Participants: Taj Pacleb
Series Code: 15WAC
Program Code: 15WAC000001
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00:15 Our message tonight is entitled
00:17 The Highway to the Upper Room. 00:19 We're going to discover the prerequisite 00:22 for the power of Pentecost 00:23 and so I invite you to take your Bible 00:24 and open with me to the Book of Revelation 12 00:29 as we begin our study tonight. 00:31 We're gonna go to the last book of the Bible, 00:33 this powerful prophetic book 00:35 written for God's people in the last days, 00:38 and in the 12 chapter we find a very powerful 00:41 and potent passage, describing in awesome language, 00:47 the final climatic conflict 00:49 between a dreadful demonic dragon 00:52 and a beautiful beloved bride. 00:55 Notice what it says in Revelation Chapter 12 00:57 beginning with verse 17, and if you're there 00:59 and if you're ready to study the Bible tonight, 01:01 would you please say amen. 01:03 The Bible says in Revelation 12:17, 01:05 "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, 01:08 and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, 01:13 which keep the commandments of God, 01:15 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." 01:19 So here we're reading prophetic language, 01:21 a dragon that is filled with wrath 01:23 against a woman that has specific characteristics. 01:28 And the reason why this dragon 01:30 which is none other than Satan is angry at this woman 01:33 which is simply the beloved people of God 01:35 is because this is a bride or a woman or a church 01:40 that will bring his demise in the last days. 01:43 It's a moment that will push the gospel forward 01:47 that will carry the gospel 01:48 throughout the whole world order 01:50 that will bring in the return of Jesus, 01:52 our heavenly husband 01:54 and the final destruction of Satan. 01:57 And I want you to notice, friends, 01:58 according to this prophecy that 02:00 Satan is not angry at every church, 02:04 he is not mad at every movement. 02:07 He is only angry at the church or the movement 02:10 that is a threat to his kingdom, 02:14 and this woman is that movement. 02:16 We know that in prophecy woman represents a church. 02:20 Here is the church that Satan is threatened by 02:23 and he is angry at her for at least three reasons. 02:25 Number one, 02:27 is because she is the beloved bride 02:29 of his chief enemy, Jesus Christ. 02:32 Number two, 02:33 this woman keeps the commandments 02:35 of his chief enemy, she loves to follow Jesus. 02:39 And number three, 02:40 she has the testimony of Jesus Christ 02:43 which is Satan's chief enemy. 02:46 In other words this woman 02:47 having the testimony of Jesus, 02:48 she is always talking about Jesus, 02:50 she loves bragging about her husband. 02:54 And Satan hates that, and is through this woman 02:57 that Jesus is going to testify 03:01 against the false accusations of Satan 03:03 in this great controversy between good and evil, 03:06 proving his accusations false, 03:08 and so Satan wants to silence the testimony of Jesus Christ, 03:12 and in order to do so he must silence this woman. 03:17 But the question is, what exactly 03:19 is the testimony of Jesus Christ? 03:24 Where is it reviewed 03:25 and how is this testimony review to us? 03:28 Well, many of us are familiar, 03:30 we understand that according to Revelation 19:10 03:33 that the testimony of Jesus is the way. 03:37 The Spirit of Prophecy, you see friends. 03:41 This is a church that has the testimony of Jesus, 03:43 which is the Spirit of Prophecy. 03:45 In other words it's a movement 03:47 that is moved by the inspiration 03:49 of the Spirit of Prophecy 03:50 because it's the Spirit of Prophecy 03:52 which is the testimony of Jesus that this, 03:55 that reviews to this woman, this church her mission 03:59 and her message as well as her method 04:03 of sharing the gospel with the word in the last days. 04:06 And so it's the prophetic testimony given 04:09 from Jesus through the Spirit of Prophecy, 04:11 that this woman is moved by, 04:13 moved by the power of the Spirit of Prophecy. 04:17 Now, friends, I want you to not miss that point, 04:20 the testimony of Jesus and the Spirit of Prophecy 04:22 are one and the same. 04:23 You see as the bride is to follow her husband, 04:27 so to we as the bride of Christ are to be moved 04:30 by the testimony of our husband Jesus Christ, 04:33 which is the Spirit of Prophecy, 04:34 and this Spirit of Prophecy 04:38 is what makes known to us Jesus' words. 04:41 Now I want you to notice in the Book of John 14:26 04:45 if you have a notebook, 04:46 I encourage you to write it down 04:47 for the sake of time, 04:48 some of these will be on the screen, 04:50 but Jesus says something very interesting here, 04:53 it says, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, 04:55 whom the Father shall send in my name, 04:58 shall teach you all things..." 05:00 How many things? 05:02 So the Comforter is to teach us 05:03 not just some of the council of God, 05:06 but it all, all things 05:07 "And bring all things to your remembrance, 05:10 whatsoever I have said unto you." 05:13 So notice carefully, friends, 05:14 that the Holy Spirit 05:15 does not speak His own words, 05:17 but it simply brings back to our remembrance 05:19 the words that Jesus has spoken to us. 05:22 Again the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy, 05:25 the Spirit of Prophecy is simply telling us 05:28 Jesus' words. 05:29 Notice another one in the Book of John 16: 12-13 05:34 it says, Jesus speaking, 05:36 "I still have many things to say to you, 05:38 but you cannot bear them now." 05:40 You see God is a God that understands 05:42 what we can handle and He doesn't overwhelm us 05:44 with too much information. 05:45 He reviews truth to us gradually 05:47 the path of the just is like a shining light 05:50 that shines more and more on to the perfect day 05:53 and so as we continue to be led 05:55 or moved by the spirit, the power of God, 05:58 we will have a deeper and deeper understanding 06:00 of the words of God with a testimony of Jesus. 06:03 Are you with me? 06:05 It says "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, 06:08 has come, He will..." 06:10 What is this word right here? 06:11 "Guide you into..." how much? 06:13 "All truth, for He will not speak on His own authority..." 06:17 We've already speak that. 06:18 "But whatever He hears He will speak, 06:20 and He will tell you things to come. 06:22 He will glorify Me, for He will take 06:25 of what is Mine and declare it to you." 06:29 Once again, friends, we see very clearly 06:31 that the role of the Holy Spirit 06:33 is to bring back to our remembrance 06:35 that what Jesus has testify to us, 06:37 the Holy Spirit is to guide us into the truths of Jesus 06:41 into all that Jesus wants us to understand, 06:45 it's-- in other words 06:46 the Holy Spirit is to fill us in. 06:49 On everything, Jesus wants us to know 06:52 and everywhere Jesus wants us to go. 06:55 And I want you to notice that this word guide 06:57 is very important for our study tonight 06:59 because the word guide denotes that there is a journey, 07:03 there is a pathway or there is a road 07:04 that we're walking upon, 07:06 leading to a specific destination 07:08 and the word guide denotes that we are being led in a way 07:11 that we naturally do not know ourselves. 07:14 It implies that there is movement 07:16 from a specific place to a specific destination 07:20 from point A to point B, 07:22 and that's what we are friends, 07:23 we are not just a church, 07:24 we are not just an organization, 07:26 we are a moment and tell me, friends, 07:28 what is the chief characteristics of a movement? 07:32 They are on the move, isn't that right? 07:35 They're moving, 07:36 a movement is not a movement if they are stagnant, 07:39 and so this woman is moved by the power of God, 07:44 moved by the testimony of Jesus 07:47 which is the Spirit of Prophecy, 07:49 but the question I want us to consider 07:50 it's not as this, from where to where 07:53 is the remnant being guided to? 07:55 From where to where? 07:57 In other words which way do they go 07:59 and, friends, listen carefully, 08:00 in order for us to identify and discover 08:02 the way in which this remnant 08:04 or we or-- we are to go, 08:07 we must in order to know that way, 08:09 we must study the people in the Bible, 08:12 who are known as the People of the Way. 08:17 You see, this woman in Revelation 12 08:20 represents the Early Apostolic Church. 08:23 The crown of 12 stars on her brows, 08:25 stars representing angels according to Revelation 1:20, 08:28 angels simply denoting messengers, 08:31 the 12 messengers, the 12 Apostles, 08:33 here is the church of the first century, 08:35 the Early Apostolic Church, 08:37 the church that Jesus founded upon that solid rock, 08:40 it's the original bride, the original church, 08:43 and friends, the Bible tells us that 08:45 Satan the dragon is angry at that church, 08:48 but he takes it out his anger out 08:50 on the children of the woman. 08:52 Notice in the prophecy in Revelation, 08:54 Satan the dragon is not attacking the woman, 08:57 her time has passed, but she has her remnant, 09:02 and so Satan takes out all his frustration 09:05 and his anger upon the remnant of the women, 09:08 and who is the remnant? 09:09 This word remnant, 09:10 it simply means that which remains 09:14 and he's just like the what? 09:15 The original. 09:16 In other words the remnant church of Bible prophecy 09:19 are those who remain original, those who have a pure faith, 09:23 those who follow Jesus. 09:26 Everywhere Jesus leads, 09:28 just like the Early Apostolic Church did. 09:31 They are the last church, the end time church 09:34 that is just like the original church, 09:36 that has a pure faith coming directly 09:40 from the words of Jesus, the testimony of Jesus, 09:42 which is the Spirit of Prophecy. 09:44 So listen carefully, friends, 09:45 as we lay the foundation tonight. 09:47 In order for us to know how we are to move 09:50 as a movement today, we must study to see 09:53 how the spirit moved the early church yesterday. 09:57 To know where we need to be today, 10:00 all we have to do is look back to see what happened, 10:03 and how the Holy Spirit led the original church 10:06 because the remnant is just like the original. 10:11 And the original church, 10:12 they understood the testimony of Jesus, 10:14 they have the Spirit of Prophecy. 10:15 And by the way, friends, the Spirit of Prophecy 10:17 is not just referring to one prophet at the end of time. 10:20 The Spirit of Prophecy is the Holy Spirit speaking 10:23 through all of the prophets of God, 10:26 from the beginning of time to the end of time. 10:28 Can you say amen? 10:29 So it's a church that lives by every word 10:31 that proceeds out of the mouth of God, 10:32 every word that the Spirit of God has brought 10:35 through all the prophets 10:36 from beginning all the way to the end. 10:39 And, friends, I want to summit that 10:40 this is one of the reasons why Satan is so angry, 10:44 he is filled with wrath, 10:46 he is not angry at every church, 10:49 only the one that he is threatened by. 10:51 And so in order for us to understand 10:53 this final movement, let's go back 10:57 to study the original movement in the past. 10:59 And as we do here is a promise we can claim 11:01 from the book of Last Day Events 11:02 from amongst other places on page 72 it says, 11:06 let's read this together, shall we? 11:08 It says, "We have nothing to fear for the future, 11:12 except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, 11:18 and His teaching in our past history." 11:21 So we don't have to be afraid of the future, friends. 11:24 As we read this and how the dragon is wrath, 11:27 wroth with us and wants to destroy us and, 11:29 and let me tell you friends, 11:30 if you've not yet been tested, the testing time 11:33 is gonna break upon each and everyone of us. 11:35 We are going to experience the wrath of the dragon, 11:38 but I'm so thankful that we don't have to be afraid 11:40 because the Bible says that 11:41 perfect love cast out fear from our hearts 11:44 as we understand the love of Christ for us. 11:46 It dispels all that fear as long as we do not forget, 11:52 as long as we remember 11:55 how the Lord led us in the past. 11:58 It says specifically the way, the what? 12:02 The way, He has led us in our past history. 12:06 As we look back to the past, 12:07 it gives us confidence to know that 12:09 the same God that led us in the past 12:11 is gonna lead us all the way in the future. 12:14 Amen. 12:15 All the way to the golden shore in that sweet by and by. 12:19 And so as we look back, friends, listen carefully, 12:21 as we look back to the mighty outpouring 12:23 of power in the past, 12:25 God is not just wanting to inspire us, 12:27 but He is also wanting to instruct us 12:29 as to what we are to do right now in the present. 12:34 And so what happened in the experience 12:37 of the Early Apostolic Church 12:40 is but a glimpse of what God is gonna do 12:44 through the remnant of that Early Apostolic Church. 12:49 And friends, when you read the Book of Acts, 12:52 their impact was so powerful and profound. 12:56 Spirit of Prophecy says that the whole world was shaken. 12:59 Even the enemies said that these-- 13:01 the words of these Apostles, this early church 13:05 has turned the world upside down. 13:08 And, friends I want to experience that, 13:10 how about you? 13:11 But in order to have the result, 13:14 we first must need their-- 13:15 we first must have their experience. 13:19 In order to have the results, 13:20 we first must have their experience. 13:21 In other words, 13:22 we need to see the things that they saw, 13:25 in order to experience what they experienced. 13:28 We need to hear the things that their ears had heard 13:31 and to know the things that they knew 13:34 because what they knew and what they saw 13:35 and what they heard made such a profound 13:37 difference in their lives 13:39 and because it made in them 13:41 it also made a difference through them 13:43 in the whole world. 13:45 And so to have the results, 13:47 we must have their experience. 13:48 And so question, what was the prerequisite 13:52 for the power of Pentecost? 13:54 What was it, friends? 13:57 Two things, how many? 14:00 At least these two things 14:02 summarize tonight with two words 14:05 and I will give it to you right now. 14:07 Number one, a Room, number two a Road. 14:14 Number one is what? 14:16 A Room and number two a-- 14:18 and, friends, these two things the Road and the Room 14:22 was the prerequisite for the power 14:25 they experienced at Pentecost. 14:27 And so what we gonna do right now 14:28 is we want to trace it backwards 14:30 from Pentecost backwards from effect to its cause 14:34 and then later on we gonna review it 14:36 from cause to effect. 14:38 And so the question is what happened before Pentecost? 14:43 There was an upper room experience. 14:45 We all know that. 14:47 And what happened there? 14:48 Friends, in this upper room experience, 14:51 the Apostles were of one accord, 14:54 they came together uniting in the spirit 14:56 and they were able to be united in the spirit 14:58 because they humbled themselves before one another 15:01 and they, they made wrongs, right 15:03 and they between themselves 15:04 and God, and they-- they prayed together 15:06 and they pleaded for the power of the Holy Spirit 15:09 and as they come to get-- 15:10 as they came together in that upper room experience, 15:13 God fulfilled the promise He made to their forefathers 15:16 in 2 Chronicles 7:14 where God had promised to us, 15:20 "If my people, who are called by my name, 15:23 shall humble themselves, 15:24 and pray, and seek my face, 15:26 and turn from their wicked ways, 15:28 then will I hear from heaven, 15:30 I will forgive their sins, and I will heal their land." 15:33 And as this early church got together in that upper room, 15:36 this powerful promise was profoundly fulfilled 15:39 in their experience 15:40 as the healing rain of God's power, 15:43 and love filled and flow through them 15:45 and the ripple effects drew into a tsunami of revival 15:49 that brought spiritual revolution to the whole world. 15:53 And it came, it began in that upper room experience. 15:58 And, friends, according to prophecy history 16:01 is gonna be repeated 16:02 in a more profound and powerful way, 16:04 I love what it says in the book Great Controversy 16:06 in page 464 it says, 16:08 "Before the final visitation 16:10 of God's judgments upon the earth 16:12 there will be among the people of the Lord 16:14 such a revival of primitive godliness 16:17 as has not been witnessed since what? 16:19 Apostolic times. 16:20 The Spirit and power of God 16:22 will be poured out upon His children." 16:24 At that time, notice what's gonna happen 16:26 as a result of this end time upper room experience, 16:29 it says, "At that time many will separate themselves 16:32 from those churches in which the love of this world 16:35 has supplanted love for God and His word. 16:38 Many, both of who? 16:40 Ministers and the people, 16:42 will gladly accept those great truths 16:44 which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time 16:47 to prepare a people for the Lord's second coming." 16:51 It's a prophecy describing a great in gathering 16:54 of individuals both ministers and members, 16:57 and leaders, and laity, and pastors, 17:00 and the people will come to hear this message-- 17:03 preach and proclaim and demonstrated 17:06 by the powerful Holy Spirit, 17:07 from the lips of His people, and through their lives, 17:10 and as a result many will come. 17:13 Pentecost will be repeated in the last days. 17:17 Friends, it's up to us, if we gonna be a part of it. 17:20 I don't know about you, friends, I want it, amen. 17:23 I want to have that experience. 17:25 And the Lord has given me 17:26 in my personal ministry the privilege 17:29 of seeing this promise partially fulfilled 17:31 with my own eyes. 17:32 Just a few months ago 17:33 we did the meetings in the wicked 17:35 city of San Francisco and California. 17:38 Just a few months ago, this past September, 17:40 we did meetings there, 17:42 and it was a wonderful, wonderful experience. 17:44 We've done over 55 meetings in the past 8 years. 17:48 This was our 54th meeting 17:49 and I will never forget, our Brother Bill 17:51 who came to the meetings night after night. 17:53 He got the invitation and he was there 17:56 and he was soaking up the word of God 17:58 and, and you know, he'd been 18:00 had a lot of experience in spiritual things. 18:05 And I will never forget that night 18:07 when we talked about the God of new beginnings. 18:11 The God that wants to give us 18:13 a clean slate and a fresh start. 18:15 And we made an invitation for people to come to the front 18:17 to get baptize or to make a decision to be baptized, 18:20 to prepare for baptism, 18:22 and I will never forget Bill coming down to the front 18:24 and I met him at the altar and with tears in his eyes 18:27 streaming down his face, 18:28 he looked at me and he said to me, 18:30 is there room for an ordained preacher? 18:34 Is there room in this baptism for an ordained minister? 18:39 You see Brother Bill had been a minister 18:42 in the nondenominational church. 18:44 He came to our meetings, he heard the present truth, 18:48 end time message, 18:50 centered in Christ founded upon the word 18:52 and blessed by the spirit, 18:54 his heart was stirred within him 18:56 and even though he had been a minister 18:57 in the nondenominational church, 18:59 he felt God calling him to be re-baptize 19:02 and just before he was baptized on the last of our meetings, 19:04 he said these words and I quote, he said, 19:07 "I'm getting re-baptize because the Lord has led me 19:10 to the Seventh-day Adventist Church 19:11 to unite with the remnant church of Bible prophecy. 19:15 I have been in the ministry for four and half years 19:17 in a nondenominational church, 19:19 and now I have received, I've been led to greater truth 19:23 and I'm recommitting myself to God 19:25 for even greater service." 19:26 Amen. 19:28 We see glimpses of an end time Pentecost, 19:31 taking place around this in pockets of Adventism 19:35 here and there and like the song says, 19:37 mercy drops round us are falling. 19:40 But friends we need the showers, 19:42 before those showers we must plead. 19:45 And so my question is, 19:46 what is it gonna take for the final Pentecost 19:48 of the last days to be realized? 19:50 What is it gonna take? 19:51 It's gonna take an upper room experience. 19:55 How many of you tonight see your need 19:57 for an upper room experience? 20:00 Us coming together, putting aside 20:03 our selfishness, and our pride, 20:06 humbling ourselves before one another, 20:08 before our great God that we might make room 20:11 for the spirit in our lives, 20:13 and we need that upper room experience. 20:16 And I'm so thankful for the-- for our denominational church, 20:20 our GC president calling for revival 20:23 and reformation in calling for this upper room experience, 20:25 but let me tell you friends, 20:27 I want to submit to us tonight that 20:28 many of God's people are not even ready-- 20:30 not just are they not ready for Pentecost, 20:32 but they are not even ready for the upper room. 20:35 You see there is a previous preparatory experience 20:38 that we first must have 20:40 in order for the upper room to even make a difference. 20:45 I told you there are two things 20:47 that needed to happen before Pentecost could be realized. 20:52 A room and what's the next thing? 20:55 A road. 20:57 You see, friends, the reason why the prayers 21:00 of the Apostles worked in the upper room 21:03 is because they had this foundational experience, 21:07 you see before they could be 21:08 filled with the spirit in the upper room, 21:10 they first had to be led by the spirit 21:13 to the upper room. 21:16 Did you catch that? 21:17 Before they could be filled 21:18 with the spirit in the upper room, 21:21 they first had to be led 21:22 by the spirit to the upper room. 21:27 And thus the spirit of God would lead that early church, 21:34 up a road that would lead to the upper room, 21:37 a highway, a holy way 21:39 that would lead to a most holy place. 21:41 And, friends, all this what I like to call 21:44 upper road experience on this upper road experience 21:48 they would learn lessons that would prepare them 21:50 for the outpouring in the upper room. 21:53 I call it the upper road experience, 21:55 which is the prerequisite for the upper room. 21:58 It's what makes the upper room count 22:02 and so it's on this road 22:04 that I invite you to walk with me upon tonight. 22:08 And on this road what we gonna do, friends? 22:10 We are going to hear-- 22:11 listen, listen on this upper road experience, 22:14 we are going to hear the testimony of Jesus, 22:18 which is the Spirit of Prophecy. 22:21 And as we hear the testimony of Jesus 22:23 which is the Spirit of Prophecy, 22:25 we gonna be moved by that power, 22:27 we gonna be led by that spirit into the upper room 22:30 and then we gonna know how to pray 22:32 and that's, we make our prayers work. 22:37 And so let's walk up on this upper road experience 22:41 and this upper road that I'm referring to, 22:44 is found in the Book of Luke 24. 22:46 And so I invite you to take your Bible 22:48 and open with me to the Book of Luke 24, 22:51 it's a very familiar story to us. 22:54 Let's go back to visit, hear the testimony of Jesus, 22:58 which is the Spirit of Prophecy. 23:00 Notice with me, 23:01 Luke 24 beginning with verse 13, 23:04 this is Jesus had just died and been buried in the tomb, 23:09 and the disciples had witness this, 23:11 and these disciples on this road heading to Emmaus, 23:15 they are walking this road away from Jerusalem. 23:19 They are leaving Jerusalem which means the city of peace, 23:24 and they were heading to a village called Emmaus. 23:26 And I want us to notice, friends, 23:27 the cogitations of their mind 23:29 and the meditation of their heart 23:31 was, was such that they were so discouraged, 23:34 Bible says in Luke 24 beginning with verse 13 23:36 if you are there would you please say amen. 23:39 It says, "And, behold, two of them 23:40 went that same day to a village called Emmaus, 23:44 which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 23:46 And they talked together of all these things 23:48 which had happened." 23:50 And we have to understand 23:52 they are walking away from Jerusalem, 23:54 the city of peace, they had no peace 23:56 as they were heading to Emmaus. 23:58 The son of hope had gone down 24:00 and the night of woe had setter upon their hearts, 24:03 these two disciples were absorbed in gloom and glee, 24:07 they were utterly hopeless and bitterly disappointed, 24:10 they were crushed by confusion 24:12 and they were drowning in despondency and despair 24:15 because they had just witnessed 24:17 He who they thought was the Messiah 24:19 being nailed to a cruel cross 24:22 and as believers in Him they feel that perhaps 24:25 they would meet the exact same fate. 24:27 These two disciples were standing 24:29 in the dark shadow of the cross 24:31 and it was unbearable, 24:33 they didn't know how they gonna make it through. 24:35 They are confused by the things 24:38 that their eyes had seen. 24:40 The future was dark and uncertain. 24:43 And it seemed like there was no light in sight. 24:45 You see, friends, these disciples 24:48 had just witnessed the cross, 24:50 but they did not understand the significance of it. 24:55 Now I want to ask the question tonight. 24:56 Could it be possible 24:58 that we the remnant of this original church 25:02 that we have seen the cross, 25:05 but we really do not understand what it means? 25:09 That's the condition of these disciples. 25:13 You see these two disciples represent 25:14 all those who have suffered disappointment in life. 25:18 Those whose faith has faltered in, 25:20 whose commitments to Christ have cooled down 25:23 because of the cares of life. 25:27 They are so discouraged. 25:29 I want you to notice what Jesus does, 25:31 for those who are plagued with pain, 25:34 and crushed by confusion. 25:35 It says in the next verse, verse 15, oh, I love this. 25:39 "It came to pass, 25:40 that, while they communed together 25:41 and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, 25:45 and went with them." 25:47 Bible says come now let us reason together. 25:50 Lord, you have to reason 25:52 with these two discouraged disciples. 25:56 Oh, friends, don't ever forget. 25:58 When you feel the farthest away from God, 26:01 that's when He is closest to you. 26:03 When the darkness is so dense 26:05 that's when the light is in reality 26:07 shining the brightest. 26:10 I don't know how you came to this conference, 26:13 may be you came here carrying heavy burdens, 26:16 may be you're going through something tonight 26:17 that no one else knows about, 26:20 financial difficulties, 26:22 may be your parents are going through divorce 26:23 and your heart is broken and you're confused. 26:26 May be you are married and your marriage 26:27 is being severely attacked by Satan. 26:30 May be you have health issues. 26:32 May be you've lost the loved one 26:33 and your heart is broken. 26:34 May be you've sinned and messed up 26:36 and failed God and you feel like you can't be forgiven, 26:39 you're doubting the mercy of God for you, 26:42 friends, you are in the right place, 26:46 if that's you? 26:47 Even though you might feel far away from Him, 26:50 that's when He is closest. 26:52 Let me tell you, friends, He is here, 26:55 and He is the one, He is the God 26:57 that draws near to the broken heart, 27:00 He is the one that, 27:01 that can turn our sorrows into sweet joy. 27:04 I love what it says in the Book of Micah. 27:07 "Rejoice not against me or mine enemy, 27:09 when I fall I shall arise, 27:12 and when I sit in darkness 27:13 the Lord shall be alight on to me." 27:16 And that's what He is going to be 27:18 for these two disciples who are sitting 27:20 as they were in spiritual darkness 27:22 the light of the universe draws near, 27:25 but at first they can't recognize His appearance. 27:29 He approaches them as a common traveler. 27:33 And, friends, I want you to just notice, 27:35 they are heading to a village called Emmaus. 27:37 Do you know what the word Emmaus means? 27:40 In the original the word Emmaus literally means warm baths. 27:45 What is it mean? 27:47 So they are leaving Jerusalem, the city of peace, 27:50 they have no peace and they are heading to Emmaus, 27:52 the village of warm baths. 27:54 And let me tell you, friends, their destination 27:57 was a reflection of their experience, 27:59 their commitment to Christ is cooling down 28:03 and they are heading to Emmaus, 28:04 the village of warm baths, 28:06 they are settling into a Laodicean lukewarm condition. 28:10 They are heading home, 28:12 trying to forget about their problems. 28:14 May be go home and just take a nice warm bath 28:17 and forget about their disappointment. 28:19 But, friends, by the time 28:20 Jesus is through with these disciples, 28:23 they are not lukewarm, 28:24 they are not cold, they testify, 28:26 did not our hearts burn within us? 28:30 They were on fire by the time 28:32 Jesus was finished with them. 28:34 And by the way, friends, 28:35 this experience on the upper road, 28:37 the road to Emmaus 28:38 when they herd the testimony of Jesus, 28:40 which is the Spirit of Prophecy and their hearts began to burn, 28:43 this was the beginning of the baptism by fire, 28:46 this was the beginning 28:48 of the fire of Pentecost, friends. 28:50 It happened before the upper room, 28:52 it began at the upper road, 28:55 from hearing whatever it is Jesus was saying. 28:58 This upper road is the prerequisite 29:01 for the upper room. 29:03 And so what exactly did Jesus do? 29:06 What He did for them He longs to do for us tonight. 29:09 What Jesus did, friends, is He helped these disciples, 29:12 this early original church, 29:14 to understand the significance of the cross, 29:17 and he enabled them to understand the cross 29:19 by putting it in the context of prophecy. 29:24 Notice with me in verse 25 29:29 "Then he said unto them, 29:31 O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the what? 29:36 All that the what? 29:37 Prophets have spoken. 29:39 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, 29:42 and to enter into his glory?" 29:43 Verse 27, and beginning at where? 29:47 "And beginning at Moses and..." 29:49 how much of the prophets? 29:50 "All the prophets, he expounded unto them." 29:54 That means that word expounded he connected the dots. 29:57 It means He gave a systematic detailed explanation, 30:00 He expounded unto them in how much of the scriptures? 30:03 "All the scriptures the things concerning what?" 30:07 So Notice friends, 30:08 Jesus in this upper road experience 30:11 helped the disciples to understand 30:12 the significance of the cross 30:14 by putting it in the context of Bible prophecy. 30:19 He expounded to that in all the scriptures, 30:21 He did not so much pick and choose, 30:23 He went through it all and he showed that 30:25 all of the scriptures are a Revelation of Himself. 30:29 What these prophets have spoken 30:31 through the spirit is his own testimony. 30:34 Why, because the testimony of Jesus 30:35 is the Spirit of Prophecy, 30:37 that which the spirit speaks to the prophets 30:39 is the words of Jesus, friends, and so notice. 30:44 Christ approach is very unique and peculiar. 30:47 He did not do what most people would have done. 30:49 You see the easy and faster thing Christ could have done 30:52 is just reveal Himself to them 30:54 and say here I'm, I'm alive, 30:56 I'm no longer dead, 30:58 and if Christ would have performed that miracle 31:00 and just revealed Himself to them, 31:02 that would have satisfied them immediately. 31:05 But instead of doing that, 31:06 instead of taking the quick route, 31:08 Jesus took the time to break down 31:11 prophecy to them, 31:13 and showing how it all points to Himself. 31:18 I want you to know what it says 31:19 in book Desire of Ages page 796. 31:25 "Christ performed no miracle to convince them, 31:28 but it was His first work to do what? 31:31 Explain the Scriptures. 31:32 They had looked upon His death 31:34 as the destruction of all their hopes. 31:35 Now He showed from the whom? 31:37 Prophets that this was the very what kind of evidence? 31:40 Strongest evidence for their faith." 31:42 You see the strongest evidence for our faith 31:44 is not some outward demonstration, 31:46 is not a sign or wonder or miracle, 31:49 it is the evidence of the testimony of Jesus, 31:54 which is the Spirit of Prophecy. 31:56 So Christ instead of perform a miracle, 31:59 He took the time to break down prophecy, 32:03 Jesus put the cross in the context of prophecy 32:06 and this is what made a difference. 32:08 This is what caused their hearts to begin to burn 32:11 and it was this lesson they learned on the upper road, 32:14 this highway that prepared them for the upper room. 32:17 Shortly thereafter Jesus appeared 32:19 to the rest of the disciples in another upper room, 32:21 and did the same thing, 32:23 He basically broke down the prophecies. 32:25 Notice what it says in verse 44 of Luke 24. 32:28 verse 44, it says, "And he said to them, 32:30 these are the words which" who? 32:33 "I speak unto you, while I was yet with you, 32:36 that all things must be fulfilled, 32:37 which were written in the law of Moses, 32:39 in the prophets, in the psalms, concerning me." 32:41 Verse 45 "Then opened he their understanding, 32:44 that they might" what? 32:46 "Understand the scriptures." 32:49 And then jumping down to verse 49, it says, 32:50 "And, behold, I send you 32:51 the promise of my Father upon you, 32:53 but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, 32:55 until you be endued with power from on high." 32:59 So notice, friends, there is a sequence here. 33:01 Jesus in this upper road experience 33:04 broke down prophecy, 33:05 then He told them to go to the upper room 33:07 and wait there and pray there 33:09 until they be endued with the power 33:11 of the Holy Spirit from the Lord Himself. 33:14 And so notice, here is the point, 33:16 because they first understood Christ centered prophecy. 33:22 What kind of prophecy? 33:23 Because these disciples first understood 33:25 Christ centered prophecy, 33:26 they now knew how to pray in the upper room. 33:31 This is why their prayers worked. 33:33 Because it was based upon sound theology, 33:38 founded upon the word, 33:40 centered in Christ and blessed by the spirit. 33:44 Because they were led by the spirit 33:47 on the upper road, 33:48 they were now ready to be filled with the spirit 33:51 in the upper room. 33:52 And, friends, the remnant is just like the original. 33:58 The final church is just like the original church. 34:03 These are the ones that remain original 34:05 while all the world is changing, 34:07 and many of the churches of the world 34:08 are changing with the world, 34:11 and they call that being progressive, 34:13 but really it's been digressive, 34:14 it's taken us all the way back to the Garden of Eden, 34:17 when the serpent said, you should not surely die. 34:20 Whatever, anything goes, 34:24 but people label it as we are progressive, 34:27 by changing with the customs 34:29 and traditions and culture of the world, 34:33 but friends the remnant remain original. 34:37 They have the same experience. 34:39 And that because of that God can trust them with power. 34:42 You see here is the point. 34:44 God is not going to fill us 34:45 with the spirit in the upper room 34:48 to spread a false message. 34:51 The reason why He was able to trust 34:52 the disciples in the upper room with the Holy Spirit 34:55 is because they first have the upper road experience, 34:57 they had the correct message, a powerful message, 35:00 Christ centered prophecy that message they understood 35:03 and now God would empower them 35:06 to spread that message to the world in the upper room. 35:12 And so the remnant are those who remain original. 35:15 I want to share, friends, 35:16 I summit to us that's what we need tonight, 35:20 many of us are not ready for the upper room 35:22 because we fail to see 35:24 how Christ is in all the prophecies, 35:27 we think that is separate. 35:30 Now listen for every truth 35:32 there is a counterfeit, isn't that right? 35:35 For every truth there is a counterfeit. 35:39 There is a true upper room experience, 35:42 but there is also a counterfeit upper room experience. 35:45 And, friends, do you realize that 35:46 the counter upper room experience today 35:48 that is sweeping across the churches of our world. 35:51 It is basically an upper room experience 35:54 that skips the upper road experience. 35:57 Where churches are saying, 35:59 let's put aside all our doctrinal differences 36:01 and let just come together and pray, 36:04 that's unifying the spirit but it doesn't really matter 36:06 what you believe, and what you hold assure, 36:08 let's put all doctrines aside 36:10 and let just come together in the spirit 36:12 and friends it sounds nice, but it's a counterfeit unity 36:15 because God can never bless a unity 36:18 that is contrary to His word, 36:20 a union without truth would be an unholy union 36:23 and the Bible calls that spiritual harlotry. 36:28 You see, friends, without the road, 36:31 the room is not gonna make a difference. 36:33 A destination without a clear way of arriving, 36:36 listen, listen, if you don't have a clear path, 36:39 you just might end up in the wrong room. 36:43 You must have the road before you can meet 36:46 or get to the right destination or the right room. 36:49 And, friends, I summit that's 36:51 what's happening in Christianity today. 36:53 There is a watering down of the gospel message of Christ 36:56 and it's been replaced 36:57 by a false counterfeit gospel message, 37:00 talking about a counterfeit Christ, 37:02 and many of the churches of Babylon 37:04 are uniting under this false Christ. 37:07 In Christianity today 37:08 we see that there is a crises in theology, 37:11 an ecumenical apostasy that prophecy predicted 37:14 is emerging all around the world 37:17 and even within some parts of Adventism 37:19 we're hearing messages 37:21 that are downplaying our distinctive, 37:23 deemphasizing of doctrine and an emphasizing of Christ, 37:27 when you look upon it, 37:28 it's not the real Christ, it is a false Christ. 37:34 It is a one sided Christ. 37:37 But I swear, friends, 37:38 that we can't go to the upper room, 37:40 until we first walk the upper road. 37:42 True unity must be founded upon sound theology 37:46 because God never calls us to sacrifice truth 37:49 for the sake of unity and harmony 37:51 with the world friends, no. 37:53 And we have been warned that this would creep 37:55 within God's church in the last days. 37:57 I want to share friends that-- 37:58 that there is a subtle deception, 38:00 a subtle deception that Satan has introduced 38:03 in Adventism today and here is the deception. 38:06 There are individuals who are saying 38:08 let's just talk about Jesus, 38:12 and I agree with that statement as it said. 38:16 But there is an implication 38:18 in that statement that is dangerous. 38:21 When people say let's just talk about Jesus, 38:23 they're saying we don't have to worry 38:25 about prophecy or doctrine, 38:27 let's stop talking about the Sabbath 38:29 and the sanctuary it's not very important, 38:31 let us just come together 38:32 and have a conversation about Jesus, 38:34 the faulty implication in the statement 38:36 is that prophecy and doctrines are not about Jesus. 38:40 But, friends, here is the question I want to ask you, 38:42 and I want you to think with me tonight. 38:43 Here is the question. Tell me friends. 38:45 Is it biblically possible to separate Jesus from prophecy? 38:51 Is it biblically possible? 38:52 Yes or no? No, why? 38:54 Because the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy. 39:01 That which the prophets are speaking 39:03 is the words of Jesus Himself. 39:06 So it is an impossibility to separate these two together. 39:09 Now, let me tell you it's possible, 39:11 but it's not biblically possible. 39:14 It's possible to separate Jesus from prophecy, 39:16 people do it all the time 39:17 when they talk about prophecy without Christ 39:19 and it's a doom and gloom fear based message that-- 39:23 that inspiration tells us is like an offering of Cain, 39:28 there is no fire, no power in such a message. 39:33 But then there is the opposite extreme 39:35 where people are saying, 39:36 forget about prophecy and doctrine, 39:37 and let's just talk about Jesus, 39:40 but it's not the real Jesus, friends. 39:43 It's impossible to separate Jesus from prophecy biblically. 39:48 Why? 39:50 Because Jesus said, 39:52 out of the abundance of the heart-- 39:55 finish it, the mouth speaks. 39:59 In other words the words come from the heart. 40:03 In order to know the heart of God, 40:06 how is the heart of God made known? 40:08 By the words of the God. 40:09 Amen. 40:10 And so we can't separate Jesus from His own word. 40:13 You can't really know the true Christ, 40:17 by pushing away the words of Christ, 40:20 Jesus is the word that was made flesh, 40:22 He is the Logos, Jesus is the way, 40:25 He is the truth and the life, 40:26 it's biblically impossible to separate Jesus 40:30 from His own words, 40:31 it's true, friends, listen it's true 40:33 that we can preach doctrines without Christ, 40:35 but we cannot truly preach Christ 40:38 without preaching doctrines and standards and prophecies, 40:41 and everything that the Lord 40:43 has spoken through His prophets, amen. 40:48 We can preach doctrines without Christ, 40:50 but we cannot truly preach Christ 40:51 without preaching the rest. 40:53 Let me say like this, 40:54 doctrines without the love of Jesus is irrelevant. 40:58 Standards without the love of Jesus 41:00 are oppressive and legalistic. 41:02 Prophecy without the love of Jesus is scary 41:06 but the flip side doctrines 41:08 with the love of Jesus is important. 41:11 Prophecy with the love of Jesus is exciting, 41:14 and standards with the love of Jesus 41:17 is a blessing and a delight. 41:18 Can you say amen? 41:20 And, friends, it's a tragedy 41:21 that we see that even within our movement, 41:23 there are individuals that are trying to separate 41:25 that which is one and the same, 41:27 the testimony of Jesus 41:28 which is the Spirit of Prophecy, 41:30 let me say-- say it like this. 41:32 Every doctrine, every prophecy, 41:34 every standard and every principle 41:36 in the word of God is a lens, 41:40 to magnify the character of God. 41:44 Just like a camera lens, 41:45 what is the purpose of a camera lens? 41:47 To magnify and clarify an object. 41:51 Jesus is the object, amen. 41:54 The lens is all of the teachings of Jesus, 41:57 His words because out of your abundance 41:58 of the heart the mouth speaks, 41:59 the heart is known by the words, 42:02 so the Sabbath is the lens friends that magnifies Christ, 42:05 it's not an end in itself, 42:06 the Sabbath is to lead us to the rest we have in Jesus. 42:09 The 2300 day prophecy, the health message, 42:14 everything else that we believe as God's people 42:19 all of them are lenses to magnify the object of Christ 42:22 and it obviously the object is more important than the lens 42:26 but here is what happens when you remove the lens, 42:30 you can't see the object clearly. 42:33 When He gave out the Sabbath they say, 42:34 oh, we don't need to talk about that, 42:35 sanctuary oh, forget about that, 2300-- 42:37 oh, that's not forget about it, 42:39 when you remove that you can't see Jesus clearly, 42:42 and so what happens is this, 42:44 you move the lens of doctrine and prophecy 42:46 and standards and the picture 42:48 that you have of God is hazy 42:49 and it's not very clear 42:51 and the more unclear your picture of Jesus, 42:54 the more easily Satan can introduce a counterfeit Jesus. 43:00 And you're looking and it looks like him, 43:02 it seems like him, 43:05 and let me say that this is exactly 43:09 what's happening in the world today. 43:12 Many of the churches and daughters of Babylon 43:14 are turning back to the mother church. 43:16 Why? 43:17 Because they have removed the lens of doctrine 43:19 and as a result their picture of Christ is blurry, 43:21 they can't see Him very carefully, 43:23 and as results Satan introduces 43:25 a counterfeit Christ, an antichrist. 43:28 You see, friends, the lens is so important. 43:31 Do you see that the lens is important tonight? 43:34 And that's the reason why friends 43:35 I believe that before He empower the early church 43:39 with the spirit of God in the upper room, 43:40 He first took the time to lead them 43:42 in the upper road to break down Christ centered prophecy. 43:47 You see, they needed to see clearly first 43:50 before they can pray and preach correctly. 43:54 And I have a heavy burden for us 43:55 as a people to understand this point. 43:57 What is the primary purpose of prophecy? 43:59 Let me just share these verses. 44:00 In 2 Peter 1:19 44:03 here is the primary purpose of the prophecy, 44:06 it says "We have also a more sure word of prophecy, 44:10 whereunto you do well that you take heed, 44:12 as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the--" 44:15 what? "Day dawn, and the--" who? 44:18 "Day star arise in your hearts." 44:20 Notice, friends, that the purpose of prophecy 44:22 is so that the Day Star can get in our hearts. 44:25 Who is the Day Star? He's Jesus. 44:28 Through the sure word of prophecy, 44:30 Jesus is trying to get in our hearts, 44:33 so that we can be ready for the day dawn, 44:35 which is the second coming of Jesus. 44:37 We can't separate it from Christ. 44:40 Revelation is a not a Revelation 44:41 of beasts and dragons and plaques, 44:44 it's a Revelation of Jesus, amen. 44:46 Not just a Revelation from Jesus, 44:48 but Revelation of Jesus through this end time book, 44:51 Jesus is trying to reveal Himself to us. 44:54 And whenever I do Bible prophecy seminar 44:56 that's my main emphasis in the seminar is that-- 45:00 it's together, that the purpose of prophecy 45:03 is to point us to Christ, 45:05 is to reveal the power and love, 45:08 and grace, and victory of Jesus 45:10 over the beast in the last days. 45:11 Can you say amen? 45:12 And because Revelation is about Jesus, 45:15 it's not a scary book, it's a beautiful book. 45:17 It's all about Jesus. 45:19 You can't separate them from one another. 45:22 The Three Angels' Messages 45:23 are called the everlasting gospel, 45:25 ever lasting meaning 45:26 it doesn't have a beginning or end, 45:28 it's the same one from the beginning, 45:29 the everlasting gospel and tell me, friends, 45:32 what does the word gospel mean? 45:34 What kind of news? 45:35 It does not mean bad news, it doesn't mean scary news, 45:38 it's not a doom and gloom message, 45:40 it means good news. 45:42 And, friends, the very nature of news 45:44 is that it is to be communicated with others 45:47 and, friends, if the news is good, 45:49 it ought to be shared with power and enthusiasm 45:52 and great joy and this is the message 45:55 we're to give the three angels, 45:57 the everlasting gospel. 45:59 Any gospel without the three angels' messages 46:02 is an incomplete gospel, friends, 46:06 because it points us to Christ. 46:08 In the Bible there are-- there are two individuals 46:11 that are known as love by God especially, 46:15 do you know who they are? 46:17 God loves all of us, but the Bible emphasis 46:20 that these two individuals are loved by God. 46:23 Do you know who they are? 46:24 Daniel, though art greatly beloved, 46:27 and who is the other one? 46:29 John the beloved. 46:32 In fact John writes about himself 46:33 and he calls himself 46:35 the disciple whom Jesus loved. 46:38 In the Greek it's even more powerful. 46:40 It's the disciple whom Jesus kept on loving. 46:43 In other words John recognized 46:45 despite my failures and my mistakes, 46:47 despite my inconsistencies, Jesus just keeps on loving me. 46:51 He doesn't stop loving me. 46:53 I failed Him over and over 46:54 but His love continues to reach out to me, 46:57 I'm the disciple that Jesus loved. 46:58 You can say that about yourself tonight, friends. 47:02 And these two, John the beloved, 47:04 and Daniel the beloved 47:05 receive some of the deepest revelations of Jesus, 47:09 they understood the love of Christ, 47:11 and as result, they were able to understand 47:13 that deep prophecies from Christ. 47:16 In the Bible, what is the love chapter? 47:19 1 Corinthians 13 that's the love chapter. 47:23 What is the chapter that deals with the gift of prophecy? 47:27 1 Corinthians 14, talks about prophecy, 47:30 they're side by side 47:32 because you can't have one without the other. 47:35 Amen. They go together. 47:36 Once again the revelation-- 47:38 the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy. 47:44 Those who say I don't want prophecy 47:46 are really saying I don't want Jesus. 47:49 Those who say I don't want revelation, 47:51 they are saying I don't want see Jesus. 47:53 Those who are saying I don't want doctrine 47:55 they are really saying I don't want Jesus 47:57 because He is the doctrine, He is the Logos. 47:59 Those who say I don't want standards 48:01 are saying I don't want Jesus. 48:03 Why, because Jesus is called the Chiefest of ten thousand, 48:06 that word Chiefest means standard bearer. 48:09 He is the one that lifts up the standard. 48:12 Amen. 48:13 And so let's not separate that which is one and the same. 48:16 I want to read you few more statements notice with me, 48:18 in the book Lift Him Up page 98, 48:21 it says, "The shortness of time, the what? 48:25 Is frequently urged as an incentive 48:28 for seeking righteousness and making Christ our friend. 48:32 This should not be the great motive with us, 48:35 for it savors of selfishness." 48:37 Self preservation you're afraid of the end of time, 48:39 you just gonna do the right thing 48:41 because you are afraid, selfishness, self preservation, 48:44 that should not be the great motive, 48:45 then it she ask "Is it necessary 48:48 that the terrors of the day of God 48:49 should be held before us, 48:51 that we may be compelled to right action through fear? 48:54 It ought not to be so." Why? 48:57 "Jesus is attractive. 49:01 He is full of love, mercy, and compassion." 49:05 As so we need to preach prophecy the right way, 49:09 as it should be centered in Christ. 49:12 In the book Evangelism page 195, 49:14 it says "Let Daniel speak, 49:18 let the Revelation speak, and tell what truth is. 49:21 But whatever phase of the subject is presented, 49:23 uplift Jesus as the center of all hope." 49:27 It says if Daniel and Revelation 49:29 are being silenced, 49:30 and she appeals let them speak, 49:33 but whatever phase always in the context of Jesus 49:37 as our hope that's why we've taken the name 49:39 of our ministry Revelation of Hope Ministries 49:42 because it points us to Christ. 49:44 Notice one more, Evangelism page 196, 49:47 "Ministers should present the sure word of prophecy as..." 49:51 What is that next word? 49:52 "Foundation of the faith of Seventh-day Adventists. 49:55 The prophecies of Daniel and Revelation 49:57 should be carefully studied, 49:59 and in connection with them the words, 50:01 'Behold the Lamb of God, 50:03 which takes away the sin of the world.'" 50:06 How many of you want to give that message 50:08 in these last days? 50:10 Amen. 50:12 Now, friends, listen as we review 50:15 and bring this to a close. 50:18 One of the reasons why evangelism grows dim? 50:22 In many churches and conferences, 50:25 one of the reasons why faith grows weak 50:27 and love grows cold 50:28 is because sometimes we try to replace supplement 50:34 and water down Christ centered prophecy, 50:38 copying the churches of Babylon 50:42 who grow in number but by their ordered mission 50:45 are not really growing in spirituality, 50:48 increasing in quantity 50:49 but not in quality of experience. 50:54 Now let me see it again, friends, 50:57 before we can go to the upper room. 51:00 We must walk the way, 51:02 the highway that leads us there, 51:05 the upper road experience. 51:08 And where can we find this way? 51:11 Where is the way to the room? 51:17 Well, God tells us where His way is. 51:20 In Psalm 77 the Lord says-- 51:24 it says "Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary." 51:30 You see, friends, 51:31 when you look into the sanctuary, 51:32 you actually see a road that leads to a room. 51:37 You see a road that leads from the outside 51:41 and it leads to a room, two rooms. 51:46 You see, friends the prophetic significance 51:51 of what we are studying tonight is absolutely profound. 51:54 Here is the point, friends. 51:56 The Early Apostolic Church, 51:57 here is what the Holy Spirit did, 51:59 the spirit led them from their disappointment 52:02 at the altar representing the cross, 52:04 remember they saw the cross but they were crushed by it. 52:07 Because they fail to understand it. 52:09 So what the spirit did is that the spirit 52:11 on the road to Emmaus 52:12 led them from their disappointment at the cross 52:15 to a divine appointment in the holy place. 52:18 You see the holy place was the upper room 52:21 of the original Early Apostolic Church. 52:23 Because in that holy place, 52:25 they were able to feast upon the bread, 52:27 the showbread which the word of God, 52:29 and they prayed at the altar of incense 52:32 and as a result of understanding 52:35 Christ centered prophecy at the table of showbread in 52:37 and praying for the Holy Spirit at the altar of incense, 52:40 they were now able to be set on fire, 52:42 filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit 52:45 that caused them to burn brightly for the Lord Jesus. 52:49 Amen. That was the upper room. 52:51 And by the way do you know the candlewicks were made of? 52:55 The old garments of the priest. 52:58 What do old garments represents? 53:00 Self righteousness must be consumed 53:06 in order for the light to shine. 53:10 Amen. 53:11 And that was their upper room, 53:13 that was the early church. 53:14 The remnant is just like the original, 53:18 so here is what God does with the remnant. 53:20 The remnant, He takes them 53:22 from their disappointment at the veil. 53:27 I don't have the time to explain that in detail 53:28 but let me say that when Jesus went beyond the veil 53:31 into the most only place, 53:32 it was a great disappointment for the early Adventist Church, 53:38 so what God was wanting to do 53:39 is take them from here all the way in the-- 53:42 on the road to the final upper room. 53:47 The most holy place experience, 53:50 where they were able to understand exactly 53:52 where Jesus was? 53:54 And what Jesus was doing for them, 53:56 taking them from the basics of the bread 53:58 and the incenses and the oil and the light, 54:00 into the secret place of the most high 54:02 to bring us into the full light of truth. 54:05 This is what the remnant is being led 54:08 and this, friends, is what is awakening 54:10 and exciting the wrath of the dragon 54:12 is because he sees this people, 54:15 this movement who are moving into the final upper room 54:20 where they have the testimony of Jesus, 54:23 which is the Spirit of Prophecy. 54:26 And so what then are we to proclaim? 54:31 It says in the book Early Writings page 63, 54:35 "There are many precious truths 54:38 contained in the Word of God, 54:40 but it is..." what kind of truth? 54:42 "Present truth' that the flock needs now. 54:46 I have seen the danger of the messengers running off 54:48 from the important points of present truth, 54:51 to dwell upon subjects that are not calculated to do what? 54:54 Unite the flock and sanctify the soul." 54:56 Notice, friends, the uniting 54:58 that upper room experience happens 55:00 when we understand the present truth. 55:04 But what is that? 55:05 In some places present truth has a negative connotation, 55:09 and sometimes it's for good reason. 55:11 As many people who are teaching present truth 55:14 are not teaching it in Christ 55:16 and therefore it is not present truth. 55:19 So what is present truth? 55:20 Well, friends, Jesus said... 55:24 I'm the way, 55:28 the truth and the life. 55:30 When Jesus said I am what tense is that? 55:34 It's present tense, not I was or I will be, 55:36 He said I am the way, truth and life. 55:38 I am truth. 55:40 In other words what is present truth? 55:41 Is Jesus. 55:43 I am truth, present truth, 55:46 Jesus is the present truth. 55:48 Are you with me? 55:50 But specifically present truth 55:52 is wherever Jesus is presently, 55:58 and where is Jesus, friends? 56:00 The message we're to give is present truth. 56:03 What is that? 56:04 Wherever Jesus is presently and where is Jesus? 56:07 Where is He? 56:09 He is in the upper room, friends. 56:12 He is not in the courtyard at the cross, 56:16 He's is not on the holy place, 56:18 He is in the upper room 56:21 and so that's where He calls us to follow. 56:26 And so we need to go there. 56:28 How many of you want to go there by God's grace? 56:30 We gonna learn what that means this weekend. 56:35 And so how many of you... 56:39 see your need of Jesus? 56:43 How many of you see 56:44 that you need more of Jesus in your life? 56:47 How many of you say, Lord, 56:49 help me to walk humbly with You, 56:52 that I might learn the lessons on the way, 56:56 that I might be ready for the room. 56:59 So that I might have the power of the final Pentecost, 57:04 so that the world could be warned, 57:07 so that the gospel can go, so the Jesus can come, 57:11 and so that I can finally go to the final room, 57:15 the place You're preparing for me in heaven. 57:17 Is that your prayer tonight? 57:19 If that's your prayer and desire, 57:21 I invite you to stand with me as we close. 57:26 By standing we are saying yes, Lord, 57:29 I need the road and I need the room. 57:34 Father in heaven, 57:37 thank You so much for speaking to our hearts tonight 57:41 in this very elementary and foundational presentation. 57:47 Lord, You're inviting us to that upper room experience 57:52 into the secret place of the most high. 57:55 And, Father, we pray that You'd prepare us 57:59 for that by leading us step by step 58:03 into a deeper understanding of present truth, 58:08 truth as it is in Jesus. 58:11 Help us not to buy into that lie 58:14 that prophecy and Jesus are different things. 58:18 But I pray Lord that we would truly be that remnant 58:21 who has the testimony of Jesus, 58:24 which is the Spirit of Prophecy. 58:26 A movement that is moved by Your power, 58:31 make us Your people Lord, make us Your bride, 58:36 make us Your children. 58:37 Thank You so much for hearing this prayer 58:40 and we thank You for what You are going to do 58:42 this weekend in our lives, 58:44 but we ask this in Jesus' precious name. 58:47 Let everyone say, amen. |
Revised 2015-03-19