Good afternoon GYC.
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It's me again, and it's
time for our I Believe section.
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Our special guest
is Justin Terosian.
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After resurrendering his life
to the Lord at the age of 17,
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Justin accepted
God's call to ministry.
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While a Sophomore in theology,
and a theology student at the
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Pacific Union College,
the ministry of Share Him,
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and GYC changed his life.
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The year following his
graduation in 2008, he worked
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on a Central California Youth
Evangelism Team before working
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for four years on
the pastoral staff of the
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Fresno Central Church.
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Upon completing his MD
at Andrews this coming May,
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he'll be returning to
Pastoral Ministry at the
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Central California Conference.
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As the descendent of James
White, and Ellen G. White,...
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He's a descendent of
James White and Ellen G. White.
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...he's passionate about
Seventh-day Adventist history...
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You could figure!...
and helping it come to life
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in our present generation.
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On a more personal note though,
Justin loves being out in
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nature, and doing
anything that will connect
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him with his Creator.
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He especially enjoys the
mountains: hiking, backpacking,
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snow boarding,
and mountain biking.
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He also enjoys spending
time with family, good food,
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and meeting people of different
cultures and languages,
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and he loves to
work with young people.
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But Justin really loves
Christ, and he loves Jesus.
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And you'll see
that as he speaks to us.
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And Justin, GYC wants to know,
Why do you love your church
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so much, and your Savior?
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Happy Sabbath GYC.
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Happy Sabbath GYC.
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Have you been
blessed this Sabbath?
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Amen. I have as well.
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I'm grateful to be able to share
with you this afternoon why I
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love being a
Seventh-day Adventist,
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and why I love this church.
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When I was asked to share,
I began thinking and praying
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about it, and I realized that
there are many things that I
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love about being a
Seventh-day Adventist.
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But this afternoon I just want
to share two of them with you.
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The first is that because as a
Seventh-day Adventist I'm a part
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of a worldwide family; part of
a family that spans the globe.
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I had the privilege of being
born into an Adventist family.
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I wasn't born an Adventist,
because we can't be born
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Adventist; we have to be born
again to be Adventist, Amen?
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Now I was born into a
Seventh-day Adventist home with
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two very loving parents, and my
parents both had many siblings,
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which means, of course, that I
have many cousins, and Aunties,
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and Uncles, and have
loving grandparents as well.
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In fact I believe one of my
cousins is here this afternoon
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with his family who
lives here in Louisville.
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But our family is
an incredible one,
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and I love my family dearly.
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But like all
families, we're not perfect.
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We have our
different personalities,
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we have our different
quirks, especially me,
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but we stick together, and we
love each other no matter what
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comes our way,
because we're family.
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We're bonded together, and we
share the bond of love that God
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has placed in our
hearts for each other.
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Friends I know, and actually,
let me ask you if you know,
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what is the one
thing that every biological
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family has in common? DNA.
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They're connected by
blood. Isn't that right?
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Now, friends, I realize that
not everyone here this afternoon
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has a close
relationship with their family.
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Many here, or listening,
may not have even ever met
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their biological family.
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But friends, the good
news of the gospel is that
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the biological connection we
share is nothing compared to the
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spiritual connection we
share as believers in Christ.
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Christ said in John 1:12, But
as many as believe on His name
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to them He gave the right to
be called the children of God.
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And, friends, if you have
given your life to Christ,
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then we are connected by blood;
by the blood of Jesus, Amen?
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Now while we're on the topic of
being a worldwide family, I know
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that there are still barriers
to overcome in this area.
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But I love being a Seventh-day
Adventist because it means that
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I'm a part of the
most ethnically diverse
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church in North America.
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I don't know if you read the
article in the Adventist Review
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this last summer, but according
to the Pew Research Center,
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that's actually a fact.
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After a statistical analysis
was done they concluded that the
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Seventh-day Adventist Church is,
to put it in their own words,
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the most racially
diverse religious group
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in the United States.
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And, friends, don't get me
wrong, I understand that we
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still have some barriers
to overcome as a church.
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But we can praise God
that this statistic is because
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of the Biblical message
and mission of our church.
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The message is the
everlasting gospel.
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The mission is to take it to
every person on planet Earth.
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Amen? And, that of course has
fueled the sharing of the gospel
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with every people
group on the planet.
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I love being a part
of this worldwide family.
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While I love being a Seventh-day
Adventist, because it means
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that I'm a part of
a worldwide family,
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that, in and of itself, is
not enough of a reason to be a
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Seventh-day Adventist.
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You don't have to be a
Seventh-day Adventist to have a
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connection with people, because
you share a common faith,
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because you share
hobbies, or interests.
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But friends, the
question must come,
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there are plenty of other groups
across the world that are caring
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communities that
share a common faith.
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What is the difference?
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Is there a difference?
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And this brings me to the
next point of why I love being a
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Seventh-day Adventist.
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Not only does it mean that
I'm a part of a family that is
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worldwide, but I'm a part
of a faith that is Bible based.
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And I want to
begin by clarifying.
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God has many people in different
faiths across the world who are
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following Him up to the best
light and truth that they have.
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That's why in Revelation 18:4
the loud cry doesn't just say,
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Babylon is fallen, it says, Come
out of her My what? My people.
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God has His faithful
people in every walk of faith.
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But, friends, He's
not leaving them there.
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He wants to bring them
into His last day fold.
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What I'm about to say, I say
humbly, and that is that there
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is one church in the world that
has no teachings that contradict
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each other, and whose doctrines
are completely and exclusively
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based upon the Bible.
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And that is the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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Friends, it's a
faith that is Bible based.
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Our Bible based
faith is logical.
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You know, there are some
churches that tell their members
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not to read anything that
is published by any person
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that is not a part
of their own church.
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But friends, as Seventh-day
Adventists, we don't discourage
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people from
reading outside sources.
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We encourage people to
study history. Isn't that right?
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We encourage people to go
to the library to research
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and check the
things that we are saying
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about what the Bible says.
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Friends, our prophetic message
is historically verifiable.
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You can check it out.
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You can see that it's true.
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Our Bible based
faith is logical, Amen?
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Not only is our
Bible based faith logical,
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our Bible based
faith is relevant.
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Did you know that early
Adventists were some of the
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foremost activists in
the antislavery movement?
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Not only with speaking against
slavery, but writing against
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slavery, in a time when
people in the United States,
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in some places were trying
to support it with Scripture.
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Friends, also Seventh-day
Adventists were active in the
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temperance movement.
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They were active in social
causes that mattered to God.
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Because if it matters to God,
it should matter to us, Amen?
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Not only is our faith
logical, our faith is relevant.
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Not only is it logical and
relevant, but friends our faith,
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our Bible based
faith is balanced.
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I'm not saying that every
Seventh-day Adventist person
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is balanced, but what I am
saying, because we're all on a
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journey, myself included, Amen?
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But what I am saying is
that if you correctly understand
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Seventh-day Adventist belief,
along with Spirit led surrender
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and study, you will inevitably
become more loving, considerate,
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practical, and balanced.
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The reason for this is
because Christ is at the
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center of every doctrine.
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Every true Bible teaching
has Christ at the center.
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And Jesus was balanced, Amen?
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When we correctly understand
the twenty-eight fundamental
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beliefs and teachings of
the Bible, when we correctly
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understand these, with Jesus at
the center, we will be balanced
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as Christ was balanced.
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We'll be on fire for God.
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We'll be committed to serve Him.
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And we will be
balanced, practical,
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and loving Christians.
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I love being a Seventh-day
Adventist because our
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prophetic message and
mission are rooted in Scripture.
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I love being a Seventh-day
Adventist because we are a part
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of a family that is
worldwide, a part of a faith
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that is Bible based, because God
blessed this movement with the
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gift of prophecy in the life
and ministry of Ellen G. White.
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I love being a Seventh-day
Adventist because it is not just
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a religious organization, but
a movement that God has raised
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up to prepare the
world for Jesus' return.
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Friends I love being a
Seventh-day Adventist because
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I can see Jesus at the
center of every doctrine.
00:10:58.95\00:11:03.66
If you are happy to be a
Seventh-day Adventist today,
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I want to invite you to
raise your hands. Amen, Amen!
00:11:07.80\00:11:11.30
And if you are watching, or you
are here, and you are not yet,
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I want to invite you today to
ask someone about how to become
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a part of this
Bible based faith,
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and this
worldwide family. God bless.
00:11:22.14\00:11:25.21
A man stood by the gate
of heaven waiting to go in.
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And he wondered how this Holy
place could take a man like him.
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With shouts of great rejoicing,
and with music in they came.
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Of the angels standing by him he
asked what could be their name.
00:12:02.28\00:12:11.16
These are the
company of prophets.
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The lonely fellowship of
souls who spake God's Word
00:12:17.83\00:12:27.18
with faith and
boldness, who blessed the poor,
00:12:27.21\00:12:32.71
and made the wounded whole.
00:12:32.75\00:12:37.45
Oh, he fell upon
his knees and cried,
00:12:37.49\00:12:46.36
I cannot go in with these.
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He waited till another
band of shining ones drew nigh.
00:13:00.74\00:13:07.68
They entered in to
heaven with a Halleluiah cry.
00:13:07.72\00:13:13.92
He asked again, Who are these?
00:13:13.96\00:13:17.19
Can you tell me
whence they came?
00:13:17.23\00:13:20.70
He seemed to see the answer
in a burning tongue of flame.
00:13:20.73\00:13:30.51
These are the
company of martyrs;
00:13:30.54\00:13:37.35
the mighty fellowship of
saints who knew our Lord,
00:13:37.38\00:13:46.45
and walked beside Him.
00:13:46.49\00:13:50.39
Who read the Holy
erased it in our fate.
00:13:50.43\00:13:56.67
Oh, he fell upon
his knees and cried,
00:13:56.70\00:14:05.11
I cannot go in with these.
00:14:05.14\00:14:11.01
And silently a
multitude was led from far away.
00:14:13.75\00:14:19.69
Their voices rang
like sounds of joy,
00:14:19.72\00:14:23.16
like children at their play.
00:14:23.19\00:14:27.43
They saw Rahab, David,
and Magdalene, and Paul,
00:14:27.46\00:14:34.07
and the thief who died by Jesus
was the one who led them all.
00:14:34.10\00:14:42.51
Who like easy almost
shouted at the angel.
00:14:42.54\00:14:49.18
These are the sinners
saved by grace, saved by grace.
00:14:49.22\00:14:54.82
The host of them
who've called upon the Savior,
00:14:54.86\00:15:00.76
washed in blood
and justified by faith.
00:15:00.80\00:15:06.80
And all we lift up from the
seas; I can go in with these.
00:15:06.84\00:15:18.98
I can go in for my
heart is freed from sin.
00:15:19.01\00:15:24.29
I've been washed in the
blood; everlasting life to win.
00:15:24.32\00:15:30.86
I can rejoice. I
can lift up my voice.
00:15:30.89\00:15:36.00
I can sing, and I can go in.
00:15:36.03\00:15:41.90
For we thought that there could
be no Halleluiah's and no cries.
00:15:41.94\00:15:48.48
For the stormy band of
people find the world despised.
00:15:48.51\00:15:54.65
But as the scenes of heaven
opened up before his eyes,
00:15:54.68\00:16:00.46
he saw the
martyr's, and the prophets,
00:16:00.49\00:16:03.63
and the hosts of heaven rise.
00:16:03.66\00:16:08.16
And they sang, I can go in!
00:16:08.30\00:16:12.87
Yes, I can go in! I've
been washed in the blood;
00:16:12.90\00:16:18.57
everlasting life to live.
00:16:18.61\00:16:22.28
I can rejoice. I
can lift up my voice.
00:16:22.31\00:16:27.22
I can sing, and I can go in.
00:16:27.25\00:16:33.12
I can rejoice. I am redeemed.
00:16:33.15\00:16:36.62
I can lift up my
voice; I can sing.
00:16:36.66\00:16:44.17
I can go in! I can go in! Amen!
00:16:44.20\00:17:00.75
Good evening GYC. Good evening.
00:17:02.02\00:17:04.75
Good evening GYC. Good evening!
00:17:04.79\00:17:07.62
Is this a youth
conference? Amen.
00:17:07.66\00:17:10.69
One more time. Sit up
straight, air in your lungs.
00:17:10.73\00:17:15.66
Oh, GYC do you love Jesus?
00:17:15.70\00:17:21.60
Oh, yes, we love Jesus.
00:17:21.64\00:17:24.11
Are you sure you love Jesus?
00:17:24.14\00:17:26.41
We're sure we love Jesus.
00:17:26.44\00:17:28.88
I can't hear you. And
why do you love Jesus?
00:17:28.91\00:17:32.01
Here's why I love Jesus.
00:17:32.05\00:17:34.48
Because He first loved me.
00:17:34.52\00:17:37.72
That's the reason
we all ought to...
00:17:37.75\00:17:40.79
All together!
Oh, how I love Jesus.
00:17:40.82\00:17:46.73
Singing, Oh, how I love Jesus.
00:17:46.76\00:17:52.73
Oh, how I love Jesus,
because He first loved me.
00:17:52.77\00:18:02.94
How many of you, that's
why you're here tonight,
00:18:02.98\00:18:05.21
because you love
Jesus? Amen! Amen?
00:18:05.25\00:18:07.92
Have you had a
high Sabbath? Amen.
00:18:07.95\00:18:11.29
Are you full, or do
you have room for one
00:18:11.32\00:18:14.22
more spiritual meal?
00:18:14.26\00:18:15.59
God is good, Amen? Amen!
00:18:15.62\00:18:19.83
My nose is clean. Halleluiah!
00:18:19.86\00:18:22.86
I told someone I don't need
any onions, or garlic, or honey.
00:18:22.90\00:18:27.77
I need to pray this
stuff out of my nose.
00:18:27.80\00:18:30.57
And that's exactly what I did.
00:18:30.61\00:18:32.97
I said, Who made man's nose?
00:18:33.01\00:18:35.94
The Lord did. Can
you say Amen? Amen!
00:18:35.98\00:18:39.98
So it's nice to be able to
breathe fresh air while you
00:18:40.02\00:18:43.52
preach God's Word. Amen.
00:18:43.55\00:18:45.79
God is Good. I know many
of you were praying for me,
00:18:45.82\00:18:48.02
and I am eternally grateful.
00:18:48.06\00:18:49.56
What a privilege it has
been to study the Word of God
00:18:49.59\00:18:54.16
together with you.
00:18:54.20\00:18:55.53
So for this final message,
I just invite your prayers
00:18:55.56\00:19:00.14
one more time
throughout this entire sermon.
00:19:00.17\00:19:04.44
If you would kneel with
me, as far as you're able,
00:19:04.47\00:19:07.74
as we have prayer this night.
00:19:07.78\00:19:09.41
Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Lord what a privilege it is
00:19:18.89\00:19:28.03
to be kneeling in Your presence.
00:19:28.06\00:19:31.60
Lord, Your prophet said that
it is when every other voice is
00:19:34.54\00:19:39.57
hushed, and in quietness we
wait before God, it makes more
00:19:39.61\00:19:46.31
distinct the voice of God.
00:19:46.35\00:19:49.08
Lord, we just pray that one more
time that You would use this
00:19:49.12\00:19:55.36
man, who is but
dust in Your sight.
00:19:55.39\00:19:58.86
That You would speak through
me, and You would speak to me.
00:19:58.89\00:20:02.26
Father, that Jesus
would be lifted up.
00:20:02.30\00:20:05.23
Lord, that He would be seen,
and that we would leave this
00:20:06.37\00:20:09.97
place with more
ardent desire to love,
00:20:10.01\00:20:12.77
and to serve Him, our King.
00:20:12.81\00:20:15.41
Lord help us to
not just be called.
00:20:15.44\00:20:20.22
Help us to not just be chosen.
00:20:20.25\00:20:22.95
But help us to be faithful.
00:20:22.98\00:20:26.09
This is our prayer, and we trust
that You will help this to be
00:20:26.12\00:20:30.99
our experience, for we ask
in the mighty name of Jesus.
00:20:31.03\00:20:35.96
Let all of God's
people say, Amen.
00:20:36.00\00:20:39.90
Sam Walter Foss, he wrote
a poem that I love called,
00:20:43.30\00:20:50.25
The Calf Path, and the
poem goes something like this:
00:20:50.28\00:20:55.72
One day through the primeval
wood a calf walked home,
00:20:55.75\00:21:01.02
as good calves should.
00:21:01.06\00:21:02.66
But made a trail all
bent askew; a crooked
00:21:02.69\00:21:06.56
trail as all calves do.
00:21:06.59\00:21:08.60
Since then 300 years have fled,
and I infer the calf is dead.
00:21:08.63\00:21:14.64
But still he
left behind his trail,
00:21:14.67\00:21:17.97
and thereby
hangs my morale tale.
00:21:18.01\00:21:20.88
The trail was taken up
the next day by a lone dog
00:21:20.91\00:21:25.01
that passed that way.
00:21:25.05\00:21:26.38
And then a wise bellwether
sheep pursued the trail
00:21:26.41\00:21:30.19
o'er vale and steep, and
drew the flock behind him, too,
00:21:30.22\00:21:34.72
as good bellwether's always do.
00:21:34.76\00:21:37.66
And from that day,
o'er hill and glade,
00:21:37.69\00:21:41.20
through those old
woods a path was made.
00:21:41.23\00:21:44.87
And many men wound in and
out, and dodged and turned,
00:21:44.90\00:21:49.80
and bent about, and uttered
words of righteous wrath,
00:21:49.84\00:21:53.68
because 'twas
such a crooked path.
00:21:53.71\00:21:56.64
But still they followed...
00:21:56.68\00:21:58.41
Do not laugh!... the
first migrations of that calf.
00:21:58.45\00:22:02.48
And through this
winding wood way stalked,
00:22:02.52\00:22:05.42
because he
wobbled when he walked.
00:22:05.45\00:22:08.06
This forest path became a
lane that bent and turned,
00:22:08.09\00:22:12.59
and turned again. This crooked
lane became a road where many
00:22:12.63\00:22:17.63
a poor horse with his load
toiled on beneath the burning
00:22:17.67\00:22:22.80
sun, and traveled
some three miles in one.
00:22:22.84\00:22:26.71
And thus a century and
a half, they trolled the
00:22:26.74\00:22:30.78
footsteps of that calf.
00:22:30.81\00:22:33.11
The years passed
on in swiftness fleet.
00:22:33.15\00:22:37.09
The road became
a village street.
00:22:37.12\00:22:39.95
And this before men were aware,
a city's crowded thoroughfare.
00:22:39.99\00:22:45.09
And soon the central street was
this, of a renowned metropolis.
00:22:45.13\00:22:51.00
And men two centuries
and a half trod in the
00:22:51.03\00:22:55.27
footsteps of that calf.
00:22:55.30\00:22:57.64
Each day a hundred
thousand route followed
00:22:57.67\00:23:01.64
the zig zag calf about.
00:23:01.68\00:23:03.55
And o'er his crooked journey
went the traffic of a continent.
00:23:03.58\00:23:08.98
A hundred thousand
men were led by one calf,
00:23:09.02\00:23:14.59
near three centuries dead.
00:23:14.62\00:23:16.62
They followed
still his crookered way,
00:23:16.66\00:23:19.76
and lost one
hundred years a day.
00:23:19.79\00:23:22.33
For thus such reverence is lent
to well established precedent.
00:23:22.36\00:23:27.70
A moral lesson this
might teach, were I ordained
00:23:27.74\00:23:31.57
and called to preach.
00:23:31.61\00:23:32.97
For men are prone to
go it blind along the
00:23:33.01\00:23:36.98
calf paths of the mind.
00:23:37.01\00:23:39.41
And work away from sun to sun
to do what other men have done.
00:23:39.45\00:23:44.59
They follow in the
beaten track, and out and in,
00:23:44.62\00:23:48.52
and forth and back, and still
their devious course pursue,
00:23:48.56\00:23:53.03
to keep the path that others do.
00:23:53.06\00:23:56.23
They keep the
path a sacred groove,
00:23:56.26\00:23:59.17
along which all their lives
they move, who saw the first.
00:23:59.20\00:24:04.01
But how the wise,
old, would God's laugh,
00:24:04.04\00:24:07.94
who saw that
first primeval calf.
00:24:07.98\00:24:10.98
Ah, many things
this tale might teach,
00:24:11.01\00:24:13.78
but I am not ordained to preach.
00:24:13.82\00:24:18.12
Many of us are walking the calf
path when we get up each year
00:24:18.15\00:24:25.39
with the same slides, and the
same sermons handed down from
00:24:25.43\00:24:30.73
previous generations, wondering
why our hundred thousand dollar
00:24:30.77\00:24:34.67
budget only brought in one soul.
00:24:34.70\00:24:37.11
We are walking the calf
path when we continue to adopt
00:24:37.14\00:24:41.61
and promote methods of
evangelism, and youth ministry
00:24:41.64\00:24:46.38
that have already been proven
not to work, we are walking
00:24:46.41\00:24:49.68
in the crooked calf's path.
00:24:49.72\00:24:52.09
When we simply attend church
just in time for the sermon,
00:24:52.12\00:24:56.09
and go home only to sleep,
we are only walking in the path
00:24:56.12\00:25:00.43
of the crooked calf.
00:25:00.46\00:25:01.86
You see, when we continue
to pursue relationships with
00:25:01.90\00:25:06.10
unbelievers despite the
painful examples of Solomon,
00:25:06.13\00:25:11.51
and the antediluvian's,
we are walking in the
00:25:11.54\00:25:14.21
crooked path of that calf.
00:25:14.24\00:25:16.64
We need to pause a
moment tonight GYC,
00:25:16.68\00:25:19.88
and think about
why we do what we do.
00:25:19.91\00:25:23.08
Who is the calf
that we are following?
00:25:23.12\00:25:26.42
Is it your favorite pastor?
00:25:26.45\00:25:28.76
Is that your calf?
00:25:28.79\00:25:30.13
Is it your favorite professor?
00:25:30.16\00:25:32.06
Is that your calf?
00:25:32.09\00:25:33.43
Is your best friend your calf?
00:25:33.46\00:25:35.23
Is your boyfriend, or
your girlfriend your calf?
00:25:35.26\00:25:37.53
Is it someone you just feel
is more intelligent than you?
00:25:37.57\00:25:41.27
That you are just
walking in the beaten path?
00:25:41.30\00:25:44.44
But, you see, I believe tonight
that we continue to follow
00:25:44.47\00:25:49.51
others because we are
afraid to fail on our own.
00:25:49.54\00:25:52.88
But according to Regina Dugan,
the former director of the
00:25:52.91\00:25:57.92
Defense Advanced Research
Project Agency, she says,
00:25:57.95\00:26:01.89
The path to truly new, never
been done before things is paved
00:26:01.92\00:26:07.90
with failure along the way.
00:26:07.93\00:26:10.33
She went on to ask
a probing question.
00:26:10.37\00:26:13.57
She says, What would
you attempt to do if you
00:26:13.60\00:26:18.04
knew you couldn't fail?
00:26:18.07\00:26:19.41
Too many times in our
church board meetings we are not
00:26:19.44\00:26:23.65
attempting to do what we would
do if we knew we would fail.
00:26:23.68\00:26:26.82
We wonder why we get
meager results because
00:26:26.85\00:26:30.22
we had meager plans.
00:26:30.25\00:26:31.75
The prophet of the Lord
says, You do not accomplish much
00:26:31.79\00:26:36.36
because you do not attempt much.
00:26:36.39\00:26:38.23
We need to learn to
recognize that young people
00:26:38.26\00:26:41.93
want to be challenged.
00:26:41.96\00:26:43.30
They want to bring all of their
being into the work of God.
00:26:43.33\00:26:46.97
God has called a
remnant for such a time as this,
00:26:47.00\00:26:50.51
not to come to
church to be average.
00:26:50.54\00:26:53.21
I don't want to
be more of the same.
00:26:53.24\00:26:55.54
I don't want to
be like anyone else.
00:26:55.58\00:26:57.45
I want to be what
God made me to be.
00:26:57.48\00:27:00.08
I want to be what God
said in His mind when He said,
00:27:00.12\00:27:03.75
I'm going to make
a Sebastian Braxton.
00:27:03.79\00:27:05.92
And I live a life that God looks
at the picture in His mind,
00:27:05.95\00:27:09.92
and the picture of my life, and
He says, Yes, that's what I was
00:27:09.96\00:27:13.36
thinking when I made you.
00:27:13.40\00:27:14.73
I don't want to walk in any
more paths of crooked calf's.
00:27:14.76\00:27:20.70
I have my favorite preachers.
00:27:20.74\00:27:23.71
I have my favorite writers.
00:27:23.74\00:27:26.04
I have my
favorite sports players.
00:27:26.07\00:27:27.84
I have my favorite
people in the world.
00:27:27.88\00:27:29.61
But I've already come to
acknowledge and accept that God
00:27:29.64\00:27:33.38
did not make me to
be a C. D. Brooks, 2.0.
00:27:33.42\00:27:36.79
God did not say,
Okay, you're going to be
00:27:36.82\00:27:39.75
David Asscherick light.
00:27:39.79\00:27:41.42
God did not call us to
just be after another man.
00:27:41.46\00:27:45.49
He made you a
unique human being.
00:27:45.53\00:27:47.80
The prophet says to us, it says,
To every individual who is made
00:27:47.83\00:27:54.54
in the image of God,
they have a power akin
00:27:54.57\00:27:58.67
to that of the Creator;
the power to think and to act.
00:27:58.71\00:28:04.41
And wherever this power is
developed, this is what it means
00:28:04.45\00:28:08.85
to have true education.
00:28:08.88\00:28:10.22
I don't want to train
people to be mere reflectors
00:28:10.25\00:28:13.49
of other men's thoughts.
00:28:13.52\00:28:14.86
I want them to know
that God can lead them.
00:28:14.89\00:28:17.76
And please believe,
brothers and sisters,
00:28:17.79\00:28:19.73
we can easily
create spiritual hazing.
00:28:19.76\00:28:22.76
You gotta go
through what I went through
00:28:22.80\00:28:25.57
before you become a leader.
00:28:25.60\00:28:26.97
You gotta go
through what I went through
00:28:27.00\00:28:29.70
before you become an elder.
00:28:29.74\00:28:31.24
You gotta go through these
hazing rituals of the church
00:28:31.27\00:28:35.04
before you can serve.
00:28:35.08\00:28:36.41
Ellen White says
that in the last days...
00:28:36.44\00:28:40.35
What days did I say? last days.
00:28:40.38\00:28:42.62
In the last days men and women
will come into this church,
00:28:42.65\00:28:47.69
and they will learn in
months what took others
00:28:47.72\00:28:50.23
years to understand.
00:28:50.26\00:28:51.59
God doesn't need to take them
through your crooked calf path.
00:28:51.63\00:28:55.86
God has His own direct
way to lead His people.
00:28:55.90\00:28:59.70
God is calling us to
do more than just attempt
00:28:59.73\00:29:03.84
what we think we can do.
00:29:03.87\00:29:05.64
We need to stop
being afraid of failure.
00:29:05.67\00:29:09.31
I ask myself this question:
Sebastian, what would you do
00:29:09.34\00:29:12.45
if you knew you couldn't fail?
00:29:12.48\00:29:14.25
I said, Lord, if I
knew I couldn't fail
00:29:14.28\00:29:17.12
I would play the piano.
00:29:17.15\00:29:20.06
I said, Lord if I knew I
couldn't fail, I would memorize
00:29:20.09\00:29:25.39
whole books of the Bible.
00:29:25.43\00:29:26.76
If I knew I couldn't fail,
I'd sing a duet with my wife.
00:29:26.80\00:29:30.73
Lord knows that
would be a miracle!
00:29:30.77\00:29:32.53
If I knew I couldn't fail, I'd
see Jesus come in my lifetime.
00:29:32.57\00:29:39.51
I would see His work finished.
00:29:39.54\00:29:42.51
I would see Revelation 18 end
before my very eyes; en vivo.
00:29:42.54\00:29:47.92
What would you do GYC if
you knew you couldn't fail?
00:29:47.95\00:29:52.25
We don't need to leave
this conference to go home
00:29:52.29\00:29:55.82
to do more of the same.
00:29:55.86\00:29:57.19
What ever programs are on your
church books, what ever things
00:29:57.23\00:30:01.20
you have on your academic,
or evangelism calendar,
00:30:01.23\00:30:04.33
that's not finishing the work.
00:30:04.37\00:30:06.00
We cannot leave this conference
to go home and continue walking
00:30:06.03\00:30:11.47
the crooked calf's path;
just following precedent.
00:30:11.51\00:30:16.34
We should be challenging
ourselves to say, Lord,
00:30:16.38\00:30:20.82
take us to the next level.
00:30:20.85\00:30:22.75
If I knew I couldn't fail.
00:30:24.15\00:30:26.02
You see, I believe I can think
of at least one thing tonight
00:30:26.05\00:30:30.03
that each and every one of
us would do, and should do,
00:30:30.06\00:30:35.63
if we know we
cannot fail, and that is to
00:30:35.66\00:30:39.33
gain victory over sin.
00:30:39.37\00:30:40.84
You see, throughout Revelation
we are reminded that somebody
00:30:42.47\00:30:46.57
is going to overcome.
00:30:46.61\00:30:47.94
I want you to take your
Bibles and go to Revelation 2,
00:30:47.98\00:30:51.18
beginning in
verse 7, Revelation 2:7.
00:30:51.21\00:30:57.42
And when you're
there you can say Amen.
00:30:57.45\00:30:58.99
Are you there? Amen!
00:31:03.63\00:31:05.69
If you're not there you can just
say, Have mercy! Have mercy!
00:31:05.73\00:31:09.26
The Bible says in Revelation
2: 7, He who has an ear,
00:31:10.77\00:31:15.24
let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches;
00:31:15.27\00:31:18.37
To him who overcomes...
00:31:18.41\00:31:20.94
To him who what? overcomes.
00:31:21.14\00:31:23.75
...I will give to eat
from the tree of life,
00:31:23.78\00:31:26.41
which is in the midst
of the paradise of God.
00:31:26.45\00:31:28.98
Brothers and sisters,
someone is going to overcome.
00:31:29.02\00:31:32.45
The Bible goes on to say, in
Revelation 2:11. Are you there?
00:31:32.49\00:31:37.46
It says, He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit
00:31:37.49\00:31:41.50
saith unto the churches; He that
overcometh shall not be hurt
00:31:41.53\00:31:45.80
of the second death.
00:31:45.83\00:31:47.17
Someone is going to overcome.
00:31:47.20\00:31:49.37
Revelation 2:17, the
Bible says, He that hath an ear,
00:31:49.40\00:31:54.74
let him hear what the
Spirit said unto the churches;
00:31:54.78\00:31:57.61
To him that overcomes will I
give to eat of the hidden manna,
00:31:57.65\00:32:02.32
and will give him a white stone,
and in the stone a new name
00:32:02.35\00:32:07.92
written, which no man knows
saving he that receives it.
00:32:07.96\00:32:11.99
God's going to give you a
name between you and Him alone.
00:32:12.03\00:32:15.13
God's going to give you
a name that when He says it
00:32:15.16\00:32:18.53
only you and Jesus
know about that name.
00:32:18.57\00:32:21.57
Can you say Amen? Amen!
00:32:21.60\00:32:23.47
I'm excited about what
my new name is going to be,
00:32:23.51\00:32:26.04
although I do like
the name Sebastian.
00:32:26.07\00:32:28.24
But someone is
going to overcome.
00:32:29.74\00:32:31.75
The Bible goes on to say
in Revelation 3:21; it says:
00:32:31.78\00:32:39.15
To him who overcomes I
will grant to sit with me on My
00:32:39.19\00:32:44.83
throne, as I also
overcame, and sat down with My
00:32:44.86\00:32:53.03
Father on His throne.
00:32:53.07\00:32:55.00
Someone is going to
overcome. Halleluiah!
00:32:55.04\00:33:01.11
You see, how do I know that
someone is going to overcome?
00:33:02.61\00:33:06.48
How can I be certain that
someone is going to overcome?
00:33:06.51\00:33:10.52
You see, I've
got two reasons why.
00:33:10.55\00:33:12.79
You see, GYC, I know that
someone's going to overcome
00:33:12.82\00:33:16.59
because God wouldn't make
these promises to a person
00:33:16.62\00:33:20.40
that has never,
and will never exist.
00:33:20.43\00:33:23.10
God's not going to make these
promises that He doesn't have...
00:33:23.13\00:33:26.63
Oh, someone's going to
eat from the tree of life,
00:33:26.67\00:33:28.70
and going to get a new name,
knowing full well that no one is
00:33:28.74\00:33:32.24
going to overcome.
Are you with me? Yes!
00:33:32.27\00:33:34.48
God doesn't go up and say,
I'm going to have a tree of life
00:33:34.51\00:33:36.78
for no one to eat from.
00:33:36.81\00:33:38.35
He's not going to have a white
stone with someone's new name,
00:33:38.38\00:33:42.32
and no one's going to get
a new name. Are you with me?
00:33:42.35\00:33:44.49
But number 2, the other reason
I know is because the Bible says
00:33:44.52\00:33:48.89
that John saw them.
00:33:48.92\00:33:50.26
Whew! Go to
Revelation 15, Revelation 15.
00:33:50.29\00:33:57.47
We're going to begin in verse 2.
00:34:01.40\00:34:02.74
Are you there? Yes!
00:34:02.77\00:34:04.94
I want you to say
Amen if you're there. Amen.
00:34:04.97\00:34:07.64
The Bible says in verse 2,
it says, And I saw something
00:34:07.68\00:34:11.21
like a sea of glass mingled with
fire: and those who have the
00:34:11.25\00:34:17.79
victory... It's the
same word in the Greek.
00:34:17.82\00:34:19.99
...those who have overcome
the beast, over his image,
00:34:20.02\00:34:24.33
and over his mark, and
over the number of his name,
00:34:24.36\00:34:27.70
standing on the sea of
glass, having harps of God.
00:34:27.73\00:34:31.37
Can you say Amen? Amen!
00:34:31.40\00:34:33.54
John has already
saw them in prophecy.
00:34:33.57\00:34:36.20
And I'm wondering,
Lord, did John see me
00:34:36.24\00:34:39.57
on that sea of glass?
00:34:39.61\00:34:40.94
Maybe you're wondering
tonight, Did John see me
00:34:40.98\00:34:43.78
on the sea of glass?
00:34:43.81\00:34:45.15
Well, I believe that
your decision tonight,
00:34:45.18\00:34:47.78
and each and every day until
the end of time will determine
00:34:47.82\00:34:51.25
whether John saw you or not.
00:34:51.29\00:34:52.65
I want you to know that you
don't have to be discouraged.
00:34:52.69\00:34:56.93
You don't have
to feel overwhelmed.
00:34:56.96\00:34:59.39
In counseling, and in preaching,
to young people all over
00:34:59.43\00:35:03.16
the world, people
are getting tired of sin.
00:35:03.20\00:35:06.63
People are getting discouraged.
00:35:06.67\00:35:08.57
Some young people are coming
to a place where they say, Lord,
00:35:08.60\00:35:11.87
I don't know if
I'm going to make it.
00:35:11.91\00:35:13.74
They get tired of the
same old sins over, and over,
00:35:13.78\00:35:18.48
and over, and over again.
00:35:18.51\00:35:19.98
But I want you to
notice the song of these people
00:35:20.02\00:35:26.15
who got the victory.
00:35:26.19\00:35:27.62
Revelation 15, beginning
in verse 3, the Bible says,
00:35:27.66\00:35:32.56
And they sing the song
of Moses the servant of God,
00:35:32.59\00:35:38.53
and the song of the Lamb,
saying, Great and marvelous
00:35:38.57\00:35:42.24
are Your works,
Lord God Almighty;
00:35:42.27\00:35:45.91
just and true are Your
ways, O King of saints.
00:35:45.94\00:35:50.95
Who shall not fear You, O
Lord, and glorify Your name?
00:35:50.98\00:35:55.32
for You alone are holy: for all
nations shall come and worship
00:35:55.35\00:36:01.52
before You; for Your
judgments have been manifested.
00:36:01.56\00:36:04.49
I want you to notice
in their song there is no,
00:36:04.53\00:36:08.00
just and true are my ways.
00:36:08.03\00:36:09.70
These who have gotten
the victory over the beast,
00:36:09.73\00:36:13.77
over his mark, over his image,
over the number of his name,
00:36:13.80\00:36:17.14
they're not up in heaven saying,
O, yes, worthy, worthy am I.
00:36:17.17\00:36:21.08
They're not up in heaven singing
the song and saying, O great and
00:36:21.11\00:36:25.31
marvelous are my works.
00:36:25.35\00:36:26.78
No, no, no, no, no.
00:36:26.82\00:36:28.15
When they get to heaven,
the Bible says they're saying,
00:36:28.18\00:36:30.69
Great and marvelous
are Your works, O Lord.
00:36:30.72\00:36:33.19
These are the ones
who got the victory.
00:36:33.22\00:36:35.99
How can your victory
song be about anything
00:36:36.02\00:36:39.06
else but your victory?
00:36:39.09\00:36:40.43
Are you with me? Amen.
00:36:40.46\00:36:41.80
And if this song is about their
victory, then the question is,
00:36:41.83\00:36:45.70
What is it teaching us about
how they got their victory?
00:36:45.73\00:36:49.90
They didn't get
their victory because of
00:36:49.94\00:36:53.21
anything inside themselves.
00:36:53.24\00:36:55.94
They didn't get the victory
because of what they knew.
00:36:55.98\00:36:59.91
They didn't get the
victory because of some inner
00:36:59.95\00:37:03.49
power inside their soul.
00:37:03.52\00:37:05.05
The Bible says they
looked down and they said, Lord,
00:37:06.92\00:37:10.09
just and true are Your ways.
00:37:10.13\00:37:12.79
They came to a place
where they said, You know what?
00:37:12.83\00:37:16.40
Jesus, the only
reason we're here is because
00:37:16.43\00:37:19.53
You have been faithful.
00:37:19.57\00:37:20.90
GYC I've got a message for
you tonight, and that message is
00:37:20.94\00:37:24.71
very, very, very simple.
00:37:24.74\00:37:26.07
When you and I get to heaven,
we're not going to be standing
00:37:26.11\00:37:29.04
before God talking about,
I'm here because I was faithful.
00:37:29.08\00:37:32.68
Because you and I both
know we haven't been faithful.
00:37:32.71\00:37:36.89
We've denied Him. We've failed.
00:37:36.92\00:37:40.52
We've been cowards when
we should have had courage.
00:37:40.56\00:37:43.32
We compromised when we
should have been committed.
00:37:43.36\00:37:46.66
We waivered when we should have
been walking the path by faith.
00:37:46.70\00:37:50.57
We strayed away.
We got discouraged.
00:37:50.60\00:37:53.60
We were overcome with
grief when we should have been
00:37:53.64\00:37:56.10
faithful and
rejoicing, with joy in the Lord.
00:37:56.14\00:37:58.74
Not going to be sitting on
that sea of glass talking about
00:37:58.77\00:38:03.75
this is what I have done.
00:38:03.78\00:38:05.85
You see, the Bible
says we are to overcome
00:38:08.52\00:38:14.49
as Jesus also overcame.
00:38:14.52\00:38:17.33
As means in the same way.
00:38:19.53\00:38:21.66
And I love this quote
from, Our Father, Kearse.
00:38:21.70\00:38:26.94
She says, we must
overcome as Jesus overcame.
00:38:26.97\00:38:33.04
Her next sentence is, By
trusting in God's promises.
00:38:33.07\00:38:40.62
By trusting in His what?
00:38:40.65\00:38:42.42
His promises, He
received strength
00:38:42.45\00:38:46.35
to keep His commandments.
00:38:46.39\00:38:47.89
I'm going to say that again.
00:38:47.92\00:38:49.72
She says, Jesus overcame
by trusting in God's promises.
00:38:49.76\00:38:54.36
He received strength to
keep God's commandments.
00:38:54.40\00:38:57.90
The Bible says that the
dragon is wroth with the woman,
00:38:57.93\00:39:02.10
and went to make war
with the remnant of her seed,
00:39:02.14\00:39:05.07
who do what? keep
the commandments of God.
00:39:05.11\00:39:08.84
How are we going to
keep the commandments of God?
00:39:08.88\00:39:11.11
By trusting in His promises.
00:39:11.15\00:39:13.35
GYC I need you to know tonight
that there's no reason to be
00:39:13.38\00:39:17.15
discouraged, because what
the Bible is trying to teach us
00:39:17.19\00:39:20.29
is that when we look at
the promises, we find out that
00:39:20.32\00:39:23.86
Jesus has always been faithful.
00:39:23.89\00:39:26.19
You see, when I was in the
Marine Corp, the Marine Corp had
00:39:26.23\00:39:31.33
several
different models over time.
00:39:31.37\00:39:33.37
It used to be to
the shores of Tripoli.
00:39:33.40\00:39:36.00
It used to be First to Fight.
00:39:36.04\00:39:39.01
But then something happened in
1836, or 1835 when they decided,
00:39:39.04\00:39:46.51
we're gong to
choose a different motto.
00:39:46.55\00:39:48.35
And they chose the
motto, Semper Fidelis.
00:39:48.38\00:39:52.62
In Latin it
means always faithful.
00:39:52.65\00:39:57.39
And they wanted to make
sure that people understood what
00:39:57.43\00:40:01.00
the Marine Corp, even to
this day, this still continues,
00:40:01.03\00:40:05.13
that the Marine Corp is
all about this exact phrase:
00:40:05.17\00:40:09.67
Always Faithful. So they said,
Look, in order for you to always
00:40:09.70\00:40:15.18
be faithful it takes
three things: It takes honor,
00:40:15.21\00:40:18.25
it takes courage,
and it takes commitment.
00:40:18.28\00:40:20.85
So I remember
being in boot camp.
00:40:20.88\00:40:24.02
And I remember when we
were practicing with the rifle
00:40:24.05\00:40:28.52
on the rifle range.
00:40:28.56\00:40:30.53
I'm not endorsing this.
00:40:30.56\00:40:31.89
I'm just telling you a story.
00:40:31.93\00:40:33.29
And I remember that
you had to hit the target
00:40:35.96\00:40:38.03
8 times out of 10 times.
00:40:38.07\00:40:40.10
And if you didn't hit it 8 times
out of 10 times from 500 yards,
00:40:40.14\00:40:44.21
that's 5 football
fields away, then you failed.
00:40:44.24\00:40:47.88
But you see, boot camp was
very interesting because in
00:40:47.91\00:40:51.41
Marine Corp boot camp when you
come back to what they call the
00:40:51.45\00:40:54.82
squad bay, where you
sleep, and do all your work,
00:40:54.85\00:40:57.19
and everything, and shower.
00:40:57.22\00:40:58.55
They tell you to get on line.
00:40:58.59\00:40:59.92
So they have this little line
across, and you stand on line.
00:40:59.95\00:41:02.69
And the Drill instructor
walks in, and instead of saying,
00:41:02.72\00:41:07.56
You failed, you failed, you
failed, you failed, he stands in
00:41:07.60\00:41:13.00
front and he says, If you failed
the rifle range, step out.
00:41:13.03\00:41:17.44
He already knows who failed.
00:41:19.87\00:41:21.48
But it is a test of honor.
00:41:22.54\00:41:25.21
Do you have the honor
and the courage to step out
00:41:25.25\00:41:29.38
and own your mistake,
knowing the consequences?
00:41:29.42\00:41:33.32
That man is going to make
you do pushups until you die.
00:41:33.36\00:41:35.92
You already
knew what was coming.
00:41:38.23\00:41:40.20
But even though you knew what
was coming, you recognized that
00:41:40.23\00:41:44.50
all that difficulty of doing
pushups, all that difficulty
00:41:44.53\00:41:48.47
of being punished
would be compared as nothing
00:41:48.50\00:41:52.11
to me loosing my honor.
00:41:52.14\00:41:53.81
It would be compared as nothing
to me loosing my courage.
00:41:53.84\00:41:58.78
I would rather do pushups
for four hours, but at least I'm
00:41:58.81\00:42:04.12
still an honorable man.
00:42:04.15\00:42:05.49
You see, GYC, this is the place
that you and I have to come to,
00:42:05.52\00:42:10.69
and to recognize that
this is where Christ is,
00:42:10.73\00:42:15.23
this is where Christ was, and
this is where He's always been.
00:42:15.26\00:42:18.73
I'm going to take you back to
the book of 1 Samuel to show you
00:42:18.77\00:42:22.74
that Jesus has
always been faithful.
00:42:22.77\00:42:24.54
1 Samuel 30. Turn
there quickly: 1 Samuel 30.
00:42:24.57\00:42:33.28
The Bible says here, in the life
of David, beginning in verse 1
00:42:36.32\00:42:41.79
the Bible says, Now it came
to pass, when David and his men
00:42:41.82\00:42:44.49
came to Ziklag on the third day,
that the Amalekites had invaded
00:42:44.53\00:42:48.96
the south, and
Ziklag, and attacked Ziklag,
00:42:49.00\00:42:52.43
and burned it with fire;
And had taken captive the women,
00:42:52.47\00:42:57.01
and those who were
there from small to great.
00:42:57.04\00:43:00.01
They did not kill
anyone, but carried them away,
00:43:00.04\00:43:03.28
and went their way.
00:43:03.31\00:43:04.65
So David and his men came
to the city, and there it was,
00:43:04.68\00:43:09.45
burned with fire; and
their wives, their sons,
00:43:09.48\00:43:12.95
and their daughters
had been taken captive.
00:43:12.99\00:43:15.26
Then David and the people who
were with him lifted up their
00:43:15.29\00:43:19.26
voices and wept, until
they had no more power to weep.
00:43:19.29\00:43:24.17
And David's two wives,
Ahinoam the Jezreelitess,
00:43:24.20\00:43:28.37
and Abigail the widow
of Nabal the Carmelite
00:43:28.40\00:43:30.51
had been taken captive.
00:43:30.54\00:43:32.11
The Bible says in verse 6, Now
David was greatly distressed.
00:43:32.14\00:43:36.31
Do you know why David
was greatly distressed?
00:43:36.34\00:43:38.45
The Bible says, for the
people spoke of stoning him.
00:43:38.48\00:43:42.05
These are the men
who've been walking with him.
00:43:42.08\00:43:45.92
They spoke of stoning him, the
Bible says, because the soul of
00:43:45.95\00:43:50.73
all the people was bitter.
00:43:50.76\00:43:52.53
It was discouraged, every man
for his sons and his daughters.
00:43:52.56\00:43:56.50
But the Bible says, but
David strengthened himself
00:43:56.53\00:43:59.83
in the Lord his God.
00:43:59.87\00:44:01.20
Listen, sometimes you
come to a place as a leader,
00:44:01.24\00:44:05.24
sometimes you come to a
place as a father, as a mother,
00:44:05.27\00:44:08.84
that you've tried to lead, and
all of a sudden as you're trying
00:44:08.88\00:44:11.81
to lead your family, lead your
church, lead your youth group,
00:44:11.85\00:44:15.12
lead your ministry, things
get difficult, things go wrong
00:44:15.15\00:44:20.42
for the people
that you are following,
00:44:20.46\00:44:21.82
and for your own life.
00:44:21.86\00:44:23.19
And you're saying, Lord,
how can I bear this burden?
00:44:23.22\00:44:26.76
The people I'm leading
are suffering as I'm trying to
00:44:26.80\00:44:31.00
follow You, and do the
work you've called me to do.
00:44:31.03\00:44:33.34
And now, Lord, it's gotten to
the point where the people are
00:44:33.37\00:44:37.07
thinking about stoning me.
00:44:37.11\00:44:38.44
The Bible says
that David recognized
00:44:40.08\00:44:42.78
something in that moment.
00:44:42.81\00:44:44.15
He said, Wait a minute.
00:44:44.18\00:44:46.15
Before I get
bogged down by what I see,
00:44:46.18\00:44:48.68
before I get discouraged
by what's going on around me,
00:44:48.72\00:44:52.45
before I sit down and start
meditating on all the gossip,
00:44:52.49\00:44:55.69
he says, Let me remember
how God has led me in the past.
00:44:55.72\00:44:59.13
Saul tried to kill me
twenty something times.
00:44:59.16\00:45:03.23
I had Saul in my hands,
and Saul had me in his hands.
00:45:03.26\00:45:07.10
Saul has an enormous
army, I've only got 300 men.
00:45:07.14\00:45:10.51
But God has led
me, and I survived.
00:45:10.54\00:45:12.67
And now that David has survived
the Bible says, He strengthened
00:45:12.71\00:45:17.01
himself in the Lord his God.
00:45:17.05\00:45:18.81
GYC I need you to know that
if you're discouraged about your
00:45:18.85\00:45:23.15
struggle with sin,
and Satan, and self,
00:45:23.18\00:45:25.65
even though you're overwhelmed,
just sit down and think about
00:45:25.69\00:45:28.96
how God has led you in the past.
00:45:28.99\00:45:30.76
And what you're going to find is
that He's always been faithful.
00:45:30.79\00:45:35.06
And you strengthen
yourself in the Lord your God.
00:45:35.10\00:45:39.13
But, you see, it's not enough.
00:45:39.17\00:45:41.97
Go to Psalm 3. I want to take
you to Psalm 3, because David
00:45:42.00\00:45:46.98
has some of my
favorite promises in the Bible.
00:45:47.01\00:45:49.38
Psalm 3. When you're
there say Amen. Amen.
00:45:51.45\00:45:56.69
The Bible says, a psalm of
David when he was running from
00:45:56.72\00:46:01.96
Absalom, his own son.
00:46:01.99\00:46:03.69
Lord, how they have
increased who trouble me!
00:46:03.73\00:46:09.30
many are they who
rise up against me.
00:46:09.33\00:46:12.83
Many are they who say of me,
There is no help for him in God.
00:46:12.87\00:46:18.41
But You, O Lord, are a
shield for me; my glory,
00:46:18.44\00:46:23.65
and the One who
lifts up my head.
00:46:23.68\00:46:26.01
I cried unto the Lord
with my voice, and He heard me
00:46:26.05\00:46:28.88
from His holy hill.
00:46:28.92\00:46:30.25
I laid down and slept; I awoke;
for the Lord has sustained me.
00:46:30.29\00:46:34.52
Somebody better say Amen. Amen.
00:46:34.56\00:46:37.03
Sometimes you're not
even sure you're going
00:46:37.06\00:46:38.76
to make it through the night.
00:46:38.79\00:46:40.13
David said, I laid
down my head, and I woke up.
00:46:40.16\00:46:43.33
Because the Lord
has sustained me.
00:46:43.37\00:46:45.23
Sometimes you're so sick,
sometimes the cancer is so bad,
00:46:45.27\00:46:50.77
sometimes the disease is just
so debilitating to your body.
00:46:50.81\00:46:54.58
Say, Lord, I don't
think I'm going to make it.
00:46:54.61\00:46:57.45
But David said, Listen to me.
00:46:57.48\00:46:58.81
When everyone said there
is no help for him in God,
00:46:58.85\00:47:02.02
when everyone was
increased against him, he said,
00:47:02.05\00:47:06.12
But You, O Lord,
are a shield for me.
00:47:06.15\00:47:08.69
You are my glory, and
the lifter of my head.
00:47:08.72\00:47:12.36
And I laid down my head, and
I slept, and I got up the next
00:47:12.39\00:47:17.80
morning, because the
Lord has sustained me.
00:47:17.83\00:47:20.30
You see, Jesus has
always been faithful.
00:47:20.34\00:47:26.07
I want you to go to
Isaiah 59, Isaiah 59.
00:47:26.11\00:47:36.12
Isaiah, in the 59th
chapter, the Bible says,
00:47:43.63\00:47:49.80
beginning in verse 19.
00:47:49.83\00:47:52.30
Are you there? Amen.
00:47:52.33\00:47:54.24
The Bible says, So shall
they fear the name of the Lord
00:47:54.27\00:47:59.71
from the west, and his glory
from the rising of the sun.
00:47:59.74\00:48:04.25
When the enemy comes in like
a flood, the spirit of the Lord
00:48:04.28\00:48:09.78
will lift up a
standard against him.
00:48:09.82\00:48:12.12
Somebody had
better say Amen. Amen!
00:48:12.15\00:48:14.82
You look at these promises
and recognize that right here
00:48:14.86\00:48:17.96
he says, When the enemy
comes in like a flood...
00:48:17.99\00:48:20.73
When the dragon sent
that flood after the woman,
00:48:20.76\00:48:24.87
did not the Spirit raise up a
standard against him? yes or no?
00:48:24.90\00:48:27.84
Yes, because He's
always been faithful.
00:48:27.87\00:48:30.64
But here in Isaiah he says,
Listen, Jesus received strength
00:48:30.67\00:48:36.58
through the promises of
God, so that He could keep the
00:48:36.61\00:48:40.98
commandments of God.
00:48:41.02\00:48:42.35
We need to stop
focusing on the commandments,
00:48:43.79\00:48:46.59
and start
focusing on the promises.
00:48:46.62\00:48:48.72
Lets not sit here and get in the
nitty gritty, Well, what is this
00:48:49.42\00:48:52.69
mean to keep the Sabbath?
00:48:52.73\00:48:54.06
We don't need to lower the
standard; we need to increase
00:48:54.10\00:48:56.77
our strength and
dependence on Christ.
00:48:56.80\00:48:58.67
Too many people
want to sit here and say,
00:48:59.80\00:49:01.87
Well, this is too difficult.
00:49:01.90\00:49:03.37
Maybe it is for you, but
there's nothing too difficult
00:49:03.41\00:49:07.48
for you and the Lord.
00:49:07.51\00:49:08.84
We don't need to
preach easier standards.
00:49:08.88\00:49:13.75
We don't need to make it easier
to be a Seventh-day Adventist.
00:49:13.78\00:49:16.12
Because I'm going to tell you
right now, when I joined this
00:49:16.15\00:49:18.42
church people said, You
know, Brother Sebastian,
00:49:18.45\00:49:21.39
I'm so excited, you
know, as you joined our
00:49:21.42\00:49:23.22
church there in Georgia.
00:49:23.26\00:49:24.89
They said, You know, the one
thing I love about new converts
00:49:24.93\00:49:28.26
is that they're always on fire.
00:49:28.30\00:49:30.10
They're always ready to go.
00:49:30.13\00:49:31.60
They're always ready
to get into evangelism.
00:49:31.63\00:49:33.50
And I looked at the person
and I said, You know what?
00:49:33.54\00:49:35.97
I'm going to explain
that in my next sermon.
00:49:36.00\00:49:38.17
And I stood in that
pulpit the next day and I said,
00:49:38.21\00:49:41.91
I need you to understand
something church family.
00:49:41.94\00:49:44.98
That when people come into the
church, the reason why we come
00:49:45.01\00:49:51.29
in hitting the ground running,
the reason why we come in
00:49:51.32\00:49:55.02
willing to do all that Jesus
says, the reason why we come in
00:49:55.06\00:49:59.86
saying, I'm ready to surrender,
is because it cost us something
00:49:59.89\00:50:02.93
to be a Christian.
00:50:02.96\00:50:04.30
We had to give up things
in order to follow Jesus.
00:50:04.33\00:50:08.10
We knew that, Look, I
wasn't born into this.
00:50:08.14\00:50:11.14
I didn't inherit this.
00:50:11.17\00:50:12.77
I didn't grow up
singing the songs of Zion.
00:50:12.81\00:50:15.08
I had to recognize that
if I'm going to follow Jesus,
00:50:15.11\00:50:19.31
it's going to cost me something.
00:50:19.35\00:50:21.02
So you'd better believe if
I'm going to lose my friends,
00:50:21.05\00:50:24.75
I believe 100% of this.
00:50:24.79\00:50:26.65
You'd better believe if
I'm going to give up having all
00:50:26.69\00:50:30.29
of these relationships,
and family gatherings,
00:50:30.33\00:50:32.83
you'd better
believe I believe this 100%.
00:50:32.86\00:50:36.06
Because when it costs you
something, that's all the sudden
00:50:38.47\00:50:41.10
when people are
not too sure to join.
00:50:41.14\00:50:43.04
So let's not make it easy
for people to join the church.
00:50:43.07\00:50:46.84
We need to recognize that when
Jesus laid his ideal for us,
00:50:51.28\00:50:59.15
which Ellen White says is higher
than the highest human thought
00:50:59.19\00:51:02.89
can reach, is God's
ideal for His children.
00:51:02.92\00:51:06.70
Godliness, God likeness,
is the goal to be reached.
00:51:06.73\00:51:10.17
How do you think you're
going to become God-like
00:51:10.20\00:51:12.67
in your own strength?
00:51:12.70\00:51:14.04
How do you think you're
going to become like Jesus
00:51:14.07\00:51:17.67
in your own strength?
00:51:17.71\00:51:19.04
You will never do it.
00:51:19.07\00:51:21.24
We don't even know
what it's like to be holy.
00:51:21.28\00:51:24.11
Because everything
in us, the Bible says,
00:51:24.15\00:51:26.68
all of our righteousness's
are as filthy rags.
00:51:26.72\00:51:29.75
That means even
the good things you do.
00:51:29.78\00:51:31.75
We're not
talking about your sins.
00:51:31.79\00:51:33.36
We're talking about the fact
you got up this morning to have
00:51:33.39\00:51:35.82
devotion;
righteousness filthy rags.
00:51:35.86\00:51:38.39
We are never going to
do it in our own strength.
00:51:41.40\00:51:45.83
And so the Bible doesn't say,
When the enemy comes in like
00:51:45.87\00:51:49.30
a flood, make sure you
have your buckets ready.
00:51:49.34\00:51:51.64
The Bible doesn't say, When
the enemy comes in like a flood,
00:51:51.67\00:51:55.38
make sure you dig a deep enough
ditch to swallow up the flood.
00:51:55.41\00:51:58.78
No, the Bible says, When
the enemy comes in like a flood,
00:51:58.81\00:52:02.02
the Spirit... The who?
00:52:02.05\00:52:03.59
The Spirit will raise up
a standard for you. Amen.
00:52:03.62\00:52:08.52
We need to be less
dependent upon men,
00:52:08.56\00:52:10.69
and more dependent upon Christ.
00:52:10.73\00:52:12.43
Christ's Object Lessons says,
The success, our success in the
00:52:12.46\00:52:18.93
work, it is not the
capabilities we now possess,
00:52:18.97\00:52:24.37
or ever will possess, that will
give us success in the work.
00:52:24.41\00:52:28.58
It is only... It is what?
00:52:28.61\00:52:30.51
...only that which
the Lord can do for you.
00:52:30.55\00:52:33.48
We need to have less
confidence in what men can do,
00:52:35.25\00:52:37.99
and more confidence in what God
can do for every believing soul.
00:52:38.02\00:52:42.32
Oh, but the quote
doesn't stop there.
00:52:42.36\00:52:45.89
She says, God longs to have
us reach out after Him in faith.
00:52:45.93\00:52:51.40
God longs to have us
expect great things from Him.
00:52:51.43\00:52:56.34
Whew! Do you
understand the word longs?
00:52:56.37\00:53:02.31
You see, if somebody
was at lunch this afternoon
00:53:02.34\00:53:05.61
and they said, Hey brother,
are you going to finish that
00:53:05.65\00:53:07.78
sandwich over there?
00:53:07.82\00:53:09.15
Or, I'd really
like your sandwich.
00:53:09.18\00:53:10.99
That's one thing, but if
the brother looks at your food
00:53:11.02\00:53:13.22
and says, Hey brother,
I'm longing for your sandwich.
00:53:13.25\00:53:16.52
That just feels
like a deep soul desire.
00:53:16.56\00:53:19.86
Are you following me? Yes.
00:53:19.89\00:53:21.23
So when the Bible says that God
says, I'm longing to have you
00:53:21.26\00:53:25.20
expect great things from Me.
00:53:25.23\00:53:27.00
That is a deep divine
soul desire, that God says,
00:53:27.04\00:53:32.11
When are you going to come
to Me, and ask Me for things
00:53:32.14\00:53:35.18
that only God can do?
00:53:35.21\00:53:36.54
When you say, Lord, they
said there's a twelve step
00:53:38.55\00:53:41.28
Stop Smoking Program.
00:53:41.32\00:53:42.78
Lord, I want you
to do it in one step.
00:53:42.82\00:53:44.75
Because only God can do that.
00:53:44.79\00:53:46.15
Lord, they said there's a
process of healing from these
00:53:46.19\00:53:50.96
broken relationships, but
Lord, I need you to do it today.
00:53:50.99\00:53:54.33
Because I need You to do
something that only God can do.
00:53:54.36\00:53:57.73
Let's stop asking God to
do things that man can do,
00:53:58.87\00:54:02.27
and then we will see God work.
00:54:02.30\00:54:04.01
Brothers and sisters,
Jesus has always been faithful.
00:54:04.04\00:54:11.91
I want to go to my
last verse, Hebrews 12.
00:54:13.68\00:54:18.72
Hebrews 12. Let's
turn there quickly.
00:54:21.86\00:54:24.06
The Bible says,
verse 1, Therefore we also,
00:54:34.60\00:54:40.68
since we are surrounded by
so great a cloud of witnesses,
00:54:40.71\00:54:46.05
let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which so easily
00:54:46.08\00:54:52.85
ensnares us, and let us run with
endurance the race that is set
00:54:52.89\00:54:57.96
before us, looking unto
Jesus, not the finish line.
00:54:57.99\00:55:04.50
Looking unto Jesus,
not the finish line.
00:55:04.53\00:55:08.34
Looking unto Jesus the author
and finisher of our faith.
00:55:08.37\00:55:14.24
You see, when Paul says, We are
surrounded by such a great cloud
00:55:14.28\00:55:18.61
of witnesses, one
commentator says that Paul
00:55:18.65\00:55:22.05
is using Olympic language.
00:55:23.72\00:55:27.12
When the runners would
gather there in Greece,
00:55:27.16\00:55:30.93
as they're all lined up, as
they walk onto the track to run
00:55:30.96\00:55:36.10
the race, along the halls
they would see those who have
00:55:36.13\00:55:41.74
run the race before them.
00:55:41.77\00:55:43.54
They would see them
wearing their crowns.
00:55:43.57\00:55:46.74
So that as they're coming to
the starting line and they say,
00:55:46.78\00:55:51.65
Look, this is a marathon.
00:55:51.68\00:55:53.05
This is going to be a long race.
00:55:53.08\00:55:55.82
This is going to be a hard race.
00:55:55.85\00:55:57.65
But, you see, as you walk by
these men sitting in the stands
00:55:57.69\00:56:01.69
with their garlands on, the
runner remembers that when I'm
00:56:01.72\00:56:05.39
in the race, and I'm getting
tired, when I'm in the race
00:56:05.43\00:56:08.70
and I'm getting discouraged,
I remembered that I saw
00:56:08.73\00:56:11.13
Abraham in the stands.
00:56:11.17\00:56:12.53
I remembered that among
that great cloud of witnesses,
00:56:12.57\00:56:15.90
I saw Daniel in the stands.
00:56:15.94\00:56:17.87
I remember, as I'm coming to
run this race, that I saw Noah
00:56:17.91\00:56:22.21
in the stands, whose
faith lasted 120 years.
00:56:22.24\00:56:25.41
I remember that I saw
Jesus in the stands saying,
00:56:25.45\00:56:31.05
I've run this
race, and we have won.
00:56:31.09\00:56:34.42
Because He's
always been faithful.
00:56:38.13\00:56:41.73
Every head is
bowed, every eye is closed.
00:56:41.76\00:56:48.40
Heavenly Father, is there
someone in this room that is
00:56:53.04\00:57:01.68
discouraged, that is tired
of living an average Christian
00:57:01.72\00:57:05.92
life, that is ready to come to
Jesus tonight, up to this altar,
00:57:05.95\00:57:10.73
and say, Lord, I want
to ask You for something
00:57:10.76\00:57:13.40
that only God can do.
00:57:13.43\00:57:16.43
I want to ask You for a victory
that only Jesus can give.
00:57:16.46\00:57:19.53
So that when someone says,
Where are the Daniel's today?
00:57:19.57\00:57:24.04
Where are the Esther's?
00:57:27.84\00:57:29.24
Where are the Joseph's?
00:57:29.28\00:57:31.01
Where are the Enoch's today?
00:57:31.05\00:57:32.75
And someone's going to
look down at that little church,
00:57:32.78\00:57:36.72
wherever you are, and
they'll say, These are they.
00:57:36.75\00:57:39.12
These are they. If that is your
desire, as Nestor sings this
00:57:40.86\00:57:45.69
song, I want you to
be an answer to the song.
00:57:45.73\00:57:49.53
When they say, Where are the
Daniels, we're going to be able
00:57:49.56\00:57:53.37
to say, They're
right here in Louisville.
00:57:53.40\00:57:55.54
If that is the call that
God has placed upon your heart,
00:57:55.57\00:58:00.08
say, Lord, I'm coming
here to ask You to do something
00:58:00.11\00:58:03.45
that only Jesus can do.
00:58:03.48\00:58:04.95
I want you to come to this
altar as he sings this song.
00:58:04.98\00:58:09.22
Say Lord, I'm tired,
I'm struggling, I'm coming,
00:58:12.55\00:58:15.59
and I'm asking You to
do what only Jesus can do.
00:58:15.62\00:58:19.09
I have often heard
the stories of great men.
00:58:26.30\00:58:31.84
There was one who gathered
storms; layed beside them broke.
00:58:31.87\00:58:37.88
He placed one in a sling,
and slung it around and round.
00:58:37.91\00:58:43.65
Before you count to
ten, glides tumbling down.
00:58:43.69\00:58:49.79
Where are the David's today?
00:58:49.82\00:58:55.30
What about the man
who was falsely accused,
00:58:57.30\00:59:03.04
with a tremor in his
voice, as gold in the juice.
00:59:03.07\00:59:09.71
They were cut to the heart.
00:59:09.74\00:59:12.75
They stoned him to death.
00:59:12.78\00:59:15.75
But he prayed
and asked the Lord,
00:59:15.78\00:59:19.09
Don't charge them with this sin.
00:59:19.12\00:59:21.56
Where are the Stephens today?
00:59:21.59\00:59:27.33
Where are the
saints who keep the
00:59:30.60\00:59:35.77
commandments of our God?
00:59:35.80\00:59:40.61
Where are...
00:59:43.48\00:59:44.95