Hello, and welcome to
our annual ASI convention
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and we are so
excited to be here.
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We are coming live right
here in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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And it feels like we are
coming home doesn't it, sisters?
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Yeah, we were born
and brought in Michigan
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and our parents live
not too far from here.
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That's right. We are so excited.
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We've been having amazing time.
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You know, the messages have been
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so powerful and inspiring.
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That's right, they have.
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And the music has
been such a blessing.
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Just a little taste of
heaven and it's not over yet.
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We have so much more today.
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That's right, in fact,
we've also been enjoying--
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just getting to
know the people here.
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Every time we
come around the corner
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we are so excited to
meet somebody new that
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we haven't seen or
somebody a familiar face.
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It's kind of like what
heaven's gonna be like.
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And little children
just running up to us
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and just hugging us.
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You know, one mother came to us
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and she showed us a
video on her little phone
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and it was her two-year-old
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little daughter
watching Tiny Tots,
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learning how to kneel and pray.
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It was so precious.
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She was praying when
Auntie Linda was praying.
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And I love all the adults,
you know, go along the aisles
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and they will
be formed in groups
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just lifting
their heights up to God.
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That's right, you
see a lot of parents,
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really been an incredible
spiritual time already
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and we have so
much more planned today.
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We do.
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And you are going to
enjoy every single program.
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In fact, we
want to encourage you
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to be here at our ASI next year,
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you won't want to miss.
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Amen. That's right.
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This is really been
an wonderful experience
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and in fact,
let's join our program
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right now already in progress.
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When I shall
reach that happy place
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And be forever blest?
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When shall I
see my Father's face
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And in His kingdom rest?
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I am bound for the Promised Land
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I am bound for the Promised Land
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Oh who will come and go with me?
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I am bound for the Promised Land
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Filled with
delight, my raptured soul
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Would here no longer stay
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Though Jordan's
waves around me roll
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Fearless I'd launch away
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I am bound for the Promised Land
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I am bound for the Promised Land
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Oh who will come and go with me?
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I am bound for the Promised Land
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Our last hymn would
be hymn number 338--
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No.
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I mean 438 "You Will
See Your Lord A-Coming."
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You will see your Lord a-coming
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You will see your Lord a-coming
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You will see your Lord a-coming
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In a few more days
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Hear the band of music
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Hear the band of music
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Hear the band of music
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Which is sounding thro' the air
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Gabriel sounds
his mighty trumpet
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Gabriel sounds
his mighty trumpet
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Gabriel sounds
his mighty trumpet
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In a few more days
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Hear the band of music
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Hear the band of music
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Hear the band of music
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Which is sounding thro' the air
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You will see the saints arising
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You will see the saints arising
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You will see the saints arising
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In a few more days
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Hear the band of music
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Hear the band of music
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Hear the band of music
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Which is sounding thro' the air
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Ladies only.
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Angels bear them to the Savior
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Angels bear them to the Savior
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Angels bear them to the Savior
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In a few more days
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Everybody please.
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Hear the band of music
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Hear the band of music
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Hear the band of music
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Which is sounding thro' the air
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Gentlemen, please.
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Then we'll shout,
our suff'rings over
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Then we'll shout,
our suff'rings over
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Then we'll shout
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Our suff'rings over
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In a few more days
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Everyone please.
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Hear the band of music
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Hear the band of music
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Hear the band of music
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Which is sounding thro' the air
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Thank you for singing with us.
What a song, and God bless you.
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Have a nice blessed evening.
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Good morning and happy Sabbath.
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On behalf our
Lake Union Conference,
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ASI chapter we want
to extend a very warm
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welcome to the 2014
Adventist Laymen's Services
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Industries
International Convention
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here in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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We've had the privilege of
witnessing and participating
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and being reunited from with
friends from long years ago.
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And as we've seen that
I'm reminded of the words
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that John shares with us
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in the Book of
Revelation chapter 7.
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As he gives us a glimpse
into that day in the future
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when there will be a throng that
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no man can number gathered about
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the throne from
every nation on earth.
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All of God's
children will gather together.
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But you know, it
doesn't start there,
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it starts in that
quiet time with Jesus.
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And this week the world
church has been studying
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in the adult
Sabbath school lesson
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the concept of
growing up in Christ.
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And we are
privileged to have a glimpse
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into a clandestine
meeting that occurred
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with Nicodemus in John Chapter 3
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and for the first time
Jesus revealed the concept that
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we must be born again.
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And its our prayer that today
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and for the days to come
we will all grow in Christ
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and enjoy the time together.
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Happy Sabbath and welcome
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to the Lake Union
Chapter International Convention
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of Adventist Services
Laymen's and Industries.
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Good morning and happy Sabbath.
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I think if we
are quite enough like
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the last song that we sang
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we could hear the banded angels.
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Can you hear the
trumpet sounding?
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Good morning. Let's
bow our heads for prayer.
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Our loving and
gracious heavenly Father,
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I want to thank You
for the Sabbath day,
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thank You for the Sabbath.
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Each of us work
hard through the week
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and look forward to
this time to spend with You
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and together as a family.
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Lord, I bring to
You, I stand before You
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representing a
congregation of Your children.
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I'm humble to ask that
You will be with us today.
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Fill us with Your Holy Spirit.
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I ask that You will
help us in our walk with You
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to abide in You to
allow You to abide in us
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so that we can
bring others to You.
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Bless our Sabbath day,
fill us with Your spirit.
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In our walk I ask
that we will remember
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the sacredness of this day
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and guard it coming
together to worship you.
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We lift You up in our families
and in our lives, in our work.
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Be with us today accompanying us
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through this day
in Jesus name, amen.
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Good morning and
happy Sabbath, ASI.
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Happy Sabbath.
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All right, they are
awake this morning, Wayne.
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Now I have a
question for you this morning.
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How many of you know these
two words "Social Networking?"
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If you know what that
means raise your hand.
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Amen. Okay.
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Quite a few of them know, Wayne.
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Now next question for you.
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How many of
have a mobile device?
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If you have it could you
just pull it out of your pocket
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and show it to us.
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Just pull it out right
now, go ahead and get it ready
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because we are gonna have you
00:10:02.21\00:10:03.33
use this mobile
device here today.
00:10:03.36\00:10:05.65
We believe that
in these last days
00:10:05.68\00:10:09.07
before Jesus' return we need
to use every avenue available
00:10:09.10\00:10:12.70
to get the message of
our Christ soon return.
00:10:12.73\00:10:14.42
Amen?
00:10:14.45\00:10:15.68
And we want
people to know about ASI
00:10:15.71\00:10:17.25
and what ASI is doing to get--
00:10:17.28\00:10:19.57
with all the ministries
that are involved with ASI
00:10:19.60\00:10:21.77
to get this
message to the world.
00:10:21.80\00:10:23.52
And so Wayne, we have
a very unique way that
00:10:23.55\00:10:27.33
we can get that
message out this morning.
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Tell us a little bit more
about how we can use our phones
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and social networking to
let people know about ASI.
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That's right,
Kyle. Thank you, so much.
00:10:34.52\00:10:36.63
In fact, we have a
graphic that we are gonna put up
00:10:36.66\00:10:38.67
on the screen for you right now.
00:10:38.70\00:10:40.58
If you'll pay
close attention to that
00:10:40.61\00:10:42.19
we want to actually
get your participation
00:10:42.22\00:10:44.79
of every person here right now.
00:10:44.82\00:10:47.22
So we are gonna tell
you how you can do that
00:10:47.25\00:10:48.71
and how you can help us out.
00:10:48.74\00:10:50.31
So you can use whichever
social media network you like.
00:10:50.34\00:10:55.68
You can use Facebook,
Twitter, you can use Instagram,
00:10:55.71\00:10:58.53
whichever one you would like
00:10:58.56\00:10:59.63
but we would like to ask you
00:10:59.66\00:11:01.00
to post a specific message there
00:11:01.03\00:11:03.58
and this message is
hope for the world, isn't it.
00:11:03.61\00:11:06.51
"It's Lift Him Up."
00:11:06.54\00:11:08.26
So that what we want to ask you
00:11:08.29\00:11:09.48
to post right now on
the network of your choice,
00:11:09.51\00:11:13.69
Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
00:11:13.72\00:11:16.52
If you will enter there a post
where you type "Life Him Up"
00:11:16.55\00:11:21.39
and then this is very important,
00:11:21.42\00:11:23.24
this hashtag is very important.
00:11:23.27\00:11:25.23
The number sign,
you need to enter
00:11:25.26\00:11:27.36
the number sign
ASI2014 and basically
00:11:27.39\00:11:31.25
what that does in simple
terms is it will allow anybody
00:11:31.28\00:11:35.10
who is searching to
look for any post that
00:11:35.13\00:11:37.85
have that listed
in there the hashtag
00:11:37.88\00:11:40.31
the number sign ASI2014.
00:11:40.34\00:11:43.36
And if you want
to post anything else
00:11:43.39\00:11:46.50
in regard to the convention
00:11:46.53\00:11:47.97
as well be sure to
include that hashtag
00:11:48.00\00:11:50.87
and that way people will know,
00:11:50.90\00:11:53.11
they will be
directed to the right place
00:11:53.14\00:11:54.75
and they will be able
to see what's happening.
00:11:54.78\00:11:56.82
And we another time
that we want to also
00:11:56.85\00:11:59.83
encourage you to help us
00:11:59.86\00:12:01.48
and we are gonna announce it
00:12:01.51\00:12:02.57
at the exhibit hall
tonight so that you will have
00:12:02.60\00:12:05.01
a chance to also
feature your favorite ministry
00:12:05.04\00:12:08.50
over in the exhibit hall.
00:12:08.53\00:12:09.80
But this is very important,
00:12:09.83\00:12:11.08
we really need
all of you to do it
00:12:11.11\00:12:12.66
because it's working together
that we can reach our goal.
00:12:12.69\00:12:15.49
Amen. Amen.
00:12:15.52\00:12:16.55
So what I'm gonna do Wayne,
00:12:16.58\00:12:17.65
is I'm gonna ask everybody
pull out the phones right now
00:12:17.68\00:12:20.00
and I'm even gonna
take a picture of you
00:12:20.03\00:12:22.16
and I'm gonna post it, okay.
00:12:22.19\00:12:23.24
That's what we do
00:12:23.27\00:12:24.30
and I'm gonna
put Wayne in there.
00:12:24.33\00:12:25.37
Okay, so right now if you guys
00:12:25.40\00:12:26.49
can all say happy Sabbath.
00:12:26.52\00:12:28.07
Happy Sabbath.
00:12:28.10\00:12:29.62
All right, I'm gonna
post that in just a minute
00:12:29.65\00:12:31.34
and you take your
phone out and post ASI2014.
00:12:31.37\00:12:35.03
Now one other thing we
want to let you know is that
00:12:35.06\00:12:38.39
this afternoon we have
a special panel discussion
00:12:38.42\00:12:41.40
about the three angels messages,
00:12:41.43\00:12:42.46
isn't that right, Wayne?
00:12:42.49\00:12:43.98
How can they get involved
00:12:44.01\00:12:45.20
in that panel
discussion this afternoon?
00:12:45.23\00:12:46.50
Yes. Thank you so much.
00:12:46.53\00:12:47.59
It's very important if
you want to ask a question
00:12:47.62\00:12:50.78
it's very, very easy
00:12:50.81\00:12:52.21
and again you can
do with your phone.
00:12:52.24\00:12:54.35
You can send a text
message if you would like
00:12:54.38\00:12:56.48
and I will give you
the number for that.
00:12:56.51\00:12:58.64
We might also have it
up on the screen for you
00:12:58.67\00:13:01.20
but the number
for sending message
00:13:01.23\00:13:04.02
with the
question is 301-844-6035.
00:13:04.05\00:13:10.52
If you look in
your program guide,
00:13:10.55\00:13:12.24
for those of you that
have the program guide
00:13:12.27\00:13:14.44
you'll have it
right there on the inside
00:13:14.47\00:13:16.45
front cover as well.
00:13:16.48\00:13:17.56
Because it's
the same number that
00:13:17.59\00:13:18.95
we use for all of
the other interaction
00:13:18.98\00:13:21.25
for text messaging or
you can simply send an email
00:13:21.28\00:13:24.10
if it's easier to
questions@ASIministries.org.
00:13:24.13\00:13:28.42
Again that's
questions@ASIministries.org.
00:13:28.45\00:13:32.34
And we would love
to have your questions
00:13:32.37\00:13:34.58
so that the
panelist can discuss them
00:13:34.61\00:13:36.45
and answer them this afternoon.
00:13:36.48\00:13:38.15
The panel
discussion this afternoon
00:13:38.18\00:13:40.38
just to give you a
little bit a preview
00:13:40.41\00:13:42.80
it's how we can live and
share the three angels' message.
00:13:42.83\00:13:46.15
So it's very pertinent to us
00:13:46.18\00:13:47.82
and it's gonna be divided
into three different sections.
00:13:47.85\00:13:50.68
It's divided into how to
make the three angels' message
00:13:50.71\00:13:54.75
a living
practice in my own life.
00:13:54.78\00:13:56.74
How I can live the
three angels' message?
00:13:56.77\00:13:58.74
How can I share that
with other and how can we use
00:13:58.77\00:14:02.26
the three angels'
message to finish the work?
00:14:02.29\00:14:04.64
So we invite your
questions on those topics.
00:14:04.67\00:14:07.56
All right, God bless
you guys. Happy Sabbath.
00:14:07.59\00:14:10.39
We've come now
to one of the most
00:19:41.07\00:19:42.66
exciting parts of the program.
00:19:42.69\00:19:44.82
The part where we talk about
00:19:44.85\00:19:45.91
what God is doing
in mission projects
00:19:45.94\00:19:48.45
all around the
world through ASI members.
00:19:48.48\00:19:50.71
Good morning, ASI.
00:19:50.74\00:19:52.02
And those of
you watching at home
00:19:52.05\00:19:53.71
we are so thankful that
you could join us as well.
00:19:53.74\00:19:55.80
I'm standing here
with Svitlana and Svitlana,
00:19:55.83\00:19:58.41
you and I have known
each other for a long time
00:19:58.44\00:20:00.13
but I'm not even
with all that time going
00:20:00.16\00:20:02.20
to hazard trying to
pronounce your last name.
00:20:02.23\00:20:04.57
Would you mind pronouncing
your name for us, please?
00:20:04.60\00:20:08.00
My name is Svitlana Kakabayev.
00:20:08.03\00:20:10.27
There we go.
00:20:10.30\00:20:11.34
See now why I couldn't do that.
And you have husband doublet.
00:20:11.37\00:20:15.87
Yes, my husband is right here
00:20:15.90\00:20:17.83
and we have a baby
Joseph with us as well.
00:20:17.86\00:20:20.57
How old is he now?
00:20:20.60\00:20:21.73
He will be four
months next week.
00:20:21.76\00:20:23.95
Now the Lord has called you
00:20:23.98\00:20:25.10
to a unique ministry, hasn't He?
00:20:25.13\00:20:26.72
Yes.
00:20:26.75\00:20:27.84
And that ministry is in
a certain part of the world
00:20:27.87\00:20:30.82
that probably we don't think of
00:20:30.85\00:20:33.21
as being an easy place to go.
00:20:33.24\00:20:35.59
And we do have actually a
slide of where you are located.
00:20:35.62\00:20:39.09
Why did you choose to go to this
00:20:39.12\00:20:42.25
particular part of the
world and where are you exactly?
00:20:42.28\00:20:44.30
Yes, we got
ministry in central Asia
00:20:44.33\00:20:47.15
and we have few
reasons why we are there.
00:20:47.18\00:20:50.32
We know that its 10/40 Windows.
00:20:50.35\00:20:53.35
It's many Muslims there
00:20:53.38\00:20:54.77
and there is
not many ministries,
00:20:54.80\00:20:56.87
health ministries
and I have been there
00:20:56.90\00:20:59.33
since 2004 in Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan
00:20:59.36\00:21:03.12
just serving
and I have seen that
00:21:03.15\00:21:04.87
health ministry really can--
00:21:04.90\00:21:06.80
it's the best way to
reach the Muslims for Christ
00:21:06.83\00:21:09.34
and also the
blessing that my husband
00:21:09.37\00:21:11.45
is from Turkmenistan
so we are in that area.
00:21:11.48\00:21:14.76
We know this
people, we love the people
00:21:14.79\00:21:16.73
and we want to serve them.
00:21:16.76\00:21:18.74
And so the prevailing
religion is Muslim them?
00:21:18.77\00:21:21.92
Yes.
00:21:21.95\00:21:23.00
And it's not one that
00:21:23.03\00:21:24.07
we think of as being typically
very easy to work with?
00:21:24.10\00:21:26.95
Yes, its not but it's
a blessing really to work
00:21:26.98\00:21:30.05
because they are
special children of God.
00:21:30.08\00:21:32.40
Amen.
00:21:32.43\00:21:33.63
Tell us exactly where
it is that you are located.
00:21:33.66\00:21:37.94
You know, we have the map there
00:21:37.97\00:21:39.86
but there is the picture
00:21:39.89\00:21:41.35
there of the place
exactly where you are.
00:21:41.38\00:21:43.50
Yes, right now you
can see this picture
00:21:43.53\00:21:46.28
it's located in the
conference building,
00:21:46.31\00:21:48.81
its SDA South Conference.
00:21:48.84\00:21:51.07
The president
invited us to come there
00:21:51.10\00:21:53.62
and so on the first
floor we have the health room.
00:21:53.65\00:21:57.18
We have three rooms
00:21:57.21\00:21:58.33
where we are doing
health consultations
00:21:58.36\00:22:00.03
and health treatments.
00:22:00.06\00:22:01.12
You can see some of
the treatments over there
00:22:01.15\00:22:03.43
and we have
patients coming all the time,
00:22:03.46\00:22:05.68
we are so thankful.
00:22:05.71\00:22:07.23
And so this is
the main ministry.
00:22:07.26\00:22:09.08
On the third floor is
the church building itself.
00:22:09.11\00:22:12.34
So you could call it
a blended ministry then?
00:22:12.37\00:22:14.24
Yes, it is, it's
like a center of influence
00:22:14.27\00:22:17.07
and we have
health room right there
00:22:17.10\00:22:19.26
in the conference building.
00:22:19.29\00:22:20.39
So how is it that
that you are going about
00:22:20.42\00:22:24.21
reaching these people
in someway helping them
00:22:24.24\00:22:28.59
to come to know
more about Jesus?
00:22:28.62\00:22:32.29
We all know that
health is the ancient wedge.
00:22:32.32\00:22:35.19
So I will say every person,
00:22:35.22\00:22:37.59
you know, that we meet
00:22:37.62\00:22:39.30
they have some
challenges with health.
00:22:39.33\00:22:41.47
So they can come
with us with their need.
00:22:41.50\00:22:44.72
We're trying to serve as
much as possible to their needs,
00:22:44.75\00:22:48.16
win their confidence and
then we share about Christ
00:22:48.19\00:22:51.43
who can do and
help them in every need.
00:22:51.46\00:22:54.18
And so explain to me
now is the only thing that
00:22:54.21\00:22:56.78
you are doing-- we
saw there on the screen
00:22:56.81\00:22:58.14
the building that
you are in is that
00:22:58.17\00:22:59.51
pretty much the
only thing you are doing?
00:22:59.54\00:23:00.68
No, actually this
what we started with.
00:23:00.71\00:23:03.65
We have the health room,
this is our main ministry
00:23:03.68\00:23:06.32
and we are so blessed for that
00:23:06.35\00:23:07.41
but also when God
is opening the doors
00:23:07.44\00:23:10.24
we are using any opportunity.
00:23:10.27\00:23:12.17
Right now with
health clock running
00:23:12.20\00:23:15.15
we are doing
health cooking classes,
00:23:15.18\00:23:17.66
classes, health lectures,
00:23:17.69\00:23:19.14
health food fair,
we have been doing--
00:23:19.17\00:23:21.50
we also like in this picture
you can see we got invitation
00:23:21.53\00:23:25.88
from the orphanage to go to them
00:23:25.91\00:23:28.08
and teach just not
even healthy cooking
00:23:28.11\00:23:30.99
but we were
teaching healthy cooking
00:23:31.02\00:23:33.89
because when children leave
00:23:33.92\00:23:35.37
from they don't know what to do.
00:23:35.40\00:23:37.87
So, this was such a blessing
00:23:37.90\00:23:39.23
to be in touch
visiting those special children.
00:23:39.26\00:23:41.72
Okay, before we got up
here you were telling us
00:23:41.75\00:23:44.61
some stories and another problem
00:23:44.64\00:23:45.96
is not having
enough stories to tell
00:23:45.99\00:23:48.20
it's having too
many stories to tell.
00:23:48.23\00:23:50.22
So tell us a story
00:23:50.25\00:23:51.47
or two how the
Lord is blessed in this.
00:23:51.50\00:23:53.37
You know, we are so blessed
because actually every patient
00:23:53.40\00:23:56.46
who comes we have
special story behind.
00:23:56.49\00:23:59.91
We are so blessed but you know
00:23:59.94\00:24:01.49
I have would like to share--
00:24:01.52\00:24:02.56
we have been doing
lifestyle sessions,
00:24:02.59\00:24:06.37
11 day lifestyle session
in the conference building.
00:24:06.40\00:24:09.55
Because we found out that
this is the best way to reach.
00:24:09.58\00:24:12.94
People come to us, they
stay for 11 days with us,
00:24:12.97\00:24:16.26
they eat with
us, we do treatments,
00:24:16.29\00:24:18.73
cooking classes, lectures,
00:24:18.76\00:24:20.59
like everything in
the lifestyle program.
00:24:20.62\00:24:22.90
We did 14 lifestyle
sessions in two years
00:24:22.93\00:24:25.78
and most of them non-Adventist,
00:24:25.81\00:24:27.92
60 to 70 percent non-Adventist.
00:24:27.95\00:24:30.35
And just maybe I will tell
two stories, quick stories.
00:24:30.38\00:24:35.78
One man came and he
was in very bad shape.
00:24:35.81\00:24:39.57
He has wife, she is Adventist,
she is a doctor, neurologist.
00:24:39.60\00:24:44.37
So she called and asked
please can you take my husband
00:24:44.40\00:24:47.14
to your lifestyle program?
00:24:47.17\00:24:48.70
And first we told her no,
00:24:48.73\00:24:50.71
because here his
condition was too severe for us,
00:24:50.74\00:24:53.86
we don't have
really the medical doctor
00:24:53.89\00:24:55.89
and he had heart
attack, he had bypass surgery,
00:24:55.92\00:25:00.47
he was on so many medications
from high blood pressure,
00:25:00.50\00:25:03.99
overweight,
depression, and very weak,
00:25:04.02\00:25:07.01
short of breath so we told no.
00:25:07.04\00:25:09.14
She called us
back in few months,
00:25:09.17\00:25:10.91
in three months.
00:25:10.94\00:25:11.99
We have been praying
we should and we agreed.
00:25:12.02\00:25:15.08
When he came it was
his first time join us
00:25:15.11\00:25:18.29
at Sabbath for church service
00:25:18.32\00:25:21.02
and God in one
week he felt much better
00:25:21.05\00:25:24.76
physically but also the miracle.
00:25:24.79\00:25:26.90
You know, this Muslim man
00:25:26.93\00:25:28.11
when he came back to his
family he told to his wife
00:25:28.14\00:25:32.01
you and our children
going to the true church.
00:25:32.04\00:25:34.65
Amen. How about that?
00:25:34.68\00:25:36.21
Amen. We are so blessed.
00:25:36.24\00:25:37.32
We keep in touch with him still.
00:25:37.35\00:25:38.85
We want to visit them as well.
00:25:38.88\00:25:40.33
And I will tell one more story.
00:25:40.36\00:25:42.63
You know, we had
one lady came to us
00:25:42.66\00:25:45.02
during the week
to the health room
00:25:45.05\00:25:47.61
and she told, I found
from the internet that
00:25:47.64\00:25:50.41
SDA church this
is the church that
00:25:50.44\00:25:52.42
is practicing the
healthy lifestyle.
00:25:52.45\00:25:55.30
Can you share with me?
00:25:55.33\00:25:57.23
She told that she is a doctor,
00:25:57.26\00:25:58.56
she used to be
and she used to work
00:25:58.59\00:26:00.27
as a doctor but
for last six years
00:26:00.30\00:26:02.60
she has been
fighting breast cancer.
00:26:02.63\00:26:04.41
And at the moment
when she came to us
00:26:04.44\00:26:06.37
it was third stage cancer.
00:26:06.40\00:26:08.23
She had just open wound,
00:26:08.26\00:26:09.68
it was breast
cancer, it was very severe.
00:26:09.71\00:26:13.02
And so we took her to
our lifestyle program,
00:26:13.05\00:26:16.08
she went through
two lifestyle programs
00:26:16.11\00:26:19.15
and you know,
the treatments that
00:26:19.18\00:26:20.88
we are doing is very simple.
00:26:20.91\00:26:22.84
It wasn't
organized for the health room
00:26:22.87\00:26:24.86
so it's the
buckets, the control showers,
00:26:24.89\00:26:27.15
simple diet, juices very simple.
00:26:27.18\00:26:30.35
But very short story,
God healed her physically.
00:26:30.38\00:26:35.04
Amen. Miracle.
00:26:35.07\00:26:36.29
She was healed only by God
00:26:36.32\00:26:37.55
not by any means
that we were using.
00:26:37.58\00:26:40.17
God did the miracle.
00:26:40.20\00:26:41.47
But the second, the biggest
miracle she was baptized.
00:26:41.50\00:26:44.88
Amen.
00:26:44.91\00:26:45.94
And in the
picture you can see her,
00:26:45.97\00:26:47.82
you know, she was baptized
00:26:47.85\00:26:49.23
and now she is
actually helping us
00:26:49.26\00:26:51.55
in the program as well.
00:26:51.58\00:26:52.64
She came and volunteer.
00:26:52.67\00:26:54.62
Can I help you, you
know, with what I can?
00:26:54.65\00:26:57.39
At first she hardly
could do some of the things
00:26:57.42\00:26:59.89
but she learned, she
became stronger and stronger
00:26:59.92\00:27:02.37
and she is the
amazing help for us now.
00:27:02.40\00:27:04.31
Amen, what a blessing.
00:27:04.34\00:27:05.77
Well, give us the
very short version
00:27:05.80\00:27:08.79
of what your dreams are
00:27:08.82\00:27:09.90
for the future other
than being in heaven.
00:27:09.93\00:27:13.38
Yes, you know, if your are
doing these lifestyle sessions
00:27:13.41\00:27:15.88
in the conference
building we are so thankful.
00:27:15.91\00:27:18.49
And I know we need to
use any opportunity that
00:27:18.52\00:27:20.70
God is giving to us
but also we have been given
00:27:20.73\00:27:23.57
as a special gift from
God as a donation the property
00:27:23.60\00:27:27.74
to build lifestyle center.
00:27:27.77\00:27:29.86
And this is our dream to
build the first lifestyle center
00:27:29.89\00:27:33.47
in the Central Asia is the big,
00:27:33.50\00:27:36.78
you know, many
countries, six countries
00:27:36.81\00:27:38.99
in the Central Asia
and we have people coming
00:27:39.02\00:27:42.06
from other countries
to us as help for health.
00:27:42.09\00:27:44.60
So to some countries we can't go
00:27:44.63\00:27:46.74
but they can come to us.
00:27:46.77\00:27:48.31
So this is our dream to spread
00:27:48.34\00:27:50.98
the message
through health message.
00:27:51.01\00:27:52.65
You know, the lifestyle center,
00:27:52.68\00:27:54.44
to have
restaurant in that big city
00:27:54.47\00:27:57.24
and just to share
God with those people.
00:27:57.27\00:28:00.01
Amen, svitlana, it's
been a pleasure talking to you
00:28:00.04\00:28:02.97
and may God bless you
00:28:03.00\00:28:04.03
as you contine to work with Him.
00:28:04.06\00:28:05.10
Thank you. God's
blessings to you.
00:28:05.13\00:28:06.48
Amen, you know, God
can use simple people.
00:28:06.51\00:28:09.55
You don't have to be a physician
00:28:09.58\00:28:10.87
in order to be
able to do His work
00:28:10.90\00:28:12.65
and yet He can
use the simplest means
00:28:12.68\00:28:15.55
in order to be able
to accomplish His work.
00:28:15.58\00:28:18.03
Joining me now is
Dr. Viriato Ferreira.
00:28:18.06\00:28:20.79
Some may not know you.
00:28:20.82\00:28:23.10
Tell us a little, you are
a physician is that correct?
00:28:23.13\00:28:25.19
Yes, I'm a physician.
Good morning, everyone.
00:28:25.22\00:28:27.26
I'm a physician,
my wife is a physician
00:28:27.29\00:28:30.41
and we work in
Portugal in Europe.
00:28:30.44\00:28:33.82
Tell us a little bit about
what's going on in Portugal.
00:28:33.85\00:28:36.07
Well, about 12
years ago, 13 years ago
00:28:36.10\00:28:39.05
with ASI help and OCI we--
00:28:39.08\00:28:43.45
the union the Portuguese
union invited us to go over
00:28:43.48\00:28:46.89
and to establish medical
missionary work in Portugal.
00:28:46.92\00:28:49.77
Now some of you know
00:28:49.80\00:28:50.87
where Portugal is, others don't.
00:28:50.90\00:28:52.80
It's the western most
country of continental Europe.
00:28:52.83\00:28:57.10
And so I'm a Portuguese descent.
00:28:57.13\00:28:58.80
I was born in Africa
but my parent are Portuguese
00:28:58.83\00:29:01.33
and so we went over in 2002
00:29:01.36\00:29:05.22
and with a little seed money
open a city medical practice
00:29:05.25\00:29:10.92
in the capital city of Lisbon
00:29:10.95\00:29:12.78
which has about three
and half million people.
00:29:12.81\00:29:14.95
And so from
there we saw patients,
00:29:14.98\00:29:18.53
we starting from zero
patients and we had no patients
00:29:18.56\00:29:20.95
when we started but
they started coming.
00:29:20.98\00:29:23.61
And also with the help of OCI
00:29:23.64\00:29:28.74
we started doing health
expos and the local union.
00:29:28.77\00:29:32.06
So you see interesting
because it was the local union
00:29:32.09\00:29:34.86
that they invited
these projects to set up
00:29:34.89\00:29:37.51
and then when we arrived
00:29:37.54\00:29:38.84
there the health expo
started being done in Portugal
00:29:38.87\00:29:41.18
and then the
Spanish heard about it
00:29:41.21\00:29:42.87
and the Italians and the French
00:29:42.90\00:29:44.75
and the German so
the health expo spread
00:29:44.78\00:29:47.46
throughout Western Europe.
00:29:47.49\00:29:48.84
So it started
as a city ministry.
00:29:48.87\00:29:50.50
Exactly.
00:29:50.53\00:29:51.63
Is it going from there?
00:29:51.66\00:29:52.69
Oh, yes now our objective
00:29:52.72\00:29:54.21
was actually to
build a lifestyle center.
00:29:54.24\00:29:56.82
Not so far from
Lisbon but we started
00:29:56.85\00:29:59.19
as a city ministry
that still operating
00:29:59.22\00:30:01.26
the medical practice and
it took us probably about
00:30:01.29\00:30:04.94
five, six years, seven
years until we got a property
00:30:04.97\00:30:08.13
not so far from
Lisbon and between--
00:30:08.16\00:30:10.95
actually in the
center of the country
00:30:10.98\00:30:12.73
and we acquired that property
about five, six years ago
00:30:12.76\00:30:17.88
and then the lifestyle
center project started.
00:30:17.91\00:30:21.62
Okay, and how far long
00:30:21.65\00:30:22.78
is the lifestyle
center project now?
00:30:22.81\00:30:24.25
Well, now, we are
still in the building phase.
00:30:24.28\00:30:27.27
There is so much going
on because the health expos
00:30:27.30\00:30:30.80
in Western Europe they
took a lot of our time.
00:30:30.83\00:30:33.31
We felt we needed to
strengthen the church,
00:30:33.34\00:30:36.32
to strength-- we went
therwith one objective
00:30:36.35\00:30:38.61
but Lord said, the Lord said,
00:30:38.64\00:30:40.10
you know, strengthen the church
00:30:40.13\00:30:41.98
first and that's what happened.
00:30:42.01\00:30:44.13
And so the lifestyle center
00:30:44.16\00:30:46.18
five years ago
we go that property
00:30:46.21\00:30:49.74
and its out in the
country and a beautiful place.
00:30:49.77\00:30:52.36
It was in
shambles, it was in ruins.
00:30:52.39\00:30:56.35
I mean, it needed a lot of money
00:30:56.38\00:30:58.68
and so we started
renovating the first building
00:30:58.71\00:31:02.74
out of 13 buildings that
they are on the property,
00:31:02.77\00:31:05.57
many of them small
00:31:05.60\00:31:06.80
but we started
renovating and it's going on.
00:31:06.83\00:31:10.22
It's still in the
building phase but now
00:31:10.25\00:31:11.75
we already have six bedrooms,
we got consulting rooms,
00:31:11.78\00:31:16.21
we got dental practice, lots
of other little things okay.
00:31:16.24\00:31:21.31
And so we are running
parallel to the city ministry.
00:31:21.34\00:31:23.65
Okay.
00:31:23.68\00:31:24.72
You told a story and
I've got to stop you right now
00:31:24.75\00:31:27.32
and would you
mind telling that story
00:31:27.35\00:31:29.01
because it has
to do with the fact
00:31:29.04\00:31:30.54
that you are in
a building project
00:31:30.57\00:31:32.50
and that you're actually
happy people coming to that.
00:31:32.53\00:31:34.20
Well, that was a bit
of a frightening story,
00:31:34.23\00:31:37.54
you know, from an
emotional point of view,
00:31:37.57\00:31:39.94
we in the building site and
so we've got beautiful rooms
00:31:39.97\00:31:43.98
but it's still a building site.
00:31:44.01\00:31:45.51
So about a year and half ago
00:31:45.54\00:31:49.03
we started doing
depressing recovery programs.
00:31:49.06\00:31:52.43
So we could have
about ten patients,
00:31:52.46\00:31:54.53
we house them, we
rented places nearby,
00:31:54.56\00:31:56.79
beautiful homes because we
didn't have the facilities.
00:31:56.82\00:31:59.69
So this lady
came, she got a ride
00:31:59.72\00:32:02.99
from Lisbon with a pastor.
00:32:03.02\00:32:06.07
And so she arrived
and the mist was so thick
00:32:06.10\00:32:09.73
I could hardly see you there.
00:32:09.76\00:32:11.43
You know, it was on top
of a mountain a building site
00:32:11.46\00:32:14.80
with thick mist and
this lady came out of the car
00:32:14.83\00:32:17.42
and she says, you
know, take me home
00:32:17.45\00:32:19.53
I don't want to stay here.
00:32:19.56\00:32:21.51
And I wouldn't blame
her because you know,
00:32:21.54\00:32:24.20
it was such a thick,
dark day for that day.
00:32:24.23\00:32:29.63
And so this lady was in her 40s
00:32:29.66\00:32:33.31
with severe depression
on three antidepressants,
00:32:33.34\00:32:36.40
on three benzodiazepines
to sleep and we realized,
00:32:36.43\00:32:42.03
you know, there is a
spiritual battle going on.
00:32:42.06\00:32:44.01
This lady will
probably have one of the few
00:32:44.04\00:32:46.87
opportunities
to change her life.
00:32:46.90\00:32:50.19
And so we sensed the need
of prayer so we prayed for her.
00:32:50.22\00:32:53.55
She agreed to stay that day.
00:32:53.58\00:32:55.58
And then the following
day she was a bit happier.
00:32:55.61\00:32:58.69
We placed in a
beautiful home nearby
00:32:58.72\00:33:00.69
and then at the end of the
day she came and apologized
00:33:00.72\00:33:04.73
to everyone and she
stayed for the ten days.
00:33:04.76\00:33:07.10
Now this lady
is now much better.
00:33:07.13\00:33:09.80
She's gone back to work,
she's gone back to university.
00:33:09.83\00:33:12.17
She is helping others now
00:33:12.20\00:33:13.88
and its a
completely different person.
00:33:13.91\00:33:15.87
Amen. Praise the Lord, yes.
00:33:15.90\00:33:17.67
Praise the Lord.
00:33:17.70\00:33:18.73
Well, let's kind
of get back on track.
00:33:18.76\00:33:20.29
You are in the middle
of something and actually
00:33:20.32\00:33:22.31
you have some
pictures that you could show.
00:33:22.34\00:33:23.51
Yes, I have. Okay.
00:33:23.54\00:33:24.57
You know, this is
00:33:24.60\00:33:25.65
a beautiful setting just nearby.
00:33:25.68\00:33:27.13
You've got another one
that shows a little bit of
00:33:27.16\00:33:30.39
the one of the buildings that
00:33:30.42\00:33:32.21
its now-- I mean
this place was in ruins.
00:33:32.24\00:33:35.12
Beautiful gardens by--
they made by volunteers.
00:33:35.15\00:33:38.53
A close friend of our
Lilly Ray from Loma Linda,
00:33:38.56\00:33:42.30
she designed and
she made the gardens.
00:33:42.33\00:33:45.27
It's being built
00:33:45.30\00:33:46.77
but while the building is going
00:33:46.80\00:33:48.79
on the building we
are building lives.
00:33:48.82\00:33:51.57
God is building lives
and that's our purpose
00:33:51.60\00:33:53.64
for being there is
to build people's lives.
00:33:53.67\00:33:55.32
You see I have got that slide
00:33:55.35\00:33:57.52
there that shows--
where are the patients?
00:33:57.55\00:34:00.35
You identify the
patients amongst that group.
00:34:00.38\00:34:03.31
No, they get
involved in gardening,
00:34:03.34\00:34:05.72
in cooking,and they
help wherever need is there
00:34:05.75\00:34:11.75
and that helps
people change their lives.
00:34:11.78\00:34:13.68
Right. Right. Okay,
00:34:13.71\00:34:15.15
so I was gonna ask you about
results but may be a good--
00:34:15.18\00:34:17.99
a good thing to ask didn't
we havea an actual video of--
00:34:18.02\00:34:22.03
Yes, yes, I would like
to show-- just to end off
00:34:22.06\00:34:24.75
by showing this
video which is a testimony,
00:34:24.78\00:34:26.91
a very power testimony
00:34:26.94\00:34:28.15
of somebody that was
there about three weeks ago.
00:34:28.18\00:34:30.92
Good.
00:34:30.95\00:34:32.27
Beautiful story, amen. Amen.
00:36:25.59\00:36:27.12
We are out of time.
00:36:27.15\00:36:28.26
I did want to leave
though with just one thing
00:36:28.29\00:36:30.38
maybe you could encourage us
00:36:30.41\00:36:31.44
because you are in
the unique position,
00:36:31.47\00:36:33.60
you are a head of a
supporting ministry,
00:36:33.63\00:36:36.76
you are also part of
the conference work there.
00:36:36.79\00:36:40.32
Can you encourage
all of us and perhaps
00:36:40.35\00:36:44.11
moving forward in
working with the church?
00:36:44.14\00:36:46.52
Look, I believe it is God's plan
00:36:46.56\00:36:48.18
to have a blended ministry.
00:36:48.21\00:36:50.45
Where is the church?
00:36:50.48\00:36:51.51
The church is here. Amen.
00:36:51.54\00:36:53.45
The church is an organization
but the church is a members
00:36:53.48\00:36:56.93
and working together
in this blended ministry
00:36:57.13\00:36:59.67
God can reveal His character
and Jesus can come soon.
00:36:59.70\00:37:03.12
Amen. It's been a blessing
talking to you this morning.
00:37:03.15\00:37:05.48
God bless. Thank you.
00:37:05.51\00:37:07.54
Good morning,
ASI, and happy Sabbath.
00:37:10.38\00:37:14.90
What a great privilege it
is to be here in Grand Rapids
00:37:14.93\00:37:17.61
at this 2014 ASI Convention
00:37:17.64\00:37:22.56
and to have such
a marvelous theme
00:37:22.59\00:37:25.49
which your
leaders have prepared,
00:37:25.52\00:37:28.25
"Lift Him Up.
00:37:28.28\00:37:33.82
"Luke 19:41."
00:37:33.85\00:37:39.98
Now as He drew near,
00:37:40.01\00:37:41.44
He saw the city
and wept over it.
00:37:41.47\00:37:48.43
" As Jesus drew near Jerusalem
00:37:48.46\00:37:51.44
He saw the shinning
rooftop of the temple.
00:37:51.47\00:37:56.81
It was glistening in the sun.
00:37:56.84\00:37:58.84
It was a magnificent sight.
00:37:58.87\00:38:02.63
He had been on
the triumphal entry.
00:38:02.66\00:38:05.64
People have been paying
all kinds of homage to Him,
00:38:05.67\00:38:08.72
He should have been so excited
00:38:08.75\00:38:12.28
but instead the
Bible says He wept.
00:38:12.31\00:38:16.99
He wept for the
people of jerusalem.
00:38:17.02\00:38:20.29
He wept for the
people of the cities.
00:38:20.32\00:38:23.88
My question to you today is,
00:38:23.91\00:38:26.11
are you weeping for
the people of the cities?
00:38:26.14\00:38:30.42
Are you joining
Christ in looking towards
00:38:30.45\00:38:35.61
helping those who are
suffering in the big cities?
00:38:35.64\00:38:40.38
This morning I've been
asked to speak for a few minutes
00:38:40.41\00:38:43.65
about evangelism and
my involvement with it.
00:38:43.68\00:38:49.34
In the book Medical
Ministry which is not only
00:38:49.37\00:38:51.94
for health
professionals but for all of us.
00:38:51.97\00:38:54.05
Page 304 it says that
00:38:54.08\00:38:56.38
"The work in the cities is the
essential work for this time.
00:38:56.41\00:39:00.01
When the cities are
worked as God would have them,
00:39:00.04\00:39:03.64
the result will be
the setting in operation
00:39:03.67\00:39:07.30
of a mighty movement
00:39:07.33\00:39:08.85
such as we have
not yet witnessed."
00:39:08.88\00:39:12.41
God has asked us to be
involved in evangelism,
00:39:12.44\00:39:16.74
personal
evangelism, public evangelism,
00:39:16.77\00:39:19.33
small group evangelism,
literature evangelism,
00:39:19.36\00:39:22.05
media evangelism.
00:39:22.08\00:39:23.11
Every type of
outreach is God's plan
00:39:23.14\00:39:27.68
as long as it's
according to His word
00:39:27.71\00:39:31.50
and the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:39:31.53\00:39:33.56
What a marvelous give
the Spirit of Prophecy is
00:39:33.59\00:39:36.02
because it gives us
practical information
00:39:36.05\00:39:39.20
on how to reach people.
00:39:39.23\00:39:44.03
I want to pay a tribute
this morning in the few moments
00:39:44.06\00:39:46.36
that I have to my father.
00:39:46.39\00:39:50.22
My heavenly Father
and my earthly father.
00:39:50.25\00:39:54.53
My heavenly Father
lives and very soon
00:39:54.56\00:39:58.94
my earthly father
will live again too.
00:39:58.97\00:40:03.14
Jesus is coming soon and that's
the reason for evangelism,
00:40:03.17\00:40:08.04
that's the reason for outreach.
00:40:08.07\00:40:11.58
It was 1970, I was a student
00:40:11.61\00:40:17.78
at Columbia Union College
00:40:17.81\00:40:19.35
now Washington
Adventist University
00:40:19.38\00:40:23.19
and I was trying to
figure outwhere it was
00:40:23.22\00:40:26.16
that I should be in God's plans
00:40:26.19\00:40:30.60
a intern, a ministerial intern.
00:40:30.63\00:40:35.81
And so I sent out letters
to various conferences asking
00:40:35.84\00:40:39.07
if they would be interested
in having a young intern
00:40:39.10\00:40:42.77
come to their conference
00:40:42.80\00:40:44.58
and would they be
willing to sponsor me?
00:40:44.61\00:40:47.28
I received some responses back
00:40:47.31\00:40:49.60
from conferences
and my father told me,
00:40:49.63\00:40:52.80
said, you know, many
of these are fine places
00:40:52.83\00:40:57.36
but if you
really want a challenge
00:40:57.39\00:41:00.07
accept the request
00:41:00.10\00:41:04.74
and the invitation from
the Greater New York Conference
00:41:04.77\00:41:08.14
which covers the
great city of New York.
00:41:08.17\00:41:13.85
I listened to my father
00:41:13.88\00:41:16.29
and I have never
been the same since.
00:41:16.32\00:41:19.51
My experience in New
York City has changed my life
00:41:19.54\00:41:23.52
forever and has
helped me to identify
00:41:23.55\00:41:26.65
with Christ weeping for
the people of the cities.
00:41:26.68\00:41:31.35
The Greater New York
Conference led at that time
00:41:31.38\00:41:33.82
by a wonderful godly
man, Elder Lloyd Reile
00:41:33.85\00:41:38.58
who went on to become president
00:41:38.61\00:41:40.63
of our church in Canada.
00:41:40.66\00:41:43.91
I saw Elder Reile
just a few years ago,
00:41:43.94\00:41:46.95
it was such a marvelous thing
00:41:46.98\00:41:48.43
to reconnect with
Elder Reile in his 90s.
00:41:48.46\00:41:53.35
What a privilege it will
be to be with so many people
00:41:53.38\00:41:56.01
that we have known in the past
00:41:56.04\00:41:57.88
we will be in
heaven forever together.
00:41:57.91\00:42:01.40
Elder Reile invested time
and effort in a young man.
00:42:01.43\00:42:05.72
Let me tell you those of you
00:42:05.75\00:42:07.02
who are older
invest in young people.
00:42:07.05\00:42:11.09
Take a risk with young
people. Give them encouragement.
00:42:11.12\00:42:15.97
At the General
Conference session
00:42:16.00\00:42:17.73
we are going to be
featuring young people.
00:42:17.76\00:42:20.72
We are gonna help them to know
00:42:20.75\00:42:22.11
their part of the great mission
00:42:22.14\00:42:23.94
of this church and in fact
00:42:23.97\00:42:26.84
they will be part of
those at the end of time
00:42:26.87\00:42:29.20
who will be very much
involved in God's work.
00:42:29.23\00:42:32.91
The Greater New
York Conference sent me
00:42:32.94\00:42:35.19
to not only the seminary
but to Loma Linda University
00:42:35.22\00:42:39.67
where I obtained a masters
of science and public health
00:42:39.70\00:42:42.94
which has also
changed my life forever.
00:42:42.97\00:42:47.10
Right now both
Andrews University
00:42:47.13\00:42:48.80
and Loma Linda are
offering courses for those
00:42:48.83\00:42:52.48
who are interested
in helping to know about
00:42:52.51\00:42:55.16
a blended ministry
and I want to encourage
00:42:55.19\00:42:58.66
all of you to
remember that is God's plan.
00:42:58.69\00:43:01.70
Comprehensive health ministry,
everyone working together,
00:43:01.73\00:43:05.34
a blended ministry,
comprehensive health ministry
00:43:05.37\00:43:08.58
is the right arm of the gospel.
00:43:08.61\00:43:11.17
All throughout my experience
this has affected my outlook.
00:43:13.06\00:43:19.09
Evangelism, I can
remember being in a field school
00:43:19.12\00:43:22.91
of evangelism in
Glasgow, Scotland.
00:43:22.94\00:43:25.33
Tough place but I
saw God's presence there.
00:43:25.36\00:43:28.52
I can remember going
to an evangelism school
00:43:28.55\00:43:31.24
where we had
together in San Jose,
00:43:31.27\00:43:33.90
strong
representation from health
00:43:33.93\00:43:36.46
and from the
Bible focused areas.
00:43:36.49\00:43:40.34
Pastor Bruce
Johnston who is now dead
00:43:40.37\00:43:43.27
but was a wonderful
evangelist and union president.
00:43:43.30\00:43:46.67
Dr. Mervyn Hardinge,
who also has passed away
00:43:46.70\00:43:50.25
but was leading out in that.
00:43:50.28\00:43:51.93
It gave me the
seeds of understanding
00:43:51.96\00:43:54.29
of this blended ministry.
00:43:54.32\00:43:56.75
I want to tell you
brothers and sisters,
00:43:56.78\00:43:58.58
this is what God wants us to do
00:43:58.61\00:44:01.05
in the large
cities of the world.
00:44:01.08\00:44:03.73
A blended ministry
according to Christ's own plan.
00:44:03.76\00:44:09.31
I remember in New
York as I served there
00:44:09.34\00:44:11.60
for about seven years,
00:44:11.63\00:44:13.09
Nancy and I worked for
many years in that area.
00:44:13.12\00:44:16.82
I can remember
being on the subway
00:44:16.85\00:44:18.47
and sometimes of course,
the subway comes above ground
00:44:18.50\00:44:21.50
and looking at a
particular graffiti
00:44:21.53\00:44:25.19
on the wall,
00:44:25.22\00:44:26.41
concrete jungle a hard life.
00:44:26.44\00:44:31.38
I want to tell you as we rest
in this lovely auditorium here
00:44:31.41\00:44:34.76
I want to urge all
of you not to forget
00:44:34.79\00:44:37.82
the people in the big
cities including Grand Rapids.
00:44:37.85\00:44:43.75
Jesus wept for those people.
00:44:43.78\00:44:46.23
Throughout my life
00:44:46.26\00:44:47.65
evangelism has been a key factor
00:44:47.68\00:44:51.15
all the way from
holding an evangelist series
00:44:51.18\00:44:53.71
with my father
in Western Maryland
00:44:53.74\00:44:54.96
all the way down to us holding
00:44:54.99\00:44:59.61
an evangelist meeting
together in Londonderry,
00:44:59.64\00:45:03.62
Northern Ireland a tough place.
00:45:03.65\00:45:07.02
I want to tell you
evangelism has touched my life
00:45:07.05\00:45:10.00
in a very specific way.
00:45:10.03\00:45:15.08
Recently we've been involved
00:45:15.11\00:45:17.29
in a number of
evangelistic activities.
00:45:17.32\00:45:20.25
You might say well, what
does the president of the
00:45:20.28\00:45:22.43
General Conference do
with all the other things
00:45:22.46\00:45:26.37
that need to be done
by taking time to hold
00:45:26.40\00:45:29.47
evangelistic meetings?
00:45:29.50\00:45:31.70
I want to tell you that
is our number one priority.
00:45:31.73\00:45:36.55
Committee meetings,
all the other challenges,
00:45:36.58\00:45:39.54
yes, they are important.
00:45:39.57\00:45:42.04
Evangelism is the
life blood of this church.
00:45:42.07\00:45:46.11
It is what God intents
for us to do all the way down
00:45:46.14\00:45:49.59
to the very end of time.
00:45:49.62\00:45:51.48
In fact, we are told the
last work we will be able to do
00:45:51.51\00:45:55.11
will be medical missionary work,
00:45:55.14\00:45:57.08
comprehensive health ministry.
00:45:57.11\00:45:59.92
Recently we've
been involved with
00:45:59.95\00:46:01.89
at great and exciting
program NY13 last year,
00:46:01.92\00:46:06.80
preaching messages of hope,
working together with hundreds
00:46:06.83\00:46:10.85
of pastors and others across
a large area of metropolitan
00:46:10.88\00:46:16.50
New York including New York,
New Jersey, and Connecticut.
00:46:16.53\00:46:21.14
Tremendous
effort led by Don King,
00:46:21.17\00:46:24.22
president of the Atlantic
Union and so many others
00:46:24.25\00:46:28.43
and I must say that
Mark Finley and Robert Costa
00:46:28.46\00:46:31.87
who so ably
worked in that series
00:46:31.90\00:46:35.03
are tremendous
assets to God's church.
00:46:35.06\00:46:38.47
We had a
wonderful time in New York
00:46:38.50\00:46:39.82
and we don't have time to
tell you the illustrations
00:46:39.85\00:46:42.90
of that particular
setting but it continues
00:46:42.93\00:46:46.75
thousands of new believers
in Jesus because of NY13,
00:46:46.78\00:46:51.52
hundreds of hundreds of meetings
00:46:51.55\00:46:53.74
all over that site.
00:46:53.77\00:46:55.90
Recently its been a
privilege to be involved
00:46:55.93\00:46:59.76
in short evangelistic reaping
meetings in Papua New Guinea,
00:46:59.79\00:47:06.02
in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City
00:47:06.05\00:47:09.10
where by God's
grace it was my privilege
00:47:09.13\00:47:11.44
noting due to me
but to the power of God
00:47:11.47\00:47:13.75
and our local leaders to
bethe first non-indigenous
00:47:13.78\00:47:17.69
person to preach an
evangelistic meeting
00:47:17.72\00:47:20.65
in Ho Chi Minh City
00:47:20.68\00:47:21.89
since 1975 and we praise God
because things are opening up.
00:47:21.92\00:47:27.57
We had a meeting in
Manila just recently,
00:47:27.60\00:47:29.71
I'm gonna tell you
about that in an about an hour
00:47:29.74\00:47:32.97
from now in about three minutes,
00:47:33.00\00:47:36.01
three minute duration
about God's great openings.
00:47:36.04\00:47:39.61
Huge evangelistic
meetings held all across Manila
00:47:39.64\00:47:43.72
with now about 10,000
baptisms resulting from it,
00:47:43.75\00:47:48.74
many people involved not
just one evangelistic meeting.
00:47:48.77\00:47:53.62
Next year Nancy and I
will have the privilege
00:47:53.65\00:47:55.98
of working in Harare, Zimbabwe.
00:47:56.01\00:48:01.30
It will be a
great privilege again
00:48:01.33\00:48:02.76
to have a combined effortworking
00:48:02.79\00:48:05.33
with the South Western Union
00:48:05.36\00:48:06.59
here in the
United States and ASI
00:48:06.62\00:48:10.89
and ShareHim and so many others.
00:48:10.92\00:48:14.13
Also we will have a
great evangelistic meeting
00:48:14.16\00:48:16.19
in San Antonio, Texas.
00:48:16.22\00:48:17.92
just before the
General Conference session.
00:48:17.95\00:48:21.32
Mark Finley, Duane McKey,
00:48:21.35\00:48:23.72
Robert Costa and others
and leading out in that.
00:48:23.75\00:48:26.58
But this is
just a little example
00:48:26.61\00:48:29.97
of what God is
doing through thousands
00:48:30.00\00:48:33.34
of people across this globe
00:48:33.37\00:48:36.06
in working for
Christ through evangelism.
00:48:36.09\00:48:39.56
Let's invest our
time in God's great work
00:48:39.59\00:48:44.21
for soon Jesus will come.
00:48:44.24\00:48:46.27
Matthew 9:35,
00:48:46.30\00:48:50.42
"Then Jesus went about
all the cities and villages,
00:48:50.45\00:48:53.00
teaching in their
synagogues, preaching the gospel
00:48:53.03\00:48:55.63
of the kingdom, and
healing everysickness
00:48:55.66\00:48:58.49
and every disease
among the people."
00:48:58.52\00:49:01.71
" God is calling for you
00:49:01.74\00:49:04.46
to be part of the
last great loud cry,
00:49:04.49\00:49:09.74
weep with Jesus for
the people of the cities.
00:49:09.77\00:49:15.60
Amen.
00:49:15.63\00:49:16.71
Take my life and let it be
00:49:35.14\00:49:41.19
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee
00:49:41.22\00:49:47.49
Take my hands and let them move
00:49:47.68\00:49:53.78
At the impulse of Thy love
00:49:53.81\00:50:00.27
Take my hands and let them move
00:50:00.30\00:50:06.83
At the impulse of Thy love
00:50:09.89\00:50:15.52
Take my feet and let them be
00:50:25.09\00:50:30.52
Swift and beautiful for Thee
00:50:30.55\00:50:36.31
Take my voice and let me sing
00:50:36.34\00:50:42.20
Always, only for my King
00:50:42.23\00:50:46.96
Take my voice and let me sing
00:50:48.44\00:50:53.14
Not a mite would I withhold
00:51:18.28\00:51:21.23
Take my moments and my days
00:51:23.96\00:51:29.70
Let them flow in endless praise
00:51:29.73\00:51:35.32
Take my moments and my days
00:51:35.78\00:51:42.39
Let them flow in endless praise
00:51:45.21\00:51:51.29
Take my will and make it Thine
00:52:00.56\00:52:06.37
It shall be no longer mine
00:52:06.40\00:52:12.03
Take my heart, it is Thine own
00:52:12.06\00:52:17.36
It shall be Thy royal throne
00:52:17.97\00:52:23.52
Take my heart, it is Thine own
00:52:23.95\00:52:29.95
It shall be Thy royal throne
00:52:33.28\00:52:37.40
It shall be Thy royal throne
00:52:37.43\00:52:44.21
Good morning. Happy Sabbath.
00:53:05.69\00:53:08.62
We've come to that time
00:53:08.65\00:53:10.38
in our Sabbath
morning experience
00:53:10.41\00:53:13.29
where we are able to
worship our God through study.
00:53:13.32\00:53:17.95
And I trust that all of you
00:53:17.98\00:53:20.27
have been studying
your Sabbath school lesson.
00:53:20.30\00:53:22.19
We are talking about
the teachings of Jesus
00:53:22.22\00:53:24.85
this quarter and as we
begin as my custom is in
00:53:24.88\00:53:29.45
my home church Fallbrook,
California whenever I teach
00:53:29.48\00:53:33.32
we always pause at
the beginning and ask
00:53:33.35\00:53:35.51
the presence of
God to be with us
00:53:35.54\00:53:37.73
to invite His Holy Spirit
to take control of everything
00:53:37.76\00:53:40.80
that happens in this room
and I would like to invite
00:53:40.83\00:53:43.23
you to bow your
heads with me right now.
00:53:43.26\00:53:46.45
Holy Father in heaven,
we come to you just now
00:53:46.48\00:53:49.14
claiming the promise
00:53:49.17\00:53:51.76
that wherever two or three
00:53:51.79\00:53:53.33
are gathered
together in your name
00:53:53.36\00:53:55.17
you will be among us.
00:53:55.20\00:53:57.33
And I pray right now
that you would take control
00:53:57.36\00:53:59.88
of my mind and my
lips and my tongue.
00:53:59.91\00:54:03.59
May the words that I
speak be Your words and Lord,
00:54:03.62\00:54:06.08
not only may the words
that I speak be Your words
00:54:06.11\00:54:08.68
but may each
person that is here,
00:54:08.71\00:54:11.81
that is watching on television
as well that Your Holy Spirit
00:54:11.84\00:54:15.06
would be with them each
one that they may hear exactly
00:54:15.09\00:54:18.37
what You have in mind for them.
00:54:18.40\00:54:19.57
I pray in Jesus name, amen.
00:54:19.60\00:54:21.27
Nicodemus was a man
00:54:28.92\00:54:31.76
who could have
been an ASI member.
00:54:31.79\00:54:35.90
He had become very
successful in his business.
00:54:35.93\00:54:41.09
He had attained the success
where he was able to spend time
00:54:41.12\00:54:44.85
studying the scriptures.
00:54:44.88\00:54:45.99
He had become if you will
a doctor of the Jewish law.
00:54:46.02\00:54:51.71
He had also been so well thought
00:54:51.74\00:54:53.10
of that he had been
elevated to a position within
00:54:53.13\00:54:56.83
the Jewish ruling
council called the Sanhedrin.
00:54:56.86\00:55:01.38
He dressed well.
00:55:01.41\00:55:02.76
Whenever he walk someplace
00:55:02.79\00:55:04.61
people
acknowledged his presence.
00:55:04.64\00:55:07.96
Within his society
he had already reached
00:55:07.99\00:55:10.62
the top rung if the ladder
00:55:10.65\00:55:13.13
that he could expect to reach.
00:55:13.16\00:55:16.07
But somehow
deep within his heart
00:55:16.10\00:55:20.01
there was still
a dissatisfaction.
00:55:20.04\00:55:23.44
There was something more.
00:55:23.47\00:55:24.66
Have you ever felt
like in your Christian walk
00:55:24.69\00:55:28.44
that there is somethingmore out
00:55:28.47\00:55:29.98
that your just can't quiet
00:55:30.01\00:55:31.73
put your hands on
that was Nicodemus.
00:55:31.76\00:55:36.04
Nicodemus was in that moment
and as he was going through
00:55:36.07\00:55:39.68
the process of going
to the Sanhedrin meetings
00:55:39.71\00:55:43.55
as he would interact with
the leaders of the nation,
00:55:43.58\00:55:47.81
as he would have
social gatherings
00:55:47.84\00:55:50.48
with Pilate the Roman proconsul.
00:55:50.51\00:55:55.56
He would have this since
there's got to be more than
00:55:55.59\00:55:58.70
what I'm experiencing here.
00:55:58.73\00:56:03.66
Whenever the
young Galileans teacher
00:56:03.69\00:56:08.71
came along and
began to show his presence
00:56:08.74\00:56:13.04
in the temple and
along the walkways
00:56:13.07\00:56:15.80
through
Jerusalemand as he observed that
00:56:15.83\00:56:19.73
he became quite concerned
because he noted the way
00:56:19.76\00:56:25.71
that the ruling
scribes, his associates actually
00:56:25.74\00:56:30.82
looked upon this young Galilean
00:56:30.85\00:56:33.56
and a course in his mind
00:56:33.59\00:56:34.71
because he was a great scholar
00:56:34.74\00:56:36.08
and a student of the scriptures.
00:56:36.11\00:56:40.11
He was well aware
of how his ancestors
00:56:40.14\00:56:43.12
had treated the
prophets that had come.
00:56:43.15\00:56:46.61
A little uncomfortable
with how that was working
00:56:46.64\00:56:48.52
and then he couldn't help
but notice that in a world
00:56:48.55\00:56:53.17
where everybody seemed
to be corrupted on the take
00:56:53.20\00:56:57.36
in someway self dealing
00:56:57.39\00:57:00.17
that here was
the man uncorrupted.
00:57:00.20\00:57:04.46
Strangely,
mysteriously drawnto this man
00:57:04.49\00:57:09.54
Nicodemus is seeking.
00:57:09.57\00:57:11.82
He also took
not of the fact that
00:57:11.85\00:57:16.17
this man though
uneducated within their system
00:57:16.20\00:57:20.44
had extreme authority
00:57:20.47\00:57:22.53
when it came to certain matters.
00:57:22.56\00:57:24.31
He had been an
observer of when Jesus cleansed
00:57:24.34\00:57:28.99
the temple and turned
over the money changers tables.
00:57:29.02\00:57:34.68
Something inside said I
need to know this man but yet
00:57:34.71\00:57:38.69
the pride that was
there refused to let him
00:57:38.72\00:57:42.26
walk upto Jesus and begin
to engage Him in conversation.
00:57:42.29\00:57:45.53
I can only imagine
00:57:45.56\00:57:47.24
that perhaps he went up
to one of the disciples,
00:57:47.27\00:57:51.67
maybe he sent a delegation
to one of the disciples
00:57:51.70\00:57:54.39
and said, listen,
I would like to get
00:57:54.42\00:57:56.22
a chance to talk with this man.
00:57:56.25\00:57:58.35
Can you arrange for us
to have a little consult
00:57:58.38\00:58:03.86
and by the way
could it be in some
00:58:03.89\00:58:05.74
out of the way
place and at night?
00:58:05.77\00:58:10.13
And Jesus being
gracious and I don't know,
00:58:10.16\00:58:12.37
we don't know,
scripture does not record
00:58:12.40\00:58:14.20
which one of the disciples
00:58:14.23\00:58:15.64
if there was
one of the disciples
00:58:15.67\00:58:16.88
or how that took
place but in John Chapter 3
00:58:16.91\00:58:20.38
and if you have your
Bibles I would like to invite
00:58:20.41\00:58:22.13
you to turn there with me.
00:58:22.16\00:58:24.13
In John Chapter 3
00:58:24.16\00:58:28.16
we find the story of Nicodemus.
00:58:28.19\00:58:33.85
I'm gonna begin reading
in verse 2 of chapter 3.
00:58:33.88\00:58:38.52
"This man came to Jesus
by night and said to Him,
00:58:38.55\00:58:41.03
'Rabbi, we know that You
are a teacher come from God,
00:58:41.06\00:58:45.39
for no one can do these signs
00:58:45.42\00:58:47.19
that You do
unless God is with him.'"
00:58:47.22\00:58:48.70
See he had been
paying attention.
00:58:48.73\00:58:50.02
He had been watching.
00:58:50.05\00:58:51.42
He had been alert
to what was going on.
00:58:51.45\00:58:54.26
Jesus
recognizing that soul hunger
00:58:54.29\00:59:00.99
that was being
expressed in this unique way
00:59:01.02\00:59:04.28
from this man
successful in all the ways
00:59:04.31\00:59:07.22
of the worldand even
in the nation of Judah.
00:59:07.25\00:59:11.23
Here he was cutting
right to the chase if you will.
00:59:11.26\00:59:15.04
Jesus cuts right
through the chase in verse 3.
00:59:15.07\00:59:17.91
"Jesus answered and said to him,
00:59:17.94\00:59:19.06
'Most assuredly, I say to
you, unless one is born again,
00:59:19.09\00:59:22.82
he cannot see
the kingdom of God.'"
00:59:22.85\00:59:24.52
You see what Nicodemus was
really after was recognizing
00:59:24.55\00:59:28.77
that he needed
to continue to grow
00:59:28.81\00:59:31.59
all that he had
achieved had not satisfied.
00:59:31.62\00:59:35.50
And you know, that is the title
00:59:35.53\00:59:37.47
of our lesson today
is "Growing in Christ.
00:59:37.50\00:59:42.17
" There is never a time
where we come to a place
00:59:42.20\00:59:45.68
where we have
achieved in this life.
00:59:45.71\00:59:49.58
We must continually
be on the growth track
00:59:49.61\00:59:53.85
that the Holy Spirithas for
each one of us individually.
00:59:53.88\00:59:58.58
And Jesus was helping Nicodemus
00:59:58.61\01:00:01.47
to come face to face
with what he was really after.
01:00:01.50\01:00:06.33
He says, you cannot
see the kingdom of God
01:00:06.36\01:00:08.62
unless you are born again.
01:00:08.65\01:00:10.11
Now, it's interesting
that the word born again
01:00:10.14\01:00:14.13
is actually, it
had kind of a double,
01:00:14.16\01:00:17.22
a double meaning if you will.
01:00:17.25\01:00:19.76
It was-- let me see
if I can find it here
01:00:19.79\01:00:22.30
where the Greek
word is in our lesson.
01:00:22.33\01:00:24.79
It's not jumping out of
me but it had two meanings.
01:00:24.82\01:00:28.32
One was to be born from above
01:00:28.35\01:00:31.61
and obviously if you are
already born in this world,
01:00:31.64\01:00:35.26
if you have been born of a woman
01:00:35.29\01:00:37.48
as the scripture
is referred to that
01:00:37.51\01:00:40.70
and nowyou are being told that
you must be born from above.
01:00:40.73\01:00:44.04
The common way to understand
that was to be born again.
01:00:44.07\01:00:47.03
If you've already been born
once you got to be born again.
01:00:47.06\01:00:49.94
So Nicodemus not
used to being as timid
01:00:49.97\01:00:55.03
as he was in the
presence of this great teacher,
01:00:55.06\01:00:58.92
immediately begins to
respond he says in verse 4,
01:00:58.95\01:01:02.13
"How can a man be
born when he is old?
01:01:02.16\01:01:04.83
Can he enter a second time
01:01:04.86\01:01:06.40
into his
mother's womb and be born?
01:01:06.43\01:01:10.46
" Now actually that was kind of
01:01:10.49\01:01:11.94
a foolish defensive question
01:01:11.97\01:01:16.59
on the part of
Nicodemus because see,
01:01:16.62\01:01:18.15
he was a student of scripture.
01:01:18.18\01:01:21.00
He knew the
scriptures and obviously he knew
01:01:21.03\01:01:24.81
that if he was talking
about being born from above
01:01:24.84\01:01:28.93
he understood
what that was all about
01:01:28.96\01:01:30.85
because there had been
many references to scripture.
01:01:30.88\01:01:33.04
We are gonna come to
that in just a moment.
01:01:33.07\01:01:35.03
In the scriptures
he knew what that was.
01:01:35.06\01:01:36.67
Jesus continues and
says "Most assuredly,
01:01:36.70\01:01:40.29
I say to you, unless one is
01:01:40.32\01:01:42.15
born of water and of the Spirit,
01:01:42.18\01:01:45.42
he cannot enter
the kingdom of God."
01:01:45.45\01:01:49.38
Now do you think that Nicodemus
01:01:49.41\01:01:51.33
was acquainted with
being born of water?
01:01:51.36\01:01:55.77
How would he
have been acquainted
01:01:55.80\01:01:57.07
with being born of water?
01:01:57.10\01:02:00.32
John the Baptist, exactly.
01:02:00.35\01:02:01.47
John the Baptist
ministry had-- you know,
01:02:01.50\01:02:04.39
they didn't have
television in those days
01:02:04.42\01:02:06.53
and they didn't have the
Jerusalem Times that I know of,
01:02:06.56\01:02:10.34
the word had gotten around
and impacted the entire nation.
01:02:10.37\01:02:14.53
That in fact, John the
Baptist was out there in
01:02:14.56\01:02:17.34
what looked like the forum
of one of the ancient prophets
01:02:17.37\01:02:21.13
and he was
baptizing in with water
01:02:21.16\01:02:24.42
but he also had said
one is coming after me
01:02:24.45\01:02:27.41
who will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit
01:02:27.44\01:02:29.89
and I'm not even
worthy to untie His shoelaces.
01:02:29.92\01:02:33.64
So Nicodemus was
aware of all that,
01:02:33.67\01:02:36.21
so when He says
water he knows what that is
01:02:36.24\01:02:38.71
but the spirit he senses
that he may be right on the cusp
01:02:38.74\01:02:45.59
of the most
important thing in his life.
01:02:45.62\01:02:48.58
Even though he's had all
these classesand he has done
01:02:48.61\01:02:50.78
all these things and he
has accomplished all these,
01:02:50.81\01:02:52.96
he is on the verge of
what is really important
01:02:52.99\01:02:57.26
for his spiritual growth.
01:02:57.29\01:03:00.67
And I want to suggest
that that very same thing
01:03:00.70\01:03:04.86
applies to each one of us today.
01:03:04.89\01:03:06.73
We could all be
in Nicodemus shoes
01:03:06.76\01:03:10.01
as we think in terms of seeking
01:03:10.04\01:03:13.49
that that additional element
01:03:13.52\01:03:17.36
that brings the
satisfaction to our lives
01:03:17.39\01:03:19.98
that all of our
hearts yearn for.
01:03:20.01\01:03:22.99
So He says,
01:03:23.02\01:03:25.15
you must be born of
water and of the spirit.
01:03:25.18\01:03:28.38
It's a double baptism.
01:03:28.41\01:03:31.00
Nicodemus continues
the dialogue with Him--
01:03:31.03\01:03:34.81
well, actually
Jesus continues to talk
01:03:34.84\01:03:36.81
and its
interesting that Nicodemus
01:03:36.84\01:03:38.64
only says a few more
words in this context.
01:03:38.67\01:03:42.49
Jesus says in verse 6,
01:03:42.52\01:03:43.84
"That which is born
of the flesh is flesh,
01:03:43.87\01:03:45.51
but that which is born
of the Spirit is spirit.
01:03:45.54\01:03:49.10
Do not marvel
that I said to you,
01:03:49.13\01:03:50.53
'You must be born again.'
01:03:50.56\01:03:52.45
See when He is
talking about the baptism
01:03:52.48\01:03:54.76
of the Holy Spirit He uses
01:03:54.79\01:03:56.39
the incredible
example of the wind.
01:03:56.42\01:04:02.49
Anyone here ever been
able to cause the wind to blow?
01:04:02.52\01:04:06.30
Anyone?
01:04:06.33\01:04:07.53
You know, I don't
see a single hand.
01:04:07.56\01:04:10.64
Isn't it interesting that Jesus
01:04:10.67\01:04:11.77
took something
that we all understand.
01:04:11.80\01:04:14.35
How of you eve
been in a windstorm
01:04:14.38\01:04:16.43
where you felt the wind blow?
01:04:16.46\01:04:19.33
I've actually been
in a windstorm where,
01:04:19.36\01:04:21.27
you know, your
clothes are completely
01:04:21.30\01:04:23.12
plastered to you and you
lean into the wind, okay.
01:04:23.15\01:04:27.22
You know what I'm talking about.
01:04:27.25\01:04:28.94
Jesus uses the
example of the wind
01:04:28.97\01:04:32.81
to illustrate
the great principle
01:04:32.84\01:04:34.54
of the power of
the spirit baptism
01:04:34.57\01:04:37.20
and He goes on
to say, you do not--
01:04:37.23\01:04:39.92
"The wind blows where it wishes,
01:04:39.95\01:04:42.28
and you hear the
sound of it, but you cannot
01:04:42.31\01:04:43.34
tell where it comes
from and where it goes.
01:04:43.37\01:04:45.79
So is everyone who
is born of the Spirit."
01:04:45.82\01:04:48.85
Now there is a couple
of things I want to note
01:04:48.88\01:04:50.48
when you look at the--
01:04:50.51\01:04:53.17
at the baptism of the--
01:04:53.20\01:04:55.43
water baptism and the
baptism of the spirit.
01:04:55.46\01:04:59.05
How many of you
had anything to do
01:04:59.08\01:05:01.83
with being born the first time?
01:05:01.86\01:05:04.58
Anybody?
01:05:04.61\01:05:06.66
Everyone of us were
born without our permission
01:05:06.69\01:05:10.42
or our knowledge
01:05:10.45\01:05:12.80
that something that
happened in this life
01:05:12.83\01:05:15.05
that was not something
we had anything to do with.
01:05:15.08\01:05:18.62
Just in the same
way being born again
01:05:18.65\01:05:22.23
is something we can assent
to, we can choose to happen
01:05:22.26\01:05:26.78
but we can no more
control being born again
01:05:26.81\01:05:30.92
and the process that it involves
01:05:30.95\01:05:33.47
than we can be involved
in our own natural birth.
01:05:33.50\01:05:37.63
The one thing that is different
01:05:37.66\01:05:40.75
is that we have
the ability to choose
01:05:40.78\01:05:43.67
and say Lord, take
me and wash me clean
01:05:43.70\01:05:49.44
by the power of
Your Holy Spirit.
01:05:49.47\01:05:52.85
Now when I think about this
whole idea of being born again
01:05:52.88\01:05:59.73
it really dwells down
to one very simple concept.
01:05:59.76\01:06:03.44
When I'm born of the spirit
01:06:03.47\01:06:05.27
or when you are
born of the spirit
01:06:05.30\01:06:09.57
we are being renewed
on the inside of our minds
01:06:09.60\01:06:15.33
by the power of the Holy Spirit
01:06:15.36\01:06:17.76
moving just as the
wind moves around us.
01:06:17.79\01:06:22.64
As that power comes in
and I was in a discussion
01:06:22.67\01:06:25.48
in with one of my
brothers as we were preparing
01:06:25.51\01:06:28.28
for-- as I was
preparing for this lesson.
01:06:28.31\01:06:30.36
Last week we happened
to be together at a wedding
01:06:30.39\01:06:32.42
for my niece down
in Texas and my brother
01:06:32.45\01:06:35.23
who is a pastor in Arizona
we were talking about this
01:06:35.26\01:06:37.36
and he was saying, you
know, I'm convinced, you know,
01:06:37.39\01:06:41.24
we always think in terms of our
01:06:41.27\01:06:42.80
conscious decision
making power in our minds.
01:06:42.83\01:06:46.88
But he said we must be
experiencing the washing
01:06:46.91\01:06:51.26
and the renewing
power of the Holy Spirit
01:06:51.29\01:06:53.66
at our subconscious mind level.
01:06:53.69\01:06:57.39
That's where the
renewal must take place
01:06:57.42\01:06:59.85
so that we have the ability
to make the right decisions
01:06:59.88\01:07:03.74
because that
washing needs to take place.
01:07:03.77\01:07:06.67
Now that doesn't
diminish the ability
01:07:06.70\01:07:08.96
of having the
conscious mind washed as well
01:07:08.99\01:07:12.00
so that we can make choices as
01:07:12.03\01:07:14.19
we walk through this
life for sin is so prevalent.
01:07:14.22\01:07:20.52
The Bible tells
us that Nicodemus
01:07:20.55\01:07:23.74
actually I think
the last thing that
01:07:23.77\01:07:25.44
we see him saying here, he says,
01:07:25.47\01:07:27.88
"How can these things be?"
01:07:27.91\01:07:31.82
Those are the last
words that we hear.
01:07:31.85\01:07:33.79
Jesus has the last word
and the record indicates
01:07:33.82\01:07:38.59
that Nicodemus slipped
silently into the night.
01:07:38.62\01:07:42.24
But you know, what,
in some cases conversions
01:07:42.27\01:07:44.91
will take place instantaneously
where someone gets
01:07:44.94\01:07:50.41
knocked off their horse
like Saul who became Paul.
01:07:50.44\01:07:54.05
There are those examples,
there are also examples
01:07:54.08\01:07:57.92
like Nicodemus who
came was confronted
01:07:57.95\01:08:02.94
by the living God in
the form of Jesus Christ.
01:08:02.97\01:08:06.68
And over a little bit of time
as that soaked into his mind
01:08:06.71\01:08:11.02
and soaked into his being.
01:08:11.05\01:08:12.65
And the power of the Holy Spirit
01:08:12.68\01:08:14.22
began working
more and more with him.
01:08:14.25\01:08:16.55
A little later on we
find him stepping forward
01:08:16.58\01:08:19.43
with great courage
and it was Nicodemus
01:08:19.46\01:08:23.85
several years later
because this happened in John 3
01:08:23.88\01:08:27.06
at the beginning near the
beginning of Jesus ministry
01:08:27.09\01:08:30.23
toward the end we find Nicodemus
01:08:30.26\01:08:33.63
actually coming
to Pilate and saying
01:08:33.66\01:08:37.97
I want the body
of this just man.
01:08:38.00\01:08:41.59
And he together with
Joseph of Arimathea--
01:08:41.62\01:08:44.48
you see the results.
01:08:44.51\01:08:45.91
See that's the way this works.
01:08:45.94\01:08:47.40
The rebirth in the
heart by the Holy Spirit
01:08:47.43\01:08:50.34
and when it talks
about heart and mind
01:08:50.37\01:08:53.04
you see the results of it
01:08:53.07\01:08:54.76
even though you
can't see the wind blowing.
01:08:54.79\01:08:57.90
You see the results
and I want to suggest that
01:08:57.93\01:09:02.55
every one of us can
experience that growth
01:09:02.58\01:09:08.55
that Nicodemus was
seeking and obviously found.
01:09:08.58\01:09:12.93
Because you see having
that new life in Christ,
01:09:12.96\01:09:16.91
that new life in Christ that
only comes by the Holy Spirit.
01:09:16.94\01:09:20.67
You know it's talked
about in Titus Chapter 3
01:09:20.70\01:09:22.54
it talks about the
washing of regeneration.
01:09:22.57\01:09:25.82
It talks about bein
justified by His grace.
01:09:25.85\01:09:28.89
In 2 Corinthians 5:17
01:09:28.92\01:09:32.51
it talks about
being made a new creation.
01:09:32.54\01:09:34.96
How many of you here
today would be willing
01:09:34.99\01:09:37.18
to trade in everything
you've got to be a new creation
01:09:37.21\01:09:40.09
in the hand of God?
01:09:40.12\01:09:41.46
Everything you got to be a
new creation? We all would.
01:09:41.49\01:09:44.65
We recognize that
no matter what status,
01:09:44.68\01:09:47.37
no matter what
milepost we have accomplished
01:09:47.40\01:09:50.73
in this life but God has in
store for us is so much better.
01:09:50.76\01:09:56.27
What did, what
did the Psalms say?
01:09:56.30\01:09:58.03
"I would rather be a doorkeeper
in the house of my God
01:09:58.06\01:10:02.81
than to have all the success
that the world can offer.
01:10:02.84\01:10:06.03
" And that's what the
new life is all about.
01:10:06.06\01:10:09.29
That's what we are talking
about having that new creation.
01:10:09.32\01:10:13.34
And here's what's beautiful.
01:10:13.37\01:10:15.09
As the Holy Spirit
does his work imperceptibly
01:10:15.12\01:10:18.27
where you can't see the
results begin in this way.
01:10:18.30\01:10:21.04
I love what the
lesson author said,
01:10:21.07\01:10:23.43
"Through the Holy Spirit,
01:10:23.46\01:10:24.57
Christ implants
in us new thoughts.
01:10:24.60\01:10:29.65
" Now if you're gonna be honest
01:10:29.68\01:10:32.91
could you use some new thoughts?
01:10:32.94\01:10:36.26
Could you use some new thoughts?
01:10:36.29\01:10:37.42
Every one of us
needs new thoughts.
01:10:37.45\01:10:40.04
That comes from the Holy Spirit.
01:10:40.07\01:10:42.55
He wakens our conscience.
01:10:42.58\01:10:45.79
Aren't you glad you got
a conscience to guide you?
01:10:45.82\01:10:49.23
What is that conscience?
01:10:49.26\01:10:50.29
He awakens-- it
says that the Holy Spirit
01:10:50.32\01:10:52.30
awakens that conscience and
it's also described in Jeremiah
01:10:52.33\01:10:56.01
that there is a voice
you hear behind you saying,
01:10:56.04\01:10:58.77
this is the way walk ye in it.
01:10:58.80\01:11:02.26
in other words
I'm not smart enough
01:11:02.29\01:11:05.98
and frankly neither are you
to be able to walk this path
01:11:06.01\01:11:12.08
through life alone.
01:11:12.11\01:11:15.19
Without the power of the
Holy Spirit to guide us--
01:11:15.22\01:11:17.40
In fact, I'm fascinated.
01:11:17.43\01:11:19.36
This is a little departure
and I do that that regularly
01:11:19.39\01:11:22.27
in my own Sabbath school class.
01:11:22.30\01:11:25.24
Do you know that in
Ellen White's writings
01:11:25.27\01:11:27.72
and I should have
that quote but I don't...
01:11:27.75\01:11:29.80
because it just
came in my mind that,
01:11:29.83\01:11:31.89
on our journey up into
clouds to meet Christ in the air
01:11:31.92\01:11:35.79
that we all have as a
hope as Seventh-day Adventist.
01:11:35.82\01:11:40.67
You know, what she says?
01:11:40.70\01:11:42.09
The first voice
that you will hear
01:11:42.12\01:11:45.32
is one that you will recognize.
01:11:45.35\01:11:48.64
It will be a voice that
you have heard many times
01:11:48.67\01:11:51.11
because it is the voice
of your guardian angel that
01:11:51.15\01:11:53.88
by the power of the Holy Spirit
has been guiding your life.
01:11:53.91\01:11:57.05
I'm so grateful for
that, I don't know about you.
01:11:57.08\01:11:59.03
Can you say amen to that?
01:11:59.06\01:12:00.20
Amen.
01:12:00.23\01:12:01.29
I want to have
01:12:01.32\01:12:03.14
the Holy Spirit guiding my life.
01:12:03.17\01:12:05.97
And sometimes I
wonder why at times
01:12:06.00\01:12:07.89
we have such little
power, such little strength
01:12:07.92\01:12:10.45
and we make such
little progress in our lives
01:12:10.48\01:12:13.81
and I stop and think perhaps,
01:12:13.84\01:12:17.45
it's because I'm trying
to do too much on my own
01:12:17.48\01:12:20.73
and not letting the
Holy Spirit actually
01:12:20.76\01:12:22.37
work his will through me.
01:12:22.40\01:12:25.17
But he promises to
make a new creation,
01:12:25.20\01:12:28.16
a new life in Jesus Christ.
01:12:28.19\01:12:30.72
And then I come
to the two elements
01:12:30.75\01:12:33.81
that are most
important for maintaining
01:12:33.84\01:12:37.20
that growth in Christ.
01:12:37.23\01:12:38.54
Keeping-- you know, once
you achieve a certain level
01:12:38.57\01:12:40.78
you don't want to go back down,
01:12:40.81\01:12:41.87
you want to keep going
up, you want to keep going up.
01:12:41.90\01:12:44.90
How do you do that?
01:12:44.93\01:12:47.94
How many of you ever heard of
reading the Bible and praying?
01:12:47.97\01:12:52.43
Any of you ever heard
anybody say that? Okay,
01:12:52.46\01:12:54.86
so I've been thinking
about okay, how can I point out
01:12:54.89\01:12:58.12
these fundamental building
blocks in the growing in Christ
01:12:58.15\01:13:03.94
that has the power
of the Holy Spirit?
01:13:03.97\01:13:05.16
I've been praying about that
01:13:05.19\01:13:07.09
because I want to present
these two things in a way
01:13:07.12\01:13:09.94
that the Holy Spirit
will bring hometo your hearts
01:13:09.97\01:13:14.38
the scriptures.
01:13:14.41\01:13:16.75
You know, there is
something about this book
01:13:16.78\01:13:23.24
I hold in my hand.
01:13:23.27\01:13:24.72
Many of you are holding
it in your hand as well.
01:13:24.75\01:13:26.62
Some of you have it on
01:13:26.65\01:13:27.68
you iPad or your
iPhone or your android phone.
01:13:27.71\01:13:30.50
There is
something about scripture.
01:13:30.53\01:13:34.60
Part of the world I live in
we actually put ink on paper
01:13:34.63\01:13:39.38
and ink on canvas
and as I look at this,
01:13:39.41\01:13:44.38
this sheet of paper ran
through a press at some place
01:13:44.41\01:13:47.63
and these words were
all put on this paper.
01:13:47.66\01:13:51.62
But I want to tell you that
01:13:51.65\01:13:52.83
this is so much
more than ink on paper.
01:13:52.86\01:13:58.19
This word is the living
word of the Almighty God
01:13:58.22\01:14:04.91
and it will transform, it
will guide, it will direct
01:14:04.94\01:14:07.92
and if this,
there are two dangers,
01:14:07.95\01:14:11.09
two dangers with this.
01:14:11.12\01:14:13.52
One is that it
stays on the shelf
01:14:13.55\01:14:16.79
and we don't look at it.
01:14:16.82\01:14:18.59
We know its there, we
refer to it with great joy.
01:14:18.62\01:14:22.52
We may even have one lying
out on our table in our home
01:14:22.55\01:14:25.83
that you can go to the front
01:14:25.86\01:14:26.89
and you will see the
record of marriages and births
01:14:26.92\01:14:29.06
and family history
were based on scripture.
01:14:29.09\01:14:32.54
One of them, one
danger, roadblock is that
01:14:32.57\01:14:35.37
we leave it sitting
on the shelf somewhere
01:14:35.40\01:14:36.80
and don't actually bring it
in, eat the word if you will
01:14:36.83\01:14:41.21
and that's talking about
bringing it into our lives
01:14:41.24\01:14:43.74
and letting it transform us.
01:14:43.77\01:14:45.33
I can tell you
from my own experience
01:14:45.36\01:14:49.98
that opening this word,
01:14:50.01\01:14:52.44
this Bible lays on
my nightstand at home.
01:14:52.47\01:14:56.21
When I wake up,
reach over and pick it up,
01:14:56.24\01:14:59.97
I actually happen to be a person
01:15:00.00\01:15:01.52
that loves to mark my Bible.
01:15:01.55\01:15:03.10
Anybody, any Bible
markers out here? Okay.
01:15:03.13\01:15:05.92
This is the
fourth or fifth Bible
01:15:05.95\01:15:07.69
that I've marked
completely, okay.
01:15:07.72\01:15:10.64
And so anytime
it's-- you know, in fact,
01:15:10.67\01:15:13.41
I will hold up so
that camera can see.
01:15:13.44\01:15:14.93
I've got red-- I have
a red pencil and a ruler.
01:15:14.96\01:15:17.94
So its need, I like it that way.
01:15:17.97\01:15:19.82
Everybody has their
own way of doing this
01:15:19.85\01:15:21.51
but I actually
can pick this Bible up
01:15:21.54\01:15:23.57
and I can open it to any page
01:15:23.60\01:15:26.14
and I can spend 10 to 15 minutes
01:15:26.17\01:15:27.64
just reading what
I've already marked
01:15:27.67\01:15:30.08
and sometimes I
say wow, that's so new.
01:15:30.11\01:15:34.16
Did I mark that?
01:15:34.19\01:15:35.64
Have you ever
had that experience?
01:15:35.67\01:15:37.50
Yes. Did I mark that?
01:15:37.53\01:15:38.73
But yet it's fresh
and new every morning
01:15:38.76\01:15:42.26
for what I need for that day.
01:15:42.29\01:15:44.35
Amen.
01:15:44.38\01:15:46.35
Did it night.
01:15:46.38\01:15:47.41
I'm one of these people
that likes to read at night
01:15:47.44\01:15:50.01
until I can't keep
my eyes open anymore.
01:15:50.04\01:15:52.39
Now I will read it again.
01:15:52.42\01:15:53.97
I read Great Controversy or
one of the Ellen White books
01:15:54.00\01:15:56.83
which I love to
read her books as well.
01:15:56.86\01:15:59.36
There is something
about the mighty power
01:15:59.39\01:16:02.32
of the Holy Spirit that
comes through these pages.
01:16:02.35\01:16:04.67
It says, if it comes--
the print comes right off
01:16:04.70\01:16:08.55
and into my life and
I want to suggest that
01:16:08.58\01:16:12.29
if you want to deepen
your spiritual experience,
01:16:12.32\01:16:17.01
if you want to been on that
01:16:17.04\01:16:19.04
upward growth curve
spend more time in this word.
01:16:19.07\01:16:24.42
That's called, it's
listed under our lesson today
01:16:24.45\01:16:27.00
under the broad
umbrella of abiding.
01:16:27.03\01:16:30.67
If you are going
to abide in Christ
01:16:30.70\01:16:32.37
you've got to be
listening to His voice because,
01:16:32.40\01:16:35.25
you know, for
whatever reason He has chosen
01:16:35.28\01:16:38.76
and I'm grateful
for however He chooses
01:16:38.79\01:16:42.48
to communicate to us
through the pages of this word.
01:16:42.51\01:16:48.40
The other side of
the equation is prayer.
01:16:48.43\01:16:52.74
Well, before I go
to that side let me--
01:16:52.77\01:16:54.67
I mentioned one
01:16:54.70\01:16:55.74
the danger is that
you put this on the shelf.
01:16:55.77\01:16:57.34
The other danger is
that you put some kind of
01:16:57.37\01:17:01.04
human element into how
you understand the scripture.
01:17:01.07\01:17:07.09
The interpretation
of scripture can be such
01:17:07.12\01:17:10.66
that can totally destroy
what God had-- did you know
01:17:10.69\01:17:17.36
that some of the
greatest biblical scholars
01:17:17.39\01:17:19.54
that teach at some of
our great universities.
01:17:19.57\01:17:22.47
I'm not talking about
Adventist universities
01:17:22.53\01:17:23.89
I'm talking about
outside worldly universities
01:17:23.92\01:17:26.60
that are not
affiliated with our church.
01:17:26.63\01:17:29.32
Some of those
individuals are great scholars
01:17:29.35\01:17:33.17
of the Bible as literature
but they are a vowed atheists.
01:17:33.20\01:17:37.09
They are looking at
this just from a historical,
01:17:37.12\01:17:39.54
critical method to
understand that is literature.
01:17:39.57\01:17:43.44
That's not what
we are talking about.
01:17:43.47\01:17:44.63
Those two dangers--
01:17:44.66\01:17:45.98
let and the Bible
speak to you as it reads
01:17:46.01\01:17:49.16
and let the Holy
Spirit impress your heart
01:17:49.19\01:17:51.50
as you are reading
and let it transform
01:17:51.53\01:17:55.55
and wash with the washing
01:17:55.58\01:17:58.03
of regeneration
your heart and mind.
01:17:58.06\01:18:00.52
So that's God speaking to
you through the scriptures.
01:18:00.55\01:18:03.29
But we have the privilege
of speaking back to God
01:18:03.32\01:18:05.90
through prayer.
01:18:05.93\01:18:08.62
How of you ever had a
prayer answered? Okay.
01:18:08.65\01:18:14.31
Whenever you have
a prayer answered,
01:18:14.34\01:18:15.90
now sometimes I have
to say the answer may not
01:18:15.93\01:18:18.59
be quite the answer you wanted.
01:18:18.62\01:18:23.37
I've experienced that.
01:18:23.40\01:18:25.30
Lord sometimes says,
yes. Sometimes He says, no.
01:18:25.33\01:18:29.14
Sometimes He says, not yet.
01:18:29.17\01:18:31.84
Doesn't He? But
yet He is awesome.
01:18:31.87\01:18:36.44
He is overall, I trust Him.
01:18:36.47\01:18:40.27
But prayer to spend
time talking with Him
01:18:40.30\01:18:44.63
as well as listening to Him.
01:18:44.66\01:18:45.97
Now, here's an
interesting thing.
01:18:46.00\01:18:47.86
How many of you would
say you are good listener?
01:18:47.89\01:18:51.10
Anybody?
01:18:51.13\01:18:52.16
Well, I don't
see very many hands.
01:18:52.19\01:18:54.44
Listeners? Okay.
01:18:54.47\01:18:56.24
How of you are good talkers?
Okay, more hands, more hands.
01:18:56.27\01:19:00.31
Now, here's the thing,
01:19:00.34\01:19:01.73
whenever you are in a
conversation with someone
01:19:01.76\01:19:07.16
and they are not a good listener
01:19:07.19\01:19:09.97
how well does
that conversation go?
01:19:10.00\01:19:13.24
Kind of-- okay, we
will get this over with.
01:19:13.27\01:19:16.27
But you know, what
happens is in a relationship,
01:19:16.30\01:19:19.77
in a good conversation
01:19:19.80\01:19:21.89
you have one person sharing
another person responding
01:19:21.92\01:19:25.69
and then some sharing
and then some responding
01:19:25.72\01:19:27.35
and there is a good
communication that goes on.
01:19:27.38\01:19:30.03
So if we only pray
01:19:30.06\01:19:33.15
and never study
or read our Bibles
01:19:33.18\01:19:35.04
and let God speak back to
us then what are we guilty of?
01:19:35.07\01:19:39.68
We just talk,
01:19:39.71\01:19:40.74
we're just talking
and want Him to listen.
01:19:40.77\01:19:42.37
Now, does He want to
listen? Yes, He will.
01:19:42.40\01:19:44.67
But if there is gonna be
a good healthy relationship
01:19:44.70\01:19:47.51
between you and God, me and God
01:19:47.54\01:19:50.28
it is got to
involve me talking with Him
01:19:50.31\01:19:54.02
and Him talking back to me.
01:19:54.05\01:19:57.08
Now I want to
give you an example
01:19:57.11\01:19:58.62
from scripture of how
that conversation works.
01:19:58.65\01:20:02.65
David, he had a moral fall
that put him flat on his face
01:20:02.68\01:20:07.78
and you all know
exactly what I'm talking about.
01:20:07.81\01:20:10.59
He though a
friend of God was now
01:20:10.62\01:20:14.72
at complete variants with God.
01:20:14.75\01:20:17.22
in Psalm Chapter 51.
01:20:17.25\01:20:20.72
the heart cry of a
broken man begins this way.
01:20:20.75\01:20:25.22
"Create in me a
clean heart, O God,
01:20:25.25\01:20:29.95
and renew a right
spirit within me."
01:20:29.98\01:20:33.12
The heart cry of David.
01:20:33.15\01:20:35.49
Now I don't know about you
but I have prayed that prayer.
01:20:35.52\01:20:38.79
Have you prayed that prayer?
If you haven't you need to.
01:20:38.82\01:20:44.22
As David prayed that prayer
what does it say in Ezekiel 36?
01:20:44.25\01:20:50.23
What is God's
answer to that prayer?
01:20:50.26\01:20:53.83
Okay, he says,
and the second time
01:20:53.86\01:20:56.67
I'm just going to--
just gonna summarize that.
01:20:56.70\01:20:59.52
He says, I'm going to
put a new heart in you
01:20:59.55\01:21:03.64
and I'm gonna take
that old stony one away
01:21:03.67\01:21:06.34
and I'm going to
give you My Holy Spirit
01:21:06.37\01:21:09.33
and you are going to be Mine.
01:21:09.36\01:21:12.12
That's an example of the heart
cry in prayer talking to God
01:21:12.15\01:21:16.44
and God answering back
through His scriptures.
01:21:16.47\01:21:20.09
And if you are gonna grow
01:21:20.12\01:21:21.17
that's the kind of
experiences gonna happen.
01:21:21.20\01:21:23.23
Now I wanted to
say a word of caution,
01:21:23.26\01:21:25.56
there's all kinds
of things in prayer.
01:21:25.59\01:21:27.99
People have those all
kinds of exotic things
01:21:28.02\01:21:30.55
that people do
around the idea of prayer.
01:21:30.58\01:21:33.52
Don't be drawn
off sides by the devil
01:21:33.55\01:21:36.50
by some crazy
thing relating to prayer.
01:21:36.53\01:21:41.00
Prayer is simply the
opening of the heart to God
01:21:41.03\01:21:44.08
as to a friend
speaking with Him.
01:21:44.11\01:21:47.77
Now in few
moments that we have left
01:21:47.80\01:21:52.72
I just want to talk about
01:21:52.75\01:21:54.76
the whole idea of dying to self.
01:21:54.79\01:21:58.80
How many of you ever witness
the baptism besides your own?
01:21:58.83\01:22:02.09
Okay.
01:22:02.12\01:22:03.15
What happens?
01:22:03.18\01:22:04.52
A person comes,
01:22:04.55\01:22:06.00
many times they
have baptismal robe on,
01:22:06.03\01:22:08.59
black, white.
01:22:08.62\01:22:10.06
Sometimes it will be at a
beach and people will just have
01:22:10.09\01:22:12.04
some clothes they
don't mind getting wet.
01:22:12.07\01:22:15.09
But you seen a baptism
01:22:15.12\01:22:17.13
and a person comes with a
radiant glow on their face.
01:22:17.16\01:22:21.23
You know what I'm talking about.
01:22:21.26\01:22:23.43
The pastor lifts his
hands or his hand and says,
01:22:23.46\01:22:27.94
"I now baptize you in
the name of the Father,
01:22:27.97\01:22:30.40
and the Son,
and the holy ghost."
01:22:30.43\01:22:32.89
He takes the person
dips them under the water
01:22:32.92\01:22:35.95
and brings them back up.
01:22:35.98\01:22:39.42
What kind of joy is there
01:22:39.45\01:22:41.09
as that person comes
back out of the water?
01:22:41.12\01:22:44.13
In our church all
of our kids come up.
01:22:44.16\01:22:47.59
There will be 40, 50 kids
that are standing right beside
01:22:47.62\01:22:49.75
the baptistery to
witness and to experience
01:22:49.78\01:22:54.19
this new birth,
this water baptism
01:22:54.22\01:22:56.50
which is symbolic of the
baptism of the Holy Spirit.
01:22:56.53\01:22:58.82
But what that is symbolic of?
01:22:58.85\01:23:00.42
It is the death of
the old person of sin,
01:23:00.45\01:23:06.92
the burial of
the old person of sin
01:23:06.95\01:23:10.10
and the resurrection
into newness of life.
01:23:10.13\01:23:15.02
And you know what,
that symbolically is saying
01:23:15.05\01:23:17.90
you must be crucified every day.
01:23:17.93\01:23:21.05
Would you give the existence
01:23:21.08\01:23:22.96
you've got right now
for the transformation?
01:23:22.99\01:23:24.70
I asked that question long ago.
01:23:24.73\01:23:25.92
You would.
01:23:25.95\01:23:28.19
But you know what, the
scripture say Jesus said,
01:23:28.22\01:23:31.95
His words were I must die daily
01:23:31.98\01:23:37.48
to let the old person of sin
be crucified and be resurrected
01:23:37.51\01:23:41.07
into newness of life every day.
01:23:41.10\01:23:44.75
That's why we
have the foot washing.
01:23:44.78\01:23:45.99
That's why you
have worship services.
01:23:46.02\01:23:47.80
That's why every morning
I say Lord, I'm Your's today
01:23:47.83\01:23:52.97
give me something
that will be in Your will
01:23:53.00\01:23:56.42
and that I can
honor You with today.
01:23:56.45\01:23:59.03
And you know what that is?
01:23:59.06\01:24:00.90
There is a couple things
and I'm gonna run out of time
01:24:00.93\01:24:04.67
and I just want
to comment this way.
01:24:04.70\01:24:07.76
Why should you
worry about growing?
01:24:07.79\01:24:10.28
Why should you be concerned
about growing in Christ?
01:24:10.31\01:24:13.31
Because it is the
person who is growing in Christ
01:24:13.34\01:24:18.33
that can be a channel for
the Holy Spirit to reach out
01:24:18.36\01:24:22.49
and touch other people
in the name of Jesus Christ.
01:24:22.52\01:24:26.22
So we should have
great motivation to be
01:24:26.25\01:24:28.82
growing spiritually in Christ.
01:24:28.85\01:24:31.48
Because as we do
we can be a greater,
01:24:31.51\01:24:34.04
greater channel
and I want to read
01:24:34.07\01:24:35.73
this quotation out of
"Heavenly Places" page 22.
01:24:35.76\01:24:39.88
"Those who are in
connection with God are channels
01:24:39.91\01:24:44.02
for the power of
the Holy Spirit."
01:24:44.05\01:24:46.78
So if your connection with
God is strong daily, hourly,
01:24:46.81\01:24:50.53
moment by moments
01:24:50.56\01:24:52.89
you are going to
have the privilege
01:24:52.92\01:24:54.45
of having the Holy Spirit
work through you and of course,
01:24:54.48\01:24:56.67
what ASI is all about is sharing
01:24:56.70\01:24:59.18
Jesus Christ in the marketplace.
01:24:59.21\01:25:01.66
If you want to have
power from on high for sharing
01:25:01.69\01:25:06.28
Jesus Christ in the marketplace
01:25:06.31\01:25:08.05
make sure that your
heart is regenerated,
01:25:08.08\01:25:10.75
that the Holy Spirit is in you
01:25:10.78\01:25:12.77
that you are
experiencing His love
01:25:12.80\01:25:14.63
so that you have
something to share
01:25:14.66\01:25:16.24
and here's the last
thing I want to say.
01:25:16.27\01:25:18.07
"Desire of Ages" page 173,
01:25:18.10\01:25:20.40
"The blessing comes when
by faith the soul surrenders
01:25:20.43\01:25:25.95
itself to God and God
creates a brand new being."
01:25:25.98\01:25:31.15
Let's pray.
01:25:32.99\01:25:34.62
Well, actually
I'm not gonna pray
01:25:34.65\01:25:35.84
because there is gonna be
01:25:35.87\01:25:36.93
somebody praying right behind me
01:25:36.96\01:25:38.17
but I'll pray
that you will pray,
01:25:38.20\01:25:39.76
you will be blessed of God
01:25:39.79\01:25:41.39
as you continue on your journey.
01:25:41.42\01:25:43.20
Thank you so much.
01:25:43.23\01:25:45.75
Amen. Thank you Dan,
01:25:45.78\01:25:46.93
for that wonderful lesson.
01:25:46.96\01:25:48.93
Wasn't that
exciting to be able to see
01:25:48.96\01:25:52.05
how we can grow in Christ?
01:25:52.08\01:25:53.25
Have you born
again, born in new?
01:25:53.28\01:25:55.55
That's what it's
all about isn't it.
01:25:55.58\01:25:57.02
Let's pray together.
01:25:57.05\01:25:58.08
Let's stand and
pray together actually.
01:25:58.11\01:26:03.70
Our Father in
heaven, we thank You
01:26:03.73\01:26:05.07
so much for sending Your
son Jesus into this world
01:26:05.10\01:26:08.16
and we thank you
for that encounter
01:26:08.19\01:26:09.74
He had with the
scholar Nicodemus
01:26:09.77\01:26:11.43
there that night long
ago and for the words that
01:26:11.46\01:26:13.93
He said and we too want
to experience that new birth
01:26:13.96\01:26:17.56
each and every day of our
lives and we want to grown
01:26:17.59\01:26:20.75
in You so that we
too can be that witness
01:26:20.78\01:26:25.16
of Your power
in these last days.
01:26:25.19\01:26:26.89
So we do pray that
You will baptize as a new
01:26:26.92\01:26:29.41
each and every day for
the rest of our lives until
01:26:29.44\01:26:32.10
You come again
and we thank you Lord,
01:26:32.13\01:26:34.40
for that privilege of knowing
01:26:34.43\01:26:35.64
You and being connected
with You and growing in You.
01:26:35.67\01:26:40.47
Thank you Jesus for that
we pray in Jesus name, amen.
01:26:40.50\01:26:44.87
We like to ask you to be seated
01:26:44.90\01:26:46.14
becausethere is a
special announcement
01:26:46.17\01:26:49.04
that they are going to want
to share with you this morning.
01:26:49.07\01:26:54.92
So we thank you for waiting
for that announcement and...
01:26:54.95\01:27:01.06
...I think that we have a
moment of time before that
01:27:06.57\01:27:09.18
so I think my prayer
was too short but anyway
01:27:09.21\01:27:13.29
its wonderful to think
about growing in Christ
01:27:13.32\01:27:15.38
and being in Christ
isn't it and its nothing
01:27:15.41\01:27:17.65
as wonderful as that
and we praise God for that.
01:27:17.68\01:27:20.73