Participants: John Bradshaw
Series Code: 16GYC
Program Code: 16GYC000012A
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00:34 Happy Sabbath GYC.
00:37 Our speaker this morning is a storyteller 00:39 from the land of the kiwis, 00:41 he says things like aluminum and zebra 00:47 You may know him 00:48 as speaker/director of It Is Written, 00:50 what you may not know is that he was not raised an Adventist, 00:53 in fact, he was an altar boy for Catholic Church 00:56 when he was a kid. 00:58 As he was going older when he was a teenager 01:00 he became involved in radio, 01:02 and he about my age about 20 something, 01:06 he found himself as a broadcaster 01:08 for a secular radio program. 01:10 So how is he here speaking today? 01:13 Well, when he was a teenager 01:14 someone that was very important to him 01:16 gave him a Great Controversy. 01:20 He didn't read it. 01:22 In fact, that same person came back to him and said, 01:25 "Hey, did you read that book that I gave you?" 01:27 "No, well, I'm..." 01:28 "Here's another one, read this one." 01:31 So he got to chapter 1 opened it up, 01:33 read part of chapter 1 and life kind of happened 01:37 and he didn't read the rest of it. 01:40 But he kept praying, "God, there's something out there 01:41 that I'm missing, 01:42 there's some truth that I need to know." 01:46 So Great Controversy number three 01:49 shows up in his mailbox. 01:51 And he said, "I better read this one." 01:54 So he did, as he was reading the Great Controversy 01:57 in his bathtub some time, 01:59 He heard the voice of God saying, 02:01 "This is it, John, this is my plan, 02:04 this is how it works, and I want you to be on board." 02:08 There's a lot more, in fact, 02:10 if you ever get to read his testimony 02:11 or hear his testimony is well worth it. 02:14 But he has dedicated his life to sharing the gospel 02:17 and to inspiring others to do the same. 02:19 After special music, 02:21 the next voice you'll hear is Pastor John Bradshaw. 02:53 There's a place I go to rest 02:58 One again I've failed the test 03:03 Gentle arms that right my path 03:08 Show your love instead of wrath 03:13 In this hour, precious hour 03:19 I have met Redemption's power 03:24 In this place, holy space 03:30 I have seen amazing grace 03:35 Blistered soul begins to heal 03:40 Cease to hide that which is real 03:45 Walls I build dissolve away in this hour 03:53 when I pray 03:55 In this hour, precious hour 04:01 I have met Redemption's power 04:05 In this place, holy space 04:11 I have seen amazing grace 04:16 Then gentle words between us flow 04:22 Yours start easy, mine start slow 04:28 But patiently 04:30 You listen close to every burden I disclose 04:38 In this hour, precious hour 04:43 I have met Redemption's power 04:48 In this place, holy space 04:53 I have seen amazing grace 04:59 You help me with the words I can't yet say 05:06 When I can't quite reach You 05:09 You meet me on my way 05:13 And if my heart is silent 05:15 You still stay in this hour 05:21 When I pray 05:26 In seasons of distress and grief 05:34 My soul has often found 05:39 Relief 05:47 And so You wait to meet me there 05:53 In this special place of prayer 05:59 Savor every moment shared 06:04 And linger in this hour of prayer 06:10 In this hour, precious hour 06:16 I have met Redemption's power 06:20 In this place, holy space 06:26 I have seen amazing grace 06:57 I can savor moment declare 07:04 And linger 07:08 In this hour 07:12 Of prayer 07:28 Happy Sabbath. Happy Sabbath. 07:31 You glad to be here today? 07:32 Amen. 07:33 Did you come here to worship? Yes. 07:35 Are here as a spectator or as a participant? 07:38 Participant. 07:40 We shall see. 07:42 I hope you're right. 07:43 I'm glad to be at GYC again. 07:46 What a fabulous convention. 07:48 I want to thank God 07:53 and commend the leadership of GYC 07:59 for being relentlessly Christ-focused. 08:04 Amen. 08:05 For being unapologetically biblical. 08:10 Amen. 08:11 For being consistently mission-focused, 08:15 and for being unashamedly supportive of the teachings 08:23 and the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 08:28 I don't understand why there aren't more people 08:32 here at GYC. 08:34 Popping the fact that we couldn't get 08:36 any more people in this room. 08:38 I don't know who would not be blessed 08:41 by being at GYC. 08:43 Well, I can imagine, 08:44 I can imagine actually one group of people 08:49 that would not be blessed at GYC, 08:53 dead people. 08:58 But if you have a pulse, 09:02 then I would encourage you to be part of GYC 09:07 not an event, not an experience, 09:13 but a life of commitment to Jesus Christ. 09:16 Amen. 09:18 Well, we're gonna begin with praying 09:19 by praying if you don't mind, and I don't suppose you do. 09:22 Let's pray and expect God to bless us 09:24 over these next few minutes. 09:26 Shall we? Let's pray. 09:29 Our Father in heaven, we've been blessed already 09:30 today powerfully. 09:34 We've been transported into the throne room 09:37 of the heavenly sanctuary on the wings of prayer. 09:42 We have been moved by music 09:49 that left me convinced 09:50 that angels were singing without singers 09:53 and playing alongside our players. 09:59 And now, Lord, we come to this place 10:01 where we open Your Word 10:04 and we appeal to You to speak. 10:08 I pray that You would not permit 10:10 the limitations of fallen humanity 10:13 to frustrate either the proclamation 10:17 or the reception of Your Word. 10:23 You know our needs and we trust You with them. 10:29 So, Lord, speak and be heard. 10:33 Bless us with your transforming 10:39 saving grace. 10:42 We pray in Jesus' name. 10:44 Please say... 10:46 Amen. Amen. 10:53 In 1944, a ship 10:58 loaded with explosives 11:01 ran aground in the River Thames, 11:04 just downstream a few miles from London, 11:08 just offshore from the town of Sheerness, 11:11 it's still there today 11:12 which is perhaps 11:16 credit to divine intervention. 11:19 The ship was one of many Liberty ships 11:22 2,710 of them in all built during World War II. 11:25 They were essentially cargo ships, 11:27 and by and large they took stuff 11:30 from the United States to Europe. 11:32 And during World War II, 11:34 there was a lot of action in Europe. 11:35 This one was to take 1,500 tons 11:40 of high explosives to Normandy. 11:43 It stopped off in London, well, downstream from London. 11:48 But things didn't go right, the ship ran aground, 11:52 they tried to salvage it, 11:53 but wait a moment 11:54 here it was now resting on the bottom of the Thames 11:56 loaded with 1,500 tons of explosives. 12:00 And the fear was that if they monkeyed with the ship, 12:03 boom. 12:05 The ship would be no more and that would be a problem 12:08 because if the ship was no more, 12:09 then a column of water three hundred feet wide 12:13 would shoot 10,000 feet into the air. 12:15 Every window in Sheerness would be destroyed, 12:18 a great wave would inundate the place 12:20 and as for the people who tried to remove the explosives, 12:27 well, they would be seen no more. 12:28 What do we do with a boat full of explosives, 12:30 it was decided we do nothing with it at all, 12:33 we leave it right where it is. 12:35 And so today you could travel to Sheerness in England. 12:41 And you would see a little off the shore, 12:44 off the river's edge some buoys, 12:48 we call them buoys 12:49 in civilized countries buoys here, 12:51 but they are buoys. 12:53 You would see some buoys and some signs, 12:56 and the signs would say danger, explosives, stay away. 13:03 You can even see the masts of the ship, 13:05 it was the SS Richard Montgomery 13:09 poking up out of the water. 13:12 Testament to the fact that beneath the water 13:14 there is a lot of power, real power, explosive energy, 13:20 untapped just sitting there latent. 13:26 And no one wants to go near it. 13:30 I have wondered if the church might not be a little bit like 13:35 the wreckage of the SS Richard Montgomery, 13:39 perhaps there's a vast untapped reservoir of energy 13:43 sitting ideal 13:45 with the enormous potential to impact the world 13:50 and launch devastation 13:53 upon the kingdom of the enemy of souls. 13:57 God, friend, is looking to unleash His power, 14:01 He wants to unleash it upon you, 14:05 and through you our place in history. 14:09 Right now He is witnesses God 14:12 calling to His people to light up the world 14:15 like fireworks light up the night sky. 14:18 We're gonna take a moment to look into the Bible 14:20 and see God's power on display. 14:22 Open your Bible with me please 14:24 to the third chapter of the Book of Daniel. 14:26 Daniel and his friends had experienced 14:28 the highs and lows of faith. 14:30 They were believers, 14:32 but they were taken from their homes 14:33 and families and marched across a barren desert 14:35 to a foreign land, 14:37 a pagan country, fed inedible food, 14:41 pressed into service as slaves, their masculinity violated. 14:47 But these boys were not afraid to stick their necks out. 14:51 They could have compromised but they would not, 14:54 even though they knew that their faithfulness 14:56 would likely lead to their demise. 14:58 Instead, they stayed true to God 15:01 and as a result they thrived, promoted to serve 15:05 in the inner circle of a monarch, 15:08 but then owing to the chicanery of others. 15:11 An executioner was sent to dispatch them. 15:15 Daniel and his friends 15:18 were only moments from cooling to room temperature 15:23 when they asked for time to interpret the king's dream 15:28 and when they did, they were elevated again, 15:32 when they were challenged, 15:34 they met their challenge with faith unshakable 15:39 and God came through for them, 15:42 by the time we get to Daniel 3. 15:45 Three of them are commanded to bow down to an image 15:50 and worship it. 15:51 And when that happened, 15:53 they knew exactly what they were to do. 15:57 Their inspirational leader, 15:59 a prophet no less was not with them. 16:01 If ever there was a time to compromise, 16:05 this was that time. 16:08 And it would not have been hard 16:10 when you hear the music bow down, 16:13 but they would not, they squared off with the king 16:17 and they said, "Oh, King, 16:19 we are not careful to answer thee in this matter." 16:22 They were not being smart alecs, 16:24 they had simply settled it in their heart 16:27 that they would be faithful to God 16:30 irrespective of circumstance. 16:32 "Our God should He choose to do so 16:35 is able to save us from out of the fiery furnace. 16:38 But, King, it must be known by you 16:41 that even if God does not save us, 16:45 we're still not going to bow down." 16:52 The king was enraged, "Led him burn," the king said. 16:58 Now you've heard the story 17:00 so many times that you think now 17:01 it's just a bedtime story. 17:03 Funny, isn't it the bedtime stories 17:04 we tell our children? 17:05 And then a lion was going to tear him limb from limb 17:08 and eat him up. 17:11 Sleep tight. 17:18 We're familiar with the story. 17:19 Oh, that we're gonna be thrown into a fiery furnace. 17:21 Oh, whatever. 17:23 No, no, no, wait a minute, this was life and death, 17:27 and these three young people chose execution over existence. 17:31 And think about their experience, 17:33 they had fought, and scrapped, and scraped, and prayed, 17:37 and trusted God and kept their heads down, 17:39 and hope that one day they'd be reunited 17:41 with whatever was left of their families. 17:43 And that one day they would see beautiful Jerusalem again 17:47 and now they would die young in a foreign land 17:52 owing to the whim of a megalomaniac. 17:57 But, you know how the story ends, 17:58 Daniel 3:23, "Shadrach, Meshach, 18:02 and Abed-Nego fell down bound 18:03 into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 18:06 But the kind was astonished, 18:08 'Didn't we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?' 18:11 'Yes, sir.' 18:13 'Well, wait I see four men loose, 18:16 walking in the midst of the fire 18:17 and they have no hurt. 18:19 And the form of them is as the form of the Son of God, 18:23 or is like one of the sons of God. 18:25 How did he know what a son of the gods looked like? 18:28 How did he know that this was the Son of God? 18:30 He had seen Christ 18:33 in the person of Shadrach, Meshach, 18:35 Abed-Nego, and Daniel. 18:37 "Ah, I've seen this one before, He is their leader, 18:41 their guide, this is their God. 18:45 He has shown up with them in the fire. 18:48 At a time of unthinkable difficulty, 18:51 at a time of enormous pressure, 18:53 they saw the power of God 18:56 when they had no earthly support, 18:58 no resources, 19:00 when their wits couldn't help them, 19:03 and their street-smarts meant nothing. 19:06 They may a stand 19:11 and in their extremity 19:14 when they made a stand, Christ stood with them. 19:20 Come on, and say amen today. Amen. 19:23 And it's not the only stand 19:25 Jesus makes in the Book of Daniel. 19:28 This year's convention has revolved 19:31 around a certain theme as conventions I wanted to do. 19:34 When all has been heard 19:36 or as the wise man said in Ecclesiastes 12:7. 19:40 "Let us hear the conclusion of the matter." 19:45 He went on to say, "Fear God, 19:46 and keep His commandments: 19:48 for this is the whole duty of man." 19:50 Because God will bring into judgment 19:54 every work with every secret thing, 19:57 whether it be good or whether it be evil. 20:01 Since 1844, Christian friend, 20:05 we have been living in the time 20:06 of what we have come to refer to as 20:09 the investigative judgment. 20:12 Now I know that this is a subject 20:14 that is not fashionable in certain circles, 20:17 but let me tell you this, 20:19 if you care about being theologically fashionable, 20:24 you will one day find yourself in the in crowd 20:28 crying out 20:29 crucify Him, crucify Him. 20:35 There are some who have little to say, 20:38 or little that is positive to say about this judgment. 20:44 But you can deny it if you want to, 20:45 the judgment is like gravity, 20:47 sooner or later its impact is gonna be felt on you. 20:50 It's a little bit like aging. 20:53 You don't think it's affecting you, 20:55 until one day you look in the mirror 20:57 and you say, "There is evidence 21:02 that I'm not immune from this." 21:07 We did not arrive at this place by accident. 21:11 You know the story well. 21:14 During the war of 1812 in the Battle of Plattsburg 21:16 on the banks of Lake Champlain, 21:18 a farmer named William Miller saw bombs, 21:21 rockets and shrapnel shells falling as thick as hailstones. 21:27 And explosion two feet away from him 21:29 killed one man and injured others, 21:30 but it left him unscathed 21:32 and this caused the deist William Miller 21:35 to reconsider his position. 21:37 He thought maybe after all there must be a personal God 21:42 who does interfere in the experiences of humanity. 21:48 And he was led on a search 21:49 to rediscover his Baptist faith. 21:51 His search led him into God's Word, 21:54 and eventually he found his way to the Book of Daniel. 21:56 Daniel 8:14 where he read, 21:59 "Unto 2,300 days 22:02 then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." 22:08 Like at least 65 other Bible expositors 22:13 on at least four continents between 1800 and 1844. 22:19 Miller believed that the 2,300 day year period 22:22 would be fulfilled sometime between 1843 and 1847. 22:26 But Miller believed that the prophecy taught 22:29 Jesus was coming back to the earth, 22:31 they didn't all teach that. 22:33 And Miller believed it was going to happen in 1843. 22:36 And he had good reason to think this way. 22:41 The signs indicated 22:43 that the return of Jesus was imminent. 22:46 Matthew 24:29, 22:48 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days 22:51 shall the sun be darkened, 22:53 and the moon shall not give her light, 22:54 and the stars shall fall from heaven, 22:57 and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken." 23:00 The dark day happened in 1790, the falling of the stars 1833, 23:05 and earthquake in Portugal in 1755 had 35 times 23:11 the amount of energy 23:12 contained in the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. 23:15 If that earthquake had hit Los Angeles, 23:18 it would have destroyed 23:19 San Francisco and shaken Chicago, 23:22 it was a monster. 23:25 These were signs to the world that something was going on, 23:30 and those who were studying the Bible recognized. 23:33 "Yes, there is something all right. 23:37 The return of Jesus, we are getting closer." 23:40 Miller said, "That's what it is, 23:42 the sanctuary is being cleansed, 23:46 Christ will return." 23:49 Except, of course, the Baptist... 23:52 What was his denominational affiliation? 23:55 Could you say that again little louder? 23:57 Baptists. Did we agree he was Baptist? 24:00 I heard about a 100 people agree 24:02 that he was a Baptist. 24:03 William Miller was a what? Baptist. 24:06 Can you say it for the world to hear? 24:07 Baptist. There we go. 24:11 Seventh-day Adventists 24:12 get blamed for Miller's mistake. 24:15 Let me be quite frank with you that, friend, 24:17 was a Baptist mistake, 24:19 it was not a Seventh-day Adventist mistake. 24:22 Credit where credit is due. 24:25 Adventists have made plenty of mistakes 24:27 1843 and 1844 24:29 were not a Seventh-day Adventist mistake. 24:30 There's enough credit to go around here. 24:36 The Baptist William Miller was wrong, 24:39 Jesus did not come back in 1843 or 1844 24:44 and the disappointment was great not only for Miller, 24:46 but for those who followed him, the thousands. 24:48 The hope of Jesus' return was sweet in the mouth, 24:51 like the prophecy in Revelation 10 said it would be sweet, 24:55 sweet as honey, 24:57 sweet as manuka honey from New Zealand, so sweet. 25:03 But the disappointment was bitter in their bellies, 25:07 bitter, so bitter. 25:09 Hiram Edson said, 25:11 "We wept and wept until the day dawned. 25:13 Bitter isn't a lot of fun. 25:14 A few years ago my wife and children 25:16 discovered that everything they were eating 25:18 was bitter in their mouth, 25:19 everything, even water that they drank, 25:21 they tried sugar, sugar was bitter, 25:24 they made some inquiries, they had pine nut syndrome. 25:29 A bad batch of pine nuts 25:31 imported from China left them 25:33 with the bitterness in their mouth 25:34 that might last them for two weeks. 25:38 As it was, it lasted them for one week 25:40 that was one day that dad was really, really glad 25:43 he was out of town. 25:47 Bitter is bitter, 25:49 but imagine the bitterness of waiting, 25:53 believing Jesus is coming back tonight. 25:58 I tell you something 25:59 these people believe, didn't they? 26:01 They closed their shops, 26:02 they left their crops in the ground, 26:04 they gave stuff away. 26:05 Do we believe Jesus is coming back? 26:07 Oh, yes, we don't. 26:12 We say we do 26:14 and we certainly do to a certain extent, 26:17 but these people believed 26:22 and they were wrong. 26:23 But, you know something, 26:25 God has brought glorious things out of mistakes before. 26:31 Jesus told the disciples again and again, 26:33 He was gonna be killed and when He was crucified, 26:36 they looked at each other and they said, 26:37 "What in the world happened?" 26:40 Jesus tried to impress upon His friends 26:42 the spiritual nature of His kingdom. 26:44 And as far down as the first chapter of the Book of Acts. 26:49 His friends are asking Him 26:50 if He is going to restore His kingdom now. 26:54 Jesus works best with faulty people. 26:58 As a matter of fact, 27:00 Jesus only works with faulty people. 27:04 He would bring something glorious out of this mistake. 27:06 Jesus did not come back in 1844, 27:09 but God had plain counsel for the disappointed. 27:11 Revelation 10:11, "He said to me, 27:15 'Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, 27:18 and nations, and tongues, and kings.'" 27:23 They went back to the Word of God 27:25 and they discovered, no, Christ wasn't coming back, 27:28 but He entered the most holy place 27:30 of the heavenly sanctuary 27:31 to begin His final work of judgment 27:34 that the phase of His ministry 27:36 involving the blotting out of sins 27:39 and the cleansing of both the sanctuary 27:41 and individual believers. 27:43 was now in play, 27:46 "Fear God and give glory to Him, 27:48 for the hour of His judgment is come, 27:52 judgment had come." 27:55 Ellen White wrote in the Great Controversy, 27:58 "The subject of the sanctuary 27:59 opened to view a complete system of truth, 28:02 connected and harmonious, 28:04 showing that God's hand 28:05 had directed the great advent movement, 28:09 and revealing present duty 28:11 as it brought to light the position 28:12 and work of His people." 28:14 Prophesize again, this wasn't Christ's return, 28:19 we must tell the world, this is judgment. 28:24 You know, friend, there are some things 28:25 that Satan does not want you to know. 28:28 The subject of the sanctuary 28:30 in Christ's high priestly ministry 28:33 is one he attacks relentlessly. 28:36 In the judgment 28:38 there is a priest in heaven for you 28:41 according to the Bible, not against you. 28:44 The judgment says, 28:46 "I may have made a mess, but Jesus is on my side." 28:52 Judgment says, "I may be weak, but Christ is strong." 28:58 Judgment says, "Even though I'm down, 29:02 I'm not out 29:04 because what a friend we have in Jesus." 29:08 Listen, friend, when I say the name William Miller, 29:12 you think 2,300 days, you think great disappointment, 29:15 and you are doing him a disservice. 29:17 It's true he drilled way down into Daniel 8:14, 29:21 but Miller said this. 29:24 He said, "The Scriptures became my delight 29:29 and in Jesus I found a friend." 29:33 Bible study for Miller 29:35 was more than an exercise with his abacus. 29:39 Miller found a friend in Jesus, 29:43 have you done that studying 29:46 the Bible Miller found a friend, 29:50 someone he could trust, 29:52 the Christ of the judgment is the friend of sinners. 29:57 But Satan doesn't want you to know that. 29:58 He does not want you to know that you can come boldly 30:01 to the throne of grace, and find mercy, 30:03 and grace to help in time of need. 30:06 Yes, you, not just the people in the choir, 30:08 not just those folks upfront, not just the people 30:11 that the nominating committee sentenced 30:13 to a position in the church, 30:15 but you can find grace to help in time of need. 30:22 Devil doesn't want you knowing that you have an advocate 30:24 with the Father. 30:25 Jesus Christ the righteous, 30:27 Jesus is in heaven now appearing 30:30 in the presence of God for us, 30:33 it cannot get any better than that. 30:36 Satan doesn't want you to know its good news. 30:38 You say, "What is this judgment? 30:40 What is it?" 30:41 Listen, it's an audit, that's all it is. 30:47 When your name comes up in the judgment, 30:48 Jesus is not gonna wring His hands 30:50 and scratch His head and tap His chin and say, 30:53 "What do we do with her? 30:54 What do we do with him?" 30:56 In the judgment Jesus just looks at the evidence and says, 30:58 "This one claimed Me, 31:01 this one died saved or lived saved, 31:03 I'll honor that, this one turned her back, 31:06 turned his back, 31:07 I have no choice but to honor that." 31:09 The judgment is simply Jesus honoring the decisions 31:14 that you have made for Him or against Him, 31:17 that's all, it's no more mysterious than that. 31:22 Here on the eve of a brand new year, 31:26 there is a call to God's people. 31:29 The pioneers have bequeath to us a sacred legacy. 31:33 It's bound up in that other stand 31:35 Jesus made in the Book of Daniel. 31:36 In Daniel 3, Jesus stood, 31:39 He stood with those three young men. 31:41 In Daniel 7:9, the Ancient of Days sat, 31:45 judgment began. 31:48 In Daniel 12:1, Michael, 31:51 Jesus stands, judgment ends. 31:56 The high priestly ministry of Jesus is over. 32:00 Some years ago the noted and respected, 32:04 the great evangelist 32:05 and church administrator Charles Bradford 32:07 wrote a book for the Ministerial Association 32:09 called "Preaching to the Times". 32:12 In that book Bradford said, 32:15 "That we need to heal more sermons 32:18 about such things as living in the sight of a Holy God 32:23 without a mediator." 32:25 That's what he said. Think about that. 32:28 When judgment is over, 32:29 Jesus takes off His high priestly robes, 32:31 leaves the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, 32:34 and journeys to heaven. 32:35 There is silence in heaven. 32:37 There is no mediator there, none. 32:40 God's people for a time will live on this earth 32:44 in the sight of God without a mediator, 32:48 consider that. 32:50 We've been told Great Controversy, page 425, 32:53 "Those who are living upon the earth 32:55 when the intercession of Christ 32:56 shall cease in the sanctuary above 32:59 are to stand in the sight of a holy God 33:02 without a mediator." 33:04 But we've quit preaching about that 33:10 and Bradford knew it, that's why he wrote it. 33:13 We don't want to say too much about that anymore, 33:16 living in the sight of a Holy God 33:17 without a mediator. 33:19 Is that a call to holiness? 33:21 Yes, it is. 33:23 Is it a call to righteousness? 33:25 Yes, it is. 33:26 It is a call to heavy duty surrender to the will 33:31 and to the presence of Jesus Christ. 33:34 This is not playing church, 33:37 you can cut it any old way you want, 33:39 but one day sooner or later Jesus is going to say, 33:43 "Ready or not, here I come." 33:46 He will leave heaven 33:48 and come back here to this earth 33:51 which means this time is preparation time. 33:58 Maybe some of us don't wanna make that kind of preparation, 34:01 maybe we love the world too much, 34:05 maybe sin has a great hold on us. 34:07 So maybe our God is so small, 34:10 we don't believe that 34:11 He can truly attach our heart to His. 34:17 One day soon Jesus leaves the sanctuary, 34:19 there is no mediator. 34:22 Man, this is good news. 34:24 This is an opportunity here, 34:25 and there are some opportunities 34:27 that are just too good to miss. 34:29 The fellow who started Apple Computer 34:32 was a man named Steve Jobs, not but wait, 34:35 Steve Jobs started Apple with another fellow 34:38 whose name was Steve Wozniak, but wait there's more. 34:43 Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computer 34:45 with a third guy whose name was... 34:50 Exactly, this man wrote the manual 34:55 for the Apple-1 computer. 34:56 This man designed the logo. 34:59 This man drew up the partnership agreement, 35:01 and at the beginning Apple was a partnership. 35:04 But two weeks after the partnership was formed 35:07 Ron Wayne sold his 10% share in Apple Computer 35:13 for $800. 35:16 If he sold it yesterday, 35:19 he would have made $65 billion. 35:26 Eight hundred or sixty five billion. 35:29 He says, "He doesn't regret it." 35:32 I say he's lying. 35:37 Man that was an opportunity he wanted, 35:40 and okay it's only money. 35:42 But it makes the point that some opportunities 35:44 you don't wanna pass up, 35:45 and God is presenting you with one right now, 35:48 an opportunity that is too good to miss, 35:50 an opportunity to live for Him to the extent 35:54 that you are kept by the power of the Holy Spirit, 35:58 and remade in the image of God. 36:00 What an opportunity to see the power of God. 36:02 This is gonna be like being in a fiery furnace 36:04 with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego 36:06 and your hair is not even being singed. 36:08 Wow, a theatre for the universe, 36:12 demonstrating the power 36:14 and the goodness of Almighty God. 36:17 And don't you love to see power? 36:20 Man, I was excited when my son discovered 36:22 the awesomeness of explosions, 36:26 then we could do some stuff involving a potato cannon, 36:30 and a target that we had set on fire, 36:35 and a projectile full of flammable liquid, 36:39 and an iPhone videoing the whole thing. 36:42 We even told my wife about it after we'd done it. 36:47 Awesome, showed her the video. 36:50 There's something cool about witnessing power, 36:53 and God is calling you to allow the universe 36:58 to witness His power in and through your life 37:03 on a scale that has never been seen before. 37:10 The power of God to transform a life, 37:13 a life that speaks of God's goodness and love. 37:17 Friend, when it comes to this thing 37:18 we don't need any more theory, we already have all we need. 37:22 We can debate, agitate, abnegate, abrogate, denigrate, 37:28 obfuscate, vacillate, and pontificate, 37:32 but none of that will help, 37:34 we need to let God's Spirit operate. 37:38 Let us what? Illuminate. 37:41 If you will consecrate, your life is gone, 37:44 the universe will see 37:46 what the power of God really looks like 37:47 in the life of a sinner. 37:50 Now before you panic, 37:52 when we're talking about living in the sight of God 37:54 without a mediator, 37:55 and right now there are some people panicking. 38:01 We are not assuming the responsibility 38:03 for our own salvation. 38:05 The end of Jesus' ministry in the sanctuary 38:07 doesn't coincide 38:09 with the death of the Holy Spirit. 38:11 Amen. 38:12 The Spirit of God is alive and well. 38:14 Amen. 38:15 God's people will be kept then the same way they are kept now 38:21 by the power of the Holy Spirit. 38:23 We've been told that God's people will be sealed 38:26 with the seal of God, 38:27 a settling into truth both intellectually ands spiritually 38:31 so that they cannot be moved. 38:35 Man, we want that, don't we? 38:36 Yes, we do. We want that. 38:39 Higher than the highest human thought can think 38:41 is God's ideal for His people. 38:44 Godliness, God likeness is the goal to be reached. 38:47 The plan of salvation contemplates 38:50 our complete recovery from the power of salvation. 38:53 Hallelujah. 38:56 I have a friend whose 16-year old daughter 38:58 is in hospital right now. 39:00 And he wishes, they wish she was out. 39:04 She'll get out, she gonna recover, 39:06 God is great and He is still the great physician. 39:08 They want to see a complete recovery. 39:13 Pray for Amy, would you? 39:14 A complete recovery 39:17 and this is what the plan of salvation involves for us, 39:21 complete recovery from the power of Satan. 39:25 How? 39:26 Through the power of God. 39:30 God is calling His people to be sweet generous, one of a kind, 39:34 unique, the 144,000. 39:38 Now listen, Christian friend, listen to me, 39:39 there's a real danger we face here, 39:42 for when we talk about getting serious about salvation. 39:46 Very often all you need to do is listen 39:48 and that whooshing sound you hear 39:50 is the sound of well intentioned people 39:53 hurtling into legalism, 39:56 and they rush into it like lemmings 39:58 following each other off a cliff. 39:59 God does not want us to be any more legalistic. 40:04 I'll be holier if I could only eat 40:07 the right amount of almonds, all right. 40:11 I will please God if I can look 40:12 just slightly more Amish than I do. 40:16 God will be satisfied 40:17 if I recommit to my vow of misery, 40:20 the one I took when I was baptized. 40:22 No, man, that's not it. 40:24 The devil wants you to think 40:26 that a commitment to God 40:27 is commitment to self-righteousness, 40:29 it's exactly the opposite. 40:30 It is a commitment to Christ's righteousness. 40:34 God does not want you coming to Him making promises. 40:37 God wants you coming to Him believing the promises 40:41 that He has made to you. 40:43 And when we get it right side up, 40:45 nothing is gonna stop us 40:48 from leaving this earth in glory. 40:52 Praise the Lord. 40:55 You can live however you want, 40:57 but let your lifestyle be an expression 40:59 of your love for God, 41:00 not an attempt to earn the love of God. 41:03 2 Corinthians 4:6, 7, 41:05 "But God who commanded the light to shine 41:07 out of darkness, 41:09 has shined in our hearts to give or bring the light 41:11 of the knowledge of the glory of God..." 41:13 Where? "In the face of Jesus Christ. 41:16 But we have this treasure..." 41:17 Where? 41:18 "In earthen vessels, 41:20 that the excellence of the power may be of..." 41:21 Who, tell me now? "Of God and not of us." 41:26 Listen to what Malachi wrote 41:28 with direct reference to the judgment. 41:31 Malachi 3, "'Behold, I will send My messenger, 41:35 and he shall prepare the way before Me. 41:37 And the Lord, whom you seek, 41:38 shall suddenly come to His temple, 41:42 even the messenger of his covenant, 41:43 in whom you delight in. 41:45 Behold, He shall come, said the Lord of hosts. 41:47 But who may abide the day of His coming? 41:49 And who shall stand when He appeareth? 41:51 For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. 41:58 And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver 42:02 and He shall purify the sons of Levi.' 42:06 " You can hear handles Messiah, can you not? 42:08 "And purge them as gold and silver 42:11 that they may offer unto the Lord 42:13 and offering in righteousness. 42:17 God Himself is committed to preparing you for eternity. 42:22 You just got to sign up and say, "God, do Your thing." 42:28 The refiner's fire is intended to make metal purer, 42:32 fullers' soap makes things cleaner, 42:36 the purifier of gold and silver starts with something precious, 42:40 and by dint of the purification process 42:43 makes it more precious. 42:46 God's intention is to make you so precious, 42:49 you'll be a jewel in His crown. 42:52 God refines, God cleanses, 42:54 it matters not where you've been. 42:57 Once you fix your eyes on Jesus, 42:59 it's all about where you are going? 43:01 How sinful has your life been? 43:03 Oh, come on, get over yourself 43:06 and look full in His wonderful face 43:08 and believe that Jesus died for you 43:11 that Jesus can cleanse you, that Jesus can change you, 43:16 that Jesus is coming back for you. 43:22 One day, man, gravity is gonna loose its power 43:25 over the soles of your feet. 43:27 You are going up 43:30 when Jesus leaves the heavenly sanctuary. 43:32 You're not gonna sweat, you're gonna sing, 43:34 you're gonna praise, 43:35 you're gonna testify this is only good news. 43:40 And let me tell you something. 43:41 If you're planning on going to heaven, 43:44 you really already planning on sharing your faith. 43:46 This is one of the things that I so appreciate about GYC. 43:48 This is a mission oriented conference. 43:53 Serve others, serve God, 43:55 you are robbing yourself of a precious experience 44:01 when a life of service 44:02 is not a key component of your life. 44:06 Back in 1930 Percy T. Magan 44:08 wrote to the president of General Conference 44:11 Elder W. A. Spicer. 44:12 Listen, "W. K. Kellogg begged me to quit work 44:17 and join him in the corn flakes company, 44:20 which at that moment was in the process of organization. 44:22 He offered me a block of stock 44:24 then $10,000 worth at par value. 44:29 He wanted me to take charge of stocks sales 44:31 and offered me a commission of all I sold... 44:33 And give me a plan and so forth. 44:35 That $10,000 today would be worth somewhere 44:37 in the neighborhood of $1 million. 44:40 And, of course, trading on that 44:41 I would have made it probably $3 million or $4 million, 44:43 the offer was tempting." 44:47 I looked it up. 44:49 A dollar then was worth $13.75 now, 44:53 $4 million then is worth $55 million today. 44:57 Would you be tempted by $55 million? 45:01 I didn't know if Magan was tempted, 45:03 but he thought about it. 45:05 He said he went out under the old oak tree 45:07 at Berrien Springs and prayed all night long. 45:10 He said... 45:12 When my season of prayer was over, 45:13 I was convinced that God had called me 45:15 to make Adventists, not cornflakes. 45:20 Fifty five million dollars, man, 45:22 he let it go for the privilege of serving God. 45:26 That brother was committed to mission, of course, 45:27 you can be committed to mission in a business world, 45:29 you can be filthy rich and be committed to mission, 45:31 that's all right. 45:32 But as you sit here today, 45:34 you've got to be planning a future 45:35 that involves serving God and sharing your faith. 45:37 Sharing your faith with somebody, 45:39 anybody, everybody whatever God can do. 45:43 On Christmas Day in Alsberg, Germany about 40 miles 45:45 from Munich 54,000 people were evacuated 45:49 from their homes. 45:50 They found as... 45:52 Occasionally they do an unexploded bomb 45:54 from World War II. 45:56 There was so much power in that bomb 45:57 that if people didn't get out of town, 45:59 they had been blowed out of town. 46:01 They left. 46:03 That power being sitting underground untapped, 46:05 unutilized, just waiting to go boom 46:08 or waiting not to. 46:12 Man, I want it today, I really do. 46:14 God has called us to an amazing calling 46:17 and He's given us power. 46:20 I'm wondering if it's just sitting there 46:21 buried in the earth, 46:23 sitting on the bottom of the sea 46:24 are we experiencing the truth 46:26 that the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper 46:29 than any two-edged sword. 46:30 Listen to what Peter wrote, 46:32 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 46:35 who according to His abundant mercy 46:37 is begotten us again into a living hope 46:39 by the resurrection of Jesus Christ 46:41 from the dead to an inheritance, 46:42 incorruptible, undefiled that fades not away, 46:45 reserved in heaven for you, 46:47 who are kept by the power of God 46:50 through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed 46:53 in the last time." 46:55 Begotten of God, kept by the power of God. 46:58 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego 47:00 saw the power of God and when they did, 47:02 a golden statue 90 high set foot gotten 47:08 on the plain of Dura. 47:09 God's power was front and center. 47:13 They went into those flames claiming the promises of God. 47:16 Listen, man, claim the promises of God, 47:19 connect to God, appeal to God. 47:21 "Lord, I might be rotten, but if you take me, 47:24 I am connected to you." 47:27 That's all right and then let God work. 47:30 They simply made a commitment, 47:31 they could not save themselves from those flames, 47:33 they said, "God, we trust You, 47:35 You do what You want, and we'll just trust You." 47:38 Friend, we're living in the time of the judgment. 47:40 Man, that's all right, this is a time to say, 47:42 "God, we trust you." 47:44 One day Jesus is gonna leave the heavenly sanctuary, 47:47 there won't be mediator there. 47:49 Don't let your posts quicken at the thought, 47:52 other than the though of the excitement of Jesus 47:54 coming back. 47:56 "Lord, if you wanna save me, save me, come on now, 47:58 save me, Lord." 48:01 You know in recent times coming up to the election, 48:02 there were lot of fake news stories. 48:05 There's so many fake news stories 48:06 that made the news. 48:07 Pope Francis endorses Donald Trump for president, 48:10 this sort of thing. 48:12 Hillary Clinton is selling weapons to ISIS. 48:16 People believe those stories. 48:18 Those stories got like a million recognitions 48:21 on Facebook. 48:23 Can you believe it? 48:24 Fake stories, people believing a lie. 48:28 Today, friend, we can believe the truth. 48:30 The truth is that God is love. 48:31 The truth is that there is power, power, 48:34 wonder working power in the blood of the Lamb. 48:37 The truth is that God's Word is alive. 48:40 There is power in the Word of God 48:41 to transform you, and save you, and keep you, 48:45 and to present you faultless before the throne of God. 48:48 God is willing to do whatever He needs to do. 48:51 And He's waiting for you, friends, 48:52 simply to yield to Him. 48:54 Man, this is good news, 48:55 we are living close to the edge of eternity. 48:58 God could have seen to it 49:00 that you popped up on the world stage 49:02 1,000 years ago or 5,000 years ago. 49:05 But here you are so that in your life 49:08 the universe can see what God's power can really do. 49:14 It's a best ride you've ever been on. 49:17 Friend, how is it with you today? 49:19 How was it with you and God? 49:20 How was it? 49:21 Are you experiencing that power? 49:23 Do you want to experience that power? 49:25 Have you given yourself over to God 49:28 so that He can work in you 49:29 both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 49:32 Do me a favor, please stand up right 49:34 where you are, just stand up right now. 49:36 Stand up if you would, I need to speak to your heart. 49:39 I know you've heard appeals at GYC already, 49:41 so you can expect to hear another one. 49:44 Listen very carefully. 49:45 This is not general. 49:47 If you arrived here today happy in Jesus, 49:49 just stay where you are. 49:53 But if you arrived here today not in Jesus, 49:55 then you have to come forward right now. 49:57 We're gonna see to it that you and Jesus get connected. 50:00 If you've never given your heart to Christ, 50:02 come forward right now. 50:04 If you're living well outside the will of God, 50:06 and you've got to get right with God, 50:07 this is the time to come. 50:08 Don't wait, we don't have all day. 50:11 Don't wait. 50:12 Listen, specifically if you not ever be baptized, 50:15 now is your chance, 50:16 you're gonna come forward right now, 50:18 and you'll be committed to Christ 50:19 and you will make a decision right now. 50:21 Must I come? Yes, you must. 50:24 There is something powerful in coming forward 50:25 and acting on a decision made, come now, don't wait. 50:30 I'm not gonna ask a singer to come out, 50:32 I'm gonna ask you to come forward. 50:35 The choir is gonna sing in a few moments 50:38 after this appeal. 50:39 Listen, friend, Christ is inviting you 50:42 to give Him your heart. 50:43 Come forward, we have people waiting to meet you here 50:46 that will pray with you, connect you with God, 50:49 and you can leave this place 50:51 knowing that you are God's child. 50:53 Friend, are you ready to experience the power of God? 51:00 God speaks, God calls, He urges you to come. 51:06 If you've not been baptized, 51:08 I'm inviting you in Christ stead 51:10 to come forward and give your life to Christ and baptism. 51:12 I mean that God bless you man. 51:14 Meet me down here, there are others, 51:15 they're coming now. 51:17 If you've never given your life to Christ, 51:18 come now... 51:20 You don't wanna leave today saying, "Oh, wonderful, 51:22 I heard some theory about the power of God." 51:27 You can leave this place saying, 51:29 I signed up to experience the power of God 51:32 and let God truly have my life. 51:36 I'll wait. 51:38 Listen to these words, listen to this beautiful music, 51:42 and be encouraged, 51:43 and come and bring your heart to Jesus Christ, 51:46 while this song is sung, come now. 52:29 Holy words long obeyed 52:34 For our walk in this world 52:40 They resound with God's own heart 52:45 Oh, let the ancient words 52:48 Impart 52:53 Words of Life, words of Hope 52:58 Give us strength, help us cope 53:04 In this world, where e'er we roam 53:09 Ancient words will guide us Home 53:17 Ancient words ever true 53:22 Changing me, and changing you 53:27 We have come with open hearts 53:32 Oh, let the ancient words 53:35 Impart 53:45 Holy words of our Faith 53:50 Handed down to this age 53:55 Came to us through sacrifice 53:59 Oh, heed the faithful words of Christ 54:05 Martyr's blood stains each page 54:09 They have died for this faith 54:14 Hear them cry through the years 54:19 Oh, heed these words and hold them dear 54:24 Ancient words ever true 54:29 Changing me, and changing you 54:34 We have come with open hearts 54:39 Oh, let the ancient words 54:42 Impart 54:48 Ancient words ever true 54:56 Changing me, and changing you 55:03 Everyday our hearts renew 55:09 Hold us and change us 55:12 through and through 55:19 We have come with open hearts 55:25 Oh, let the ancient words 55:28 Impart 55:32 We have come 55:34 With open hearts 55:40 Oh, let the ancient words 55:47 Impart 56:05 Come on, now, let's pray together. 56:08 Let's pray. Let's bow our heads together. 56:09 Father in heaven, 56:12 You have called us 56:15 on to the stage of this world 56:19 for such a time as this, 56:25 to be vessels of Your goodness, 56:28 demonstrations of Your power. 56:33 We know, Lord, there is no goodness, 56:36 no power in us, 56:39 and we thank You for Your plan 56:41 that Jesus would live His life in us. 56:47 Lord, let it be so 56:49 those who have given their hearts to You fully 56:52 during this convention, bless them. 56:55 Those who have come forward today, keep them. 56:59 Let life begin again in Christ, 57:04 a life that will extend to the sea of glass 57:07 and to an earth made new. 57:11 We offer You ourselves. 57:14 We thank You that You would take us as we are. 57:17 Keep us Lord please. 57:20 We know that this great judgment 57:21 will not last indefinitely. 57:24 When it comes to an end, 57:26 find us kept by Your Spirit settled into truth, 57:29 connected to you one with our Savior Jesus. 57:35 In Jesus' name we pray. 57:37 Please say, amen. |
Revised 2017-08-20