:02.62
I showed up at the jail,
00:12:02.65\00:12:04.20
they did not know
what to do with me.
00:12:04.23\00:12:06.03
They said, you know, we're--
00:12:06.06\00:12:07.19
the cops usually go looking
for runaways, I showed up.
00:12:07.22\00:12:10.26
I said I am incorrigible.
00:12:10.29\00:12:11.83
I want you to jail me now
because I wanted the people
00:12:11.86\00:12:15.55
that were hurting me
to be brought to justice
00:12:15.58\00:12:18.05
and there was no justice.
00:12:18.08\00:12:20.11
And that's what I wanted,
00:12:20.14\00:12:21.21
so I was put in
jail with a gang leader.
00:12:21.24\00:12:26.29
It was very
interesting experience
00:12:26.32\00:12:29.84
and even though she
was a lot shorter than me,
00:12:29.87\00:12:31.55
she was pretty scary.
00:12:31.58\00:12:32.64
I want to tell
you that right now.
00:12:32.67\00:12:35.90
So justice,
justice in my career path
00:12:35.93\00:12:41.09
when I started my career
path I was a social worker,
00:12:41.12\00:12:47.13
who did child
abuse investigations.
00:12:47.16\00:12:49.64
In the finance
world I repossessed cars,
00:12:49.67\00:12:52.42
skip traced on bad checks
00:12:52.45\00:12:54.76
and collected
delinquent accounts.
00:12:54.79\00:12:59.52
It was a really good
day if you were on my list
00:12:59.55\00:13:01.83
for getting your car repossessed
00:13:01.86\00:13:03.68
because I had such
abysmal sense of direction,
00:13:03.71\00:13:06.18
I never could
find anyone's house.
00:13:06.21\00:13:08.50
So it was a good
day for a repossesse.
00:13:08.53\00:13:12.38
I went to law school,
00:13:12.41\00:13:13.55
I was gonna be a
prosecuting attorney.
00:13:13.58\00:13:15.22
I wound up getting a master's
in Public Administration
00:13:15.25\00:13:20.56
and I was gonna
zone the city perfectly.
00:13:20.59\00:13:24.15
We were gonna zone
out social injustice,
00:13:24.18\00:13:26.47
no lulus, locally
unaccepted land use.
00:13:26.50\00:13:31.72
Well, I met my husband
at La Sierra University.
00:13:31.75\00:13:35.04
The only reason
I went to La Sierra
00:13:35.07\00:13:36.97
is because I
liked the landscaping.
00:13:37.00\00:13:38.50
I thought it was a roofing
and air conditioning company.
00:13:38.53\00:13:41.71
Seventh-day Advent,
00:13:41.74\00:13:42.96
venting system seven
days a week, I had no clue.
00:13:42.99\00:13:46.40
A friend of
mine, a friend of mine,
00:13:46.43\00:13:50.79
I asked a friend of
mine about it, I said they--
00:13:50.82\00:13:52.61
there's this
organization that has roofing
00:13:52.64\00:13:54.76
or something, venting systems.
00:13:54.79\00:13:56.48
They do beautiful landscaping.
00:13:56.51\00:13:58.63
She said no, no,
Vicki that is a university.
00:13:58.66\00:14:02.81
And it's a Christian
University and I remembered like
00:14:02.84\00:14:05.55
it was yesterday saying
00:14:05.58\00:14:07.07
well, anybody that landscapes
like that can't be all bad.
00:14:07.10\00:14:09.96
I think I'll go there.
00:14:09.99\00:14:11.10
I mean, there
was no other reason.
00:14:11.13\00:14:12.69
So please keep your
yards, folks, please.
00:14:12.72\00:14:16.07
I was an atheist.
00:14:16.10\00:14:17.49
She told me she said
00:14:17.52\00:14:18.78
well, they're not too
fond of atheist there.
00:14:18.81\00:14:21.81
You know, they don't know
00:14:21.84\00:14:22.89
what to do with people like you.
00:14:22.92\00:14:24.19
So if you want to get in,
00:14:24.22\00:14:25.61
tell them that the
body is the temple.
00:14:25.64\00:14:28.96
Fine, I didn't have
a clue what that meant,
00:14:28.99\00:14:32.52
but when I went
into my interview.
00:14:32.55\00:14:35.59
The president of the university
00:14:35.62\00:14:37.02
I told him that I
said Dr. Osmundson,
00:14:37.05\00:14:38.85
I don't know too
much about you people,
00:14:38.88\00:14:40.48
but I really liked the
idea that the body is a temple.
00:14:40.51\00:14:43.56
He put his arm
around me and he said,
00:14:43.59\00:14:45.59
"I wish we had
more young people like
00:14:45.62\00:14:47.39
you on this campus."
00:14:47.42\00:14:49.13
And I remember thinking,
"Are they all this naive?"
00:14:49.16\00:14:54.16
I mean this is
gonna be a piece of cake.
00:14:54.19\00:14:56.87
Well, I met my husband there
and we found the Lord together.
00:14:56.90\00:15:01.27
And it wasn't too
long after our marriage
00:15:01.30\00:15:03.11
that we were in
ministry together.
00:15:03.14\00:15:05.25
I gave my heart to God.
He healed me of the bulimia.
00:15:05.28\00:15:09.25
He healed me of all that evil.
00:15:09.28\00:15:11.42
And my prayer was
not a typical prayer.
00:15:11.45\00:15:14.59
I said God I didn't know
00:15:14.62\00:15:17.08
or care so much about
the love part of this.
00:15:17.11\00:15:19.86
I wanted justice and on my knees
00:15:19.89\00:15:22.67
I made a contract
with God, I said Lord,
00:15:22.70\00:15:26.15
"I am gonna give
you all that I am."
00:15:26.18\00:15:29.97
Big deal, like
that was a big deal.
00:15:30.00\00:15:34.06
But I only want
one thing in return,
00:15:34.09\00:15:37.20
I want to spend my
life paying the devil back
00:15:37.23\00:15:40.95
for what he did to
me and He hired me.
00:15:40.98\00:15:44.66
The Lord hired me.
00:15:44.69\00:15:45.78
I'm a hired gun for
the Lord all these years.
00:15:45.81\00:15:49.92
Well, I want to tell you
that I came to this religion,
00:15:49.95\00:15:54.87
into this work, into
this Bible, into this God
00:15:54.90\00:15:58.09
because I was seeking justice.
00:15:58.12\00:16:01.34
And when my husband,
00:16:01.37\00:16:02.75
you know, we were
avid in the Lord's work
00:16:02.78\00:16:05.84
and I still am and
I still love this God,
00:16:05.87\00:16:09.34
but my experience
has had to go through
00:16:09.37\00:16:12.77
a change, a maturation
00:16:12.80\00:16:16.20
because of the
devastating loss of my husband
00:16:16.23\00:16:18.34
with a deadly
cancer that only affects
00:16:18.37\00:16:21.24
1,200 people a year.
00:16:21.27\00:16:23.26
It shouldn't have happened.
We were a ministry team.
00:16:23.29\00:16:26.06
We would spend our days together
00:16:26.09\00:16:28.40
planning in God's work.
00:16:28.43\00:16:30.16
When our children were older,
00:16:30.19\00:16:31.49
we could hardly
wait for the home to be.
00:16:31.52\00:16:34.49
you know, in a
situation where we could
00:16:34.52\00:16:36.42
even spend more
time in God's works.
00:16:36.45\00:16:38.20
And then that
fatal, fatal diagnosis came
00:16:38.23\00:16:43.00
and I begged and
pleaded and prayed.
00:16:43.03\00:16:46.37
This was my husband of 32 years,
00:16:46.40\00:16:48.97
28 years in full
time ministry for God,
00:16:49.00\00:16:52.78
living for God,
00:16:52.81\00:16:54.16
following health
principles for God.
00:16:54.19\00:16:56.92
And my husband was
dying and I knew it.
00:16:56.95\00:17:01.13
He was wasting
away and he would pray,
00:17:01.16\00:17:04.47
Lord Jesus one more project
for thy cause as he was dying
00:17:04.50\00:17:10.71
and I was completely devastated.
00:17:10.74\00:17:15.60
I was shattered.
How could this happen?
00:17:15.63\00:17:19.11
Was I too happy?
00:17:19.14\00:17:20.74
Was I being punished
00:17:20.77\00:17:22.04
for being happy
and feeling safe?
00:17:22.07\00:17:24.97
People would
say things like that
00:17:25.00\00:17:27.00
well, God knows what you need.
00:17:27.03\00:17:31.79
I said to one of them
00:17:31.82\00:17:33.26
couldn't He have
started with breaking my nose.
00:17:33.29\00:17:35.37
Like could we start
there and then work out,
00:17:35.40\00:17:40.40
it set me on a journey we
can know things in our head
00:17:40.43\00:17:44.31
but we need to have them
established in our hearts
00:17:44.34\00:17:46.49
and that's different.
00:17:46.52\00:17:48.04
Some of you know exactly
what I'm saying, don't you?
00:17:48.07\00:17:50.57
You know that we can
understand a theology
00:17:50.60\00:17:54.32
but when our
experience is tested,
00:17:54.35\00:17:57.19
the Bible says that
this is a very valuable thing
00:17:57.22\00:17:59.68
although at the
moment it is very painful.
00:17:59.71\00:18:02.77
It drove me to the Book of Job
00:18:02.80\00:18:05.55
where God moved on
Moses to write this book.
00:18:05.58\00:18:09.61
It was the first
book written in the Bible
00:18:09.64\00:18:12.16
in the land of Midian by Moses
00:18:12.19\00:18:15.86
and the Lord
delivers the longest speech
00:18:15.89\00:18:17.80
in all the Bible
in the Book of Job.
00:18:17.83\00:18:20.44
And I found so much comfort
00:18:20.47\00:18:22.69
and instruction as
the most unbelievable,
00:18:22.72\00:18:26.98
impossible, horrible experience
00:18:27.01\00:18:30.83
was happening in my entire life.
00:18:30.86\00:18:33.47
This was not supposed to happen.
00:18:33.50\00:18:35.64
This wasn't the plan and
it didn't seem to be right,
00:18:35.67\00:18:42.26
it didn't seem to make sense.
00:18:42.29\00:18:45.39
And when Job, when God
speaks to Job about this.
00:18:45.42\00:18:49.09
You know the story of
Job where God actually draws
00:18:49.12\00:18:53.81
the attention of
the enemy to Job.
00:18:53.84\00:18:55.83
He says, have you
seen my servant Job?
00:18:55.86\00:18:58.33
You know the story.
00:18:58.36\00:18:59.61
We don't have time to
go over at this morning.
00:18:59.64\00:19:01.73
How he loves God and hates evil
00:19:01.76\00:19:05.22
and Satan has an
attack against Job.
00:19:05.25\00:19:09.24
And then he
manages to survive that
00:19:09.27\00:19:11.52
and the Lord
says, have you noticed?
00:19:11.55\00:19:13.36
He brings his
attention to him again
00:19:13.39\00:19:15.91
like there's this great
conflict being worked out
00:19:15.94\00:19:19.89
in this helpless human being.
00:19:19.92\00:19:22.68
The Book of Job
helps us to understand
00:19:22.71\00:19:25.55
that in a world of sin cause
00:19:25.58\00:19:28.69
and affect patterns
break down at some point.
00:19:28.72\00:19:32.80
This is very hard
for us to understand.
00:19:32.83\00:19:36.40
It's hard for us to accept
00:19:36.43\00:19:38.93
that there it appears
to be a randomness that
00:19:38.96\00:19:42.37
very good things can
happen to really evil people
00:19:42.40\00:19:47.76
and really terrible
things can happen to good people
00:19:47.79\00:19:51.92
for reasons that
we cannot understand.
00:19:51.95\00:19:57.21
We know that God has given us
00:19:57.24\00:19:58.73
many principles to live by
00:19:58.76\00:20:00.50
that lesson
suffering, that's my job.
00:20:00.53\00:20:03.45
But would you agree with me that
00:20:03.48\00:20:04.74
you can do all of those
things and still get sick,
00:20:04.77\00:20:08.50
would you agree with
me that that happens.
00:20:08.53\00:20:11.52
You saw this video of
India and these children
00:20:11.55\00:20:15.19
who are suffering in
this culture of sickness.
00:20:15.22\00:20:20.30
The Lord answered Job,
00:20:20.33\00:20:22.17
I love this in verse 2
of Chapter 38, he says,
00:20:22.20\00:20:25.35
"Who is this
that darkens counsel
00:20:25.38\00:20:29.50
by words without wisdom?"
00:20:29.53\00:20:33.24
The interesting
thing of Job friends
00:20:33.27\00:20:36.29
is that they were
not stating on truths.
00:20:36.32\00:20:39.68
They were
speaking truisms to Job.
00:20:39.71\00:20:45.64
But they were misapplied truths.
00:20:45.67\00:20:47.77
They didn't fit
the circumstance.
00:20:47.80\00:20:49.97
They didn't fit
what was going on.
00:20:50.00\00:20:52.49
So the Bible says a faithful man
00:20:52.52\00:20:54.54
will abound with blessings Job,
00:20:54.57\00:20:56.46
if you'll just repent,
your life will improve.
00:20:56.49\00:21:02.23
And this is the argument of Job
00:21:02.26\00:21:04.78
and so the Lord comes to Job
in the midst of his affliction.
00:21:04.81\00:21:11.24
I remember people coming to me
00:21:11.27\00:21:13.27
and asking me what
did he do to get this?
00:21:13.30\00:21:18.47
Or God knows what you need.
00:21:18.50\00:21:22.31
Does God know what I need?
00:21:22.34\00:21:23.84
God knows what everybody needs.
00:21:23.87\00:21:26.06
But He also knows
what the work needs.
00:21:26.09\00:21:27.73
He has dark providences that
00:21:27.76\00:21:30.08
we cannot understand or explain.
00:21:30.11\00:21:32.72
Job's friends didn't know
this, Job didn't understand this
00:21:32.75\00:21:36.72
and so God speaks to Job
and in Job 39:9 he says Job,
00:21:36.75\00:21:41.98
you cannot even
domesticate a zebra
00:21:42.01\00:21:46.34
and then he goes on
as he speaks to Job.
00:21:46.37\00:21:49.21
He says Job in Job 41:1
00:21:49.24\00:21:53.45
he says, go
ahead, slay Leviathan.
00:21:53.48\00:21:55.41
Who is Leviathan a
symbol for in the Bible?
00:21:55.44\00:21:59.03
Satan, go ahead slay Satan
00:21:59.06\00:22:01.66
if you've go the
solution to this thing,
00:22:01.69\00:22:03.79
you go ahead
and take care of it.
00:22:03.82\00:22:05.31
Job 40, I'm turning to Job 40,
00:22:05.34\00:22:09.00
the Lord speaks to
Job and He says look
00:22:09.03\00:22:11.61
on everyone who
is proud, humble him,
00:22:11.64\00:22:13.95
go ahead bring him low,
00:22:13.98\00:22:15.96
tread down the
wicked in their path,
00:22:15.99\00:22:17.74
bring them to dust.
00:22:17.77\00:22:19.15
This reminds me of Psalm 72
00:22:19.18\00:22:21.46
where David has
the same struggle
00:22:21.49\00:22:24.36
and he says, look
these are the righteous
00:22:24.39\00:22:28.12
who are
subjugated and oppressed.
00:22:28.15\00:22:30.24
Look at the wicked who is mauve,
00:22:30.27\00:22:32.97
walks through
the earth in pride.
00:22:33.00\00:22:34.92
They're not
afflicted like others,
00:22:34.95\00:22:37.14
their heart is as fat as grease.
00:22:37.17\00:22:40.40
And he said this was too much,
00:22:40.43\00:22:41.88
I didn't want to sin against
00:22:41.91\00:22:43.09
the children of this generation.
00:22:43.12\00:22:45.24
But then I went to the sanctuary
00:22:45.27\00:22:47.79
and I saw their end.
00:22:47.82\00:22:50.24
Justice is coming.
Do you believe that?
00:22:50.27\00:22:54.38
What's right is coming.
00:22:54.41\00:22:58.09
Extraordinary
afflictions, the message of Job
00:22:58.12\00:23:01.75
is that
extraordinary afflictions
00:23:01.78\00:23:04.84
are not always the punishment
for extraordinary sins.
00:23:04.87\00:23:09.90
Sometimes they're the
path to extraordinary gifts,
00:23:09.93\00:23:15.03
experiences and yes ministries.
00:23:15.06\00:23:20.77
I know someone who
was brutally assaulted
00:23:20.80\00:23:23.85
and left on the road to
die, stabbed multiple times.
00:23:23.88\00:23:29.33
She crawled to a home
at 3 o'clock in the morning
00:23:29.36\00:23:32.64
and there were some
men up playing poker.
00:23:32.67\00:23:37.23
They called the
hospital, got an ambulance
00:23:37.26\00:23:41.42
to get this women
put back together.
00:23:41.45\00:23:45.43
And in the
ambulance she knew that
00:23:45.46\00:23:48.88
if she did not
forgive, she would not have
00:23:48.91\00:23:50.86
the strength to
survive the ordeal.
00:23:50.89\00:23:56.15
She decided right then
00:23:56.18\00:23:57.30
and there that
she would forgive.
00:23:57.33\00:23:58.77
It was a decision of faith
not feeling, horrible thing.
00:23:58.80\00:24:02.93
Would you tell
somebody like that?
00:24:02.96\00:24:04.76
God knows what you
need, is that the response?
00:24:04.79\00:24:08.13
No, God used this experience,
00:24:08.16\00:24:11.62
this horrible
experience for whatever reason
00:24:11.65\00:24:14.05
I do not know, this woman
00:24:14.08\00:24:17.27
became a mighty
warrior in the cause of God
00:24:17.30\00:24:21.14
going into the kingdom
of darkness to rescue souls,
00:24:21.17\00:24:25.04
who have been the
slaves of evil, amen.
00:24:25.07\00:24:30.08
God anointed her
to a special ministry.
00:24:30.11\00:24:34.31
I'm going to read a quote to you
00:24:34.34\00:24:35.71
that is very special to me.
00:24:35.74\00:24:39.40
Education, page 151,
00:24:39.43\00:24:41.43
"All who in this world render
true service to God or man..."
00:24:41.46\00:24:47.36
Isn't that a wonderful thought
00:24:47.39\00:24:48.46
that we can render
service to God as well as man.
00:24:48.49\00:24:52.71
"Receive a preparatory training
in the school of sorrow.
00:24:52.74\00:24:57.66
The weightier the trust
and the higher the service,
00:24:57.69\00:25:01.83
the closer is the test
00:25:01.86\00:25:04.57
and the more
severe the discipline."
00:25:04.60\00:25:09.40
I wrestled with
this back and forth
00:25:09.43\00:25:11.86
and back and forth
because we produce programs
00:25:11.89\00:25:14.29
and one of the programs
that we produce for our series
00:25:14.32\00:25:17.87
is called Thank You Power.
00:25:17.90\00:25:20.25
Thanking God in
the midst of trials.
00:25:20.28\00:25:22.33
Wow! It is a
rugged step of faith.
00:25:22.36\00:25:25.08
It is not based on feeling.
00:25:25.11\00:25:27.01
It is a discipline and
it is a spiritual virtue
00:25:27.04\00:25:29.91
that is not require of
those who are unbelievers.
00:25:29.94\00:25:35.46
And I wrestle back and
forth and back and forth
00:25:35.49\00:25:37.57
and I thought of
these children in India
00:25:37.60\00:25:39.06
and I thought of this slavery.
00:25:39.09\00:25:40.34
And I thought
of all these things
00:25:40.37\00:25:41.57
and I was back and
forth, back and forth.
00:25:41.60\00:25:43.95
What do you mean? How
do we understand this?
00:25:43.98\00:25:46.72
And it was
midnight and I said Lord,
00:25:46.75\00:25:48.27
I can't finish this PowerPoint.
00:25:48.30\00:25:49.68
I have to be able to
have some grasp of this
00:25:49.71\00:25:52.76
because we're
told an inspiration
00:25:52.79\00:25:54.38
that if we
understood the suffering
00:25:54.41\00:25:56.60
that is in this
world it would kill us.
00:25:56.63\00:25:59.61
That is what
the heart of God is.
00:25:59.64\00:26:01.11
The heart of God is a
heart of suffering right now.
00:26:01.14\00:26:04.48
And He sends His servants
00:26:04.51\00:26:06.02
to the pit of hill
to rescue sufferers.
00:26:06.05\00:26:10.05
Like this doctor who goes
in and does these surgeries
00:26:10.08\00:26:12.50
and has to endure the oppression
00:26:12.53\00:26:14.99
and the evil and
starvation and the poverty.
00:26:15.02\00:26:17.52
He goes in as the shinning light
00:26:17.55\00:26:20.22
and this is a statement
that came to me at midnight
00:26:20.25\00:26:24.40
and I leaped and went
into the office to find it.
00:26:24.43\00:26:27.31
I knew just a few words
of it and it goes like this.
00:26:27.34\00:26:30.08
It's found in Steps
to Christ, page 100.
00:26:30.11\00:26:33.37
There is no
chapter in our experience,
00:26:33.40\00:26:37.13
too dark for him to read.
00:26:37.16\00:26:39.88
So this battle that
we have with our faith
00:26:39.91\00:26:43.42
that God is not there.
00:26:43.45\00:26:44.75
I mean, it didn't seem like
00:26:44.78\00:26:47.03
He was in my
neighborhood growing up.
00:26:47.06\00:26:51.22
I couldn't even get the police
00:26:51.25\00:26:52.62
to arrest me to keep me safe.
00:26:52.65\00:26:56.27
But He was there,
00:26:56.30\00:26:58.39
He had a plan and
it's a rescue plan.
00:26:58.42\00:27:02.35
"There is no chapter that He--
00:27:02.38\00:27:05.69
that is too
dark for him to read,
00:27:05.72\00:27:07.38
there is no perplexity too
difficult for Him to unravel.
00:27:07.41\00:27:12.81
There is no calamity can befall
the least of His children,
00:27:12.84\00:27:16.77
no anxiety harass
the soul, no joy cheer,
00:27:16.80\00:27:20.52
no sincere
prayer escape the lips,
00:27:20.55\00:27:22.56
of which our heavenly
Father is unobservant,
00:27:22.59\00:27:24.95
or of which He takes
no immediate interest."
00:27:24.98\00:27:28.02
Look, we have the choice
to be pitiful or powerful.
00:27:28.05\00:27:33.51
There was a point
and I want to tell you,
00:27:33.54\00:27:36.16
if you think you're
gonna get it together
00:27:36.19\00:27:38.36
in a crisis, forget it.
00:27:38.39\00:27:41.00
What you do in the light
when everything is going well
00:27:41.03\00:27:45.34
is what you're gonna take
with you into the darkness.
00:27:45.37\00:27:48.30
Our habit of worship,
00:27:48.33\00:27:50.34
our habit of
spending time with God,
00:27:50.37\00:27:52.50
our habit of prayer,
00:27:52.53\00:27:54.01
our healthy
lifestyle, the walks everyday.
00:27:54.04\00:27:57.12
The pattern of
our life carried us
00:27:57.15\00:28:00.62
through this evil time.
00:28:00.65\00:28:03.85
Obedience to those laws
gave Him strength to fight
00:28:03.88\00:28:07.64
and it gave me
the courage to live.
00:28:07.67\00:28:11.37
And there was a time early on
when I actually prayed to die.
00:28:11.40\00:28:14.44
I was working on our balance
00:28:14.47\00:28:15.80
living health
tracks at the time.
00:28:15.83\00:28:18.08
I would work on
the tracks by day
00:28:18.11\00:28:19.86
and pray to die by night.
00:28:19.89\00:28:22.20
I'd say, "Lord, take my breath.
00:28:22.23\00:28:23.78
I can't go on.
This is too terrible.
00:28:23.81\00:28:26.84
I cannot live
without my partner."
00:28:26.87\00:28:29.54
And after three weeks of this,
00:28:29.57\00:28:31.55
the Lord still hadn't killed me.
00:28:31.58\00:28:34.24
I was very upset about it.
00:28:34.27\00:28:36.52
So one evening I went to bed,
00:28:36.55\00:28:39.32
and I'm working on
these beautiful tracks
00:28:39.35\00:28:41.25
that have scriptures
and I thank God for that.
00:28:41.28\00:28:42.98
I mean, my heart was in it
but then you know really hits.
00:28:43.01\00:28:45.72
You are there, where is
your-- where is your confidant.
00:28:45.75\00:28:50.02
And so I said, I really mean
it and then I said some things
00:28:50.05\00:28:57.13
and I was just sure
I had crossed like--
00:28:57.16\00:28:59.28
I drew the line in
the sand with the Lord.
00:28:59.31\00:29:02.82
And I went to sleep
fully assured in my heart
00:29:02.85\00:29:05.82
that I was gonna die that night.
00:29:05.85\00:29:07.94
Well, to my utter amazement
I woke up the next morning.
00:29:07.97\00:29:11.93
And there was a
scripture on my mind so strong.
00:29:11.96\00:29:16.87
And I know that it was God,
00:29:16.90\00:29:19.34
it said it was
the words of David
00:29:19.37\00:29:21.50
and he said, I
had almost fainted
00:29:21.53\00:29:25.22
unless I had
believed to see the goodness
00:29:25.25\00:29:28.37
of the Lord in the
land of the living.
00:29:28.40\00:29:30.71
Wait on the Lord
be of good courage
00:29:30.74\00:29:34.10
and He will strengthen thine
heart wait I say on the Lord.
00:29:34.13\00:29:41.16
The cool thing about that,
I felt a hand of God on me.
00:29:41.19\00:29:45.66
I felt Him saying to me,
00:29:45.69\00:29:47.63
I know you don't see
My goodness right now,
00:29:47.66\00:29:50.30
but if you will
just take the baby step
00:29:50.33\00:29:53.63
of believing that you will.
00:29:53.66\00:29:56.10
If you will take just
that step I will do the rest.
00:29:56.13\00:29:59.53
I took that step. I
stopped praying to die.
00:29:59.56\00:30:03.94
I decided then that I
wanted power instead of pity.
00:30:03.97\00:30:09.16
I decided to move
forward with God's gifts.
00:30:09.19\00:30:13.87
What about this
trial of our faith?
00:30:13.90\00:30:16.36
The Bible says that it
is more precious than gold
00:30:16.39\00:30:21.07
that perishes, even
though now you are in heaviness
00:30:21.10\00:30:27.06
from manifold temptations,
from manifold trials.
00:30:27.09\00:30:30.54
Our hope is in the
resurrection of Christ
00:30:30.57\00:30:33.39
that's the hope that saves us.
00:30:33.42\00:30:36.85
How is it that these
trials are precious than gold?
00:30:36.88\00:30:39.35
You've all been to
dark places in your lives
00:30:39.38\00:30:41.39
where you felt
abandoned and perplexed.
00:30:41.42\00:30:43.88
And what
happened to this good God,
00:30:43.91\00:30:45.91
where things made
sense the equation worked,
00:30:45.94\00:30:48.18
it seem to fall through.
00:30:48.21\00:30:51.68
Well, a cup has
been put to your lips.
00:30:51.71\00:30:54.00
A cup for service.
00:30:54.03\00:30:55.82
A cup opening a
channel of blessing to others
00:30:55.85\00:30:58.57
that you have never dreamed.
00:30:58.60\00:31:00.64
How can you get the gold?
00:31:00.67\00:31:01.86
Well, here's
something that I have learned.
00:31:01.89\00:31:04.60
The sanctuary had its
own shekel, didn't it?
00:31:04.63\00:31:07.99
The sanctuary had its own coin
00:31:08.02\00:31:10.53
and so James tells
us to count it all joy,
00:31:10.56\00:31:14.80
when we fall into
these diverse trials.
00:31:14.83\00:31:17.64
Count-- well, counting is good
00:31:17.67\00:31:20.24
and we love accounting
00:31:20.27\00:31:22.45
but too often we count our loses
00:31:22.48\00:31:25.30
just in earth's
ledger so it's a loss.
00:31:25.33\00:31:28.36
It's a
bereavement. It's a spouse.
00:31:28.39\00:31:30.19
It's a child. It's a suicide.
00:31:30.22\00:31:32.69
It's an untimely death.
00:31:32.72\00:31:34.43
It's a still
born. It's a handicap.
00:31:34.46\00:31:37.94
It's a betrayal, the
loss of a job or property
00:31:37.97\00:31:40.74
or friendships or
position or whatever it is
00:31:40.77\00:31:43.72
that you just
cannot make sense of it.
00:31:43.75\00:31:47.68
Though that's earth's ledger
but heaven has a ledger too.
00:31:47.71\00:31:50.55
Did you know that?
00:31:50.58\00:31:51.61
Heaven has an accounting system
00:31:51.64\00:31:54.03
and I believe
that we need to learn
00:31:54.06\00:31:56.93
and it is a learned thing
00:31:56.96\00:31:59.17
to start counting in
the currency of heaven.
00:31:59.20\00:32:02.66
How many of you
would like more of heaven's
00:32:02.69\00:32:04.36
currency in your bank account?
00:32:04.39\00:32:07.04
What is heaven's currency?
00:32:07.07\00:32:09.07
Well, one of the first things
that I noticed about this.
00:32:09.10\00:32:13.34
I have always
loved this message.
00:32:13.37\00:32:17.19
I have learned more to
love people as a result of this.
00:32:17.22\00:32:20.79
I used to feel sorry for people.
00:32:20.82\00:32:23.22
Now I feel sorry with them.
00:32:23.25\00:32:26.49
I listened more, I
have more compassion,
00:32:26.52\00:32:30.10
faith, love and endurance, grow,
00:32:30.13\00:32:34.90
patients the
testing of your faith.
00:32:34.93\00:32:37.97
The genuineness of your faith
00:32:38.00\00:32:40.32
is tested not
when you get everything
00:32:40.35\00:32:42.94
when you-- that you want
00:32:42.97\00:32:44.42
but when you don't get anything
and none of it makes sense.
00:32:44.45\00:32:48.89
Kindness, what about
the power to win souls?
00:32:48.92\00:32:52.10
Proverbs I mean, excuse me.
00:32:52.13\00:32:53.46
Romans 5:3 says,
00:32:53.49\00:32:57.56
therefore having the
hope of the resurrection,
00:32:57.59\00:33:01.03
therefore we
glory in tribulations.
00:33:01.06\00:33:04.63
That's plural and
the meaning of that
00:33:04.66\00:33:07.89
is that we show his glory.
00:33:07.92\00:33:09.29
How many of you
want to show His glory?
00:33:09.32\00:33:12.09
You know in order
to show His glory,
00:33:12.12\00:33:13.55
to be honest we have to
get over the rift with God.
00:33:13.58\00:33:16.65
Often we're walking
around upset with Him
00:33:16.68\00:33:19.12
over what has
happened in our lives.
00:33:19.15\00:33:21.43
Broken hopes,
dashed expectations,
00:33:21.46\00:33:24.43
crushed dreams
even ministry dreams,
00:33:24.46\00:33:27.34
failures, setbacks,
obstacles and we get crushed,
00:33:27.37\00:33:32.20
but we got to get
over the rift with God
00:33:32.23\00:33:34.11
and know that He
wants to use these things
00:33:34.14\00:33:36.79
to invade Satan's kingdom
and win souls for Jesus Christ.
00:33:36.82\00:33:43.29
It's really not easy to
come to this frame of mind.
00:33:43.32\00:33:47.82
It takes
spiritual work to do this.
00:33:47.85\00:33:51.43
We show His
glory in tribulations
00:33:51.46\00:33:54.28
knowing that
tribulation produces endurance.
00:33:54.31\00:33:57.57
Is that currency?
Heaven's currency?
00:33:57.60\00:34:00.87
Endurance
character, is that currency?
00:34:00.90\00:34:05.12
And character
hope, is that currency?
00:34:05.15\00:34:09.35
And hope does not disappoint
because the love of God
00:34:09.38\00:34:12.51
has been shed
abroad in our hearts.
00:34:12.54\00:34:15.29
What an amazing thing.
00:34:15.32\00:34:16.40
You know, we meet these people,
00:34:16.43\00:34:17.68
these old saints who've
been through the grinder.
00:34:17.71\00:34:20.42
Have you met these people?
00:34:20.45\00:34:22.03
And we think oh,
I would really like
00:34:22.06\00:34:23.81
to be like that person.
00:34:23.84\00:34:25.88
Do you want to go through
what they've been through
00:34:25.91\00:34:28.24
to be like that person?
00:34:28.27\00:34:30.41
There's a price tag
00:34:30.44\00:34:31.56
and that's why
when the disciples said,
00:34:31.59\00:34:34.03
we want to sit on your
right hand and your left.
00:34:34.06\00:34:37.72
He said, are you
able to drink the cup
00:34:37.75\00:34:40.24
that will be put to your lips
00:34:40.27\00:34:41.42
so that you can pay
the price tag to sit
00:34:41.45\00:34:43.23
that close on the throne.
00:34:43.26\00:34:45.24
There's a price and
it's called suffering.
00:34:45.27\00:34:50.94
The Lord has special
grace, Signs of the Times 1895,
00:34:50.97\00:34:55.09
"The Lord has
special grace for mourners
00:34:55.12\00:34:58.05
and its power is
to melt hearts..."
00:34:58.08\00:35:01.90
What did I pray for
when the Lord delivered me?
00:35:01.93\00:35:04.87
I prayed for power to
"melt hearts to win souls.
00:35:04.90\00:35:10.42
His love opens a
channel into the wounded
00:35:10.45\00:35:13.52
and bruised soul,
00:35:13.55\00:35:15.21
and becomes a healing
balm to those who sorrow.
00:35:15.24\00:35:20.46
The Lord Jesus is a
restorer of all that was los,
00:35:20.49\00:35:24.86
and identifies His interest
00:35:24.89\00:35:27.20
with those of
suffering humanity.
00:35:27.23\00:35:29.58
He lives up the contrite heart.
00:35:29.61\00:35:31.72
He refines mourning souls
until it becomes his abode."
00:35:31.75\00:35:36.21
Amen how many of you want
00:35:36.24\00:35:37.49
that kind of currency in
your heavenly bank account?
00:35:37.52\00:35:45.12
We have to protect
this jewel of faith.
00:35:45.15\00:35:49.18
Jesus spoke to Peter in Luke 22
00:35:49.21\00:35:52.86
and he said, Simon, Simon,
Satan has desire to do what?
00:35:52.89\00:35:59.09
To sift you like
weak but I have prayed
00:35:59.12\00:36:02.66
for you that-- what?
00:36:02.69\00:36:04.79
That your faith fail
not. He didn't say your plan.
00:36:04.82\00:36:11.33
He didn't say your ministry.
00:36:11.36\00:36:13.28
He didn't say your
family or your stocks
00:36:13.31\00:36:17.12
or your schedule or
your team, or your health.
00:36:17.15\00:36:21.34
He said your faith.
00:36:21.37\00:36:23.62
Your faith is
the target of Satan
00:36:23.65\00:36:28.24
and anything that pleases God
greatly displeases the devil.
00:36:28.27\00:36:35.63
The Bible says
that faith pleases God.
00:36:35.66\00:36:39.98
Without faith it is
impossible to please Him.
00:36:40.01\00:36:43.77
Hebrews 11:6, Romans 3:28,
00:36:43.80\00:36:50.01
"We are justified by faith."
00:36:50.04\00:36:53.36
Romans 1:7, "We live by faith."
00:36:53.39\00:36:57.13
Hebrews 11, "We do
exploits by faith."
00:36:57.16\00:37:02.52
So faith is the target
of the javelin of the enemy.
00:37:02.55\00:37:09.68
I want to read a quote by Dane.
00:37:09.71\00:37:12.46
It's one the last
quotes, one of the last things
00:37:12.49\00:37:14.92
he ever wrote
while he was still able.
00:37:14.95\00:37:20.36
"I realize now, he said,
00:37:20.39\00:37:24.21
that faith is not
about the outcome.
00:37:24.24\00:37:27.64
Faith is about
growing from trial to trial,
00:37:27.67\00:37:31.18
from faith to faith
in order to be ready
00:37:31.21\00:37:35.58
for the outcome
that God permits.
00:37:35.61\00:37:39.16
Faith is not an insurance policy
00:37:39.19\00:37:42.37
against unwanted troubles.
00:37:42.40\00:37:44.91
Faith is a road map,
God's positioning system
00:37:44.94\00:37:49.52
that will lead us unfailing
00:37:49.55\00:37:51.60
to God's perfect
destination for us.
00:37:51.63\00:37:55.44
Faith is not
given to avoid problems.
00:37:55.47\00:38:00.77
Faith is given to avoid
failure while enduring problems.
00:38:00.80\00:38:06.06
Faith is dynamic.
00:38:06.09\00:38:07.72
Where will my journey take me?
00:38:07.75\00:38:10.25
That is up to God.
00:38:10.28\00:38:12.37
I just want His faith
that overcomes the world,
00:38:12.40\00:38:15.97
His faith that develops
me to meet each new trial,
00:38:16.00\00:38:20.55
His faith that prepares me
00:38:20.58\00:38:22.44
for the only guarantee of faith,
00:38:22.47\00:38:25.93
for by grace you are
saved through faith, amen.
00:38:25.96\00:38:32.78
How do we get
more of this faith?
00:38:32.81\00:38:34.21
Faith comes by
hearing and hearing
00:38:34.24\00:38:36.50
by the word of God.
00:38:36.53\00:38:38.94
But how does faith
grow? How does it grow?
00:38:38.97\00:38:43.25
This surprised me volume 4
00:38:43.28\00:38:45.54
of a book called
Testimonies, page 116-17,
00:38:45.57\00:38:50.07
God would teach us
where to look for help
00:38:50.10\00:38:54.67
and strength in times of meet.
00:38:54.70\00:38:58.64
Faith grows strong in earnest
conflict with doubt and fear.
00:38:58.67\00:39:06.02
Amen.
00:39:06.05\00:39:07.13
Faith is accepting in advance
00:39:07.16\00:39:10.81
what we are only
gonna understand in reverse.
00:39:10.84\00:39:15.42
Are you ready for
that fruit of faith?
00:39:15.45\00:39:18.29
Are you willing
to drink that cup?
00:39:18.32\00:39:24.33
We do have a
choice in this battle
00:39:24.36\00:39:26.84
and it's not an easy one.
00:39:26.87\00:39:28.96
We can choose
whether we will become
00:39:28.99\00:39:31.51
bitter or better with
what life brings our way.
00:39:31.54\00:39:36.97
People do several things
00:39:37.00\00:39:39.20
when faced with
these kind of situations
00:39:39.23\00:39:41.50
I believe I did all of
them, focus on the trial.
00:39:41.53\00:39:47.08
And no trial is pleasant
for the moment but what?
00:39:47.11\00:39:52.43
Grieves but
afterwards it will yield fruit
00:39:52.46\00:39:57.39
if we will just allow God
to keep us during the trial.
00:39:57.42\00:40:03.68
Focus on the trial.
People get bitter or give up.
00:40:03.71\00:40:09.78
But there is another option
00:40:09.81\00:40:11.67
that is Satan's plan,
when you are in a trial.
00:40:11.70\00:40:17.26
And when James
says count it all joy
00:40:17.29\00:40:19.74
when you fall
into divers temptations
00:40:19.77\00:40:21.72
or trials the word is inter--
is really interchangeable
00:40:21.75\00:40:24.58
and that is because
trials bring with them
00:40:24.61\00:40:26.46
a measure of temptation.
00:40:26.49\00:40:28.15
We're discouraged,
we can become bitter.
00:40:28.18\00:40:30.54
We don't understand
and the Lord tells Job,
00:40:30.57\00:40:33.40
Job I have created my creatures
00:40:33.43\00:40:36.31
with a measure of understanding
but there comes a point
00:40:36.34\00:40:39.06
where you have to trust
my understanding, my wisdom.
00:40:39.09\00:40:41.93
You have to stop
trying to figure it out
00:40:41.96\00:40:45.22
and he points
Job to the ostrich.
00:40:45.25\00:40:47.13
He said, look, the
ostrich lays an egg
00:40:47.16\00:40:48.61
but doesn't have the wisdom
to keep from stepping on it.
00:40:48.64\00:40:51.64
So your wisdom,
your understanding
00:40:51.67\00:40:53.48
is only gonna get you so far.
00:40:53.51\00:40:57.70
Then you trust me, that's faith.
00:40:57.73\00:41:01.68
There is another
option that we can choose
00:41:01.71\00:41:05.91
and that is a
rugged step of faith.
00:41:05.94\00:41:10.44
1 Thessalonians 5:18
says, In every thing do what?
00:41:10.47\00:41:16.57
Give thanks.
00:41:16.60\00:41:17.77
Giving thanks is not the
same as feeling thankful.
00:41:17.80\00:41:22.61
It is an act of obedience.
00:41:22.64\00:41:25.68
It is an act of
obedience by a Christian
00:41:25.71\00:41:27.92
who looks beyond the
trouble to an all powerful God
00:41:27.95\00:41:31.54
that's the amazing thing
about God's dealing with Job.
00:41:31.57\00:41:35.41
He did not directly
answered Job's questions.
00:41:35.44\00:41:38.81
He didn't answer his questions
00:41:38.84\00:41:40.98
but He did reassure Job
through the longest speech
00:41:41.01\00:41:45.19
in the Bible that he is control,
00:41:45.22\00:41:47.86
justice is
coming, payday is coming.
00:41:47.89\00:41:52.29
And that was enough,
and it's enough for me.
00:41:52.32\00:41:55.20
Is it enough for you?
00:41:55.23\00:41:59.33
Romans 8:28 we
know the Lord uses
00:41:59.36\00:42:03.52
all things to work together
00:42:03.55\00:42:05.64
for His power His
and good and glory.
00:42:05.67\00:42:08.00
He uses those
things they aren't good.
00:42:08.03\00:42:10.00
He uses terrible things
00:42:10.03\00:42:11.30
but the Bible says in Psalm 139
00:42:11.33\00:42:14.21
that the day and the
night are alike to him.
00:42:14.24\00:42:17.06
They are His tools to
take back for His kingdom.
00:42:17.09\00:42:20.69
Amen. Are you willing?
00:42:20.72\00:42:24.79
Justice is
coming. Payday is coming.
00:42:24.82\00:42:30.34
Isaiah 61.
00:42:30.37\00:42:33.83
Isaiah 61 says,
00:42:33.86\00:42:40.02
instead of your shame
you know, you didn't choose
00:42:40.05\00:42:42.11
where you were born.
00:42:42.14\00:42:43.35
You didn't choose who
had authority over you
00:42:43.38\00:42:45.18
that messed with you
that did terrible things.
00:42:45.21\00:42:47.37
You didn't have
authority over your environment,
00:42:47.40\00:42:49.60
environment of the
womb being the first one,
00:42:49.63\00:42:51.68
and after that I mean
you are where you are.
00:42:51.71\00:42:56.46
God is in the
business of renewal,
00:42:56.49\00:43:00.99
restoration and recovery.
00:43:01.02\00:43:03.07
He has
engineered you for success
00:43:03.10\00:43:05.31
because He Knows
that you didn't ask
00:43:05.34\00:43:06.90
for the genetic hand
00:43:06.93\00:43:08.06
you were built with
all its liabilities.
00:43:08.09\00:43:10.37
You didn't ask
for that environment
00:43:10.40\00:43:12.18
where evil people
had authority over you.
00:43:12.21\00:43:14.50
You didn't ask for
that, that's where you are
00:43:14.53\00:43:17.26
and that's where He finds you
00:43:17.29\00:43:18.64
and that's where
He will rescue you.
00:43:18.67\00:43:20.75
You were made to make it.
00:43:20.78\00:43:23.77
In addition we
make stupid choices.
00:43:23.80\00:43:26.21
The Bible says
we're ignorantly alienated
00:43:26.24\00:43:28.41
from the life of God,
dead in trespasses and sins.
00:43:28.44\00:43:31.81
But whether by choice,
chance or circumstance,
00:43:31.84\00:43:35.26
He has a plan and
it's to prosper you
00:43:35.29\00:43:38.77
and strengthen you.
00:43:38.80\00:43:40.46
He will always
do one of two things
00:43:40.49\00:43:42.55
when you pray to Him.
00:43:42.58\00:43:44.20
He will either
solve your problem,
00:43:44.23\00:43:48.26
so that you can enjoy your day
00:43:48.29\00:43:50.10
and for me that means a -- bath
00:43:50.13\00:43:52.84
at the end of the day or
he's gonna make you bigger.
00:43:52.87\00:43:57.24
Now what stronger to meet it?
00:43:57.27\00:43:59.79
Now which option do you
think it's gonna start happening
00:43:59.82\00:44:02.30
more and more in
this era of transition.
00:44:02.33\00:44:05.06
Which option? What's
our preferred option?
00:44:05.09\00:44:09.56
Option one, if there was
a line that I could get up
00:44:09.59\00:44:13.59
and be in line to
be a hothouse plant,
00:44:13.62\00:44:16.46
I would be there.
00:44:16.49\00:44:17.91
You know, no wind nothing.
00:44:17.94\00:44:19.97
But have you ever
taken a hothouse plant
00:44:20.00\00:44:21.60
and take it, put
it out in weather?
00:44:21.63\00:44:23.48
It's dead in two hours.
00:44:23.51\00:44:25.73
So the second option I believe
is gonna happen more often,
00:44:25.76\00:44:28.18
He will make you strong.
00:44:28.21\00:44:30.28
Well, how do I
claim those promises?
00:44:30.31\00:44:33.15
You know, those
children at Sandy Hook
00:44:33.18\00:44:35.43
who were brutally murdered.
00:44:35.46\00:44:37.78
Shot, kindergarteners,
some of their names were Faith,
00:44:37.81\00:44:41.56
Joy, Hope, Micah,
Isaiah, Christian names.
00:44:41.59\00:44:45.19
You know that those
parents taught their children,
00:44:45.22\00:44:48.55
the angel of the Lord
encamps around about them
00:44:48.58\00:44:51.08
that fear him and delivers them.
00:44:51.11\00:44:53.35
Oh, taste and see
that the Lord is good.
00:44:53.38\00:44:55.55
Happy is the man
that trust in Him.
00:44:55.58\00:44:57.81
I went to our
conference president,
00:44:57.84\00:44:59.23
I said Jay, help
me to understand,
00:44:59.26\00:45:03.18
and that is when the Lord
filled his mouth with wisdom
00:45:03.21\00:45:05.60
and Jay our president told me,
00:45:05.63\00:45:07.32
he said, Vicki, a cup was put
to the lips of those parents.
00:45:07.35\00:45:11.25
Because I told Jay,
I said I want to know
00:45:11.28\00:45:13.56
how those parents are gonna help
00:45:13.59\00:45:15.43
their surviving
siblings to have faith
00:45:15.46\00:45:18.45
and trust in the promises of God
00:45:18.48\00:45:20.66
that they will not
feel like thin ice.
00:45:20.69\00:45:22.68
I have to understand
this. You've got to help me.
00:45:22.71\00:45:28.05
He said Vicki, a cup,
00:45:28.08\00:45:29.45
a cup was put to the
lips of those parents.
00:45:29.48\00:45:33.44
A cup of suffering.
The promises are sure.
00:45:33.47\00:45:36.85
They are repeatable.
We can stand on them.
00:45:36.88\00:45:39.80
They are a firm foundation
00:45:39.83\00:45:41.65
but if that cup
is put to your lips,
00:45:41.68\00:45:44.40
are you able to take it?
00:45:44.43\00:45:47.50
If He puts it to
your lips by fiat
00:45:47.53\00:45:50.85
and his declaration,
He's declaring you able.
00:45:50.88\00:45:54.06
Amen.
00:45:54.09\00:45:55.41
Because I can do all things
00:45:55.44\00:45:57.14
through Christ
who strengthens me.
00:45:57.17\00:45:59.31
Whatever the loss,
whatever the challenge,
00:45:59.34\00:46:01.50
whatever the bereavement,
how awful and terrible it is,
00:46:01.53\00:46:04.23
God is putting a cup to
you lips to give you power.
00:46:04.26\00:46:09.62
Power to win souls.
Power to grow strong in Him.
00:46:09.65\00:46:12.82
Power for amazing ministry.
Incredible experiences.
00:46:12.85\00:46:16.60
A walk with God
that is second to none.
00:46:16.63\00:46:22.30
Are you willing?
Justice is coming.
00:46:22.33\00:46:26.24
In Isaiah 61 says for all shame
00:46:26.27\00:46:28.73
wherever you were born you know,
00:46:28.76\00:46:30.03
the Bible says
in the commandments
00:46:30.06\00:46:32.22
that He visits
the sins of the third
00:46:32.25\00:46:34.74
and fourth generation
them that hate me, right?
00:46:34.77\00:46:37.20
It's not a curse. It's
a declaration of truth.
00:46:37.23\00:46:40.04
I know as an investigator
00:46:40.07\00:46:41.46
that abuse children
tend to grow up and do what?
00:46:41.49\00:46:44.72
Repeat the behavior.
00:46:44.75\00:46:45.78
But Jesus says in Deuteronomy
00:46:45.81\00:46:47.79
that Jesus came to show
mercy to a thousand generations.
00:46:47.82\00:46:52.20
He came to break
the cycle of sin.
00:46:52.23\00:46:55.99
Do you want to drive your
car with a shattered windshield?
00:46:56.02\00:46:59.06
Don't build your life
on a broken foundation.
00:46:59.09\00:47:01.43
He wants to give you a new one.
00:47:01.46\00:47:04.18
That's what He died to
do for you and He says--
00:47:04.21\00:47:06.37
by the way He says
whatever you have endured
00:47:06.40\00:47:09.17
because of where you were born
00:47:09.20\00:47:10.27
because of what
you've had to fight,
00:47:10.30\00:47:11.71
because of what
you've been through,
00:47:11.74\00:47:13.10
because of what you've endured,
I will repay you double,
00:47:13.13\00:47:16.98
that's what the verse says.
00:47:17.01\00:47:18.58
Workers compensation.
00:47:18.61\00:47:20.74
Do you want
payday? Payday is coming.
00:47:20.77\00:47:24.35
In fact Isaiah 42
00:47:24.38\00:47:30.08
the Lord is getting
pretty fed up with this.
00:47:30.11\00:47:32.06
The Bible says marvel not
00:47:32.09\00:47:35.15
when you see violent
perverting of justice.
00:47:35.18\00:47:37.49
Don't even
marvel when you see this
00:47:37.52\00:47:39.34
but one is coming who is
greater than our adversary.
00:47:39.37\00:47:42.70
He's gonna set things
right. Do you believe that?
00:47:42.73\00:47:47.20
He says long have I
held my peace, Isaiah 42:14
00:47:47.23\00:47:51.13
but now I have
held myself still.
00:47:51.16\00:47:54.65
I have restrained myself
00:47:54.68\00:47:56.42
but now I will cry
like a woman in travail.
00:47:56.45\00:48:00.52
He is in
transition. He is coming.
00:48:00.55\00:48:03.84
He is fed up with
evil and sin and suffering
00:48:03.87\00:48:06.71
and oppression and wrong.
00:48:06.74\00:48:11.82
it says God will
wipe away every tear.
00:48:16.41\00:48:19.54
It doesn't say He's
gonna wash your face,
00:48:19.57\00:48:22.16
that's too general.
00:48:22.19\00:48:23.79
He knows
everything. He knows everything.
00:48:23.82\00:48:27.63
But He has a plan with
that. He wants to give you gold.
00:48:27.66\00:48:31.36
Don't leave your
trial without the gold.
00:48:31.39\00:48:39.22
There will be no more
death, no more sorrow,
00:48:39.25\00:48:44.05
no crying, no stupid accusations
00:48:44.08\00:48:47.98
when people are suffering
as a result of terrible things.
00:48:48.01\00:48:52.79
There will be no more pain.
00:48:52.82\00:48:55.43
That means that while we're here
00:48:55.46\00:48:56.79
there will be
all of those things.
00:48:56.82\00:48:59.73
But payday is
coming. Justice is coming.
00:48:59.76\00:49:04.26
A God of love is on
his way to rescue you
00:49:04.29\00:49:08.72
and you want to
have your trophies
00:49:08.75\00:49:10.88
with you to give to our Lord.
00:49:10.91\00:49:13.68
How many of you want to
powerful instead of pitiful,
00:49:13.71\00:49:16.88
powerful instead of pitiful,
strong in the midst of trials?
00:49:16.91\00:49:21.96
Looking at trials
in a new way saying,
00:49:21.99\00:49:23.95
Lord, what do you
want me to do with this?
00:49:23.98\00:49:25.71
What do you want me to do
with this for your kingdom?
00:49:25.74\00:49:27.61
Amen. Are you willing?
00:49:27.64\00:49:30.89
If you are willing
and that is your desire
00:49:30.92\00:49:33.45
and your conviction now.
00:49:33.48\00:49:34.56
I would like you
to stand to your feet
00:49:34.59\00:49:36.59
as we have closing prayer.
00:49:36.62\00:49:41.51
Lord Jesus,
trials are a hard thing,
00:49:41.54\00:49:44.07
grief is heavy to bear
but You have borne it all.
00:49:44.10\00:49:47.06
And You have a plan
00:49:47.09\00:49:48.18
and a purpose in
everything that happens
00:49:48.21\00:49:50.80
and we are grateful Father,
00:49:50.83\00:49:52.23
help us to turn
our face toward You
00:49:52.26\00:49:54.53
that we may have
that peaceable fruit
00:49:54.56\00:49:56.43
of righteousness and power.
00:49:56.46\00:49:59.05
Power to win souls.
00:49:59.08\00:50:00.71
Power to represent
you in the darkest places
00:50:00.74\00:50:03.23
of earth in the
very gates of hell,
00:50:03.26\00:50:06.29
snatching souls for Your kingdom
00:50:06.32\00:50:08.27
for everlasting life
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:50:08.30\00:50:14.92
Good morning, isn't
that wonderful to be here.
00:54:30.31\00:54:33.52
I'm so excited to be here.
00:54:33.55\00:54:36.37
We have been coming to
ASI for quite a few years
00:54:36.40\00:54:39.73
and it's just
been really a blessing.
00:54:39.76\00:54:42.31
My name is Tena
00:54:42.34\00:54:43.69
and we live at
Collegedale right now.
00:54:43.72\00:54:46.51
And it's so wonderful
to see everyone of you here
00:54:46.54\00:54:49.30
and one of the
exciting things that
00:54:49.33\00:54:50.73
I find about ASI is the seminars
00:54:50.76\00:54:54.12
that will be taking place right
after this meeting right here.
00:54:54.15\00:54:58.77
And there's
something there for each of you
00:54:58.80\00:55:00.71
that you will find,
00:55:00.74\00:55:01.88
that you will really
benefit and enjoy from.
00:55:01.91\00:55:04.88
And so please take part in it
and please attend one of them.
00:55:04.91\00:55:09.46
And I just want to
ask you to pray with me,
00:55:09.49\00:55:12.14
if we bow our heads.
00:55:12.17\00:55:14.10
Heavenly Father,
we just thank You
00:55:14.13\00:55:16.49
for the many blessings
that You have been giving us
00:55:16.52\00:55:19.55
and we want to
lift You up daily.
00:55:19.58\00:55:22.44
And thank You for the
folks that are here, bless them
00:55:22.47\00:55:24.94
that they will
receive a wonderful blessing
00:55:24.97\00:55:27.48
and thank You
again for loving us
00:55:27.51\00:55:29.72
and caring for us.
00:55:29.75\00:55:31.32
And we so want You to come
soon and take us home with you.
00:55:31.35\00:55:35.62
Help us to be
faithful in whatever we do.
00:55:35.65\00:55:38.44
And thank You
again for being with us
00:55:38.47\00:55:40.91
and loving us and caring for us.
00:55:40.94\00:55:43.06
We ask this thing in
Jesus' dear name, amen.
00:55:43.09\00:55:47.07