Participants: Randy Skeete
Series Code: 16GYC
Program Code: 16GYC000006A
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00:33 Song 184, Jesus Paid It All.
02:29 God is amazing, isn't He? Amen? 02:33 He paid it all for us, He gave it all. 02:36 And He risked everything, all for us. 02:39 He covers us with His righteousness 02:43 so that we can come boldly before the throne of grace. 02:46 Please stand with us as we sing our opening song 02:49 and our theme song, Before The Throne. 05:04 Good morning. 05:07 You can have a seat. 05:11 How many of you brought your Bible's today? 05:15 Amen? 05:16 Are you ready for the message today? 05:20 Amen? 05:21 Okay, we're going to open our Bibles and we'll go to 05:25 Psalm chapter 100. 05:29 And when you have it, please stand up again. 05:35 Psalm 100 05:44 And the Bible says, "Make a joyful noise 05:49 unto the LORD, all ye lands. 05:53 Serve the LORD with gladness: 05:55 come before his presence with singing. 05:58 Know ye that the LORD he is God: 06:01 it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; 06:07 we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 06:11 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, 06:14 and into his courts with praise: 06:17 be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 06:20 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; 06:24 and his truth endureth to all generations." 06:29 Amen. 06:30 Let us bow our heads and we're going to pray. 06:33 Our Father in heaven, I still wonder why the mighty God, 06:40 the King of kings, the One who rules the worlds, galaxies, 06:47 is willing to spend time with us sinners. 06:51 Lord, we ask in a special way that You will touch our hearts, 06:55 You will show our needs. 06:59 But also, Lord, that You will supply our needs. 07:02 We are nothing without You. 07:05 This convention center is big, 07:08 but Lord, it's not enough for You. 07:11 My Father, this is just showing me Your love 07:17 that is carrying us so far. 07:20 So I plead in a special way for the messenger 07:22 that You have for us today. 07:26 But I also pray for the message. 07:28 Please speak to us this morning. 07:31 Break our hearts, but change us. 07:36 We ask this, not because we deserve anything, Lord, 07:40 but because Jesus died on the cross. 07:42 And we can claim His blood for ourselves. 07:47 Please bless us today. 07:48 In Jesus' name we ask, amen. 08:03 Storms may rise on seas unknown 08:10 while we journey towards our home; 08:15 Surely we'll learn what grace is for 08:22 as we sail to heaven's shore. 08:33 Send us strength, oh Pilgrim Guide; 08:38 sin would drown us in its tide. 08:44 Be close at hand and go before 08:50 as we sail to heaven's shore. 08:56 Holy Spirit, lead us on; 09:02 Give us courage, bring the song. 09:10 Lord, we trust Your Father's care 09:16 will convey us safely there. 09:22 Open or seal off every door 09:28 as we sail to heaven's shore. 09:35 Straighten our course with every prayer, 09:40 let heaven's breezes speed us there. 09:46 And grant us mercy evermore 09:53 as we sail to heaven's shore. 10:11 Draw us near, oh finest Friend, 10:17 from dawn's light to evening's end. 10:22 Each passing day we love You more 10:28 as we sail to heaven's shore. 10:35 Straighten our course with every prayer, 10:40 let heaven's breezes speed us there. 10:45 And grant us mercy evermore 10:53 as we sail to heaven's shore. 11:38 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, 11:41 from whence cometh my help. 11:43 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 11:47 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: 11:50 he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 11:54 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 11:59 The LORD is thy keeper: 12:01 the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 12:04 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 12:10 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: 12:13 he shall preserve thy soul. 12:16 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in 12:20 from this time forth, and even for evermore." 12:25 - God is good ~ all the time. 12:27 - And all the time ~ God is good. 12:29 - Say it again. God is good ~ all the time. 12:32 - And all the time ~ God is good. 12:34 Yes, Psalm 100:5, "For the LORD is good." 12:41 When God blesses, He is good. 12:44 When God punishes, He is good. 12:48 When God answers your prayer, He is good. 12:52 When God does not answer your prayer... 12:55 Finish it for me. 12:57 ~ He is good. - He is good. 12:58 And so I say again... 12:59 - God is good ~ all the time. 13:01 - And all the time ~ God is good. 13:03 Without exception. 13:07 What conclusion may we draw? 13:10 It is impossible for God to do anything mean. 13:17 Mm-hmm. 13:19 So those of us who've had a beef with God, 13:23 we need to apologize to God. 13:26 Let God be truth... Finish it for me. 13:28 ...and every man a liar. 13:30 God is good. 13:34 - Good morning, everyone. ~ Good morning. 13:37 You look nice this morning. 13:39 Did you sleep well? 13:42 In the book, Our High Calling, page 116 paragraph 2, 13:47 Ellen White writes, listen carefully, 13:50 "Your last thought at night, 13:54 your first thought in the morning, 13:57 should be of Him in whom is centered 14:00 your hope of eternal life." 14:03 The servant of the Lord counsels us, fall asleep 14:07 with Jesus on your mind. 14:09 Wake up with Jesus on your mind. 14:13 I'm happy to see you. 14:15 I need your permission to rebuke you. 14:22 All those in favor say, "Aye." 14:23 ~ Aye. 14:25 And those opposed, stay quiet. 14:29 I'm quite serious. 14:31 Let me tell you what I have observed. 14:37 And I realize people are coming in, so my initial remarks 14:41 do not apply to them. 14:43 There is a lack of discipline. 14:51 I was listening to the speaker last night, 14:55 and Wednesday night, 14:57 and there was a constant procession of people 15:01 getting up, walking out, getting up, walking out, 15:06 getting up. 15:08 And I said, "Lord, do all these people 15:11 have medical emergencies?" 15:17 I told you yesterday morning, imagine you're in the presence 15:21 of an earthly judge. 15:23 What is it you cannot do? 15:24 And as you made a list of what you cannot do, 15:27 I told you apply that even more intensely to God. 15:32 Listen to Malachi chapter 1. Don't go, just listen. 15:35 Or you may go if you like. 15:37 "The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi." 15:41 Chapter 1 from verse 1. 15:43 "'I have loved you,' saith the LORD. 15:45 Yet ye say, 'Wherein hast thou loved us?' 15:49 'Was not Esau Jacob's brother?' saith the LORD: 15:53 'Yet I loved Jacob...'" 15:54 Verse 3, "'...and I hated Esau, and laid his mountains 15:58 and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.' 16:02 Whereas Edom saith, '...we will return 16:06 and build the desolate places.' 16:08 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, 'They shall build, 16:11 but I will throw down; 16:14 and they shall be called, The border of wickedness, 16:17 and, The people against whom the LORD 16:19 hath indignation for ever.'" 16:21 God is saying, "When I'm through with you, 16:23 people will regard you as those with whom 16:25 I have been angry all the time." 16:28 He's referring to His people. 16:30 Verse 5, "And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, 16:35 'The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.'" 16:39 Now listen to verse 6. 16:40 Listen carefully. 16:42 I'm pleading for reverence for God. 16:44 "A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master." 16:52 Now I told you yesterday, think of how you'd behave 16:55 in front of a judge and think of how you behave in front of God. 16:58 That approach is biblical. 17:00 God is saying, "If a son honoureth his father, 17:04 and the servant," Malachi 1:6, "'his master: 17:08 if then I be a father, where is mine honour? 17:14 and if I be a master, where is my fear?' saith the LORD of 17:18 hosts unto you, 'O priests, that despise my name. 17:22 But ye say, 'Wherein have we despised thy name?'" 17:25 God says, "You disrespect Me." 17:27 The people said, "How?" 17:32 By getting up and walking back and forth during the 17:35 preaching of the Word of God. 17:36 By getting up and walking back and forth 17:39 in the presence of a holy God. 17:42 "Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; 17:45 and ye say, 'Wherein have we polluted thee?' 17:47 In that ye say, 'The table of the LORD is contemptible.'" 17:50 Verse 8, listen to God. Listen carefully. 17:53 "And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil?" 18:00 A sacrifice was suppose to be without blemish. 18:02 They brought blind animals, lame animals, sick animals. 18:06 And God said, "And if ye offer the blind 18:08 for sacrifice, is it not evil? 18:11 And if ye offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil?" 18:15 "Why are you bringing these animals to Me?" 18:17 Now listen to what He says. 18:18 "'Offer it now unto thy governor; 18:23 will he be pleased with thee, or regard thy person?' 18:26 saith the LORD of hosts." 18:27 God is saying, "If your governor, your mayor, 18:31 your counsel person, will not accept your behavior, 18:34 why are you bringing it to Me?" 18:38 Listen to me carefully. 18:40 Please don't regret that I was asked to speak. 18:45 Respect... This is a church. 18:49 I heard two and a half amens. Any more? 18:51 ~ Amen. 18:53 This is a church. Why? 18:55 Because of the purpose that brings us here. 18:58 God is present. 18:59 Remove thy shoes from off thy feet; 19:01 for the place where on thy stand, this is holy ground. 19:04 We are in a church. 19:14 I remember... 19:15 You know, I wonder what's happening to us. 19:18 And I'll take all my time. Don't panic. 19:21 I remember when you saw a ponytail, 19:23 you knew that was a woman. 19:27 Are you with me? 19:29 Now you see a ponytail, you've got to walk around 19:32 and look the person in the face... 19:36 ...to determine, is this a man or a woman. 19:41 You know, ladies put a bun right up here, a bun. 19:45 Hot cross bun. 19:47 Now men do that. 19:51 Remember, you know, ladies put something across 19:54 here to keep the hair in place. 19:55 You know, that thing that comes here? 19:56 You know what I'm talking about? 19:58 It has little teeth to stay in place. 20:01 Men do that. 20:04 Those of you who are West Indian and African Americans, 20:07 remember years ago ladies would braid their hair 20:10 just to keep it in place until they had time to really fix it. 20:14 Are you with me? 20:16 Now men braid their hair and come to church. 20:22 As far as I can see, the Bible tells ladies, 20:24 cover your hair in church. 20:26 The ladies don't; the men say, "Okay, we'll cover ours." 20:30 So men come into church with caps and hats. 20:33 By the way, if you're a man, take your hat off. 20:42 I am pleading for God. 20:45 It's safe if a preacher does it, because if God starts to 20:49 defend Himself directly, people die. 20:54 Do you love me a little bit? 21:00 But you're listening to a frustrated man. 21:03 You know, I travel a lot, by God's grace, and I'm often in 21:06 Islamic countries; Malaysia, Indonesia. 21:08 Kenya has a large Islamic population. 21:10 Tanzania, India, Bangladesh. 21:12 Not particularly India, but Bangladesh. 21:13 And I go by Mosques. 21:15 And when they're worshiping, no one walks up and down. 21:19 Each man is focused on Allah. 21:24 You walk by a Jehovah Witness church: 21:26 everyone in the building, no one in the parking lot chatting. 21:29 Everyone in the building discussing the doctrines; 21:32 whatever you may think of the doctrines. 21:36 You come to an Adventist gathering, 21:38 and it's like a farmers market. 21:43 I look for avocados, then I look plums, look for pears. 21:46 I get up; like everyone has a medical emergency 21:48 or needs to go to Dairy Queen. 21:49 We've got to get up and walk. 21:54 Stay where you are, please, for the next 30 minutes. 22:01 The Holy Spirit is very sensitive. 22:04 You know what Jesus said? 22:06 "Whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man, 22:09 it shall be forgiven him." 22:11 Are you with me? 22:12 Matthew 12 22:14 "But whosoever speaketh a word against the Holy Ghost, 22:18 it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, 22:21 neither in the world to come." 22:22 That leads me to conclude of the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost, 22:27 the most sensitive, the most thin skinned member 22:32 of the Godhead is the Holy Ghost. 22:35 So when you're disrespectful to God, and the Holy Ghost 22:38 backs up, I suffer. 22:43 Remember Aiken? 22:46 He stole a Babylonian's garment. 22:48 What happened to the Israelite army? 22:49 They lost a battle. 22:50 The nation suffered because one man was disrespectful. 22:54 Let me say it again. 22:55 When there's disrespect for God, and the Holy Ghost backs up, 22:59 I suffer. 23:04 Now this may sound harsh, let me say it. 23:07 Who has to get up and walk out for any reason, 23:09 do it now. 23:20 Okay. 23:23 Let's pray. Oh no, not pray yet. 23:27 I shall have to bother you a little longer. 23:30 - What's this? ~ iPhone. 23:32 - What's that? ~ Bible. 23:34 This morning as I was walking to this place, 23:36 I was walking with my Bible, and this man came up behind me. 23:41 He actually came into the building. 23:42 I don't know if he left, but. 23:44 And he saw the Bible in my hand. 23:47 So he asked me, he said... 23:48 I don't recall exactly what he said, 23:50 but, "a good book," or something. 23:51 He looked at the Bible and then he asked me 23:54 where am I going, what am I doing. 23:55 I said, "I'm going to a conference." 23:56 He said, "What kind of conference?" 23:58 I said, "A youth conference." 23:59 "What kind of youth conference?" 24:00 "A Bible conference." 24:02 He said, "What's that?" 24:03 I said, "Well, we come together, workshops, seminars." 24:06 He actually came in. 24:08 I'm not sure, is he here? 24:11 Where? 24:13 Ah. Give me your name again. 24:19 What's the name? 24:20 ~ Sam. - Sam. 24:22 Yeah. Sam, God bless you. 24:24 He came in. 24:26 I said, "Look." He said, "I don't have a badge." 24:29 I said, "You don't need a badge. You're with me." 24:32 Are you with me? 24:33 And so I came to the door and I told one of the ladies, 24:35 "He is with me." 24:38 And she did not call the police. She let us through. 24:41 But he saw a Bible. 24:44 Now if Sam had seen a phone, he would not have asked me, 24:47 "What are you doing with a phone?" 24:49 But he saw a Bible. 24:52 Somebody say amen for the Bible. 24:55 ~ Amen. 24:56 Walk with a Bible. 24:58 Let someone see. 24:59 Don't hide behind a phone. 25:01 God knows your heart. 25:02 You're trying to hide that you're a Christian. 25:04 That's what you're doing. 25:08 Okay, you don't like me anymore. I understand. 25:11 Turn this off. 25:12 Turn your Bible on. 25:15 Favor number two, while I'm speaking, pray for me 25:18 and say what? 25:19 Lord, put Your words in that man's mouth. 25:22 Favor number three, what's that? 25:25 Think. Let's pray. 25:26 Father in heaven, if I have been too hard on Your people, 25:28 forgive me, dear God. 25:31 But I did it out of love for them and respect for You. 25:35 Now, Father, grant me a measure of Your Spirit 25:39 that I may deliver this message for Your glory 25:42 and for their blessing, dear God. 25:44 You love these young people gathered before You. 25:46 And so do I. 25:48 I ask in the name of Jesus, bless them, dear God. 25:52 Give them a consciousness of Your presence. 25:55 And if the angels who come into Your presence 25:57 veil their faces, how much more should we come 26:01 with reverence before the God of heaven and earth? 26:04 Put Your words in my mouth. 26:07 Bless our brother Sam, I pray, who came in. 26:09 Speak to his life. 26:11 Provide his needs. 26:12 Bless his family, dear God. 26:14 And let this day mark a turning point in his life. 26:17 Here this humble prayer, dear God. 26:19 I offer it in Jesus' name. 26:21 Let God's people say, amen and amen. 26:25 Stay where you are. Don't move. 26:28 Let's go to Genesis 2, we'll read verse 7. 26:32 Quickly. 26:34 You actually should know this verse without looking. 26:36 Say it with me. 26:37 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, 26:41 breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; 26:43 and man became a living soul." 26:46 Let's look at that verse. 26:47 This time we shall read it microscopically. 26:51 Listen again. 26:52 "And the Lord God..." Stop. 26:54 Who is that? 26:56 Yes, the Lord God. 26:58 Who is that? Don't say God. You're right, but... 27:00 Jesus Christ. 27:04 Now He wasn't called Jesus Christ then, 27:07 but it is the same person who died on Calvary. 27:09 The Lord God, Jesus Christ... 27:13 So that's God. 27:15 That's the person. 27:17 Here comes the action. "...formed man..." 27:22 Here comes the material. 27:23 "...the dust of the ground..." 27:26 Stop. 27:28 In that verse we have two discrete actions. 27:33 Our subject this morning, The Value of Dirt. 27:36 - What did I say? ~ The Value of Dirt. 27:38 What was our subject yesterday? 27:40 ~ Laughing Out Loud. - Laughing Out Loud. 27:41 "The LORD God..." 27:43 What's His name? 27:44 ~ Jesus. 27:46 "...formed man of the dust of the ground..." 27:48 Stop. That's one action. 27:51 What do we have? 27:52 Something lying on the ground beautifully formed, 27:55 but lifeless. 28:00 Second action, "...and breathed into his nostrils 28:04 the breath of life; and man became a living soul." 28:07 What gave vitality, what gave meaning and purpose 28:12 to that thing so beautifully made? 28:15 It was what God breathed into Him. 28:20 What was he made from? 28:22 The dust of the ground. 28:25 Stay in Genesis 2, let's read verse 9. 28:29 The Bible says, "And out of the ground made the LORD God 28:33 to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, 28:35 and good for food; 28:37 the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, 28:39 and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." 28:42 We have the ground again. 28:43 The ground produced Adam, now the ground produces trees. 28:49 Question for you. 28:50 Are trees a life form, yes or no? 28:54 ~ Yes. - Yes, they live. 28:55 Now it's not the same life in a man. 28:58 Trees are a form of life produced by the ground. 29:04 Adam from the ground; 29:06 God breathed the breath of life into him. 29:08 Stay in Genesis 2, let's go to verse 19. 29:11 Our subject, The Value of Dirt. 29:14 Verse 19, the Bible says, "And out of the ground 29:17 LORD God formed every beast of the earth, 29:20 and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam 29:23 to see what he would call them: 29:24 and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, 29:28 that was the name thereof." 29:30 So we have the ground in Genesis 2:7, 29:33 we have the ground in Genesis 2:9, 29:36 we have the ground in Genesis 2:19. 29:41 Man came from the ground, verse 7; 29:44 plants and trees from the ground, verse 9; 29:47 animals from the ground, verse 19. 29:50 What is the difference? 29:56 You say, the breath of life. 29:58 But trees have life. 30:02 Ah. 30:05 Sister, you're right. 30:07 Nice attractive vegetarian. 30:10 Listen to what the Bible says in Genesis 1:26. 30:13 "And God said..." Say it without looking. 30:15 Don't look into your Bible. 30:17 Say this verse. 30:18 Genesis 1:26. What does it say? 30:21 "And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, 30:25 after our likeness.'" 30:27 Stop. 30:29 Man was made from the ground. 30:31 Trees came from the ground. 30:34 Animals came from the dirt. 30:37 But only man was made in the image of God. 30:40 - Can you say amen? ~ Amen. 30:42 What's our subject? 30:45 The Value of Dirt. 30:46 Let's take a closer look at dirt. 30:49 Let's go to Genesis 3. 30:51 We'll read from verse 17. 30:52 Our subject, The Value of Dirt. 30:54 Adam has sinned, Eve has sinned. 30:56 And God has come down to dish out His judgment. 31:01 There's judgment for every action, my friends. 31:04 It may take a long time. 31:06 In the parable of the talents, the Bible says in Matthew 25:19, 31:11 "After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, 31:14 and reckoneth with them." 31:15 "After a long time," meaning, you can run, but you can't hide. 31:21 Genesis 3:17, the Bible says, "And unto Adam he said, 31:26 'Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, 31:29 and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, 31:32 "Thou shalt not eat of it:" 31:34 cursed is the ground for thy sake; 31:36 in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. 31:40 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee; 31:44 and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.'" 31:46 Verse 19, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, 31:50 till thou return unto the ground; 31:54 for out of it wast thou taken." 31:56 Now pick up the verse with me, 31:58 if you have the King James Version. 31:59 "...for..." What? 32:01 "...dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." 32:05 God looks at a man who is alive, and what does God call him 32:09 in his sinful condition? 32:11 Dirt. 32:14 Now why do I say, his sinful condition? 32:17 Because Adam was not redeemed until Genesis 3:21. 32:20 "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God 32:23 make coats of skins;" 32:24 representing the righteousness of Christ. 32:26 In his fallen condition, God looked Adam in the eye 32:30 and said, "You are dirt." 32:34 Not breath. 32:38 Let's go to Genesis 18. 32:40 Our subject, The Value of Dirt. 32:42 Thank you for not getting up and moving around. 32:44 I appreciate it so much. God bless you. 32:47 In every church there are rebellious people whose 32:49 chief talent is to let you know, "I am not doing what you say." 32:54 Christ dealt with that. 32:56 John 6:70, "Have I not chosen you twelve, 32:58 and one of you is a devil?" 33:01 In every gathering there are people who specialize 33:05 in rebellion. 33:06 But thank you for staying where you are. 33:09 Because when you took the SAT, you didn't walk around. 33:13 Am I right? 33:15 When you took the ACT, you didn't move around. 33:18 When you took the LSAT for law school, 33:20 you didn't move around. 33:22 When you took whatever you took, you stayed put. 33:27 - What book did I say? ~ Genesis. 33:29 - What chapter? ~ Eighteen. 33:31 Reading from verse 23. 33:33 Our subject, The Value of Dirt. 33:35 "And Abraham drew near, and said, 33:37 'Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 33:40 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: 33:43 wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place 33:47 for the fifty righteous that are therein? 33:49 That be far from thee to do after this manner, 33:52 to slay the righteous with the wicked: 33:54 and that the righteous should be as the wicked, 33:56 that be far from thee. 33:58 Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?'" 34:01 Verse 26, "And the LORD said, 'If I find in Sodom 34:07 fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare 34:11 all the place for their sakes.'" 34:14 Listen to verse 27. 34:15 "And Abraham answered and said..." 34:18 Read it with me now. 34:20 "Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord..." 34:24 Keep reading. 34:25 "...which am but dust and ashes." 34:27 Abraham said, "How can someone who is just dirt 34:33 speak to God that way?" 34:37 Dirt. 34:39 There's a point behind this. 34:40 Stay with me. 34:42 Go to Psalm 103. 34:45 Our subject is what? 34:47 The Value of Dirt. 34:49 Psalm 103:13-14 34:56 Do you have that? 34:59 Well somebody answer me. Do you have that? 35:01 ~ Yes. 35:02 "Like as a father pitieth his children, 35:06 so the LORD pitieth them that fear him." 35:08 Read verse 14. 35:09 "For he knoweth our frame," keep reading, 35:13 "he remembereth that we are dust." 35:16 When God considers our weaknesses, our tendencies 35:19 to evil, all these things, He says, 35:22 "Look, that's because you are dust. 35:26 You're weak. 35:27 You're dirt. 35:29 Not breath; dust." 35:33 Having said that, listen again. 35:37 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, 35:42 breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; 35:46 and man became a living soul." 35:48 When God made the angels, He did not use dirt. 35:52 He didn't use anything. 35:54 Listen to how angels were made. 35:56 Psalm 148:1-2, 5 36:00 Psalm 148:1-2, 5 36:03 Listen to how the Bible describes 36:05 the creation of angels. 36:14 When you've found it, say amen. 36:15 ~ Amen. 36:17 "Praise ye the LORD. 36:18 Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: 36:20 praise him in the heights. 36:22 Praise ye him, all his angels: 36:24 praise ye him, all his hosts." 36:26 Verse 5, "Let them praise the name of the LORD..." 36:29 Read with me now. 36:30 "...for he commanded, and they were created." 36:34 God made the angels out of thin air. 36:37 He just called them and they came. 36:44 Let me say it again. 36:45 You missed it, and it's my fault. 36:47 God did not use dirt. 36:50 There's no dirt in heaven, as far as we know. 36:54 God just said, "Angels, come." 36:58 And the angels appeared. 37:02 Patriarchs and Prophets, page 38, paragraph 3, 37:06 "Christ was the Son of God; 37:08 He was one with Him before the angels 37:11 were called into existence." 37:16 No dirt. 37:18 Listen to the creation of Lucifer. 37:22 Ezekiel 28, reading from verse 13. 37:25 His creation was slightly different. 37:28 Or the way he looked after he was made. 37:31 Different from any other angel. 37:34 Ezekiel 28, reading from verse 13. 37:36 Our subject, The Value of Dirt. 37:40 Thank you for your reverence. 37:43 I really mean that from my heart. 37:45 Please extend it to all other speakers, 37:47 whether in this format or in seminars. 37:49 When you go into a seminar, decide to stay. 37:52 Don't go to sample, then walk out. 37:54 You disrupt people. 37:55 Make up your mind to stay. 37:57 Read the description outside the door, go in, sit down. 38:04 Alright. 38:06 We're looking at the creation of whom? 38:08 Lucifer. 38:09 Verse 13, Ezekiel 28. 38:12 "Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God. 38:15 Every precious stone was thy covering: 38:17 the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, 38:20 the onyx, and the jasper..." 38:24 What's that third stone? 38:26 "...the sapphire, the emerald, the carbuncle, and gold." 38:29 Now God says, that's how the Bible describes Lucifer. 38:34 The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper. Sorry. 38:36 Sapphire, emerald, carbuncle, and gold. 38:39 That's Lucifer. 38:41 Covered with these things. 38:43 They were part of him. 38:46 When God came to make man, 38:51 God only used dirt. 38:56 Now let me introduce you to something you already know, 38:58 but did not notice. 39:00 Go to Genesis 2. 39:02 Genesis 2, we'll read from verse 10. 39:05 Our subject, The Value of Dirt. 39:09 When you find that, say amen. 39:11 ~ Amen. 39:12 The Bible says, "And a river went out of Eden 39:15 to water the garden; 39:17 and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. 39:21 The name of the first is Pison: 39:24 that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, 39:28 where there is gold. 39:29 And the gold of that land is good: 39:31 there is bdellium and the onyx stone." 39:33 Pause. Let's re-read microscopically. 39:41 "And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; 39:46 and from thence it was parted, and became into..." 39:48 How many heads? Four. 39:50 "The name of the first is Pison." 39:52 Now listen. 39:54 "That is it which compasseth..." Where? 39:56 "...the whole land of Havilah," keep reading, 39:59 "where there is gold. 40:02 The gold of that land is good." 40:04 So we have gold. 40:05 "There is bdellium and the onyx stone." 40:09 The onyx is a family with several other precious stones 40:13 that come under onyx. 40:15 Follow me closely. 40:18 When was the solid earth made, before or after Adam? 40:22 Before. 40:24 Genesis 1:9 40:26 "And God said, 'Let the waters under the heaven 40:28 be gathered together unto one place, 40:30 and let the dry land appear.' 40:31 And it was so. 40:33 And God called the dry land Earth; 40:34 and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas." 40:36 So the dry land, it was there on day three 40:40 before Adam was made on day six. 40:43 Now, the gold was there before Adam was made. 40:52 I get the impression you're not following me. 40:57 The precious stones were on the earth before Adam was made. 41:00 As a matter of fact, in Patriarchs and Prophets, 41:02 Ellen White says the gold and the precious stones 41:05 lay on the surface of the earth. 41:09 They were only buried after the flood. 41:14 What am I trying to say? 41:15 When God came to make Adam, God had available to Him, what? 41:20 Gold. 41:25 He could have used gold. 41:29 Or onyx. 41:30 Thank you, assistant preacher. 41:33 He could have used bdellium. 41:35 Now the Bible scholars say bdellium could mean 41:37 a resin from the bark of a tree or a precious stone. 41:40 Since it appears with gold and onyx stone, 41:42 we may assume its application there is a precious stone. 41:45 God could have chosen onyx, chalcedony, the agate, 41:51 gold, bdellium to make Adam. 41:58 Gold has always been valuable. 42:04 No economy has ever been based on dirt. 42:09 Fort Knox is not heavily guarded because it contains dirt. 42:17 It is the most heavily guarded building 42:19 because it contains, I believe, the gold deposits 42:22 of the United States, which is the largest of all countries. 42:25 I think Germany is second. 42:27 The International Monetary Fund is third. 42:30 Gold. 42:31 In times of crisis, in times of war, in times of chaos, 42:36 the most reliable standard of measuring value is gold. 42:44 And so during the Holocaust the Nazis took gold 42:47 from the teeth of the Jews. 42:50 Gold. 42:52 I've never heard of a dirt rush. 42:59 "We discovered dirt in California. 43:00 Get on your wagon." 43:04 "We have found one nugget of gold." 43:05 Everybody moves. 43:07 Gold is valuable. 43:11 Here comes Jesus Christ, the Creator, 43:14 to make your father. 43:17 He bypasses gold, He bypasses bdellium, 43:23 He bypasses onyx, He bypasses all the precious material 43:27 that He Himself placed on the surface of the earth 43:31 readily available to Him. 43:32 He just had to scoop up gold and make a... 43:35 No, no, no, no, no. 43:36 The Creator said, "I will make him out of dirt. 43:42 And I will put My image in dirt." 43:50 You see, you make something out of gold, 43:52 even before its made it has value. 43:55 Are you with me? 43:57 Just because it's made of gold. 43:59 Before it's made it has value. 44:01 The raw material has value. 44:03 Dirt... 44:08 To produce a divine character in gold would be spectacular, 44:12 but not as spectacular as producing a divine image 44:17 in dirt. 44:19 You see, the reproduction of the image of God in us, 44:25 its ultimate aim is the glory of God. 44:30 I said that clumsily. 44:31 Forgive me. Let me try again. 44:37 When Jesus saw Nathaniel, what did Nathaniel say about Jesus 44:43 when he was told about Christ? 44:44 "Can any good thing come out of..." Where? 44:47 Nazareth. 44:50 Now you'd expect a good thing to come out of a monastery. 44:56 A nunnery. 44:58 A graduate school. 45:01 Not Nazareth. 45:04 That's dirt. 45:06 But out of Nazareth came Jesus. 45:13 Out of dirt came Adam. 45:18 Out of the ghetto can come me. 45:23 Out of the burial can come you. 45:26 Off the reservation can come someone in the image of God. 45:36 Angels... 45:38 There are magicians who get on stage 45:42 and they take a handkerchief. 45:46 Out comes a dove. 45:49 I'm not telling you go watch magic, but it happens. 45:52 He takes a handkerchief and... A dove. 45:54 Then he does that... Two doves. 45:58 Takes off his hat... A rabbit. 46:02 Now God didn't make man by using His hands. 46:06 I've preached that sermon, if you've heard it. 46:08 Hands-Free Operation. 46:09 But I can't get into that now. 46:11 But let's assume He took His hands, which He didn't. 46:13 The angels are watching God with a handful of dirt. 46:16 "What will He do with this dirt?" 46:20 And they're watching. 46:22 And God... 46:25 And they're watching. 46:27 And out of the dirt comes a divine character. 46:33 And the angels say, "How did He do that? 46:36 How did He do that? 46:38 A handful of dirt, and He produces the divine character. 46:44 How did He do that?" 46:45 Now this is what must happen in your life. 46:52 The angels must marvel. 46:55 "That guy was a crack dealer. 46:56 Dirt. 46:59 She was a prostitute. Dirt. 47:02 How did God produce His character in that man? 47:05 In that woman?" 47:06 This is the wonder of the gospel: 47:09 to produce divinity in dirt. 47:13 Now to bring divinity out of gold is not that spectacular. 47:16 But out of dirt... 47:22 So your father was a pimp. 47:25 Your mother was a hooker. 47:27 And God produces you. 47:30 Or you're the man, the pimp. 47:33 God take him and makes him the apostle Paul. 47:36 And the angels wonder how? 47:39 That's the power of the gospel. 47:44 There is a movie that came out last year called, 47:46 Straight Outta Compton. 47:49 The brothers know what I'm talking about. 47:52 Straight Outta Compton. 47:54 Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E; those fellows. 47:58 Out of... You know Compton? 48:00 Read about Compton. 48:02 The crime, the Bloods and the Crips. 48:04 You know, the violence. 48:05 Read about Compton. South of Los Angeles. 48:08 Straight out of Compton. 48:10 Straight out of dirt. 48:13 Yeah. Uh-huh. 48:15 Straight out of dirt come divinity. 48:17 Somebody say amen. 48:18 ~ Amen. 48:20 That's the power of the gospel. 48:23 God produces His character in dirt. 48:31 So your value has nothing to do with you. 48:36 It has to do with what God desires to do in you. 48:41 You're sitting there saying, "Nobody loves me." 48:44 You have no self-esteem. 48:46 You're dirt. 48:47 And God whispers to you now, He says, "My daughter, 48:51 My son, I know you're dirt. 48:53 I made you dirt. 48:54 Now you come to Me, and from this dirt I will produce 48:59 the divine character." 49:04 You and I must remember... 49:07 Let me give you this quotation. 49:08 It expresses this better than I could. 49:10 Signs of the Times, September 24, 1894, 49:15 paragraph four. 49:18 Let me tell you the secret of me when I preach. 49:20 Don't tell anyone. 49:21 I've only told this to one other person; 49:22 I'm telling it to you. 49:24 I've only told this to one other person. 49:25 You know, I preach from my head. 49:28 And the way God disciplines me to slow down, 49:30 He blocks my memory. 49:33 Mm-hmm 49:34 Just to slow me down, He does. 49:37 Don't tell anyone. 49:39 He just blocks it. 49:41 And that's His way of saying, "My son, slow down." 49:44 Because I have this bad habit of running along 49:47 like a freight train. 49:49 Bad habit. 49:50 Anyway... 49:53 God can take dirt and produce the divine image. 50:01 That's the majesty, that is the power of the gospel. 50:06 Now let's go back to Ellen White's quotation. 50:08 Signs of the Times, September 24, 1894, 50:12 paragraph 4. 50:13 Listen carefully after you have recorded the reference. 50:16 What did I say? 50:18 Signs of the Times, September 24, 1894, 50:24 paragraph 4; listen carefully. 50:26 "It is the prerogative of God alone to prescribe the duty 50:31 of men and angels. 50:33 The will of God is a perfect will, 50:37 and must be obeyed as it is set forth in His holy law, 50:41 because every requirement is just..." 50:45 From commandment one to commandment ten. 50:47 "...every requirement is just and is set forth 50:51 by infinite wisdom. 50:54 The law of God should be obeyed even though there were 50:58 no authority to enforce it, and no rewards for its obedience." 51:02 Keep listening. 51:03 "The highest interests of men and angels 51:06 are conserved in obeying the law" or the will, "of God. 51:12 God's will as expressed in his law is the supreme will..." 51:17 Let me say it differently. 51:18 The Ten Commandments represent the highest 51:21 expression of the will of God. 51:23 "God's will expressed in His law is the supreme will, 51:28 and no invention, no device of men can take its place." 51:33 Keep listening. 51:35 "Obedience to the commandments of men..." 51:37 Keeping Sunday for the Sabbath. 51:39 "...instead of to the commandments of God 51:41 will be as abomination in the sight of God; 51:45 because what God requires is essential to the 51:48 highest good of his subjects, 51:50 and is therefore essential to the glory of God." 51:53 Let me say that again. 51:55 The conclusion of that statement, what God requires 51:58 of you; obedience to His commandments, 52:00 is connected to God's glory. 52:02 So as you obey, by the power of Christ, 52:04 and the character of God is reproduced in your life, 52:09 God is glorified. 52:14 Out of dirt comes divinity. 52:18 Why? That God may get the glory. 52:22 That the angelic hosts and unfallen worlds 52:25 may marvel, "How could God produce His character in dirt? 52:30 I can understand from gold, but dirt?" 52:37 That's what God can do for you. 52:39 When I say God, I mean Christ. 52:42 The one who made Adam from dirt can produce His character 52:47 in the dirt of your life. 52:48 Listen to me, my brothers and sisters. 52:49 The dirt of my life. 52:51 God wants that opportunity to bring glory to Himself 52:56 by reproducing His character in your life. 53:00 You just came out of prison, God says, "Come to Me." 53:04 You didn't have to come out of prison, 53:05 you could have come to Him in prison. 53:08 "You're in that rehab; come to Me. 53:11 You're in an abusive relationship; come to Me. 53:14 Can't find a job; come to Me. 53:17 The cocaine is in your veins; come to Me. 53:20 The stuff is in your nostrils; come to Me," says God, 53:22 "and I will take this life and make of it 53:27 something that marvels the entire universe." 53:32 Not something similar to the life of Christ. 53:34 The precise life Christ lived on this earth 53:38 is the life you must live, through the power of God. 53:40 And so the Bible says, "He hath made Him to be sin for us, 53:44 who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness 53:47 of God in Him." 53:50 Philippians 2:5, "Let this mind be in you, 53:53 which was also in Christ Jesus." 53:55 The same mind by which Christ lived 53:59 is the mind by which we might live, 54:00 that in this dirt might be produced, by the power of God, 54:04 the very character of God. 54:07 My brothers and sisters, the value of dirt 54:11 is what God does in our lives. 54:14 God wants to make of your life something of wonder. 54:19 Something that causes people to turn around 54:21 and take a second look. 54:23 As we say, to do a double take. 54:26 This morning I ask you quite simply, as time expires, 54:30 do you want God to change your life, transform your life, 54:35 and put you on a pedestal of hope and bright expectation? 54:39 How many of you want God to change your life? 54:41 Let me see your hand. 54:43 To give value to your life? 54:44 Stand up with me. 54:47 The value of dirt is what God does with it. 54:51 It's all of God. 54:53 And the more valueless the material, 54:56 the greater the marvel of what God can do with the life. 55:00 Listen to me again. 55:01 God can change your life from dirt to divinity. 55:10 Heads bowed, eyes closed. 55:11 Dear God of heaven and earth, we thank You for Your power. 55:15 We thank You, dear God, that as we walk in the light of 55:19 Your law, by the power of Your Spirit, 55:21 the character produced brings glory to Your name. 55:25 It amazes the universe, dear God. 55:27 We thank You that You can produce divinity in dirt. 55:32 We thank You that You chose dirt, not gold, 55:35 to make us and to make of us Your character. 55:41 I ask today, God, in the name of Jesus who took this same dirt 55:46 and lived a flawless life and reproduced Your character 55:50 in the dirt He took, in His name, dear God, 55:54 work in our lives. 55:56 Enter the mind of that young man, that young woman, 55:58 who thinks nothing of himself. 56:00 Enter the life of that person who has no sense of value. 56:04 Enter that person's life, dear God, and let him know, 56:08 let her know, "I, the Creator, can produce divinity 56:13 in the dirt of your life." 56:15 Hear this humble prayer. 56:17 And Father, take all the glory as we reflect Your character. 56:21 Save us when You come, dear God, so that we might occupy 56:25 a position that even unfallen angels will not enjoy. 56:30 Hear this humble prayer. 56:31 Bless Your people, I pray. 56:33 In Jesus' name and for His sake. 56:35 Let God's people say, amen and amen. 56:39 God bless you. |
Revised 2017-09-26