Participants: Various Testimonies
Series Code: 15ASIC
Program Code: 15ASIC000012A
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00:21 It is a marvelous afternoon to be in Spokane, Washington.
00:25 And one of the reasons that I love Spokane so much 00:28 is because it's almost Canada, 00:30 where you can almost see Canada from Spokane, 00:34 and the look and feel of this town 00:35 reminds me of home. 00:38 We've come to an hour 00:40 where we're going to talk about the most important thing 00:42 that you can do as a believer. 00:44 I mean apart from giving your heart to Christ, 00:47 repenting, confessing your sins, apart from that, 00:50 the most important thing that you can do 00:52 is share your faith in Jesus Christ with someone 00:55 who has not yet discovered what He can do for them. 00:58 That's the most important thing we can do. 01:00 I'm convinced that God gives us that task for our own good. 01:04 He could send angel bands like He did to the shepherds 01:07 to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, 01:09 but what God in His infinite wisdom has chosen to do 01:13 is to have sinful human lips tell the story of redemption. 01:17 So that it gets handed on from sinner to sinner 01:19 and we all find our way home, 01:23 and that does some things for us. 01:25 I mean, it accomplishes the work of God, 01:27 but it also does something for us. 01:28 I've noticed something. 01:30 When you're busy sharing your faith with others, 01:32 your focus comes back off of yourself 01:36 because you're so engrossed 01:38 in the salvation of somebody else. 01:39 God plants the mind of Christ in you 01:42 so that you're no longer self-absorbed. 01:44 It gets self out of the way so that God can work with you 01:48 and your engage bringing someone else to Christ, 01:50 and the end result of that 01:52 is that we're all happier Christians. 01:55 It brings joy. 01:56 I don't know if you've noticed, 01:57 but there is less and less joy in this world that we live in. 02:00 I make a habit of walking the city streets 02:03 of every city that I go to. 02:04 I go early in the morning 02:06 and I just look at the faces of people 02:07 on the sidewalk and I've got to tell you, 02:09 there is not a lot of joy left in this world. 02:13 And if I'm really honest as a gospel preacher, 02:15 sometimes I stand in the pulpit 02:17 and I look at the faces in the congregation. 02:20 And sometimes there's not a lot of joy 02:22 in some congregations. 02:24 Some of the saints look like 02:25 they were baptized in lemon juice. 02:30 But that's because we're not doing the one thing 02:31 that God asked us to do, 02:33 and there is only thing that God asked us to do. 02:34 Jesus said in Luke 11:28, "Yea, blessed are they 02:38 that hear the word of God and keep it." 02:40 If you do the thing that God asked you to do, 02:42 blessed are you. 02:44 The original word is "makarios," it's happy. 02:47 That's how you bring joy back 02:49 because you're no longer engaged with your own problems 02:51 and your own self. 02:52 You're engaged in the kingdom of God, 02:54 and how can you not be happy 02:55 when you're engaged with the kingdom of God. 02:58 This afternoon you're going to hear stories from people 03:01 who have found that joy. 03:02 And at this moment, 03:04 you're going to meet a cardiologist, 03:05 his name is Brian Schwartz, he works at Kettering 03:08 and he works on actual physical hearts, 03:12 but he's found the joy of working on the heart 03:15 that's longing for Christ as well. 03:20 Thank you very much, Shawn. I appreciate that. 03:25 And I'm a cardiologist, 03:27 the heart doctor who works out of Kettering Hospital 03:31 in Dayton, Ohio area. 03:33 And I'm just going to share a little bit 03:34 about my experience with sharing with patients. 03:38 Up until just about ten years ago, 03:41 I as a specialist in the cardiology 03:45 practiced my trade and it was really a job. 03:50 I went to work, I saw my patients, 03:53 I did that very well, but it was just simply a job. 03:57 About ten years ago, 03:58 I became challenged after becoming a member of ASI 04:02 and also joining an organization called AMEN, 04:04 the Adventist Medical Evangelism Network 04:07 to think differently about my practice, 04:09 and to think about how I could turn that into a ministry. 04:13 And I was challenged early on over ten years ago 04:15 by Pastor Mark Finley to begin praying with my patients. 04:19 And since then I've learned to also share Bible verses. 04:23 We started praying with our staff 04:25 and also even started the Bible study group with our patients 04:28 but the thing I want to focus on today 04:30 is just the simple power of praying with patients. 04:33 That revolutionized my practice. 04:36 It invigorated my life, it gave me a new energy 04:39 and it just help me realize that I wasn't just doing a job, 04:43 I was doing a ministry. 04:45 And so, I've had the opportunity as a physician 04:49 to interact with people from all classes of life. 04:54 Fortune 500 CEOs that fly in their own private jets, 04:58 I would never have the opportunity 04:59 to have contact with such people. 05:02 The chief of the fire department, 05:05 and so I got in the habit. 05:07 Chief of the fire department for one of our communities 05:09 needed a heart valve replacement. 05:11 And I got him to see the surgeon 05:13 and got him through that surgery 05:15 and while we were working come up, 05:16 I've grown accustomed to just saying to all my patients 05:19 that by the way, 05:21 one of the things I offered to do with my patients 05:23 is to have a prayer with them, 05:24 is that something that you'd appreciate. 05:26 He got tears in his eyes. 05:29 When he actually had a surgery, I prayed with him again 05:31 and then just before he went back-- 05:34 When I left him, for him to go back to surgery, he said, 05:36 "Could you just pray one more time?" 05:38 He really appreciated that. 05:41 Later I found out he wasn't a believer, 05:44 he didn't attend church, 05:45 he may have been raised a Christian 05:47 but that hadn't become important to him, 05:49 but it was planting seeds. 05:53 Later on, I also prayed with a guy named Billy. 05:57 You can picture a guy like this. 05:59 He is wearing a mullhawk, 06:00 he is in his 60s, little bit rough. 06:04 He probably has no friends. 06:07 He is just a really rough guy 06:09 who sits at home playing computer games all day 06:12 and was very antisocial. 06:14 Billy, one of the things I offered to do 06:16 with all my patients is to have a prayer, 06:18 would that be okay. 06:20 He got tears in his eyes. 06:22 Billy considers himself an atheist. 06:25 You know, right away not much happened. 06:28 But two years down the road, 06:31 when the fire department chief was in for just a visit 06:33 to check on his valve. 06:34 At the end of the conversation he is like, 06:36 "Doc, you're a spiritual guy, can you just tell me 06:41 why do you believe the Bible is true?" 06:44 And all of a sudden that turned into a 45 minute conversation 06:47 until my nurse had to knock on the door 06:48 and say, "Oh, there's other patients waiting." 06:52 Billy, who I met, I saw him once at Walmart 06:56 and the temptation is, "Oh, no, there is Billy, 06:58 I'm going to go the other way." 07:00 But because my practice has turned into a ministry, 07:03 I actually went up to him and said, 07:04 "Hey, Billy, how are you doing? It's good to see you here." 07:07 And his wife later came and thanked me 07:09 for just being nice to Billy 'cause nobody is. 07:13 And a year or two down the road, 07:15 Billy is like "Doc, how can somebody 07:17 as smart as you believe that God created all this. 07:20 Do you really believe that?" 07:21 And there was another 30 minute conversation 07:23 about creation with the guy 07:25 who considers himself to be an atheist. 07:28 I have, I would challenge all of you now 07:32 to think of yourselves as missionaries, 07:35 you're either in mission field or a missionary. 07:38 And I think differently about what I do now. 07:41 You know I'm not big in the sports 07:43 but I can imagine from being in Ohio 07:45 if I went to Cincinnati Reds game, 07:47 I would go back to work the next day 07:49 and talk about, hey, what did you do this weekend? 07:51 Well, I went to a game 07:53 and that would be no big deal to talk about that. 07:55 I've gotten in the habit now of talking in the cath lab 07:59 to the staff that's there about what I've been doing 08:01 and I'll do at this weekend after ASI. 08:04 Been to the General Conference, I came back and shared 08:07 what I heard at the General Conference. 08:09 In 1888 Conference I came back and shared just how great 08:12 the righteousness of Christ was. 08:14 And there's always somebody in my cath lab who will say, 08:17 "Hey doc, what did you do this weekend?" 08:19 And that's just an opening to say, hey, 08:21 I went to this conference. 08:22 It was really cool. 08:23 And they go really, "what did you learn?" 08:25 And I'll just start sharing it. 08:26 Some people are starting to roll their eyes, 08:28 but they're listening to this conversation, 08:30 and so, it's important to do that. 08:33 One more story. 08:35 I train cardiology fellows that come from all over the world. 08:39 One of my fellows is a-- 08:40 He is from Pakistan, he is Muslim. 08:43 He has been watching me this whole last year 08:46 just praying with patients, to ministering to their needs, 08:49 and just watching my life, 08:51 and he's been asking questions here and there. 08:54 One of the things we do is have a Bible study with patients. 08:56 And one time he saw us carrying the video projector 09:00 and a computer and he says, "Oh, I'll carry that for you. 09:02 Where are you going?" 09:03 I said, "Oh, we're going downstairs, 09:04 we have a Bible study. 09:06 And he came, helped set up the equipment. 09:08 I said, "Well, you're welcome to stay." 09:10 I didn't think he'd be the least bit interested, 09:13 but he stayed. 09:15 He stayed through a series of eight of these Bible studies 09:18 that we've been doing just with the video projector, 09:20 not hard to do, but he stayed. 09:23 For the last, about 12 weeks before he left, 09:27 he came to each of these Bible studies 09:28 and we would talk. 09:30 "Do you believe in Jesus?" 09:32 Well, yeah, he believed he was one of the five great prophets. 09:34 I said, "Do you believe the Bible?" 09:36 He said, "Well, yeah, the Prophet Muhammad said 09:37 the Bible was a good book." 09:39 And I said, "Well, but the Bible says 09:41 that Jesus is the Son of God." 09:43 And we could confront these things back and forth. 09:46 In the very last Bible study that we were at together 09:48 before he is moving on to another hospital, 09:51 he came up to me and said, 09:52 "Just thank you for inviting me to these studies." 09:55 I didn't really invite him, he practically invited himself. 09:59 He said, "You know, I just want you to know 10:00 that I believe that Jesus is coming again soon, 10:03 and when He comes, I want to be ready to meet Him. 10:07 There is nothing like that to really see 10:09 how you can touch and transform somebody that you believe in. 10:12 One last story. 10:14 There is a patient I didn't do anything with. 10:16 I just offered to have a prayer. 10:19 Here name is Evangeline. 10:21 After I prayed with her, I said, look, 10:23 you need to make some lifestyle changes 10:24 and I referred her to the CHIP program 10:26 that my church does and just encouraged her to go. 10:29 And because I prayed with her, 10:30 because I took those few extra moments 10:32 just to minister to her needs, 10:35 she was willing to go to the church 10:36 to sign up for the CHIP program. 10:39 She just stopped me in the church 10:41 about four or five weeks ago and just said, 10:42 "Dr. Schwartz, I just want to know 10:44 what weekend you're actually gonna be in church 10:46 this summer." 10:47 Been there twice this whole summer. 10:49 We've been traveling to so many things. 10:51 And I said, "Well, Evangeline, why?" 10:52 And she said, "Well, I'm gonna baptized." 10:54 And next weekend she is gonna be baptized. 10:57 And it's just a powerful experience 10:59 to see nothing that hard, 11:02 just taking a few minutes to live a spiritual life, 11:06 and people will really come out of the woodwork 11:08 to ask you, "Why you believe what you believe," 11:10 and it changes lives. 11:12 Thank you. 11:22 Our next testimony really doesn't need much introduction. 11:24 She is a former first lady of ASI 11:28 and the author of five books. 11:30 Madlyn Hamblin is going to share with you this afternoon 11:33 how God is using their personal influence 11:36 to lead people to Jesus Christ through Bible studies 11:38 and through business. 11:39 So, Madlyn, share what Jesus is doing through you? 11:42 Hey, everyone, I bring you greetings 11:44 from my home church in Jackson, Michigan, 11:47 and we have the oldest continuous 11:49 Seventh-day Adventist congregation in the world. 11:52 It was established in 1849. And you know what? 11:56 We are so blessed because our pastor is a GYC president, 12:00 Moise Ratsara. 12:02 My story is pretty simple. 12:04 It's not anything great, 12:06 just things that anyone of you could do. 12:09 Back in 1979, 12:11 my husband and I attended our first ASI Convention, 12:15 and you know, it changed the direction of our lives. 12:18 We began to make witnessing a priority. 12:22 For many years I entertained people in my home 12:26 with veggie meal, and we would have a Bible study. 12:30 And I also did health events for our church. 12:33 During this time, my husband Ray, 12:36 held Daniel and Revelation seminars 12:39 and more than 25 people were baptized. 12:42 When we were younger, our witness consisted 12:44 mainly of individual things that we did, 12:47 and we made it a point to have training as much as we could. 12:52 And we noticed that some of the people 12:54 that were baptized from seminars 12:57 did not stay long term in the church. 13:00 Subsequently we moved and changed churches. 13:03 And now I was living in a strange community 13:06 and I didn't know my neighbors. 13:08 I felt like God was calling me 13:10 to reach my neighborhood for Christ, 13:14 but the neighbors were very intimidating to me. 13:17 So at first, I just shared my homemade bread 13:20 and vegetables from the garden. 13:22 And as our friendships grew, 13:24 we became more aware of the needs of our-- 13:29 the families in our neighborhoods. 13:31 And when our church asked members 13:33 to start holding small groups in their home, 13:36 we wanted to support this idea 13:38 but we felt we were really too busy to do that. 13:41 So to take, make a long story short, 13:45 we took the plunge and with trepidation 13:47 we invited four neighborhood families 13:49 to our home for our weekly Tuesday evening Bible study. 13:54 And we also included a newly baptized couple 13:57 from our church, plus a friend of ours 13:59 whose husband was not a church member. 14:03 We would have the study on Tuesday night, 14:06 then we would share a small snack 14:08 or a drink in conversation, 14:11 and our friends seem to just love this. 14:14 This group has continued now for about four years. 14:18 We started out by showing the Lee Venden videos 14:21 on how to have a relationship with Jesus. 14:24 Next we picked the book of the Bible 14:26 and we read though it verse by verse, 14:29 because this was really non-threatening 14:31 to people who were not of our church. 14:34 They were very adamant 14:36 that their doctrines were what was right. 14:39 And then last winter 14:41 we began showing the Thunder in the Holy Land DVDs 14:44 with great success. 14:47 Our doctrines are just beautifully presented 14:50 and we're in the process of learning patience 14:53 and dependence on the Holy Spirit 14:55 to lead souls to His church. 14:58 We also host social events in our home, 15:02 and one neighborhood couple 15:03 has started bringing their friends 15:05 who now attend our Bible study on a semi-regular basis. 15:10 Several of our neighbors have attended church 15:14 for special events such as concerts 15:16 and cooking schools, and one couple even attended 15:20 a complete evangelistic series last year. 15:23 And although we're not studying with all of our neighbors, 15:27 the thought has come to me that if we reach one family, 15:31 they in turn will reach others who will reach others 15:34 and our efforts are really multiplied 15:37 and to a great degree, this is Christ method, 15:40 His work was largely personal, and through that one soul 15:44 sometimes thousands were brought to Christ. 15:47 We're also learning that witnessing for Christ 15:50 is not about numbers, it is a process. 15:55 It's about diligence and patience 15:58 and reaching those in our own circle of influence. 16:01 It is steadily and consistently sharing God's Word 16:05 with those who are interested and want to listen. 16:09 God is showing us to that 16:11 we really need to have a holy boldness, 16:13 and when He lays a name on your heart, 16:16 you really need to make sure 16:17 that you're inviting that person 16:19 to do something with you 16:21 so that he will learn about Christ. 16:23 And we're not discouraged 16:25 because all of our Bible study interests 16:26 have not accepted everything that we teach. 16:30 We only sowed the seed and pray for God's Holy Spirit 16:34 to nourish and grow, and bring to harvest. 16:37 Right now we're working with seven people 16:39 in our Bible study group, and Ray has a personal study 16:44 with someone outside of our home, 16:45 and I have a young lady that I'm studying with. 16:49 You know, in one of Ellen White's vision, 16:51 she was pointed down to the last days 16:54 and those are the days that we're living in. 16:56 And she saw hundreds and thousands 17:00 visiting families in their home opening the Word of God. 17:04 And Ray and I want to be two of those people 17:07 that she saw in that vision 17:09 having a personal mission to those around us, 17:12 doing what lies closest in our neighborhood, 17:15 but you know, with prayer and patience, 17:17 we're just gonna leave the baptisms to God. 17:25 Thanks you so, Madlyn. 17:29 Thank you, Madlyn, that was beautiful. 17:33 Our next guest, you may know from Living Waters, 17:36 Daryl and Mary Jo Oft from Payson, Arizona. 17:40 Today, you're gonna hear about 17:41 something other than Living Waters. 17:43 You're gonna hear about how their business 17:45 is now able to support multiples ministries, 17:47 and so, they are able to forward the work of God 17:51 in a number of exciting ways. 17:52 Daryl and Mary Jo, come out and tell us 17:54 what God is doing through you. 17:57 Happy Sabbath, and we are so happy 17:58 to be here at ASI today. 18:00 As Shawn said, most of you know us 18:02 from our Living Waters ministry, 18:04 but today we're gonna focus on our business 18:07 that we have in Arizona, 18:09 and how that helps to support our ministry. 18:11 In the year 2000, we started Diversified Solutions 18:15 which provides occupational health services 18:18 to a variety of clients across the state of Arizona. 18:25 In 2004, we decided to expand to Globe, Arizona. 18:30 And just as we had opened our office there, 18:33 we had economic downturns of not of our own doing, 18:38 but we thought that we're gonna lose our business. 18:41 We spoke with financial counselors 18:44 and they said, "You probably will be going bankrupt, 18:46 and we would advise you 18:48 to start moving in that direction. 18:50 This was the first opportunity that we really had to learn 18:54 to trust in God fully with our business. 18:57 In 2005, we had an unexpected encounter 19:01 where we were asked to go on a mission trip to Kenya. 19:05 Now we were the most unlikely missionaries. 19:08 We were just ordinary business people, 19:11 and the long and the short is we went on the mission trip 19:14 and before we left, we realized how important it was to us 19:19 for the first time what it was really like to experience 19:23 trusting fully in God. 19:25 And so we got on our knees and we said, 19:27 "God, don't ever let us go back and be the same." 19:31 And He didn't do that. 19:34 You know, and 2006 was our first ASI experience. 19:40 That catapulted our ministry 19:43 and we learned the value of ASI. 19:47 We learned how important it was, 19:49 the encouragement that we had at ASI, 19:52 the love of the people 19:53 and the incredible networking opportunities 19:57 to see how other people do think so. 19:59 We're gonna share a little bit with you right now 20:01 about how we use our business 20:03 to share the good news of Jesus. 20:06 In our offices, ASI has taught us 20:09 how to use our business to witness for Christ. 20:14 And we just like to share a few ways 20:16 that we had done that. 20:17 First of all with our staff, 20:19 there is a marvelous opportunity 20:20 to witness to our staff, 20:22 both in the way that we handle things 20:25 as well as the way that we treat them, 20:28 the way that we can be sensitive to their needs 20:31 and pray with them, and we have actually found 20:34 changes happening in the lives of our staff 20:37 as a result of them being associated in our business. 20:41 With our clients, the people that they come in for services, 20:44 we often have opportunities to listen to their stories 20:47 and to share with them and to pray with them. 20:50 We've seen their lives changing too. 20:54 One of the big things we learned from coming to ASI 20:57 is the importance of literature, 20:58 so we have a lot of literature on both of our offices. 21:02 And it's really fun to watch 21:04 how interested people are in the literature 21:07 and how often they pick it up and read it. 21:10 And we've found that-- 21:11 Quite a few people will come back to our office 21:14 just to get the next signs of the Times Magazine, 21:18 even though they didn't need to come in for anything else. 21:22 Our copy machine 21:24 is quite an interesting witnessing story. 21:27 Our supplier, our technician for our copy machine 21:30 told us one day 21:31 that we don't seem to ever be calling him for service 21:35 compared to all his other clients, 21:37 and he just wonders what's so different about us. 21:40 And that's another chance to give the glory to God. 21:44 In our office we have actually partnered with our local church 21:47 to have a radio station in the studio 21:50 located right in our office. 21:53 As well as the equipment for Good News TV 21:56 is now out of our office as well, 21:58 where they have 24/7 programming 22:01 for the community around us. 22:04 We really enjoyed also being able to participate in 22:08 and partner with the Bridges to Health program 22:12 that was done in San Francisco last year, 22:14 the medical mission events 22:16 as well as the Arizona Sunshine event in Arizona 22:20 just this past June. 22:25 Our business is also something that has allowed us 22:27 to have the resources 22:30 that we need to be able to do our ministry 22:32 with Living Waters as well. 22:36 Diversified Solutions, 22:39 our business for His purpose. 22:43 Our business still has challenges 22:45 like all of yours if you're business people. 22:47 We've had business challenges, we've had health challenges, 22:52 we have growth challenges, we have time challenges, 22:55 it's not without the challenges 22:57 but we have learned that we can trust God 23:00 who has put us in business. 23:02 In 2005 when we made our commitment to go to Africa 23:07 even though our business was still growing 23:09 and we were struggling, 23:11 God stood behind our commitment. 23:15 And our revenue started increasing 23:18 by 35 percent per year for the next ten years. 23:23 Two years ago it plateaued out, 23:25 and the reason it plateaued out 23:27 is because we started talking to God 23:29 and we realized we could not continue to grow our business 23:33 and at the same time continue to grow our ministries 23:36 that we wanted to. 23:37 So now we're asking God to show us 23:40 how to decrease our responsibilities with business, 23:44 so that we can increase our opportunities with ministry. 23:49 You know, you often hear the phrase 23:51 that you can't run a ministry like a business, 23:54 that may be debatable, but what we have found 23:57 is that we need to run our business like a ministry. 24:01 Our business is a faith based ministry, 24:06 and we have thanked God over and over 24:08 for the opportunities that He gives us 24:11 to exercise that faith by trusting Him. 24:14 If you want to know any more about our ministry 24:17 in Kenya, Living Waters, 24:19 or about how we share Christ in the marketplace 24:21 in our business, 24:22 please stop by our booth this evening, space number 432. 24:27 Thank you. 26:20 A mighty fortress is our God 26:25 A bulwark never failing 26:30 Our helper He, amid the flood 26:35 Of mortal ills prevailing 26:41 For still our ancient foe 26:45 Doth seek to work us woe 26:49 His craft and power are great 26:53 And, armed with cruel hate 26:57 On earth is not his equal 27:04 Did we in our own strength confide 27:10 Our striving would be losing 27:15 Were not the right Man on our side 27:21 The Man of God's own choosing 27:27 Dost ask who that may be? 27:31 Christ Jesus, it is He 27:35 Lord Sabaoth, His Name 27:39 From age to age the same 27:43 And He must win the battle 27:51 And though this world, with devils filled 27:58 Should threaten to undo us 28:03 We will not fear, for God hath willed 28:09 His truth to triumph through us 28:15 The Prince of Darkness grim 28:20 We tremble not for him 28:24 His rage we can endure 28:29 For lo, his doom is sure 28:34 One little word shall fell him 29:00 That word 29:02 Above all earthly powers 29:10 No thanks to them 29:13 Abideth 29:19 The Spirit 29:22 And the gifts are ours 29:28 Through Him 29:30 Who with us sideth 29:37 Let goods and kindred go 29:42 This mortal life also 29:47 The body they may kill 29:52 God's truth abideth still 29:57 His kingdom 30:00 Is forever 30:10 Forever. 30:25 Amen! 31:09 Marvelous grace of our loving Lord 31:15 Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! 31:21 Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured 31:26 There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt 31:32 Marvelous grace, God's grace 31:37 Grace that will pardon and cleanse within 31:42 Marvelous grace, God's grace 31:48 Grace that is greater than all our sin! 32:04 Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold 32:11 Threaten the soul with infinite loss 32:19 Grace that is greater 32:22 Yes, grace untold 32:27 Points to the refuge 32:30 The mighty cross 32:51 Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace 32:57 Freely bestowed on all who believe! 33:02 You that are longing to see his face 33:08 Will you this moment His grace receive? 33:13 Marvelous grace, God's grace 33:19 Grace that will pardon and cleanse within 33:24 Marvelous grace, God's grace 33:29 Grace that is greater than all our sin! 33:37 Grace that is greater 33:41 Than all our sin! 34:11 God is our mighty fortress. 34:15 It is as we memorize His word and hiding in our hearts, 34:20 that we have the assured defense, 34:22 and yet around this mighty fortress, 34:24 there is a battle raging. 34:26 This battle is raging between Christ and Satan. 34:30 And you want to know who is Satan's biggest ally is? 34:33 Ourselves, and yet we have this blessed assurance and grace 34:38 that God will carry us through. 34:40 Some of us may be called to be martyrs for Him 34:44 and others may be just intense struggles 34:47 but we can know and be assured 34:48 that Christ's strength is perfect in our weakness. 34:56 I can do all things 35:01 Through Christ who gives me strength 35:06 But sometimes I wonder what He 35:10 Can do through me 35:17 No great success to show 35:22 No glory of my own 35:26 Yet in my weakness He is there 35:31 To let me know 35:36 His strength is perfect 35:41 When our strength is gone 35:48 He'll carry us 35:51 When we can't carry on 35:59 Raised in His power 36:04 The weak become strong 36:11 His strength is perfect 36:17 His strength is perfect 36:27 We can only know 36:32 The power that He holds 36:37 When we truly see how deep 36:41 Our weakness goes 36:48 His strength in us begins 36:53 Where ours comes to an end 36:58 He hears our humble cry 37:02 And proves again 37:12 His strength is perfect 37:18 When our strength is gone 37:25 He'll carry us 37:29 When we can't carry on 37:36 Raised in His power 37:41 The weak become strong 37:48 His strength is perfect 37:54 His strength is perfect 37:59 Raised in His power 38:05 The weak become strong 38:17 His strength is perfect 38:25 His strength 38:27 Is perfect. 38:48 Is there one more number? 39:28 Once to every man and nation 39:33 Comes the moment to decide 39:39 In the strife of truth and falsehood 39:44 For the good or evil side 39:50 Some great cause, some great decision 39:55 Off'ring each the bloom or blight 40:02 And the choice goes by forever 40:08 Twixt that darkness and that light 40:27 By the light of burning martyrs 40:33 Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track 40:38 Toiling up new Calv'ries ever 40:44 With the cross that turns not back 40:50 New occasions teach new duties 40:56 Time makes ancient good uncouth 41:02 They must upward still and onward 41:08 Who would keep abreast of truth 41:29 Tho' the cause of evil prosper 41:34 Yet the truth alone is strong 41:40 Tho' her portion be the scaffold 41:46 And upon the throne be wrong 41:51 Yet that scaffold sways the future 41:57 And, behind the dim unknown 42:04 Standeth God within the shadow 42:11 Keeping watch above His own 42:29 Above His own. 42:41 Amen! 42:45 Christ Object Lessons about page 69. 42:50 But that statement says when the character of Christ 42:52 shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, 42:54 then Christ will come to claim them as His own. 42:58 Some people have felt 42:59 that means if we just buckle down 43:01 and pray more and study more 43:03 and perfect ourselves more, Jesus will come. 43:05 Now, is prayer important? Yes. 43:07 Bible study, indispensable. 43:09 Those are important activities 43:11 but having the character of Christ reproduced in us 43:13 is so much broader than just those things. 43:17 If you have the character of Christ reproduced in you, 43:19 something else happens, there is a story in John 4, 43:24 where it says, Jesus on His way home 43:25 must need to go through Samaria. 43:27 We know that wasn't tactically true 43:29 because there was another route the Jews took to miss Samaria, 43:32 so they wouldn't become contaminated 43:34 by going through the territory, so what does it mean 43:36 that Jesus must needs go through Samaria. 43:39 It's simple, there's a woman sitting there at the well 43:43 in the heat of the day that needs a kingdom of Christ. 43:46 And when the character of Christ 43:48 is reproduced in His church, 43:50 we won't be able to help ourselves 43:52 but go through Samaria 43:54 and share what Jesus has done for us. 44:21 Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention? 44:25 I want to introduce to you 44:29 In this corner of the good and the right 44:33 Stands a champion robed in white 44:37 His height exceeds the heavens, His weight outweighs the world 44:41 His reach reaches everywhere, His age is evermore 44:46 He is higher than the highest Greater than the great 44:50 No one will ever take His crown away 44:54 He's mightier than the mightiest 44:57 He reigns from above 45:02 He's the all-time undisputed, undefeated champion of love 45:15 He left His hometown to enter this arena 45:19 To raise His hands in victory for me 45:23 An angry crowd crucified this king who wore their crown 45:27 As they gladly watched the champion going down 45:31 But I will never count Him out, for I'm a witness of 45:35 The day He rose to retain the title 45:38 "Champion of Love" 45:41 He is higher than the highest Greater than the great 45:45 No one will ever take His crown away 45:49 He's mightier than the mightiest 45:52 He reigns from above 45:57 He's the all-time undisputed, undefeated champion of love 46:03 He is higher than the highest Greater than the great 46:08 No one will ever take His crown away 46:12 He's mightier than the mightiest 46:15 He reigns from above 46:20 He's the all-time undisputed, undefeated champion 46:24 The all-time undisputed, undefeated champion 46:28 The champion of love. 47:24 There's a line 47:27 that's been drawn through the ages 47:35 On that line 47:37 Stands the old rugged cross 47:45 On that cross 47:48 A battle is raging 47:55 For the gain of man's soul 48:01 Or it's loss 48:06 On one side 48:09 March the forces of evil 48:15 All the demons 48:18 And devils of hell 48:25 On the other 48:28 The angels of glory 48:35 And they meet 48:38 On Golgotha's hill 48:46 The earth shakes 48:48 With the force of the conflict 48:54 And the sun refuses 48:59 To shine 49:04 For there hangs God's son 49:08 In the balance 49:13 And then through the darkness 49:19 He cries 49:22 It is finished 49:25 The battle is over 49:32 It is finished 49:34 There'll be no more war 49:41 It is finished 49:44 The end of the conflict 49:50 It is finished 49:53 And Jesus is Lord 50:05 Yet in my heart 50:09 The battle was still raging 50:17 Not all prisoners 50:20 Of war had come home 50:28 These were battlefields 50:32 Of my own making 50:39 I didn't know 50:42 That the war had been won 50:49 But then I heard 50:52 That the king of the ages 50:59 He had fought all the battles 51:04 For me 51:08 And that victory was mine 51:12 For the claiming 51:17 And now praise his name 51:22 I am free 51:26 It is finished 51:30 The battle is over 51:36 It is finished 51:39 There'll be no more war 51:45 It is finished 51:48 The end of the conflict 51:54 It is finished 51:57 And Jesus is Lord 52:04 It is finished 52:06 And Jesus is Lord 52:13 Jesus is Lord. 52:22 Amen! 52:29 Jesus has forever won the great controversy. 52:36 By dying on the cross for our sins 52:39 and paying the ultimate price, He has forever disproved 52:43 all of Satan's lies about the character of God. 52:46 But there is one more event we've to look forward to 52:49 is Jesus' second coming. 52:52 Each one of us needs to lift up the trumpet 52:54 and let it ring throughout all the towns, villages, 52:59 and cites that haven't heard the good news. 53:02 The good news that Jesus has died on the cross 53:04 for our sins. 53:06 And number two, that He is coming again, 53:11 let's all be ready. 53:32 Lift up the trumpet, and loud let it ring 53:36 Jesus is coming again! 53:40 Cheer up, ye pilgrims, be joyful and sing 53:45 Jesus is coming again! 53:49 Coming again, coming again 53:54 Jesus is coming again! 54:08 Echo it, hilltops, proclaim it, ye plains 54:12 Jesus is coming again! 54:17 Coming in glory, the Lamb that was slain 54:21 Jesus is coming again! 54:26 Coming again, coming again 54:30 Jesus is coming again! 54:55 Jesus is coming again! 55:01 Tempests and whirlwinds, the anthem prolong 55:09 Jesus is coming again! 55:15 Coming again 55:21 Coming again 55:28 Jesus is coming 55:34 Again! 55:49 Nations are angry by this we do know 55:53 Jesus is coming again! 55:58 Knowledge increases, men run to and fro 56:03 Jesus is coming again! 56:07 Please stand and sing. 56:09 Coming again, coming again 56:14 Jesus is coming again! 56:16 The sky knows that 56:19 Coming again 56:22 Coming again 56:24 Jesus is coming again! 56:28 He is coming again 56:33 Coming again 56:35 Jesus is coming again! 56:40 Coming again 56:50 Amen! 56:56 Let us remain standing as we pray together. 57:00 Father in heaven, 57:01 we have been so inspired this afternoon, this evening 57:04 by the beautiful heavenly music. 57:06 Father, we believe that Jesus is coming again. 57:10 Father, we had been inspired by missionaries, 57:13 local missionaries, overseas missionaries 57:15 has inspired us to do be more zealous 57:19 in our local mission work. 57:21 Father, help us not only to be inspired 57:24 but to do the mission work You're calling us to do. 57:27 Father, we've also heard from the mayor of Spokane, 57:30 we pray Your blessing upon him as he leads a small city out. 57:35 And Father, we pray 57:36 that the presence and the influence 57:39 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 57:41 in this community will not be forgotten. 57:45 Father, now as we finished this part of our program, 57:48 as we finish this part, 57:51 we pray that Your Holy Spirit will go with us, 57:54 we ask for Your Spirit's presence 57:56 in Jesus' name, amen. |
Revised 2022-05-03