Participants: Wes Youngberg
Series Code: 14ASIC
Program Code: 14ASIC000007
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00:18 Hello, and welcome to our annual ASI convention
00:21 and we are so excited to be here. 00:23 We are coming live right here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 00:29 And it feels like we are coming home doesn't it, sisters? 00:31 Yeah, we were born and brought in Michigan 00:33 and our parents live not too far from here. 00:36 That's right. We are so excited. 00:38 We've been having amazing time. 00:40 You know, the messages have been 00:42 so powerful and inspiring. 00:44 That's right, they have. 00:45 And the music has been such a blessing. 00:48 Just a little taste of heaven and it's not over yet. 00:50 We have so much more today. 00:52 That's right, in fact, we've also been enjoying-- 00:56 just getting to know the people here. 00:57 Every time we come around the corner 00:59 we are so excited to meet somebody new that 01:02 we haven't seen or somebody a familiar face. 01:04 It's kind of like what heaven's gonna be like. 01:06 And little children just running up to us 01:08 and just hugging us. 01:10 You know, one mother came to us 01:12 and she showed us a video on her little phone 01:17 and it was her two-year-old 01:18 little daughter watching Tiny Tots, 01:20 learning how to kneel and pray. 01:22 It was so precious. 01:24 She was praying when Auntie Linda was praying. 01:26 And I love all the adults, you know, go along the aisles 01:29 and they will be formed in groups 01:31 just lifting their heights up to God. 01:33 That's right, you see a lot of parents, 01:34 really been an incredible spiritual time already 01:37 and we have so much more planned today. 01:40 We do. 01:41 And you are going to enjoy every single program. 01:45 In fact, we want to encourage you 01:47 to be here at our ASI next year, 01:50 you won't want to miss. 01:51 Amen. That's right. 01:52 This is really been an wonderful experience 01:55 and in fact, let's join our program 01:57 right now already in progress. 01:59 When I shall reach that happy place 02:00 And be forever blest? 02:05 When shall I see my Father's face 02:10 And in His kingdom rest? 02:14 I am bound for the Promised Land 02:19 I am bound for the Promised Land 02:24 Oh who will come and go with me? 02:28 I am bound for the Promised Land 02:33 Filled with delight, my raptured soul 02:39 Would here no longer stay 02:44 Though Jordan's waves around me roll 02:49 Fearless I'd launch away 02:53 I am bound for the Promised Land 02:58 I am bound for the Promised Land 03:03 Oh who will come and go with me? 03:07 I am bound for the Promised Land 03:16 Our last hymn would be hymn number 338-- 03:21 No. 03:22 I mean 438 "You Will See Your Lord A-Coming." 03:40 You will see your Lord a-coming 03:43 You will see your Lord a-coming 03:46 You will see your Lord a-coming 03:49 In a few more days 03:53 Hear the band of music 03:56 Hear the band of music 03:58 Hear the band of music 04:00 Which is sounding thro' the air 04:05 Gabriel sounds his mighty trumpet 04:08 Gabriel sounds his mighty trumpet 04:10 Gabriel sounds his mighty trumpet 04:13 In a few more days 04:17 Hear the band of music 04:19 Hear the band of music 04:22 Hear the band of music 04:24 Which is sounding thro' the air 04:28 You will see the saints arising 04:31 You will see the saints arising 04:33 You will see the saints arising 04:36 In a few more days 04:40 Hear the band of music 04:42 Hear the band of music 04:45 Hear the band of music 04:47 Which is sounding thro' the air 04:50 Ladies only. 04:52 Angels bear them to the Savior 04:54 Angels bear them to the Savior 04:57 Angels bear them to the Savior 04:59 In a few more days 05:01 Everybody please. 05:03 Hear the band of music 05:06 Hear the band of music 05:08 Hear the band of music 05:11 Which is sounding thro' the air 05:14 Gentlemen, please. 05:15 Then we'll shout, our suff'rings over 05:19 Then we'll shout, our suff'rings over 05:21 Then we'll shout 05:22 Our suff'rings over 05:24 In a few more days 05:26 Everyone please. 05:28 Hear the band of music 05:30 Hear the band of music 05:33 Hear the band of music 05:35 Which is sounding thro' the air 05:44 Thank you for singing with us. What a song, and God bless you. 05:47 Have a nice blessed evening. 05:53 Good morning and happy Sabbath. 05:58 On behalf our Lake Union Conference, 06:01 ASI chapter we want to extend a very warm 06:05 welcome to the 2014 Adventist Laymen's Services 06:10 Industries International Convention 06:14 here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 06:18 We've had the privilege of witnessing and participating 06:22 and being reunited from with friends from long years ago. 06:28 And as we've seen that I'm reminded of the words 06:32 that John shares with us 06:34 in the Book of Revelation chapter 7. 06:37 As he gives us a glimpse into that day in the future 06:42 when there will be a throng that 06:44 no man can number gathered about 06:46 the throne from every nation on earth. 06:50 All of God's children will gather together. 06:53 But you know, it doesn't start there, 06:58 it starts in that quiet time with Jesus. 07:02 And this week the world church has been studying 07:05 in the adult Sabbath school lesson 07:07 the concept of growing up in Christ. 07:11 And we are privileged to have a glimpse 07:15 into a clandestine meeting that occurred 07:18 with Nicodemus in John Chapter 3 07:22 and for the first time Jesus revealed the concept that 07:26 we must be born again. 07:30 And its our prayer that today 07:33 and for the days to come we will all grow in Christ 07:38 and enjoy the time together. 07:41 Happy Sabbath and welcome 07:43 to the Lake Union Chapter International Convention 07:46 of Adventist Services Laymen's and Industries. 07:51 Good morning and happy Sabbath. 07:54 I think if we are quite enough like 07:57 the last song that we sang 07:59 we could hear the banded angels. 08:02 Can you hear the trumpet sounding? 08:06 Good morning. Let's bow our heads for prayer. 08:11 Our loving and gracious heavenly Father, 08:13 I want to thank You for the Sabbath day, 08:17 thank You for the Sabbath. 08:19 Each of us work hard through the week 08:21 and look forward to this time to spend with You 08:25 and together as a family. 08:27 Lord, I bring to You, I stand before You 08:32 representing a congregation of Your children. 08:37 I'm humble to ask that You will be with us today. 08:41 Fill us with Your Holy Spirit. 08:44 I ask that You will help us in our walk with You 08:50 to abide in You to allow You to abide in us 08:56 so that we can bring others to You. 09:01 Bless our Sabbath day, fill us with Your spirit. 09:04 In our walk I ask that we will remember 09:08 the sacredness of this day 09:11 and guard it coming together to worship you. 09:14 We lift You up in our families and in our lives, in our work. 09:21 Be with us today accompanying us 09:23 through this day in Jesus name, amen. 09:32 Good morning and happy Sabbath, ASI. 09:35 Happy Sabbath. 09:37 All right, they are awake this morning, Wayne. 09:40 Now I have a question for you this morning. 09:42 How many of you know these two words "Social Networking?" 09:46 If you know what that means raise your hand. 09:48 Amen. Okay. 09:49 Quite a few of them know, Wayne. 09:50 Now next question for you. 09:52 How many of have a mobile device? 09:55 If you have it could you just pull it out of your pocket 09:58 and show it to us. 09:59 Just pull it out right now, go ahead and get it ready 10:02 because we are gonna have you 10:03 use this mobile device here today. 10:05 We believe that in these last days 10:09 before Jesus' return we need to use every avenue available 10:12 to get the message of our Christ soon return. 10:14 Amen? 10:15 And we want people to know about ASI 10:17 and what ASI is doing to get-- 10:19 with all the ministries that are involved with ASI 10:21 to get this message to the world. 10:23 And so Wayne, we have a very unique way that 10:27 we can get that message out this morning. 10:29 Tell us a little bit more about how we can use our phones 10:32 and social networking to let people know about ASI. 10:34 That's right, Kyle. Thank you, so much. 10:36 In fact, we have a graphic that we are gonna put up 10:38 on the screen for you right now. 10:40 If you'll pay close attention to that 10:42 we want to actually get your participation 10:44 of every person here right now. 10:47 So we are gonna tell you how you can do that 10:48 and how you can help us out. 10:50 So you can use whichever social media network you like. 10:55 You can use Facebook, Twitter, you can use Instagram, 10:58 whichever one you would like 10:59 but we would like to ask you 11:01 to post a specific message there 11:03 and this message is hope for the world, isn't it. 11:06 "It's Lift Him Up." 11:08 So that what we want to ask you 11:09 to post right now on the network of your choice, 11:13 Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 11:16 If you will enter there a post where you type "Life Him Up" 11:21 and then this is very important, 11:23 this hashtag is very important. 11:25 The number sign, you need to enter 11:27 the number sign ASI2014 and basically 11:31 what that does in simple terms is it will allow anybody 11:35 who is searching to look for any post that 11:37 have that listed in there the hashtag 11:40 the number sign ASI2014. 11:43 And if you want to post anything else 11:46 in regard to the convention 11:48 as well be sure to include that hashtag 11:50 and that way people will know, 11:53 they will be directed to the right place 11:54 and they will be able to see what's happening. 11:56 And we another time that we want to also 11:59 encourage you to help us 12:01 and we are gonna announce it 12:02 at the exhibit hall tonight so that you will have 12:05 a chance to also feature your favorite ministry 12:08 over in the exhibit hall. 12:09 But this is very important, 12:11 we really need all of you to do it 12:12 because it's working together that we can reach our goal. 12:15 Amen. Amen. 12:16 So what I'm gonna do Wayne, 12:17 is I'm gonna ask everybody pull out the phones right now 12:20 and I'm even gonna take a picture of you 12:22 and I'm gonna post it, okay. 12:23 That's what we do 12:24 and I'm gonna put Wayne in there. 12:25 Okay, so right now if you guys 12:26 can all say happy Sabbath. 12:28 Happy Sabbath. 12:29 All right, I'm gonna post that in just a minute 12:31 and you take your phone out and post ASI2014. 12:35 Now one other thing we want to let you know is that 12:38 this afternoon we have a special panel discussion 12:41 about the three angels messages, 12:42 isn't that right, Wayne? 12:44 How can they get involved 12:45 in that panel discussion this afternoon? 12:46 Yes. Thank you so much. 12:47 It's very important if you want to ask a question 12:50 it's very, very easy 12:52 and again you can do with your phone. 12:54 You can send a text message if you would like 12:56 and I will give you the number for that. 12:58 We might also have it up on the screen for you 13:01 but the number for sending message 13:04 with the question is 301-844-6035. 13:10 If you look in your program guide, 13:12 for those of you that have the program guide 13:14 you'll have it right there on the inside 13:16 front cover as well. 13:17 Because it's the same number that 13:18 we use for all of the other interaction 13:21 for text messaging or you can simply send an email 13:24 if it's easier to questions@ASIministries.org. 13:28 Again that's questions@ASIministries.org. 13:32 And we would love to have your questions 13:34 so that the panelist can discuss them 13:36 and answer them this afternoon. 13:38 The panel discussion this afternoon 13:40 just to give you a little bit a preview 13:42 it's how we can live and share the three angels' message. 13:46 So it's very pertinent to us 13:47 and it's gonna be divided into three different sections. 13:50 It's divided into how to make the three angels' message 13:54 a living practice in my own life. 13:56 How I can live the three angels' message? 13:58 How can I share that with other and how can we use 14:02 the three angels' message to finish the work? 14:04 So we invite your questions on those topics. 14:07 All right, God bless you guys. Happy Sabbath. 19:41 We've come now to one of the most 19:42 exciting parts of the program. 19:44 The part where we talk about 19:45 what God is doing in mission projects 19:48 all around the world through ASI members. 19:50 Good morning, ASI. 19:52 And those of you watching at home 19:53 we are so thankful that you could join us as well. 19:55 I'm standing here with Svitlana and Svitlana, 19:58 you and I have known each other for a long time 20:00 but I'm not even with all that time going 20:02 to hazard trying to pronounce your last name. 20:04 Would you mind pronouncing your name for us, please? 20:08 My name is Svitlana Kakabayev. 20:10 There we go. 20:11 See now why I couldn't do that. And you have husband doublet. 20:15 Yes, my husband is right here 20:17 and we have a baby Joseph with us as well. 20:20 How old is he now? 20:21 He will be four months next week. 20:23 Now the Lord has called you 20:25 to a unique ministry, hasn't He? 20:26 Yes. 20:27 And that ministry is in a certain part of the world 20:30 that probably we don't think of 20:33 as being an easy place to go. 20:35 And we do have actually a slide of where you are located. 20:39 Why did you choose to go to this 20:42 particular part of the world and where are you exactly? 20:44 Yes, we got ministry in central Asia 20:47 and we have few reasons why we are there. 20:50 We know that its 10/40 Windows. 20:53 It's many Muslims there 20:54 and there is not many ministries, 20:56 health ministries and I have been there 20:59 since 2004 in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan 21:03 just serving and I have seen that 21:04 health ministry really can-- 21:06 it's the best way to reach the Muslims for Christ 21:09 and also the blessing that my husband 21:11 is from Turkmenistan so we are in that area. 21:14 We know this people, we love the people 21:16 and we want to serve them. 21:18 And so the prevailing religion is Muslim them? 21:21 Yes. 21:23 And it's not one that 21:24 we think of as being typically very easy to work with? 21:26 Yes, its not but it's a blessing really to work 21:30 because they are special children of God. 21:32 Amen. 21:33 Tell us exactly where it is that you are located. 21:37 You know, we have the map there 21:39 but there is the picture 21:41 there of the place exactly where you are. 21:43 Yes, right now you can see this picture 21:46 it's located in the conference building, 21:48 its SDA South Conference. 21:51 The president invited us to come there 21:53 and so on the first floor we have the health room. 21:57 We have three rooms 21:58 where we are doing health consultations 22:00 and health treatments. 22:01 You can see some of the treatments over there 22:03 and we have patients coming all the time, 22:05 we are so thankful. 22:07 And so this is the main ministry. 22:09 On the third floor is the church building itself. 22:12 So you could call it a blended ministry then? 22:14 Yes, it is, it's like a center of influence 22:17 and we have health room right there 22:19 in the conference building. 22:20 So how is it that that you are going about 22:24 reaching these people in someway helping them 22:28 to come to know more about Jesus? 22:32 We all know that health is the ancient wedge. 22:35 So I will say every person, 22:37 you know, that we meet 22:39 they have some challenges with health. 22:41 So they can come with us with their need. 22:44 We're trying to serve as much as possible to their needs, 22:48 win their confidence and then we share about Christ 22:51 who can do and help them in every need. 22:54 And so explain to me now is the only thing that 22:56 you are doing-- we saw there on the screen 22:58 the building that you are in is that 22:59 pretty much the only thing you are doing? 23:00 No, actually this what we started with. 23:03 We have the health room, this is our main ministry 23:06 and we are so blessed for that 23:07 but also when God is opening the doors 23:10 we are using any opportunity. 23:12 Right now with health clock running 23:15 we are doing health cooking classes, 23:17 classes, health lectures, 23:19 health food fair, we have been doing-- 23:21 we also like in this picture you can see we got invitation 23:25 from the orphanage to go to them 23:28 and teach just not even healthy cooking 23:31 but we were teaching healthy cooking 23:33 because when children leave 23:35 from they don't know what to do. 23:37 So, this was such a blessing 23:39 to be in touch visiting those special children. 23:41 Okay, before we got up here you were telling us 23:44 some stories and another problem 23:45 is not having enough stories to tell 23:48 it's having too many stories to tell. 23:50 So tell us a story 23:51 or two how the Lord is blessed in this. 23:53 You know, we are so blessed because actually every patient 23:56 who comes we have special story behind. 23:59 We are so blessed but you know 24:01 I have would like to share-- 24:02 we have been doing lifestyle sessions, 24:06 11 day lifestyle session in the conference building. 24:09 Because we found out that this is the best way to reach. 24:12 People come to us, they stay for 11 days with us, 24:16 they eat with us, we do treatments, 24:18 cooking classes, lectures, 24:20 like everything in the lifestyle program. 24:22 We did 14 lifestyle sessions in two years 24:25 and most of them non-Adventist, 24:27 60 to 70 percent non-Adventist. 24:30 And just maybe I will tell two stories, quick stories. 24:35 One man came and he was in very bad shape. 24:39 He has wife, she is Adventist, she is a doctor, neurologist. 24:44 So she called and asked please can you take my husband 24:47 to your lifestyle program? 24:48 And first we told her no, 24:50 because here his condition was too severe for us, 24:53 we don't have really the medical doctor 24:55 and he had heart attack, he had bypass surgery, 25:00 he was on so many medications from high blood pressure, 25:04 overweight, depression, and very weak, 25:07 short of breath so we told no. 25:09 She called us back in few months, 25:10 in three months. 25:12 We have been praying we should and we agreed. 25:15 When he came it was his first time join us 25:18 at Sabbath for church service 25:21 and God in one week he felt much better 25:24 physically but also the miracle. 25:26 You know, this Muslim man 25:28 when he came back to his family he told to his wife 25:32 you and our children going to the true church. 25:34 Amen. How about that? 25:36 Amen. We are so blessed. 25:37 We keep in touch with him still. 25:38 We want to visit them as well. 25:40 And I will tell one more story. 25:42 You know, we had one lady came to us 25:45 during the week to the health room 25:47 and she told, I found from the internet that 25:50 SDA church this is the church that 25:52 is practicing the healthy lifestyle. 25:55 Can you share with me? 25:57 She told that she is a doctor, 25:58 she used to be and she used to work 26:00 as a doctor but for last six years 26:02 she has been fighting breast cancer. 26:04 And at the moment when she came to us 26:06 it was third stage cancer. 26:08 She had just open wound, 26:09 it was breast cancer, it was very severe. 26:13 And so we took her to our lifestyle program, 26:16 she went through two lifestyle programs 26:19 and you know, the treatments that 26:20 we are doing is very simple. 26:22 It wasn't organized for the health room 26:24 so it's the buckets, the control showers, 26:27 simple diet, juices very simple. 26:30 But very short story, God healed her physically. 26:35 Amen. Miracle. 26:36 She was healed only by God 26:37 not by any means that we were using. 26:40 God did the miracle. 26:41 But the second, the biggest miracle she was baptized. 26:44 Amen. 26:45 And in the picture you can see her, 26:47 you know, she was baptized 26:49 and now she is actually helping us 26:51 in the program as well. 26:52 She came and volunteer. 26:54 Can I help you, you know, with what I can? 26:57 At first she hardly could do some of the things 26:59 but she learned, she became stronger and stronger 27:02 and she is the amazing help for us now. 27:04 Amen, what a blessing. 27:05 Well, give us the very short version 27:08 of what your dreams are 27:09 for the future other than being in heaven. 27:13 Yes, you know, if your are doing these lifestyle sessions 27:15 in the conference building we are so thankful. 27:18 And I know we need to use any opportunity that 27:20 God is giving to us but also we have been given 27:23 as a special gift from God as a donation the property 27:27 to build lifestyle center. 27:29 And this is our dream to build the first lifestyle center 27:33 in the Central Asia is the big, 27:36 you know, many countries, six countries 27:39 in the Central Asia and we have people coming 27:42 from other countries to us as help for health. 27:44 So to some countries we can't go 27:46 but they can come to us. 27:48 So this is our dream to spread 27:51 the message through health message. 27:52 You know, the lifestyle center, 27:54 to have restaurant in that big city 27:57 and just to share God with those people. 28:00 Amen, svitlana, it's been a pleasure talking to you 28:03 and may God bless you 28:04 as you contine to work with Him. 28:05 Thank you. God's blessings to you. 28:06 Amen, you know, God can use simple people. 28:09 You don't have to be a physician 28:10 in order to be able to do His work 28:12 and yet He can use the simplest means 28:15 in order to be able to accomplish His work. 28:18 Joining me now is Dr. Viriato Ferreira. 28:20 Some may not know you. 28:23 Tell us a little, you are a physician is that correct? 28:25 Yes, I'm a physician. Good morning, everyone. 28:27 I'm a physician, my wife is a physician 28:30 and we work in Portugal in Europe. 28:33 Tell us a little bit about what's going on in Portugal. 28:36 Well, about 12 years ago, 13 years ago 28:39 with ASI help and OCI we-- 28:43 the union the Portuguese union invited us to go over 28:46 and to establish medical missionary work in Portugal. 28:49 Now some of you know 28:50 where Portugal is, others don't. 28:52 It's the western most country of continental Europe. 28:57 And so I'm a Portuguese descent. 28:58 I was born in Africa but my parent are Portuguese 29:01 and so we went over in 2002 29:05 and with a little seed money open a city medical practice 29:10 in the capital city of Lisbon 29:12 which has about three and half million people. 29:14 And so from there we saw patients, 29:18 we starting from zero patients and we had no patients 29:20 when we started but they started coming. 29:23 And also with the help of OCI 29:28 we started doing health expos and the local union. 29:32 So you see interesting because it was the local union 29:34 that they invited these projects to set up 29:37 and then when we arrived 29:38 there the health expo started being done in Portugal 29:41 and then the Spanish heard about it 29:42 and the Italians and the French 29:44 and the German so the health expo spread 29:47 throughout Western Europe. 29:48 So it started as a city ministry. 29:50 Exactly. 29:51 Is it going from there? 29:52 Oh, yes now our objective 29:54 was actually to build a lifestyle center. 29:56 Not so far from Lisbon but we started 29:59 as a city ministry that still operating 30:01 the medical practice and it took us probably about 30:04 five, six years, seven years until we got a property 30:08 not so far from Lisbon and between-- 30:10 actually in the center of the country 30:12 and we acquired that property about five, six years ago 30:17 and then the lifestyle center project started. 30:21 Okay, and how far long 30:22 is the lifestyle center project now? 30:24 Well, now, we are still in the building phase. 30:27 There is so much going on because the health expos 30:30 in Western Europe they took a lot of our time. 30:33 We felt we needed to strengthen the church, 30:36 to strength-- we went therwith one objective 30:38 but Lord said, the Lord said, 30:40 you know, strengthen the church 30:42 first and that's what happened. 30:44 And so the lifestyle center 30:46 five years ago we go that property 30:49 and its out in the country and a beautiful place. 30:52 It was in shambles, it was in ruins. 30:56 I mean, it needed a lot of money 30:58 and so we started renovating the first building 31:02 out of 13 buildings that they are on the property, 31:05 many of them small 31:06 but we started renovating and it's going on. 31:10 It's still in the building phase but now 31:11 we already have six bedrooms, we got consulting rooms, 31:16 we got dental practice, lots of other little things okay. 31:21 And so we are running parallel to the city ministry. 31:23 Okay. 31:24 You told a story and I've got to stop you right now 31:27 and would you mind telling that story 31:29 because it has to do with the fact 31:30 that you are in a building project 31:32 and that you're actually happy people coming to that. 31:34 Well, that was a bit of a frightening story, 31:37 you know, from an emotional point of view, 31:39 we in the building site and so we've got beautiful rooms 31:44 but it's still a building site. 31:45 So about a year and half ago 31:49 we started doing depressing recovery programs. 31:52 So we could have about ten patients, 31:54 we house them, we rented places nearby, 31:56 beautiful homes because we didn't have the facilities. 31:59 So this lady came, she got a ride 32:03 from Lisbon with a pastor. 32:06 And so she arrived and the mist was so thick 32:09 I could hardly see you there. 32:11 You know, it was on top of a mountain a building site 32:14 with thick mist and this lady came out of the car 32:17 and she says, you know, take me home 32:19 I don't want to stay here. 32:21 And I wouldn't blame her because you know, 32:24 it was such a thick, dark day for that day. 32:29 And so this lady was in her 40s 32:33 with severe depression on three antidepressants, 32:36 on three benzodiazepines to sleep and we realized, 32:42 you know, there is a spiritual battle going on. 32:44 This lady will probably have one of the few 32:46 opportunities to change her life. 32:50 And so we sensed the need of prayer so we prayed for her. 32:53 She agreed to stay that day. 32:55 And then the following day she was a bit happier. 32:58 We placed in a beautiful home nearby 33:00 and then at the end of the day she came and apologized 33:04 to everyone and she stayed for the ten days. 33:07 Now this lady is now much better. 33:09 She's gone back to work, she's gone back to university. 33:12 She is helping others now 33:13 and its a completely different person. 33:15 Amen. Praise the Lord, yes. 33:17 Praise the Lord. 33:18 Well, let's kind of get back on track. 33:20 You are in the middle of something and actually 33:22 you have some pictures that you could show. 33:23 Yes, I have. Okay. 33:24 You know, this is 33:25 a beautiful setting just nearby. 33:27 You've got another one that shows a little bit of 33:30 the one of the buildings that 33:32 its now-- I mean this place was in ruins. 33:35 Beautiful gardens by-- they made by volunteers. 33:38 A close friend of our Lilly Ray from Loma Linda, 33:42 she designed and she made the gardens. 33:45 It's being built 33:46 but while the building is going 33:48 on the building we are building lives. 33:51 God is building lives and that's our purpose 33:53 for being there is to build people's lives. 33:55 You see I have got that slide 33:57 there that shows-- where are the patients? 34:00 You identify the patients amongst that group. 34:03 No, they get involved in gardening, 34:05 in cooking,and they help wherever need is there 34:11 and that helps people change their lives. 34:13 Right. Right. Okay, 34:15 so I was gonna ask you about results but may be a good-- 34:18 a good thing to ask didn't we havea an actual video of-- 34:22 Yes, yes, I would like to show-- just to end off 34:24 by showing this video which is a testimony, 34:26 a very power testimony 34:28 of somebody that was there about three weeks ago. 34:30 Good. 36:25 Beautiful story, amen. Amen. 36:27 We are out of time. 36:28 I did want to leave though with just one thing 36:30 maybe you could encourage us 36:31 because you are in the unique position, 36:33 you are a head of a supporting ministry, 36:36 you are also part of the conference work there. 36:40 Can you encourage all of us and perhaps 36:44 moving forward in working with the church? 36:46 Look, I believe it is God's plan 36:48 to have a blended ministry. 36:50 Where is the church? 36:51 The church is here. Amen. 36:53 The church is an organization but the church is a members 36:57 and working together in this blended ministry 36:59 God can reveal His character and Jesus can come soon. 37:03 Amen. It's been a blessing talking to you this morning. 37:05 God bless. Thank you. 37:10 Good morning, ASI, and happy Sabbath. 37:14 What a great privilege it is to be here in Grand Rapids 37:17 at this 2014 ASI Convention 37:22 and to have such a marvelous theme 37:25 which your leaders have prepared, 37:28 "Lift Him Up. 37:33 "Luke 19:41." 37:40 Now as He drew near, 37:41 He saw the city and wept over it. 37:48 " As Jesus drew near Jerusalem 37:51 He saw the shinning rooftop of the temple. 37:56 It was glistening in the sun. 37:58 It was a magnificent sight. 38:02 He had been on the triumphal entry. 38:05 People have been paying all kinds of homage to Him, 38:08 He should have been so excited 38:12 but instead the Bible says He wept. 38:17 He wept for the people of jerusalem. 38:20 He wept for the people of the cities. 38:23 My question to you today is, 38:26 are you weeping for the people of the cities? 38:30 Are you joining Christ in looking towards 38:35 helping those who are suffering in the big cities? 38:40 This morning I've been asked to speak for a few minutes 38:43 about evangelism and my involvement with it. 38:49 In the book Medical Ministry which is not only 38:51 for health professionals but for all of us. 38:54 Page 304 it says that 38:56 "The work in the cities is the essential work for this time. 39:00 When the cities are worked as God would have them, 39:03 the result will be the setting in operation 39:07 of a mighty movement 39:08 such as we have not yet witnessed." 39:12 God has asked us to be involved in evangelism, 39:16 personal evangelism, public evangelism, 39:19 small group evangelism, literature evangelism, 39:22 media evangelism. 39:23 Every type of outreach is God's plan 39:27 as long as it's according to His word 39:31 and the Spirit of Prophecy. 39:33 What a marvelous give the Spirit of Prophecy is 39:36 because it gives us practical information 39:39 on how to reach people. 39:44 I want to pay a tribute this morning in the few moments 39:46 that I have to my father. 39:50 My heavenly Father and my earthly father. 39:54 My heavenly Father lives and very soon 39:58 my earthly father will live again too. 40:03 Jesus is coming soon and that's the reason for evangelism, 40:08 that's the reason for outreach. 40:11 It was 1970, I was a student 40:17 at Columbia Union College 40:19 now Washington Adventist University 40:23 and I was trying to figure outwhere it was 40:26 that I should be in God's plans 40:30 a intern, a ministerial intern. 40:35 And so I sent out letters to various conferences asking 40:39 if they would be interested in having a young intern 40:42 come to their conference 40:44 and would they be willing to sponsor me? 40:47 I received some responses back 40:49 from conferences and my father told me, 40:52 said, you know, many of these are fine places 40:57 but if you really want a challenge 41:00 accept the request 41:04 and the invitation from the Greater New York Conference 41:08 which covers the great city of New York. 41:13 I listened to my father 41:16 and I have never been the same since. 41:19 My experience in New York City has changed my life 41:23 forever and has helped me to identify 41:26 with Christ weeping for the people of the cities. 41:31 The Greater New York Conference led at that time 41:33 by a wonderful godly man, Elder Lloyd Reile 41:38 who went on to become president 41:40 of our church in Canada. 41:43 I saw Elder Reile just a few years ago, 41:46 it was such a marvelous thing 41:48 to reconnect with Elder Reile in his 90s. 41:53 What a privilege it will be to be with so many people 41:56 that we have known in the past 41:57 we will be in heaven forever together. 42:01 Elder Reile invested time and effort in a young man. 42:05 Let me tell you those of you 42:07 who are older invest in young people. 42:11 Take a risk with young people. Give them encouragement. 42:16 At the General Conference session 42:17 we are going to be featuring young people. 42:20 We are gonna help them to know 42:22 their part of the great mission 42:23 of this church and in fact 42:26 they will be part of those at the end of time 42:29 who will be very much involved in God's work. 42:32 The Greater New York Conference sent me 42:35 to not only the seminary but to Loma Linda University 42:39 where I obtained a masters of science and public health 42:42 which has also changed my life forever. 42:47 Right now both Andrews University 42:48 and Loma Linda are offering courses for those 42:52 who are interested in helping to know about 42:55 a blended ministry and I want to encourage 42:58 all of you to remember that is God's plan. 43:01 Comprehensive health ministry, everyone working together, 43:05 a blended ministry, comprehensive health ministry 43:08 is the right arm of the gospel. 43:13 All throughout my experience this has affected my outlook. 43:19 Evangelism, I can remember being in a field school 43:22 of evangelism in Glasgow, Scotland. 43:25 Tough place but I saw God's presence there. 43:28 I can remember going to an evangelism school 43:31 where we had together in San Jose, 43:33 strong representation from health 43:36 and from the Bible focused areas. 43:40 Pastor Bruce Johnston who is now dead 43:43 but was a wonderful evangelist and union president. 43:46 Dr. Mervyn Hardinge, who also has passed away 43:50 but was leading out in that. 43:51 It gave me the seeds of understanding 43:54 of this blended ministry. 43:56 I want to tell you brothers and sisters, 43:58 this is what God wants us to do 44:01 in the large cities of the world. 44:03 A blended ministry according to Christ's own plan. 44:09 I remember in New York as I served there 44:11 for about seven years, 44:13 Nancy and I worked for many years in that area. 44:16 I can remember being on the subway 44:18 and sometimes of course, the subway comes above ground 44:21 and looking at a particular graffiti 44:25 on the wall, 44:26 concrete jungle a hard life. 44:31 I want to tell you as we rest in this lovely auditorium here 44:34 I want to urge all of you not to forget 44:37 the people in the big cities including Grand Rapids. 44:43 Jesus wept for those people. 44:46 Throughout my life 44:47 evangelism has been a key factor 44:51 all the way from holding an evangelist series 44:53 with my father in Western Maryland 44:54 all the way down to us holding 44:59 an evangelist meeting together in Londonderry, 45:03 Northern Ireland a tough place. 45:07 I want to tell you evangelism has touched my life 45:10 in a very specific way. 45:15 Recently we've been involved 45:17 in a number of evangelistic activities. 45:20 You might say well, what does the president of the 45:22 General Conference do with all the other things 45:26 that need to be done by taking time to hold 45:29 evangelistic meetings? 45:31 I want to tell you that is our number one priority. 45:36 Committee meetings, all the other challenges, 45:39 yes, they are important. 45:42 Evangelism is the life blood of this church. 45:46 It is what God intents for us to do all the way down 45:49 to the very end of time. 45:51 In fact, we are told the last work we will be able to do 45:55 will be medical missionary work, 45:57 comprehensive health ministry. 45:59 Recently we've been involved with 46:01 at great and exciting program NY13 last year, 46:06 preaching messages of hope, working together with hundreds 46:10 of pastors and others across a large area of metropolitan 46:16 New York including New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. 46:21 Tremendous effort led by Don King, 46:24 president of the Atlantic Union and so many others 46:28 and I must say that Mark Finley and Robert Costa 46:31 who so ably worked in that series 46:35 are tremendous assets to God's church. 46:38 We had a wonderful time in New York 46:39 and we don't have time to tell you the illustrations 46:42 of that particular setting but it continues 46:46 thousands of new believers in Jesus because of NY13, 46:51 hundreds of hundreds of meetings 46:53 all over that site. 46:55 Recently its been a privilege to be involved 46:59 in short evangelistic reaping meetings in Papua New Guinea, 47:06 in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City 47:09 where by God's grace it was my privilege 47:11 noting due to me but to the power of God 47:13 and our local leaders to bethe first non-indigenous 47:17 person to preach an evangelistic meeting 47:20 in Ho Chi Minh City 47:21 since 1975 and we praise God because things are opening up. 47:27 We had a meeting in Manila just recently, 47:29 I'm gonna tell you about that in an about an hour 47:33 from now in about three minutes, 47:36 three minute duration about God's great openings. 47:39 Huge evangelistic meetings held all across Manila 47:43 with now about 10,000 baptisms resulting from it, 47:48 many people involved not just one evangelistic meeting. 47:53 Next year Nancy and I will have the privilege 47:56 of working in Harare, Zimbabwe. 48:01 It will be a great privilege again 48:02 to have a combined effortworking 48:05 with the South Western Union 48:06 here in the United States and ASI 48:10 and ShareHim and so many others. 48:14 Also we will have a great evangelistic meeting 48:16 in San Antonio, Texas. 48:17 just before the General Conference session. 48:21 Mark Finley, Duane McKey, 48:23 Robert Costa and others and leading out in that. 48:26 But this is just a little example 48:30 of what God is doing through thousands 48:33 of people across this globe 48:36 in working for Christ through evangelism. 48:39 Let's invest our time in God's great work 48:44 for soon Jesus will come. 48:46 Matthew 9:35, 48:50 "Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, 48:53 teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel 48:55 of the kingdom, and healing everysickness 48:58 and every disease among the people." 49:01 " God is calling for you 49:04 to be part of the last great loud cry, 49:09 weep with Jesus for the people of the cities. 49:15 Amen. 49:35 Take my life and let it be 49:41 Consecrated, Lord, to Thee 49:47 Take my hands and let them move 49:53 At the impulse of Thy love 50:00 Take my hands and let them move 50:09 At the impulse of Thy love 50:25 Take my feet and let them be 50:30 Swift and beautiful for Thee 50:36 Take my voice and let me sing 50:42 Always, only for my King 50:48 Take my voice and let me sing 51:18 Not a mite would I withhold 51:23 Take my moments and my days 51:29 Let them flow in endless praise 51:35 Take my moments and my days 51:45 Let them flow in endless praise 52:00 Take my will and make it Thine 52:06 It shall be no longer mine 52:12 Take my heart, it is Thine own 52:17 It shall be Thy royal throne 52:23 Take my heart, it is Thine own 52:33 It shall be Thy royal throne 52:37 It shall be Thy royal throne 53:05 Good morning. Happy Sabbath. 53:08 We've come to that time 53:10 in our Sabbath morning experience 53:13 where we are able to worship our God through study. 53:17 And I trust that all of you 53:20 have been studying your Sabbath school lesson. 53:22 We are talking about the teachings of Jesus 53:24 this quarter and as we begin as my custom is in 53:29 my home church Fallbrook, California whenever I teach 53:33 we always pause at the beginning and ask 53:35 the presence of God to be with us 53:37 to invite His Holy Spirit to take control of everything 53:40 that happens in this room and I would like to invite 53:43 you to bow your heads with me right now. 53:46 Holy Father in heaven, we come to you just now 53:49 claiming the promise 53:51 that wherever two or three 53:53 are gathered together in your name 53:55 you will be among us. 53:57 And I pray right now that you would take control 53:59 of my mind and my lips and my tongue. 54:03 May the words that I speak be Your words and Lord, 54:06 not only may the words that I speak be Your words 54:08 but may each person that is here, 54:11 that is watching on television as well that Your Holy Spirit 54:15 would be with them each one that they may hear exactly 54:18 what You have in mind for them. 54:19 I pray in Jesus name, amen. 54:28 Nicodemus was a man 54:31 who could have been an ASI member. 54:35 He had become very successful in his business. 54:41 He had attained the success where he was able to spend time 54:44 studying the scriptures. 54:46 He had become if you will a doctor of the Jewish law. 54:51 He had also been so well thought 54:53 of that he had been elevated to a position within 54:56 the Jewish ruling council called the Sanhedrin. 55:01 He dressed well. 55:02 Whenever he walk someplace 55:04 people acknowledged his presence. 55:07 Within his society he had already reached 55:10 the top rung if the ladder 55:13 that he could expect to reach. 55:16 But somehow deep within his heart 55:20 there was still a dissatisfaction. 55:23 There was something more. 55:24 Have you ever felt like in your Christian walk 55:28 that there is somethingmore out 55:30 that your just can't quiet 55:31 put your hands on that was Nicodemus. 55:36 Nicodemus was in that moment and as he was going through 55:39 the process of going to the Sanhedrin meetings 55:43 as he would interact with the leaders of the nation, 55:47 as he would have social gatherings 55:50 with Pilate the Roman proconsul. 55:55 He would have this since there's got to be more than 55:58 what I'm experiencing here. 56:03 Whenever the young Galileans teacher 56:08 came along and began to show his presence 56:13 in the temple and along the walkways 56:15 through Jerusalemand as he observed that 56:19 he became quite concerned because he noted the way 56:25 that the ruling scribes, his associates actually 56:30 looked upon this young Galilean 56:33 and a course in his mind 56:34 because he was a great scholar 56:36 and a student of the scriptures. 56:40 He was well aware of how his ancestors 56:43 had treated the prophets that had come. 56:46 A little uncomfortable with how that was working 56:48 and then he couldn't help but notice that in a world 56:53 where everybody seemed to be corrupted on the take 56:57 in someway self dealing 57:00 that here was the man uncorrupted. 57:04 Strangely, mysteriously drawnto this man 57:09 Nicodemus is seeking. 57:11 He also took not of the fact that 57:16 this man though uneducated within their system 57:20 had extreme authority 57:22 when it came to certain matters. 57:24 He had been an observer of when Jesus cleansed 57:29 the temple and turned over the money changers tables. 57:34 Something inside said I need to know this man but yet 57:38 the pride that was there refused to let him 57:42 walk upto Jesus and begin to engage Him in conversation. 57:45 I can only imagine 57:47 that perhaps he went up to one of the disciples, 57:51 maybe he sent a delegation to one of the disciples 57:54 and said, listen, I would like to get 57:56 a chance to talk with this man. 57:58 Can you arrange for us to have a little consult 58:03 and by the way could it be in some 58:05 out of the way place and at night? 58:10 And Jesus being gracious and I don't know, 58:12 we don't know, scripture does not record 58:14 which one of the disciples 58:15 if there was one of the disciples 58:16 or how that took place but in John Chapter 3 58:20 and if you have your Bibles I would like to invite 58:22 you to turn there with me. 58:24 In John Chapter 3 58:28 we find the story of Nicodemus. 58:33 I'm gonna begin reading in verse 2 of chapter 3. 58:38 "This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, 58:41 'Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God, 58:45 for no one can do these signs 58:47 that You do unless God is with him.'" 58:48 See he had been paying attention. 58:50 He had been watching. 58:51 He had been alert to what was going on. 58:54 Jesus recognizing that soul hunger 59:01 that was being expressed in this unique way 59:04 from this man successful in all the ways 59:07 of the worldand even in the nation of Judah. 59:11 Here he was cutting right to the chase if you will. 59:15 Jesus cuts right through the chase in verse 3. 59:17 "Jesus answered and said to him, 59:19 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, 59:22 he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" 59:24 You see what Nicodemus was really after was recognizing 59:28 that he needed to continue to grow 59:31 all that he had achieved had not satisfied. 59:35 And you know, that is the title 59:37 of our lesson today is "Growing in Christ. 59:42 " There is never a time where we come to a place 59:45 where we have achieved in this life. 59:49 We must continually be on the growth track 59:53 that the Holy Spirithas for each one of us individually. 59:58 And Jesus was helping Nicodemus 01:00:01 to come face to face with what he was really after. 01:00:06 He says, you cannot see the kingdom of God 01:00:08 unless you are born again. 01:00:10 Now, it's interesting that the word born again 01:00:14 is actually, it had kind of a double, 01:00:17 a double meaning if you will. 01:00:19 It was-- let me see if I can find it here 01:00:22 where the Greek word is in our lesson. 01:00:24 It's not jumping out of me but it had two meanings. 01:00:28 One was to be born from above 01:00:31 and obviously if you are already born in this world, 01:00:35 if you have been born of a woman 01:00:37 as the scripture is referred to that 01:00:40 and nowyou are being told that you must be born from above. 01:00:44 The common way to understand that was to be born again. 01:00:47 If you've already been born once you got to be born again. 01:00:49 So Nicodemus not used to being as timid 01:00:55 as he was in the presence of this great teacher, 01:00:58 immediately begins to respond he says in verse 4, 01:01:02 "How can a man be born when he is old? 01:01:04 Can he enter a second time 01:01:06 into his mother's womb and be born? 01:01:10 " Now actually that was kind of 01:01:11 a foolish defensive question 01:01:16 on the part of Nicodemus because see, 01:01:18 he was a student of scripture. 01:01:21 He knew the scriptures and obviously he knew 01:01:24 that if he was talking about being born from above 01:01:28 he understood what that was all about 01:01:30 because there had been many references to scripture. 01:01:33 We are gonna come to that in just a moment. 01:01:35 In the scriptures he knew what that was. 01:01:36 Jesus continues and says "Most assuredly, 01:01:40 I say to you, unless one is 01:01:42 born of water and of the Spirit, 01:01:45 he cannot enter the kingdom of God." 01:01:49 Now do you think that Nicodemus 01:01:51 was acquainted with being born of water? 01:01:55 How would he have been acquainted 01:01:57 with being born of water? 01:02:00 John the Baptist, exactly. 01:02:01 John the Baptist ministry had-- you know, 01:02:04 they didn't have television in those days 01:02:06 and they didn't have the Jerusalem Times that I know of, 01:02:10 the word had gotten around and impacted the entire nation. 01:02:14 That in fact, John the Baptist was out there in 01:02:17 what looked like the forum of one of the ancient prophets 01:02:21 and he was baptizing in with water 01:02:24 but he also had said one is coming after me 01:02:27 who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit 01:02:29 and I'm not even worthy to untie His shoelaces. 01:02:33 So Nicodemus was aware of all that, 01:02:36 so when He says water he knows what that is 01:02:38 but the spirit he senses that he may be right on the cusp 01:02:45 of the most important thing in his life. 01:02:48 Even though he's had all these classesand he has done 01:02:50 all these things and he has accomplished all these, 01:02:52 he is on the verge of what is really important 01:02:57 for his spiritual growth. 01:03:00 And I want to suggest that that very same thing 01:03:04 applies to each one of us today. 01:03:06 We could all be in Nicodemus shoes 01:03:10 as we think in terms of seeking 01:03:13 that that additional element 01:03:17 that brings the satisfaction to our lives 01:03:20 that all of our hearts yearn for. 01:03:23 So He says, 01:03:25 you must be born of water and of the spirit. 01:03:28 It's a double baptism. 01:03:31 Nicodemus continues the dialogue with Him-- 01:03:34 well, actually Jesus continues to talk 01:03:36 and its interesting that Nicodemus 01:03:38 only says a few more words in this context. 01:03:42 Jesus says in verse 6, 01:03:43 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, 01:03:45 but that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 01:03:49 Do not marvel that I said to you, 01:03:50 'You must be born again.' 01:03:52 See when He is talking about the baptism 01:03:54 of the Holy Spirit He uses 01:03:56 the incredible example of the wind. 01:04:02 Anyone here ever been able to cause the wind to blow? 01:04:06 Anyone? 01:04:07 You know, I don't see a single hand. 01:04:10 Isn't it interesting that Jesus 01:04:11 took something that we all understand. 01:04:14 How of you eve been in a windstorm 01:04:16 where you felt the wind blow? 01:04:19 I've actually been in a windstorm where, 01:04:21 you know, your clothes are completely 01:04:23 plastered to you and you lean into the wind, okay. 01:04:27 You know what I'm talking about. 01:04:28 Jesus uses the example of the wind 01:04:32 to illustrate the great principle 01:04:34 of the power of the spirit baptism 01:04:37 and He goes on to say, you do not-- 01:04:39 "The wind blows where it wishes, 01:04:42 and you hear the sound of it, but you cannot 01:04:43 tell where it comes from and where it goes. 01:04:45 So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." 01:04:48 Now there is a couple of things I want to note 01:04:50 when you look at the-- 01:04:53 at the baptism of the-- 01:04:55 water baptism and the baptism of the spirit. 01:04:59 How many of you had anything to do 01:05:01 with being born the first time? 01:05:04 Anybody? 01:05:06 Everyone of us were born without our permission 01:05:10 or our knowledge 01:05:12 that something that happened in this life 01:05:15 that was not something we had anything to do with. 01:05:18 Just in the same way being born again 01:05:22 is something we can assent to, we can choose to happen 01:05:26 but we can no more control being born again 01:05:30 and the process that it involves 01:05:33 than we can be involved in our own natural birth. 01:05:37 The one thing that is different 01:05:40 is that we have the ability to choose 01:05:43 and say Lord, take me and wash me clean 01:05:49 by the power of Your Holy Spirit. 01:05:52 Now when I think about this whole idea of being born again 01:05:59 it really dwells down to one very simple concept. 01:06:03 When I'm born of the spirit 01:06:05 or when you are born of the spirit 01:06:09 we are being renewed on the inside of our minds 01:06:15 by the power of the Holy Spirit 01:06:17 moving just as the wind moves around us. 01:06:22 As that power comes in and I was in a discussion 01:06:25 in with one of my brothers as we were preparing 01:06:28 for-- as I was preparing for this lesson. 01:06:30 Last week we happened to be together at a wedding 01:06:32 for my niece down in Texas and my brother 01:06:35 who is a pastor in Arizona we were talking about this 01:06:37 and he was saying, you know, I'm convinced, you know, 01:06:41 we always think in terms of our 01:06:42 conscious decision making power in our minds. 01:06:46 But he said we must be experiencing the washing 01:06:51 and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit 01:06:53 at our subconscious mind level. 01:06:57 That's where the renewal must take place 01:06:59 so that we have the ability to make the right decisions 01:07:03 because that washing needs to take place. 01:07:06 Now that doesn't diminish the ability 01:07:08 of having the conscious mind washed as well 01:07:12 so that we can make choices as 01:07:14 we walk through this life for sin is so prevalent. 01:07:20 The Bible tells us that Nicodemus 01:07:23 actually I think the last thing that 01:07:25 we see him saying here, he says, 01:07:27 "How can these things be?" 01:07:31 Those are the last words that we hear. 01:07:33 Jesus has the last word and the record indicates 01:07:38 that Nicodemus slipped silently into the night. 01:07:42 But you know, what, in some cases conversions 01:07:44 will take place instantaneously where someone gets 01:07:50 knocked off their horse like Saul who became Paul. 01:07:54 There are those examples, there are also examples 01:07:57 like Nicodemus who came was confronted 01:08:02 by the living God in the form of Jesus Christ. 01:08:06 And over a little bit of time as that soaked into his mind 01:08:11 and soaked into his being. 01:08:12 And the power of the Holy Spirit 01:08:14 began working more and more with him. 01:08:16 A little later on we find him stepping forward 01:08:19 with great courage and it was Nicodemus 01:08:23 several years later because this happened in John 3 01:08:27 at the beginning near the beginning of Jesus ministry 01:08:30 toward the end we find Nicodemus 01:08:33 actually coming to Pilate and saying 01:08:38 I want the body of this just man. 01:08:41 And he together with Joseph of Arimathea-- 01:08:44 you see the results. 01:08:45 See that's the way this works. 01:08:47 The rebirth in the heart by the Holy Spirit 01:08:50 and when it talks about heart and mind 01:08:53 you see the results of it 01:08:54 even though you can't see the wind blowing. 01:08:57 You see the results and I want to suggest that 01:09:02 every one of us can experience that growth 01:09:08 that Nicodemus was seeking and obviously found. 01:09:12 Because you see having that new life in Christ, 01:09:16 that new life in Christ that only comes by the Holy Spirit. 01:09:20 You know it's talked about in Titus Chapter 3 01:09:22 it talks about the washing of regeneration. 01:09:25 It talks about bein justified by His grace. 01:09:28 In 2 Corinthians 5:17 01:09:32 it talks about being made a new creation. 01:09:34 How many of you here today would be willing 01:09:37 to trade in everything you've got to be a new creation 01:09:40 in the hand of God? 01:09:41 Everything you got to be a new creation? We all would. 01:09:44 We recognize that no matter what status, 01:09:47 no matter what milepost we have accomplished 01:09:50 in this life but God has in store for us is so much better. 01:09:56 What did, what did the Psalms say? 01:09:58 "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God 01:10:02 than to have all the success that the world can offer. 01:10:06 " And that's what the new life is all about. 01:10:09 That's what we are talking about having that new creation. 01:10:13 And here's what's beautiful. 01:10:15 As the Holy Spirit does his work imperceptibly 01:10:18 where you can't see the results begin in this way. 01:10:21 I love what the lesson author said, 01:10:23 "Through the Holy Spirit, 01:10:24 Christ implants in us new thoughts. 01:10:29 " Now if you're gonna be honest 01:10:32 could you use some new thoughts? 01:10:36 Could you use some new thoughts? 01:10:37 Every one of us needs new thoughts. 01:10:40 That comes from the Holy Spirit. 01:10:42 He wakens our conscience. 01:10:45 Aren't you glad you got a conscience to guide you? 01:10:49 What is that conscience? 01:10:50 He awakens-- it says that the Holy Spirit 01:10:52 awakens that conscience and it's also described in Jeremiah 01:10:56 that there is a voice you hear behind you saying, 01:10:58 this is the way walk ye in it. 01:11:02 in other words I'm not smart enough 01:11:06 and frankly neither are you to be able to walk this path 01:11:12 through life alone. 01:11:15 Without the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us-- 01:11:17 In fact, I'm fascinated. 01:11:19 This is a little departure and I do that that regularly 01:11:22 in my own Sabbath school class. 01:11:25 Do you know that in Ellen White's writings 01:11:27 and I should have that quote but I don't... 01:11:29 because it just came in my mind that, 01:11:31 on our journey up into clouds to meet Christ in the air 01:11:35 that we all have as a hope as Seventh-day Adventist. 01:11:40 You know, what she says? 01:11:42 The first voice that you will hear 01:11:45 is one that you will recognize. 01:11:48 It will be a voice that you have heard many times 01:11:51 because it is the voice of your guardian angel that 01:11:53 by the power of the Holy Spirit has been guiding your life. 01:11:57 I'm so grateful for that, I don't know about you. 01:11:59 Can you say amen to that? 01:12:00 Amen. 01:12:01 I want to have 01:12:03 the Holy Spirit guiding my life. 01:12:06 And sometimes I wonder why at times 01:12:07 we have such little power, such little strength 01:12:10 and we make such little progress in our lives 01:12:13 and I stop and think perhaps, 01:12:17 it's because I'm trying to do too much on my own 01:12:20 and not letting the Holy Spirit actually 01:12:22 work his will through me. 01:12:25 But he promises to make a new creation, 01:12:28 a new life in Jesus Christ. 01:12:30 And then I come to the two elements 01:12:33 that are most important for maintaining 01:12:37 that growth in Christ. 01:12:38 Keeping-- you know, once you achieve a certain level 01:12:40 you don't want to go back down, 01:12:41 you want to keep going up, you want to keep going up. 01:12:44 How do you do that? 01:12:47 How many of you ever heard of reading the Bible and praying? 01:12:52 Any of you ever heard anybody say that? Okay, 01:12:54 so I've been thinking about okay, how can I point out 01:12:58 these fundamental building blocks in the growing in Christ 01:13:03 that has the power of the Holy Spirit? 01:13:05 I've been praying about that 01:13:07 because I want to present these two things in a way 01:13:09 that the Holy Spirit will bring hometo your hearts 01:13:14 the scriptures. 01:13:16 You know, there is something about this book 01:13:23 I hold in my hand. 01:13:24 Many of you are holding it in your hand as well. 01:13:26 Some of you have it on 01:13:27 you iPad or your iPhone or your android phone. 01:13:30 There is something about scripture. 01:13:34 Part of the world I live in we actually put ink on paper 01:13:39 and ink on canvas and as I look at this, 01:13:44 this sheet of paper ran through a press at some place 01:13:47 and these words were all put on this paper. 01:13:51 But I want to tell you that 01:13:52 this is so much more than ink on paper. 01:13:58 This word is the living word of the Almighty God 01:14:04 and it will transform, it will guide, it will direct 01:14:07 and if this, there are two dangers, 01:14:11 two dangers with this. 01:14:13 One is that it stays on the shelf 01:14:16 and we don't look at it. 01:14:18 We know its there, we refer to it with great joy. 01:14:22 We may even have one lying out on our table in our home 01:14:25 that you can go to the front 01:14:26 and you will see the record of marriages and births 01:14:29 and family history were based on scripture. 01:14:32 One of them, one danger, roadblock is that 01:14:35 we leave it sitting on the shelf somewhere 01:14:36 and don't actually bring it in, eat the word if you will 01:14:41 and that's talking about bringing it into our lives 01:14:43 and letting it transform us. 01:14:45 I can tell you from my own experience 01:14:50 that opening this word, 01:14:52 this Bible lays on my nightstand at home. 01:14:56 When I wake up, reach over and pick it up, 01:15:00 I actually happen to be a person 01:15:01 that loves to mark my Bible. 01:15:03 Anybody, any Bible markers out here? Okay. 01:15:05 This is the fourth or fifth Bible 01:15:07 that I've marked completely, okay. 01:15:10 And so anytime it's-- you know, in fact, 01:15:13 I will hold up so that camera can see. 01:15:14 I've got red-- I have a red pencil and a ruler. 01:15:17 So its need, I like it that way. 01:15:19 Everybody has their own way of doing this 01:15:21 but I actually can pick this Bible up 01:15:23 and I can open it to any page 01:15:26 and I can spend 10 to 15 minutes 01:15:27 just reading what I've already marked 01:15:30 and sometimes I say wow, that's so new. 01:15:34 Did I mark that? 01:15:35 Have you ever had that experience? 01:15:37 Yes. Did I mark that? 01:15:38 But yet it's fresh and new every morning 01:15:42 for what I need for that day. 01:15:44 Amen. 01:15:46 Did it night. 01:15:47 I'm one of these people that likes to read at night 01:15:50 until I can't keep my eyes open anymore. 01:15:52 Now I will read it again. 01:15:54 I read Great Controversy or one of the Ellen White books 01:15:56 which I love to read her books as well. 01:15:59 There is something about the mighty power 01:16:02 of the Holy Spirit that comes through these pages. 01:16:04 It says, if it comes-- the print comes right off 01:16:08 and into my life and I want to suggest that 01:16:12 if you want to deepen your spiritual experience, 01:16:17 if you want to been on that 01:16:19 upward growth curve spend more time in this word. 01:16:24 That's called, it's listed under our lesson today 01:16:27 under the broad umbrella of abiding. 01:16:30 If you are going to abide in Christ 01:16:32 you've got to be listening to His voice because, 01:16:35 you know, for whatever reason He has chosen 01:16:38 and I'm grateful for however He chooses 01:16:42 to communicate to us through the pages of this word. 01:16:48 The other side of the equation is prayer. 01:16:52 Well, before I go to that side let me-- 01:16:54 I mentioned one 01:16:55 the danger is that you put this on the shelf. 01:16:57 The other danger is that you put some kind of 01:17:01 human element into how you understand the scripture. 01:17:07 The interpretation of scripture can be such 01:17:10 that can totally destroy what God had-- did you know 01:17:17 that some of the greatest biblical scholars 01:17:19 that teach at some of our great universities. 01:17:22 I'm not talking about Adventist universities 01:17:23 I'm talking about outside worldly universities 01:17:26 that are not affiliated with our church. 01:17:29 Some of those individuals are great scholars 01:17:33 of the Bible as literature but they are a vowed atheists. 01:17:37 They are looking at this just from a historical, 01:17:39 critical method to understand that is literature. 01:17:43 That's not what we are talking about. 01:17:44 Those two dangers-- 01:17:46 let and the Bible speak to you as it reads 01:17:49 and let the Holy Spirit impress your heart 01:17:51 as you are reading and let it transform 01:17:55 and wash with the washing 01:17:58 of regeneration your heart and mind. 01:18:00 So that's God speaking to you through the scriptures. 01:18:03 But we have the privilege of speaking back to God 01:18:05 through prayer. 01:18:08 How of you ever had a prayer answered? Okay. 01:18:14 Whenever you have a prayer answered, 01:18:15 now sometimes I have to say the answer may not 01:18:18 be quite the answer you wanted. 01:18:23 I've experienced that. 01:18:25 Lord sometimes says, yes. Sometimes He says, no. 01:18:29 Sometimes He says, not yet. 01:18:31 Doesn't He? But yet He is awesome. 01:18:36 He is overall, I trust Him. 01:18:40 But prayer to spend time talking with Him 01:18:44 as well as listening to Him. 01:18:46 Now, here's an interesting thing. 01:18:47 How many of you would say you are good listener? 01:18:51 Anybody? 01:18:52 Well, I don't see very many hands. 01:18:54 Listeners? Okay. 01:18:56 How of you are good talkers? Okay, more hands, more hands. 01:19:00 Now, here's the thing, 01:19:01 whenever you are in a conversation with someone 01:19:07 and they are not a good listener 01:19:10 how well does that conversation go? 01:19:13 Kind of-- okay, we will get this over with. 01:19:16 But you know, what happens is in a relationship, 01:19:19 in a good conversation 01:19:21 you have one person sharing another person responding 01:19:25 and then some sharing and then some responding 01:19:27 and there is a good communication that goes on. 01:19:30 So if we only pray 01:19:33 and never study or read our Bibles 01:19:35 and let God speak back to us then what are we guilty of? 01:19:39 We just talk, 01:19:40 we're just talking and want Him to listen. 01:19:42 Now, does He want to listen? Yes, He will. 01:19:44 But if there is gonna be a good healthy relationship 01:19:47 between you and God, me and God 01:19:50 it is got to involve me talking with Him 01:19:54 and Him talking back to me. 01:19:57 Now I want to give you an example 01:19:58 from scripture of how that conversation works. 01:20:02 David, he had a moral fall that put him flat on his face 01:20:07 and you all know exactly what I'm talking about. 01:20:10 He though a friend of God was now 01:20:14 at complete variants with God. 01:20:17 in Psalm Chapter 51. 01:20:20 the heart cry of a broken man begins this way. 01:20:25 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, 01:20:29 and renew a right spirit within me." 01:20:33 The heart cry of David. 01:20:35 Now I don't know about you but I have prayed that prayer. 01:20:38 Have you prayed that prayer? If you haven't you need to. 01:20:44 As David prayed that prayer what does it say in Ezekiel 36? 01:20:50 What is God's answer to that prayer? 01:20:53 Okay, he says, and the second time 01:20:56 I'm just going to-- just gonna summarize that. 01:20:59 He says, I'm going to put a new heart in you 01:21:03 and I'm gonna take that old stony one away 01:21:06 and I'm going to give you My Holy Spirit 01:21:09 and you are going to be Mine. 01:21:12 That's an example of the heart cry in prayer talking to God 01:21:16 and God answering back through His scriptures. 01:21:20 And if you are gonna grow 01:21:21 that's the kind of experiences gonna happen. 01:21:23 Now I wanted to say a word of caution, 01:21:25 there's all kinds of things in prayer. 01:21:28 People have those all kinds of exotic things 01:21:30 that people do around the idea of prayer. 01:21:33 Don't be drawn off sides by the devil 01:21:36 by some crazy thing relating to prayer. 01:21:41 Prayer is simply the opening of the heart to God 01:21:44 as to a friend speaking with Him. 01:21:47 Now in few moments that we have left 01:21:52 I just want to talk about 01:21:54 the whole idea of dying to self. 01:21:58 How many of you ever witness the baptism besides your own? 01:22:02 Okay. 01:22:03 What happens? 01:22:04 A person comes, 01:22:06 many times they have baptismal robe on, 01:22:08 black, white. 01:22:10 Sometimes it will be at a beach and people will just have 01:22:12 some clothes they don't mind getting wet. 01:22:15 But you seen a baptism 01:22:17 and a person comes with a radiant glow on their face. 01:22:21 You know what I'm talking about. 01:22:23 The pastor lifts his hands or his hand and says, 01:22:27 "I now baptize you in the name of the Father, 01:22:30 and the Son, and the holy ghost." 01:22:32 He takes the person dips them under the water 01:22:35 and brings them back up. 01:22:39 What kind of joy is there 01:22:41 as that person comes back out of the water? 01:22:44 In our church all of our kids come up. 01:22:47 There will be 40, 50 kids that are standing right beside 01:22:49 the baptistery to witness and to experience 01:22:54 this new birth, this water baptism 01:22:56 which is symbolic of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 01:22:58 But what that is symbolic of? 01:23:00 It is the death of the old person of sin, 01:23:06 the burial of the old person of sin 01:23:10 and the resurrection into newness of life. 01:23:15 And you know what, that symbolically is saying 01:23:17 you must be crucified every day. 01:23:21 Would you give the existence 01:23:22 you've got right now for the transformation? 01:23:24 I asked that question long ago. 01:23:25 You would. 01:23:28 But you know what, the scripture say Jesus said, 01:23:31 His words were I must die daily 01:23:37 to let the old person of sin be crucified and be resurrected 01:23:41 into newness of life every day. 01:23:44 That's why we have the foot washing. 01:23:46 That's why you have worship services. 01:23:47 That's why every morning I say Lord, I'm Your's today 01:23:53 give me something that will be in Your will 01:23:56 and that I can honor You with today. 01:23:59 And you know what that is? 01:24:00 There is a couple things and I'm gonna run out of time 01:24:04 and I just want to comment this way. 01:24:07 Why should you worry about growing? 01:24:10 Why should you be concerned about growing in Christ? 01:24:13 Because it is the person who is growing in Christ 01:24:18 that can be a channel for the Holy Spirit to reach out 01:24:22 and touch other people in the name of Jesus Christ. 01:24:26 So we should have great motivation to be 01:24:28 growing spiritually in Christ. 01:24:31 Because as we do we can be a greater, 01:24:34 greater channel and I want to read 01:24:35 this quotation out of "Heavenly Places" page 22. 01:24:39 "Those who are in connection with God are channels 01:24:44 for the power of the Holy Spirit." 01:24:46 So if your connection with God is strong daily, hourly, 01:24:50 moment by moments 01:24:52 you are going to have the privilege 01:24:54 of having the Holy Spirit work through you and of course, 01:24:56 what ASI is all about is sharing 01:24:59 Jesus Christ in the marketplace. 01:25:01 If you want to have power from on high for sharing 01:25:06 Jesus Christ in the marketplace 01:25:08 make sure that your heart is regenerated, 01:25:10 that the Holy Spirit is in you 01:25:12 that you are experiencing His love 01:25:14 so that you have something to share 01:25:16 and here's the last thing I want to say. 01:25:18 "Desire of Ages" page 173, 01:25:20 "The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders 01:25:25 itself to God and God creates a brand new being." 01:25:32 Let's pray. 01:25:34 Well, actually I'm not gonna pray 01:25:35 because there is gonna be 01:25:36 somebody praying right behind me 01:25:38 but I'll pray that you will pray, 01:25:39 you will be blessed of God 01:25:41 as you continue on your journey. 01:25:43 Thank you so much. 01:25:45 Amen. Thank you Dan, 01:25:46 for that wonderful lesson. 01:25:48 Wasn't that exciting to be able to see 01:25:52 how we can grow in Christ? 01:25:53 Have you born again, born in new? 01:25:55 That's what it's all about isn't it. 01:25:57 Let's pray together. 01:25:58 Let's stand and pray together actually. 01:26:03 Our Father in heaven, we thank You 01:26:05 so much for sending Your son Jesus into this world 01:26:08 and we thank you for that encounter 01:26:09 He had with the scholar Nicodemus 01:26:11 there that night long ago and for the words that 01:26:13 He said and we too want to experience that new birth 01:26:17 each and every day of our lives and we want to grown 01:26:20 in You so that we too can be that witness 01:26:25 of Your power in these last days. 01:26:26 So we do pray that You will baptize as a new 01:26:29 each and every day for the rest of our lives until 01:26:32 You come again and we thank you Lord, 01:26:34 for that privilege of knowing 01:26:35 You and being connected with You and growing in You. 01:26:40 Thank you Jesus for that we pray in Jesus name, amen. 01:26:44 We like to ask you to be seated 01:26:46 becausethere is a special announcement 01:26:49 that they are going to want to share with you this morning. 01:26:54 So we thank you for waiting for that announcement and... 01:27:06 ...I think that we have a moment of time before that 01:27:09 so I think my prayer was too short but anyway 01:27:13 its wonderful to think about growing in Christ 01:27:15 and being in Christ isn't it and its nothing 01:27:17 as wonderful as that and we praise God for that. |
Revised 2015-07-19