Good evening, everyone.
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I trust that the Lord
has blessed you today, amen?
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The Word of God says, "O taste
and see that the Lord is good."
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And I want to tell you,
brothers and sisters, tonight,
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I have never tasted
and I have never seen
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anything better than God.
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In my personal time of
developing the presentations
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for GYC, it has been a
special time that I've had
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together with the Lord.
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And I covet this same
experience for each one of you.
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I believe that the
Lord has another blessing
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for us here this evening.
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And I have made the decision
that the Sabbath is going to end
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when I'm done preaching.
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Is that okay?
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We're going to linger.
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I know the sun has set,
but we're going to linger
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on that beautiful
blessing that God has given
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to us on the Sabbath.
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Would you bow your heads
with me as we begin this evening
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with a brief word of prayer?
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Merciful God and
ever loving Father,
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we come to you tonight
with a desire in our hearts
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to hear a message from You.
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Lord, we have our Bibles in our
hands and we have minds that are
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willing to hear the Holy
Spirit speak to us tonight.
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So Lord, send the presence
of Your Spirit here, I pray.
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And may we be blessed as
we linger in Your presence.
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For we ask it in
Jesus' name, amen.
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How is the subject of
the judgment relevant to a
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GYC attendee tomorrow?
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They get in their
car, they get on a plane,
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and travel back home.
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How is the subject of
the investigative judgment
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relevant to you on Monday
when you go back to school
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or work, or whatever it
is that you start on Monday?
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How is the subject of
the judgment relevant to you
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when you go about
your business around town
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or taking care of various
tasks in your daily life?
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How is the judgment
relevant in our everyday life?
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Today, by God's grace,
I want to share with you
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something from the Bible
that I believe will help us
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to see the relevance
of this subject today
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in the time that
we are living in.
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Its practical
application, if you will.
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As I have studied this out
in my personal preparation time,
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this has been a subject that
has challenged me to my core.
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I pray that the
challenge is the same for you.
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The subject of passage that
has been chosen for the theme of
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this great convention,
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14,
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again I repeat, the Bible says,
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"Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter:
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Fear God, and
keep his commandments:
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for this is the
whole duty of man.
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For God shall bring
every work into judgment,
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with every secret
thing, whether it be good,
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or whether it be evil."
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We're familiar with the passage.
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And maybe passages like
this perhaps leave you feeling
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a little helpless and hopeless.
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Maybe passages like this
make you feel like you are
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never going to make it
into the kingdom of heaven.
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The thought of your entire life
in all of its hideous details
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being reviewed by
somebody, it makes you shudder
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when you think about it.
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Yet the fact still
remains that the Bible tells us
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there is a time of judgment.
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And we are
living in it right now.
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I fear that for some of us, when
we read passages such as this in
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Ecclesiastes chapter 12,
that when we think about it,
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that we cross our fingers
in hope that maybe we might
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just happen to slide
through and make it through
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on the time of judgment.
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That maybe we hope that if
we do something good enough
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that God will
recognize that good deed
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and will take it and
allow us to make it through
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on the time of judgment.
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Now I'm here to
tell you this evening
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that the Word of God offers
something better than luck.
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That the Word of God
offers something better
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than just chance.
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And I want to share with you
a passage of scripture that has
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spoken to my heart.
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And I invite you to turn
there with me if you would
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to the book of 1 John 4, and
we're going to look at verse 17.
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1 John 4, and we're
going to look at verse 17.
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Beautiful passage
of scripture here.
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The Word of God says this:
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"Herein is our love made
perfect, that we may have
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boldness in the day of judgment:
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because as he is, so
are we in this world."
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The question I want to ask
you is, can I have boldness
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in the day of
judgment, yes or no?
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There is no question about it.
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The Word of God tells us
that we don't have to cower
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at the time of judgment,
but that we can have boldness.
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In fact, in the Greek
it tends to give the idea
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of cheerful courage in
the time of the judgment,
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or confidence in
the time of judgment.
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When our cases are
brought in review before God
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we can have hopeful
expectation that by God's grace
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working in and through
us that we can be found
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as conquerors
in the eyes of God.
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We can have boldness
in the day of judgment.
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Now the question then is,
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how do I have boldness
in the day of judgment?
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This is a great question.
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How can I have that
cheerful expectation,
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that cheerful
courage, that confidence
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on the day of judgment
when I know that my records
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are going to be reviewed?
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How do I get that, preacher?
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Well go back to the
text with me, if you would.
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And let's let it plainly
speak to us this evening.
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The Bible says, "Herein
is our love made perfect,
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that we may have boldness
in the day of judgment."
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Don't miss it, the Bible
tells us that our boldness
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in the day of judgment comes
by having our love perfected.
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So then the question is,
how do I have my love perfected?
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Let's just let the
Bible continue to speak to us
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here this evening.
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In verse 12 of the same
chapter, going up a few verses,
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the Bible tells us this:
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"No man hath
seen God at any time.
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If we love one another," listen
to this, "God dwelleth in us,
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and his love
is..." What, everybody?
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"...his perfected
in us," the Bible says.
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Don't miss it. How
is our love perfected?
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It is perfected when we
allow God to give us love,
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not just for Him,
but for our fellow
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brothers and sisters in Christ.
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There's no question
about it, the Bible is clear.
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It is not necessary for us to be
fearful in the time of judgment.
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In fact, in this
very chapter of 1 John 4,
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John tells us that
perfect love casts out...
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Finish it for me.
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All fear.
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We can have
boldness, confidence,
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in the day of judgment when
our cases are brought before God
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if we have that perfected love
for God and for one another.
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Now I want to give you
a snapshot of what this
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looks like in the Bible.
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You have your Bibles,
so go with me if you would
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to Matthew the 25th chapter.
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Matthew the 25th chapter,
and here we will see a snapshot
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from our Savior Himself
that He is going to give us
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of what this perfected
love, what this pure love,
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what this divine love, what
the love of Jesus looks like
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in practical manifestation.
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Again we're looking at,
how can I have confidence
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in the day of judgment?
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By having my love perfected.
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What does that look like?
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Matthew chapter 25 and
we're looking at verse 31.
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We'll begin in verse 31.
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The Bible says this:
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"When the Son of man
shall come in his glory,
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and all the holy angels
with him, then shall he sit
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upon the throne of his glory.
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And before him shall
be gathered all nations:
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and he shall separate
them one from another,
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as a shepherd divideth
his sheep from the goats."
00:10:07.40\00:10:11.47
Verse 33, "And he shall set
the sheep on his right hand,
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and the goats on his left."
00:10:15.88\00:10:18.28
When Christ comes
there will be two groups.
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There will be the
converted and the unconverted.
00:10:21.32\00:10:23.89
There will be no middle ground.
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Verse 34, "Then shall the King
say unto them on his right hand,
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'Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom
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prepared for you from the
foundation of the world.'"
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How many of you here
tonight want to hear Jesus
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say that to you, amen?
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Lord Jesus, please let
that be what you say to me.
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"Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom
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prepared for you from
the foundation of the world."
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Verse 35, "For..."
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So He's giving the
reason why they can inherit
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the kingdom of God.
00:11:07.06\00:11:08.40
"'For I was an
hungered, and ye gave me meat:
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I was thirsty,
and ye gave me drink:
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I was a stranger,
and ye took me in:
00:11:16.37\00:11:18.37
Naked, and ye clothed me: I
was sick, and ye visited me:
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I was in prison,
and ye came unto me.'
00:11:21.18\00:11:23.91
Then shall the
righteous answer him, saying,
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'Lord, when saw we thee
an hungered, and fed thee?
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Or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
00:11:30.09\00:11:31.72
When saw we thee a
stranger, and took thee in?
00:11:31.75\00:11:34.42
Or naked, and clothed thee?
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Or when saw we thee sick, or
in prison, and came unto thee?'
00:11:35.86\00:11:40.33
And the King
answered and said unto them,
00:11:40.36\00:11:42.93
'Verily I say unto you,
insomuch as ye have done it unto
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one of the least of
these my brethren...'"
00:11:46.77\00:11:49.10
What does it say?
00:11:49.14\00:11:50.47
"...ye have done it unto me."
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Now don't miss it.
00:11:52.44\00:11:53.78
Why do the righteous
inherit the kingdom of heaven?
00:11:53.81\00:11:57.15
It is obvious that the righteous
have done a lot of good things.
00:11:57.71\00:12:02.72
It is obvious that the righteous
have done a lot of things right.
00:12:03.08\00:12:07.92
But when it all comes down
to it, when Jesus boils it down,
00:12:08.32\00:12:12.86
He puts His
finger on one reason.
00:12:12.89\00:12:16.06
And the reason that He points
to is that they have ministered
00:12:16.97\00:12:22.64
to Him through ministering to
the needs of those around them.
00:12:22.67\00:12:28.81
I would submit to you tonight
that the overarching reason
00:12:28.91\00:12:32.95
is that they have had
the character of Christ
00:12:32.98\00:12:36.25
perfected in their lives.
00:12:36.52\00:12:38.25
And that character of Christ
is not just a theoretical thing,
00:12:38.75\00:12:42.66
but it is seen in the expression
and the actions of their life;
00:12:42.69\00:12:47.03
how they help those around them.
00:12:47.06\00:12:50.70
Those who inherit
the kingdom of God,
00:12:56.37\00:12:58.27
listen to me carefully, they do
not have a theoretical religion.
00:12:59.44\00:13:02.84
It's not just here.
00:13:04.95\00:13:06.28
But it's in their
life, it's how they live.
00:13:07.08\00:13:09.68
In the book of James, James
chapter 1, the Bible tells us,
00:13:09.72\00:13:12.79
"Pure religion and undefiled
before God and the Father
00:13:12.92\00:13:16.52
is this: to visit the fatherless
and widows in their affliction,
00:13:16.56\00:13:23.13
and to keep himself
unspotted from the world."
00:13:23.16\00:13:28.90
The religion of the
righteous compels them
00:13:29.44\00:13:32.27
to works of benevolence; meeting
the needs of those around them.
00:13:32.47\00:13:38.35
The word for, "love," in
1 John, the perfected love,
00:13:39.35\00:13:42.68
is the word, "agape."
00:13:42.72\00:13:44.22
You're familiar with
it, you've heard it before.
00:13:44.79\00:13:46.49
But recently I've
dug into this subject
00:13:46.52\00:13:50.03
that is very familiar to us.
00:13:50.06\00:13:52.19
And what I have
found in my study of agape
00:13:52.23\00:13:54.93
has really been mind-blowing.
00:13:54.96\00:13:56.97
And this is what
Jesus is describing here
00:13:57.00\00:13:59.17
in Matthew chapter 25.
00:13:59.20\00:14:00.80
He is describing in an
example, in vivid terms,
00:14:00.84\00:14:05.07
what agape looks like.
00:14:05.11\00:14:07.48
You see, agape is not
something that we as humans
00:14:08.31\00:14:12.71
see very often.
00:14:12.75\00:14:14.35
Human love is something
that has to be reciprocated.
00:14:14.55\00:14:18.35
You give somebody love,
they give love back to you.
00:14:18.39\00:14:21.02
And therefore, that love exists.
00:14:21.06\00:14:22.99
Often times when the
other party ceases to love you,
00:14:23.02\00:14:27.40
that love begins to grow
cold unless it is agape love.
00:14:27.43\00:14:31.70
Because agape love is a
special kind of love that can
00:14:31.73\00:14:35.24
stand on its own without
needing to be reciprocated to.
00:14:35.27\00:14:39.31
That's why Jesus was able to
make statements such as this,
00:14:40.51\00:14:43.75
"Love your enemies."
00:14:43.78\00:14:46.82
Do your enemies
reciprocate that love?
00:14:47.65\00:14:49.28
Absolutely not.
But that's agape.
00:14:49.32\00:14:51.49
When you see the love of
God, when you see the love of
00:14:51.89\00:14:54.99
God the Father, He
loved the world so much,
00:14:55.02\00:14:58.06
He loved the world so
much that it compelled Him
00:14:58.09\00:15:02.30
to do what He could
to redeem fallen man.
00:15:02.33\00:15:05.47
And this is what
Jesus is describing here
00:15:05.50\00:15:08.90
in Matthew chapter 25.
00:15:08.94\00:15:10.47
He is describing
what agape looks like.
00:15:10.51\00:15:13.17
That God's people in the
last days that are living in the
00:15:13.21\00:15:16.48
hour of God's
judgment, they will be compelled
00:15:16.51\00:15:19.71
to works of charity
because the character of Christ
00:15:19.75\00:15:22.95
is in them.
00:15:22.98\00:15:24.42
I love this statement from 9
Manuscript Releases, page 128.
00:15:29.22\00:15:34.26
Listen to it
carefully. It's a one liner.
00:15:34.30\00:15:36.00
She says, "A loving,
lovable Christian..."
00:15:38.23\00:15:42.40
What kind of
Christian, everybody?
00:15:42.44\00:15:43.81
Now listen to me carefully.
00:15:45.04\00:15:46.37
It's one thing to be loving.
00:15:47.14\00:15:49.11
It's another
thing to be lovable.
00:15:52.11\00:15:53.98
Come on now. Amen?
00:15:55.28\00:15:56.62
"A loving, lovable
Christian," listen to this,
00:15:57.39\00:16:01.36
"is the most powerful
argument in favor of the truth."
00:16:01.39\00:16:06.73
Let the people of God say amen.
00:16:07.90\00:16:09.80
"A loving, lovable
Christian is the most powerful
00:16:10.37\00:16:13.97
argument in favor of the truth."
00:16:14.00\00:16:15.47
And I want to tell you tonight
that the world is starving
00:16:15.50\00:16:19.31
for a
manifestation of this today.
00:16:19.34\00:16:21.54
All around us the world
is looking for a religion
00:16:23.14\00:16:27.45
that is not
theoretical, but is experienced
00:16:27.48\00:16:30.72
in somebody's life.
00:16:30.75\00:16:32.22
That the knowledge that they
have has taken such deep root
00:16:32.25\00:16:35.52
in their hearts that it becomes
who they are and how they act.
00:16:35.56\00:16:39.63
It's befuddling to me that
much of the charitable work
00:16:40.50\00:16:45.73
that is done in the
world is done by Gentiles.
00:16:45.77\00:16:51.24
Kind of fits the
story of the good Samaritan,
00:16:53.17\00:16:54.84
doesn't it,
brothers and sisters?
00:16:54.88\00:16:56.21
And I praise the Lord for those,
quote unquote, "Gentiles,"
00:16:57.81\00:17:02.05
that are doing the
work of benevolence.
00:17:02.28\00:17:04.45
I praise the Lord for their
work to try to lift up humanity.
00:17:05.05\00:17:09.02
But shame on us.
00:17:09.06\00:17:11.96
The world is looking for a
demonstration of the character
00:17:14.93\00:17:19.10
of Christ in His people.
00:17:19.13\00:17:20.64
The story goes on.
00:17:21.27\00:17:22.60
Verse 41, the Bible says this:
00:17:23.44\00:17:25.27
"Then shall he say also
unto them on the left hand,
00:17:26.78\00:17:29.94
'Depart from me, ye
cursed, into everlasting fire,
00:17:30.35\00:17:33.42
prepared for the
devil and his angels.'"
00:17:33.45\00:17:35.45
These people must have
done something pretty bad.
00:17:35.48\00:17:37.45
Verse 42, "For..." Or because.
00:17:39.15\00:17:42.76
This is the reason why.
00:17:42.79\00:17:44.13
"'...I was an hungered,
and ye gave me no meat:
00:17:44.59\00:17:47.63
I was thirsty, and
ye gave me no drink:
00:17:47.66\00:17:50.37
I was a stranger,
and ye took me not in:
00:17:50.40\00:17:53.34
naked, and ye clothed me not:
00:17:53.37\00:17:55.74
sick, and in prison,
and ye visited me not.'
00:17:55.77\00:17:58.74
Then shall they
also answer him, saying,
00:17:58.77\00:18:01.54
'Lord, when saw we thee
an hungered, or athirst,
00:18:01.58\00:18:04.95
or a stranger, or
naked, or sick, or in prison,
00:18:04.98\00:18:08.18
and did not
minister unto thee?'"
00:18:08.22\00:18:09.55
It's almost like they
said, "Lord, if we had known
00:18:09.58\00:18:12.19
it was You, that we
would have done something."
00:18:12.22\00:18:17.46
Verse 45, then Jesus says,
"Then shall he answer them,
00:18:20.56\00:18:24.47
saying, 'Verily I say unto you,
inasmuch as ye have done it not
00:18:24.50\00:18:29.10
to one of the least of
these, ye did it not to me.'"
00:18:29.40\00:18:35.41
And we want to hit the
delete button on verse 46.
00:18:35.68\00:18:38.48
But we don't do that.
00:18:39.71\00:18:41.05
The Bible says, "And these
shall go away into everlasting
00:18:41.62\00:18:45.35
punishment: but the
righteous into life eternal."
00:18:45.39\00:18:51.06
That's a promise.
00:18:52.19\00:18:53.53
That is a promise.
00:18:54.43\00:18:55.76
Why did the goats
lose out on heaven?
00:18:56.43\00:18:58.30
Notice that Jesus
did not list all of the
00:18:58.33\00:19:00.44
bad things that they did.
00:19:00.47\00:19:01.80
Of course they did bad things.
00:19:01.84\00:19:03.17
But Jesus does not list those
bad things that they have done.
00:19:03.41\00:19:06.88
What Jesus does is, He
goes to the heart of the issue.
00:19:07.21\00:19:10.51
He doesn't talk
about what they did.
00:19:10.55\00:19:14.68
He talks about
what they did not do.
00:19:14.72\00:19:16.85
And He says,
"This is the reason why.
00:19:17.72\00:19:20.02
Because those around
you that were in need,
00:19:20.29\00:19:23.76
you did not reach out
to them and help them."
00:19:24.69\00:19:27.30
Listen to this from
the book, Desire of Ages.
00:19:28.33\00:19:30.00
This is Ellen White's
commentary on this story.
00:19:30.03\00:19:33.23
The very beginning part
of the chapter she says this:
00:19:33.27\00:19:36.10
"Thus Christ on the Mount of
Olives pictured to His disciples
00:19:36.14\00:19:39.74
the scenes of
the great judgment."
00:19:39.77\00:19:42.98
What is the scene
here in Matthew 25?
00:19:43.01\00:19:45.15
The great judgment.
00:19:45.65\00:19:46.98
"And He represented..."
00:19:48.32\00:19:49.65
Don't miss this point.
Listen to me carefully.
00:19:49.68\00:19:51.72
"And He represented its decision
as turning upon one point."
00:19:51.75\00:19:59.03
Did you catch the
significance of that?
00:20:00.53\00:20:02.23
"...turning upon one point.
00:20:03.10\00:20:05.03
When the nations
are gathered before Him,
00:20:05.23\00:20:08.54
there will be but two classes,
and their eternal destiny
00:20:08.74\00:20:13.21
will be determined by what
they have done or have neglected
00:20:13.24\00:20:17.11
to do for Him in the person
of the poor and the suffering."
00:20:17.15\00:20:21.68
Tell me, brothers and sisters,
this is important stuff here.
00:20:22.78\00:20:26.15
She's telling us that
when it comes to the judgment,
00:20:26.19\00:20:29.39
it is hinging on
this one thing here;
00:20:29.42\00:20:32.56
that those who minister to
the poor or who do not minister
00:20:32.59\00:20:37.40
to the poor, it is
hinging upon this point.
00:20:37.43\00:20:40.34
The implications of
this parable are explosive.
00:20:40.67\00:20:44.11
The one point that the
whole judgment turns on
00:20:44.14\00:20:47.38
is the point that will
determine the destiny of
00:20:47.41\00:20:49.64
every person in the world.
00:20:49.68\00:20:51.08
It is how much I have
cared for Christ in the person
00:20:51.28\00:20:55.15
of the suffering and the poor.
00:20:55.35\00:20:57.65
Simply put it is, have they had
agape perfected in their hearts?
00:20:57.69\00:21:04.56
Have they had the character
of Christ in their lives?
00:21:05.06\00:21:09.90
Listen, the righteous, what they
did will reveal what they had.
00:21:11.33\00:21:16.97
And what they had is
the character of Jesus.
00:21:19.24\00:21:24.08
And it was seen
in what they did.
00:21:24.35\00:21:27.72
How many times have you
walked past a homeless person
00:21:29.68\00:21:33.86
in your life, and maybe
here while you were at GYC?
00:21:34.66\00:21:38.73
How often have you soothed your
conscience with the thought,
00:21:40.56\00:21:44.03
"Well if I gave him
some money to help him out,
00:21:44.07\00:21:46.94
he would probably
just waste it anyways."
00:21:46.97\00:21:49.54
I remember not too long
ago, 2015, when I was in
00:21:51.07\00:21:54.01
San Antonio, Texas for the
General Conference session.
00:21:54.04\00:21:57.58
What a tremendous
privilege it was to be there.
00:21:59.25\00:22:01.82
But in the area where I
was staying while I was there,
00:22:02.35\00:22:05.52
there were a large number of
homeless and downcast people.
00:22:05.55\00:22:09.92
I would drive past in my
truck with all of the things
00:22:10.63\00:22:14.16
to keep me comfortable,
and the food to keep me fed,
00:22:14.20\00:22:17.83
clothes to keep me warm.
00:22:17.87\00:22:19.57
And I would drive right
past them, my heart would go out
00:22:19.60\00:22:22.94
in sympathy, but I did
not lift so much as a finger
00:22:22.97\00:22:26.47
to relieve their suffering.
00:22:26.51\00:22:28.11
And as I walked past
those poor, downcast people,
00:22:28.74\00:22:32.71
today I realize
that I walked past Jesus,
00:22:32.75\00:22:37.69
and an
opportunity to minister to Him
00:22:39.32\00:22:42.12
in the person of the poor.
00:22:42.52\00:22:44.06
When GYC comes to Houston,
the homeless and the downtrodden
00:22:45.66\00:22:50.83
should know about it.
00:22:50.87\00:22:52.20
They should know
that the people of God
00:22:52.57\00:22:54.30
have descended upon the
city because of the expression
00:22:54.34\00:22:58.31
of Christ's
character in their lives.
00:22:58.34\00:23:00.94
So I ask you this evening,
00:23:04.45\00:23:05.95
if your name was to come
up in the judgment right now,
00:23:09.05\00:23:12.99
based on what Jesus
has told us in Matthew 25
00:23:15.09\00:23:18.63
what would be the outcome?
00:23:18.66\00:23:20.00
Only you know.
00:23:20.90\00:23:22.23
But I think as uncomfortable as
a question like that makes us,
00:23:23.06\00:23:26.63
it is worth us taking a
moment to reflect upon that.
00:23:26.67\00:23:30.31
Because Jesus here is
clearly outlining what it is
00:23:30.34\00:23:33.78
that He is looking for in
His people when He comes back.
00:23:33.81\00:23:36.68
It's not the works, but it's
His character inside of them
00:23:36.71\00:23:40.22
that is manifested in the works.
00:23:40.25\00:23:42.65
Don't misunderstand
me here this evening.
00:23:43.99\00:23:45.82
We are not saved by our works.
00:23:47.22\00:23:49.12
We believe that we are
saved by grace through faith.
00:23:49.16\00:23:52.93
But we all understand
that the salvation that Christ
00:23:54.06\00:23:57.20
gives to us is manifested
in the works of our life.
00:23:57.23\00:24:01.10
But to be perfectly honest
with you here this evening,
00:24:01.14\00:24:03.64
sometimes I wonder if
we wished that the judgment
00:24:03.67\00:24:07.28
would hinge on how much
knowledge we have in our head.
00:24:07.31\00:24:10.08
Sometimes I wonder if
we wished that the judgment
00:24:11.18\00:24:14.95
would hinge upon how
much work we have done,
00:24:14.98\00:24:20.06
how many Bible
studies we have given,
00:24:20.26\00:24:22.02
how much Scriptural
knowledge we have in our head,
00:24:22.06\00:24:24.63
how many summers
we have colporteured,
00:24:24.66\00:24:27.16
how many souls
we have won to God.
00:24:27.20\00:24:29.83
Now don't get me
wrong, brothers and sisters.
00:24:29.86\00:24:32.23
I'm not preaching
a social gospel here.
00:24:33.00\00:24:35.47
I dedicated years of my
life to public evangelism.
00:24:36.87\00:24:40.81
And I believe in that work.
00:24:40.84\00:24:43.01
It is
important, it must be done.
00:24:43.04\00:24:45.25
God has given us
a gospel commission.
00:24:45.28\00:24:47.65
But in Matthew 25, when Jesus
separates the sheep and goats,
00:24:47.68\00:24:52.69
Jesus doesn't point to that.
00:24:52.72\00:24:54.39
He points to the manifestation
of His character in His people
00:24:54.49\00:24:59.09
being revealed in the
works that they have done
00:24:59.13\00:25:01.96
in helping the
poor and the needy.
00:25:02.00\00:25:04.23
Too often I think...
00:25:12.24\00:25:13.74
...that our church is
kind of an "either/or."
00:25:15.64\00:25:18.98
We either do evangelism
or we do community outreach.
00:25:19.85\00:25:24.82
And I don't think it
should be an "either/or."
00:25:26.59\00:25:28.29
I think it
should be a "both/and."
00:25:28.32\00:25:30.76
Amen?
00:25:30.79\00:25:32.13
And I think when we
choose between one or the other
00:25:32.89\00:25:35.83
it weakens our witness.
00:25:36.10\00:25:39.00
If we take the two of
them together, as Jesus did,
00:25:39.30\00:25:42.84
I believe that we would see
results in our public evangelism
00:25:42.87\00:25:46.74
that are explosive.
00:25:46.78\00:25:48.81
When you look at Acts 2,
all of those thousands of people
00:25:49.54\00:25:52.91
that were baptized in one day
as a result of Peter's preaching
00:25:52.95\00:25:57.25
under the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit, often times
00:25:57.29\00:26:00.26
Peter is the one that
gets the credit for that.
00:26:00.29\00:26:02.02
But we know that harvest came
from the seeds that were sown
00:26:02.06\00:26:06.93
by Jesus in His three and a
half years of earthly ministry.
00:26:07.13\00:26:10.20
And that as those seeds
were sown, they brought forth
00:26:12.17\00:26:15.30
a bountiful harvest
when the Pentecost came
00:26:15.34\00:26:19.44
and the latter rain fell.
00:26:19.47\00:26:20.98
And brothers and sisters,
how many seeds are we sowing
00:26:21.01\00:26:24.21
so that when the latter rain
falls we can have an outpouring
00:26:24.25\00:26:28.08
of the Holy Spirit that
will bring a bountiful harvest
00:26:28.12\00:26:31.95
to the glory of God?
00:26:31.99\00:26:33.52
Now is the time to
be sowing those seeds.
00:26:34.26\00:26:37.33
Listen to this, That I
May Know Him, page 334.
00:26:38.36\00:26:42.23
Listen carefully.
00:26:44.53\00:26:45.87
"When the cases of all
come in review before God..."
00:26:45.93\00:26:49.07
That's the judgment.
00:26:49.67\00:26:51.01
"...the question, 'What did
they profess?' is never asked,
00:26:51.94\00:26:58.05
but, 'What have they done?'"
00:26:59.51\00:27:01.58
Let me read that one more time.
00:27:02.62\00:27:03.95
"When the cases of all
come in review before God,
00:27:04.05\00:27:06.49
the question, 'What did
they profess?' is never asked,
00:27:06.52\00:27:09.72
but, 'What have they done?'"
00:27:09.76\00:27:11.09
And she clarifies what she
means by, "What they have done."
00:27:11.13\00:27:13.29
"Have they been
doers of the Word?
00:27:13.50\00:27:15.73
Have they lived for themselves
or have they been exercised
00:27:15.76\00:27:19.50
in works of benevolence,
in deeds of kindness,
00:27:19.53\00:27:22.64
in love preferring
others before themselves,
00:27:22.67\00:27:26.04
and denying themselves
that they might bless others?"
00:27:26.07\00:27:30.81
And here's the
promise. I love promises.
00:27:32.85\00:27:34.78
"If..." "If..."
00:27:35.05\00:27:36.55
"If the record shows...
self-denial and benevolence,
00:27:36.58\00:27:41.72
they will receive
the blessed assurance
00:27:41.76\00:27:45.29
and benediction from
Christ, 'Well done.'"
00:27:45.33\00:27:49.93
Amen.
00:27:51.37\00:27:52.70
If they have showed
self-denial and benevolence,
00:27:53.34\00:27:58.67
that's what they will hear
come from the lips of Jesus.
00:27:58.97\00:28:01.84
It's the character of
Christ practically manifested
00:28:01.88\00:28:05.71
in the life of His people.
00:28:05.75\00:28:07.58
Now I don't want to
dwell on this too much,
00:28:07.62\00:28:09.12
but I cannot skip over it.
00:28:09.15\00:28:10.69
The stakes are too high.
00:28:10.72\00:28:12.65
Jesus clearly tells
us why it is what He says
00:28:12.69\00:28:17.99
to those who
neglect the poor and needy.
00:28:18.03\00:28:20.16
He says to them,
"Depart from Me, ye cursed,
00:28:20.20\00:28:23.10
into everlasting fire, prepared
for the devil and his angels."
00:28:23.13\00:28:27.10
Those who find themselves in
hellfire will find themselves
00:28:27.14\00:28:30.61
there for many reasons.
00:28:30.64\00:28:31.97
But Jesus puts His
finger on one of those reasons.
00:28:32.01\00:28:34.41
And He says it's because they
neglected to help those in need.
00:28:34.44\00:28:39.35
They were more
concerned about themselves
00:28:39.38\00:28:42.52
than they were
about other people.
00:28:43.32\00:28:44.85
And I want to tell you something
tonight, brothers and sisters.
00:28:45.35\00:28:47.19
I think there will be
some people in that group
00:28:47.22\00:28:48.72
that have a lot of
sound theology in their heads.
00:28:48.76\00:28:51.29
But that sound theology
didn't do much to change
00:28:54.33\00:28:56.60
the way they lived their lives.
00:28:56.63\00:28:58.03
On the other hand,
why do the righteous
00:29:00.64\00:29:02.77
help the poor and the needy?
00:29:03.24\00:29:04.77
Why is it that they are
willing to spend of their time
00:29:05.61\00:29:08.51
and their energy to relieve
the suffering of humanity?
00:29:08.54\00:29:11.78
It is because
Christ's character is in them
00:29:11.81\00:29:14.88
and they cannot do anything
else but what Jesus did.
00:29:14.92\00:29:18.32
That's why. Simply put.
00:29:19.25\00:29:21.09
After all, didn't
Jesus feed the hungry?
00:29:22.42\00:29:26.59
Didn't Jesus visit the sick?
00:29:27.86\00:29:29.86
Give water to the thirsty?
00:29:29.90\00:29:31.50
The gospels are full to
overflowing with examples
00:29:31.93\00:29:36.47
of Jesus' life, examples
of Jesus' acts of benevolence
00:29:36.50\00:29:41.04
and love to those
that He ministered to.
00:29:41.08\00:29:44.08
We know from the gospels
that Jesus spent more time
00:29:46.15\00:29:49.25
ministering to the needs of
people than He did preaching.
00:29:49.68\00:29:52.75
Yet for some reason today
we think we need to preach
00:29:54.12\00:29:56.73
to people more than
we need to help them.
00:29:56.76\00:29:58.53
Lord have mercy on us.
00:29:58.99\00:30:00.66
What ever happened to
following Christ's method alone
00:30:01.56\00:30:04.80
for true success, where the
servant of the Lord tells us
00:30:04.83\00:30:09.47
that He mingled with them,
00:30:12.24\00:30:16.44
that He showed them
sympathy, and that He ministered
00:30:17.05\00:30:21.82
to their needs and
won their confidence.
00:30:21.85\00:30:24.15
And then He bade
them, "Follow Me."
00:30:24.19\00:30:28.42
What ever happened to
following Christ's method alone?
00:30:28.76\00:30:31.26
Listen, I have heard
this quote so many times
00:30:31.29\00:30:34.40
in connection with soul winning.
00:30:34.43\00:30:36.06
But I've recently
begun to think to myself,
00:30:36.10\00:30:38.43
do we really believe
what that passage says
00:30:38.47\00:30:41.14
or are we only
paying it lip service?
00:30:41.17\00:30:43.57
We like the idea of
bidding people to follow Him,
00:30:44.41\00:30:47.94
but we don't spend
much time, energy, and means
00:30:47.98\00:30:51.45
in the preparatory work.
00:30:51.48\00:30:53.08
We leave that to the
little old ladies in our
00:30:54.52\00:30:56.18
church to take care of.
00:30:56.22\00:30:57.72
If some refugees
moved into your town,
00:31:03.02\00:31:07.26
or enrolled into your school,
would you go out of your way to
00:31:08.16\00:31:12.17
make friends with those people
who are socially outcasts?
00:31:12.20\00:31:16.14
If a dirty homeless man
showed up at your church
00:31:19.21\00:31:23.75
on a communion Sabbath,
would you be the one that
00:31:23.78\00:31:27.58
walked up to him and said, "Hey,
brother, can I wash your feet?"
00:31:27.62\00:31:30.32
Tonight I want to
ask you a question.
00:31:34.46\00:31:36.49
As you leave GYC,
can Jesus say of you,
00:31:38.96\00:31:44.20
"I was hungry, and
Jason gave Me meat.
00:31:46.10\00:31:51.27
I was thirsty,
and he gave Me drink.
00:31:51.31\00:31:55.08
I was a stranger,
and he took Me in."
00:31:55.11\00:31:58.21
Oh we don't like that one.
00:31:58.25\00:31:59.58
We don't like
strangers in our house.
00:31:59.61\00:32:00.95
"Naked, and he clothed Me.
00:32:02.22\00:32:03.99
I was sick, and he visited Me.
00:32:04.02\00:32:06.15
I was in prison,
and he came unto Me."
00:32:06.19\00:32:09.29
I am certain that there are
people in our great denomination
00:32:09.32\00:32:13.60
who Jesus could say this to.
00:32:13.80\00:32:15.73
I praise the
Lord for those people.
00:32:16.33\00:32:17.97
Keep on working.
00:32:18.17\00:32:19.50
I know you're in the
trenches and it's difficult.
00:32:19.53\00:32:21.87
It's a difficult work,
but keep going forward.
00:32:21.97\00:32:25.31
Because this is the
work that Jesus did.
00:32:25.34\00:32:28.01
And it will bring great
harvests to our church one day.
00:32:28.41\00:32:32.81
However, I fear that
this is not the majority.
00:32:35.15\00:32:37.85
There is a
growing concern in my mind
00:32:38.49\00:32:41.06
that we as a people have come
to believe that our entire work
00:32:42.79\00:32:48.00
is evangelism.
00:32:48.03\00:32:49.63
And I always have
to qualify myself,
00:32:50.37\00:32:52.00
less somebody misunderstand me.
00:32:52.03\00:32:53.70
I believe in evangelism.
00:32:53.74\00:32:56.10
I do it in my churches.
00:32:56.84\00:32:58.21
I've dedicated my life to it.
00:32:58.24\00:33:00.04
I believe in evangelism.
00:33:00.08\00:33:03.65
However, brothers and sisters,
the reality of it is this:
00:33:06.65\00:33:10.35
You can do
evangelism and still be selfish.
00:33:10.95\00:33:13.49
You can do literature
evangelism and still be selfish.
00:33:16.52\00:33:19.89
You'll be more
effective if you're not.
00:33:19.93\00:33:21.83
But you can do it
and still be selfish.
00:33:23.60\00:33:25.57
But I want to tell
you something tonight.
00:33:25.87\00:33:27.37
What Jesus is telling us
here in Matthew chapter 25,
00:33:27.40\00:33:30.01
this is a very
difficult work to do selfishly.
00:33:30.21\00:33:33.54
If all that our work
is is public evangelism,
00:33:38.18\00:33:41.65
and that is definitely
an important part of it,
00:33:41.95\00:33:44.19
but if that is all we
do, if that is where we stop
00:33:44.35\00:33:46.82
and we don't go where
Jesus is taking us tonight,
00:33:46.86\00:33:49.46
then when Jesus comes
in the clouds of heaven
00:33:49.66\00:33:51.59
He will not be
able to say to you,
00:33:51.63\00:33:53.16
"I was hungry,
and you gave Me meat.
00:33:53.19\00:33:55.23
I was thirsty, and
you gave Me drink."
00:33:55.26\00:33:57.57
Preaching the gospel is
important, but never to the
00:33:57.97\00:34:00.74
detriment of meeting the
needs of those around us.
00:34:00.77\00:34:04.01
And I believe firmly that
if we take Jesus' example,
00:34:04.27\00:34:08.14
that we would
see explosive results
00:34:08.18\00:34:10.81
in our public evangelism.
00:34:10.85\00:34:12.61
Does it bother you that
there are people in your school
00:34:13.65\00:34:18.62
that nobody hangs out with?
00:34:19.29\00:34:21.09
What are you
going to do about it?
00:34:21.76\00:34:23.39
Does it bother you that
there are visitors who come
00:34:23.99\00:34:26.23
to your church and
nobody invites them home
00:34:26.26\00:34:28.93
to have a
fellowship meal afterwards?
00:34:29.03\00:34:31.13
What are you
going to do about it?
00:34:31.17\00:34:32.70
Does it bother you
that nobody goes and visits
00:34:32.87\00:34:35.87
the shut-in
members in your church?
00:34:35.90\00:34:37.97
What are you
going to do about it?
00:34:38.01\00:34:39.74
Does it bother you that
your community service center
00:34:39.94\00:34:42.74
at church needs staffing?
00:34:42.78\00:34:44.68
What are you
going to do about it?
00:34:44.71\00:34:46.31
Does it bother you that there
are people in nursing homes
00:34:46.35\00:34:49.48
who have nobody that
comes and visits them?
00:34:49.52\00:34:52.05
What are you
going to do about it?
00:34:52.09\00:34:53.56
Does it bother you
that you see homeless people
00:34:53.66\00:34:55.92
who are cold and miserable?
00:34:55.96\00:34:57.53
What are you
going to do about it?
00:34:57.56\00:34:59.13
Does it bother you that
there are elderly people
00:34:59.26\00:35:01.76
who have to bear the
shoulder of hard work
00:35:01.80\00:35:04.07
that they shouldn't have
to do in their old lives?
00:35:04.10\00:35:06.00
What are you
going to do about it?
00:35:06.03\00:35:07.77
Does it bother you that
there are people in your church
00:35:07.80\00:35:11.47
who are cold and unfriendly?
00:35:11.51\00:35:14.68
What are you
going to do about it?
00:35:16.31\00:35:17.88
What are you
going to do about it?
00:35:19.88\00:35:21.58
Listen to me carefully.
00:35:23.72\00:35:25.05
In the judgment,
telling Jesus, "I was too busy,"
00:35:25.82\00:35:31.66
is not going to cut it.
00:35:32.86\00:35:34.33
Telling Jesus, "I was too
busy," is not going to cut it.
00:35:37.83\00:35:42.07
I want to tell you a
story tonight in closing
00:35:43.17\00:35:45.87
that I believe illustrates
this form of evangelism.
00:35:46.94\00:35:49.84
Because it is evangelism.
00:35:49.88\00:35:51.28
Dianna had been
notified that she was going to
00:35:54.12\00:35:57.85
get a new patient.
00:35:57.89\00:35:59.55
Her name was Corky.
00:36:00.16\00:36:01.66
According to the notes, she
needed intensive nursing care.
00:36:02.76\00:36:07.20
It said that Corky was
non-compliant, combative,
00:36:08.40\00:36:12.73
maladjusted,
unmanageable, and terminal.
00:36:12.77\00:36:16.27
Sounds like the
patient everybody wants, right?
00:36:16.30\00:36:18.41
On the first visit
to Corky's residence,
00:36:21.04\00:36:23.78
Mike answered the door.
00:36:23.81\00:36:25.61
He showed Dianna
around the house,
00:36:27.82\00:36:30.12
how he was
remodeling it for Corky.
00:36:30.15\00:36:32.25
He said, "I bought
this place for her because
00:36:32.29\00:36:34.49
she always wanted to
live next to the ocean.
00:36:34.52\00:36:37.96
And I'm going to put
her right here in this room
00:36:38.56\00:36:40.50
where she can look out the
window and be able to see."
00:36:40.53\00:36:44.20
Corky turned out to be
just as difficult as her
00:36:46.60\00:36:48.74
medical history said she was.
00:36:48.77\00:36:50.31
She had a massive
cantaloupe sized oozing sore
00:36:51.17\00:36:54.98
underneath one of her arms.
00:36:55.01\00:36:56.71
And her untreated cancer
was causing her horrific pain.
00:36:57.35\00:37:01.88
She was uncooperative and angry.
00:37:04.79\00:37:06.86
Twice daily the nurses would
come to minister to her needs.
00:37:09.16\00:37:13.43
Give her
showers, dress her wounds,
00:37:13.46\00:37:16.63
take care of the house.
00:37:16.67\00:37:18.07
And Mike was
there around the clock.
00:37:18.10\00:37:20.67
Day in, day out he
was there helping Corky.
00:37:20.70\00:37:25.64
Helping her with
her pain medication,
00:37:28.54\00:37:30.78
comforting her tenderly,
urging her to eat and drink,
00:37:31.21\00:37:34.52
taking her pain medication.
00:37:34.55\00:37:36.15
And usually, abusive
swearing was all the reward that
00:37:36.89\00:37:41.49
Mike would get for his
work of tenderness and care.
00:37:41.52\00:37:45.23
Finally the inevitable
day came, and Mike and Dianna
00:37:48.60\00:37:54.44
stood over the bed of
Corky and watched her chest
00:37:54.67\00:37:57.97
raise up and go
down for the last time.
00:37:58.01\00:38:02.24
And there she
laid on the bed, still.
00:38:03.24\00:38:06.15
No signs of pain in
her face any longer.
00:38:06.72\00:38:09.98
Peaceful.
00:38:10.45\00:38:11.99
Dianna looked over at Mike.
00:38:15.29\00:38:19.43
And this is what
she says she saw.
00:38:21.53\00:38:24.43
"He stared at her silently.
00:38:27.00\00:38:29.07
Tears running down his cheeks
and dripping off of his chin.
00:38:30.01\00:38:34.81
His suffering affected me
more deeply than Corky's death.
00:38:36.21\00:38:40.08
Choking back sobs, I
mumbled some sort of condolence,
00:38:41.15\00:38:45.92
and finished by
saying that he had done more
00:38:46.45\00:38:49.79
than most husbands would have
done under the circumstances,
00:38:49.82\00:38:54.13
and that she could not
have doubted his love."
00:38:54.16\00:38:58.27
Mike looked at
Dianna sharply, "Husband?
00:39:04.64\00:39:08.44
I'm not her husband.
00:39:11.01\00:39:12.35
I hardly knew her."
00:39:13.88\00:39:15.25
Seeing the expression of
bewilderment in Dianna's face,
00:39:17.85\00:39:21.49
Mike went on, "She
lived on the streets.
00:39:21.52\00:39:25.96
That's where I found her.
00:39:26.70\00:39:28.16
She didn't have
anyone who cared about her.
00:39:28.76\00:39:31.70
I knew she was dying,
and I bought this place
00:39:32.27\00:39:36.04
so that she would
have somewhere to go.
00:39:36.07\00:39:39.14
If I hadn't taken care
of her, who would have?
00:39:39.77\00:39:43.38
She had no one else."
00:39:44.11\00:39:46.92
That is Matthew 25.
00:39:47.98\00:39:51.42
That is what
Jesus would have done.
00:39:51.75\00:39:55.26
And Dianna said when she
looked into the face of Mike
00:39:56.06\00:39:59.06
she saw the face of Jesus.
00:39:59.09\00:40:01.66
There's no
question about it, friends,
00:40:04.73\00:40:06.47
the work that Jesus
has outlined for us here
00:40:07.00\00:40:08.94
in Matthew chapter 25 is
a messy and difficult work.
00:40:08.97\00:40:13.88
There's no question about it.
00:40:15.61\00:40:16.95
It's a work that
provides very little glory
00:40:17.28\00:40:20.62
to the one who performs it.
00:40:21.12\00:40:22.78
It's a work that is very
hard to quantify its success.
00:40:23.18\00:40:27.66
There's no gauges or measures.
00:40:27.69\00:40:29.42
It's hard to come
up with solid numbers
00:40:29.46\00:40:32.59
that reveal the success
of this type of evangelism.
00:40:32.63\00:40:35.80
There's no way that you
can really come up with a
00:40:36.90\00:40:39.07
fancy report that shows the
success of meeting the needs
00:40:39.10\00:40:43.14
of those around you.
00:40:43.17\00:40:44.51
Because what I have
found as I have begun to apply
00:40:44.54\00:40:47.64
this method of
ministry in my life,
00:40:47.68\00:40:50.15
that as you go
around helping those in need
00:40:50.18\00:40:52.61
you get very little credit.
00:40:52.65\00:40:54.58
In fact, 99% of the time
you never see the person again.
00:40:54.62\00:40:58.65
But Jesus is not
concerned with that.
00:41:01.92\00:41:04.46
He's still
working with that person.
00:41:04.69\00:41:06.49
You are just part
of that experience.
00:41:06.53\00:41:08.90
But He wants to use you
to awaken in their hearts
00:41:09.93\00:41:13.20
that, yes, there are
people who are Christians,
00:41:13.23\00:41:16.24
who are believers in
God, that are willing to help
00:41:16.27\00:41:19.61
those who are in need.
00:41:19.64\00:41:21.24
And that seed will
grow, it will germinate.
00:41:21.28\00:41:24.05
They will take it with them.
00:41:24.08\00:41:25.45
And when they are in
the very depths of despair,
00:41:25.48\00:41:28.55
when they are in
the gutter of sin,
00:41:28.58\00:41:30.85
that seed will germinate.
00:41:30.89\00:41:32.65
And the character of
Christ reflected in your life
00:41:32.69\00:41:36.12
may bring that poor helpless
soul to the cross of Jesus.
00:41:36.16\00:41:40.43
It didn't take a Bible study,
00:41:42.86\00:41:44.60
it just took being friendly,
00:41:46.10\00:41:47.97
and getting involved in
the mess of their lives.
00:41:48.70\00:41:52.47
Maybe somebody else will
do the Bible study later on.
00:41:53.11\00:41:55.61
Because God wants to lead
His people in the truth as well.
00:41:56.64\00:41:59.41
Tonight, how many of you
want to make the judgment
00:42:04.19\00:42:08.22
relevant in your
life by reflecting
00:42:08.26\00:42:11.93
the ministry of Jesus?
00:42:11.96\00:42:14.46
If that's you desire,
stand with me this evening.
00:42:14.83\00:42:17.10
Lord, tonight,
the last day of 2016,
00:42:18.40\00:42:24.57
I want to make the
judgment relevant by reflecting
00:42:26.31\00:42:31.28
the ministry of Jesus in
my life in meeting the needs
00:42:31.31\00:42:35.92
of those around me.
00:42:35.95\00:42:37.59
Listen, brothers and sisters,
this is not an easy thing to do.
00:42:38.45\00:42:42.49
What you are responding
to is not a flippant thing.
00:42:42.52\00:42:46.33
It's not something
that you just do on a whim.
00:42:46.36\00:42:49.23
You are going to
spend and be spent.
00:42:49.26\00:42:52.00
You are going to
be uncomfortable.
00:42:52.03\00:42:53.74
You are not going to
necessarily enjoy it.
00:42:53.77\00:42:56.84
It will not bring you glory.
00:42:56.87\00:42:58.81
But you are showing Jesus
that you want to do what He did.
00:42:58.84\00:43:02.98
The book, Desire of
Ages, page 641, says this:
00:43:08.48\00:43:11.25
"When we love the
world as He loved it,
00:43:12.49\00:43:17.53
then for us His
mission is accomplished.
00:43:20.03\00:43:24.43
We are fitted for heaven, for
we have heaven in our hearts."
00:43:26.67\00:43:33.64
Listen, we can't
just put this fruit on.
00:43:35.04\00:43:37.45
This work of Matthew 25
has to come from the heart.
00:43:38.35\00:43:42.28
It has to come
from the character of
00:43:43.49\00:43:45.05
Christ that is in
you, the hope of glory.
00:43:45.09\00:43:48.29
Now I want to take
it one step further.
00:43:50.23\00:43:51.76
Maybe there of some
of you here this evening,
00:43:53.60\00:43:55.70
and in your local
church there is not a ministry
00:43:57.00\00:44:00.90
of Matthew 25 taking place.
00:44:02.44\00:44:04.77
There is no ministry where there
is reaching out to the needs.
00:44:06.04\00:44:09.78
Yes, there's Bible studies;
yes, there's literature;
00:44:09.81\00:44:12.41
yes, there's evangelism;
yes, there's all of that stuff.
00:44:12.45\00:44:15.25
And we praise God for that.
00:44:15.28\00:44:16.65
But the work of Matthew 25
is languishing in your church.
00:44:16.69\00:44:22.62
And tonight you feel
the pricking, the conviction
00:44:22.99\00:44:26.59
of the Holy Spirit in your
life saying, "You are the one."
00:44:26.63\00:44:29.76
Tapping you on your shoulder.
00:44:30.57\00:44:32.10
I want you to start that flame.
00:44:32.47\00:44:34.37
Maybe your church isn't
even interested in doing this.
00:44:36.60\00:44:38.97
And tonight you want to
say, "Lord, I don't care.
00:44:39.01\00:44:41.01
If the church doesn't want to do
it, I'm going to do it myself."
00:44:41.04\00:44:44.18
Maybe your church
does have some sort of
00:44:46.21\00:44:49.65
beneficent work
that's taking place,
00:44:50.49\00:44:52.59
reaching out and
helping those that are in need,
00:44:52.62\00:44:54.89
but it's struggling to
keep its head above water.
00:44:56.59\00:45:00.13
You know, I don't know
what it is, but every church
00:45:00.16\00:45:02.80
I've ever gone to, the
community service center
00:45:02.83\00:45:05.20
is always run by older
people or retired people.
00:45:05.23\00:45:07.74
And that's a shame.
00:45:07.77\00:45:09.10
That's a shame on
us as young people.
00:45:11.31\00:45:13.54
And tonight you
want to tell the Lord,
00:45:15.11\00:45:16.81
"Lord, I want to
take my youthful energy
00:45:16.85\00:45:20.28
and I want to apply it to
the work in my local church,
00:45:20.52\00:45:25.52
meeting the needs of
people in my community."
00:45:25.55\00:45:29.36
If you fit one of those things,
and you feel the conviction
00:45:30.06\00:45:33.63
of God prompting
you in that direction,
00:45:33.66\00:45:35.86
I'm going to ask you
to come on forward here
00:45:35.90\00:45:37.37
and tell the Lord,
"In 2017, Father, I want
00:45:37.40\00:45:42.14
Matthew 25 to be me.
00:45:42.24\00:45:44.61
I want Jesus to be
able to look at me and, yes,
00:45:45.64\00:45:48.11
see the wedding garment
on, but also see it in the
00:45:48.14\00:45:50.98
practical expression of how I
meet those in need around me."
00:45:51.01\00:45:56.28
Praise God that there
are people who are saying,
00:45:56.32\00:46:00.72
"Yes, Jesus, I'm
going to start this work.
00:46:00.76\00:46:03.99
Yes, Jesus, I'm going to add
my youthful energy to this work.
00:46:04.03\00:46:08.16
Yes, Jesus, if nobody
does it, I will do it."
00:46:08.26\00:46:12.13
Praise the Lord.
00:46:12.17\00:46:13.50
For those of you that are still
contemplating it this evening,
00:46:14.50\00:46:18.07
we're going to be blessed
with beautiful special music.
00:46:19.04\00:46:22.54
And I pray that you would
reverently listen to the words
00:46:22.74\00:46:25.81
and pray them in
your heart tonight.
00:46:26.28\00:46:28.32
Thomas the disciple
had an unbelieving heart
00:46:51.77\00:46:58.78
that Jesus was alive again.
00:46:58.81\00:47:05.22
When he saw the scars
he realized it was true.
00:47:05.62\00:47:13.33
Jesus told him what it
means to have a true faith;
00:47:13.53\00:47:20.27
trusting without your vision.
00:47:20.74\00:47:27.18
"No matter what
comes," you'll say.
00:47:27.21\00:47:32.91
Yes, I believe; I
believe with all that's in me.
00:47:32.95\00:47:39.82
Yes, I believe; though
the world rises up against me.
00:47:39.85\00:47:46.46
I will be faithful to
the choice I have made.
00:47:46.49\00:47:52.90
I am determined I
will not be ashamed
00:47:53.34\00:47:59.64
to live so the whole world
can see that, yes, I believe.
00:47:59.67\00:48:09.48
There will never be a
reason to lose His confidence,
00:48:09.68\00:48:16.66
for I have found
where my assurance lies.
00:48:16.69\00:48:23.10
It is not my own power,
but in whom my Savior is.
00:48:23.13\00:48:29.74
Because of this
conviction forever I'll say,
00:48:29.84\00:48:36.75
yes, I believe; I
believe with all that's in me.
00:48:36.78\00:48:43.62
Yes, I believe; though
the world rises up against me.
00:48:43.65\00:48:50.09
I will be faithful to
the choice I have made.
00:48:50.29\00:48:56.56
I am determined I
will not be ashamed
00:48:56.87\00:49:02.90
to live so the whole world
can see that, yes, I believe.
00:49:03.27\00:49:12.61
We believe He is risen.
00:49:12.95\00:49:16.62
In Him we have life
because of the gift,
00:49:16.65\00:49:22.89
His great sacrifice.
00:49:22.92\00:49:28.23
Yes, I believe; I
believe with all that's in me.
00:49:28.26\00:49:34.77
Yes, I believe; though
the world rises up against me.
00:49:34.80\00:49:41.24
I will be faithful to
the choice I have made.
00:49:41.28\00:49:47.45
I am determined I
will not be ashamed
00:49:47.68\00:49:53.96
to live so the whole world
can see that, yes, I believe.
00:49:54.16\00:50:03.87
I believe. I believe.
00:50:03.90\00:50:09.30
Tonight I want to
encourage you to mark down the
00:50:21.65\00:50:25.75
decision that you have made,
like we talked about last night.
00:50:25.79\00:50:28.69
And I want to
encourage you to actually take
00:50:29.86\00:50:31.96
those decisions
and write them in the
00:50:31.99\00:50:35.03
back flyleaf of your Bible.
00:50:35.06\00:50:37.47
Put the date next to them.
00:50:37.67\00:50:39.40
"This is the day
I made this decision
00:50:39.67\00:50:42.47
to get involved in
the work of Matthew 25.
00:50:42.97\00:50:46.37
This is the day I
made this decision at GYC."
00:50:46.54\00:50:49.88
And reflect on those decisions
in your devotional time.
00:50:49.91\00:50:53.35
And pray and say, "Dear
Jesus, I don't know how this is
00:50:53.45\00:50:57.12
going to happen,
but please help me
00:50:57.15\00:51:00.52
to follow through with
the decisions I made at GYC."
00:51:01.22\00:51:05.99
Would you bow your
heads with me as we pray?
00:51:06.70\00:51:08.50
Loving Father in heaven,
we thank You for the awesome
00:51:08.90\00:51:13.84
challenge that
You have given to us.
00:51:13.87\00:51:16.24
And Lord, we want,
we desperately want
00:51:17.17\00:51:21.54
the character of
Jesus in our lives.
00:51:22.18\00:51:25.18
Lord, we want the good
works to come forth from within,
00:51:26.21\00:51:31.85
that they would just tumble
out because of who we are,
00:51:32.95\00:51:38.33
because of what You
have created us to be.
00:51:38.53\00:51:41.20
And Lord, we pray that any
work that is done in our lives,
00:51:42.60\00:51:46.50
that all glory
would be reflected back
00:51:47.74\00:51:51.04
to the source; to You.
00:51:51.24\00:51:54.01
Lord, thank You for
these precious young people,
00:51:55.11\00:51:57.68
even some adults here today,
00:51:58.15\00:51:59.88
who have come forward and
said, "I want to put my energy
00:52:00.45\00:52:04.22
into doing the
work of Matthew 25.
00:52:05.39\00:52:07.56
Not to the neglect of
the gospel commission,
00:52:07.59\00:52:09.96
for we would never do that,
00:52:11.09\00:52:12.63
but in addition to the
great work of spreading the
00:52:13.23\00:52:17.83
three angels' messages.
00:52:17.87\00:52:19.37
Oh Father, help us to
have a steady gaze on Jesus.
00:52:19.87\00:52:24.51
That we would look unto
Him and find our salvation.
00:52:24.67\00:52:28.04
That we would look unto
Him and find the example
00:52:28.08\00:52:31.35
of how we ought
to live our lives.
00:52:31.38\00:52:33.75
That we would go about
sowing the seeds of good works
00:52:33.85\00:52:37.72
that would bring
forth a bountiful harvest
00:52:37.75\00:52:40.76
when the showers of Pentecost,
of the latter rain, fall
00:52:40.79\00:52:45.83
upon this world.
00:52:45.93\00:52:47.50
Oh Lord, we want
this work to be over with.
00:52:48.43\00:52:50.80
We're anxious, Father, to be
with You on the streets of gold.
00:52:51.63\00:52:57.01
But we recognize
there's some work
00:52:57.57\00:52:59.17
that still needs
to be done in us.
00:52:59.21\00:53:01.04
And we humbly submit
our will before You tonight,
00:53:01.21\00:53:04.35
saying, "Lord, we are
willing to be made willing."
00:53:04.38\00:53:09.35
We are willing, Lord.
00:53:10.35\00:53:11.82
Father, as we start
a new year out, 2017,
00:53:12.49\00:53:17.23
may there be a change
in the way that we live.
00:53:18.26\00:53:21.60
And may Jesus be
the all absorbing focus
00:53:22.56\00:53:26.13
in our lives.
00:53:27.27\00:53:28.60
We love You, Lord,
with all of our hearts.
00:53:29.20\00:53:32.47
We thank You for doing
the work that only You can do.
00:53:32.94\00:53:36.54
For we pray it in the
all mighty and all powerful
00:53:37.55\00:53:41.95
name of Jesus.
00:53:41.98\00:53:43.65
Amen.
00:53:44.99\00:53:46.35