Good afternoon
ladies and gentleman
00:00:16.78\00:00:18.78
distinguished guests, children.
00:00:18.81\00:00:20.32
What a blessing it is
to be here this afternoon.
00:00:20.38\00:00:23.08
We're gathered here for a
purpose, we're gathered here
00:00:23.12\00:00:25.39
to share some time with a
great cross-section of spiritual
00:00:25.42\00:00:32.16
and intellectual knowledge here.
00:00:32.19\00:00:33.86
We've got from the
young, sitting next to me here.
00:00:33.90\00:00:37.13
to... well I was
going to say the very old,
00:00:37.17\00:00:39.10
but to the
older folk amongst us,
00:00:39.13\00:00:41.37
which I'm counted
amongst that as well.
00:00:41.40\00:00:43.47
So this afternoon,
we're coming together to
00:00:43.51\00:00:45.21
share some
questions... there are some
00:00:45.24\00:00:46.57
pressing questions
on people's hearts.
00:00:46.61\00:00:48.68
These questions have been
gleaned over the last few days
00:00:48.71\00:00:51.88
of this conference session,
and we have attempted to
00:00:51.91\00:00:55.28
try and amalgamate
everyone's questions
00:00:55.32\00:00:56.82
so that nobody misses out.
00:00:56.85\00:00:58.22
For those of you who
feel that your question
00:00:58.25\00:01:00.26
has not been answered,
please log on to website,
00:01:00.29\00:01:03.26
and your question and answer
will appear there as well.
00:01:03.29\00:01:06.33
So, as we look, we've got...
as I said a great cross-section.
00:01:06.36\00:01:11.10
We have a physician amongst us.
00:01:11.13\00:01:13.30
We have ministers of the gospel
who rightly divide the word
00:01:13.34\00:01:17.97
the way it should
be, evangelists...
00:01:18.01\00:01:20.21
And, I would like to
start with this young lady
00:01:20.24\00:01:22.11
because I think- ladies first.
00:01:22.14\00:01:23.48
I'd like to start with this
young lady on the first here,
00:01:23.51\00:01:25.25
Charissa - tell us a
little bit about yourself.
00:01:25.28\00:01:27.88
Okay, well my
name is Charissa Fong.
00:01:27.92\00:01:29.92
I live in Sydney and this
year, I'll be working at the
00:01:29.95\00:01:32.79
Adventist Media Network.
00:01:32.82\00:01:34.96
Fantastic indeed!
00:01:34.99\00:01:37.03
Next we have Brother Tapi.
00:01:37.06\00:01:40.16
Yes, Tapi is a minister
of the gospel in Sydney.
00:01:40.20\00:01:45.00
We take care of two churches,
Cabramatta and Fairfield.
00:01:45.03\00:01:48.97
Fantastic! Sister Marsha...
00:01:49.00\00:01:51.57
I'm Marcha William and
I have worked as a doctor
00:01:51.61\00:01:55.48
for a couple of years,
particularly in the area
00:01:55.51\00:01:57.41
of psychiatry, but now I'm a
song evangelist for the Lord.
00:01:57.45\00:02:01.62
Indeed, lovely! Thank you
00:02:01.65\00:02:03.82
Minister of the
gospel in this local church.
00:02:03.85\00:02:07.52
Married and I have 3 children.
Fantastic, thank you for that.
00:02:07.56\00:02:12.53
My name is Taj. I'm
from the beautiful islands
00:02:12.56\00:02:14.70
of Hawaii, but my wife
and I, we live in California
00:02:14.73\00:02:19.43
and we do public evangelism
and we just go from church
00:02:19.47\00:02:22.50
to church, from
place to place conducting
00:02:22.54\00:02:24.64
Bible Prophecy
Seminars, revivals and training.
00:02:24.67\00:02:28.24
And, we're happy
to be here today.
00:02:28.28\00:02:29.74
My name is John
Lomacang, I'm from Illinois,
00:02:29.78\00:02:33.11
native of New York
City, pastor for 28 years now,
00:02:33.15\00:02:36.92
and love the Lord,
love to share His word,
00:02:36.95\00:02:40.36
and praise God for
the opportunity to open
00:02:40.39\00:02:44.03
His living Word.
00:02:44.06\00:02:50.73
My name is Andre
Waller, and I am one of the
00:02:50.77\00:02:53.27
co-directors for
Tekoa Missions and I preach,
00:02:53.34\00:02:55.64
and teach and just have
a great time in the Lord.
00:02:55.67\00:02:57.94
And I'm married, happily married
to my beautiful bride, Alpha,
00:02:57.97\00:03:01.51
If she sees this, just want
her to know - love her. Amen
00:03:01.54\00:03:06.51
My name is Joseph Khabbaz
and I am Youth Director here
00:03:06.55\00:03:10.49
in the South
Queensland Conference.
00:03:10.52\00:03:12.42
I'm really glad to be
here, and I also am married
00:03:12.45\00:03:15.19
and my wife is back
there and I'm just so glad
00:03:15.22\00:03:17.49
that she can be
here and join me.
00:03:17.53\00:03:20.10
I'm really glad to be
here and looking forward
00:03:20.13\00:03:22.53
to opening up
God's Word together.
00:03:22.56\00:03:25.10
Thank you very much!
00:03:25.13\00:03:26.47
As you see, we are
diversified certainly in age,
00:03:26.50\00:03:30.61
and in occupations and
professions here as well.
00:03:30.64\00:03:33.17
But also in culture,
so there's a rich bit of
00:03:33.21\00:03:36.04
culture here between us here.
00:03:36.08\00:03:37.41
Now my friend,
Andre... you sound American.
00:03:37.45\00:03:41.72
I am definitely
American. Right on...
00:03:41.75\00:03:44.55
Yes, I'm American. Okay
00:03:44.59\00:03:45.92
If anyone needs
translating, you know,
00:03:45.95\00:03:48.26
when we're trying to understand
how you people speak because
00:03:48.29\00:03:50.93
Pastor Lomacang is
always sort of trying to speak
00:03:50.96\00:03:54.03
"Australian,"
how do you do that?
00:03:54.06\00:03:56.53
No worries mate...
00:03:56.56\00:03:57.90
Thank you... Audience laughter
00:03:57.93\00:04:00.37
Very good! I'm
trying to teach him.
00:04:00.40\00:04:04.01
First question... Why
did Jesus have to die?
00:04:04.04\00:04:12.01
Why on a cross, and was there
00:04:12.05\00:04:15.35
no other way to
fulfill the prophecy?
00:04:15.38\00:04:19.05
That is one of my
favorite topics in the Bible.
00:04:19.09\00:04:25.16
It's the science of salvation,
and the first thing we
00:04:25.19\00:04:28.93
need to understand is that the
depth of the sacrifice of Christ
00:04:28.96\00:04:34.27
is not something that our finite
brains can fully comprehend
00:04:34.30\00:04:37.37
in the here and now.
00:04:37.41\00:04:38.74
Throughout the
ceaseless ages of eternity,
00:04:38.77\00:04:40.51
we're going to be
studying exactly what happened
00:04:40.54\00:04:43.14
at the cross and we will
never ceased to be amazed
00:04:43.18\00:04:45.41
at what happened in
that moment in history.
00:04:45.45\00:04:50.15
But the reason why Jesus
had to die is very simply
00:04:50.19\00:04:53.19
found in the
book of Romans 6:23.
00:04:53.22\00:04:56.59
The Bible says that,
"The wages of sin is death,
00:04:56.62\00:05:00.06
but the gift of God is eternal
00:05:00.10\00:05:02.06
life through
Jesus Christ, our Lord."
00:05:02.10\00:05:03.43
And so, sin brings
death, not like when Satan said
00:05:03.47\00:05:09.04
it would bring
life, sin brings death.
00:05:09.07\00:05:10.81
And the reason why sin
brings death is because,
00:05:10.84\00:05:13.04
according to 1 John 3:4, "Sin
is the breaking of the law,"
00:05:13.07\00:05:17.78
and God's law is a law of love.
00:05:17.81\00:05:20.95
Love is what brings life.
00:05:20.98\00:05:22.65
Love is what
sustains the whole universe.
00:05:22.68\00:05:25.35
The antithesis to love is sin.
00:05:25.39\00:05:27.59
Sin brings death
because sin is selfishness,
00:05:27.62\00:05:30.16
or it's self love and self
love can never be sustained.
00:05:30.19\00:05:34.06
And so when sin came into the
world, death came as a result
00:05:34.10\00:05:37.20
because sin is self
love; it's the breaking
00:05:37.23\00:05:39.47
of the eternal law of love.
00:05:39.50\00:05:41.64
And so Jesus had to
die, or I should say,
00:05:41.67\00:05:44.54
He did not have to die for us,
He rather chose to die for us.
00:05:44.57\00:05:49.24
He chose to take our death
so that we could have His life.
00:05:49.28\00:05:53.62
And it's something that the
Bible calls "a great mystery."
00:05:53.65\00:05:58.25
The mystery of Godliness,
how Christ was manifested
00:05:58.29\00:06:01.62
in the flesh and then took our
00:06:01.66\00:06:02.99
sins upon Himself
and paid the price.
00:06:03.02\00:06:05.13
But what we do know is
sufficient to know that
00:06:05.16\00:06:07.86
God is truly a God of love.
00:06:07.90\00:06:10.03
Now part of the
question was "Why on a cross?"
00:06:10.07\00:06:12.70
Well, it's interesting that
the Pharisees accused Christ of
00:06:12.73\00:06:15.67
blasphemy and
according to the Old Testament,
00:06:15.70\00:06:18.17
the punishment for
blasphemy was not crucifixion,
00:06:18.21\00:06:21.54
but rather, it was stoning.
00:06:21.58\00:06:23.21
And yet the Pharisees
and the Jews, they did not
00:06:23.24\00:06:26.28
press for that type of death.
00:06:26.31\00:06:29.32
The reason why is because
they had to put Jesus away in
00:06:29.35\00:06:32.92
such a way that no
one would defend Him,
00:06:32.95\00:06:35.62
not even God would defend Him,
00:06:35.66\00:06:39.43
and that the only
way was by crucifixion.
00:06:39.46\00:06:42.50
And so they pressed
upon Pilate to ratify
00:06:42.53\00:06:45.47
their desire to crucify Him...
00:06:45.50\00:06:47.30
And the reason why is because
if you look in Matthew 27,
00:06:47.34\00:06:52.21
we find that they are
tempting Christ to think that
00:06:52.24\00:06:57.28
not even God is
going to help Him out.
00:06:57.31\00:07:01.38
In Matthew 27:43 it
says, "He trusted in God,
00:07:01.42\00:07:08.52
let Him, let God, deliver Him,
Jesus now, if He will have Him;
00:07:08.56\00:07:14.20
for He said, "I
am the Son of God."
00:07:14.23\00:07:16.60
And so, as Jesus was on the
cross, they were saying to Him,
00:07:16.63\00:07:18.80
"If You are the Son of
God, and if God in Heaven
00:07:18.83\00:07:21.44
really wants You, He is
going to deliver You right now."
00:07:21.47\00:07:24.47
You see, in Deuteronomy
21:23 it says that the one that
00:07:24.51\00:07:33.28
hangs on the tree
is cursed by God...
00:07:33.31\00:07:35.65
And so as Jesus is hanging
there on the tree of the cross,
00:07:35.68\00:07:38.69
it's as if God,
Himself, is cursing Him.
00:07:38.72\00:07:41.26
You see, if they
would have stoned Him,
00:07:41.29\00:07:42.92
He would have been
a glorified martyr,
00:07:42.96\00:07:45.46
but at the cross, it's as if God
Himself, doesn't even want Him,
00:07:45.49\00:07:50.53
and that's why Jesus
said, "My God, My God,
00:07:50.57\00:07:53.64
why have You forsaken Me?"
00:07:53.67\00:07:55.57
Something interesting
as I bring this to a finish
00:07:55.60\00:07:59.34
is that when they said
those words in Matthew 27:43,
00:07:59.37\00:08:03.41
they were actually
fulfilling prophecy...
00:08:03.45\00:08:05.41
The prophecy of Psalm 22,
and Jesus heard those words
00:08:05.45\00:08:09.88
and He understood the
prophecy of Psalm 22...
00:08:09.92\00:08:13.29
And they knew that they
were fulfilling that prophecy
00:08:13.32\00:08:16.22
by saying those words
and so in response to that,
00:08:16.26\00:08:19.46
even though He,
Himself, felt forsaken by God,
00:08:19.49\00:08:23.30
He quoted Psalm 22:1
which says, "My God, My God,
00:08:23.33\00:08:27.64
why have You
forsaken Me?" In other words,
00:08:27.67\00:08:29.87
when Christ felt
utterly forsaken by God,
00:08:29.90\00:08:32.11
He still claimed God as His own.
00:08:32.14\00:08:34.71
He said, "My God, My God."
00:08:34.74\00:08:38.35
Even though You forsake
Me, You are still my God,
00:08:38.38\00:08:43.05
and that's the great
victory of the cross.
00:08:43.08\00:08:45.29
And so by dying this death
which is a permanent death,
00:08:45.32\00:08:49.02
an eternal death, He was
paying the full wages of sin,
00:08:49.06\00:08:51.26
and that's how the
prophecy was fulfilled.
00:08:51.29\00:08:54.83
Amen! Thank you for that
very, very comprehensive answer.
00:08:54.86\00:08:59.27
Why is it important for us to
00:08:59.30\00:09:03.34
study the books of
Daniel and Revelation?
00:09:03.37\00:09:08.61
Daniel and Revelation are
sister books in the Bible.
00:09:08.64\00:09:12.15
We call them books of prophecy.
00:09:12.18\00:09:14.68
The very word "prophecy"
is a word that denotes
00:09:14.72\00:09:17.42
looking forward.
00:09:17.45\00:09:18.95
With giving you an
analogy, the Old Testament
00:09:18.99\00:09:23.86
is the New Testament concealed.
00:09:23.89\00:09:26.53
The New Testament is
the Old Testament revealed.
00:09:26.56\00:09:30.30
And so when the Old
Testament was written,
00:09:30.33\00:09:32.43
there were Bible prophecies
there and I would piggyback on
00:09:32.47\00:09:35.57
what my brother just said...
Prophecy is not only about
00:09:35.60\00:09:39.24
end-time events, but prophecy
is about the life, the nature,
00:09:39.27\00:09:43.38
the crucifixion of Jesus.
00:09:43.41\00:09:45.68
So when Jesus
fulfilled those prophecies,
00:09:45.71\00:09:49.08
those things that were forecast;
those things that were spoken of
00:09:49.12\00:09:53.79
700-1000 years before
their time of fulfillment,
00:09:53.82\00:09:57.46
were ratified, were confirmed.
00:09:57.49\00:09:59.39
And so Daniel and
Revelation are to us,
00:09:59.43\00:10:02.10
what signs and exits are
on the highway in our journey.
00:10:02.13\00:10:06.17
As we count down the exits,
as we notice our destination,
00:10:06.20\00:10:09.94
each exit, each road
marker, each mile marker
00:10:09.97\00:10:13.38
indicates to us how near
we are to our journey's end.
00:10:13.41\00:10:16.71
Revelation is a book
that speaks of prophecies that
00:10:16.75\00:10:21.05
have been first
revealed in the book of Daniel.
00:10:21.08\00:10:23.12
And so think of Daniel
sometimes as the introduction
00:10:23.15\00:10:26.29
of some of the last-day
prophecies in which Revelation
00:10:26.32\00:10:29.69
gives the rest of the story.
00:10:29.72\00:10:32.29
But why do we have prophecy?
00:10:32.33\00:10:33.66
We find in John 13:19
these words from Jesus...
00:10:33.70\00:10:37.60
He says, "Now I tell you before
it comes, that when it does come
00:10:37.63\00:10:43.97
to pass, you may
believe that I am He."
00:10:44.01\00:10:47.81
Contrary to the popular
view that we are to focus on the
00:10:47.84\00:10:51.98
beasts and the plaques
and all of the sometimes
00:10:52.01\00:10:55.38
described gory details
of the beasts in Daniel
00:10:55.42\00:10:58.72
and the 7 plagues of Revelation
and the bottomless pit,
00:10:58.75\00:11:01.76
and the dragon and the angels
00:11:01.79\00:11:03.43
that fought against
Christ and His angels.
00:11:03.46\00:11:05.53
The purpose of both of
those books are to reveal the
00:11:05.56\00:11:08.00
person of Christ.
00:11:08.03\00:11:09.36
And so when these
prophecies are fulfilled,
00:11:09.40\00:11:12.23
we could remember that
Jesus said, "I told you this
00:11:12.27\00:11:15.64
long before it came to
pass, so that when it does
00:11:15.67\00:11:18.74
come to pass, you
will believe that I am He."
00:11:18.77\00:11:21.14
In other words, what
does that mean... I am who He?
00:11:21.18\00:11:23.75
I am the alpha and the omega,
the beginning and the end.
00:11:23.78\00:11:26.65
And that's what prophecy does,
00:11:26.68\00:11:28.02
takes us from the
beginning unto the end.
00:11:28.05\00:11:30.55
Isaiah 46:10 confirms that
He is, in fact, the Christ.
00:11:30.59\00:11:35.69
What does He do?
00:11:35.72\00:11:37.06
"Declaring the end
from the beginning and from
00:11:37.09\00:11:40.16
ancient times things
that are not yet done
00:11:40.20\00:11:43.93
saying, "My counsel shall stand
and I shall do all my pleasure."
00:11:43.97\00:11:48.30
And so finally, when
you look at the prophecies,
00:11:48.34\00:11:50.37
one of the things that
serves well about prophecy...
00:11:50.41\00:11:53.21
it neutralizes the phrase,
"Jesus can come any day now."
00:11:53.24\00:11:57.68
That's a common
phrase in Christianity.
00:11:57.71\00:12:00.15
He can come any day
now; we might disappear
00:12:00.18\00:12:02.58
any moment now like the
rapture theory tends to denote
00:12:02.62\00:12:05.69
which is, in fact,
not founded on Scripture.
00:12:05.72\00:12:08.06
But when you follow prophecy,
you understand the timetable.
00:12:08.09\00:12:11.96
Everything done in
the Bible has a timetable.
00:12:11.99\00:12:14.26
Going back to Jesus... when
the fullness of time had come,
00:12:14.30\00:12:17.43
God sent forth His Son.
00:12:17.47\00:12:18.80
When they tried to arrest Jesus,
"My time had not yet come."
00:12:18.83\00:12:22.47
When He finally got
arrested, "This is Your hour."
00:12:22.50\00:12:26.27
So everything that has to
do in God's word, He knows.
00:12:26.31\00:12:29.68
And finally, Jesus
said in Matthew 24,
00:12:29.71\00:12:32.78
"No man knows the day nor
the hour, no not the angels
00:12:32.81\00:12:36.48
of heaven, but My Father only."
00:12:36.52\00:12:38.25
So how would we know?
00:12:38.29\00:12:39.62
Matthew 24:32-38, "If you learn
the parable of the fig tree...
00:12:39.65\00:12:45.93
Let me use
prophecy as the fig tree...
00:12:45.96\00:12:47.83
"When it begins to
bud," when these prophecies
00:12:47.86\00:12:50.33
begin to come to pass, you
know that we're nearing the end.
00:12:50.37\00:12:54.07
That's the major reason
for prophecy - letting us know
00:12:54.10\00:12:56.71
where we are in the finalizing
of this nature of sin,
00:12:56.74\00:13:00.78
and the
eradication of sin eternally.
00:13:00.81\00:13:03.88
I appreciate your
comment regarding the beastly
00:13:03.91\00:13:06.25
preaching of Revelation
because Revelation is the
00:13:06.28\00:13:08.25
Revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:13:08.28\00:13:09.62
"Blessed is he who
studies and understands."
00:13:09.65\00:13:12.79
Now I did say, as we
started, we have 45 minutes,
00:13:12.82\00:13:17.06
and then we have
a second session.
00:13:17.09\00:13:18.76
We have 45 minutes
for all the questions,
00:13:18.79\00:13:20.90
not each question gentlemen.
00:13:20.93\00:13:22.76
Laughter from audience.
But thank you very much.
00:13:22.80\00:13:25.77
What is your understanding
of Christian perfection
00:13:25.80\00:13:31.71
from the biblical viewpoint?
00:13:31.74\00:13:37.35
Christian perfection is
definitely a biblical teaching
00:13:37.38\00:13:40.95
Jesus, Himself, in Matthew
5:48, He said, "Be ye therefore
00:13:40.98\00:13:45.69
perfect even as your
Father in heaven is perfect."
00:13:45.72\00:13:49.52
And sometimes we
read that scripture,
00:13:49.56\00:13:51.06
we get a little bit
nervous because we think about
00:13:51.09\00:13:53.70
the frailties and
inconsistencies of our own
00:13:53.73\00:13:55.93
lives and sometimes that
standard sometimes can be
00:13:55.96\00:14:00.20
discouraging, but we
must remember that the reason
00:14:00.24\00:14:02.67
why God has lifted the
standard so high is because
00:14:02.70\00:14:05.81
if the standard was low enough,
some of us would think that
00:14:05.84\00:14:07.94
we can jump up in our
own efforts and strength
00:14:07.98\00:14:10.01
and attain the
standard by ourselves.
00:14:10.05\00:14:12.78
But it's high, higher than the
highest human thought can reach
00:14:12.81\00:14:15.72
is God's ideal for His children
and it's so high because
00:14:15.75\00:14:18.49
God wants us to understand
that it's humanly impossible
00:14:18.52\00:14:22.19
to reach the standard.
00:14:22.22\00:14:23.56
It requires a miracle and God
00:14:23.59\00:14:25.83
has a whole bunch
of those for us. Amen?
00:14:25.86\00:14:27.93
But as far as Christian
perfection, what does it mean?
00:14:27.96\00:14:30.10
That word "perfect" in the
original, it means "mature."
00:14:30.13\00:14:33.30
So, God wants to
mature us as Christians.
00:14:33.34\00:14:36.40
The Bible says "Grow in
grace," and I think that the
00:14:36.44\00:14:39.91
verse that really
helps us to understand this
00:14:39.94\00:14:42.28
is found in 1 John 4,
and so if you turn your
00:14:42.31\00:14:44.81
Bible there,
quickly, 1 John 4...
00:14:44.85\00:14:48.75
The perfection that Jesus
is referring to, the maturity,
00:14:48.78\00:14:52.35
is even as your Father in Heaven
00:14:52.39\00:14:54.29
is perfect or even
as God is perfect...
00:14:54.32\00:14:55.99
And when you read the
context, it's how we are to love
00:14:56.02\00:14:59.76
our enemies and bless
those who curse us and do good
00:14:59.79\00:15:02.00
to those who spitefully
use us and that's exactly
00:15:02.03\00:15:04.93
what God is like.
00:15:04.97\00:15:06.30
He blesses those who
reject Him and spit in His face.
00:15:06.33\00:15:09.14
And so, it's referring
to perfection of character.
00:15:09.17\00:15:12.24
And it says in 1 John
4:16, "And we have known and
00:15:12.27\00:15:17.28
believed the love that
God hath to us. God is love.
00:15:17.31\00:15:21.12
And he that dwells in love,
dwells in God and God in him.
00:15:21.15\00:15:24.95
Verse 17, "Herein is our
love made perfect (or mature),
00:15:24.99\00:15:30.73
that we may have
boldness in the day of judgment
00:15:30.76\00:15:33.53
because as He is...
stop right there - how is He?
00:15:33.56\00:15:38.67
He is perfect, He is
holy, He is merciful,
00:15:38.70\00:15:41.74
He is kind, He is
gracious, He is marvelous,
00:15:41.77\00:15:43.94
He is all of these
things and so it says,
00:15:43.97\00:15:45.51
"As He is, so are
we in this world."
00:15:45.54\00:15:49.71
Not at His
coming, but in this world.
00:15:49.74\00:15:53.85
And so the Bible teaches
that we can be just like Jesus,
00:15:53.88\00:15:56.95
and I want to be like Jesus,
but how does this take place?
00:15:56.99\00:16:01.69
The next verse, verse
18... "There is no fear in love,
00:16:01.72\00:16:06.39
but perfect love casts out
fear because fear hath torment.
00:16:06.43\00:16:10.77
He that fears is not
made perfect in love."
00:16:10.80\00:16:13.90
And so, if we're serving
God because we're afraid of God
00:16:13.94\00:16:17.54
or afraid to be lost
or if we're serving God
00:16:17.57\00:16:19.67
because of the rewards of
God, and the blessings of God,
00:16:19.71\00:16:22.44
that shows that our love for
God is not perfect or mature,
00:16:22.48\00:16:25.38
it's an immature love.
00:16:25.41\00:16:26.92
So the measure of
Christian perfection
00:16:26.95\00:16:29.12
is measured by the
motive of our obedience
00:16:29.15\00:16:32.99
and our loyalty to God.
00:16:33.02\00:16:35.56
We need to come to the
point where we serve God
00:16:35.59\00:16:37.59
not because of the
blessings of God...
00:16:37.63\00:16:39.63
We serve God because of
God because God is love,
00:16:39.66\00:16:43.16
and His love is enough.
00:16:43.20\00:16:44.60
And so, many people trying
to serve God because of the
00:16:44.63\00:16:47.17
fear of hell or
the reward of heaven,
00:16:47.20\00:16:49.67
but we need to serve
God because God is love.
00:16:49.70\00:16:52.11
And then the next
verse, "We love Him because
00:16:52.14\00:16:53.71
He first loved us."
00:16:53.74\00:16:55.78
And so all we need
to do in order to mature
00:16:55.81\00:16:57.58
into Christian
perfection is to understand
00:16:57.61\00:17:00.35
the depth of His love and
love awakens a love response,
00:17:00.38\00:17:03.62
and it's that love
that fulfills the law,
00:17:03.65\00:17:05.95
the perfection of the
law of love in our hearts
00:17:05.99\00:17:08.49
as the book of
Romans 13:11 says.
00:17:08.52\00:17:10.29
And I'm sure glad that
we had a perfect sacrifice
00:17:10.33\00:17:13.40
in Jesus Christ,
the Lamb of God. Amen
00:17:13.43\00:17:16.20
If we have sinned...
"IF" ... we've all sinned.
00:17:16.23\00:17:21.47
If we have sinned, and
this question is coming
00:17:21.50\00:17:23.91
in many different varied forms
so we've amalgamated this...
00:17:23.94\00:17:27.44
If we have sinned,
would God punish us?
00:17:27.48\00:17:30.55
Do I lose my
salvation when I fall into sin?
00:17:30.58\00:17:36.05
Yeah, that's a really
good question and appreciate
00:17:36.08\00:17:38.65
the person that sent that in.
00:17:38.69\00:17:40.69
You know, there's this idea
that God will never punish sin.
00:17:40.72\00:17:46.86
There's this idea that
God will love and He is love,
00:17:46.90\00:17:51.10
but love is balanced.
00:17:51.13\00:17:54.20
Love also looks at
sin for what it is.
00:17:54.24\00:17:57.64
In Ecclesiastes 12:14
says, "For God will bring every
00:17:57.67\00:18:03.38
work into judgment
including every secret thing
00:18:03.41\00:18:07.32
whether good or evil."
00:18:07.35\00:18:10.42
We will have to be accountable
for the decisions that we make.
00:18:10.45\00:18:14.49
And, there's this idea that
the "Investigative Judgment"
00:18:14.52\00:18:19.76
is something that really comes
from Ellen White's writings
00:18:19.79\00:18:22.56
and I just want to say
that the Investigative Judgment
00:18:22.60\00:18:25.60
is not just from
Ellen White's writings,
00:18:25.63\00:18:28.07
it's found in the Bible itself.
00:18:28.10\00:18:29.84
In fact, all the way in Genesis,
when God is investigating,
00:18:29.87\00:18:34.44
He goes after Adam and Eve,
00:18:34.48\00:18:36.31
and He asked them
questions doesn't He?
00:18:36.34\00:18:38.31
He investigates
and He asks them,
00:18:38.38\00:18:40.22
where are you,
what have you done?"
00:18:40.25\00:18:42.02
"Who told you this
and who told you that?"
00:18:42.05\00:18:44.42
They had been
listening to the serpent.
00:18:44.45\00:18:46.76
There's an
investigation that takes place.
00:18:46.79\00:18:48.79
All the way in Genesis we
can find, throughout the Bible,
00:18:48.82\00:18:52.49
God investigating the
actions of His people.
00:18:52.53\00:18:55.43
The purpose is.. is
because God is transparent.
00:18:55.46\00:18:59.07
God is
transparent in His actions,
00:18:59.10\00:19:02.70
and He wants us to know that
He is a merciful and loving God,
00:19:02.74\00:19:06.04
even in His judgments.
00:19:06.07\00:19:08.58
The question,
the second one was,
00:19:08.61\00:19:10.41
"But will I lose my
salvation if I sin?"
00:19:10.45\00:19:14.12
Well, the sanctuary message
actually answers this question
00:19:14.15\00:19:18.32
very clearly and we
find that in Numbers 15:22
00:19:18.35\00:19:24.46
Numbers 15:22 says, "If you
sin unintentionally and do not
00:19:24.49\00:19:31.07
observe all these commandments
00:19:31.10\00:19:32.70
which the Lord
has spoken to Moses,
00:19:32.73\00:19:34.80
all that the Lord has
commanded you by the hand of
00:19:34.84\00:19:38.34
Moses from the day the
Lord gave the commandments,
00:19:38.37\00:19:41.84
and onward
throughout your generations,
00:19:41.88\00:19:44.38
then it will be, if it
is unintentionally committed
00:19:44.41\00:19:48.65
without the
knowledge of the congregation,
00:19:48.68\00:19:50.95
the whole congregation
shall offer one young bull
00:19:50.99\00:19:54.36
as a burn offering, as
a sweet aroma to the Lord
00:19:54.39\00:19:57.89
with its grain
offering and its drink offering,
00:19:57.93\00:20:01.20
according to the ordinance,
and one kid of the goats,
00:20:01.23\00:20:05.07
as a sin offering;
so the priest shall make
00:20:05.10\00:20:08.47
atonement for the
whole congregation
00:20:08.50\00:20:11.21
of the children of Israel.
00:20:11.24\00:20:12.71
It shall be forgiven
them for it was unintentional.
00:20:12.74\00:20:17.05
They shall bring their offering
and the offering made by
00:20:17.08\00:20:21.28
fire to the Lord; and their
sin offering before the Lord
00:20:21.32\00:20:25.62
for their unintended sin."
00:20:25.65\00:20:29.62
The Bible says,
through the sanctuary service,
00:20:29.66\00:20:31.86
that there are times
when God's people who sinned
00:20:31.89\00:20:34.53
unintentionally,
but guess what...
00:20:34.56\00:20:36.60
they were still
part of the camp.
00:20:36.63\00:20:39.20
They were still
part of God's people
00:20:39.23\00:20:41.17
allowed to be in the camp.
00:20:41.20\00:20:42.87
Now further on a few
verses later, it talks about
00:20:42.90\00:20:46.24
another type of sin.
00:20:46.27\00:20:48.01
Chapter 15, still verse
30-31: "But the person who has
00:20:48.04\00:20:54.12
done anything presumptuously,
whether he is a native-born
00:20:54.15\00:20:58.59
or a stranger, that one
brings reproach on the Lord,
00:20:58.62\00:21:02.42
and he shall be cut
off from among his people.
00:21:02.46\00:21:07.30
So there's a sin that in
the Bible calls "presumptuous."
00:21:07.33\00:21:11.03
In the Hebrew, it
actually says "high-handed sin."
00:21:11.07\00:21:15.40
That sin is both
deliberate and defiant.
00:21:15.44\00:21:19.87
When we're both deliberate
and defiant in our sins,
00:21:19.91\00:21:23.78
the Bible calls
it "presumption,"
00:21:23.81\00:21:25.88
and we are then
cut off from the camp.
00:21:25.91\00:21:28.38
We're no longer
part of God's people,
00:21:28.42\00:21:30.72
but God respects our
decision not to be a part of it.
00:21:30.75\00:21:34.69
If we shake our fist at God,
and say, "God, I don't want to
00:21:34.72\00:21:38.23
be part of Your people anymore,
00:21:38.26\00:21:39.69
I don't want to be part of
Your chosen Christian kingdom."
00:21:39.73\00:21:44.50
God says - You don't
have to be, but the Bible says
00:21:44.53\00:21:47.40
we are then cut off.
00:21:47.44\00:21:49.70
Therefore, John the Baptist
says, "Behold the Lamb of God
00:21:49.74\00:21:54.11
who takes away
the sin of the world."
00:21:54.14\00:21:56.01
If we have sinned,
go straight to the Lamb.
00:21:56.04\00:21:59.11
Because there is propitiation,
00:21:59.15\00:22:01.65
there is
forgiveness through the Lamb.
00:22:01.68\00:22:04.32
If you've sinned, if the
Holy Spirit speaks to you,
00:22:04.35\00:22:07.29
don't raise your fist
at God, but go straight
00:22:07.32\00:22:09.86
to the source of
forgiveness, Jesus Christ...
00:22:09.89\00:22:13.26
for when we behold
Him, we become changed,
00:22:13.29\00:22:15.60
and forgiveness, we will
find, is freely available.
00:22:15.63\00:22:19.30
Can I just add one other text
to this question right here...
00:22:19.33\00:22:22.57
Proverbs 28:13, it
says, "He who covers his sins
00:22:22.60\00:22:27.58
will not prosper, but whoever
confesses and forsakes them
00:22:27.61\00:22:30.91
will have mercy." Amen!
00:22:30.95\00:22:32.75
And to complement
that from Hebrews, it says,
00:22:32.78\00:22:35.32
you know, for a person to
continue to sin willfully...
00:22:35.35\00:22:38.95
once he comes
into the knowledge,
00:22:38.99\00:22:40.49
there shall be
no more sacrifice."
00:22:40.52\00:22:42.86
Next question... this
is an age old question,
00:22:42.89\00:22:46.29
it's been around since
long before even Martin Luther.
00:22:46.33\00:22:49.46
Talking about faith and works.
00:22:49.50\00:22:51.00
Faith and
works, faith and works.
00:22:51.03\00:22:52.43
"Isn't keeping the Sabbath
day being saved by works?"
00:22:52.50\00:22:58.67
Well, we could basically
say that if you are keeping
00:22:58.71\00:23:01.78
any of the commandments
in order to be saved,
00:23:01.81\00:23:06.92
it's the same thing.
00:23:06.95\00:23:08.32
You have the whole
nation of Israel, in fact,
00:23:08.35\00:23:12.99
leadership of Israel,
religious leadership of Israel
00:23:13.02\00:23:16.19
whose approach to
salvation was like that...
00:23:16.22\00:23:18.96
"Basically, I am going
to keep the commandments,
00:23:18.99\00:23:22.06
and I'm going to earn the
favor in order to be saved."
00:23:22.10\00:23:26.20
So it could be
the 4th commandment,
00:23:26.23\00:23:27.80
it could be any
commandment, but what is really
00:23:27.84\00:23:30.41
interesting about
this one is that Sabbath,
00:23:30.44\00:23:35.78
when you think about it and
when you look at the Bible...
00:23:35.81\00:23:38.51
Look, for example, Genesis 2:1-3
you find that Sabbath is really
00:23:38.55\00:23:45.52
a memorial of
creation, memorial of creation,
00:23:45.55\00:23:49.52
so let me just
read you that text.
00:23:49.56\00:23:51.93
"The heavens and the earth
were completed and all the hosts
00:23:51.96\00:23:55.50
by the 7th day God completed
His work which He had done,
00:23:55.53\00:23:59.33
and He rested on the 7th day
00:23:59.37\00:24:01.17
from all his work
which He has done.
00:24:01.20\00:24:03.51
Then God blessed the
7th day and sanctified it
00:24:03.54\00:24:06.41
because in it, He
rested from all His work
00:24:06.44\00:24:09.28
which God has created and made."
00:24:09.31\00:24:13.95
Imagine that last day,
God rests from His work.
00:24:13.98\00:24:19.15
Sabbath is rest and
Adam and Eve haven't done
00:24:19.19\00:24:22.86
anything really and
God is asking them to rest
00:24:22.89\00:24:26.43
almost the very first
day of their existence.
00:24:26.46\00:24:29.96
So how can that be works when
you are resting in God's work?
00:24:30.00\00:24:35.27
But not only that, what is
also interesting what we find
00:24:35.30\00:24:38.67
in the Bible is that Sabbath
is also a rest in salvation.
00:24:38.71\00:24:43.61
In the book of Deuteronomy 5:15,
it says, "You shall remember
00:24:43.65\00:24:49.15
that you were slaves
in the land of Egypt,
00:24:49.18\00:24:51.29
for the Lord your God
brought you out of there
00:24:51.32\00:24:53.52
with a mighty hand
and by outstretched arm,
00:24:53.56\00:24:57.53
and, therefore, you will
remember the Sabbath day."
00:24:57.56\00:25:00.03
So Sabbath day somehow
becomes a sign of salvation.
00:25:00.06\00:25:04.17
So when you and I
come on Sabbath day,
00:25:04.20\00:25:06.87
that's a memorial of salvation,
00:25:06.90\00:25:09.27
and you rest rather than work.
00:25:09.30\00:25:12.24
You rest in His salvation.
00:25:12.27\00:25:14.18
So on Sabbath you rest
in the work of His creation.
00:25:14.21\00:25:17.88
On the Sabbath day, we rest
in the work of His salvation.
00:25:17.91\00:25:20.98
But it's not only that,
but we also find that Sabbath
00:25:21.02\00:25:24.55
is a rest in His
sanctification meaning...
00:25:24.59\00:25:28.46
"I am going to change you
in the likeness of Christ."
00:25:28.49\00:25:31.86
And you find that in
the book of Exodus 31:13,
00:25:31.89\00:25:36.63
where He says, "It's a
sign that I sanctify you."
00:25:36.67\00:25:40.87
So fancy that as a Christian.
00:25:40.90\00:25:43.04
When you come
on the Sabbath day,
00:25:43.07\00:25:45.44
what you are doing, you
are having a triple rest.
00:25:45.47\00:25:48.51
You are resting in
the creative work of God,
00:25:48.54\00:25:51.85
and you are enjoying it.
00:25:51.88\00:25:53.65
You are resting in
the salvation work of God,
00:25:53.68\00:25:56.75
and you are enjoying it.
00:25:56.79\00:25:58.15
You are resting in the
work that He's doing in you
00:25:58.19\00:26:01.42
to change you in
the likeness of Christ.
00:26:01.46\00:26:03.73
So that cannot be
salvation by works!
00:26:03.76\00:26:08.80
When we understand the
Sabbath as the Pastor Zeny is
00:26:08.83\00:26:11.93
portraying it for us, the
Sabbath, keeping the Sabbath
00:26:11.97\00:26:14.47
is our love response to Jesus.
00:26:14.50\00:26:16.30
So it's not "I have
to keep the Sabbath,"
00:26:16.34\00:26:18.27
"I get to keep the Sabbath,
I want to keep the Sabbath
00:26:18.31\00:26:21.08
because I love Jesus." Amen!
00:26:21.11\00:26:23.35
Going on from that,
here is another question...
00:26:23.38\00:26:25.41
Obedience versus saved by faith.
00:26:25.45\00:26:28.58
You know Satan has done such
a great job to confuse people,
00:26:28.62\00:26:31.82
and, hence, that's why
we're here this afternoon,
00:26:31.85\00:26:34.22
for us to de-confuse... I don't
know if that's a word or not,
00:26:34.26\00:26:36.83
but to de-confuse.
00:26:36.86\00:26:38.49
Obedience versus saved by faith.
00:26:38.53\00:26:41.16
How am I saved...
through obedience or faith?
00:26:41.20\00:26:45.83
And, do the two
contradict each other?
00:26:45.87\00:26:51.07
They do not
contradict each other. Amen!
00:26:51.11\00:26:54.01
Grace and faith do
not contradict each other
00:26:54.04\00:26:57.38
in the sense that...
00:26:57.41\00:26:59.55
Well, let me start by
saying there are two camps...
00:26:59.58\00:27:01.92
One that says you are saved by
grace, you don't need to work.
00:27:01.95\00:27:06.35
And then perhaps there
could be another camp that says,
00:27:06.39\00:27:09.86
"Oh, it's all to do with
works, I can do it by myself,
00:27:09.89\00:27:14.20
and salvation."
00:27:14.23\00:27:16.06
These two camps
are on slippery slopes.
00:27:16.10\00:27:19.70
They have problems.
00:27:19.73\00:27:21.87
I'm going to read a
text that combines both
00:27:21.90\00:27:25.41
words faith and grace.
00:27:25.44\00:27:27.91
They are found in Ephesians 2:8,
but this time we don't want to
00:27:27.94\00:27:33.72
end in verse 8, let's
go right on to verse 10.
00:27:33.75\00:27:37.29
"For by grace are
you saved through faith,
00:27:37.32\00:27:41.32
that is not of
yourself. It is the gift of God.
00:27:41.36\00:27:45.96
Not of works, lest
any man should boast.
00:27:45.99\00:27:50.03
Verse 10, For we
are His workmanship
00:27:50.07\00:27:55.40
created in Christ
Jesus, and to good works
00:27:55.44\00:28:00.24
which God had before ordained
that we should walk in them.
00:28:00.28\00:28:06.95
So as a sinner,
if I come to Christ,
00:28:06.98\00:28:11.12
He forgives my sin
because that is called
00:28:11.15\00:28:15.16
"grace unmerited favor."
00:28:15.19\00:28:17.73
I have received His
grace, but then Christ,
00:28:17.76\00:28:21.63
like a master
sculptor that He is, He begins
00:28:21.66\00:28:25.57
to do His workmanship.
00:28:25.60\00:28:27.80
In this workmanship,
He is doing it in me
00:28:27.84\00:28:31.57
it comes out to you as
works that were created before.
00:28:31.61\00:28:35.98
So I'm not saved
by faith and works,
00:28:36.01\00:28:38.75
I'm saved by faith
that works. Amen! Very good!
00:28:38.78\00:28:45.25
I just want to add a few
verses: Romans 1:5 is a really
00:28:45.29\00:28:50.19
excellent one, it says,
"By whom we have received
00:28:50.23\00:28:52.29
grace and apostleship
for obedience to the faith."
00:28:52.33\00:28:56.30
So grace, not
only pardons the past,
00:28:56.33\00:28:58.90
but it empowers the
present for obedience.
00:28:58.93\00:29:01.17
And then Romans 3:31, Paul
says, "Do we then make void
00:29:01.20\00:29:09.54
the law through
faith? God forbid,
00:29:09.58\00:29:12.18
ye, we establish the law."
00:29:12.21\00:29:14.62
And so we can obey
without believing, but we cannot
00:29:14.65\00:29:18.32
truly believe without
obeying as a natural resolve
00:29:18.35\00:29:21.69
because faith
established the law in our life.
00:29:21.72\00:29:25.03
Thank you! God -
we serve a God that is
00:29:25.06\00:29:28.00
all knowing, so if God
already knows whether I will be
00:29:28.03\00:29:32.87
saved or lost, how does that
00:29:32.90\00:29:35.90
make it that I
still have free will?
00:29:35.94\00:29:39.41
Excellent question, right?
00:29:39.44\00:29:42.14
I'm from the
United States of America,
00:29:42.18\00:29:43.95
I flew here 21
hours... I know when I get home
00:29:43.98\00:29:48.02
when I get off that
plane and walk to the tarmac,
00:29:48.05\00:29:52.49
and get to the parking
lot or wherever my wife
00:29:52.52\00:29:55.82
is picking me up, I
know that my wife will be
00:29:55.86\00:29:57.86
driving the car,
#1... #2, I know that when
00:29:57.89\00:30:00.96
they see me, they
will give me a hug!
00:30:01.00\00:30:03.80
Now, am I manipulating that
because I know ahead of time;
00:30:03.83\00:30:07.00
I have foreknowledge that
they will do this very action.
00:30:07.04\00:30:09.80
I've come home many times,
they've done the same thing.
00:30:09.84\00:30:12.37
So foreknowledge does
not mean that I manipulate
00:30:12.41\00:30:16.01
or control an
individual's freewill or choice.
00:30:16.04\00:30:18.88
Does that make sense everybody?
00:30:18.91\00:30:20.42
But I want to read to you
now from the book of Ephesians
00:30:20.45\00:30:22.75
and I think the idea of
predestination kind of comes
00:30:22.78\00:30:26.49
into this question.
00:30:26.52\00:30:28.29
And, the idea of predestination
00:30:28.32\00:30:29.72
is that God has
chosen who is going to be
00:30:29.76\00:30:31.39
saved or who is
going to be lost.
00:30:31.43\00:30:33.09
I want to go to the book
of Ephesians for a moment.
00:30:33.13\00:30:34.80
Look at verse #4,
Ephesians 1:4, and just notice
00:30:34.83\00:30:41.17
what the Bible says
and I'm going to be short
00:30:41.20\00:30:42.70
because I have a
tendency to want to preach.
00:30:42.74\00:30:44.74
So verse 4 says:
"According as He has chosen us
00:30:44.77\00:30:48.28
in Him before the
foundation of the world that we
00:30:48.31\00:30:53.58
should be holy and without
blame before Him in love.
00:30:53.62\00:30:58.25
... Pay attention now.
Having predestinated us
00:30:58.29\00:31:02.49
unto the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ to Himself
00:31:02.52\00:31:09.90
according to the good
will of His pleasure."
00:31:09.93\00:31:12.07
So here's the question...
Is man, himself, predestined,
00:31:12.10\00:31:16.07
or is the path predestined?
00:31:16.10\00:31:19.77
The path is predestined, the way
that you're going to be saved
00:31:19.81\00:31:22.81
if you're going to be saved,
you're going to be saved if
00:31:22.84\00:31:25.41
you have accepted Christ.
00:31:25.45\00:31:27.15
That is the only
means of salvation.
00:31:27.18\00:31:30.05
So the path has been pre-chosen,
it has been foreordained.
00:31:30.09\00:31:34.92
So right now, you came through
into this building, right?
00:31:34.96\00:31:37.39
It was
foreordained that you would come
00:31:37.43\00:31:39.03
through the door to
come into this room.
00:31:39.06\00:31:41.23
You could choose not
to walk through the door.
00:31:41.26\00:31:43.50
But the only way, realistically,
to get into the building
00:31:43.53\00:31:47.04
without breaking down
the windows or the doors,
00:31:47.07\00:31:49.30
is to walk through that door
00:31:49.34\00:31:51.01
and you have a
choice that you can make.
00:31:51.04\00:31:53.04
I have to pause right now,
somebody else could help answer.
00:31:53.07\00:31:56.61
Deuteronomy 30:19...
This idea that God predestines
00:31:56.64\00:32:00.22
you to be saved and
I'm glad, just to reiterate
00:32:00.25\00:32:02.92
what he is saying...
He said the method has
00:32:02.95\00:32:05.89
been established -
there's only one way to fly
00:32:05.92\00:32:10.13
to America -
that's on an airplane...
00:32:10.16\00:32:11.79
that's been
predestined, but whether or not
00:32:11.83\00:32:14.26
you get onboard is your choice.
00:32:14.30\00:32:16.80
That is the decision you
make and that's the decision
00:32:16.83\00:32:20.30
to accept the
predestined method of salvation.
00:32:20.34\00:32:24.14
Deuteronomy 30:19, "The Lord
says, "I have set before you
00:32:24.17\00:32:27.11
life and death, blessing
and cursing, choose life."
00:32:27.14\00:32:31.31
He tells you the best method
by which you will be saved,
00:32:31.35\00:32:34.48
but He tells you
- you got to choose.
00:32:34.52\00:32:36.95
So when we say we're
predestined, that's not a
00:32:36.99\00:32:39.75
teaching the Bible supports.
00:32:39.79\00:32:41.16
It almost makes
us into a tomatoz
00:32:41.19\00:32:43.63
rather than those
that have the free agency
00:32:43.66\00:32:46.59
of making our own decision.
00:32:46.63\00:32:48.46
And let me just add this...
If everyone was predestined
00:32:48.50\00:32:51.63
to be saved, which is a
teaching that goes around,
00:32:51.67\00:32:54.90
there will be
individuals in heaven,
00:32:54.94\00:32:56.71
and heaven would
be hell for them.
00:32:56.74\00:32:59.44
Why force
someone to go where they
00:32:59.47\00:33:01.91
haven't chosen
that they want to be.
00:33:01.94\00:33:04.61
So predestination, in the eyes
of many, really boils down to
00:33:04.65\00:33:08.45
... you've got to
choose what road is going to be
00:33:08.48\00:33:10.39
your final destination.
00:33:10.42\00:33:13.12
One more piece...
Verse 9 says, "Having made
00:33:13.15\00:33:19.13
known unto us the mystery of
His will or His desire according
00:33:19.16\00:33:24.03
to His good pleasure which
He has purposed in Himself.
00:33:24.07\00:33:27.90
Now what is this good pleasure
that He purposed in Himself?
00:33:27.94\00:33:30.21
Verse 10... "That in the
dispensation of the fullness of
00:33:30.24\00:33:33.84
times, He might gather
together in one all things in
00:33:33.88\00:33:38.75
Christ, both which are in heaven
or on earth, even in hell.
00:33:38.78\00:33:43.92
So God's great desire
at the end of the day,
00:33:43.95\00:33:45.75
heaven and earth, we, all of us,
00:33:45.79\00:33:48.36
be united in One, in One Person,
His name is Jesus. Amen? Amen
00:33:48.39\00:33:55.63
Okay, I was handed a slip
of paper just before I came in,
00:33:55.66\00:33:59.53
and on that question, it talks
about Americans wearing ties,
00:33:59.57\00:34:05.31
and Australians don't.
00:34:05.34\00:34:07.64
And I thought to
myself, I'm Australian... tie.
00:34:07.68\00:34:12.21
But anyway,
here's the question...
00:34:12.25\00:34:14.48
"How should we dress
in church on Sabbath?
00:34:14.52\00:34:18.45
Does it matter for God or
does God look beyond our ties?"
00:34:18.49\00:34:25.46
Well, I have a mentor who was
my pastor when I was growing up
00:34:25.49\00:34:30.90
by the name of
Pastor Bruce Price.
00:34:30.93\00:34:32.83
Some of you may know
him, and he had a saying...
00:34:32.87\00:34:35.44
He said, "If your
going to a dog fight,
00:34:35.47\00:34:37.61
dress like you're
going to a dog fight."
00:34:37.64\00:34:39.84
When we come to church
on Sabbath, we come here
00:34:39.87\00:34:42.94
because we're
here to worship God.
00:34:42.98\00:34:45.05
We understand from the Bible,
that the Sabbath is a rest day.
00:34:45.08\00:34:49.62
We know from Bible
prophecy that it is a test day,
00:34:49.65\00:34:52.59
and it's also the best
day, it's the blessed day.
00:34:52.62\00:34:55.32
And I believe when we
come to church to worship
00:34:55.36\00:34:58.33
Jesus, to worship God
on the 7th day Sabbath,
00:34:58.36\00:35:01.13
that we should dress as though
we are coming to worship God.
00:35:01.16\00:35:04.93
We shouldn't try to...
it's not about showing off
00:35:04.97\00:35:07.57
to anybody else, it's
not about getting attention.
00:35:07.60\00:35:11.14
We're here to have an
audience with a Holy God,
00:35:11.17\00:35:14.41
and some of you may
remember, we looked at the
00:35:14.44\00:35:17.11
story of Moses when he
was at the burning bush,
00:35:17.15\00:35:19.75
and God said, "Take off
your shoes because the ground
00:35:19.78\00:35:22.28
where you're
standing is holy ground.
00:35:22.32\00:35:24.39
Not because the dirt
was holy, but it's because
00:35:24.42\00:35:26.42
he was in God's presence.
00:35:26.45\00:35:27.79
And the lesson we can
take from that and apply to
00:35:27.82\00:35:30.53
when we're coming to church,
is when we come to church
00:35:30.56\00:35:33.09
we should assume a posture
of reverence before a holy God,
00:35:33.13\00:35:36.20
and I think that touches dress.
00:35:36.23\00:35:37.97
I think how we dress
says where our heart is.
00:35:38.00\00:35:41.80
And so it's a
matter of the heart.
00:35:41.84\00:35:45.71
I was talking behind the
stage here and Pastor John...
00:35:45.74\00:35:48.78
You mentioned something
about a courtroom... could you,
00:35:48.81\00:35:51.15
because I've never been in a
courtroom, but he can tell us.
00:35:51.18\00:35:54.12
In America, whenever
you go to court to appear
00:35:54.15\00:35:57.32
before the judge, as you
are entering the courtroom
00:35:57.35\00:36:00.02
on the wall, there
is a particular plaque
00:36:00.06\00:36:01.99
that tells you how you
cannot appear in court.
00:36:02.02\00:36:06.26
No spaghetti strings,
no low and tight clothing,
00:36:06.29\00:36:09.26
no sandals, no slippers.
00:36:09.30\00:36:11.37
If you have tattoos,
make sure they're covered.
00:36:11.40\00:36:13.34
And do not come in
fully covered with jewelry.
00:36:13.37\00:36:16.34
He wants you to come in as
modest as you possibly can.
00:36:16.37\00:36:19.74
That's before an earthly judge!
00:36:19.77\00:36:23.38
How can we come
before a heavenly Judge
00:36:23.41\00:36:26.05
and think it doesn't matter?
00:36:26.08\00:36:27.48
You know the text... go
ahead and read that one in
00:36:27.52\00:36:33.66
Genesis 35:1-4... when
Jacob was calling his family
00:36:33.69\00:36:39.83
to sanctification and God
called them to go back to Bethel
00:36:39.86\00:36:42.76
to be sanctified, he
said to them in Genesis 35:2,
00:36:42.80\00:36:51.11
"And Jacob said to his
household and to all who
00:36:51.14\00:36:53.91
were with him, "Put away
the foreign gods which are
00:36:53.94\00:36:57.25
among you; purify yourselves
and change your garments."
00:36:57.28\00:37:01.42
And notice what
they did in verse 4...
00:37:01.45\00:37:03.42
So they gave Jacob all
the foreign gods which were in
00:37:03.45\00:37:06.29
their hands and all the earrings
which were in their ears,
00:37:06.32\00:37:09.66
and Jacob hid them
under the terebinth tree
00:37:09.69\00:37:12.66
which was by Shechem.
00:37:12.69\00:37:14.03
So Jacob knew that if
they were going to go to
00:37:14.06\00:37:16.30
Bethel to be sanctified,
they couldn't go the way
00:37:16.33\00:37:19.83
that they appeared before.
00:37:19.87\00:37:21.44
They must change to
appear before a holy God,
00:37:21.47\00:37:24.07
the way that He
ordained for them to be. Amen!
00:37:25.07\00:37:26.41
I just want to add
two very quick points...
00:37:26.44\00:37:29.01
I was blessed to be
able to grow up in a family
00:37:29.04\00:37:31.45
where I knew about
Sabbath from a very early age,
00:37:31.48\00:37:34.08
and the Sabbath
was made special!
00:37:34.12\00:37:35.85
We had special Sabbath
clothes, and we would lay
00:37:35.88\00:37:39.05
those clothes out on
Friday, the day of preparation
00:37:39.09\00:37:41.62
because we were so excited and
looking forward to the Sabbath.
00:37:41.66\00:37:44.03
So make Sabbath
special when you dress as well.
00:37:44.06\00:37:47.00
Lastly, a verse from Scripture,
it's 1 Corinthians 10:31...
00:37:47.03\00:37:51.80
The Bible says, "Therefore
whether you eat or drink,
00:37:51.83\00:37:54.67
or whatever you do, do all
to the glory of God. Amen, Amen!
00:37:54.70\00:38:00.81
Yes? I'm sorry, one more point
00:38:00.84\00:38:02.41
on this... sorry, sorry.
00:38:02.44\00:38:04.15
Eleven minutes and
counting. Yes, yes...
00:38:04.18\00:38:07.92
Exodus 32- you
don't have to go there,
00:38:07.95\00:38:10.25
but when they
had calf worship...
00:38:10.29\00:38:12.42
I want you to
hear what I'm saying...
00:38:12.45\00:38:14.82
When they were doing calf
worship, the people ended up
00:38:14.86\00:38:18.16
worshipping naked... Are
you hearing what I'm saying?
00:38:18.19\00:38:23.33
When the people were
worshipping the wrong way,
00:38:23.37\00:38:26.90
their dress reflected
who they were worshipping.
00:38:26.94\00:38:31.64
When, in Genesis, Adam and
Eve when she bit the fruit,
00:38:31.67\00:38:37.35
what was the question?
00:38:37.38\00:38:39.11
"Who told you you were naked?"
00:38:39.15\00:38:41.48
Your relationship
of God will cover you.
00:38:41.52\00:38:49.32
All right, I heard a few Ooo's
and Ahh's and praise the Lord.
00:38:49.36\00:38:52.46
I gather it this
way, very simply...
00:38:52.49\00:38:54.46
If we had to
meet Queen Elizabeth,
00:38:54.50\00:38:56.67
mortal Queen Elizabeth, we'd
put on some pretty good gear.
00:38:56.70\00:39:01.70
We're meeting with the
King, the Eternal King.
00:39:01.74\00:39:05.81
Next question... in 10
minutes and 21 seconds,
00:39:05.84\00:39:11.41
but that's not 10
minutes for one question.
00:39:11.45\00:39:13.82
How do we practically
implement the model in Acts
00:39:13.85\00:39:19.35
to bring about the
unity that was seen
00:39:19.39\00:39:22.26
so evident in the early church?
00:39:22.29\00:39:23.86
Well, for starters, I guess one
of the issues in churches today
00:39:23.89\00:39:32.57
is to realize that the shepherd
does not give birth to sheep.
00:39:32.60\00:39:41.01
It's the sheep that do that.
00:39:41.04\00:39:45.55
So, I hope you get
the point I'm making.
00:39:45.58\00:39:52.32
I'm just thinking that this is
not a question of church board
00:39:52.35\00:40:00.66
to organize this to happen.
00:40:00.70\00:40:03.33
Each one of us as an individual
could kick start this happening.
00:40:03.37\00:40:09.40
I'm just going to read
with you from Acts 2...
00:40:09.44\00:40:12.47
From verse 42: "And
they continued steadfastly
00:40:12.51\00:40:17.95
in the apostles doctrine
and fellowship and in breaking
00:40:17.98\00:40:23.02
of bread. I'll read
that again. .. and in prayer.
00:40:23.05\00:40:27.39
Let me read that again...
"And they continued steadfastly
00:40:27.42\00:40:29.92
in the apostles
doctrine, and fellowship,
00:40:29.96\00:40:32.39
and in breaking of
bread, and in prayers."
00:40:32.43\00:40:34.80
And if you continue reading,
they went from house to house.
00:40:34.83\00:40:37.53
This was happening in the homes.
00:40:37.57\00:40:40.54
So if people, as
individuals, started doing this,
00:40:40.57\00:40:46.68
two families doing
this, embodying the Acts plan,
00:40:46.71\00:40:52.98
then invite their neighbor,
invite their friends...
00:40:53.01\00:40:56.89
Before they know it,
there are 20 implementing
00:40:56.92\00:41:01.96
the plan in the book of Acts.
00:41:01.99\00:41:05.19
They have grown, they
split, now we've got two groups.
00:41:05.23\00:41:10.90
Those two groups grow.
00:41:10.93\00:41:13.07
This is how the early
Christian church grew.
00:41:13.10\00:41:15.34
Verse 47: "Praising
God and having favor with
00:41:15.37\00:41:18.77
all the people." Not
in a church board meeting,
00:41:18.81\00:41:21.74
not the pastor
announcing from the pulpit...
00:41:21.78\00:41:24.18
"And the Lord added
to the church daily."
00:41:24.21\00:41:27.95
So this is not a program,
this is a Christian thing.
00:41:27.98\00:41:34.22
So to answer the question
directly, there are 4 steps.
00:41:34.26\00:41:36.96
#1- Verse 42, They continued
steadfastly, pastor thank you
00:41:36.99\00:41:41.80
for the sermon... in
the apostles' doctrine... #1
00:41:41.83\00:41:45.93
#2- Fellowship - I'm
not talking about what we do
00:41:45.97\00:41:50.37
at the door of the
church after the sermon.
00:41:50.41\00:41:53.58
There is genuine love for
one another during the week.
00:41:53.61\00:41:57.41
#3- Breaking of bread.
00:41:57.45\00:42:00.52
#4- Prayer... there
is no substitute to that.
00:42:00.55\00:42:04.75
That's how it happened
in the Bible. Amen indeed!
00:42:04.79\00:42:09.19
And so few turned the world
upside-down without all the
00:42:09.22\00:42:13.56
mod cons and the gadgets
that our Pastor Lomacang likes,
00:42:13.60\00:42:16.56
they turned the
world upside-down.
00:42:16.60\00:42:18.90
May I just make an
appeal after this and say,
00:42:18.93\00:42:21.30
Hey folks, small group ministry
is so vitally important,
00:42:21.34\00:42:26.74
and I know in this particular
church, we have about 8 of them.
00:42:26.78\00:42:30.51
And in listening to
just really them replicating
00:42:30.55\00:42:36.02
what is being read,
it's just a pleasure.
00:42:36.05\00:42:38.69
You can just see that what is
being said is being experienced.
00:42:38.72\00:42:43.43
So being a church and
coming on Sabbath, yes,
00:42:43.46\00:42:47.86
but being a church during
the week and getting together
00:42:47.90\00:42:52.30
with fellow believers and
inviting others who are not,
00:42:52.33\00:42:56.67
and just sharing with
them is the way to go...
00:42:56.71\00:42:59.64
very, very simple, so fantastic.
00:42:59.67\00:43:03.04
We're running out of
time, listen, we need to give
00:43:03.08\00:43:05.01
Marcha a turn as
well, don't you think? Yeah,
00:43:05.05\00:43:07.52
don't you think?
She's sitting her quiet.
00:43:07.55\00:43:10.99
Sister, how do you know if
the Holy Spirit is actively
00:43:11.02\00:43:16.49
working in one's life?
Will I feel His presence?
00:43:16.52\00:43:21.46
Yeah, that's a great question.
00:43:21.50\00:43:24.03
As a Pentecostal Christian,
before I became an Adventist,
00:43:24.07\00:43:28.04
it was very much based on
how I felt that determined
00:43:28.07\00:43:31.14
whether or not I thought
that I was in the Spirit or not.
00:43:31.17\00:43:33.68
And so I went from feeling to
feeling, to feeling and became
00:43:33.71\00:43:37.21
an absolute emotional
wreck thinking that I was in
00:43:37.25\00:43:40.35
God's presence
and then I wasn't.
00:43:40.38\00:43:41.92
It depended upon my mood
swings, and it's really not
00:43:41.95\00:43:45.85
the way to go because in
Jeremiah 17, it talks about
00:43:45.89\00:43:48.92
the heart being deceitful above
all things - who can know it?
00:43:48.96\00:43:52.23
You know, who can
know our emotional layer
00:43:52.26\00:43:54.53
and our state and how
that works from day-to-day.
00:43:54.56\00:43:57.63
But I think the concern behind
that question is whether or not
00:43:57.67\00:44:02.27
this person who asked it,
has the Holy Spirit working
00:44:02.30\00:44:06.31
in their lives because they see
inconsistencies in their life.
00:44:06.34\00:44:10.41
And the short
answer to that question...
00:44:10.45\00:44:13.31
How do you know if the
Holy Spirit is actively working
00:44:13.35\00:44:16.18
in your life? is
found in Galatians 5:22,
00:44:16.22\00:44:21.22
where it says, "But the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy,
00:44:21.26\00:44:25.96
peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
00:44:25.99\00:44:29.06
and in verse 23, it
says, meekness, temperance
00:44:29.10\00:44:32.87
against such there is no law."
00:44:32.90\00:44:35.60
So you can see through
the way the Holy Spirit
00:44:35.64\00:44:38.21
manifests Himself in our
lives, whether or not He really
00:44:38.24\00:44:42.88
is working in there and you are
probably thinking right now...
00:44:42.91\00:44:45.81
"Oh man, this does
not add up to me at all."
00:44:45.85\00:44:52.19
And it's true we look at
that, and we think how on earth
00:44:52.22\00:44:54.99
are we going to be all
those things - loving, joyful,
00:44:55.02\00:44:57.76
peaceful, longsuffering, gentle.
00:44:57.79\00:44:59.49
Right there, I've
just lost on all 4 points.
00:44:59.53\00:45:03.50
Am I now in the spirit,
but there's a very important
00:45:03.53\00:45:06.97
thing that we
need to understand.
00:45:07.00\00:45:08.84
In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says,
"Behold I knock on the door."
00:45:08.87\00:45:14.98
If any man hears my
voice and opens that door...
00:45:15.01\00:45:18.08
He's talking about the heart.
00:45:18.11\00:45:19.91
"I will come in
and sup with him."
00:45:19.95\00:45:22.38
In John 14:17 and John
15:26, it goes on to define
00:45:22.42\00:45:30.49
absolutely who it is
that comes into our heart.
00:45:30.53\00:45:33.76
Who it is that comes
into our personal place,
00:45:33.80\00:45:38.30
our place of emotional need,
and that is the Holy Spirit
00:45:38.33\00:45:43.47
because it is the Holy
Spirit that dwells in our heart.
00:45:43.51\00:45:46.74
But in John 14:17, "He is
called the Spirit of truth.
00:45:46.78\00:45:51.58
And in John 8:32, Jesus says
that "You shall know the truth
00:45:51.61\00:45:55.98
and the truth
shall set you free."
00:45:56.02\00:45:58.45
Set me free from what?
00:45:58.49\00:46:00.32
Well, as a doctor,
when you look at the heart,
00:46:00.36\00:46:02.92
it has 4 chambers, right?
00:46:02.96\00:46:04.83
Blood comes into
2 of the chambers,
00:46:04.86\00:46:07.00
pumps into the lungs,
goes back into the heart,
00:46:07.03\00:46:09.86
and then pumps out
to the rest of the body
00:46:09.90\00:46:11.77
to provide oxygen and nutrients
and take away our waste.
00:46:11.80\00:46:16.67
But I do believe that
we have a heart that has
00:46:16.71\00:46:19.21
that has many chambers.
00:46:19.24\00:46:21.34
The heart has
many... there are many areas
00:46:21.38\00:46:25.18
of our lives that have
chambers that are actually
00:46:25.21\00:46:27.78
closed to Jesus, but
others that are open to Him.
00:46:27.82\00:46:30.75
So when He comes
and knocks on that door,
00:46:30.79\00:46:32.75
and He walks in, very
often what happens is He
00:46:32.79\00:46:36.39
resides in the corridor,
but there are places in our
00:46:36.42\00:46:39.93
lives, chambers in our hearts
that are still closed to Him.
00:46:39.96\00:46:44.03
And so in some areas of
our lives, we are joyful,
00:46:44.07\00:46:48.70
and we are
peaceful, and we are gentle,
00:46:48.74\00:46:51.47
and we have self
control, you know,
00:46:51.51\00:46:53.81
but in other areas,
where those doors are shut,
00:46:53.84\00:46:57.18
and they're shut
because of some wound that
00:46:57.21\00:46:59.98
you've received, in
that door, that pain
00:47:00.02\00:47:04.52
behind that door,
He doesn't have access
00:47:04.55\00:47:07.46
because you don't trust
Him to open that door yet.
00:47:07.49\00:47:10.03
And so the work of the
Holy Spirit is progressive.
00:47:10.06\00:47:13.40
It is not an overnight thing,
you don't suddenly receive
00:47:13.43\00:47:16.53
all the fruits of the Spirit
00:47:16.56\00:47:17.90
overnight... Ah ha,
now I am in the Spirit.
00:47:17.93\00:47:20.44
And then, you know, one
day you are happy in church,
00:47:20.47\00:47:23.27
"happy Sabbath, you are
joyful and peaceful and you see
00:47:23.30\00:47:25.41
Brother A over here -
who reminds you of the pain
00:47:25.44\00:47:28.14
behind one of your locked doors,
and suddenly you just want to
00:47:28.18\00:47:30.95
beat him up and you
think, "Oh man, I'm now
00:47:30.98\00:47:33.48
out of the Spirit - like
I'm totally not in the Spirit."
00:47:33.52\00:47:36.79
It's not like that,
Jesus works progressively
00:47:36.82\00:47:40.86
from door-to-door-to
door in our heart.
00:47:40.89\00:47:43.49
And He works with the truth.
00:47:43.53\00:47:45.36
Now to give you a practical
example of that in closing
00:47:45.39\00:47:48.73
my thought... In
my own personal life,
00:47:48.76\00:47:52.03
one of the things that happened
to me when I became a doctor,
00:47:52.07\00:47:55.64
I had to do a lot of after hours
and I had this cardiac page.
00:47:55.67\00:47:58.81
Now every doctor that
has that cardiac page,
00:47:58.84\00:48:02.04
you know when that page goes
off and they know that someone
00:48:02.08\00:48:05.65
is having a heart
attack, sometimes they feel like
00:48:05.68\00:48:07.85
they are having a heart
attack because of the anxiety
00:48:07.88\00:48:11.22
that suddenly comes upon
you knowing that you have to go
00:48:11.25\00:48:14.12
and deal with this crisis.
00:48:14.16\00:48:15.89
But for me, the anxiety
which wasn't just probably
00:48:15.92\00:48:20.00
this level, my anxiety was
woo up there to such an extent
00:48:20.03\00:48:24.03
that I was paralyzed and waiting
for other people on my team
00:48:24.07\00:48:27.40
to go to that person and
deal with the issue before I
00:48:27.44\00:48:30.31
even got there.
00:48:30.34\00:48:31.67
And I prayed, I
said, "Lord, what is this?
00:48:31.71\00:48:34.14
I am not displaying the fruit
of the Spirit which is peace,
00:48:34.18\00:48:38.18
and I need peace in my
heart to be able to go and tend
00:48:38.21\00:48:41.22
to the needs of the
people that I'm serving here
00:48:41.25\00:48:43.82
in this hospital...
Can you please look behind
00:48:43.85\00:48:48.46
my behavior to deal
with what's behind that."
00:48:48.49\00:48:52.56
And so - fast forward 1
year, I'm sitting down having
00:48:52.59\00:48:55.53
my anniversary dinner with
my husband and I'm sitting there
00:48:55.56\00:48:58.93
having dinner, 7 sparrows flew
into the glass wall that was
00:48:58.97\00:49:04.14
separating us from the outside
world - they flew in and they
00:49:04.17\00:49:07.41
slammed right into this
wall, fell on the other side
00:49:07.44\00:49:10.98
of this glass and some of
them were dead and some of them
00:49:11.01\00:49:13.38
were seizing and
some managed to fly away.
00:49:13.42\00:49:15.98
As I looked upon
this with helplessness,
00:49:16.02\00:49:19.25
because I was on the
wrong side of that glass pane,
00:49:19.29\00:49:21.52
I could not help them...
00:49:21.56\00:49:22.92
As I looked upon
this with helplessness,
00:49:22.96\00:49:25.06
I began to weep and I
mean weep so bad that my
00:49:25.09\00:49:29.56
poor hubby was saying,
"Oh man, I better get her out
00:49:29.60\00:49:31.83
of this room real quick."
00:49:31.87\00:49:33.74
And so I went home and
asked God about that...
00:49:33.77\00:49:36.30
He brought a memory to
me concerning this and He
00:49:36.34\00:49:40.84
said, "Marcha, at the age of
8, you stood helpless watching
00:49:40.88\00:49:44.11
this elderly man fall over
and you could not him because
00:49:44.15\00:49:47.68
you were age 8," and
the pain of that I had
00:49:47.72\00:49:50.39
locked behind that
door, walking around now as a
00:49:50.42\00:49:53.09
40-year-old with anxiety
over everything that reminded me
00:49:53.12\00:49:56.73
me about that pain.
00:49:56.76\00:49:58.09
And so this is the kind of
work the Holy Spirit has to do.
00:49:58.13\00:50:00.93
It is progressive...
it is progressive.
00:50:00.96\00:50:03.40
Thank you for that answer.
00:50:03.47\00:50:04.80
Look, we've saved the best
to last, who would like to come
00:50:04.83\00:50:06.84
back for a second
session and hear some more?
00:50:06.87\00:50:08.34
We need to close right now,
so please, thank you very much.
00:50:08.40\00:50:12.71
And the reason that
we're spending time on this
00:50:12.74\00:50:14.94
is for your sakes as
much as ours... Thank you
00:50:14.98\00:50:20.85