Good evening, ASI.
00:00:21.22\00:00:22.55
Amen.
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You know, it's truly
an honor for me tonight
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to introduce our
speaker for the evening.
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And I'd just tell you one thing,
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I have spent many
hours on the phone
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with our speaker tonight.
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But one thing is
very interesting,
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whenever, often
times when I call him,
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I'll pick up the
phone and I will hear
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something going
in the background,
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either a chainsaw, or a hammer,
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or some other type
of mechanical device
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because Steve Dickman
is always doing something.
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As the president of
Harbert Hills Academy,
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he is as I asked him, I said,
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"Steve, how do you
want me to describe you."
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And he said, "Well, just
say I'm a back cooperator."
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Steve is an enterprising man.
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He teaches students there,
fixes the air conditioners,
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does just about everything
it takes to run a school,
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but more than that
he is a humble man.
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And those of you who know him,
he is always helping people.
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Always there to
do whatever he can
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to make something happen.
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And as they say
he's the kind of guy
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who would give you
the shirt off his back,
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he even lent me this tie tonight
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because I didn't have one.
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So Steve spent,
has spent 26 years
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at Harbert Hills Academy
and serves as the president
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of that great
school in Tennessee,
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and he also
serves as the chairman
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of the E.A Sutherland
Educational Association,
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and as the chairman
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of Outpost
Centers International.
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And there is no one that I know
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that is more
committed to the work of ASI
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who has such a burden for
supporting ministries in US
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who has a passion
for finishing the work.
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And as of this evening,
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I am happy to once again say
that he is the newly elected,
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newly reelected
president of ASI.
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And Steve, more
than any of that,
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he is a father of
two children and two,
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a grandfather of two grandkids.
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His lovely wife
Brenda is by his side.
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And I just have to say
that he truly models the example
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of servant leadership.
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A good leader
gets in the trenches
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and fights along those he leads.
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And I cannot say anything
less of my friend Steve Dickman,
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whether it's
traveling in the bush of Africa,
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and Steve and I
have been to Kibidula,
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whether it's navigating
the streets of Russia,
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or visiting our many ASI members
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across this division.
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I've had the privilege
of seeing Steve in action.
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And above all, his passion
is to see Jesus come soon.
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And so the next
voice you will hear
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after our special music will
be that of our ASI president,
00:03:06.85\00:03:09.25
Steve Dickman.
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Holy Spirit,
living breath of God
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Breathe new life
into my willing soul
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Let a presence of the risen Lord
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To renew my
heart and make me whole
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Cause Your Word
to come alive in me
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Give me faith
for what I cannot see
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Give me passion for Your purity
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Holy Spirit,
breathe new life in me
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Holy Spirit, come abide within
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May Your joy be seen in all I do
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Love enough to cover evr'y sin
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In each thought
and deed and attitude
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Kindness to the
greatest and the least
00:05:01.40\00:05:08.00
Gentleness that
sows the path of peace
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Turn my striving
into works of grace
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Breath of God,
show Christ in all I do
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Holy Spirit,
from creation's birth
00:06:06.83\00:06:13.54
Giving life to
all that God has made
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Show Your power
once again on earth
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Cause Your church
to hunger for Your ways
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Let the fragrance
of our prayers arise
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Lead us on the road of sacrifice
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That in unity the face of Christ
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Will be clear for
all the world to see
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Thank you for that
beautiful music tonight.
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It's a blessing to
be here at ASI with you.
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I just like to
ask you this evening
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if you would just
bow your heads with me
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as we begin?
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Oh, Father, in
heaven we're here tonight.
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We're asking that You
would pour out Your Spirit
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upon each person here
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that we may hear Your voice.
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And not just
hear Your voice, Lord,
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but that we would
respond to Your call.
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In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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I know some of you
00:08:06.51\00:08:07.85
may have brought
your Bibles this evening,
00:08:07.88\00:08:10.12
at least I hope you
did, and if you didn't
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maybe you have your
Bible on your phone.
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We're going to be
looking for a few moments here
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at Mark 13.
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Jesus, the context here is that
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Jesus is
talking to His disciples
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about what the future is
holds, what the future holds.
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It says that in
verse 1 of chapter 13
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that "He went
out from the temple,
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and one of His
disciples said unto Him,
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Master, see
what manner of stones
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and what buildings are here."
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And then Jesus privately began,
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when He got to
the Mount of Olives,
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He privately began to
explain to His disciples
00:08:50.93\00:08:54.20
the end of the story,
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and whether or not
you know it, this evening
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we are living in the
time of the end of the story,
00:09:01.00\00:09:04.97
and so we read this
with great interest.
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We read this
00:09:07.44\00:09:08.78
what Jesus was saying
here with great interest
00:09:08.81\00:09:10.68
because Jesus was talking
00:09:10.71\00:09:12.41
not just to His disciples,
He's talking to us today
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because we are living
actually the end of the story.
00:09:15.28\00:09:19.55
He says something
interesting here in Mark 13:24,
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he says, "But in those
days after that tribulation,
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the sun shall be darkened,
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and the moon shall
not give her light."
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Let me ask you a
question tonight,
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has this happened?
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Yes. Okay.
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So we're now
entering the stream of time,
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we find
ourselves living in a time
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when prophecy is not
something in the future,
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but it's something that
has already been fulfilled,
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is that true?
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So the sun has been darkened,
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the moon would
not give her light.
00:09:56.32\00:09:58.76
And verse 25,
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"The stars of heaven shall fall,
00:10:00.20\00:10:01.76
and the powers
that are in the heavens
00:10:01.80\00:10:03.33
shall be shaken."
00:10:03.37\00:10:04.70
Has this happened? Yes.
00:10:04.73\00:10:06.13
Okay, so, again
we're talking now
00:10:06.17\00:10:08.54
about a part of the
scripture that we recognize
00:10:08.57\00:10:12.24
it didn't happen in my day,
00:10:12.27\00:10:13.84
it happened
actually before I was born.
00:10:13.88\00:10:18.05
So that means if
we're marking time,
00:10:18.08\00:10:21.08
it happened now.
00:10:21.12\00:10:24.39
And then I come on the scene,
00:10:24.42\00:10:26.02
I'm living
after these prophecies
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have all been fulfilled.
00:10:28.86\00:10:31.69
Verse 26, the next verse,
00:10:31.73\00:10:36.16
"And then shall
they see the Son of man
00:10:36.20\00:10:42.20
coming in the clouds
with great power and glory."
00:10:42.24\00:10:47.51
Now this is what?
00:10:47.54\00:10:48.88
This is the next verse.
00:10:48.91\00:10:51.51
This is the next verse.
00:10:51.55\00:10:55.28
And verse 27, "Then
he shall send his angels,
00:10:55.32\00:10:57.72
and shall gather together
his elect from the four winds,
00:10:57.75\00:11:00.66
from the
uttermost parts of the earth
00:11:00.69\00:11:02.19
and from the
uttermost parts of heaven."
00:11:02.22\00:11:04.46
In verse 28, "And now learn
a parable of the fig tree."
00:11:04.49\00:11:07.86
And so Jesus now
begins to emphasize
00:11:07.93\00:11:10.53
what He just said by
telling a couple of parables,
00:11:10.57\00:11:13.10
so He tells the
parable of the fig tree
00:11:13.13\00:11:14.50
and He says here.
00:11:14.54\00:11:15.94
When you see the fig tree
and its branch is yet tender,
00:11:15.97\00:11:18.74
and it putteth forth leaves,
00:11:18.77\00:11:20.44
you know that summer is where?
00:11:20.48\00:11:23.65
"Summer is near."
00:11:23.71\00:11:26.05
So verse 29,
00:11:26.08\00:11:27.72
"In like manner,
00:11:27.75\00:11:29.38
when ye shall see
these things come to pass,
00:11:29.42\00:11:32.75
know that it is
nigh, even at the doors."
00:11:32.79\00:11:38.89
Verse 30,
"Verily I say unto you,
00:11:38.93\00:11:41.30
this generation shall not pass,
till all these things be done.
00:11:41.33\00:11:45.17
Heaven and
earth shall pass away:
00:11:45.20\00:11:46.87
but my word
shall not pass away."
00:11:46.90\00:11:50.54
And then He goes to
give this little warning,
00:11:50.57\00:11:52.97
He says, "But of
that day and hour" what?
00:11:53.01\00:11:58.01
"Knoweth no man,
00:11:58.05\00:11:59.38
no, not the angels
that are in heaven,
00:11:59.41\00:12:01.65
neither the
Son, but the Father."
00:12:01.68\00:12:05.52
Verse 33, so He
says, I'm telling you
00:12:05.55\00:12:08.99
when you see
these things happen,
00:12:09.02\00:12:11.46
you should know that it
is near even at the door.
00:12:11.49\00:12:15.50
And then he tells
this little parable
00:12:15.53\00:12:17.90
and then He says
00:12:17.93\00:12:19.67
but "Take heed, watch and pray:
00:12:19.70\00:12:26.51
for you know not
when the time is."
00:12:26.54\00:12:32.91
So Jesus here is saying
something very interesting.
00:12:32.95\00:12:35.08
He says, you can
know when the time is near
00:12:35.12\00:12:37.62
but you're not going
to know when the time is.
00:12:37.65\00:12:43.06
Well, for me I'm
looking at the clock,
00:12:43.09\00:12:46.09
I'm thinking
it's getting close to,
00:12:46.13\00:12:48.83
let's just say it's
getting close to noon,
00:12:48.86\00:12:50.63
12 o'clock.
00:12:50.70\00:12:52.03
I watch the clock
00:12:52.07\00:12:53.40
and I see the
hands moving around.
00:12:53.44\00:12:54.94
I can see that we're
getting close to 12 o'clock
00:12:54.97\00:12:57.87
and I know how long
it is until 12 o'clock
00:12:57.91\00:13:00.38
because the hand keeps moving
00:13:00.41\00:13:03.45
and I say that's
two minutes to 12,
00:13:03.48\00:13:05.55
it's one minute to
12, it's 30 seconds to 12,
00:13:05.58\00:13:08.75
and I can gauge how long it is,
00:13:08.78\00:13:11.05
but Jesus said,
00:13:11.09\00:13:12.42
He give us a
little warning here says,
00:13:12.45\00:13:13.79
you're going to
know that it's near
00:13:13.86\00:13:15.19
but you're not going
to know the exact time.
00:13:15.22\00:13:18.36
He says, your job is
to watch and to pray.
00:13:18.39\00:13:23.73
Watch and pray, that
sounds pretty simple.
00:13:23.77\00:13:25.57
I keep my eyes
open, I stay on my knees,
00:13:25.60\00:13:28.07
I'm good to go, right?
00:13:28.10\00:13:31.84
Well, we should
read the next verse.
00:13:31.87\00:13:35.04
Verse 34 at
this point, verse 34,
00:13:35.08\00:13:38.25
"For the Son of Man..."
00:13:38.28\00:13:40.38
Now Jesus tells
another little short
00:13:40.42\00:13:42.35
one sentence parable here.
00:13:42.38\00:13:44.25
He has clued His disciple
that there's some danger ahead,
00:13:44.29\00:13:48.49
you're going to
know when it's near,
00:13:48.52\00:13:49.92
but you're not going
to know the exact time.
00:13:49.99\00:13:51.99
I want you to be on the alert.
00:13:52.03\00:13:53.36
I want you to watch and pray,
00:13:53.40\00:13:55.33
"For the Son of Man is
as a man taking a" what?
00:13:55.36\00:14:01.67
"A far journey,
who left his house,
00:14:01.70\00:14:05.77
and gave
authority to his servants,
00:14:05.81\00:14:08.91
and to every man his work,
00:14:08.94\00:14:13.92
and commanded
the porter to watch."
00:14:13.95\00:14:18.12
Now let's review here,
what we've learned so far.
00:14:18.15\00:14:21.09
Jesus said in verse 33,
"Take heed, watch and do" what?
00:14:21.12\00:14:26.43
"Pray."
00:14:26.46\00:14:27.76
And in verse 34, He says,
00:14:27.83\00:14:30.23
I want you to not
only watch and pray,
00:14:30.27\00:14:32.77
I want you to know
00:14:32.80\00:14:34.14
that I am going
to a far country,
00:14:34.20\00:14:35.57
is going to be some
time before I return,
00:14:35.60\00:14:38.14
and I want you to watch
and pray while I am gone,
00:14:38.17\00:14:40.34
but I don't want you to
stop by watching and praying,
00:14:40.38\00:14:42.88
I want you to
work because He says,
00:14:42.91\00:14:45.38
He has given to
every man His work.
00:14:45.41\00:14:50.99
Now let me ask
you what every means?
00:14:51.02\00:14:53.36
Does every mean every, or
does every mean only some?
00:14:53.42\00:14:59.76
If you are within the
hearing of my voice tonight
00:14:59.79\00:15:03.77
and you can
understand what I am saying,
00:15:03.80\00:15:06.27
then you are
included in this idea
00:15:06.30\00:15:09.54
that God has given
to every man His work.
00:15:09.57\00:15:12.94
I am included in that idea
00:15:12.97\00:15:14.84
that God has given
to every man His work.
00:15:14.88\00:15:18.38
This is part of what Jesus
is saying to His disciples,
00:15:18.41\00:15:22.92
He says, "Yes, I
want you to watch
00:15:22.95\00:15:24.95
and I want you to pray,
but I also want you to work."
00:15:24.99\00:15:31.06
There is something for us to do.
00:15:31.09\00:15:34.00
There is something
that God has given us
00:15:34.00\00:15:37.27
not just corporately,
for surely He did that.
00:15:37.33\00:15:40.40
In the Great Commission, He
told His disciples, He says,
00:15:40.44\00:15:44.17
"I am on my way, and
I'm going to give you
00:15:44.21\00:15:47.44
this great commission."
00:15:47.48\00:15:48.94
Matthew 28, "Go ye
therefore and do" what?
00:15:48.98\00:15:54.02
"Teach all
nations, baptizing them
00:15:54.08\00:15:56.18
in the name of the
Father, and the Son,
00:15:56.22\00:15:57.59
and the Holy Spirit."
00:15:57.62\00:15:58.95
And that commission
is for God's family,
00:15:58.99\00:16:01.22
for His church and
for us individually.
00:16:01.26\00:16:05.93
God has given
to us a work to do.
00:16:05.96\00:16:08.90
God has not left us
wondering what we should do.
00:16:08.93\00:16:12.30
He has given to us a
specific and certain work to do.
00:16:12.33\00:16:17.81
I'm thinking that this is
not the only place in scripture
00:16:17.84\00:16:21.58
where we find this,
00:16:21.61\00:16:23.55
Jesus was
talking to His disciples.
00:16:23.58\00:16:29.15
And He told
them another parable.
00:16:29.18\00:16:30.92
Actually in Matthew
20 you find this parable
00:16:30.99\00:16:34.49
that Jesus is
sharing with His disciples,
00:16:34.52\00:16:36.96
and He tells them the
story about the vineyard owner
00:16:37.03\00:16:42.00
who went to get some
workers for his vineyard.
00:16:42.03\00:16:44.30
And he went down to the place
00:16:44.33\00:16:45.77
where the workers were
hanging out and he said,
00:16:45.80\00:16:47.60
"Hey, at 6
o'clock in the morning,
00:16:47.64\00:16:49.34
I need a few workers."
00:16:49.37\00:16:50.81
Some of the guys
said, "Yeah, we'll go."
00:16:50.87\00:16:53.07
And later he comes back
and he find some more workers,
00:16:53.11\00:16:55.88
and he keeps coming back
and finding more workers,
00:16:55.91\00:16:58.35
and finally he comes
back at the eleventh hour
00:16:58.38\00:17:01.82
which is according to the way
they reckon time at that point,
00:17:01.85\00:17:06.25
it is one hour
before the end of the day,
00:17:06.29\00:17:08.79
it's the last little bit of time
00:17:08.82\00:17:10.96
that workday is
going to be complete
00:17:10.99\00:17:13.26
and then you're
off, then you're done.
00:17:13.29\00:17:16.90
And he comes back
at the eleventh hour
00:17:16.97\00:17:18.57
and he find these guys
standing around and he says,
00:17:18.60\00:17:22.24
"What are you doing here."
00:17:22.27\00:17:24.91
And their response
was, "No one hired us."
00:17:24.94\00:17:29.34
And his response was,
00:17:29.38\00:17:31.98
"Go to my
vineyard and go to work."
00:17:32.01\00:17:36.99
I would suggest to you
tonight that we are living
00:17:37.02\00:17:39.29
in the eleventh
hour of this story,
00:17:39.32\00:17:41.76
and God is still
calling for workers
00:17:41.79\00:17:43.93
to enter the vineyard.
00:17:43.96\00:17:47.23
Maybe we're living
past the eleventh hour.
00:17:47.30\00:17:49.70
Maybe we're living
closer to the twelfth hour.
00:17:49.73\00:17:52.33
Maybe we're living
in the last few moments
00:17:52.37\00:17:54.60
as it were in earth's history,
00:17:54.64\00:17:56.34
and Jesus is still
calling for workers
00:17:56.37\00:17:58.97
to enter His vineyard.
00:17:59.01\00:18:02.54
Until you take your last breath,
00:18:02.58\00:18:04.31
until Jesus comes,
00:18:04.35\00:18:05.95
there is a work
for every man to do.
00:18:05.98\00:18:08.95
There is a work allocated
00:18:08.98\00:18:11.12
that cannot be
shifted to another.
00:18:11.15\00:18:15.49
What God has called you
to do, no other man can do.
00:18:15.52\00:18:18.76
What God has called you
to do, no other woman can do,
00:18:18.79\00:18:22.36
because God is very
specific in His calling.
00:18:22.40\00:18:24.90
Did you know that God knew you
00:18:24.93\00:18:27.14
before you were
formed in your mother's womb,
00:18:27.17\00:18:29.37
that's what the Bible says.
00:18:29.40\00:18:33.01
We find recorded in scripture
00:18:33.04\00:18:35.44
certain
individuals found out the fact
00:18:35.48\00:18:38.11
that He had called
them before they were born
00:18:38.15\00:18:40.52
to do a certain work.
00:18:40.55\00:18:42.12
And I believe
that, that is not a story
00:18:42.15\00:18:45.45
that is without
significance to my own life
00:18:45.49\00:18:48.62
because I believe
that God has called
00:18:48.66\00:18:50.33
every single one of us
before we were even born
00:18:50.36\00:18:53.13
God knew who we were.
00:18:53.16\00:18:54.56
He knew what He
fashioned in the womb,
00:18:54.60\00:18:56.73
and He knew that He had
a certain job for us to do,
00:18:56.77\00:19:00.67
and He has called
us to do that work.
00:19:00.70\00:19:03.74
Our theme for these
two years has been what?
00:19:03.77\00:19:08.38
Called, Chosen and Committed.
00:19:08.41\00:19:11.75
To every man has
been given His work to do.
00:19:14.85\00:19:18.35
Now we find some
other interesting stories
00:19:18.39\00:19:19.99
in the Bible.
00:19:20.02\00:19:21.36
For instance we could
review the story of Jonah.
00:19:21.39\00:19:23.96
Now Jonah had a call, right?
00:19:23.99\00:19:26.96
God said, "I want you
to go to a certain city
00:19:27.03\00:19:29.83
called Nineveh, and I
want you to preach there
00:19:29.86\00:19:32.33
to those people that the
end of their city is near.
00:19:32.37\00:19:37.41
In fact they have how many?
00:19:37.44\00:19:40.11
Forty days and then
Nineveh will be destroyed.
00:19:40.18\00:19:44.25
Now, Jonah had a better
idea than God, and he said,
00:19:44.28\00:19:47.88
"Hmm, I think I'll
go the other direction."
00:19:47.92\00:19:50.92
I wonder if any
of us have ever tried
00:19:56.46\00:20:02.63
to escape from the
work that God has called us
00:20:02.66\00:20:07.50
to do specifically.
00:20:07.54\00:20:11.71
Jonah tried it,
didn't turn out too well.
00:20:11.74\00:20:14.34
I don't advise it.
00:20:14.38\00:20:16.44
Okay, if you want to
know my recommendation,
00:20:16.48\00:20:18.05
I don't advice Jonah's approach.
00:20:18.08\00:20:20.48
I advice that we should
cooperate with God's calling
00:20:20.52\00:20:24.32
instead of rebelling
against God's calling.
00:20:24.35\00:20:27.02
I think of another
individual, Elijah.
00:20:27.06\00:20:30.49
He was called by God to
go to Ahab and to tell him,
00:20:30.53\00:20:34.03
it's not going to rain
in Israel until I say so.
00:20:34.10\00:20:39.37
Well, finally after
three and a half years,
00:20:39.40\00:20:42.20
the attention of the
people had been sufficiently
00:20:42.24\00:20:46.04
gotten interested in
actually getting some rain
00:20:46.07\00:20:48.48
that they said, maybe
we should do something
00:20:48.51\00:20:50.91
and God sent Elijah to
the top of Mount Carmel
00:20:50.95\00:20:55.05
and he, a great
victory was won for God there.
00:20:55.08\00:20:58.62
He preached a sermon
00:20:58.65\00:21:00.06
and thousands of
people were converted,
00:21:00.09\00:21:02.26
and the priest of Baal
00:21:02.29\00:21:04.89
who had led the people
astray in were destroyed,
00:21:04.93\00:21:08.93
and it was a great
victory for the cause of God
00:21:08.96\00:21:12.13
and He led the
king back to the palace
00:21:12.17\00:21:15.50
and He laid down
there and a messenger came
00:21:15.54\00:21:18.44
and he became afraid.
00:21:18.47\00:21:21.78
If you read the story
in the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:21:21.81\00:21:25.25
it says that he became fearful,
his human nature was tired,
00:21:25.28\00:21:29.52
he was worn out
and his human nature
00:21:29.55\00:21:31.29
just kind of took
over and he became afraid
00:21:31.32\00:21:34.26
of what might
happen there that night.
00:21:34.29\00:21:37.23
And it, but it says there
also that if Elijah had stayed
00:21:37.29\00:21:44.20
that there would
have been a victory
00:21:44.23\00:21:46.40
that God would have
brought judgment upon Jezebel
00:21:46.43\00:21:49.40
and there would
been this amazing victory
00:21:49.44\00:21:51.67
but he didn't, he became afraid,
00:21:51.71\00:21:54.21
he began to run
00:21:54.24\00:21:55.58
and he didn't run
just a little bit,
00:21:55.61\00:21:56.98
it says that he ran
until he got so weary,
00:21:57.01\00:21:59.78
the angels had to feed him.
00:21:59.81\00:22:01.42
And they fed him
some really good stuff
00:22:01.45\00:22:03.12
because after that
he ran for 40 days,
00:22:03.15\00:22:05.49
and he came to the mountain
00:22:05.52\00:22:07.09
and he got alone there
with God in the mountain,
00:22:07.16\00:22:09.69
and God asked him a
question in the mountain.
00:22:09.72\00:22:12.16
And the question that He
asked Elijah in the mountain
00:22:12.19\00:22:14.93
I think is the same question
00:22:14.93\00:22:16.56
He may be asking
some of us tonight,
00:22:16.63\00:22:19.00
"What doest thou here?"
00:22:19.03\00:22:23.37
God had sent
Elijah on a mission.
00:22:23.41\00:22:25.41
He hadn't sent him on a
mission to this departed point,
00:22:25.44\00:22:29.18
He had sent him on a mission,
00:22:29.21\00:22:30.55
He expected him to
stay engaged in his mission.
00:22:30.61\00:22:33.25
Elijah became weary,
abandoned his mission
00:22:33.28\00:22:35.58
and began to run,
00:22:35.62\00:22:36.99
and God asked him
this simple question,
00:22:37.05\00:22:39.95
"What doest thou here?"
00:22:40.02\00:22:44.19
And tonight if I
don't miss my mark,
00:22:44.23\00:22:46.26
some of us are being
asked that same question by God,
00:22:46.29\00:22:52.03
"What are we doing?"
00:22:52.07\00:22:54.44
Review and
Herald, 1893, December 12,
00:22:58.37\00:23:02.58
this is what it says,
00:23:02.61\00:23:07.85
"To every one
work has been allotted,
00:23:07.88\00:23:12.82
and no one can
substitute for another."
00:23:12.85\00:23:18.23
Now I have noticed that I like
to get people to do my work,
00:23:21.70\00:23:26.20
I don't know about you,
00:23:26.23\00:23:27.77
but sometimes it's
kind of makes things easier
00:23:27.80\00:23:32.24
when I can find
somebody else to do the job,
00:23:32.27\00:23:34.14
especially if it's a tough one,
especially if it's a hard one,
00:23:34.18\00:23:37.35
I would like to find
somebody else that can do it,
00:23:37.41\00:23:39.61
and I might even say, listen,
00:23:39.65\00:23:41.55
I will pay you to
do this work for me.
00:23:41.58\00:23:45.52
Especially if
it's a hot sweaty job
00:23:45.55\00:23:47.12
and it's a hot
day, I might say, hey,
00:23:47.16\00:23:48.86
listen, you know,
I'll give you 20 bucks
00:23:48.89\00:23:50.83
if you'll do this work for
me, whatever it is, you know.
00:23:50.89\00:23:55.36
God does not allow us
00:23:55.40\00:23:57.80
to have someone
else do our work for us.
00:23:57.83\00:24:00.14
We cannot even hire
people to do our work for us.
00:24:00.17\00:24:03.71
I've heard some people
say, I'm going to stay at home
00:24:03.74\00:24:07.64
and I'm going to
just support people
00:24:07.68\00:24:09.78
to do the work.
00:24:09.81\00:24:13.62
It's a good idea,
00:24:13.65\00:24:15.18
but it is not an option
00:24:15.22\00:24:19.42
if God is
calling you personally.
00:24:19.45\00:24:23.09
Now, for some folks
00:24:23.12\00:24:24.46
He may call them to sit
at home and support things,
00:24:24.49\00:24:27.10
and that's wonderful.
00:24:27.13\00:24:28.93
But what I read
here, it says that
00:24:28.96\00:24:31.33
no one can be a substitute
00:24:31.37\00:24:33.64
for what God
has called me to do,
00:24:33.70\00:24:36.14
and no one can be a substitute
00:24:36.17\00:24:38.17
for what God has
called you to do.
00:24:38.21\00:24:42.98
Each one, goes on to say,
00:24:43.01\00:24:44.35
each one has a mission
of wonderful importance.
00:24:44.38\00:24:50.89
Wonderful importance.
00:24:50.95\00:24:52.89
God has something important
for every single person
00:24:52.92\00:24:58.73
on planet earth to do.
00:24:58.76\00:25:00.63
No one is excluded.
00:25:00.66\00:25:02.40
The child in its early years
00:25:05.47\00:25:09.54
has a work to do for God.
00:25:09.57\00:25:12.51
Those who are older...
00:25:12.54\00:25:14.84
Some are even what
we would call elderly
00:25:14.88\00:25:18.05
still have a work to do for God.
00:25:18.08\00:25:20.65
Five Testimonies,
page 462 says this,
00:25:29.32\00:25:32.86
"God never designed
00:25:32.89\00:25:36.06
that the lay
members of the church
00:25:36.10\00:25:38.63
should be excused
from labor in His cause."
00:25:38.67\00:25:44.81
Now, the reason I am saying that
00:25:44.84\00:25:47.88
is because some of us would say,
00:25:47.91\00:25:50.45
listen, you don't have to worry,
00:25:50.51\00:25:52.55
we've got a great
preacher at our church
00:25:52.58\00:25:54.58
and he works really hard.
00:25:54.62\00:25:56.38
I mean, we pay the guy.
00:25:56.42\00:25:58.19
Think about this, we pay him,
00:25:58.22\00:25:59.95
he is the one who takes
care of pretty much everything,
00:26:00.09\00:26:03.56
and he works
hard and we're happy.
00:26:03.59\00:26:06.26
We can sit in the pew,
00:26:06.29\00:26:07.93
he will go out and
give the Bible studies.
00:26:07.96\00:26:09.96
He will go out and
take care of these things
00:26:10.00\00:26:12.30
and isn't that the
way it's supposed to work.
00:26:12.33\00:26:18.27
According to what I read
here, the answer to that is no.
00:26:18.31\00:26:20.98
If the church members
00:26:24.71\00:26:26.05
do not individually
take hold of this work,
00:26:26.08\00:26:29.28
then they show that they have
00:26:29.32\00:26:31.75
no living connection with God.
00:26:31.79\00:26:38.26
If the church members
00:26:44.23\00:26:45.83
do not individually
take hold of this work,
00:26:45.87\00:26:52.31
then they show that
they have, how much?
00:26:52.34\00:26:55.31
No living connection with God.
00:26:55.34\00:27:01.52
Their names are
registered as slothful servants.
00:27:01.55\00:27:06.65
She goes on to ask the question,
00:27:09.89\00:27:11.69
"Can you discern the reason
00:27:11.73\00:27:13.93
why there is no
more spirituality
00:27:13.96\00:27:16.20
in our churches?
00:27:16.23\00:27:19.23
And then she answers
her own question by saying,
00:27:19.27\00:27:22.47
it is because
00:27:22.50\00:27:24.67
you are not
co-laborers with Christ.
00:27:24.71\00:27:29.31
That's a wake up call.
00:27:32.68\00:27:35.15
We wonder
00:27:35.18\00:27:36.52
why is it that our church
is struggling spiritually.
00:27:36.55\00:27:39.05
Why don't we have more,
you know, things going on here?
00:27:39.09\00:27:42.79
It's because we have chosen
00:27:42.82\00:27:45.33
individually not to
take hold of the work God
00:27:45.36\00:27:47.86
has given us to
do, instead we have...
00:27:47.93\00:27:52.83
We've been
registered as slothful servants.
00:27:52.87\00:27:56.97
Kyle used this quote
earlier this evening,
00:28:01.71\00:28:04.98
and this is one of my favorites
00:28:05.01\00:28:08.85
because it
gives us as lay people
00:28:08.88\00:28:12.59
our marching orders.
00:28:12.62\00:28:15.12
It says that the
work of God on this earth
00:28:15.16\00:28:17.46
can never be
finished until men and women,
00:28:17.49\00:28:22.30
that's us, that's the laity
00:28:22.33\00:28:24.60
comprising the church membership
00:28:24.63\00:28:26.94
rally to the work
00:28:26.97\00:28:29.10
and unite their efforts
00:28:29.14\00:28:30.81
with those of the
ministers and church officers.
00:28:30.84\00:28:34.21
If that's not a rallying
call to help finish God's work,
00:28:34.28\00:28:37.48
I don't know what would be.
00:28:37.55\00:28:39.75
It says that
the work will, what?
00:28:39.78\00:28:42.22
Never be finished.
00:28:42.25\00:28:44.32
Let me ask you a
question tonight.
00:28:44.35\00:28:45.92
Are you interested
in seeing Jesus come?
00:28:45.95\00:28:49.29
How many of you
tonight want to be alive
00:28:49.32\00:28:51.76
when Jesus comes?
00:28:51.79\00:28:53.13
It can't happen,
00:29:03.44\00:29:06.31
it won't happen
00:29:06.34\00:29:07.71
according to this statement
00:29:07.74\00:29:10.58
until we engage as laypeople,
00:29:10.61\00:29:16.12
the men and women who
are members of the church,
00:29:16.15\00:29:21.76
and not just kind
of wander in and say,
00:29:21.79\00:29:26.43
well, I know I'm
a little late today
00:29:26.46\00:29:29.70
but I'm here.
00:29:29.73\00:29:32.23
I know I don't,
not really with it.
00:29:32.27\00:29:34.90
I don't have as much energy
as maybe I should have today
00:29:34.94\00:29:37.94
but I'm here, and
I'm going to help out,
00:29:37.97\00:29:41.08
and our steps are
slow and our thinking is,
00:29:41.11\00:29:46.58
maybe confused.
00:29:46.61\00:29:48.52
This statement says,
we've got to rally to the work.
00:29:48.55\00:29:52.55
Now, what happens when
you rally to something?
00:29:52.59\00:29:54.69
Let me ask that question?
00:29:54.72\00:29:56.06
Is that something
00:29:56.09\00:29:57.43
where it just kind
of moves along slowly?
00:29:57.46\00:30:00.20
Now, to me what it's saying is,
00:30:00.23\00:30:02.30
listen, we've got to
get going on this thing.
00:30:02.33\00:30:05.23
We've got to make
some progress here,
00:30:05.27\00:30:07.24
and we've got
to make it quickly.
00:30:07.30\00:30:10.71
Some of you
probably have watched a game
00:30:10.77\00:30:14.24
or two of some
kind of sport thing.
00:30:14.28\00:30:17.31
Basketball game,
or a football game,
00:30:17.35\00:30:19.88
or something, you say,
00:30:19.91\00:30:21.25
"Boy, my team,
00:30:21.28\00:30:22.62
they had to rally
right down near the end.
00:30:22.65\00:30:24.05
The clock was two
seconds to quitting time,
00:30:24.09\00:30:26.82
and they made two
touchdowns in two seconds"
00:30:26.86\00:30:29.32
or whatever happened,
that's rallying, right?
00:30:29.36\00:30:32.49
Well, it's time for
us to rally to the work.
00:30:32.53\00:30:34.76
It's time for us to do something
00:30:34.83\00:30:36.90
that God has already
been calling us to do,
00:30:36.93\00:30:39.33
but to do it in a different way
00:30:39.37\00:30:40.87
and with a
different level of energy,
00:30:40.90\00:30:42.64
and with a
different level of passion,
00:30:42.67\00:30:44.64
and individually
to do things for God
00:30:44.67\00:30:46.94
that might even be hard,
00:30:47.01\00:30:48.41
that it might even
require self-sacrifice,
00:30:48.44\00:30:50.91
that it might even
drain our bank account,
00:30:50.95\00:30:52.91
that it might
even drain our energy,
00:30:52.95\00:30:54.88
that it might even be dangerous,
00:30:54.92\00:30:56.95
but God is calling us,
00:30:57.02\00:30:58.82
and He's
calling us individually,
00:30:58.85\00:31:00.36
so I cannot stand here
tonight and tell you what to do.
00:31:00.39\00:31:04.23
I cannot give you
your marching orders
00:31:04.26\00:31:06.39
because there's only one person
00:31:06.43\00:31:08.20
in charge of what you should
do and that should be God.
00:31:08.23\00:31:13.03
And if somebody
else tries to tell you
00:31:13.07\00:31:15.00
what your marching orders are,
00:31:15.04\00:31:16.67
you should say, excuse me,
00:31:16.71\00:31:18.04
let me ask God about that
because God knows the answer.
00:31:18.07\00:31:22.88
The problem is that sometimes
00:31:22.91\00:31:24.88
we are not listening
or we don't want to listen
00:31:24.91\00:31:28.52
to what God is asking us to do
because we have our own plans.
00:31:28.55\00:31:34.96
The work of God
needs men and women
00:31:34.99\00:31:37.59
who have some faith.
00:31:37.63\00:31:39.03
Men and women who
have some courage.
00:31:39.06\00:31:41.16
You can read through the Bible,
00:31:41.20\00:31:42.63
I've been reading
in the Book of Joshua,
00:31:42.66\00:31:45.90
and I am empowered
00:31:45.93\00:31:47.27
when I read about Joshua
00:31:47.30\00:31:48.74
because it gives
Joshua instructions.
00:31:48.77\00:31:51.64
God came down,
00:31:51.67\00:31:53.01
He says, just have
courage and be strong
00:31:53.04\00:31:57.11
because you're
going to take the land,
00:31:57.18\00:31:59.71
and I'm going to drive
the people out before you
00:31:59.75\00:32:02.88
and God is in charge.
00:32:02.92\00:32:07.79
And Joshua with
the courage and faith
00:32:07.82\00:32:11.59
that God has imparted
to him, he steps forward.
00:32:11.63\00:32:16.36
And when it's time to
cross the Jordan River
00:32:16.40\00:32:19.53
and the flood waters are raging.
00:32:19.57\00:32:23.97
He commands the priest,
00:32:24.01\00:32:25.34
He says, I want
you to get started.
00:32:25.37\00:32:26.74
We're going to follow you,
00:32:26.78\00:32:28.11
and God is going to open the way
00:32:28.14\00:32:29.58
before us as we go, but
we've got to get started.
00:32:29.61\00:32:33.11
And the priest put
the ark on their shoulders
00:32:33.15\00:32:35.25
and they begin to walk forward,
00:32:35.28\00:32:37.25
and they get to
the edge of the water
00:32:37.29\00:32:38.92
and the water still there,
and they step into the water,
00:32:38.95\00:32:42.26
and when they
step into the water,
00:32:42.29\00:32:43.89
then God does something.
00:32:43.93\00:32:45.46
Have you ever had that
experience in your life
00:32:45.49\00:32:48.30
where God has
called you to do something?
00:32:48.33\00:32:49.90
You think this is
impossible, I can't do this.
00:32:49.93\00:32:52.33
Look, there's a big river
here God think about this,
00:32:52.37\00:32:54.54
You've got to imagine
my circumstances, God,
00:32:54.57\00:32:57.14
I can't get across the river.
00:32:57.17\00:32:59.17
And He is yet
urging you to go forward,
00:32:59.21\00:33:02.64
that is an act of faith,
00:33:02.68\00:33:04.25
that's what God
is calling us to.
00:33:04.28\00:33:06.11
He's calling us
00:33:06.15\00:33:07.52
to acts of faith
in this generation
00:33:07.55\00:33:09.78
I believe that if...
00:33:09.82\00:33:11.32
We were reading there in Mark
and I kind of skipped over this
00:33:11.35\00:33:13.59
but I would
like to go back to it
00:33:13.66\00:33:15.12
for just a second.
00:33:15.16\00:33:16.96
Verse 30 it says,
"Verily I say unto you,
00:33:17.03\00:33:19.29
that this
generation shall not pass,
00:33:19.33\00:33:21.53
till all these things be done."
00:33:21.56\00:33:23.93
Listen, I want to be a
part of this generation
00:33:23.97\00:33:26.90
where it's not going to pass
till all these things get done.
00:33:26.94\00:33:31.87
I want to be able to say,
00:33:31.91\00:33:34.81
yes, I was
alive when Jesus came.
00:33:34.84\00:33:37.45
I had the opportunity to look up
00:33:37.51\00:33:39.28
with great joy and say, lo,
00:33:39.31\00:33:41.48
this is my God, I
have waited for Him.
00:33:41.52\00:33:44.62
Do you want to
experience that? Yes!
00:33:44.65\00:33:46.92
Amen.
00:33:46.96\00:33:48.29
But God is waiting still
for us to respond to His call.
00:33:48.32\00:33:53.29
He forces no one.
00:33:53.36\00:33:55.36
He calls, He chooses
00:33:55.40\00:33:58.23
but He waits for us to commit.
00:33:58.27\00:34:02.64
The world tonight,
00:34:13.82\00:34:15.82
I don't know if
you've noticed this
00:34:15.85\00:34:17.62
but the world is in disarray.
00:34:17.65\00:34:20.06
I haven't lived that long,
00:34:24.33\00:34:25.99
but I'll tell you a little thing
00:34:26.03\00:34:27.86
and that is I have
never personally seen
00:34:27.86\00:34:30.73
as much disarray in this
world as I have seen recently.
00:34:30.77\00:34:35.64
I'll say recently,
00:34:35.67\00:34:37.01
it just seems like things
keep getting worse and worse.
00:34:37.07\00:34:39.74
They don't get
better and better,
00:34:39.77\00:34:41.11
they get worse and worse.
00:34:41.14\00:34:42.51
Nations are in turmoil.
00:34:46.05\00:34:48.98
The society is so
confused, it doesn't even know
00:34:49.02\00:34:51.55
the difference between
a man and a woman anymore.
00:34:51.59\00:34:54.56
I'm telling you,
we're really confused.
00:34:54.59\00:34:57.66
And Jesus is calling
every single one of us
00:35:00.96\00:35:05.90
to take the message of salvation
00:35:05.93\00:35:10.14
to this
confused and dying world.
00:35:10.21\00:35:16.51
And He's waiting
for us to do that.
00:35:16.54\00:35:21.58
I don't know if you
read the recent review,
00:35:21.62\00:35:24.59
but there was an article there
00:35:24.62\00:35:25.99
and I excerpted
a couple of things.
00:35:26.02\00:35:28.09
We know these, we
know these statements
00:35:28.12\00:35:30.53
but I said, yes,
this is powerful.
00:35:30.56\00:35:35.70
Desire of Ages, page 633,
00:35:35.73\00:35:39.07
"By giving the
gospel to the world,
00:35:39.10\00:35:41.14
it is in our power to" what?
00:35:41.17\00:35:44.01
"Hasten our Lord's return."
00:35:44.07\00:35:47.34
Listen, if you want
Jesus to come sooner,
00:35:47.38\00:35:49.14
then get to work.
00:35:49.18\00:35:51.88
Yes, there's a place to watch
and there's a place to pray,
00:35:51.91\00:35:54.42
but there's a place to work too,
00:35:54.45\00:35:56.52
and God has
given us a work to do,
00:35:56.55\00:35:58.85
and He's given it
to us individually.
00:35:58.89\00:36:01.92
I want to take you to the Book
of Judges for just a minute,
00:36:09.43\00:36:13.54
Judges 4 and 5.
00:36:13.57\00:36:15.64
If you have your
Bibles, you should read this.
00:36:15.67\00:36:22.31
It's a story that
challenges our thinking.
00:36:22.34\00:36:28.32
And here's what happens.
00:36:28.35\00:36:29.95
In Judges 4,
00:36:29.98\00:36:31.65
it begins with
this amazing statement.
00:36:31.69\00:36:33.96
Verse 1, "And the children
of Israel again did" what?
00:36:33.99\00:36:39.76
"Evil in the sight of the
Lord, and when Ehud was dead."
00:36:39.79\00:36:45.73
So they had a king
00:36:45.77\00:36:48.94
who was evidently
on the right track
00:36:48.97\00:36:51.01
and when he died, they did what?
00:36:51.04\00:36:55.21
Evil in the sight of the Lord.
00:36:55.24\00:36:57.41
Verse 2, "And the Lord sold them
00:36:57.45\00:36:58.95
into the hand of
Jabin king of Canaan,
00:36:58.98\00:37:01.28
that reigned in Hazor,
00:37:01.32\00:37:02.82
the captain of
whose host was Sisera,
00:37:02.85\00:37:04.89
which dwelt in
Harosheth of the Gentiles."
00:37:04.92\00:37:08.69
So Israel had
strayed from God's purposes.
00:37:08.72\00:37:13.33
They had failed
to follow God fully,
00:37:13.36\00:37:15.80
and what happened?
00:37:15.83\00:37:17.77
They got sold
into the hand of Jabin.
00:37:17.80\00:37:21.57
And so they cried out to God.
00:37:21.60\00:37:22.94
Verse 3, "They cried out to God,
00:37:22.97\00:37:25.17
and they said, 'Lord, help us.'"
00:37:25.21\00:37:30.85
Makes a little
footnote here in verse 3,
00:37:30.88\00:37:32.31
it says, they were concerned
00:37:32.35\00:37:34.22
because Sisera had 900 chariots.
00:37:34.25\00:37:38.59
They were facing to
them an impossible situation.
00:37:38.62\00:37:43.86
And they had been
oppressed for 20 years.
00:37:43.93\00:37:46.09
So God sends a
message to Deborah,
00:37:46.13\00:37:48.26
the prophetess,
and He says to Deborah,
00:37:48.30\00:37:51.20
"Go call Barak,
00:37:51.23\00:37:52.57
I want him to do
something for Me,
00:37:52.60\00:37:53.94
and I'm going to help him."
00:37:54.00\00:37:56.14
Barak shows up. He
says, you said what?
00:37:56.17\00:38:00.51
Listen, he says to Deborah,
I'm not going unless you go.
00:38:00.54\00:38:05.51
Deborah says, well, I'm going
00:38:05.55\00:38:07.55
but I'll tell you something
00:38:07.58\00:38:08.92
if I go, the
glory is going to go
00:38:08.95\00:38:10.29
to someone else besides you
00:38:10.32\00:38:11.89
because you're not
willing to step out in faith.
00:38:11.92\00:38:14.42
The battle ensues,
Barak is victorious.
00:38:14.46\00:38:17.79
The battle is won.
00:38:17.83\00:38:19.29
And in chapter 5, we
find Deborah singing a song,
00:38:19.33\00:38:24.50
it's called the Song
of Deborah and Barak.
00:38:24.53\00:38:27.34
Verse 2, "Praise ye the Lord
for the avenging of Israel."
00:38:27.37\00:38:31.31
And when the people
willingly offered themselves,
00:38:31.34\00:38:34.41
why did God help them?
00:38:34.44\00:38:38.25
What does it say
here, the people did what?
00:38:38.28\00:38:41.32
They willingly
offered themselves.
00:38:41.35\00:38:43.69
This is the first
statement in this song
00:38:43.72\00:38:45.79
talking about the victory.
00:38:45.82\00:38:47.56
It says, God helped us
00:38:47.59\00:38:48.92
because we
willingly offered ourselves
00:38:48.96\00:38:51.16
to do something for Him.
00:38:51.19\00:38:54.30
He goes on down through this
00:38:54.30\00:38:55.93
and she's
singing about the things
00:38:55.96\00:38:59.13
that are amazing
there, that have happened,
00:38:59.17\00:39:02.50
and she says in verse 18,
00:39:02.54\00:39:04.14
"Zebulun and Naphtali
were a people that jeopardized
00:39:04.17\00:39:08.18
their lives unto the death
00:39:08.21\00:39:10.18
in the high
places of the field."
00:39:10.21\00:39:12.38
She says, there's
a couple of people
00:39:12.41\00:39:14.15
I want to mention here
who had courage for God.
00:39:14.18\00:39:17.25
They were called to
do something for God,
00:39:17.32\00:39:19.59
and they had
courage for God in the fact
00:39:19.62\00:39:21.72
that they even laid
their lives on the line to do
00:39:21.76\00:39:25.33
what God was calling them to do.
00:39:25.36\00:39:27.23
But in verse 23,
00:39:34.67\00:39:39.04
we find a sad
statement recorded.
00:39:39.07\00:39:43.65
It says here in
her song of victory,
00:39:43.68\00:39:47.32
she mentions one thing,
00:39:47.35\00:39:49.85
she says, "Curse ye Meroz,
said the angel of the Lord,
00:39:49.88\00:39:54.36
curse ye bitterly
the inhabitants thereof,
00:39:54.39\00:39:57.23
because they came not
to the help of the Lord,
00:39:57.26\00:40:00.00
and to the help of the
Lord against the mighty."
00:40:00.03\00:40:05.13
So there was a
blessing for those
00:40:05.17\00:40:07.00
who responded to God's
call and there was a what?
00:40:07.04\00:40:11.21
There was a curse for
those who didn't respond.
00:40:11.24\00:40:13.11
Deuteronomy 11, you
find the story there,
00:40:13.14\00:40:15.78
and what's being offered
there is a curse or a blessing,
00:40:15.81\00:40:20.82
you can go and read it.
00:40:20.88\00:40:22.22
Our time is running out,
00:40:22.25\00:40:23.59
we're not going to be
able to read it here tonight.
00:40:23.62\00:40:24.95
There's a curse or
a blessing offered.
00:40:24.99\00:40:26.59
If you obey,
you will be blessed.
00:40:26.62\00:40:28.56
If you don't respond and obey,
00:40:28.59\00:40:30.33
you will be cursed.
00:40:30.39\00:40:32.83
Unfortunately tonight,
00:40:35.90\00:40:38.53
it's possible that some of us,
00:40:38.57\00:40:43.34
if they were to sing a song
00:40:43.37\00:40:46.24
about this process
of this great victory,
00:40:46.27\00:40:49.71
we might be in
the wrong category.
00:40:49.74\00:40:54.25
God requires of each
members of His church
00:40:54.28\00:40:58.25
to engage in the work
that He has called us to do.
00:40:58.29\00:41:01.49
In Testimonies volume
2, page 165, it says this,
00:41:01.52\00:41:05.46
"It is not left
with you to decide
00:41:05.49\00:41:08.06
whether it is best for
you to obey the call of God."
00:41:08.10\00:41:11.90
What? It's not my
decision. That's what it says.
00:41:11.93\00:41:16.67
It is not left
with you to decide
00:41:16.71\00:41:19.04
whether you
obey the call of God.
00:41:19.07\00:41:20.78
Obedience is required,
00:41:20.84\00:41:23.55
and unless you obey
00:41:23.61\00:41:24.95
you will stand on
worse than neutral ground.
00:41:24.98\00:41:27.48
You need to go home.
00:41:37.19\00:41:39.23
Go to your hotel room
00:41:39.26\00:41:42.56
and you need to study
some of the references
00:41:42.60\00:41:45.17
that are associated
with this Curse ye Meroz.
00:41:45.20\00:41:49.54
Ellen White mentions
00:41:49.57\00:41:50.91
it almost 50
times in her writings.
00:41:50.94\00:41:53.51
One little
statement in the Bible,
00:41:53.54\00:41:54.88
it's mentioned one place
she uses this as an example
00:41:54.91\00:41:57.58
over and over and
over again about people,
00:41:57.61\00:42:00.72
or individuals,
or church members
00:42:00.75\00:42:03.49
that were unwilling to engage
to respond to the call of God.
00:42:03.52\00:42:07.49
God needs us in His
work today not so much.
00:42:07.56\00:42:10.99
And this is pointed out
as you read and study this.
00:42:11.03\00:42:13.40
Not so much for the, what?
00:42:13.43\00:42:15.30
He wants us to do for Him,
00:42:15.33\00:42:16.67
but more what He
wants to do for us.
00:42:16.73\00:42:18.73
The work that He has
designed for us to do
00:42:18.77\00:42:20.70
is not only for the
salvation of other people,
00:42:20.74\00:42:23.37
it is for our own salvation.
00:42:23.41\00:42:25.54
And unless we engage
00:42:25.57\00:42:26.94
in responding
to the call of God,
00:42:26.98\00:42:28.84
we could be lost over this.
00:42:28.88\00:42:30.95
Honestly, we could be lost
00:42:30.98\00:42:32.45
because we failed to
engage in doing the work
00:42:32.48\00:42:35.55
that God set before
us and we became lazy
00:42:35.58\00:42:38.99
because we thought,
00:42:39.02\00:42:40.36
well, everything's
okay, I'm pretty good.
00:42:40.42\00:42:41.92
You study this out,
00:42:41.96\00:42:43.29
you'll find this is
pointed out over and over again.
00:42:43.32\00:42:47.83
You know the question
I have for us tonight is,
00:42:47.86\00:42:50.40
will we fully commit
ourselves to doing God's work?
00:42:50.43\00:42:53.03
Are we willing to fully
and completely without reserve?
00:42:53.07\00:42:57.04
Now, that's a pretty
comprehensive statement,
00:42:57.07\00:42:59.37
so I want you to think about it.
00:42:59.41\00:43:00.81
I don't want you
just to jump up and say,
00:43:00.88\00:43:02.21
yeah, I'm going to do that.
00:43:02.24\00:43:03.58
I want you to think about.
00:43:03.61\00:43:04.95
I want you to pray about it
00:43:04.98\00:43:06.31
over this weekend as
while we're here together.
00:43:06.35\00:43:07.68
You're going to
hear some stories.
00:43:07.72\00:43:09.05
You're going to be
challenged by people
00:43:09.08\00:43:10.92
who are giving seminars
00:43:10.99\00:43:12.32
and talking and
speaking about the passion
00:43:12.35\00:43:14.19
that they have for doing
it and finishing God's work.
00:43:14.26\00:43:17.13
And God is going to
tap you on the shoulder,
00:43:17.16\00:43:18.63
and He's going to give you
00:43:18.66\00:43:20.00
some kind of
call I believe that.
00:43:20.03\00:43:21.70
That's why we have ASI,
that's why you come to ASI,
00:43:21.73\00:43:25.07
because you want to hear
what God is asking you to do.
00:43:25.10\00:43:27.84
It may happen in
the exhibit hall.
00:43:27.87\00:43:29.60
It might happen
around the dinner table.
00:43:29.64\00:43:31.54
It might happen in a
private conversation,
00:43:31.57\00:43:33.54
but God is going to
ask you to do something
00:43:33.58\00:43:35.64
and the question is,
00:43:35.68\00:43:37.01
are you committed enough to do
what God is calling you to do.
00:43:37.05\00:43:40.62
So tonight, I want to
end with this question.
00:43:44.39\00:43:49.56
And it comes from Review
and Herald, October 17, 1882.
00:43:49.59\00:43:55.26
It says, "Oh, must
Christ, the Majesty of Heaven,
00:43:55.30\00:44:01.20
the King of glory,
bear the heavy cross,
00:44:01.24\00:44:05.91
and wear the thorny
crown, and drink the bitter cup,
00:44:05.94\00:44:08.98
while we recline at
ease, glorify ourselves,
00:44:09.01\00:44:14.02
and forget the
souls He died to redeem."
00:44:14.05\00:44:18.52
I want you to
just think about that.
00:44:18.55\00:44:20.36
Jesus came here
from the heavenly kingdom
00:44:20.39\00:44:22.89
and He laid his
life on the line.
00:44:22.92\00:44:25.86
She answers this
rhetorical question with this.
00:44:31.80\00:44:35.64
No, let us give
while we have power.
00:44:35.67\00:44:41.88
Let us do while
we have strength.
00:44:41.91\00:44:44.75
Let us work while it is day.
00:44:44.78\00:44:47.12
Let us devote our time
00:44:47.18\00:44:48.68
and our means to
the service of God
00:44:48.72\00:44:51.19
that we may have His approbation
00:44:51.22\00:44:53.05
and receive His reward.
00:44:53.09\00:44:57.09
Tonight as you leave this place,
00:44:57.13\00:44:59.53
ask God what He wants you to do.
00:44:59.56\00:45:02.60
And then get down on your knees
and say, God, I am willing.
00:45:02.63\00:45:06.63
I may not know
everything but I'm willing.
00:45:06.67\00:45:09.17
I challenge you
during this weekend
00:45:09.20\00:45:10.81
to be willing to do
what God calls you to do.
00:45:10.84\00:45:15.14
And to answer yes instead of no.
00:45:15.18\00:45:19.31
Amen.
00:45:19.35\00:45:20.72
There in heaven's gates above
00:45:50.98\00:45:54.48
The angels sway to hear about
00:45:54.52\00:45:58.35
Jesus' plan
00:45:58.39\00:46:00.29
To save all mankind
00:46:00.32\00:46:05.99
When they heard
what would be done
00:46:06.03\00:46:09.16
It left them all
dumb clearly stunned
00:46:09.20\00:46:12.97
Why should
00:46:13.00\00:46:14.70
Jesus die?
00:46:14.74\00:46:20.08
We are the reason
that He gave His life
00:46:20.11\00:46:26.41
We are the reason
that He suffered and died
00:46:26.45\00:46:32.02
To a world that was lost
00:46:32.05\00:46:34.62
He gave all He could give
00:46:34.66\00:46:38.66
To show us the reason to live
00:46:38.69\00:46:45.47
On a dark and gloomy day
00:46:45.50\00:46:49.00
It was time for Christ to pay
00:46:49.04\00:46:52.24
The greatest
gift anyone could get
00:46:52.27\00:46:59.18
He gave His life
and saves the lives
00:46:59.21\00:47:02.42
Restored us and
cleanse our hearts
00:47:02.45\00:47:05.95
Could it be from
sin we're all free
00:47:05.99\00:47:12.23
We are the reason
that He gave His life
00:47:12.26\00:47:18.47
We are the reason
that He suffered and died
00:47:18.50\00:47:24.11
To a world that was lost
00:47:24.14\00:47:26.44
He gave all He could give
00:47:26.47\00:47:30.35
To show us the reason
00:47:30.38\00:47:32.95
To live
00:47:32.98\00:47:39.02
I've finally found
00:47:39.05\00:47:42.19
The reason to live
00:47:42.22\00:47:46.29
I tell the story
00:47:46.33\00:47:49.00
What Jesus did
00:47:49.03\00:47:53.40
We are the reason
that He gave His life
00:47:56.50\00:48:02.68
We are the reason
that He suffered and died
00:48:02.71\00:48:08.18
To a world that was lost
00:48:08.22\00:48:10.55
He gave all He could give
00:48:10.62\00:48:14.49
To show us the reason to live
00:48:14.52\00:48:20.96
We are the reason
that He gave His life
00:48:21.00\00:48:27.04
We are the reason
that He suffered and died
00:48:27.07\00:48:32.81
To a world that was lost
00:48:32.84\00:48:35.14
He gave all He could give
00:48:35.18\00:48:38.95
To show us the reason to live
00:48:38.98\00:48:45.25
To show us the reason
00:48:45.29\00:48:51.09
To live
00:48:51.13\00:48:57.43
Will you stand with
me for the benediction?
00:49:08.98\00:49:10.98
Our Heavenly Father,
00:49:16.22\00:49:17.55
we have been truly
blessed this evening
00:49:17.62\00:49:19.29
to hear these testimonies
00:49:19.32\00:49:21.62
of how You're
going about Your work
00:49:21.66\00:49:23.39
in these last days.
00:49:23.46\00:49:25.66
We are grateful
that You're using us,
00:49:25.69\00:49:28.33
that You're using
people around the world
00:49:28.36\00:49:30.67
to accomplish Your task.
00:49:30.70\00:49:33.23
And, Father, we
thank You so much
00:49:33.27\00:49:34.60
for what You've done
00:49:34.64\00:49:35.97
in sending Your Son
Jesus to die for us,
00:49:36.00\00:49:38.51
and so we thank You Father.
00:49:38.54\00:49:40.28