Welcome! Glad you
could join us today:
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those of you who
are here with us,
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those who are viewing
around the world. God bless you!
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Welcome to our
Fall 3ABN Camp Meeting.
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We pray that each
one's having a blessing.
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It's been a blessing to be here.
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We have been blessed and
we pray that each one of you
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have been blessed also.
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Welcome to our
Sabbath School class.
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We're going to have
a wonderful study today
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and I'm sure that not a
one of you will want to miss
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what's going on because
this is a subject that we will
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look at: the story of Job.
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And how interesting that
is because there's so many
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questions about Job and his
life and what he went through.
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And I think some of
us can relate to it.
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And there's a lot of things
that maybe are left unanswered.
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By the grace of
God... We've had prayer;
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we're going to have
prayer again in a moment.
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But first, you know, I just want
to just introduce our panel.
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Praise God, you know, for
those who are willing to show up
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and say: "I want to be
God's mouthpiece today. "
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And I believe as you
prayed about it God will use you
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to help us on
your part of the lesson
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that you've been, I
know, earnestly studying for.
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You know, we have Brian. I want
to call him pastor all the time.
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I just have that bond and
that kin. Even though you're the
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chief financial officer of 3ABN.
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We know that, but I know
you have a heart for Jesus
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and you love Jesus. You
love the truth and the gospel.
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We're glad to have you today.
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Well thank you Kenny...
thank you. And I am a pastor.
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I pastor three
churches here in the area...
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only they're in prison. Amen.
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Bless you heart. You know, that
takes a special, doesn't it?
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That takes a very
special anointing of the Spirit
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to be able to do the
work that needs to be done.
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And Sr. Mollie Steenson.
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Praise God!
We're glad you're here.
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Always have a nice
smile on your face.
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The vice president of
3ABN and I've seen you wear
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an awful lot of different hats
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so I'm not going to go into
all the hats that she has on
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but she has to wear
a lot of different hats
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and doing a tremendous
job for the cause of Christ.
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And we're glad
you're here today.
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Thank you very much.
It's a joy to be here
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and to see all
these lovely people.
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Happy Sabbath
everybody. Happy Sabbath!
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You can tell they're excited
today, right? They're excited!
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The Holy Spirit's present here.
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And next to her we
have Pastor John Lomacang.
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And we realize he's the
pastor of the Thompsonville SDA
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church here. And of course
he's... I like the newer title,
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pastor, that
overwhelms you at times.
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You know, you're the head
of world evangelism for 3ABN.
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And every time you
say it I get goosebumps.
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I get goosebumps because
I've always felt that 3ABN
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is for evangelism. Amen. Well
praise the Lord. Happy Sabbath
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everyone and those
who are joining us via
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whatever form of media.
We welcome you to join us
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in this wonderful time
of the study of God's Word.
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Amen. Of course, next
is Pastor C.A. Murray.
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Special friend.
Anointed of God. A pastor.
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You know, we've
grown to love all of you
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and Pastor C.A., you, too.
You know, you talk about here
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you're the general
manager of 3ABN Proclaim!
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we realize and also you do some
production of the Today program.
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So you're a busy man
and you travel and you speak
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and you're just
involved in every aspect.
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And praise God!
We're glad you're here.
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Good to be here.
The Lord is kind.
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I see that it is a
little cloudy outside, but -
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um-hmm - we always used to
sing that whenever Christ shows
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His smiling face
there's sunshine in our souls.
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So it's sunshine inside today
even though it's a little cloudy
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outside. And God's got a word
for us in this Sabbath School
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lesson. Amen. He
always has some sunshine
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for us - praise the Lord
- and always a nice smile.
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Sr. Shelley... bless your heart.
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We're glad you're here
today. Always answer the call...
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answer the bell,
right? when God calls.
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And Sr. Shelley is the 3ABN
program development manager.
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Could you tell us real
quick what that encompasses?
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Mercy. I put it on
her... it's all right.
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Basically all of
the new programming
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and then we work on other
programming. It encompasses
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just coming up with the
ideas, the graphic packages,
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the opens... various things.
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So it's a lot of fun,
but that's about that much
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of what I do at 3ABN.
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I just want to say
Happy Sabbath to you all.
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This is one of my
favorite formats - Yes!
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for Sabbath School. Yes!
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Because we all look through
the lens of our own experience
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as we're reading the scripture,
and it's just so much fun
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to hear different people
bring in different aspects
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that maybe you
hadn't considered.
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So we hope that you
all will enjoy it also.
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Amen. And really
you're warmed up right now
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so we need another prayer.
Would you pray for us right now
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that the Holy Spirit
will help us? Certainly.
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Heavenly Father, once
again we come before You in the
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name of Jesus,
thanking You that You invite us
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as Your children to come
boldly before Your throne.
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Father, we're so grateful
to You that You're a God of
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covenant love and that You
have given us the gift of Jesus
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Christ, Your Holy
Spirit, and Your Word, Lord,
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to change us, Father,
and to restore Your image
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within us. And
Father, we are grateful
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to You for the
Sabbath School quarterly
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published by the
Seventh-day Adventist church
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and for the deep study
that they provide for us, Lord.
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And we ask in the name of Jesus
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now that You would
send Your Holy Spirit.
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Give us ears to hear what the
Holy Spirit would have to say.
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Let Him be our teacher. Anoint
our minds; anoint our tongues.
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Just take a coal from Your altar
and place it over our mouth,
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Lord. But we ask
in the name of Jesus
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that Christ will
be uplifted today
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that He may draw
all people unto Himself.
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In Jesus' name we pray,
thanking You for the answer
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to the prayer of faith. Amen.
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Amen! Praise the Lord!
You'll notice in our lesson...
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Some of you may have it...
I know you have your Bible.
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You make sure you want to get
those out + a pencil and a pen.
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Jot some of these things down.
I thought this was interesting,
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and I hope it's OK to
say panel... interesting
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to where we begin a lesson
and it says we begin at the end.
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That might be a
little confusing.
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Now why would we
begin at the end?
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And I think there's
a good answer to that.
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We're going to start and we're
going to look at the book of Job
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but we're going to
look at the end first.
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There's a reason why. You
know, if we look at the end
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of Job because it
brings up some questions
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that affect your
life and my life today
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and also for eternity.
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These are things
that we want to address
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and will be addressed.
I'm sure there's questions.
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It's been around I think in
our lesson. It's a perennial
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question. And people will
say: "If there is a God... "
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Have you talked to
someone? "If there is a God... "
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And I want the panel to
take this to heart because
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I know each one's
going to hit on these things.
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"If there is a
God and He's so good
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and He's so merciful...
He's so kind; He's so loving. "
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And yet the
question still comes back:
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"Why is there so
much... " What? "suffering? "
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"Why do things go on in
this world like they go on
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if He's what the
Bible says that He is? "
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And then we find the
answers to some of these things
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but not all of them.
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You may have found all
the answers... I did not find
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all the answers to this.
I still have some questions
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and I'm sure
they'll be answered today.
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Job shows us in this lesson...
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This is just a quick overview.
Job shows us in this lesson
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how the supernatural
and the natural are combined
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together. How important
they're linked together
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and how God works in
behalf of His people.
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I looked at the account of Job
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and it covers - what we are
interested in today - it covers
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not only our own
life... it covers our family.
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It covers our friends;
it covers our possessions
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that we have or
God has given to us.
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It covers difficult situations.
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It covers suffering
and even covers death.
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So we talk about death
quite a bit in this Job account
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but yet we're talking
about a happy ending...
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endings or
beginnings and happy endings.
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And how does that
happen when there's death
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knocking at the door?
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We're going to
talk about restoration.
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So I want the panel to really
listen because restoration is...
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Is it partial or is it complete?
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And if it's
partial, when? how? why?
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And if it's complete,
when does that happen?
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And we need to realize
that we live in a world...
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Understand why we
live in a world of evil.
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And not only that
but how we are to live
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in this world, I
think, very very important.
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Two other quick points I think
will be discussed on... here
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is progressive revelation.
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What does that really mean?
Might be a little bigger word
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but it's really simple.
But progressive revelation
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in the cause of Christ.
And what is retribution theory?
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Retribution. That could be, we
talked about just a moment ago,
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that can be a very dangerous
thing if not handled properly
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'cause some people read and they
get what they want out of it.
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And all of a sudden they're
thinking: "Hmmm, retribution
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theology. " We're going to go
to the first part of our lesson
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and I want you
to notice with me.
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Just the topics that you
have I thought was interesting.
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Yours, Bro. Brian, the
first one is Happily Ever After.
00:10:03.06\00:10:06.97
But then the next one goes
and says: "Unhappy Endings. "
00:10:07.17\00:10:10.11
The next one says:
"Partial Restoration. "
00:10:10.51\00:10:12.81
And then "Final Kingdom
and The Resurrection of Life. "
00:10:13.01\00:10:16.41
So how can we get
happy over this story of Job?
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Can you help us with that this
morning on Happily Ever After?
00:10:21.38\00:10:24.82
OK Pastor Kenny.
I'm assuming that
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all of you have
faithfully studied your lesson
00:10:28.89\00:10:32.59
and you've read the text here.
00:10:32.79\00:10:35.20
And yes, Bro. Goldstein starts
us out at the end of the book
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instead of at the
beginning of the book.
00:10:39.40\00:10:41.07
And so we go to the last chapter
and we read from verses 10
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on through to the
end of the chapter.
00:10:45.27\00:10:47.31
And we find out the
Lord restores Job's losses.
00:10:47.51\00:10:51.75
Verse 10: "When he prayed for
his friends, indeed, the Lord
00:10:51.95\00:10:56.35
gave Job twice as
much as he had before. "
00:10:56.55\00:10:59.05
So he received more
donkeys and more camels,
00:10:59.25\00:11:02.12
and more oxen... twice as much.
00:11:02.52\00:11:05.89
He had ten more
children... poor Mrs. Job.
00:11:06.09\00:11:09.60
This means 20 in
total that she birthed.
00:11:09.80\00:11:12.77
You know, three more daughters
renowned for their beauty.
00:11:15.44\00:11:19.27
And he lived a
long, full life: 140 years
00:11:19.67\00:11:23.41
and then died.
00:11:24.41\00:11:25.88
Well maybe it's not
so happily ever after
00:11:26.75\00:11:30.42
because death is still here,
00:11:30.82\00:11:33.72
you know... and
that's the problem, OK?
00:11:33.92\00:11:36.22
So it doesn't end... the story
doesn't end with the end of Job.
00:11:36.62\00:11:40.63
There's something more
to the story than that.
00:11:40.83\00:11:43.80
And we have to have
the rest of the scriptures
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to get the rest of the story.
00:11:46.50\00:11:47.97
Pastor Kenny, I appreciated
your giving us some overview
00:11:49.24\00:11:52.87
and I want to take a few minutes
to kind of enlarge a couple
00:11:53.07\00:11:56.88
items there. You were talking
about the sovereignty of God.
00:11:57.08\00:12:00.18
How can God who is so good
00:12:00.38\00:12:03.25
and yet sovereign over all
- I mean, He is the top dog.
00:12:03.45\00:12:07.16
There's' nobody
sittin' on top of Him -
00:12:07.36\00:12:09.59
OK. He's on top of everybody.
00:12:09.79\00:12:11.93
So He's sovereign and He's good.
00:12:13.13\00:12:15.20
How does this evil happen?
00:12:15.50\00:12:17.33
Well, the book of Job...
it's contribution to us is that
00:12:17.83\00:12:21.50
it pulls back the curtain
and we get to see through.
00:12:21.70\00:12:25.51
No, it doesn't
answer all the questions
00:12:25.81\00:12:28.54
but it gives us some
insight into the dynamics
00:12:29.48\00:12:32.95
of what's going
behind the scenes.
00:12:33.15\00:12:34.68
Things that we see
that Job never saw.
00:12:34.88\00:12:38.42
Job never understood
what it was and why it was
00:12:38.62\00:12:42.02
he was going through
what he was going through.
00:12:42.22\00:12:44.13
But we know it...
and so it helps us.
00:12:44.63\00:12:47.96
So, the sovereignty of
God and human suffering.
00:12:48.76\00:12:52.13
It give us some
bit of answers to it.
00:12:52.33\00:12:55.34
But what is interesting to me is
00:12:55.54\00:12:58.41
Job went through this
horrendous time of trouble.
00:12:58.61\00:13:00.94
I'm wondering... this is
like our good pastor preaches
00:13:02.18\00:13:06.72
to us in the evening.
00:13:06.92\00:13:08.65
I just wonder if there
is another time of trouble
00:13:08.95\00:13:13.32
coming such as never was before.
00:13:13.92\00:13:17.63
And pastor, I'm wondering
if there will be a people
00:13:18.39\00:13:22.66
who will pass
through that time of trouble
00:13:22.86\00:13:24.93
with a horrendous
experience like Job
00:13:25.13\00:13:27.80
losing everything. I mean,
losing all earthly possessions,
00:13:28.00\00:13:33.98
all earthly securities.
00:13:34.18\00:13:36.64
Even their friends
turning against them.
00:13:36.85\00:13:39.41
I mean, fellow
Christians talking about them
00:13:39.61\00:13:43.18
as if they're evil people.
00:13:43.39\00:13:45.25
And yet, through
it all in Job's case
00:13:45.65\00:13:49.02
he stayed faithful to God.
00:13:49.42\00:13:51.39
He trusted God and
kept absolutely loyal to God
00:13:52.29\00:13:57.73
even though he
didn't understand why it was
00:13:57.93\00:14:01.24
that in his mind God
was doing this to him.
00:14:01.74\00:14:04.34
And in the last days
these people will go through
00:14:04.74\00:14:07.21
a darkness so dark that
they won't see out the other
00:14:07.41\00:14:10.45
side of it. And yet
they stay faithful to God,
00:14:10.65\00:14:15.55
trusting in God,
absolutely loyal to God.
00:14:15.75\00:14:19.99
You see? So this
gives us some insight
00:14:20.39\00:14:24.09
to what we may face and
how we need to pass through it
00:14:24.29\00:14:29.33
successfully.
00:14:29.53\00:14:30.87
When I'm thinking about
this, Job faces an experience
00:14:31.63\00:14:36.81
worse than death.
You think about it.
00:14:37.01\00:14:40.38
I mean, for Job...
he's ready to embrace death
00:14:40.98\00:14:44.25
as merciful to him
00:14:44.41\00:14:47.62
because the experience
he's passing through is worse
00:14:47.82\00:14:51.02
than death. Our Savior,
00:14:51.22\00:14:54.16
the Redeemer that Job talked
about seeing in the last days,
00:14:54.36\00:14:57.46
our Redeemer, our
Savior, faced a death
00:14:57.66\00:15:01.33
that made all human
suffering pale in comparison
00:15:01.83\00:15:06.80
so that we wouldn't have to
face that second death. Yes!
00:15:07.50\00:15:11.71
So that's interesting.
00:15:12.11\00:15:14.94
When we look at Job we
need to be very careful -
00:15:15.34\00:15:19.75
in my mind - very careful about
00:15:19.95\00:15:22.92
not taking
everything in the book of Job
00:15:23.12\00:15:26.99
hook, line, and sinker because
there's more than one voice
00:15:27.19\00:15:30.29
speaking
through the book of Job.
00:15:30.49\00:15:32.23
You have the 3 friends of Job.
00:15:33.80\00:15:35.96
And you think of the very
first one - Elphaz - as he
00:15:37.00\00:15:40.20
begins his first speech to Job.
00:15:40.47\00:15:43.47
He says: "I was asleep at night
00:15:43.67\00:15:47.54
in the deepest part of
night, the deepest sleep
00:15:47.74\00:15:51.21
and I had this
vision. And my bones shook
00:15:51.41\00:15:56.02
and my hair stood on
end. Why? Because the spirit,
00:15:56.22\00:16:00.52
spirit being
wafted into my bedroom
00:16:00.92\00:16:04.79
and he stood there and was
silent and then he spoke. "
00:16:04.99\00:16:10.17
Whoo! What kind of spirit
could be wafting in his bedroom
00:16:10.77\00:16:15.10
and speaking?
And Elphaz is using
00:16:15.30\00:16:18.11
the speech of that spirit being
as truth to present to Job.
00:16:18.31\00:16:23.28
And we need to be careful...
that is NOT truth! That's right!
00:16:24.48\00:16:28.58
What that spirit being is
telling Elphaz that he's telling
00:16:28.78\00:16:31.95
Job and he's telling us is
not the truth. That's right!
00:16:32.15\00:16:35.39
And it has to do with an
issue that weaves in all through
00:16:35.89\00:16:39.29
the book of Job, and that
is: can man stand before God
00:16:39.49\00:16:43.23
righteous? Now can
he? God says: "Yes! "
00:16:43.43\00:16:47.90
And Job says: "Yes.
" But that spirit being
00:16:48.10\00:16:52.64
and his friends say "No. "
00:16:52.84\00:16:55.58
I find it interesting that
many of our Protestant brothers
00:16:56.38\00:16:59.98
and sisters today say that
man can stand DECLARED righteous
00:17:00.28\00:17:06.25
before God but they
can never be righteous.
00:17:06.45\00:17:10.36
I'm sorry, but that's the
voice of the spirit being.
00:17:11.29\00:17:15.33
Because you see,
yes, we stand before God
00:17:15.53\00:17:18.87
declared righteous
but at the same time God
00:17:19.07\00:17:22.87
imparts to us -
Jesus imparts to us -
00:17:23.07\00:17:26.78
so that we can actually
BE righteous before God.
00:17:26.98\00:17:31.08
Go to Job 31. We
don't have time this morning
00:17:31.78\00:17:34.18
but go to Job 31 and
see all that Job is saying.
00:17:34.38\00:17:38.12
"I wasn't lustful; I was
honest; I was benevolent. "
00:17:38.32\00:17:42.09
All the things... he's
doing a self-examination
00:17:42.29\00:17:44.93
and he finds no fault for
why this is happening to him.
00:17:45.13\00:17:48.80
God's people in the
end will be that same way.
00:17:49.10\00:17:51.40
Be that same way. Well anyway
00:17:51.60\00:17:53.40
I find this a fascinating book.
00:17:53.80\00:17:56.37
And, no, he didn't
live happily ever after
00:17:56.77\00:18:00.38
but there will be a day
00:18:00.98\00:18:02.31
where there will be a
happy ever after. Yes! Amen.
00:18:02.41\00:18:04.85
I wonder if a question
could be posed, and anybody
00:18:05.05\00:18:07.98
can kind of answer
this. It may be simple.
00:18:08.18\00:18:10.32
I jotted it down; I
thought it was interesting.
00:18:10.52\00:18:12.09
So is it, then - after we've
heard what you had to say -
00:18:12.29\00:18:15.92
is it realistic in this
world to look for happy endings?
00:18:16.12\00:18:21.00
Is it realistic in this world
00:18:21.20\00:18:23.83
to look for happy endings?
00:18:24.03\00:18:25.90
Or should we? Any thoughts?
00:18:26.10\00:18:29.20
No... not in this world.
00:18:30.11\00:18:33.48
We can find peace
in our heart - OK -
00:18:33.68\00:18:36.58
no matter what the
outward circumstances are.
00:18:36.78\00:18:39.45
OK... all right.
That's what God promises us.
00:18:39.65\00:18:41.55
He says: "A peace I give you...
00:18:41.75\00:18:43.89
not as the world
gives give I unto you. "
00:18:44.09\00:18:46.99
But He also says in John 16:33
00:18:47.19\00:18:50.56
"In the world you
WILL have tribulation. "
00:18:50.76\00:18:53.40
But He says: "Be of good cheer.
I have overcome the world. "
00:18:53.60\00:18:55.93
So, no, when you look
for peace in the world -
00:18:56.13\00:18:59.97
I remember preaching
a sermon called Peace
00:19:00.17\00:19:02.64
and I got a lot of
flack on it because I said:
00:19:02.94\00:19:05.67
"You can't have peace in
a world of tribulation. "
00:19:05.87\00:19:08.14
And so many of my own brethren
said: "You CAN have peace.
00:19:08.54\00:19:12.28
There's no peace in
this world. " But I said:
00:19:12.48\00:19:13.82
"Well what did Jesus say? "
"In Me you will have peace. "
00:19:13.95\00:19:16.79
Yes! And so we focus on
peace in the wrong places.
00:19:16.99\00:19:19.55
We focus on peace in our
families. We're not going to
00:19:19.75\00:19:21.52
have that.
Um-hmm. Well... go on.
00:19:21.72\00:19:25.03
A man's foes will be
those of his own household
00:19:26.90\00:19:30.17
the Bible says.
You'll betray one another.
00:19:30.37\00:19:32.50
I can tell many of you
who come from large families
00:19:32.70\00:19:35.07
you know what I'm talking about.
00:19:35.27\00:19:36.71
Sibling rivalry...
that's where that came from.
00:19:36.91\00:19:38.81
But no, we can find peace only
as we are abiding in Christ.
00:19:39.01\00:19:42.28
I think we have to
look at ultimate realities.
00:19:43.51\00:19:47.08
If in this world
alone we have hope,
00:19:47.48\00:19:50.82
we are of all
men most miserable.
00:19:51.02\00:19:53.82
And so your...
00:19:54.02\00:19:56.29
And so your peace comes from
focusing on ultimate reality.
00:19:57.73\00:20:01.50
If death were the
end of all things,
00:20:02.46\00:20:05.33
that would propose
one set of circumstances.
00:20:06.47\00:20:09.10
But it is not. It is
the cessation of life.
00:20:09.30\00:20:12.04
It is a suspension. But
then on the other side of death
00:20:12.24\00:20:15.24
there's some other stuff. So
if you keep your heart and your
00:20:15.44\00:20:18.88
mind focused on the other
stuff it allows you to deal with
00:20:19.11\00:20:22.25
the stuff you've got to
deal with in this world.
00:20:22.45\00:20:24.65
So make it clear: not on
the other side of death...
00:20:24.85\00:20:27.09
on the other side
of the resurrection.
00:20:27.29\00:20:28.99
Because if you believe
that on the other side of death
00:20:29.29\00:20:31.66
there is another reality...
But I know what he meant.
00:20:31.86\00:20:34.40
On the other side of
the resurrection. Yes.
00:20:34.60\00:20:36.46
Got to make it clear.
There is hope, that's right.
00:20:36.67\00:20:38.23
Realistically, right, because
we look beyond this world
00:20:38.43\00:20:40.40
to a better world.
00:20:40.60\00:20:42.30
Isaiah 26 verse 3 says that
if we keep our eyes focused on
00:20:42.50\00:20:45.87
Him trusting in Him
00:20:46.07\00:20:47.41
He will keep us
in perfect peace.
00:20:47.44\00:20:49.58
So it's only as we
look to the problem solver
00:20:49.84\00:20:52.25
not the problem
that we'll be in peace.
00:20:52.45\00:20:53.85
But could I share
two quick thoughts?
00:20:54.25\00:20:55.88
When Brian was talking
about being declared righteous
00:20:56.08\00:20:59.92
but people who say
we cannot be righteous
00:21:00.12\00:21:02.72
in I John chapter 2 verse 29
00:21:02.92\00:21:07.96
John writes: "If you know that
He... " God... "is righteous,
00:21:08.46\00:21:12.97
you know that everyone
who practices righteousness
00:21:13.17\00:21:16.64
is born of Him. " So
we will definitely...
00:21:16.84\00:21:20.51
God works in us to will
and to do His good pleasure
00:21:20.91\00:21:23.61
so we'll definitely
practice righteousness.
00:21:23.81\00:21:26.38
But the other thing
I wanted to mention...
00:21:26.68\00:21:28.98
we can't go through Job 42 and
verse 10 without saying this...
00:21:29.18\00:21:32.19
It says: "The Lord
restored Job's losses... "
00:21:32.59\00:21:37.83
When? "when he
prayed for his friends. "
00:21:38.03\00:21:43.03
When Job got
the focus off of him
00:21:43.23\00:21:47.10
and began praying intercessory
prayer for these friends
00:21:47.30\00:21:51.64
who were giving
such miserable advice
00:21:51.84\00:21:54.31
he was praying for his
enemy... he was loving his enemy
00:21:54.61\00:21:59.01
if you will. And I just
want to encourage because
00:21:59.21\00:22:01.45
someone here needs to hear this.
00:22:01.65\00:22:03.52
That if you are
going through something,
00:22:03.92\00:22:06.29
if you feel
someone is persecuting you,
00:22:06.49\00:22:09.12
pray for them. It
is very pleasing to God
00:22:09.32\00:22:13.16
because it shows that
you believe God can change
00:22:13.36\00:22:17.13
the situation and that you care
enough, you love someone enough,
00:22:17.33\00:22:22.24
to pray for them. Amen.
00:22:22.44\00:22:24.07
I knew I could ask a question
that would get them going.
00:22:24.47\00:22:27.11
And it was simple
but I... Praise the Lord!
00:22:27.31\00:22:29.41
Getting the thinking caps on
so it's all good because we come
00:22:29.61\00:22:31.95
from different perspectives.
So I might throw another one out
00:22:32.15\00:22:34.35
before Sr. Mollie gets on here.
It's good because we're talking.
00:22:34.55\00:22:38.15
Well I still want to
say something about peace.
00:22:38.35\00:22:40.26
Well please do. I just wait
for a bite and I have to just
00:22:40.46\00:22:42.52
jump in there.
"Great peace have they that
00:22:42.72\00:22:45.96
love Thy law and
nothing shall offend them. "
00:22:46.26\00:22:49.20
If something is offending thee,
there's some part of God's law
00:22:49.40\00:22:52.50
that you don't love.
00:22:52.70\00:22:54.04
So... bury
yourself in God's Word.
00:22:54.17\00:22:58.14
Allow God's Word to drive all
that agitation and offense out
00:22:58.34\00:23:02.34
of you. Amen!
Covered well... thank you!
00:23:02.54\00:23:04.78
Yes. And thank you
Shelley that you brought this up
00:23:04.98\00:23:08.62
and Brian introduced this point
about the righteous aspect.
00:23:08.82\00:23:11.55
II Corinthians 5:21: "For
He made Him who knew no sin
00:23:11.85\00:23:15.19
to be sin for us so
that we might become
00:23:15.49\00:23:18.26
the
righteousness of God in Him. "
00:23:18.46\00:23:20.80
So if the character of
Christ has done nothing for you
00:23:21.10\00:23:25.13
then we have nothing
to offer anybody else.
00:23:25.33\00:23:26.97
That's right...
amen. OK... good point!
00:23:27.17\00:23:29.00
And "If we confess
our sins He is... "
00:23:29.20\00:23:31.51
"faithful and just to
forgive us of our sins... "
00:23:31.71\00:23:35.31
And He goes one step
further. What does He do?
00:23:35.51\00:23:37.38
"cleanses us from
all unrighteousness. "
00:23:37.58\00:23:39.55
If you're cleansed
from all unrighteousness,
00:23:39.85\00:23:42.05
what are you? You're righteous.
00:23:42.25\00:23:45.25
Praise God! How
wonderful! That's good!
00:23:45.45\00:23:47.09
Write it down. Yes!
Brother Brian mentioned
00:23:47.49\00:23:50.39
about Job... about all
the things that were replaced
00:23:50.59\00:23:54.46
and sometimes there's this ques-
tion that goes through our mind.
00:23:54.76\00:23:57.87
I wrote it down... I
thought it was interesting.
00:23:58.07\00:23:59.40
Is there any danger
that we might fall prey
00:23:59.43\00:24:02.80
to materialism or materialistic
00:24:03.00\00:24:07.04
because of what happened to Job?
00:24:08.04\00:24:09.98
That way if something bad
happens to us all of a sudden
00:24:10.58\00:24:12.88
we're going to get a
whole lot more in return.
00:24:13.08\00:24:14.62
Is this the way
that it always works?
00:24:14.82\00:24:16.55
We find that in our lesson...
I'm sure it's going to be
00:24:17.85\00:24:19.49
brought out. Is there a danger?
00:24:19.69\00:24:23.83
Somebody say yes...
There's always that danger.
00:24:24.23\00:24:27.50
There's always that danger.
00:24:31.13\00:24:32.67
Do you want me to go
into unhappy endings?
00:24:32.87\00:24:35.07
Just go. Let's
look at unhappy endings.
00:24:35.27\00:24:37.17
How many of you would like
for somebody to speak over you
00:24:37.37\00:24:41.44
in all honesty and say: "And
they lived happily ever after. "
00:24:41.64\00:24:46.98
Wouldn't you like that?
00:24:47.35\00:24:48.68
And Brian lived
happily ever after
00:24:50.55\00:24:52.89
and that meant that...
But how many of you know
00:24:53.09\00:24:55.66
that that's not always
the way things play out?
00:24:56.06\00:25:00.73
I want to say this at the
beginning of my section here.
00:25:01.76\00:25:05.83
If you go to sleep in Christ,
00:25:06.23\00:25:08.80
you will have an
eternity that will far exceed
00:25:09.00\00:25:13.07
even the happiest times you will
ever have here in this earth.
00:25:13.27\00:25:16.44
Amen! If you go
to sleep in Christ,
00:25:16.68\00:25:19.68
there is nothing on
this earth to compare
00:25:19.88\00:25:23.49
with what we are going
to have for an eternity.
00:25:23.89\00:25:27.79
So we can't... And I'll
probably say this again, too:
00:25:27.99\00:25:31.69
we can't be short-sighted.
00:25:31.89\00:25:33.90
This isn't all there is.
00:25:34.10\00:25:35.80
This is just our proving ground.
00:25:36.00\00:25:38.50
This is where we build
that character within us
00:25:38.70\00:25:42.87
that will give us... What
is the only thing you can take
00:25:43.37\00:25:46.78
with you into the
portals of heaven?
00:25:46.98\00:25:48.74
And where do you
build your character?
00:25:48.94\00:25:50.38
Where is the integrity
placed in your character?
00:25:50.58\00:25:53.58
See, it's on
this side of eternity.
00:25:53.78\00:25:55.78
So not everybody is going
to live happily ever after.
00:25:56.18\00:26:00.02
And I think of all the
testing that Job went through.
00:26:00.22\00:26:03.19
And I want to get to
some characters in the Bible
00:26:03.39\00:26:05.99
that didn't live
happily ever after.
00:26:06.19\00:26:08.20
But I'm thinking... Some years
ago - about 21, 22 years ago -
00:26:08.60\00:26:13.90
I went through one of
the most difficult times
00:26:14.10\00:26:16.91
in my life, and I
had a Job experience.
00:26:17.11\00:26:20.88
Lost everything. Lost
my home, lost my church.
00:26:21.08\00:26:23.88
And I wrote an article about
it one time in a 3ABN World
00:26:24.08\00:26:29.48
magazine, so if you
want all the gory details
00:26:29.68\00:26:31.62
get the old World
magazine and read about it.
00:26:31.82\00:26:33.46
But I lost so much.
00:26:33.66\00:26:36.02
And thank goodness there
was a man named Danny Shelton
00:26:36.22\00:26:39.89
that said: "Mollie,
when you are to the place
00:26:40.10\00:26:43.43
that you need to there is always
a place for you here at 3ABN. "
00:26:43.63\00:26:47.44
And so I came out here
00:26:47.80\00:26:50.97
to 3ABN where I
had lost everything.
00:26:51.17\00:26:54.64
But I got to thinking about it.
00:26:54.84\00:26:56.75
Where did God
place the most integrity
00:26:57.15\00:27:00.75
or start purifying and
perfecting the integrity
00:27:00.95\00:27:03.42
that was in my character?
Not when I was on top of
00:27:03.62\00:27:06.69
the world but it's when I was
going through those difficult
00:27:06.89\00:27:10.26
times. Unhappy endings...
I had an unhappy ending.
00:27:10.46\00:27:14.63
But in the midst of
that there was some purifying
00:27:14.83\00:27:17.17
and perfecting that went on.
00:27:17.37\00:27:19.03
Now let me just
give you an example.
00:27:19.43\00:27:21.34
When I came out to 3ABN
00:27:22.27\00:27:24.37
I had been the
queen of the flock.
00:27:24.57\00:27:27.94
I was first lady.
That's a better word for it.
00:27:28.84\00:27:33.28
And so I came out here
and you know what I did?
00:27:33.48\00:27:36.18
I was a
correspondence secretary.
00:27:36.38\00:27:38.39
And that was fine. I took...
00:27:38.59\00:27:40.46
And someone will tell
you that just last week
00:27:40.86\00:27:44.86
we had a commode
stopped up at 3ABN
00:27:45.26\00:27:48.13
in the lobby. And they said:
"We need a picture of this"
00:27:48.33\00:27:51.63
because I went and
unstopped that commode.
00:27:51.83\00:27:53.37
But when I came out here
00:27:53.57\00:27:55.60
to 3ABN I got a
phone call one Friday
00:27:55.80\00:28:00.48
and I was told:
"When you come back Monday
00:28:00.78\00:28:05.65
we want you to
work in the mail room. "
00:28:05.85\00:28:07.52
And I'm thinking: "I will
not work in that mail room.
00:28:07.72\00:28:10.55
What do they mean
putting ME in the mail room? "
00:28:10.75\00:28:13.62
See, I would have
told you at that time
00:28:13.82\00:28:16.12
that pride had thoroughly
been dealt with in my life.
00:28:16.32\00:28:18.79
Had it? Oh, no... I
was "eat up" with it
00:28:18.99\00:28:22.50
and I didn't even know
it. Do you know that we can be
00:28:22.70\00:28:25.03
blinded? We can
be self-deceived.
00:28:25.23\00:28:27.24
And so that
weekend when I went home
00:28:27.44\00:28:30.64
thank goodness I
had Sabbath and Sunday
00:28:30.84\00:28:34.41
for God to deal with me.
00:28:34.61\00:28:36.21
Oh, did I have a wake-up call
from the Spirit of the Living
00:28:36.41\00:28:39.88
God. You know, when I
came in Monday morning
00:28:40.08\00:28:42.35
it's "not my will but
Thine be done. I'll do what... "
00:28:42.55\00:28:45.25
But it's because there
was stinking pride in me.
00:28:45.65\00:28:48.16
Had I not gone
through what I went through
00:28:48.36\00:28:50.66
who's to say where
my eternity would be?
00:28:50.86\00:28:53.16
Because pride separates
you... pride and vanity
00:28:53.36\00:28:56.23
separate you from
God. So there is not always
00:28:56.63\00:28:59.90
a happy ending, but I
want you to know this:
00:29:00.10\00:29:02.64
God will work
within you every way He can
00:29:02.84\00:29:05.07
to secure you in Him that
you will go to sleep in Jesus
00:29:05.27\00:29:10.21
so that you can wake up
and have an eternity with Him.
00:29:10.41\00:29:12.91
I'm not sure if I'm out of time.
00:29:13.11\00:29:14.45
When I start gettin' out
of time you just snap your
00:29:14.62\00:29:16.58
finger and I'll hush. OK.
00:29:16.79\00:29:18.45
Did? I'm looking at Abel.
Did Abel have a happy ending?
00:29:18.85\00:29:24.83
Do you know what I
was reading on this?
00:29:26.19\00:29:28.56
It says that Cain took a
rock and crushed his head.
00:29:28.76\00:29:32.73
That's not a happy ending.
00:29:33.13\00:29:35.17
And did Abel do anything?
No, he was the good one
00:29:35.74\00:29:40.98
and yet he didn't
have a happy ending.
00:29:41.38\00:29:44.21
Uriah, Bathsheba's husband,
00:29:44.61\00:29:46.78
do we see where he
did anything wrong?
00:29:47.08\00:29:49.45
Did he have a happy ending? No!
00:29:50.02\00:29:53.12
Eli the priest. He was a priest!
00:29:53.62\00:29:55.86
He was the one
that trained Samuel!
00:29:56.06\00:29:58.19
And he... But you
know what he didn't do?
00:29:58.59\00:30:01.86
He didn't train his own sons.
00:30:02.06\00:30:03.57
Didn't we find
that to be the case?
00:30:03.77\00:30:05.73
And so they went to war and they
took the ark of the covenant
00:30:06.23\00:30:11.67
unbeknownst to him. And
when the runner came back
00:30:11.87\00:30:16.08
to tell Eli or to give a report
00:30:16.28\00:30:18.91
he said: "Both of your
sons have been killed. "
00:30:19.21\00:30:22.22
That didn't seem to
faze him but when he said
00:30:22.62\00:30:25.82
"and the ark of God has been
taken, " you know what happened
00:30:26.12\00:30:29.19
to Eli? Fell over
backwards and it broke his neck.
00:30:29.39\00:30:33.03
No... he didn't
have a happy ending.
00:30:33.23\00:30:35.13
King Josiah. King Josiah was
the youngest king that ever was.
00:30:35.76\00:30:40.57
You know at eight
years old he became the king
00:30:40.77\00:30:43.94
and did he do a
great thing for his nation?
00:30:44.14\00:30:46.81
They located the book of the law
00:30:47.01\00:30:49.88
and he re-instituted
righteousness and holiness
00:30:50.08\00:30:53.92
in the nation. Did
he have a happy ending?
00:30:54.12\00:30:56.85
No... he got...
John the Baptist!
00:30:57.05\00:30:59.55
How many of you want to
have your head whacked off?
00:30:59.95\00:31:02.19
He was the
forerunner of Jesus Christ!
00:31:02.39\00:31:05.43
No... he didn't
have a happy ending.
00:31:05.63\00:31:08.16
Steven... Preach!
Preach! I'm preaching.
00:31:08.56\00:31:11.47
He lets me preach. Preach. OK!
00:31:14.44\00:31:16.77
What happened to
righteous Steven?
00:31:19.17\00:31:21.24
He was in a rock fight
and he didn't have any rocks.
00:31:22.91\00:31:26.38
In real life: not
everybody comes out happy.
00:31:28.75\00:31:32.35
But I am going to tell you
this: whether you're a martyr...
00:31:32.55\00:31:35.49
Whether you're
martyred for a good cause,
00:31:35.69\00:31:37.59
dying from a horrible disease,
00:31:37.79\00:31:40.00
murdered frivolously, whether
you're innocent or guilty
00:31:40.20\00:31:43.97
very few make it out of this
world without pain and agony.
00:31:44.17\00:31:46.97
However, this
isn't all there is.
00:31:47.17\00:31:49.70
If - I'm going to say it again
- you go to sleep in Christ
00:31:49.90\00:31:52.97
you will have an eternity
that far exceeds even the
00:31:53.17\00:31:57.08
happiest time you've
ever had here in this world.
00:31:57.28\00:31:59.91
Wow! Amen! Praise
the Lord! Well done!
00:32:00.12\00:32:03.55
Praise the Lord! Boy,
that got Pastor John fired up!
00:32:05.12\00:32:08.46
Shall we have
closing prayer? Yeah!
00:32:08.66\00:32:10.19
They don't let me out
very often. Ya'll know that.
00:32:11.43\00:32:14.43
Boy, Sr. Mollie really...
she really unpacked that.
00:32:14.93\00:32:17.57
You know, the reality of it
is we don't deserve a better
00:32:17.77\00:32:19.77
understanding in this world.
00:32:19.97\00:32:21.30
We don't serve God for a better
understanding in this world.
00:32:21.64\00:32:23.97
We serve God for
the blessed assurance
00:32:24.17\00:32:26.51
of the next world. Amen!
00:32:26.71\00:32:28.61
This world can
guarantee you a good funeral;
00:32:28.81\00:32:30.88
only Jesus can guarantee
you a better resurrection. Amen!
00:32:31.08\00:32:34.38
So we have to keep in mind that
it is not what we get in this
00:32:34.78\00:32:37.05
world but what we get in
the next world. See, she got me
00:32:37.25\00:32:39.05
started so... that's all
right - you're in trouble.
00:32:39.25\00:32:41.42
Sorry. Loss must always be
measured on an eternal scale.
00:32:41.72\00:32:47.43
Amen! We don't measure
loss on an eternal scale.
00:32:47.83\00:32:50.30
We often measure
loss on a temporary scale.
00:32:50.50\00:32:52.67
We weigh earthly things...
We weigh heavenly things
00:32:52.87\00:32:57.27
with an earthly
scale. That's the problem.
00:32:57.47\00:32:59.37
And somewhere we've adopted
the idea that we need to know
00:32:59.77\00:33:01.91
everything. We don't
need to know everything.
00:33:02.11\00:33:04.71
If we knew
everything we would be God.
00:33:04.91\00:33:06.82
We would not need God.
00:33:07.02\00:33:08.35
The Bible says in Deuteronomy
"the secret things belong unto
00:33:08.38\00:33:10.72
the Lord our God, but
the things which are revealed
00:33:10.92\00:33:13.99
belong to us and
to our children. "
00:33:14.79\00:33:16.52
So Job did not deserve -
even though God declared him
00:33:16.73\00:33:20.23
a righteous man above all that
were on the earth at the time -
00:33:20.43\00:33:23.16
he did not deserve the
sovereignty that God had.
00:33:23.57\00:33:26.60
I like it when
Job got beside himself
00:33:26.80\00:33:28.77
and the Lord flipped the script
on him and said: "Now it's my
00:33:28.97\00:33:32.61
turn. " Yes! "Where were
you when I laid the foundations
00:33:32.81\00:33:36.01
of the world? Where were
you when I told the ocean
00:33:36.21\00:33:38.45
go this far but no farther? "
00:33:38.65\00:33:40.15
"Where were you when I
threw the stars in the sky
00:33:40.55\00:33:43.32
and gave them each a name? "
And Job said: "That's enough! "
00:33:43.52\00:33:45.75
The Lord said: "No, shut
up and take it like a man. "
00:33:45.95\00:33:47.66
Sometimes... Sometimes
God comes at us in a way
00:33:48.62\00:33:52.13
that we did not
know we could handle.
00:33:52.33\00:33:53.70
But the beauty of
God's sovereignty is
00:33:53.90\00:33:55.70
He will never come at us in
a way that we cannot bear it.
00:33:55.90\00:33:58.37
So when we go
through difficulties
00:33:59.33\00:34:00.84
don't get
caught in the struggle.
00:34:01.14\00:34:03.30
Get caught up in the God
that allows you to go through
00:34:03.51\00:34:06.11
the struggle. If you
really believe that He will not
00:34:06.31\00:34:08.38
allow us to be tempted
above which we are able,
00:34:08.58\00:34:10.55
He would not bring burdens
to us which we cannot bear
00:34:10.95\00:34:13.21
but with every burden, every
trial make a way of escape...
00:34:13.42\00:34:16.35
If you really believe
that, then you can go through
00:34:16.55\00:34:19.39
the Asa experience and
come out on the other side.
00:34:19.59\00:34:22.02
You know, in Psalm 73- one
of the most amazing stories -
00:34:22.22\00:34:24.79
also I Kings and
Chronicles Asa is talked about.
00:34:24.99\00:34:28.23
But Asa ran into a wall
in his experience with...
00:34:28.43\00:34:31.70
as a man chosen by
God. He made the mistake
00:34:32.10\00:34:35.80
of looking at the prosperous
wicked people around him.
00:34:36.00\00:34:38.97
My wife and I came
back just recently from
00:34:39.17\00:34:41.14
London with the 3ABN
team, and we made a mistake
00:34:41.34\00:34:44.58
and went to Harrod's. Uh-oh!
00:34:44.78\00:34:47.75
I can tell you
don't travel much.
00:34:47.95\00:34:49.58
Harrod's is a store you don't
go into unless you have money.
00:34:50.52\00:34:53.05
Don't ask prices.
00:34:53.25\00:34:54.59
We walked up to the counter
in the candy section of Harrod's
00:34:54.72\00:34:57.66
and they had
chocolate for 3,450 pounds.
00:34:57.86\00:35:01.93
Not dollars... pounds!
00:35:02.13\00:35:04.67
For a box of chocolate.
00:35:04.87\00:35:06.37
And I asked the lady:
"What is in that chocolate? "
00:35:06.57\00:35:08.27
She said: "A slice of gold. "
00:35:08.47\00:35:09.80
And each piece... I
said: "Can you eat it? "
00:35:10.21\00:35:12.47
She said: "No, you
really can't digest it. "
00:35:12.67\00:35:14.21
"So why do you buy it?
" "Just because you can! "
00:35:14.41\00:35:16.58
And we looked at that and
said: "Honey, we need to get out
00:35:17.25\00:35:19.11
of this store. " So we
bought our little four pieces of
00:35:19.31\00:35:20.95
$7 chocolate and walked out
like we had a million bucks.
00:35:21.15\00:35:25.05
On the outside we saw all of
these cars and we couldn't even
00:35:25.85\00:35:28.09
mention their names. And
we sat in this restaurant
00:35:28.29\00:35:30.33
miserable - didn't even
look like we belonged in there -
00:35:30.53\00:35:32.49
could only afford spaghetti.
And thought: "Lord, there's
00:35:32.69\00:35:35.93
something wrong
with this picture. "
00:35:36.13\00:35:37.47
Amen! Asa had the
same problem. Asa said...
00:35:37.73\00:35:41.10
Psalm 73: "Truly
God is good to Israel. "
00:35:41.30\00:35:44.01
And I'm not going to go through.
When you want to understand
00:35:44.21\00:35:46.81
how you often feel:
Psalm 73 verses 1-17.
00:35:47.01\00:35:50.28
I'll just give you a few verses.
00:35:50.48\00:35:51.81
He said: "Truly
God is good to Israel
00:35:52.05\00:35:53.65
to such as are
pure in heart... BUT
00:35:53.85\00:35:56.65
as for me, my
feet almost stumbled.
00:35:56.85\00:35:59.65
My steps nearly slipped for
I was envious of the boastful
00:35:59.85\00:36:03.02
when I saw the
prosperity of the wicked. "
00:36:03.22\00:36:05.69
Then he goes down and talks
about their life and their pain,
00:36:05.89\00:36:08.13
their possessions. He
says: "Even in their death
00:36:08.33\00:36:10.77
there is no pain. "
Even when they have sorrow.
00:36:10.97\00:36:13.64
He said: "They look at
God and question God. "
00:36:13.84\00:36:15.87
And he couldn't understand
why they had so much prosperity.
00:36:17.37\00:36:19.91
Have you ever been there? Come
on... have you ever been there?
00:36:20.11\00:36:22.08
Watchin' Oprah:
she gives people cars
00:36:22.48\00:36:25.18
and you wonder why you
didn't get invited to that show.
00:36:25.58\00:36:27.52
Come on... am I
talking the truth? Yes!
00:36:27.68\00:36:29.72
Folk paying for other people's
houses, buying people cars
00:36:29.92\00:36:32.52
for the rest of their
lives. Why is nobody calling me?
00:36:32.72\00:36:35.46
Don't worry about it.
We've got a mansion somewhere!
00:36:35.96\00:36:38.06
And so Asa, stumbling
over this misunderstanding,
00:36:38.99\00:36:42.86
said... finally he said:
00:36:43.06\00:36:45.70
"When I thought...
" Psalm 73 verse 6:
00:36:45.90\00:36:47.97
"When I thought
how to understand this
00:36:48.17\00:36:50.57
it was too painful for me
00:36:50.77\00:36:53.27
until I went into
the sanctuary of God.
00:36:53.48\00:36:56.11
Then I understood therein. "
00:36:56.31\00:36:58.08
We spend so little
time in the presence of God
00:36:58.28\00:37:00.85
trying to find understanding
in our own human presence.
00:37:01.05\00:37:03.39
If you get into the presence of
God, you'll begin to understand
00:37:03.79\00:37:06.22
things that God never made
available in a human setting.
00:37:06.42\00:37:09.19
You've got to also understand
this. He says: "I've got
00:37:09.99\00:37:12.23
a thought about... "
You know when you think...
00:37:12.43\00:37:13.76
what is God
thinking about us right now?
00:37:13.80\00:37:15.56
You want to know what God is
thinking about us all right...
00:37:15.76\00:37:17.27
You know what God is think-
ing about all of us right now?
00:37:17.47\00:37:19.33
Here's what He's thinking.
He told me to tell you today
00:37:19.73\00:37:21.67
what He's
thinking. Jeremiah 29:11.
00:37:21.87\00:37:25.41
"For I know the thoughts
I think towards you says
00:37:25.81\00:37:27.91
the Lord. Thoughts
of peace and not of evil
00:37:28.11\00:37:30.08
to give you a
future and a hope. "
00:37:30.28\00:37:32.25
Let me wind it up on this point
00:37:32.45\00:37:33.78
so Pastor C.A. can
keep the fire going.
00:37:33.85\00:37:35.45
I know Shelley's
going to explode.
00:37:35.65\00:37:37.25
I can hear her horse right there
just tryin' to break out of
00:37:38.99\00:37:41.46
the stall. But I tell
you: if you know that God
00:37:41.66\00:37:46.13
thinks peace about you
and He only wants to give you
00:37:46.53\00:37:50.13
a future and a hope, consider
hope in a broader sense.
00:37:50.33\00:37:53.84
The Bible says... If
we are saved in this hope,
00:37:54.44\00:37:58.44
hope that is seen is
not hope. That's right!
00:37:58.64\00:38:02.04
Why do we hope for
what we already see?
00:38:02.24\00:38:04.08
If you've seen
it, don't hope for it
00:38:04.28\00:38:06.08
because what you
haven't seen is really hope.
00:38:06.28\00:38:09.28
He says: "Now hope
does not disappoint... "
00:38:09.68\00:38:11.85
If He's going to give
you a future and a hope,
00:38:12.05\00:38:13.92
hope will not disappoint. When
you see what God has in store
00:38:14.12\00:38:17.29
for you, you will forget.
00:38:17.49\00:38:19.13
"The former things
will not be remembered
00:38:19.33\00:38:21.60
nor come into mind. " So finally
the point I want to make is this
00:38:21.80\00:38:26.74
"If in this life only
we have hope in Christ,
00:38:26.94\00:38:29.00
we are of all men... "
What? "most miserable. "
00:38:29.20\00:38:31.64
Here's where misery comes from:
00:38:31.84\00:38:33.48
when we insist on finding
answers where God does not
00:38:33.68\00:38:36.81
give answers we arrive
at a place called misery.
00:38:37.01\00:38:40.28
But when we trust God we
live in a place called hope.
00:38:40.58\00:38:43.95
Hope does not
disappoint. If in this life only
00:38:44.89\00:38:48.46
we have hope in
Christ... I'll speak to those
00:38:48.66\00:38:49.99
who've lost loved ones.
I've lost loved ones. Go on.
00:38:50.19\00:38:53.93
We're going to still
lose loved ones. Yes!
00:38:54.13\00:38:55.66
But remember what the faithful
did. They didn't serve God
00:38:55.86\00:39:00.14
for a better funeral.
They said they did not accept
00:39:00.34\00:39:05.17
deliverance... Hebrews 11:35...
"did not accept deliverance
00:39:05.37\00:39:09.31
that they might obtain
a better resurrection. "
00:39:09.51\00:39:12.21
Yes... Job did die.
00:39:12.61\00:39:14.18
Yes, all of his life he
probably mourned the loss
00:39:14.38\00:39:18.35
of his children. As we
said in the green room:
00:39:18.55\00:39:20.82
a mother could have 12 children,
lose one and go for the rest
00:39:21.12\00:39:24.29
of her life
mourning the loss of one.
00:39:24.49\00:39:26.03
Can you imagine how Job felt?
All the kids he had were gone.
00:39:26.23\00:39:28.56
God gave them all.
He probably said...
00:39:28.96\00:39:30.93
called the new ones by
the name of the old ones.
00:39:31.33\00:39:33.87
Never mind...
And all of his life
00:39:34.94\00:39:37.87
he thought about
all the kids he'd lost.
00:39:38.07\00:39:39.57
Job is going to come
forth in the resurrection
00:39:39.97\00:39:41.74
and meet those kids again. Amen!
00:39:41.94\00:39:43.75
So let's not focus on this life
00:39:43.95\00:39:45.51
where there is no
real understanding.
00:39:45.71\00:39:47.68
Give the understanding that...
accept what God has revealed
00:39:47.88\00:39:52.02
and leave what He hasn't
revealed in His own hands. Amen.
00:39:52.22\00:39:55.32
So would we say? What
you've covered here that
00:39:55.52\00:39:58.29
not all suffering, right? All
suffering that happens in this
00:39:58.49\00:40:02.03
world is going to be
restored on this earth.
00:40:02.23\00:40:04.73
No! No, not at all!
00:40:04.93\00:40:06.27
What was really
the restoration of Job?
00:40:06.40\00:40:08.24
Was it more of the heart?
00:40:08.44\00:40:10.24
Ah... it was partial
restoration. Partial.
00:40:10.44\00:40:13.31
You see, we are all... Every
one of us has a broken place.
00:40:13.51\00:40:16.31
Don't we all have
a broken place? Yes.
00:40:16.51\00:40:18.05
The Lord mends us
at the broken places
00:40:18.25\00:40:21.15
until He removes
the broken places.
00:40:21.35\00:40:23.65
Amen! We are all
broken at some point.
00:40:23.85\00:40:25.92
So we are mended
at the broken places
00:40:26.12\00:40:28.32
until we are
completely restored.
00:40:28.52\00:40:30.53
Excuse me. That's
what breakfast does to you.
00:40:30.73\00:40:32.83
Sorry about that.
Go ahead Pastor C.A. -
00:40:33.03\00:40:35.40
take it away. We are mended.
00:40:35.60\00:40:37.17
The final kingdom.
What does that really mean?
00:40:37.37\00:40:40.87
Is there good news
here or is there bad news?
00:40:41.07\00:40:43.57
Oh there's always good news
when you're in Christ Jesus.
00:40:43.97\00:40:46.27
When I was pastoring the
Ephesus church I preached
00:40:46.47\00:40:48.51
117 funerals in seven years.
00:40:48.71\00:40:51.08
I averaged one
funeral every 18 days...
00:40:51.38\00:40:53.28
sometimes I had
three, four funerals a week.
00:40:53.48\00:40:54.95
And every one of those
funerals I said the following:
00:40:55.15\00:40:57.59
"Death in Christ is
not such a bad thing.
00:40:57.89\00:41:01.09
Better to die in Jesus
than live without Him. "
00:41:01.49\00:41:04.56
That's right! Amen! And
that's the ultimate reality.
00:41:04.76\00:41:07.43
I'd rather go to
sleep in Christ - Amen -
00:41:07.63\00:41:10.07
than live on without Him.
00:41:10.27\00:41:11.93
Because those who die
in Jesus have the promise
00:41:12.13\00:41:14.90
that they will
live forever. Yes.
00:41:15.10\00:41:16.97
So Daniel chapter 2
verse 44 the Bible says:
00:41:17.41\00:41:20.94
"In the days of these
kings... " That's our day;
00:41:21.14\00:41:23.95
that's these days...
00:41:24.15\00:41:25.75
"the God of heaven
will set up a kingdom
00:41:25.95\00:41:28.05
which shall NEVER be destroyed.
00:41:28.25\00:41:31.05
And the kingdom shall
not be left to other people.
00:41:31.45\00:41:34.32
It shall break in pieces
and consume all these kingdoms
00:41:34.72\00:41:38.29
and it shall stand forever. "
00:41:38.49\00:41:41.20
So that's the ultimate
promise. That even if you get...
00:41:41.40\00:41:44.53
and I use this term "dealt
a bad hand" in this life...
00:41:44.73\00:41:47.77
there is coming another life,
there is coming another kingdom
00:41:47.97\00:41:52.01
and that kingdom
will indeed stand forever.
00:41:52.31\00:41:55.58
Back in the 1860's the Adventist
church was wrestling with -
00:41:55.78\00:41:58.68
we weren't the
Adventist church yet -
00:41:58.88\00:42:00.22
we were wrestling with
what do we call ourselves.
00:42:00.28\00:42:02.12
And there were various
factions and various groups.
00:42:02.52\00:42:05.22
And James White was
with a group that said:
00:42:05.42\00:42:08.19
"We ought to be
called the Church of God. "
00:42:08.39\00:42:11.33
And they said: "That's a
good title... Church of God. "
00:42:11.73\00:42:14.13
"We are godly people; we
ought to be the Church of God. "
00:42:14.33\00:42:16.23
And they took it to Ellen White
00:42:16.63\00:42:17.97
and probably said: "We want to
be called the Church of God. "
00:42:18.00\00:42:21.24
And she said: "No... un-umm. "
00:42:21.64\00:42:25.87
She says: "Not enough. "
00:42:26.07\00:42:27.61
She said: "Really the
Church of God hides more
00:42:28.01\00:42:30.68
than it reveals. You can hide
a lot under the Church of God.
00:42:30.88\00:42:33.78
We need something
with a little more punch,
00:42:33.98\00:42:35.88
with a little more statement,
with a little more authority,
00:42:36.08\00:42:39.12
with a little more anointing. "
00:42:39.32\00:42:41.09
So they went back to times
of prayer and they came up with
00:42:41.29\00:42:43.69
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:42:43.89\00:42:46.46
because it highlights the two
salient doctrines of our church!
00:42:46.86\00:42:50.30
We keep the seventh day and
we are looking for the advent,
00:42:50.70\00:42:54.17
the coming of Jesus Christ.
00:42:54.37\00:42:55.70
It's all about the advent.
00:42:55.74\00:42:57.07
If there were no advent, then
you and I are wasting our time.
00:42:57.11\00:43:01.14
What are we doing here if
Christ is not coming back?
00:43:01.34\00:43:03.71
"If Christ be not risen... "
00:43:03.91\00:43:06.75
our preaching is in vain.
We ought to kick up our heels
00:43:06.95\00:43:09.42
and find some club
and go out and party
00:43:09.62\00:43:12.22
and live for now
because there's nothing more.
00:43:12.42\00:43:14.26
But the Bible says
there IS something more!
00:43:14.46\00:43:16.79
Amen! That the
kingdoms of this earth
00:43:16.99\00:43:19.19
are going to be become
the kingdoms of our Lord
00:43:19.39\00:43:21.10
and of His Christ.
The first coming of Jesus
00:43:21.30\00:43:24.33
was a global event
with global ramifications.
00:43:24.53\00:43:28.74
The second coming of
Jesus is a cosmic event
00:43:29.64\00:43:33.98
with cosmic
ramifications. That's right.
00:43:34.38\00:43:36.18
At that time sin and
sinners will be suspended.
00:43:36.58\00:43:40.55
The third coming of
Christ is a universal event
00:43:40.95\00:43:45.32
with universal ramifications.
00:43:45.52\00:43:47.86
At that time sin and
sinners will be destroyed
00:43:48.06\00:43:53.09
and we will live
forever and forever.
00:43:53.29\00:43:55.56
I want to read
something very quickly.
00:43:55.76\00:43:57.37
Shelley, if you'll hold
my sword here for a second.
00:43:57.57\00:43:59.57
I want to thank you.
00:43:59.97\00:44:01.30
Ta, ta, ta: "Thy Word
I have hid in my iPad. "
00:44:05.67\00:44:07.68
This is actually
from the Great Controversy
00:44:10.15\00:44:13.45
the last chapter:
The Controversy Ended.
00:44:13.65\00:44:15.62
I'll read the first paragraph
and then I'll read the last.
00:44:15.82\00:44:18.15
"At the close of
the thousand years
00:44:18.55\00:44:20.49
Christ returns to the earth.
" This is the third coming.
00:44:21.36\00:44:24.03
"He is accompanied by
the host of the redeemed
00:44:24.43\00:44:26.86
and attended by a
retinue of angels.
00:44:27.06\00:44:29.73
As He descends
in terrific majesty
00:44:30.13\00:44:33.54
He bids the wicked dead
rise to receive their doom.
00:44:33.74\00:44:38.41
They come forth a mighty host
00:44:38.81\00:44:41.11
numberless as
the sands of the sea.
00:44:41.31\00:44:43.61
What a contrast to
those who are raised
00:44:44.01\00:44:47.68
in the first resurrection.
The righteous were clothed
00:44:47.88\00:44:51.25
with immortal
youth and beauty. "
00:44:51.45\00:44:54.12
That's us. Amen!
00:44:54.32\00:44:55.69
I said "Amen. " AMEN!
00:44:56.49\00:44:58.39
"The wicked bear the
traces of disease and death. "
00:44:58.89\00:45:02.93
Now I go down to
the very last paragraph
00:45:03.13\00:45:05.67
of this wonderful book:
00:45:05.87\00:45:07.94
"Every creature which
is in heaven and on earth
00:45:08.34\00:45:12.37
and under the earth
and such as are in the sea
00:45:12.57\00:45:16.28
and all that are in them
heard I saying: 'Blessing
00:45:16.48\00:45:20.65
and honor and glory and power
00:45:20.85\00:45:24.19
be unto Him that
sitteth upon the throne
00:45:24.35\00:45:27.56
and unto the Lamb
forever and ever. "
00:45:27.96\00:45:30.49
And then that last
wonderful paragraph:
00:45:30.69\00:45:32.29
"The great controversy is ended!
00:45:32.69\00:45:35.80
Sin and sinners are no more.
00:45:36.80\00:45:39.67
The entire universe is clean. "
00:45:40.07\00:45:43.07
You see, there's just one
little black spot in the whole
00:45:43.27\00:45:46.37
universe; one little blot
on the escutcheon of heaven.
00:45:46.57\00:45:50.15
One little cloud floating out
there, and that's this planet
00:45:50.35\00:45:54.48
earth. But, "the
entire universe is now clean.
00:45:54.68\00:45:57.69
One pulse of
harmony and gladness
00:45:58.09\00:46:01.26
beats through the vast creation.
00:46:01.46\00:46:03.79
From Him who created all
00:46:04.56\00:46:07.00
flow life and light and gladness
00:46:07.20\00:46:10.77
throughout the
realms of illimitable... "
00:46:10.97\00:46:14.30
illimitable...
illimitable, Shelley... Yes...
00:46:14.70\00:46:17.71
"illimitable space.
00:46:17.91\00:46:19.54
From the minutest atom
00:46:20.74\00:46:22.88
to the greatest world
00:46:23.78\00:46:25.28
all things -
animate and inanimate... "
00:46:25.48\00:46:30.39
That's people and rocks
and trees and flowers...
00:46:30.59\00:46:34.39
"animate and inanimate
in their unshadowed beauty
00:46:34.79\00:46:39.43
and perfect joy declare
00:46:39.63\00:46:42.53
that God is love. "
00:46:42.73\00:46:46.50
Amen! Amen? Amen! And amen.
00:46:46.70\00:46:49.07
That's what keeps you going
in the night season when you're
00:46:49.47\00:46:52.51
all alone. Amen!
That's what keeps you going
00:46:52.71\00:46:55.38
when the doctor says:
"That's cancer. " All right.
00:46:55.58\00:47:00.98
That's what keeps you
going when you go into work
00:47:01.18\00:47:02.78
on Monday and they tell you
your job has been downsized.
00:47:02.98\00:47:08.19
Umm? All right; all right.
That's what keeps you going
00:47:08.39\00:47:11.33
when your husband or
wife says: "I'm tired of this.
00:47:11.53\00:47:16.10
I'm gone... I'm leaving. "
00:47:16.30\00:47:19.10
So you don't find the nearest
bar or the nearest cliff.
00:47:19.40\00:47:22.90
You bow to your
knees and you go to Jesus,
00:47:23.10\00:47:26.98
who's right where you left Him
the last time you spoke to Him.
00:47:27.18\00:47:30.78
He hasn't moved.
Because you're not looking
00:47:30.98\00:47:34.55
at the here and now...
you're looking at eternity.
00:47:34.75\00:47:38.09
Amen! You know that one day
00:47:38.29\00:47:41.36
and one day soon sin
and sinners will be gone.
00:47:41.56\00:47:47.06
Amen! So you don't
have to lay awake nights
00:47:47.26\00:47:49.36
thinking of ways to
try to get back at those
00:47:49.56\00:47:51.47
who've done stuff to you. Amen?
00:47:51.67\00:47:54.47
You just keep on doin' right,
00:47:54.67\00:47:57.11
keep on serving Jesus,
00:47:57.31\00:47:58.81
and let God take
care of the rest BECAUSE
00:47:59.01\00:48:01.64
one day the
kingdoms of this earth
00:48:01.84\00:48:04.11
are going to become
the kingdoms of our Lord
00:48:04.31\00:48:06.72
and of His Christ. Amen?
00:48:06.92\00:48:09.05
Hebrews chapter 13 five
and six and then I'm done,
00:48:09.25\00:48:10.89
leaving it with
Shelley. All right.
00:48:11.09\00:48:12.42
Paul says to the Hebrews:
00:48:13.59\00:48:16.02
"Live your life
without covetousness. "
00:48:16.22\00:48:18.76
"Don't look on
other peoples' plates.
00:48:19.16\00:48:21.66
Keep your eye on
your own plate. "
00:48:21.86\00:48:23.23
My wife and I have this running
joke when we go to Panama.
00:48:23.63\00:48:26.17
Whenever we get food at
a restaurant I always say:
00:48:26.37\00:48:29.37
"How come she
got more than me? "
00:48:29.57\00:48:31.11
It's kind of a running joke,
and there's a certain restaurant
00:48:32.67\00:48:34.84
we go to. And they know
when they put the food down
00:48:35.04\00:48:37.21
that I will say that. And
sometimes they will double mine
00:48:37.61\00:48:40.68
just - you know -
because they know us.
00:48:41.08\00:48:44.59
And even if it's
double I will say:
00:48:44.79\00:48:46.59
"How come she got more than me?
00:48:46.89\00:48:48.22
Hers is bigger than mine. "
00:48:48.39\00:48:50.19
Well Paul says: "Keep your
eyes on your own plate. " Amen!
00:48:50.59\00:48:53.26
Because you don't know
what's behind that smile
00:48:53.46\00:48:56.67
of the person
sitting next to you.
00:48:56.87\00:48:58.47
You don't know what
they've gone through.
00:48:58.97\00:49:00.34
You don't know
what they've done.
00:49:00.54\00:49:02.44
You don't know what
they've been through.
00:49:02.64\00:49:04.21
I like to tell the story
and I'll tell it real quick.
00:49:04.41\00:49:06.07
There was a lady
at a certain church
00:49:06.27\00:49:08.24
who was praising
the Lord too much.
00:49:08.44\00:49:10.35
She was just
praising the Lord too much.
00:49:10.55\00:49:11.88
Right in the middle of the
sermon she would get up and say:
00:49:12.08\00:49:14.02
"Praise the Lord... praise
the Lord. God bless you. "
00:49:14.22\00:49:16.85
She would walk right up to
the pulpit: "God bless you;
00:49:17.05\00:49:18.72
praise the Lord! " And
the elders got together
00:49:18.92\00:49:20.76
and the elders said:
"You know, we've got to hush
00:49:20.96\00:49:23.06
that woman up 'cause
she's disturbing our service. "
00:49:23.26\00:49:26.70
And she was a big person.
00:49:27.90\00:49:30.57
Take Shelley Quinn and
put about 150 pounds on her
00:49:30.77\00:49:33.30
then you've got this woman.
00:49:33.50\00:49:34.84
About six foot...
big girl. Thank you.
00:49:34.87\00:49:37.14
She was a big
person like Shelley Quinn.
00:49:38.97\00:49:41.61
So... Have the
sword back... in the...
00:49:44.05\00:49:46.11
in the elders'
meeting the brethren said:
00:49:46.31\00:49:49.02
"Before we
determine who's going to go
00:49:49.22\00:49:51.72
let me tell you the
story about that woman. "
00:49:52.12\00:49:54.39
They said: "That woman
has just gotten out of prison.
00:49:54.59\00:49:57.99
She's been in
prison 25 years. " Ooh!
00:49:58.19\00:50:01.56
So they asked: "What's
she been in prison for? "
00:50:01.76\00:50:05.53
And they said:
"Killing her husband. "
00:50:06.63\00:50:08.97
True story. He was abusive...
00:50:11.91\00:50:16.11
he beat her; he mistreated her.
00:50:16.31\00:50:19.31
But in prison she found Jesus
00:50:19.51\00:50:21.58
and she was
such a model prisoner
00:50:21.78\00:50:24.45
that they cut
her sentence short.
00:50:24.65\00:50:26.76
Amen! But in prison she said
00:50:26.96\00:50:29.82
"Lord, I make You two promises:
00:50:30.89\00:50:33.90
1. I will praise You
wherever I go. " Amen!
00:50:34.30\00:50:40.20
" I will never
stop praising You.
00:50:40.70\00:50:42.37
And 2. I will never take
any stuff from any man. "
00:50:42.57\00:50:47.54
The elder said: "OK,
armed with that information
00:50:49.21\00:50:51.25
which one of ya'll are going to
tell her to stop praising God? "
00:50:51.45\00:50:54.42
So you don't know
what's behind that smile.
00:50:58.59\00:51:01.62
So Paul says: "Let your
life be without covetousness. "
00:51:02.42\00:51:05.59
Why? "Covetousness. " Why?
00:51:05.79\00:51:07.76
Because God has said
He will never leave you
00:51:07.96\00:51:10.43
nor forsake you. So it doesn't
matter what your problem is
00:51:10.63\00:51:13.50
because the answer to
all the problems is the same.
00:51:13.70\00:51:16.14
The reason
doctors diagnose stuff is
00:51:16.34\00:51:18.91
so they know how to treat it.
00:51:19.11\00:51:20.44
'Cause you can't treat a
hangnail like you can cancer.
00:51:20.54\00:51:23.14
But when you have a
common cure, it doesn't matter
00:51:24.15\00:51:28.72
what your disease is. Amen!
00:51:28.92\00:51:31.59
So you don't need to sit around
and talk about your disease.
00:51:31.79\00:51:34.02
I've got
stuff... you've got stuff.
00:51:34.42\00:51:37.59
All God's children got stuff!
00:51:37.89\00:51:40.53
But who cares about your stuff?
00:51:41.80\00:51:43.57
Why should we
discuss your stuff?
00:51:43.97\00:51:46.03
'Cause you've got your
stuff... I've got my stuff.
00:51:46.23\00:51:49.67
And the answer to all of our
stuff is the same. It's Jesus!
00:51:49.87\00:51:54.11
So let's stop
talkin' about the "stuff"
00:51:54.31\00:51:56.95
and talk about
Jesus. Amen? Amen!
00:51:57.15\00:51:59.35
So He has promised:
"I will never leave you
00:51:59.55\00:52:01.65
nor forsake you, so
what can man do to me? "
00:52:01.85\00:52:04.59
Yes... cool him down.
00:52:04.79\00:52:06.15
Ain't nothin' on you -
yes - 'cause you've got Jesus.
00:52:06.35\00:52:09.22
So one day soon the
kingdoms of this world
00:52:09.42\00:52:14.53
are going to become
the kingdoms of our Lord
00:52:14.73\00:52:17.37
and of our... "
And you'd better stop.
00:52:17.57\00:52:19.03
See, I used to be his pastor.
00:52:20.87\00:52:22.47
and now... This is
Sabbath school; he's preaching!
00:52:23.64\00:52:26.71
You know, I lean on Sr. Mollie.
I said: "See what you got
00:52:27.54\00:52:31.41
started? " Holy Spirit
fell down on Sabbath School.
00:52:31.61\00:52:34.62
Praise God! Keep on. Wind
up 'cause Shelley's gotta go,
00:52:34.82\00:52:37.15
you know. I know. OK.
You're taking my time. Yeah.
00:52:37.42\00:52:41.19
Jesus is coming soon. Amen?
00:52:47.40\00:52:50.47
So hold on
because in a little while
00:52:50.87\00:52:54.17
He that shall come will come
00:52:54.37\00:52:57.34
and will not tarry. So we
can hold on a little while.
00:52:57.54\00:53:01.18
We can handle it because one
day the kingdoms of this earth
00:53:01.38\00:53:04.78
are going to be the kingdoms
of our Lord and of His Christ
00:53:05.18\00:53:08.75
and He shall reign
forever. Amen! Praise the Lord!
00:53:08.95\00:53:13.62
That's a good word in
due season, wasn't it?
00:53:13.82\00:53:16.19
Praise the Lord for that.
We still have about 19 minutes
00:53:16.39\00:53:19.36
or so, so Sr. Shelley
will have some good time.
00:53:19.56\00:53:21.26
I don't know... You don't
want to follow that, right?
00:53:21.46\00:53:25.17
I'm sure, but you know
you have... it's a good topic.
00:53:25.37\00:53:27.50
I have to tell you
something that's so funny.
00:53:27.70\00:53:29.77
When John got started while
ago I thought you were just
00:53:29.97\00:53:32.07
commenting on Mollie's
lesson. I didn't realize
00:53:32.27\00:53:34.44
you were on your day. And
I thought: "There'll not be
00:53:34.64\00:53:36.61
any time left! "
Could I add something to
00:53:36.81\00:53:42.08
what Mollie was
saying because this thought
00:53:42.28\00:53:45.42
occurred to me. I've
been talking with someone
00:53:45.62\00:53:47.89
who's living in constant pain.
00:53:48.09\00:53:49.49
I know people - I
know several people -
00:53:49.69\00:53:52.13
too many people who live in
excruciating and constant pain.
00:53:52.33\00:53:57.50
And some people are able to
00:53:57.90\00:53:59.80
still praise the
Lord in the midst of it.
00:54:00.00\00:54:01.97
Sometimes people get so weary.
We need to... we need to be
00:54:02.17\00:54:06.17
sure when someone is going
through these circumstances...
00:54:06.37\00:54:10.35
You know, if you are
physically depressed you can get
00:54:10.55\00:54:13.21
emotionally depressed and
then get spiritually depressed
00:54:13.42\00:54:16.05
and begin to doubt God even
in saying: "Why would God allow
00:54:16.25\00:54:20.22
me to go through this? "
00:54:20.42\00:54:21.76
And I just
wanted to read something
00:54:21.82\00:54:23.66
that came to my mind
when Mollie was speaking.
00:54:24.49\00:54:26.96
And this is in Romans 8. I'm
going to begin with verse 15.
00:54:27.16\00:54:30.97
It says: "You did not receive
the spirit of bondage again
00:54:31.83\00:54:35.17
to fear, but you
received the spirit of adoption
00:54:35.37\00:54:39.44
by whom we cry out
'Abba. ' " Oh Papa... Father.
00:54:39.64\00:54:44.48
The God of covenant love
who loved you so much that
00:54:44.68\00:54:47.82
He sent His Son to die for
you while you were yet sinners.
00:54:48.02\00:54:50.69
And then he says:
"The Spirit Himself bears
00:54:50.99\00:54:54.69
witness with our spirit
that we are children of God. "
00:54:54.89\00:54:57.53
Do you think our
suffering escapes a God of love?
00:54:57.73\00:55:01.63
Do you think God in any way
enjoys watching His children
00:55:02.03\00:55:06.94
suffer? But he says: "And
if children, then heirs...
00:55:07.14\00:55:11.51
heirs of God and
joint-heirs with Christ. "
00:55:11.71\00:55:15.18
If... here's a condition...
00:55:15.84\00:55:18.51
we're heirs of God and
joint-heirs with Christ,
00:55:18.71\00:55:22.62
"if indeed we suffer with Him
00:55:22.82\00:55:26.89
that we may also be
glorified together. "
00:55:28.09\00:55:31.96
See, I think sometimes we think
00:55:32.16\00:55:34.73
that when we become Christians
00:55:35.13\00:55:36.90
everything is going
to be happily ever after
00:55:37.10\00:55:39.37
because we have
such a marvelous Savior
00:55:39.57\00:55:41.90
and He's all-powerful.
00:55:42.30\00:55:43.97
But we forget
how much He suffered.
00:55:44.87\00:55:47.28
And as Mollie brought
out suffering is sometimes
00:55:47.48\00:55:51.38
the only way
that God can reach us
00:55:51.78\00:55:54.85
and deal with our pride...
deal with issues in our life.
00:55:55.05\00:55:58.55
But because you're suffering
doesn't mean you're prideful.
00:55:59.05\00:56:02.49
You know, it is a
result of sin in this earth.
00:56:03.12\00:56:06.86
Not your sin necessarily but
the curse of sin upon the earth.
00:56:07.06\00:56:11.10
So... we will suffer
00:56:11.50\00:56:13.30
but I've got the
blessing of doing Thursday's
00:56:13.70\00:56:17.61
lesson... which is about
the Resurrection and the Life.
00:56:17.81\00:56:21.91
First of all, let me ask you:
how many of you would say to God
00:56:22.61\00:56:28.22
"Oh, Lord... that You
would hide me in hell. "
00:56:28.62\00:56:31.75
Let's read this... Job 14.
00:56:34.39\00:56:36.73
We're going to read
verses 12 through 15.
00:56:36.93\00:56:39.13
Actually we'll
begin with verse 13.
00:56:39.33\00:56:40.80
Job 14 and verse 13.
00:56:41.00\00:56:43.77
First of all, understand
Job did not know about this
00:56:45.67\00:56:50.04
conference between
Satan and God. That's right.
00:56:50.24\00:56:54.84
Job loved God; he trusted God.
00:56:55.04\00:56:58.75
And he was confused as to
why all of these bad things
00:56:59.15\00:57:03.92
were happening. He even felt
that God was for some reason
00:57:04.12\00:57:08.52
trying to chastise him.
And he couldn't even figure
00:57:08.92\00:57:11.19
why he was being chastised.
00:57:11.39\00:57:13.50
But he begins in Job 14 verse 13
00:57:13.80\00:57:17.17
"Oh that You would
hide me in the grave.
00:57:17.37\00:57:22.07
That You would conceal me
until Your wrath has passed.
00:57:22.27\00:57:25.54
That You would appoint me
a set time and remember me. "
00:57:25.74\00:57:29.91
In the Old Testament
the word he is using here
00:57:30.31\00:57:33.08
for grave is sheol.
00:57:33.48\00:57:35.88
It is translated grave 31 times;
00:57:36.28\00:57:41.56
it's translated hell 31 times
00:57:41.76\00:57:45.69
and pit 3 times.
00:57:45.89\00:57:47.86
So this word sheol
was hell... was grave.
00:57:48.36\00:57:52.33
And I just bring that up because
even in the New Testament
00:57:52.83\00:57:55.57
the word Hades 10 times is used.
00:57:55.77\00:57:58.21
They both have the same meaning.
It is the place of the departed.
00:57:59.17\00:58:03.11
Whether you're good or bad.
00:58:03.61\00:58:05.58
Sheol, Hades, hell... was
the place of the departed.
00:58:06.08\00:58:10.82
And here is Job
saying: "Oh Lord, hide me in
00:58:11.22\00:58:15.42
the grave until
Your wrath is passed. "
00:58:15.62\00:58:18.23
Until that strange act
that You have to do is passed.
00:58:18.43\00:58:22.66
"Appoint me a set
time; remember me, O Lord. "
00:58:23.06\00:58:26.53
Then he goes on in verse 14:
00:58:26.74\00:58:28.34
"If a man dies,
shall he live again? "
00:58:28.54\00:58:31.17
Now some people think...
I've read scholars who said
00:58:31.57\00:58:34.51
that, you know, Job wasn't
really very sure about this.
00:58:34.71\00:58:37.81
That he wasn't sure...
he's speaking in despondency.
00:58:38.88\00:58:43.62
I think they're wrong,
and I'm going to show you why
00:58:44.02\00:58:46.92
I think they're wrong. I think
this is a rhetorical question.
00:58:47.12\00:58:49.92
Job says: "If a man
die, shall he live again? "
00:58:50.33\00:58:53.73
"All the days of my
hard service I will wait... "
00:58:54.13\00:58:58.90
And that word wait
means: "I will hope...
00:58:59.60\00:59:02.30
I will eagerly expect. "
00:59:02.50\00:59:04.27
"till my change comes. "
What change is he talking about?
00:59:04.47\00:59:08.54
This word is
renewal... it is replacement.
00:59:08.94\00:59:13.45
He's talking about the change
of putting on immortality.
00:59:13.65\00:59:16.92
He said: "You shall call...
" This is when Jesus said
00:59:17.12\00:59:20.79
"Don't think it's strange.
Everyone that is in the grave
00:59:21.19\00:59:24.59
in Hades, in sheol,
00:59:24.99\00:59:27.30
everyone will hear My voice.
00:59:27.50\00:59:29.90
Some will come forward to the
resurrection of righteousness,
00:59:30.10\00:59:32.70
others to the
resurrection of condemnation. "
00:59:33.00\00:59:35.24
And Job trusted he was
coming forth to the resurrection
00:59:35.44\00:59:38.94
of righteousness. He said:
00:59:39.14\00:59:40.98
"You shall call
and I will answer You
00:59:41.38\00:59:44.31
when I hear Your voice saying
'Come up out of the grave'
00:59:44.51\00:59:47.12
Lord, I will answer. "
00:59:47.32\00:59:49.32
But look what he
says: "You shall desire
00:59:49.52\00:59:53.62
the work of Your hands. "
00:59:53.82\00:59:55.92
Job knew God as a
God of covenant love.
00:59:56.12\00:59:59.33
He is saying:
"You are my Creator.
00:59:59.53\01:00:01.56
You are my Maker.
You desire me, Lord.
01:00:01.76\01:00:05.47
You love me so much
You made me in Your image.
01:00:05.67\01:00:08.54
You're going to desire
me... You want... " He knew!
01:00:08.74\01:00:11.81
He understood
that God created us
01:00:12.14\01:00:14.11
so that we could live
with Him for eternity.
01:00:14.31\01:00:16.88
So hallelujah! When he's
talking about "my change"
01:00:17.28\01:00:20.55
when does this change come?
01:00:20.75\01:00:22.08
Turn to I Corinthians chapter 15
01:00:22.42\01:00:24.85
and we're going to look
beginning with verse 51.
01:00:25.05\01:00:28.02
Job is asking God:
"Hide me in the grave;
01:00:28.82\01:00:33.23
hide me in hell, in sheol. "
01:00:33.43\01:00:35.26
"I'm going to wait there
Lord till my change comes
01:00:35.56\01:00:39.13
when You call me. "
01:00:39.33\01:00:40.67
And here's when our change
comes: I Corinthians 15:51.
01:00:40.74\01:00:44.97
You know, some people
think we die and we're changed
01:00:47.01\01:00:49.61
because there is a doctrine
of immortal life that has been
01:00:50.88\01:00:54.45
introduced to our church
- to the Christian church -
01:00:54.65\01:00:57.75
by a pagan philosopher
who converted to Christianity.
01:00:57.95\01:01:00.96
His name was Tertullian
01:01:01.16\01:01:02.62
and he was a philosopher...
he followed Socrates and Plato
01:01:02.82\01:01:08.33
who both taught
that man was immortal.
01:01:08.73\01:01:12.50
Now that's not what the
early apostolic fathers taught.
01:01:12.90\01:01:16.97
For the first century and
3/4... nearly two centuries
01:01:17.17\01:01:21.41
they taught there
were only two ways:
01:01:21.61\01:01:23.11
the way of
life, the way of death
01:01:23.31\01:01:24.81
and that man was mortal...
01:01:25.78\01:01:27.98
because the Bible
says man is mortal.
01:01:28.18\01:01:30.32
So this doctrine of immortality
that has come into the church
01:01:30.72\01:01:35.09
when I Timothy 3:16
says "only God is immortal. "
01:01:35.29\01:01:38.53
This doctrine of immortality
has put... people read
01:01:38.73\01:01:43.10
the scriptures
with a different lens
01:01:43.30\01:01:45.47
and they come up
with the strangest things.
01:01:45.67\01:01:47.40
And so we hear
people saying, you know:
01:01:47.60\01:01:49.34
"Mama's in heaven
looking down on me. " Really?
01:01:49.54\01:01:53.11
Then when Jesus
comes to resurrect her,
01:01:53.31\01:01:56.14
what's going to happen?
01:01:56.34\01:01:57.68
But listen to I
Corinthians 15:51.
01:01:57.85\01:02:00.15
Paul says: "Behold,
I tell you a mystery:
01:02:01.12\01:02:03.85
we shall not all sleep... "
which is a metaphor for death
01:02:04.05\01:02:07.72
in the New
Testament and in the Bible...
01:02:07.92\01:02:10.13
"We shall not all sleep
but we shall all be changed
01:02:10.33\01:02:14.26
in a moment... in the
twinkling of an eye... "
01:02:14.56\01:02:17.70
Just like that!
01:02:17.90\01:02:19.47
When? "at the last trumpet,
01:02:19.67\01:02:23.10
for the trumpet will sound
and the dead will be raised
01:02:23.30\01:02:25.91
incorruptible and
we shall be changed. "
01:02:26.11\01:02:29.74
We can have that
same hope that Job had
01:02:29.94\01:02:33.38
that we are waiting for the
Lord, waiting for our change.
01:02:33.58\01:02:37.55
And it goes on
in verse 53 to say:
01:02:37.75\01:02:40.66
"For this corruptible
must put on incorruption;
01:02:40.86\01:02:45.69
this mortal... "
mortal man... "must put on
01:02:45.89\01:02:49.83
immortality. "
When? At the last trumpet.
01:02:50.03\01:02:53.44
"So when this corruptible
has put on incorruption
01:02:53.64\01:02:56.50
and this mortal
has put on immortality
01:02:56.71\01:02:58.87
THEN shall come to pass
the saying that is written
01:02:59.07\01:03:04.58
'death is
swallowed up in victory! '
01:03:04.78\01:03:07.12
O death, where is your sting? O
Hades, where is your victory? "
01:03:07.32\01:03:12.99
That's the happily ever
after part of our lives.
01:03:13.19\01:03:18.03
See, Job could
endure his present struggle
01:03:18.43\01:03:21.83
because he had hope in
a God of covenant love.
01:03:22.03\01:03:26.00
He had hope that he
would have eternal fellowship
01:03:26.20\01:03:30.07
and communion with God.
01:03:30.27\01:03:32.34
You know, Jesus promised...
In John 14:19 He said
01:03:33.14\01:03:37.95
"A little while longer and
the world will see Me no more
01:03:38.45\01:03:42.62
but you will see Me.
01:03:43.52\01:03:46.39
Because I live you
will live also. " Amen!
01:03:46.79\01:03:51.19
That's God's promise
that we're holding on to.
01:03:51.39\01:03:53.76
Now turn to Job 19
because I want to show you
01:03:53.96\01:03:57.87
Job knew. See, the
Hebrew nation really didn't have
01:03:58.07\01:04:02.27
a well-developed
doctrine on resurrection
01:04:02.47\01:04:06.27
until Job's time. I
mean, Job encapsulates it all.
01:04:06.47\01:04:10.35
I love what Job has to say!
01:04:10.55\01:04:12.81
Job 19 verse 25- all right -
01:04:13.01\01:04:15.68
Job 19 and verse 25.
01:04:16.08\01:04:18.35
And he says:
01:04:19.42\01:04:21.59
"For I KNOW that my Redeemer
lives... " That's right!
01:04:21.99\01:04:25.86
"I know that my Redeemer... "
01:04:26.09\01:04:28.86
What was a redeemer? In
the time of ancient Israel
01:04:29.06\01:04:33.23
a redeemer was a close relative
01:04:33.44\01:04:36.10
who would purchase
you back from slavery.
01:04:36.30\01:04:39.17
And so this is something... This
redeemer would purchase your
01:04:39.97\01:04:45.05
freedom. Remember Ruth and Boaz?
01:04:45.25\01:04:47.08
Boaz was one of her
relatives and he redeemed her.
01:04:47.28\01:04:51.85
So he says: "I know
that my Redeemer lives
01:04:52.25\01:04:55.46
and He shall stand
at last on the earth.
01:04:55.66\01:04:58.19
And after my skin is
destroyed... " Come on...
01:04:58.39\01:05:01.40
after He's been hiding me in
hell, in sheol, in the grave...
01:05:01.60\01:05:05.63
"after I have
decayed this I know:
01:05:06.03\01:05:10.67
that in my flesh
I shall see God. "
01:05:11.07\01:05:15.08
Amen! He knew that
he would be restored
01:05:15.28\01:05:18.48
with a glorified body.
01:05:18.68\01:05:20.55
He knew that when God
called him up from the grave
01:05:20.75\01:05:24.35
that he would be restored
ultimately, totally, completely.
01:05:24.55\01:05:29.26
And then he says:
"Whom I shall see for myself
01:05:29.72\01:05:33.63
and my eyes shall
behold and not another.
01:05:33.83\01:05:37.77
How my heart yearns within me! "
01:05:38.17\01:05:41.27
Even though he's experiencing...
Job was going through hell
01:05:41.47\01:05:45.67
on earth, was he not? Amen!
01:05:45.87\01:05:48.61
But even still
in the midst of this
01:05:48.81\01:05:52.01
he knew love's justice
would be brought to him.
01:05:52.41\01:05:56.95
You know, he doubted God... yes.
01:05:57.85\01:06:00.09
And let's be honest: how
many of us have ever been there
01:06:00.29\01:06:03.39
where we're like "Why
me, God? " Yes! "Why me? "
01:06:03.69\01:06:08.06
"Lord, what... what
have You against me? "
01:06:08.36\01:06:11.20
"Why am I suffering this? "
01:06:12.07\01:06:14.00
But in the midst of
this his faith broke through
01:06:14.20\01:06:18.57
just like the sun
breaks through on a cloudy day
01:06:18.77\01:06:21.61
and he is talking
about personally seeing God.
01:06:21.81\01:06:26.31
You know, Jesus
said in John 11:25
01:06:26.51\01:06:30.25
He said to the sister of Lazarus
01:06:31.55\01:06:36.09
"I am the
Resurrection and the Life.
01:06:37.46\01:06:41.26
He who believes in
Me though he dies...
01:06:41.66\01:06:44.23
though he may
die he shall live. "
01:06:44.43\01:06:47.24
In the Greek this is a strong
double negative when He says
01:06:48.10\01:06:52.51
"though he may
die he shall live. "
01:06:52.91\01:06:56.54
It means "he
shall not die forever. "
01:06:57.51\01:07:01.48
If you believe in Jesus Christ,
you're not going to suffer
01:07:01.68\01:07:06.32
the second, eternal
death that Revelation speaks of
01:07:06.52\01:07:11.69
on four different occasions.
01:07:11.89\01:07:13.23
You're going to live forever.
01:07:13.73\01:07:16.16
And when you have that hope
because of the resurrection -
01:07:16.56\01:07:20.57
the death and the resurrection
of our Lord and Savior
01:07:20.77\01:07:23.41
Jesus Christ - you know
what? You can endure anything.
01:07:23.61\01:07:28.44
He suffered so much for us.
01:07:28.84\01:07:31.31
And He humiliate... I mean,
when He came down from heaven
01:07:31.51\01:07:35.75
to earth... You know
scholars don't talk about
01:07:35.95\01:07:38.95
Him being humble. They talk
about it being the humiliation
01:07:39.15\01:07:43.12
of Christ. God became one of us.
01:07:43.32\01:07:46.83
Mercy! Now I have
to read this paragraph
01:07:47.03\01:07:50.53
from the Sabbath School
quarterly because I thought it
01:07:50.93\01:07:54.10
was so beautiful. Says:
"The New Testament teaches that
01:07:54.30\01:07:57.04
Christ has
defeated death - Come on -
01:07:57.24\01:08:00.08
mankind's bitterest foe -
and that God will raise the dead
01:08:00.28\01:08:04.28
to a final judgment.
But this doctrine becomes
01:08:04.48\01:08:07.98
central to Biblical faith
that after the resurrection
01:08:08.18\01:08:11.95
of Christ that it gained its
validation in Christ's triumph
01:08:12.15\01:08:16.99
over death. " So
we have this hope -
01:08:17.19\01:08:21.43
this Blessed Hope -
that we shall see Christ,
01:08:22.03\01:08:27.97
we shall see God
face to blessed face.
01:08:28.17\01:08:32.17
That we will live
eternally with Him
01:08:32.37\01:08:35.11
and with those
who are our family
01:08:35.31\01:08:38.71
including our church family
01:08:38.91\01:08:40.98
who have died, resting in
the grave until He returns...
01:08:41.18\01:08:45.89
who have died in Christ Jesus.
01:08:46.09\01:08:47.72
That we will be I know
looking for eons of ages
01:08:48.12\01:08:53.56
throughout eternity we are
going to be trying to understand
01:08:53.76\01:08:57.63
God's covenant love
and this whole process
01:08:57.83\01:09:01.10
of salvation that Job so
beautifully and poetically
01:09:01.30\01:09:07.11
speaks. And I have that
hope... I hope you do, too.
01:09:07.51\01:09:11.78
"For I know that
my Redeemer lives! "
01:09:11.98\01:09:14.02
You know, just a quick...
I just want to say very, very
01:09:15.15\01:09:17.72
quickly. Shelley touched
on something there very fast
01:09:17.92\01:09:20.19
when Christ said: "I am the
Resurrection and the Life. "
01:09:20.39\01:09:22.09
Mary and Martha. Martha...
Ellen White says had a very
01:09:22.39\01:09:25.16
positive personality. She was...
Martha was kind of hard core.
01:09:25.36\01:09:28.13
So when Christ came and
Lazarus was in the grave
01:09:28.53\01:09:30.93
the only thing she said to Him
was: "If You had been here! "
01:09:31.13\01:09:33.84
She had her finger in His
face: "If You had been here! "
01:09:34.04\01:09:36.37
Christ says to Martha: "You're
going to see your brother
01:09:36.77\01:09:38.97
again. " She
says: "I know that. "
01:09:39.17\01:09:40.51
"Please... I know the resurrec-
tion. I know the theology of
01:09:40.64\01:09:43.35
the resurrection. I know the ec-
clesiology of the resurrection.
01:09:43.55\01:09:45.25
I know all about
the resurrection. "
01:09:45.45\01:09:46.85
And Christ stopped her and said:
"What I'm trying to tell you is
01:09:47.05\01:09:49.08
I AM the Resurrection
01:09:49.28\01:09:52.15
so when I say you're going to
see him again I'm guaranteeing
01:09:52.35\01:09:54.86
you that because I
am the Resurrection!
01:09:55.06\01:09:57.13
Death has been defeated. "
And that's what we've got to
01:09:57.33\01:09:59.09
hold on to. Even
in the face of death
01:09:59.29\01:10:01.16
Jesus IS the Resurrection.
And if you've got Jesus,
01:10:01.36\01:10:04.53
the Bible says
you've "got life. " Amen!
01:10:04.73\01:10:07.37
Now you know why... You
know, we often apply this text
01:10:07.57\01:10:10.14
to the time of
trouble ahead of us
01:10:10.34\01:10:11.91
but it applies to
today. "He that shall endure
01:10:12.11\01:10:14.88
unto the end... the
same shall be saved. "
01:10:15.08\01:10:17.78
Many will find their end
before the time of trouble.
01:10:18.18\01:10:20.45
We are called to
endure every day:
01:10:20.85\01:10:22.58
endure suffering,
endure misunderstanding,
01:10:22.78\01:10:24.92
endure the dark
moments. Endure when God seems
01:10:25.12\01:10:27.19
like He has
disconnected your phone number.
01:10:27.39\01:10:30.46
We are called to endure
the moments where God seems
01:10:30.86\01:10:33.33
absent. "He that shall endure. "
01:10:33.53\01:10:36.20
Remember...
don't ever forget this.
01:10:36.40\01:10:37.73
And I went through... I could
tell you my wife and I have been
01:10:37.77\01:10:39.73
through trials in our
lives, in our relationship,
01:10:39.93\01:10:41.74
in our ministry that the
devil came at us in so many ways
01:10:41.94\01:10:45.54
that it was times the trials
would last for six months.
01:10:45.74\01:10:48.48
And one day I pulled
along the side of the highway
01:10:48.68\01:10:50.45
and I just broke down in
great tears from the difficulty.
01:10:50.65\01:10:53.21
And one Camp Meeting I stood
in front of the church here
01:10:53.42\01:10:55.82
on a Wednesday night as
Camp Meeting was beginning
01:10:56.02\01:10:57.95
and I said: "Do you ever
feel like you want to drive past
01:10:58.15\01:11:01.42
the church? " I said:
"I'm the pastor, and that's
01:11:01.62\01:11:03.63
how I feel today. " I
didn't even want to stop here.
01:11:03.83\01:11:05.89
And it was six months I
went through a difficulty.
01:11:07.00\01:11:09.30
God brought us
through and I learned
01:11:09.50\01:11:11.60
that the silence of God does
not equal the absence of God.
01:11:11.80\01:11:15.20
Amen! What a wonderful study!
01:11:15.40\01:11:17.87
We have just about a minute
left. Anybody have a quick
01:11:18.07\01:11:20.48
thought? We want to
have prayer before we end.
01:11:20.68\01:11:22.71
I've enjoyed this
study... how about you?
01:11:22.91\01:11:24.81
What a blessing it's been for
those I know for those who are
01:11:25.01\01:11:26.85
watching and those listening.
The Holy Spirit has brought out
01:11:27.05\01:11:29.35
some beautiful
beautiful things and thoughts.
01:11:29.55\01:11:31.65
I know truth is progressive.
01:11:31.85\01:11:33.92
I know that we have more light
than Job had on this subject
01:11:34.32\01:11:37.13
but yet I still
have a lot of questions.
01:11:37.33\01:11:39.23
So this... Answered bye and
bye. It's going to be answered
01:11:39.63\01:11:41.60
bye and bye. The Lord's
going to have a time to sit down
01:11:41.80\01:11:43.67
He's going to answer all
the questions that you have
01:11:43.87\01:11:45.50
in the kingdom. He's
going to have all the time
01:11:45.70\01:11:47.10
in the world for you.
01:11:47.30\01:11:49.27
Make sure we're there!
01:11:49.47\01:11:50.81
Any final thoughts? We've have,
probably got 38 seconds left.
01:11:51.04\01:11:53.38
Maybe we should just
have prayer. Sr. Mollie:
01:11:53.58\01:11:55.48
how about you? Would you
close with prayer, please?
01:11:55.68\01:11:57.31
I would love to. OK.
01:11:57.51\01:11:58.85
Holy Father, we
praise You and thank you
01:11:58.88\01:12:00.35
for the power of Your
Word that's gone forth.
01:12:00.55\01:12:02.25
I thank you now for every heart
01:12:02.45\01:12:04.29
that has been
under... able to listen and to
01:12:04.69\01:12:08.49
receive this word.
Father, I pray that that word
01:12:08.69\01:12:11.06
goes deep within our
hearts. That it effects a change
01:12:11.26\01:12:14.66
in us. Father, our heart's cry
is that we won't be conformed
01:12:14.86\01:12:18.63
to this world but
we will be transformed
01:12:18.83\01:12:20.90
by the renewing of our
mind, Father. That we will be
01:12:21.10\01:12:24.21
conformed to the very image and
likeness of our Lord and Savior
01:12:24.37\01:12:27.38
Jesus Christ. We
give You our lives;
01:12:27.58\01:12:29.81
we ask You to direct our steps
01:12:30.01\01:12:31.91
and use us today as vessels
of honor in Your kingdom.
01:12:32.11\01:12:35.35
In Jesus' name, Amen.
01:12:35.75\01:12:38.15