If you were to kindly turn in your Bibles 00:00:20.78\00:00:23.02 with me to Jeremiah 10, 00:00:23.05\00:00:26.82 we're going to read verses 10 and 11. 00:00:26.86\00:00:29.86 Jeremiah 10:10-11, 00:00:29.89\00:00:35.73 "But the Lord is the true God, 00:00:35.76\00:00:38.53 he is the living God, and an everlasting king. 00:00:38.57\00:00:42.20 At his wrath, the earth shall tremble, 00:00:42.24\00:00:45.61 and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. 00:00:45.64\00:00:51.05 Thus shall ye say unto them, the gods that have not made 00:00:51.08\00:00:55.48 the heavens and the earth, 00:00:55.52\00:00:57.69 even they shall perish from the earth, 00:00:57.72\00:01:00.76 and from under these heavens. 00:01:00.79\00:01:03.29 He hath made the earth by his power, 00:01:03.32\00:01:06.80 he hath established the world by his wisdom, 00:01:06.83\00:01:10.37 and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion." 00:01:10.43\00:01:15.30 Good morning, everyone. 00:01:20.44\00:01:23.31 It is my pleasure, my distinct pleasure 00:01:23.35\00:01:24.85 to introduce to you the speaker of the hour. 00:01:24.88\00:01:28.48 It was perhaps longer ago than he would care to admit, 00:01:28.52\00:01:33.82 while as a student at the University of Victoria, 00:01:33.86\00:01:36.69 a public university in British Columbia, Canada 00:01:36.73\00:01:41.63 that Shawn Boonstra's life was changed. 00:01:41.66\00:01:45.97 Having watched a television program 00:01:46.00\00:01:48.40 hosted by It Is Written's George Vandeman, 00:01:48.44\00:01:51.64 he became anxious to learn more 00:01:51.67\00:01:54.01 about this thing called the Bible. 00:01:54.04\00:01:56.61 Raised in a church family, he by this stage of his life 00:01:56.68\00:01:59.55 was not what he would describe as a Christian. 00:01:59.58\00:02:03.59 After watching the It Is Written broadcast, 00:02:03.62\00:02:05.12 he attended an evangelistic series, 00:02:05.15\00:02:07.69 there he met Jesus and his life was changed. 00:02:07.72\00:02:11.33 Changed to a degree that he had to do 00:02:11.36\00:02:14.46 something about 00:02:14.46\00:02:16.56 and something with this Jesus he had met. 00:02:16.63\00:02:20.54 Not content to be a pew warmer, 00:02:20.60\00:02:23.57 not content to be a casual cultural Christian. 00:02:23.61\00:02:27.44 Shawn Boonstra was touched by God 00:02:27.48\00:02:31.01 and moved by God to enter a life of ministry. 00:02:31.05\00:02:34.92 He's dedicated his life 00:02:34.95\00:02:36.65 to preaching the three angels' messages 00:02:36.69\00:02:39.02 on every continent on the planet 00:02:39.05\00:02:42.76 with the exception of Antarctica, 00:02:42.79\00:02:45.73 and it might be that he has plans 00:02:45.76\00:02:48.33 for Antarctica. 00:02:48.36\00:02:50.00 He has held evangelistic meetings 00:02:50.03\00:02:51.40 in every corner of the globe. 00:02:51.43\00:02:52.77 Under his ministry God has led many, thousands. 00:02:52.80\00:02:56.00 The number is frankly is immaterial 00:02:56.04\00:02:57.54 but a large number of people to faith in Jesus Christ. 00:02:57.57\00:03:01.34 He believes in sharing Jesus with all of his heart 00:03:01.38\00:03:03.85 and in empowering others to do the same, 00:03:03.88\00:03:06.35 which is why now 00:03:06.38\00:03:07.92 as the speaker and director of It is... 00:03:07.95\00:03:10.99 I beg your pardon, of Voice of Prophecy. 00:03:11.02\00:03:15.76 Too many TV programs. 00:03:15.79\00:03:17.33 I couldn't have done that if I tried. 00:03:17.36\00:03:18.76 I'm so sorry. 00:03:18.79\00:03:20.23 As the speaker, director of Voice of Prophecy, 00:03:20.30\00:03:24.43 a media evangelism ministry based in Loveland, Colorado, 00:03:24.47\00:03:28.54 Shawn is active in not only proclaiming 00:03:28.57\00:03:30.91 the risen Christ 00:03:30.94\00:03:32.31 but in also resourcing others and training others 00:03:32.34\00:03:35.54 that they too can be heralds of the everlasting gospel. 00:03:35.58\00:03:39.05 So in just a moment I ask you to be prayerful for 00:03:39.08\00:03:42.22 and expecting that God will speak through 00:03:42.25\00:03:44.55 this morning's speaker 00:03:44.59\00:03:46.25 Voice of Prophecy's Pastor Shawn Boonstra. 00:03:46.29\00:03:49.92 Let's pray. 00:03:49.99\00:03:51.33 Why don't we bow our heads for prayer? 00:03:51.36\00:03:53.13 Loving heavenly Father, 00:03:53.16\00:03:54.86 we have come and gathered in Your presence. 00:03:54.93\00:03:57.30 I pray that Your Holy Spirit will rest upon us 00:03:57.33\00:04:00.34 and attend Shawn as he speaks to us Your words. 00:04:00.37\00:04:03.00 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:04:03.04\00:04:05.54 Let not your heart be troubled 00:04:12.81\00:04:18.82 Ye believe in God and in me 00:04:18.85\00:04:25.66 In my Father's house are many mansions 00:04:25.69\00:04:32.57 I'll go to prepare a place for thee 00:04:32.60\00:04:39.41 The Lord is coming 00:04:39.44\00:04:42.51 Are you ready? 00:04:42.54\00:04:46.38 The Lord is coming 00:04:46.41\00:04:49.28 Are you ready? 00:04:49.32\00:04:53.72 Would your heart be right 00:04:53.76\00:04:58.73 If he came tonight? 00:04:58.76\00:05:03.23 The Lord is coming 00:05:03.26\00:05:06.74 Are you ready? 00:05:06.77\00:05:11.54 Why will you wait my brother? 00:05:11.57\00:05:16.78 Promises of God all are true 00:05:16.85\00:05:23.22 Jesus bought your life on Calvary's mountain 00:05:23.25\00:05:30.16 And soon He will come again for you 00:05:30.23\00:05:37.13 The Lord is coming 00:05:37.17\00:05:40.40 Are you ready? 00:05:40.44\00:05:44.31 The Lord is coming 00:05:44.34\00:05:47.14 Are you ready? 00:05:47.18\00:05:51.65 Would your heart be right 00:05:51.68\00:05:56.75 If he came tonight? 00:05:56.79\00:06:01.36 The Lord is coming 00:06:01.39\00:06:04.63 Are you ready? 00:06:04.66\00:06:08.66 The Lord is coming 00:06:08.70\00:06:11.53 Are you ready? 00:06:11.57\00:06:16.00 Would your heart be right 00:06:16.04\00:06:21.04 If he came tonight? 00:06:21.08\00:06:25.51 The Lord is coming 00:06:25.55\00:06:32.29 Are you ready? 00:06:32.32\00:06:39.09 Amen! 00:06:44.13\00:06:45.50 I love that song. 00:06:50.57\00:06:53.24 It's one of the first songs I heard after becoming 00:06:53.27\00:06:55.68 a part of the Seventh-day Adventist movement. 00:06:55.71\00:06:59.45 I was so excited, 00:06:59.48\00:07:00.88 I asked if they'd let me join the chorus 00:07:00.95\00:07:02.32 but for 25 years 00:07:02.35\00:07:04.52 I've been getting a "no" to that question. 00:07:04.55\00:07:08.62 Our theme this year at ASI is Called, 00:07:08.66\00:07:11.03 Chosen, Committed and so I think this morning, 00:07:11.06\00:07:15.50 I want to spend a few minutes with you talking about 00:07:15.53\00:07:17.27 one key aspect of what that means, 00:07:17.30\00:07:19.40 just one little sliver of it. 00:07:19.43\00:07:21.97 Our text in the moment is going to be 00:07:22.00\00:07:24.34 2 Thessalonians 2. 00:07:24.37\00:07:27.98 I know a few of you noticed on the way 00:07:28.01\00:07:29.61 and, "Shawn, you're wearing a tie." 00:07:29.64\00:07:31.48 Yes, I am. Don't get used to it. 00:07:31.51\00:07:34.85 If they hand out ties in heaven gentlemen, 00:07:37.99\00:07:41.96 would that be disappointing, yes or no? 00:07:41.99\00:07:45.63 2 Thessalonians 2, let's pray. 00:07:45.66\00:07:47.50 Father in heaven, we believe that the Bible 00:07:47.50\00:07:49.46 is not like every other book. 00:07:49.50\00:07:52.53 This is the voice of our creator, our God. 00:07:52.57\00:07:57.27 Reaching through to our sinful world 00:07:57.31\00:07:59.47 and asking us to take a step in your direction, 00:07:59.51\00:08:02.34 and I ask this morning that the world 00:08:02.38\00:08:04.45 would fade away for a moment, 00:08:04.48\00:08:05.81 and we would recognize Your voice in these words. 00:08:05.85\00:08:09.82 And that when we are done, 00:08:09.85\00:08:11.69 the direction you would have us go would be clear. 00:08:11.72\00:08:15.82 I ask that You forgive my sins 00:08:15.86\00:08:17.76 and that you make me fit to speak this morning. 00:08:17.79\00:08:19.83 I beg that You would take a call from heaven's altar 00:08:19.86\00:08:23.10 and anoint my lips with it 00:08:23.13\00:08:24.50 so that what we hear is not human opinion 00:08:24.53\00:08:27.24 but truth from the throne of God. 00:08:27.27\00:08:30.34 And it is our covenant with you this morning as always that 00:08:30.41\00:08:33.07 when You speak, 00:08:33.11\00:08:36.08 we will follow the Lamb wherever He goes. 00:08:36.11\00:08:39.05 For that is our prayer in Jesus' name, amen. 00:08:39.08\00:08:43.52 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul writes, 00:08:43.59\00:08:47.16 "Let no one deceive you by any means, for that day..." 00:08:47.19\00:08:51.53 The second coming of Christ 00:08:51.56\00:08:53.73 "Will not come unless the falling away comes first, 00:08:53.80\00:08:57.27 and the man of sin is revealed." 00:08:57.33\00:09:00.47 He's writing in advance about the great apostasy 00:09:00.50\00:09:03.74 that would begin very early on in the Christian Church. 00:09:03.77\00:09:07.14 "The son of perdition, he writes, 00:09:07.21\00:09:08.81 who opposes and exalts himself 00:09:08.84\00:09:11.11 above all that is called God or that is worshiped, 00:09:11.15\00:09:13.85 so that he sits as God in the temple of God, 00:09:13.88\00:09:18.15 showing himself that he is God." 00:09:18.19\00:09:22.16 I am convinced this morning that that passage 00:09:22.19\00:09:24.46 that we have just read describes the greatest threat 00:09:24.49\00:09:27.50 that you face between this moment, this morning, 00:09:27.56\00:09:30.20 in this auditorium, 00:09:30.27\00:09:31.60 and the moment that Jesus comes again, 00:09:31.63\00:09:33.94 but maybe not the way that you think. 00:09:33.97\00:09:37.01 We're very used to reading that passage 00:09:37.04\00:09:38.81 with an external set of eyes. 00:09:38.84\00:09:40.31 We have no problem identifying the son of perdition. 00:09:40.38\00:09:42.91 There he is, we know who that is. 00:09:42.94\00:09:45.58 But I want you to look at it through new eyes this morning 00:09:45.61\00:09:47.95 and you might recognize an even greater threat 00:09:47.98\00:09:50.79 buried in what Paul has just written, 00:09:50.82\00:09:52.69 and to do that I want to take you back 00:09:52.72\00:09:54.36 to the pages of the Old Testament 00:09:54.39\00:09:56.12 and I want you to look at the story of Saul, 00:09:56.16\00:09:58.66 the son of Kish. 00:09:58.69\00:10:00.03 He was a very ordinary average young man, 00:10:00.10\00:10:01.96 doing something very ordinary and average. 00:10:02.00\00:10:03.93 The first time that you meet him, 00:10:03.97\00:10:05.37 he's out looking for his father's missing donkeys. 00:10:05.40\00:10:08.20 He's like every other farm boy who's ever had to go 00:10:08.24\00:10:11.01 and chase some livestock that broke through the fence, 00:10:11.04\00:10:13.21 he's ordinary and he's average. 00:10:13.24\00:10:15.28 But when you start to read 00:10:15.31\00:10:16.81 the story of Saul very carefully, 00:10:16.85\00:10:18.95 you notice very quickly he is not like every other boy, 00:10:18.98\00:10:22.52 not even close. 00:10:22.55\00:10:24.45 In some regards, 00:10:24.49\00:10:25.82 you might want to think about this, 00:10:25.85\00:10:27.22 this coming week, in some regard 00:10:27.26\00:10:28.59 Saul is a lot like Lucifer just before he fell. 00:10:28.62\00:10:31.06 The Bible says, "He's gifted, he's choice, 00:10:31.09\00:10:33.56 and he's very attractive, easy on the eyes." 00:10:33.60\00:10:37.20 It's a kind of guy who turns the head of every young lady 00:10:37.23\00:10:39.53 when he walks into the room. 00:10:39.57\00:10:40.90 The kind of guy I hate it 00:10:40.94\00:10:42.27 when I was out shopping for a wife 00:10:42.30\00:10:43.64 because you can't get the attention of everybody 00:10:43.67\00:10:45.57 when Saul, the son of Kish walks into the room. 00:10:45.61\00:10:48.84 1 Samuel 9:2, "And he..." 00:10:48.88\00:10:51.85 That's Kish. 00:10:51.88\00:10:53.21 "Had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul." 00:10:53.25\00:10:56.92 How handsome was he? 00:10:56.95\00:10:58.59 The Bible says, "There was not a more handsome person than he 00:10:58.62\00:11:01.49 among the children of Israel." 00:11:01.52\00:11:03.16 This is literally the best-looking guy 00:11:03.19\00:11:05.19 in the whole country. 00:11:05.23\00:11:07.00 He's the Brad Pitt of his day, Pierce Brosnan, the Cary Grant, 00:11:07.03\00:11:12.03 the Ryan Gosling, the Shawn Boonstra, 00:11:12.07\00:11:14.47 no, I'm kidding about that. 00:11:14.50\00:11:17.27 He's the best looking guy in the country 00:11:17.31\00:11:19.04 and in addition to being good looking, 00:11:19.07\00:11:20.64 the Bible says from his shoulders upward 00:11:20.68\00:11:22.48 he was taller than any other people. 00:11:22.51\00:11:24.35 He's got the whole package, he's so amazing, 00:11:24.38\00:11:27.62 he probably doesn't even have hair growing 00:11:27.65\00:11:29.55 out of his ears this guy. 00:11:29.58\00:11:30.95 I mean, not that I'm bitter about the way 00:11:30.99\00:11:32.65 that middle ages turned out but this guy's amazing. 00:11:32.69\00:11:36.12 And one day, according to the story 00:11:36.16\00:11:37.83 the best looking man in the whole country goes out 00:11:37.86\00:11:39.83 to find some missing donkeys. 00:11:39.86\00:11:42.06 What stud muffin Saul doesn't realize 00:11:42.10\00:11:44.10 at least at the beginning of the story, 00:11:44.13\00:11:46.27 is that those donkeys are not missing by accident. 00:11:46.30\00:11:49.04 There's a divine appointment, he's supposed to be somewhere. 00:11:49.07\00:11:51.31 God wants him in a little village 00:11:51.34\00:11:53.31 called Ramah of Benjamin 00:11:53.34\00:11:55.18 because the elders of Israel have just called 00:11:55.21\00:11:57.08 a meeting with the aging prophet Samuel 00:11:57.11\00:11:59.55 who shuffles into that meeting. 00:11:59.58\00:12:01.22 Fellows, why would you call a meeting 00:12:01.25\00:12:04.32 on a Wednesday afternoon at 2 pm? 00:12:04.35\00:12:06.96 I know you think that all I do is preach on Sabbath 00:12:06.99\00:12:09.82 but I've got a full agenda, 00:12:09.86\00:12:11.19 I'm very, I hope this is important. 00:12:11.23\00:12:13.23 And he know something's up because everybody falls quiet. 00:12:13.26\00:12:16.56 And finally, somebody working up 00:12:16.63\00:12:18.43 some courage begins to speak nervously, 00:12:18.47\00:12:20.60 "Well, Samuel, we have all been talking 00:12:20.64\00:12:27.04 and well, we really think that you're the best prophet 00:12:27.08\00:12:30.61 we've ever had, we really, really do. 00:12:30.65\00:12:33.05 And you may even be the best prophet 00:12:33.08\00:12:36.02 since the days of Moses." 00:12:36.05\00:12:37.39 I mean, guys what do you think? 00:12:37.45\00:12:38.92 Do you think anybody has ever been better than Sam... 00:12:38.95\00:12:40.86 We're so convinced of it that we actually went down 00:12:40.92\00:12:43.79 to the trophy hut 00:12:43.83\00:12:45.16 right there by the post office in Ramah 00:12:45.19\00:12:46.86 and we made you this plaque. 00:12:46.90\00:12:48.20 Look at what it says, Samuel. 00:12:48.23\00:12:49.56 It says, "For 50 years of faithful service 00:12:49.60\00:12:51.53 and you can hang this in your study 00:12:51.57\00:12:53.37 and every time you look at it 00:12:53.40\00:12:54.74 you'll know how much we love you." 00:12:54.77\00:12:56.84 Guys really, you called me in the middle of the week 00:12:56.87\00:12:58.84 to give me a trophy that couldn't wait for potluck. 00:12:58.87\00:13:01.61 You could have done that at potluck, I'm busy. 00:13:01.64\00:13:04.31 What is really on your mind? 00:13:04.35\00:13:06.92 Because anybody with experience knows that 00:13:06.95\00:13:09.62 when the world butters you up for no reason, 00:13:09.65\00:13:11.59 the axe is about to fall. 00:13:11.62\00:13:14.46 Well, Samuel, there is this one other thing. 00:13:14.49\00:13:17.63 And this is not easy to say but we kind of notice that 00:13:17.66\00:13:20.10 you're not the same as you used to be, Samuel, 00:13:20.13\00:13:21.86 things have changed. 00:13:21.90\00:13:23.23 We have noticed that a church board meeting 00:13:23.26\00:13:25.30 the other night, 00:13:25.33\00:13:26.70 after the meeting you went looking for the keys 00:13:26.74\00:13:28.60 to your ox cart 00:13:28.64\00:13:29.97 and it took you 30 minutes to find them 00:13:30.01\00:13:31.34 even though they were in your hand the whole time. 00:13:31.37\00:13:34.48 And we noticed that even when you are 00:13:34.51\00:13:36.11 sort of able to find your keys, 00:13:36.14\00:13:37.51 you fall asleep in board meeting 00:13:37.55\00:13:39.08 and when you're awake, 00:13:39.11\00:13:40.48 you can't hear what we're saying 00:13:40.52\00:13:41.85 and we see that things are changing. 00:13:41.88\00:13:43.65 And so we're just kind of thinking, 00:13:43.69\00:13:45.02 you know, what's going to happen 00:13:45.05\00:13:47.16 when Samuel the prophet is gone? 00:13:47.22\00:13:49.76 We think that while you're here with us 00:13:49.79\00:13:51.49 it might be time to draft some kind of a succession plan. 00:13:51.53\00:13:55.23 Oh, a succession plan. 00:13:55.26\00:13:56.60 Guys, ah, if that's all this is, 00:13:56.63\00:13:58.63 you think I don't realize I'm getting up there in years, 00:13:58.67\00:14:01.27 I've got a plan, I've already been training 00:14:01.30\00:14:03.61 my two boys Abijah and Joel. 00:14:03.64\00:14:05.44 I'm sure you've noticed these two boys, 00:14:05.47\00:14:07.08 I've been training them 00:14:07.11\00:14:08.44 and they're going to take my place. 00:14:08.48\00:14:11.15 More awkward silence, 00:14:11.18\00:14:14.48 well, Samuel that's the thing. 00:14:14.52\00:14:18.85 We don't want your boys. 00:14:18.89\00:14:21.02 We're not comfortable with Abijah and Joel. 00:14:21.06\00:14:24.63 And according to the Bible they kind of had a point 00:14:24.66\00:14:26.43 at that moment. 00:14:26.46\00:14:27.93 1 Samuel 8:3 says 00:14:27.96\00:14:29.43 that those two boys Abijah and Joel 00:14:29.46\00:14:31.03 did not walk in the ways of their father. 00:14:31.07\00:14:33.07 In fact, it says they turned aside 00:14:33.10\00:14:34.87 after dishonest gain, they took bribes, 00:14:34.90\00:14:37.81 and they perverted justice. 00:14:37.84\00:14:40.24 Now that might be perfectly acceptable 00:14:40.28\00:14:42.21 in 21st century North American politics 00:14:42.24\00:14:45.11 but that is completely unacceptable 00:14:45.15\00:14:47.08 in the Camp of Israel. 00:14:47.12\00:14:48.95 Completely, because leadership in Israel 00:14:48.98\00:14:51.99 at its very beginning 00:14:52.02\00:14:53.62 didn't actually legislate anything, 00:14:53.66\00:14:55.59 they didn't pass any laws. 00:14:55.62\00:14:57.43 Samuel didn't write new laws, 00:14:57.49\00:14:59.16 he didn't really make any decisions. 00:14:59.19\00:15:01.06 The only role of human leadership 00:15:01.10\00:15:02.83 in the Camp of Israel was kind of a coaching role. 00:15:02.86\00:15:05.90 They were there to direct the people 00:15:05.93\00:15:08.00 back to the one true ruler they had, 00:15:08.04\00:15:10.41 the God of Israel, that was it. 00:15:10.44\00:15:13.01 It's a coaching role and if Samuel's boys 00:15:13.04\00:15:15.34 were morally compromised in any way, 00:15:15.38\00:15:18.51 they could never have their father's job. 00:15:18.55\00:15:21.82 So the old prophet has to think for a minute 00:15:21.85\00:15:24.45 just like you would if you discovered that 00:15:24.49\00:15:26.09 you've outlived your usefulness 00:15:26.12\00:15:27.59 and your one legacy, your children, 00:15:27.66\00:15:30.13 nobody wants that, it's a disaster. 00:15:30.16\00:15:33.70 What do you guys suggesting? 00:15:33.73\00:15:37.03 Well, here's what we think, Samuel, just hear us out. 00:15:37.07\00:15:39.57 We've been thinking about this for quite a while. 00:15:39.60\00:15:42.20 I mean, here we are now, 00:15:42.24\00:15:43.57 we're living in the land of Canaan, 00:15:43.61\00:15:44.94 we're no longer slaves, that's a long time ago, 00:15:44.97\00:15:47.54 and we're free and respectable people. 00:15:47.58\00:15:49.38 And we have culture now, and we have industry now, 00:15:49.41\00:15:51.78 and we have college degrees, and we hear 00:15:51.81\00:15:53.68 they're even gonna get a symphony orchestra 00:15:53.72\00:15:55.82 down in the city of Jerusalem. 00:15:55.85\00:15:57.59 We are completely different than we used to be. 00:15:57.62\00:15:59.62 And we think that now it's been so long 00:15:59.65\00:16:02.12 and we've grown so much that maybe it's time to grow up 00:16:02.16\00:16:04.86 and become a real country. 00:16:04.89\00:16:07.03 What do you mean a real country? 00:16:07.03\00:16:08.93 You are a real country, 00:16:08.96\00:16:10.30 you are better than a real country. 00:16:10.37\00:16:11.70 You are God's chosen nation. 00:16:11.73\00:16:13.07 No, no, Samuel, that's the point, 00:16:13.10\00:16:14.80 that's what you're missing. 00:16:14.84\00:16:16.17 You haven't been paying attention, 00:16:16.20\00:16:17.54 we're not a real country. 00:16:17.61\00:16:18.94 Have you not noticed Samuel that every other country 00:16:18.97\00:16:22.24 without exception has a king, 00:16:22.28\00:16:24.38 and every other respectable religion, 00:16:24.41\00:16:26.61 every other church has a responsible human being, 00:16:26.65\00:16:30.12 a highly trained professional at the top of the organization? 00:16:30.19\00:16:33.49 And we're just starting to get a little bit embarrassed 00:16:33.56\00:16:35.32 because after all this time, 00:16:35.36\00:16:36.83 we still look like a nation of peasants. 00:16:36.86\00:16:38.89 And we want to graduate, 00:16:38.93\00:16:40.53 we want to graduate from prophet to king. 00:16:40.60\00:16:44.93 Oh, gentleman, that is not a good idea. 00:16:44.97\00:16:47.84 That is not what God wants. 00:16:47.87\00:16:49.20 Oh, listen, Samuel, you don't understand 00:16:49.24\00:16:50.87 because you're just from another generation. 00:16:50.91\00:16:53.04 You don't get it. 00:16:53.07\00:16:54.41 You're out of touch with the times. 00:16:54.44\00:16:55.78 You should probably watch a little more CNN. 00:16:55.81\00:16:58.01 Maybe Samuel, you ought to get a Twitter account 00:16:58.05\00:17:00.35 so you can keep up with what's going on. 00:17:00.38\00:17:02.35 Talk to a few millennial focus groups 00:17:02.38\00:17:04.42 because they all know that here in the 12 century, 00:17:04.45\00:17:07.39 good professional leadership absolutely requires a king. 00:17:07.42\00:17:11.03 That's how things are done 00:17:11.06\00:17:12.39 and that's how everybody else is doing it, 00:17:12.43\00:17:15.53 and they were right. 00:17:15.56\00:17:17.67 There it is how everybody else was doing it. 00:17:17.70\00:17:21.54 But everybody else, folks, was not the kingdom of God. 00:17:21.57\00:17:24.91 Everybody else was not the chosen people. 00:17:24.94\00:17:27.64 Everybody else was not God's remnant church, 00:17:27.68\00:17:30.78 and God's people have never been like 00:17:30.85\00:17:33.52 everybody else nor should they be. 00:17:33.55\00:17:36.69 Shouldn't happen. 00:17:36.72\00:17:38.05 God's people have always swum upstream. 00:17:38.09\00:17:39.62 God's people have always been countercultural, 00:17:39.65\00:17:41.89 and that's why it ought to bother us 00:17:41.92\00:17:43.83 when people are forever looking outside 00:17:43.86\00:17:46.09 the walls of our own movement 00:17:46.13\00:17:47.86 and coveting what everybody else has. 00:17:47.86\00:17:50.83 It doesn't make sense. 00:17:50.87\00:17:52.40 Oh, sure it makes sense 00:17:52.43\00:17:53.84 to pay attention to the culture. 00:17:53.90\00:17:55.24 Yes, it does. It's not what I'm preaching. 00:17:55.27\00:17:56.81 Yes, it makes sense to make friends 00:17:56.87\00:17:58.57 with other churches and know what's going on, 00:17:58.61\00:18:00.51 but that's not what I'm talking about. 00:18:00.54\00:18:02.14 When we covet what others have, we're missing the boat. 00:18:02.18\00:18:05.01 "Pastor have you seen, there's a new church in town? 00:18:05.05\00:18:07.35 Have you seen what they do? 00:18:07.38\00:18:08.72 They have 30 trained professionals on staff, 00:18:08.75\00:18:11.09 including a staff psychiatrist. 00:18:11.12\00:18:12.92 They write a bestselling book every six months, 00:18:12.95\00:18:16.32 they put a Starbucks in the lobby 00:18:16.36\00:18:18.69 because everybody wants Starbucks 00:18:18.73\00:18:21.03 and they get 20,000 people every week. 00:18:21.06\00:18:22.83 Have you seen it, Pastor?" 00:18:22.86\00:18:24.50 Yeah, I have. 00:18:24.53\00:18:26.07 And my reply to that is, 00:18:26.10\00:18:27.54 "So what? 00:18:27.57\00:18:29.27 Is that what God asked his remnant church to be?" 00:18:29.30\00:18:32.74 Now when we always, always, and forever talk about 00:18:32.77\00:18:35.04 what other churches have, and what other churches do, 00:18:35.08\00:18:37.15 what other churches teach, 00:18:37.18\00:18:38.58 and we wish we could be like them, 00:18:38.61\00:18:40.15 and we behave like God. 00:18:40.22\00:18:41.68 Somehow forgot about the Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:18:41.72\00:18:43.89 and shortchanged us, then it is high time 00:18:43.92\00:18:46.09 for God's people to open their Bibles 00:18:46.12\00:18:47.89 and remember that this is not another denomination, 00:18:47.92\00:18:50.36 this is the prophetic movement of God, 00:18:50.43\00:18:52.19 the remnant church of Bible prophecy. 00:18:52.23\00:18:54.63 We were not called to be like everybody else. 00:18:54.66\00:18:56.77 We were called because we were not to be like 00:18:56.83\00:18:59.13 everybody else. 00:18:59.17\00:19:00.57 So, Samuel, we want a king. 00:19:00.60\00:19:04.14 1 Samuel 8:6 says that Samuel is displeased 00:19:04.17\00:19:07.11 so he prays 00:19:07.14\00:19:08.91 and he gets a shocking answer from God. 00:19:08.94\00:19:11.71 Verse 7, "Lord said to Samuel, 00:19:11.75\00:19:15.68 "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you. 00:19:15.72\00:19:18.05 Give them what they want." 00:19:18.09\00:19:20.32 What? 00:19:20.39\00:19:21.72 They have not rejected you but they rejected me 00:19:21.76\00:19:23.59 that I should not reign over them. 00:19:23.66\00:19:26.46 There it is again, I don't know if you caught it 00:19:26.49\00:19:28.03 but that was our opening verse again, 00:19:28.06\00:19:29.83 it's a different context, in a different age, 00:19:29.86\00:19:32.13 in a different situation but it's still there. 00:19:32.17\00:19:34.74 There it is the biggest problem you face between now 00:19:34.77\00:19:37.11 and the second coming of Christ. 00:19:37.14\00:19:38.57 It's a different generation 00:19:38.61\00:19:39.94 but it's the man of sin problem, 00:19:39.97\00:19:41.31 it's still about the throne of God. 00:19:41.34\00:19:42.78 It's still about the throne of God. 00:19:42.81\00:19:45.81 Lord, how could You tell me to give them what they want? 00:19:45.85\00:19:48.15 I don't like it. 00:19:48.18\00:19:49.52 Samuel, I don't like it either, it hurts. 00:19:49.55\00:19:53.66 But I'm not gonna force these people into My kingdom, 00:19:53.69\00:19:55.82 that's not who I am, I don't make slaves. 00:19:55.86\00:19:58.73 If they want slavery, 00:19:58.76\00:20:00.10 if they want to go back to pharaoh, 00:20:00.13\00:20:01.43 they want another round of slavery, 00:20:01.46\00:20:02.80 I'll let them go, 00:20:02.83\00:20:04.17 but I'm not going to make them slaves. 00:20:04.23\00:20:07.20 You realize that's exactly what Israel is asking for, 00:20:07.24\00:20:09.44 they're asking to go back to slavery. 00:20:09.47\00:20:11.01 They want another pharaoh. 00:20:11.04\00:20:13.01 It's amazing to me what people are willing to do, 00:20:13.04\00:20:15.21 what they're willing to lose, 00:20:15.24\00:20:16.58 what they're willing to compromise, 00:20:16.61\00:20:17.95 because they cannot bring themselves to believe 00:20:17.98\00:20:20.38 that God might actually know what He's doing 00:20:20.42\00:20:22.15 and He's going to keep His promises 00:20:22.18\00:20:23.85 even on the days when it doesn't look like it. 00:20:23.89\00:20:26.82 These people in this story have a direct relationship 00:20:26.86\00:20:29.99 with the creator, God of Heaven. 00:20:30.03\00:20:31.46 They have the Spirit of Prophecy in their midst 00:20:31.49\00:20:35.86 and what do they want? 00:20:35.90\00:20:37.23 More slavery under a new pharaoh. 00:20:37.30\00:20:39.87 Before we cluck our tongues 00:20:39.90\00:20:41.24 and say, "Oh, what a bunch of dummies." 00:20:41.27\00:20:44.41 We should probably remember that it is the story 00:20:44.44\00:20:46.41 of the entire human race right down to this day. 00:20:46.44\00:20:50.78 Garden of Eden, the ideal situation, 00:20:50.81\00:20:53.45 have everything you need, what do we do? 00:20:53.48\00:20:55.08 Hand the keys to a fallen angel 00:20:55.12\00:20:56.48 who makes slaves out of us for thousands of years. 00:20:56.52\00:20:59.85 Moses has been up the mountain Aaron for so long, 00:20:59.89\00:21:03.06 we don't know if he's ever coming back. 00:21:03.09\00:21:04.76 Relax guys, you do understand the cloud on that mountain 00:21:04.79\00:21:07.76 is actually the presence of God, 00:21:07.83\00:21:09.20 I don't think there's anything to worry about at all. 00:21:09.23\00:21:11.60 I know but we don't know if he's ever going to come down 00:21:11.63\00:21:14.00 and that's the problem. 00:21:14.04\00:21:15.37 We don't know how to relate to that cloud. 00:21:15.40\00:21:16.77 We don't know how to go up that mountain, 00:21:16.81\00:21:18.14 we're not allowed near that, that seems so intangible 00:21:18.17\00:21:20.98 and we don't know if we have direct leadership anymore. 00:21:21.01\00:21:23.35 Moses have been missing so long. 00:21:23.41\00:21:25.55 What do you guys suggest? 00:21:25.58\00:21:26.92 Okay, well, listen, Aaron, here's the thing 00:21:26.98\00:21:28.92 and listen, just hear the whole thing out, 00:21:28.95\00:21:32.35 we would like to have 00:21:32.39\00:21:33.82 and we understand it's not really God, 00:21:33.86\00:21:35.26 but we really would like to have 00:21:35.29\00:21:36.62 one of those calves we used to see in Egypt. 00:21:36.69\00:21:38.13 We won't treat it exactly the same, 00:21:38.16\00:21:40.60 but we can relate to that 00:21:40.66\00:21:41.96 that's what we've known for generations 00:21:42.00\00:21:43.33 and it's relatable and we want... 00:21:43.37\00:21:45.47 God actually brings that story up in here 00:21:45.50\00:21:47.74 when they ask for a king in 1 Samuel 8. 00:21:47.77\00:21:49.97 He says in 1 Samuel 8:8 that the request for a king 00:21:50.04\00:21:54.01 is according to all the works which they have done 00:21:54.04\00:21:56.24 since the day I brought them out of Egypt. 00:21:56.28\00:21:57.75 Even to this day, 00:21:57.78\00:21:59.11 which with they have forsaken Me 00:21:59.15\00:22:01.15 and served other gods. 00:22:01.18\00:22:03.79 My people have done this again and again and again. 00:22:03.82\00:22:09.59 This is the biggest problem you face 00:22:09.62\00:22:14.30 before the second coming of Christ. 00:22:14.30\00:22:16.83 It happens when we stop believing, 00:22:16.87\00:22:19.53 and we personally behave exactly like the man of sin, 00:22:19.57\00:22:22.64 and we climb up on the throne of God 00:22:22.67\00:22:24.47 and we try to second-guess what he says 00:22:24.51\00:22:26.01 and what he promises. 00:22:26.04\00:22:27.94 This is what happens 00:22:27.98\00:22:29.31 and sometimes we don't do it permanently, 00:22:29.34\00:22:30.71 "Look, Lord, I'll just get up here 00:22:30.75\00:22:32.08 and make one or two decisions then I'll get off the throne 00:22:32.11\00:22:34.38 and you'll be God again but I'll just make..." 00:22:34.42\00:22:36.75 That's what happens. 00:22:36.79\00:22:38.45 We can't trust God to be the real king in our lives 00:22:38.49\00:22:42.02 and, you know, it never works when you take control. 00:22:42.06\00:22:44.36 The Old Testament is the story of people 00:22:44.39\00:22:45.99 who climb on the throne for five minutes. 00:22:46.03\00:22:48.63 Jacob, I know how to get my inheritance. 00:22:48.66\00:22:51.03 Abraham, I know how to get a baby 00:22:51.07\00:22:53.27 leads to huge disasters every time 00:22:53.30\00:22:55.54 and believe me this morning the man of sin is the flagship 00:22:55.57\00:23:00.21 but he's not the only one who does it. 00:23:00.28\00:23:03.11 The biggest problem you face between now 00:23:03.14\00:23:05.31 and the second coming of Christ. 00:23:05.35\00:23:06.72 Listen to me carefully and don't misunderstand 00:23:06.75\00:23:08.45 what I'm about to say, 00:23:08.48\00:23:10.29 but the biggest problem you face personally 00:23:10.32\00:23:11.99 is not the little horn power of Daniel 7. 00:23:12.02\00:23:14.36 What are you saying Pastor, that's a... 00:23:14.39\00:23:15.72 Yes, it's a real problem 00:23:15.76\00:23:17.13 and you should be paying attention 00:23:17.16\00:23:18.49 but it's not your biggest problem personally. 00:23:18.53\00:23:20.80 Your biggest problem isn't the rapid decline 00:23:20.83\00:23:22.56 of western civilization 00:23:22.60\00:23:24.07 even though that should probably concern you 00:23:24.13\00:23:25.60 if you're trying to raise a family in this day and age, 00:23:25.63\00:23:27.74 it's not your biggest personal problem. 00:23:27.77\00:23:30.17 Your biggest personal problem is not another bad decision 00:23:30.21\00:23:32.54 coming out of Supreme Court, it's not an executive order 00:23:32.57\00:23:35.08 from the White House, it's not another decision 00:23:35.11\00:23:37.11 coming out of the Congress, your biggest problem 00:23:37.15\00:23:39.18 is not the people who sit beside you in church. 00:23:39.21\00:23:41.32 Your biggest problem is not your wife, 00:23:41.35\00:23:43.05 it's not your husband, it's not your kids, 00:23:43.08\00:23:44.82 it's not your boss, it's not your parole officer, 00:23:44.85\00:23:47.32 gentleman, it is not even your mother-in-law. 00:23:47.36\00:23:52.76 The biggest problem you face between this moment 00:23:52.79\00:23:55.56 and when Jesus comes again is sitting in the very seat 00:23:55.60\00:23:58.27 you occupy at this moment. 00:23:58.30\00:24:01.04 It's you, it's this tendency 00:24:01.07\00:24:03.54 you have to try and take control, 00:24:03.61\00:24:05.11 behave exactly like the man of sin. 00:24:05.14\00:24:07.01 Climb up on the throne of God and pretend you're in charge 00:24:07.08\00:24:09.11 even for a minute. 00:24:09.14\00:24:11.35 And if you can't get that impulse under control, 00:24:11.38\00:24:13.62 if you can't let God be the king of your heart 00:24:13.65\00:24:15.55 then you're headed for a world of hurt. 00:24:15.58\00:24:18.42 Really where do you think is going to happen 00:24:18.45\00:24:20.86 when everything that's going on around you 00:24:20.89\00:24:22.26 finally comes to a head. 00:24:22.29\00:24:23.63 I hope you've been paying attention to the world. 00:24:23.66\00:24:26.16 People driving trucks through the crowds 00:24:26.19\00:24:28.70 of pedestrians in Europe, bombs in the airport, 00:24:28.73\00:24:31.73 shootings in public places, 00:24:31.77\00:24:34.54 the economy ballooning to an all time high 00:24:34.57\00:24:36.67 and yet the debt levels the same as it was in 2008. 00:24:36.71\00:24:40.24 NATO started to pile up, 00:24:40.28\00:24:41.94 armies against the Polish border with Russia, 00:24:41.98\00:24:44.38 NATO launched a missile this week 00:24:44.41\00:24:46.21 over the Sea of Japan, people getting beheaded 00:24:46.25\00:24:50.05 and burned alive on YouTube. 00:24:50.09\00:24:52.55 We're finally figuring out that 00:24:52.59\00:24:53.92 our highest public officials have been lying to us 00:24:53.96\00:24:55.69 and the system actually might be rotten to the core. 00:24:55.72\00:24:57.73 When all of that comes to ahead and it will. 00:24:57.76\00:25:00.86 When it finally blows up and it feels like 00:25:00.93\00:25:02.83 the Spirit of God has been lifted from the earth 00:25:02.86\00:25:04.80 and Moses might never come back down 00:25:04.83\00:25:06.53 from that mountain, then at that moment 00:25:06.57\00:25:08.70 when this earth is plunged into midnight, 00:25:08.74\00:25:10.41 how are you going to react? 00:25:10.44\00:25:12.27 Because if you have not yet given up 00:25:12.31\00:25:13.68 your claim to God's throne, 00:25:13.71\00:25:15.14 you're going to find it very hard to resist. 00:25:15.18\00:25:16.85 The first person who comes along 00:25:16.88\00:25:18.28 and offers a little bit of peace and security 00:25:18.31\00:25:20.22 and he's going to be very convincing 00:25:20.25\00:25:21.58 because the Bible says, "He will bring fire down 00:25:21.62\00:25:24.99 from heaven in the side of men." 00:25:25.02\00:25:28.06 And if you're still trying to run the show at that point 00:25:28.09\00:25:30.03 you're going to stumble. 00:25:30.06\00:25:33.26 Listen carefully, because the next few verses 00:25:33.29\00:25:35.00 in this story have shaped world history 00:25:35.03\00:25:38.17 since the moment it happened 00:25:38.20\00:25:39.87 and it's one of the most important keys 00:25:39.90\00:25:41.24 to understanding the Book of Daniel, 00:25:41.27\00:25:42.60 what's about to happen. 00:25:42.64\00:25:44.51 Now before we read it, 00:25:44.54\00:25:45.87 I want to give you a refresher course 00:25:45.91\00:25:47.24 from high school history because if you are like me, 00:25:47.28\00:25:49.54 you slept through some of high school history 00:25:49.58\00:25:51.35 or maybe were even absent. 00:25:51.38\00:25:54.22 My kids aren't here, 1517 Luther nails the 95 Theses 00:25:54.28\00:25:59.85 to the church door, roll over them. 00:25:59.89\00:26:03.66 And then the reformers begin to think about 00:26:03.69\00:26:05.13 everything that happened since that awful moment 00:26:05.16\00:26:06.83 in the fourth century when we invited 00:26:06.86\00:26:08.23 the Roman Emperor Constantine to be the king of the church. 00:26:08.26\00:26:11.37 What we did in the fourth century 00:26:11.40\00:26:12.73 is a direct parallel with what Israel did 00:26:12.77\00:26:14.87 with Samuel in 1 Samuel 8, 00:26:14.90\00:26:16.54 we invited a king into the church. 00:26:16.57\00:26:18.67 So Constantine brings peace, 00:26:18.71\00:26:20.11 he ends the Diocletian persecution, 00:26:20.18\00:26:21.78 just brings it to an end. 00:26:21.81\00:26:23.48 And he looks at the Christians, he said, 00:26:23.55\00:26:24.88 "This will be the glue that holds my empire together, 00:26:24.91\00:26:26.61 they were so united under persecution, 00:26:26.65\00:26:29.08 they will hold my empire together." 00:26:29.12\00:26:31.69 You should have gone to a church board meeting 00:26:31.72\00:26:33.12 before he came to that conclusion. 00:26:33.15\00:26:36.09 Because two crises emerged immediately, 00:26:36.12\00:26:39.89 the Donatist controversy North Africa 00:26:39.93\00:26:41.73 over readmitting apostates, 00:26:41.76\00:26:43.73 the Arian controversy on the nature of Christ, 00:26:43.77\00:26:46.74 and the church can't solve those disputes themselves. 00:26:46.80\00:26:48.64 Did you know what they did? 00:26:48.67\00:26:50.01 They made a direct appeal to Constantine, 00:26:50.07\00:26:51.41 "Hey you like Christians, solve this for us." 00:26:51.44\00:26:53.44 But he's so busy with the affairs of the empire 00:26:53.48\00:26:55.68 that he appoints the bishop of Rome 00:26:55.71\00:26:57.78 to take over the whole matter 00:26:57.81\00:26:59.15 and for the first time in history the bishop of Rome 00:26:59.18\00:27:01.08 becomes first among equals. 00:27:01.12\00:27:03.05 He rises in influence. Are you with me this morning? 00:27:03.08\00:27:06.62 What we did, 00:27:06.65\00:27:07.99 it wasn't the outside pushing its way in, 00:27:08.02\00:27:09.79 it was the inside asking the outside to come. 00:27:09.82\00:27:12.59 We begged the emperor to take over the church, 00:27:12.63\00:27:16.36 that's what we did. 00:27:16.40\00:27:18.13 And once the government sets foot in your church, 00:27:18.17\00:27:22.10 you will never get rid of it. 00:27:22.14\00:27:25.57 That model was not what Jesus established. 00:27:25.61\00:27:27.38 He expected us to live directly beneath God the way 00:27:27.41\00:27:29.54 Israel was supposed to. 00:27:29.58\00:27:30.95 How do I know? 00:27:30.98\00:27:32.31 Luke 22 he says to His disciples, 00:27:32.35\00:27:33.75 "The kings of the gentiles exercise lordship over them 00:27:33.82\00:27:36.62 but not so among you." 00:27:36.69\00:27:38.45 I don't want a king for the church but we did it, 00:27:38.49\00:27:40.79 we married Roman politics and Christian faith 00:27:40.86\00:27:42.69 that gave us more than a thousand years of darkness, 00:27:42.72\00:27:46.80 complete with burning people at the stake. 00:27:46.83\00:27:50.63 The reformers opened their Bibles, 00:27:50.67\00:27:54.60 and they realized what we had done 00:27:54.64\00:27:56.54 in the fourth century, 00:27:56.57\00:27:57.91 and so they set about the work of freeing themselves 00:27:57.94\00:27:59.71 from the biggest mistake we have ever made. 00:27:59.74\00:28:02.01 Now the Reformation was about all kinds of things. 00:28:02.04\00:28:04.11 Yes, it was doctrinal, sola fide, sola scriptura, 00:28:04.18\00:28:07.25 it was very doctrinal but at the very core of it, 00:28:07.28\00:28:09.55 the Reformation was really an attempt to undo the king 00:28:09.58\00:28:12.99 we brought into the church, that's what it was. 00:28:13.02\00:28:15.96 Suddenly over in England, Henry VIII is watching 00:28:15.99\00:28:18.09 what's going on, he thinks, 00:28:18.13\00:28:19.46 "I like this, the German princes are free 00:28:19.49\00:28:21.63 from the bishop of Rome. 00:28:21.66\00:28:23.00 I would like to be free from the bishop of Rome 00:28:23.03\00:28:25.30 that would be great because he can't get agnomen." 00:28:25.33\00:28:28.87 So he establishes the Church of England 00:28:28.90\00:28:30.61 in the course all across Britain 00:28:30.64\00:28:33.98 faithful Bible believing Christians are saying, 00:28:34.01\00:28:35.51 "Whoa, we're going to be free." 00:28:35.54\00:28:37.68 They weren't... 00:28:37.71\00:28:39.05 Doesn't happen because Henry's church 00:28:39.08\00:28:40.42 was built for the wrong reasons by the 1600's it's in trouble. 00:28:40.45\00:28:43.69 By the 1600's the church is telling the British, 00:28:43.72\00:28:45.92 "Look, you can believe in your head 00:28:45.95\00:28:47.59 whatever you want. Go ahead believe the Sabbath." 00:28:47.66\00:28:49.39 That was there in the 1600's. 00:28:49.42\00:28:51.79 Believe up here in an immersion baptism go ahead, 00:28:51.83\00:28:54.20 but when it comes time to worship, 00:28:54.20\00:28:55.53 everybody does the same thing, 00:28:55.56\00:28:56.90 you will be following the Book of Common Prayer. 00:28:56.93\00:28:59.70 By 1600 there's no real freedom anymore 00:28:59.73\00:29:01.70 and so to avoid going to jail some of the dissenters, 00:29:01.74\00:29:04.34 the British dissenters 00:29:04.37\00:29:05.74 actually start to leave the country. 00:29:05.77\00:29:07.31 People like the early Baptists, and the barrowists, 00:29:07.34\00:29:09.51 and the fifth monarchists, and the Puritans, 00:29:09.54\00:29:11.61 and the Quakers, and the Sabbath keepers 00:29:11.65\00:29:13.31 all these people who eventually hand down their beliefs 00:29:13.35\00:29:15.98 to God's last day remnant church. 00:29:16.02\00:29:17.35 These are our spiritual grandparents 00:29:17.42\00:29:19.09 that's who they are. 00:29:19.12\00:29:20.49 Where do they go? 00:29:20.52\00:29:21.86 Some of them flee, I'm proud to say 00:29:21.89\00:29:23.22 as a Dutch kid fleet to the Dutch Republic 00:29:23.26\00:29:25.03 which was the freest nation of its day. 00:29:25.06\00:29:27.86 And when they get there they run into another group 00:29:27.86\00:29:29.70 that's fleeing persecution too. 00:29:29.73\00:29:31.50 The Jews are fleeing Spain 00:29:31.53\00:29:33.44 to get away from the inquisition 00:29:33.47\00:29:34.84 and they meet up in the Netherlands, 00:29:34.87\00:29:36.71 and they begin to talk to each other 00:29:36.74\00:29:38.07 and study together, 00:29:38.11\00:29:39.54 and Christians begin to read the Old Testament 00:29:39.57\00:29:41.94 in the original Hebrew 00:29:41.98\00:29:43.35 for the first time in centuries. 00:29:43.38\00:29:45.05 And they'd have access to some very old Hebrew commentaries 00:29:45.08\00:29:48.32 and they suddenly stumble across our story for today. 00:29:48.35\00:29:51.95 1 Samuel 8:11, 00:29:51.99\00:29:53.96 "This will be the behavior of the king 00:29:53.99\00:29:55.32 who will reign over you. 00:29:55.36\00:29:56.73 He will take your sons and appoint them 00:29:56.76\00:29:58.09 for his own chariots." 00:29:58.13\00:30:00.00 King going to make you work for him it says. 00:30:00.03\00:30:03.00 Verse 12, "He will appoint captains over his thousands." 00:30:03.03\00:30:05.47 There'll be military conscription. 00:30:05.50\00:30:06.84 Verse 14, "He'll take the best of your fields." 00:30:06.90\00:30:09.34 There'll be confiscation and taxes to pay 00:30:09.37\00:30:12.14 and the reformers are reading this, 00:30:12.17\00:30:13.54 the dissenters are reading this and they say, 00:30:13.58\00:30:15.04 "Ah, this might be the trouble we still have. 00:30:15.08\00:30:17.85 This might be the reason we still have trouble 00:30:17.88\00:30:19.41 with human kings 2900 years later." 00:30:19.45\00:30:22.58 And based on this story they begin to dream of a place 00:30:22.62\00:30:24.72 that wouldn't have a king. 00:30:24.75\00:30:27.02 Begin to dream of a place you could live 00:30:27.06\00:30:28.39 directly beneath God, 00:30:28.42\00:30:29.76 it's the hottest topic of debate 00:30:29.79\00:30:31.13 in the 17th and 18th centuries. 00:30:31.16\00:30:32.66 William Blake, Thomas Hobbes, John Milton, 00:30:32.69\00:30:34.93 John Locke, John Bunyan 00:30:34.93\00:30:36.36 who's in prison for his beliefs, 00:30:36.40\00:30:37.77 they're all discussing this. 00:30:37.80\00:30:39.13 We got rid of the bishop of Rome 00:30:39.17\00:30:40.50 maybe we could get rid of the king, 00:30:40.57\00:30:41.90 and they pray for a place, 00:30:41.94\00:30:43.27 and while they're praying over this issue 00:30:43.30\00:30:44.91 they suddenly discover Deuteronomy 17 00:30:44.94\00:30:47.94 where God anticipates the request for a king. 00:30:47.98\00:30:50.41 And he says, "Okay, one day you'll ask for a king 00:30:50.48\00:30:52.71 when you get to the promised land." 00:30:52.75\00:30:54.15 But here are the conditions, Deuteronomy 7:15, 00:30:54.18\00:30:58.89 "He shall be one from among your brethren." 00:30:58.92\00:31:00.39 He has to be a commoner, 00:31:00.46\00:31:02.19 "You may not set a foreigner over you." 00:31:02.22\00:31:03.83 It can't be foreign born, 00:31:03.86\00:31:05.83 neither shall he multiply silver and gold for himself. 00:31:05.86\00:31:08.03 Verse 17, there were checks and balances 00:31:08.06\00:31:10.43 to prevent corruption. 00:31:10.47\00:31:11.80 I'm hoping this is starting to ring some bells. 00:31:11.83\00:31:14.60 Also which shall be, here's the big one, 00:31:14.64\00:31:16.34 when he sits on the throne of His kingdom, 00:31:16.37\00:31:17.97 he shall write for himself a copy of this law in this book 00:31:18.01\00:31:22.04 and be careful to observe all the words of this law, 00:31:22.08\00:31:25.05 a supreme written law. 00:31:25.08\00:31:28.75 Let me ask you question. 00:31:28.78\00:31:30.65 We're now in the 1700's. 00:31:30.69\00:31:32.72 You ever heard of a republic where the chief executive 00:31:32.75\00:31:34.69 has to be a commoner 00:31:34.72\00:31:36.32 is not allowed to be foreign born, 00:31:36.36\00:31:37.99 not allowed to get rich off the public purse, 00:31:38.03\00:31:39.86 and must be subject 00:31:39.89\00:31:41.20 to the supreme written law of the land? 00:31:41.23\00:31:42.56 Ever heard of such a place emerging in the 1700's? 00:31:42.60\00:31:46.37 It is not a coincidence that the American Constitution 00:31:46.40\00:31:49.97 describes a republic without a king 00:31:50.04\00:31:51.97 and then it guarantee things like religious liberty 00:31:52.01\00:31:54.14 under a supreme written law. 00:31:54.21\00:31:55.58 Where did they get that idea? 00:31:55.61\00:31:57.58 Every single one of those founding fathers 00:31:57.61\00:31:59.78 even though they were not all Christian 00:31:59.81\00:32:01.38 had been reading the works 00:32:01.42\00:32:02.75 of the English political philosophers 00:32:02.78\00:32:04.82 and the English dissenters 00:32:04.85\00:32:06.19 and they used those writings to literally build 00:32:06.22\00:32:08.39 the United States of America. 00:32:08.42\00:32:11.19 But they did not, I mean, 00:32:11.23\00:32:12.56 they weren't all, some were deists 00:32:12.59\00:32:14.93 but they got the building blocks 00:32:14.93\00:32:16.26 from the Reformation. 00:32:16.30\00:32:17.63 That's why Ellen White in Testimonies, volume five 00:32:17.67\00:32:19.30 calls the American Constitution a Protestant document. 00:32:19.33\00:32:23.17 Because there's an unbroken chain 00:32:23.20\00:32:24.81 of thought leading directly 00:32:24.84\00:32:26.21 from the reformation to the birth of America, 00:32:26.24\00:32:28.38 that's why the Bible describes America 00:32:28.41\00:32:30.71 the way that it does. 00:32:30.75\00:32:32.08 Revelation 12 says, "The earth would open up 00:32:32.11\00:32:33.78 to give the persecuted masses a place to go." 00:32:33.82\00:32:36.45 Revelation 13 says, this brand new nation 00:32:36.48\00:32:38.92 would be Christ like, Lamb like and it doesn't even have 00:32:38.95\00:32:42.09 crowns on its horns like the first beast 00:32:42.12\00:32:44.09 because there wouldn't be a king. 00:32:44.13\00:32:47.00 The founding fathers of this nation knew 00:32:47.03\00:32:49.33 exactly what they were building. 00:32:49.36\00:32:51.07 I can prove it. 00:32:51.10\00:32:53.13 Seventeen eighty seven, Constitutional Convention, 00:32:53.17\00:32:55.34 big debate on the floor over state representation. 00:32:55.37\00:32:57.97 I know, saints, it's hard to imagine a convention 00:32:58.01\00:33:00.18 where the delegates disagree but it happened. 00:33:00.21\00:33:04.25 And it nearly broke apart. 00:33:04.28\00:33:05.95 This nation came this close to not being a nation. 00:33:05.98\00:33:08.98 When suddenly Ben Franklin stands up 00:33:09.02\00:33:13.15 and suggests that everybody takes a break 00:33:13.19\00:33:14.69 and go spend a day with someone they disagree with, 00:33:14.72\00:33:18.06 then he quotes the Bible by memory for two minutes off 00:33:18.09\00:33:20.50 top of his head even though he's a deist. 00:33:20.53\00:33:23.16 Fourteen references, 00:33:23.20\00:33:24.53 something like that in two minutes 00:33:24.57\00:33:25.90 and then he makes a radical suggestion. 00:33:25.93\00:33:27.30 Before I sit down he said, "I suggest Mr. President, 00:33:27.34\00:33:29.90 the chair of that meeting, that propriety of nominating 00:33:29.97\00:33:33.21 and appointing before we separate a chaplain 00:33:33.24\00:33:35.14 to the convention whose duty it shall be uniformly 00:33:35.18\00:33:37.75 to introduce the business of each day 00:33:37.78\00:33:39.21 by an address to the creator of the universe 00:33:39.25\00:33:41.48 and the governor of all nations." 00:33:41.52\00:33:44.82 You tell me who did these people believe 00:33:44.85\00:33:46.86 was the real king of all nations? 00:33:46.92\00:33:49.46 If America wasn't going to have a human king, 00:33:49.49\00:33:51.59 it's because those founding fathers knew 00:33:51.63\00:33:53.13 there was already one in this universe 00:33:53.16\00:33:55.70 and they wanted people to account directly to Him. 00:33:55.73\00:33:59.03 Newport Rhode Island 1790, a Jewish synagogue is panicking 00:33:59.07\00:34:03.17 because they know that America 00:34:03.20\00:34:04.54 has been born as a Christian nation, 00:34:04.57\00:34:06.21 not the way that Christians in this century think of it 00:34:06.24\00:34:08.91 but in the original sense and they panic, 00:34:08.94\00:34:11.51 "What's going to happen to us? 00:34:11.55\00:34:12.88 In the old world we were persecuted 00:34:12.91\00:34:14.25 because we're in a Christian nation 00:34:14.32\00:34:15.65 and George Washington hears about it 00:34:15.68\00:34:17.75 and he writes them a reassuring letter, 00:34:17.79\00:34:19.22 "Listen..." He says, "You can rest in peace. 00:34:19.25\00:34:20.69 You're going to be fine, 00:34:20.76\00:34:22.09 you're going to be free in this nation." 00:34:22.12\00:34:23.46 And then he says this, this is his letter, 00:34:23.49\00:34:26.56 "May the children of the stock of Abraham 00:34:26.59\00:34:28.40 who dwell in this land continue to merit 00:34:28.43\00:34:30.57 and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants. 00:34:30.63\00:34:33.50 Well, everyone shall sit in safety 00:34:33.54\00:34:35.34 under his own vine and fig tree 00:34:35.37\00:34:36.77 and there should be none to make him afraid." 00:34:36.81\00:34:39.47 That's a direct quote from Micah 4 00:34:39.51\00:34:41.44 where God describes His ideal Kingdom. 00:34:41.48\00:34:44.01 That's what it is. 00:34:44.05\00:34:45.85 Listen to me carefully, the founding fathers 00:34:45.88\00:34:47.58 were building a Christian nation 00:34:47.62\00:34:49.02 in the original biblical sense. 00:34:49.05\00:34:50.89 What they were trying to do is, 00:34:50.95\00:34:52.29 rewind the clock to one day before Saul, 00:34:52.32\00:34:55.29 before the biggest mistake we've ever made. 00:34:55.32\00:34:58.36 What's really interesting 00:34:58.39\00:34:59.73 is the way that Saul kind of foreshadows 00:34:59.76\00:35:01.40 the whole fate of America. 00:35:01.43\00:35:03.40 I mean, in the beginning, he's Christ like, 00:35:03.47\00:35:04.83 he's Lamb like, look at the story. 00:35:04.87\00:35:06.57 The Bible says, "Samuel anoints him in private 00:35:06.60\00:35:09.54 and he doesn't get the crown till he proves himself 00:35:09.57\00:35:11.14 on the battlefield." 00:35:11.17\00:35:12.57 Jesus is anointed the day He goes to heaven, Acts 2:33. 00:35:12.61\00:35:15.81 But he doesn't really will get His inheritance 00:35:15.84\00:35:17.85 until after the judgment is complete. 00:35:17.88\00:35:19.81 There's a parallel. 00:35:19.85\00:35:21.18 The Bible says, "Saul was filled 00:35:21.22\00:35:22.68 with the Holy Spirit became another man." 00:35:22.72\00:35:24.32 1 Samuel 10, and of course Jesus was anointed 00:35:24.35\00:35:27.36 by the Spirit at the beginning of His ministry 00:35:27.39\00:35:29.56 and He also became someone else. 00:35:29.59\00:35:31.09 He became one of us. 00:35:31.13\00:35:32.46 There's no question in the beginning Saul 00:35:32.49\00:35:34.20 is Lamb like but you know he's not a type of Christ. 00:35:34.30\00:35:38.13 Because as he continues down the story, 00:35:38.17\00:35:40.40 you'll discover he's really a type 00:35:40.44\00:35:41.77 of the United States of America. 00:35:41.80\00:35:43.47 He even is ultimately replaced by a messianic king 00:35:43.51\00:35:46.24 who sits on David's throne. 00:35:46.27\00:35:48.88 Two years into his reign, 00:35:48.91\00:35:51.15 Saul wants to go to the battlefield 00:35:51.18\00:35:52.81 against the Philistines 00:35:52.85\00:35:54.18 and he wants to have a sacrifice 00:35:54.22\00:35:55.55 but Samuel is delayed seven days, 00:35:55.58\00:35:57.59 the perfect delay it's the language 00:35:57.62\00:35:59.02 of the second coming and he decides, 00:35:59.05\00:36:03.49 "I'll bring fire on the altar myself 00:36:03.56\00:36:05.59 if Samuel doesn't come." 00:36:05.63\00:36:08.43 Which is exactly what the second beast does, 00:36:08.46\00:36:11.57 brings fire down from heaven on the earth 00:36:11.60\00:36:13.54 in the sight of men. 00:36:13.57\00:36:15.77 This nation here was born exactly on time 00:36:15.80\00:36:19.77 for the appearance of the remnant church 00:36:19.81\00:36:21.28 lamblike in the beginning. 00:36:21.31\00:36:22.84 But over the course of the 20th century 00:36:22.88\00:36:24.48 as we rejected the light of the third angel's message, 00:36:24.51\00:36:26.82 the whole character of America began to change, 00:36:26.85\00:36:29.25 all through the 20th century 00:36:29.28\00:36:31.02 and now we sit a heartbeat from midnight 00:36:31.05\00:36:34.29 and the Constitution is under attack. 00:36:34.32\00:36:36.83 Why should that matter to Adventist? 00:36:36.86\00:36:38.19 Testimonies, volume five. 00:36:38.23\00:36:40.53 Ellen White says, "When our country 00:36:40.60\00:36:41.93 shall repudiate every principle of its constitution 00:36:41.96\00:36:44.30 as a Protestant a Republican government, 00:36:44.33\00:36:46.50 then we may know that the time has come 00:36:46.53\00:36:48.07 for the marvelous working of Satan 00:36:48.10\00:36:49.44 and the end is near." 00:36:49.47\00:36:51.84 You've been paying attention to the last 15 years? 00:36:51.87\00:36:55.91 You know, the government listens 00:36:55.94\00:36:57.31 to your phone calls because I know 00:36:57.35\00:37:00.15 what I say things to see 00:37:00.18\00:37:01.52 if I can hear a click on the line. 00:37:01.55\00:37:04.12 They force people to participate 00:37:04.15\00:37:05.59 in religious ceremonies, take your business if you want, 00:37:05.62\00:37:09.42 forcing people to buy things they don't want to buy, 00:37:09.46\00:37:11.46 silencing people who say 00:37:11.49\00:37:12.83 the wrong things on a college campus 00:37:12.86\00:37:14.20 or on YouTube that's just the last 15 years. 00:37:14.23\00:37:17.67 And that's just a warm up. 00:37:17.70\00:37:20.14 We have already seen Caesar 00:37:20.17\00:37:23.07 stand in the American Congress invited over to speak 00:37:23.10\00:37:27.88 because we've run out of human answers. 00:37:27.91\00:37:31.35 The bishop of Rome at the podium 00:37:31.38\00:37:33.82 of God's last day republic. 00:37:33.85\00:37:37.49 Let me say this. 00:37:37.52\00:37:39.79 Everybody had an opinion last year in 2016, 00:37:39.82\00:37:42.92 rough year at the ballot box, 00:37:42.96\00:37:45.56 but it didn't matter who won that election. 00:37:45.59\00:37:49.50 Doesn't matter, because no human being 00:37:49.53\00:37:52.00 is the answer you're looking for. 00:37:52.03\00:37:55.04 At the end of his life, Saul has to kill himself 00:37:55.07\00:37:57.67 because if you want to run the show 00:37:57.71\00:37:59.04 you have to provide your own problems. 00:37:59.07\00:38:00.51 The Philistines find his body, cut his head off. 00:38:00.54\00:38:02.11 He's no longer head and shoulders 00:38:02.14\00:38:03.48 taller than anybody else. 00:38:03.51\00:38:05.71 Because in the end, he is not your king 00:38:05.75\00:38:07.25 and nobody like Saul as your king 00:38:07.28\00:38:08.72 but you move forward 1200 years in history, 00:38:08.75\00:38:10.92 you will find your king writhing in agony 00:38:10.95\00:38:13.12 on the cross we made for Him. 00:38:13.15\00:38:14.89 We spit in His face, and we mock His dignity, 00:38:14.92\00:38:17.56 and yet He pleads for you, "Father, forgive them 00:38:17.59\00:38:20.23 for they don't know what they're doing." 00:38:20.26\00:38:23.77 That's your king. 00:38:23.80\00:38:27.07 When I was a younger man 18, I used to hang out 00:38:27.14\00:38:32.44 at the Legislative Assembly in British Columbia 00:38:32.47\00:38:35.71 because it was so much more fun than going to school. 00:38:35.74\00:38:38.88 Two o'clock in the afternoon 00:38:38.91\00:38:40.25 they had a question answer period. 00:38:40.32\00:38:41.82 Question Time they call it, 00:38:41.85\00:38:43.18 question period where the loyal opposition, 00:38:43.22\00:38:44.99 the Majesty's loyal opposition got to ask questions 00:38:45.02\00:38:46.96 of the government and embarrass them 00:38:46.99\00:38:48.32 and you weren't allowed to insult each other 00:38:48.36\00:38:50.23 but they made an art form out of it. 00:38:50.26\00:38:51.59 "Mr. Speaker, would it be okay if I called 00:38:51.63\00:38:53.06 my loyal appointment an idiot?" 00:38:53.09\00:38:54.63 "No, that's not okay." But he got it done anyway. 00:38:54.66\00:38:59.00 I came down one day out of the visitor's gallery 00:38:59.03\00:39:02.44 and I walked out into the rotunda 00:39:02.47\00:39:04.04 and there in a scrum of hostile reporters 00:39:04.07\00:39:07.88 is the premier of British Columbia, 00:39:07.91\00:39:09.41 Bill Vander Zalm at that time. 00:39:09.44\00:39:11.48 Some of you know who Bill Vander Zalm was. 00:39:11.51\00:39:13.85 Now if you're just, you know, if you're American 00:39:13.88\00:39:16.52 he's kind of like the governor but not really 00:39:16.55\00:39:18.19 because we have a fused executive 00:39:18.22\00:39:19.75 and legislative function, different matter. 00:39:19.79\00:39:22.22 He looks up and sees me, I've got ripped jeans 00:39:22.26\00:39:24.49 in a tattered t-shirt and he says, 00:39:24.53\00:39:26.36 "Hey, it's good to see you." 00:39:26.39\00:39:27.73 I know he doesn't know me but he's trying to use me 00:39:27.76\00:39:30.40 to get away from those reporters 00:39:30.47\00:39:32.07 and he comes over and puts his arm around me, 00:39:32.10\00:39:33.87 "Let's go for a walk." 00:39:33.94\00:39:35.27 We walked down the hallway 00:39:35.30\00:39:36.64 with the premier of British Columbia. 00:39:36.67\00:39:38.01 I'm walking down the hallway, out the door, 00:39:38.04\00:39:39.54 out into a breezeway, into his executive office 00:39:39.57\00:39:42.01 as if we step into his offices there are people sitting there 00:39:42.04\00:39:45.68 that I have only ever seen on the news. 00:39:45.71\00:39:47.65 And they rise to their feet, 00:39:47.68\00:39:49.02 "Mr. Premier, so good to see you." 00:39:49.05\00:39:50.82 "Gentlemen, sit down I'll be with you in a minute." 00:39:50.89\00:39:52.79 He walks me into his office closes the door 00:39:52.82\00:39:55.56 has me take a seat, he says, 00:39:55.59\00:39:57.43 "Just hang out with me for a minute, 00:39:57.46\00:39:59.13 I don't want to talk to those guys." 00:39:59.16\00:40:00.70 He asked me, "What do you do?" 00:40:05.70\00:40:07.04 "I go to school up at the University of Victoria." 00:40:07.10\00:40:08.64 "What are you taking?" "Political science." 00:40:08.67\00:40:10.17 "Oh, that's a good degree." 00:40:10.21\00:40:11.54 Only a politician ever says that's a good degree. 00:40:11.57\00:40:15.81 So we talked a little bit, he asked me about my dreams 00:40:15.84\00:40:18.65 and hopes and fears. 00:40:18.68\00:40:20.02 And then 10 minutes later, he escorts me up the door 00:40:20.08\00:40:21.82 and sends me on my way. 00:40:21.85\00:40:24.25 And I slaved for that guy until he left office for free. 00:40:24.29\00:40:28.99 Why? 00:40:29.02\00:40:30.79 Because he took an absolute nobody, 00:40:30.83\00:40:34.50 and walked me into the halls of power and sat me down 00:40:34.56\00:40:37.83 like I mattered. 00:40:37.87\00:40:40.20 I slaved for him. 00:40:40.27\00:40:41.80 So here we are. 00:40:45.34\00:40:48.11 I'm not 18 anymore, neither are you. 00:40:48.14\00:40:54.15 If you're not sure, look around. 00:40:54.18\00:40:55.52 But at this moment 00:40:59.22\00:41:03.19 in the last gasp of this world's history, 00:41:03.22\00:41:07.30 God has let us try everything on. 00:41:07.30\00:41:10.57 You want kings, okay. 00:41:10.63\00:41:13.03 The kings of Israel became so wicked that they caused 00:41:13.07\00:41:16.44 the abomination of desolation, temple desolated. 00:41:16.47\00:41:21.01 They were offering babies to Moloch. 00:41:21.04\00:41:25.11 We've never had self-government again, 00:41:25.15\00:41:26.88 we've never been back. 00:41:26.92\00:41:28.48 After that Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, 00:41:28.52\00:41:35.32 little horn power, and then something that almost, 00:41:35.36\00:41:38.83 almost got it right. 00:41:38.86\00:41:41.46 Second beast but it fails too. 00:41:41.50\00:41:47.57 And in this moment, 00:41:50.94\00:41:53.14 the rightful king of this universe 00:41:53.17\00:41:54.74 has just slipped his arm around your shoulder 00:41:54.78\00:41:56.68 and said let's go for a walk. 00:41:56.71\00:42:00.12 Here's what he says, Revelation 3:20. 00:42:00.15\00:42:02.08 Listen carefully to this, 00:42:02.12\00:42:03.62 "If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, 00:42:03.69\00:42:07.76 I will come in to him and dine with him, 00:42:07.79\00:42:09.96 and he with Me, to him who overcomes..." 00:42:10.03\00:42:12.13 Here it comes, listen, "To him who overcomes 00:42:12.16\00:42:14.60 I will grant to sit with Me on My throne." 00:42:14.63\00:42:21.00 All this time, you've been trying to seize it 00:42:21.04\00:42:23.14 just for a minute here, just for a minute there. 00:42:23.17\00:42:25.34 All this time you've been trying 00:42:25.37\00:42:26.74 to plan your own life and run your own world 00:42:26.78\00:42:28.91 and all this time 00:42:28.94\00:42:30.31 the Son of God has been planning 00:42:30.35\00:42:32.18 to share His throne with you anyway. 00:42:32.21\00:42:35.78 Are we gonna trust Him? 00:42:35.82\00:42:38.39 The only thing that stands in the way between now 00:42:38.42\00:42:40.62 this moment right here and that moment then, is you. 00:42:40.66\00:42:47.56 So when are you gonna let go? 00:42:47.60\00:42:51.00 What are you still clinging to? 00:42:51.03\00:42:54.47 I'll be honest this morning, I'm concerned about 00:42:54.50\00:42:57.57 a lot of things we let distract us as a church. 00:42:57.61\00:42:59.84 We were only asked to do one thing, one thing, 00:43:03.48\00:43:10.22 God says, "Get down off that throne. 00:43:10.29\00:43:15.19 Never belong to you in the first place, 00:43:15.22\00:43:18.03 I asked you to go get my children 00:43:18.06\00:43:22.10 and bring them home." 00:43:22.13\00:43:25.07 I've searched my Bible for years now. 00:43:25.10\00:43:29.04 It's the only job he gave us. 00:43:29.07\00:43:33.34 Testimonies, volume five after she describes that, 00:43:33.38\00:43:37.01 undoing of the American Constitution 00:43:37.05\00:43:38.88 how it's a warning, she writes this, 00:43:38.91\00:43:42.32 "It is no time now to allow our minds 00:43:42.35\00:43:46.52 to be engrossed with things of minor importance. 00:43:46.55\00:43:50.93 While men are sleeping, 00:43:50.96\00:43:53.70 Satan is actively arranging matters 00:43:53.76\00:43:55.66 so that the Lord's people may not have mercy or justice. 00:43:55.70\00:44:00.94 Sunny movement is now making its way in darkness." 00:44:00.97\00:44:04.57 That was a long time ago 00:44:04.61\00:44:06.24 and they went through a whole cycle and... 00:44:06.27\00:44:09.41 But if I'm looking at the prophetic landscape 00:44:09.44\00:44:11.75 and I'm watching the news correctly, 00:44:11.78\00:44:13.52 the cycle is repeating and we are there again. 00:44:13.55\00:44:17.52 I know it's fun to get caught up 00:44:17.59\00:44:18.92 in all kinds of things, 00:44:18.95\00:44:21.46 but we do not have time to get distracted 00:44:21.49\00:44:27.10 and it is time to get off the throne 00:44:27.13\00:44:31.67 and believe the promises of God and get back to the one 00:44:31.70\00:44:38.44 and only thing He ever asked us to do. 00:44:38.47\00:44:40.94 And His promise to you is, 00:44:44.35\00:44:48.55 "I will share 00:44:48.58\00:44:52.75 My throne with you." 00:44:52.79\00:44:56.79 It's His, let Him have it. 00:44:56.83\00:45:01.80 Maybe you've tried to run your life your own way. 00:45:01.83\00:45:03.97 I have, I'll admit, 00:45:04.00\00:45:06.27 I pull an Abraham once in a while, 00:45:06.30\00:45:08.87 who I know how to make this happen. 00:45:08.90\00:45:11.64 God's promises are good. 00:45:11.67\00:45:14.11 Now if I read my Bible correctly, 00:45:14.18\00:45:15.54 he says that the crowd that makes it is so big 00:45:15.58\00:45:17.78 no man could number it. 00:45:17.81\00:45:19.85 Our work does not peter out, it does not fizzle out, 00:45:19.88\00:45:22.45 it does not whimper and go into the darkness, 00:45:22.48\00:45:24.79 it ends Revelation 18 00:45:24.82\00:45:26.52 with the whole world lighting up 00:45:26.55\00:45:28.56 with the glory of Jesus Christ with a mighty shout, 00:45:28.59\00:45:34.40 but until we let go and believe God's promise, 00:45:34.46\00:45:40.40 that's not going to happen. 00:45:40.44\00:45:42.27 Father, it's Your throne and we believe 00:45:42.30\00:45:47.58 we don't belong on it and You do. 00:45:47.61\00:45:51.05 And we will trust Your promises and get the work done, 00:45:51.08\00:45:55.55 so that we can stand in glory with the one 00:45:55.58\00:45:57.35 who gave His life to buy us eternity. 00:45:57.39\00:46:01.12 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:46:01.16\00:46:03.32 All to Jesus 00:46:24.78\00:46:29.65 I surrender 00:46:29.68\00:46:34.29 All to Him 00:46:34.32\00:46:37.86 I freely give 00:46:37.89\00:46:43.67 I will ever love 00:46:43.73\00:46:50.17 And trust Him 00:46:50.21\00:46:52.64 In His presence 00:46:52.67\00:46:57.41 Daily live 00:46:57.45\00:47:02.12 I surrender 00:47:02.15\00:47:06.72 All 00:47:06.79\00:47:11.26 I surrender 00:47:11.29\00:47:15.83 All 00:47:15.86\00:47:20.64 All to Thee 00:47:20.67\00:47:24.14 My blessed Savior 00:47:24.21\00:47:30.05 I surrender 00:47:30.08\00:47:34.92 All 00:47:34.95\00:47:39.55 All to Jesus 00:47:39.59\00:47:44.43 I surrender 00:47:44.46\00:47:49.03 Make me, Savior 00:47:49.06\00:47:53.80 Wholly Thine 00:47:53.84\00:47:58.24 Fill me with Thy love 00:47:58.27\00:48:04.38 And power 00:48:04.41\00:48:07.55 Know that Thou art 00:48:07.58\00:48:11.89 Truly mine 00:48:11.92\00:48:16.56 I surrender 00:48:16.59\00:48:21.33 All 00:48:21.36\00:48:25.80 I surrender 00:48:25.83\00:48:30.41 All 00:48:30.44\00:48:35.04 All to Thee 00:48:35.08\00:48:38.55 My blessed Savior 00:48:38.58\00:48:44.42 I surrender 00:48:44.45\00:48:49.29 All 00:48:49.32\00:48:54.00 All to Jesus 00:48:54.00\00:48:58.70 I surrender 00:48:58.73\00:49:03.17 Now I feel 00:49:03.20\00:49:07.01 The sacred flame 00:49:07.04\00:49:12.38 Oh 00:49:12.41\00:49:13.95 The joy of full salvation! 00:49:13.98\00:49:21.79 Glory, glory 00:49:21.82\00:49:25.73 To His Name! 00:49:25.76\00:49:30.40 I surrender 00:49:30.47\00:49:35.20 All 00:49:35.24\00:49:39.61 I surrender 00:49:39.64\00:49:44.35 All 00:49:44.38\00:49:48.98 All to Thee 00:49:49.02\00:49:52.42 My blessed Savior 00:49:52.45\00:49:58.39 I surrender 00:49:58.43\00:50:03.00 All 00:50:03.03\00:50:07.74 All to Thee 00:50:07.77\00:50:11.31 My blessed Savior 00:50:11.34\00:50:17.98 I surrender 00:50:18.01\00:50:24.49 All 00:50:24.52\00:50:28.22 Let's bow our heads for prayer. 00:50:33.03\00:50:36.16 Our Father in heaven, 00:50:36.20\00:50:39.07 we pray in a special sense for Your Holy Spirit 00:50:39.10\00:50:44.97 to fill our hearts, and to prepare our lives 00:50:45.01\00:50:50.28 for the very soon coming of Jesus, 00:50:50.31\00:50:53.45 and for the events that are soon to take place 00:50:53.48\00:50:56.15 upon the earth that we will be prepared, 00:50:56.18\00:51:00.76 but that we will not only be prepared, 00:51:00.79\00:51:04.13 but that we will have a great company of others 00:51:04.16\00:51:08.13 that will be prepared. 00:51:08.16\00:51:11.93 Lord, Father, we believe that Jesus is coming soon. 00:51:11.97\00:51:18.11 The world is in darkness, the world needs 00:51:18.14\00:51:23.08 only that which You can give. 00:51:23.11\00:51:26.68 And we pray that You will help us. 00:51:26.72\00:51:30.25 You've told us that a revival, 00:51:30.29\00:51:32.42 a primitive godliness is our greatest 00:51:32.45\00:51:36.99 and most urgent of all needs. 00:51:37.03\00:51:39.73 Lord, help us I pray. 00:51:39.76\00:51:42.26