Participants: Kameron DeVasher
Series Code: 14GYC
Program Code: 14GYC000013A
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00:10 On the cross of Calvary,
00:12 Christ embodied sacrificial giving. 00:17 Jesus scarified himself for the saving of others. 00:21 We see this all throughout scriptures, 00:23 Galatians 2:20, the apostle testifies that, 00:28 "The life which I now live in the flesh, 00:32 I live by faith in the son of God who, 00:34 love me and did what? 00:36 Gave himself." 00:37 Now, I'm gonna ask you to be interactive, 00:39 when I say, love me and what? 00:41 You know that text love me and what? 00:43 Gave himself, Ephesians 5:25, 00:47 "Husbands, have to love their wives, 00:49 just as Christ also loved the church, 00:51 and what? Gave himself." 00:53 1 Timothy 2:5, 6 00:56 "There is one God and mediator between God and men, 00:59 the man Christ Jesus, 01:00 Who gave himself a ransom for all." 01:05 Titus 2:13, 14, reminds us the we're, 01:08 "Looking for that blessed hope, 01:10 and glorious appearing of our great God 01:12 and Savior Jesus Christ, 01:13 who gave himself for us, 01:19 that he might redeem us from every lawless deed, 01:22 and purify for himself his own special people, 01:25 zealous for good works." 01:28 Christ gave himself, he was the currency 01:35 that God spent to buy you back. 01:40 When the father gave his only begotten son, 01:43 it was in eternal, 01:45 non-refundable ransom payment 01:50 that secured our safe return. 01:54 That language by the way 01:55 comparing the infinite inestimable sacrifice of Christ 02:01 to a mere financial transaction 02:03 as through Christ were some sort of bill in God's wallet 02:06 that he paid out. 02:10 It may sound crass, 02:13 maybe even disrespectful but throughout the Bible 02:15 that's exactly the language scripture applies 02:19 and describes the plan of redemption. 02:22 This is seen especially 02:23 in the writings of the Apostle Paul. 02:25 For example, in Acts 20:28, 02:29 the Apostle Paul describes, 02:31 "The church as that which God purchased with his own blood." 02:38 In Ephesians 1:14, 02:41 he refers to believers as "God's purchased possession." 02:47 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 we know this, 02:52 "You are not your own, you were what? 02:56 Brought at a price 02:58 therefore glorify God in your body, 03:01 and in your spirit, which are God's." 03:06 Of course we are, we are God's twofold, 03:10 do you understand this of course. 03:12 It was Christ who made us in the first place, 03:14 we're his by, even if we, he didn't die for us, 03:17 we would still owe him our allegiance 03:19 because he has the patent on our life. 03:22 He built this in you, he has a trademark on you. 03:25 He built you in the first place but then when you rebel, 03:28 he brought you back with the price of himself. 03:33 Our creator is our redeemer, 03:37 you are not your own. 03:41 And now you put all these phrases together 03:43 that you see in the writings of the scripture 03:46 and you get this very picture by giving, 03:49 "His only begotten Son, God bought you at a price 03:54 he purchased you as a possession, 03:57 therefore you are not your own." 04:01 Now why would the Bible 04:04 seemingly cheapen the infinite sacrifice of Christ 04:08 by comparing it to of all things 04:10 a common financial transaction? 04:18 Well, the reason I can see is that simply this 04:20 because that is the world that we live in, 04:25 that's the language that we speak, 04:27 that's a thing that we know. 04:31 Christ himself would employ this type of teaching 04:33 all throughout his ministry. 04:35 He would take something far beyond 04:37 our limited comprehension and boil it down 04:40 and succinct it down to just something 04:41 that we could grasp. 04:45 You would say, "The kingdom of God is like a seed." 04:50 I don't know much about the Kingdom of God 04:51 but I do know about seeds, right. 04:54 I get that, to fishermen it's like a net, 04:57 I understand a net, 05:00 to shepherd the lost are like sheep. 05:03 In John Chapter 6 he would say, 05:05 "That he is the bread of life." 05:06 I understand bread, 05:07 I understand having to eat daily, 05:09 you would take these big gun zips 05:11 and boil them down to language that we could relate to 05:16 and nothing especially in the times 05:18 in which we live today my friends. 05:20 Is as more commonly understood 05:24 something that every single one of us can relate to 05:28 and appreciate is money. 05:32 You heard the question and answer session, 05:35 has some questions about money. 05:38 We all understand that, we all relate, 05:39 we all interact with it on the daily, 05:42 every single day. 05:43 In our society 05:45 everything is a commodity requiring money. 05:49 Raise your hand if you sold your own outfit today. 05:54 Okay, I'm glad that wasn't the appeal by the way, 05:58 right. 06:00 But we don't farm our food, we buy our food. 06:04 We don't sew our clothes, we buy our clothes. 06:06 We don't build a house, we buy a house. 06:08 Everything in this life, 06:09 we're in a consumer driven society, 06:12 does that make sense? 06:15 Almost imperceptibly, we've come to understand 06:18 every aspect of our life as requiring, 06:21 necessitating a financial transaction. 06:25 If you're going to do a thing, it's going to involve money, 06:27 that's just the bottom line. 06:31 So with that in mind, 06:33 let's imagine something together. 06:36 Follow with me please. 06:38 Imagine that if in your wallet, 06:40 if in your purse, if in your moneybag there, 06:43 besides the normal 1's, 10's and 20's 06:47 something new is invented, 06:50 it looks exactly like 1, 10 or 20, 06:52 but it was not, it was a smart bill, okay. 06:58 The special new thing, a smart bill, 07:01 though the same size, color, weight 07:04 and texture of the others, this bill was unique. 07:10 Where the usual bills represent merely 07:12 a tiny fraction of the overall finance, 07:14 you know, a dollar bill 07:15 probably isn't all that you have 07:17 but it represents a fraction of what you have, 07:19 it's a piece of it, it's a slice of it. 07:22 And any time you want something for a dollar, 07:23 you reach out and give a dollar worth of that, 07:25 you're giving a little tiny fraction of your 07:27 overall financial portfolio for that one thing. 07:31 I want a burrito will cost me this much of me. 07:35 I want that extra topping on my pizza 07:37 that's gonna be $1 of me. 07:39 Does that make sense? 07:41 So but this bill is different, 07:44 it's not just one little tiny fraction 07:46 of your checking account or something. 07:49 This bill is synced with the cloud 07:52 to your financial institution. 07:55 This bill is tapped in to the entirety 07:59 of your checking account, 08:01 so that if you pull this bill out and spent it. 08:04 It would drain that checking account completely. 08:09 However much you had in there goes with that bill. 08:14 You had it right there 08:15 next to all the other bills in your wallet 08:17 but this one was the whole account. 08:21 Now imagine that in addition to your checking account 08:25 that this bill is also synced to every other account, 08:28 even a different financial institutions 08:30 as long as it was in your name, 08:31 it was tied to those accounts. 08:34 Your savings accounts, your retirement accounts, 08:38 all of the different investments that you've made, 08:41 your entire liquid asset 08:45 was tied synced to this smart bill 08:50 so that in spending it, 08:54 it would drain your entire liquid asset. 08:58 Now obviously, this bill would be of different value 09:00 depending on who held the bill. 09:02 For some people it would effectively be a $10,000 bill. 09:06 For other people it might be a $10 million bill. 09:10 For some of us sitting here at GYC, like nope, 09:12 it's still just a $10 bill. 09:15 But you understand 09:16 proportionally to the individual 09:17 it would represent your entire financial you know holdings, 09:21 right. 09:23 But that's not all, 09:24 this smart bill is smarter than you expect. 09:28 Beyond these accounts, these liquid assets of your, 09:32 this smart bill would also be loaded 09:35 with the title to your car and the deed to your house. 09:41 Your property and everything that goes with it. 09:44 Your entire financial portfolio, 09:47 liquid or otherwise, 09:50 that when you give this bill, 09:51 you're giving the right to your car, 09:52 you're giving the deed to your house, 09:54 you're giving your checking account, 09:56 your savings account, your investment, 09:58 your retirement, all of you is in this one bill. 10:03 And you had it right there in your wallet, 10:04 you can spin it any time you want it. 10:10 If you spent it of course you'd be left with, 10:12 I mean you'd be alive but that's about it, 10:15 you'd have the shirt on your back. 10:19 What would it take for you to spin that bill? 10:25 What item of clothing would you say 10:27 that is worth it, you know, I'm gonna... 10:31 What app could they sell, 10:34 feel like I want that so bad, 10:36 I'm going to spin. 10:42 Now obviously, the only thing 10:43 for which any of us could imagine 10:45 cashing in that bill would be in exchange for someone's life, 10:47 right. 10:49 And then probably let's just be honest, 10:52 not just anybody's life. 10:55 You're looking around like, I don't know. 11:01 Probably we would most likely reserve 11:03 that level of sacrifice 11:05 for someone very, very close. 11:10 Someone very close, 11:12 someone we love dearly like your, 11:13 your spouse or your child. 11:17 Only in the utmost extremity in the worst case scenario, 11:21 do you ever take out that bill and spend it. 11:31 Mrs. White would write in the language 11:33 comparing the sacrifice of Christ to that very thing, 11:35 notice this from the Bible Echo, 11:37 September 15, 1892. 11:40 She writes, "The whole treasure of heaven 11:44 was poured out in one gift to save fallen man." 11:49 She goes on to say, 11:51 "When we more fully comprehend the magnitude 11:53 and meaning of the great sacrifice 11:55 made by the Majesty of heaven in dying for man, 11:59 the plan of salvation will be glorified before us, 12:02 and the thought of Calvary will awaken sacred 12:06 and living emotions in the Christian's heart. 12:09 Praise to God and to the Lamb 12:11 will be in our hearts and upon our lips; 12:13 for pride and self-worship cannot flourish 12:17 in the heart that keeps fresh in memory 12:19 the scenes of Calvary. 12:21 At what a cost has salvation been provided!" 12:26 You know sometimes, I think we, 12:27 we use words like it was infinite, 12:29 it was eternal, it was an estimable 12:31 and we put it so far out into the ether 12:35 that it doesn't have personal ramification for us today. 12:39 I think there's a reason Christ put these big concepts 12:42 into concrete terms that we could engage with. 12:47 It cost Christ treasure. 12:52 It cost him. 12:55 Now in fact, let's go back 12:56 to our little metaphor of the smart bill 12:58 and treasure that it represents. 13:02 Let's extend it just a bit now, follow this. 13:05 Consider that there was one other added penalty 13:10 attached to the spending of the bill 13:12 that we haven't mentioned yet, 13:13 it's down in the fine print. 13:17 Always read the fine print. 13:22 Let's imagine that in the event 13:24 you were enforced into such a circumstance 13:26 and whatever came along a situation occurred 13:28 that you had to or you felt you had to 13:30 and you decided to spend that bill, 13:36 everything is going for your life. 13:40 That after all of that then the other shoe drops 13:43 because the government would penalize you 13:46 for your reckless spending 13:49 and your endangerment to yourself and your family, 13:53 so they would garnish for the rest of your life 13:59 your income to such an extent... 14:03 By the way, it's ostensibly for your goods, 14:06 you could never put yourself in a position 14:07 to jump off a cliff like that again, 14:09 they want to keep you real down low and safe, 14:12 right. 14:14 It's for your own good of course, 14:17 but you will never be able to earn 14:20 back up to the position you were. 14:25 But you know by cashing that out. 14:26 You're not only draining what is now, 14:28 but you're also setting the course 14:30 for your financial future. 14:31 You will never amass those savings again. 14:35 You will never be in the position you once were. 14:41 For the rest of your life 14:42 your standard of living would be permanently lowered 14:48 in the spending of that bill. 14:54 I sometimes fear that 14:56 I personally place too low an estimate 15:00 on the sacrifice of Jesus. 15:04 At times I unconsciously drift off into assuming 15:11 that the sacrifice of Jesus was merely a single event 15:14 that really only lasted a few days 15:15 or at worst a few years. 15:20 And it kind of blends in 15:21 with the rest of the scripture testimony 15:23 of other great stories 15:24 and other interesting experiences and it's, 15:28 you know, there's Abraham 15:29 and there was Moses and Paul and Peter, 15:31 of course what Jesus did you know, 15:33 we just kind of weave it 15:34 into the rest of the codex of scripture. 15:39 The cross, it happened then, it happened there, 15:42 it was about, you know, two thirds, 15:43 three quarters the way through the Bible, 15:44 that's when the cross was. 15:49 And while it is true that Calvary was a one time event, 15:52 praise the Lord for that. 15:54 The reality is that the consequences of Calvary, 15:59 the consequences of Christ's sacrifice 16:03 are permanent and irrevocable. 16:07 When he would spent for our redemption, 16:11 Christ suffered an eternal decrease 16:14 in his standard of living. 16:21 Listen to this, in Desire of Ages page 25, 16:23 we read these words, 16:24 "In taking our nature 16:27 the Savior has bound himself to humanity by a tie 16:33 that is never to be broken. 16:38 Through the eternal ages, he is linked with us. 16:45 God so loved the world 16:46 that He gave His only begotten Son." 16:48 And she comments on this saying, 16:49 "He gave him not only to bear our sins 16:54 and to die as our sacrifice, 16:57 he gave him to the fallen race." 17:02 Christ wasn't loaned, he was given. 17:08 It wasn't temporary, it was permanent. 17:14 She goes on to explain, 17:16 "To assure us of his immutable counsel of peace, 17:20 God gave His only begotten Son 17:23 to become one of the human family, 17:25 listen carefully, 17:26 for ever to retain his human nature." 17:32 What he once was, he will never be again. 17:41 The cross occurred in AD 31, 17:43 but the consequences are still right now, 17:48 and they will be throughout eternity. 17:53 Have you ever stepped up, 17:54 I mean, to wrestle with the gravity of that concept. 17:59 The Savior is one of us. 18:04 Jesus wasn't loaned, he was given. 18:07 Christ's very category of being has been for ever altered. 18:12 He is a species unto himself. 18:17 There is no other divine human like Jesus Christ. 18:21 In essence, he will forever be alone 18:25 in his standing in the universe. 18:29 He's the only one of those. 18:33 And it wasn't just for a time, it wasn't just for a project, 18:37 it's for eternity. 18:42 By the way, that human body that he has 18:47 will also not be without blemish. 18:52 He's the one who keeps our scars. 18:57 Ever think about that, 18:58 when we get changed in a moment 18:59 in the twinkling of an eye, 19:01 we all get new bodies, praise the Lord. 19:06 But Christ will always be scarred. 19:14 The only innocent one of us and he gets the scars. 19:23 Just like the standard 19:25 of living would be forever lowered 19:26 if we were to spend that fictional bill. 19:31 When God gave Jesus to humanity, 19:32 it was a nonrefundable purchase with eternal consequences. 19:38 Now, one less time let's return to our metaphor. 19:44 Let's go back as we set the table 19:47 for the rest of this message. 19:50 Suppose now 19:52 that in the world will such a smart bill actually existed. 19:59 That the unthinkable occurred 20:01 and someone that you love very much. 20:03 One of those very few you would be willing 20:06 to spend that bill for 20:10 was taken hostage, 20:12 he's taken captive, 20:13 tied up and threatened with death. 20:19 And they contact you, the captor contacts you 20:22 and makes the demanding know what he doesn't want, 20:24 he doesn't want 1, he doesn't want 10, 20:25 he doesn't want 20 what does he want? 20:27 The smart bill, 20:29 he wants to drain every account you have. 20:33 If you want this one back, 20:37 I want your checking, your savings, your retirement, 20:39 I want your investments, I want your car, 20:41 I want your house, I want your property, 20:43 I want your future financials, I want it all. 20:51 But what are you gonna do, they took your wife. 20:55 They took your son. 20:59 Would you give the bill? 21:02 Yeah. 21:04 Of course, you would, you wouldn't think about it. 21:06 You name the time and place, let's set this thing up. 21:08 Let's do it. 21:10 I just want my son back. 21:16 Can you imagine the scene in your mind? 21:19 There's your loved one 21:22 bound in the hands of captors. 21:27 Their time and place has been arranged 21:29 and you come in and you take out your wallet, 21:32 and you have in your hand that bill, 21:36 and you lay it down. 21:45 And as the bounds, the ties are cut off 21:50 and your little child, your precious wife, 21:52 your sweet spouse is released, 21:56 you stand there arms wide open, 21:58 not even thinking a movement about what was lost 22:01 but you're thinking what is now found, right. 22:04 And with tears in your eyes and joy in your face, 22:07 your arms extended wide, 22:08 you're just welcoming them home. 22:15 And that child 22:18 doesn't come running back. 22:24 That's sweet wife looks at you and says, 22:26 I mean, thank you that's really, really nice. 22:31 But the thing is 22:35 I actually want to stay with him. 22:41 He lets me wear jewelry. 22:53 You don't want to come home? 23:04 From that first person perspective, 23:07 you wouldn't be thinking about the price you paid, 23:10 the price would pale in comparison 23:12 to the ingratitude shown. 23:15 In fact the... 23:17 not even the ingratitude 23:18 just you don't want to be with me 23:23 nearly as much as I wanted to be with you. 23:30 By the way from the perspective 23:32 of on looking witnesses to the scene 23:34 what would they think about that individual? 23:37 It wouldn't be sadness, it would be outrage. 23:42 You ungrateful selfish, 23:47 right? 23:49 Do you know what they gave for you? 23:53 He's going to be poor for the rest of his life 23:59 and you're choosing 24:01 and it wouldn't be about the jewelry. 24:03 You could put in anything else. 24:05 It's just the mind bending fact that 24:08 there could be anything big or small 24:11 that you wouldn't sacrifice in return. 24:16 There was anything in the face of such amazing grace, 24:22 such redemptive love, self-sacrificing goodness 24:29 that would keep you there instead of coming home here. 24:45 And I don't know what it is for you, 24:46 it might be entertainment, 24:47 it might be foul language, 24:49 it might be you know, pornography, 24:50 it might be laziness, it might be smoking. 24:52 I mean, I don't know what your thing is. 24:57 But could there be anything that God asks of you 25:00 that you would not be willing to do 25:02 in return for this sacrifice. 25:07 By the way thinking about this is as 25:11 this perspective completely takes the legs out 25:15 from under that most petulant phrase, 25:17 salvation issue. 25:21 I can think of few things more patently offensive 25:27 than attempting to negotiate a compromise 25:31 with the one who clearly loves you so much 25:34 that he gave himself for you. 25:41 Friends, the only 25:42 and I mean the only genuine response 25:46 to the sacrifice of Jesus is emulation. 25:57 And it's not just the willingness to sacrifice, 25:59 it's the eagerness to sacrifice. 26:03 It's not just what I will do or what I can do 26:06 or what I'm, okay, 26:08 and it's not negotiating terms and saying, 26:09 "Lord, I want to do more. 26:12 How can I be more like you? 26:14 Not to repay, I can't repay but I want to be like you. 26:19 You have demonstrated to me 26:21 something that I have never seen in my life. 26:22 I want what you got, I want to be like you. 26:27 Not a willingness to give, an eagerness to give. 26:32 You see when we get the tiniest glimpse over the horizon 26:35 and begin to fully comprehend 26:37 the depth of our redemption price. 26:39 What it really cost Christ to buy us back. 26:43 The mind of any truly converted person 26:45 will immediately begin to raise thinking 26:47 how can I possibly reciprocate this. 26:53 What can I do to demonstrate my love 26:57 for such a selfless savior? 27:00 The selflessness of Christ should even eviscerate 27:05 any selfishness in us. 27:09 Are you with me? 27:11 The selflessness of Christ should have eviscerate 27:14 any selfishness in us. 27:20 This is the motive for obedience. 27:23 This is the motive for self-sacrifice. 27:26 As the Bible describes it, John 12:32-33, 27:31 Jesus himself explains in these words, 27:35 and notice carefully the language he uses, 27:37 he says, "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will what? 27:41 Draw." 27:43 Did he say he will force. 27:44 No, he says, when I'm lifted up, 27:47 if you really look in my eyes, 27:49 if you really understand, if you comprehend, 27:51 if you put the gravity of it in your thinking. 27:55 When you look at that, 27:57 you will just be drawn to Christ. 28:02 "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, 28:03 will draw all peoples to myself. 28:06 This he said, signifying the death which he would die." 28:09 When you look at the death of Christ and what it costs, 28:13 you're drawn to him. 28:14 Philippians Chapter 2, 28:16 go to the right in your Bibles please 28:17 Philippians Chapter 2. 28:20 Again the Apostle Paul 28:24 speaking of the sacrifice of Christ 28:25 in our reaction to it, 28:27 our response to Christ sacrifice. 28:29 Philippians Chapter 2, starting with a verse 5 says, 28:32 "Let this mind be in you, 28:35 which was also in Christ Jesus:" 28:36 Pause for a moment. 28:38 It does not say conjure up or force, or make, 28:42 or build or establish, 28:44 it doesn't say that, it says let. 28:46 The implication is when you look 28:48 at the selflessness of Christ, 28:50 you would have to resist not becoming like him. 28:56 Just let it happen. 28:59 "Let this mind be in you, 29:00 which was also in Christ Jesus." 29:02 And explains what that mind is 29:04 "Who, being in the form of God, 29:08 did not consider it robbery to be equal with God: 29:11 But made himself of what? 29:13 No reputation." 29:19 Sometimes in some people's lives 29:20 there's a temptation to make yourself of reputation. 29:25 Christ didn't do that and Paul says, 29:27 "Let that mind be in you." 29:29 No reputation, "taking the form of a bond servant, 29:33 and coming in the likeness of men: 29:37 And being found in appearance as a man," 29:39 you know would be bad enough 29:40 if all he did was become a human. 29:43 But he went down even lower 29:45 "Found in appearance as a man, 29:47 he humbled himself, 29:48 and became obedient to the point of death," 29:51 even the death on the cross. 29:54 Again as you see the sacrifice, the selflessness of Jesus, 29:58 Paul says, "You just have to let that mind to be in you." 30:02 That thoughtful hour each day will start 30:04 to make you have that mind of Christ. 30:07 You won't have to conjure, you won't have to force it, 30:10 it just becomes part of you. 30:13 And Paul says, "Let it happen. 30:15 Let that mind be in you." 30:18 2 Corinthians returning to this theme 30:20 of viewing Christ in the change that comes with it. 30:23 2 Corinthians Chapter 3. 30:27 Another very familiar passage 30:28 but think about it in these lines now, 30:30 2 Corinthians 3:18, 30:32 "But we all, with unveiled face be holding as in a mirror 30:37 the glory of the Lord, 30:39 are being transformed into the same image 30:44 from glory to glory, 30:46 just as by the spirit of the Lord." 30:48 The only genuine response 30:51 to the sacrifice of Christ is emulation. 30:55 I want to be, I'm going to be, 30:57 Lord, make me like you. 31:04 Desire of Ages, page 439, 31:08 "Let the repenting sinner 31:10 fix his eyes upon the Lamb of God 31:12 which takes away the sin of the world 31:14 and by beholding he becomes what, changed. 31:19 She explains gratitude, springs up. 31:24 Has that happened in your experience, 31:26 that gratitude you springs out of you. 31:28 Gratitude springs up, the stony heart is broken, 31:32 a tide of love sweeps into the soul, 31:35 looking unto Jesus we shall be ashamed of our coldness, 31:41 our lethargy, our self-seeking. 31:46 We shall be willing to be anything or nothing 31:51 so that we may do heart service for the master." 31:55 Everything but we always think about, 31:56 Lord make me this, what about Lord, 31:58 get me out to make, make me less 32:00 if that's what you need. 32:04 Make me anything you need or nothing at all. 32:07 If you want me to sit here and be quiet, 32:09 I will do it for you. 32:13 If my role is to be something small, 32:15 when I was thinking big 32:16 Lord, your will be done not mine. 32:24 But you don't negotiate terms, 32:25 you don't put self-interest, 32:27 you say, "Lord, you did that, 32:28 I am yours 100 percent, you name it, I'll do it." 32:36 We shall be willing to be anything or nothing, 32:38 so we may do heart service for the Master. 32:40 We shall rejoice to bear the cross after Jesus 32:43 to endure a trial, shame 32:45 or persecution for his dear sake. 32:49 By the way would you be proud of that one 32:50 who paid for you? 32:53 Absolutely. 32:54 If someone started to talk bad about them, 32:56 would you come to their defense, 32:59 making little sly comments, 33:02 putting down the teachings that he taught. 33:04 Would you say something 33:06 or you just kind of let it go? 33:11 I'm an advocate for Jesus Christ, 33:12 he brought me back. 33:16 Review and Herald, May 15, 1888, 33:20 "When Christ is looked to as the great exemplar, 33:23 then we will seek to catch his spirit 33:25 and imitate his example. 33:28 As we see His love, His humiliation for us, 33:31 the same spirit of self-denial and sacrifice 33:35 for other's good will be kindled in our hearts." 33:40 By the way can we live, 33:42 can we die for Christ in return? 33:44 No, 33:47 but we realize there are other people 33:48 that need this message. 33:50 I'm going to go get some more for you, 33:56 "By beholding Jesus by the eye of faith, 33:59 we shall be changed into the same image 34:01 from glory to glory, 34:02 even as by the spirit of the Lord." 34:04 Here's my point at the cross, 34:07 obedience and self-sacrifice 34:10 have nothing to do with legalism 34:13 and everything to do with loyalty. 34:19 Legalism isn't even on the radar screen 34:21 and we give all to Christ 34:23 because we love him who gave himself for me. 34:32 Again, the only genuine, 34:33 indeed the only logical, think about this. 34:35 The only logical response 34:36 to Christ sacrifice is emulation, 34:38 to sacrifice like he did. 34:40 Romans Chapter 12, notice the language here 34:43 Romans Chapter 12, 34:44 when Paul gives the call to sacrifice 34:46 and notice how he says it. 34:50 He says, I beseech you, 34:52 beseech means beg, to urge, to plead. 34:58 I implore you, I beseech you 35:00 therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 35:03 that you present your bodies 35:04 a what kind of sacrifice, living sacrifice. 35:07 Has Christ called you to die? 35:09 No, he's called you to what? 35:10 Live. 35:15 It is far easier 35:16 sometimes to think about a big glorious way 35:19 that I can go out in a blaze going to know. 35:21 What happens when he wants you to live 35:22 that small consistent daily life. 35:26 He says, "I'm begging you." 35:28 By the mercies of God, the mercy shown to you 35:30 that in return you would be a living sacrifice for him. 35:34 And notice he says, with your body, 35:36 not just a mental or intellectual assent 35:39 or an agreement on your part. 35:40 No, no, it's not, I don't want you to just to get it. 35:42 I want you to do it. 35:46 Can we talk like people today? 35:49 There's plenty of getting it. 35:51 What we need is some doing it. 35:56 He says, "Give your body, give your self, 35:59 give your toil, give your creativity, 36:01 give your energy, and yes, 36:02 young people give your money. 36:09 We're gonna come back to that in a minute. 36:15 "A living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, 36:19 which is your, what does he call it? 36:21 Reasonable service." 36:24 What does reason mean? 36:26 It makes sense, it's logical, 36:28 it's rational, it's coherent, 36:31 it's the obvious next step. 36:35 How do I get back? 36:36 You give whatever you've got. 36:38 You just start giving, a living sacrifice for him. 36:45 Luke Chapter 14, let's go back to the life of Christ. 36:47 Luke Chapter 14. 36:53 Starting with verse 25, 37:01 "Now a great multitude went with him..." 37:04 Jesus had crowds go with him, right? 37:09 And he turned, and said to them. 37:12 He's basically going to build Gideon's army here. 37:17 "If anyone comes to me," 37:19 and he's literally talking to people 37:21 that are physically following him around. 37:25 "If any of you are coming to me," 37:26 which they all ostensibly work coming to him. 37:32 What does he say to them, 37:33 "If anyone comes to me, 37:35 and does not hate his father, and mother, 37:38 wife, and children, brothers, and sisters, 37:40 yes, and his own life also, 37:41 he cannot be my disciple." 37:46 That is... 37:50 You've never heard an appeal at GYC 37:51 it's hard and raw as you think 37:53 GYC is to go home and hate your mom, 37:57 right. 37:58 Now obviously he's not saying have contempt for your mother, 38:00 he's not saying dishonor your parents. 38:01 He's the one who wrote 38:03 honor thy father and thy mother, right? 38:04 What's his point? 38:06 Is the seek ye first, 38:08 I got to be your number one priority. 38:09 I've got to be before those other things good as they are. 38:14 Yes, we should give up bad things for Christ, 38:16 but we should reprioritize 38:17 even the good things for Jesus Christ. 38:22 It's great, mother, sister, wives, that's great. 38:25 Put me first, then he says, 38:28 "And whoever does not bear his cross..." 38:32 Did Christ give up his father for you? 38:39 Would you be willing to give it up for him, 38:43 'cause you don't understand the depth of the sacrifice yet? 38:48 When you see Calvary, you'll get it, okay. 38:51 But right now, I'm just telling you in theory, 38:53 someday you're going to see it in practice 38:54 but you're going to have to change your priorities. 39:00 Cannot be my disciple you know Christ tower illustration. 39:06 Watch this what he says here. 39:07 He makes it so practical, 39:10 for he says, in verse 28 39:11 "Which of you, intending to build a tower, 39:12 does not sit down first, and count the cost." 39:16 Many people blithely assume, 39:18 oh, yeah, I'm gonna follow Jesus around 39:19 and do this and that, 39:20 even here maybe at GYC, 39:22 maybe in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 39:23 maybe in your own life. 39:24 It's easy to say, I'm gonna follow Christ, 39:26 but you don't actually count up the cost 39:27 what's going to be involved. 39:30 We've got a whole lot of declaration, 39:32 what we need is some demonstration, right. 39:36 For which of you, intending to build a tower, 39:38 does not sit down first, and count the cost, 39:40 whether he has enough to finish it? 39:43 "That's after he has laid the foundation, 39:45 is not able to finish all who see it begin to mock him, 39:48 saying, 'This man begin to build, 39:50 and was not able to finish." 39:54 It reminds me of my oldest son Henry, true story. 39:57 You know, the term General Conference 40:01 can actually mean a lot of different things. 40:05 It's a reference to the total geographic territory 40:07 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 40:08 the world field if you will, 40:09 we refer to that as the General Conference, right. 40:12 It can also mean the building 40:13 where the Seventh-day Adventist World Church headquarters, 40:15 or word church is headquartered, 40:17 the building itself at the GC office, 40:20 you know the GC, General Conference. 40:22 Then again it can also be used to refer to the individuals 40:25 in departments leading the work 40:26 in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 40:27 and we think we speak of something 40:29 being done by the General Conference. 40:32 We mean talking about the people, 40:33 the departments, the leadership, 40:34 that's what we're talking about, right? 40:36 And finally, it can also, mean that 40:37 when San Antonio Assembly of Delegates 40:39 referred to as the General Conference. 40:42 Which is of course incidentally coming up later this year. 40:45 So you use that term in a lot of different ways, 40:48 and around our house we apparently say it enough 40:51 in different ways that my four year old son Henry 40:53 has made it part of his vocabulary, 40:55 the General Conference. 40:59 Now in his mind he's not thinking 41:01 of any of those forth though. 41:02 I don't, I honestly don't know 41:04 what's in his four year old brain. 41:05 But I know it comes out every day, 41:08 I'm not making this, almost every single day 41:10 for the last at least six, seven months. 41:14 He has said, "I need to go outside 41:16 and work on the GC Conference." 41:24 And you ask what do you, what do you mean, 41:26 work on the GC Con. 41:28 And I'll just sit down with him. 41:29 "Henry, that's great but tell me what that... 41:32 Really, I really want to hear about this. 41:34 What, what are you." 41:38 And he'll just wide eyed tell you, 41:41 "Oh, it's in some days it's a big mammoth building, 41:44 it's a big institution, I'm going to build this 41:45 and it's gonna have up here, it's bigger than the house, 41:47 it will be taller and this is going to go. 41:48 Some days it's a campus of buildings, 41:50 it's going to be this thing over here, 41:51 and over there is going to be the house 41:53 and here's where nanny and pop are going to be here 41:54 and here's your granny and granddaddy will be beginning." 41:55 And here's... 41:57 I don't know what that is, he's thinking up a campus, 41:59 I don't know. 42:01 Some days it's a castle with a gate you know in a moat. 42:06 But every day he wants to keep going and working on it 42:10 and to hear him describe it. 42:11 You would think he's building this massive entity, right? 42:17 But when you go outside and you take a look at it, 42:18 you know, what it is. 42:21 It's a little hole in the ground 42:24 filled with rainwater, his toys, 42:27 and a lot of my tools. 42:31 And he's proud as punch, look at the G.C Conference. 42:37 Now, I can excuse him for not counting the cost 42:39 to finish the building his tower right, 42:41 he is four. 42:43 What's your excuse? 42:45 I'm going to do this for G. 42:49 And what we got at the end of the day? 42:51 Holes in the ground with toys and dirt. 42:55 Crisis, if you want to come after me, 42:57 sit down and think first. 43:02 What's it going to cost? 43:04 What does it mean in dollars and cents? 43:05 What does it mean in time? 43:06 What does it mean in energy and creative? 43:08 What does it look like in the life? 43:12 I don't want to leave GYC 43:13 with this soaring theme of at the cross, Jesus is, 43:15 what does it mean for me when I go home? 43:22 I'm reminded of Pastor Ramdin's 43:24 Friday morning lamentation 43:25 how at one GYC appealed literally 43:28 hundreds of young people came forward. 43:30 I'm going to go to give a portion of my life 43:32 to mission service two years later one. 43:39 This is my tenth GYC. 43:45 I've tried to eliminate the phrase, 43:47 I'm going to be honest with you right now 43:48 because it implies that I've been dishonest 43:49 up until this point but, 43:54 I'll just say this, in this point 43:56 in my life and ministry not just here GYC, 43:58 but at all places that I go. 44:01 Appeals with no follow up 44:02 and accountability are very unappealing to me. 44:09 I am more and more convicted that if appeal is made 44:11 it must involve several critical things. 44:15 First of all it must be a commitment beyond 44:16 what you're already required to do 44:18 or what would be inevitable to do anyway. 44:22 And I think if you're the one that like it, 44:23 if you're with me today, let's all stand, 44:24 well, you're going to stand to leave anyway, 44:27 right. 44:29 Now I've made that, 44:30 I'm not throwing anybody that I've done this. 44:32 This is rebuke to me time, I'm just, 44:34 you're just here listening to it. 44:36 Okay. 44:39 For this reason today, 44:41 I'm not making an appeal 44:42 for you to return a faithful tithe 44:43 and regular offerings you know why? 44:45 'Cause that stuff you should be doing anyway. 44:53 Are we still, friends? Yes. 44:55 Are we people today? 44:56 Yes. 44:59 Return a faithful tithe, come on. 45:06 By the way, God expects you to do that too. 45:08 That's why he calls not doing it robbery. 45:10 It's his stuff not yours. 45:13 And what he leaves you with, 45:15 that's what I'm talking about today. 45:16 The other stuff 45:17 beyond the tithes and offerings you're already doing. 45:21 Also it must be movement from conviction 45:25 and not from coercion. 45:29 I want the motive to be clear. 45:30 The reason that you sacrifice anything in your life 45:32 is not because everybody else is doing. 45:34 It's not because the preacher told you to 45:36 or not because there's going to a threat 45:37 if you don't or an incentive on the other 45:38 is because you look at Jesus and you love him and say, 45:40 Lord, I want to be like you. 45:43 I just want to. 45:47 And must also be have clear and tangible results, 45:50 clear objective with tangible results. 45:54 You know I made a call several years back 45:56 at GYC in Huston. 46:02 But there's really no way to know for me personally 46:04 if anyone ever actually followed up on that 46:06 and then a few people will come and tell me 46:07 because I saw the thing and now I've done this 46:09 and I praise the Lord for that, maybe every single one did, 46:11 I don't know. 46:13 But that's my point, I don't know what happened. 46:15 It just kind of went out into the ether, 46:16 went out into the etherium, it's just gone, right. 46:19 I'm not going to do that again. 46:27 By the way in preparation for this message, 46:28 I researched the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy 46:30 looking for key words like cross, 46:31 self-sacrifice, self-denial, 46:33 and I was amazed at how clearly, 46:35 how practically and how repeatedly 46:38 money was mentioned. 46:42 Notice that you shouldn't 46:43 not that you shouldn't sacrifice your time, 46:45 energy and creativity, do that anyway. 46:50 But above and beyond, there is a clarion call 46:54 through God's maidservant for people 46:56 and in many cases specifically young people 46:59 to sacrificially contribute financial means 47:02 to the work of soul winning and foreign missions. 47:07 Let me read you a few, 47:09 General Conference bulletin, April 1, 1899. 47:13 She says, "I have a request to make, 47:17 let all that love the Lord who gave his life for them 47:21 make returns to Him who has bought them with a price. 47:26 Through your own self-denial and self-sacrifice 47:29 return to God your offerings 47:31 to be used in opening new fields 47:33 and planting the standard of truth 47:35 in places that have never been worked." 47:38 And she then explains how, she says, 47:40 "Economize and your expenditure of means upon yourself." 47:46 And I love this, 47:47 "The first step of self-denial is generally the most difficult 47:51 but begin without delay. 47:54 From the light given me of God, 47:56 I make this call to young and old, 47:58 men and women and children. 48:01 God calls upon you to do your best. 48:04 Practice self-denial in order to bring the truth 48:07 before thousands who have never heard it. 48:10 The missionary spirit needs to be revived in our churches. 48:16 We want you to show your active zeal in doing something, 48:20 and doing it now. 48:22 Let there be planning of sacrifices 48:27 for God in order to advance the work 48:30 in the very places where it is most needed. 48:32 Every place not entered, 48:33 not worked, has its own claims." 48:36 Listen carefully, "The anticipation, 48:38 the prospect of working these fields..." 48:41 In today's language, 48:42 the promo video about what could be 48:47 must give place to the grave decided self sacrifice, 48:53 self sacrificing reality of hard work itself. 48:59 Anticipate all you please in regard to the regions beyond 49:02 but go to work now." 49:06 That's sharp, 49:08 Review and Herald, November 21, 1878, 49:11 "Self-denial is a mark of Christianity. 49:14 To offer to God gifts that have cost us something, 49:17 a sacrifice that we shall ask him to use 49:19 to advance his cause in the earth, 49:21 will be pleasing to him." 49:23 By the way it's the number one reason 49:25 to give anything to God, 49:27 because it pleases him. 49:28 Amen. 49:30 "The Savior will accept free will offerings 49:34 of everyone from the oldest to the youngest, 49:38 even small children may participate in this work 49:41 and enjoy the privilege 49:42 of bringing their little offerings." 49:45 We need to cultivate a self-denying, 49:48 sacrificial giving lifestyle 49:51 in the Seventh-day Adventist Church 49:52 and it should start with the young people. 49:56 But young people don't have money you say. 49:59 Children certainly don't, young people with money. 50:07 You know what's fascinating that 50:08 what might be such a common sense 50:10 lamentation to us is not shared by the world. 50:15 Why is it that the music industry, 50:16 the movie industry, the fashion industry, 50:18 the junk food industry, 50:20 and half of every other wasteful 50:22 and awful harmful industry 50:24 advertises so aggressively and in some cases 50:26 almost exclusively to young people. 50:31 Because they know well enough that if young, 50:35 people get it in their mind to want something, 50:39 they'll come up with the money to make it happen. 50:43 Am I right? Yes. 50:46 Then why is it that a church, we suddenly imply 50:49 and sometimes outright say 50:51 that the only thing young people 50:52 contribute to the work of God are time, 50:54 energy and creativity. 50:59 I mean some how you got here 51:02 and of course, you can and you should give 51:04 to the cause through those talents of time, 51:05 energy, creativity, yeah, that's great. 51:08 But I think there is an untapped reservoir 51:11 of means just waiting to be sacrificially saved, 51:14 industriously earned or creatively amassed 51:17 through personal influence within the ranks 51:20 of the Seventh-day Adventist young people. 51:22 Save, earn or influence 51:27 for the cause of Christ. 51:29 Review and Herald, November 14, 1899, 51:31 "There is altogether too much self-indulgence among us, 51:34 money is spent for that which is not bread, 51:37 let those who would please the master 51:38 listen to his words. 51:40 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself 51:42 and take up his cross and follow me. 51:44 Let us willingly practice these words 51:46 and we shall be blessed." 51:48 Now notice this, 51:49 "If all that had been invested 51:51 in self gratification were counted up, 51:54 the amount would astonish every church in the land." 52:00 Do you ever notice that 52:01 how your spending can add up 52:03 faster than you think you did it. 52:05 You know, the same thing is true 52:06 for self sacrificial saving. 52:10 If it's just something that comes out of you lo and behold 52:13 before you know it, it's a thing. 52:16 How did that happen? 52:21 Review and Herald, April 18, 1912, 52:23 "Many today, are keeping back 52:25 that which the Lord has entrusted them 52:26 for the carrying forward of his work 52:28 year after year thousands passed into the grave 52:31 unwarned and unsaved 52:32 while the talent of means is hidden in a napkin 52:36 buried in worldly enterprises. 52:39 The guilt of thus hiding the Lord's 52:40 money passes all computation. 52:44 When I see person spending money for needless trimmings 52:46 or needless furnishings, I think of Jesus. 52:52 He might have come to this earth 52:53 adorned with the glory of kingly power 52:55 but he chose a life of self-denial and self-sacrifice. 53:00 If any man will come after me said Christ 53:02 let him deny himself, 53:04 take up his cross and follow me. 53:06 Those who follow in his footsteps 53:08 will remember that every dollar 53:10 they can spare is needed in the work 53:12 that God has said, shall be done in the earth." 53:17 Set us, The Signs of the Times, June 15, 1904, 53:21 "Deny yourself take up the cross 53:23 and follow more closely in the Savior's footsteps. 53:25 Before you spend money, ask yourself, 53:29 can I not save this money." 53:32 What a radical concept before you spend think. 53:39 Isn't that great? 53:41 She's like here's how you do this radical revolution, 53:44 think, 53:47 as you take out that money, 53:48 as you take out that card, 53:49 as you whatever way you pay this day, 53:51 before you per send, think wait a minute. 53:56 Do I need to do that? 53:59 Or is there a way I could do 54:00 whatever I'm about to do a little bit cheaper 54:02 and that difference that I was gonna pay anyway 54:04 can go to further the cause. 54:08 Let me give you an example. 54:10 I have no problem, you should dress, 54:11 I'm not saying that you gotta go with rags. 54:12 No, no, no dress well. 54:14 Men put on a nice suit, 54:15 look to representable for the Lord, 54:17 okay, 54:19 but buy the tie at Walmart. 54:25 Nobody's going to know the difference. 54:28 You just save $15-20 54:31 and that can go save a soul. 54:35 Think about it, before you spend think. 54:40 Pacific Union Recorder, March 16, 1905, 54:43 " I appeal to every family of believers in our land 54:45 to consecrate themselves to the work of soul-saving, 54:47 pledging' themselves to advance the Lord's work 54:49 by every means within their power. 54:51 Let the older ones repress the desire to gratify self, 54:54 and let the children be taught 54:56 to save their pennies for the Lord. 54:58 Let parents take up the cross of self-sacrifice, 55:00 which lies so plainly in the pathway to holiness. 55:03 Let the young men and young women 55:05 who are tempted to expend means 55:07 to gratify self, say, "No! 55:09 I will not rob the cause of God by spending money 55:11 for that which is useless." 55:14 Every bag of skittles. 55:16 Amen. 55:19 Plus it's bad for you anyway. 55:22 Wouldn't it be great to do some good for you 55:24 and good for God. 55:26 "Time and again the urgency for these sacrificially saved, 55:30 earned, or influenced money, 55:31 was the expansion of the gospel into new territories 55:35 to fund the work of God in places 55:36 most or almost completely unexposed 55:39 to the light of God's word." 55:42 Counsels of the Church, page 282, 55:44 I'm not going to say that she was sarcastic 55:46 but she was clever. 55:49 "There is no, there is no time to invent ways 55:53 for using up money." 55:57 You know, if you got 20 bucks lying around, 55:58 you're starting to think 55:59 what could I do with that thing. 56:01 We don't have time for conjuring up ways to, 56:03 we've got plenty of ways to waste the money, 56:06 the world has seen to that. 56:10 "Use your inventive faculties in seeking to economize. 56:16 Instead of gratifying selfish inclination, 56:18 spending money for those things 56:19 that destroy the reasoning faculties, 56:21 study how to deny self, 56:23 that you may have something to invest 56:25 in lifting the standard of truth in new fields. 56:27 The intellect is talents, 56:30 use it in studying how to best employ your means 56:34 for the salvation of souls." 56:36 Think, GYC, 56:41 Testimonies for the Church, Volume 9, page 49, 56:43 "Self-sacrifice is the keynote of the teachings of Christ. 56:45 We are to practice the same self-sacrifice 56:48 that led him to give himself up to the death at the cross, 56:50 to make it possible for human beings 56:52 to have eternal life. 56:53 We are to place in the Lord's treasury 56:55 all the means we can spare. 56:57 For this means, needy, unworked fields are calling. 57:00 From many lands is sounding the cry, 57:02 "Come over and help us." 57:04 Our church members should feel a deep interest 57:06 in home and foreign missions. 57:09 Great blessings will come to them 57:10 as they make self-sacrificing efforts to plant 57:12 the standard of truth in new territory. 57:15 The money invested in this work will bring rich returns. 57:18 New converts, rejoicing in the light 57:20 received from the word, 57:22 will in their turn give of their means 57:24 to carry the light of truth to others." 57:25 What if by your sacrifice you were an example 57:28 to someone else who can sacrifice too. 57:30 Not only can you save your own money or earn new money, 57:33 but you could influence someone else to give money. 57:37 Save, earn, or influence. 57:42 Final one, Counsels on Stewardship, page 290, 57:45 "As new fields are opening" and praise the Lord, 57:48 new fields are opening right now today, 57:50 that were not available six months or a year ago. 57:54 "As new fields are opened, 57:56 the calls for means are constantly increasing. 57:59 If ever we need to exercise economy, it is now. 58:03 All who labor in the cause 58:04 should realize the importance of closely following 58:06 the Savior's example of self-denial and economy. 58:09 They should see in the means that they handle 58:12 a trust which God has committed to them 58:14 and they should feel under obligation to exercise tact 58:17 and financial ability in the use 58:19 of their Lord's money. 58:20 Every penny should be carefully treasured. 58:24 It seems like a trifle 58:26 but a 100 cents makes a dollar. 58:33 And rightly spent may be the means 58:36 of saving a soul from death. 58:40 If all the means which had been wasted 58:42 by our own people in self-gratification 58:45 had been devoted to the cause of God, 58:47 there would be no empty treasuries 58:48 and missions could be established 58:50 in all parts of the world. |
Revised 2016-08-29