Welcome to 3ABN's
Spring Camp Meeting:
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Live from the
3ABN Worship Center.
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Hello and welcome once
again to Spring Camp Meeting:
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Christ, Calvary,
and the Sanctuary.
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This has been
already - would you agree?
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something that has been
truly spiritually moving
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and we're really learning a lot.
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We want to welcome all
of those who are watching
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by television or Internet or
perhaps listening on the radio
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as well as all of
our live audience.
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And we've had some
wonderful sermons thus far,
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but we're getting
ready to have another one.
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Our speaker for this hour
is Pastor Kameron DeVasher.
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And Kameron has been
pastoring for over 15 years.
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He's a graduate of
Southern University.
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But he has recently
moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan.
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He was in Fremont,
and now the people there
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are so upset because
they've lost their pastor.
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But he has taken a new
assignment in Kalamazoo,
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Michigan. And Kameron has
a beautiful wife and 3 lovely
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children. And what
I have found about him
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is he is so balanced.
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I really like it when you're
around someone who is balanced.
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And he is a preacher of
the truth with great spiritual
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insight. So he's
going to be presenting...
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As we think about God's
way being in the sanctuary
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first piece of
furniture we see is what?
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The altar of burnt
offering. What's next?
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The shining laver.
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So that will be
Kameron's presentation.
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But first we have
our very own C.A. Murray,
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pastor... you name it and he is.
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But C.A. is going
to be singing for us
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a song titled Is It Any Wonder.
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When I think how Jesus loved me,
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how He waited patiently
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even when I turned
my back and walked away.
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When He knew I wanted everything
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this world could offer me
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well I guess He knew
the price I'd have to pay.
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So He watched me
stumble downward,
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saw each compromise I made,
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heard each lie I
whispered just to get my way.
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Still He waited there to hear me
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when I cried to Him and prayed
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then He saved my soul
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and that is why I say:
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"Tell me, is it any wonder
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that I love Him
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when you consider all He's done
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for me?
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And is it any wonder
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that I long to do His will
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and let His light shine out
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for all to see?
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And is it any wonder
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that I praise Him
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each time I think of how
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He's made me free?
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And is it any wonder
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that I've given Him my heart
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when Jesus freely gave His life
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for me? "
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When I think how Jesus loved me,
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how He watches patiently.
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How His arms are
stretched to meet me when I run.
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When I'm feeling down and lonely
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how He's there to comfort me.
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In the darkness He
becomes my morning sun.
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When I think of
how He's healed me,
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how He's touched me in my pain
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how His gentle hands
have wiped my tears away.
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How He's taken every heartache
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and drawn happiness again
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oh I want the world to hear me
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when I say:
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"Tell me, is it any wonder
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that I love Him
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when you consider all He's done
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for me?
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And is it any wonder
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that I long to do His will
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and let His light shine out
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for all to see?
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And is it any wonder
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that I praise Him
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each time I think of how
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He's made me free?
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And is it any wonder
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that I've given Him my heart
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when Jesus
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freely
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gave His life
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for me? "
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Amen! Praise God!
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I'm not sure I quite
heard you. All the people said?
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Amen! Amen!
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Happy... Thursday, everyone.
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As a preacher you walk
out in front of a congregation
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this time of the day...
It's muscle memory that wants to
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say "Happy Sabbath" but you
know as you read the account
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of the early
believers in Acts chapter 2...
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I almost said: "If you
have your Bibles with you. "
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Since you have
your Bibles with you,
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it says here of the new
believers in Acts chapter 2
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verse 46: "So continuing daily
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with one another in the temple
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and breaking bread from house
to house, they ate bread...
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they ate their food with
gladness and simplicity of heart
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praising God and having
favor with all the people.
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And the Lord added
to the church daily
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those who were being saved. "
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So friends, it's good to
be together in fellowship
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praising, worshiping,
and studying together
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as the early believers did.
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And I am firmly
convinced that we need to learn
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lessons from the Word of God
and from those early believers
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because God is looking for a
generation of last-day believers
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who will hasten the
coming of Jesus and see Him soon
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and very soon. So I am
so appreciative of 3ABN
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and the theme that has
been chosen for Camp Meeting
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this year. I love the sanctuary,
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the services
that go along with it,
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and of course the significance
of all of those pieces of
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furniture... all of the
symbolism and the richness
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and fullness it can
bring to our lives today.
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The task I have been burdened
with today is to discuss
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and make application of
the significance of the shining
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laver. And I'll be honest...
Well, I'm trying to take
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that phrase out
of my vocabulary.
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To say "I'll be honest with you"
implies I haven't been honest
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up to that point, but...
It was a bit of a challenge.
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But as I began to
study and dig deeper
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I found triune blessing
that I hope you will see
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from the Word of God,
from the Spirit of Prophecy,
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as we seek to be God's people
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in these last days
of earth's history.
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But before we do
any study of God's Word
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we of course need to
begin with a word of prayer.
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So if you would,
please bow your heads.
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Dear heavenly Father, I
want to thank you so much
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for this sunshiny, beautiful
Thursday that we get to come
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together in fellowship.
And now, Lord, as we turn our
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attention to the study
of Your Word we would ask
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that You would fulfill in our
midst the promise that You gave
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to send the Holy
Spirit to be our teacher.
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Lord, we don't want to just see
these words written on paper.
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We want these words
written on our person...
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in our very hearts.
Teach us lessons today
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so that we may be the
people who see Jesus come
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in our lifetime. For we
pray it in Jesus' name, Amen.
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Now the laver...
the shining laver.
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It's one of the least-mentioned
articles in the sanctuary
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and its services BUT
it's actually of tremendous
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significance and import
to Christians - especially
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those living in the very
last days of earth's history.
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We're going to study
this out a little bit more.
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But of the 20 or so times
it is explicitly mentioned
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in the Bible nearly
all of the passages kind of
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mention the laver in passing
in a list of other items.
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There's the altar, there's
the curtains, there's the laver.
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They kind of mention
it. Others mention it...
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how its construction was to
be made, out of what material.
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The dimensions of it.
But only a couple of passages
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speak specifically to
the function of the laver
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in the sanctuary
service. So I want to begin with
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studying out what it was there
for. Let's go to the book of
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Exodus and let's
go to chapter 30.
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Exodus chapter 30...
just a few chapters after
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the recording of God's instruc-
tion to even have a sanctuary.
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He outlines the pieces of
furniture and specifically
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the laver. We can find it
in Exodus chapter 30 and we're
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going to go to verse 17.
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"Then the Lord spoke to Moses
saying: 'You shall also make
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a laver of bronze with
its base also of bronze
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for... ' What? 'washing.
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You shall put it between
the tabernacle of meeting
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and the altar and you
shall put water in it.
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For Aaron and his sons shall
wash their hands and their feet
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in water from it when they go
into the tabernacle of meeting
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or when they come
near the altar to minister
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to burn an offering
made by fire to the Lord
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they shall wash with water...
' Now look at the next 3 words:
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'lest they... ' What? 'die. ' "
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That's a pretty
significant detail.
00:12:32.15\00:12:34.38
"So... " verse 21 says...
"they shall wash their hands
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and feet lest they
die. " Again it's repeated.
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"And it shall be a
statute forever to them
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to him and his descendants
throughout their generations. "
00:12:44.86\00:12:47.03
That's the central passage
on the function and import
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of the laver. Once again,
we go to Exodus chapter 40-
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turn over to the right
just a little bit more -
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and we see basically
the same thing repeated.
00:12:57.97\00:13:00.18
This time when the
actual tabernacle - sanctuary -
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furniture pieces
were established and built
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we see again the
same instruction.
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Exodus chapter 40. We're going
to be looking at verses 30-32.
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When Moses put
together all these pieces
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to build the Lord's
tent. Said: "He put the laver
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between the tabernacle
of meeting and the altar
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and put water there for washing.
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And Moses, Aaron, and his
sons would wash their hands
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and their feet
with water from it.
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Whenever they went into
the tabernacle of meeting
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and when they
came near the altar
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they washed as the
Lord had commanded them. "
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Now it's interesting... I just
found this interesting to me
00:13:40.72\00:13:43.45
as an English-only speaker
00:13:43.65\00:13:45.75
I had to think about
what's a laver for? And oh,
00:13:46.15\00:13:49.39
it's for washing. Well I found
out that in many languages...
00:13:49.59\00:13:52.09
you think of French
and Spanish and Portuguese,
00:13:52.29\00:13:54.36
Italian... basically
the word for wash is laver.
00:13:54.56\00:13:58.03
OK? So basically it's just a
basin for the purpose of washing
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with water.
Such a simple tool...
00:14:03.61\00:14:06.04
such a simple function.
Yet neglecting this step
00:14:06.24\00:14:09.88
in the sanctuary services
would result in what? Death!
00:14:10.08\00:14:13.65
So clearly it's simple
but it's significant, yes?
00:14:13.95\00:14:18.55
OK. Now...
let's go even further.
00:14:18.75\00:14:21.69
There were two washings that
the priests - you know, Aaron
00:14:21.89\00:14:25.56
and his sons - would undergo
in their role as representatives
00:14:25.76\00:14:30.33
of God's people and
priests to the Lord.
00:14:30.53\00:14:32.57
It says here... Let's
go to Leviticus chapter 8.
00:14:32.77\00:14:35.07
You see the book of Exodus
is primarily dealing with the
00:14:35.47\00:14:38.51
physical
building of the sanctuary
00:14:38.71\00:14:40.74
and all of its furnishings.
00:14:40.94\00:14:42.28
The book of Leviticus outlines
the services in the sanctuary
00:14:42.41\00:14:45.75
and the offerings and
the ministerial rites that go
00:14:46.15\00:14:48.48
along with it. And in
Leviticus chapter 8...
00:14:48.68\00:14:51.39
Leviticus chapter 8...
00:14:51.79\00:14:53.62
we find the setting
apart of Aaron and his sons
00:14:57.49\00:15:00.56
for the work of ministry
with a ceremonial washing.
00:15:00.76\00:15:04.50
Chapter 8, the scripture reads:
"And the Lord spoke to Moses
00:15:05.67\00:15:09.84
saying: 'Take Aaron and his sons
with him and their garments,
00:15:10.04\00:15:13.38
the anointing oil, a
bull as a sin offering,
00:15:13.78\00:15:17.08
two rams and a
basket of unleavened bread
00:15:17.28\00:15:19.38
and gather all the congregation
together at the door of the
00:15:19.58\00:15:21.82
tabernacle of meeting. "
The service itself: Moses was to
00:15:22.02\00:15:25.55
take Aaron and his sons and
all the accoutrements of their
00:15:25.75\00:15:29.32
ministry and bring them
to the door of the tabernacle
00:15:29.52\00:15:33.60
of meeting. " And it says:
"And gather all the congregation
00:15:33.80\00:15:37.53
together at the door of
the tabernacle of meeting.
00:15:37.70\00:15:39.50
So Moses did as
the Lord commanded him
00:15:39.90\00:15:43.77
and the congregation was
gathered together at the door
00:15:44.17\00:15:47.04
of the tabernacle of
meeting. And Moses said to the
00:15:47.24\00:15:50.21
congregation: 'This is what the
Lord commanded to be done. ' "
00:15:50.41\00:15:55.58
Sorry, that was verse 6 not 16
00:15:56.18\00:15:57.72
if you're trying to
clarify that. So it goes on:
00:15:57.92\00:16:01.96
"Then Moses brought Aaron
and his sons and washed them
00:16:02.36\00:16:05.03
with water. " Several points
I want to notice about this
00:16:05.23\00:16:07.13
initial washing. First of
all, there is no mention of this
00:16:07.36\00:16:12.57
washing being limited to
only the hands and the feet.
00:16:12.77\00:16:16.71
The implication here is
this is a full-person washing
00:16:17.64\00:16:21.78
at their setting apart
or consecration service
00:16:21.98\00:16:24.78
for their work in
the earthly sanctuary.
00:16:24.98\00:16:27.52
Also note that this washing
was explicitly to be done
00:16:28.88\00:16:33.46
publicly... in front
of all the congregation
00:16:33.66\00:16:36.02
of the people. And finally,
in this dedication service
00:16:36.22\00:16:41.16
for the priest and
his work in the sanctuary
00:16:41.46\00:16:43.67
he had to be
washed by someone else.
00:16:43.87\00:16:47.40
He was not to dedicate
himself or consecrate himself
00:16:48.50\00:16:51.84
or appoint
himself to this office.
00:16:52.04\00:16:53.38
Moses was to wash them.
00:16:53.54\00:16:56.18
In his tremendous
book M. L. Andreasen wrote:
00:16:57.65\00:17:01.48
The sanctuary
service... it's page 62
00:17:01.68\00:17:04.45
about this particular
washing. Makes this note:
00:17:04.65\00:17:07.49
"God was teaching
them that the purity
00:17:07.69\00:17:10.76
which He required was
not something they themselves
00:17:10.96\00:17:14.36
could provide. Someone else
must provide it for them. " OK?
00:17:14.56\00:17:20.34
So the washing is not
something of self-regeneration
00:17:20.74\00:17:23.81
or self-purification. It's
a reflection of the washing
00:17:24.01\00:17:27.08
that can only come from
One who is Himself pure...
00:17:27.28\00:17:30.15
which is God. This
was to be done publicly -
00:17:30.35\00:17:34.38
and fully - one time
to set apart these priests
00:17:34.78\00:17:40.56
for their work. Now, only
after that initial washing
00:17:40.96\00:17:45.53
of consecration
to the sacred office
00:17:45.73\00:17:48.33
could a priest then administer
the services of the sanctuary
00:17:48.53\00:17:52.17
which required the
washing of his hands and feet.
00:17:52.37\00:17:54.70
This was done not as a
singular ceremony then...
00:17:56.00\00:17:58.71
but frequently as
part of his daily duties.
00:17:59.01\00:18:02.91
So you have the
one-time full body washing
00:18:03.11\00:18:05.31
to consecrate and set
them apart for service
00:18:05.51\00:18:07.18
then you have
the ongoing washings
00:18:07.38\00:18:09.78
in the daily rounds of
the rituals and ceremonies
00:18:09.98\00:18:12.89
where you wash your
hands and your feet.
00:18:13.29\00:18:15.26
Now, Ellen White notes that
00:18:16.96\00:18:22.53
this ongoing washing
of the hands and the feet
00:18:22.73\00:18:25.83
was not merely for
personal purification.
00:18:26.03\00:18:29.44
You'll find this in Testimonies
for the Church volume 2
00:18:29.84\00:18:33.48
page 613.
00:18:33.68\00:18:36.11
"The laver was placed between
the altar and the congregation
00:18:37.78\00:18:41.55
that before they came
into the presence of God
00:18:43.42\00:18:45.42
in the sight of the congregation
they might wash their hands
00:18:45.62\00:18:48.19
and their feet. " She
then asks rhetorically:
00:18:48.39\00:18:53.60
"What impression was
this to make upon the people?
00:18:53.80\00:18:57.43
It was to show them
- that is, the people -
00:18:58.63\00:19:01.84
that every particle
of dust must be put away
00:19:02.04\00:19:06.14
before they could go
into the presence of God...
00:19:06.34\00:19:08.94
for He was so high and holy
00:19:09.71\00:19:11.91
that unless they did
comply with these conditions
00:19:12.68\00:19:16.28
death would follow. "
00:19:16.58\00:19:18.82
Now... I trust I'm not getting
above the congregation here
00:19:20.29\00:19:24.79
when I assume
that we all recognize
00:19:25.63\00:19:28.36
That Jesus Christ is now
serving as our High Priest
00:19:28.76\00:19:32.63
in the heavenly
sanctuary - Amen?
00:19:32.83\00:19:34.94
and thus the earthly priesthood
that foreshadowed Christ's
00:19:35.34\00:19:38.87
ministry has long
since ceased. Right?
00:19:39.07\00:19:43.38
We are told unambiguously...
Let's go to the book of Hebrews
00:19:44.35\00:19:47.78
chapter 8. I'm guessing over
this weekend you'll be exposed
00:19:47.98\00:19:50.69
to this passage more than once.
00:19:50.89\00:19:52.59
But I want to make sure that we
see it right there in the Bible.
00:19:52.79\00:19:55.16
When we talk about
a heavenly sanctuary
00:19:57.23\00:19:59.09
this is not just a Seventh-
day Adventist construction.
00:19:59.29\00:20:01.36
This is a Biblical concept
directly from the Word of God.
00:20:01.56\00:20:04.60
And as believers we're
told to be able to give a reason
00:20:05.43\00:20:08.97
for the hope that is
in us any time, right?
00:20:09.17\00:20:11.61
So we should be able to
open up our Bibles and to have a
00:20:11.81\00:20:13.94
"Thus saith the Lord" about the
truth of the heavenly sanctuary.
00:20:14.14\00:20:16.71
Hebrews chapter 8. Notice
what the apostle Paul here says
00:20:17.25\00:20:20.28
in verse 1: "Now THIS is
the main point of the things
00:20:20.48\00:20:23.95
we are saying... " So all the
things about Christ's priesthood
00:20:24.15\00:20:26.96
he was leading up to
through the first 7 chapters
00:20:27.16\00:20:29.49
he comes to chapter 8 and
says: "Now this is the point. "
00:20:29.69\00:20:31.46
"We have... " present tense...
00:20:32.69\00:20:36.20
"a High Priest who is seated
at the right hand of the throne
00:20:36.60\00:20:40.17
of the majesty in
the... " What? "the heavens.
00:20:40.37\00:20:43.07
A minister of the sanctuary
and of the true tabernacle
00:20:43.27\00:20:48.21
which the Lord
erected and not man. "
00:20:48.41\00:20:50.71
So when it says
"a true tabernacle"
00:20:51.11\00:20:53.21
that's not to say that the
others that we read about in the
00:20:53.45\00:20:55.28
Old Testament were false.
It's not a construction of true
00:20:55.48\00:20:59.02
versus false. It's
original versus shadow,
00:20:59.22\00:21:02.36
right? He goes on to explain.
00:21:02.56\00:21:04.73
Notice: "For every high priest
is appointed to offer both
00:21:04.93\00:21:07.30
gifts and sacrifices.
Therefore, it is necessary
00:21:07.50\00:21:10.73
that this One... "
speaking of Jesus...
00:21:10.93\00:21:12.77
"also have something to offer. "
00:21:12.97\00:21:14.97
But friends, did He go into
heaven with the blood of bulls
00:21:15.17\00:21:17.64
and goats? No! He
went into heaven with
00:21:17.84\00:21:19.74
the blood of His
own personal sacrifice.
00:21:19.94\00:21:22.38
"For... " it says in verse 4...
00:21:23.14\00:21:24.68
"if He were on earth... "
If He were just another man
00:21:24.88\00:21:28.65
living here on earth...
"He would not be a priest since
00:21:28.85\00:21:31.55
there are priests who offer
the gifts according to law. "
00:21:31.75\00:21:34.22
But notice what it says
about their service. Verse 5:
00:21:34.62\00:21:36.79
"who serve the copy and
shadow of the heavenly thing. "
00:21:37.19\00:21:41.43
So all of the rites,
services, and furnishings
00:21:41.63\00:21:44.80
were shadows and
copies of the original
00:21:45.00\00:21:48.14
that Christ is now
our ministering Priest.
00:21:48.34\00:21:50.94
Goes on. "Who served
the copy and shadow of the
00:21:51.34\00:21:55.04
heavenly things as
Moses was divinely instructed
00:21:55.24\00:21:57.28
when he was about
to make the tabernacle.
00:21:57.48\00:21:58.95
He said: 'See that you make all
things according to the pattern
00:21:59.15\00:22:02.48
shown you on the
mountain. ' But now... "
00:22:02.68\00:22:05.12
Notice the construction,
verse 9: "Now He has obtained
00:22:05.32\00:22:08.42
a more excellent ministry
00:22:08.62\00:22:10.36
inasmuch as He is also
mediator of a better covenant
00:22:10.56\00:22:13.90
which is established
on better promises. "
00:22:14.10\00:22:17.33
Continuing in verse 7: "For
if that first covenant had been
00:22:17.53\00:22:20.40
faultless then no place would
have been sought for a second. "
00:22:20.60\00:22:24.44
Skip down to verse 13:
00:22:24.64\00:22:26.14
"In that He says a new covenant
00:22:26.94\00:22:29.08
He has made the
first... " What's the next one?
00:22:29.48\00:22:31.68
"obsolete. Now what is becoming
obsolete and growing old
00:22:31.98\00:22:36.75
is ready to vanish away. "
So the apostle Paul makes it
00:22:36.95\00:22:39.92
unambiguously clear
that all the services,
00:22:40.12\00:22:42.56
all the sanctuary
items and rites and rituals,
00:22:42.76\00:22:47.46
were fulfilled in Jesus
Christ and are being fulfilled
00:22:47.60\00:22:51.17
even now today. So what
we're talking about is type
00:22:51.37\00:22:54.60
versus anti-type, and Jesus
Christ is the great original...
00:22:54.80\00:22:58.27
the real thing in heaven.
00:22:58.47\00:23:00.28
So... I want to
be clear about this.
00:23:00.68\00:23:02.34
Paul here notes that
the ceremonial services
00:23:03.08\00:23:05.48
of the sanctuary
were fulfilled in Christ.
00:23:05.68\00:23:07.02
That does not, however, mean
that the spiritual significance
00:23:07.12\00:23:12.49
of those former
rites have no relevance
00:23:13.32\00:23:16.59
to New Testament Christians.
00:23:16.83\00:23:18.43
For instance, notice his
sanctuary service language
00:23:19.16\00:23:24.67
and the accouterments of
the sanctuary he employs when he
00:23:24.87\00:23:28.30
gave counsel to
the church in Corinth.
00:23:28.50\00:23:30.94
Go to I Corinthians chapter 5.
00:23:31.34\00:23:33.14
I Corinthians chapter 5
00:23:34.58\00:23:36.81
speaking to the brethren
there starting with verse 6
00:23:38.38\00:23:42.25
he gives them practical counsel
and listen to the language
00:23:46.72\00:23:49.26
he employs, the symbolism he
uses to teach spiritual lessons.
00:23:49.46\00:23:53.86
He says: "Your
glorying is not good.
00:23:54.03\00:23:57.13
Do you not know? "
00:23:57.53\00:24:00.17
And by the way, Paul uses
that phrase: "Do you not know? "
00:24:00.37\00:24:04.01
oftentimes. "Do you not
know that the saints will judge
00:24:05.11\00:24:07.91
the world? " "Do you not know?
" he would say in other places.
00:24:08.11\00:24:10.65
Basically saying:
"This is a fundamental
00:24:10.85\00:24:13.42
basic Christianity 101 teaching
that I'm going through with you
00:24:13.62\00:24:16.99
here. " And he
says: "Do you not know
00:24:17.19\00:24:19.59
that a little leaven
leavens the whole lump?
00:24:19.89\00:24:22.96
Therefore purge
out the old leaven
00:24:24.13\00:24:27.00
that you may be a new lump since
you truly are unleavened. "
00:24:27.20\00:24:31.13
So he's talking about unleavened
bread, but he's not saying
00:24:31.33\00:24:34.40
the actual physical
bread of the ceremonial.
00:24:34.60\00:24:36.91
He's talking about the appli-
cation in the spiritual life
00:24:37.11\00:24:39.54
of the believer, right?
00:24:39.74\00:24:41.41
Goes on to say: "For
indeed Christ our Passover... "
00:24:41.61\00:24:45.48
Notice he's talking about the
fulfillment of those services
00:24:45.88\00:24:47.95
in Jesus Christ... "Christ
our Passover was sacrificed
00:24:48.15\00:24:51.72
for us. Therefore
let us keep the feast
00:24:51.92\00:24:55.42
not with old leaven nor
with the leaven of malice
00:24:55.62\00:24:59.89
and wickedness but
with the unleavened bread
00:25:00.16\00:25:02.66
of sincerity and truth. "
00:25:02.86\00:25:05.77
Right? So he takes the
imagery of the sanctuary
00:25:05.97\00:25:08.77
and its services
and its accoutrements
00:25:08.97\00:25:10.74
and he applies the spiritual
significance to our lives today.
00:25:10.94\00:25:13.98
So while the type has met
anti-type, the significance
00:25:14.18\00:25:17.85
is still applicable.
Does that make sense? OK.
00:25:18.05\00:25:22.25
Similarly... Let's go
back to our laver now...
00:25:24.19\00:25:27.26
What would be the
modern-day, New Testament
00:25:27.46\00:25:30.03
significance of the washings
00:25:30.43\00:25:33.80
mentioned with
the shining laver?
00:25:34.20\00:25:36.83
Similarly it is of more than
passing interest to note that
00:25:37.63\00:25:41.70
in His establishment of the
church that would bear His name
00:25:41.90\00:25:45.17
going forward Jesus Christ
seems to have purposefully
00:25:45.37\00:25:49.68
integrated into
the New Testament faith
00:25:50.11\00:25:52.55
the two washing ceremonies
of the ancient sanctuary
00:25:53.25\00:25:57.29
and its laver. Once
restricted to the representative
00:25:57.49\00:26:02.42
of the people and
the priest himself
00:26:02.62\00:26:04.49
now they're
extended to all believers.
00:26:04.69\00:26:07.56
Let's study it
out a little bit more.
00:26:08.53\00:26:10.77
First, that initial washing.
00:26:11.87\00:26:14.24
Christ - both by explicit
command and personal example -
00:26:17.01\00:26:22.81
established a full-body washing
00:26:23.01\00:26:26.38
of baptism as the
signature demonstration
00:26:26.58\00:26:30.79
of faith in Him and
connection with His body
00:26:31.19\00:26:34.06
on earth: the church.
00:26:34.26\00:26:35.66
Go to Matthew chapter 3.
You're well familiar, but this
00:26:35.86\00:26:38.53
is the beginning of
Christ's public ministry.
00:26:38.73\00:26:40.43
And He didn't just go and start
preaching and start healing...
00:26:40.83\00:26:43.33
He first went and got baptized.
00:26:43.53\00:26:46.47
Matthew chapter 3
starting with verse 13:
00:26:46.70\00:26:50.47
"Then Jesus came from
Galilee to John at the Jordan
00:26:50.87\00:26:53.54
to be baptized by him.
00:26:53.74\00:26:55.21
And John tried to prevent Him
saying: 'I need to be baptized
00:26:55.61\00:26:59.51
by You and are
You coming to me? ' "
00:26:59.71\00:27:01.78
Now you've got to understand:
John was a preacher of
00:27:01.98\00:27:04.22
righteousness. He was trying
to call people to repentance for
00:27:04.42\00:27:06.49
their sins, and here comes the
Sinless One looking for baptism.
00:27:06.69\00:27:10.26
But Jesus wasn't getting
baptized for remission of
00:27:11.29\00:27:13.43
His own sins but to set
an example for the church
00:27:13.63\00:27:16.23
going forward.
Notice what he says:
00:27:16.43\00:27:18.40
"But Jesus
answered and said to him:
00:27:18.70\00:27:20.77
'permit it to be so now
for thus it is fitting for us
00:27:20.97\00:27:24.04
to fulfill all righteousness.
' Then he allowed Him. "
00:27:24.24\00:27:28.34
He said: "It's not for Me,
but it's still something we need
00:27:29.04\00:27:32.35
to do. " "When
He had been baptized
00:27:32.55\00:27:35.95
Jesus came up immediately
from the water and behold
00:27:36.15\00:27:38.22
the heavens were opened to
him and he saw the Spirit of God
00:27:38.42\00:27:40.79
descending like a dove
and alighting upon Him.
00:27:40.99\00:27:42.79
And suddenly a voice
came from heaven saying:
00:27:42.99\00:27:44.83
'This is My beloved Son in
whom I am well pleased. ' "
00:27:45.03\00:27:49.13
This was the anointing of
Jesus, the setting Him apart
00:27:49.33\00:27:52.27
for His public work of
ministry as our sacrificial Lamb
00:27:52.47\00:27:56.97
who would become our Priest
in the heavenly sanctuary.
00:27:57.17\00:28:00.04
The initial washing. Now,
go over to the gospel of John -
00:28:00.24\00:28:04.31
Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and then John -
00:28:04.51\00:28:06.75
chapter 3
00:28:07.25\00:28:09.18
and Jesus speaks of this washing
00:28:11.02\00:28:13.69
of baptism
00:28:14.99\00:28:16.79
of particular significance
to the Christian walk.
00:28:19.09\00:28:24.27
Here in John chapter 3 is
the record of Jesus' midnight
00:28:24.47\00:28:27.74
interview with Nicodemus.
00:28:27.94\00:28:29.37
And we'll just skip down to
verse 3 to get to our salient
00:28:29.77\00:28:31.94
point: "Jesus answered and
said to him: 'Most assuredly
00:28:32.14\00:28:35.44
I say to you:
unless one is born again
00:28:35.64\00:28:39.75
he cannot see the
kingdom of God. ' "
00:28:39.95\00:28:42.78
Now you remember in
the Old Testament services
00:28:43.18\00:28:45.35
to not be washed would be death.
00:28:45.55\00:28:47.99
Now Jesus employs it: "I
say to you: unless he is born
00:28:48.49\00:28:52.03
again he cannot see
the kingdom of God. '
00:28:52.23\00:28:53.60
Nicodemus said to Him: 'How can
a man be born when he is old?
00:28:53.80\00:28:56.56
Can he enter a second
time into his mother's womb
00:28:56.77\00:28:59.73
and be born? ' " And
Jesus explains what He means
00:28:59.93\00:29:02.74
by the new birth. "Jesus
answered: 'Most assuredly
00:29:02.94\00:29:05.47
I say to you: unless one is
born of water and the Spirit
00:29:05.67\00:29:09.81
he cannot enter
the kingdom of God. ' "
00:29:10.21\00:29:14.25
Cannot enter the kingdom of God.
00:29:14.65\00:29:16.52
Let's look at
another example of this.
00:29:16.92\00:29:18.65
Mark chapter 16 on the
other end of Jesus' ministry
00:29:18.85\00:29:22.82
when it was time for
Him to return to heaven
00:29:23.02\00:29:24.49
and He was giving His final
instructions to the believers
00:29:24.69\00:29:26.66
here on earth - those who would
build the church in His name -
00:29:26.86\00:29:30.37
He gives
instruction about baptism.
00:29:30.77\00:29:33.37
Mark chapter 16
after He says in verse 15
00:29:33.77\00:29:38.11
"Go into all the
world and preach the gospel
00:29:38.31\00:29:40.11
to every creature"
He then adds in verse 16
00:29:40.31\00:29:43.35
"He who believes and
is baptized will be saved
00:29:43.75\00:29:48.32
but he who does not
believe will be... " What?
00:29:49.32\00:29:52.75
"condemned. " So there's
salvation or condemnation
00:29:52.95\00:29:56.06
And Jesus says: "He who
believes and is baptized"
00:29:56.46\00:29:59.66
will receive the salvation.
00:29:59.86\00:30:01.40
Now... I want to be
clear at this point.
00:30:01.60\00:30:04.13
Neither in the Old
Testament's washing at the laver
00:30:05.93\00:30:09.04
or the New
Testament washing of baptism
00:30:09.24\00:30:11.31
was it understood
that the water itself
00:30:11.51\00:30:15.01
or the mere act of
being washed had any inherent
00:30:15.21\00:30:19.48
value or magical
properties. Right?
00:30:19.68\00:30:24.59
It was regular water in a regu-
lar basin made by human hands,
00:30:24.89\00:30:28.72
right?
Participation in the ceremony
00:30:28.92\00:30:32.46
was merely evidence
of an inward experience.
00:30:32.66\00:30:36.90
That critical distinction
00:30:37.10\00:30:38.83
is exemplified by the experience
of the thief on the cross.
00:30:39.23\00:30:41.37
Because we've had people...
I could preach an evangelistic
00:30:41.57\00:30:43.64
campaign and people
will come up and say:
00:30:43.84\00:30:45.17
"Do I have to be baptized? "
00:30:45.27\00:30:46.71
Somehow this rumor has
festered in the Christian church
00:30:47.31\00:30:50.95
that the water itself,
if you've been touched by
00:30:51.15\00:30:53.65
what they call holy
water, sprinkled on or had this
00:30:53.85\00:30:56.08
process, as long as
you go through the form
00:30:56.28\00:30:58.15
you're in. That the form
itself is "salvific, " right?
00:30:58.75\00:31:04.73
But think about the
thief on the cross, friends.
00:31:05.03\00:31:08.53
Luke chapter 23
records the experience.
00:31:09.13\00:31:11.40
"But he said to
Jesus: "Lord, remember me
00:31:13.60\00:31:16.27
when You come
into Your kingdom. '
00:31:16.47\00:31:17.97
And Jesus said to him: 'I would
if you had been baptized. ' "
00:31:18.37\00:31:21.51
Friends, if you have a Bible
that says that, what you have
00:31:23.81\00:31:25.85
is not a Bible, all right? OK?
00:31:26.05\00:31:28.68
"He said: 'Assuredly -
00:31:29.08\00:31:30.49
with assurance -
'I say to you today
00:31:30.89\00:31:33.19
you will be with
Me in paradise. ' "
00:31:33.42\00:31:35.02
Now the thief on the cross
died before had an opportunity
00:31:35.22\00:31:39.33
to be baptized.
Therefore we can clearly deduce
00:31:39.53\00:31:43.20
from the lips of Jesus
Himself that baptism itself -
00:31:43.40\00:31:45.80
the water and the washing form -
00:31:46.00\00:31:48.40
does not save.
Salvation is through faith
00:31:48.60\00:31:52.44
in Jesus Christ alone.
00:31:52.64\00:31:54.54
Let's go back to Mark 16.
You notice that's actually
00:31:55.54\00:31:57.61
in there. Sometimes
we breeze past that.
00:31:57.81\00:31:59.35
But go to Mark 16
again... verse 16.
00:31:59.55\00:32:02.12
After He said: "Go into all
the world and preach the gospel
00:32:03.05\00:32:05.25
to every creature, " notice
the distinction in verse 16.
00:32:05.45\00:32:08.22
"He who believes and is
baptized will be saved. "
00:32:08.42\00:32:13.29
But then notice: "But he who
does not... " What? "believe. "
00:32:13.50\00:32:17.67
It does not say:
"He who does not believe
00:32:18.07\00:32:20.10
and is not baptized. "
00:32:20.30\00:32:21.80
What is clearly the
active agent in the salvation
00:32:22.20\00:32:25.61
exchange here? It's the
belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:32:25.81\00:32:29.18
Baptism is simply
evidence of that belief
00:32:29.58\00:32:32.51
that you do because
of an inward experience.
00:32:32.71\00:32:34.82
Is that making sense? OK.
00:32:35.02\00:32:37.15
Jesus would say it this way
in John chapter 3 and verse 36:
00:32:37.99\00:32:41.89
"He who believes in the
Son has everlasting life.
00:32:42.29\00:32:46.23
And he who does not believe
the Son shall not see life
00:32:46.43\00:32:49.66
but the wrath of
God abides on him. "
00:32:49.86\00:32:52.13
Friends, the life and death
issue in salvation is belief in
00:32:52.33\00:32:55.64
Jesus Christ.
Putting yourself by faith
00:32:55.84\00:32:58.91
in the hands of the Savior.
00:32:59.11\00:33:00.98
Now, other people take that
and say: "Oh good, that means
00:33:01.51\00:33:03.78
I don't have to be
baptized. " Slow down.
00:33:03.98\00:33:07.02
Though we've established
that the active agent in the
00:33:11.49\00:33:14.19
baptism is not the
water but the faith - OK -
00:33:14.39\00:33:17.23
having said that we all
clearly understand that true
00:33:18.06\00:33:20.40
faith is always
manifest in obedience.
00:33:20.60\00:33:24.13
Jesus would say very simply
- John chapter 14 verse 15-
00:33:24.87\00:33:27.80
"If you love Me,
keep My commandments. "
00:33:28.10\00:33:31.07
We should never go into anything
that Christ has said and try to
00:33:32.31\00:33:36.54
look for a 50% discount.
00:33:36.75\00:33:38.85
We should not look
for a way around it.
00:33:39.25\00:33:41.78
I John chapter 5 would
say this, verses 2 and 3:
00:33:47.16\00:33:50.79
"For by this we know we
love the children of God
00:33:50.96\00:33:54.23
when we love God and
keep His commandments.
00:33:54.46\00:33:56.06
For this is the love of God:
00:33:56.26\00:33:58.87
that we keep His commandments. "
00:33:59.07\00:34:00.47
And then he adds: "And
His commandments are not
00:34:00.54\00:34:03.64
burdensome. "
00:34:03.84\00:34:05.44
God's not asking you to
climb a mountain or cut yourself
00:34:07.18\00:34:09.61
or do any kind of other thing.
00:34:09.81\00:34:11.21
He's asking something
simple but deeply significant.
00:34:12.15\00:34:16.99
So baptism was established
not to be merely a hollow form
00:34:18.05\00:34:21.66
but a ceremony
denoting genuine conversion
00:34:21.86\00:34:25.36
to a new life in Jesus Christ.
00:34:25.56\00:34:27.50
When the preaching and baptizing
ministry of John the Baptist
00:34:27.76\00:34:30.27
became popular, many began to
request baptism merely as a fad
00:34:30.47\00:34:35.84
devoid of the
experience of genuine change,
00:34:36.24\00:34:40.04
genuine
repentance, genuine conversion.
00:34:40.24\00:34:42.58
Look at Luke chapter 3. Look how
the Baptist - John the Baptist -
00:34:42.78\00:34:48.35
dealt with these individuals.
00:34:48.55\00:34:50.45
Verse 7. I've never seen an
evangelist in my life do this.
00:34:52.49\00:34:56.59
"Then he said to the multitudes
that came out to get baptized
00:34:56.89\00:34:59.33
of him: 'Brood of vipers! ' "
Wouldn't it be a great problem
00:34:59.53\00:35:04.67
to have that so many
people want to be baptized
00:35:04.87\00:35:06.60
you have to sort them out
the genuine vs. the false here?
00:35:06.84\00:35:09.30
But that's what John
the Baptist experienced.
00:35:09.50\00:35:11.11
It became so
faddish, became so popular
00:35:11.31\00:35:13.04
may were coming to him.
Multitudes the Bible says.
00:35:13.24\00:35:14.91
And he had to call them out
00:35:15.11\00:35:16.64
on their
superficial understanding.
00:35:16.95\00:35:20.12
"You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from
00:35:20.32\00:35:22.45
the wrath to come?
Therefore, bear fruit
00:35:22.65\00:35:25.39
worthy of repentance and do
not begin to say to yourselves
00:35:25.59\00:35:28.86
'We have
Abraham as our father. '
00:35:29.06\00:35:30.53
For I say to you that God
is able to raise up children
00:35:30.73\00:35:32.83
to Abraham from these stones.
00:35:33.03\00:35:34.56
And even now the ax is
laid to the root of the trees.
00:35:34.93\00:35:37.53
Therefore every tree
which does not bear good fruit
00:35:37.70\00:35:39.77
is cut down and
thrown into the fire. "
00:35:40.00\00:35:42.07
Friends, the fruit of baptism:
00:35:42.57\00:35:44.71
it stems in the root
of conversion, right?
00:35:46.04\00:35:49.14
Looking for the root issue.
00:35:49.64\00:35:51.78
Romans chapter 6
speaking of baptism
00:35:52.18\00:35:55.68
and the Christian life.
00:35:55.88\00:35:57.35
The apostle Paul
would teach it this way,
00:35:57.55\00:35:59.39
starting with verse 1:
"What shall we say then?
00:36:02.19\00:36:04.83
Shall we continue in
sin that grace may abound?
00:36:05.03\00:36:07.40
Certainly not! How
shall we who died to sin
00:36:07.83\00:36:11.90
live any longer in it?
00:36:12.10\00:36:13.64
Or... " And
here's this phrase again:
00:36:13.84\00:36:15.60
"do you not know? " This
is common-sense Christianity.
00:36:15.80\00:36:20.08
"do you not know that as
many of us as were baptized
00:36:20.28\00:36:24.38
into Christ Jesus were
baptized into His... " What?
00:36:24.58\00:36:27.85
"death. Therefore we were
buried with Him through the
00:36:28.05\00:36:31.65
baptism into death, that
just as Christ was raised from
00:36:31.85\00:36:34.62
the dead by the
glory of the Father
00:36:34.82\00:36:36.52
even so we also should
walk in newness of life. "
00:36:36.73\00:36:40.80
Goes on to say: "For
if we have been united
00:36:43.06\00:36:45.47
together in the likeness of
His death, certainly we also
00:36:45.67\00:36:47.87
shall be in the
likeness of His resurrection.
00:36:48.07\00:36:49.74
Knowing this: that our
old man was crucified with Him
00:36:49.97\00:36:53.38
that the body of sin
might be done away with
00:36:53.58\00:36:55.64
that we should no
longer be slaves of sin.
00:36:55.84\00:36:57.91
For he who has died
has been freed from sin.
00:36:58.31\00:37:01.22
Now if we died with Christ,
00:37:01.62\00:37:03.62
we believe that we
shall also live with Him.
00:37:03.82\00:37:05.95
Knowing that Christ, having
been raised from the dead,
00:37:06.35\00:37:08.56
dies no more. Death no
longer has dominion over Him.
00:37:08.76\00:37:12.49
For the death that He died
He died to sin once for all.
00:37:12.89\00:37:17.07
But the life that He
lives He lives to God.
00:37:17.47\00:37:19.80
Likewise you also
reckon yourselves to be dead
00:37:20.24\00:37:24.44
indeed to sin but alive to
God in Christ Jesus our Lord. "
00:37:24.64\00:37:28.74
It's an entire transformation.
00:37:29.14\00:37:33.65
It's not merely a
hollow transaction...
00:37:33.95\00:37:36.69
it's a full-life
transformation that's intended.
00:37:36.89\00:37:41.76
This is why, by the way,
00:37:42.46\00:37:44.89
infant baptism is
not a Biblical concept.
00:37:45.39\00:37:48.33
People must understand
their need of a Savior
00:37:48.73\00:37:53.34
and by their own personal faith
commit to a new life in Him.
00:37:53.54\00:37:58.37
But let's dig even
deeper into baptism.
00:37:59.11\00:38:01.78
I want to show you something
that's often overlooked
00:38:01.98\00:38:04.31
in the study of baptism.
00:38:04.51\00:38:06.85
Beyond the symbol of
personal conversion, baptism
00:38:08.78\00:38:13.12
like the dedication of the
priests in the Hebrew sanctuary,
00:38:13.32\00:38:16.09
is also a setting
apart for service.
00:38:16.29\00:38:19.73
Look in the same passage...
continuing in the same passage
00:38:21.13\00:38:23.77
the apostle Paul makes it
clear what he means when he says
00:38:23.97\00:38:26.50
an individual is
now "alive to God. "
00:38:26.74\00:38:29.27
What does he mean by
that? Look at verse 13.
00:38:29.47\00:38:30.81
I'm sorry... he
goes on to say...
00:38:31.17\00:38:36.51
"Do not present... " I'm
sorry. Romans chapter 6... yes.
00:38:36.75\00:38:38.48
Verse 13. "And do not present
your members as instruments of
00:38:38.98\00:38:43.28
unrighteousness and sin
but present yourselves to God
00:38:43.49\00:38:47.09
as being alive from
the dead and your members
00:38:47.29\00:38:51.23
as instruments of
righteousness to God. "
00:38:51.63\00:38:55.20
You are now a baptized
member of the body of Christ
00:38:55.80\00:39:00.50
to be used by
God in His service.
00:39:00.70\00:39:04.34
As Christians we must always
stay cognizant of the fact
00:39:06.07\00:39:09.84
that Jesus Christ is not
merely our Savior but He is also
00:39:10.08\00:39:12.55
our Lord. He is
our boss - Amen -
00:39:12.75\00:39:17.15
and He fully
expects us to work for Him.
00:39:17.35\00:39:20.29
I've heard it said this way:
"We've not been saved to sit
00:39:21.96\00:39:25.89
but saved to serve. "
00:39:26.29\00:39:27.86
Notice what happened in
Acts chapter 2 when those 3,000
00:39:29.73\00:39:32.13
were baptized on
the Day of Pentecost.
00:39:32.33\00:39:33.74
Watch what happens here.
Acts chapter 2 and verse 38.
00:39:33.94\00:39:36.57
We'll start with verse 37
to get a little more context.
00:39:38.34\00:39:40.41
Ah... go to verse 36.
Let's just read the whole thing.
00:39:40.61\00:39:42.94
By the way, the apostle Peter
was teaching about Jesus' work
00:39:44.28\00:39:47.22
in the heavenly sanctuary.
He's ascended into heaven
00:39:47.42\00:39:50.02
at the right hand of the Father
and He's poured out what you now
00:39:50.22\00:39:52.45
see and hear. Verse 36:
00:39:52.65\00:39:54.89
"Therefore... " What's the
practical application of Christ
00:39:55.09\00:39:58.09
now in this heavenly
sanctuary? Peter says:
00:39:58.29\00:40:00.93
"Therefore let all the
house of Israel know assuredly
00:40:01.10\00:40:03.43
that God has made this
Jesus whom you crucified... "
00:40:03.63\00:40:06.53
You've got to think of the
context. This is only 50 days
00:40:06.74\00:40:09.00
after the crucifixion.
These are the same people
00:40:09.20\00:40:11.51
that just less than 2
months earlier were chanting
00:40:11.71\00:40:13.44
"crucify Him. " And now
the conviction that they killed
00:40:13.64\00:40:16.14
their own Messiah lands
squarely on their shoulders.
00:40:16.34\00:40:21.15
He says: "Therefore let all the
house of Israel know assuredly
00:40:21.35\00:40:23.85
that God has made this
Jesus whom you crucified
00:40:24.05\00:40:26.12
both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this
00:40:26.32\00:40:28.59
they were... "
What? "cut to the heart
00:40:28.79\00:40:30.93
and said to Peter and the
rest of the apostles: 'Men and
00:40:31.13\00:40:32.89
brothers: what shall we do? '
00:40:33.09\00:40:34.50
Then Peter said to them:
'Repent, and let every one of
00:40:34.93\00:40:38.80
you be... ' What? 'baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ
00:40:39.00\00:40:42.24
for the remission of sin. '
Notice: for the remission of sin
00:40:42.44\00:40:44.64
'AND you shall receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit. ' "
00:40:45.04\00:40:50.38
So it's not just your
personal remission of sin
00:40:50.88\00:40:52.85
there's a gift of the Holy
Spirit that God expects to be
00:40:53.05\00:40:56.32
used by His people.
00:40:56.52\00:40:58.59
I Corinthians chapter 12.
00:41:00.36\00:41:02.72
The apostle talks about
these gifts of the Spirit.
00:41:02.92\00:41:06.26
And notice the language he uses
00:41:06.90\00:41:09.06
starting with verse 4.
00:41:11.10\00:41:12.90
He says, verse 4- and
look for the parallelism here -
00:41:15.97\00:41:19.71
"There are diversities of
gifts but the same Spirit. "
00:41:20.14\00:41:24.35
"There are differences
of... " What? "ministries
00:41:24.75\00:41:28.88
but the same Lord. And there
are diversities of activities
00:41:29.08\00:41:34.02
but it's the same God
who works all in all. "
00:41:34.22\00:41:36.12
Notice that there's a parallel,
an equivalent, between the gift
00:41:37.96\00:41:41.83
of the Spirit and
ministries and activities
00:41:42.03\00:41:44.93
to be done for God.
00:41:45.13\00:41:46.67
It's little wonder then that
in I Peter chapter 2 verse 9
00:41:49.14\00:41:52.94
the apostle would say
to the baptized believers
00:41:53.14\00:41:56.58
"But you are a
chosen generation,
00:41:56.78\00:41:59.65
a royal priesthood,
00:42:00.12\00:42:01.95
a holy nation,
His own special people
00:42:02.15\00:42:04.65
that you may proclaim the
praises of Him who called you
00:42:04.85\00:42:09.22
out of darkness into
His marvelous light. "
00:42:09.42\00:42:11.76
We've been set apart not just
for our own personal redemption
00:42:11.96\00:42:17.13
but also to work for
the redemption of others.
00:42:17.33\00:42:19.60
Ministry of Healing page 102:
00:42:21.04\00:42:23.47
"Every true disciple is
born into the kingdom of God
00:42:23.87\00:42:27.78
as a missionary. No sooner
does he come to know the Savior
00:42:27.98\00:42:31.65
than he desires to make
others acquainted with Him.
00:42:31.85\00:42:33.88
The saving and sanctifying
truth cannot be shut up
00:42:34.08\00:42:36.35
in his heart. He who
drinks of the living water
00:42:36.55\00:42:39.39
becomes a fountain of life.
The receiver becomes a giver.
00:42:39.59\00:42:43.22
The grace of Christ in the soul
is like a spring in the desert
00:42:43.43\00:42:46.96
welling up to refresh all
and making those who are ready
00:42:47.13\00:42:49.46
to perish eager to
drink of the water of life.
00:42:49.66\00:42:51.80
In doing this work a
greater blessing is received
00:42:52.20\00:42:55.50
than if we work
merely to benefit ourselves.
00:42:55.70\00:43:00.08
It is in working to spread
the good news of salvation
00:43:00.28\00:43:03.14
that we are brought
near to the Savior. "
00:43:03.35\00:43:06.01
Friends, every single converted
and baptized member of the
00:43:06.41\00:43:09.52
body of Christ is called
not only to an ongoing personal
00:43:09.72\00:43:13.56
walk with Jesus but a
public work FOR Jesus.
00:43:13.76\00:43:17.03
There is an entire series
worth of sermons I could preach
00:43:17.43\00:43:20.00
right now, and I'm very tempted
not to because we have the
00:43:20.20\00:43:21.90
tyranny of the clock. BUT...
00:43:22.10\00:43:24.03
let me just say this: in the
Seventh-day Adventist church,
00:43:26.53\00:43:29.37
God's last-day remnant
people commissioned to give the
00:43:29.77\00:43:33.07
three angels'
messages to the world
00:43:33.27\00:43:35.28
the word member
should mean missionary.
00:43:35.48\00:43:38.81
We have too many
watchers and not enough workers.
00:43:40.38\00:43:43.75
Brothers and sisters, the great-
est need in our church today
00:43:44.59\00:43:47.69
is not more pastors,
not more institutions,
00:43:47.89\00:43:51.89
not more administrators,
00:43:52.29\00:43:54.46
and not even more money.
00:43:54.66\00:43:58.07
Yes... I said it! Amen... Amen!
00:43:58.47\00:44:02.94
What is most needed
00:44:04.91\00:44:07.01
is a personal investment
in the Great Commission
00:44:07.21\00:44:10.75
by each and every member.
00:44:10.95\00:44:13.15
If we have any hope
of finishing the work,
00:44:13.55\00:44:16.79
we'd better start
getting to work even now. Amen!
00:44:16.99\00:44:20.46
Told you we could preach...
00:44:21.32\00:44:22.99
but we have to keep going.
So baptism - the New Testament
00:44:23.43\00:44:28.50
full washing at the beginning
of our walk with Christ -
00:44:28.70\00:44:31.17
is our dedication and
our epiphant experience
00:44:31.37\00:44:34.10
and our dedication to
service just like the priests
00:44:34.27\00:44:36.44
in the ancient times.
Are we good with that?
00:44:36.67\00:44:38.47
Now... as you recall
there were two washings
00:44:38.87\00:44:41.58
of the priests that the laver
was designed to facilitate.
00:44:43.08\00:44:46.68
The first was that
full-body washing done only once
00:44:47.98\00:44:50.59
when consecrated to
the office of priest.
00:44:50.79\00:44:52.69
The other was done
regularly in the daily services
00:44:52.99\00:44:56.16
of the priesthood. Now
in the New Testament church
00:44:56.36\00:45:00.13
everyone who commits his
or her life to Jesus Christ
00:45:01.16\00:45:04.27
and His work is washed once:
00:45:04.47\00:45:06.40
buried by immersion
in the waters of baptism.
00:45:06.60\00:45:09.70
In addition, however,
to the washing of baptism
00:45:09.90\00:45:13.98
Christ also established for
us - just like He had with the
00:45:14.18\00:45:17.18
priests in the
earthly sanctuary -
00:45:17.38\00:45:18.81
a smaller
repeated washing ceremony.
00:45:19.01\00:45:22.02
The foot washing service
or the ordinance of humility
00:45:22.98\00:45:27.66
as it is often
called is an oft repeated
00:45:27.82\00:45:31.83
recommitment to God
shared between fellow believers.
00:45:32.03\00:45:35.66
And just like baptism
Jesus established this service
00:45:36.16\00:45:40.30
by His own personal example.
00:45:40.50\00:45:43.10
In John chapter 13
you read the story.
00:45:43.51\00:45:46.21
You probably know it well.
00:45:49.01\00:45:50.65
Everyone was waiting
for someone else to serve
00:45:51.05\00:45:53.08
while they argued about
who would be the greatest.
00:45:53.28\00:45:55.28
And Jesus Christ used
this opportunity to teach them
00:45:56.08\00:45:59.82
the significance of the washing.
00:46:00.09\00:46:01.99
He takes off His outer
garments and puts on the garb
00:46:03.19\00:46:06.49
of a servant.
Takes a basin with water
00:46:06.73\00:46:09.80
and begins to wash their feet.
00:46:10.00\00:46:12.27
Interestingly, in the
story there in John chapter 13
00:46:14.47\00:46:17.84
scripture records that He came
to Simon Peter, and Peter said
00:46:19.47\00:46:21.84
to Him: "Lord... are
You washing my feet? "
00:46:22.04\00:46:24.75
"Jesus answered and
said to him: 'What I am doing
00:46:25.15\00:46:28.95
you do not understand now
but you will know after this. '
00:46:29.15\00:46:33.56
Peter said to Him: 'You
shall NEVER wash my feet. '
00:46:33.96\00:46:38.56
And Jesus answered
him: 'If I do not wash you,
00:46:40.40\00:46:45.33
you have no part with Me. ' "
00:46:46.20\00:46:49.07
"Lest they die... "
00:46:49.27\00:46:52.54
"Simon Peter said to
Him: 'Lord, not my feet only
00:46:54.68\00:46:57.78
but my hands and my head. ' "
00:46:58.18\00:47:00.58
Give me the full wash, right?
00:47:00.78\00:47:02.58
You've gotta love Peter. He's
a man of extremes, is he not?
00:47:04.62\00:47:07.52
"No washing. " "ALL washing.
" And Christ says: "Calm down. "
00:47:07.72\00:47:11.43
"Jesus said to him: 'He
who is bathed need only to wash
00:47:11.83\00:47:17.27
his feet but is
completely clean.
00:47:17.47\00:47:20.94
And you are clean
but not all of you... '
00:47:21.34\00:47:23.94
for He knew who
would betray Him.
00:47:24.14\00:47:25.47
Therefore He said:
'You are not all clean. ' "
00:47:25.57\00:47:27.28
So in that room there was
a mixture. Most were sincere
00:47:27.68\00:47:31.15
but sometimes misguided and
tempted and falling individuals.
00:47:31.35\00:47:35.88
But there was one man who had
set his heart on open rebellion.
00:47:36.38\00:47:40.09
He said: "Look you're all clean.
Well, almost all of you. "
00:47:40.76\00:47:43.46
He was talking about the
cleansing of their hearts...
00:47:44.26\00:47:46.90
that re-dedication.
00:47:47.30\00:47:49.63
These disciples of
Jesus had all been converted,
00:47:49.93\00:47:52.37
baptized, and enrolled in
the training school of Christ
00:47:52.57\00:47:55.24
to become fishers of men.
All of them, with the notable
00:47:55.44\00:47:58.27
exception of course of
Judas, had good intentions
00:47:58.47\00:48:01.71
and were not in
open rebellion to God.
00:48:02.11\00:48:04.78
Yet each of them
still had fallen natures
00:48:04.98\00:48:08.15
and from time to time
gave in to pride and anger
00:48:08.35\00:48:12.59
and other such temptations.
00:48:12.89\00:48:15.19
They were not
spiritually filthy head to toe,
00:48:15.39\00:48:18.33
but in their walk with Christ
their feet had gotten dirty.
00:48:18.73\00:48:22.23
Thus Christ explained he
who is bathed needs only to wash
00:48:23.13\00:48:26.23
his feet. You notice that
here, as with the Old Testament,
00:48:26.43\00:48:32.21
there's an
emphasis on cleanliness.
00:48:32.41\00:48:34.84
You've heard the statement
"Cleanliness is next to...
00:48:36.58\00:48:38.65
godliness. "
00:48:38.85\00:48:40.22
So I'm guessing we all
probably heard it when our...
00:48:40.42\00:48:41.95
when we were a child
and our room was messy
00:48:42.15\00:48:43.79
and our parents used
that as a teachable moment.
00:48:44.19\00:48:46.59
But in the service of
the ancient sanctuary,
00:48:48.69\00:48:50.83
the ministering priests
were not only to be washed once
00:48:50.99\00:48:52.83
for their consecration to office
00:48:53.03\00:48:54.36
but were also to wash
their hands and feet each time
00:48:54.46\00:48:56.36
they approached the Holy
Place or administered the sacred
00:48:56.56\00:48:58.63
duties. These
priests had already undergone
00:48:58.83\00:49:02.90
an initial full-body washing
00:49:03.10\00:49:04.97
and they were set
apart for service.
00:49:05.17\00:49:07.11
Surely they physically
cared for their own hygiene
00:49:07.51\00:49:10.61
before they went to the
office, if you will, that day
00:49:10.81\00:49:13.38
to serve in the tabernacle.
00:49:13.58\00:49:14.98
And furthermore, just as Moses
and Joshua had been commanded
00:49:15.18\00:49:18.09
to take off their shoes when
they were standing before God,
00:49:18.29\00:49:20.32
the priests in the temple
ministered with bare feet.
00:49:20.52\00:49:23.16
So the question needs to be
asked: if they were ceremonially
00:49:24.29\00:49:26.66
washed at first, physically
washed before their daily duties
00:49:26.86\00:49:30.37
and even removed their shoes
before going into the sanctuary,
00:49:30.57\00:49:34.90
why did they need to wash
their hands and feet again?
00:49:35.14\00:49:38.24
Well, I'm going to
come back and say it was not
00:49:41.21\00:49:43.08
primarily a washing
for physical cleanliness
00:49:43.28\00:49:45.91
but rather a demonstration
of the spiritual cleanliness
00:49:46.11\00:49:48.78
and attention to detail that
God expects from His people.
00:49:48.98\00:49:53.46
Testimonies for the
Church Volume 12 page 612 again
00:49:53.66\00:49:57.23
Mrs. White further explains:
"There was to be nothing
00:49:58.53\00:50:00.60
slack or untidy about
those who appeared before Him
00:50:00.80\00:50:03.63
when they came
into His holy presence.
00:50:03.83\00:50:05.37
And why was this? What was the
object of all this carefulness?
00:50:05.77\00:50:10.27
Was it merely to
recommend the people to God?
00:50:10.67\00:50:13.24
Was it to merely
gain His approbation?
00:50:14.31\00:50:16.85
The reason that
was given me was this:
00:50:18.31\00:50:21.48
that a right impression
may be made upon the people. "
00:50:22.85\00:50:26.82
Think about this: the
cleansing, the ritual ceremony
00:50:28.09\00:50:30.59
of cleansing of the priest
at the basin, at the laver
00:50:30.79\00:50:34.13
was not so much for them
but for those who would be
00:50:34.40\00:50:38.17
watching them. "If those
who ministered in sacred office
00:50:38.37\00:50:43.77
should fail to manifest
care and reverence for God
00:50:43.97\00:50:47.01
in their apparel
and their deportment,
00:50:47.21\00:50:49.04
the people would lose their
awe and their reverence for God
00:50:49.24\00:50:52.21
and His sacred service.
00:50:52.41\00:50:53.75
If a priest showed great
reverence for God by being
00:50:53.95\00:50:57.02
very careful and very particular
as they came into His presence,
00:50:57.22\00:51:00.69
it gave the people
an exalted idea of God
00:51:00.89\00:51:04.16
and His requirements. It
showed them that God was holy,
00:51:04.36\00:51:08.56
that His work was sacred, and
that everything in connection
00:51:08.76\00:51:11.70
with His work must be
holy. That it must be free from
00:51:11.90\00:51:14.20
everything like
impurity and uncleanness
00:51:14.37\00:51:17.17
and that all
defilement must be put away
00:51:17.37\00:51:19.24
from those who
approach nigh to God. "
00:51:19.44\00:51:21.24
Later in the same
passage the servant of the Lord
00:51:22.24\00:51:24.15
draws practical
application of the daily washing
00:51:24.35\00:51:27.02
of the priests at the
laver to the lives of ministers
00:51:27.22\00:51:29.35
and church members alike
00:51:29.55\00:51:31.09
when she continues saying:
"The Lord requires His ministers
00:51:31.29\00:51:34.22
to be pure and holy, to
rightly represent the principles
00:51:34.42\00:51:37.39
of truth in their own
lives and by their example
00:51:37.59\00:51:40.20
to bring others
up on a high level. "
00:51:40.40\00:51:42.66
Now you're going to say: "Yes!
That's what the pastors need. "
00:51:42.86\00:51:45.20
It's true... but it's
not limited to those here.
00:51:46.97\00:51:51.51
Both the ministry and the
membership God wants to see
00:51:53.64\00:51:57.08
clean. Amen!
00:51:57.28\00:51:59.18
She continues: "God requires
all who profess to be His chosen
00:51:59.58\00:52:02.35
people, though they are
not teachers of the truth,
00:52:02.55\00:52:04.49
to be careful to
preserve personal cleanliness
00:52:04.69\00:52:07.39
and purity. Also cleanliness
and order in their houses
00:52:07.59\00:52:10.56
and upon their premises.
00:52:10.76\00:52:12.26
We are examples to the world,
00:52:12.46\00:52:15.26
living epistles
known and read of all men.
00:52:15.66\00:52:18.97
God requires all
who profess godliness,
00:52:19.37\00:52:21.84
and especially those who
teach His truth to others,
00:52:22.04\00:52:24.17
to abstain from
all appearance of evil.
00:52:24.34\00:52:26.98
Friends, in both the Old
Testament and the New Testament
00:52:31.18\00:52:33.62
the Bible makes it very plain
00:52:33.82\00:52:36.28
that God's people are a
spectacle to the world...
00:52:36.48\00:52:39.22
both to men and to angels.
00:52:39.72\00:52:42.46
Giving instruction to the
children in the Old Testament
00:52:43.49\00:52:45.76
Deuteronomy chapter
4 verses 5 and 6 says:
00:52:45.96\00:52:49.00
"Surely I have taught
you statutes and judgments
00:52:49.20\00:52:51.53
just as the Lord my God
commanded me that you should
00:52:51.73\00:52:53.97
act according to them in the
land which you go to possess.
00:52:54.17\00:52:56.67
Therefore be
careful to observe them
00:52:57.07\00:53:00.18
for this is your wisdom
00:53:00.58\00:53:04.58
in the sight of all the people
who hear all these statutes
00:53:04.78\00:53:09.98
and say: 'Surely this
great nation is a wise
00:53:10.19\00:53:12.45
and understanding people. ' "
00:53:12.65\00:53:13.99
Why were they supposed to
be so careful and so exact
00:53:14.06\00:53:17.63
in their keeping of
the statutes of God?
00:53:17.83\00:53:20.40
It wasn't necessarily for
their own connection with God.
00:53:20.60\00:53:23.16
It's supposed to be for their
witness for God to other people.
00:53:23.37\00:53:26.43
Imagine if you will... You've
been studying the sanctuary
00:53:26.94\00:53:29.84
and they've got the Most Holy
Place and then the Holy Place
00:53:30.07\00:53:32.57
and the courtyard and
around that there's a space
00:53:32.77\00:53:34.51
and then the whole camp.
Which by the way, the whole camp
00:53:34.71\00:53:36.91
was laid out... I don't
want to give away anything
00:53:37.11\00:53:38.45
but the whole thing was
supposed to be a reflection
00:53:38.65\00:53:40.62
of heaven on earth.
00:53:40.82\00:53:42.15
The organization of Israel
was a beautiful reflection of
00:53:43.02\00:53:46.09
God's order and
organization... His government.
00:53:46.29\00:53:50.43
And the people were supposed
to be living representatives
00:53:51.53\00:53:55.30
of that law of God
00:53:55.50\00:53:57.23
so that if someone
wandered over the hill
00:53:57.43\00:53:59.87
the very first thing they would
see is structure and order.
00:54:00.14\00:54:02.77
You have nearly two million
people all living in just
00:54:02.97\00:54:06.88
a well organized
system of community...
00:54:07.08\00:54:11.75
and that would
get their attention.
00:54:13.08\00:54:14.78
Then they would wander into
the camp and they would meet
00:54:14.98\00:54:16.79
the people. And the people
would be living demonstrations
00:54:16.99\00:54:22.22
of the God who put
them in that order.
00:54:22.42\00:54:24.93
Think about a
community of people
00:54:25.93\00:54:28.80
where everyone
kept the law of God.
00:54:29.00\00:54:30.63
No crime... no divorce.
00:54:33.70\00:54:36.71
Everyone keeps the Sabbath.
00:54:37.21\00:54:39.47
You know, you imagine
coming into... You wanted to
00:54:41.14\00:54:44.01
work for a Hebrew at that time
or one of the children of Israel
00:54:44.21\00:54:46.61
and they said: "Now look, you
have to take every seventh day
00:54:46.82\00:54:49.45
off. " "Fine by me. "
00:54:49.65\00:54:51.25
"And in addition, we want
you to take, in fact you have to
00:54:52.19\00:54:55.92
take, every seventh year off. "
00:54:56.12\00:54:58.39
"Where do I sign up? "
00:54:59.43\00:55:00.93
"I don't know much about
your God, but your people
00:55:01.93\00:55:05.60
are pretty impressive. "
00:55:05.80\00:55:07.64
These laws... this is
your wisdom in the sight...
00:55:08.34\00:55:10.71
And friends, Jesus said to the
believers in the New Testament
00:55:10.91\00:55:13.17
"You are the
light of the world. "
00:55:13.38\00:55:15.28
And He says: "Let your light
so shine before men that they
00:55:17.05\00:55:19.58
may see your good
works and glorify your Father
00:55:19.78\00:55:22.15
who is in heaven. "
00:55:22.35\00:55:23.89
In fact, in Ephesians
chapter 3 the apostle Paul says:
00:55:25.32\00:55:27.72
"To the intent that now
the manifold wisdom of God
00:55:28.12\00:55:32.23
may be made known by the
church to the principalities
00:55:32.43\00:55:35.26
and powers in the
heavenly places. "
00:55:35.46\00:55:36.87
Friends, we are to be in
our carefulness and cleanliness
00:55:37.37\00:55:43.14
both physically and
of course spiritually
00:55:43.37\00:55:45.91
a representative of
the God that we serve.
00:55:46.11\00:55:48.74
God's Amazing Grace page 56
as we bring this to a close.
00:55:49.54\00:55:52.45
"The people of God are His
representatives on the earth,
00:55:53.08\00:55:55.48
and He intends that they shall
be lights in the moral darkness
00:55:55.68\00:55:58.19
of this world.
Scattered all over the country
00:55:58.39\00:56:00.79
in the towns, cities,
and villages they are God's
00:56:00.99\00:56:02.96
witnesses, the channel through
which He will communicate
00:56:03.16\00:56:05.59
to an unbelieving world
the knowledge of His will
00:56:05.79\00:56:07.50
and the wonders of His grace.
00:56:07.66\00:56:08.96
It is His plan that all who are
partakers of the great salvation
00:56:09.23\00:56:12.30
shall be missionaries for Him.
00:56:12.50\00:56:13.84
The piety of the Christian
constitutes the standard by
00:56:14.14\00:56:17.11
which worldlings
will judge the gospel. "
00:56:17.31\00:56:19.37
I'm going to say that one
again 'cause I know you didn't
00:56:19.57\00:56:21.01
catch it. "The
piety of the Christian
00:56:21.21\00:56:24.95
constitutes the
standard by which worldlings
00:56:25.35\00:56:28.95
will judge the gospel. " Amen!
00:56:29.15\00:56:32.32
"Trials patiently borne... "
00:56:33.22\00:56:35.56
They're watching
you. You know that?
00:56:35.76\00:56:37.43
No road rage
among Christians. Amen!
00:56:39.19\00:56:42.66
Right? Amen.
00:56:42.86\00:56:44.47
And it's not just because you're
trying to stay right with God
00:56:45.50\00:56:47.84
but you're trying
to do a work FOR God.
00:56:48.04\00:56:49.64
"The piety of the Christian
constitutes the standard
00:56:51.77\00:56:53.64
by which worldlings
will judge the gospel.
00:56:53.84\00:56:55.18
Trials patiently borne,
blessings gratefully received,
00:56:55.38\00:56:58.31
meekness,
kindness, mercy, and love
00:56:58.51\00:57:01.18
habitually exhibited are
the lights that shine forth
00:57:01.38\00:57:04.72
in the character
before the world. "
00:57:04.92\00:57:06.52
Friends, I pray... First of
all let me ask this question:
00:57:08.96\00:57:10.79
has the presentation
today been clear? Amen!
00:57:10.99\00:57:14.00
Friends, each of us
needs to have that individual
00:57:14.40\00:57:16.70
washing of baptism. And
I want to appeal to you and
00:57:16.90\00:57:18.97
if you're watching on television
let me appeal to you right now.
00:57:19.17\00:57:21.10
If you have never committed
your life to Jesus Christ,
00:57:21.30\00:57:23.34
don't wait another
day. Amen! Come to the water
00:57:23.54\00:57:26.27
and be baptized. Amen!
00:57:26.47\00:57:28.18
Now friends, if you have
experienced that washing,
00:57:28.38\00:57:30.18
don't sit back and say:
"Once done... I'm done. "
00:57:30.38\00:57:31.95
Keep washing. Every
day come to the laver.
00:57:32.88\00:57:36.18
Let Jesus take care of
even the little things.
00:57:36.99\00:57:40.29
Every day... the daily matters.
00:57:40.76\00:57:42.56
No so you can earn your way to
heaven but through your witness
00:57:42.76\00:57:45.99
others can see Jesus. Amen!
00:57:46.19\00:57:48.80
Let's bow our heads
for a word of prayer.
00:57:49.00\00:57:50.33
Heavenly Father,
I want to thank you
00:57:50.37\00:57:51.87
for the truth of
the shining laver.
00:57:52.27\00:57:54.54
Lord, each one of
us needs to be washed
00:57:55.54\00:57:58.81
in the blood of the Lamb.
00:57:59.01\00:58:00.41
Each one of us
needs that regeneration
00:58:00.81\00:58:03.31
that comes only through
repentance and conversion
00:58:03.51\00:58:06.75
in Jesus Christ.
00:58:06.95\00:58:08.28
So Lord, I pray if there's
anyone listening today that
00:58:08.55\00:58:11.42
has not made that commitment
00:58:11.62\00:58:13.19
that the Holy Spirit
would not leave them alone
00:58:14.62\00:58:16.46
until they have been converted
00:58:16.66\00:58:18.53
and given their lives
to Jesus Christ in baptism.
00:58:19.29\00:58:21.56
But beyond that, Lord,
for those of us who have
00:58:22.50\00:58:25.00
may the washing
continue even now.
00:58:25.40\00:58:28.07
Let even in our daily
lives, the minor matters,
00:58:29.64\00:58:32.31
help us to be a living
demonstration of the principles
00:58:33.78\00:58:36.14
of God and the
law that He wrote.
00:58:36.34\00:58:39.68
So Lord, make us Your people.
00:58:40.72\00:58:42.38
I pray today that You
would, yes, keep us faithful
00:58:43.32\00:58:46.12
but more than that,
Lord, make us useful for You
00:58:46.32\00:58:48.92
until we see Jesus
come. And WHEN He comes
00:58:49.69\00:58:52.66
let not one be missing.
00:58:53.06\00:58:56.00
For we pray it in
Jesus' name, Amen.
00:58:56.40\00:58:59.27