Hello and welcome! Praise
the Lord we can come together
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to study the
Word. How wonderful.
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We want to welcome
everyone that's here
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and everyone around the
world that could be watching
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and/or listening to these
beautiful wonderful messages.
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Are we having fun yet? Yes!
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Good spiritual time,
right? It's been a blessing.
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And I know it's going to
get better and better and better
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because the Holy Spirit...
we've been praying for the
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Holy Spirit to come in among us.
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So welcome to 3ABN.
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We call it Homecoming
and certainly Camp Meeting.
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It's a wonderful time
when we can come together
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and be able to sing praises.
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We can pray, we
can study together
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and draw closer to Jesus
'cause we do believe what?
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He's coming soon!
So we're just glad
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and we welcome
each and every one.
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Today's speaker of the hour is
going to be Pastor C.A. Murray.
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He doesn't need an introduction
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for most of you,
right? We all know Pastor C.A.
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You know, what a blessing he
is to us as a personal friend
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and a loved one. And
may I say: he's real.
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And that makes a
difference, doesn't it?
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He's a real man of God.
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He knows the Word. God
has given tremendous gifts
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to him, and he's using
those for God's honor and glory.
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So he's going to be speaking to
us here in just a few moments.
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Again, we want to
make you feel right at home
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and we're glad you're here.
Many's traveled from a long
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distance and there's
many more going to be coming.
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So be praying for them as
they travel and come together.
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Especially those of you at home:
we want you to know we love you
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'cause it wouldn't be a
good Camp Meeting or Homecoming
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without people
viewing and writing in
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and letting us know what a
blessing this Camp Meeting,
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Homecoming, is. So
before Pastor C.A. comes out
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again I could spend a
lot of time talking about him
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as a personal
friend and a man of God.
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But I asked him did he
want me to say anything.
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Hi, Sweetie. He
wanted me to say...
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He wanted me to
say something very...
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I said: "Do you want me
to say anything special? "
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"Nope... no. "
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And that's kind
of the way he is.
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He just wants to get
on with the Lord's work.
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And so we're very
grate... But before he comes out
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and speaks and
blesses your heart
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Celestine Barry is going
to have our special music.
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I think most of you know her.
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God has gifted
her... wonderful voice.
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It will bless your heart.
But I would like to have just
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a quick prayer as
we open the meeting
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as she comes out to
sing. So bow your heads with me
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and just have our
prayer today. Let's pray.
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Our loving heavenly Father,
we thank you for the privilege
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of prayer. We ask now that
You be with this meeting...
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Camp Meeting today.
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We ask that the Holy Spirit
would be poured out in abundance
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on everything that takes place.
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May You be honored and
magnified and glorified.
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May the name of
Jesus be lifted up.
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We're going to praise You
and we're going to thank You
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for the day's activity
because we leave it in Thy
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capable hands as the Holy
Spirit now descends and occupies
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the hearts and
minds of each one.
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And we're going to thank
you in advance for what You're
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going to do. Be with
Pastor C.A. in a special way.
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Celestine in a
special way as she sings.
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May our heart be prepared
for that wonderful message.
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In Jesus' name we pray
and for His sake, Amen.
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So after the special music
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the next voice you will
hear will be Pastor C.A. Murray.
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God bless you.
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There is a candle
00:04:04.21\00:04:07.21
in every soul
00:04:07.61\00:04:10.75
Some brightly burning,
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some dark and cold.
00:04:14.45\00:04:18.05
There is a Spirit
00:04:18.25\00:04:21.12
who brings the fire
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Ignites a candle
00:04:25.16\00:04:28.26
and makes His home.
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Carry your candle,
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run to the darkness,
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Seek out the hopeless,
00:04:39.47\00:04:42.64
confused and torn.
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Hold out your candle
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for all to see it
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Take your candle
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and go light your world.
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Take your candle
00:05:00.96\00:05:03.97
and go light your world.
00:05:04.37\00:05:08.84
Frustrated brother,
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see how he's tried to
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light his own candle
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some other way.
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See now your sister,
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She's been robbed and lied to
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Still holds a candle
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without a flame.
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So carry your candle,
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run to the darkness,
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Seek out the lonely,
00:05:47.14\00:05:50.31
the tired and worn
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Hold out your candle
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for all to see it
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Take your candle
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go light your world...
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Take your candle
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and go light your world.
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We are a family
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whose hearts are blazing
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Let's raise our candles
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and light up the sky.
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Prayin' to our Father
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in the name of Jesus
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Make us a beacon
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in darkest hours.
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So carry your candle,
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run to the darkness,
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Seek out the helpless,
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deceived and poor
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Hold out your candle
00:07:01.72\00:07:04.95
for all to see it
00:07:05.15\00:07:08.49
Take your candle
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and go light your world.
00:07:12.39\00:07:18.33
Run to the darkness...
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Hopeless...
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confused and torn
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Candle...
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for all to see it...
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Take your candle
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and go light your world...
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Take your candle
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and go light your world.
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Amen!
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Good morning. Good morning!
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I almost want to say
"Good morning and Happy Sabbath"
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but we're not
quite there just yet.
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I want to thank my
dear friend Pastor Kenny
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for his gracious introduction
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and Celestine for
singing for us this morning.
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We want to go right into
our message 'cause there's a lot
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to say and little time to do it.
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Turn with me if you
will to I Peter chapter 3.
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The title of our message is
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The Sanctity of
Suffering/Sacrifice.
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I'm going to use those two
words somewhat interchangeably:
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suffering and
sacrifice. So we're in I Peter
00:08:53.40\00:08:57.03
chapter 3
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and we'll look
at verses 13 and 14
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and then muse for
the next several moments.
00:09:07.01\00:09:10.31
Shall we pray? Gracious Father,
we praise You and thank You
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for the wonderful privilege
that is ours to study Your Word.
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We thank You for the
walk that we have with Jesus
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which is not always easy.
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But we have the promise
that we will never walk alone.
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So bless us this morning,
Father, as we study together.
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Give us
encouragement and strength
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and faith. In
Jesus' name, Amen. Amen.
00:09:38.51\00:09:43.85
I Peter chapter 3. I'm
looking at verses 13 and 14.
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The Bible says: "And who is he
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who will harm you
if you become followers
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of what is good?
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But even if you should suffer
for righteousness' sake... "
00:10:03.63\00:10:08.77
What does the Bible say?
00:10:09.17\00:10:10.51
"happy are you. "
My New King James says:
00:10:11.47\00:10:14.94
"you are blessed. "
00:10:15.14\00:10:17.85
"But even if you should
suffer for righteousness' sake
00:10:18.78\00:10:21.88
you are blessed. " Now
that is not one of those
00:10:22.82\00:10:25.99
texts that we tend to readily
and heartily say amen to.
00:10:26.19\00:10:29.76
But we should! Amen! Amen.
00:10:30.79\00:10:33.70
I said Amen. Amen! Um-hmm.
00:10:35.06\00:10:38.57
The title of this sermon
and this text we just read
00:10:42.70\00:10:45.61
presupposes that
there is a blessing
00:10:45.81\00:10:51.51
to be had from
suffering and sacrifice.
00:10:51.91\00:10:56.12
Amen. Amen.
00:10:59.42\00:11:02.59
The sermon presupposes
a number of realities,
00:11:03.96\00:11:07.10
many of which are
spiritual - which makes them
00:11:08.16\00:11:11.47
a little counterintuitive
00:11:11.67\00:11:15.24
to the carnal mind which is why
00:11:16.20\00:11:18.44
I'm going to have to
pull these amens out of you.
00:11:18.64\00:11:20.98
In other words, the
subject of suffering
00:11:24.11\00:11:28.62
and sacrifice, having to
endure trial and hardship
00:11:28.82\00:11:34.02
is something that we
naturally recoil from.
00:11:34.22\00:11:37.53
There's nobody just
running to suffering.
00:11:37.73\00:11:39.43
We tend to want to reject it.
00:11:40.46\00:11:43.00
One of the reasons -
certainly not the only - but one
00:11:44.13\00:11:46.67
of the reasons is
that so many unenlightened
00:11:46.87\00:11:50.87
and uninformed and
frankly misinformed...
00:11:51.07\00:11:54.68
I call them "purveyors
of pastoral Pablum... "
00:11:54.88\00:12:00.15
teach us that
when you come to Jesus
00:12:06.02\00:12:09.26
all of your trials,
all of your suffering,
00:12:09.46\00:12:12.83
all of your
challenges come to an end.
00:12:13.03\00:12:16.10
To which I say:
"Are you kidding? "
00:12:17.33\00:12:20.97
Anybody who's been in the
church, who's been in the Lord
00:12:24.47\00:12:27.24
even for several moments, knows
00:12:27.54\00:12:30.95
that there are some
trials, some troubles
00:12:31.98\00:12:35.78
that cease, but there are
other trials... other trials...
00:12:35.98\00:12:41.56
that begin. Amen. Amen.
00:12:41.76\00:12:45.23
I knew you were going
to say amen to that one.
00:12:45.43\00:12:46.76
When you come to
the Lord, the truth is,
00:12:48.30\00:12:51.13
Lewis, war breaks out.
That's right. Amen? Amen.
00:12:51.43\00:12:55.77
And you fight that war
as long as you're in Jesus
00:12:55.97\00:12:58.34
or until you close your eyes.
00:12:58.54\00:13:00.28
And even if you leave Jesus
00:13:00.48\00:13:02.88
you don't get
excused from the war.
00:13:03.08\00:13:06.58
Certain troubles, certain
trials, certain suffering
00:13:08.92\00:13:13.22
God solves for you.
00:13:13.46\00:13:15.99
But there are certain
trials, certain suffering,
00:13:17.13\00:13:20.96
certain things God
chooses to solve THROUGH you.
00:13:21.13\00:13:25.57
Amen... amen.
00:13:26.20\00:13:27.80
The truth is: nobody gets
a scholarship on suffering.
00:13:28.00\00:13:33.38
Amen! Everybody's got to
pay their spiritual dues.
00:13:35.51\00:13:39.75
I cannot pay it for you;
you cannot pay it for me.
00:13:39.98\00:13:43.85
You've gotta pay it for
yourself in Jesus. Amen!
00:13:44.35\00:13:48.72
The Bible tells us how to
address this unavoidable aspect
00:13:50.29\00:13:56.16
of our Christian experience.
00:13:56.36\00:13:57.70
Ladies and gentlemen:
you are going to suffer.
00:13:59.27\00:14:01.97
Amen... amen.
00:14:03.04\00:14:05.64
You're not going to get a pass.
00:14:06.54\00:14:08.11
And if you have not
suffered... two words:
00:14:08.98\00:14:12.61
keep living. Amen? Amen!
00:14:12.81\00:14:17.12
It's coming... it's coming.
00:14:17.32\00:14:19.99
Now I'm not going to tell
you to rejoice in suffering.
00:14:22.89\00:14:26.59
Because if you don't love Jesus
and have a relationship with
00:14:27.60\00:14:29.83
Him that's
almost impossible to do.
00:14:30.03\00:14:33.00
Unless you are into pain
or a masochist or have some
00:14:33.40\00:14:39.04
kind of
Munchausen thing going on.
00:14:39.24\00:14:41.54
I will not say it...
I'll let Peter do it.
00:14:42.61\00:14:45.48
Amen... amen.
00:14:47.48\00:14:49.72
Peter has a little
more nerve than me.
00:14:50.15\00:14:52.19
And Peter says in I
Peter chapter 4 verse 12:
00:14:52.39\00:14:56.32
"Beloved, think it not strange
00:14:56.73\00:15:01.13
concerning the fiery trial
00:15:01.53\00:15:05.53
which is to try you as
though some strange thing
00:15:05.73\00:15:10.51
has happened unto you. "
00:15:10.71\00:15:12.21
So when you get your
turn... Years ago... years ago
00:15:12.41\00:15:15.51
when I was
pastoring in New York City...
00:15:15.71\00:15:17.05
the conference treasurer
told me something that I've
00:15:17.25\00:15:19.01
never forgotten. He said:
"C.A., everybody gets a turn. "
00:15:19.21\00:15:23.92
Amen... amen.
00:15:25.02\00:15:26.96
Everybody gets a turn.
00:15:27.69\00:15:29.39
So I agree with Peter
00:15:29.79\00:15:31.99
that there is something...
00:15:32.29\00:15:35.36
something
sanctifying in sacrifice
00:15:35.76\00:15:40.90
and suffering. In
order words, this thing
00:15:41.07\00:15:43.71
that we so much want to avoid
00:15:43.91\00:15:47.34
is actually for our good.
00:15:47.54\00:15:50.11
Amen. Amen!
00:15:51.38\00:15:53.98
And for our growing. Amen.
00:15:54.18\00:15:57.25
I see now this is
going to be a tough one.
00:15:57.62\00:15:59.42
Suffering...
dealing with adversity...
00:16:05.33\00:16:08.66
builds or perhaps more
emphatically or more accurately
00:16:08.86\00:16:13.44
reveals our character,
00:16:13.64\00:16:18.41
the presence of the Holy
Spirit - or lack of same.
00:16:18.61\00:16:23.45
Suffering - dealing
with adversity - shows
00:16:25.41\00:16:29.75
if we have any
spiritual backbone.
00:16:29.95\00:16:34.09
Amen!
00:16:35.99\00:16:38.03
Shows you what you're made of.
00:16:38.69\00:16:40.10
God already knows what you're
made of... YOU need to know.
00:16:40.20\00:16:43.20
That's right. Amen! Um-hmm.
00:16:43.47\00:16:47.30
So let's look at this quickly.
00:16:48.80\00:16:50.51
Let's look at... well,
let's do it in reverse.
00:16:52.47\00:16:55.34
Let's kind of do a
reverse kind of thing here.
00:16:55.54\00:16:57.41
Let's look at what we
ought not to be suffering for
00:16:57.61\00:17:00.58
then we'll look at the
positive aspect of sacrifice
00:17:00.78\00:17:03.45
and suffering.
Is that all right?
00:17:03.65\00:17:05.15
I'm going to draw this
particular part of the scripture
00:17:05.65\00:17:08.46
from a translation by
Thomas Nelson Publishers
00:17:08.66\00:17:11.33
called The Voice. Only
been out a couple years.
00:17:11.53\00:17:13.83
I'm not ready to
heartily endorse it
00:17:14.10\00:17:16.40
because it calls itself a
dynamic equivalent translation.
00:17:16.60\00:17:20.87
That kind of gives me
the "willies" a little bit.
00:17:21.07\00:17:22.77
But there are things in here
that I find that you can use.
00:17:22.97\00:17:25.27
This is like the
New Living Translation.
00:17:25.47\00:17:27.41
You don't want to
use it for doctrine
00:17:27.61\00:17:28.94
but it can be inspirational.
00:17:29.08\00:17:30.45
And The Voice is
kind of like that.
00:17:30.65\00:17:31.98
I'm in I Peter
chapter 4 verse 15.
00:17:32.01\00:17:34.05
I Peter 4:15.
00:17:34.25\00:17:36.15
And I'm reading from the
translation called The Voice.
00:17:39.02\00:17:41.82
"But none of you
should ever merit suffering
00:17:42.02\00:17:46.33
like those who have murdered
or stolen or meddled in the
00:17:46.53\00:17:50.37
affairs of others
or done evil things. "
00:17:50.57\00:17:54.30
Now one translation
translates that last part as...
00:17:54.50\00:17:57.94
as "trying to pry into
other people's affairs. "
00:17:58.24\00:18:02.08
Amen. Um-hmm.
00:18:04.18\00:18:05.88
New Living says: "Trying
to run other people's lives. "
00:18:06.08\00:18:09.02
When you try to play God
with other people's lives
00:18:09.22\00:18:11.32
you're gonna suffer
00:18:11.52\00:18:12.85
'cause that's not your
role. That's God's job.
00:18:13.99\00:18:16.16
One translation I
looked up the other day said
00:18:17.56\00:18:19.49
"Trying to be the boss
of other people's lives. "
00:18:19.69\00:18:22.13
When you try to
play God for other people
00:18:22.53\00:18:25.07
you're putting
yourself on dangerous ground.
00:18:25.27\00:18:27.07
So now let's jump
quickly into our case study.
00:18:27.97\00:18:30.51
Our target and test
subject for our study today
00:18:30.71\00:18:34.21
will be John the Baptist.
00:18:34.61\00:18:36.88
Let's go to Luke chapter 7
and I want to begin reading
00:18:37.71\00:18:40.45
at verse 24.
00:18:40.65\00:18:41.98
Luke chapter 7, and
I think I want to begin
00:18:42.15\00:18:47.56
reading at verse 24.
Then we'll do some comparing
00:18:47.76\00:18:50.53
and
contrasting. Luke 7 verse 24.
00:18:50.73\00:18:53.06
The Bible says in Luke 7:24
00:18:53.50\00:18:55.73
"The poor have the
gospel preached to them
00:18:57.57\00:19:00.50
and blessed is he
who is not offended
00:19:00.90\00:19:04.67
because of Me. "
00:19:04.87\00:19:07.64
Oh, that's 23.
Here we are... 24:
00:19:07.84\00:19:10.81
"When the
messengers of John had departed
00:19:11.01\00:19:13.31
He began to speak to the
multitudes concerning John. "
00:19:13.55\00:19:16.85
You know, every year I've got to
buy a Bible with bigger print.
00:19:17.05\00:19:18.99
And I just got this one
two years ago. This is my
00:19:21.86\00:19:23.66
handy study and I love it and
somehow it's shrinking on me.
00:19:23.86\00:19:28.63
"What did you go out
into the wilderness to see?
00:19:30.57\00:19:33.84
A reed shaken by the wind?
00:19:34.04\00:19:35.77
But what did you go out to see?
00:19:36.60\00:19:38.61
A man clothed in soft garments?
00:19:38.81\00:19:41.64
Indeed, those who
are gorgeously appareled
00:19:41.84\00:19:45.98
and live in luxury
are in king's courts.
00:19:46.18\00:19:48.98
But what did you go out to see?
00:19:49.18\00:19:51.62
A prophet? Yes, I say to
you and more than a prophet.
00:19:52.02\00:19:56.12
This is he of whom it was
written: 'Behold I send My
00:19:56.52\00:20:01.16
messenger before your face
00:20:01.36\00:20:02.93
who will prepare
your way before Me. ' "
00:20:03.13\00:20:05.90
Now, look at verse 28.
00:20:06.10\00:20:07.44
"For I say to you... "
I'm in the New King James...
00:20:07.50\00:20:09.47
"Among those born of woman
00:20:09.87\00:20:11.91
there is not a greater
prophet than John the Baptist. "
00:20:12.11\00:20:17.01
I want to stop there.
00:20:17.21\00:20:18.55
I want to begin our study
by comparing and contrasting -
00:20:19.05\00:20:21.88
excuse me - this statement
with one that precedes it.
00:20:22.98\00:20:26.76
So you're in chapter 7 already.
Let's go back to verse 20.
00:20:26.96\00:20:31.29
"When the men had come to Him
00:20:33.13\00:20:35.26
they said: "John the Baptist
has sent us to You saying:
00:20:35.46\00:20:41.24
'Are You the coming One or
do we look for another? ' "
00:20:41.74\00:20:47.68
I'll go a little bit further.
00:20:48.54\00:20:49.88
"And that very hour He
cured many of infirmities,
00:20:50.58\00:20:54.15
afflictions, and evil spirits
00:20:54.35\00:20:56.82
and to many
blind He gave sight. "
00:20:57.02\00:21:01.86
Now let's try to
look at the pedigree
00:21:04.26\00:21:08.93
of John the Baptist by comparing
him with another similar case.
00:21:09.13\00:21:12.97
Abraham had a child of promise
00:21:13.17\00:21:16.57
whose name was Isaac.
00:21:16.77\00:21:19.31
Zacharias had a child of
promise. His name was John
00:21:20.24\00:21:24.55
who we call "The Baptizer. "
00:21:24.75\00:21:27.68
Zacharias was informed
of the coming birth of John
00:21:28.68\00:21:32.45
by Gabriel in the Holy
Place standing before the altar
00:21:32.65\00:21:35.76
of incense.
Zacharias, like Abraham,
00:21:35.96\00:21:40.26
was an older man who with reason
00:21:40.46\00:21:44.63
doubted his
ability to father a child.
00:21:44.83\00:21:50.44
You know, many
times God does that.
00:21:51.34\00:21:53.07
God does things and
sets things up so that when
00:21:53.31\00:21:55.51
it does take place
you know it wasn't you
00:21:55.91\00:21:58.85
it was God. Anybody
know what I'm talking about?
00:21:59.05\00:22:01.15
Amen! And so we
see this parallel.
00:22:01.35\00:22:03.28
Abraham and Sarah were
too old to have children.
00:22:03.69\00:22:08.62
Zacharias and his wife,
again: too old to have children.
00:22:09.02\00:22:13.53
So let's look at this scenario
in Luke chapter 1 verse 8.
00:22:13.93\00:22:17.67
Luke 1 verse 8.
00:22:18.07\00:22:19.40
Here is Zacharias' response
to Gabriel's announcement
00:22:19.73\00:22:24.01
"You're going to have a child. "
00:22:24.21\00:22:25.54
"Whereby shall I know
this? For I am an old man
00:22:26.37\00:22:30.21
and my wife stricken in years. "
00:22:30.41\00:22:33.05
Now, he is asking for a sign.
00:22:33.25\00:22:36.99
Basically: "You're saying
I'm going to have a child.
00:22:37.49\00:22:40.66
I'm too old for children
00:22:41.06\00:22:42.76
and my wife is way
too old for children
00:22:42.96\00:22:45.63
so how am I going to
know that this is true? "
00:22:46.16\00:22:49.43
He is asking for a sign.
00:22:49.63\00:22:51.03
He forgot what we many
times forget and that is:
00:22:51.23\00:22:57.34
what God promises
He is able to perform.
00:22:57.54\00:23:01.91
Amen! Amen? Amen...
yeah. When God makes a promise
00:23:02.11\00:23:05.41
it's not really based on...
00:23:05.61\00:23:07.25
the promise is not
based on your belief.
00:23:07.45\00:23:09.55
God makes a promise He is able
to make that promise happen.
00:23:10.39\00:23:13.22
Amen. Amen! That is a
good handle to hold on to
00:23:13.46\00:23:17.36
when you're suffering or
having to make a sacrifice.
00:23:17.56\00:23:20.23
That if God asks you to do some-
thing He's going to enable you
00:23:20.43\00:23:23.67
to do precisely that. Amen.
00:23:23.87\00:23:26.33
God doesn't throw promises
out and throw injunctions out
00:23:26.80\00:23:30.17
and throw things out for you
to do and then not assist you
00:23:30.37\00:23:33.34
in getting them done.
If God says: "Do this, "
00:23:33.54\00:23:36.38
He has the ability to help you
do this. Amen? Amen. All right.
00:23:36.58\00:23:41.62
So here now in Luke
1:19 is God's answer.
00:23:41.82\00:23:46.59
Three words: "I am Gabriel. "
00:23:48.99\00:23:52.36
Now what kind of answer is that?
00:23:52.56\00:23:54.86
"I need a sign.
" "I am Gabriel. "
00:23:58.33\00:24:01.57
It's a great
answer... it really is.
00:24:02.70\00:24:06.07
Ellen White says in
Desire of Ages page 99
00:24:06.98\00:24:09.61
"The words 'I am
Gabriel' shows that he occupies
00:24:09.81\00:24:12.61
the highest position and
the message is important.
00:24:12.81\00:24:15.95
Gabriel is next in
honor to the Trinity. "
00:24:16.62\00:24:21.59
God the Father, God the
Son, God the Holy Spirit,
00:24:22.46\00:24:24.96
Gabriel. So Gabriel is
saying: "I am Gabriel. "
00:24:25.16\00:24:30.03
In other words: "I didn't
come here to pull your leg. "
00:24:30.43\00:24:33.70
Um-hmm. "I didn't
come here to waste time. "
00:24:35.34\00:24:38.14
"I didn't fly down
here to joke with you. "
00:24:38.34\00:24:40.84
"I am Gabriel. "
00:24:40.98\00:24:42.74
Yeah. "I'm Gabriel; I'm
pretty high up in this thing
00:24:45.68\00:24:50.45
so if I'm here it's
because God's got something that
00:24:50.85\00:24:54.62
you need to follow. " Amen!
00:24:54.82\00:24:56.93
"I am Gabriel. " He
didn't say: "Listen,
00:24:57.13\00:24:59.09
let me explain this to you:
God is going to give you youth.
00:24:59.29\00:25:02.53
God is going to give you
some sort of spiritual Viagra
00:25:02.83\00:25:05.57
and all of a sudden
you're going to have a child
00:25:05.77\00:25:07.17
and it's going
to be wonderful. "
00:25:07.37\00:25:08.70
He said: "No...
no... I'm Gabriel. "
00:25:08.74\00:25:10.21
Amen. "I'm Gabriel, and
I'm here to tell you something
00:25:14.51\00:25:20.42
that God is getting ready to do
00:25:20.82\00:25:22.92
and your job is to have
faith and follow through. "
00:25:23.12\00:25:27.09
"I am Gabriel. "
00:25:27.29\00:25:29.02
This is the same
Gabriel who 500 years earlier
00:25:29.76\00:25:32.86
homeschooled Daniel
and helped him write
00:25:33.06\00:25:37.47
one of the greatest
prophetic books in the Bible.
00:25:37.67\00:25:39.73
Amen! So because he doubted
00:25:39.93\00:25:41.80
he was not allowed to
speak again until the prophecy
00:25:42.10\00:25:46.41
was fulfilled.
He was struck dumb.
00:25:46.74\00:25:49.54
You see, when you doubt you
open yourself up for suffering.
00:25:49.74\00:25:53.08
You've gotta trust God. Amen!
00:25:53.38\00:25:55.95
Let's look at John's life
in Luke chapter 1 verses 14-17.
00:26:00.59\00:26:03.86
I'm not going to read all
of this 'cause I see my time
00:26:04.06\00:26:05.79
is getting away from me.
I've got to move kinda fast.
00:26:05.99\00:26:07.50
But I will summarize it for you.
00:26:07.66\00:26:08.96
Luke 1:14-17. This
is what was predicted
00:26:09.16\00:26:12.50
about John the
Baptist. "Many will rejoice
00:26:12.70\00:26:15.10
and praise his birth. "
1. No wine; no strong drink.
00:26:15.30\00:26:18.94
2. Filled with the Holy Spirit.
00:26:19.14\00:26:21.11
"John the Baptist will be
filled with the Holy Spirit
00:26:21.31\00:26:23.65
even in his mother's
womb. " You remember verse 41
00:26:23.85\00:26:26.65
when Elizabeth met Mary
and they greeted each other
00:26:27.42\00:26:30.09
and the baby leapt in the womb?
00:26:30.29\00:26:32.22
So even before he was born
God had something very very
00:26:32.42\00:26:35.99
special for him. "He
will turn the hearts of many
00:26:36.19\00:26:39.73
in Israel to God
00:26:39.93\00:26:41.90
and he will labor in
the power of Elijah. "
00:26:42.20\00:26:46.70
So I'm begging the point
here. I'm telling you what God
00:26:47.44\00:26:51.01
had predicted for and
with John the Baptist.
00:26:51.21\00:26:55.61
John had godly parents.
00:26:57.55\00:26:59.75
He was uncontaminated by city
life... he was a country kid.
00:27:00.05\00:27:04.65
He was
surrendered; he was consecrated;
00:27:05.45\00:27:09.16
he was committed;
he was favored by God.
00:27:09.56\00:27:13.13
He was blessed; he
was not afraid to call sin
00:27:13.53\00:27:17.70
by its right name. Amen. Amen!
00:27:17.90\00:27:21.67
Now with all of that background
00:27:22.47\00:27:25.17
let me show you a couple things.
00:27:25.37\00:27:26.71
Jesus and John were
related; you know that.
00:27:27.88\00:27:30.25
Some people say second
cousins; some say first cousins.
00:27:30.45\00:27:33.01
We're not quite
sure... the Bible is not clear.
00:27:33.21\00:27:35.68
We know that Mary and
Elizabeth were related.
00:27:35.88\00:27:38.85
Again, we're not quite sure.
00:27:39.95\00:27:41.56
Some translations say cousins.
00:27:41.76\00:27:43.66
That's something that could
be true, it may not be true.
00:27:45.09\00:27:48.36
It has some tradition but
we know that they were related.
00:27:48.56\00:27:52.07
The King James does
say cousins in Luke 1:36.
00:27:53.44\00:27:57.27
John and Jesus
00:27:58.54\00:28:01.91
were contemporaries. John
was six months older than Jesus.
00:28:04.08\00:28:09.18
We understand from
the Spirit of Prophecy
00:28:09.98\00:28:12.09
that John had heard
the story of Jesus' birth.
00:28:12.29\00:28:16.06
John knew about
Jesus in the temple.
00:28:16.36\00:28:20.96
John was aware of
Christ's sinless life
00:28:21.36\00:28:24.97
but he had no
personal contact with Jesus.
00:28:25.90\00:28:30.91
In other words, before he
baptized Him in the Jordan
00:28:31.47\00:28:35.21
John had never
laid eyes on Jesus.
00:28:35.41\00:28:37.48
They functioned in
two different arenas.
00:28:37.88\00:28:40.42
They did not have social
intercourse with one another.
00:28:40.82\00:28:44.42
Prior to that baptism in
Jordan they had never met.
00:28:44.82\00:28:48.62
He obviously - that is,
John - had been following Jesus
00:28:49.66\00:28:52.96
by reports and anecdotes.
00:28:53.16\00:28:55.56
But his belief in Christ
00:28:55.96\00:28:58.47
was faith-based...
just like you and me.
00:28:58.67\00:29:03.00
Amen! Because he was
a forerunner of Christ
00:29:03.20\00:29:06.57
he didn't get any
special advantage.
00:29:06.81\00:29:09.14
He had never seen
Christ; he had never met Christ;
00:29:09.34\00:29:11.75
he had never talked with Christ.
00:29:11.95\00:29:13.28
His belief in Christ
was a matter of his faith
00:29:13.45\00:29:16.72
and nothing more.
00:29:16.92\00:29:18.42
Now get this: even
though at Jesus' baptism
00:29:18.82\00:29:23.89
he uttered the words
"Behold the Lamb of God
00:29:24.09\00:29:29.26
that taketh away
the sins of the world"
00:29:29.66\00:29:32.30
he didn't really understand
the depth of what he was saying.
00:29:32.70\00:29:37.41
It was a prophetic utterance.
00:29:38.17\00:29:40.68
The Holy Spirit fell
on him at that occasion
00:29:41.01\00:29:43.95
and he said
"Behold the Lamb of God
00:29:44.15\00:29:46.15
who taketh away the
sins of the world. "
00:29:46.35\00:29:48.25
John was moved
by the Holy Spirit
00:29:49.02\00:29:51.45
and I am sure he
knew what he said
00:29:51.85\00:29:54.56
but he didn't have a complete
understanding of what it meant.
00:29:54.96\00:29:57.66
Now John had been divinely
informed... and this is very
00:29:58.16\00:30:01.16
interesting...
He had been informed
00:30:01.36\00:30:05.67
that Jesus was going to
come to him for baptism.
00:30:06.07\00:30:09.97
So he knew that was coming.
00:30:10.17\00:30:11.51
Too, he knew that
something was going to happen
00:30:11.61\00:30:14.98
to prove Christ's
divinity at that occasion.
00:30:15.18\00:30:18.55
So he was expecting
something to happen.
00:30:18.95\00:30:21.58
Now here's the
thing about faith:
00:30:22.45\00:30:24.09
the truth is,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:30:25.25\00:30:27.36
if God connected all
the dots for you now,
00:30:27.56\00:30:31.66
you wouldn't need faith.
00:30:31.86\00:30:33.36
Amen? Amen! Yeah... if
God put it on a platter
00:30:33.86\00:30:38.10
and laid it out for you...
00:30:38.30\00:30:40.17
all of it... you
wouldn't need any faith.
00:30:40.57\00:30:43.57
Heaven didn't give
even John the Baptist
00:30:45.57\00:30:49.54
that kind of set-up.
00:30:50.58\00:30:54.05
The just - even John -
00:30:55.08\00:30:58.15
have to live by faith.
00:30:58.35\00:31:02.26
You and I and every other
man and woman born of woman
00:31:02.66\00:31:06.49
have to live by faith.
00:31:06.70\00:31:09.00
Now for me, I tend to like
to have things laid out for me.
00:31:09.90\00:31:14.74
Amen. Yeah, I like to know
tomorrow we're going to do this
00:31:15.87\00:31:19.27
and we're going to do that.
I kind of like to have it laid
00:31:19.47\00:31:21.08
out. But it is my settled belief
00:31:21.28\00:31:23.85
and let me suggest
to you that number one
00:31:24.85\00:31:27.78
it is not God's intention
to answer every question now.
00:31:28.68\00:31:33.02
Amen. Some questions
you will take into paradise
00:31:33.22\00:31:36.93
and wrestle with that stuff
throughout the ceaseless ages
00:31:37.13\00:31:39.03
of eternity. You're not going
to get every answer to every
00:31:39.23\00:31:41.46
question now. You
know what I'm saying?
00:31:41.66\00:31:43.00
Yeah. Some things you
have to just accept by faith.
00:31:43.40\00:31:47.07
Two: it is not God's intention
to remove every obstacle now.
00:31:48.14\00:31:53.81
Some stuff
you've gotta climb over.
00:31:56.78\00:31:58.78
You know, some
mountains the Lord will move.
00:31:59.18\00:32:02.98
Other mountains
He says: "Climb it. "
00:32:03.39\00:32:06.02
Amen. Amen? Yeah.
00:32:07.36\00:32:09.26
Three: it is not God's
intention to make the road
00:32:10.26\00:32:14.10
perfectly smooth
and straight now.
00:32:14.30\00:32:16.63
Anybody know what I mean? Yeah.
00:32:18.77\00:32:20.70
Sometimes you've got to go down
a winding path that's not...
00:32:21.17\00:32:23.27
And you don't always see
the end from the beginning.
00:32:23.47\00:32:25.91
So God's not going to make
it too comfortable for you here
00:32:29.48\00:32:33.48
because you may be in
danger of wanting to stay here.
00:32:33.88\00:32:36.95
Amen. So just when you
think it's going along perfectly
00:32:37.79\00:32:43.59
you hit a snag.
00:32:44.59\00:32:46.29
I just got my car out
of the shop the other day.
00:32:47.30\00:32:49.26
Took it home and
opened the car door
00:32:49.66\00:32:53.27
and the handle came off.
00:32:53.47\00:32:55.07
And I didn't have time to
take it back to the shop...
00:32:59.54\00:33:01.38
we've got Camp Meeting.
00:33:01.58\00:33:02.91
So if you see me reaching
in through the back door
00:33:03.01\00:33:05.45
and trying to
open the front door,
00:33:05.65\00:33:07.32
that's cause
the handle came off.
00:33:07.52\00:33:09.05
So God doesn't make
it too smooth for you.
00:33:10.79\00:33:13.15
Amen. Amen! Yeah... some
little bumps in the road.
00:33:13.36\00:33:16.09
That's not earth shattering;
I'm not going to die.
00:33:16.29\00:33:18.66
I wish the
handle was still there!
00:33:19.49\00:33:21.10
But God doesn't want it to
be too smooth for you right now.
00:33:22.40\00:33:25.07
He's not going to
answer every question.
00:33:27.50\00:33:29.30
He's not going to
remove every obstacle
00:33:29.50\00:33:31.11
and not going to
make it too smooth.
00:33:31.31\00:33:33.34
Nobody gets a pass on
the exercise of faith.
00:33:34.24\00:33:39.21
Amen. Amen!
Everybody's got to know
00:33:40.12\00:33:44.82
that you've got
to exercise faith
00:33:45.02\00:33:49.46
and your faith
will be tested and tried
00:33:49.66\00:33:52.86
through adversity and sacrifice.
00:33:53.06\00:33:56.36
Amen. Amen. No other way
00:33:56.60\00:34:00.37
to test your faith except
through adversity and sacrifice.
00:34:00.57\00:34:05.94
Amen. Amen!
00:34:06.81\00:34:08.34
I'm reading from
Desire of Ages page 111.
00:34:08.74\00:34:10.68
Read this when you get home.
00:34:10.88\00:34:12.21
"No one on earth had understood
Him, and during His ministry
00:34:12.28\00:34:16.08
He must still walk
alone. " Talking about Jesus.
00:34:16.28\00:34:18.85
"Throughout His life
His mother and His brothers
00:34:19.25\00:34:21.32
did not
comprehend His mission. "
00:34:21.52\00:34:23.63
His mother and His brothers
00:34:23.83\00:34:26.39
didn't understand
what He was doing.
00:34:27.40\00:34:29.03
"Even His disciples
did not understand Him.
00:34:30.87\00:34:33.74
He had dwelt in
eternal light as one with God
00:34:34.14\00:34:36.77
but His life on earth
must be spent in solitude. "
00:34:36.97\00:34:41.28
Do you know what it
is to go through life and
00:34:41.48\00:34:43.01
nobody understands
what you're trying to do?
00:34:43.21\00:34:45.51
Every sin, every
discord, every defiling lust
00:34:47.92\00:34:51.75
that transgression had brought
was torture to His spirit. "
00:34:51.95\00:34:56.32
Now this was said
about Jesus... not John.
00:34:57.13\00:34:59.06
Jesus didn't just suffer on
Calvary. Ladies and gentlemen,
00:34:59.46\00:35:03.87
He suffered every single day.
00:35:04.07\00:35:06.94
Amen! Because everything
He saw happening on earth
00:35:07.74\00:35:10.97
brought pain to His
spirit. When He saw injustice,
00:35:11.17\00:35:14.11
poverty, ingratitude...
00:35:14.41\00:35:16.34
these things hurt Christ within.
00:35:16.54\00:35:18.55
Every single day He
was in the face with that.
00:35:18.75\00:35:21.05
Nobody on planet earth
had the same reaction to sin
00:35:21.65\00:35:25.92
as did Jesus.
00:35:26.12\00:35:28.19
That alone was
cause for suffering.
00:35:29.09\00:35:31.86
Ellen White says, again
on page 111 Desire of Ages:
00:35:33.26\00:35:36.56
"He saw and felt all.
00:35:36.87\00:35:39.37
Jesus, too, needed faith
and trust in His Father. "
00:35:39.57\00:35:43.81
So even Christ
didn't get a pass on faith.
00:35:44.01\00:35:45.71
He had to exercise
faith in His Father also.
00:35:45.91\00:35:48.18
"The Savior had to reach
out His hand to grasp the hand
00:35:49.08\00:35:52.78
of omnipotent
love just like we do. "
00:35:52.98\00:35:57.35
At that baptism in Jordan
00:35:58.62\00:36:00.59
God sent Jesus a
coded, personal, encrypted
00:36:01.89\00:36:06.93
video communique.
00:36:07.13\00:36:09.06
Heaven opened.
Light shone on Jesus.
00:36:10.67\00:36:13.20
The Holy Spirit
assumed the form of a dove
00:36:13.44\00:36:15.17
and landed on His
head. A voice spoke out
00:36:15.37\00:36:17.61
that sounded
like thunder to many.
00:36:17.77\00:36:19.61
Some heard it as thunder
but John heard it as words.
00:36:20.01\00:36:23.24
John was moved. He saw
Christ pleading with tears
00:36:23.45\00:36:26.58
for the apparent
blessing of His Father.
00:36:26.82\00:36:29.75
Most of the people
did not understand it;
00:36:30.39\00:36:33.09
John did. Most of the
people thought it was thunder;
00:36:33.49\00:36:36.46
John heard the
words. Ellen White says:
00:36:36.66\00:36:38.69
"Christ prayed a
prayer at that baptism
00:36:38.89\00:36:41.20
that angels had
never even heard before.
00:36:41.40\00:36:44.07
Christ was bathed in light...
the kind of light that ever
00:36:46.03\00:36:49.14
surrounds the throne of God.
00:36:49.34\00:36:50.67
John was in the
presence of all of this.
00:36:51.64\00:36:54.98
But here is the warning -
the caveat - for you and me:
00:36:55.18\00:36:58.28
It is a spiritual descent
from "Behold the Lamb of God"
00:36:59.85\00:37:04.32
to "Are You the One?
Do we look for another? "
00:37:04.72\00:37:08.92
That's a great
drop. Think about it.
00:37:09.52\00:37:11.46
"Behold the Lamb of God
00:37:12.19\00:37:13.53
that taketh away... " That's
a very positive statement.
00:37:13.73\00:37:16.16
That's an affirmative statement.
00:37:16.36\00:37:17.73
So how do we go from
"Behold the Lamb of God
00:37:17.93\00:37:21.07
who taketh away
the sins of the world"
00:37:21.47\00:37:23.81
to "Are you the Messiah or shall
I look for somebody else? "
00:37:24.01\00:37:28.54
That needs to be studied
00:37:31.15\00:37:32.58
because John the
Baptist was no ordinary man.
00:37:32.78\00:37:35.05
We just read Christ
said "Of man born of woman
00:37:35.25\00:37:39.62
none greater. " So how do we
go from "Behold the Lamb of God"
00:37:39.82\00:37:43.19
to "Are you it? Or
is there a plan B? "
00:37:43.43\00:37:47.60
And if it could happen to
John, ladies and gentlemen,
00:37:50.87\00:37:53.80
it could happen
to you and me. Amen!
00:37:54.00\00:37:56.44
Anyone here ever have any doubt?
00:37:59.34\00:38:01.54
Look at what Ellen White says in
Desire of Ages 179. I love this!
00:38:07.78\00:38:10.62
"John had by nature
the faults and weaknesses
00:38:11.35\00:38:14.36
common to humanity. "
00:38:14.56\00:38:16.66
Um-hmm. So he's
just like you and me.
00:38:18.33\00:38:20.66
The fact that he was a
great prophet did not excuse him
00:38:21.63\00:38:24.10
from being human.
00:38:24.30\00:38:26.03
But the touch of divine
love had transformed him.
00:38:27.27\00:38:31.74
Amen! The touch of divine love
00:38:31.94\00:38:34.88
can transform you and
me. Sounds like you and me.
00:38:35.08\00:38:37.75
Now... "He dwelt in an
atmosphere... " I love this...
00:38:37.95\00:38:40.62
This is Desire of Ages
179: "He dwelt in an atmosphere
00:38:40.82\00:38:43.39
uncontaminated with
selfishness and ambition.
00:38:43.59\00:38:47.36
He was far above jealousy. "
00:38:47.56\00:38:50.23
Are you hearing me?
00:38:50.93\00:38:52.26
He wasn't
ambitious; he wasn't selfish;
00:38:52.39\00:38:55.13
he wasn't jealous.
00:38:55.33\00:38:56.83
But life, ladies and gentlemen,
has a way of gettin' on you.
00:38:57.23\00:39:01.54
Anybody know what
I'm talking about?
00:39:02.24\00:39:03.74
Life can do some stuff to you.
00:39:04.74\00:39:06.94
Amen. He was not
naturally jealous.
00:39:07.74\00:39:10.68
He was not a
person who was ambitious
00:39:11.55\00:39:14.78
and he wasn't selfish!
00:39:15.18\00:39:16.92
There was a time when John
was the most influential person
00:39:21.46\00:39:24.36
in the nation.
00:39:24.53\00:39:26.13
He was a
preacher of righteousness.
00:39:26.53\00:39:28.06
The crowds were huge and
they flocked to hear him.
00:39:28.26\00:39:32.93
Now that didn't impress John
00:39:36.81\00:39:40.08
because he was not
selfish, he was not ambitious,
00:39:41.01\00:39:46.21
and he wasn't jealous.
00:39:46.61\00:39:48.52
So the fact that
he had big crowds
00:39:48.92\00:39:51.25
didn't impress him
and it didn't seduce him.
00:39:51.65\00:39:55.32
I saw someone the
other day... we were talking.
00:39:56.26\00:39:58.76
And, gotta look at my
time... Ooh! Forty years ago
00:39:58.96\00:40:03.16
Mick Jagger of The Rolling
Stones said: "I don't plan to be
00:40:03.37\00:40:05.47
55 and singing "I
Can't Get No Satisfaction. "
00:40:05.67\00:40:08.60
You know what?
He's heading towards 70
00:40:11.07\00:40:14.34
and he's still singing "I
Can't Get No Satisfaction"
00:40:14.64\00:40:17.88
because fame and
popularity are seductive -
00:40:19.31\00:40:24.19
Amen - and once you get
it it's hard to let it go.
00:40:25.39\00:40:28.96
Amen. Amen.
00:40:29.89\00:40:31.66
So John was the most
popular thing in Israel:
00:40:32.46\00:40:37.40
a preacher of righteousness
preaching to large crowds.
00:40:37.57\00:40:41.70
It didn't impress John
because he was focused on God
00:40:42.54\00:40:46.54
but evidently it
impressed his disciples.
00:40:46.84\00:40:49.71
Day by day John
and his disciples
00:40:52.15\00:40:55.62
saw their crowds getting smaller
00:40:55.82\00:40:58.49
and Jesus'
crowds getting larger.
00:40:58.69\00:41:01.56
Now unless your
head is on straight
00:41:02.79\00:41:04.86
that can play with your mind.
00:41:05.26\00:41:07.03
Didn't bother John
00:41:07.83\00:41:09.13
but evidently it did
affect his disciples.
00:41:09.56\00:41:12.00
John's disciples, and this
is brought out clearly in the
00:41:13.03\00:41:15.60
Spirit of Prophecy,
alluded to in the Bible,
00:41:15.80\00:41:17.74
were jealous of
Jesus' popularity.
00:41:17.94\00:41:21.34
Not John... John's disciples.
00:41:22.44\00:41:25.28
The Bible indicates that
the disciples would come back
00:41:25.85\00:41:29.78
and report to John. They
stood ready - Ellen White says -
00:41:29.98\00:41:33.96
to criticize Jesus' work.
And the one issue was baptism.
00:41:34.16\00:41:39.69
Here's how we know.
00:41:44.10\00:41:45.43
John chapter 3. Here
are the disciples' words
00:41:46.67\00:41:50.77
to John. "Rabbi... " You
know, a little butter up...
00:41:52.14\00:41:57.78
"He that was with
thee beyond the Jordan
00:41:58.81\00:42:01.58
to whom thou bearest witness
00:42:01.78\00:42:04.82
'Behold... ' The same
baptizes all men and all men
00:42:05.02\00:42:10.63
come to Him. " John 3:26.
00:42:10.83\00:42:12.39
Now what's that saying?
00:42:12.79\00:42:14.10
"The guy that you talked about
00:42:15.16\00:42:17.83
who was with you in the Jordan
00:42:18.03\00:42:19.73
He's kind of
taking your place. "
00:42:19.93\00:42:21.64
The NIV says:
00:42:23.57\00:42:25.21
"He is baptizing and
everybody is going to Him. "
00:42:25.41\00:42:29.11
The unsaid statement
is: "And leaving you. "
00:42:30.15\00:42:32.75
"Through these
words... " Ellen White says...
00:42:35.88\00:42:37.95
"Satan brought
temptation to John. "
00:42:38.15\00:42:41.02
"John... you're
slipping in the ratings
00:42:41.86\00:42:44.83
and Jesus is the
hot ticket now. "
00:42:45.23\00:42:47.60
Division is a
common demonic strategy.
00:42:49.86\00:42:54.50
It is!
00:42:54.90\00:42:56.47
"He doesn't
really care about you. "
00:42:56.87\00:42:58.67
"That church
doesn't really love you. "
00:42:59.54\00:43:01.44
That's a common
demonic strategy.
00:43:02.78\00:43:04.45
And why is Satan still using it?
00:43:04.65\00:43:06.48
Because it still works. Amen.
00:43:06.82\00:43:09.38
Amen! Um-hmm.
00:43:10.22\00:43:12.25
Point: you have to
watch out, oh Christian,
00:43:15.32\00:43:19.59
who you allow
access into your brain.
00:43:19.79\00:43:22.63
Yeah. You can't let everybody
filter stuff into your head.
00:43:26.30\00:43:30.57
Don't let every rattling can
00:43:32.51\00:43:36.08
rent space in your noggin.
00:43:36.28\00:43:38.81
Amen. Amen!
00:43:42.35\00:43:44.15
The Bible says in I
John 4:1 "Try the spirits. "
00:43:44.72\00:43:48.09
Don't just listen to
everything that's floating by.
00:43:48.56\00:43:51.06
Ephesians 4:14:
"Don't be blown about by
00:43:52.63\00:43:55.93
every wind of doctrine. "
You've gotta plant your feet.
00:43:56.13\00:43:58.83
Don't let everybody
rent space in your brain.
00:43:59.03\00:44:01.14
John's disciples
were trying to help
00:44:04.67\00:44:08.41
but they were
motivated by jealousy.
00:44:09.44\00:44:11.38
John 1:27, Mark 1:7,
00:44:13.72\00:44:16.12
Matthew 3:11 John said:
"Someone is coming after me
00:44:16.32\00:44:21.36
whose sandal straps I
am unworthy to unlatch. "
00:44:21.76\00:44:26.33
John knew his place.
00:44:27.40\00:44:29.00
John knew what he
had been called to do.
00:44:29.76\00:44:31.60
But when people constantly
drum things into your head
00:44:32.00\00:44:36.07
and run their
agenda under your nose
00:44:36.77\00:44:39.41
it works on your brain.
00:44:39.81\00:44:41.94
Amen. And if you
listen too closely
00:44:43.31\00:44:46.55
it can affect
your spiritual life.
00:44:46.78\00:44:51.25
Truth or consequences,
pain or circumstances,
00:44:52.39\00:44:55.06
pain and suffering can
get inside your head...
00:44:55.26\00:44:57.79
particularly protracted
pain. When you're suffering
00:44:57.99\00:45:01.06
for a long time you
begin to "think stuff. "
00:45:01.26\00:45:04.77
Anybody know what
I'm talking about? Amen!
00:45:04.97\00:45:07.44
Number one: when you're
suffering for a long time
00:45:09.07\00:45:12.14
it can skew your
sense of priority.
00:45:12.34\00:45:15.94
Things become important
that really aren't important
00:45:17.55\00:45:19.55
and important stuff
becomes less important
00:45:19.75\00:45:21.42
because you're
suffering... you're in pain.
00:45:21.62\00:45:23.52
It can weaken your faith.
00:45:24.82\00:45:27.26
When you're suffering day
after day after day after day
00:45:27.46\00:45:31.96
unless you know where Jesus
is it can weaken your faith!
00:45:32.16\00:45:34.73
It can!
00:45:34.93\00:45:36.30
It can alter you spiritually,
00:45:39.40\00:45:42.67
psychologically, and even
after the suffering is over
00:45:42.87\00:45:48.18
you still suffer.
That's what PTSD is all about.
00:45:49.08\00:45:53.78
You're out from under the
gun but you're still suffering.
00:45:54.08\00:45:57.72
Desire of Ages page 215:
00:45:58.99\00:46:01.39
"These suggestions... "
these things coming to John
00:46:01.59\00:46:04.36
from his disciples - these are
his friends not his enemies -
00:46:04.49\00:46:07.13
I said these are
his friends. Amen.
00:46:07.86\00:46:11.27
These are his friends -
Amen - not his enemies...
00:46:11.47\00:46:14.47
"These suggestions
were not without effect. "
00:46:15.44\00:46:18.57
Now this is a godly man.
00:46:18.77\00:46:20.71
"But these suggestions
were not without effect.
00:46:21.81\00:46:24.05
Doubts, which otherwise
would have never arisen
00:46:25.55\00:46:29.78
in John were suggested to him
00:46:29.98\00:46:32.39
by his friends. " Amen.
00:46:32.59\00:46:36.26
Here's a quote
from Desire of Ages 215:
00:46:37.96\00:46:39.86
"How often those who
think themselves the friends
00:46:40.10\00:46:43.77
of a good person who are eager
to show their fidelity to them
00:46:43.97\00:46:48.84
prove to be his
most dangerous enemy. "
00:46:49.24\00:46:53.44
From my friend.
00:46:53.74\00:46:55.31
"Instead of strengthening
their words depress
00:46:56.01\00:47:00.35
and dishearten. "
In these last days
00:47:00.55\00:47:03.92
you need to be very
selective about who you chum
00:47:04.12\00:47:07.39
around with - Amen -
and who you are close to.
00:47:07.59\00:47:12.19
Now, your call as a
Christian is to be Christ-like
00:47:12.39\00:47:17.70
to everybody. But I'm
talking about your intimates.
00:47:17.90\00:47:21.70
Those that you
share secrets with
00:47:22.10\00:47:24.01
and who share secrets with you
00:47:24.21\00:47:25.74
and those who
have influence on you
00:47:25.94\00:47:28.14
and those on whom
you have influence.
00:47:28.34\00:47:30.55
Be very careful about
your inner circle. Amen?
00:47:30.75\00:47:34.25
They've got to build
you up not tear you down.
00:47:34.65\00:47:36.55
And sometimes your
best friend can become
00:47:38.02\00:47:41.22
your worst enemy.
00:47:41.62\00:47:43.56
John had the same general idea -
00:47:45.23\00:47:47.66
and I see I'm going to
run out of time so I've got to
00:47:47.86\00:47:49.16
try to speed up here.
"John had the same general idea
00:47:49.23\00:47:51.63
as the disciples.
He, too, expected Jesus
00:47:51.83\00:47:55.37
to take the throne of David. "
00:47:55.57\00:47:57.47
Now you wouldn't think that
John would hold that thought.
00:47:57.84\00:47:59.77
But it was so ubiquitous, it
was so in the popular culture,
00:48:00.04\00:48:04.51
I think the only thing
equal to that today would be...
00:48:04.71\00:48:06.75
would be
Sunday-keeping. There are people
00:48:06.95\00:48:08.68
who are so into Sunday-keeping
and it's so wide-spread
00:48:08.88\00:48:12.39
it's just in our culture. Well,
this idea that Jesus would come
00:48:12.59\00:48:16.26
and take the throne of David
was so widespread in Israel
00:48:16.46\00:48:19.76
even John kind
of bought into it.
00:48:19.96\00:48:22.46
Christ was saying: "My
kingdom is not of this world. "
00:48:23.37\00:48:26.10
And the truth is there
were very few in Israel
00:48:26.30\00:48:28.30
who were ready to accept that.
00:48:28.50\00:48:29.84
They wanted His kingdom to
be precisely of this world.
00:48:30.71\00:48:33.58
"We want to get the
Romans off our backs
00:48:34.48\00:48:37.65
and Jesus is the One
to do it. " And even John
00:48:37.81\00:48:40.72
was buying into that
00:48:40.92\00:48:42.82
and, of course,
John's disciples.
00:48:43.62\00:48:46.02
So now John is in a dungeon.
00:48:47.29\00:48:48.82
Ellen White says
he's a country boy...
00:48:49.22\00:48:51.09
Used to being out here in nature
00:48:51.29\00:48:52.96
and going where he wants to go
and doing what he wants to do.
00:48:53.16\00:48:55.40
He's confined in a
little, dirty space
00:48:55.70\00:48:57.77
and that brought
pressure. No fresh air.
00:48:57.97\00:49:00.67
He is caged and he is suffering.
00:49:00.87\00:49:03.84
His disciples are
saying: "If He is the Son of God
00:49:04.24\00:49:07.61
and if He's doing
all of these miracles,
00:49:07.81\00:49:09.68
why are you still in here? "
00:49:09.88\00:49:11.71
"He came to set
the captives free
00:49:16.52\00:49:19.02
and last we
looked you ain't free. "
00:49:19.22\00:49:22.69
"You're in prison... "
Desire of Ages page 216:
00:49:25.39\00:49:30.57
"There were hours
when whisperings of demons
00:49:30.97\00:49:34.14
tortured his spirit
00:49:34.34\00:49:35.67
and shadows of a
terrible fear crept over him. "
00:49:35.90\00:49:39.04
But here's where
John the Baptist shines.
00:49:39.87\00:49:41.68
Ellen White says: "The
Baptist did not surrender
00:49:41.88\00:49:44.98
his faith in God. "
Amen! Ladies and gentlemen,
00:49:45.18\00:49:47.85
we're all gonna be tested.
00:49:48.05\00:49:49.42
Everything you have
is going to be tested.
00:49:49.62\00:49:51.82
And I mean a lot more than
your door handle breaking off.
00:49:52.22\00:49:54.86
You are going to be tested
00:49:55.16\00:49:56.73
and will you hold fast to
your faith is the question.
00:49:58.96\00:50:01.26
John didn't discuss
his doubts and anxieties
00:50:02.00\00:50:05.50
with his companions.
John Bradshaw said something
00:50:05.70\00:50:08.04
last night during the
panel that was very true.
00:50:08.24\00:50:09.97
If you've got
doubts in the church
00:50:10.77\00:50:13.17
and if you've got
doubts in the Bible
00:50:13.38\00:50:15.54
and if you have
doubts in the Word of God,
00:50:15.74\00:50:18.05
may I humbly suggest:
keep that stuff to yourself.
00:50:18.68\00:50:21.88
Amen. Don't spread your doubts.
00:50:22.08\00:50:24.72
Take your doubts to Jesus.
00:50:25.12\00:50:26.45
What is it with us
that when we get a disease
00:50:26.49\00:50:29.06
we feel we've got
to infect everybody?
00:50:29.26\00:50:31.19
Work that stuff out between
you and Jesus. Don't spread that
00:50:34.73\00:50:37.13
because there are
people who are weaker than you.
00:50:37.53\00:50:39.27
Your suggestion of doubt
00:50:39.57\00:50:41.60
can pull someone out of
the church of God. Amen.
00:50:42.30\00:50:45.57
Keep that stuff to yourself...
work it out with Jesus.
00:50:45.77\00:50:48.74
John NEVER spoke of his doubts.
00:50:49.14\00:50:53.18
He spoke of his pain;
he spoke of his sorrow
00:50:53.38\00:50:56.18
but his doubts he kept
between him and the Lord.
00:50:56.38\00:50:58.95
So if you don't
believe in the Sabbath
00:50:59.15\00:51:01.19
take it to Jesus.
00:51:01.59\00:51:03.12
You've got a
problem with health reform?
00:51:03.63\00:51:05.56
Take it to Jesus.
00:51:05.96\00:51:07.40
You just love pork chops...
00:51:07.76\00:51:09.96
Amen! Don't, you know...
00:51:14.14\00:51:16.44
You've got a problem
with women's ordination
00:51:16.67\00:51:18.51
or any number of these things
00:51:18.71\00:51:21.58
you've gotta, you know,
take that stuff to the Lord.
00:51:21.78\00:51:24.85
Amen? Amen!
00:51:26.92\00:51:28.65
Have I become your enemy
because I tell you the truth?
00:51:29.05\00:51:31.22
No! Everything you
don't need to share.
00:51:31.42\00:51:34.39
Some stuff... take it to
Jesus and work it out with Him.
00:51:35.22\00:51:38.56
Besides, I'm too busy
dragging my own wagon.
00:51:38.76\00:51:42.56
Amen.
00:51:42.76\00:51:46.33
Kinda hard to take my
wagon and your wagon too.
00:51:46.53\00:51:50.57
That's right! You've
gotta drag your wagon.
00:51:50.77\00:51:53.04
And the same Jesus
who helps me drag mine
00:51:53.24\00:51:55.98
will help you drag yours. Amen!
00:51:56.48\00:51:59.71
So take that stuff to the
Lord. Don't express every doubt
00:52:00.65\00:52:03.52
and every fear. And
then even be selective
00:52:03.72\00:52:07.82
who you suggest those to.
00:52:08.02\00:52:13.80
Everybody's not
prepared to handle your stuff.
00:52:14.76\00:52:18.30
Too busy
handling their own stuff.
00:52:18.60\00:52:20.30
Amen. Amen!
00:52:21.24\00:52:22.97
So John did not do that.
00:52:23.37\00:52:24.94
Lookin' at my clock.
00:52:25.34\00:52:26.68
He sends his two disciples.
00:52:27.14\00:52:29.01
He expected Christ to give
him a special little something
00:52:29.21\00:52:33.88
'cause he's in prison and
he's suffering for the Lord.
00:52:34.18\00:52:36.65
That's how you go
from "Behold the Lamb"
00:52:38.55\00:52:41.96
to "Do we look for
another? " Pain, imprisonment,
00:52:42.16\00:52:44.53
bad advice, attack of the devil,
00:52:44.73\00:52:46.80
deferred, delayed,
displaced deliverance.
00:52:47.00\00:52:49.50
Invalid
expectations accompanied by
00:52:49.70\00:52:52.13
not only the threat of death
but the expectation of death.
00:52:52.33\00:52:55.24
Anyone here ever
have a lapse in faith?
00:52:56.07\00:52:58.11
I'm raising my hand first.
I've had times when my faith
00:52:58.87\00:53:01.34
has sort of given out.
00:53:01.54\00:53:02.88
I'm so glad when we give up on
God God doesn't give up on us.
00:53:03.95\00:53:06.61
Amen!
00:53:06.82\00:53:08.55
So you've gotta love Jesus.
00:53:10.49\00:53:11.82
The disciples come and
they say: "OK, are You it
00:53:11.99\00:53:14.92
or do we look
for somebody else? "
00:53:15.12\00:53:16.66
And you know what Christ said?
00:53:16.86\00:53:18.49
Nothing.
00:53:18.89\00:53:20.23
No response.
00:53:21.40\00:53:22.73
The Bible says He
just went about healing.
00:53:23.10\00:53:25.17
He just did what He always did.
00:53:25.57\00:53:27.50
Whole day went by
00:53:28.64\00:53:30.57
and the disciples watched
Him heal and bless and preach
00:53:30.97\00:53:34.14
and teach and save, and He
never answered the question.
00:53:34.28\00:53:37.21
Then at day's end He
said: "Now go back and tell him
00:53:37.41\00:53:39.78
what you saw. " Brilliant!
00:53:39.98\00:53:42.12
"Just go back and
tell him what you saw. "
00:53:43.85\00:53:45.29
And I believe from that time on
00:53:45.49\00:53:48.16
John was settled.
00:53:48.56\00:53:51.43
During the day Christ
threw them an esoteric bone.
00:53:52.29\00:53:57.57
Now let me do that real quick
00:53:57.97\00:53:59.37
then our time might be gone.
00:53:59.67\00:54:01.07
John... let's go to
Luke chapter 7 and verse 23.
00:54:01.17\00:54:04.71
I read it before but I
want to just examine it
00:54:04.91\00:54:07.58
for just a second.
00:54:07.78\00:54:09.28
"Blessed is He who is
not offended because of Me. "
00:54:10.35\00:54:14.58
Now, John didn't
get it at the moment.
00:54:15.35\00:54:17.59
His disciples didn't get
it, but I think later on he did.
00:54:17.79\00:54:20.99
And I didn't really
get it till I studied it.
00:54:21.19\00:54:22.92
Here is what Christ is saying.
00:54:23.59\00:54:25.86
"Happy is he who does
not turn away from Jesus
00:54:27.00\00:54:31.23
because Jesus does not conform
to his preconceived ideas. "
00:54:31.43\00:54:36.57
Amen.
00:54:36.77\00:54:38.14
In other words, you
can't put Christ in a box.
00:54:38.34\00:54:42.11
Amen. Amen!
00:54:43.21\00:54:45.31
You cannot! Christ has a
million ways to do things
00:54:45.51\00:54:49.52
that you know not of.
00:54:49.72\00:54:51.09
So sometimes you've gotta
sit back and let God be God
00:54:51.49\00:54:55.56
and not tell Him HOW to save you
00:54:55.76\00:54:58.73
or how to outline the path.
00:54:58.93\00:55:01.33
You've just gotta walk the road
that He outlines before you.
00:55:01.53\00:55:05.10
Amen? You don't
get a pass on faith.
00:55:05.30\00:55:09.07
That's the
message from John for us.
00:55:10.01\00:55:13.24
Blessed is he who believes
00:55:13.68\00:55:17.15
even though it's not
working just like you want it.
00:55:17.35\00:55:20.45
You trust God to work it
all out as it should be. Amen?
00:55:20.65\00:55:25.09
Amen! Christ didn't
give John a secret message.
00:55:25.29\00:55:28.56
He gave him a godly example.
00:55:29.49\00:55:32.53
He didn't give
John what he wanted...
00:55:32.93\00:55:35.73
He gave John what he needed.
00:55:36.13\00:55:39.37
I've gotta slip over
and I just want to read
00:55:39.77\00:55:42.10
a couple closing
statements and then we are done.
00:55:42.30\00:55:44.77
"When the Lord appeared
to Saul in his conversion -
00:55:47.64\00:55:51.51
this is the
Damascus road experience -
00:55:51.91\00:55:54.02
He did not purpose to
show him how much good
00:55:54.22\00:55:57.75
he would enjoy but what
great things he should suffer
00:55:57.95\00:56:02.12
for His name. " Um-hmm.
00:56:02.32\00:56:04.39
"Suffering has been
the portion of God's people
00:56:04.79\00:56:07.13
from the days of
the martyr Abraham.
00:56:07.30\00:56:09.56
And why should we who have
the Blessed Hope of immortality
00:56:09.76\00:56:14.27
to be consummated at
the soon appearing of Christ
00:56:14.47\00:56:18.54
shrink from
sacrifice and suffering? "
00:56:18.74\00:56:21.78
Don't do that. Last one:
00:56:22.71\00:56:24.15
I Testimonies page 126:
00:56:24.35\00:56:26.82
"Those who are
willing to make any sacrifice
00:56:27.02\00:56:30.82
for eternal life will have it. "
00:56:31.02\00:56:33.02
Amen! "And it will
be worth the sacrifice,
00:56:33.22\00:56:38.26
worth the crucifying of self,
00:56:38.76\00:56:41.93
worth the
sacrificing of every idol
00:56:42.33\00:56:45.80
to be forever with Jesus. "
00:56:46.00\00:56:49.14
There is sanctity in sacrifice.
00:56:49.34\00:56:53.74
There is salvation in sacrifice.
00:56:54.24\00:56:56.91
Dare I say we will not see
Jesus face to face without it.
00:56:57.31\00:57:03.05
And even the
beloved John, you and me,
00:57:03.25\00:57:07.39
each of us must walk
the road of sacrifice
00:57:07.59\00:57:11.93
and even
suffering. But it will end
00:57:12.33\00:57:15.80
in a face-to-face
meeting with Jesus.
00:57:16.00\00:57:19.43