Participants: Vicki Griffin
Series Code: 14ASIC
Program Code: 14ASIC000002A
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00:19 Hello, my name is Evelyn Kissinger.
00:22 Twelve years ago, I had the privilege of joining 00:24 the Lifestyle Matters team with Vicki and Dane Griffin. 00:29 We have had the opportunity 00:31 of developing materials for churches to use 00:33 for health outreach with Lifestyle Matters. 00:36 Our recent program is called Fit & Free. 00:40 Our speaker today is Vicki Griffin 00:43 and you will be delighted 00:45 to leave here with lots of hope, 00:47 no matter what you came here with, 00:49 you will leave with hope. 00:50 Vicki Griffin has her Master of Science and Nutrition. 00:54 She is an author, a speaker and international speaker. 00:58 She is a Bible scholar and an evangelist. 01:02 She has done evangelistic series. 01:03 We did a series in Guam couple of years ago 01:07 and you will be delighted to see how you can take 01:13 these obstacles in your life 01:15 and turn 'em into opportunities. 01:18 Vicki has two grown children. 01:20 They are both emergency room nurses. 01:24 She's expecting her fourth grandchild in October 01:28 and I'm privileged to introduce my friend and colleague 01:33 who will share the program lessons on loss. 01:38 And you will leave with hope in your hearts today. 01:42 Thank you. 01:46 Good morning. 01:49 You know its 1983 when our family sang 01:52 for the very first time in an ASI Convention 01:54 and we're very happy to have our boys 01:55 and their families here with us. 01:57 And we have a song for you this morning, 01:58 "Count Your Many Blessings." 02:05 When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed 02:11 When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost 02:16 Count your many blessings, name them one by one 02:22 And it will surprise you what the Lord has done 02:27 Count your blessings, name them one by one 02:33 Count your blessings, see what God has done 02:39 Count your blessings, name them one by one 02:46 Count your many blessings 02:48 See what God has done 02:55 Are you ever burdened with a load of care? 03:01 Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? 03:06 Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly 03:12 And you will keep singing as the days go by 03:17 Count your blessings, name them one by one 03:23 Count your blessings, see what God has done 03:28 Count your blessings, name them one by one 03:35 Count your many blessings 03:37 See what God has done 03:45 So, amid the conflict whether great or small 03:50 Do not be discouraged, God is over all 03:56 Count your many blessings, angels will attend 04:01 Help and comfort give you to your journey's end 04:07 Count your blessings, name them one by one 04:12 Count your blessings, see what God has done 04:17 Count your blessings 04:22 Name them one by one 04:24 Count your many blessings, see what God has done 04:31 Count your many blessings, see what God has done 04:46 Good morning everyone, and welcome to ASI. 04:52 I get you the first morning when you're still awake. 04:55 What a blessing. 04:57 My name is Vicki Griffin 04:58 and I'm the Health Ministries Director 05:00 for the Michigan Conference 05:01 and the Director of Lifestyle Matters. 05:03 And it is a genuine thrill to be here 05:05 with you this morning and to share together 05:08 as we worship and turn our faces toward God. 05:12 Would you bow your heads with me in prayer? 05:15 Father in heaven, thank you, Lord Jesus, 05:17 for this time that we can spend together focusing upon You. 05:21 We ask You to come and be our teacher 05:22 that Your Spirit will be present to move my heart, 05:25 my lips and the hearts of the hearers. 05:28 We ask these things in Jesus' name, amen. 05:33 I saw a news headline this morning 05:36 that really arrested my attention. 05:39 It was a statement by John Bolton, 05:42 former US ambassador to the United Nations. 05:46 And it was quite a stunning statement. 05:48 I didn't read the whole article, 05:50 but he said the world is descending into chaos. 05:58 The United States has lost its platform in the world 06:01 and as a result anarchy is on the way. 06:06 What an incredible eye opener this morning 06:09 as I read that statement. 06:11 Do you feel and sense in your hearts 06:13 that we are in an incredible time of transition, 06:16 transition raise your hand. 06:18 Yes, we just sense that so much is happening 06:22 and I remember not paying to much attention 06:26 to this word transition 06:28 until I was pregnant with our first child. 06:32 And women who had more experience than me 06:35 would come to me and talk to me about this thing 06:37 that was gonna happen to me at birth called transition. 06:41 And they would give me a dark look 06:43 and they would say, you will think 06:45 you are losing your mind 06:48 and I thought that's ridiculous. 06:50 This is got to be a piece of cake. 06:52 It's psychological. 06:54 So my husband and I bought this little instrument, 06:57 this little game called Simon. 06:59 Does anybody remember Simon? 07:00 It was a light and noise sequential game 07:04 and you follow the patterns 07:05 and see who far you could go on this pattern 07:07 and it was to distract attention. 07:09 And so we started out really well with Simon 07:13 when labor came until transition. 07:17 Simon was thrown on the floor. 07:22 Dane said, my husband Dane said bite my knuckle. 07:25 I said get your hand out of my face. 07:28 You will lose your finger. 07:30 There is no teacher like experience. 07:33 And as I've been reading the Bible, 07:35 I came to a very significant passage in Mark 10. 07:39 Let's turn their quickly, Mark 10 talks about 07:42 an incredible time of transition 07:46 in the disciples' experience. 07:50 Mark 10, Jesus is nearing the crisis of the cross. 07:57 He's nearing this crisis and now He's beginning 08:00 to make these cryptic remarks to the disciples 08:04 that they do not understand. 08:07 He talks to them in Mark 10 several times about 08:11 how hard it is for the rich 08:13 to enter into the kingdom of heaven. 08:14 They were astonished and greatly amazed 08:18 and then He tells them they need to forsake all 08:22 or they cannot be His disciples. 08:24 Well, they had forsaken all or so they thought. 08:28 He tells them that they need to take up their cross daily. 08:30 He asks them, are you able to drink the cup 08:35 that is going to be put to your lips. 08:37 He doesn't say are you willing? 08:39 He says are you able to drink this cup? 08:42 Are you able to pay the price 08:46 for where you want to be next to the throne of God? 08:49 For the third time in this chapter 08:51 Jesus predicts His death and resurrection. 08:55 And He darkly intimates that this cup of suffering 09:00 is going to be placed to His followers' lips. 09:02 He is now transitioning from feeding 09:05 the multitudes to facing torture and death 09:10 and submitting to the evil tormentors 09:16 who are going to crucify Him. 09:18 Now, He is walking ahead of the disciples briskly. 09:24 His face is away from them. His pace is quickened. 09:30 His forehead is set like a flint. 09:33 His disciples had to scramble to keep up with Him 09:38 and to keep Him insight. 09:40 And in Mark 10:32 it says, 09:45 "And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem, 09:49 and Jesus walked ahead of them, 09:52 and they were amazed, 09:55 and as they followed, they were afraid. 10:00 And He took again the twelve, and began to tell them 10:03 again the things that were going to happen," 10:08 I really resonated with this chapter 10:11 as I have gone through the experience 10:14 of a major transition in my life. 10:17 The loss of my ministry partner 10:18 and husband Dane, and my background, 10:24 people will look at me and they'll say 10:26 well, sure you know, you're Health Ministries director. 10:28 It's easy for you to tell people what to do. 10:30 You're kind of thin. 10:31 You look like a librarian, probably line up 10:35 your paper clips same direction. 10:38 It's kind of true. 10:41 But the fact is I was not raised 10:42 as Seventh-day Adventist. 10:43 I was not raised in a Christian home. 10:46 I was raised in an incredibly brutal violent home. 10:49 I don't have a memory of feeling safe. 10:52 I started running away from home 10:53 when I was five years old. 10:55 And got into chronic trouble by the time 10:58 I was 11, I was in major trouble. 11:02 All the runaway stuff and also developed 11:06 a very severe eating disorder bulimia, 11:09 which I had for 20 years until the age of 31. 11:12 So I ran away for good when I was 17. 11:14 I ran away to Canada. I was very angry. 11:18 I was-- my father left home 11:20 when I was young and so I was left 11:22 in a very brutal unpredictable situation. 11:25 The saving grace there for me was that 11:28 I would hide out in libraries. 11:29 So I always kept my grades up, so that was a real blessing. 11:33 But I grew up very angry wanting justice, 11:38 and my early career path reflected 11:41 this vengeance against evil, even though I was evil myself. 11:46 I was raised in evil and I did evil and I was evil. 11:50 But I still wanted justice. 11:53 I wanted something to happen 11:54 that was right and fair and just. 11:57 And matter of fact at age 15, 11:59 I turned myself into juvenile hall 12:01 as an incorrigible. 12:02 I showed up at the jail, 12:04 they did not know what to do with me. 12:06 They said, you know, we're-- 12:07 the cops usually go looking for runaways, I showed up. 12:10 I said I am incorrigible. 12:11 I want you to jail me now because I wanted the people 12:15 that were hurting me to be brought to justice 12:18 and there was no justice. 12:20 And that's what I wanted, 12:21 so I was put in jail with a gang leader. 12:26 It was very interesting experience 12:29 and even though she was a lot shorter than me, 12:31 she was pretty scary. 12:32 I want to tell you that right now. 12:35 So justice, justice in my career path 12:41 when I started my career path I was a social worker, 12:47 who did child abuse investigations. 12:49 In the finance world I repossessed cars, 12:52 skip traced on bad checks 12:54 and collected delinquent accounts. 12:59 It was a really good day if you were on my list 13:01 for getting your car repossessed 13:03 because I had such abysmal sense of direction, 13:06 I never could find anyone's house. 13:08 So it was a good day for a repossesse. 13:12 I went to law school, 13:13 I was gonna be a prosecuting attorney. 13:15 I wound up getting a master's in Public Administration 13:20 and I was gonna zone the city perfectly. 13:24 We were gonna zone out social injustice, 13:26 no lulus, locally unaccepted land use. 13:31 Well, I met my husband at La Sierra University. 13:35 The only reason I went to La Sierra 13:37 is because I liked the landscaping. 13:38 I thought it was a roofing and air conditioning company. 13:41 Seventh-day Advent, 13:42 venting system seven days a week, I had no clue. 13:46 A friend of mine, a friend of mine, 13:50 I asked a friend of mine about it, I said they-- 13:52 there's this organization that has roofing 13:54 or something, venting systems. 13:56 They do beautiful landscaping. 13:58 She said no, no, Vicki that is a university. 14:02 And it's a Christian University and I remembered like 14:05 it was yesterday saying 14:07 well, anybody that landscapes like that can't be all bad. 14:09 I think I'll go there. 14:11 I mean, there was no other reason. 14:12 So please keep your yards, folks, please. 14:16 I was an atheist. 14:17 She told me she said 14:18 well, they're not too fond of atheist there. 14:21 You know, they don't know 14:22 what to do with people like you. 14:24 So if you want to get in, 14:25 tell them that the body is the temple. 14:28 Fine, I didn't have a clue what that meant, 14:32 but when I went into my interview. 14:35 The president of the university 14:37 I told him that I said Dr. Osmundson, 14:38 I don't know too much about you people, 14:40 but I really liked the idea that the body is a temple. 14:43 He put his arm around me and he said, 14:45 "I wish we had more young people like 14:47 you on this campus." 14:49 And I remember thinking, "Are they all this naive?" 14:54 I mean this is gonna be a piece of cake. 14:56 Well, I met my husband there and we found the Lord together. 15:01 And it wasn't too long after our marriage 15:03 that we were in ministry together. 15:05 I gave my heart to God. He healed me of the bulimia. 15:09 He healed me of all that evil. 15:11 And my prayer was not a typical prayer. 15:14 I said God I didn't know 15:17 or care so much about the love part of this. 15:19 I wanted justice and on my knees 15:22 I made a contract with God, I said Lord, 15:26 "I am gonna give you all that I am." 15:30 Big deal, like that was a big deal. 15:34 But I only want one thing in return, 15:37 I want to spend my life paying the devil back 15:40 for what he did to me and He hired me. 15:44 The Lord hired me. 15:45 I'm a hired gun for the Lord all these years. 15:49 Well, I want to tell you that I came to this religion, 15:54 into this work, into this Bible, into this God 15:58 because I was seeking justice. 16:01 And when my husband, 16:02 you know, we were avid in the Lord's work 16:05 and I still am and I still love this God, 16:09 but my experience has had to go through 16:12 a change, a maturation 16:16 because of the devastating loss of my husband 16:18 with a deadly cancer that only affects 16:21 1,200 people a year. 16:23 It shouldn't have happened. We were a ministry team. 16:26 We would spend our days together 16:28 planning in God's work. 16:30 When our children were older, 16:31 we could hardly wait for the home to be. 16:34 you know, in a situation where we could 16:36 even spend more time in God's works. 16:38 And then that fatal, fatal diagnosis came 16:43 and I begged and pleaded and prayed. 16:46 This was my husband of 32 years, 16:49 28 years in full time ministry for God, 16:52 living for God, 16:54 following health principles for God. 16:56 And my husband was dying and I knew it. 17:01 He was wasting away and he would pray, 17:04 Lord Jesus one more project for thy cause as he was dying 17:10 and I was completely devastated. 17:15 I was shattered. How could this happen? 17:19 Was I too happy? 17:20 Was I being punished 17:22 for being happy and feeling safe? 17:25 People would say things like that 17:27 well, God knows what you need. 17:31 I said to one of them 17:33 couldn't He have started with breaking my nose. 17:35 Like could we start there and then work out, 17:40 it set me on a journey we can know things in our head 17:44 but we need to have them established in our hearts 17:46 and that's different. 17:48 Some of you know exactly what I'm saying, don't you? 17:50 You know that we can understand a theology 17:54 but when our experience is tested, 17:57 the Bible says that this is a very valuable thing 17:59 although at the moment it is very painful. 18:02 It drove me to the Book of Job 18:05 where God moved on Moses to write this book. 18:09 It was the first book written in the Bible 18:12 in the land of Midian by Moses 18:15 and the Lord delivers the longest speech 18:17 in all the Bible in the Book of Job. 18:20 And I found so much comfort 18:22 and instruction as the most unbelievable, 18:27 impossible, horrible experience 18:30 was happening in my entire life. 18:33 This was not supposed to happen. 18:35 This wasn't the plan and it didn't seem to be right, 18:42 it didn't seem to make sense. 18:45 And when Job, when God speaks to Job about this. 18:49 You know the story of Job where God actually draws 18:53 the attention of the enemy to Job. 18:55 He says, have you seen my servant Job? 18:58 You know the story. 18:59 We don't have time to go over at this morning. 19:01 How he loves God and hates evil 19:05 and Satan has an attack against Job. 19:09 And then he manages to survive that 19:11 and the Lord says, have you noticed? 19:13 He brings his attention to him again 19:15 like there's this great conflict being worked out 19:19 in this helpless human being. 19:22 The Book of Job helps us to understand 19:25 that in a world of sin cause 19:28 and affect patterns break down at some point. 19:32 This is very hard for us to understand. 19:36 It's hard for us to accept 19:38 that there it appears to be a randomness that 19:42 very good things can happen to really evil people 19:47 and really terrible things can happen to good people 19:51 for reasons that we cannot understand. 19:57 We know that God has given us 19:58 many principles to live by 20:00 that lesson suffering, that's my job. 20:03 But would you agree with me that 20:04 you can do all of those things and still get sick, 20:08 would you agree with me that that happens. 20:11 You saw this video of India and these children 20:15 who are suffering in this culture of sickness. 20:20 The Lord answered Job, 20:22 I love this in verse 2 of Chapter 38, he says, 20:25 "Who is this that darkens counsel 20:29 by words without wisdom?" 20:33 The interesting thing of Job friends 20:36 is that they were not stating on truths. 20:39 They were speaking truisms to Job. 20:45 But they were misapplied truths. 20:47 They didn't fit the circumstance. 20:50 They didn't fit what was going on. 20:52 So the Bible says a faithful man 20:54 will abound with blessings Job, 20:56 if you'll just repent, your life will improve. 21:02 And this is the argument of Job 21:04 and so the Lord comes to Job in the midst of his affliction. 21:11 I remember people coming to me 21:13 and asking me what did he do to get this? 21:18 Or God knows what you need. 21:22 Does God know what I need? 21:23 God knows what everybody needs. 21:26 But He also knows what the work needs. 21:27 He has dark providences that 21:30 we cannot understand or explain. 21:32 Job's friends didn't know this, Job didn't understand this 21:36 and so God speaks to Job and in Job 39:9 he says Job, 21:42 you cannot even domesticate a zebra 21:46 and then he goes on as he speaks to Job. 21:49 He says Job in Job 41:1 21:53 he says, go ahead, slay Leviathan. 21:55 Who is Leviathan a symbol for in the Bible? 21:59 Satan, go ahead slay Satan 22:01 if you've go the solution to this thing, 22:03 you go ahead and take care of it. 22:05 Job 40, I'm turning to Job 40, 22:09 the Lord speaks to Job and He says look 22:11 on everyone who is proud, humble him, 22:13 go ahead bring him low, 22:15 tread down the wicked in their path, 22:17 bring them to dust. 22:19 This reminds me of Psalm 72 22:21 where David has the same struggle 22:24 and he says, look these are the righteous 22:28 who are subjugated and oppressed. 22:30 Look at the wicked who is mauve, 22:33 walks through the earth in pride. 22:34 They're not afflicted like others, 22:37 their heart is as fat as grease. 22:40 And he said this was too much, 22:41 I didn't want to sin against 22:43 the children of this generation. 22:45 But then I went to the sanctuary 22:47 and I saw their end. 22:50 Justice is coming. Do you believe that? 22:54 What's right is coming. 22:58 Extraordinary afflictions, the message of Job 23:01 is that extraordinary afflictions 23:04 are not always the punishment for extraordinary sins. 23:09 Sometimes they're the path to extraordinary gifts, 23:15 experiences and yes ministries. 23:20 I know someone who was brutally assaulted 23:23 and left on the road to die, stabbed multiple times. 23:29 She crawled to a home at 3 o'clock in the morning 23:32 and there were some men up playing poker. 23:37 They called the hospital, got an ambulance 23:41 to get this women put back together. 23:45 And in the ambulance she knew that 23:48 if she did not forgive, she would not have 23:50 the strength to survive the ordeal. 23:56 She decided right then 23:57 and there that she would forgive. 23:58 It was a decision of faith not feeling, horrible thing. 24:02 Would you tell somebody like that? 24:04 God knows what you need, is that the response? 24:08 No, God used this experience, 24:11 this horrible experience for whatever reason 24:14 I do not know, this woman 24:17 became a mighty warrior in the cause of God 24:21 going into the kingdom of darkness to rescue souls, 24:25 who have been the slaves of evil, amen. 24:30 God anointed her to a special ministry. 24:34 I'm going to read a quote to you 24:35 that is very special to me. 24:39 Education, page 151, 24:41 "All who in this world render true service to God or man..." 24:47 Isn't that a wonderful thought 24:48 that we can render service to God as well as man. 24:52 "Receive a preparatory training in the school of sorrow. 24:57 The weightier the trust and the higher the service, 25:01 the closer is the test 25:04 and the more severe the discipline." 25:09 I wrestled with this back and forth 25:11 and back and forth because we produce programs 25:14 and one of the programs that we produce for our series 25:17 is called Thank You Power. 25:20 Thanking God in the midst of trials. 25:22 Wow! It is a rugged step of faith. 25:25 It is not based on feeling. 25:27 It is a discipline and it is a spiritual virtue 25:29 that is not require of those who are unbelievers. 25:35 And I wrestle back and forth and back and forth 25:37 and I thought of these children in India 25:39 and I thought of this slavery. 25:40 And I thought of all these things 25:41 and I was back and forth, back and forth. 25:43 What do you mean? How do we understand this? 25:46 And it was midnight and I said Lord, 25:48 I can't finish this PowerPoint. 25:49 I have to be able to have some grasp of this 25:52 because we're told an inspiration 25:54 that if we understood the suffering 25:56 that is in this world it would kill us. 25:59 That is what the heart of God is. 26:01 The heart of God is a heart of suffering right now. 26:04 And He sends His servants 26:06 to the pit of hill to rescue sufferers. 26:10 Like this doctor who goes in and does these surgeries 26:12 and has to endure the oppression 26:15 and the evil and starvation and the poverty. 26:17 He goes in as the shinning light 26:20 and this is a statement that came to me at midnight 26:24 and I leaped and went into the office to find it. 26:27 I knew just a few words of it and it goes like this. 26:30 It's found in Steps to Christ, page 100. 26:33 There is no chapter in our experience, 26:37 too dark for him to read. 26:39 So this battle that we have with our faith 26:43 that God is not there. 26:44 I mean, it didn't seem like 26:47 He was in my neighborhood growing up. 26:51 I couldn't even get the police 26:52 to arrest me to keep me safe. 26:56 But He was there, 26:58 He had a plan and it's a rescue plan. 27:02 "There is no chapter that He-- 27:05 that is too dark for him to read, 27:07 there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel. 27:12 There is no calamity can befall the least of His children, 27:16 no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, 27:20 no sincere prayer escape the lips, 27:22 of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, 27:24 or of which He takes no immediate interest." 27:28 Look, we have the choice to be pitiful or powerful. 27:33 There was a point and I want to tell you, 27:36 if you think you're gonna get it together 27:38 in a crisis, forget it. 27:41 What you do in the light when everything is going well 27:45 is what you're gonna take with you into the darkness. 27:48 Our habit of worship, 27:50 our habit of spending time with God, 27:52 our habit of prayer, 27:54 our healthy lifestyle, the walks everyday. 27:57 The pattern of our life carried us 28:00 through this evil time. 28:03 Obedience to those laws gave Him strength to fight 28:07 and it gave me the courage to live. 28:11 And there was a time early on when I actually prayed to die. 28:14 I was working on our balance 28:15 living health tracks at the time. 28:18 I would work on the tracks by day 28:19 and pray to die by night. 28:22 I'd say, "Lord, take my breath. 28:23 I can't go on. This is too terrible. 28:26 I cannot live without my partner." 28:29 And after three weeks of this, 28:31 the Lord still hadn't killed me. 28:34 I was very upset about it. 28:36 So one evening I went to bed, 28:39 and I'm working on these beautiful tracks 28:41 that have scriptures and I thank God for that. 28:43 I mean, my heart was in it but then you know really hits. 28:45 You are there, where is your-- where is your confidant. 28:50 And so I said, I really mean it and then I said some things 28:57 and I was just sure I had crossed like-- 28:59 I drew the line in the sand with the Lord. 29:02 And I went to sleep fully assured in my heart 29:05 that I was gonna die that night. 29:07 Well, to my utter amazement I woke up the next morning. 29:11 And there was a scripture on my mind so strong. 29:16 And I know that it was God, 29:19 it said it was the words of David 29:21 and he said, I had almost fainted 29:25 unless I had believed to see the goodness 29:28 of the Lord in the land of the living. 29:30 Wait on the Lord be of good courage 29:34 and He will strengthen thine heart wait I say on the Lord. 29:41 The cool thing about that, I felt a hand of God on me. 29:45 I felt Him saying to me, 29:47 I know you don't see My goodness right now, 29:50 but if you will just take the baby step 29:53 of believing that you will. 29:56 If you will take just that step I will do the rest. 29:59 I took that step. I stopped praying to die. 30:03 I decided then that I wanted power instead of pity. 30:09 I decided to move forward with God's gifts. 30:13 What about this trial of our faith? 30:16 The Bible says that it is more precious than gold 30:21 that perishes, even though now you are in heaviness 30:27 from manifold temptations, from manifold trials. 30:30 Our hope is in the resurrection of Christ 30:33 that's the hope that saves us. 30:36 How is it that these trials are precious than gold? 30:39 You've all been to dark places in your lives 30:41 where you felt abandoned and perplexed. 30:43 And what happened to this good God, 30:45 where things made sense the equation worked, 30:48 it seem to fall through. 30:51 Well, a cup has been put to your lips. 30:54 A cup for service. 30:55 A cup opening a channel of blessing to others 30:58 that you have never dreamed. 31:00 How can you get the gold? 31:01 Well, here's something that I have learned. 31:04 The sanctuary had its own shekel, didn't it? 31:08 The sanctuary had its own coin 31:10 and so James tells us to count it all joy, 31:14 when we fall into these diverse trials. 31:17 Count-- well, counting is good 31:20 and we love accounting 31:22 but too often we count our loses 31:25 just in earth's ledger so it's a loss. 31:28 It's a bereavement. It's a spouse. 31:30 It's a child. It's a suicide. 31:32 It's an untimely death. 31:34 It's a still born. It's a handicap. 31:37 It's a betrayal, the loss of a job or property 31:40 or friendships or position or whatever it is 31:43 that you just cannot make sense of it. 31:47 Though that's earth's ledger but heaven has a ledger too. 31:50 Did you know that? 31:51 Heaven has an accounting system 31:54 and I believe that we need to learn 31:56 and it is a learned thing 31:59 to start counting in the currency of heaven. 32:02 How many of you would like more of heaven's 32:04 currency in your bank account? 32:07 What is heaven's currency? 32:09 Well, one of the first things that I noticed about this. 32:13 I have always loved this message. 32:17 I have learned more to love people as a result of this. 32:20 I used to feel sorry for people. 32:23 Now I feel sorry with them. 32:26 I listened more, I have more compassion, 32:30 faith, love and endurance, grow, 32:34 patients the testing of your faith. 32:38 The genuineness of your faith 32:40 is tested not when you get everything 32:42 when you-- that you want 32:44 but when you don't get anything and none of it makes sense. 32:48 Kindness, what about the power to win souls? 32:52 Proverbs I mean, excuse me. 32:53 Romans 5:3 says, 32:57 therefore having the hope of the resurrection, 33:01 therefore we glory in tribulations. 33:04 That's plural and the meaning of that 33:07 is that we show his glory. 33:09 How many of you want to show His glory? 33:12 You know in order to show His glory, 33:13 to be honest we have to get over the rift with God. 33:16 Often we're walking around upset with Him 33:19 over what has happened in our lives. 33:21 Broken hopes, dashed expectations, 33:24 crushed dreams even ministry dreams, 33:27 failures, setbacks, obstacles and we get crushed, 33:32 but we got to get over the rift with God 33:34 and know that He wants to use these things 33:36 to invade Satan's kingdom and win souls for Jesus Christ. 33:43 It's really not easy to come to this frame of mind. 33:47 It takes spiritual work to do this. 33:51 We show His glory in tribulations 33:54 knowing that tribulation produces endurance. 33:57 Is that currency? Heaven's currency? 34:00 Endurance character, is that currency? 34:05 And character hope, is that currency? 34:09 And hope does not disappoint because the love of God 34:12 has been shed abroad in our hearts. 34:15 What an amazing thing. 34:16 You know, we meet these people, 34:17 these old saints who've been through the grinder. 34:20 Have you met these people? 34:22 And we think oh, I would really like 34:23 to be like that person. 34:25 Do you want to go through what they've been through 34:28 to be like that person? 34:30 There's a price tag 34:31 and that's why when the disciples said, 34:34 we want to sit on your right hand and your left. 34:37 He said, are you able to drink the cup 34:40 that will be put to your lips 34:41 so that you can pay the price tag to sit 34:43 that close on the throne. 34:45 There's a price and it's called suffering. 34:50 The Lord has special grace, Signs of the Times 1895, 34:55 "The Lord has special grace for mourners 34:58 and its power is to melt hearts..." 35:01 What did I pray for when the Lord delivered me? 35:04 I prayed for power to "melt hearts to win souls. 35:10 His love opens a channel into the wounded 35:13 and bruised soul, 35:15 and becomes a healing balm to those who sorrow. 35:20 The Lord Jesus is a restorer of all that was los, 35:24 and identifies His interest 35:27 with those of suffering humanity. 35:29 He lives up the contrite heart. 35:31 He refines mourning souls until it becomes his abode." 35:36 Amen how many of you want 35:37 that kind of currency in your heavenly bank account? 35:45 We have to protect this jewel of faith. 35:49 Jesus spoke to Peter in Luke 22 35:52 and he said, Simon, Simon, Satan has desire to do what? 35:59 To sift you like weak but I have prayed 36:02 for you that-- what? 36:04 That your faith fail not. He didn't say your plan. 36:11 He didn't say your ministry. 36:13 He didn't say your family or your stocks 36:17 or your schedule or your team, or your health. 36:21 He said your faith. 36:23 Your faith is the target of Satan 36:28 and anything that pleases God greatly displeases the devil. 36:35 The Bible says that faith pleases God. 36:40 Without faith it is impossible to please Him. 36:43 Hebrews 11:6, Romans 3:28, 36:50 "We are justified by faith." 36:53 Romans 1:7, "We live by faith." 36:57 Hebrews 11, "We do exploits by faith." 37:02 So faith is the target of the javelin of the enemy. 37:09 I want to read a quote by Dane. 37:12 It's one the last quotes, one of the last things 37:14 he ever wrote while he was still able. 37:20 "I realize now, he said, 37:24 that faith is not about the outcome. 37:27 Faith is about growing from trial to trial, 37:31 from faith to faith in order to be ready 37:35 for the outcome that God permits. 37:39 Faith is not an insurance policy 37:42 against unwanted troubles. 37:44 Faith is a road map, God's positioning system 37:49 that will lead us unfailing 37:51 to God's perfect destination for us. 37:55 Faith is not given to avoid problems. 38:00 Faith is given to avoid failure while enduring problems. 38:06 Faith is dynamic. 38:07 Where will my journey take me? 38:10 That is up to God. 38:12 I just want His faith that overcomes the world, 38:16 His faith that develops me to meet each new trial, 38:20 His faith that prepares me 38:22 for the only guarantee of faith, 38:25 for by grace you are saved through faith, amen. 38:32 How do we get more of this faith? 38:34 Faith comes by hearing and hearing 38:36 by the word of God. 38:38 But how does faith grow? How does it grow? 38:43 This surprised me volume 4 38:45 of a book called Testimonies, page 116-17, 38:50 God would teach us where to look for help 38:54 and strength in times of meet. 38:58 Faith grows strong in earnest conflict with doubt and fear. 39:06 Amen. 39:07 Faith is accepting in advance 39:10 what we are only gonna understand in reverse. 39:15 Are you ready for that fruit of faith? 39:18 Are you willing to drink that cup? 39:24 We do have a choice in this battle 39:26 and it's not an easy one. 39:28 We can choose whether we will become 39:31 bitter or better with what life brings our way. 39:37 People do several things 39:39 when faced with these kind of situations 39:41 I believe I did all of them, focus on the trial. 39:47 And no trial is pleasant for the moment but what? 39:52 Grieves but afterwards it will yield fruit 39:57 if we will just allow God to keep us during the trial. 40:03 Focus on the trial. People get bitter or give up. 40:09 But there is another option 40:11 that is Satan's plan, when you are in a trial. 40:17 And when James says count it all joy 40:19 when you fall into divers temptations 40:21 or trials the word is inter-- is really interchangeable 40:24 and that is because trials bring with them 40:26 a measure of temptation. 40:28 We're discouraged, we can become bitter. 40:30 We don't understand and the Lord tells Job, 40:33 Job I have created my creatures 40:36 with a measure of understanding but there comes a point 40:39 where you have to trust my understanding, my wisdom. 40:41 You have to stop trying to figure it out 40:45 and he points Job to the ostrich. 40:47 He said, look, the ostrich lays an egg 40:48 but doesn't have the wisdom to keep from stepping on it. 40:51 So your wisdom, your understanding 40:53 is only gonna get you so far. 40:57 Then you trust me, that's faith. 41:01 There is another option that we can choose 41:05 and that is a rugged step of faith. 41:10 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, In every thing do what? 41:16 Give thanks. 41:17 Giving thanks is not the same as feeling thankful. 41:22 It is an act of obedience. 41:25 It is an act of obedience by a Christian 41:27 who looks beyond the trouble to an all powerful God 41:31 that's the amazing thing about God's dealing with Job. 41:35 He did not directly answered Job's questions. 41:38 He didn't answer his questions 41:41 but He did reassure Job through the longest speech 41:45 in the Bible that he is control, 41:47 justice is coming, payday is coming. 41:52 And that was enough, and it's enough for me. 41:55 Is it enough for you? 41:59 Romans 8:28 we know the Lord uses 42:03 all things to work together 42:05 for His power His and good and glory. 42:08 He uses those things they aren't good. 42:10 He uses terrible things 42:11 but the Bible says in Psalm 139 42:14 that the day and the night are alike to him. 42:17 They are His tools to take back for His kingdom. 42:20 Amen. Are you willing? 42:24 Justice is coming. Payday is coming. 42:30 Isaiah 61. 42:33 Isaiah 61 says, 42:40 instead of your shame you know, you didn't choose 42:42 where you were born. 42:43 You didn't choose who had authority over you 42:45 that messed with you that did terrible things. 42:47 You didn't have authority over your environment, 42:49 environment of the womb being the first one, 42:51 and after that I mean you are where you are. 42:56 God is in the business of renewal, 43:01 restoration and recovery. 43:03 He has engineered you for success 43:05 because He Knows that you didn't ask 43:06 for the genetic hand 43:08 you were built with all its liabilities. 43:10 You didn't ask for that environment 43:12 where evil people had authority over you. 43:14 You didn't ask for that, that's where you are 43:17 and that's where He finds you 43:18 and that's where He will rescue you. 43:20 You were made to make it. 43:23 In addition we make stupid choices. 43:26 The Bible says we're ignorantly alienated 43:28 from the life of God, dead in trespasses and sins. 43:31 But whether by choice, chance or circumstance, 43:35 He has a plan and it's to prosper you 43:38 and strengthen you. 43:40 He will always do one of two things 43:42 when you pray to Him. 43:44 He will either solve your problem, 43:48 so that you can enjoy your day 43:50 and for me that means a -- bath 43:52 at the end of the day or he's gonna make you bigger. 43:57 Now what stronger to meet it? 43:59 Now which option do you think it's gonna start happening 44:02 more and more in this era of transition. 44:05 Which option? What's our preferred option? 44:09 Option one, if there was a line that I could get up 44:13 and be in line to be a hothouse plant, 44:16 I would be there. 44:17 You know, no wind nothing. 44:20 But have you ever taken a hothouse plant 44:21 and take it, put it out in weather? 44:23 It's dead in two hours. 44:25 So the second option I believe is gonna happen more often, 44:28 He will make you strong. 44:30 Well, how do I claim those promises? 44:33 You know, those children at Sandy Hook 44:35 who were brutally murdered. 44:37 Shot, kindergarteners, some of their names were Faith, 44:41 Joy, Hope, Micah, Isaiah, Christian names. 44:45 You know that those parents taught their children, 44:48 the angel of the Lord encamps around about them 44:51 that fear him and delivers them. 44:53 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. 44:55 Happy is the man that trust in Him. 44:57 I went to our conference president, 44:59 I said Jay, help me to understand, 45:03 and that is when the Lord filled his mouth with wisdom 45:05 and Jay our president told me, 45:07 he said, Vicki, a cup was put to the lips of those parents. 45:11 Because I told Jay, I said I want to know 45:13 how those parents are gonna help 45:15 their surviving siblings to have faith 45:18 and trust in the promises of God 45:20 that they will not feel like thin ice. 45:22 I have to understand this. You've got to help me. 45:28 He said Vicki, a cup, 45:29 a cup was put to the lips of those parents. 45:33 A cup of suffering. The promises are sure. 45:36 They are repeatable. We can stand on them. 45:39 They are a firm foundation 45:41 but if that cup is put to your lips, 45:44 are you able to take it? 45:47 If He puts it to your lips by fiat 45:50 and his declaration, He's declaring you able. 45:54 Amen. 45:55 Because I can do all things 45:57 through Christ who strengthens me. 45:59 Whatever the loss, whatever the challenge, 46:01 whatever the bereavement, how awful and terrible it is, 46:04 God is putting a cup to you lips to give you power. 46:09 Power to win souls. Power to grow strong in Him. 46:12 Power for amazing ministry. Incredible experiences. 46:16 A walk with God that is second to none. 46:22 Are you willing? Justice is coming. 46:26 In Isaiah 61 says for all shame 46:28 wherever you were born you know, 46:30 the Bible says in the commandments 46:32 that He visits the sins of the third 46:34 and fourth generation them that hate me, right? 46:37 It's not a curse. It's a declaration of truth. 46:40 I know as an investigator 46:41 that abuse children tend to grow up and do what? 46:44 Repeat the behavior. 46:45 But Jesus says in Deuteronomy 46:47 that Jesus came to show mercy to a thousand generations. 46:52 He came to break the cycle of sin. 46:56 Do you want to drive your car with a shattered windshield? 46:59 Don't build your life on a broken foundation. 47:01 He wants to give you a new one. 47:04 That's what He died to do for you and He says-- 47:06 by the way He says whatever you have endured 47:09 because of where you were born 47:10 because of what you've had to fight, 47:11 because of what you've been through, 47:13 because of what you've endured, I will repay you double, 47:17 that's what the verse says. 47:18 Workers compensation. 47:20 Do you want payday? Payday is coming. 47:24 In fact Isaiah 42 47:30 the Lord is getting pretty fed up with this. 47:32 The Bible says marvel not 47:35 when you see violent perverting of justice. 47:37 Don't even marvel when you see this 47:39 but one is coming who is greater than our adversary. 47:42 He's gonna set things right. Do you believe that? 47:47 He says long have I held my peace, Isaiah 42:14 47:51 but now I have held myself still. 47:54 I have restrained myself 47:56 but now I will cry like a woman in travail. 48:00 He is in transition. He is coming. 48:03 He is fed up with evil and sin and suffering 48:06 and oppression and wrong. 48:16 it says God will wipe away every tear. 48:19 It doesn't say He's gonna wash your face, 48:22 that's too general. 48:23 He knows everything. He knows everything. 48:27 But He has a plan with that. He wants to give you gold. 48:31 Don't leave your trial without the gold. 48:39 There will be no more death, no more sorrow, 48:44 no crying, no stupid accusations 48:48 when people are suffering as a result of terrible things. 48:52 There will be no more pain. 48:55 That means that while we're here 48:56 there will be all of those things. 48:59 But payday is coming. Justice is coming. 49:04 A God of love is on his way to rescue you 49:08 and you want to have your trophies 49:10 with you to give to our Lord. 49:13 How many of you want to powerful instead of pitiful, 49:16 powerful instead of pitiful, strong in the midst of trials? 49:21 Looking at trials in a new way saying, 49:23 Lord, what do you want me to do with this? 49:25 What do you want me to do with this for your kingdom? 49:27 Amen. Are you willing? 49:30 If you are willing and that is your desire 49:33 and your conviction now. 49:34 I would like you to stand to your feet 49:36 as we have closing prayer. 49:41 Lord Jesus, trials are a hard thing, 49:44 grief is heavy to bear but You have borne it all. 49:47 And You have a plan 49:48 and a purpose in everything that happens 49:50 and we are grateful Father, 49:52 help us to turn our face toward You 49:54 that we may have that peaceable fruit 49:56 of righteousness and power. 49:59 Power to win souls. 50:00 Power to represent you in the darkest places 50:03 of earth in the very gates of hell, 50:06 snatching souls for Your kingdom 50:08 for everlasting life in Jesus' name, amen. 54:30 Good morning, isn't that wonderful to be here. 54:33 I'm so excited to be here. 54:36 We have been coming to ASI for quite a few years 54:39 and it's just been really a blessing. 54:42 My name is Tena 54:43 and we live at Collegedale right now. 54:46 And it's so wonderful to see everyone of you here 54:49 and one of the exciting things that 54:50 I find about ASI is the seminars 54:54 that will be taking place right after this meeting right here. 54:58 And there's something there for each of you 55:00 that you will find, 55:01 that you will really benefit and enjoy from. 55:04 And so please take part in it and please attend one of them. 55:09 And I just want to ask you to pray with me, 55:12 if we bow our heads. 55:14 Heavenly Father, we just thank You 55:16 for the many blessings that You have been giving us 55:19 and we want to lift You up daily. 55:22 And thank You for the folks that are here, bless them 55:24 that they will receive a wonderful blessing 55:27 and thank You again for loving us 55:29 and caring for us. 55:31 And we so want You to come soon and take us home with you. 55:35 Help us to be faithful in whatever we do. 55:38 And thank You again for being with us 55:40 and loving us and caring for us. 55:43 We ask this thing in Jesus' dear name, amen. |
Revised 2015-06-25