That summer was life changing,
00:00:34.33\00:00:36.06
not only did God
answered my prayer for a friend
00:00:36.10\00:00:39.20
but also someone
who I would look up to,
00:00:39.23\00:00:41.94
who spiritually
is led by the Lord.
00:00:41.97\00:00:43.57
It's the Jesus inside of
Ranela that shines so brightly.
00:00:43.61\00:00:50.18
Ranela loves her family.
00:00:50.21\00:00:51.61
All she does is talk
about how amazing her family is.
00:00:51.65\00:00:54.72
She loves God's
people, but most of all,
00:00:54.75\00:00:57.89
she loves the
creator of this universe.
00:00:57.92\00:01:00.82
She loves the
Jesus that died for her.
00:01:00.86\00:01:03.02
And I know
00:01:03.06\00:01:04.39
that you all will hear a message
00:01:04.43\00:01:05.76
from heaven today.
00:01:05.79\00:01:07.40
Her scripture reading
for this morning is found
00:01:07.43\00:01:09.56
in the Book of John,
if you have your Bibles,
00:01:09.60\00:01:11.43
you can turn there, John 6...
00:01:11.47\00:01:17.41
John 6:37.
00:01:17.44\00:01:23.61
As you're turning there,
00:01:23.65\00:01:25.21
the story of this
passage of scripture
00:01:25.25\00:01:27.95
is so special to me
00:01:27.98\00:01:29.32
because it's
the very first verse
00:01:29.35\00:01:30.75
Ranela ever shared with me.
00:01:30.79\00:01:32.12
I don't know if
she remembers that,
00:01:32.15\00:01:33.99
but I remember being in despair
in my Christian relationship
00:01:34.02\00:01:37.06
in walk with God.
00:01:37.09\00:01:38.56
But this is the
verse she shared,
00:01:38.59\00:01:40.93
and it's her scripture reading
for this morning, John 6:37-40.
00:01:40.96\00:01:45.50
It reads in,
00:01:45.53\00:01:46.87
"All that the Father
gives Me will come to Me,
00:01:46.90\00:01:49.00
and the one who comes to Me
I will by no means cast out.
00:01:49.04\00:01:52.61
For I have come
down from heaven,
00:01:52.64\00:01:53.98
not to do My own will,
00:01:54.01\00:01:55.34
but the will of Him who sent Me.
00:01:55.38\00:01:57.25
This is the will of
the Father who sent Me,
00:01:57.28\00:01:59.48
that of all He has given
Me I should lose nothing,
00:01:59.51\00:02:03.69
but should raise
it up at the last day.
00:02:03.72\00:02:05.79
And this is the
will of Him who sent Me,
00:02:05.82\00:02:08.09
that everyone who sees the Son
00:02:08.12\00:02:09.82
and believes in Him
may have everlasting life,
00:02:09.86\00:02:13.03
and I will raise him
up on that last day."
00:02:13.06\00:02:16.16
Let us have a prayer
00:02:16.20\00:02:17.53
for the Word this
morning and for Ranela.
00:02:17.57\00:02:20.47
Father in heaven, thank You
so much for the Word of God.
00:02:20.50\00:02:24.54
Thank You for the Holy Spirit.
00:02:24.57\00:02:26.04
We asked that You
would fill Ranela,
00:02:26.07\00:02:29.04
and that this morning
00:02:29.08\00:02:30.41
we would hear a
message from heaven.
00:02:30.45\00:02:32.11
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
00:02:32.15\00:02:34.58
As the earth is full of beauty
00:02:49.63\00:02:54.80
As the sun is full of light
00:02:54.84\00:02:59.64
As the oceans swell with water
00:02:59.67\00:03:04.48
And the
mountains burst with height
00:03:04.51\00:03:09.25
Overwhelm my soul with You
00:03:09.28\00:03:13.69
Lord Like the
waters fill the sea
00:03:13.72\00:03:19.29
Give me Jesus
00:03:19.33\00:03:22.00
Without measure
00:03:22.03\00:03:26.77
That my heart be full
00:03:26.80\00:03:31.94
Of Thee
00:03:31.97\00:03:36.08
Come as beauty that engulfs me
00:03:40.92\00:03:45.69
Come as joy that floods my soul
00:03:45.72\00:03:50.23
Come as wisdom to direct me
00:03:50.26\00:03:54.76
May I yield to Your control
00:03:54.80\00:03:59.50
Every thought and every motive
00:03:59.53\00:04:04.31
All of You and none of me
00:04:04.34\00:04:09.04
Give me Jesus
00:04:09.08\00:04:11.51
Without measure
00:04:11.55\00:04:16.12
That my heart be full
00:04:16.15\00:04:21.02
Of Thee
00:04:21.06\00:04:25.26
Be my power, reign within me
00:04:29.70\00:04:34.24
Vanquish every wrong desire
00:04:34.27\00:04:38.77
Be my purpose, be my passion
00:04:38.81\00:04:43.21
Set my languid soul a-fire
00:04:43.24\00:04:47.88
Every word and every action
00:04:47.92\00:04:52.42
For Your glory, this my plea
00:04:52.45\00:04:57.16
Give me Jesus without measure
00:04:57.19\00:05:03.97
That my heart be full
00:05:04.00\00:05:08.04
Of Thee
00:05:08.07\00:05:13.27
Jesus
00:05:13.31\00:05:17.18
Give Me Jesus, Jesus
00:05:17.21\00:05:23.69
That my heart be full
00:05:23.72\00:05:28.36
Of Thee
00:05:28.39\00:05:32.09
May my life exalt You only
00:05:36.50\00:05:41.27
Every breath lift up Your name
00:05:41.30\00:05:45.74
Fill my being with Your Spirit
00:05:45.77\00:05:50.11
Let no empty part remain
00:05:50.15\00:05:54.65
Purge the dross
and melt the coldness
00:05:54.68\00:05:59.35
Conquer sin to set me free
00:05:59.39\00:06:04.26
Give me Jesus Give me Jesus
00:06:04.29\00:06:09.43
Without measure Without measure
00:06:09.46\00:06:15.27
That my heart
00:06:18.97\00:06:22.71
Be full
00:06:22.74\00:06:27.02
Of Thee
00:06:27.05\00:06:33.89
Full of
00:06:33.92\00:06:40.80
Thee
00:06:40.83\00:06:47.57
Good morning and happy Sabbath.
00:06:58.15\00:07:02.48
Isn't it a great
Sabbath to be together?
00:07:02.52\00:07:06.02
I hope you guys got at least
a few hours of sleep last night
00:07:06.05\00:07:11.09
after catching up with friends,
00:07:11.13\00:07:13.40
and waking up early to
have personal devotions,
00:07:13.43\00:07:16.93
and rushing to
catch this meeting.
00:07:16.97\00:07:19.37
You know, I love GYC, don't you?
00:07:19.40\00:07:22.14
Everyone's either are
hungry or tired or both.
00:07:22.17\00:07:25.64
But it's okay
00:07:25.67\00:07:27.01
because it's a big
happy reunion of people
00:07:27.04\00:07:29.74
we love and we
don't see enough of.
00:07:29.78\00:07:33.15
And it's a time to be
spiritually challenged,
00:07:33.18\00:07:37.22
encouraged, uplifted,
00:07:37.25\00:07:39.82
a little taste
of heaven, isn't it?
00:07:39.85\00:07:42.59
The Bible says,
00:07:42.62\00:07:43.96
"Forsake not the assembling
of yourselves together.
00:07:43.99\00:07:47.83
So much the more as you
see the day approaching."
00:07:47.86\00:07:53.17
On this Sabbath day,
I'm sure the Holy Spirit
00:07:53.20\00:07:56.30
is just waiting to
be poured out on those
00:07:56.34\00:07:59.64
who are hungering and
thirsting to receive a blessing.
00:07:59.67\00:08:05.51
I want to begin
with an experience
00:08:05.55\00:08:07.92
I had just about a month ago.
00:08:07.95\00:08:11.12
I recently moved to
Maryland a few months ago,
00:08:11.15\00:08:13.42
and I was driving on the highway
00:08:13.46\00:08:15.32
one rainy evening,
00:08:15.36\00:08:17.09
going to pick up
my boyfriend, Kyle,
00:08:17.13\00:08:18.83
from the airport
which I tend to do often.
00:08:18.86\00:08:22.36
I was singing at
the top of my lungs
00:08:22.40\00:08:24.20
trying to lift my
spirits from the rainy night,
00:08:24.23\00:08:26.74
just having a peaceful ride.
00:08:26.77\00:08:29.50
I was in the fast lane,
which, especially in Maryland,
00:08:29.54\00:08:33.04
I love being in
00:08:33.07\00:08:34.41
because, you know,
I'm still getting used
00:08:34.44\00:08:35.78
to Maryland versus California.
00:08:35.81\00:08:38.25
In California, you can
typically drive like 74
00:08:38.28\00:08:41.35
and it's okay in a 65.
00:08:41.38\00:08:44.09
But in Maryland, the
speed limit's like 55.
00:08:44.12\00:08:47.12
So anyway, I'm in the fast lane
00:08:47.16\00:08:48.49
and I'm little frustrated
that the people in front of me
00:08:48.52\00:08:51.59
are going kind of slow.
00:08:51.63\00:08:53.76
You know, it's raining
but I'm in Kyle's Outback,
00:08:53.80\00:08:56.16
so I feel really safe.
00:08:56.20\00:08:58.73
Well, as things go on
the highway sometimes,
00:08:58.77\00:09:02.07
a car starts
pulling up next to me
00:09:02.10\00:09:04.21
in the next to fast lane,
00:09:04.24\00:09:06.24
but he can't seem
to get in front of me
00:09:06.27\00:09:09.21
because of the
car in front of him
00:09:09.24\00:09:11.15
who's going a little too slow.
00:09:11.18\00:09:13.92
Of course, I'm thinking,
00:09:13.95\00:09:15.92
why is this
person trying to pass me.
00:09:15.95\00:09:18.25
Doesn't he see that the person
in front of me is going slow
00:09:18.29\00:09:21.46
and I'm keeping the closest
and safest following distance
00:09:21.49\00:09:25.36
and there are
several cars in front of him.
00:09:25.39\00:09:27.43
And so...
00:09:27.46\00:09:28.80
you know, you know how it goes.
00:09:28.83\00:09:31.93
So he's inching his way forward
trying to cut in front of me.
00:09:31.97\00:09:37.04
And I'll admit I'm like.
00:09:37.07\00:09:40.68
And I inched closer,
you know, subconsciously.
00:09:40.71\00:09:43.14
I inched closer and
closer to the car in front of me
00:09:43.18\00:09:45.31
just shaking my head, thinking,
00:09:45.35\00:09:47.58
"Man, why
Maryland drivers, why?"
00:09:47.62\00:09:50.82
We go back and forth
like this for a few minutes,
00:09:50.85\00:09:53.86
me being adamant
about not letting him in
00:09:53.89\00:09:56.02
and wanting to keep my spot.
00:09:56.06\00:09:58.23
And why are
Maryland drivers the worst,
00:09:58.26\00:10:00.06
and all these
thoughts in my head.
00:10:00.10\00:10:01.86
All the while Google
Maps is going off telling me
00:10:01.90\00:10:06.07
that my exit is
coming up in 1.8 miles,
00:10:06.10\00:10:09.77
in 1 mile, in 0.5 mile.
00:10:09.80\00:10:13.91
But unfortunately,
00:10:13.94\00:10:15.34
I had the volume
turned down a little low,
00:10:15.38\00:10:17.95
I could hear it
but I couldn't hear it
00:10:17.98\00:10:20.02
because I was so
focused on the frustration,
00:10:20.05\00:10:23.05
the distraction you could say,
00:10:23.08\00:10:26.05
of trying to keep my
place in the fast lane,
00:10:26.09\00:10:29.99
not letting this guy in.
00:10:30.03\00:10:32.39
When I finally realized
my exit is half a mile away,
00:10:32.43\00:10:35.10
my mind quickly
begins to work out
00:10:35.13\00:10:37.30
how in the world I can get
over fast enough to my exit
00:10:37.33\00:10:40.54
because I knew if I didn't,
00:10:40.57\00:10:41.90
it'd be several
miles before the next exit,
00:10:41.94\00:10:43.81
and I would just
waste so much time
00:10:43.84\00:10:45.31
so I quickly lose sight
of wanting to keep my place,
00:10:45.34\00:10:47.74
I actually break
motioning to this guy
00:10:47.78\00:10:50.18
to get over in front of me.
00:10:50.21\00:10:51.85
So now I can move
over to the slower lanes.
00:10:51.88\00:10:55.28
I see a wide gap of
cars in the next two lanes
00:10:55.32\00:10:57.79
and as I'm swerving
over to exit, I'm thinking,
00:10:57.82\00:10:59.79
"I'm such a bad
Maryland driver."
00:10:59.82\00:11:02.92
Simultaneously,
I'm not quite clearing,
00:11:02.96\00:11:05.83
you know, that
triangle before it splits
00:11:05.86\00:11:07.53
and the exit sign is there.
00:11:07.56\00:11:09.13
So I sort of
clear but not really,
00:11:09.16\00:11:11.20
I hit two huge
potholes and I'm yelling,
00:11:11.23\00:11:13.84
praise the Lord for Outbacks.
00:11:13.87\00:11:17.24
You know, I'm sorry, Kyle,
00:11:17.27\00:11:18.61
I've never
actually told you this story
00:11:18.64\00:11:20.14
but I think your car is safe.
00:11:20.18\00:11:23.55
I make it off the
freeway barely all
00:11:23.58\00:11:27.98
because of petty distraction.
00:11:28.02\00:11:33.66
Distractions can
create real problems.
00:11:33.69\00:11:37.79
They can cause us to lose sight
00:11:37.83\00:11:39.29
of what's
important, what really matters.
00:11:39.33\00:11:44.27
And when you look
back on that distraction,
00:11:44.30\00:11:46.07
sometimes you
think, "Wow" that deserves
00:11:46.10\00:11:48.60
so little of my
attention compared
00:11:48.64\00:11:50.94
to what I really
should have been focused on.
00:11:50.97\00:11:54.18
The message this
morning is titled
00:11:54.21\00:11:56.75
"The Power of the Undistracted".
00:11:56.78\00:12:00.05
Let's have one
more word of prayer.
00:12:00.08\00:12:01.42
Father in heaven,
00:12:06.25\00:12:08.66
this Sabbath morning,
00:12:08.69\00:12:11.29
we come to You so in
need of Your Holy Spirit
00:12:11.33\00:12:15.83
because I can't see
anything that means anything.
00:12:15.86\00:12:19.53
And the listeners can't really
00:12:19.57\00:12:21.64
have this message
touch their hearts
00:12:21.67\00:12:23.91
without Your Holy Spirit.
00:12:23.94\00:12:25.94
And so we pray, Lord,
00:12:25.97\00:12:27.31
that You do the miracle
of changing a human heart
00:12:27.34\00:12:30.01
to be spiritual.
00:12:30.05\00:12:32.21
And that the
words that you want me
00:12:32.25\00:12:34.18
to speak would come out
00:12:34.22\00:12:35.55
and would reach deep into
the hearts of these people
00:12:35.58\00:12:38.35
and my own.
00:12:38.39\00:12:39.72
We thank You,
Lord, in Your name, amen.
00:12:39.75\00:12:41.62
Distractions or
diversions are used in war
00:12:45.09\00:12:50.47
to cause the
enemy to be surprised
00:12:50.50\00:12:53.03
and overcome by
the unexpected attack.
00:12:53.07\00:12:56.60
They're used in
competitive sports
00:12:56.64\00:12:58.67
to lure as many people
away from that one player
00:12:58.71\00:13:02.34
who is planning on
making the touchdown
00:13:02.38\00:13:04.75
or driving to the basket.
00:13:04.78\00:13:07.68
Have you ever
been talking to someone
00:13:07.72\00:13:09.42
who is easily distracted?
00:13:09.45\00:13:11.95
Maybe here at GYC,
you're at the booth,
00:13:11.99\00:13:14.66
you're so excited
to see your friend
00:13:14.69\00:13:16.76
that you haven't seen in a while
00:13:16.79\00:13:18.39
and you start talking.
00:13:18.43\00:13:19.76
And as you're talking,
00:13:19.79\00:13:21.13
you'd start noticing
their eyes are going everywhere.
00:13:21.16\00:13:24.43
"Wow, so you're going
back to school, that's great.
00:13:24.47\00:13:27.50
Oh, I'm so sorry your
daddy is not doing well.
00:13:27.54\00:13:31.04
I hope he feels better."
00:13:31.07\00:13:34.34
A distraction is
anything that prevents someone
00:13:34.38\00:13:38.61
from giving full attention
to something or someone else.
00:13:38.65\00:13:43.79
I want you to take your
Bibles and go to John 6.
00:13:43.82\00:13:49.56
In John 6, we find a
story, a fascinating story,
00:13:49.59\00:13:54.60
that we've heard,
some of us many times.
00:13:54.63\00:13:57.53
Jesus has just
performed an incredible miracle
00:13:57.57\00:14:02.34
of the feeding of the 5,000,
00:14:02.37\00:14:05.01
probably thousands of people
more that were actually there.
00:14:05.04\00:14:08.74
He's just multiplied the loaves
and fish for that young boy,
00:14:08.78\00:14:12.41
and the people
are incredibly amazed
00:14:12.45\00:14:14.65
at what has just taken place.
00:14:14.68\00:14:17.22
The men gathered
there are being confirmed
00:14:17.25\00:14:19.82
more and more in their
minds, this is the Messiah
00:14:19.85\00:14:23.76
who is finally here to
free us from the Romans.
00:14:23.79\00:14:28.10
He can restore the
kingdom to Jerusalem.
00:14:28.13\00:14:31.90
He will make Judea
an earthly paradise,
00:14:31.93\00:14:34.60
a land flowing
with milk and honey.
00:14:34.64\00:14:37.84
He can heal
soldiers wounded in battle
00:14:37.87\00:14:40.81
and supply whole
armies with food.
00:14:40.84\00:14:44.15
He'll conquer the nations
00:14:44.18\00:14:45.51
and give Israel the
long sought dominion.
00:14:45.55\00:14:48.15
Their hopes are running
high and they begin to talk,
00:14:48.18\00:14:52.89
"How are we going to crown Him
like King, like He deserves?"
00:14:52.92\00:14:58.43
The disciples joined in,
00:14:58.46\00:15:00.00
and as they're about
to advance towards Jesus,
00:15:00.03\00:15:03.16
Jesus senses
what is taking place.
00:15:03.20\00:15:06.84
And the Bible says
00:15:06.87\00:15:08.20
that immediately
Jesus made His disciples
00:15:08.24\00:15:10.11
get into the boat
00:15:10.14\00:15:11.47
and go before
Him to the other side
00:15:11.51\00:15:12.94
while He sent
the multitudes away.
00:15:12.97\00:15:14.91
He spoke in an
authoritative voice,
00:15:14.94\00:15:16.51
He knew that this
was not why He came.
00:15:16.54\00:15:20.12
Jesus, not in the
slightest flattered
00:15:20.15\00:15:23.32
by the ambition of
the multitudes knows
00:15:23.35\00:15:25.79
that He was not
called for this purpose.
00:15:25.82\00:15:29.32
Let me pick up
the story in verse 37.
00:15:29.36\00:15:32.19
This is actually
the day after the events
00:15:32.23\00:15:35.03
when He multiplied
the loaves and fish.
00:15:35.06\00:15:37.93
And the people are
looking frantically for Him.
00:15:37.97\00:15:40.54
And Jesus tries to tell
them what His mission is.
00:15:40.57\00:15:44.47
And in verse 37, it says,
00:15:44.51\00:15:47.78
"All that the Father
gives Me will come to Me,
00:15:47.81\00:15:51.95
and the one who comes to Me
I will by no means cast out."
00:15:51.98\00:15:55.08
Amen.
00:15:55.12\00:15:56.45
"For I have come
down from heaven,
00:15:56.48\00:15:58.65
not to do My own will,
00:15:58.69\00:16:00.32
but the will of Him who sent Me.
00:16:00.36\00:16:03.12
This is the will of
the Father who sent Me,
00:16:03.16\00:16:05.26
that of all that He has given Me
00:16:05.29\00:16:07.06
I should lose nothing,
00:16:07.10\00:16:09.40
but should raise
it up at the last day.
00:16:09.43\00:16:12.03
And this is the
will of Him who sent Me,
00:16:12.07\00:16:13.80
that everyone who sees the Son
00:16:13.84\00:16:16.07
and believes in Him
may have everlasting life,
00:16:16.10\00:16:19.24
and I will raise
him up at the last day."
00:16:19.27\00:16:22.04
Jesus was saying,
"This is the Father's will.
00:16:22.08\00:16:24.21
I know what the
Father's will is,
00:16:24.25\00:16:26.72
and I have come to do His will."
00:16:26.75\00:16:29.75
You see in situations
that would allure any of us
00:16:29.78\00:16:35.42
to worldly honor,
and riches, and fame,
00:16:35.46\00:16:39.16
Jesus held
strong to what He knew
00:16:39.19\00:16:42.33
the Father's
ultimate will was for Him.
00:16:42.36\00:16:45.47
They wanted to crown Him king.
00:16:45.50\00:16:47.64
They wanted to give
Him honor and allegiance,
00:16:47.67\00:16:49.80
and yet this was not
even tempting to Jesus
00:16:49.84\00:16:53.21
because He knew so
clearly His mission.
00:16:53.24\00:16:56.95
Jesus faced
temptation similar to this
00:16:56.98\00:16:59.41
when the devil took
Him up to the mountain
00:16:59.45\00:17:01.68
and offered Him
the whole world, fame,
00:17:01.72\00:17:04.02
riches, power, authority,
00:17:04.05\00:17:06.35
but Jesus remains
undeterred from His mission.
00:17:06.39\00:17:09.46
Nothing can stop Him,
nothing can distract Him,
00:17:09.49\00:17:12.63
nothing can seem to move Him
00:17:12.66\00:17:14.33
from His mission of
revealing the character of God
00:17:14.36\00:17:17.50
and dying for the sinful race.
00:17:17.53\00:17:19.73
In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus says,
00:17:19.77\00:17:22.47
"The Spirit of
the Lord is upon Me,
00:17:22.50\00:17:24.84
because He anointed Me
00:17:24.87\00:17:26.21
to preach the
gospel to the poor,
00:17:26.24\00:17:28.04
He has sent Me to
heal the brokenhearted,
00:17:28.08\00:17:30.35
to proclaim
liberty to the captives,
00:17:30.38\00:17:32.18
and recovery of
sight to the blind,
00:17:32.21\00:17:34.32
to set at liberty
those who are oppressed."
00:17:34.35\00:17:36.89
Jesus knew clearly
what He was sent to do
00:17:36.92\00:17:40.06
and what His purpose was.
00:17:40.09\00:17:42.26
Luke 19:9-10,
00:17:42.29\00:17:44.59
"For the Son of Man come to seek
00:17:44.63\00:17:47.30
and save the lost."
00:17:47.33\00:17:49.86
In John 9, Jesus says,
00:17:49.90\00:17:51.40
"I must work the works of
Him who sent Me while it is day,
00:17:51.43\00:17:55.34
the night is coming
when no one can work."
00:17:55.37\00:17:57.67
Jesus was so focused,
00:17:57.71\00:17:59.37
He was
undistracted from His mission.
00:17:59.41\00:18:02.31
And finally, Luke 9:51.
00:18:02.34\00:18:06.65
"Now it came to pass,
00:18:06.68\00:18:08.35
when the time had come
for Him to be received up,
00:18:08.38\00:18:11.95
that He steadfastly set His face
00:18:11.99\00:18:14.86
to go to Jerusalem."
00:18:14.89\00:18:17.06
Jesus would not be
deterred from His mission.
00:18:17.09\00:18:19.53
He was so
convinced of His purpose,
00:18:19.56\00:18:23.00
He had so accepted
and embraced His calling,
00:18:23.03\00:18:26.37
that you couldn't
offer Him the world.
00:18:26.40\00:18:29.27
You know, we sing
00:18:29.30\00:18:30.64
"You can have all this
world but give me Jesus."
00:18:30.67\00:18:32.54
Jesus is saying,
00:18:32.57\00:18:33.91
"You could have all this
world but give me lost souls."
00:18:33.94\00:18:36.48
Jesus had purpose, He
had vision, He had focus.
00:18:36.51\00:18:40.68
His attention was
absorbed in one thing,
00:18:40.72\00:18:44.12
nothing could
distract Him from it.
00:18:44.15\00:18:47.72
And this life of
focus was a life of power.
00:18:47.76\00:18:52.16
This life of purpose was
a life that shook the world
00:18:52.19\00:18:54.93
because nothing
could distract Him
00:18:54.96\00:18:57.70
from His mission.
00:18:57.73\00:19:00.90
Why was it that Jesus could
be so focused on His mission?
00:19:00.94\00:19:05.91
Why was it that
nothing could distract Him
00:19:05.94\00:19:07.64
from His calling?
00:19:07.68\00:19:09.51
Did you know that Jesus
00:19:09.54\00:19:13.28
had to study the
scriptures overtime as a child
00:19:13.31\00:19:18.12
and began to understand
more fully His calling.
00:19:18.15\00:19:22.86
Mary, Jesus' mother, taught
Him from the words of scripture,
00:19:22.89\00:19:26.46
and Jesus was an earnest student
00:19:26.49\00:19:28.40
of the prophecies of the Bible.
00:19:28.43\00:19:31.20
In Desire of Ages,
we're given a picture
00:19:31.23\00:19:33.13
for the first time of
Jesus' parents taking Him
00:19:33.17\00:19:36.84
to Jerusalem for the Passover.
00:19:36.87\00:19:39.01
He is of age, 12 years old.
00:19:39.04\00:19:42.04
Are there any 12
year olds in here,
00:19:42.08\00:19:44.41
this early in the morning?
00:19:44.45\00:19:46.08
A few, okay.
00:19:46.11\00:19:47.98
At that age,
00:19:48.02\00:19:50.42
Jesus was
understanding His mission.
00:19:50.45\00:19:54.06
You know, parents
don't underestimate
00:19:54.09\00:19:55.59
the capacity of your child
00:19:55.62\00:19:57.96
to sense a calling
in their lives from God.
00:19:57.99\00:20:01.83
Jesus was 12, and as He
studied the words of scripture,
00:20:01.86\00:20:05.73
He was understanding something,
00:20:05.77\00:20:07.27
and listen to what it says
in Desire of Ages, page 78.
00:20:07.30\00:20:11.47
"For the first time,
00:20:11.51\00:20:13.01
the child Jesus
looked upon the temple.
00:20:13.04\00:20:16.34
He beheld the bleeding victim
upon the altar of sacrifice.
00:20:16.38\00:20:21.35
With the
worshipers, He bowed in prayer,
00:20:21.38\00:20:24.05
while the cloud of
incense ascended before God.
00:20:24.09\00:20:27.86
He witnessed
the impressive rites
00:20:27.89\00:20:29.49
of the paschal service.
00:20:29.52\00:20:31.19
Day by day He saw
their meaning more clearly.
00:20:31.23\00:20:34.86
New impulses were
awakening within Him.
00:20:34.90\00:20:37.67
Every act seemed
00:20:37.70\00:20:39.03
to be bound up
with His own life.
00:20:39.07\00:20:42.44
Silent and absorbed,
00:20:42.47\00:20:44.27
He seemed to be
studying out a great problem.
00:20:44.31\00:20:48.71
The mystery of His mission
was opening to the Savior.
00:20:48.74\00:20:51.68
Rapt in
contemplation of these scenes,
00:20:51.71\00:20:54.82
He did not remain
beside His parents.
00:20:54.85\00:20:57.65
He sought to be alone.
00:20:57.69\00:20:59.79
When the paschal
services were ended,
00:20:59.82\00:21:01.49
He still lingered
in the temple courts.
00:21:01.52\00:21:04.06
And when the worshipers departed
00:21:04.09\00:21:05.43
from Jerusalem,
He was left behind."
00:21:05.46\00:21:10.07
You can imagine Jesus
00:21:10.10\00:21:11.43
as He's starting to
understand His mission.
00:21:11.47\00:21:14.57
It goes on in Desire of Ages,
00:21:14.60\00:21:15.94
it says, "As one
seeking for wisdom,
00:21:15.97\00:21:17.44
He questioned these teachers,"
speaking of the rabbis,
00:21:17.47\00:21:20.54
"in regard to the prophecies,
00:21:20.58\00:21:22.98
and to events then
taking place that pointed
00:21:23.01\00:21:25.91
to the advent of the Messiah."
00:21:25.95\00:21:28.15
He knew the fulfillment
of the time of the Messiah
00:21:28.18\00:21:31.25
was coming near,
and many people did.
00:21:31.29\00:21:35.22
Time prophecies gave Him
and gave them an understanding
00:21:35.26\00:21:39.86
that the
Messiah should be there.
00:21:39.89\00:21:42.73
Later on in Desire of Ages,
00:21:42.76\00:21:44.17
it says, "The rabbis knew
00:21:44.20\00:21:45.90
that Jesus had
not been instructed
00:21:45.93\00:21:47.77
in their schools,
yet His understanding
00:21:47.80\00:21:51.17
of the prophecies
far exceeded theirs."
00:21:51.21\00:21:55.14
He knew more of the rabbis
because He studied the Bible.
00:21:55.18\00:21:58.55
He studied the scriptures,
He understood just where
00:21:58.58\00:22:02.18
they were in earth's
history at that time.
00:22:02.22\00:22:05.12
And He knew that
the Messiah was to come.
00:22:05.15\00:22:08.16
He understood the
sanctuary service.
00:22:08.19\00:22:10.13
And He realized that
He was the fulfillment.
00:22:10.16\00:22:14.00
One of the reasons Jesus
was able to stay so fixed
00:22:14.03\00:22:17.13
on His mission,
completely undistracted,
00:22:17.17\00:22:20.84
was because He realized
00:22:20.87\00:22:22.24
that He was the
fulfillment of the prophecies
00:22:22.27\00:22:25.41
given hundreds and
thousands of years prior.
00:22:25.44\00:22:28.54
And He accepted that calling.
00:22:28.58\00:22:32.11
You know, there's something
about studying the Bible.
00:22:32.15\00:22:36.62
Something about studying
the prophecies of Daniel
00:22:36.65\00:22:39.45
and Revelation that helps
build a reason for our faith
00:22:39.49\00:22:43.53
that convicts us deeply
00:22:43.56\00:22:45.09
and keeps us
focused on the purpose
00:22:45.13\00:22:47.50
for our existence in this
day and age of the 21st century.
00:22:47.53\00:22:52.10
As you read and study the Bible,
00:22:52.13\00:22:54.84
as you discover this man, Jesus,
00:22:54.87\00:22:57.47
who was willing to die eternally
00:22:57.51\00:23:00.14
so that you
could live eternally,
00:23:00.18\00:23:02.61
you start to realize
00:23:02.64\00:23:04.58
that this redeemer
was also your creator,
00:23:04.61\00:23:07.08
and you begin to
fall in love with Him.
00:23:07.12\00:23:10.05
As you read and
study the scriptures,
00:23:10.09\00:23:12.25
you start to respect
the true God of the Bible,
00:23:12.29\00:23:15.82
someone who wouldn't burn people
00:23:15.86\00:23:17.43
in hell for eternity,
00:23:17.46\00:23:19.23
someone who is
just and merciful,
00:23:19.26\00:23:21.43
someone who forgives
over and over and over
00:23:21.46\00:23:25.07
and who loves you just the same,
00:23:25.10\00:23:26.97
and you commit your life
to Him as you read the Bible.
00:23:27.00\00:23:30.61
As you read the
prophecies of the Bible,
00:23:30.64\00:23:32.67
you recognize
00:23:32.71\00:23:34.04
that your best
friend has promised
00:23:34.08\00:23:35.64
that He is going to come back.
00:23:35.68\00:23:37.35
And He's outlined
00:23:37.38\00:23:38.71
how you can know
He is coming soon.
00:23:38.75\00:23:40.95
You see the rise
and fall of nations
00:23:40.98\00:23:43.02
that were foretold
thousands of years in advance,
00:23:43.05\00:23:45.99
and your heart is
strengthened to believe
00:23:46.02\00:23:48.79
that the book He
left you can be trusted.
00:23:48.82\00:23:51.86
You see just where
you are in earth's history
00:23:51.89\00:23:55.03
and that you're
living in the time
00:23:55.06\00:23:56.46
just prior to when
He is coming again.
00:23:56.50\00:23:58.93
He tells you
00:23:58.97\00:24:00.30
that He has a
special plan for you
00:24:00.34\00:24:02.77
in the time period
that you were born,
00:24:02.80\00:24:05.44
in a special sense
00:24:05.47\00:24:06.81
to call
people's attention to Him
00:24:06.84\00:24:08.64
and to prepare the way for Him.
00:24:08.68\00:24:11.91
You recognize that the
calling is a personal calling.
00:24:11.95\00:24:14.88
And how do you recognize that?
00:24:14.92\00:24:17.65
Because you read the
Bible and you realize
00:24:17.69\00:24:21.32
that you are those
messengers in Revelation 14.
00:24:21.36\00:24:25.73
And that you have a part
to play in Revelation 18,
00:24:25.76\00:24:28.76
in the whole
earth being illuminated
00:24:28.80\00:24:30.43
with the glory of God.
00:24:30.47\00:24:32.40
You are part of that group
00:24:32.43\00:24:33.77
that must prophesy
again in Revelation 10.
00:24:33.80\00:24:36.74
And God is calling you
to be part of that group
00:24:36.77\00:24:39.17
in Revelation 14,
00:24:39.21\00:24:40.54
who are redeemed from the earth,
00:24:40.58\00:24:41.91
who follow the
lamb wherever he goes,
00:24:41.94\00:24:44.75
and who keep the commandments
and have the faith of Jesus.
00:24:44.78\00:24:48.85
Yes, you read the scriptures,
as you read the prophecies,
00:24:48.88\00:24:53.09
you understand
00:24:53.12\00:24:54.76
that this is a
very personal calling.
00:24:54.79\00:24:58.33
Knowing and understanding
the scriptures in the time
00:24:58.36\00:25:02.70
that we live in,
friends, is crucial.
00:25:02.73\00:25:06.10
No wonder we are so
distracted from our mission,
00:25:09.87\00:25:14.01
we don't really know
what our mission is about.
00:25:14.04\00:25:19.18
No wonder, we so easily adopt
the principles of the world,
00:25:19.21\00:25:23.49
the ambitions of the world,
00:25:23.52\00:25:25.12
we settle so easily
for our lives here on earth
00:25:25.15\00:25:28.82
because maybe
00:25:28.86\00:25:30.19
we have not
discovered our real purpose
00:25:30.23\00:25:33.13
as Seventh-day
Adventist from the Word of God.
00:25:33.16\00:25:37.60
I was 15 years old,
00:25:37.63\00:25:38.97
I was sitting in the
cafeteria of my high school,
00:25:39.00\00:25:41.60
Monterey Bay Academy.
00:25:41.64\00:25:42.97
A group of young people,
00:25:43.00\00:25:44.34
all 20s and 30s
came to visit my school.
00:25:44.37\00:25:48.48
They were talking about
canvassing and evangelism.
00:25:48.51\00:25:52.18
One guy was named Taj Pacleb,
00:25:52.21\00:25:56.79
and another guy, Bill Krick.
00:25:56.82\00:26:00.06
I was 15 years old
00:26:00.09\00:26:01.76
and was very open to
God during that time.
00:26:01.79\00:26:04.89
I had been planning on
going on a mission trip
00:26:04.93\00:26:08.23
with my school to South Africa.
00:26:08.26\00:26:10.83
But some of these guys started
00:26:10.87\00:26:12.20
talking about a
ShareHim mission trip,
00:26:12.23\00:26:14.94
they were taking to Ethiopia.
00:26:14.97\00:26:17.51
And I sense the Holy
Spirit really speaking to me
00:26:17.54\00:26:20.71
that I should go.
00:26:20.74\00:26:23.08
And so I don't know
00:26:23.11\00:26:24.45
how my parents let me
do this as a 15 year old,
00:26:24.48\00:26:27.88
but I went to Africa
with a group of people
00:26:27.92\00:26:29.82
I didn't know.
00:26:29.85\00:26:31.69
I've always
appreciated my parents...
00:26:31.72\00:26:33.72
That even if I
wanted to do something
00:26:39.33\00:26:41.33
that sounded crazy,
00:26:41.36\00:26:42.83
they would allow me
to go where they sensed
00:26:42.86\00:26:44.87
the Holy Spirit was leading.
00:26:44.90\00:26:47.44
Parents, if you're out
there or watching online,
00:26:47.47\00:26:50.24
don't be afraid
00:26:50.27\00:26:51.61
to let your children
experience God in radical ways.
00:26:51.64\00:26:55.08
It might seem crazy to
you or a waste of time,
00:26:55.11\00:26:57.51
but be sensitive to the desires
00:26:57.55\00:27:00.05
of your children to
go on missions for God.
00:27:00.08\00:27:03.05
We're living in different
times and don't be surprised
00:27:03.08\00:27:06.59
if the Holy Spirit is moving
00:27:06.62\00:27:08.12
on your
children in powerful ways
00:27:08.16\00:27:10.23
because it could change
their lives for eternity.
00:27:10.26\00:27:14.03
So I went on this trip,
00:27:14.06\00:27:15.70
not knowing
anyone, pretty nervous,
00:27:15.73\00:27:18.27
we would review
00:27:18.30\00:27:19.63
and edit the
sermons in the morning,
00:27:19.67\00:27:21.87
take a little
break in the afternoon,
00:27:21.90\00:27:23.61
go around the town,
00:27:23.64\00:27:25.47
and in the
evening, we would preach.
00:27:25.51\00:27:28.78
I remember my first
sermon preaching on Daniel 2.
00:27:28.81\00:27:32.61
I had no idea what I was doing.
00:27:32.65\00:27:35.82
If any of you have
been on these trips,
00:27:35.85\00:27:37.19
you know that they have
00:27:37.22\00:27:38.55
all the sermons
outlined for you.
00:27:38.59\00:27:39.92
So you can edit them
00:27:39.95\00:27:41.29
or you can just
read them word for word,
00:27:41.32\00:27:42.66
and I pretty much read
a lot of it word for word.
00:27:42.69\00:27:45.63
I remember my first
night making an appeal,
00:27:45.66\00:27:49.16
and I was just doing
what I saw my dad do,
00:27:49.20\00:27:51.70
and what I'd seen growing
up, and I said if you believe,
00:27:51.73\00:27:55.47
if you want to
take the Word of God
00:27:55.50\00:27:57.07
as your only rule of authority,
00:27:57.11\00:27:59.14
I want you to raise
your Bibles in the air.
00:27:59.17\00:28:01.78
And I saw people
raising their Bibles,
00:28:01.81\00:28:03.18
and I was thinking, "Wow,
they're actually doing it.
00:28:03.21\00:28:06.55
That's awesome."
00:28:06.58\00:28:08.65
I remember preaching
night after night under a tree
00:28:08.68\00:28:12.15
in a small town called Dongoro.
00:28:12.19\00:28:14.69
And I had a great translator,
you know, I was only 15,
00:28:14.72\00:28:17.33
so he was the type of translator
00:28:17.36\00:28:18.69
when I got to the
end of the sermon,
00:28:18.73\00:28:20.46
I'd make my appeal
00:28:20.50\00:28:21.83
and then he would look
at me and say, "Okay, wait."
00:28:21.86\00:28:23.40
And then he
would go off in a row
00:28:23.43\00:28:24.80
and just start
preaching and appealing,
00:28:24.83\00:28:27.24
and I would stand
there and be like, "Amen."
00:28:27.27\00:28:31.87
What was a life
changing about that trip
00:28:31.91\00:28:34.71
was that as I read and
studied in the morning,
00:28:34.74\00:28:38.91
I was amazed how everything
00:28:38.95\00:28:41.95
we believed a
Seventh-day Adventist
00:28:41.98\00:28:43.69
was straight from the Bible
and how much sense it made.
00:28:43.72\00:28:47.76
I hadn't studied too much
00:28:47.79\00:28:49.12
for myself into
Daniel and Revelation
00:28:49.16\00:28:50.79
or asking the
deep questions of life,
00:28:50.83\00:28:53.19
but because I had to present it,
00:28:53.23\00:28:54.56
I had to understand it.
00:28:54.60\00:28:57.23
And I remember thinking,
"Wow, this is amazing."
00:28:57.27\00:29:00.20
Fifteen years old.
00:29:00.24\00:29:02.94
There are teenagers
00:29:02.97\00:29:04.31
that would love to dig
deep into the Word of God
00:29:04.34\00:29:07.44
if we gave them opportunities.
00:29:07.48\00:29:09.98
As I saw how God
foretold in Daniel 2,
00:29:10.01\00:29:12.31
the rise and fall of
the nations of Babylon,
00:29:12.35\00:29:15.05
Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome,
00:29:15.08\00:29:16.69
divided Rome,
hundreds and thousands of years
00:29:16.72\00:29:19.22
before the events took place.
00:29:19.25\00:29:21.09
It was as a large stone
00:29:21.12\00:29:22.46
in the foundation
of my faith being laid.
00:29:22.49\00:29:25.06
I began to trust
00:29:25.09\00:29:26.43
that this book was
reliable, that they just...
00:29:26.46\00:29:29.63
They aren't just stories
or allegories or metaphors,
00:29:29.66\00:29:33.50
these were real
life experiences,
00:29:33.54\00:29:35.50
and the promises were for me.
00:29:35.54\00:29:38.07
I understood the issues
of the great controversy
00:29:38.11\00:29:40.98
that an enemy has done this,
has brought sin into the world,
00:29:41.01\00:29:45.08
and that God
created a perfect world
00:29:45.11\00:29:47.12
and made provision for
sin through His Son, Jesus,
00:29:47.15\00:29:50.32
if man were to sin
because He gave us free choice.
00:29:50.35\00:29:53.59
I begin to understand
00:29:53.62\00:29:54.96
why bad things
happen to good people
00:29:54.99\00:29:57.69
and why God is full of love
00:29:57.73\00:29:59.13
and is a
relational, personal God,
00:29:59.16\00:30:01.56
and yet why
00:30:01.60\00:30:02.93
there is so much
suffering in the world
00:30:02.96\00:30:04.80
sometimes in the name of God?
00:30:04.83\00:30:07.94
These deep-seated questions that
00:30:07.97\00:30:10.11
for lack of an adequate answer
00:30:10.14\00:30:11.84
turn people away from
God began to be answered
00:30:11.87\00:30:14.88
in my mind
00:30:14.91\00:30:16.24
and was another
affirmation of my faith,
00:30:16.28\00:30:18.38
another stone laid in
the foundation of my faith.
00:30:18.41\00:30:22.08
I understood why we believe
00:30:22.12\00:30:23.45
that when you die you
don't go straight to heaven
00:30:23.49\00:30:25.85
or burn in some cauldron
in the middle of the earth,
00:30:25.89\00:30:27.99
but you're asleep
awaiting the resurrection.
00:30:28.02\00:30:30.89
I begin to understand
that the Bible teaches
00:30:30.93\00:30:33.06
that Jesus' second
coming was literal,
00:30:33.09\00:30:35.06
physical, all would see
it, it would be decisive,
00:30:35.10\00:30:38.03
an end to living
on this sinful planet,
00:30:38.07\00:30:40.00
and that Jesus
would be coming back
00:30:40.04\00:30:41.94
to take us home,
that heaven is real.
00:30:41.97\00:30:45.17
And that heaven
could begin here on earth
00:30:45.21\00:30:46.94
with Jesus in my heart.
00:30:46.98\00:30:49.44
I began to understand
00:30:49.48\00:30:52.11
more of the prophecies
of Daniel and Revelation,
00:30:52.15\00:30:55.28
and how they confirmed
and expanded on Daniel 2,
00:30:55.32\00:30:58.25
how outlined
2,300 years of history,
00:30:58.29\00:31:01.22
including the
first coming of Jesus,
00:31:01.26\00:31:03.22
His baptism, His death,
00:31:03.26\00:31:04.83
the sanctuary being cleansed
at the end of those years,
00:31:04.86\00:31:07.53
what the sanctuary even was?
00:31:07.56\00:31:09.63
And how it outlines
the plan of salvation?
00:31:09.66\00:31:12.20
The signs of the second coming,
00:31:12.23\00:31:13.94
the history of God's
people throughout the ages
00:31:13.97\00:31:16.24
and their role in the last days,
00:31:16.27\00:31:18.41
the three angels preparing
for the reaping of the harvest,
00:31:18.44\00:31:21.44
the judgment, and
all the beauty of that,
00:31:21.48\00:31:24.28
and what the new heavens
and the earth would be like.
00:31:24.31\00:31:27.02
So many beautiful truths
00:31:27.05\00:31:30.02
about the merciful
dealings of God with man
00:31:30.05\00:31:32.82
throughout history,
00:31:32.85\00:31:34.19
and His plan to end sin forever,
00:31:34.22\00:31:38.23
these were being
impressed in my mind.
00:31:38.26\00:31:41.66
And as I understood the
clear message of the Bible,
00:31:41.70\00:31:44.17
it was logical,
it was spiritual,
00:31:44.20\00:31:47.74
it was moving,
it was relational,
00:31:47.77\00:31:50.97
and it changed my life.
00:31:51.01\00:31:54.91
And in a sense, just
like the experience of Jesus,
00:31:54.94\00:31:57.58
I began to
realize and understand
00:31:57.61\00:32:00.32
that I wasn't born in this world
00:32:00.35\00:32:02.25
by accident in this day and age,
00:32:02.28\00:32:05.39
to live in the 21st
century just for no reason.
00:32:05.42\00:32:08.69
I was born during this
time in earth's history
00:32:08.72\00:32:11.53
for a very specific purpose,
00:32:11.56\00:32:13.73
to prepare a
people to stand before God
00:32:13.76\00:32:16.30
and to usher in
the second coming.
00:32:16.33\00:32:19.63
I began to
understand God's purpose for me
00:32:19.67\00:32:22.54
as I read the scriptures
and I studied the prophecies.
00:32:22.57\00:32:25.71
My friends, if you do not know
00:32:30.18\00:32:31.75
why you are a
Seventh-day Adventist,
00:32:31.78\00:32:35.88
you might be young or old,
00:32:35.92\00:32:37.62
you might have
been in the church
00:32:37.65\00:32:38.99
for just a few
years or for 50 years,
00:32:39.02\00:32:42.32
if you don't know
why you are a Christian,
00:32:42.36\00:32:45.49
why you can trust this
book, why you go to church,
00:32:45.53\00:32:51.63
what your specific
calling is here in life,
00:32:51.67\00:32:54.70
you will be all
too easily distracted
00:32:54.74\00:32:59.21
from this message, this
mission, and this calling
00:32:59.24\00:33:03.38
because your
foundation is faulty.
00:33:03.41\00:33:06.75
You will be
distracted by false theology,
00:33:06.78\00:33:09.58
higher criticism or
watering down of the message
00:33:09.62\00:33:12.19
of the Seventh-day
Adventist movement.
00:33:12.22\00:33:15.39
Distractions happen easily
to those who are not focused.
00:33:15.42\00:33:20.90
And those only are focused
00:33:20.93\00:33:22.73
who are deeply
in love with Jesus
00:33:22.76\00:33:24.50
and fully
convicted of their mission.
00:33:24.53\00:33:28.24
Jesus was convicted,
sold out, sure of His calling.
00:33:28.27\00:33:33.11
In Hebrews
11:24-25, it says of Moses,
00:33:33.14\00:33:37.21
"By faith Moses,
when he became of age,
00:33:37.25\00:33:39.75
refused to be called the
son of Pharaoh's daughter,
00:33:39.78\00:33:42.35
choosing rather
to suffer affliction
00:33:42.38\00:33:44.39
with the people
of God than to enjoy
00:33:44.42\00:33:46.59
the passing pleasures of sin,
00:33:46.62\00:33:48.62
esteeming the reproach
of Christ greater riches
00:33:48.66\00:33:50.89
than the treasures in Egypt,
for he looked to the reward."
00:33:50.93\00:33:54.66
Moses was taught by his
parents about the true God.
00:33:54.70\00:33:57.97
And he was actually
visited by angels, we're told.
00:33:58.00\00:34:00.94
He was told of his mission
00:34:00.97\00:34:02.30
to lead God's
people out of Egypt
00:34:02.34\00:34:04.07
as the deliverer.
00:34:04.11\00:34:05.87
And nothing could
deter him from that mission,
00:34:05.91\00:34:09.14
not even the hopes of
being the next Pharaoh,
00:34:09.18\00:34:14.12
the most powerful leader
00:34:14.15\00:34:15.58
of the most
powerful nation of the world.
00:34:15.62\00:34:18.62
All the riches and
treasures could not distract him
00:34:18.65\00:34:22.46
because he had understood
and embraced his calling
00:34:22.49\00:34:25.53
that God had revealed to him.
00:34:25.56\00:34:29.50
Unless you are convinced
of your calling today, GYC,
00:34:29.53\00:34:33.97
everything that can
be shaken will be shaken.
00:34:34.00\00:34:37.31
And just because
you're here at GYC,
00:34:37.34\00:34:39.81
and just because
I'm here about GYC,
00:34:39.84\00:34:41.74
excited about the
message and mission,
00:34:41.78\00:34:43.81
doesn't mean you'll always be.
00:34:43.85\00:34:47.68
Distractions will come easily
00:34:47.72\00:34:50.42
if you haven't had
00:34:50.45\00:34:51.79
a personal
realization of your calling
00:34:51.82\00:34:54.22
from the Word of God,
00:34:54.26\00:34:55.79
your mission, why you were born
00:34:55.82\00:34:59.09
to live in the 21st century.
00:34:59.13\00:35:03.50
We must first build the
foundation for our faith
00:35:03.53\00:35:05.83
that is fully built on the
Word of God and a connection
00:35:05.87\00:35:08.97
with the Jesus of the Bible.
00:35:09.00\00:35:11.27
And if we have any hope of
living in undistracted life,
00:35:11.31\00:35:15.21
focused on the
mission God has given to us,
00:35:15.24\00:35:17.25
we need to have a strong
grasp and clear understanding
00:35:17.28\00:35:20.92
of the personal mission
00:35:20.95\00:35:22.52
God has given to us.
00:35:22.55\00:35:23.89
But even for those who
have built a foundation
00:35:27.36\00:35:30.66
on the Word of God, who
understand the prophecies,
00:35:30.69\00:35:34.56
who see clearly the
beauty of Jesus' character,
00:35:34.60\00:35:37.30
the glory of the
plan of salvation,
00:35:37.33\00:35:39.67
the hope of the second coming,
00:35:39.70\00:35:42.40
there are yet still distractions
00:35:42.44\00:35:44.81
that the devil loves to use.
00:35:44.84\00:35:47.98
Just because you have
a knowledge of the Bible
00:35:48.01\00:35:50.18
doesn't mean you are
exempt from the distractions
00:35:50.21\00:35:53.08
that the devil throws your ways,
00:35:53.11\00:35:55.18
isn't that right?
00:35:55.22\00:35:56.92
I want you to
turn in your Bibles
00:35:56.95\00:35:58.29
to 1 John,
00:35:58.32\00:36:00.59
1 John 2:15-17,
00:36:00.62\00:36:07.96
and there it says,
00:36:08.00\00:36:09.63
"Do not love the world
or the things in the world.
00:36:09.66\00:36:14.17
If anyone loves the world,
00:36:14.20\00:36:15.80
the love of the
Father is not" what?
00:36:15.84\00:36:19.04
"is not in him.
00:36:19.07\00:36:20.58
For all that is in the
world, the lust of the flesh,
00:36:20.61\00:36:23.55
the lust of the eyes,
00:36:23.58\00:36:24.91
and the pride of
life is not of the Father
00:36:24.95\00:36:27.85
but is of the world.
00:36:27.88\00:36:29.22
And the world is passing
away, and the lust of it,
00:36:29.25\00:36:31.35
but he who does
00:36:31.39\00:36:32.72
the will of God abides forever."
00:36:32.75\00:36:35.89
My friends in the ministry,
00:36:35.92\00:36:39.13
those who are
leaders, anyone in this room,
00:36:39.16\00:36:43.40
the distractions in our
day and age are unprecedented.
00:36:43.43\00:36:47.90
And anything that
is distracting you
00:36:47.94\00:36:50.74
from fulfilling the
calling of God in your life,
00:36:50.77\00:36:54.08
whether seemingly good
or bad is a distraction.
00:36:54.11\00:36:58.65
The devil won't
stop at anything,
00:36:58.68\00:37:01.95
whether you've been in seminary,
00:37:01.98\00:37:03.49
you're a pastor, a Bible worker,
00:37:03.52\00:37:05.45
a ministry leader,
00:37:05.49\00:37:06.82
whether you know
00:37:06.86\00:37:08.19
the prophecies
backwards and forwards,
00:37:08.22\00:37:10.36
whether you long
to preach the Word
00:37:10.39\00:37:11.79
and share Jesus with the world,
00:37:11.83\00:37:14.13
the devil will still come in
and try to distract in any way
00:37:14.16\00:37:17.20
that he can,
away from the mission
00:37:17.23\00:37:20.44
that we have in these days.
00:37:20.47\00:37:22.20
No wonder the Bible
says in Proverbs 4:25-26,
00:37:22.24\00:37:26.14
"Let your eyes
look straight ahead,
00:37:26.17\00:37:28.18
and your eyelids
look right before you.
00:37:28.21\00:37:30.28
Ponder the path of your feet,
00:37:30.31\00:37:31.98
and let all your
ways be established."
00:37:32.01\00:37:35.22
Don't lose sight of
where your feet are going,
00:37:35.25\00:37:37.82
make every move intentional,
look straight ahead.
00:37:37.85\00:37:43.32
I don't know, this morning,
what your distraction is.
00:37:43.36\00:37:48.20
Maybe it's social media,
00:37:51.70\00:37:56.07
you know, I know how it is.
00:37:56.10\00:37:58.17
I have to catch myself too.
00:37:58.21\00:38:00.61
You start off with 10 minutes
00:38:00.64\00:38:02.68
and it turns into however long.
00:38:02.71\00:38:08.25
Maybe of social media,
but every time you get on,
00:38:08.28\00:38:12.92
the temptation is too
strong to look at things
00:38:12.95\00:38:15.49
you shouldn't look at there.
00:38:15.52\00:38:17.73
And you find yourself
caught in the devil's snare,
00:38:17.76\00:38:21.13
distracted by the
world, its principles,
00:38:21.16\00:38:24.43
by its temptations to sin.
00:38:24.47\00:38:27.64
I know social media can be
a powerful tool for ministry.
00:38:27.67\00:38:30.97
But I'm just going
to be raw and real.
00:38:35.04\00:38:38.81
I would venture to say
00:38:38.85\00:38:40.18
that at least
half of us in this room
00:38:40.22\00:38:41.85
find a
satisfaction from social media
00:38:41.88\00:38:43.79
that we really
should be finding in God.
00:38:43.82\00:38:48.69
If you keep getting distracted
for hours or tempted to sin,
00:38:48.72\00:38:53.13
get rid of it, cut it down.
00:38:53.16\00:38:56.93
Jesus said that if your hand
causes you to sin, cut it off.
00:38:56.97\00:38:59.97
He meant go to any length
to remove the obstruction,
00:39:00.00\00:39:03.54
remove the distraction.
00:39:03.57\00:39:05.54
It's taking your
heart away from holy things.
00:39:05.57\00:39:08.64
Yes, you're keeping
in touch with people,
00:39:08.68\00:39:10.31
but you keep seeing things
00:39:10.35\00:39:12.31
that are pulling your heart away
00:39:12.35\00:39:14.48
from the principles of heaven.
00:39:14.52\00:39:18.25
As I told you, we have no
power to change ourselves,
00:39:18.29\00:39:21.69
it's God's power
that does the work in us
00:39:21.72\00:39:23.89
but He gives us a will.
00:39:23.93\00:39:26.36
He promises to even
help us with our will.
00:39:26.39\00:39:31.07
Philippians 3:13, brothers,
00:39:31.10\00:39:34.14
I do not consider
that I have made it my own
00:39:34.17\00:39:36.67
but one thing I do.
00:39:36.71\00:39:38.21
Forgetting what lies
behind and straining forward
00:39:38.24\00:39:40.94
to what lies ahead,
00:39:40.98\00:39:42.58
I press on toward
the goal for the prize
00:39:42.61\00:39:45.21
of the upward
call of Jesus Christ.
00:39:45.25\00:39:48.58
Are we straining ahead
00:39:48.62\00:39:49.98
are we continuing to be moved
00:39:50.02\00:39:53.25
off of the path every day?
00:39:53.29\00:39:56.52
Perhaps a
distraction in your life
00:39:56.56\00:39:58.09
is an unholy ambition,
00:39:58.13\00:39:59.96
a refusal to let go of something
00:40:00.00\00:40:01.60
you've always
wanted to accomplish
00:40:01.63\00:40:03.57
or do even if it takes you away
00:40:03.60\00:40:05.60
from living the life of ministry
00:40:05.63\00:40:07.27
God has called you to.
00:40:07.30\00:40:09.14
Maybe you're distracted
by the issues of the church.
00:40:09.17\00:40:12.41
Believe me, it's
distracting to all of us
00:40:12.44\00:40:14.44
but we are
called to stay focused.
00:40:14.48\00:40:16.88
We're called to spread
the gospel to the world,
00:40:16.91\00:40:18.88
to share Jesus
in unreached places,
00:40:18.91\00:40:21.65
to love our
brothers and sisters,
00:40:21.68\00:40:23.28
and to not look
down upon one another.
00:40:23.32\00:40:27.52
Maybe there's a
major distraction
00:40:27.56\00:40:29.92
in your life, a besetting sin.
00:40:29.96\00:40:33.80
I'm just trying to be
real here this morning
00:40:36.23\00:40:38.83
because I think
it's really important
00:40:38.87\00:40:41.90
to challenge
each other to the core
00:40:41.94\00:40:44.11
if we really love each other.
00:40:44.14\00:40:47.54
Some of you may be distracted
in a significant way by a sin
00:40:47.58\00:40:51.95
that is weighing
you down spiritually,
00:40:51.98\00:40:54.98
and you feel caught.
00:40:55.02\00:40:56.35
You just don't
know how to get out.
00:40:59.49\00:41:02.26
Statistically, many of you
00:41:02.29\00:41:05.16
in this room are struggling
00:41:05.19\00:41:08.36
with self control in
the area of pornography,
00:41:08.40\00:41:11.53
and you just don't
know how to get out,
00:41:11.57\00:41:16.20
there is help for you in God,
00:41:16.24\00:41:19.51
there is hope, so much hope.
00:41:19.54\00:41:23.81
The purity of
heaven is more powerful
00:41:23.85\00:41:26.65
than the pull of lust.
00:41:26.68\00:41:29.68
I promise you,
00:41:29.72\00:41:31.45
Jesus can help you through this,
00:41:31.49\00:41:33.42
keep getting back
up, keep getting back up.
00:41:33.46\00:41:38.83
God is in the
business of complete
00:41:38.86\00:41:40.50
and total
restoration of bringing us up
00:41:40.53\00:41:43.43
out of the miry clay
00:41:43.47\00:41:45.10
and setting our
feet on solid ground.
00:41:45.13\00:41:48.00
He will remove
this from your life.
00:41:48.04\00:41:50.84
Maybe today
you're in a relationship
00:41:56.21\00:41:57.91
that is taking your heart away
from loving the things of God.
00:41:57.95\00:42:02.72
Perhaps this person is
not leading you to Jesus,
00:42:02.75\00:42:05.92
not leading you to
love the things of God more,
00:42:05.95\00:42:09.16
and little by little
you're losing your love for God
00:42:09.19\00:42:11.79
and interest in
fulfilling God's purpose
00:42:11.83\00:42:14.23
for your life.
00:42:14.26\00:42:15.93
I remember at one
point, as a teenager,
00:42:15.96\00:42:19.57
being involved with a guy
who I knew I shouldn't be with.
00:42:19.60\00:42:24.57
I knew my Bible, I
was giving Bible studies,
00:42:24.61\00:42:26.94
I was so on fire, I
loved spiritual things,
00:42:26.98\00:42:29.18
and little by little as
I hung out more with him,
00:42:29.21\00:42:32.05
and as I wasn't careful
in my physical boundaries,
00:42:32.08\00:42:35.85
as my heart was drawn out,
00:42:35.88\00:42:38.25
my love for
spiritual things began to wane.
00:42:38.29\00:42:41.02
I stopped opening up
my Bible every morning
00:42:44.19\00:42:45.99
because every time I
did, I was convicted.
00:42:46.03\00:42:49.53
And I didn't like the
feeling of conviction.
00:42:49.56\00:42:52.33
I hated feeling like a hypocrite
00:42:52.37\00:42:55.10
'cause I knew if
I open the Bible,
00:42:55.14\00:42:56.50
I'd just go on
doing what I was doing,
00:42:56.54\00:42:59.17
so I just stopped.
00:42:59.21\00:43:01.74
I drifted further and
further and began to backslide
00:43:01.78\00:43:04.35
and adopt my old ways again.
00:43:04.38\00:43:07.32
But praise the Lord,
several months later,
00:43:07.35\00:43:09.58
I just couldn't bring myself
to live such a hollow life
00:43:09.62\00:43:12.75
without God when
I had experienced
00:43:12.79\00:43:14.62
so much
richness with Him before.
00:43:14.66\00:43:17.13
And one day, I told
God, I don't feel like it,
00:43:17.16\00:43:20.70
but if You change
my heart, and help me,
00:43:20.73\00:43:24.27
and give me a desire
00:43:24.30\00:43:25.73
'cause I don't even
want to open up the Bible,
00:43:25.77\00:43:27.37
I feel so far away from You.
00:43:27.40\00:43:29.74
I want the things of
the world, I'm so distracted
00:43:29.77\00:43:33.34
by the allurements of the world,
00:43:33.38\00:43:34.88
but I said if You
will change my heart,
00:43:34.91\00:43:37.65
I'll be devoted to You again.
00:43:37.68\00:43:41.05
I knew I didn't have
it in me to change myself.
00:43:41.08\00:43:45.55
But it was God's power,
00:43:45.59\00:43:46.92
and I remember the next morning,
00:43:46.96\00:43:48.29
I woke up
00:43:48.32\00:43:49.66
and I couldn't
wait to read my Bible.
00:43:49.69\00:43:51.93
God worked in me to will
and to do of His good pleasure.
00:43:51.96\00:43:56.26
And I continued to
walk in the path of God.
00:43:56.30\00:44:00.04
If your time and energy,
00:44:00.07\00:44:01.80
your money, your morality
00:44:01.84\00:44:03.97
is being sapped by
something or someone,
00:44:04.01\00:44:07.24
if it's distracting you
00:44:07.28\00:44:08.61
from being the man or
woman God has called you to be,
00:44:08.64\00:44:11.88
God is calling
you to give it up.
00:44:11.91\00:44:15.72
No matter the cost,
00:44:15.75\00:44:17.79
God will supply
the lack that you feel.
00:44:17.82\00:44:20.92
You feel socially
alone when you cut down
00:44:20.96\00:44:22.92
or get rid of
social media, that's okay.
00:44:22.96\00:44:25.19
God will speak to
you through His Word.
00:44:25.23\00:44:27.63
Even if God were to call
you to give up on a relationship
00:44:27.66\00:44:30.80
that's holding you
back from growing in Him,
00:44:30.83\00:44:33.74
He will take care of your heart.
00:44:33.77\00:44:37.11
I'm just like you, friends,
I feel the pull of the world,
00:44:37.14\00:44:41.34
of the
distractions, of everything
00:44:41.38\00:44:43.68
that devil uses to
pull our hearts away
00:44:43.71\00:44:46.05
from the message and mission
00:44:46.08\00:44:47.65
we've been given to
share with the world.
00:44:47.68\00:44:50.49
I've been jaded
by church politics
00:44:50.52\00:44:52.55
in the past.
00:44:52.59\00:44:53.99
I've struggled with depression.
00:44:54.02\00:44:56.09
I've been
addicted to social media.
00:44:56.12\00:44:58.39
I've been
addicted to impure thoughts
00:44:58.43\00:45:00.50
and had to learn to overcome.
00:45:00.53\00:45:02.80
I've had family struggles,
00:45:02.83\00:45:05.07
and I've longed for the
things of the world too.
00:45:05.10\00:45:09.40
But this morning,
00:45:09.44\00:45:10.77
I'm here to tell you
00:45:10.81\00:45:12.84
that God has a
greater plan for your life,
00:45:12.87\00:45:16.54
that He has called you
to live in the 21st century,
00:45:16.58\00:45:20.48
in this time of
earth's history for a reason,
00:45:20.52\00:45:23.32
and He wants to call you
00:45:23.35\00:45:24.92
out of darkness
into His marvelous light.
00:45:24.95\00:45:28.49
He Himself will clear
00:45:28.52\00:45:29.86
the distractions
so you can arise,
00:45:29.89\00:45:32.43
and shine, and live out
00:45:32.46\00:45:33.96
the calling God
has placed on you
00:45:34.00\00:45:36.36
to be a beacon of
light in a dark world.
00:45:36.40\00:45:40.44
This is His
heart's desire for you.
00:45:40.47\00:45:42.80
What is more important
than fulfilling the calling God
00:45:46.31\00:45:49.28
has placed on
us, as young people,
00:45:49.31\00:45:51.45
in this time of earth's history?
00:45:51.48\00:45:55.02
You were not born to
live a conventional life.
00:45:55.05\00:45:58.82
You were born with a
very specific calling
00:45:58.85\00:46:01.46
just like Jesus was,
and John the Baptist,
00:46:01.49\00:46:03.59
and Daniel, and
Joseph, and Moses,
00:46:03.63\00:46:05.93
a call to be
completely devoted to spreading
00:46:05.96\00:46:08.90
the gospel to the world.
00:46:08.93\00:46:11.53
As one of my friends
said, "Stop living your life.
00:46:11.57\00:46:15.04
Your life is boring.
00:46:15.07\00:46:17.24
Live your calling."
00:46:17.27\00:46:18.61
I know that one of the reasons
we exist today as a church
00:46:21.41\00:46:24.08
is because of a
group of young people,
00:46:24.11\00:46:26.78
some of them teenagers,
00:46:26.82\00:46:28.78
who study the Word of God,
who made it their one focus,
00:46:28.82\00:46:31.99
many times staying up all night
00:46:32.02\00:46:33.96
as they studied and
prayed for guidance.
00:46:33.99\00:46:36.16
They were sold
out for the message,
00:46:36.19\00:46:38.03
they were sold
out for the mission
00:46:38.06\00:46:39.39
to see Jesus come soon.
00:46:39.43\00:46:41.03
Their hearts burned within
them as they read of Jesus,
00:46:41.06\00:46:44.13
as they realize where
they were in earth's history,
00:46:44.17\00:46:46.60
and that God would
have a group of people
00:46:46.63\00:46:48.64
who would
follow His commandments
00:46:48.67\00:46:50.04
and who would have
the faith of Jesus.
00:46:50.07\00:46:52.27
I think of their sacrifice,
00:46:52.31\00:46:54.31
of the miles they
would walk in the snow
00:46:54.34\00:46:56.58
just to publish
their first papers
00:46:56.61\00:46:59.48
to send to the surrounding area,
00:46:59.51\00:47:01.08
to tell people that
Jesus was coming soon.
00:47:01.12\00:47:04.49
And I think of
how hard it is for us
00:47:04.52\00:47:06.25
to even just pass out
one piece of literature,
00:47:06.29\00:47:09.46
people who started our church
00:47:09.49\00:47:12.29
were so devoted and
committed to the mission.
00:47:12.33\00:47:17.17
I want to be like them.
00:47:17.20\00:47:19.77
I want to be sold out.
00:47:19.80\00:47:22.84
They were radical,
they lived their lives
00:47:22.87\00:47:25.67
as if Jesus was coming soon,
00:47:25.71\00:47:28.78
ridiculed by many
because of the way
00:47:28.81\00:47:31.45
they live their lives.
00:47:31.48\00:47:33.05
I don't believe that
Jesus will come at a time
00:47:33.08\00:47:35.25
when we have less determination,
00:47:35.28\00:47:37.55
less focus or less sacrifice
00:47:37.59\00:47:39.79
than those who
have gone before us.
00:47:39.82\00:47:42.49
And I'm appealing to
you, my friends, in this room
00:47:42.52\00:47:45.46
and to myself,
00:47:45.49\00:47:47.70
those who were driven
and tossed by the world,
00:47:47.73\00:47:50.67
unsure of what to believe,
moved in every direction,
00:47:50.70\00:47:54.50
caught up in the
ambitions of the world,
00:47:54.54\00:47:57.04
how are we going to go home?
00:47:57.07\00:48:00.68
Maybe you're waiting
for some magical moment
00:48:00.71\00:48:03.04
like the latter rain to
come when all of a sudden
00:48:03.08\00:48:05.08
you'll be magically
transformed into someone
00:48:05.11\00:48:07.62
who puts away all distractions,
00:48:07.65\00:48:09.58
and focuses on the mission,
and who loves winning souls,
00:48:09.62\00:48:12.52
and spending time with God.
00:48:12.55\00:48:14.72
Maybe you're
waiting for the world
00:48:14.76\00:48:16.09
to get a little more worse
00:48:16.12\00:48:17.46
so you'll have a bit more reason
00:48:17.49\00:48:19.09
to believe Jesus is coming soon,
00:48:19.13\00:48:20.86
and now it won't
be as big of a risk
00:48:20.90\00:48:22.76
to be sold out for Him.
00:48:22.80\00:48:25.03
Maybe you're
waiting to get older,
00:48:25.07\00:48:26.47
but for now you
just want to have fun
00:48:26.50\00:48:28.14
because you're young.
00:48:28.17\00:48:30.27
Friends, that day won't come.
God works through our choice.
00:48:30.31\00:48:34.14
And today His still small voice
is reaching out to your hearts
00:48:34.18\00:48:38.48
to live differently than
you've ever lived before.
00:48:38.51\00:48:42.22
He's calling you to
walk worthy of your calling
00:48:42.25\00:48:45.42
to make your
calling and election sure.
00:48:45.45\00:48:48.32
When the moment comes
00:48:48.36\00:48:49.69
when we see Jesus
come in the clouds,
00:48:49.72\00:48:51.73
the hope of all nations is here,
00:48:51.76\00:48:53.96
the moment we've
all been waiting for,
00:48:54.00\00:48:56.13
I don't want to
regret, and look back,
00:48:56.16\00:48:58.63
and think, well, I just wish
00:48:58.67\00:49:00.00
I would have lived
my life differently,
00:49:00.04\00:49:02.30
so that more
people could be saved.
00:49:02.34\00:49:04.41
I wish I wasn't so
caught up in this thing,
00:49:04.44\00:49:06.81
or this
relationship, or this pursuit
00:49:06.84\00:49:09.11
because now it
doesn't mean anything compared
00:49:09.14\00:49:13.42
to our life in
heaven with Jesus.
00:49:13.45\00:49:15.52
Today,
00:49:18.75\00:49:20.59
I have a very specific appeal.
00:49:20.62\00:49:25.16
You know, this weekend
is a weekend of decisions.
00:49:25.19\00:49:29.46
It's a Sabbath to allow God
to radically change your life.
00:49:29.50\00:49:34.40
And today you recognize
00:49:34.44\00:49:36.97
that you don't
really have an understanding
00:49:37.01\00:49:40.91
of what the Bible teaches.
00:49:40.94\00:49:43.55
Maybe your
understanding is surface,
00:49:43.58\00:49:46.35
maybe you are easily distracted
00:49:46.38\00:49:47.92
because you really
don't know what you believe.
00:49:47.95\00:49:52.12
And you want to begin
00:49:52.15\00:49:53.49
having Bible
studies with your pastor,
00:49:53.52\00:49:56.32
with your Bible worker,
00:49:56.36\00:49:57.69
someone who can teach
you the Adventist message,
00:49:57.73\00:49:59.86
maybe you want to go online
and find a training program.
00:49:59.89\00:50:03.57
You're committing to
God to be trained at home
00:50:03.60\00:50:07.54
by someone locally
00:50:07.57\00:50:08.90
or find an online training site.
00:50:08.94\00:50:11.47
You want to
study the prophecies,
00:50:11.51\00:50:12.84
you want to understand
you're calling for yourself.
00:50:12.87\00:50:16.91
And this is not
just head knowledge
00:50:16.95\00:50:18.28
we're talking about,
00:50:18.31\00:50:19.65
it's an
experience with God's Word
00:50:19.68\00:50:21.02
that transforms our lives.
00:50:21.05\00:50:22.55
But you realize
that you need that.
00:50:22.58\00:50:24.45
I invite you to
raise your hands right now.
00:50:24.49\00:50:26.86
You realize that you need
00:50:26.89\00:50:28.29
to know more
about the prophecies.
00:50:28.32\00:50:31.43
You need to know more about
what you believe and understand
00:50:31.46\00:50:34.43
what your calling
is in this day and age.
00:50:34.46\00:50:37.53
Amen. Amen.
00:50:37.57\00:50:40.94
My second appeal
builds on this first appeal.
00:50:40.97\00:50:45.97
This morning you realize
00:50:46.01\00:50:47.34
that you have not
built a solid foundation
00:50:47.38\00:50:49.31
for your faith
00:50:49.34\00:50:51.18
and you want to be trained
in a very intentional way.
00:50:51.21\00:50:56.89
You sense that you don't
know how to share your faith.
00:50:56.92\00:51:00.29
And you feel
00:51:00.32\00:51:01.66
that God is calling you
to go to a Bible college,
00:51:01.69\00:51:06.29
to a training
school or somewhere
00:51:06.33\00:51:10.33
where you will be
intentionally guided
00:51:10.37\00:51:12.23
to study your Bible
00:51:12.27\00:51:13.80
and learn how to
share your faith,
00:51:13.84\00:51:15.74
you need to be trained.
00:51:15.77\00:51:19.21
Maybe it's a summer of training.
00:51:19.24\00:51:21.41
I took a significant
amount of time out of school.
00:51:21.44\00:51:24.85
I graduated later
than everyone else
00:51:24.88\00:51:26.58
but I don't
regret it for the world
00:51:26.61\00:51:29.18
because I believe that
nothing is more important
00:51:29.22\00:51:31.05
than being trained,
00:51:31.09\00:51:32.42
and equipped,
and on fire for God.
00:51:32.45\00:51:35.32
To be in an environment
where you can spiritually grow,
00:51:35.36\00:51:37.79
there is nothing more important.
00:51:37.83\00:51:39.83
God is not calling
all of us to leave school
00:51:39.86\00:51:42.36
or whatever
we're doing, He isn't.
00:51:42.40\00:51:43.87
But there are some people
00:51:43.90\00:51:45.23
that he wants to go
to a training school.
00:51:45.27\00:51:48.90
You want to be
grounded in your faith
00:51:52.44\00:51:53.78
and you feel
00:51:53.81\00:51:55.14
that it necessitates
focusing only on that
00:51:55.18\00:51:57.81
for a period of time.
00:51:57.85\00:52:00.75
I invite you to come forward.
00:52:00.78\00:52:03.08
God is moving on your heart.
00:52:03.12\00:52:05.39
I need to know my faith.
00:52:05.42\00:52:07.66
I need to understand
00:52:07.69\00:52:09.02
where we are in earth's history.
00:52:09.06\00:52:11.19
It might be a Bible college,
it might be another school,
00:52:11.23\00:52:14.33
it might be some
training program,
00:52:14.36\00:52:16.56
but in your heart you sense.
00:52:16.60\00:52:18.87
I know why I am
living in these last days
00:52:18.90\00:52:21.17
but I don't know
how to fulfill that,
00:52:21.20\00:52:23.67
and I want to be trained.
00:52:23.71\00:52:26.31
I invite you to come forward,
00:52:26.34\00:52:27.68
so that someone
can scan your badge
00:52:27.71\00:52:31.28
and follow up with you.
00:52:31.31\00:52:33.31
God is moving on your
heart to live differently
00:52:33.35\00:52:35.48
than you've ever lived before.
00:52:35.52\00:52:37.79
Yes, this is radical, yes,
it's a risk, and believe me,
00:52:37.82\00:52:41.12
pray about it, it's a
risk because if you do it,
00:52:41.16\00:52:44.56
and you're behind, and later on,
00:52:44.59\00:52:47.30
you regret it later
00:52:47.33\00:52:48.66
because you decided it
wasn't worth your time,
00:52:48.70\00:52:50.90
you're going to be really bitter
00:52:50.93\00:52:52.67
or you're going
to really love it
00:52:52.70\00:52:54.20
because your life
is transformed forever.
00:52:54.24\00:52:56.17
This is a risk
00:52:56.20\00:52:57.54
but it's a risk God
is calling you to take.
00:52:57.57\00:52:59.67
I'm not calling for
an emotional decision,
00:52:59.71\00:53:02.24
I'm calling you to
pray in your heart.
00:53:02.28\00:53:04.58
Lord, I need to be
stronger in my faith.
00:53:04.61\00:53:07.82
I need to be trained.
00:53:07.85\00:53:09.88
I need to know what I believe.
00:53:09.92\00:53:13.66
Praise the Lord.
00:53:13.69\00:53:16.22
And as they're coming forward,
00:53:16.26\00:53:19.23
my last appeal is for those
00:53:19.26\00:53:20.66
who find themselves
distracted this morning.
00:53:20.70\00:53:25.50
We talked about the distractions
00:53:25.53\00:53:26.94
that face us as young
people, maybe it's social media,
00:53:26.97\00:53:29.97
maybe it's a relationship,
maybe it's a besetting sin,
00:53:30.01\00:53:33.31
maybe you're
distracted by your career,
00:53:33.34\00:53:35.64
one that isn't necessarily bad
00:53:35.68\00:53:37.05
but distracting you
from living out your calling,
00:53:37.08\00:53:39.85
and God is calling
you to make a choice
00:53:39.88\00:53:43.28
to put aside that distraction.
00:53:43.32\00:53:44.99
You know that
00:53:45.02\00:53:46.35
there's a
distraction in your life
00:53:46.39\00:53:47.72
that is keeping you
from fulfilling your mission,
00:53:47.76\00:53:50.53
I want to invite
you forward as well.
00:53:50.56\00:53:52.53
You're committing to God,
00:53:52.56\00:53:54.30
Lord, I don't
have a will of my own
00:53:54.33\00:53:56.77
but please take my will,
take my heart, change me,
00:53:56.80\00:54:01.04
help me to overcome in this sin,
00:54:01.07\00:54:04.11
help me to overcome in
this distraction in my life.
00:54:04.14\00:54:08.14
I don't have the
power, I know I can't do it,
00:54:08.18\00:54:11.71
but I know that
You have the power,
00:54:11.75\00:54:13.72
and that Jesus, You
want me to live differently
00:54:13.75\00:54:17.25
than I've ever
thought of living before.
00:54:17.29\00:54:19.99
Praise the Lord.
00:54:20.02\00:54:21.36