Before the throne of God above
00:00:51.11\00:00:56.12
I have a strong
and perfect plea.
00:00:56.15\00:01:00.89
A great high
Priest whose Name is Love
00:01:00.92\00:01:05.69
whoever lives and pleads for me.
00:01:05.73\00:01:10.37
My name is graven on His hands,
00:01:10.40\00:01:15.10
my name is written on His heart.
00:01:15.14\00:01:19.81
I know that while
in Heaven He stands
00:01:19.84\00:01:24.61
no tongue can
bid me thence depart,
00:01:24.65\00:01:29.65
no tongue can
bid me thence depart.
00:01:29.68\00:01:36.02
When Satan tempts me to despair
00:01:36.96\00:01:41.56
and tells me of
the guilt within,
00:01:41.60\00:01:46.33
upward I look and see Him there
00:01:46.37\00:01:50.94
who made an end to all my sin.
00:01:50.97\00:01:55.54
Because the sinless Savior died
00:01:55.58\00:02:00.38
my sinful soul is counted free.
00:02:00.42\00:02:05.19
For God the just is satisfied
00:02:05.22\00:02:09.72
to look on Him and pardon me,
to look on Him and pardon me.
00:02:09.76\00:02:19.73
Behold Him there the risen Lamb;
00:02:21.64\00:02:26.27
my perfect
spotless righteousness,
00:02:26.31\00:02:30.95
the great unchangeable I AM,
00:02:30.98\00:02:35.42
the King of glory and of grace.
00:02:35.45\00:02:40.19
One with Himself I cannot die,
00:02:40.22\00:02:44.86
my soul is
purchased with His blood.
00:02:44.89\00:02:49.43
My life is hid
with Christ on high,
00:02:49.46\00:02:54.20
with Christ my
Savior and my God,
00:02:54.24\00:02:59.11
with Christ my
Savior and my God.
00:02:59.14\00:03:07.38
You see this group
walking up behind me, right?
00:03:12.89\00:03:15.89
This lovely group of people.
00:03:16.46\00:03:17.93
Now for many of us here
today, GYC just started, right?
00:03:17.96\00:03:22.46
But let me tell you
that this group of people,
00:03:22.70\00:03:25.27
last Friday GYC began for them.
00:03:25.30\00:03:28.10
And what they decided to do
was, not only miss Christmas,
00:03:28.20\00:03:32.17
but sleep on the hard
floor inside of a school gym
00:03:32.21\00:03:35.74
and pass out one
million GLOW tracts
00:03:35.78\00:03:38.51
in four full days of work.
00:03:38.55\00:03:40.12
Can you believe this?
00:03:40.15\00:03:41.48
So this group here has
been working very hard.
00:03:41.52\00:03:45.15
One thing to note...
00:03:45.79\00:03:47.39
Praise the Lord.
00:03:47.42\00:03:48.76
One thing to note is,
we had 86 missionaries
00:03:48.82\00:03:51.93
and they would walk anywhere
from up to 18 miles a day
00:03:52.13\00:03:57.20
passing out pieces of GLOW.
00:03:57.23\00:03:59.20
So they were, of course,
getting their exercise in.
00:03:59.30\00:04:01.64
But more than just reaching the
goal one million GLOW going out
00:04:01.74\00:04:06.44
were some of the incredible
testimonies that we had.
00:04:06.47\00:04:09.38
So I have here
to my left, Carsten.
00:04:09.41\00:04:12.31
Carsten was one of the
leaders on our GLOW mission trip
00:04:12.35\00:04:15.08
here with GYC.
00:04:15.12\00:04:16.65
And he had an experience
where he was trying to find
00:04:16.69\00:04:19.52
a mass amount of
cars of Houston residents
00:04:19.55\00:04:22.42
so that he could
blitz a bunch of GLOWs.
00:04:22.46\00:04:23.99
So Carsten, tell
us where you went.
00:04:24.03\00:04:25.43
Yes, I was actually
thinking about how and where to
00:04:25.46\00:04:29.73
find cars or doors, and
how we could pass out GLOW.
00:04:29.76\00:04:32.97
And I thought about
it at night, and I was...
00:04:33.00\00:04:35.80
The airport.
00:04:36.30\00:04:37.64
The airport is the
place where there's thousands
00:04:37.67\00:04:39.87
and thousands of cars.
00:04:39.91\00:04:41.24
And so I was thinking about
it, and the next day we decided
00:04:41.31\00:04:44.18
to go to the airport.
00:04:44.21\00:04:45.65
And we got to the airport,
there was some confusion
00:04:45.75\00:04:48.75
because we were going up
in these parking garages,
00:04:48.78\00:04:52.19
and it was super hard to go up
and down, and come in and out,
00:04:52.22\00:04:54.66
and pay the price
to get in and out.
00:04:54.69\00:04:56.96
And so it was really confusing.
00:04:57.06\00:04:58.39
Because there were so
many cars that each missionary,
00:04:58.43\00:05:02.26
their bag got
emptied in 20 to 30 minutes.
00:05:02.30\00:05:05.57
And so these
GLOW's were going out
00:05:05.60\00:05:07.04
left and right in these cars.
00:05:07.07\00:05:08.57
And I wasn't sure what
to do because sometimes
00:05:08.67\00:05:10.67
the missionaries,
they didn't have GLOWs
00:05:10.71\00:05:14.44
for 15 to 20 minutes.
00:05:14.48\00:05:15.81
They didn't have
it because I couldn't
00:05:15.84\00:05:17.41
get to them fast enough.
00:05:17.45\00:05:18.78
And so the second day
we went to the airport,
00:05:18.81\00:05:21.18
because there were so many cars
that we could go there two days,
00:05:21.22\00:05:24.39
and I was there, and
so what I thought was that
00:05:24.65\00:05:27.36
why don't I bring a
suitcase along with me.
00:05:27.39\00:05:30.23
Because it's kind of awkward
to walk around in an airport
00:05:30.49\00:05:33.26
with a box of GLOW and
go from car door to car door
00:05:33.29\00:05:37.97
with a box of
GLOW delivering GLOW.
00:05:38.00\00:05:39.77
And so I brought a
suitcase full of GLOW.
00:05:39.80\00:05:42.37
And what I would do, I
would just go up the elevator
00:05:42.40\00:05:45.31
to whatever level
they were on and deliver
00:05:45.34\00:05:47.81
GLOW through my suitcase.
00:05:47.84\00:05:49.61
And it was a huge blessing.
00:05:50.55\00:05:52.05
In just two days in the
Houston George Bush Airport
00:05:52.08\00:05:56.25
we passed out
55,000 to 60,000 GLOWs.
00:05:56.28\00:06:00.46
What a blessing, amen,
to see all of the GLOW that
00:06:02.06\00:06:04.66
was able to go out
inside of an airport.
00:06:04.69\00:06:06.90
And now Erica had an interesting
experience with someone
00:06:06.93\00:06:09.86
who she handed a
piece of literature to.
00:06:09.90\00:06:11.50
Tell us about
that experience, Erica.
00:06:11.53\00:06:13.17
So it was the last 15 minutes
and I'm just running it hard
00:06:14.24\00:06:17.27
through the parking lot,
and I come up on this man
00:06:17.31\00:06:19.54
and I handed him a GLOW tract.
00:06:19.57\00:06:22.11
And we started talking
and I actually ended up
00:06:22.21\00:06:24.61
praying with him.
00:06:24.65\00:06:25.98
Well after prayer he
shared with me how his son had
00:06:26.01\00:06:30.25
had a dream that he
would be getting little pieces
00:06:30.29\00:06:34.66
of literature with
messages of hope on them
00:06:34.69\00:06:38.19
and passing them out.
00:06:38.23\00:06:39.56
My jaw nearly dropped to
the ground and I handed him
00:06:39.59\00:06:43.63
a hundred GLOW tracts.
00:06:43.67\00:06:45.00
I said, "God go
with you, my brother."
00:06:45.03\00:06:46.37
So walking the
streets of Houston today is a
00:06:46.74\00:06:50.34
non-Adventist, non-Christian
person distributing out
00:06:50.37\00:06:55.64
the message of God.
00:06:55.68\00:06:57.01
Young people, we so need to
be active in our communities,
00:06:57.05\00:07:02.22
at home, and abroad.
00:07:02.48\00:07:04.25
Thank you for sharing.
00:07:05.09\00:07:06.42
It's interesting how the
Lord calls people to really
00:07:06.45\00:07:09.02
receive these messages
right at the exact time.
00:07:09.06\00:07:11.56
People are having dreams
that they are getting GLOW.
00:07:11.59\00:07:13.83
Now Isaac, you had an
interesting experience
00:07:13.86\00:07:15.90
where you were passing out GLOW,
00:07:15.93\00:07:17.27
but you got help
from an unexpected place.
00:07:17.30\00:07:19.53
Tell us about that.
00:07:19.57\00:07:20.90
So I was actually passing out
tracts here in a parking garage
00:07:21.14\00:07:24.24
in downtown Houston.
00:07:24.27\00:07:25.61
And the thing with parking
garages is that most of them
00:07:25.64\00:07:28.34
are heavily guarded by security.
00:07:28.38\00:07:30.38
So it's hard to get in.
00:07:30.41\00:07:31.75
I was in one of them and
sure enough this one had lots of
00:07:31.78\00:07:34.85
security
everywhere; I was caught.
00:07:34.88\00:07:36.38
He called me to himself.
00:07:36.42\00:07:37.75
I shared with him the tracts and
he was immediately closed to it.
00:07:37.95\00:07:40.72
He said, "You need
to get out of here.
00:07:40.76\00:07:42.09
You can't pass these out.
00:07:42.12\00:07:43.46
I don't want this stuff."
00:07:43.49\00:07:44.83
As he was speaking, though,
I noticed on his name tag
00:07:44.86\00:07:47.30
his name had an
Ethiopian origin,
00:07:47.86\00:07:50.30
which is where I
had served previously
00:07:50.33\00:07:53.13
a couple of years ago.
00:07:53.50\00:07:54.84
I started talking
to him in Ethiopian,
00:07:54.97\00:07:57.67
the little
Ethiopian that I knew.
00:07:57.71\00:07:59.64
And come to find
out as we were talking,
00:07:59.67\00:08:01.68
one of the cities that I
had served in was his home town.
00:08:01.91\00:08:05.61
He said, "Thank you so
much for reaching my family."
00:08:06.25\00:08:08.75
He took the tracts and
his whole demeanor changed.
00:08:08.85\00:08:12.35
He said, "I'll
take these tracts."
00:08:12.39\00:08:14.29
He took a couple of
them to pass out himself.
00:08:14.32\00:08:16.52
He said, "You can pass them
out amongst the whole garage."
00:08:16.62\00:08:18.79
He then led me to five
more gates where he unlocked
00:08:18.89\00:08:21.43
the garages to five
more garages, and said,
00:08:21.46\00:08:23.70
"Pass them out everywhere.
00:08:23.73\00:08:25.07
These people need to
hear of the love of Jesus."
00:08:25.10\00:08:27.27
Isn't that
exciting to hear, friends?
00:08:28.64\00:08:30.71
Well let me tell you, if
you missed pre-conference,
00:08:30.74\00:08:33.04
you have a chance this Friday to
join us for our Friday outreach.
00:08:33.07\00:08:36.75
Don't miss the
opportunity to spread the
00:08:36.85\00:08:39.31
love of Jesus with someone.
00:08:39.35\00:08:40.68
So this Friday all you
need to do is bring a pen
00:08:40.72\00:08:43.35
and join us at 10:30 in
the morning right in here
00:08:43.45\00:08:46.15
for a short outreach
training, and we will spend
00:08:46.19\00:08:48.59
the rest of the day
reaching people who are looking
00:08:48.62\00:08:51.09
and searching so
desperately for the
00:08:51.13\00:08:53.29
beautiful Jesus that you have.
00:08:53.33\00:08:54.66
Amen? God bless you all.
00:08:54.70\00:08:56.33
And please join us
for our Friday outreach.
00:08:56.36\00:08:58.50
We have the privilege
of worshiping together
00:09:03.10\00:09:04.91
for the next several days.
00:09:04.94\00:09:06.71
And my prayer is that the
Lord will revive our hearts.
00:09:07.04\00:09:09.44
Amen. Is that your prayer?
00:09:09.48\00:09:10.98
The scripture reading
and the scripture passage
00:09:12.15\00:09:15.28
for the theme of this year
is found in Ecclesiastes 12
00:09:15.32\00:09:18.79
beginning in verse 1.
00:09:19.19\00:09:20.59
And Solomon writes
in Ecclesiastes 12:1,
00:09:22.52\00:09:25.33
"Remember now your Creator
in the days of your youth,
00:09:25.36\00:09:29.20
before the difficult days
come, and the years draw near
00:09:29.60\00:09:33.54
when you say, 'I have
no pleasure in them.'"
00:09:33.57\00:09:36.17
And skipping down to verse 13.
00:09:36.50\00:09:38.47
"Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter:
00:09:39.04\00:09:41.51
Fear God and
keep His commandments
00:09:41.74\00:09:43.98
for this is man's all.
00:09:44.01\00:09:45.91
For God will bring
every work into judgment,
00:09:46.28\00:09:49.62
including every secret
thing, whether good or evil."
00:09:49.65\00:09:53.79
I pray that as we explore
this passage of scripture
00:09:54.26\00:09:56.46
over the next several days that
the Lord will give us wisdom
00:09:56.49\00:09:58.99
and revive us
through His Spirit.
00:09:59.33\00:10:01.90
But how many of you think
it would be good that we pray
00:10:02.46\00:10:04.07
and ask for His Spirit?
00:10:04.10\00:10:05.43
Why don't we pray
together as we begin.
00:10:06.23\00:10:08.00
Father in heaven, we're
gathered here and we're coming
00:10:09.67\00:10:13.04
before Your throne pleading
that, Father, this would not
00:10:13.07\00:10:17.35
just be another convention,
but, Lord, that You would
00:10:17.38\00:10:19.38
truly revive our
hearts, that You would pour out
00:10:19.41\00:10:21.98
Your Spirit upon us.
00:10:22.02\00:10:23.59
That, Father, there
would be revival, reformation,
00:10:23.62\00:10:27.56
and renewal that
takes place this weekend.
00:10:27.59\00:10:30.03
Lord, we need You.
00:10:30.63\00:10:32.13
We need Your power to finish
this work in this generation,
00:10:32.23\00:10:34.96
and to finish the work that You
have started in our own hearts.
00:10:35.26\00:10:37.87
I just pray that as we spend
this time, that we wouldn't
00:10:38.53\00:10:40.87
waste time, but Lord,
that we'd spend it in Your Word
00:10:40.90\00:10:44.74
and in prayer seeking Your face.
00:10:44.77\00:10:46.68
In Christ's name we pray, amen.
00:10:46.71\00:10:49.54
I have the honor and
privilege to introduce to you
00:10:53.62\00:10:56.69
tonight's
speaker, Moise Ratsara.
00:10:56.72\00:11:00.36
He is currently
the president of GYC,
00:11:00.66\00:11:04.19
and we
affectionately call him, Mo.
00:11:04.23\00:11:07.30
Last night I got a text message
from Jonathan and he said,
00:11:08.23\00:11:10.50
"Would you be
willing to introduce Moise?"
00:11:10.53\00:11:12.80
And I said, "Of course I would.
00:11:12.83\00:11:14.17
It would be an honor."
00:11:14.20\00:11:15.54
And so immediately I started
rehearsing, what would I say
00:11:15.57\00:11:19.24
about Moise in an introduction?
00:11:19.27\00:11:21.81
And it became abundantly
clear to me that I didn't know
00:11:22.14\00:11:25.38
anything about Moise's
worldly accomplishments.
00:11:25.41\00:11:29.68
And that may not be
indifferent from your opinion
00:11:30.59\00:11:33.12
and where you sit, but for
me it's a little bit unique
00:11:33.15\00:11:35.86
because I actually sit on
the nominating committee of GYC
00:11:35.89\00:11:39.89
and the board that votes
in the leadership of GYC.
00:11:39.93\00:11:43.60
So you should be saying, "Amen."
00:11:44.43\00:11:46.50
I know nothing about his
worldly accomplishments, and yet
00:11:47.40\00:11:50.34
he is our president.
00:11:50.37\00:11:52.41
When you have an encounter
and an experience with Moise,
00:11:53.17\00:11:56.28
you recognize that his
passion and his love for his
00:11:56.31\00:12:00.15
Friend and his Savior
Jesus Christ is contagious.
00:12:00.18\00:12:03.85
Moise is sort of like an onion
as you begin to unpeel him.
00:12:04.85\00:12:07.72
He grew up as a missionary.
00:12:07.76\00:12:09.42
GYC has changed his life.
00:12:09.62\00:12:11.86
When you ask him, "What
is the highlight of GYC,"
00:12:12.13\00:12:15.13
it is being a bus leader.
00:12:15.16\00:12:17.50
Going out on outreach.
00:12:17.73\00:12:19.43
He's going to share a
little bit this evening as to
00:12:19.73\00:12:22.17
how GYC has changed
him, how it has shaped
00:12:22.20\00:12:26.54
his Christian experience.
00:12:26.57\00:12:28.11
And I trust that you, like
me, as you encounter Moise,
00:12:28.64\00:12:33.82
will experience this
contagiousness that he has
00:12:34.15\00:12:37.29
for his Friend and
Savior Jesus Christ.
00:12:37.49\00:12:40.16
It is Moise who will
give us our message tonight.
00:12:40.92\00:12:43.26
And he is our president.
00:12:43.49\00:12:44.83
And we will
welcome him to the stage.
00:12:45.06\00:12:46.76
Well praise the Lord.
00:12:50.37\00:12:51.83
You know, it's a real
privilege to be here with you.
00:12:54.87\00:12:57.64
I want to thank certain
people that make this happen.
00:12:58.54\00:13:02.58
The first person I want
to thank is God Almighty.
00:13:03.55\00:13:06.65
I also want to thank my
family, my beautiful wife Amy.
00:13:07.82\00:13:12.89
Amy, if you can wave.
00:13:12.92\00:13:14.26
Where are you?
You're on the fifth row.
00:13:14.29\00:13:15.62
There she is.
00:13:15.66\00:13:16.99
My beautiful wife, Amy.
00:13:17.13\00:13:18.79
I want to also thank
the churches that have
00:13:19.36\00:13:24.53
been so kind to me.
00:13:24.57\00:13:25.90
I serve as a
local church pastor.
00:13:25.93\00:13:28.04
Two beautiful churches,
Jackson and Bunker Hill,
00:13:28.07\00:13:30.91
I want to greet you.
00:13:30.94\00:13:32.27
And I know you're
following us online.
00:13:32.31\00:13:34.84
And I just want to say, hi.
00:13:34.88\00:13:36.54
I also want to say
hi to my friends who are
00:13:36.58\00:13:40.22
in the Cotton Prison facility,
with whom we have fellowship
00:13:40.25\00:13:44.79
every Tuesday
praising the Lord together.
00:13:44.82\00:13:47.99
I want to say hello, and
I'm glad you're watching.
00:13:48.09\00:13:51.46
I also want to thank especially,
you can see I'm very grateful,
00:13:52.19\00:13:56.43
the Southwestern Union.
00:13:58.17\00:14:00.40
Especially the youth
department led by Elder Moody
00:14:00.44\00:14:04.31
who is here with us.
00:14:04.34\00:14:05.67
I also want to thank
the Texas Conference.
00:14:05.84\00:14:09.24
Especially Elder
Carlos Craig and his team,
00:14:09.81\00:14:15.08
and Elder Dan Searns, who
have been so accommodating
00:14:15.12\00:14:18.35
to us, and they have
blessed us tremendously.
00:14:18.39\00:14:21.89
I also want to thank all the
local church pastors in Texas.
00:14:23.09\00:14:27.03
If you're a local
church pastor here in Texas,
00:14:27.16\00:14:29.60
if you will please stand.
00:14:29.63\00:14:31.47
If there are any of them here,
thank you, thank you so much
00:14:33.37\00:14:39.17
for all you do.
00:14:39.21\00:14:40.78
I also would like to introduce
today a special friend of mine,
00:14:45.21\00:14:51.62
the president of my church,
the president of our church,
00:14:51.99\00:14:57.49
a friend of the young
people, a very humble man,
00:14:57.76\00:15:01.33
Elder Ted Wilson, who will
share some few words with us
00:15:02.16\00:15:06.03
from his heart to encourage us.
00:15:06.07\00:15:08.70
After he's done
sharing some words with us,
00:15:09.17\00:15:12.24
I will come back after
special music to share with you
00:15:12.34\00:15:16.21
some words from my heart.
00:15:16.24\00:15:17.78
So I would like to
introduce to you Elder Wilson.
00:15:17.88\00:15:21.28
I'd like to have
a prayer with him
00:15:21.78\00:15:24.25
to ask that the Holy Spirit may
fill him and give him strength
00:15:24.62\00:15:29.09
as he goes all over the
world to proclaim the truth.
00:15:29.12\00:15:32.39
Let's pray.
00:15:32.43\00:15:33.76
Dear heavenly Father,
here is your anointed servant
00:15:34.76\00:15:38.03
that you have called
for such a time as this.
00:15:38.57\00:15:41.10
I pray for him, I
pray for his family.
00:15:41.44\00:15:44.77
I pray for our worldwide
church that we are so excited
00:15:44.81\00:15:48.81
we can be a part of.
00:15:48.84\00:15:50.45
Bless him and his ministry.
00:15:50.48\00:15:52.41
And Father, may You guide him,
may You give him great wisdom,
00:15:52.71\00:15:57.29
and may You give
him great health as well
00:15:57.59\00:16:00.09
as he carries out his
duties all over the world.
00:16:00.12\00:16:02.92
Please be with him
and his entire family.
00:16:02.96\00:16:05.46
And thank You so much
for him and for his ministry.
00:16:05.56\00:16:08.96
Amen.
00:16:09.00\00:16:10.33
Thank you, Moise. God bless you.
00:16:12.63\00:16:14.50
I want to thank Pastor Ratsara
for that wonderful prayer
00:16:17.71\00:16:25.01
and the
opportunity to be here at GYC.
00:16:25.41\00:16:30.12
I'm looking forward to Pastor
Ratsara's message tonight.
00:16:30.32\00:16:34.16
I know the Holy
Spirit is going to use him
00:16:34.29\00:16:36.46
in a very dramatic way.
00:16:36.49\00:16:38.83
He told me a little bit about
what he's going to speak about,
00:16:39.63\00:16:42.33
and I know that
these are essential truths
00:16:42.36\00:16:45.63
for this time.
00:16:45.67\00:16:47.04
I want to tell you as a
message this evening here at GYC
00:16:48.20\00:16:52.87
something important.
00:16:54.51\00:16:56.91
When all has been heard, GYC,
young people around the world,
00:16:57.78\00:17:06.65
those who are watching, I urge
you, don't give up on the ship.
00:17:06.69\00:17:13.36
For the ship is going
through, by God's grace.
00:17:13.60\00:17:17.87
Now I've been very impressed,
as I have arrived here at GYC;
00:17:18.50\00:17:22.14
the infrastructure,
the organization,
00:17:22.84\00:17:26.57
you know, and you
just meet so many people,
00:17:27.18\00:17:30.31
so many people who
are on fire for the Lord.
00:17:30.35\00:17:32.91
Praise God for GYC.
00:17:32.95\00:17:35.45
There are all kinds of reasons
that you ought to be happy.
00:17:36.08\00:17:39.75
But I want to tell you,
I met all kinds of people.
00:17:40.46\00:17:42.32
I've got some
people who are helping me.
00:17:42.36\00:17:44.63
Bailey, and Alex,
and Christian, and R.D.
00:17:45.19\00:17:49.00
I met a fellow at the airport.
00:17:49.10\00:17:50.53
He said, "Are you
Elder Wilson?" I said, "Yes."
00:17:50.57\00:17:52.33
His name is Diego
from Philadelphia.
00:17:52.37\00:17:55.24
Diego, I'm not sure if
you're here tonight yet,
00:17:55.27\00:17:57.61
but the Lord is going to bless
you; this is your first time.
00:17:57.67\00:18:00.88
You know, I parked my
car next to a lovely van
00:18:01.84\00:18:06.72
up here in the
Hilton parking lot.
00:18:07.08\00:18:09.42
And it was from the Canton
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:18:09.45\00:18:13.12
I hope, Canton,
you're here tonight.
00:18:13.46\00:18:15.29
And God is going to bless you
in a marvelous, marvelous way.
00:18:15.49\00:18:18.69
We met a young
greeter. His name is Jericho.
00:18:18.73\00:18:21.33
What an exciting
name to have; Jericho.
00:18:21.36\00:18:24.07
He's going to shake
the place, let me tell you.
00:18:24.53\00:18:26.80
Jonathan Walter, vice-president
for programming, has been
00:18:27.90\00:18:31.11
instrumental in helping us
to focus on the right things.
00:18:31.14\00:18:35.54
And Juliana is
helping us with photography
00:18:35.58\00:18:38.68
and all kinds of things.
00:18:38.71\00:18:40.05
Everybody working together
to do something for Jesus.
00:18:40.08\00:18:44.55
I want to tell you, we were
so impressed at Annual Council
00:18:44.85\00:18:48.22
back in the month of October
when so many young people
00:18:48.26\00:18:51.79
came from SOULS West
and many other organizations
00:18:51.83\00:18:55.93
to help church leaders
distribute Christian literature.
00:18:55.96\00:19:01.10
What a privilege it is to
have many of you who were there
00:19:01.50\00:19:04.61
with us here tonight.
00:19:04.64\00:19:06.78
In fact, I want to urge
you this coming year, 2017,
00:19:06.98\00:19:11.18
re-read, or read if
you haven't read it,
00:19:11.45\00:19:14.55
I think everyone here
has, that beautiful book,
00:19:14.58\00:19:17.82
Steps to Christ.
00:19:17.85\00:19:19.55
125 years ago, as of 2017,
this book was first put out.
00:19:20.02\00:19:29.33
Distribute this book.
00:19:30.17\00:19:31.60
Distribute The
Great Controversy.
00:19:31.63\00:19:33.54
We're going to see God's
blessing in a marvelous way
00:19:33.64\00:19:37.21
as you become involved in
every activity of the church.
00:19:37.24\00:19:42.34
And remember, it is all based
on our relationship with Jesus.
00:19:42.81\00:19:46.75
Revival and
reformation which must continue
00:19:46.78\00:19:49.88
until the Lord comes.
00:19:49.92\00:19:52.65
Focus upon Christ
and His righteousness,
00:19:53.56\00:19:57.33
upon His beautiful
justifying and sanctifying power
00:19:57.83\00:20:02.53
that He will
provide for each of us.
00:20:02.56\00:20:05.73
His Sanctuary message;
what a beautiful message
00:20:05.77\00:20:09.37
God has given to
us in the Sanctuary.
00:20:09.40\00:20:11.74
Use it, preach it, share it.
00:20:12.07\00:20:14.41
Be faithful to God
and to His holy Word,
00:20:15.38\00:20:19.48
and to the spirit of prophecy,
00:20:19.88\00:20:22.08
and to what God intends
for us to do as a people;
00:20:22.12\00:20:26.79
proclaiming the
three angels' messages
00:20:26.82\00:20:29.19
of Revelation 14 and
the fourth angel's message
00:20:29.22\00:20:32.93
of Revelation 18.
00:20:32.96\00:20:34.56
We are living in unusual times.
00:20:34.60\00:20:38.00
I want to tell you,
when all has been heard
00:20:38.27\00:20:43.47
stay with the ship.
00:20:43.84\00:20:46.17
It's going
through to the kingdom.
00:20:46.37\00:20:48.74
You see, total
member involvement,
00:20:50.05\00:20:52.25
total youth involvement,
total everything involvement,
00:20:52.28\00:20:55.92
is what the church is to
be all about as we come to the
00:20:56.12\00:20:59.52
very end of time.
00:20:59.55\00:21:01.16
And that is what GYC
helps all of you to do.
00:21:01.19\00:21:04.99
To be so involved.
00:21:05.03\00:21:07.06
In the month of May
of this year, still 2016,
00:21:08.43\00:21:12.77
we had the wonderful privilege
of holding evangelistic meetings
00:21:12.87\00:21:15.74
in Rwanda.
00:21:15.77\00:21:18.04
What a marvelous
experience it was.
00:21:18.37\00:21:20.94
My wife even had
her own meetings.
00:21:21.24\00:21:23.65
I don't have time to
tell you all the details.
00:21:24.05\00:21:26.82
But we saw God's Spirit
moving in a marvelous way
00:21:27.12\00:21:30.32
because the
membership of the church became
00:21:30.35\00:21:33.42
so totally involved in
everything that was done.
00:21:33.46\00:21:37.03
If you have a chance, come to
the seminar that we're going to
00:21:38.13\00:21:40.30
be holding tomorrow to
help understand what it means
00:21:40.33\00:21:43.70
to have pastors and church
members working in a united way.
00:21:43.80\00:21:49.27
Total member involvement.
00:21:49.30\00:21:51.57
By God's grace, at the end
of that massive evangelistic
00:21:51.61\00:21:54.94
meeting all across
Rwanda with over 2000 sites
00:21:54.98\00:21:59.71
God blessed ultimately
with over 100,000 baptisms.
00:22:00.25\00:22:06.29
And we praise God for it.
00:22:06.52\00:22:08.09
In February, in about one
month, we will be in Ukraine
00:22:08.42\00:22:11.83
and also in Romania.
00:22:11.86\00:22:13.83
Romania is preparing for
over or about 2000 sites.
00:22:13.86\00:22:19.73
About three quarters
of those sites will be
00:22:19.83\00:22:23.04
operated and
presented by laypeople.
00:22:23.24\00:22:25.87
As were the ones in Rwanda.
00:22:25.91\00:22:28.71
I want to tell you, God is
doing something extraordinary
00:22:28.74\00:22:32.55
in getting everybody involved.
00:22:32.91\00:22:35.68
Total member involvement.
00:22:35.72\00:22:38.59
Now for the last few
moments, because we want to hear
00:22:39.79\00:22:43.59
Pastor Ratsara, I want
to talk to you about a ship.
00:22:43.63\00:22:48.63
Matthew 14, we don't have
time to really get into the
00:22:49.60\00:22:53.30
full story, but
you know that story.
00:22:53.34\00:22:56.87
The feeding of
the five thousand.
00:22:56.91\00:22:58.47
Really there were probably
about 20,000 people there
00:22:58.51\00:23:01.44
including women and children,
and all that were there.
00:23:01.48\00:23:04.88
That beautiful
experience where twelve baskets
00:23:05.61\00:23:08.82
were filled at the very end.
00:23:08.92\00:23:10.62
The people were so excited they
were about to crown Jesus king.
00:23:10.72\00:23:14.52
It's a marvelous
story, but I don't have time
00:23:14.56\00:23:16.46
to get into all of it.
00:23:16.49\00:23:17.83
I want to focus on
some lessons from the sea.
00:23:17.86\00:23:21.36
Jesus sent the disciples away.
00:23:22.96\00:23:25.27
They were angry,
they were bitter.
00:23:25.30\00:23:27.20
They thought that
they were going to become
00:23:27.24\00:23:28.84
the high generals in
an army that was going to
00:23:28.87\00:23:31.97
take care of the Romans.
00:23:32.01\00:23:33.54
But Jesus had other plans.
00:23:33.58\00:23:35.61
He sent them away.
00:23:35.64\00:23:36.98
And you can see in your
minds eye those disciples
00:23:37.01\00:23:39.48
walking down to the
ship, because Jesus said,
00:23:39.58\00:23:42.18
"Go into the ship
out into the sea."
00:23:42.22\00:23:45.12
You can see them
kicking the dirt,
00:23:46.19\00:23:49.42
muttering under their
breath, "Who is this Person?
00:23:49.46\00:23:52.26
Maybe He's not
even the Son of God.
00:23:52.29\00:23:54.26
He frustrated our plans."
00:23:55.20\00:23:58.37
I want to tell you,
my dear young friends,
00:23:58.40\00:24:00.80
and all of us,
because I speak to myself,
00:24:00.94\00:24:03.67
be careful that your plans
that you focus on so intently,
00:24:03.94\00:24:09.94
and that you think are
great plans, be careful,
00:24:09.98\00:24:13.82
else they be something
other than God's plans.
00:24:13.95\00:24:18.42
Stay close to God's Word
and to the spirit of prophecy.
00:24:18.65\00:24:21.92
Work together as a family unit.
00:24:21.96\00:24:25.09
I urge you to be
involved with your local church
00:24:25.13\00:24:28.03
in every way possible.
00:24:28.06\00:24:29.96
Support your church.
00:24:30.20\00:24:31.90
Don't diverge from your church.
00:24:32.43\00:24:35.97
Listen to your church.
00:24:36.37\00:24:38.67
Work with your church.
00:24:38.71\00:24:40.78
Well, those
disciples got into the boat.
00:24:41.14\00:24:43.21
Jesus went up into a mountain
side and He was praying.
00:24:43.24\00:24:46.21
Read about it
in, Desire of Ages.
00:24:46.25\00:24:47.98
It's an incredible story.
00:24:48.02\00:24:49.42
Jesus could see
them out in the sea.
00:24:49.45\00:24:51.75
And He prepared a
special storm just for them.
00:24:51.79\00:24:55.96
Sometimes when
you run into problems,
00:24:57.13\00:24:59.49
maybe the Lord is
testing you with your own
00:25:00.33\00:25:03.97
stylized unique storm.
00:25:04.77\00:25:07.90
As those disciples were
struggling with the sails,
00:25:09.24\00:25:13.91
in Matthew 14 it tells us
how they became so afraid.
00:25:13.94\00:25:20.02
"And when the boat was
now in the middle of the sea,"
00:25:20.58\00:25:24.12
verse 24, "tossed by the waves,
for the wind was contrary,
00:25:24.15\00:25:28.66
now in the fourth watch of
the night Jesus went to them,
00:25:28.69\00:25:31.99
walking on the sea."
00:25:32.03\00:25:33.40
Why could He get to
them at that point is because
00:25:33.43\00:25:36.33
they had given up on themselves.
00:25:36.36\00:25:38.47
In fact, when they saw Jesus,
they said, "It's a ghost."
00:25:39.87\00:25:43.77
Now I grew up in Cairo, Egypt.
00:25:43.81\00:25:45.51
In the Middle East
there are omens that
00:25:45.54\00:25:48.04
people kind of believe in.
00:25:48.08\00:25:49.68
If something happens,
they say, "Oh, that's a sign.
00:25:49.71\00:25:53.48
Something terrible
is going to happen."
00:25:53.52\00:25:55.22
These disciples saw
this apparition on the water
00:25:55.25\00:25:58.05
and they thought, "For
sure we're going to die."
00:25:58.09\00:26:00.39
They had set the
sails as much as they could.
00:26:00.42\00:26:02.92
They threw out everything
they could from the boats.
00:26:02.96\00:26:05.23
They tried to
keep the boat balanced,
00:26:05.26\00:26:08.93
but it was going to sink.
00:26:08.96\00:26:11.83
When you give up on your
own plans, then is when God
00:26:12.80\00:26:18.74
can help you with
His plans for your life.
00:26:18.77\00:26:21.94
And as that boat was rocking
in the midst of that storm,
00:26:23.18\00:26:32.79
and Jesus appeared, He
said, "Be of good cheer.
00:26:33.05\00:26:40.03
It is I. Do not be afraid."
00:26:40.23\00:26:43.73
I want to tell you, GYC,
those are the words that people
00:26:43.83\00:26:46.77
in this world are
longing to hear through your
00:26:46.80\00:26:49.10
lips and your actions.
00:26:49.14\00:26:50.67
Let God use you in
total member involvement
00:26:51.41\00:26:54.88
so that people will
understand that you're connected
00:26:54.91\00:26:58.58
with the
heavenly source of power,
00:26:58.61\00:27:00.65
that you're preparing
people for Jesus' soon return.
00:27:00.68\00:27:04.02
Don't be afraid to be
a Seventh-day Adventist.
00:27:04.35\00:27:09.96
Well, when Jesus spoke, Peter
answered, "Lord, if it's You,
00:27:12.59\00:27:16.20
tell me to come out."
00:27:16.23\00:27:17.63
Well you know what happened.
00:27:18.03\00:27:19.37
Peter went out, went
over the edge, started walking
00:27:19.53\00:27:23.17
on the water, got a
little self-confident,
00:27:23.20\00:27:25.87
turned around to see if the rest
of the gang was looking at him,
00:27:25.91\00:27:28.91
and he began to sink.
00:27:28.94\00:27:30.35
Never take your eyes off Jesus.
00:27:30.78\00:27:34.52
The one who will take
the ship through is the one
00:27:35.72\00:27:39.69
who controls the storm.
00:27:39.72\00:27:41.99
Jesus Himself will
take this ship through.
00:27:42.42\00:27:48.00
Peter learned his
lesson, grabbed hold of Jesus,
00:27:48.56\00:27:51.77
walked back to that ship.
00:27:51.97\00:27:53.44
And when they got into the
ship, the sea became like glass.
00:27:53.47\00:28:00.21
And finally, those disbelieving,
angry, frustrated disciples
00:28:01.31\00:28:07.92
who were thinking
that they had a better way,
00:28:07.95\00:28:10.99
that their way was
the better approach,
00:28:11.02\00:28:15.19
bowed down and said,
"Truly You are the Son of God."
00:28:16.66\00:28:24.30
As we go into 2017, I'm
going to take a little license
00:28:24.67\00:28:28.97
and I'm going to say that 2017
is going to be one of the most
00:28:29.30\00:28:34.04
unusual years that you
will have ever experienced.
00:28:34.78\00:28:40.52
We are coming to
the very end of time.
00:28:40.72\00:28:44.22
I believe with all my
heart that Jesus is coming soon.
00:28:44.45\00:28:49.46
He is asking for all of us
to focus our attention upon Him.
00:28:49.99\00:28:56.20
"Desire of Ages"
tells us in page 382,
00:28:57.27\00:29:02.30
"Those who fail to realize their
constant dependence upon God
00:29:02.67\00:29:06.64
will be overcome by temptation.
00:29:06.68\00:29:09.24
We may now suppose
that our feet stand secure
00:29:09.28\00:29:12.15
and that we
shall never be moved.
00:29:12.18\00:29:13.78
We may say with confidence,
'I know in whom I have believed.
00:29:13.82\00:29:16.72
Nothing can shake my
faith in God and in His Word.'
00:29:16.75\00:29:19.52
But Satan is planning to
take advantage of our hereditary
00:29:19.55\00:29:25.49
and cultivated
traits of character,
00:29:25.53\00:29:27.63
and to blind our eyes to our
own necessities and defects."
00:29:27.66\00:29:33.10
And he'll try and do
that even right here at GYC.
00:29:33.64\00:29:37.21
Even in this
wonderful environment.
00:29:38.04\00:29:40.61
"Only through
realizing our own weakness
00:29:41.14\00:29:44.68
and looking steadfastly unto
Jesus can we walk securely."
00:29:44.71\00:29:50.45
My appeal to you in 2017 is
to walk securely with Jesus.
00:29:51.15\00:29:58.99
Jesus is in the boat.
00:29:59.53\00:30:02.50
And Jesus will
see the boat through.
00:30:02.76\00:30:06.94
Through the Holy Spirit He
is present with His church.
00:30:07.24\00:30:10.24
And soon, by His grace, He will
be coming to take us all home.
00:30:10.27\00:30:16.61
I want to do something
just before I walk off.
00:30:17.78\00:30:21.75
I want to do
something a little different
00:30:22.35\00:30:23.89
than I've ever done before.
00:30:23.92\00:30:26.32
Most of you will recognize this.
00:30:26.89\00:30:28.86
Because I want people to
know who you are as a wonderful
00:30:28.89\00:30:34.90
group of young people.
00:30:34.93\00:30:36.90
I want to take a group selfie.
00:30:37.23\00:30:40.24
Is that okay?
00:30:40.94\00:30:42.27
I want to take this and I want
to put it on my Facebook page,
00:30:43.54\00:30:49.31
because I want people
to see young people who are
00:30:50.41\00:30:53.78
totally involved
with God's church.
00:30:53.82\00:30:56.58
And if you are
involved with God's church,
00:30:57.29\00:30:59.45
raise your hand and
let's get a good picture here.
00:30:59.49\00:31:02.39
God bless you all.
00:31:07.00\00:31:08.36
We believe in GYC, we love you.
00:31:08.40\00:31:11.37
Stay with the ship.
00:31:11.70\00:31:13.77
The ship is going through.
00:31:13.87\00:31:16.10
One pair of hands
formed the mountains,
00:31:40.53\00:31:46.67
one pair of
hands formed the sea,
00:31:48.37\00:31:53.64
one pair of hands
made the sun and the moon,
00:31:55.51\00:32:01.15
every bird, every
flower, every tree.
00:32:01.45\00:32:09.29
One pair of hands
formed the valleys,
00:32:09.72\00:32:15.93
the oceans, the
rivers, and the sand.
00:32:15.96\00:32:23.87
Those hands are so
strong, so when life goes wrong
00:32:23.91\00:32:31.41
put your faith
into one pair of hands.
00:32:31.45\00:32:39.25
One pair of
hands healed the sick,
00:32:40.36\00:32:44.56
one pair of
hands raised the dead,
00:32:47.76\00:32:53.23
one pair of hands
calmed the ragging storm,
00:32:55.10\00:33:01.14
and thousands
of people were fed.
00:33:01.68\00:33:09.88
One pair of hands
said, "I love you;"
00:33:10.15\00:33:16.19
and those hands
were nailed to a tree.
00:33:16.22\00:33:24.07
Oh, those hands are so
strong, so when life goes wrong
00:33:24.10\00:33:33.44
put your faith
into one pair of hands.
00:33:33.48\00:33:41.18
Those hands are so
strong, so when life goes wrong
00:33:41.38\00:33:51.03
put your faith
into one pair of hands.
00:33:51.86\00:34:01.84
Amen, amen.
00:34:13.48\00:34:15.75
Would you have a word of
prayer with me one more time.
00:34:23.73\00:34:26.80
Let's pray.
00:34:27.16\00:34:28.50
Dear heavenly
Father, we are Your children.
00:34:29.83\00:34:34.47
You know me,
Father, and I need You.
00:34:35.80\00:34:39.81
I ask that You will fill
this place with Your presence.
00:34:40.58\00:34:43.51
And that at the end
of this time together
00:34:44.11\00:34:47.62
we will never be the same again,
because we have met Christ.
00:34:48.12\00:34:52.69
Please be with us,
Father, is our prayer.
00:34:53.15\00:34:55.66
Amen.
00:34:55.76\00:34:57.09
I want to alert you
that I am going to make
00:34:58.76\00:35:01.80
an appeal for baptism at
the end of my address to you.
00:35:01.83\00:35:08.80
The reason why I tell
you beforehand is because
00:35:09.40\00:35:12.07
I want you to make
an intelligent decision.
00:35:12.11\00:35:15.08
I know some of you have
been in the valley of decision,
00:35:15.71\00:35:18.81
and I am going to
give you an opportunity
00:35:19.21\00:35:21.52
at the end of my address to make
a commitment to Jesus today.
00:35:21.55\00:35:27.76
You know, GYC has one vision.
00:35:29.42\00:35:33.56
In the book,
Education, page 262, it says
00:35:35.63\00:35:41.50
this one thing we
do, "Success in any line
00:35:41.54\00:35:45.77
demands a definite aim.
00:35:45.81\00:35:47.74
He who would
achieve true success in life
00:35:48.31\00:35:51.11
must keep steadily in view
the aim worthy of his endeavor.
00:35:51.15\00:35:56.28
Such an aim is set
before the youth of today.
00:35:56.48\00:35:59.25
The heaven-appointed
purpose of giving the gospel
00:35:59.29\00:36:03.56
to the world in this generation
is the noblest that can appeal
00:36:03.76\00:36:08.93
to any human being.
00:36:08.96\00:36:11.87
It opens a field of
effort to everyone whose heart
00:36:12.53\00:36:15.80
Christ has touched."
00:36:15.84\00:36:18.51
I'm going to give you a
rundown of what God has done
00:36:20.01\00:36:24.25
through GYC, a brief one.
00:36:24.28\00:36:26.28
Through God's grace,
mercy, and help, this year alone
00:36:27.02\00:36:31.75
GYC has sent a couple of
missionaries to the Middle East.
00:36:31.79\00:36:36.42
We are present in six different
continents, except Antarctica.
00:36:37.46\00:36:42.50
We have eighteen different
affiliates who have planned
00:36:43.20\00:36:48.74
more than twenty major
events this year alone.
00:36:48.77\00:36:52.74
Countless GYCers were sent to
preach full evangelistic series
00:36:53.48\00:36:58.08
all over the
world, including Rwanda,
00:36:58.11\00:37:01.45
to support our beloved church.
00:37:01.48\00:37:04.19
We have more
than 500 volunteers;
00:37:04.95\00:37:07.42
more than 100 of
them serving here alone
00:37:07.46\00:37:10.73
spending countless hours
waving flags, welcoming you,
00:37:10.99\00:37:16.13
giving you water, all the
way to the person who had to
00:37:16.16\00:37:19.63
sign to get this
convention center.
00:37:19.67\00:37:22.84
All are precious in God's sight.
00:37:23.41\00:37:26.84
GYC has reached the lives
of thousands, including myself.
00:37:27.64\00:37:31.71
And some people who are
here present have been won over
00:37:31.75\00:37:36.08
to the gospel because of our
outreach in Louisville in 2015.
00:37:36.12\00:37:41.12
And they are here
because of what you have done,
00:37:41.46\00:37:44.66
through God's grace.
00:37:44.96\00:37:46.46
GYC attendees have knocked on
more than half a million doors,
00:37:46.93\00:37:52.60
passed more than a
million pieces of literature
00:37:52.63\00:37:57.21
in the last five days.
00:37:57.24\00:37:59.21
But GYC has one mission.
00:38:01.34\00:38:03.48
To finish the work
in this generation.
00:38:04.88\00:38:09.35
And in order to fulfill
this mission, we must be all in
00:38:10.52\00:38:14.46
for Christ.
00:38:14.66\00:38:16.22
You see, the
executive committee is not GYC,
00:38:17.33\00:38:20.16
though they are
excellent people.
00:38:20.20\00:38:22.03
The Board of GYC is not GYC,
though they're excellent people.
00:38:22.60\00:38:26.87
Moise is not GYC.
00:38:27.04\00:38:29.37
GYC is you.
00:38:29.40\00:38:31.37
You are GYC.
00:38:32.04\00:38:34.64
And this is your movement.
00:38:34.68\00:38:36.85
And this is your time to finish
the work in your generation.
00:38:36.88\00:38:41.65
But we have a lot of work to do.
00:38:42.82\00:38:44.89
And the work lays
closest through us.
00:38:46.25\00:38:48.82
There's a story of a
young boy in the 1800's
00:38:49.72\00:38:52.89
by the name of William.
00:38:52.93\00:38:54.86
And when William was really
young his father told him,
00:38:55.60\00:38:58.50
"William, I'm so
sorry, but I have no money
00:38:58.53\00:39:02.20
to take care of you."
00:39:02.40\00:39:03.91
William now was a homeless
boy at the age of sixteen.
00:39:04.24\00:39:07.94
And he decided to
go to New York City
00:39:07.98\00:39:10.91
to make a life for himself.
00:39:11.81\00:39:13.82
There, he went on a canal boat,
and he would have an encounter
00:39:14.35\00:39:18.75
that would
change his life forever.
00:39:18.79\00:39:21.42
The sea captain, with a deep
voice probably, told William,
00:39:22.19\00:39:26.33
he said, "William, young
boy, what are you doing here?
00:39:26.66\00:39:32.10
And where are you going?"
00:39:32.53\00:39:36.27
William told him his story.
00:39:39.37\00:39:41.11
And the only thing that William
could say that he had done
00:39:41.14\00:39:46.58
that was useful was make soap.
00:39:46.61\00:39:48.48
The captain
looked at him and said,
00:39:50.75\00:39:52.29
"I will give you one advice.
00:39:52.32\00:39:54.06
One day there will be the best
soap maker in New York City.
00:39:54.59\00:39:58.73
It might be you,
it might not be you.
00:39:58.76\00:40:01.53
But whatever you
do, whatever you make,
00:40:01.76\00:40:04.93
dedicate it to the Lord."
00:40:04.97\00:40:06.97
William eventually,
at the end of his life,
00:40:07.50\00:40:10.27
was giving all of
his money to mission work
00:40:10.31\00:40:13.98
all over the world.
00:40:14.01\00:40:15.81
Today we know him
as William Colgate.
00:40:15.84\00:40:18.41
And some of you probably
use his product in the morning.
00:40:18.45\00:40:21.58
But beyond that product, William
Colgate gave all of his money
00:40:23.12\00:40:27.82
at the end of his
life for missions.
00:40:28.49\00:40:31.93
But business people
are not the only people
00:40:32.66\00:40:34.83
that need to be
asked that question.
00:40:34.86\00:40:37.20
Where are you going?
00:40:37.23\00:40:39.23
What are you doing here?
00:40:39.27\00:40:41.07
But prophets as
well need that question.
00:40:41.27\00:40:45.47
Turn your Bibles
with me to 1 Kings 19:13.
00:40:46.24\00:40:51.18
1 Kings 19:13
00:40:52.85\00:40:59.32
1 Kings 19:13
00:41:04.79\00:41:07.73
And in there it reads, "So
it was, when Elijah heard it,
00:41:08.20\00:41:15.30
that he wrapped his face
in his mantle and went out
00:41:15.50\00:41:19.97
and stood in the
entrance of the cave.
00:41:20.01\00:41:22.74
Suddenly a voice
came to him, and said,
00:41:23.61\00:41:27.52
'What are you doing...'"
00:41:27.55\00:41:29.85
Oh GYC, are you following me?
00:41:32.09\00:41:34.36
I know the day has been long,
00:41:35.42\00:41:36.79
but you've got
to connect with me.
00:41:36.83\00:41:38.49
He said, Jesus said,
"What are you doing..." What?
00:41:38.69\00:41:42.73
"...here, Elijah?"
00:41:43.16\00:41:45.83
And I want to ask the
same question to you, GYC.
00:41:47.50\00:41:50.67
What are you doing here?
00:41:50.71\00:41:53.88
Where are you going?
00:41:54.58\00:41:57.21
I hope we are not
here to be entertained.
00:42:01.58\00:42:04.65
We're not here to
dance with the devil,
00:42:05.95\00:42:07.82
but we are here
to walk with God.
00:42:07.86\00:42:09.82
To be men and women of God.
00:42:09.86\00:42:12.29
We are here to press together.
00:42:12.33\00:42:14.63
"Not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together,
00:42:14.66\00:42:17.57
as the manner of some is,
but exhorting one another;
00:42:17.60\00:42:21.50
so much more as we
see the Day approaching."
00:42:21.54\00:42:25.67
For we have a work to do.
00:42:26.74\00:42:30.11
We must press together
like never before, friend.
00:42:31.08\00:42:34.12
For we, today, face
tremendous challenges,
00:42:34.55\00:42:37.49
especially as young
people, young professionals.
00:42:37.52\00:42:42.26
We are fighting ever the
rising tide of secularism
00:42:43.26\00:42:47.30
and spiritual decay
characterized by our
00:42:47.33\00:42:50.43
generation's
religious disengagement.
00:42:50.47\00:42:54.80
We are facing the
storms of division, even among
00:42:55.70\00:42:59.91
our ranks in God's family.
00:43:00.01\00:43:02.54
We have become
polarized as a people,
00:43:03.14\00:43:05.78
to the point that we
are spiritually naked
00:43:05.81\00:43:08.88
and we don't know it.
00:43:09.42\00:43:10.85
We are blind,
and we don't know it.
00:43:11.05\00:43:13.05
We lack power,
and we don't seek it.
00:43:13.09\00:43:15.52
We are drowning in
the ocean of lukewarmness,
00:43:15.56\00:43:18.66
and some don't even care.
00:43:18.69\00:43:20.60
GYC, what are we doing here?
00:43:22.73\00:43:28.30
For if we know more how to
argue than to pray like Christ,
00:43:29.70\00:43:33.17
we are in trouble.
00:43:33.88\00:43:35.28
If we are spending more time
being consumed by the cares of
00:43:35.61\00:43:38.81
the world than
understanding the heart of God,
00:43:38.85\00:43:42.75
there is a problem.
00:43:43.22\00:43:44.65
If we, as young
people, are pursuing a career
00:43:45.02\00:43:48.09
more than a
calling, we are in trouble.
00:43:48.12\00:43:52.09
If we, as young people,
know more about the issues that
00:43:52.36\00:43:55.96
divide us more than
the righteousness of Christ
00:43:56.00\00:43:59.03
portrayed in the
three angels' messages
00:43:59.07\00:44:01.50
whose proclamation
unites us as a people of God,
00:44:01.54\00:44:04.94
we are in trouble.
00:44:05.57\00:44:08.11
For we are suffocating
ourselves spiritually.
00:44:08.98\00:44:12.31
And there is ever that constant
danger of the undercurrent
00:44:14.08\00:44:17.05
of selfishness that
sways even the best of us.
00:44:17.09\00:44:21.72
And through the obese of
self, of eternal distraction
00:44:21.96\00:44:25.76
and impending
destruction, we are in trouble.
00:44:25.79\00:44:30.80
But I pray.
00:44:31.63\00:44:32.97
Oh, I pray.
00:44:33.54\00:44:35.14
And I have a dream.
00:44:35.34\00:44:36.87
And I long that we have gathered
here together to face the storms
00:44:36.91\00:44:41.51
in Christ's name.
00:44:41.54\00:44:42.88
That is why we are here.
00:44:43.71\00:44:45.38
We are here because we
have gathered from all over
00:44:45.41\00:44:48.42
the states, all over the world,
those of you watching on online,
00:44:48.45\00:44:53.82
we have gathered here because
we seek to meet Jesus Christ.
00:44:53.86\00:44:58.23
A young boy and his
family were traveling on a boat.
00:45:04.13\00:45:10.14
I praise the Lord, Elder
Wilson talked about a boat.
00:45:11.17\00:45:13.51
I'm glad.
00:45:13.54\00:45:14.88
A young boy was
traveling on a boat.
00:45:16.64\00:45:18.55
Unfortunately a
mighty storm came
00:45:18.58\00:45:21.12
and the boat was
not able to be stabled.
00:45:21.38\00:45:23.69
And it lost its
balance and capsized at sea.
00:45:23.79\00:45:27.59
The next day the search party
came, and all they could find
00:45:28.56\00:45:33.50
was a little boy.
00:45:33.60\00:45:35.90
They asked the little boy,
they said, "Boy, are you okay?"
00:45:39.60\00:45:43.54
The little boy
looked at them and he said,
00:45:44.34\00:45:46.31
"Yes, sir. The
rock never moved."
00:45:46.34\00:45:50.31
And I tell you, friends,
the Word of God has never moved.
00:45:50.78\00:45:55.02
And as we face these
storms together, we shall stand
00:45:55.05\00:45:59.25
on the mighty rock of God.
00:45:59.29\00:46:01.49
That is why we are here.
00:46:02.26\00:46:04.13
Every year we come together
looking for something profound,
00:46:04.89\00:46:09.46
something radical,
something significant,
00:46:09.96\00:46:12.70
a purpose, a
vision, a challenge.
00:46:12.73\00:46:16.00
We come to be
motivated and energized.
00:46:16.57\00:46:20.41
We come because we want
to be the changes our homes,
00:46:20.44\00:46:24.35
our schools, our churches,
our countries desperately need.
00:46:24.38\00:46:29.02
We come to be filled
more so that we can give more.
00:46:29.05\00:46:32.65
We come because we are GYC.
00:46:32.69\00:46:36.06
We are here to bury our
idols of self, worldliness,
00:46:38.79\00:46:46.47
divisiveness, and pride;
00:46:46.50\00:46:49.60
and by God's grace raise
an altar of loving sacrifice,
00:46:50.44\00:46:54.08
of humility, of surrender,
of total devotion to our God
00:46:54.98\00:47:00.98
for a remembrance
throughout eternity
00:47:01.02\00:47:04.32
and to raise it up here.
00:47:05.59\00:47:08.59
We are here to be with
Christ, to lift our mortal face
00:47:09.42\00:47:14.50
and look into the
face of the Eternal
00:47:14.83\00:47:17.60
who gave
everything for you and me,
00:47:17.83\00:47:20.67
who was pierced on a tree,
falsely accused, persecuted,
00:47:21.27\00:47:25.47
rejected, and alone.
00:47:25.51\00:47:27.51
But it was worth
it all for you and me.
00:47:28.54\00:47:32.65
We're simply here to
seek to be His disciples
00:47:33.82\00:47:36.92
in mind, and in heart,
in action, to understand,
00:47:37.79\00:47:42.56
surrender, and be consumed
by the greatest subject of all
00:47:42.59\00:47:46.63
that is found in all of
Scripture and summarized
00:47:46.66\00:47:49.70
in three simple words:
Christ our righteousness.
00:47:49.73\00:47:54.14
It is our only hope.
00:47:54.84\00:47:56.81
And we have
gathered here because
00:47:56.84\00:47:58.91
we thirst after righteousness
and the promises given
00:47:58.94\00:48:03.45
by a covenant God.
00:48:03.48\00:48:07.05
Go with me to Matthew 5:6.
00:48:08.35\00:48:13.36
We are here because we hunger.
00:48:14.12\00:48:16.26
We are here because we thirst.
00:48:16.46\00:48:18.89
We are here
because we need more.
00:48:19.09\00:48:22.40
We are here because
we, we, in Matthew 5:6...
00:48:22.43\00:48:27.94
You can read it with me if
you have the King James version.
00:48:28.10\00:48:31.17
"Blessed are they
which do hunger and thirst
00:48:31.21\00:48:34.64
after righteousness:
for they shall be..." What?
00:48:34.68\00:48:38.05
"...filled."
00:48:38.81\00:48:40.28
Take it to the bank, my friend.
00:48:40.95\00:48:42.68
And I long that this
promise will be fulfilled here.
00:48:45.95\00:48:52.13
That young people
will be in their Bibles,
00:48:53.96\00:48:56.46
open up their hearts to
God, where they will engage
00:48:56.50\00:49:00.20
in relentless
evangelism and prayer,
00:49:00.24\00:49:02.87
where they will be
active in their communities,
00:49:02.90\00:49:05.27
winning souls, visiting
the orphans and the widows,
00:49:05.31\00:49:12.28
the poor and the
mighty men of the world,
00:49:12.48\00:49:15.52
and reaching those who are
in most need of the gospel,
00:49:15.55\00:49:19.15
and be active in
their beloved church.
00:49:20.62\00:49:24.16
This is God's church, friend.
00:49:25.79\00:49:27.70
And this is the
apple of His eye.
00:49:28.83\00:49:31.40
I long that this
will be the generation
00:49:33.54\00:49:36.47
that will finish the
work in our generation.
00:49:36.91\00:49:40.98
You know, I want to
share with you my heart.
00:49:42.34\00:49:45.38
I grew up in a
beautiful Adventist home.
00:49:46.51\00:49:49.35
I was a missionary kid.
00:49:49.72\00:49:51.29
I'm glad I have no
worldly attainments.
00:49:51.69\00:49:54.46
Only Jesus, that
is all that I have.
00:49:54.69\00:49:57.79
But my freshman year
of college I started to
00:49:59.49\00:50:01.80
struggle with my faith.
00:50:01.83\00:50:03.47
Not because my
parents had done something,
00:50:04.27\00:50:06.03
but some of you might understand
what I was going through.
00:50:06.07\00:50:09.34
I was asking questions, and I
came to a point where I started
00:50:10.14\00:50:13.48
to question my
identity and my faith.
00:50:13.51\00:50:17.78
I realized that my faith
could not depend any more upon
00:50:23.69\00:50:29.89
my parents or my friends.
00:50:29.92\00:50:32.29
I had to either
choose the world or the Word.
00:50:33.76\00:50:38.27
And I, by God's grace,
said, "Lord, I am going to
00:50:42.20\00:50:47.14
give You a chance."
00:50:47.18\00:50:48.54
I thought I knew God,
but I didn't know God.
00:50:49.44\00:50:52.78
I told God that I
would read His Word;
00:50:53.35\00:50:55.88
not only just to
read, but to obey the Word.
00:50:55.92\00:50:58.35
There's a big
difference, friends.
00:50:58.39\00:51:00.09
So I started to read.
00:51:01.76\00:51:03.16
And the first verse in
the Word of God says what?
00:51:03.19\00:51:07.06
"In the beginning..." What?
00:51:07.10\00:51:08.73
"...God created..."
00:51:09.43\00:51:12.43
I hope you
understand those words.
00:51:16.57\00:51:18.67
"In the
beginning God created..."
00:51:19.71\00:51:22.61
And I said, "Lord, if I
put You first in my life,
00:51:23.48\00:51:27.42
You could recreate in
me a new heart, a new mind,
00:51:28.08\00:51:32.29
a new purpose, a new life."
00:51:32.59\00:51:35.22
I started to read the
Bible through and through,
00:51:36.62\00:51:40.70
to the point that some
pages were about to fall off.
00:51:42.03\00:51:45.77
You could ask my wife
someday about my Bible.
00:51:46.33\00:51:48.90
But I don't say that to boast,
but I say that to say to you
00:51:51.04\00:51:54.24
how precious those
words are in the Word.
00:51:54.28\00:51:58.45
I started to pour myself into
reading the spirit of prophecy
00:51:59.15\00:52:02.68
like nothing else.
00:52:02.72\00:52:04.25
I know there's a lot of
people that have questions
00:52:04.99\00:52:06.92
about the spirit of prophecy,
but friend, look at this:
00:52:06.96\00:52:09.62
You need all the
light you need to finish
00:52:10.49\00:52:13.76
this journey in victory.
00:52:13.80\00:52:16.23
God spoke. The Bible is clear.
00:52:17.53\00:52:21.14
Don't be afraid to
read the spirit of prophecy.
00:52:21.87\00:52:25.17
For even she herself, she
said if we understood our Bibles
00:52:25.47\00:52:29.48
as we should, we would
have no need for her writings.
00:52:29.51\00:52:32.88
But friend, it is a blessing.
00:52:33.25\00:52:35.58
And I poured my life
into reading her writings.
00:52:35.62\00:52:39.19
And I can tell you
that I love the Word
00:52:39.22\00:52:42.02
even more than ever before.
00:52:42.06\00:52:44.16
For we are a
spectacle before men and angels.
00:52:46.73\00:52:49.83
At the cross is
where we must be found.
00:52:50.17\00:52:52.77
We are now called and chosen,
and ought to be faithful.
00:52:52.80\00:52:56.84
For when all has been
heard, may the Word have seen
00:52:56.87\00:53:01.14
a reflection of the
true character of God,
00:53:01.18\00:53:04.48
a spirit-filled life, through
you and I in this generation.
00:53:04.51\00:53:10.82
For truly
judgment has come, friends.
00:53:11.69\00:53:14.02
"For God will bring
every work into judgment,
00:53:15.06\00:53:17.83
including every secret
thing, whether good or evil."
00:53:18.16\00:53:22.46
Therefore, my friends,
seek Him while He may be found.
00:53:23.13\00:53:26.60
You know, I feel your pain.
00:53:29.57\00:53:31.31
I know some of you
don't want to be here.
00:53:31.94\00:53:34.08
I know some of you are
here because of your parents.
00:53:35.41\00:53:38.25
I know some of you probably
are questioning your faith,
00:53:40.55\00:53:43.55
and maybe some of you have
even plans to leave the church
00:53:43.59\00:53:46.45
after GYC.
00:53:46.69\00:53:48.32
But I tell you,
friend, we are great sinners,
00:53:49.89\00:53:54.63
but God is a great Savior.
00:53:55.06\00:53:57.63
Do not resist the wooing of
the Holy Spirit in your heart,
00:53:59.97\00:54:03.94
but be wooed by God.
00:54:05.17\00:54:07.14
For God is truly coming.
00:54:08.51\00:54:10.35
And God loves
you to the uttermost.
00:54:13.11\00:54:15.68
GYC, I ask you
the question again:
00:54:16.42\00:54:19.65
What are you doing here?
00:54:21.12\00:54:24.33
And where are you going?
00:54:24.79\00:54:27.50