Good evening, GYC.
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We're here to fill
you in on what God did
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through the
evangelism day yesterday,
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how many of you participated
in the outreach yesterday?
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Amen. Amen, praise the Lord.
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There were almost 2,000
people who participated.
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God worked in powerful ways
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and I want to read you a
few of the things that happened.
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There were about 23,000
pieces of GLOW Literature
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that were passed out.
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There were 1,300
people who are prayed with,
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24, 000 peoples
doors were knocked on,
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a 1,372 Desire of Ages were
passed out and left in homes
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and there were
220 Bible studies.
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Praise the Lord.
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God is working in powerful ways,
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and I want to share
with you a few of the stories
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of how God works.
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Susan has the
first story for us.
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Yes, we're really excited.
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Our Good News TV, we
already received several calls
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of people wanting to know,
how to tune into Good News TV,
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our Christian channel
here in Phoenix 24 hours a day.
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And a couple of them even said,
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I'm gonna go run out and
get an antennae right now,
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because they
didn't have internet,
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they couldn't
watch over the internet,
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and so we also
wanted to tell you
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about a wonderful person
that received a beautiful book,
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Desire of Ages on
the life of Christ
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as well as the GLOW tract
and the Good News TV book,
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Martha called in saying,
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"I had a couple of wonderful
young people at my door,"
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and she said "I gave a donation,
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I can't wait to read the book,"
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and she said "on
this book marker it says
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that there's over a
100 churches in Arizona,
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call for a church near you,
and I'm looking for a church."
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And so we told,
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we gave her the
address of the church near her
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and she was very excited.
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She want to take Bible studies
and we called the local pastor
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and he called her to give
her a personal invitation,
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make sure she knew all
the times and she said,
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she just wanted
to relay a thank you
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to this wonderful young
people because otherwise,
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she wouldn't have ever
found out about the church.
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So praise the Lord.
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Amen, God is
working in powerful ways,
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people are in church
and they will be in heaven
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as a result of your work.
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Now Craig has
something to share with us
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about another powerful outreach
opportunity that happened.
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Well, I believe
in music evangelism.
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And I was excited to
have that opportunity
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right here in Phoenix in Phoenix
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and GYC did a great
job of setting it up,
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they invited us to
take the orchestra around
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and all the young
people here at GYC,
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they volunteered to play
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with Fountainview
Academy Orchestra.
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We went to the
large Catholic hospital
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just down the street,
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and they'd arranged
for us to go in there
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and play a little
concert in the lobby
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and to give out
the Desire of Ages
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and GLOW tracts.
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And in fact the
sister who met me
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showed me this is the table,
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you put your books
here and you give them out.
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Music works magic.
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As the kids were playing,
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all the Desire of Ages we
had were gone within 10 minutes
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and hundreds of
GLOW tracts went out.
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People loved it,
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everyone coming through
the lobby was accepting.
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Very few turned
anything down. Amen.
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Then they took
us into the chapel,
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where they put us
on closed circuit TV
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to 400 patients, who
watched the concert from there.
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That was exciting but, folks,
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God has
appointments for us everywhere.
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It started out with
a little frustration,
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the driver called me up
and said, "You're the leader,
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they didn't tell
me in the contract
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that you'd have instruments.
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This bus is way too
full, it won't fit."
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I told him, "Don't
worry, I'm a bus driver,
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I love driving,
let's put them underneath."
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Helped him out, made
friends, he said, "You sit here,
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and help me go where to
find or where we are going."
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So we got chatting
and right away he said,
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"What religion are you guys?"
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I said, "Seventh-ay Adventist."
He said, "Seventh-day, what?"
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That's not what they told us,
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then he gave me his
little spiritual history
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and said, "I'm
looking for a church."
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Can you imagine?
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So I gave him the address,
he maybe watching tonight.
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Jay, if you're
watching, we're praying for you
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and I want to
say more than that,
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he told us, when he came
back to pick us up, he said,
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"I called my
girlfriend and she said,
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she went to a cooking
class by your church."
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Amen.
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I said, "Look
us up, look us up."
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He said, she asked
if you're saying for me,
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just then we
stopped at the light.
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I said, "Kids, lets sing."
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We sing our favorite,
"Prayer is the key to heaven."
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We want to see him in
heaven. Please pray for Jay.
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Amen, God can
work in powerful ways.
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Jan, and how did you see
the Lord working yesterday?
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Well yesterday,
before we started out,
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we prayed, my
partner and I, we prayed out,
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we thank God for
the divine appointments
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that He was going to give us.
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On this one door
where we knocked,
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this lady opened the
door and we told her,
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"Well, we're here for
community service project
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and your
donations for this book,
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The Desire of Ages,
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will help the GYC
impact your community."
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Well she said, "I
don't have any money."
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But she kept looking at the book
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and I wasn't so
sure what to make out
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with her look on her face.
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And, well, before she
went inside into her house
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to get some money, she said,
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"God sent you
here into my door."
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And so we looked at each other,
Atille and myself and we said,
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God is working in this house,
we're praying, we're praying,
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and so she comes
out with a dollar
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and a couple of
cents and she said,
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"God has sent you
here in my house."
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We asked her, so
tell us your story.
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And she said that she was having
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a very hard time in that house.
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Somebody was putting her down,
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and but she knew she
couldn't leave that house
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because God put her
there for a purpose,
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and so while she
was reading her Bible
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and while she was praying,
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God told her,
"Wait for the light."
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I wish I asked her
what that light was about,
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but the look in her
face showed me that,
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there was
something about that book
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that was a part of the story.
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So I was very thankful,
I am very thankful to God
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that I'm part of
this experience of Him
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drawing people to himself.
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Amen. God answers prayers.
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If you're
praying to find the Lord,
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He's gonna send someone, amen.
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And many young
people have the opportunity
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to be answers to prayer.
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Now if you're interested
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in hearing more
stories similar to this,
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we have a book at the GYC
booth called The Open Door.
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If you're not here
present at the conference,
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you can go to
the opendoorbook.com
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to order your copy
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but it's filled with testimonies
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of how the Lord's
worked in powerful ways
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throughout the United States.
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Now, evangelism has finished,
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but what's going to
happen with the people
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that we've met, Kevin?
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Yes. This is
super, super exciting.
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So each year we do evangelism,
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we go out into the community
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and get or
generate all these leads,
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but what happens to these leads.
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Well, this time
around beginning now,
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here in Phoenix,
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we are going to be
following up on those leads.
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Amen.
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Well, how are we going to
be following up on those leads?
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NETS, Northeast
Evangelism Training School
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is teaming up with GYC
and very, very exciting
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to actually do a training
next weekend here in Phoenix.
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And how many of you are
from Phoenix or Arizona,
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Phoenix area?
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Amen.
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How many of you are
gonna come to the training?
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If you're not, my
question is why not?
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It's gonna be at
the Camelback Church
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and we're gonna do
what's called the NETS Express,
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that will be all
weekend, Friday, Saturday,
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and then all day Sunday
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and training on how to follow-up
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on these leads, and
what to do with them,
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and there's gonna
be some extensive work
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on following up
after that as well,
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with some bridge events,
we are going to be tallying up
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all the leads that we're having,
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keeping tabs on them,
and so on and so forth.
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So very, very exciting.
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You know, I want to let you know
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that for those of
you who have participated
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in outreach yesterday,
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that God has
worked in a powerful way,
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and without a doubt,
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we know that people
will be in the kingdom,
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I can't wait to
hear what happens
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as NETS continues to work.
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And we know that God
is going to be faithful.
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And I just wanted to say
come by our booth at NETS,
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I think it's 424 and
the booth that Good News TV
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to come and get a flyer
for that training this weekend.
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Amen.
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So if you live in Phoenix,
go ahead and get involved.
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Go to the NETS training
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and God is gonna
bless in powerful ways.
00:07:35.72\00:07:37.85
Now, I want to ask
a question to Thando.
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What is gonna happen,
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now that everyone
leaves the conference,
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they're no longer on buses?
00:07:45.39\00:07:48.60
What do we do
for evangelism now?
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The good news, Taylor, is
that outreach is not over,
00:07:50.73\00:07:53.27
outreach is never over.
00:07:53.30\00:07:54.64
Amen. Amen.
00:07:54.67\00:07:56.00
And we're really
excited this year,
00:07:56.04\00:07:57.37
because we're inviting you
00:07:57.41\00:07:58.74
to be a part of virtual outreach
00:07:58.77\00:08:00.11
on March 21st and
22nd of this year.
00:08:00.14\00:08:02.71
And what we're asking you
to do is very simple at GYC.
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You go home and
pray and just ask God
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what does my community need,
00:08:09.32\00:08:11.15
and how can God use me
to impact my community.
00:08:11.19\00:08:13.92
Once you think
about your neighborhood,
00:08:13.96\00:08:15.59
your own backyard, your
city, your town, your state,
00:08:15.62\00:08:18.93
and just get
together with some friends,
00:08:18.96\00:08:20.60
your youth group and
just pray and ask God,
00:08:20.63\00:08:22.46
how can we be of service
here in our own backyard.
00:08:22.50\00:08:25.37
And as you do that
outreach on that day,
00:08:25.40\00:08:27.80
March 21st, 22nd you can
be encouraged to know, Taylor,
00:08:27.84\00:08:30.94
that I'm not alone,
00:08:30.97\00:08:32.31
there's these other young people
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are around the world
and even around the country
00:08:33.71\00:08:35.48
that are doing
this together with me.
00:08:35.51\00:08:37.28
And that if we all did
that in our own community,
00:08:37.31\00:08:39.95
that's why we do outreach here.
00:08:39.98\00:08:41.32
Amen. Amen.
00:08:41.35\00:08:42.68
That we can go back home
00:08:42.72\00:08:44.05
and impact our
communities for Christ.
00:08:44.09\00:08:45.42
So you're telling me that
there's a virtual outreach day,
00:08:45.45\00:08:47.19
people from all over the
world March 21st and March 22nd
00:08:47.22\00:08:51.03
people will be doing outreach
in their own communities.
00:08:51.06\00:08:52.69
Yes.
00:08:52.73\00:08:54.06
We know that God is
gonna work in powerful ways.
00:08:54.10\00:08:55.76
Now the next question
is, what resources can I use?
00:08:55.80\00:08:59.10
Michel, you're the
VP of Resources for GYC.
00:08:59.13\00:09:02.87
Do you have any idea
00:09:02.90\00:09:04.24
of some resources
that we could use?
00:09:04.27\00:09:06.07
Yeah, Well, Taylor, we've
already been sharing with you
00:09:06.11\00:09:08.04
a couple of
resources that we have
00:09:08.08\00:09:09.64
throughout the conference.
00:09:09.68\00:09:11.11
But we also want to remind you
00:09:11.15\00:09:12.48
that we have some
other resources at our booth,
00:09:12.51\00:09:14.65
at the GYC booth
in the exhibit hall.
00:09:14.68\00:09:17.52
Can you hold
this for me? Thanks.
00:09:17.55\00:09:20.42
How many of you guys
canvas this book, this weekend?
00:09:20.46\00:09:24.33
Amen. Yeah, this
is a beautiful book.
00:09:24.36\00:09:26.83
If you read The Desire of Ages,
00:09:26.86\00:09:28.20
you know that it's the
most beautiful book on Jesus
00:09:28.23\00:09:30.67
that you may ever read.
00:09:30.70\00:09:32.47
And this book
answers the question
00:09:32.50\00:09:34.07
of how or who Jesus is
00:09:34.10\00:09:36.10
and how in just
three and a half years,
00:09:36.14\00:09:38.41
three and a half short
years of life here on this earth
00:09:38.44\00:09:41.04
He changed the world.
00:09:41.08\00:09:42.41
And so we have
this book for sale
00:09:42.44\00:09:43.85
at the GYC booth this evening.
00:09:43.88\00:09:47.12
We've also
redesigned the Great Controversy
00:09:47.15\00:09:48.95
and reprinted it
again once this year.
00:09:48.98\00:09:52.35
And this book will
also be available for sale
00:09:52.39\00:09:54.72
at the GYC booth.
00:09:54.76\00:09:56.36
Both books are
available in limited quantity,
00:09:56.39\00:09:58.19
so please stop by this
evening and pick up your copy.
00:09:58.23\00:10:00.76
Amen.
00:10:00.80\00:10:02.13
So if you want to get involved,
00:10:02.16\00:10:03.50
if you want some
books to share with people,
00:10:03.53\00:10:04.87
GYC has
redesigned Desire of Ages
00:10:04.90\00:10:07.17
and the Great Controversy.
00:10:07.20\00:10:08.54
Stop by the GYC booth
and pick up your copy.
00:10:08.57\00:10:10.41
Now, Nelson, I
have a question for you.
00:10:10.44\00:10:12.81
If that's not satisfactory,
00:10:12.84\00:10:14.44
if those two books
aren't enough for people,
00:10:14.48\00:10:16.31
is there any other resource
00:10:16.34\00:10:17.98
that you could possibly think of
00:10:18.01\00:10:19.85
that potentially we
could use for outreach?
00:10:19.88\00:10:24.92
I'm not sure. Oh! Yes.
00:10:24.95\00:10:27.69
Thank you for
reminding me. GLOW tracts.
00:10:27.72\00:10:31.03
We can use GLOW tracts
for VOD, Virtual Outreach Day.
00:10:31.06\00:10:35.26
Not only that but
we can use GLOW tracts
00:10:35.30\00:10:37.00
throughout the year.
00:10:37.03\00:10:38.37
In fact, for those of
you who didn't hear already,
00:10:38.40\00:10:41.00
GYC and GLOW have
combined to create a program
00:10:41.04\00:10:44.24
called the One
Million GLOW initiative,
00:10:44.27\00:10:46.51
the One Million GLOW Outreach.
00:10:46.54\00:10:48.24
Between now and the next GYC,
00:10:48.28\00:10:51.38
the next 365 days we're
challenging everybody at GYC
00:10:51.41\00:10:56.25
to in a cumulative way
00:10:56.28\00:10:57.65
distribute one
million GLOW tracts.
00:10:57.69\00:10:59.89
You think we can do that? Amen.
00:10:59.92\00:11:01.82
Yeah, so really
what that translates to
00:11:01.86\00:11:03.93
is about one track
per GYC attendee per day.
00:11:03.96\00:11:08.06
And the way that
we want to do that
00:11:08.10\00:11:09.43
is to encourage
every GYC attendee
00:11:09.46\00:11:11.70
to have
approximately 300 tracts.
00:11:11.73\00:11:14.47
If you don't have your
tracts already at your church,
00:11:14.50\00:11:17.07
or at your house,
you want to make sure
00:11:17.11\00:11:18.71
that you stop by
the GLOW booth tonight
00:11:18.74\00:11:22.34
because tonight
is the last night
00:11:22.38\00:11:23.71
to pick them up
without having to pay shipping
00:11:23.75\00:11:25.15
and all that kinds of stuff.
00:11:25.18\00:11:26.51
So we really
want to encourage you,
00:11:26.55\00:11:27.88
pick up your tracts.
00:11:27.92\00:11:29.25
Now, another thing about this
million track GLOW challenge
00:11:29.28\00:11:31.99
is that it's interactive.
00:11:32.02\00:11:33.42
How are we gonna know
00:11:33.46\00:11:34.79
that we all passed
out a million GLOW tracts?
00:11:34.82\00:11:36.16
It's very simple.
00:11:36.19\00:11:37.53
We've made a website,
it's called gycchallenge.com.
00:11:37.56\00:11:41.43
GYC what?
00:11:41.46\00:11:42.83
Challenge-- Challenge.com.
00:11:42.86\00:11:44.70
Please mark it down.
00:11:44.73\00:11:46.13
I have people come to
the booth all the time
00:11:46.17\00:11:47.67
asking what's the
name of that site?
00:11:47.70\00:11:49.57
gycchallenge.com not dot org.
00:11:49.60\00:11:53.27
And when you go
there, you'll notice that,
00:11:53.31\00:11:54.68
you can actually
click on a button
00:11:54.71\00:11:56.04
that says report and
you can report the tracts
00:11:56.08\00:11:58.81
that you
distribute every single day.
00:11:58.85\00:12:01.28
And there is a chart
there which shows the tracts
00:12:01.32\00:12:03.55
as we're distributing
them throughout the year.
00:12:03.59\00:12:05.25
Currently we've
distributed almost 4,000 tracts.
00:12:05.29\00:12:07.86
Amen. But guess what? Amen.
00:12:07.89\00:12:09.89
10,000 tracts is only
1 percent of a million.
00:12:09.92\00:12:12.69
So we're not
even at 1 percent yet.
00:12:12.73\00:12:14.66
So we got a lot of work to do.
00:12:14.70\00:12:16.03
Only 145,000
tracts out of a million
00:12:16.06\00:12:18.47
have been purchased at GYC.
00:12:18.50\00:12:20.00
So we got a lot
more tracts to purchase,
00:12:20.04\00:12:21.70
and only a 117
people of all of you
00:12:21.74\00:12:24.67
have signed up your
numbers on this website.
00:12:24.71\00:12:28.31
So we've a lot
more people to sign up.
00:12:28.34\00:12:30.35
So my encouragement
to you is go to the site,
00:12:30.38\00:12:32.61
get your tracts
00:12:32.65\00:12:33.98
and let's distribute a million
GLOW tracts for this next year.
00:12:34.02\00:12:36.15
Amen.
00:12:36.18\00:12:37.52
Imagine what that would do
00:12:37.55\00:12:38.89
if there was a
million GLOW tracts
00:12:38.92\00:12:40.26
that are no longer
in someone's hands,
00:12:40.29\00:12:41.69
or they're not in
someone's hands right now,
00:12:41.72\00:12:43.06
but in one year they could be.
00:12:43.09\00:12:45.33
Imagine the
difference that would make
00:12:45.36\00:12:46.70
for the kingdom of God.
00:12:46.73\00:12:48.06
Now, Daniela, I want to ask you
00:12:48.10\00:12:49.43
why is evangelism
so important to you?
00:12:49.46\00:12:52.73
So when I was 16, I actually
got so sick that I almost died.
00:12:52.77\00:12:56.91
And the doctor
like made it very clear
00:12:56.94\00:12:58.64
that unless God interpose
00:12:58.67\00:13:00.01
and some mighty
miracle happened,
00:13:00.04\00:13:01.38
I was going to die.
00:13:01.41\00:13:02.84
And so when
that finally sunk in,
00:13:02.88\00:13:04.28
I thought about my life
00:13:04.31\00:13:05.81
and just things that I
would miss, that I regretted.
00:13:05.85\00:13:08.52
And it was interesting
that I didn't think about
00:13:08.55\00:13:10.35
how I wouldn't
get to finish school,
00:13:10.39\00:13:11.92
and I didn't think about
how I hadn't dated anybody,
00:13:11.95\00:13:13.96
and I wouldn't get married,
00:13:13.99\00:13:15.32
and I didn't think about
how I wouldn't make money,
00:13:15.36\00:13:17.19
and I wouldn't get to
travel around the world.
00:13:17.23\00:13:18.89
The only thing, that
kept running through my head
00:13:18.93\00:13:20.40
on a constant loop was, I
haven't done enough for God.
00:13:20.43\00:13:24.53
And all I kept thinking
over and over was, you know,
00:13:24.57\00:13:26.47
I just recently
found out how amazing God
00:13:26.50\00:13:28.80
and what He's done for me
and I haven't told anybody yet.
00:13:28.84\00:13:31.81
And it just was over and
over, and I thought about
00:13:31.84\00:13:33.51
all the
opportunities I had missed,
00:13:33.54\00:13:35.44
opportunities to share
His love with other people.
00:13:35.48\00:13:37.71
And so I prayed that
God would let me live,
00:13:37.75\00:13:39.31
so I could tell other
people about Him, you know,
00:13:39.35\00:13:41.25
and God answered my
prayer and I'm very grateful.
00:13:41.28\00:13:44.79
But I think that for
all of us at the end,
00:13:44.82\00:13:47.32
the thing that's going to matter
00:13:47.36\00:13:48.69
is did we know God as a friend,
00:13:48.72\00:13:50.09
and did we help
other people to know him.
00:13:50.13\00:13:52.03
And so I think especially
when we're beginning a year,
00:13:52.06\00:13:54.43
it's just my hope
00:13:54.46\00:13:55.80
that we all live this
year without that regret.
00:13:55.83\00:13:58.73
That we seize
these opportunities
00:13:58.77\00:14:00.10
to distribute GLOW,
00:14:00.14\00:14:01.47
to participate
in Virtual Outreach
00:14:01.50\00:14:02.84
and just the other
opportunities God gives us
00:14:02.87\00:14:04.21
to share His love with others,
00:14:04.24\00:14:05.57
because it's so true
that there is no greater bliss
00:14:05.61\00:14:08.48
on this side of heaven
than winning souls to Christ.
00:14:08.51\00:14:10.78
You know, by God's grace, I pray
00:14:10.81\00:14:12.18
that we can all
look back on our lives,
00:14:12.21\00:14:14.12
and see the ways
that the Lord has worked.
00:14:14.15\00:14:16.22
Amen.
00:14:16.25\00:14:17.59
I am crucified with Christ
00:14:21.62\00:14:25.43
Therefore I no longer live
00:14:25.46\00:14:29.93
Jesus Christ now lives in me
00:14:29.96\00:14:36.54
I am crucified with Christ
00:14:36.57\00:14:40.14
Therefore I no longer live
00:14:40.18\00:14:44.81
Jesus Christ now lives in me
00:14:44.85\00:14:51.79
Embrace the cross
00:15:02.83\00:15:06.97
Where Jesus suffered
00:15:07.00\00:15:10.21
Though it will cost
00:15:10.24\00:15:13.48
All you claim as yours
00:15:13.51\00:15:17.65
Your sacrifice will seem small
00:15:17.68\00:15:21.82
Beside the treasure
00:15:21.85\00:15:24.52
Eternity can't measure
00:15:24.55\00:15:28.22
What Jesus holds in store
00:15:28.26\00:15:33.06
Embrace the love
00:15:37.03\00:15:41.57
The cross requires
00:15:41.60\00:15:44.87
Cling to the one
00:15:44.91\00:15:47.98
Whose heart knew every pain
00:15:48.01\00:15:52.35
Receive from Jesus
00:15:52.38\00:15:55.62
Fountains of compassion
00:15:55.65\00:15:59.32
Only He can fashion
00:15:59.35\00:16:03.12
Our heart to move as His
00:16:03.16\00:16:08.90
Oh, wondrous cross
our desires rest in you
00:16:08.93\00:16:15.34
Lord Jesus make us bolder
00:16:15.37\00:16:21.58
To face with courage
the shame and disgrace
00:16:22.71\00:16:29.32
You bore upon Your shoulders
00:16:29.35\00:16:36.29
Embrace the life
00:16:40.36\00:16:45.80
That comes from dying
00:16:45.83\00:16:49.34
Come trace the steps
00:16:49.37\00:16:52.67
The Savior walked for you
00:16:52.71\00:16:57.18
An empty tomb
00:16:57.21\00:17:00.25
Concludes Golgotha's sorrow
00:17:00.28\00:17:03.99
Endure then till tomorrow
00:17:04.02\00:17:07.82
Your cross of suffering
00:17:07.86\00:17:12.29
Embrace the cross
00:17:16.26\00:17:21.30
Embrace the cross
00:17:21.34\00:17:25.44
The cross of
00:17:25.47\00:17:27.51
Jesus.
00:17:27.54\00:17:34.48
Good evening. Good evening.
00:18:06.08\00:18:09.32
That was weak.
00:18:09.35\00:18:11.99
It's been a long day.
How are you all doing?
00:18:12.02\00:18:15.96
Praise the Lord.
00:18:15.99\00:18:18.86
What a wonderful experience
it is to be here at GYC.
00:18:18.89\00:18:23.26
I've been to many of them,
00:18:23.30\00:18:26.07
and every single one
has been a huge blessing
00:18:26.10\00:18:29.34
to my own
spiritual walk with the Lord.
00:18:29.37\00:18:33.07
Before we begin our
study together this evening,
00:18:33.11\00:18:35.41
we do want to ask
00:18:35.44\00:18:36.78
for the Lord's special blessing.
00:18:36.81\00:18:38.88
And so I invite you reverently
00:18:38.91\00:18:40.68
to bow your heads
with me as we pray.
00:18:40.72\00:18:44.85
Our Father and our God,
00:18:44.89\00:18:48.46
Your people are
gathered here in this holy place
00:18:48.49\00:18:54.50
to open Your holy book,
00:18:54.53\00:18:57.23
pleading for the
help of the Holy Spirit
00:18:57.27\00:19:00.40
to help us
understand the message
00:19:00.44\00:19:02.04
that You have for us.
00:19:02.07\00:19:04.47
We ask Father
00:19:04.51\00:19:05.84
that You will manifest
Your power in this place,
00:19:05.87\00:19:09.44
that Christ might be
seen in all of His glory,
00:19:09.48\00:19:14.35
and we might be inspired
to follow in His footsteps.
00:19:14.38\00:19:19.92
We thank You
Father for the privilege
00:19:19.95\00:19:21.52
of approaching
your throne boldly
00:19:21.56\00:19:24.46
and we do so because
we come in the powerful
00:19:24.49\00:19:27.96
and precious name of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
00:19:28.00\00:19:32.07
Amen. Amen.
00:19:32.10\00:19:36.17
In our study this evening,
I would like us to focus
00:19:36.20\00:19:40.44
on the last three words
that Jesus spoke to His Father,
00:19:40.48\00:19:45.71
when He was on
the Cross of Calvary.
00:19:45.75\00:19:49.58
Those three
words that Jesus spoke
00:19:49.62\00:19:52.95
were the
following "My God, My God,
00:19:52.99\00:19:59.09
why have You forsaken Me?"
00:19:59.13\00:20:02.10
Words that are
found in Matthew 27:46.
00:20:02.13\00:20:08.14
The second saying that I
would like us to focus on
00:20:08.17\00:20:12.47
is very short.
00:20:12.51\00:20:14.71
It's found in John 19:30
00:20:14.74\00:20:18.55
where Jesus cried
out "It is finished!"
00:20:18.58\00:20:25.55
And the third word of Christ,
that I would like to focus on
00:20:25.59\00:20:29.46
is the last that
Jesus spoke from the cross.
00:20:29.49\00:20:33.63
The words "Father,
00:20:33.66\00:20:36.13
into Your hands I
commend My spirit."
00:20:36.16\00:20:40.17
Those words are
found in Luke 23:46.
00:20:40.20\00:20:46.34
But before we focus on
these three words of Jesus,
00:20:46.37\00:20:51.35
from the cross at
the end of his life,
00:20:51.38\00:20:56.72
we need a little
bit of background
00:20:56.75\00:20:58.95
of things that
happened immediately before.
00:20:58.99\00:21:03.36
In order to
understand what happened before,
00:21:03.39\00:21:05.69
we need to comprehend something
00:21:05.73\00:21:08.63
about the Old
Testament sanctuary service.
00:21:08.66\00:21:13.74
When an
individual sinned in Israel,
00:21:13.77\00:21:17.21
they would bring an animal
to the Court of the Sanctuary.
00:21:17.24\00:21:22.38
They would place their hand
upon the head of that animal,
00:21:22.41\00:21:26.85
whether it be a lamb, or a goat,
00:21:26.88\00:21:29.42
or another type of animal,
00:21:29.45\00:21:31.05
and they would confess their sin
00:21:31.09\00:21:33.59
on the head of that animal,
00:21:33.62\00:21:35.52
thus transferring their sin
00:21:35.56\00:21:37.89
from themselves to the animal.
00:21:37.93\00:21:42.80
In other words, the sin
was transferred to the animal
00:21:42.83\00:21:45.93
while it was alive.
00:21:45.97\00:21:49.50
The animal bore
the sin of the sinner,
00:21:49.54\00:21:52.64
while the animal was alive.
00:21:52.67\00:21:56.98
And then the animal
of course was slain.
00:21:57.01\00:22:02.95
It's significant
00:22:02.98\00:22:04.32
that the sin was placed
on the head of the animal.
00:22:04.35\00:22:10.23
The head is where our brain is.
00:22:10.26\00:22:13.36
It's where we're
thinking, reasoning
00:22:13.40\00:22:17.27
and feeling a curse.
00:22:17.30\00:22:23.07
Now, I want us to visit
the events that took place
00:22:23.10\00:22:26.61
immediately before the cross.
00:22:26.64\00:22:30.15
Sometimes,
00:22:30.18\00:22:31.98
we think that the
cross tells the whole story.
00:22:32.01\00:22:37.82
But the events that
lead up to the cross
00:22:37.85\00:22:40.32
are just as important as Jesus
hang in the Cross of Calvary.
00:22:40.36\00:22:46.03
So let's visit the
Garden of Gethsemane.
00:22:46.06\00:22:51.80
When we think about Jesus
burying the sins of the world,
00:22:51.83\00:22:55.17
we usually think
of Jesus on the cross.
00:22:55.20\00:22:58.64
But actually the
sins of the world
00:22:58.67\00:23:01.51
were placed upon
Jesus not at the cross,
00:23:01.54\00:23:06.41
but in the Garden of Gethsemane.
00:23:06.45\00:23:10.29
I'd like us to
turn in our Bibles
00:23:10.32\00:23:12.39
to Matthew 26:38.
00:23:12.42\00:23:17.49
Matthew 26:38
00:23:17.53\00:23:20.53
where Jesus is about to
begin His passion in the garden.
00:23:20.56\00:23:27.50
And He pronounces
these words of anguish,
00:23:27.54\00:23:31.01
Matthew 26:38.
00:23:31.04\00:23:34.31
Then He said to them,
00:23:34.34\00:23:35.68
He is speaking to His disciples,
00:23:35.71\00:23:37.65
"My soul is exceedingly
sorrowful, even to death.
00:23:37.68\00:23:44.42
Stay here and watch with Me."
00:23:44.45\00:23:49.42
Notice that in this
verse we have a connection
00:23:49.46\00:23:51.76
between sorrow and death.
00:23:51.79\00:23:54.70
Jesus said my soul
is exceedingly sorrowful
00:23:54.73\00:23:59.33
even unto death and it's
sorrow that is going to lead
00:23:59.37\00:24:02.60
ultimately to His death.
00:24:02.64\00:24:05.54
Now in hard times,
00:24:05.57\00:24:07.98
we usually look for
support from our friends.
00:24:08.01\00:24:14.02
But Jesus found none.
00:24:14.05\00:24:19.62
Those who came to save
00:24:19.65\00:24:22.32
would soon be
crying out crucify Him.
00:24:22.36\00:24:27.00
The disciples whom Jesus begged
to pray for Him in the garden
00:24:27.03\00:24:32.83
went to sleep.
00:24:32.87\00:24:34.97
Judas, whom
Jesus called His friend
00:24:35.00\00:24:39.41
betrayed the Lord.
00:24:39.44\00:24:42.34
Peter denied Jesus,
00:24:42.38\00:24:46.95
and the last time
that he denied Jesus,
00:24:46.98\00:24:49.08
he did it using vulgar language.
00:24:49.12\00:24:54.06
In the garden, the
disciples would all flee.
00:24:54.09\00:24:58.39
And that's the reason
why we're told in Isaiah 63:3
00:24:58.43\00:25:03.26
that Jesus tread
the winepress alone
00:25:03.30\00:25:07.17
and none were with Him.
00:25:07.20\00:25:11.37
In the seventh volume
00:25:11.41\00:25:12.74
of the Bible
Commentary page 934,
00:25:12.77\00:25:16.54
Ellen White
explains about Jesus.
00:25:16.58\00:25:19.18
He died outside the camp,
00:25:19.21\00:25:22.48
where felons and
murderers were executed.
00:25:22.52\00:25:28.12
There He trod
the winepress alone,
00:25:28.16\00:25:32.63
burying the penalty
00:25:32.66\00:25:34.56
that should have
fallen on the sinner.
00:25:34.60\00:25:37.90
He tread the winepress
alone and none was with Him.
00:25:37.93\00:25:44.44
No earthly support.
00:25:44.47\00:25:48.38
And we're gonna notice
that as Jesus hung on the cross,
00:25:48.41\00:25:51.31
it seem like, even
his Father forsook Him.
00:25:51.35\00:25:55.38
Because He cried
out, "My God, My God,
00:25:55.42\00:25:57.85
why have You forsaken Me?"
00:25:57.89\00:26:00.42
So He didn't even feel
the support of His own Father.
00:26:00.46\00:26:05.59
Let's follow Jesus now
00:26:05.63\00:26:09.20
a little closer into the garden.
00:26:09.23\00:26:12.13
Matthew 26
00:26:12.17\00:26:14.90
speaks about a cup that
Jesus was going to drink.
00:26:14.94\00:26:21.28
Three times Jesus
uttered a prayer of anguish
00:26:21.31\00:26:24.65
to His Father.
00:26:24.68\00:26:26.31
I'd like to read those verses,
00:26:26.35\00:26:27.68
the first one is Matthew 26:39.
00:26:27.72\00:26:31.45
We're told there, He
went a little further
00:26:31.49\00:26:34.32
and fell on His
face and prayed saying,
00:26:34.36\00:26:38.49
"O My Father" you can just
hear the passion in His voice.
00:26:38.53\00:26:42.13
"My Father, if it be possible,
00:26:42.16\00:26:45.80
let this cup pass from Me,
00:26:45.83\00:26:50.11
nevertheless, not as I
will, but as You will."
00:26:50.14\00:26:56.41
And then we're told in verse 42
00:26:56.44\00:26:58.01
that Jesus prayed
the same prayer again.
00:26:58.05\00:27:01.18
It says there
again a second time,
00:27:01.22\00:27:03.32
He went away and
prayed saying "O My Father,
00:27:03.35\00:27:08.22
if this cup cannot pass away
from Me unless I drink it--"
00:27:08.26\00:27:11.73
Notice, He had to
drink what was in the cup.
00:27:11.76\00:27:16.50
"Your will be done."
00:27:16.53\00:27:18.77
And then we're told in verse 44.
00:27:18.80\00:27:20.74
So He left
them, went away again,
00:27:20.77\00:27:23.07
and prayed the third
time, saying the same words.
00:27:23.10\00:27:26.37
Three times Jesus cried
out in anguish to His Father
00:27:26.41\00:27:29.88
to take away the
cup if it were possible.
00:27:29.91\00:27:32.78
And of course the
question is, what was in the cup
00:27:32.81\00:27:38.05
that was so difficult to drink?
00:27:38.09\00:27:41.56
The word cup that is used there,
00:27:41.59\00:27:44.26
it's the same one that
is used in Revelation 16:19
00:27:44.29\00:27:48.40
where we are told that
Babylon will drink the wine
00:27:48.43\00:27:51.90
of the fierceness
of God from the cup.
00:27:51.93\00:27:55.90
So what was in the cup
was the wine of God's wrath.
00:27:55.94\00:28:01.48
And the question is
who gave Jesus that cup
00:28:01.51\00:28:04.31
with the wine?
00:28:04.35\00:28:06.28
John 18:11 has the answer.
00:28:06.31\00:28:09.38
John 18:11 tells us,
00:28:09.42\00:28:13.86
this is when
Peter took out his sword
00:28:13.89\00:28:15.79
and cut off the
ear of the servant.
00:28:15.82\00:28:18.63
So Jesus said to Peter,
00:28:18.66\00:28:20.56
"Put your sword into the sheath.
00:28:20.60\00:28:23.37
Shall I not drink the cup
00:28:23.40\00:28:26.97
which My Father has given Me?"
00:28:27.00\00:28:33.71
The cup was given to
Him by His own Father,
00:28:33.74\00:28:36.58
to drink that wine
of the wrath of God.
00:28:36.61\00:28:41.25
That's why we're
told in Isaiah 53:6
00:28:41.28\00:28:44.99
"All we like
sheep have gone astray."
00:28:45.02\00:28:48.02
We have turned
everyone to his own way.
00:28:48.06\00:28:51.46
And the Lord has laid on
Him the iniquity of us all.
00:28:51.49\00:28:57.70
The Lord, the Father laid on Him
00:28:57.73\00:29:01.37
the inequity of us all.
00:29:01.40\00:29:04.27
That's why Jesus
suffered such anguish,
00:29:04.31\00:29:07.94
that's why Jesus felt
separated from His Father.
00:29:07.98\00:29:12.81
In Desire of Ages, page
753, we find these words.
00:29:12.85\00:29:17.42
"Satan with his
fierce temptations
00:29:17.45\00:29:20.02
wrung the heart of Jesus.
00:29:20.06\00:29:23.16
The Savior could not see
00:29:23.19\00:29:25.16
through the portals of the tomb.
00:29:25.19\00:29:27.86
Hope did not present
to Him His coming forth
00:29:27.90\00:29:30.93
from the grave as a conqueror,
00:29:30.97\00:29:33.44
or tell Him of His
Father's acceptance
00:29:33.47\00:29:36.30
of the sacrifice.
00:29:36.34\00:29:38.31
He feared that sin
was so offensive to God
00:29:38.34\00:29:43.55
that their
separation was to be eternal."
00:29:43.58\00:29:47.82
And now notice this.
00:29:47.85\00:29:49.88
Christ felt the anguish
that the sinner will feel,
00:29:49.92\00:29:54.86
when mercy shall no longer
plead for the guilty race.
00:29:54.89\00:29:59.76
He felt like those will feel
00:29:59.79\00:30:02.16
after the door of probation
is closed and they're unsaved.
00:30:02.20\00:30:07.17
Ellen White continues,
saying it was the sense of sin
00:30:07.20\00:30:12.37
bringing the Father's
wrath upon him as men substitute
00:30:12.41\00:30:18.11
that made the cup
he drank so bitter
00:30:18.15\00:30:21.32
and broke the
heart of the Son of God.
00:30:21.35\00:30:25.95
The Book of
Hebrews, young people,
00:30:25.99\00:30:28.49
describes the anguish of Christ.
00:30:28.52\00:30:31.53
In Chapter 5:7 of
the Book of Hebrews,
00:30:31.56\00:30:34.50
we find this description
of the anguish of Jesus
00:30:34.53\00:30:37.93
in Gethsemane.
00:30:37.97\00:30:39.57
We're told there, who
in the days of his flesh,
00:30:39.60\00:30:43.84
when he had offered up,
listen to the words now.
00:30:43.87\00:30:46.17
When He had offered up
prayers and supplications
00:30:46.21\00:30:50.78
with the human
cries and tears to him
00:30:50.81\00:30:56.08
who was able to
save him from death
00:30:56.12\00:30:57.45
and was heard
because of his godly fear.
00:30:57.49\00:31:00.26
Notice the words
00:31:00.29\00:31:03.59
prayers,
supplications, cries, tears
00:31:03.63\00:31:08.96
that He uttered to His Father.
00:31:09.00\00:31:11.97
So terrible was His
anguish in Gethsemane
00:31:12.00\00:31:15.00
as the sins of the
world were placed upon Him.
00:31:15.04\00:31:18.84
That we're told in Luke 22:44,
00:31:18.87\00:31:21.28
that Jesus sweated
great drops of blood.
00:31:21.31\00:31:23.75
It says there and been in agony,
00:31:23.78\00:31:25.75
He prayed more earnestly,
00:31:25.78\00:31:28.02
then His sweat became
like the great drops of blood
00:31:28.05\00:31:31.39
falling down to the ground.
00:31:31.42\00:31:34.16
How many of you
ever seen anybody
00:31:34.19\00:31:36.02
so filled with anguish
that instead of sweating sweat,
00:31:36.06\00:31:40.00
they sweat blood?
00:31:40.03\00:31:42.93
Perhaps, many of
you have seen the movie
00:31:42.96\00:31:46.03
that was produced by Mel Gibson,
00:31:46.07\00:31:48.40
The Passion of the Christ.
00:31:48.44\00:31:50.87
You know, the big emphasis there
00:31:50.91\00:31:52.61
besides the emphasis upon Mary,
00:31:52.64\00:31:55.48
because really
it's a movie about Mary,
00:31:55.51\00:31:57.31
it's not really a
movie about Christ.
00:31:57.35\00:31:59.11
If you look at the
subliminal message,
00:31:59.15\00:32:01.85
but if you look at that movie,
00:32:01.88\00:32:03.22
the emphasis falls
upon the severe beatings
00:32:03.25\00:32:05.75
that Jesus received.
00:32:05.79\00:32:07.99
But do you know that Jesus
would have died in the garden
00:32:08.02\00:32:11.23
even before anybody
laid a finger upon Him.
00:32:11.26\00:32:15.66
We're told in a document
00:32:15.70\00:32:19.27
that Ellen White wrote
the Bible training school
00:32:19.30\00:32:21.80
for September 1st, 1915.
00:32:21.84\00:32:25.17
Human nature would
then and there have died
00:32:25.21\00:32:31.55
under the horror
of the sense of sin,
00:32:31.58\00:32:35.62
had not an angel from
heaven strengthened Him
00:32:35.65\00:32:39.09
to bear the agony.
00:32:39.12\00:32:42.19
Human nature would have died.
00:32:42.22\00:32:43.56
Jesus did not die of His wounds.
00:32:43.59\00:32:47.06
Jesus died
00:32:47.10\00:32:48.43
because the
pressure of sin crushed Him,
00:32:48.46\00:32:52.17
crushed His heart.
00:32:52.20\00:32:54.54
He would have died in the garden
00:32:54.57\00:32:56.50
before anyone even touched Him,
00:32:56.54\00:32:59.67
if it had not been
for an angel coming down
00:32:59.71\00:33:01.88
to strengthen Him.
00:33:01.91\00:33:05.01
Now let's take a look at
00:33:05.05\00:33:06.38
the last three
declarations on the cross
00:33:06.41\00:33:08.85
that Jesus
uttered to His father.
00:33:08.88\00:33:11.35
In John 8:29,
we're told something
00:33:11.39\00:33:15.89
about the relationship
between Jesus and His father.
00:33:15.92\00:33:19.69
Here Jesus speaks and He says,
00:33:19.73\00:33:22.23
"And he who sent me is with me.
00:33:22.26\00:33:27.17
The father has
not left me alone,
00:33:27.20\00:33:31.64
for I always do those
things that please him."
00:33:31.67\00:33:37.05
The Father has
not left me alone,
00:33:37.08\00:33:39.55
Jesus said during His ministry.
00:33:39.58\00:33:42.52
But in Matthew 27:46,
00:33:42.55\00:33:44.85
as Jesus is
hanging on the cross,
00:33:44.89\00:33:46.62
the sins have
been placed upon Him
00:33:46.65\00:33:48.99
in the Garden of Gethsemane.
00:33:49.02\00:33:50.76
He has drunk the
cup of God's wrath.
00:33:50.79\00:33:53.19
He cries out in
anguish from the cross,
00:33:53.23\00:33:55.50
"My God, my God, why
have You forsaken me?"
00:33:55.53\00:34:01.57
Why did Jesus
cry out those words?
00:34:01.60\00:34:05.27
Selected Messages,
volume 1, page 321,
00:34:05.31\00:34:09.38
Ellen White
explains, and listen to this.
00:34:09.41\00:34:12.61
You know, we
can't fully understand
00:34:12.65\00:34:14.28
how Jesus felt.
00:34:14.32\00:34:16.08
You know, we feel the
tremendous load of guilt
00:34:16.12\00:34:18.92
just for our own sins.
00:34:18.95\00:34:21.26
But Jesus was
bearing the guilt of the sins
00:34:21.29\00:34:23.29
of the whole world
upon His conscience,
00:34:23.32\00:34:26.06
that's why the sin
was placed on the head.
00:34:26.09\00:34:29.70
We're told there
in that statement
00:34:29.73\00:34:31.13
from Selected
Messages, volume 1, page 321,
00:34:31.17\00:34:34.34
"The guilt of every
sin pressed its weight
00:34:34.37\00:34:39.67
upon the divine soul
of the world's redeemer."
00:34:39.71\00:34:43.38
The evil
thoughts, the evil words,
00:34:43.41\00:34:47.38
the evil deeds of every
son and daughter of Adam
00:34:47.42\00:34:53.32
called for
retribution upon himself.
00:34:53.36\00:34:58.66
How many sins?
00:34:58.69\00:35:02.10
Once again, the evil
thoughts, the evil words,
00:35:02.13\00:35:05.10
the evil deeds of every
son and daughter of Adam
00:35:05.13\00:35:08.27
called for
retribution upon himself,
00:35:08.30\00:35:11.54
for he had
become man's substitute.
00:35:11.57\00:35:14.61
He said, "I'm going
to take man's place,
00:35:14.64\00:35:16.91
I'm going to take the place
of every single human being."
00:35:16.95\00:35:21.08
She continues saying though
the guilt of sin was not his.
00:35:21.12\00:35:24.99
His spirit was
torned and bruised
00:35:25.02\00:35:28.22
by the transgressions of men.
00:35:28.26\00:35:30.53
And he who knew no
sin became sin for us
00:35:30.56\00:35:35.46
that we might be made
00:35:35.50\00:35:37.00
the righteousness of God in Him.
00:35:37.03\00:35:40.24
You want to know
what His anguish was like.
00:35:40.27\00:35:42.47
The prophet Isaiah
describes it in Isaiah 53:4-6.
00:35:42.50\00:35:47.64
We find these words,
"Surely he has borne our grieves
00:35:47.68\00:35:53.45
and carried out sorrows,
yet we esteemed him stricken,
00:35:53.48\00:35:59.15
smitten by God and afflicted.
00:35:59.19\00:36:02.86
But he was wounded
for our transgressions,
00:36:02.89\00:36:06.23
he was bruised
for our iniquities.
00:36:06.26\00:36:09.86
The chastisement for
our peace was upon him
00:36:09.90\00:36:13.57
and with his
stripes we are healed.
00:36:13.60\00:36:17.01
All we like
sheep have gone astray.
00:36:17.04\00:36:19.67
We have turned
everyone to his own way."
00:36:19.71\00:36:22.64
And the Lord has laid on
him, the iniquity of us all.
00:36:22.68\00:36:29.22
That's why Jesus cried out
on the cross, "My God, my God,
00:36:29.25\00:36:33.15
why have You forsaken Me?"
00:36:33.19\00:36:34.72
It's because of all of our sins,
00:36:34.76\00:36:36.86
plus the sins that
we've all everyone committed.
00:36:36.89\00:36:39.49
They were placed
upon Jesus Christ
00:36:39.53\00:36:42.26
in the garden in
which He bore to the cross.
00:36:42.30\00:36:47.80
So now we know why He cried out,
00:36:47.84\00:36:50.81
"My God, my God, why
have You forsaken me?"
00:36:50.84\00:36:55.94
But now we need to
look at the next declaration
00:36:55.98\00:36:58.75
to His Father on the
cross, "It is finished."
00:36:58.78\00:37:02.92
I want to read John 19:30,
00:37:02.95\00:37:05.95
"So when Jesus had
received the sour wine,
00:37:05.99\00:37:08.26
he said, 'It is finished.'
00:37:08.29\00:37:11.59
And bowing his head,
He gave up His spirit."
00:37:11.63\00:37:14.36
Now the question
is, to whom was Jesus
00:37:14.40\00:37:16.33
uttering those words.
00:37:16.36\00:37:18.50
When Jesus said,
"It is finished,"
00:37:18.53\00:37:20.40
to whom was He speaking,
and what had He finished?
00:37:20.44\00:37:26.47
We need to
answer those questions.
00:37:26.51\00:37:28.84
First of all,
00:37:28.88\00:37:30.21
we know that Jesus was
addressing to the Father.
00:37:30.25\00:37:32.91
The Spirit of Prophecy
makes that absolutely clear
00:37:32.95\00:37:35.68
that Jesus was
saying to His Father,
00:37:35.72\00:37:37.75
"Father, it is finished."
00:37:37.79\00:37:40.76
But the question
is, what was finished?
00:37:40.79\00:37:44.56
The fact is
00:37:44.59\00:37:46.26
that Jesus came to this
earth for several reasons,
00:37:46.29\00:37:48.80
but there are two
principle reasons.
00:37:48.83\00:37:52.03
The first reason is
00:37:52.07\00:37:53.94
that the law of God requires
absolute sinless perfection.
00:37:53.97\00:37:59.97
I like to ask this evening,
00:38:00.01\00:38:01.34
who here can offer the
law what the law requires?
00:38:01.38\00:38:05.78
If you said, I can offer
it, that's your first sin,
00:38:05.81\00:38:10.32
because you're lying.
00:38:10.35\00:38:12.55
'Cause the Bible
says that all have sinned
00:38:12.59\00:38:14.52
and come short
of the glory of God.
00:38:14.56\00:38:16.19
There is none
righteous, no, not one.
00:38:16.22\00:38:19.59
We are all sinners.
00:38:19.63\00:38:23.37
We can't offer
the law the perfection
00:38:23.40\00:38:25.07
that law requires.
00:38:25.10\00:38:27.50
So Jesus came to this
world to live the life
00:38:27.54\00:38:29.84
that the law
requires from all of us.
00:38:29.87\00:38:33.31
He came to live in our place.
00:38:33.34\00:38:36.75
He came to weave a robe
of perfect righteousness
00:38:36.78\00:38:40.68
that He could offer
to the law in our place.
00:38:40.72\00:38:43.99
He did that, but He
had to do something else.
00:38:44.02\00:38:47.72
You see, He
also had to take care
00:38:47.76\00:38:49.72
of the problem of sin.
00:38:49.76\00:38:52.09
And so after Jesus
developed His perfect character
00:38:52.13\00:38:55.10
in harmony with the law
00:38:55.13\00:38:56.46
and wove a robe
of righteousness,
00:38:56.50\00:38:58.77
then Jesus took upon
Himself all of our sins,
00:38:58.80\00:39:02.87
and He died on the
cross for those sins.
00:39:02.90\00:39:06.44
He lived for us
and He died for us.
00:39:06.47\00:39:11.05
He lived in our place
and He died in our place.
00:39:11.08\00:39:15.22
And Jesus was
saying to His Father,
00:39:15.25\00:39:16.99
"Father, it is finished."
00:39:17.02\00:39:19.95
There is now a
perfect robe available.
00:39:19.99\00:39:22.46
Now I have died for the
sins of the whole world.
00:39:22.49\00:39:26.53
The plan of
salvation has met with success.
00:39:26.56\00:39:30.97
Now do you know
there's this big discussion
00:39:31.00\00:39:32.87
in Adventist theology
00:39:32.90\00:39:34.50
as to whether that
salvation was finished
00:39:34.54\00:39:38.04
at the cross or not.
00:39:38.07\00:39:41.21
The fact is that if you read
the writings of Ellen White,
00:39:41.24\00:39:43.68
you would seem to find
00:39:43.71\00:39:45.48
that she is
ambiguous when it comes to it.
00:39:45.51\00:39:47.78
Some places, she says
that Jesus went to heaven
00:39:47.82\00:39:50.85
to finish His work.
00:39:50.89\00:39:52.35
Other statement, she says
00:39:52.39\00:39:53.72
that He
finished it at the cross.
00:39:53.76\00:39:56.42
The fact is that at the cross
00:39:56.46\00:39:58.06
Jesus finished the
provision for salvation.
00:39:58.09\00:40:01.50
There was a perfect life
and a death for sin available,
00:40:01.53\00:40:05.33
but He continues
His work applying those
00:40:05.37\00:40:08.34
to those who through
repentance and confession
00:40:08.37\00:40:11.77
and faith in Christ
claim what Jesus did.
00:40:11.81\00:40:17.35
In fact, Ellen White says
in Desire of Ages, page 834,
00:40:17.38\00:40:23.12
"That when Jesus
ascended to heaven
00:40:23.15\00:40:25.15
and met with His Father...
00:40:25.19\00:40:26.65
He said to His Father,
00:40:30.29\00:40:31.63
'I have completed
the work of redemption.'"
00:40:31.66\00:40:37.37
Don't misunderstand,
00:40:37.40\00:40:38.73
He had completed the
provision for redemption.
00:40:38.77\00:40:42.74
But now individuals must
claim what Jesus did personally,
00:40:42.77\00:40:48.91
His life and His
death as our own.
00:40:48.94\00:40:52.98
So when Jesus on the
cross said, "It is finished,"
00:40:53.01\00:40:56.32
He was speaking to His
Father and He was saying,
00:40:56.35\00:40:58.35
"Father, there is
now a perfect life
00:40:58.39\00:41:00.46
and a death for sin
00:41:00.49\00:41:02.12
that everyone can
claim as their own."
00:41:02.16\00:41:06.76
And then we find the
last declaration of Christ
00:41:06.80\00:41:08.93
on the cross.
00:41:08.96\00:41:10.70
Luke 23:46 says,
00:41:10.73\00:41:13.10
"And when Jesus had
cried out with the loud voice,
00:41:13.13\00:41:16.34
He said,
"Father, into Your hands,
00:41:16.37\00:41:21.38
I commend my spirit."
00:41:21.41\00:41:24.08
And having said
this, He breathed his last.
00:41:24.11\00:41:28.92
You know, it's interesting,
00:41:28.95\00:41:30.29
Jesus felt
forsaken by His Father.
00:41:30.32\00:41:33.32
He had said, "My God, My
God, why have You forsaken Me?"
00:41:33.36\00:41:36.42
But notice that when He dies,
He does not die without hope,
00:41:36.46\00:41:42.16
because He says
to the same father
00:41:42.20\00:41:44.07
that he said, "My God, My
God, why have You forsaken Me?"
00:41:44.10\00:41:46.77
He says to the same individual,
to the same Father, He says,
00:41:46.80\00:41:50.17
"Father, into your
hands, I commend My spirit."
00:41:50.21\00:41:55.51
What did Jesus
mean when he said,
00:41:55.54\00:41:56.88
I commend My spirit?
00:41:56.91\00:41:58.25
You know, we
usually think of the spirit
00:41:58.28\00:41:59.61
just as being the breath.
00:41:59.65\00:42:00.98
But, you know, the
spirit is the breath
00:42:01.02\00:42:02.55
along with
identity of the person.
00:42:02.58\00:42:06.39
It is the breath along
with their personal identity.
00:42:06.42\00:42:10.69
In other words,
with their character.
00:42:10.73\00:42:13.70
See, when we die,
00:42:13.73\00:42:15.06
God keeps a
record of our character
00:42:15.10\00:42:17.57
to give us when we resurrect.
00:42:17.60\00:42:19.60
So Jesus was
saying to His Father,
00:42:19.63\00:42:21.17
"Father, preserve My spirit,
My character in Your record,
00:42:21.20\00:42:25.44
because You promised
that if I was successful,
00:42:25.47\00:42:28.04
You were going to resurrect Me."
00:42:28.08\00:42:30.41
The servant of the Lord, in
the book Maranatha, page 301
00:42:30.45\00:42:33.52
has this remarkable statement.
00:42:33.55\00:42:36.15
The little old
lady understood it.
00:42:36.18\00:42:39.79
She says, "Our personal identity
00:42:39.82\00:42:43.06
is preserved in
the resurrection,
00:42:43.09\00:42:46.06
though not the same particles
of matter or material substance
00:42:46.09\00:42:51.57
as went into the grave.
00:42:51.60\00:42:53.77
The wondrous works of
God are a mystery to man."
00:42:53.80\00:42:56.64
And now listen
carefully, the spirit,
00:42:56.67\00:43:00.18
the character of
man is returned to God,
00:43:00.21\00:43:04.98
there to be preserved.
00:43:05.01\00:43:08.22
What is that that's
preserved, only your breath?
00:43:08.25\00:43:11.22
No, what's preserved
is your personal identity,
00:43:11.25\00:43:15.06
your character, who
you were during your life.
00:43:15.09\00:43:19.49
And then she continues
saying, "In the resurrection,
00:43:19.53\00:43:22.16
every man will
have his own character."
00:43:22.20\00:43:24.50
Jesus was saying, "Father,
00:43:24.53\00:43:27.40
You've promised
that if I was successful,
00:43:27.44\00:43:29.30
You're going to
give My sprit back
00:43:29.34\00:43:31.94
into Your hands I
commend My spirit.
00:43:31.97\00:43:36.68
Jesus felt
forsaken by His Father,
00:43:36.71\00:43:40.72
but He knew that
He was not forsaken.
00:43:40.75\00:43:42.48
You say, well, how
can Jesus feel forsaken,
00:43:42.52\00:43:45.55
and at the same time
utter these words of hope
00:43:45.59\00:43:49.42
as He is dying.
00:43:49.46\00:43:51.46
Ellen White explains
it in a beautiful way.
00:43:51.49\00:43:54.00
In the Bible Echo,
September 15, 1892, she says,
00:43:54.03\00:43:59.33
"But when, in
his expiring agonies,
00:43:59.37\00:44:04.27
despair pressed upon
the soul of the redeemer.
00:44:04.31\00:44:09.04
He relied upon the
evidences that had heather to
00:44:09.08\00:44:13.08
that is up to this point
00:44:13.11\00:44:14.78
had been given him of
His Father's acceptance.
00:44:14.82\00:44:18.55
And as he yielded
up his precious life
00:44:18.59\00:44:21.92
by faith alone, He rested in him
00:44:21.96\00:44:24.99
whom it had been
his joy to obey."
00:44:25.03\00:44:28.90
He knew his father
from previous experience.
00:44:28.93\00:44:32.97
She continued saying, "Though
all was enshrouded with gloom,
00:44:33.00\00:44:36.97
yet amid the awful darkness
00:44:37.01\00:44:39.51
which was felt even
by sympathizing nature.
00:44:39.54\00:44:42.78
The redeemer
drained the mysterious cup
00:44:42.81\00:44:46.18
to the dregs.
00:44:46.21\00:44:48.52
Though he realizes, but
dimly that he shall triumph."
00:44:48.55\00:44:52.42
Notice he recognize
dimly that he would triumph.
00:44:52.45\00:44:58.16
He cries with the
loud voice, "Father,
00:44:58.19\00:45:00.63
into the hands I
commend My spirit."
00:45:00.66\00:45:04.03
He's acquainted
00:45:04.07\00:45:06.13
with the
character of His Father.
00:45:06.17\00:45:09.04
He understands His justice,
His mercy, and His great love.
00:45:09.07\00:45:15.24
He knew His Father
from previous experience.
00:45:15.28\00:45:18.28
He felt
separated from His Father,
00:45:18.31\00:45:20.75
but He knew that His Father
was not separated from Him,
00:45:20.78\00:45:24.49
because He knew Him
from previous experience.
00:45:24.52\00:45:27.89
She continues
saying, "In submission,
00:45:27.92\00:45:29.99
He commends Himself to God,
00:45:30.03\00:45:32.99
amid the convulsions of nature,
00:45:33.03\00:45:35.40
the amazed
spectators hear the dying words
00:45:35.43\00:45:38.93
of the Son of
Man, "It is finished."
00:45:38.97\00:45:45.07
Jesus died a victorious man.
00:45:45.11\00:45:48.84
He did not allow
anything to discourage Him.
00:45:48.88\00:45:53.18
He was tempted to
allow His feelings
00:45:53.21\00:45:57.35
to dictate the
way in which He felt.
00:45:57.39\00:46:02.92
In fact, Ellen White says that
the devil pressed upon his mind
00:46:02.96\00:46:06.19
that if he went
through with this,
00:46:06.23\00:46:09.26
human beings would not be saved
00:46:09.30\00:46:10.93
because God's justice
would not make it possible.
00:46:10.97\00:46:13.74
And then He would
lose Himself for ever.
00:46:13.77\00:46:18.51
And yet Jesus did not
depend upon His feelings
00:46:18.54\00:46:21.38
and His thoughts and emotions.
00:46:21.41\00:46:23.51
He depended on the
promises of His Father.
00:46:23.55\00:46:28.32
Because He knew His
Father from personal experience
00:46:28.35\00:46:32.95
and so Jesus rested in the tomb.
00:46:32.99\00:46:36.06
Very early, the
first day of the week,
00:46:36.09\00:46:38.99
two angels
descended from heaven.
00:46:39.03\00:46:41.96
One removed the stone,
00:46:42.00\00:46:44.53
the other stood before the tomb,
00:46:44.57\00:46:47.67
and with the loud voice
said, "Oh, thou Son of God,
00:46:47.70\00:46:52.24
thy Father calls thee."
00:46:52.27\00:46:54.84
Do you notice the connection,
00:46:54.88\00:46:56.21
father into your
hands I commend my spirit.
00:46:56.24\00:46:57.88
The angel comes down and says,
00:46:57.91\00:46:59.25
"Thy father calls thee."
00:46:59.28\00:47:03.18
Ellen White describes it,
00:47:03.22\00:47:05.02
"Then the angel from
heaven with a loud voice
00:47:05.05\00:47:07.99
that caused the earth to quake,
cried out, thou son of God,
00:47:08.02\00:47:13.09
thy Father calls
thee, come forth."
00:47:13.13\00:47:17.57
And Jesus came forth.
00:47:17.60\00:47:20.64
His father
fulfilled His promise.
00:47:20.67\00:47:24.27
Now there is this
question, who resurrected Jesus?
00:47:24.31\00:47:28.04
Was it the
Father, was it the angel,
00:47:28.08\00:47:32.35
or was it Jesus Himself?
00:47:32.38\00:47:35.95
Allow me to read your
statement from Ellen White,
00:47:35.98\00:47:37.95
and then I'm going to
read a passage from John 10.
00:47:37.99\00:47:42.82
Seventh-day Adventist
Bible commentary, volume 5,
00:47:42.86\00:47:44.96
page 1,114, Ellen White
had this to say about Jesus.
00:47:44.99\00:47:50.97
"He who died for
the sins of the world
00:47:51.00\00:47:54.44
was to remain in the
tomb the allotted time.
00:47:54.47\00:47:59.27
He was in that
stony prison house
00:47:59.31\00:48:02.04
as a prisoner of divine justice.
00:48:02.08\00:48:06.82
He was responsible to
the judge of the universe.
00:48:06.85\00:48:12.02
He was burying
the sins of the world
00:48:12.05\00:48:14.82
and His Father
only could release Him.
00:48:14.86\00:48:20.56
He was a prisoner
of divine justice.
00:48:20.60\00:48:23.00
Only His Father
could release Him,
00:48:23.03\00:48:25.00
that's why Jesus said,
00:48:25.03\00:48:26.37
"Father, into Your
hands I commend My spirit.
00:48:26.40\00:48:29.27
Make sure you call me
out as You've promised."
00:48:29.30\00:48:34.41
Now I know there's a
passage that seems to indicate
00:48:34.44\00:48:36.51
that Christ resurrected Himself.
00:48:36.54\00:48:39.05
But let's read it carefully.
00:48:39.08\00:48:41.32
John 10:17 and
18, John 10:17 and 18,
00:48:41.35\00:48:47.56
here Jesus is speaking, He says,
00:48:47.59\00:48:49.06
"Therefore my father loves me,
00:48:49.09\00:48:51.69
because I laid down My life
that I may take it up again."
00:48:51.73\00:48:57.60
See, Jesus took it up.
But let's continue reading.
00:48:57.63\00:49:00.84
No one take if from me,
but I lay it down of myself.
00:49:00.87\00:49:06.57
I have power, the word power
is better translated authority,
00:49:06.61\00:49:11.51
is the Greek word
Exousia, it's not Dunamis.
00:49:11.55\00:49:15.82
I have power to lay it down
00:49:15.85\00:49:18.09
and I have power
to take it up again.
00:49:18.12\00:49:20.29
Why? Let's finish the verse.
00:49:20.32\00:49:22.69
This command, I have
received from My Father.
00:49:22.72\00:49:28.16
There's the biblical basis
for the comment by Ellen White.
00:49:28.20\00:49:31.63
There was a
prisoner of divine justice.
00:49:31.67\00:49:33.97
And He relied on the
promises of the Father,
00:49:34.00\00:49:36.34
That he had learned to love
00:49:36.37\00:49:37.77
that He knew by
personal experience.
00:49:37.81\00:49:40.24
And His Father resurrected Him.
00:49:40.28\00:49:43.88
What does all
of this have to us?
00:49:43.91\00:49:45.65
Listen, folks,
we're in this nice place,
00:49:45.68\00:49:48.98
I'm in a real nice room.
00:49:49.02\00:49:50.45
I enjoy my cell phone,
my iPhone, the newest one.
00:49:53.62\00:49:59.43
All of the gadgets
and all of the advantages,
00:50:02.96\00:50:04.93
and all the
conveniences, but you know what,
00:50:04.97\00:50:07.37
all of this is very soon
going to come crashing down.
00:50:07.40\00:50:13.11
And we're going to go through
the same experience as Jesus.
00:50:13.14\00:50:17.25
Listen to this
remarkable statement
00:50:17.28\00:50:20.65
found in the Review
and Herald, April 14, 1896.
00:50:20.68\00:50:23.95
We're going to go over
the same ground as Jesus.
00:50:23.99\00:50:27.42
There Ellen White explains,
00:50:27.46\00:50:29.99
"The forces of darkness
will unite with human agents
00:50:30.03\00:50:35.96
who have given themselves
into the control of Satan,
00:50:36.00\00:50:40.30
and the same scenes
00:50:40.34\00:50:43.30
that were exhibited
at the trial, rejection,
00:50:43.34\00:50:46.64
and crucifixion of
Christ will be revived."
00:50:46.68\00:50:50.85
Did you catch that?
00:50:50.88\00:50:52.81
She says, the same sins
00:50:52.85\00:50:54.55
that were exhibited
at the trial, rejection,
00:50:54.58\00:50:56.62
and crucifixion of
Christ will be revived.
00:50:56.65\00:50:59.65
Through yielding
to satanic influences,
00:50:59.69\00:51:02.29
men will be
transformed into fiends.
00:51:02.32\00:51:06.59
The word "Fiend" means
an evil spirit or a demon
00:51:06.63\00:51:09.86
or a very
wicked or cruel person.
00:51:09.90\00:51:13.34
And she continues saying,
00:51:13.37\00:51:14.70
and those who were
created in the image of God,
00:51:14.74\00:51:18.27
who were formed to honor
and glorify their creator
00:51:18.31\00:51:21.74
will become the
habitation of dragons.
00:51:21.78\00:51:24.28
And Satan will see
in a apostate race,
00:51:24.31\00:51:27.68
his masterpiece of evil,
men who reflect his own image."
00:51:27.72\00:51:32.89
Therefore in life,
00:51:35.92\00:51:38.03
we're going to go
through the same experience.
00:51:38.06\00:51:39.96
Jesus died with nothing,
00:51:43.10\00:51:46.33
not even His clothes.
00:51:46.37\00:51:51.07
Satan is going to try
and convince God's people
00:51:51.11\00:51:53.58
that their sins are
too great to be forgiven.
00:51:53.61\00:51:56.91
Have you ever read the
chapter on the time of trouble?
00:51:56.95\00:52:00.18
That they will never
see God's reconciling face.
00:52:00.22\00:52:04.85
Ellen White says
that as God's people
00:52:04.89\00:52:06.65
think about the past,
their hopes begin to sink.
00:52:06.69\00:52:10.13
But then, like, Jesus--
00:52:10.16\00:52:12.19
they will say
Father, "We know You,
00:52:12.23\00:52:16.03
we know You from
personal experience.
00:52:16.06\00:52:19.00
Even though we feel
that You'll never accept us,
00:52:19.03\00:52:22.14
that we'll never see Your face,
we trust in Your promises."
00:52:22.17\00:52:27.71
You see, God's people
are gonna lose everything
00:52:27.74\00:52:30.88
while following in
the footsteps of Jesus.
00:52:30.91\00:52:34.08
We won't be able to trust
our emotions, our feelings,
00:52:34.12\00:52:39.22
human friendships, family
ties, material possessions,
00:52:39.25\00:52:46.23
or even a feeling
of the presence of God.
00:52:46.26\00:52:51.00
God's people will
have no human support.
00:52:51.03\00:52:54.90
It will appear that they don't
even have the support of God,
00:52:54.94\00:52:58.81
but they will overcome,
00:52:58.84\00:53:01.24
not because of what
they feel or what they think,
00:53:01.28\00:53:05.41
but because they know God
and they trust in His promises.
00:53:05.45\00:53:10.45
Like Job, which is
a typological book,
00:53:10.49\00:53:13.66
it really is a book that
describes this time of trouble
00:53:13.69\00:53:16.52
that God's
people will go through.
00:53:16.56\00:53:18.43
Like Job, God's people will say,
00:53:18.46\00:53:20.26
"Though he slain me,
yet will I trust in Him.
00:53:20.30\00:53:24.27
I know that my redeemer lives.
00:53:24.30\00:53:27.27
And that in my
flesh, I will see God."
00:53:27.30\00:53:31.71
In Great Controversy,
621, Ellen White explains
00:53:31.74\00:53:35.61
about God's people
during this period,
00:53:35.64\00:53:38.21
their reflection is great,
00:53:38.25\00:53:40.32
the flames of the furnace
seem about to consume them,
00:53:40.35\00:53:44.65
but the refiner
will bring them forth
00:53:44.69\00:53:47.06
as gold tried in the fire.
00:53:47.09\00:53:50.09
God's love for His children
00:53:50.13\00:53:52.26
during the period
of their severest trial
00:53:52.29\00:53:54.76
is as strong and tender
00:53:54.80\00:53:56.70
as in the days of
their sunniest prosperity.
00:53:56.73\00:54:00.64
But it is needful for them
00:54:00.67\00:54:02.10
to be placed in
the furnace of fire.
00:54:02.14\00:54:04.81
Their
earthliness must be consumed,
00:54:04.84\00:54:08.34
that the image of Christ
00:54:08.38\00:54:10.11
may be perfectly reflected.
00:54:10.15\00:54:15.48
Do you want to
have that experience?
00:54:15.52\00:54:17.15
Do you want to
have that experience?
00:54:20.16\00:54:21.86
I ask again. Yes.
00:54:21.89\00:54:24.63
Are we willing to
invest the necessary resources
00:54:24.66\00:54:28.43
for this to happen?
00:54:28.46\00:54:31.07
You know, basically,
it takes three things.
00:54:31.10\00:54:34.24
An intense life of prayer,
00:54:34.27\00:54:39.34
secondly,
00:54:39.37\00:54:41.08
a careful study of God's word,
00:54:41.11\00:54:46.82
and number three going out
00:54:46.85\00:54:48.88
and experiencing
what Jesus experienced
00:54:48.92\00:54:51.65
in witnessing to others.
00:54:51.69\00:54:54.32
That's the way in which we
form a personal relationship,
00:54:54.36\00:54:57.43
a personal link with Jesus.
00:54:57.46\00:54:59.59
So that when crunch time
comes, when the trials come,
00:54:59.63\00:55:05.13
even though we don't
feel like God is with us,
00:55:05.17\00:55:09.10
we know, He is,
00:55:09.14\00:55:11.11
because we have
learned to trust Him
00:55:11.14\00:55:13.31
in times of relative prosperity.
00:55:13.34\00:55:19.05
I'm going to ask
you this evening,
00:55:19.08\00:55:20.52
if you want me to have a
special prayer for the Lord
00:55:20.55\00:55:23.95
to give you that
kind of commitment
00:55:23.99\00:55:25.69
that you will take a stand,
that you'll stand this evening.
00:55:25.72\00:55:28.99
As we have a word of prayer,
00:55:29.02\00:55:31.26
this army of youth has
power in the hands of God
00:55:31.29\00:55:36.97
to help finish
God's work in this world.
00:55:37.00\00:55:40.07
Let's form that
relationship with the Lord.
00:55:40.10\00:55:43.14
So that it can be a reality.
And Jesus can come soon.
00:55:43.17\00:55:47.18
I'm tired of living in
this sin sick world, are you?
00:55:47.21\00:55:50.45
It's time to go home.
00:55:50.48\00:55:51.81
Let us pray, Father in heaven,
00:55:51.85\00:55:55.15
thank You Father for
being willing to send Jesus,
00:55:55.18\00:55:58.05
Your beloved Son.
00:55:58.09\00:56:00.92
We know that it was
difficult for You to do so,
00:56:00.96\00:56:07.50
but we thank You
that You were willing
00:56:07.53\00:56:08.86
to make this great
sacrifice to send Him.
00:56:08.90\00:56:12.50
Not so that He could
be one of us for a season,
00:56:12.53\00:56:14.57
but for ever.
00:56:14.60\00:56:17.41
We also thank Jesus
00:56:17.44\00:56:18.77
for what He was
willing to come and do.
00:56:18.81\00:56:21.54
Father, we want that
personal intimate relationship
00:56:21.58\00:56:25.48
with Jesus.
00:56:25.51\00:56:27.55
Oh, Lord, as we go back
to our rooms this evening,
00:56:27.58\00:56:32.12
help us to
reflect upon these things.
00:56:32.15\00:56:35.32
Give us the spirit of prayer,
00:56:35.36\00:56:38.09
the spirit of
study of Your holy word
00:56:38.13\00:56:40.33
that we might fall in
love with Your holy word.
00:56:40.36\00:56:43.20
And Father, help us to
see in the faces of others,
00:56:43.23\00:56:46.74
a candidate for
the kingdom of heaven.
00:56:46.77\00:56:49.64
For Jesus love them.
00:56:49.67\00:56:52.74
And as His followers,
we must love them too.
00:56:52.77\00:56:56.31
Thank You
Father, for being with us
00:56:56.34\00:56:59.81
and for answering our prayer,
00:56:59.85\00:57:02.38
for we ask it in
the powerful name
00:57:02.42\00:57:07.36
of our Lord and
savior Jesus Christ.
00:57:07.39\00:57:11.26
Amen.
00:57:11.29\00:57:12.63