Good evening.
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Please join us as
we sing our theme song
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for the very first
time, "Let His Glory Be Seen."
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Please stand.
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Oh I saw a distant land
and its glory was so grand
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I cried oh Lord
how I long to be there
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Then I heard His gentle voice
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"Come, my child,
it is your choice"
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Oh such hope that
I'd never heard before
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Oh arise, let us run, for
the morning light has come
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And the darkness of
the night flies away
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He has risen, He has
come, and our home He has won
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Let His glory be
seen on you today
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Then the way grew dark with care
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My heart trembled in despair
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I turned my eyes to
my Lord with a prayer
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Through the dimness of the dawn
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Deeper truth then I was drawn
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Oh such hope even
brighter than before
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Oh arise, let us run, for
the morning light has come
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And the darkness of
the night flies away
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He has risen, He has
come, and our home He has won
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Let His glory be
seen on you today
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There a lonely soul I saw
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Standing near but yet withdrawn
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I bade him come to
the land bright and fair
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With hope's glimmer in his eye,
to the darkness said goodbye
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Then we sang a
note higher than before
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Oh arise, let us run, for
the morning light has come
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And the darkness of
the night flies away
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He has risen, He has
come, and our home He has won
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Let His glory be
seen on you today
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Let His glory
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Be seen on you today
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I'd like to send my warmest
greetings to each one of you
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at the GYC
conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
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I'm really glad
that you've decided
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to attend this year's GYC,
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and I'm certain that you will
receive a tremendous blessing
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as you listen to
inspiring sermons,
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take time for
Bible study and prayer,
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attend biblically
based practical seminars,
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participate in the witnessing
and outreach opportunities,
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and fellowship together.
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You know, GYC is a great
place to grow your faith,
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and your theme for this year,
Arise, based on Isaiah 60:1-3,
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couldn't be more timely.
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Let's take a moment
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and just read the text together.
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Isaiah 60:1-3, "Arise,
shine, for your light has come.
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And the glory of the
Lord is risen upon you.
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For behold, the
darkness shall cover the earth,
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and deep darkness the people.
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But the Lord
will arise over you,
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and His glory
will be seen upon you.
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The Gentiles shall
come to your light,
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and kings to the
brightness of your rising."
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If ever there was a time
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when the earth was covered
with darkness, it is now.
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If ever there was a time
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when deep darkness
enveloped people, it is now.
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If ever there was a time
when people need the hope
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and salvation that only
Jesus can bring, it is now.
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And praise God, He calls
us, indeed He commands us
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to arise, shine for
your light has come.
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But notice that the
very next sentence reminds us
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that we cannot do
this of ourselves.
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It says, "And the glory of
the Lord is risen upon you."
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It's because of
the glory of the Lord,
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because of His light
that shines in and through us,
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that we can be
a light to others.
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This can happen as you are part
of total member involvement,
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but this can only happen
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when you are daily and
fully surrendered to Him.
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In that marvelous book
Christ's Object Lessons,
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I hope you're familiar
with that book, page 159,
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we read the following
and I'm going to quote.
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"No man can
empty himself of self.
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We can only consent for
Christ to accomplish the work.
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Then the language
of the soul will be,
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Lord, take my heart,
for I cannot give it.
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It is Thy property.
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Keep it pure, for I
cannot keep it for Thee.
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Save me in spite of myself,
my weak, unchristlike self.
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Mold me, fashion me,
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raise me into a
pure and holy atmosphere,
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where the rich
current of Thy love
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can flow through my soul."
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What a marvelous quotation.
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I'm wondering do you
want this to be your prayer.
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Do you long for
Jesus to shine through you
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as you
participate in GYC activities,
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both at the
convention and at home?
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The Lord has invited
us to be His messengers,
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proclaiming to the
world that He is coming soon,
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that He is the Creator God
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and that He is the
only one we should worship.
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He bids us to invite others
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to come into His
precious remnant church.
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My dear GYC friends,
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we are truly on the
very edge of eternity.
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I believe with all my heart
that Jesus is coming very soon.
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Now is truly the
time to arise and shine.
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Now as I close this
brief video message to you,
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I just would like to have
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a very special
word of prayer for you
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asking that God will
bless every one of you
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during this GYC
convention and beyond.
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I know that God will help you
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to proclaim the
powerful good news
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that Jesus is coming very soon
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and that the three angels'
messages of Revelation 14
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will ring in clarity from
your lips and your actions.
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As you put into
practice the practical steps
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that Jesus has given
to us in reaching people,
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His method of bringing
people to the foot of the cross.
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And remember,
you can only do that
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as you arise and
shine through His power.
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Let's pray.
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Father in heaven,
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be with a special
group of young people
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meeting in Phoenix,
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You know each name,
You know each person,
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You don't even have to
look at their name badges,
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You know them since
they were young people,
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You knew them even
before they were born.
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Lord, You know the
potential of every single one
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to be part of arising
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and shining
with the glory of God
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as their power
to share with others
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the powerful message
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that Jesus has made a
way of escape for each of us,
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and that He's coming very soon,
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and that He has given
us wonderful blessings
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and instructions from the Bible
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in order to
understand Him better
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and to be equipped to share
the precious advent message
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at home, at
school, in the community,
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and yes, around the world.
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So, Lord, empower every
one of these young people
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and help them to
arise through Your power.
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I commit them into your care,
00:10:02.83\00:10:04.73
help them to have a
wonderful GYC convention.
00:10:04.77\00:10:08.60
And, Lord, help
them to be on fire
00:10:08.64\00:10:11.74
for the new year of 2018
00:10:11.77\00:10:15.18
as you use them
in a powerful way
00:10:15.21\00:10:18.05
pointing to Your soon coming.
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In Jesus' name we ask it, amen.
00:10:20.25\00:10:25.12
Our scripture reading tonight
00:10:25.15\00:10:26.62
is found in the
book of John 3:30.
00:10:26.65\00:10:31.06
That's John 3:30.
00:10:31.09\00:10:37.60
And it says, "He must increase,
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but I must decrease."
00:10:41.44\00:10:46.14
How many of you sit next
to the same person or people
00:10:46.17\00:10:49.51
every Sabbath at church?
00:10:49.54\00:10:52.05
And how many of you
have started to notice
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consistent quirks
with these people?
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I sit next to the
same guy every Sabbath,
00:10:58.49\00:11:02.56
and every week, he falls asleep
00:11:02.59\00:11:04.79
during the pastor sermon.
00:11:04.83\00:11:07.36
Now I have to warn you that
pastor is the speaker tonight.
00:11:07.40\00:11:12.57
But the guy is our
five-month old son.
00:11:12.60\00:11:17.21
And sermon time, kind of,
00:11:17.24\00:11:18.97
is at the same
time as his nap time.
00:11:19.01\00:11:22.18
Moise Ratsara, in addition
to being a loving father,
00:11:22.21\00:11:25.71
and husband, son, and
brother, he's also a devoted
00:11:25.75\00:11:30.42
and faithful ordained
Seventh-day Adventist minister,
00:11:30.45\00:11:33.56
and he's the president of GYC.
00:11:33.59\00:11:36.59
He leads the executive committee
00:11:36.62\00:11:38.63
that plans the annual
conference you are attending,
00:11:38.66\00:11:41.60
as well as inspiring
young people all over the world
00:11:41.63\00:11:45.17
in the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:11:45.20\00:11:47.57
He has a burden and a
passion for young adult ministry
00:11:47.60\00:11:51.87
and a deep desire
to see all young people
00:11:51.91\00:11:55.14
actively participating
00:11:55.18\00:11:57.08
in the movement
to end all movements.
00:11:57.11\00:11:59.91
The spreading of the
three angels' message
00:11:59.95\00:12:02.18
to the whole world
00:12:02.22\00:12:03.55
in anticipation of
Jesus is soon coming.
00:12:03.59\00:12:08.19
By their very
nature, movements move.
00:12:08.22\00:12:12.63
Moise tonight will be
telling us where GYC is going.
00:12:12.66\00:12:17.67
And he will be telling us
how to avoid certain pitfalls
00:12:17.70\00:12:20.74
that could
derail us along the way.
00:12:20.77\00:12:23.81
I'll be praying for him now,
00:12:23.84\00:12:25.81
and then I ask that you
pray for him in your hearts
00:12:25.84\00:12:28.11
during the special
music and that you listen
00:12:28.14\00:12:30.25
to what he has to
say when he follows.
00:12:30.28\00:12:33.01
Let's pray.
00:12:33.05\00:12:35.32
Dear Heavenly
Father, we thank You so much
00:12:35.35\00:12:38.52
for bringing us
all here to Phoenix.
00:12:38.55\00:12:41.12
We thank You for the promise
00:12:41.16\00:12:42.49
that wherever two or three of us
00:12:42.52\00:12:44.36
are gathered in Your name
00:12:44.39\00:12:46.26
that You were
there with us also.
00:12:46.29\00:12:48.46
We pray that You would send
the Holy Spirit to be with us,
00:12:48.50\00:12:51.53
that You would open
our hearts and minds
00:12:51.57\00:12:53.40
to receive the
message prepared for tonight.
00:12:53.44\00:12:56.14
We pray that you
would be with Moise
00:12:56.17\00:12:57.77
and give him the words to say.
00:12:57.81\00:12:59.81
And we thank You
again for the love
00:12:59.84\00:13:01.44
that you have
shown us through Jesus.
00:13:01.48\00:13:03.58
We ask all of these things
00:13:03.61\00:13:04.95
in His wonderful
and mighty name, amen.
00:13:04.98\00:13:07.65
For God
00:13:22.53\00:13:26.50
So loved the world
00:13:26.53\00:13:31.17
God so loved the world
00:13:31.21\00:13:37.55
That He gave His only
00:13:37.58\00:13:44.62
Begotten Son
00:13:44.65\00:13:49.99
That whosoever believes
00:13:53.13\00:14:00.94
Whoever believes
00:14:00.97\00:14:07.81
Shall not perish
00:14:07.84\00:14:14.18
But have everlasting life
00:14:14.22\00:14:21.96
For God so loved
00:14:21.99\00:14:26.80
This fallen world
00:14:26.83\00:14:30.07
He left His glory above
00:14:30.10\00:14:37.47
To carry my cross
00:14:37.51\00:14:44.28
For God so loved
00:14:44.31\00:14:51.19
Our world
00:14:51.22\00:14:55.12
For He came
00:15:17.45\00:15:21.32
Not to condemn
00:15:21.35\00:15:25.25
He came not to condemn
00:15:25.29\00:15:31.49
But that the world through Him
00:15:31.53\00:15:37.67
Might have everlasting life
00:15:37.70\00:15:45.11
For God so loved
00:15:45.14\00:15:49.74
This fallen world
00:15:49.78\00:15:52.75
He left His glory above
00:15:52.78\00:15:59.69
To carry my cross
00:15:59.72\00:16:06.06
For God so loved
00:16:06.09\00:16:12.67
For God so loved
00:16:12.70\00:16:19.84
For God so loved
00:16:19.87\00:16:26.38
Our world
00:16:29.48\00:16:33.69
Amen.
00:16:44.10\00:16:46.67
Hello, GYC.
00:16:46.70\00:16:49.54
Good evening.
00:16:49.57\00:16:51.01
Amen. Amen.
00:16:51.04\00:16:53.11
Thank you so much
for that beautiful song.
00:16:53.14\00:16:55.74
What a privilege it
is to be here with you
00:16:55.78\00:16:59.15
and to have the keynote address.
00:16:59.18\00:17:01.98
I feel very humbled.
00:17:02.02\00:17:04.35
I have a few
things before I begin,
00:17:04.39\00:17:06.49
but I got to tell
you that I am blessed
00:17:06.52\00:17:10.06
to have a beautiful wife Amy
00:17:10.09\00:17:11.99
and thank you for
that introduction.
00:17:12.03\00:17:14.33
I believe that my little boy
00:17:14.36\00:17:15.93
as well is
sleeping at this time.
00:17:15.96\00:17:19.20
So the little man hopefully
will be blessed somehow.
00:17:19.23\00:17:25.31
I want to thank
the GYC volunteers
00:17:25.34\00:17:28.38
for all of the
dedication and the labor of love
00:17:28.41\00:17:31.35
that you have
given for the movement.
00:17:31.38\00:17:34.85
A lot of the things that you see
00:17:34.88\00:17:37.09
are done out of
sacrifice and love for you.
00:17:37.12\00:17:41.82
I want to thank them.
00:17:41.86\00:17:44.16
Also, I would like
to thank my family,
00:17:44.19\00:17:47.40
especially my wife and
my parents for their love,
00:17:47.43\00:17:51.07
for their prayers, and
for their great sacrifice.
00:17:51.10\00:17:55.10
If it were not for them,
I would not be here today,
00:17:55.14\00:17:58.87
and I want to thank them.
00:17:58.91\00:18:00.88
Also, I want to thank Pathways,
and especially Lela Lewis,
00:18:00.91\00:18:05.01
I know she's here, for showing
the heart of Christ in Phoenix,
00:18:05.05\00:18:11.52
helping people
receive free healthcare
00:18:11.55\00:18:15.26
but also
blessing them spiritually
00:18:15.29\00:18:17.93
that they might be a
blessing to the world.
00:18:17.96\00:18:20.60
Thank you so much,
00:18:20.63\00:18:21.96
Pathways and every volunteer
of Pathway that is here.
00:18:22.00\00:18:24.90
Thank you so
much for your service.
00:18:24.93\00:18:26.97
On behalf of GYC, we
just want to thank you
00:18:27.00\00:18:30.17
for giving your
time to do the best work,
00:18:30.21\00:18:32.94
and that is
sharing the love of Christ.
00:18:32.97\00:18:35.98
I also would like to thank
00:18:36.01\00:18:37.35
the Jackson and
Bunker Hill Church.
00:18:37.38\00:18:40.38
You are watching right now,
00:18:40.42\00:18:42.12
and I just want to
thank you for all the things
00:18:42.15\00:18:44.29
that you have done
for bearing with me
00:18:44.32\00:18:46.86
as I travel across the world
00:18:46.89\00:18:49.52
to help this generation
get a picture of Christ.
00:18:49.56\00:18:53.03
I just want to
thank my local churches,
00:18:53.06\00:18:56.00
and I also would like to
thank above everything else
00:18:56.03\00:18:59.97
God for His loving kindness
00:19:00.00\00:19:02.37
and for being
so patient with us.
00:19:02.40\00:19:05.41
Let us have a word
of prayer together.
00:19:09.24\00:19:14.65
Dear Heavenly Father,
00:19:14.68\00:19:16.02
what a privilege
it is to be here.
00:19:16.05\00:19:19.59
As we have gathered
00:19:19.62\00:19:20.96
from all four corners of
the world in the thousands,
00:19:20.99\00:19:24.86
we have come because we believe,
00:19:24.89\00:19:26.66
Father, that You
want to come soon,
00:19:26.70\00:19:29.43
that You want to come even more
00:19:29.46\00:19:31.17
than we want to see You come.
00:19:31.20\00:19:33.84
And, Father, this is
Your time I am but a man.
00:19:33.87\00:19:37.54
Hide me behind Your
cross, and may You speak.
00:19:37.57\00:19:41.21
In the name of
Jesus we pray, amen.
00:19:41.24\00:19:46.35
There were two
Moravian in missionaries
00:19:46.38\00:19:48.78
by the name of Johann and David,
00:19:48.82\00:19:52.62
two young men,
Moravian brethrens
00:19:52.65\00:19:55.72
in Herrnhut,
Germany, in the 1700s.
00:19:55.76\00:19:59.93
These two men received
the call to mission work,
00:19:59.96\00:20:03.53
and they were dedicated
to go to the end of the earth
00:20:03.57\00:20:06.87
to share the love of God.
00:20:06.90\00:20:09.80
They got a call
to go to an island
00:20:09.84\00:20:11.84
in the West Indies, Saint Croix,
00:20:11.87\00:20:15.18
but the only way
00:20:15.21\00:20:16.54
that they could
go to that island
00:20:16.58\00:20:18.65
was that either
they were a slave owner
00:20:18.68\00:20:22.85
or they were slaves.
00:20:22.88\00:20:25.59
These two men were
middle class young men
00:20:25.62\00:20:28.32
in the prime of their life.
00:20:28.36\00:20:30.96
But they received
the call to missions.
00:20:30.99\00:20:34.70
So they decided to
sell themselves as slaves
00:20:34.73\00:20:39.90
and go to the end of the earth.
00:20:39.93\00:20:44.37
As they went into the boat,
they looked at their families
00:20:44.41\00:20:47.11
and they said, "May
the lamb that was slain
00:20:47.14\00:20:51.11
receive the
reward of His suffering."
00:20:51.15\00:20:55.52
And there they went as slaves
00:20:55.55\00:20:58.65
to share the
love of Jesus Christ
00:20:58.69\00:21:02.52
to the people
somewhere in the world.
00:21:02.56\00:21:07.70
These men knew
where they were going.
00:21:07.73\00:21:11.93
But I want to ask
you the question today,
00:21:11.97\00:21:14.00
GYC, do you know
where you're going.
00:21:14.04\00:21:17.54
We know that our
destination is for heaven,
00:21:17.57\00:21:21.58
everything that we
do, every ounce of GYC,
00:21:21.61\00:21:26.45
and so that each
and every one of us
00:21:26.48\00:21:28.55
can be in the
kingdom of God together.
00:21:28.58\00:21:33.19
We know where we want to
go, but how do we get there?
00:21:33.22\00:21:37.39
And today, by the grace of God,
00:21:37.43\00:21:39.09
I want to give a
clear vision and a mission
00:21:39.13\00:21:41.76
for where GYC is
going and where we must go.
00:21:41.80\00:21:47.54
Number one, where do we go?
00:21:47.57\00:21:49.37
We need to go back to God.
00:21:49.40\00:21:52.54
To the Bible and to
the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:21:52.57\00:21:56.08
reading the Bible and
the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:21:56.11\00:21:59.01
Turn your Bibles
with me to John 5:39
00:21:59.05\00:22:04.69
and we will see why.
00:22:04.72\00:22:08.02
John 5:39.
00:22:08.06\00:22:12.03
In John 5:39, this
is what the Bible says.
00:22:15.36\00:22:21.50
It says, "You
search the Scriptures,
00:22:21.54\00:22:23.77
for in them you think you have,"
00:22:23.81\00:22:25.17
what, my friends?
00:22:25.21\00:22:26.94
"You have eternal life.
00:22:26.98\00:22:29.11
And these are
they which," do what?
00:22:29.14\00:22:32.35
"Testify of Me."
00:22:32.38\00:22:35.08
Who is speaking?
00:22:35.12\00:22:36.99
It is Jesus Christ.
00:22:37.02\00:22:39.69
You see, the Bible is
not just another good book,
00:22:39.72\00:22:42.89
it is an encounter with God,
00:22:42.92\00:22:45.59
it is the mind and the heart
of God made audible for men.
00:22:45.63\00:22:51.53
The Word of God is
our only rule of faith
00:22:51.57\00:22:54.30
and practice as a people.
00:22:54.34\00:22:56.67
By the Word of God,
we are to be judged.
00:22:56.71\00:22:59.77
Without the Word of God,
my friends, we are nothing,
00:22:59.81\00:23:03.24
and Moise is nothing
without the Word of God.
00:23:03.28\00:23:09.68
Our vision and life must
be driven by the Word of God
00:23:09.72\00:23:15.42
and by the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:23:15.46\00:23:18.06
Every ounce of GYC
must exist to propel,
00:23:18.09\00:23:22.70
to inspire this generation
00:23:22.73\00:23:25.53
to have a deep
abiding relationship with God.
00:23:25.57\00:23:30.61
If we are not
leading people to Christ,
00:23:30.64\00:23:33.07
then we need to stop existing.
00:23:33.11\00:23:36.75
That is where we must go
00:23:36.78\00:23:39.85
to the Word of God.
00:23:39.88\00:23:44.15
But what about the Spirit
of Prophecy you might ask.
00:23:44.19\00:23:47.46
Do we need to read
the Spirit of Prophecy?
00:23:47.49\00:23:50.93
I want to tell you a story.
00:23:50.96\00:23:52.29
A couple weeks
ago, I was on my tour
00:23:52.33\00:23:53.80
to the beautiful
continent of Africa.
00:23:53.83\00:23:56.67
If you could tell
that I have an accent,
00:23:56.70\00:23:58.43
that's because I am an African.
00:23:58.47\00:24:00.90
And I went to that
beautiful continent
00:24:04.11\00:24:05.81
and I was coming
back on a 28-hour journey.
00:24:05.84\00:24:11.65
I wanted to see my wife
and my beautiful little man,
00:24:11.68\00:24:16.22
but what was before me
was four inches of snow,
00:24:16.25\00:24:21.49
very cold, dark, and fog.
00:24:21.52\00:24:25.06
I had my trusted
little car, my Honda Civic,
00:24:25.09\00:24:28.33
and if you have a Honda
Civic, you know it is reliable.
00:24:28.36\00:24:31.57
But
unfortunately, my Honda Civic
00:24:31.60\00:24:33.67
was not heavy
enough to face the snow,
00:24:33.70\00:24:37.31
but I wanted to be home.
00:24:37.34\00:24:39.34
Though I had to
travel for very far,
00:24:39.37\00:24:42.11
I wanted to be home.
00:24:42.14\00:24:45.31
My wife told
me, "Sweetheart, Mo,
00:24:45.35\00:24:48.95
I know you're a dedicated
guy, but you could rent a motel
00:24:48.98\00:24:52.39
or stay in a motel for the night
00:24:52.42\00:24:54.52
till things are more safe."
00:24:54.56\00:24:57.56
But I wanted to be home.
00:24:57.59\00:24:59.86
So I went through the snow
through four inches of snow,
00:24:59.89\00:25:03.57
roads that were unplowed
from Detroit to Lansing,
00:25:03.60\00:25:07.07
driving at about 35
miles an hour on the highway.
00:25:07.10\00:25:12.24
Left and right, there
were cars on the ditches,
00:25:12.27\00:25:16.71
but I was heading home.
00:25:16.75\00:25:18.75
I knew the way home,
00:25:18.78\00:25:20.88
but it was so dark that
I could not see properly
00:25:20.92\00:25:23.42
but I was thankful for those
two red lights in front of me
00:25:23.45\00:25:28.79
that were leading
me all the way home.
00:25:28.82\00:25:32.53
The Spirit of
Prophecy is still light.
00:25:32.56\00:25:36.56
Though it is the lesser
light, it is still a light.
00:25:36.60\00:25:40.17
And according to
Revelation 19:10,
00:25:40.20\00:25:43.81
"It is the faith
of Jesus Christ."
00:25:43.84\00:25:48.94
We're living in a
very dark world today.
00:25:48.98\00:25:52.65
The year 2017 has been
a year to be remembered.
00:25:52.68\00:25:59.35
As we're going
through this life,
00:25:59.39\00:26:02.32
more than ever before,
00:26:02.36\00:26:04.03
young people just like you and I
00:26:04.06\00:26:06.39
need to be in the Word of God
00:26:06.43\00:26:09.03
reading as well
the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:26:09.06\00:26:12.77
Read it for yourself.
00:26:12.80\00:26:14.80
Start with Great Controversy,
read The Desire of Ages,
00:26:14.84\00:26:18.21
read Patriarchs and Prophets,
read Ministry of Healing.
00:26:18.24\00:26:22.04
It talks about Jesus Christ.
00:26:26.11\00:26:29.12
It has the same
author, the Holy Spirit.
00:26:29.15\00:26:32.65
Read it.
00:26:32.69\00:26:34.02
This is where we
must go as a movement
00:26:34.06\00:26:39.06
to the Word of God.
00:26:39.09\00:26:42.96
Number two, where do we go?
00:26:43.00\00:26:46.57
We must go to
our local churches.
00:26:46.60\00:26:50.71
You know, I
like this visual aid,
00:26:50.74\00:26:55.01
to go to the local church.
00:26:55.04\00:26:57.51
You might say, "Well, Moise,
00:26:57.55\00:26:58.88
why do we have to go
to the local church?"
00:26:58.91\00:27:02.18
The book Education,
page 265 to 266 says this,
00:27:02.22\00:27:07.32
"The church is
organized for service.
00:27:07.36\00:27:09.89
And in a life of
service to Christ,
00:27:09.92\00:27:12.13
connection with the church
is one of the first steps.
00:27:12.16\00:27:15.96
Loyalty to Christ demands
00:27:16.00\00:27:17.77
the faithful
performance of church duties.
00:27:17.80\00:27:22.97
This is an important
part of one's training,
00:27:23.00\00:27:25.71
and in a church imbued
with the Master's life,
00:27:25.74\00:27:28.84
it will lead directly
00:27:28.88\00:27:30.31
to efforts to
the world without."
00:27:30.35\00:27:34.48
The Seventh-day
Adventist church, my friend,
00:27:34.52\00:27:37.29
and I'm saying this from
love, is a grassroots movement
00:27:37.32\00:27:43.53
but it's the apple of God's eye.
00:27:43.56\00:27:47.16
More than ever before,
00:27:51.80\00:27:53.77
we need young people to be
involved in their local church,
00:27:53.80\00:27:58.64
to be involved in
their local church,
00:27:58.67\00:28:00.68
not only be on the
sign lines and be attendees,
00:28:00.71\00:28:03.68
but you are, my
friends, participant,
00:28:03.71\00:28:08.15
you are GYC, you
are this generation.
00:28:08.18\00:28:14.02
And GYC must exist to equip,
00:28:14.06\00:28:18.79
to inspire this generation
00:28:18.83\00:28:21.93
to be actively
engaged in their local church.
00:28:21.96\00:28:26.70
It is the apple of God's eye,
00:28:26.74\00:28:28.80
and this is where we must go
00:28:28.84\00:28:31.17
to our local
church and be involved.
00:28:31.21\00:28:35.48
But someone might say,
00:28:35.51\00:28:36.85
"Well, Mo, my local
church is not mission-minded,
00:28:36.88\00:28:40.05
you don't
understand my situation."
00:28:40.08\00:28:43.85
I have news for you, my
friend, you are the church.
00:28:43.89\00:28:47.76
Amen.
00:28:47.79\00:28:49.19
You be
mission-minded, you be focus,
00:28:49.22\00:28:52.59
you give Bible studies,
00:28:52.63\00:28:54.23
you be involved,
start a small group,
00:28:54.26\00:28:56.46
start a ministry that supports
00:28:56.50\00:28:59.00
the Seventh-day
Adventist Church.
00:28:59.03\00:29:03.61
Daniel's church was in captivity
00:29:03.64\00:29:06.54
because it was
not mission-minded,
00:29:06.57\00:29:09.78
but Daniel never
used that as an excuse
00:29:09.81\00:29:12.75
not to be faithful to God.
00:29:12.78\00:29:16.08
Though whatever was
happening in his local church,
00:29:16.12\00:29:18.85
whatever it was,
Daniel purposed in his heart
00:29:18.89\00:29:21.86
to be faithful,
and you be faithful.
00:29:21.89\00:29:26.39
This is your church.
00:29:26.43\00:29:31.53
Somebody else might say,
00:29:31.57\00:29:32.90
"Well, Mo, you don't
understand my situation.
00:29:32.93\00:29:35.50
In my local church,
I'm the only young person.
00:29:35.54\00:29:39.87
I can't relate to
anybody, I am there,
00:29:39.91\00:29:42.11
they are not youth-friendly,
00:29:42.14\00:29:43.75
a lot of their programs
are not for young people."
00:29:43.78\00:29:48.88
My friend, don't ask
what the church can do for you
00:29:48.92\00:29:52.29
but ask what you
can do for your church.
00:29:52.32\00:29:54.79
Amen.
00:29:54.82\00:29:57.79
This is your church.
00:29:57.83\00:30:00.86
Or is there
politics in the church?
00:30:00.90\00:30:03.03
Yes.
00:30:03.06\00:30:04.40
Is it right?
00:30:04.43\00:30:05.77
Never.
00:30:05.80\00:30:07.97
But you fill yourself
with the Holy Spirit every day,
00:30:08.00\00:30:11.24
be the change that you
seek to see in the world.
00:30:11.27\00:30:16.38
The church is not
perfect, but God is,
00:30:16.41\00:30:20.28
and this is His church.
00:30:20.32\00:30:21.98
When people go
alone, my friend, you arise.
00:30:27.49\00:30:31.56
Amen.
00:30:31.59\00:30:32.93
Go to your local church,
00:30:32.96\00:30:34.30
bring and win as soul to Christ,
00:30:34.33\00:30:36.36
do not be
satisfied with anything else
00:30:36.40\00:30:39.03
but to expand
the kingdom of God.
00:30:39.07\00:30:42.57
You might say, "Well, Mo,
00:30:42.60\00:30:44.11
I don't know
much about the Bible,
00:30:44.14\00:30:45.91
I'm a young person,
my life is messed up."
00:30:45.94\00:30:50.08
Go, talk to the
woman at the well.
00:30:50.11\00:30:51.81
Don't make excuses
when God has called you.
00:30:56.28\00:31:01.62
Go.
00:31:01.66\00:31:05.13
This leads me to my third point,
00:31:05.16\00:31:07.93
where are we going?
00:31:07.96\00:31:10.90
To the end of the earth.
00:31:10.93\00:31:14.60
Mission.
00:31:14.64\00:31:15.97
Mission.
00:31:16.00\00:31:17.34
Mission.
00:31:17.37\00:31:18.71
God gave us a great
commission, not a great option.
00:31:18.74\00:31:24.45
And love for God and
the love for His church
00:31:24.48\00:31:27.78
will lead us automatically
to love His people.
00:31:27.82\00:31:33.32
I get very worried at times
00:31:33.36\00:31:35.22
when people have to be
encouraged to go to missions,
00:31:35.26\00:31:38.83
and they say
they are Christians.
00:31:38.86\00:31:42.70
If you love God,
it will be automatic.
00:31:42.73\00:31:48.00
We need a love today
00:31:48.04\00:31:49.70
for the love of
man has grown cold.
00:31:49.74\00:31:54.28
But we need a love today
00:31:54.31\00:31:56.78
that will lead us to
go to the ends of the year
00:31:56.81\00:31:59.21
that is not ruled by
sensationalism or feelings
00:31:59.25\00:32:04.82
but by choice,
principle, and sacrifice.
00:32:04.85\00:32:08.72
Amen.
00:32:08.76\00:32:10.36
It is a love that does not
flinch in the face of hardship
00:32:10.39\00:32:13.19
or worldly success or
the pool of mediocrity,
00:32:13.23\00:32:16.56
fame, power, or money.
00:32:16.60\00:32:19.27
It is a love that calls a family
00:32:19.30\00:32:21.14
to live the
comforts of their home.
00:32:21.17\00:32:24.54
And come to an event
called Pathways on Christmas
00:32:24.57\00:32:29.04
and give up their resources
00:32:29.08\00:32:30.95
that they can
help somebody else.
00:32:30.98\00:32:34.42
It is a love that not
only seeks to feed the homeless
00:32:34.45\00:32:39.42
but to save as
well that homeless man
00:32:39.45\00:32:41.56
or that homeless lady.
00:32:41.59\00:32:42.92
It is a love that
drives a man or woman
00:32:45.96\00:32:48.23
in the cold of
winter to knock on doors
00:32:48.26\00:32:51.07
for couple of hours.
00:32:51.10\00:32:53.90
It is a love that
propels a man or a woman
00:32:53.94\00:32:57.51
making six digit figures
to go to the ends of the earth
00:32:57.54\00:33:00.88
and be a volunteer
and work on a stipend.
00:33:00.91\00:33:05.41
It is a love that is
not ruled by social media,
00:33:05.45\00:33:09.38
the latest fads,
00:33:09.42\00:33:11.25
but drives a person
as outreach is going
00:33:11.29\00:33:13.56
there making photocopies
00:33:13.59\00:33:15.02
while nobody is watching
00:33:15.06\00:33:16.86
so that people
can have materials
00:33:16.89\00:33:18.76
to go knocking on doors.
00:33:18.79\00:33:21.30
It is a love that
drives a person to their knees
00:33:24.93\00:33:28.47
when nobody's watching,
00:33:28.50\00:33:30.81
praying for their family
member that has left the church.
00:33:30.84\00:33:36.28
It is a love that at times
00:33:36.31\00:33:37.81
might not be seen
by the naked eye...
00:33:37.85\00:33:40.05
but that is their
praying, praying, praying.
00:33:43.85\00:33:50.83
What the world needs today
00:33:50.86\00:33:52.26
is a love that
will drive young people
00:33:52.29\00:33:54.43
to the end of the earth.
00:33:54.46\00:33:57.10
Such a love will drive
you to sacrifice and pain
00:33:57.13\00:33:59.87
but also to joy and peace.
00:33:59.90\00:34:03.47
And to choose to have this love
00:34:03.51\00:34:05.11
is the only way I believe
00:34:05.14\00:34:06.98
to finish the work
in this generation.
00:34:07.01\00:34:11.45
There should be no more
loving person on this earth
00:34:11.48\00:34:15.98
than a Seventh-day Adventist,
00:34:16.02\00:34:19.99
especially a GYC-er.
00:34:20.02\00:34:23.32
The Bible says you need to
be known for your gentleness,
00:34:23.36\00:34:26.29
even in your
social media platforms.
00:34:26.33\00:34:28.83
We need love today,
we need the Holy Spirit,
00:34:32.73\00:34:38.17
we need to have a vision
of what God wants us to do,
00:34:38.21\00:34:43.98
we need a love that
will drive young people
00:34:44.01\00:34:48.68
to be fully furnished,
00:34:48.72\00:34:50.89
to be willing to spend
time in the Word of God,
00:34:50.92\00:34:54.92
and learning all things.
00:34:54.96\00:34:58.19
A love that will drive a person
to have a biblical worldview
00:34:58.23\00:35:01.76
and GYC must exist,
00:35:01.80\00:35:05.30
directly trained an
army of young people
00:35:05.33\00:35:08.37
who will be
disciples of Jesus Christ,
00:35:08.40\00:35:11.47
who are willing
to carry the message
00:35:11.51\00:35:13.44
of a crucified risen
00:35:13.48\00:35:15.28
and soon coming savior
to the end of the earth.
00:35:15.31\00:35:20.35
Every ounce of GYC must exist
00:35:20.38\00:35:26.52
to further the mission
00:35:26.55\00:35:29.82
of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:35:29.86\00:35:32.46
God's church.
00:35:32.49\00:35:33.83
Jesus says if we want
to accomplish this mission,
00:35:40.00\00:35:42.37
however, we must deny ourselves,
00:35:42.40\00:35:45.31
take up our cross
daily and follow Christ.
00:35:45.34\00:35:49.71
Not follow men, follow Christ.
00:35:49.74\00:35:53.92
Obedience is what
God is calling us to.
00:35:53.95\00:35:58.99
Not because we have to,
00:35:59.02\00:36:00.36
and not because we're legalists,
00:36:00.39\00:36:03.09
but because we
thirst for the glory of God
00:36:03.12\00:36:06.66
because we are loyalists.
00:36:06.70\00:36:12.00
The Ten Commandments of God,
my friend, are not a burden,
00:36:12.03\00:36:16.40
they're the best
description of how to love God
00:36:16.44\00:36:19.01
and your neighbor,
00:36:19.04\00:36:21.48
the best
description of how to love.
00:36:21.51\00:36:25.81
Love is not a burden.
00:36:25.85\00:36:29.58
The greatest man ever born
of a woman according to Jesus,
00:36:29.62\00:36:33.56
John the Baptist
00:36:33.59\00:36:35.49
because he had the greatest
task ever given to a man,
00:36:35.52\00:36:40.00
the task of preparing the people
00:36:40.03\00:36:42.46
for the first coming
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:36:42.50\00:36:46.50
In the prime of his
life, John the Baptist,
00:36:46.53\00:36:49.50
face one of the greatest
crisis of his public ministry.
00:36:49.54\00:36:54.01
His disciples lost their
focus, lost their mission,
00:36:54.04\00:36:58.51
and lost their vision.
00:36:58.55\00:37:02.08
Turn your Bibles with me
00:37:02.12\00:37:03.45
to John 3:22-26.
00:37:03.49\00:37:09.16
John 3:22-26.
00:37:09.19\00:37:14.96
In John 3:22-26,
00:37:15.00\00:37:18.90
John the Baptist is
encountering something
00:37:18.93\00:37:21.90
he has never seen before.
00:37:21.94\00:37:24.47
In there, it
reads, "After these things
00:37:24.51\00:37:26.78
Jesus and His disciples
came into the land of Judea,
00:37:26.81\00:37:31.11
and there He
remained with them,"
00:37:31.15\00:37:32.98
and did what, my friends?
00:37:33.01\00:37:35.02
"And baptized.
00:37:35.05\00:37:36.99
Now John also was
baptizing in Aenon near Salim
00:37:37.02\00:37:40.56
because there
was much water there.
00:37:40.59\00:37:42.69
And they came and
were," what else, my friends?
00:37:42.72\00:37:45.96
"Were baptized.
00:37:45.99\00:37:47.56
For John had not yet
been thrown into prison.
00:37:47.60\00:37:51.17
Then there arose a dispute
00:37:51.20\00:37:53.20
between some of John's disciples
00:37:53.23\00:37:56.14
and the Jews about purification.
00:37:56.17\00:37:59.41
And they came to
John and said to him,
00:37:59.44\00:38:01.44
'Rabbi, He who was
with you beyond the Jordan,
00:38:01.48\00:38:05.05
to whom you have testified,
00:38:05.08\00:38:06.75
behold, He is,'"
doing what, my friends?
00:38:06.78\00:38:09.62
"'Baptizing, and some
people are coming to Him!'"
00:38:09.65\00:38:15.02
Are you seeing from the
Word, what did they say?
00:38:15.06\00:38:17.66
All people are going to Him.
00:38:17.69\00:38:20.23
Now who is telling
this to John the Baptist?
00:38:20.26\00:38:22.70
Are these some strangers?
00:38:22.73\00:38:25.47
They are the
disciples of John the Baptist.
00:38:25.50\00:38:28.97
They have been
given a commission
00:38:29.00\00:38:31.94
to prepare the people
00:38:31.97\00:38:33.31
for what coming of
the Lord Jesus Christ?
00:38:33.34\00:38:36.24
First coming of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:38:36.28\00:38:38.68
But five things got in their way
00:38:43.62\00:38:46.25
of accomplishing their mission.
00:38:46.29\00:38:50.69
Number one, the
disciples of John the Baptist
00:38:50.73\00:38:56.60
became jealous of, who?
00:38:56.63\00:38:58.47
The ministry of
Christ and Jesus Christ.
00:39:02.37\00:39:07.14
Can you imagine that?
00:39:07.18\00:39:09.44
Here there were,
one group was baptizing,
00:39:09.48\00:39:11.78
the other group was baptizing,
now we know John tells us
00:39:11.81\00:39:15.02
that Jesus
Himself was not baptizing,
00:39:15.05\00:39:17.62
but his
disciples were baptizing,
00:39:17.65\00:39:19.82
two groups of people baptizing,
and there's a controversy.
00:39:19.85\00:39:23.39
They get involved
in the controversy
00:39:23.43\00:39:25.13
about purification,
00:39:25.16\00:39:26.53
and here they are
saying to John the Baptist
00:39:26.56\00:39:29.76
that everybody
is going to Jesus,
00:39:29.80\00:39:32.07
and they are jealous
of who, the Son of God.
00:39:32.10\00:39:36.54
But whose work are
they thinking they're doing?
00:39:36.57\00:39:39.61
The work of God.
00:39:39.64\00:39:43.58
How did they get to that point?
00:39:43.61\00:39:47.62
Because they were
majoring in minors.
00:39:47.65\00:39:51.82
Number one,
00:39:51.85\00:39:53.86
to them they were more
worried about their numbers,
00:39:53.89\00:39:58.36
public perception
of the effectiveness
00:39:58.39\00:40:00.80
of their
ministry and purification
00:40:00.83\00:40:03.43
that they became jealous
of the Son of God Himself.
00:40:03.47\00:40:08.97
Majoring in minors.
00:40:09.00\00:40:13.61
Number two, how did
they lose their mission?
00:40:13.64\00:40:17.45
The disciples had
false litmus tests
00:40:17.48\00:40:19.88
and silver bullets.
00:40:19.91\00:40:21.72
In their mind,
only they could baptize
00:40:21.75\00:40:26.59
or probably have
the true purification,
00:40:26.62\00:40:28.92
after all, John the Baptist
was a voice in the wilderness,
00:40:28.96\00:40:33.50
revered and feared
by the religious leaders
00:40:33.53\00:40:36.26
and the rulers of the time.
00:40:36.30\00:40:39.30
Jesus Christ?
00:40:39.33\00:40:41.84
He did not look
like the Messiah.
00:40:41.87\00:40:45.17
He was a
carpenter from Nazareth.
00:40:45.21\00:40:50.01
He did not look like
the expectation of a King.
00:40:50.05\00:40:52.81
So since He did
not look like a king,
00:40:52.85\00:40:55.08
He must be an impostor.
00:40:55.12\00:41:00.26
Number three, how did
they lose their mission
00:41:00.29\00:41:02.26
and their vision?
00:41:02.29\00:41:04.83
They started to
fall into the sin
00:41:04.86\00:41:07.56
of what I call
institutional rivalry.
00:41:07.60\00:41:14.54
If they're not under our
brand, under our control,
00:41:14.57\00:41:20.91
then they are our enemy.
00:41:20.94\00:41:24.58
Yes, they might
be doing a good work
00:41:24.61\00:41:26.45
but they are not us.
00:41:26.48\00:41:29.58
They were so
caught up in the waves
00:41:29.62\00:41:31.32
that they were
creating that they could not see
00:41:31.35\00:41:33.72
that God was preparing a tsunami
00:41:33.76\00:41:35.59
in the Son of Jesus Christ.
00:41:35.62\00:41:37.26
They wanted to
become the managers
00:41:43.40\00:41:45.13
of the Holy Spirit.
00:41:45.17\00:41:48.17
So as a result, they
missed the Son of God.
00:41:48.20\00:41:54.88
They went to John the Baptist,
00:41:54.91\00:41:56.88
and they said, verse 26,
00:41:56.91\00:41:59.28
"And they came to John and said,
00:41:59.31\00:42:00.65
'Rabbi, He who was
with you beyond the Jordan,
00:42:00.68\00:42:02.78
to whom you have
testified, behold,
00:42:02.82\00:42:05.22
He is baptizing, and
all are coming to Him!'"
00:42:05.25\00:42:10.46
Now is that true that everybody
00:42:10.49\00:42:11.93
was going to Jesus
at this point in time?
00:42:11.96\00:42:14.93
Probably not, there
were still some people
00:42:14.96\00:42:16.56
that were going
probably to John the Baptist,
00:42:16.60\00:42:20.90
but they were jealous.
00:42:20.94\00:42:24.17
And when we have a
spirit of institutional rivalry,
00:42:24.21\00:42:27.24
my friend, it leads to a spirit
00:42:27.28\00:42:32.11
of insubordination.
00:42:32.15\00:42:35.42
The Bible doesn't
tell us for sure that
00:42:35.45\00:42:37.42
the disciples of John
did not respect Christ,
00:42:37.45\00:42:41.72
but we know that
some of John's disciples
00:42:41.76\00:42:44.03
would have been
present at Christ's baptism
00:42:44.06\00:42:46.49
because in verse
26, what did they say?
00:42:46.53\00:42:49.96
"And they came to
John and said to him,
00:42:50.00\00:42:51.40
'Rabbi,'" what?
00:42:51.43\00:42:52.77
"He who was with you," where?
00:42:52.80\00:42:55.17
"Beyond the Jordan."
00:42:55.20\00:42:58.87
That means that
some of them were there
00:42:58.91\00:43:01.28
and they witnessed
00:43:01.31\00:43:02.64
what God was doing in
acknowledging His son.
00:43:02.68\00:43:07.82
They also heard, by the
way, before we get to this point
00:43:07.85\00:43:11.29
in John 3, more than seven times
00:43:11.32\00:43:14.66
John is telling them
that he is not the Son of God,
00:43:14.69\00:43:18.09
he is not the Messiah.
00:43:18.13\00:43:21.43
But he
acknowledged who was the one,
00:43:21.46\00:43:23.16
the Lamb slain from
the foundation of the world
00:43:23.20\00:43:25.83
to take away the
sins of the world.
00:43:25.87\00:43:27.27
Who was that? Jesus.
00:43:27.30\00:43:30.41
Were His disciples there?
00:43:30.44\00:43:32.77
Probably, yes, because they said
00:43:32.81\00:43:34.14
they knew he was with
Jesus beyond the Jordan.
00:43:34.18\00:43:39.81
They knew that
Christ was the Messiah
00:43:39.85\00:43:44.59
or that John the
Baptist acknowledged
00:43:44.62\00:43:46.65
that he was the Messiah,
00:43:46.69\00:43:50.49
but because there were
succumbed by public pressure
00:43:50.53\00:43:53.06
and cultural expectation
by the Jews questioning
00:43:53.09\00:43:57.87
the effectiveness of
their ministry of purification.
00:43:57.90\00:44:02.40
They challenged the calling
of the public ministry of Christ
00:44:02.44\00:44:07.78
and indirectly the
voice of God Himself.
00:44:07.81\00:44:11.61
Consequently, number five,
therefore God who they were,
00:44:16.55\00:44:20.16
they were called to be ushers
in the first coming of God,
00:44:20.19\00:44:24.49
but here they were fighting
00:44:24.53\00:44:27.70
the very Son of God.
00:44:27.73\00:44:30.63
Such an event is
not new to mankind.
00:44:34.40\00:44:38.67
Heaven knows
about such an event.
00:44:38.71\00:44:44.85
But John the
Baptist was not caught
00:44:44.88\00:44:47.08
or swayed by this pressure,
00:44:47.12\00:44:50.29
though the Spirit
of Prophecy tells us
00:44:50.32\00:44:52.29
that at this point in time,
00:44:52.32\00:44:53.89
John the Baptist had
more influence than Christ,
00:44:53.92\00:44:56.89
but he was not swayed
by fame, money, or power.
00:45:01.46\00:45:05.47
Amen.
00:45:05.50\00:45:07.34
He knew where he was going.
00:45:07.37\00:45:10.81
So whatever road
block was in front of him,
00:45:10.84\00:45:13.34
it did not matter because
he knew where he was going.
00:45:13.38\00:45:16.24
Do you know where
you're going, GYC?
00:45:16.28\00:45:21.48
John the Baptist
did not major in minors
00:45:21.52\00:45:23.89
because he has
gone to the Word of God
00:45:23.92\00:45:26.05
and had read the
prophecy about the Messiah
00:45:26.09\00:45:29.22
and understood the meaning
behind a sanctuary service.
00:45:29.26\00:45:32.69
He knew He was the Lamb of God,
00:45:32.73\00:45:34.50
who takes us away
the sins of the world,
00:45:34.53\00:45:38.53
so he did not major in minors.
00:45:38.57\00:45:42.70
John the Baptist did not fall
00:45:42.74\00:45:45.14
for false litmus
tests of silver bullets,
00:45:45.17\00:45:48.71
again he knew what mattered
00:45:48.74\00:45:50.08
because he had
studied the Word of God
00:45:50.11\00:45:52.45
and he knew that though men
00:45:52.48\00:45:54.38
may be baptized with water,
00:45:54.42\00:45:56.15
Jesus will baptize with fire.
00:45:56.18\00:46:00.09
The ultimate purification.
00:46:00.12\00:46:02.06
And so he was not swayed
by institutional rivalry,
00:46:05.93\00:46:12.00
by self because he wanted
the glory of God above his own.
00:46:12.03\00:46:18.74
Amen.
00:46:18.77\00:46:21.51
A couple of months later,
00:46:21.54\00:46:22.88
we know what
happens to John the Baptist.
00:46:22.91\00:46:26.01
He is beheaded
00:46:26.05\00:46:28.38
alone in a dungeon.
00:46:28.42\00:46:30.39
But he knew where he was going.
00:46:33.56\00:46:38.99
Number four, John the
Baptist knew where he was going,
00:46:39.03\00:46:41.90
even towards the end of his life
00:46:41.93\00:46:43.50
as he was about to face death
00:46:43.53\00:46:46.23
and was tempted to question God.
00:46:46.27\00:46:51.51
If God, if Jesus
Christ was truly the Messiah
00:46:51.54\00:46:54.88
because the
pressures were getting more,
00:46:54.91\00:46:57.28
he was
experiencing more pressure
00:46:57.31\00:46:59.21
and more pressure
and more pressure,
00:46:59.25\00:47:03.08
but he yielded
to the voice of God
00:47:03.12\00:47:07.29
because God said,
00:47:07.32\00:47:08.66
Jesus Christ was the
Messiah, he accepted.
00:47:08.69\00:47:13.06
Though his feelings
maybe were not aligned,
00:47:13.09\00:47:16.36
but he chose
obedience over feeling.
00:47:16.40\00:47:20.04
And lastly, John the Baptist
did not forget who he was,
00:47:23.41\00:47:29.31
he did not forget who
he was in the eyes of God,
00:47:29.34\00:47:31.95
and what God had called him to.
00:47:31.98\00:47:34.82
He knew that he was
called to be a voice
00:47:34.85\00:47:37.59
in the wilderness
preparing the way for,
00:47:37.62\00:47:40.46
what, my friend?
The first coming of who?
00:47:40.49\00:47:43.76
Of Jesus Christ.
00:47:43.79\00:47:45.73
So when he heard the
voice, go with me to verse 29,
00:47:45.76\00:47:48.93
this is what He says.
00:47:48.96\00:47:51.10
"He who has the
bride is the bridegroom,
00:47:51.13\00:47:54.40
but the friend
of the bridegroom,
00:47:54.44\00:47:56.10
who stands and hears
his voice rejoices greatly
00:47:56.14\00:47:59.51
because of, "who, my friend?"
00:47:59.54\00:48:01.78
The bridegroom's voice.
00:48:01.81\00:48:04.25
Therefore this joy of mine is,
00:48:04.28\00:48:06.85
what, my
friends? "Is fulfilled."
00:48:06.88\00:48:13.46
And the famous verse,
"He must increase, but,"
00:48:13.49\00:48:19.06
what, my friends,
"I must decrease."
00:48:19.09\00:48:24.13
GYC, is it your vision today
00:48:31.71\00:48:35.94
to go back to the Word of God,
00:48:35.98\00:48:39.58
to go back to the Bible
to the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:48:39.61\00:48:44.52
to go back to the people of God
00:48:44.55\00:48:46.35
and be active in
your local church,
00:48:46.39\00:48:50.43
to go to the ends of the earth
00:48:50.46\00:48:52.46
and proclaim the
three angels' message?
00:48:52.49\00:48:57.73
Not for the glory of men
but for the glory of God,
00:48:57.77\00:49:01.04
I believe that this generation
can be the greatest generation
00:49:01.07\00:49:07.04
if they know
where they are going.
00:49:07.08\00:49:11.71
Jesus has allowed us to be alive
00:49:11.75\00:49:13.92
for such a time as this.
00:49:13.95\00:49:18.32
I am a church pastor.
00:49:18.35\00:49:21.52
And as a pastor,
some of you pastors
00:49:21.56\00:49:24.46
know that you bury people.
00:49:24.49\00:49:28.23
Most people call you either
when they are getting married
00:49:28.26\00:49:33.70
or when they're
burying a loved one.
00:49:33.74\00:49:39.17
On this day, I had to bury
a man who was 95 years old.
00:49:39.21\00:49:45.41
This man was no ordinary man,
00:49:45.45\00:49:48.12
he had a living
memory of John Harvey Kellog.
00:49:48.15\00:49:52.82
I have the privilege
00:49:52.85\00:49:54.19
of pastoring the oldest
congregation in Adventism,
00:49:54.22\00:49:57.33
Jackson Michigan,
where Ellen G White
00:49:57.36\00:50:00.50
had some of her
Great Controversy visions
00:50:00.53\00:50:03.26
and where she was
attacked by the devil.
00:50:03.30\00:50:07.00
My other church is
called Bunker Hill.
00:50:07.04\00:50:11.14
And this is where this man was,
00:50:11.17\00:50:12.77
and he had
actually as his record,
00:50:12.81\00:50:15.31
he had the record of some
of the pioneers tithe paying,
00:50:15.34\00:50:19.25
how they pay tithe.
00:50:19.28\00:50:21.68
Hand written copies of that.
00:50:21.72\00:50:25.22
This 95-year-old man
00:50:25.25\00:50:27.52
longed to see Jesus
come in his lifetime.
00:50:27.56\00:50:31.99
He had spent almost
every ounce of his life
00:50:32.03\00:50:35.16
trying to hasten the
Lord's coming, preaching,
00:50:35.20\00:50:39.27
being there almost
at every board meeting,
00:50:39.30\00:50:43.24
he could recite Psalm 91
00:50:43.27\00:50:46.41
by heart at 95 years old.
00:50:46.44\00:50:50.48
He had trained his mind,
00:50:50.51\00:50:52.31
everything that he could do
to hasten the Lord's coming,
00:50:52.35\00:50:57.25
but here I was burying him.
00:50:57.29\00:51:02.56
He had the chance, he
longed for the moment.
00:51:02.59\00:51:07.06
And we today, my friends,
00:51:07.10\00:51:08.83
can see Jesus
come in our lifetime.
00:51:08.86\00:51:10.83
Amen? Amen.
00:51:10.87\00:51:12.87
Are we going to
arise to the occasion?
00:51:12.90\00:51:17.87
Are we going to play church?
00:51:17.91\00:51:21.04
Are we going to play a religion?
00:51:21.08\00:51:24.15
Are we going to be like
John the Baptist's disciples
00:51:24.18\00:51:28.95
and fight against God?
00:51:28.98\00:51:34.12
More than any of us here
today, Jesus wants to come back.
00:51:34.16\00:51:41.06
And what he's
waiting for is for people
00:51:41.10\00:51:43.40
who are willing
to see Him come back
00:51:43.43\00:51:47.10
more than anything else.
00:51:47.14\00:51:52.71
I want to make an
appeal to you today,
00:51:52.74\00:51:54.68
my friend, three appeals.
00:51:54.71\00:51:58.31
The first appeal is
00:51:58.35\00:52:01.22
if you're willing to
commit to read the Bible
00:52:01.25\00:52:05.89
and the Conflict of
the Ages series in 2018,
00:52:05.92\00:52:11.23
all of it.
00:52:11.26\00:52:13.46
From Patriarchs,
from Prophets and Kings...
00:52:13.50\00:52:16.97
From Patriarchs and
Prophets, Prophets and Kings,
00:52:17.00\00:52:20.94
Desire of Ages,
Acts of the Apostles,
00:52:20.97\00:52:23.10
and Great Controversy,
00:52:23.14\00:52:26.07
and the Word of God.
00:52:26.11\00:52:29.41
If you're willing to
make that commitment,
00:52:29.44\00:52:31.51
I will invite you to stand
00:52:31.55\00:52:36.75
to read the Word
of God in one year
00:52:36.79\00:52:40.32
and the Conflict of the Ages.
00:52:40.36\00:52:42.06
Appeal number two,
00:52:45.66\00:52:47.40
it is if you are
willing to commit
00:52:52.77\00:52:56.71
to win one soul
to Christ in 2018.
00:52:56.74\00:53:03.71
If you say, "Lord, I
am committing to this,"
00:53:03.75\00:53:05.91
I will invite You
to come to the front
00:53:05.95\00:53:09.08
and make a public stand to say,
00:53:09.12\00:53:11.09
"Lord, I am
committing to leading one soul
00:53:11.12\00:53:14.89
to Christ in 2018."
00:53:14.92\00:53:19.73
Amen.
00:53:19.76\00:53:21.23
Amen.
00:53:29.84\00:53:31.84
Appeal number two...
00:53:31.87\00:53:34.34
Number three.
00:53:34.38\00:53:39.78
If you have sensed God's call
to call you to be a missionary
00:53:39.81\00:53:44.59
to the end of the earth,
00:53:44.62\00:53:47.36
and you know that
God is calling you,
00:53:47.39\00:53:49.32
you might be a CEO of a company,
00:53:49.36\00:53:53.46
you might be a lawyer,
00:53:53.50\00:53:55.56
you might be a
doctor, you might be a pastor,
00:53:55.60\00:54:00.34
but you know that your
call is to go overseas,
00:54:00.37\00:54:03.20
and you want to make
that commitment today
00:54:06.37\00:54:10.21
to not harden your heart
00:54:10.25\00:54:11.58
and go where God
is calling you to.
00:54:11.61\00:54:14.62
I invite you to
come to the front.
00:54:14.65\00:54:17.45
Amen.
00:54:17.49\00:54:22.52
Lastly, at every meeting,
00:54:22.56\00:54:27.10
I always want to ask
and give the opportunity,
00:54:27.13\00:54:31.83
if you have never
accepted Jesus Christ
00:54:31.87\00:54:35.44
as your personal Savior,
00:54:35.47\00:54:39.21
please come to the front.
00:54:39.24\00:54:41.88
Now I'll be down here
and I like to meet with you.
00:54:41.91\00:54:45.38
I like to pray with you
00:54:45.41\00:54:47.72
and I like to
give you an opportunity
00:54:47.75\00:54:50.42
to give your life to Christ.
00:54:50.45\00:54:53.96
Let's pray together, my friend.
00:54:57.23\00:54:58.76
Dear Heavenly Father,
00:55:01.86\00:55:04.93
today thousands of people
00:55:04.97\00:55:09.10
have committed
to read Your Word.
00:55:09.14\00:55:15.51
They have also
committed, Father,
00:55:15.54\00:55:17.81
to win a soul for Christ.
00:55:17.85\00:55:23.65
Some have also committed to
go to the ends of the earth,
00:55:23.69\00:55:28.12
to the end of the earth
00:55:28.16\00:55:31.23
and give their
life to You all the way.
00:55:31.26\00:55:35.76
Others, as well, have
committed to be baptized
00:55:35.80\00:55:40.24
or to accept Jesus
Christ for the first time
00:55:40.27\00:55:42.60
as their personal Savior.
00:55:42.64\00:55:44.17
Lord, I pray for them,
00:55:47.84\00:55:51.88
I want each and every
one of them to be in heaven,
00:55:51.91\00:55:57.12
including myself.
00:55:57.15\00:55:59.42
Save us, Lord. Save us, Lord.
00:55:59.45\00:56:02.82
And may we arise, arise,
00:56:02.86\00:56:05.79
and arise for light has come.
00:56:05.83\00:56:09.83
In the name of
Jesus we pray, amen.
00:56:09.86\00:56:13.94
Amen.
00:56:13.97\00:56:15.47
May the Lord be
with you, my friend,
00:56:15.50\00:56:17.54
and may He fill you
with His Holy Spirit.
00:56:17.57\00:56:21.34
Amen.
00:56:21.38\00:56:23.58