On Jordan's stormy banks I stand
00:00:59.19\00:01:02.89
And cast a wishful eye
00:01:02.92\00:01:07.60
Cast a wishful eye
00:01:07.63\00:01:12.07
To Canaan's fair and happy land
00:01:12.10\00:01:15.84
Where my possessions lie
00:01:15.87\00:01:20.61
My possessions lie
00:01:20.64\00:01:24.68
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:01:24.71\00:01:30.69
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:01:30.72\00:01:36.66
Oh, who will come and go
00:01:36.69\00:01:40.10
Come and go with me?
00:01:40.13\00:01:43.40
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:01:43.43\00:01:49.10
O'er all those
wide extended plains
00:01:53.61\00:01:57.08
Shines one eternal day
00:01:57.11\00:02:02.12
One eternal day
00:02:02.15\00:02:06.72
There Christ, the
Son, forever reigns
00:02:06.76\00:02:10.16
And scatters night away
00:02:10.19\00:02:14.96
Scatters night away
00:02:15.00\00:02:18.37
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:02:18.40\00:02:24.67
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:02:24.71\00:02:30.55
Oh, who will come and go
00:02:30.58\00:02:34.02
Come and go with me?
00:02:34.05\00:02:37.02
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:02:37.05\00:02:42.66
When I shall
reach that happy place
00:02:47.40\00:02:50.87
I'll be forever blessed
00:02:50.90\00:02:55.47
Be forever blessed
00:02:55.50\00:02:59.74
When shall I
see my Father's face
00:02:59.77\00:03:03.28
And in His kingdom rest
00:03:03.31\00:03:07.88
Kingdom rest
00:03:07.92\00:03:11.22
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:03:11.25\00:03:17.23
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:03:17.26\00:03:22.76
Oh, who will come and go
00:03:22.80\00:03:26.30
Come and go with me?
00:03:26.33\00:03:29.30
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:03:29.34\00:03:34.88
Filled with
delight my raptured soul
00:03:39.75\00:03:43.22
Would here no longer stay
00:03:43.25\00:03:47.69
Would no longer stay
00:03:47.72\00:03:52.03
Though Jordan's
waves around me roll
00:03:52.06\00:03:55.30
Fearless, I'd launch away
00:03:55.33\00:03:59.93
Launch away
00:03:59.97\00:04:03.71
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:04:03.74\00:04:10.55
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:04:12.08\00:04:17.89
Oh, who will come and go
00:04:17.92\00:04:21.29
Come and go with me?
00:04:21.32\00:04:24.53
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:04:24.56\00:04:30.80
I am bound for the Promised Land
00:04:30.83\00:04:38.74
Good evening to all of you.
00:04:50.39\00:04:52.69
It's come to my attention
00:04:55.72\00:04:59.49
that last night I
left you unintentionally
00:04:59.53\00:05:04.10
with a bit of a cliffhanger.
00:05:04.13\00:05:07.57
Number of you have asked me,
00:05:07.60\00:05:10.81
"Whatever happened to that
girl from the gas station?"
00:05:10.84\00:05:15.68
I hope the message had
more of an impact than that,
00:05:15.71\00:05:18.05
but...
00:05:18.08\00:05:19.65
It's a good question.
00:05:21.48\00:05:24.72
So I'll tell you, I
continue to have contact
00:05:24.75\00:05:27.76
very regularly with that
girl from the gas station.
00:05:27.79\00:05:32.99
In fact, I have
seen her or talked to her
00:05:33.03\00:05:36.60
every day for
the last 21.5 years
00:05:36.63\00:05:41.20
because I married that
girl from the gas station.
00:05:41.24\00:05:45.31
If you'd like to meet...
00:05:45.34\00:05:46.68
Yes, with young people,
you always get the awe, yes.
00:05:46.71\00:05:50.45
We've been
married for 21.5 years.
00:05:53.58\00:05:58.09
She's the Associate Director
of It is Written, Canada,
00:05:58.12\00:06:00.66
and we have been
in ministry together
00:06:00.69\00:06:02.46
for those 21.5 years.
00:06:02.49\00:06:07.40
If you'd like to meet her,
00:06:07.43\00:06:08.76
you stop by our booth
there in the exhibit hall.
00:06:08.80\00:06:13.54
We are thankful
00:06:13.57\00:06:16.71
to God that He has
blessed us with the opportunity
00:06:16.74\00:06:19.01
to work together
as a ministry team.
00:06:19.04\00:06:22.41
We're thankful and I am thankful
00:06:22.44\00:06:23.85
to have had the opportunity
to be with you here at GYC.
00:06:23.88\00:06:30.69
I only pray that I have
been as much of a blessing
00:06:30.72\00:06:34.29
as I have been
blessed by all of you.
00:06:34.32\00:06:38.26
The number of
people who have prayed for
00:06:38.29\00:06:40.30
and with me has
been overwhelming.
00:06:40.33\00:06:43.63
Debbie and I have no children
00:06:47.57\00:06:50.41
through a
intentional decision on our part
00:06:50.44\00:06:53.98
that God let us to that
00:06:54.01\00:06:55.44
we might dedicate our
lives fully to ministry,
00:06:55.48\00:06:59.11
and it is given
us the opportunity
00:06:59.15\00:07:00.65
to minister to
young people in a way
00:07:00.68\00:07:02.32
that we might not
have been able to minister
00:07:02.35\00:07:04.95
had we had children.
00:07:04.99\00:07:06.32
And so while we don't
have any biological children,
00:07:06.35\00:07:09.79
we believe that we
have youth and young adults
00:07:09.82\00:07:12.66
that are our children
00:07:12.69\00:07:14.30
all across North
America and around the world.
00:07:14.33\00:07:19.13
So GYC has a very
special place in our hearts,
00:07:19.17\00:07:24.41
and we're thankful to be here.
00:07:24.44\00:07:25.91
Tonight, we're going
to continue our journey
00:07:29.21\00:07:35.15
In Isaiah 60,
and I will tell you
00:07:35.18\00:07:37.69
I have found it quite amazing
00:07:37.72\00:07:40.79
that as the various speakers
00:07:40.82\00:07:43.76
for the various plenary sessions
00:07:43.79\00:07:45.79
and for the morning worship
00:07:45.83\00:07:48.20
have come all from far
away and different places,
00:07:48.23\00:07:51.23
and we didn't have a
meeting to coordinate
00:07:51.27\00:07:53.84
with one another
how God coordinated
00:07:53.87\00:07:56.24
messages that are a
cohesive unit leading each of us
00:07:56.27\00:08:00.98
on a path to Jesus
Christ that we might arise
00:08:01.01\00:08:07.25
and shine for Him.
00:08:07.28\00:08:11.12
Tonight, as I share with you
00:08:11.15\00:08:14.46
this last time, it is my prayer
00:08:14.49\00:08:17.86
that God will pour out
His Spirit in abundance.
00:08:17.89\00:08:21.60
Let's pray together.
00:08:21.63\00:08:23.06
Heavenly Father, we come here,
00:08:29.90\00:08:34.98
many of these young
people, youth and young adults,
00:08:35.01\00:08:41.62
have been here for
the better part of a week,
00:08:41.65\00:08:47.56
up late, up early,
00:08:47.59\00:08:52.56
praying long,
praying hard, learning,
00:08:52.59\00:08:57.83
soaking in the
power of Your Holy Spirit.
00:08:57.87\00:09:03.91
And tonight, as we
engage in study once again,
00:09:03.94\00:09:07.88
we know that on our own ability,
00:09:07.91\00:09:09.94
on our own
intellect, we have nothing.
00:09:09.98\00:09:13.75
But through the
power of Your Holy Spirit,
00:09:13.78\00:09:16.69
we can be convicted,
00:09:16.72\00:09:21.56
and transformed, and changed,
00:09:21.59\00:09:26.33
and made anew.
00:09:26.36\00:09:28.76
And so our
greatest prayer tonight
00:09:28.80\00:09:31.83
is that as we leave this place
00:09:31.87\00:09:36.37
that we would be different
than when we first came.
00:09:36.40\00:09:40.78
We want to draw nearer
to You, Lord, and we pray
00:09:40.81\00:09:43.95
that Your Spirit would be
poured out in great abundance.
00:09:43.98\00:09:48.85
We pray this in
Jesus' name, amen.
00:09:48.88\00:09:52.92
On Thursday night,
00:09:58.03\00:10:01.33
as we studied, we
talked about the reality that
00:10:01.36\00:10:03.77
as we are called to shine,
00:10:03.80\00:10:09.74
God must first arise over us,
00:10:09.77\00:10:12.47
He must rise.
00:10:12.51\00:10:16.08
Last night, we
studied the reality
00:10:16.11\00:10:18.85
that each of us need to arise,
00:10:18.88\00:10:21.55
but first we need to die,
00:10:21.58\00:10:25.82
casting away those things
which pull us away from Him,
00:10:25.85\00:10:32.13
that we might live for Him,
00:10:32.16\00:10:36.46
you must arise.
00:10:36.50\00:10:41.70
Do you believe that God
has done that in your life?
00:10:41.74\00:10:44.57
Do you believe that God
has arisen in your life?
00:10:44.61\00:10:47.51
Do you believe that through
the power of the Holy Spirit,
00:10:47.54\00:10:50.78
He's changed you this week?
00:10:50.81\00:10:53.31
I hope you do
because the promise
00:10:53.35\00:10:55.48
of God's Word
00:10:55.52\00:11:00.02
is that as we make a
decision to live for Him,
00:11:00.06\00:11:06.59
He's faithful, and He's true,
00:11:06.63\00:11:10.17
the one who began a good work
in us will finish that work.
00:11:10.20\00:11:15.74
We do not need to
leave this place doubting
00:11:15.77\00:11:18.67
whether God has done
what He promised to do.
00:11:18.71\00:11:21.38
If He promised it, it is done.
00:11:21.41\00:11:24.15
And so now tonight, as
we look at this passage,
00:11:26.25\00:11:29.12
we come to the
dramatic conclusion,
00:11:29.15\00:11:32.35
and I need to tell you
there's no huge preamble,
00:11:32.39\00:11:34.69
no big story,
00:11:34.72\00:11:36.42
and here it is
with supreme profundity,
00:11:36.46\00:11:41.33
you will shine.
00:11:41.36\00:11:43.93
And some of you are saying,
"But there's got to be more."
00:11:46.30\00:11:51.01
You will shine,
Isaiah 60 is simple,
00:11:51.04\00:11:56.68
arise, shine for
your light has come
00:11:56.71\00:12:00.22
and the glory of the
Lord is risen upon you,
00:12:00.25\00:12:04.35
"For behold, the
darkness shall cover the earth
00:12:04.39\00:12:06.86
and deep darkness the people,
00:12:06.89\00:12:08.76
but the Lord
will arise over you,
00:12:08.79\00:12:11.43
and His glory
will be seen upon you."
00:12:11.46\00:12:17.47
The gentiles shall
come to your light,
00:12:17.50\00:12:20.00
and kings to the
brightness of your rising.
00:12:20.04\00:12:22.90
And here is what I
don't want you to miss.
00:12:22.94\00:12:25.61
Take note.
00:12:28.68\00:12:30.95
The passage is not an invitation
00:12:30.98\00:12:36.42
for you to try to shine.
00:12:36.45\00:12:40.66
Let me say it again
so you don't miss it.
00:12:43.06\00:12:45.73
The passage is not
an invitation for you
00:12:45.76\00:12:50.97
to try to shine.
00:12:51.00\00:12:56.04
The passage
simply says, "Shine."
00:12:56.07\00:13:01.61
It is a promise
00:13:01.64\00:13:03.68
that because of the redemptive
power of God in our lives
00:13:03.71\00:13:08.28
and the personal
and real presence
00:13:08.32\00:13:11.12
of God in our
lives, we will shine.
00:13:11.15\00:13:17.96
It is a
guarantee, it is a promise.
00:13:17.99\00:13:23.37
And if we are not shining,
00:13:23.40\00:13:28.07
there is a more
fundamental question
00:13:28.10\00:13:30.64
that we must ask our self,
00:13:30.67\00:13:35.31
"Have we really
laid it all down?"
00:13:35.34\00:13:37.78
But tonight,
embracing the promise
00:13:42.82\00:13:48.96
that we have laid it down,
00:13:48.99\00:13:51.36
that we have
laid our Isaac down,
00:13:51.39\00:13:53.83
that we have
let go of the brick,
00:13:53.86\00:13:57.50
embracing the
promise of His Word,
00:13:57.53\00:14:02.10
we will shine.
00:14:02.14\00:14:06.61
Isaiah 60
00:14:06.64\00:14:08.81
tells us fundamentally
the challenge that is faced.
00:14:08.84\00:14:12.35
"Darkness shall cover the earth
and deep darkness the people."
00:14:12.38\00:14:18.02
Those two words,
darkness and deep darkness,
00:14:18.05\00:14:21.32
rather interesting Hebrew words,
00:14:21.36\00:14:23.09
two different words.
00:14:23.12\00:14:25.03
The first one
00:14:25.06\00:14:27.23
is the same word that is used
00:14:27.26\00:14:29.53
to describe the
plague of darkness in Egypt.
00:14:29.56\00:14:33.10
Literally translated, obscurity.
00:14:33.13\00:14:37.84
The world is in obscurity.
00:14:37.87\00:14:40.91
Obscurity of what?
00:14:40.94\00:14:43.31
The second word, deep
darkness answers the question.
00:14:43.35\00:14:48.55
That word deep darkness,
00:14:48.58\00:14:50.42
those two words
are one Hebrew word
00:14:50.45\00:14:55.89
is literally
translated, thick darkness,
00:14:55.92\00:14:59.63
and it is the
identical word used
00:14:59.66\00:15:03.06
to describe the
veiling of the glory of God
00:15:03.10\00:15:07.44
and the exact word used
to describe the darkness
00:15:07.47\00:15:10.54
that enveloped His
appearance on Mount Sinai.
00:15:10.57\00:15:16.91
What is the passage
of Isaiah 60 saying?
00:15:16.95\00:15:21.08
Certainly, the
darkness is a reference
00:15:21.12\00:15:24.29
to the wickedness of the world,
00:15:24.32\00:15:26.25
but it is more
deplorable than that.
00:15:26.29\00:15:29.29
The world is dark, it
is darkened to the reality
00:15:29.32\00:15:35.76
by a misunderstanding
00:15:35.80\00:15:38.30
of the
character and love of God.
00:15:38.33\00:15:42.57
And God is calling
His last day people
00:15:42.60\00:15:46.81
to arise and
shine the glory of God,
00:15:46.84\00:15:52.25
the character of God.
00:15:52.28\00:15:55.18
And there are several
passages throughout the Bible
00:16:02.06\00:16:03.93
that describe the
exact same thing going on.
00:16:03.96\00:16:06.66
Isaiah 60 is a
last day's passage.
00:16:06.70\00:16:10.00
Isaiah 60 is the
most relevant passage
00:16:10.03\00:16:12.63
for the 21st century.
00:16:12.67\00:16:16.57
In no other time in
this earth's history
00:16:16.60\00:16:18.97
has God's
character been more obscured.
00:16:19.01\00:16:22.41
Do you know what the
fastest growing religious group
00:16:24.95\00:16:26.98
is in North America?
00:16:27.02\00:16:30.15
Don't take joy in saying
00:16:30.19\00:16:31.62
the Seventh-day
Adventist Church.
00:16:31.65\00:16:34.56
The fastest
growing religious group
00:16:34.59\00:16:36.39
in North America is the nones,
00:16:36.42\00:16:38.99
not N-U-N-S, the N-O-N-E-Ss.
00:16:39.03\00:16:43.90
What does that mean?
00:16:43.93\00:16:45.80
People who have no
religious affiliation.
00:16:45.83\00:16:49.17
They describe
themselves as individuals
00:16:49.20\00:16:51.41
who are spiritual
but not religious.
00:16:51.44\00:16:54.48
They've given up on the church
00:16:54.51\00:16:56.11
and fundamentally when you study
00:16:56.14\00:16:57.95
this group of individuals
who have given up on religion,
00:16:57.98\00:17:02.12
they have given up on religion
because they have simply said,
00:17:02.15\00:17:06.45
"There's no difference
between what's happening there
00:17:06.49\00:17:08.59
and what's happening out here
00:17:08.62\00:17:09.96
and what's
happening out here is more fun
00:17:09.99\00:17:11.79
than what's happening in there."
00:17:11.83\00:17:15.00
And God is calling His people
00:17:15.03\00:17:17.90
to arise and
then you will shine,
00:17:17.93\00:17:22.17
but how does that accomplished?
00:17:22.20\00:17:24.67
If you have your
Bibles, turn to Matthew 24.
00:17:24.71\00:17:27.91
You know Matthew 24 well,
00:17:27.94\00:17:30.61
Matthew 24, the
signs of the times.
00:17:30.65\00:17:35.95
Jesus took His disciples
00:17:35.98\00:17:37.49
to the Mount of
Olives and there,
00:17:37.52\00:17:41.72
He shared with them the signs
00:17:41.76\00:17:43.43
that would occur
before His coming.
00:17:43.46\00:17:46.26
You know it well,
00:17:46.29\00:17:47.63
false christs and false prophets
00:17:47.66\00:17:49.20
would arise.
00:17:49.23\00:17:50.57
There would be
wars and rumors of war.
00:17:50.60\00:17:53.34
You know all of this.
00:17:53.37\00:17:54.97
He said nation
would rise against nation.
00:17:55.00\00:17:59.81
There would be pestilences
and famines and earthquakes.
00:17:59.84\00:18:02.81
There would be false
prophets, you know this.
00:18:02.84\00:18:07.72
It has happened throughout time,
00:18:07.75\00:18:09.82
and in these last
days, with greater intensity.
00:18:09.85\00:18:12.65
But there right in
the midst of Matthew 24,
00:18:12.69\00:18:15.96
there are a few
verses that at first glance
00:18:15.99\00:18:18.89
seem like they're
almost out of place,
00:18:18.93\00:18:21.76
but when you look
at them more closely,
00:18:21.80\00:18:23.47
you see that they're
in the exact right place.
00:18:23.50\00:18:26.63
Matthew 24:12,
notice what the Bible says,
00:18:26.67\00:18:32.31
"And because
lawlessness will abound,
00:18:32.34\00:18:35.98
the love of
many will grow cold."
00:18:36.01\00:18:40.95
This word "lawlessness"
00:18:43.62\00:18:45.85
is a direct
reference to the law of God.
00:18:45.89\00:18:48.59
Jesus says that,
"Lawlessness will abound."
00:18:48.62\00:18:50.86
There would be a time
00:18:50.89\00:18:52.23
when society not
only abandons God's law
00:18:52.26\00:18:54.63
but will
actually rebel against it.
00:18:54.66\00:18:57.80
And as we look
around the world today,
00:18:57.83\00:18:59.37
it doesn't take a
PhD to figure out,
00:18:59.40\00:19:02.40
it doesn't take a
theologian to figure out.
00:19:02.44\00:19:06.41
This is being
fulfilled right in our midst,
00:19:06.44\00:19:09.68
a lawless society,
00:19:09.71\00:19:14.18
but Jesus says
even further that,
00:19:14.22\00:19:15.68
"The love of
many will grow cold."
00:19:15.72\00:19:18.92
The word there "love"
is the Greek word agape,
00:19:18.95\00:19:23.16
literally translated to esteem,
00:19:23.19\00:19:25.26
to have affection for,
to have high regards for.
00:19:25.29\00:19:28.73
That phrase "to grow cold",
00:19:31.97\00:19:38.17
it beckons the imagery
00:19:38.21\00:19:39.74
in the original
Greek language of a flame
00:19:39.77\00:19:43.51
or a fire that is being
extinguished or snuffed out.
00:19:43.55\00:19:49.12
It is a defining
moment of the last days
00:19:52.45\00:19:54.62
when society will reject
the very governance of God
00:19:54.66\00:19:58.29
and His law,
00:19:58.33\00:20:00.53
and then will
embrace a loveless society
00:20:00.56\00:20:03.83
where love simply
has been extinguished.
00:20:03.87\00:20:09.27
Lawlessness, lovelessness
00:20:12.11\00:20:17.48
will encompass the earth.
00:20:17.51\00:20:20.35
Isaiah 60 called it darkness.
00:20:20.38\00:20:24.79
Lawlessness,
00:20:29.49\00:20:31.56
the law is a
revelation of God's character,
00:20:31.59\00:20:35.13
lovelessness, love.
00:20:35.16\00:20:40.24
God is love, the manifestation
of God's character.
00:20:40.27\00:20:43.97
You see, God's
character will be extinguished.
00:20:44.01\00:20:46.98
The full on assault of
Satan in these last days
00:20:50.01\00:20:54.88
is to obscure
the character of God,
00:20:54.92\00:20:58.22
that darkness
would cover the land,
00:20:58.25\00:21:00.46
people wouldn't
know who God really is.
00:21:00.49\00:21:04.29
And then Jesus says in verse 13,
00:21:04.33\00:21:06.13
"But he who endures to
the end shall be saved."
00:21:06.16\00:21:10.00
That word there
00:21:10.03\00:21:11.37
"He who endures"
the enduring there
00:21:11.40\00:21:14.80
should bring to
mind another verse.
00:21:14.84\00:21:16.30
Revelation
14:12, what does it say,
00:21:16.34\00:21:20.21
"And here is the patience..."
00:21:20.24\00:21:22.28
which is also
translated, endurance.
00:21:22.31\00:21:24.48
"Here is the
endurance of the saints,
00:21:24.51\00:21:26.38
here are they that do" what?
00:21:26.41\00:21:28.38
"Keep the commandments of God
and have the faith of Jesus."
00:21:28.42\00:21:32.15
You see, to endure to the end
means that you're an individual
00:21:34.69\00:21:39.29
that is filled
with the faith of Jesus
00:21:39.33\00:21:42.36
and out of that faith of Jesus,
00:21:42.40\00:21:45.07
your love toward Him
leads you to obedience in Him.
00:21:45.10\00:21:50.61
And then what will happen,
in God's greatest counterattack
00:21:50.64\00:21:55.78
to Satan's attack of a
world filled with lawlessness
00:21:55.81\00:21:59.85
and lovelessness and
darkness covering the earth,
00:21:59.88\00:22:03.49
Jesus then said these words,
00:22:03.52\00:22:05.39
Matthew 24:14 and don't miss it,
00:22:05.42\00:22:08.36
"And this gospel of the kingdom
00:22:08.39\00:22:10.99
will be
preached in all the world
00:22:11.03\00:22:12.89
as a witness to all nations,"
00:22:12.93\00:22:14.50
and then the Bible says,
"and then the end will come."
00:22:14.53\00:22:20.74
It is the most
definitive time prophecy
00:22:20.77\00:22:22.87
as to the coming of Jesus.
00:22:22.90\00:22:26.71
You see, God's counterattack
00:22:26.74\00:22:28.71
to Satan's attack of lawlessness
00:22:28.74\00:22:31.01
and lovelessness is this gospel.
00:22:31.05\00:22:36.15
I want you to take
note though, it's important.
00:22:36.18\00:22:41.32
It doesn't say "the gospel".
00:22:41.36\00:22:46.26
Now let me ask you a
question, and I know the answer.
00:22:46.29\00:22:50.03
GYC, do you believe
that the Bible is inspired?
00:22:50.07\00:22:54.14
Let me ask you one
more time just to make sure.
00:22:54.17\00:22:56.54
GYC, do you believe
the Bible is inspired?
00:22:56.57\00:22:58.91
Yes!
00:22:58.94\00:23:00.71
I feel better now.
00:23:00.74\00:23:02.08
When Matthew wrote these words,
00:23:05.21\00:23:09.45
he carefully
chose the word "this",
00:23:09.48\00:23:11.52
it's a small word.
00:23:11.55\00:23:12.89
Some of you are saying,
00:23:12.92\00:23:14.26
"Why are you
making such a big deal?"
00:23:14.29\00:23:15.62
The word "this"
is a demonstrative.
00:23:18.89\00:23:22.50
If you don't like
literature, stay with me,
00:23:22.53\00:23:25.93
I failed literature
class, and I'm telling you,
00:23:25.97\00:23:28.67
so stay with me.
00:23:28.70\00:23:31.27
This is a demonstrative.
00:23:31.31\00:23:32.64
It could be a
demonstrative pronoun
00:23:32.67\00:23:34.01
or a demonstrative adjective.
00:23:34.04\00:23:35.78
Some of you are
saying, "This is crazy,
00:23:35.81\00:23:37.15
like what are you
talking about this now?"
00:23:37.18\00:23:38.71
The word "this",
here in the original
00:23:41.15\00:23:44.42
seems to be a
demonstrative adjective.
00:23:44.45\00:23:48.59
It appears that Jesus
is trying to demonstrate
00:23:48.62\00:23:51.03
that there is a distinct message
00:23:51.06\00:23:52.93
in the last days that
will go forth to extinguish
00:23:52.96\00:23:56.90
the darkness, the lawlessness,
00:23:56.93\00:23:59.17
and the
lovelessness of this earth.
00:23:59.20\00:24:01.17
It is no accident that
later in the New Testament,
00:24:06.88\00:24:08.88
Paul warns about the
perversion of the gospel,
00:24:08.91\00:24:10.91
I marvel that you are
now turning away so soon
00:24:10.95\00:24:13.65
from him who called
you in the grace of Christ
00:24:13.68\00:24:16.02
to a different
gospel, which is not another,
00:24:16.05\00:24:18.22
but there are
some who trouble you
00:24:18.25\00:24:19.72
and want to pervert
the gospel of Christ.
00:24:19.75\00:24:22.49
Why would Matthew
use this word "this"?
00:24:27.10\00:24:30.37
Why would Matthew say
"this" gospel must go forward?
00:24:30.40\00:24:34.50
Could it be
that Jesus was trying
00:24:34.54\00:24:35.87
to communicate with us
that He has a specific mission
00:24:35.90\00:24:39.37
for His church in the last days.
00:24:39.41\00:24:41.18
He has a specific
mission for His people.
00:24:41.21\00:24:43.88
He has a
specific mission for GYC.
00:24:43.91\00:24:46.65
He has a specific mission
for you in these last days
00:24:46.68\00:24:50.52
as His
counterattack to the lawlessness
00:24:50.55\00:24:52.89
and lovelessness of the world.
00:24:52.92\00:24:55.72
So what is "this" gospel?
00:24:55.76\00:24:59.03
Let us first be very clear.
00:24:59.06\00:25:01.63
It's not some ethereal
thing that's out there.
00:25:01.66\00:25:05.80
It is not a theoretical device,
00:25:05.83\00:25:07.80
and it's not a
theological debate.
00:25:07.84\00:25:12.61
In order to answer the question,
00:25:12.64\00:25:13.98
we need to go to
a different passage.
00:25:14.01\00:25:18.85
Did Jesus ever
clearly articulate
00:25:18.88\00:25:22.55
what "this" gospel is?
00:25:22.58\00:25:27.76
If you have your
Bibles, turn to Luke 4.
00:25:27.79\00:25:31.39
Luke 4:16-21.
00:25:31.43\00:25:34.40
Universally,
commentators believe that
00:25:46.81\00:25:48.94
this marks the
commencement of Jesus' ministry.
00:25:48.98\00:25:53.95
Luke has
deliberately put this story
00:25:53.98\00:25:55.92
at the beginning of the
public ministry of Jesus
00:25:55.95\00:25:58.55
to encapsulate
and demonstrate to us
00:25:58.59\00:26:01.02
what the entire
ministry of Jesus was to be,
00:26:01.06\00:26:03.59
and in fact, informs
us what "this gospel" is?
00:26:03.63\00:26:10.53
Luke 4:16-21,
the Bible says this,
00:26:10.57\00:26:14.87
"So He came to Nazareth
where He had been brought up.
00:26:14.90\00:26:17.91
And as His custom was,
00:26:17.94\00:26:19.71
He went into the
synagogue on the Sabbath day,
00:26:19.74\00:26:22.08
and He stood up to read.
00:26:22.11\00:26:23.58
And He was handed the
book of the Prophet Isaiah.
00:26:23.61\00:26:26.41
And when He had opened the book,
00:26:26.45\00:26:28.05
He found the place
where it was written."
00:26:28.08\00:26:31.29
And then Jesus read
these words, here it is,
00:26:31.32\00:26:34.19
"The Spirit of
the Lord is upon Me
00:26:34.22\00:26:37.19
because He has anointed Me
00:26:37.23\00:26:38.66
to preach the
gospel to the poor.
00:26:38.69\00:26:41.16
He has sent Me to
heal the brokenhearted,
00:26:41.20\00:26:44.33
to proclaim
liberty to the captives
00:26:44.37\00:26:46.50
and recovery of
sight to the blind,
00:26:46.53\00:26:48.77
to set at liberty
those who are oppressed,
00:26:48.80\00:26:51.84
to proclaim the
acceptable year of the Lord.
00:26:51.87\00:26:55.88
Then He closed the book,
gave it back to the attendant
00:26:55.91\00:26:59.18
and sat down.
00:26:59.21\00:27:01.98
And the eyes of all
00:27:02.02\00:27:03.35
who were in the
synagogue were fixed on Him.
00:27:03.39\00:27:05.25
And He began to say to them,
00:27:05.29\00:27:07.09
'Today this Scripture is
fulfilled in your hearing.'"
00:27:07.12\00:27:13.70
It is interesting to note
00:27:13.73\00:27:15.20
that Jesus reading
the passage of Scripture,
00:27:15.23\00:27:18.63
it is a combination of
Isaiah 58 and Isaiah 61.
00:27:18.67\00:27:23.27
This is very important
00:27:25.81\00:27:27.24
because Isaiah
58, 59, 60, 61, and 62
00:27:27.28\00:27:32.61
form what is called,
in theological terms,
00:27:32.65\00:27:35.52
a chiastic structure.
00:27:35.55\00:27:38.52
What does that mean
in very simple terms?
00:27:38.55\00:27:41.92
Isaiah 60 says how God is
going to accomplish His mission,
00:27:41.96\00:27:47.06
and those
passages surrounding it,
00:27:47.10\00:27:49.16
Isaiah 58, Isaiah 61
tell us what He is going to do
00:27:49.20\00:27:54.94
to accomplish the
mission that He had set forth.
00:27:54.97\00:27:58.37
It seems that Luke
placing this at the very
00:28:01.41\00:28:04.91
beginning of the
ministry of Jesus
00:28:04.95\00:28:07.05
has tried to help us understand
00:28:07.08\00:28:09.75
the total encapsulation
of what Jesus wants to do
00:28:09.78\00:28:15.12
and answer the
question, what is this gospel?
00:28:15.16\00:28:18.49
First, it is to
preach to the poor.
00:28:18.53\00:28:21.93
The poor in this
passage are a group,
00:28:21.96\00:28:23.90
and it has a broad definition.
00:28:23.93\00:28:25.73
It certainly can mean those who
are economically disadvantaged,
00:28:25.77\00:28:29.00
but it does also
those who are oppressed,
00:28:29.04\00:28:31.34
those who are disillusioned
and in need of God's help,
00:28:31.37\00:28:34.68
those who are lacking
spiritual work or sense
00:28:34.71\00:28:37.71
that they're
lacking spiritual worth.
00:28:37.75\00:28:40.15
This gospel is to go and share
00:28:40.18\00:28:42.88
the good news of the
victory of Jesus Christ
00:28:42.92\00:28:47.36
and help people see the
true and real character of God
00:28:47.39\00:28:53.80
that we can share with them
00:28:53.83\00:28:55.16
that a God of love will
not burn people for eternity,
00:28:55.20\00:29:00.10
that a God of love
would not allow you
00:29:00.14\00:29:02.57
to float as an entity
00:29:02.60\00:29:05.21
around your brothers and
sisters after you have died
00:29:05.24\00:29:07.81
but not be able to
participate with them.
00:29:07.84\00:29:10.68
A God of love would
not make your wonder
00:29:10.71\00:29:12.45
whether your
family member is in heaven
00:29:12.48\00:29:14.18
or in hell but
rather resting in the grave.
00:29:14.22\00:29:17.72
We can demonstrate
to a world who Jesus is,
00:29:17.75\00:29:23.89
that He is the
Alpha and the Omega,
00:29:23.93\00:29:25.89
the beginning and the end,
00:29:25.93\00:29:27.33
the one who touches
the economically poor,
00:29:27.36\00:29:31.33
the emotionally poor,
and the spiritually poor.
00:29:31.37\00:29:34.74
The call of Jesus to His people
00:29:34.77\00:29:37.34
in a lawless
and loveless society
00:29:37.37\00:29:40.11
is to share good news,
00:29:40.14\00:29:42.11
that Jesus is the
lover of all peoples,
00:29:42.14\00:29:45.11
and His a life in Him
will bring order and stability.
00:29:45.15\00:29:50.75
John 3:17,
00:29:50.79\00:29:53.39
"For God did not send
His Son into the world
00:29:53.42\00:29:55.76
to condemn the world
00:29:55.79\00:29:57.13
but that the world
through Him might be saved."
00:29:57.16\00:30:02.86
There are too
many preachers on TV
00:30:02.90\00:30:04.37
who are condemning the world.
00:30:04.40\00:30:06.07
There are too many
people condemning the world.
00:30:06.10\00:30:08.37
What the world
needs is a dose of hope.
00:30:08.40\00:30:10.67
And that hope will come
00:30:10.71\00:30:13.68
through you, arise, shine.
00:30:13.71\00:30:19.01
This gospel is also defined
00:30:20.52\00:30:22.12
as the healing of
the brokenhearted.
00:30:22.15\00:30:24.19
Jesus wasn't just concerned
with the physical or spiritual,
00:30:27.12\00:30:30.19
but He was concerned
00:30:30.23\00:30:32.13
with the entire
nature of humankind.
00:30:32.16\00:30:36.13
Jesus was called
the Great Physician.
00:30:36.16\00:30:38.77
He met physical
needs, emotional needs,
00:30:38.80\00:30:41.60
mental needs, social
needs, spiritual needs.
00:30:41.64\00:30:45.41
He had concern
for the whole person.
00:30:45.44\00:30:48.28
He wanted to restore
wholeness in an individual.
00:30:48.31\00:30:53.31
And while in the
English language,
00:30:53.35\00:30:54.98
brokenhearted is often
used to describe an emotion.
00:30:55.02\00:30:59.92
This word encompasses even more.
00:30:59.95\00:31:02.82
These are individuals
who have been broken by sin,
00:31:02.86\00:31:05.36
who have regret and
are looking for healing.
00:31:05.39\00:31:08.93
Jesus demonstrated this ministry
00:31:08.96\00:31:13.44
through the first
chapters of the Book of John.
00:31:13.47\00:31:17.74
John 2 as Jesus went
to the wedding of Cana,
00:31:17.77\00:31:21.04
He healed a social need.
00:31:21.08\00:31:22.94
In John 3, as He
dealt with Nicodemus,
00:31:22.98\00:31:25.78
He dealt with a social
need, a spiritual need.
00:31:25.81\00:31:30.12
In John 4, as Jesus dealt
with the woman at the well.
00:31:30.15\00:31:34.19
He dealt with an emotional,
physical, and spiritual need.
00:31:34.22\00:31:38.43
And that goes
all the way through,
00:31:41.00\00:31:42.33
then in the climax in John 8,
00:31:42.36\00:31:45.57
the woman caught in adultery.
00:31:45.60\00:31:47.67
Where the Bible gives evidence
00:31:52.61\00:31:53.94
and the Spirit of
Prophecy clarifies,
00:31:53.98\00:31:56.98
the very individuals that caught
00:31:57.01\00:31:59.15
the woman in adultery
and cast her before Jesus
00:31:59.18\00:32:02.85
had actually
committed the very act with her.
00:32:02.88\00:32:07.59
And Jesus does something
that is so transformational.
00:32:07.62\00:32:13.83
As the woman caught in
adultery is caught there,
00:32:13.86\00:32:16.83
laying before Him.
00:32:16.87\00:32:19.30
He crouches down,
00:32:19.33\00:32:20.67
and He begins to
write in the dirt.
00:32:20.70\00:32:24.31
The scriptures
give clear evidence
00:32:28.31\00:32:29.91
that what Jesus was
writing there in the dirt
00:32:29.94\00:32:31.78
was the sins of her accusers.
00:32:31.81\00:32:34.85
And then He comes to that point
00:32:37.95\00:32:41.76
where I'm sure the woman
was weeping in front of Him,
00:32:41.79\00:32:45.43
and He asks her that question,
00:32:45.46\00:32:48.33
"Woman, where
are your accusers?"
00:32:48.36\00:32:53.47
And we often say,
they had all left,
00:32:55.60\00:32:58.04
it's not a true statement.
00:32:58.07\00:33:00.31
There is only one that
could stand an accuser,
00:33:00.34\00:33:03.68
and it was Jesus.
00:33:03.71\00:33:05.78
But aren't you glad
00:33:05.81\00:33:07.98
that Jesus is not the
accuser of the brethren.
00:33:08.02\00:33:11.42
The Bible says
that He is our Advocate,
00:33:11.45\00:33:14.19
He is the one
that stands by our side
00:33:14.22\00:33:16.32
and so, when He asked
this rhetorical question
00:33:16.36\00:33:18.86
to the woman, then He
takes her by the hand,
00:33:18.89\00:33:20.76
and He says, "Woman, now go
00:33:20.80\00:33:24.53
and sin no more."
00:33:24.57\00:33:28.10
He healed her broken heart,
00:33:28.14\00:33:30.94
her physical, emotional, mental,
00:33:30.97\00:33:33.94
and spiritual needs.
00:33:33.98\00:33:35.58
But there's
another group of people
00:33:35.61\00:33:36.95
that Jesus
ministered to that day.
00:33:36.98\00:33:40.05
We often miss out on who
He ministered to that day.
00:33:40.08\00:33:42.58
He ministered to those accusers
00:33:46.29\00:33:49.99
because Jesus
wrote their sins where?
00:33:50.03\00:33:53.46
In the sand, in the
ground, in the dirt,
00:33:53.50\00:33:56.23
which later in the
day the wind would blow
00:33:56.26\00:34:00.04
it all away...
00:34:00.07\00:34:02.00
Because Jesus had
come into the world
00:34:06.51\00:34:07.84
to heal the world,
and He is inviting us
00:34:07.88\00:34:11.05
to join Him in His mission
of proclaiming this gospel.
00:34:11.08\00:34:14.78
This gospel is to proclaim
liberty to the captives.
00:34:14.82\00:34:17.99
The captivity that Jesus came
00:34:18.02\00:34:19.39
to announce is freedom from sin.
00:34:19.42\00:34:22.19
While Satan attempts
to hold people in bondage,
00:34:22.22\00:34:25.36
Jesus came to
free them from bondage.
00:34:25.39\00:34:28.80
There is little doubt
that while Jesus' ministry
00:34:28.83\00:34:31.83
was comprehensive in nature
and included the whole person,
00:34:31.87\00:34:35.10
deliverance from sin
was the ultimate goal
00:34:35.14\00:34:37.84
of His ministry.
00:34:37.87\00:34:39.74
I can tell you, friends,
I travel all around Canada,
00:34:39.77\00:34:43.51
I travel around the world,
00:34:43.55\00:34:46.05
and I can tell you there are
millions and millions of people
00:34:46.08\00:34:50.19
that are waiting for
someone to bring them hope,
00:34:50.22\00:34:53.46
that there is a way
out of the destitution
00:34:53.49\00:34:57.16
that they are living in.
00:34:57.19\00:34:59.93
Arise and shine,
00:34:59.96\00:35:05.47
Jesus is coming soon.
00:35:05.50\00:35:08.57
We can proclaim
freedom because Jesus promises
00:35:08.60\00:35:13.71
a real presence
where we can come to Him,
00:35:13.74\00:35:20.12
confess our sins, He
can forgive us our sins,
00:35:20.15\00:35:24.22
cleanse us of
all unrighteousness.
00:35:24.25\00:35:28.02
And then as 1 John 2:1 says,
00:35:28.06\00:35:30.59
"My little children,
these things I write unto you,
00:35:30.63\00:35:34.16
that ye sin not.
00:35:34.20\00:35:38.10
But if any man sin,
00:35:38.13\00:35:39.47
we have an
advocate with the Father,
00:35:39.50\00:35:40.84
Jesus Christ the righteous."
00:35:40.87\00:35:43.14
The propitiation,
00:35:43.17\00:35:46.51
the atonement,
00:35:46.54\00:35:48.88
Jesus Christ
will give us victory
00:35:48.91\00:35:52.41
as we claim the promise,
00:35:52.45\00:35:54.38
receive His forgiveness, we
can announce this good news.
00:35:54.42\00:35:58.09
This gospel is to
recover sight of the blind.
00:36:01.29\00:36:05.09
And whether you've
been born spiritually blind
00:36:05.13\00:36:07.26
or have had some
type of experience
00:36:07.30\00:36:09.30
to cause your blindness,
00:36:09.33\00:36:10.70
the Messiah's
mission was to restore
00:36:10.73\00:36:13.07
the sight of the blind.
00:36:13.10\00:36:15.47
Spiritual blindness
has often been caused
00:36:19.94\00:36:24.68
by the church itself
and the members of it.
00:36:24.71\00:36:30.92
The recovery of sight
00:36:30.95\00:36:33.82
begins with us
that God would heal us,
00:36:33.86\00:36:37.33
that then we
can provide the hope
00:36:37.36\00:36:41.03
in recovering that
sight to the blind.
00:36:41.06\00:36:44.87
This gospel is to set at liberty
00:36:44.90\00:36:46.80
those who are oppressed.
00:36:46.84\00:36:48.40
Jesus brings liberty
00:36:48.44\00:36:50.01
rather than just proclaiming it.
00:36:50.04\00:36:52.31
This is an illusion to...
00:36:52.34\00:36:54.41
Excuse me, an
allusion to Isaiah 58:6.
00:36:54.44\00:36:57.85
Jesus...
00:37:01.58\00:37:03.12
>Jesus brings
liberty, freedom from injustice
00:37:05.99\00:37:10.46
is found in Him and only in Him.
00:37:10.49\00:37:13.80
And then Jesus ended the passage
00:37:16.70\00:37:21.07
saying that this
gospel is to proclaim
00:37:21.10\00:37:24.74
the acceptable year of our Lord.
00:37:24.77\00:37:27.28
You see, the
ministry of Jesus was to bring
00:37:27.31\00:37:29.41
the dawning of a new time.
00:37:29.44\00:37:31.58
His ministry was
to bring deliverance
00:37:31.61\00:37:33.82
in that present time
for sure, hope for today,
00:37:33.85\00:37:37.82
but there is a
greater freedom to come,
00:37:37.85\00:37:39.95
Jesus arrives on the
earth as a suffering servant
00:37:39.99\00:37:42.86
to deliver people now,
00:37:42.89\00:37:44.63
but His mission
as suffering servant
00:37:44.66\00:37:47.43
would not be the
complete mission.
00:37:47.46\00:37:50.40
He would come a second
time as the Conquering King.
00:37:50.43\00:37:55.04
And our role in
His role is to announce
00:37:55.07\00:37:59.04
that Jesus is coming again.
00:37:59.07\00:38:01.81
We cannot find hope
00:38:01.84\00:38:03.18
in the governments of the world.
00:38:03.21\00:38:04.61
We cannot find hope in
businesses of the world.
00:38:04.65\00:38:07.25
We cannot find hope in tax cuts,
00:38:07.28\00:38:10.19
we find hope in Jesus Christ.
00:38:10.22\00:38:15.29
And here is the
interesting thing,
00:38:15.32\00:38:18.13
Jesus when He read this passage
00:38:18.16\00:38:21.13
did not read
00:38:21.16\00:38:25.27
the last phrase of Isaiah 61.
00:38:25.30\00:38:29.14
That last phrase
00:38:29.17\00:38:31.34
and the day of
vengeance of our God,
00:38:31.37\00:38:35.41
you see, for,
because, the patriotic Jew,
00:38:35.44\00:38:39.08
for the patriotic Jew,
00:38:39.11\00:38:41.05
the climax of the
passage was the day a vengeance
00:38:41.08\00:38:44.99
coming upon the gentiles.
00:38:45.02\00:38:47.62
They believe that
salvation was for them alone.
00:38:50.16\00:38:55.20
And it was a day of
retribution for the gentiles.
00:38:55.23\00:39:01.64
And so for the Jews,
the idea of salvation
00:39:01.67\00:39:03.74
was a matter of nationality
00:39:03.77\00:39:05.97
rather than personal submission.
00:39:06.01\00:39:07.81
They were blinded
to the true nature
00:39:07.84\00:39:09.38
of the mission of Christ.
00:39:09.41\00:39:10.75
They expected the Messiah
to appear as a powerful prince
00:39:10.78\00:39:14.75
at the head of a mighty army
to vanquish their oppressors.
00:39:14.78\00:39:18.52
But the focus of
Jesus was on the deliverance
00:39:18.55\00:39:20.82
of individuals
providing salvation.
00:39:20.86\00:39:23.56
And I don't want you
to get the wrong idea.
00:39:25.99\00:39:28.70
The focus of Jesus here
00:39:28.73\00:39:31.37
on deliverance does
not negate His justice.
00:39:31.40\00:39:35.10
However, His mission
was one that concentrated
00:39:35.14\00:39:38.91
and focused its
efforts on the salvation
00:39:38.94\00:39:41.71
and deliverance of humankind.
00:39:41.74\00:39:44.68
And this gospel of the kingdom
00:39:44.71\00:39:46.72
will be
preached in all the world
00:39:46.75\00:39:48.08
as a witness to all the nations
and then the end will come.
00:39:48.12\00:39:51.72
What we are talking
about here, my dear friends,
00:39:51.75\00:39:53.96
is the practical gospel
lived out by God's people.
00:39:53.99\00:39:58.49
The answer to the darkness
00:39:58.53\00:40:00.03
that is sweeping
across the earth,
00:40:00.06\00:40:01.76
the answer to the lawlessness
and lovelessness of the earth
00:40:01.80\00:40:05.03
is not
legislation from a government,
00:40:05.07\00:40:07.27
but it is for God's people
00:40:07.30\00:40:10.01
to arise and shine forth
00:40:10.04\00:40:14.21
the glory and character of God.
00:40:14.24\00:40:16.88
Just a few days ago, some of you
00:40:19.78\00:40:22.12
who live in California,
00:40:22.15\00:40:23.99
there were record
numbers of calls to 911
00:40:24.02\00:40:28.99
because there was
a light in the sky
00:40:29.02\00:40:30.93
that was mysterious,
00:40:30.96\00:40:32.39
"Is it a UFO? Are
they coming to attack us?"
00:40:32.43\00:40:36.03
It was the launching of
the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket,
00:40:36.06\00:40:41.20
but see, the light
illuminated the sky,
00:40:41.24\00:40:44.11
pierced the
darkness, made people nervous.
00:40:44.14\00:40:47.21
And here is the question
00:40:47.24\00:40:48.68
for your local
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:40:48.71\00:40:51.45
are there people
calling 911 saying,
00:40:51.48\00:40:54.38
"There is illumination
coming from this building,
00:40:54.42\00:40:58.09
people are loving,
and kind, and gracious,
00:40:58.12\00:41:01.06
and merciful, and we don't know
00:41:01.09\00:41:02.86
what to do with them
because it's just kind of odd."
00:41:02.89\00:41:05.76
You see, God
says, "Arise, shine."
00:41:09.70\00:41:16.64
This gospel is the same
message of Revelation 14:6
00:41:16.67\00:41:20.74
and the everlasting gospel.
00:41:20.78\00:41:22.98
And here is the
interesting thing,
00:41:25.55\00:41:29.42
Revelation 18,
00:41:29.45\00:41:34.09
Revelation 18:1.
00:41:34.12\00:41:37.73
"And after these
things I saw another angel
00:41:40.53\00:41:44.23
coming down from
heaven having great authority
00:41:44.27\00:41:47.84
and the earth was
illuminated with His glory."
00:41:47.87\00:41:53.91
That word "illuminated"
00:41:53.94\00:41:57.35
is the identical word used
00:41:57.38\00:42:00.38
in Isaiah 60 for shine.
00:42:00.42\00:42:04.79
You see, the
call of God's people
00:42:04.82\00:42:06.49
in these last
days is to illuminate.
00:42:06.52\00:42:09.56
That call of Revelation
18, "Fallen is Babylon."
00:42:09.59\00:42:13.36
My dear friends, that
is why the fastest growing
00:42:13.40\00:42:16.03
religious group
is those who have
00:42:16.06\00:42:18.50
no religious affiliation.
00:42:18.53\00:42:20.17
They are seeing
Babylon is bankrupt.
00:42:20.20\00:42:23.71
There is nothing to offer
00:42:23.74\00:42:25.17
in the religious
confusion of the day,
00:42:25.21\00:42:27.68
and so God raised
up the remnant people
00:42:27.71\00:42:31.58
with a belief system
constructed in heaven itself,
00:42:31.61\00:42:37.32
and we have to have debates
00:42:37.35\00:42:39.19
and fights
about what we believe.
00:42:39.22\00:42:42.42
God has constructed the
most relevant belief system
00:42:42.46\00:42:46.13
ever known to
mankind and today, now,
00:42:46.16\00:42:50.03
the most relevant thing we
can do is arise, and shine,
00:42:50.07\00:42:54.50
and demonstrate the
love and character of God.
00:42:54.54\00:42:58.27
Have you personally experienced
the gospel in your own life?
00:43:02.48\00:43:06.25
Have you heard the good
news of victory and believed?
00:43:06.28\00:43:11.35
Maybe you haven't,
maybe you're broken,
00:43:11.39\00:43:13.25
maybe your life
has bore out tragedy,
00:43:13.29\00:43:15.36
I don't know what your story is,
00:43:15.39\00:43:17.16
but Jesus today reaches
out His nails-scarred hands
00:43:17.19\00:43:20.93
and says, "Come to Me,
I will bring you healing.
00:43:20.96\00:43:24.10
I will arise over
you, now you arise.
00:43:24.13\00:43:28.17
I will bring you the
assurance of salvation."
00:43:28.20\00:43:31.74
The Scripture is clear, if
you confess with your mouth,
00:43:31.77\00:43:34.68
the Lord Jesus
Christ, believe in your heart
00:43:34.71\00:43:37.18
that God has
raised them from the dead,
00:43:37.21\00:43:39.01
you will be saved.
00:43:39.05\00:43:41.85
Jesus is calling you, friend,
00:43:41.88\00:43:43.49
He is calling you to come
home and experience His joy.
00:43:43.52\00:43:48.22
He is calling you to arise
00:43:48.26\00:43:53.56
and shine.
00:43:53.60\00:43:55.50
You will shine.
00:43:55.53\00:43:59.13
Paul used a
different illustration.
00:44:03.64\00:44:08.18
In 2 Corinthians 2:14,
00:44:08.21\00:44:12.65
the Bible says this,
"Now thanks be to God
00:44:12.68\00:44:14.48
who always leads us
in triumph in Christ
00:44:14.52\00:44:19.22
and through us
diffuses the fragrance
00:44:19.25\00:44:23.56
of His
knowledge in every place."
00:44:23.59\00:44:26.76
For we are to God,
the fragrance of Christ
00:44:26.80\00:44:29.36
amongst those
who are being saved
00:44:29.40\00:44:30.80
and among those who
are perishing, to one,
00:44:30.83\00:44:33.34
we are the aroma of
death leading to death,
00:44:33.37\00:44:35.67
and to the other, the
aroma of life leading to life.
00:44:35.70\00:44:41.84
You see, to shine
is to have the aroma
00:44:41.88\00:44:43.91
that leads people to life.
00:44:43.95\00:44:46.05
But we're facing a challenge.
00:44:48.55\00:44:52.42
It's the Laodicean challenge.
00:44:52.45\00:44:55.72
We're poor,
wretched, miserable and naked,
00:44:58.19\00:45:05.07
and we don't even know.
00:45:05.10\00:45:06.57
What's your aroma?
00:45:08.94\00:45:12.21
Let me make it
a little more raw.
00:45:12.24\00:45:15.31
What do you smell like?
00:45:15.34\00:45:16.68
Have you ever
visited a pig farm before?
00:45:22.25\00:45:25.35
The fact that you can smell them
00:45:28.36\00:45:29.69
usually miles away
00:45:29.72\00:45:31.99
often helps us not
to want to visit one.
00:45:32.03\00:45:34.90
I used to sell insurance.
00:45:37.93\00:45:42.04
One day, I
called upon a pig farmer
00:45:42.07\00:45:44.61
to sell him life insurance.
00:45:44.64\00:45:47.58
I will never
forget that journey.
00:45:47.61\00:45:51.78
A journey that began
several miles from his home,
00:45:51.81\00:45:57.19
and I'll never forget
asking myself the question,
00:45:57.22\00:46:00.96
"How could somebody live here?"
00:46:00.99\00:46:03.79
And as I went down his lane,
00:46:03.83\00:46:07.23
the stench grew worse and worse,
00:46:07.26\00:46:12.30
watering my eyes.
00:46:12.33\00:46:17.57
Don't miss the illustration.
00:46:17.61\00:46:20.51
But after I had been
there for 10 or 15 minutes,
00:46:23.28\00:46:30.22
I didn't even notice the smell.
00:46:30.25\00:46:32.35
Is it possible that our churches
00:46:36.06\00:46:42.80
which God has called to
shine in our communities
00:46:42.83\00:46:48.57
are emitting a stench
00:46:48.60\00:46:52.37
that is death leading to death?
00:46:52.41\00:46:55.71
But the promise of
God is that can change.
00:46:57.05\00:47:00.55
That's why you're
here, arise and shine.
00:47:00.58\00:47:06.29
You see, people will
often talk to me and say,
00:47:06.32\00:47:08.06
"Well, my church
this, and my church that,
00:47:08.09\00:47:09.46
and my church
that, my conferences,
00:47:09.49\00:47:10.99
my union that,
my division this."
00:47:11.03\00:47:14.10
If you are waiting
for a church board action,
00:47:14.13\00:47:16.90
if you are waiting for an action
00:47:16.93\00:47:18.70
of the general
conference to arise and shine,
00:47:18.73\00:47:21.80
we are going to
wait another 173 years
00:47:21.84\00:47:25.24
before Jesus comes.
00:47:25.27\00:47:28.14
It doesn't start
there, it starts here.
00:47:28.18\00:47:31.78
A decision for each of us,
00:47:31.81\00:47:33.52
the promise of God is
that we will arise and shine.
00:47:33.55\00:47:37.39
It's not complicated,
Jesus made it simple.
00:47:46.13\00:47:52.57
But because we had forgotten,
00:47:52.60\00:47:58.04
He called a prophet to
point us back to the simplicity,
00:47:58.07\00:48:01.98
and she wrote these
words 112 years ago.
00:48:02.01\00:48:07.62
The world needs today
what it needed 1,900 years ago,
00:48:07.65\00:48:11.69
a revelation of Christ,
00:48:11.72\00:48:14.59
a great work of
reform is demanded,
00:48:14.62\00:48:16.56
and it is only
through the grace of Christ
00:48:16.59\00:48:19.26
that the work of
restoration, physical, mental,
00:48:19.29\00:48:22.16
and spiritual
can be accomplished.
00:48:22.20\00:48:24.63
Christ's method alone
00:48:24.67\00:48:26.97
will give true success
in reaching the people.
00:48:27.00\00:48:29.67
The Savior mingled among men
as one who desired their good.
00:48:29.70\00:48:33.71
He showed His sympathy for them,
00:48:33.74\00:48:35.48
ministered to their
needs, won their confidence,
00:48:35.51\00:48:38.11
then he bait them, "Follow Me."
00:48:38.15\00:48:41.75
There is a need
00:48:41.78\00:48:43.85
of coming close to the
people by personal effort.
00:48:43.89\00:48:46.76
If less time were
given to sermonizing
00:48:46.79\00:48:49.06
and more time were
spent in personal ministry,
00:48:49.09\00:48:51.63
greater results would be seen.
00:48:51.66\00:48:53.73
The poor are to be
relieved, the sick cared for,
00:48:53.76\00:48:58.07
the sorrowing and
the bereaved comforted,
00:48:58.10\00:49:00.64
the ignorant instructed,
the inexperienced counseled.
00:49:00.67\00:49:07.54
I'm sorry, the
bereaved comforted,
00:49:07.58\00:49:09.71
the ignorant instructed,
the inexperienced counseled.
00:49:09.74\00:49:12.51
We are to weep
with those that weep,
00:49:12.55\00:49:14.18
rejoice with those that rejoice
00:49:14.22\00:49:16.08
accompanied by the
power of persuasion,
00:49:16.12\00:49:18.39
the power of prayer, the
power of the love of God,
00:49:18.42\00:49:21.49
this work will not,
cannot be without fruit.
00:49:21.52\00:49:26.33
The call of Jesus
to arise and shine
00:49:26.36\00:49:30.23
is a call that each of us
00:49:30.27\00:49:32.30
would be a revelation of Christ,
00:49:32.33\00:49:34.67
a living epistle
in our neighborhood,
00:49:34.70\00:49:37.41
a living epistle in our home.
00:49:37.44\00:49:39.84
It's not complicated,
and it starts in our home.
00:49:47.42\00:49:54.02
Parents, how do you
treat your children?
00:49:55.99\00:49:58.96
Do you pray with your children?
00:50:05.57\00:50:08.17
Do you love your
children unconditionally?
00:50:08.20\00:50:10.37
It's not complicated.
00:50:13.31\00:50:15.58
Did you smile at the
room attendant this morning?
00:50:17.95\00:50:22.72
Did you thank your server?
00:50:22.75\00:50:26.05
Were you the extension of
Jesus in someone's life today?
00:50:28.22\00:50:32.19
Two years ago, Debbie
and I visited Laodicea.
00:50:35.36\00:50:38.90
And for years, I've
preached the Laodicean message
00:50:42.37\00:50:44.74
the same way, you know it,
00:50:44.77\00:50:50.48
I wish you were hot or cold.
00:50:50.51\00:50:56.69
For years, I've always preached,
00:50:59.32\00:51:00.66
"You've got to be
hot. You've got to be hot.
00:51:00.69\00:51:03.19
Go and be hot."
00:51:03.22\00:51:05.33
But that's not
what the passage says.
00:51:07.00\00:51:09.83
You have to be hot or cold.
00:51:09.86\00:51:13.54
When you stand in Laodicea,
00:51:16.54\00:51:19.81
and you look off
to the mountains,
00:51:19.84\00:51:21.81
you see what looks like
a snow-covered mountain,
00:51:21.84\00:51:25.81
but it is actually
a calcified mountain,
00:51:25.85\00:51:28.52
the hot waters of Hierapolis.
00:51:28.55\00:51:33.09
Hierapolis is a
place that it is believed
00:51:33.12\00:51:34.99
that Cleopatra went to
soak in the hot water baths
00:51:35.02\00:51:38.93
to be healed of
dermatological issues.
00:51:38.96\00:51:42.10
Laodicea was so rich
that they built aqueducts
00:51:42.13\00:51:44.93
from the hot water of Hierapolis
00:51:44.97\00:51:47.57
that brought healing
and soothing to people
00:51:47.60\00:51:51.94
to bring down to Laodicea.
00:51:51.97\00:51:55.11
But Laodicea, you see,
they had their own water source
00:51:55.14\00:51:57.78
but they didn't
like their water source
00:51:57.81\00:51:59.51
because their water
source was heavily mineralized.
00:51:59.55\00:52:04.42
So they also wanted cold water,
and there is another mountain
00:52:04.45\00:52:07.72
upon which they built aqueducts
to bring in cold water.
00:52:07.76\00:52:11.23
And cold water
serves as refreshment,
00:52:11.26\00:52:14.70
revitalizing water,
but the problem is this,
00:52:14.73\00:52:19.07
you see, as both of those waters
00:52:19.10\00:52:20.77
came down the aqueducts,
00:52:20.80\00:52:23.20
by the time they
arrived at Laodicea,
00:52:23.24\00:52:27.21
they were lukewarm.
00:52:27.24\00:52:29.68
Have you ever had a hot drink,
00:52:34.72\00:52:39.82
like Roma or
maybe a nice herbal tea?
00:52:39.85\00:52:45.33
And you set it on the
table, and you forget about it,
00:52:45.36\00:52:50.73
and then you go
back to take a sip.
00:52:50.77\00:52:54.70
Generally our reaction
00:52:54.74\00:52:57.07
in a very official way
is something like this.
00:52:57.11\00:53:01.88
Oh!
00:53:01.91\00:53:04.01
And that is what God is
calling His people out of.
00:53:07.52\00:53:11.25
He does not need
people who on this earth
00:53:14.62\00:53:17.26
are simply uh.
00:53:17.29\00:53:21.23
He needs people who are hot,
00:53:21.26\00:53:23.63
who brings soothing
and healing to the earth,
00:53:23.67\00:53:27.14
but He needs
people who are cold,
00:53:27.17\00:53:28.80
who refresh the earth
and revitalize the earth.
00:53:28.84\00:53:32.01
The call of
Laodicea is to be hot
00:53:32.04\00:53:36.08
or cold to bring refreshment,
00:53:36.11\00:53:38.65
to bring soothing,
to bring revitalization,
00:53:38.68\00:53:41.62
arise and shine,
00:53:41.65\00:53:44.52
open your ear to your neighbors,
00:53:44.55\00:53:46.49
you're called, Jesus desires,
00:53:46.52\00:53:49.32
that He would
finish the work in you,
00:53:49.36\00:53:51.53
and then finish
the work through you.
00:53:51.56\00:53:54.46
The time is now
to stop talking about
00:53:56.63\00:54:01.47
Jesus finishing the
work in this generation.
00:54:01.50\00:54:05.74
The time is to start
living out the mission,
00:54:05.77\00:54:09.94
so He will finish the
work in this generation.
00:54:09.98\00:54:14.58
Arise and shine.
00:54:17.82\00:54:21.22
How are they going to hear?
00:54:28.13\00:54:30.60
Who will go? How will they know?
00:54:32.23\00:54:38.47
How will they
ever find the truth
00:54:39.97\00:54:43.88
if we don't go?
00:54:43.91\00:54:47.05
We need to stop
trying to convert people,
00:54:47.08\00:54:49.95
and we need to
start finding the people
00:54:49.98\00:54:51.82
that God is already converting
00:54:51.85\00:54:54.12
and lead them on the
path to the celestial city.
00:54:54.16\00:54:58.23
Millions waiting
00:54:58.26\00:55:02.93
for you to shine,
millions waiting for you
00:55:02.96\00:55:06.17
to be the aroma of
life leading to life.
00:55:06.20\00:55:09.00
Millions waiting for
you to be the soothing,
00:55:09.04\00:55:12.71
hot, healing water.
00:55:12.74\00:55:18.41
Millions waiting
for you to be the cool,
00:55:18.45\00:55:21.85
refreshing,
revitalizing water of the earth.
00:55:21.88\00:55:26.89
How will they find the truth
00:55:29.62\00:55:34.13
if we don't arise and shine?
00:55:34.16\00:55:39.23
Tonight, do you
hear and sense that
00:55:41.00\00:55:42.97
God is calling you to
work in your local church,
00:55:43.00\00:55:47.51
to go back to your
community tomorrow or Monday
00:55:47.54\00:55:50.61
and to shine in your community?
00:55:50.65\00:55:52.71
Tonight, do you sense that
00:55:52.75\00:55:55.58
God is calling
you to arise and shine
00:55:55.62\00:56:00.06
in your local
church and local community?
00:56:00.09\00:56:02.62
If you sense that
call, I invite you to stand,
00:56:02.66\00:56:05.59
that you would commit yourself
00:56:05.63\00:56:07.73
to being a light in your
local church and community,
00:56:07.76\00:56:11.03
that you would be active
and involved in Bible studies,
00:56:11.07\00:56:15.30
and community
programs, and community service.
00:56:15.34\00:56:19.54