Before we start
this little singing here,
00:00:22.52\00:00:25.79
let me do what they
tell me I forgot to do.
00:00:25.82\00:00:29.62
It's my privilege to
introduce the speaker,
00:00:29.66\00:00:32.63
and I don't know
how easy that is,
00:00:32.66\00:00:36.43
seeing I think
there isn't anyone here
00:00:36.46\00:00:38.23
that does not know
who Elder Wilson is.
00:00:38.27\00:00:41.87
And in case you don't,
and that would be rare,
00:00:41.90\00:00:45.54
Elder Wilson is the President
of the General Conference
00:00:45.57\00:00:48.64
of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:00:48.68\00:00:51.81
Now I can't say a lot,
00:00:51.85\00:00:54.15
because we haven't
spent a lot of time together,
00:00:54.18\00:00:57.52
but we did take a
little trip to Brazil.
00:00:57.55\00:01:00.89
At least in Brazil, we
spent some time together
00:01:00.96\00:01:02.99
and I can tell you something.
00:01:03.02\00:01:04.49
He is one of the
most gracious individual
00:01:04.53\00:01:07.00
that I've ever met.
00:01:07.03\00:01:08.73
And I was studying him
at the general conference
00:01:08.76\00:01:11.70
just a couple of weeks ago,
00:01:11.73\00:01:13.07
because I had the privilege
of being one of the delegates
00:01:13.10\00:01:18.07
and on the nominating committee
in watching him as he moved.
00:01:18.11\00:01:22.61
And his leadership is wonderful,
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it's strong, it's steady.
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He stands for his convictions,
00:01:28.08\00:01:30.75
he loves the
Lord, he is spiritual,
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and I love this man.
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His name has
been in my prayer list
00:01:36.46\00:01:39.66
since the first time he
was elected as president,
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and he will remain
there until the Lord decides
00:01:42.46\00:01:44.93
someone else is
to take his place.
00:01:44.97\00:01:47.37
But I'm extremely grateful
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that he is president
of the General Conference
00:01:50.57\00:01:52.84
and that we get to
listen to him today.
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I would like to
invite you to open your ears
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to hear what he has
to say, open your hearts
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because the Lord will
be speaking this morning.
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God bless you.
00:02:02.18\00:02:03.52
Lift Him up,
'tis He that bids you
00:02:30.51\00:02:38.35
Let the dying look and live
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To all weary, thirsting sinners
00:02:45.39\00:02:51.20
Living waters will He give
00:02:51.23\00:02:56.57
And though once
so meek and lowly
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Yet the Prince of Heaven was He
00:03:02.04\00:03:07.32
And the blind,
who grope in darkness,
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Through the blood
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Of Christ shall see
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Lift Him up,
this precious Savior
00:03:21.03\00:03:26.70
Let the multitude behold
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They with willing
hearts shall seek Him
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He will draw them to His fold
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They shall
gather from the wayside
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Hastening on with joyous feet
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They shall bear
the cross of Jesus
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And shall find salvation sweet
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Lift Him up, the risen Savior
00:04:02.87\00:04:07.74
High amid the waiting throng
00:04:07.78\00:04:12.28
Lift Him up,
'tis He that speaketh
00:04:12.31\00:04:17.19
Now He bids you flee from wrong
00:04:17.22\00:04:22.86
Lift Him up in all His glory
00:04:32.53\00:04:37.74
'Tis the Savior God above
00:04:37.77\00:04:42.81
Lift Him up, His
love shall draw them
00:04:42.84\00:04:48.35
Even the
careless shall draw nigh
00:04:48.38\00:04:53.46
Let them hear again the story
00:04:53.52\00:04:58.83
Of the cross, the death of shame
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And from tongue
to tongue repeat it
00:05:04.30\00:05:09.80
Mighty throngs
shall bless His name
00:05:09.84\00:05:17.08
O then lift Him up in singing
00:05:17.15\00:05:22.68
Lift the Savior up in prayer
00:05:22.72\00:05:27.46
He, the glorious Redeemer
00:05:27.49\00:05:32.03
All the sins of men did bear
00:05:32.06\00:05:36.50
Yes, the young
shall bow before Him
00:05:36.53\00:05:41.47
And the old their voices raise
00:05:41.50\00:05:46.07
All the deaf shall hear hosannah
00:05:46.11\00:05:50.61
And the dumb
shall shout His praise
00:05:50.65\00:05:55.35
Lift Him up, the risen Savior
00:05:55.38\00:06:00.09
High amid the waiting throng
00:06:00.12\00:06:04.66
Lift Him up,
'tis He that speaketh
00:06:04.69\00:06:09.23
Now He bids you flee from wrong
00:06:09.26\00:06:13.23
Lift Him up, the risen Savior
00:06:13.27\00:06:20.58
High amid the waiting throng
00:06:20.61\00:06:26.92
Lift Him up,
'tis He that speaketh,
00:06:26.95\00:06:33.66
Now He bids you flee from wrong
00:06:33.69\00:06:40.40
Now He bids
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You flee
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From wrong.
00:06:57.88\00:07:05.92
Good morning, ASI.
00:07:25.07\00:07:27.78
And what a blessing
these young people have been.
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We praise God
for our young people.
00:07:32.21\00:07:35.35
What a privilege it is
00:07:35.38\00:07:36.72
to be here in
Spokane, Washington,
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in a very
beautiful, beautiful city,
00:07:40.66\00:07:43.63
it's always a lovely thing
to come to an ASI Convention.
00:07:43.66\00:07:50.23
A thrilling experience to
see how God is moving daily
00:07:50.27\00:07:54.44
in the lives of young
people and older ones,
00:07:54.47\00:07:58.64
and how God is using
ASI to build God's church.
00:07:58.67\00:08:05.25
And now this is a
wonderful ASi convention
00:08:05.28\00:08:08.15
here in a beautiful
city called Spokane.
00:08:08.18\00:08:14.22
We have an unusual connection,
our family does, with Spokane,
00:08:14.29\00:08:19.09
and that is that our
third daughter Catherine
00:08:19.13\00:08:23.00
married Bob Rink,
who comes from Spokane.
00:08:23.03\00:08:27.80
And we're privileged to
have Bob's mother with us today,
00:08:27.84\00:08:31.94
Janice,
00:08:31.97\00:08:33.31
who is a regular
member here in Spokane.
00:08:33.38\00:08:37.78
You know, what a privilege it is
00:08:37.81\00:08:39.15
to be part of
God's great world family,
00:08:39.18\00:08:42.58
a family that focuses on things
00:08:42.62\00:08:45.19
that helps to build
up his precious church.
00:08:45.22\00:08:48.96
What a thrilling thing it was
00:08:48.99\00:08:50.73
to hear about
Pathways to Health,
00:08:50.76\00:08:54.00
which preceded
the ASi convention.
00:08:54.00\00:08:57.93
What an incredible report
to hear that over 3,000 people
00:08:57.97\00:09:02.97
attended this very
special outreach for Spokane.
00:09:03.00\00:09:08.41
Thank you to Pathways to Health,
00:09:08.44\00:09:10.88
thank you to ASi
for what you have done
00:09:10.91\00:09:14.38
to build God's
church here in Spokane.
00:09:14.42\00:09:19.82
I want to tell you, my
dear friends, here at ASI,
00:09:19.85\00:09:23.76
I believe with all my
heart that we are now living
00:09:23.79\00:09:27.76
in the very tips of the toes
00:09:27.76\00:09:30.67
of the statue of
Daniel Chapter 2.
00:09:30.70\00:09:34.37
Events all around us
00:09:34.40\00:09:36.47
are pointing to
the final proclamation
00:09:36.50\00:09:40.08
of the three angel's messages,
00:09:40.11\00:09:41.71
of sharing
Christ's righteousness,
00:09:41.74\00:09:45.05
His warnings and
His soon second-coming.
00:09:45.08\00:09:50.29
It is imperative
that we lift Him up.
00:09:50.32\00:09:54.92
You've heard
already the great emphasis
00:09:58.53\00:10:00.80
that our church is been placing
upon revival and reformation.
00:10:00.83\00:10:07.20
This is not
something we dreamed up
00:10:07.24\00:10:08.80
in some small corner
of the General Conference,
00:10:08.84\00:10:11.37
this comes directly
from the Word of God
00:10:11.41\00:10:14.14
and the sprit of prophecy,
00:10:14.18\00:10:16.48
that each of us
need to be revived
00:10:16.51\00:10:18.55
and reformed through
the power of the Holy Spirit
00:10:18.58\00:10:21.42
in preparation for
Christ's soon coming.
00:10:21.45\00:10:24.45
In this quinquennium
00:10:24.49\00:10:25.82
we're hoping that
revival and reformation
00:10:25.85\00:10:28.19
will take even a more
personal approach to each of us.
00:10:28.22\00:10:33.36
Revival and reformation,
you, your family, your church,
00:10:33.40\00:10:39.53
your community,
building on the wonderful things
00:10:39.57\00:10:43.74
that God has
provided in this scripture
00:10:43.77\00:10:46.07
and the spirit of
prophecy in terms of outreach,
00:10:46.11\00:10:49.61
mission to the cities,
comprehensive health ministry.
00:10:49.64\00:10:54.05
We are building upon
additional three areas of focus.
00:10:54.08\00:11:00.36
I won't have time today
00:11:00.39\00:11:01.72
to work out all of the
details of that with you,
00:11:01.76\00:11:06.90
but you will be
hearing much more about those.
00:11:06.93\00:11:09.73
First and foremost,
Christ and His righteousness.
00:11:09.76\00:11:16.17
There is no other righteousness,
00:11:16.20\00:11:18.07
it is Christ and Him alone.
00:11:18.11\00:11:20.78
Lifting Him up,
not only before people,
00:11:20.84\00:11:23.71
but in our own lives.
00:11:23.75\00:11:25.41
Secondly, faithfulness,
faithfulness to God,
00:11:25.45\00:11:29.35
to His holy word,
to His understanding
00:11:29.38\00:11:33.52
of the instructions
00:11:33.56\00:11:34.89
that He has provided to us
through the spirit of prophecy,
00:11:34.92\00:11:37.73
faithfulness to the
Christian lifestyle,
00:11:37.76\00:11:40.96
faithfulness to
proclaiming His word,
00:11:41.00\00:11:44.10
faithfulness to God.
00:11:44.13\00:11:46.67
But the third thing is something
00:11:46.70\00:11:48.14
you've already heard a
little bit about, in fact,
00:11:48.17\00:11:50.27
during our interview
and special connection
00:11:50.34\00:11:54.71
with Elder Falkenberg,
00:11:54.74\00:11:57.58
we emphasized
total member involvement.
00:11:57.61\00:12:03.12
You know, in
Testimonies volume 9,
00:12:03.15\00:12:05.45
page 117, it
indicates, and I paraphrase it,
00:12:05.49\00:12:09.32
"that the work
will not be finished
00:12:09.36\00:12:11.79
until church
members unite with pastors
00:12:11.83\00:12:15.23
and church officers to
accomplish the work of God."
00:12:15.26\00:12:19.47
Total member involvement,
building God's church
00:12:19.50\00:12:25.77
towards His soon second-coming.
00:12:25.81\00:12:29.08
You see, God is calling on us
00:12:29.11\00:12:31.78
to lift Him up
like never before,
00:12:31.81\00:12:34.42
and to build His church
00:12:34.45\00:12:36.38
in preparation for
Christ's soon return.
00:12:36.42\00:12:39.85
He asks us to tell somebody else
00:12:39.89\00:12:42.22
about our relationship with Him.
00:12:42.26\00:12:44.39
This is what ASi is all about,
00:12:44.43\00:12:47.46
sharing Jesus
in the marketplace.
00:12:47.50\00:12:49.76
It's the key
stone of your existence.
00:12:49.80\00:12:53.03
It was established
00:12:53.07\00:12:54.40
from the very
beginning of ASi in 1947,
00:12:54.44\00:12:59.07
when Seventh-day Adventist's
self supporting institutions
00:12:59.11\00:13:03.11
combine to form the association
00:13:03.14\00:13:06.38
of self
supporting institutions, ASI.
00:13:06.41\00:13:09.15
And it continues as
the bedrock of today's ASI,
00:13:09.18\00:13:14.16
Adventist-laymen's
Services and Industries,
00:13:14.19\00:13:18.13
established to
build God's church.
00:13:18.16\00:13:22.90
Earlier this year, I
had the great opportunity
00:13:22.93\00:13:26.13
to visit a place
that has been in the news
00:13:26.17\00:13:29.20
for a number of years, a
rather challenging place.
00:13:29.24\00:13:33.34
I wanted to visit it
to give our church members
00:13:33.38\00:13:36.71
a very strong
impression and understanding
00:13:36.75\00:13:39.65
that they are
part of God's family.
00:13:39.68\00:13:42.02
I visited Juba, South Sudan
to encourage our church members
00:13:42.05\00:13:47.26
in that war-torn
part of the globe.
00:13:47.32\00:13:51.06
God is enormously blessing
his church in South Sudan.
00:13:51.09\00:13:56.63
The East Central Africa division
00:13:56.70\00:13:59.33
of which South Sudan is a
part, is doing a marvelous job
00:13:59.37\00:14:04.37
in helping integrate our members
00:14:04.41\00:14:07.64
into the evangelistic activities
00:14:07.68\00:14:09.91
of that dynamic division.
00:14:09.94\00:14:13.01
God's spirit is
moving in a marvelous way
00:14:13.05\00:14:16.58
and our work is developing
so quickly in South Sudan.
00:14:16.62\00:14:20.49
Pray for our
brothers and sisters there.
00:14:20.56\00:14:22.99
While we were there,
we had the opportunity
00:14:23.02\00:14:25.46
to dedicate a lovely
new guest house facility,
00:14:25.49\00:14:29.80
one of the best
in the city of Juba,
00:14:29.83\00:14:33.00
and also some
new offices for local
00:14:33.03\00:14:35.87
and a future union headquarters.
00:14:35.90\00:14:39.77
We participated in
the groundbreaking also,
00:14:39.81\00:14:42.58
of a new media centre,
00:14:42.61\00:14:44.21
and a large 4,000
seat church and auditorium.
00:14:44.25\00:14:49.22
In fact, it may be
00:14:49.25\00:14:50.59
that Maranatha
Volunteers International
00:14:50.65\00:14:52.79
may help them with
some of those projects.
00:14:52.82\00:14:56.59
However, the church
is growing and developing
00:14:56.62\00:15:00.16
so fast that you
actually now have an ASi chapter
00:15:00.23\00:15:05.87
in Juba, South Sudan
whether you knew it or not.
00:15:05.90\00:15:09.70
Yeah.
00:15:09.74\00:15:11.11
We had the opportunity
to meet with many of them
00:15:11.14\00:15:13.04
one evening in the hotel,
00:15:13.07\00:15:15.48
for a meal and to review
some of the special projects
00:15:15.51\00:15:19.61
that they had in mind
for building God's church.
00:15:19.65\00:15:24.59
ASi is everywhere,
00:15:24.62\00:15:27.19
and it is building God's church.
00:15:27.26\00:15:31.06
In my remarks to
the Juba ASi group,
00:15:31.09\00:15:34.56
I mentioned some other
meanings of the ASi acronym.
00:15:34.56\00:15:40.10
And I want to
present them to you today
00:15:40.14\00:15:42.97
since your job is
building God's church,
00:15:43.00\00:15:47.78
lifting Him up.
00:15:47.81\00:15:51.21
ASI, always stay involved,
00:15:51.25\00:15:57.35
stay involved
with your local church,
00:15:57.39\00:15:59.05
your pastor, stay
involved with a local conference
00:15:59.09\00:16:02.29
and its evangelistic plans.
00:16:02.32\00:16:04.53
Stay involved with the national
00:16:04.56\00:16:06.56
and international evangelistic
outreach, always stay involved.
00:16:06.59\00:16:13.27
Don't be tempted to
drift into your own world,
00:16:13.34\00:16:18.34
stay involved in the
church and its mission.
00:16:18.37\00:16:23.85
ASI, a spiritual identity.
00:16:23.88\00:16:29.25
ASi is first and foremost
a spiritual organization
00:16:29.28\00:16:33.59
that allows the Holy Spirit
00:16:33.66\00:16:35.89
to guide and direct
activities and decisions.
00:16:35.92\00:16:40.03
ASi is a
soul-winning organization.
00:16:40.10\00:16:43.06
We saw that
throughout this ASi convention,
00:16:43.10\00:16:47.14
young people and older ones,
00:16:47.20\00:16:49.54
presenting their
talents to the Lord.
00:16:49.57\00:16:52.27
It is sharing the
central focus of Jesus
00:16:52.31\00:16:56.21
and its spiritual
mission to others,
00:16:56.24\00:16:58.65
a spiritual identity.
00:16:58.68\00:17:01.75
ASI, aggressive
scriptural interest.
00:17:01.78\00:17:07.86
One of the greatest attacks
00:17:07.89\00:17:09.52
against God's
prophetic truth today
00:17:09.56\00:17:13.93
and His advent movement,
00:17:13.96\00:17:16.23
and I want to tell you I
believe this very strongly.
00:17:16.26\00:17:20.97
One of the greatest
attacks is the devil's attack
00:17:21.00\00:17:23.61
against the
precious Word of God.
00:17:23.64\00:17:28.28
He is attempting to
neutralize the plainest words
00:17:28.31\00:17:32.75
of the scripture.
00:17:32.78\00:17:34.32
The simplest
wording of scripture
00:17:34.35\00:17:36.72
is twisted and turned by many
00:17:36.79\00:17:39.49
to say the opposite
of what it actually says.
00:17:39.52\00:17:44.23
At ASI, always have
00:17:44.26\00:17:46.90
an aggressive
scriptural interest,
00:17:46.93\00:17:50.67
as you lift up
Christ and His holy word.
00:17:50.73\00:17:56.30
You see this is all part of ASI,
00:17:56.34\00:17:59.31
building God's church
and lifting up Jesus Christ.
00:17:59.34\00:18:04.01
Your very ethos of
Jesus in the market place
00:18:04.08\00:18:08.62
challenges all of us to
explain to our loved ones,
00:18:08.65\00:18:12.09
to our
neighbors, to our friends,
00:18:12.12\00:18:14.12
what Jesus has
done in our own lives
00:18:14.19\00:18:17.39
and what he can
do in their lives
00:18:17.46\00:18:20.46
to become changed people
00:18:20.53\00:18:22.63
through His blood and His power,
00:18:22.66\00:18:26.37
through the Holy Spirit.
00:18:26.40\00:18:28.40
Build God's church, lift Him up.
00:18:28.44\00:18:35.38
Tell the marketplace
of Christ's righteousness,
00:18:35.41\00:18:40.02
His justifying
power to cover our sins
00:18:40.05\00:18:43.79
with His robe of righteousness
and His sanctifying power
00:18:43.82\00:18:48.52
to help us to
grow on a daily basis
00:18:48.56\00:18:51.69
to become more and more like Him
00:18:51.73\00:18:55.53
through the Holy Spirit's power.
00:18:55.56\00:18:57.87
By our personal
commitment to Christ,
00:18:57.90\00:19:00.30
we have accepted
00:19:00.37\00:19:02.20
the fulfillment of God's promise
00:19:02.24\00:19:04.71
in John Chapter 1:12,
00:19:04.74\00:19:08.44
which says "But as
many as received Him,
00:19:08.48\00:19:11.21
to them He gave the right
to become children of God,
00:19:11.25\00:19:17.12
to those who
believe in His name."
00:19:17.15\00:19:21.42
What a wonderful
promise, build God's church.
00:19:21.46\00:19:27.03
He's called ASi
and all church members
00:19:27.03\00:19:30.67
to help our
growing global family
00:19:30.70\00:19:33.84
of almost 19
million brothers and sisters
00:19:33.87\00:19:37.51
to lift Him up and
to build God's church
00:19:37.54\00:19:41.18
in anticipation of
His glorious return.
00:19:41.21\00:19:45.98
At this critical
stage in earth's history,
00:19:46.01\00:19:49.15
in the overall biblical
and prophetic timetable,
00:19:49.18\00:19:53.66
listen to God's instruction
about building His work
00:19:53.69\00:19:58.03
in Ephesians Chapter 2:19-22
00:19:58.06\00:20:04.47
"Now, therefore,
00:20:04.50\00:20:06.37
you are no longer
strangers and foreigners,
00:20:06.40\00:20:08.70
but fellow
citizens with the saints
00:20:08.74\00:20:10.61
and members of
the household of God,
00:20:10.67\00:20:14.24
having been
built on the foundation
00:20:14.28\00:20:18.05
of the apostles and prophets,
00:20:18.08\00:20:20.08
Jesus Christ Himself
being the chief cornerstone,
00:20:20.12\00:20:25.25
in whom the whole
building, being fitted together,
00:20:25.29\00:20:29.36
grows into a holy
temple in the Lord,
00:20:29.39\00:20:33.26
in whom you also
are being built together
00:20:33.29\00:20:37.43
for a dwelling place
of God in the Spirit."
00:20:37.50\00:20:42.80
How exciting it
is that none of us
00:20:42.84\00:20:45.24
need to be strangers any longer,
00:20:45.27\00:20:47.94
but they were part
of God's household,
00:20:47.98\00:20:50.91
His beautiful church
00:20:50.95\00:20:52.41
that He is
constructing and building.
00:20:52.45\00:20:56.62
We're part of a
worldwide heaven born movement
00:20:56.65\00:21:00.06
that is
building up God's church.
00:21:00.09\00:21:03.63
Never forget that you are
building on the foundations
00:21:03.66\00:21:07.76
of those laid
before in the past,
00:21:07.83\00:21:12.33
and that the cornerstone
of God's great church
00:21:12.37\00:21:14.94
is Jesus Christ Himself.
00:21:14.97\00:21:18.14
In response to Christ's question
00:21:18.17\00:21:20.08
to the disciples,
"Who do you think I am?"
00:21:20.14\00:21:25.35
Well, Peter's response was
00:21:25.38\00:21:27.48
that He was the
son of the living God,
00:21:27.52\00:21:29.85
and Jesus replied in
Mathew Chapter 16:18,
00:21:29.88\00:21:35.42
"And I also say to
you that you are Peter,
00:21:35.46\00:21:39.36
and on this rock I
will build My church,
00:21:39.39\00:21:43.10
and the gates of Hades
shall not prevail against it."
00:21:43.13\00:21:48.84
Now, unfortunately,
some have mistaken this text
00:21:48.87\00:21:52.77
to mean that Peter was the rock
00:21:52.81\00:21:55.74
on which the
church would be built,
00:21:55.78\00:21:59.05
that is not a correct
scriptural understanding.
00:21:59.08\00:22:03.72
Jesus was simply addressing
Peter as a small stone
00:22:03.79\00:22:09.16
and telling him that the rock
that would be the foundation
00:22:09.19\00:22:13.19
or the cornerstone of the church
00:22:13.23\00:22:16.43
was none other then
Jesus Christ Himself.
00:22:16.46\00:22:20.60
Christ is the rock
00:22:20.64\00:22:24.31
and you are asked to
build God's church on the rock,
00:22:24.34\00:22:28.64
Jesus Christ, lift Him up.
00:22:28.68\00:22:34.22
He is the cornerstone,
He is the true foundation,
00:22:34.28\00:22:38.09
lift Him up.
00:22:38.12\00:22:41.82
In 1 Peter Chapter
2:4, Peter himself,
00:22:41.86\00:22:47.50
to whom Jesus
addressed the previous citation
00:22:47.56\00:22:52.23
in the scripture explains that
Christ is the, "Living stone,
00:22:52.27\00:22:57.14
rejected indeed by men,
00:22:57.17\00:22:58.87
but chosen by God and precious."
00:22:58.91\00:23:02.94
In verse 5 of that chapter,
Peter includes you and me
00:23:02.98\00:23:08.15
in this wonderful building
up of God's church by saying,
00:23:08.18\00:23:13.05
and I quote
00:23:13.09\00:23:14.56
"You also, as living stones,
00:23:14.59\00:23:18.36
are being built
up a spiritual house,
00:23:18.39\00:23:22.10
a holy priesthood, to
offer up spiritual sacrifices
00:23:22.13\00:23:27.84
acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ."
00:23:27.87\00:23:33.44
My dear ASi friends, you and I,
00:23:33.48\00:23:37.21
we are the living
stones in Jesus Christ.
00:23:37.25\00:23:42.82
Let's build God's church
00:23:42.85\00:23:45.85
and His
wonderful advent movement.
00:23:45.89\00:23:50.03
We praise God
00:23:50.09\00:23:51.43
for His precious
biblical message of truth
00:23:51.46\00:23:54.56
for this end time setting.
00:23:54.56\00:23:57.83
From a prophetic prospective,
00:23:57.87\00:24:01.27
the world will get
worse before it gets better.
00:24:01.30\00:24:07.61
But when it does get
better, it will be the best
00:24:07.64\00:24:11.88
since we recognize that
the soon advent of Christ
00:24:11.91\00:24:16.42
is approaching,
Jesus is coming soon,
00:24:16.45\00:24:20.56
lift Him up.
00:24:20.59\00:24:22.49
Observing world events,
we immediately recognize
00:24:22.52\00:24:26.80
that Mathew
Chapter 24, Revelation 13
00:24:26.83\00:24:30.73
are being
fulfilled before our eyes.
00:24:30.77\00:24:34.87
So many things
that are happening
00:24:34.90\00:24:36.37
point to a rapid fulfillment
of prophetic messages,
00:24:36.40\00:24:41.08
indicating the final
days of this earth's history.
00:24:41.11\00:24:47.22
Debbie made an
appeal about the offering.
00:24:47.28\00:24:53.32
We are sitting here in
a comfortable auditorium,
00:24:53.36\00:24:55.96
life, more or less,
00:24:55.99\00:24:57.49
is rather
comfortable in the United States
00:24:57.53\00:24:59.96
and in many parts of the world.
00:25:00.06\00:25:01.63
Don't be fooled and
lulled into a false expectation.
00:25:01.66\00:25:07.77
We are living at
the very end of time.
00:25:07.80\00:25:12.24
Signs of uncertainty all
around us are being seen.
00:25:12.27\00:25:16.31
The end of time is upon
us, the world is in disarray,
00:25:16.34\00:25:19.95
no one can solve
00:25:20.02\00:25:21.45
the insurmountable
political problems
00:25:21.48\00:25:24.52
facing the world today.
00:25:24.55\00:25:27.09
Every day, we see the horrible,
00:25:27.16\00:25:29.49
terrible results of
unrest, of killing, of butchery,
00:25:29.52\00:25:35.96
and treachery.
00:25:36.00\00:25:37.70
We better understand
that very interesting text
00:25:37.73\00:25:41.94
in Luke Chapter 21:26,
00:25:41.97\00:25:45.27
when it recounts, "Men's
hearts failing them from fear
00:25:45.31\00:25:50.01
and the
expectation of those things
00:25:50.05\00:25:53.01
which are coming on the earth."
00:25:53.05\00:25:56.12
You see signs of
uncertainty are all around us,
00:25:56.15\00:25:58.89
social trends in this
country and elsewhere,
00:25:58.92\00:26:03.12
continue to defy biblical truth.
00:26:03.16\00:26:08.30
Economic
instability is everywhere.
00:26:08.33\00:26:11.73
Ecumenical trends are
pointing to the fulfillment
00:26:11.77\00:26:15.64
of Revelation 13:3,
00:26:15.67\00:26:19.17
which says "All the world
wondered after the beast."
00:26:19.21\00:26:25.95
ASI, God calls you
to build his church.
00:26:25.98\00:26:31.32
Be in connection
00:26:31.35\00:26:32.69
and in communion
with Him every day,
00:26:32.72\00:26:35.06
being revived
and reformed in Him,
00:26:35.09\00:26:37.69
lifting Him up,
not only before people
00:26:37.73\00:26:40.00
but in your own life,
00:26:40.03\00:26:41.33
build up God's church as
we point people to Christ,
00:26:41.36\00:26:45.77
to His holy word, to His church,
00:26:45.80\00:26:48.94
His prophetic movement,
00:26:48.97\00:26:50.57
His biblical
plan for the family,
00:26:50.61\00:26:54.24
to His sanctuary message,
00:26:54.28\00:26:56.21
to public and
personal witnessing
00:26:56.24\00:26:58.95
and evangelism, to believe in
00:26:58.98\00:27:01.75
and use of the
spirit of prophecy,
00:27:01.78\00:27:05.42
to the proclamation of
His three angels' messages,
00:27:05.45\00:27:09.39
to Christian stewardship,
to living the Christian life,
00:27:09.42\00:27:12.66
to Christian
humanitarian service,
00:27:12.69\00:27:15.23
and to sharing the
promise of Christ's soon-coming,
00:27:15.26\00:27:19.70
build God's church.
00:27:19.73\00:27:22.80
One of the most
important biblical examples
00:27:22.84\00:27:25.51
of faithful building,
00:27:25.54\00:27:29.94
we just heard of
a wonderful school
00:27:29.98\00:27:32.91
that is being built with
a one day church template.
00:27:32.95\00:27:38.79
Lot of building going on,
00:27:38.82\00:27:40.66
lot of people here in
this room have participated
00:27:40.69\00:27:43.53
in many different
kinds of building projects.
00:27:43.56\00:27:46.93
We have professional people
00:27:47.00\00:27:48.56
who are involved in
contracting and building.
00:27:48.60\00:27:52.33
One of the most
incredible biblical examples
00:27:52.37\00:27:55.84
of construction is
the story of Nehemiah,
00:27:55.87\00:28:00.91
who served in
the Persian palace.
00:28:00.94\00:28:03.78
In your Bibles, turn
to Nehemiah Chapter 1:4,
00:28:03.81\00:28:07.58
it records that
when Nehemiah heard
00:28:07.65\00:28:10.22
about the broken
down wall of Jerusalem,
00:28:10.25\00:28:13.22
he sat down and wept,
00:28:13.25\00:28:17.06
he then turned
his pleading heart
00:28:17.09\00:28:19.03
to the Lord in prayer.
00:28:19.06\00:28:20.53
You see, when you
see something wrong,
00:28:20.56\00:28:22.33
when you see
something needing to be fixed,
00:28:22.36\00:28:25.03
don't just complain,
don't just sit and weep,
00:28:25.07\00:28:31.57
do something,
build God's church.
00:28:31.61\00:28:35.98
As he prayed to the Lord
00:28:36.01\00:28:37.95
and as you faced
challenges each day,
00:28:37.98\00:28:40.52
be constant in
prayer just as Nehemiah was,
00:28:40.55\00:28:44.45
asking the Lord to give guidance
00:28:44.49\00:28:47.79
and to give success in
our own personal lives.
00:28:47.82\00:28:53.09
Let us pray earnestly
00:28:53.13\00:28:55.03
for the falling
of the latter reign
00:28:55.06\00:28:57.27
of the Holy Spirit.
00:28:57.33\00:28:58.87
It will come and I
believe very, very soon.
00:28:58.90\00:29:03.20
In Nehemiah Chapter 1:11,
Nehemiah prays "O Lord, I pray,
00:29:03.24\00:29:08.41
please let Your ear be attentive
00:29:08.44\00:29:11.05
to the prayer of Your servant--"
00:29:11.08\00:29:12.91
As you build God's church,
00:29:12.95\00:29:14.78
brothers and sisters here at ASi
00:29:14.82\00:29:16.92
and wherever you might
be watching this telecast,
00:29:16.95\00:29:21.32
understand that we must pray
00:29:21.36\00:29:23.56
like we have
never prayed before.
00:29:23.59\00:29:27.30
Pray to receive
power from on high
00:29:27.36\00:29:29.60
for the mission entrusted to us.
00:29:29.63\00:29:32.20
Pray for the latter
reign of the Holy Spirit.
00:29:32.23\00:29:36.00
Nehemiah received permission
from the king of Persia
00:29:36.04\00:29:40.08
to return to Jerusalem
and to rebuild the wall.
00:29:40.11\00:29:44.78
Three days after
arriving in Jerusalem,
00:29:44.81\00:29:46.95
after assessing
the needs of that wall
00:29:47.02\00:29:50.19
and the city itself,
00:29:50.22\00:29:51.82
Nehemiah
challenged the Jewish nations
00:29:51.85\00:29:54.66
saying in chapter 2:17
00:29:54.69\00:29:57.23
"Come and let us
build the wall of Jerusalem,
00:29:57.26\00:30:01.36
that we may no
longer be a reproach."
00:30:01.40\00:30:06.70
My dear friends,
00:30:06.74\00:30:08.30
members of the
Seventh-day Adventist church,
00:30:08.34\00:30:11.04
don't ever let your work
00:30:11.07\00:30:13.94
or your attitude
be a reproach to God.
00:30:13.98\00:30:19.11
Don't let your
church be a reproach to God.
00:30:19.15\00:30:21.98
Don't ever be
ashamed of your church
00:30:22.02\00:30:24.15
or of who you are.
00:30:24.19\00:30:26.92
You know, I've
mentioned this before,
00:30:26.96\00:30:28.29
some of you may have heard it,
00:30:28.32\00:30:30.49
but supposing
someone comes up to you,
00:30:30.53\00:30:32.69
right here in Spokane
and says "Well, you know,
00:30:32.73\00:30:35.36
I notice you've got
quite a group of people here,
00:30:35.40\00:30:38.73
who are you people?"
00:30:38.77\00:30:40.10
"Well, you know,
we're just a little church
00:30:40.17\00:30:42.50
you have never heard about
it, it's just a little group.
00:30:42.54\00:30:45.44
You may have heard
of Pathways to Health,
00:30:45.47\00:30:47.98
but you really don't know
anything about the church."
00:30:48.01\00:30:49.84
"But who are you,
what do you represent?
00:30:49.88\00:30:52.88
I've noticed you're
doing something different,
00:30:52.91\00:30:55.08
you look a little different."
00:30:55.12\00:30:56.65
"Well, you know I belong
00:30:56.72\00:30:58.05
to the
Seventh-day Adventist church."
00:30:58.09\00:31:00.16
"What was that?"
00:31:00.19\00:31:02.22
You know, my
friends, as ASi members,
00:31:02.26\00:31:04.59
as members of the church,
00:31:04.63\00:31:06.13
when someone asks
you what you believe
00:31:06.16\00:31:09.03
and who you are, look
them straight in the face,
00:31:09.06\00:31:11.77
straighten up, put a
smile on your face and say
00:31:11.80\00:31:14.87
"I am a Seventh-day Adventist,
and let me tell you about it."
00:31:14.90\00:31:19.77
Lift up Jesus first,
00:31:19.81\00:31:24.05
and then share the
beautiful relationship
00:31:24.11\00:31:26.58
you have with Him.
00:31:26.61\00:31:28.35
Don't be a reproach
to God or your church.
00:31:28.38\00:31:33.92
Well, the positive
response of those in Jerusalem
00:31:33.96\00:31:37.13
is found in verse
18, and they said,
00:31:37.19\00:31:40.90
"Let us rise up and build,
00:31:40.93\00:31:44.83
but beware of those who
want to tear down the wall,
00:31:44.87\00:31:50.04
those who might
have a negative affect
00:31:50.07\00:31:53.84
on you and your project,"
00:31:53.91\00:31:57.38
and those are represented
in this story by Sanballat,
00:31:57.41\00:32:01.32
Tobiah, and Geshem.
00:32:01.35\00:32:04.09
They laughed and
they despised Nehemiah.
00:32:04.12\00:32:08.56
I want to tell you,
take courage from God,
00:32:08.59\00:32:12.29
the God of Nehemiah,
00:32:12.33\00:32:14.50
in the challenges
that each of you face
00:32:14.56\00:32:17.33
and join with
Nehemiah in saying in verse 20,
00:32:17.37\00:32:22.84
"The God of heaven
Himself will prosper us,
00:32:22.87\00:32:27.24
therefore we His
servants will arise and build."
00:32:27.28\00:32:32.71
Lean on Jesus,
00:32:32.75\00:32:36.32
lift Him up.
00:32:36.35\00:32:40.12
I might just share
that, you know, personally,
00:32:40.16\00:32:44.46
I face number of
challenges from time to time,
00:32:44.49\00:32:49.16
people trying to
tear down God's church
00:32:49.20\00:32:52.13
or things that we try to do.
00:32:52.17\00:32:55.44
I want to tell you I
would have no success
00:32:55.47\00:32:58.61
whatsoever in what I do
00:32:58.64\00:33:01.31
if I didn't fully turn
everything over to Jesus
00:33:01.34\00:33:05.91
and lean on Him.
00:33:05.95\00:33:07.45
Amen.
00:33:07.52\00:33:08.85
I ask you to do the
same in your own lives.
00:33:08.88\00:33:12.52
Well, the
construction began and came up
00:33:12.55\00:33:14.59
to half of the
height of the intended wall,
00:33:14.62\00:33:18.66
because as verse
6 in chapter 4 says,
00:33:18.69\00:33:23.10
"The people had a mind to work."
00:33:23.13\00:33:27.30
You know, when you
build God's church,
00:33:27.34\00:33:29.00
have a vision, have a direction,
00:33:29.04\00:33:31.74
have enthusiasm, an objective,
they had a mind to work.
00:33:31.77\00:33:37.71
However, when
Sanballat and Tobiah
00:33:37.75\00:33:40.82
and the enemies of
God heard of the progress,
00:33:40.88\00:33:43.65
they made a plan to attack.
00:33:43.69\00:33:47.32
Nehemiah pled with
the Lord through prayer
00:33:47.36\00:33:50.39
and then
positioned the people saying,
00:33:50.43\00:33:52.73
in that same
chapter, Chapter 4 verse 14,
00:33:52.76\00:33:56.30
"Remember the
Lord, great and awesome,
00:33:56.33\00:33:59.30
and fight for your brethren,
your sons, your daughters,
00:33:59.33\00:34:02.27
your wives, and your houses."
00:34:02.30\00:34:05.37
He divided the task of
defense and construction,
00:34:05.41\00:34:09.91
so that all participated
in building and defending.
00:34:09.94\00:34:15.95
In fact, in verse 17, it says
"Those who built on the wall,
00:34:15.98\00:34:20.79
and those who carried
burdens, loaded themselves
00:34:20.86\00:34:24.79
so that with one hand
they worked at construction,
00:34:24.83\00:34:29.40
and with the
other held a weapon."
00:34:29.43\00:34:34.00
As you build God's church,
00:34:34.04\00:34:37.37
with one hand do the work of God
00:34:37.41\00:34:40.64
and in the other,
hold the Word of God.
00:34:40.68\00:34:44.51
This is your heavenly weapon
against all that will attack.
00:34:44.55\00:34:50.69
Lean completely on the
Lord, in your faithful service,
00:34:50.75\00:34:54.69
saying along
with those who worked
00:34:54.72\00:34:56.69
on the wall of
Jerusalem recorded in verse 20,
00:34:56.73\00:35:00.63
our God will fight for us.
00:35:00.66\00:35:05.03
What an assurance we
have, as Seventh-day Adventists
00:35:05.07\00:35:08.84
marched into
the very near future
00:35:08.87\00:35:11.77
and what we know
will happen prophetically,
00:35:11.81\00:35:14.94
our God will fight for us.
00:35:14.98\00:35:19.55
Nehemiah and his
colleagues were so persistent
00:35:19.58\00:35:22.22
and faithful in
building God's wall
00:35:22.25\00:35:26.79
that they did not
even take off their clothes
00:35:26.86\00:35:29.96
except to wash them.
00:35:30.03\00:35:32.56
Work with that
same type of dedication
00:35:32.59\00:35:36.93
to build God's
church and proclaim
00:35:36.97\00:35:39.23
the three angels'
messages with Holy Spirit power.
00:35:39.27\00:35:43.87
In the book
Testimonies volume 9, page 19,
00:35:43.91\00:35:47.98
we are told the
focus that we are to have.
00:35:48.01\00:35:51.55
It's one of my
favorite quotations.
00:35:51.58\00:35:54.32
It says "In a special
sense Seventh-say Adventists
00:35:54.35\00:35:57.35
have been set in the world
as watchmen and light bearers."
00:35:57.39\00:36:01.16
Imagine yourself walking
along the top of the wall
00:36:01.19\00:36:05.29
of the wall of
Jerusalem symbolically.
00:36:05.33\00:36:08.06
You are set as a watchman,
00:36:08.10\00:36:10.00
someone who is to look
out for God's great church.
00:36:10.07\00:36:13.94
"They have been given a
work of the most solemn import-
00:36:13.97\00:36:16.81
the proclamation
of the first, second,
00:36:16.84\00:36:18.71
and third angels' messages.
00:36:18.74\00:36:20.51
There is no other work
of so great importance.
00:36:20.58\00:36:24.48
They are to allow nothing
else to absorb their attention."
00:36:24.51\00:36:31.39
What absorbs your attention?
00:36:31.42\00:36:34.36
I have to confess
that day in, day out,
00:36:34.39\00:36:38.36
email absorbs a
lot of my attention.
00:36:38.39\00:36:42.86
Challenges and problems
and talking with people,
00:36:42.90\00:36:45.40
well, it's all
part of the process,
00:36:45.43\00:36:47.00
but let me tell you,
if I spend too much time
00:36:47.04\00:36:49.84
doing God's business
00:36:49.87\00:36:51.87
but don't attend to
my own relationship,
00:36:51.91\00:36:54.91
I want to tell you I
will not find salvation.
00:36:54.94\00:37:00.88
Even the General
Conference President
00:37:00.95\00:37:03.45
is not immune
to being distracted
00:37:03.52\00:37:07.99
by even good things.
00:37:08.02\00:37:09.76
Yes. What
absorbs your attention?
00:37:09.79\00:37:15.73
Well, Sanballat and Tobiah
and Geshem didn't give up.
00:37:15.76\00:37:19.47
Beware of those
who will dissuade you
00:37:19.50\00:37:22.64
of your great task as
Seventh-day Adventists
00:37:22.67\00:37:25.74
on the wall just
before Christ's soon-coming
00:37:25.77\00:37:30.08
as you build God's church.
00:37:30.15\00:37:32.98
The enemies of
Nehemiah sent a message to him,
00:37:33.01\00:37:36.05
to meet them in
order to distract him
00:37:36.08\00:37:40.06
from his work of building.
00:37:40.09\00:37:41.96
Now this is where the
story really gets interesting.
00:37:41.99\00:37:46.46
There are gonna be people,
there are gonna be projects,
00:37:46.49\00:37:49.93
there are gonna be things
00:37:49.96\00:37:51.57
which may be even
good in themselves,
00:37:51.60\00:37:54.44
may be used to distract
you from building God's church.
00:37:54.47\00:38:01.41
Well, Nehemiah sent
back a very powerful message
00:38:01.44\00:38:04.65
in chapter 6 verse 3,
00:38:04.68\00:38:06.61
one of the most
powerful messages in that book.
00:38:06.65\00:38:10.62
Let this be your
message as well as mine,
00:38:10.65\00:38:13.82
through the
grace of Jesus Christ,
00:38:13.89\00:38:16.26
"I am doing a great work,
00:38:16.29\00:38:20.33
so that I cannot come down."
00:38:20.36\00:38:25.23
When the
Sanballats and the Tobiahs
00:38:25.27\00:38:27.14
and the Geshems of this
world tempt you to distraction,
00:38:27.17\00:38:31.21
tell them "We are
building God's church
00:38:31.24\00:38:34.78
and we will not come down."
00:38:34.81\00:38:37.65
Nehemiah prayed in Verse 9,
"O God, strengthen my hands."
00:38:37.68\00:38:44.62
Ask God to strengthen your hands
00:38:44.65\00:38:48.89
as you build God's church.
00:38:48.92\00:38:52.16
God will reward
your faithfulness
00:38:52.19\00:38:54.83
as He did Nehemiah's,
00:38:54.83\00:38:57.33
verses 15 and 16
of Chapter 6 record.
00:38:57.37\00:39:02.54
"So the wall was finished...
00:39:02.57\00:39:04.91
And it happened,
00:39:04.94\00:39:06.27
when all our
enemies heard of it,
00:39:06.31\00:39:08.88
and all the nations
around us saw these things,
00:39:08.91\00:39:12.35
that they were very disheartened
00:39:12.38\00:39:14.85
in their own eyes;
00:39:14.88\00:39:16.75
for they perceived
that this work was done
00:39:16.82\00:39:22.29
by our God."
00:39:22.32\00:39:24.26
Amen.
00:39:24.29\00:39:25.99
When God shows His
mighty hand in your work,
00:39:26.03\00:39:28.66
wherever you happened
to be, in the local church,
00:39:28.70\00:39:31.03
in a large
setting, in a small setting,
00:39:31.07\00:39:34.77
whatever it is,
give Him all the glory.
00:39:34.80\00:39:40.28
And people will see that
He is working through you
00:39:40.31\00:39:44.15
to lift Him up.
00:39:44.18\00:39:47.85
Prophets and Kings, page 645,
00:39:47.88\00:39:53.29
"Like Nehemiah, God's
people are neither to fear
00:39:53.36\00:39:56.19
nor to despise their enemies."
00:39:56.22\00:39:59.89
Now that's an
interesting directive,
00:39:59.93\00:40:04.57
do not fear or
despise your enemies.
00:40:04.60\00:40:08.10
"Putting their trust in God,
00:40:08.14\00:40:09.47
they are to go steadily forward,
00:40:09.50\00:40:11.84
doing His work
with unselfishness,
00:40:11.87\00:40:15.54
and committing to His providence
00:40:15.58\00:40:17.85
the cause for which they stand."
00:40:17.88\00:40:20.88
Lean on Jesus.
00:40:20.92\00:40:24.39
ASi members, I challenge you
00:40:24.42\00:40:25.95
as you face the last
days of earth's history,
00:40:25.99\00:40:29.09
to build the God's church
00:40:29.12\00:40:30.96
through the power
of the Holy Spirit
00:40:30.99\00:40:33.46
and your daily walk
with Jesus in Bible study,
00:40:33.50\00:40:37.30
in study of the
spirit of prophecy,
00:40:37.33\00:40:39.30
in prayer and in witnessing,
00:40:39.33\00:40:41.87
lift Him up in all that
you do, accept God's plea.
00:40:41.90\00:40:47.14
In Revelation Chapter
2:10, "Be faithful until death,
00:40:47.21\00:40:52.98
and I will give
you the crown of life."
00:40:53.01\00:40:57.22
Take Christ's words seriously,
00:40:57.25\00:40:58.85
found in Revelation 3:11,
"Behold, I am coming quickly!
00:40:58.89\00:41:04.36
Hold fast what you have,
00:41:04.39\00:41:07.03
that no one may
take your crown."
00:41:07.10\00:41:10.93
Realize that you
are the inheritors
00:41:10.97\00:41:13.07
of God's great commission,
00:41:13.10\00:41:15.50
to proclaim the truth
to the final generation
00:41:15.54\00:41:19.41
and build God's church.
00:41:19.44\00:41:23.11
Revelation 17:14 says,
"The Lamb will overcome them,
00:41:23.14\00:41:28.35
for He is the Lord of
lords and the King of kings;
00:41:28.38\00:41:31.85
and those who are with Him
00:41:31.89\00:41:33.32
are called,
chosen, and faithful."
00:41:33.36\00:41:38.93
You are chosen to
build up God's church,
00:41:38.96\00:41:43.80
and by God's grace,
00:41:43.83\00:41:45.20
to testify of His
wonderful goodness
00:41:45.23\00:41:47.94
in your own personal experience.
00:41:47.97\00:41:50.27
Stand firm for
God's truth, lift Him up,
00:41:50.34\00:41:54.21
proclaim His word,
00:41:54.24\00:41:55.74
and build God's
church wherever you live.
00:41:55.78\00:42:00.75
Last January of this year,
00:42:00.82\00:42:04.45
it was a
privilege for the leadership
00:42:04.49\00:42:06.15
of the Seventh-day Adventist
church of the world church
00:42:06.19\00:42:10.13
to be in La
Romana, Dominican Republic.
00:42:10.16\00:42:14.10
We were conducting
administrative meetings
00:42:14.10\00:42:16.43
and planning for the
future building of God's church.
00:42:16.46\00:42:21.10
We took time to study God's word
00:42:21.14\00:42:23.57
in the morning
with Pastor Finley,
00:42:23.61\00:42:26.04
and then to focus
on the Holy Spirit
00:42:26.07\00:42:28.58
in the latter reign,
00:42:28.61\00:42:29.94
engaging in the
worldwide 10 days of prayer
00:42:30.01\00:42:33.15
that took place in January.
00:42:33.18\00:42:36.45
We had morning and
evening prayer sessions
00:42:36.48\00:42:40.46
as senior leadership
of the entire world field.
00:42:40.52\00:42:45.43
It was a great
blessing to pray together,
00:42:45.46\00:42:47.10
we had division presidents
00:42:47.13\00:42:48.46
from almost every
corner of this globe,
00:42:48.50\00:42:51.73
as well as senior leadership
00:42:51.77\00:42:53.13
from the General
Conference itself.
00:42:53.17\00:42:55.74
However, on Wednesday
of that particular week,
00:42:55.77\00:42:59.84
together, we took time out
from our administrative duties
00:42:59.87\00:43:03.58
and discussions for
almost the entire day
00:43:03.65\00:43:07.75
to literally build God's church.
00:43:07.78\00:43:11.79
It was a wonderful experience
00:43:11.82\00:43:13.36
as we worked with Maranatha
Volunteers International.
00:43:13.39\00:43:17.03
Maranatha, as you well
know, is lead by Don Noble,
00:43:17.06\00:43:20.93
Kenneth Weise and
others, and is an ASi member,
00:43:20.96\00:43:26.70
a dynamic supporting
ministry of the church
00:43:26.74\00:43:30.37
that works all over
the world using volunteers,
00:43:30.41\00:43:33.84
and has built many churches
00:43:33.88\00:43:35.54
in that particular
country of Dominican Republic.
00:43:35.58\00:43:38.78
Well, we were assigned
00:43:38.81\00:43:40.18
to help construct
the new one day church
00:43:40.22\00:43:43.39
and a one day
Sabbath school building
00:43:43.45\00:43:46.72
in the town of Villa Hermosa,
00:43:46.76\00:43:49.29
in its smaller
section called Villa Caoba.
00:43:49.32\00:43:54.63
Now our world church
leaders came with their gloves,
00:43:54.66\00:43:59.73
their hats, and
their work clothes,
00:43:59.77\00:44:04.67
they painted, they
shoveled, they poured cement,
00:44:04.71\00:44:08.64
they erected a structure,
they roofed two structures,
00:44:08.68\00:44:13.35
they built a wall.
00:44:13.42\00:44:15.85
Garwin, I don't
know where you're sitting
00:44:15.88\00:44:17.59
but you would
have been proud of us,
00:44:17.62\00:44:19.49
as we worked on
a one day church.
00:44:19.52\00:44:23.86
In fact, the Lord protected us,
00:44:23.93\00:44:26.59
because we don't
normally do that kind of work.
00:44:26.63\00:44:28.86
And we might run
into some problems,
00:44:28.90\00:44:30.93
but the Lord protected
and we had no accidents.
00:44:30.97\00:44:34.74
A new water well was also
put in on the church property,
00:44:34.77\00:44:39.07
dedicated to
providing abundant fresh water
00:44:39.11\00:44:42.91
to that community
00:44:42.94\00:44:44.28
which did not
have running water.
00:44:44.31\00:44:47.48
And the church
that was constructed
00:44:47.52\00:44:49.78
will provide that
town and community
00:44:49.82\00:44:52.79
with the living
water, Jesus Christ.
00:44:52.82\00:44:55.76
What a privilege and joy it was
for the World Church Leadership
00:44:55.79\00:45:00.63
to build God's
church in Villa Caoba.
00:45:00.66\00:45:04.67
And we know that this
church will be the foundation
00:45:04.70\00:45:06.94
of many more churches
00:45:06.97\00:45:08.70
that will be built
since the missionary zeal
00:45:08.74\00:45:11.47
of God's people
in Dominican Republic
00:45:11.51\00:45:14.21
is contagious.
00:45:14.28\00:45:16.18
My friends, God is
calling us to build God's church
00:45:16.21\00:45:20.82
in every possible way
00:45:20.85\00:45:23.25
as we come to
the very end of time.
00:45:23.28\00:45:25.75
We see the results
of faithful builders
00:45:25.79\00:45:28.09
of God's church all around us.
00:45:28.12\00:45:30.76
Right here, at
this ASi convention,
00:45:30.83\00:45:33.06
you have seen multiple times
00:45:33.09\00:45:34.96
how people are
building God's church.
00:45:35.00\00:45:37.47
This is the result
of God's faithful people
00:45:37.53\00:45:40.97
witnessing in
such a positive manner
00:45:41.00\00:45:44.11
to facilitate the
building-up of God's church
00:45:44.17\00:45:48.78
and sharing biblical truth.
00:45:48.81\00:45:52.18
God is calling you to
join in the final proclamation
00:45:52.21\00:45:56.22
of the wonderful news
00:45:56.25\00:45:57.99
that Jesus is
offering his salvation
00:45:58.02\00:46:00.82
to all who will receive
him, that he is coming soon,
00:46:00.89\00:46:04.89
and that they wants
us to tell someone else
00:46:04.93\00:46:07.66
about this good news and
help to build God's church.
00:46:07.73\00:46:12.90
Let's wake up, let's
realize, Jesus is coming soon,
00:46:12.93\00:46:19.61
look at the signs around you,
00:46:19.64\00:46:22.51
listen to the alarm
bells that are ringing.
00:46:22.54\00:46:28.45
Last night, well, I
should say early this morning,
00:46:28.48\00:46:32.32
those of you who are staying
in the Davenport Grand Hotel
00:46:32.35\00:46:38.89
received an
alarm, a wake up call.
00:46:38.93\00:46:43.23
It wasn't a wake-up
call that simply asked us
00:46:43.26\00:46:47.20
to designate a particular time
00:46:47.24\00:46:49.27
so that we would be ready
to come to a meeting here,
00:46:49.30\00:46:53.01
it was a fire alarm.
00:46:53.04\00:46:57.31
Well, after trying to wake up
00:46:57.35\00:47:02.22
and talking to my
wife a little bit,
00:47:02.25\00:47:05.89
that alarm didn't seize,
it kept on repeating itself.
00:47:05.92\00:47:12.79
Finally, I
pulled some clothes on
00:47:12.83\00:47:16.36
and so did Nancy,
00:47:16.40\00:47:18.23
I then went and
grabbed a few important things,
00:47:18.27\00:47:21.34
put them into my brief
case, put my laptop in,
00:47:21.37\00:47:24.87
and I put my Bible,
00:47:24.91\00:47:26.24
and I put my
sermon in for today.
00:47:26.27\00:47:31.38
We wandered down the stairway
00:47:31.41\00:47:33.82
from the 11th floor where we are
00:47:33.85\00:47:36.42
along with many other people
that had vacated that building.
00:47:36.45\00:47:42.02
We actually happened
to run into some people
00:47:42.06\00:47:45.06
that we knew, Steven,
Gayle, Hansen were there.
00:47:45.09\00:47:49.03
And Steve, finally,
00:47:49.06\00:47:50.43
when we were
down on the sidewalk,
00:47:50.47\00:47:51.80
he said, "What
illustration are you gonna draw
00:47:51.83\00:47:54.20
from this for the sermon?"
00:47:54.24\00:47:57.37
Well, I didn't quite
know how to approach that,
00:47:57.41\00:48:00.14
but this morning, we
received a text message
00:48:00.21\00:48:04.48
from Melody Mason,
whom you've seen here,
00:48:04.51\00:48:07.28
one of our strong
prayer coordinators.
00:48:07.35\00:48:10.22
And she said, "You know what?
00:48:10.25\00:48:12.25
That alarm was distinctly
and specifically telling us
00:48:12.29\00:48:17.86
that all around us, we
need to listen to the alarms
00:48:17.89\00:48:21.40
that are going off now.
00:48:21.43\00:48:22.80
We need to be ready to
proclaim God's precious truth."
00:48:22.83\00:48:28.27
Interestingly,
when we got down there,
00:48:28.30\00:48:30.04
Melody was with
some other friends also,
00:48:30.11\00:48:32.47
and she said "Well, I
took my laptop and my Bible.
00:48:32.51\00:48:37.08
Interestingly,
that's what I had done."
00:48:37.15\00:48:39.58
What are the most precious
things that you will take
00:48:39.61\00:48:42.85
when you have to
escape somewhere?
00:48:42.88\00:48:45.95
Let's never forget God's word.
00:48:45.99\00:48:48.36
Amen.
00:48:48.39\00:48:49.72
Let's remember the
alarms are going off,
00:48:49.76\00:48:52.89
that Jesus is coming soon,
let's believe God's prophets.
00:48:52.93\00:48:57.80
I hope that each of you
are gonna be participating
00:48:57.83\00:49:00.47
with believe his prophets,
reading God's word every day,
00:49:00.50\00:49:05.67
reading from the
spirit of prophecy.
00:49:05.71\00:49:08.21
Right now, we are
reading in Steps to Christ,
00:49:08.24\00:49:10.08
a marvelous book,
incredible 13 chapters,
00:49:10.11\00:49:15.02
reading from the scripture.
00:49:15.05\00:49:17.25
Let's believe in
the prophetic books
00:49:17.32\00:49:19.12
of Daniel and Revelation.
00:49:19.15\00:49:20.99
Christ is coming soon,
what a day that will be,
00:49:21.02\00:49:24.43
saved through the justifying
00:49:24.46\00:49:26.19
and sanctifying
power of Jesus Christ
00:49:26.23\00:49:29.00
and Him alone, saved
through His righteousness,
00:49:29.03\00:49:32.50
what a privilege to
share this prophetic message
00:49:32.53\00:49:36.00
and humbly ask God for
revival and reformation
00:49:36.04\00:49:39.94
in our own lives
as we lift up Jesus.
00:49:39.97\00:49:43.95
Amen.
00:49:43.98\00:49:45.75
Are we were willing
to renew our commitment
00:49:45.78\00:49:50.79
to the distinctive
prophetic messages of Daniel
00:49:50.82\00:49:54.06
and Revelation,
00:49:54.09\00:49:55.66
following in Christ's
steps of sharing his love,
00:49:55.69\00:49:59.46
warning the world
and building His church.
00:49:59.49\00:50:03.97
ASI, are you
willing to do your part
00:50:04.03\00:50:09.07
in building God's church
00:50:09.10\00:50:11.44
in these last days
of earth's history?
00:50:11.47\00:50:14.38
Well, one of
these days, very soon,
00:50:14.41\00:50:18.05
we will look up into the sky
00:50:18.08\00:50:21.02
and we will see a small
cloud approaching from the east,
00:50:21.05\00:50:26.29
and out here in Spokane,
00:50:26.32\00:50:27.66
that will be easier to see
that cloud than some places
00:50:27.69\00:50:30.49
where we have lots of
trees and all of that.
00:50:30.53\00:50:33.66
But wherever it
is, it doesn't matter,
00:50:33.70\00:50:35.63
the desert or the forest.
00:50:35.66\00:50:37.30
You will look up and you
will see that cloud approaching.
00:50:37.33\00:50:40.57
It will be an unusual cloud.
00:50:40.60\00:50:42.37
One about half the size of
a man's hand, dark in color,
00:50:42.40\00:50:47.71
but getting
brighter and brighter
00:50:47.74\00:50:49.38
and filling the entire
sky, and we will look up
00:50:49.41\00:50:52.08
and we will see the
culmination of all of our hopes
00:50:52.11\00:50:55.82
as Seventh-day
Adventist Christians,
00:50:55.85\00:50:58.19
the
second-coming of Jesus Christ.
00:50:58.22\00:51:01.06
And we'll look up and say
00:51:01.09\00:51:02.42
"This is the God
that we have waited for."
00:51:02.46\00:51:04.23
And the Lord will look
down and say "Well done,
00:51:04.26\00:51:07.10
good and
faithful servants in ASI,
00:51:07.13\00:51:10.63
enter into the
joy of your Lord."
00:51:10.67\00:51:15.00
Oh, what a day that will be,
00:51:15.04\00:51:17.47
a day that God is
preparing for you and for me
00:51:17.51\00:51:23.24
as we lift Him up.
00:51:23.31\00:51:27.58
I want to be there that day,
00:51:27.62\00:51:30.09
by the grace and
righteousness of Christ.
00:51:30.15\00:51:34.99
If today, you want to
humbly submit your life
00:51:35.02\00:51:41.96
to Christ and His
robe of righteousness,
00:51:42.00\00:51:45.90
and you want to go home
with the Lord to heaven,
00:51:45.93\00:51:50.14
asking Him while you are
here just before His coming,
00:51:50.17\00:51:54.64
to use you in every way possible
00:51:54.68\00:51:57.71
to lift Him up
and build His church.
00:51:57.75\00:52:02.75
If you want to make
that commitment today,
00:52:02.78\00:52:06.79
would you quietly stand
to your feet along with me?
00:52:06.86\00:52:11.83
Amen.
00:52:11.86\00:52:13.19
Now our Father in
heaven, You have heard prayers
00:52:19.77\00:52:22.34
ascending all
over this auditorium,
00:52:22.37\00:52:25.67
people who are pleading with You
00:52:25.71\00:52:27.81
to use them to
help build God's church,
00:52:27.84\00:52:33.08
to lift Jesus up in their lives,
00:52:33.11\00:52:35.42
in their daily activities
and in their service to others.
00:52:35.45\00:52:41.66
Lord, you have
heard the prayers,
00:52:41.69\00:52:45.96
not only in this auditorium
00:52:45.99\00:52:47.40
but people who are
watching through 3ABN broadcast
00:52:47.46\00:52:50.60
all over this globe.
00:52:50.63\00:52:52.63
Lord, guide in a
very special way,
00:52:52.67\00:52:56.24
as people's hearts
are turned towards You.
00:52:56.27\00:53:01.41
Lord, we long to see Jesus come.
00:53:01.44\00:53:06.15
Please use us
00:53:06.18\00:53:07.52
in these last days
of earth's history,
00:53:07.55\00:53:10.19
to accomplish
exactly what You have in mind
00:53:10.22\00:53:13.66
for the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:53:13.69\00:53:15.92
and all who
believe in your soon-coming
00:53:15.96\00:53:19.19
and the proclamation of
the three angels' messages
00:53:19.23\00:53:22.86
of Revelation 14.
00:53:22.90\00:53:25.00
Help us to be focused
upon building up God's church.
00:53:25.03\00:53:31.91
Thank you for
hearing us in this prayer,
00:53:31.94\00:53:35.01
we commit
ourselves into your hands,
00:53:35.04\00:53:37.81
go with us and empower us,
00:53:37.85\00:53:40.38
and help us to know that
our God will fight for us.
00:53:40.42\00:53:45.49
Amen.
00:53:45.52\00:53:46.86
In the precious and
wonderful, powerful name,
00:53:46.92\00:53:50.19
a name full of
righteousness for each of us,
00:53:50.23\00:53:54.63
we ask all of these things,
00:53:54.66\00:53:57.03
in the name of
Jesus Christ our Savior.
00:53:57.10\00:54:00.84
Amen. Amen.
00:54:00.87\00:54:03.84
Please remain standing
for our hymn of commitment.
00:54:03.91\00:54:08.11
I want to invite
you to remain standing
00:54:12.25\00:54:14.55
as we sing our closing
song, The Lord is coming.
00:54:14.58\00:54:18.85
The Lord is coming, let this be
00:54:34.60\00:54:38.91
The herald note of jubilee
00:54:38.94\00:54:43.18
And when we meet
and when we part,
00:54:43.21\00:54:47.18
The salutation from the heart
00:54:47.22\00:54:52.25
The Lord is coming, let this be
00:54:52.29\00:54:56.39
The herald note of jubilee
00:54:56.42\00:55:00.93
The herald note of jubilee
00:55:00.96\00:55:06.74
The Lord is
coming! Sound it forth
00:55:06.77\00:55:10.81
From east to west,
from south to north
00:55:10.84\00:55:14.74
Speed on! Speed
on the tidings glad
00:55:14.78\00:55:18.78
That none who
love Him may be sad
00:55:18.81\00:55:24.09
The Lord is coming, let this be
00:55:24.12\00:55:28.22
The herald note of jubilee
00:55:28.26\00:55:32.46
The herald note of jubilee
00:55:32.49\00:55:38.47
The Lord is
coming, swift and sure
00:55:38.50\00:55:42.54
And all His
judgments shall endure
00:55:42.57\00:55:46.54
And none can hope
to escape His wrath
00:55:46.57\00:55:50.61
Who walk not in the narrow path
00:55:50.65\00:55:55.62
The Lord is coming, let this be
00:55:55.65\00:55:59.72
The herald note of jubilee
00:55:59.75\00:56:03.96
The herald note of jubilee
00:56:03.99\00:56:10.57
This earth, with
her ten thousand wrongs
00:56:10.60\00:56:14.60
Will soon be
tuned in nobler songs
00:56:14.64\00:56:18.67
Our praise shall
then, in realms of light
00:56:18.71\00:56:22.64
With all His universe unite
00:56:22.68\00:56:27.88
The Lord is coming, let this be
00:56:27.92\00:56:32.29
The herald note of jubilee
00:56:32.32\00:56:38.19
The herald note of jubilee.
00:56:38.23\00:56:46.17
Please stand as we
have closing prayer.
00:57:00.05\00:57:03.42
Our Father in heaven,
00:57:06.62\00:57:09.39
we truly have been
in your presence today.
00:57:09.42\00:57:13.46
Thank you, Father,
for this privilege,
00:57:13.53\00:57:15.53
to gather together
from all around the world
00:57:15.56\00:57:17.97
to worship and lift You up.
00:57:18.00\00:57:21.27
Lord, be especially close
to our brothers and sisters
00:57:21.30\00:57:24.31
who only dream of the
freedom to do the same.
00:57:24.34\00:57:28.68
May we never take our
religious freedom for granted,
00:57:28.71\00:57:32.71
for we know it may
not last much longer.
00:57:32.75\00:57:36.69
We praise you father
00:57:36.72\00:57:38.12
for speaking through our
world leader, Elder Wilson,
00:57:38.15\00:57:41.96
who has just challenged
us with many powerful ways
00:57:41.99\00:57:45.83
that we can stay involved
in building up God's church
00:57:45.86\00:57:48.63
and preparation for
His very soon-coming.
00:57:48.66\00:57:52.40
Now, as we return to
our homes, businesses,
00:57:52.43\00:57:55.84
professions, and ministries
in the next few hours,
00:57:55.87\00:57:59.61
we have been inspired
00:57:59.64\00:58:01.04
to commit our
lives totally to You,
00:58:01.08\00:58:03.58
and we ask,
Father, that you bless us
00:58:03.61\00:58:06.21
with an everlasting desire
to keep You first in our lives,
00:58:06.25\00:58:10.92
regardless of the cost, in
the precious name of Jesus.
00:58:10.95\00:58:15.86
Amen.
00:58:15.89\00:58:17.26