Good morning and happy Sabbath.
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To those of you tuning in
wherever you're tuning in from
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welcome to Thompsonville.
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This is Sabbath morning, and
we praise the Lord that you've
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taken the time to tune in and to
listen to what the Word of God
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has to say to you and what
God has given to the preacher
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of the hour. My
good friend and pastor
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as well as colleague in
ministry Pastor C.A. Murray
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has been our
speaker from night to night.
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The overriding theme has
been "The Winds of War, "
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and today is a
very interesting topic.
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And we're going to let him
introduce that to you because
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you know every night he's
had this very eclectic title
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to break forth from.
However, I must say that
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this afternoon
the final topic is -
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at 3:00 PM central time -
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and it's entitled War No More.
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But this morning
is When War... How?
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And I know that God
has something to say
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to every one of us. So
thank you so much for tuning in.
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However, before we go and invite
our speaker for the morning
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we always like to
invite the presence of the Lord
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through prayer. So
let's bow our heads together.
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Our gracious Father in heaven,
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we thank you so much
that truly we have been made
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completely aware that there are
wars taking place in our hearts
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and in our lives.
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And why not? We're living in
a world of great controversy.
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The Spirit
warring against the flesh;
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the devil trying to
take us back to Egypt
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as we found out last night
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and the Lord preparing
us for the Promised Land
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that is just within our view.
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So today, Lord, anoint
once again your manservant,
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Pastor C.A. Murray, to
open our eyes and help us
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to understand how
this war can be won.
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When War... How?
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Bless us now as we listen
to what Your Spirit has to say
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to us. In Jesus'
name we pray, Amen.
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And now our speaker for
the hour: Pastor C.A. Murray.
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Good morning and happy Sabbath.
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I am wearing the United States
Military Academy at West Point
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full dress or parade dress coat.
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Called the parade dress coat
because it's their formal coat.
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This is a coat that the
cadets wear to formal occasions.
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They also wear it to
the Army/Navy football game.
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I've had this
coat for some 30 years,
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and when I got it, it
was already 10 years old.
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So the coat is
about 40 years old.
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And it's still - as you
can see - in pretty good shape.
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There are only a couple
of ways that you can get
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United States Military Academy
at West Point full dress coats:
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you either have to be a
cadet there and go to school
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or you can teach
there and get one.
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There are a couple of
other honest ways to get one,
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and I got one of
those other ways.
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But I have spent
many hours on the campus
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at West Point.
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Talked to a
number of the cadets.
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We dealt with
some classes in ethics.
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And I spent a lot of time
talking with them as these
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are the military
leaders for our country.
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Wanted to sort of "pick their
brains" as to how they think.
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Those who will be flying the
planes and dropping the bombs
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and controlling the
skies and the airways.
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Wanted to talk with
them about that. And then...
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Irma and I used to go to
West Point on Sunday evenings.
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They have a very
nice orchestra there,
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and on Sunday evenings at West
Point they had band concerts.
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Overlooking the
Hudson. Very scenic, very nice.
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Thousands of people would
go, and a bunch of us would go
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from the church. You'd
take your picnic basket.
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And you know just really
wonderful classical music,
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semi-classical music, by
the West Point Military Band.
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As I said, the
coat is 40 years of age
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and I've worn it
every winter since I got it.
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And in talking with one
of the captains at West Point
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he said to me: "When you're
going into battle for your
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country you
deserve the very best,
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and so we try to give our
men the very, very best. "
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This coat is so warm. I
wear it through the New York
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winters. I've never buttoned
it because it is so warm
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and so cozy
that if you button it
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it really
becomes like a furnace.
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That's how well made it is:
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that after 40 years of wear
still in pretty decent shape.
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When you're going
into battle, my point is,
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you've got to
wear the very best.
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When you're going into war,
you've got to wear equipment
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that suits the war
you're going to fight.
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So we're going to talk
about winning war today.
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How does one do that?
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I was teasing Pastor Lomacang.
I told him I was going to
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go through a 5-part
series on war and the last days
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and never refer to Matthew
chapter 24. So far so good.
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Now I'm going to
need someone's help here.
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Maybe Randy if you will
take this from me because this
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is becoming like
a furnace all ready.
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Let's go to the Lord in prayer.
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Gracious Father,
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we just praise You and
thank You for this Sabbath day
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and we thank You for Jesus,
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the Author and
Finisher of our faith.
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We pray now that Your
Spirit would attend us
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as we look to Your
words. As we seek to fight
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the good fight of faith.
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In Jesus' name, Amen.
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The United States Military
Academy at West Point was
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begun in 1802.
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It has graduated
some 67,000 graduates.
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It has an average
student body of 4,400 students.
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A number of great names
have come through West Point:
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Grant, Lee, Pershing, McArthur,
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Eisenhower, Patton, Schwarzkopf,
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and General David Petraeus.
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Their motto is:
The history we teach
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is the history we made.
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At West Point men
are taught how to win,
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how to protect their country,
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and how to do so
with dignity and honor.
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I remember several
years ago a cheating scandal
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broke out at West Point
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and they were quick to crush it
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because their motto was:
To Win and To Win With Honor.
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In one of the
classes on war and tactics
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West Point cadets are
taught a number of things
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that are distilled
in the following points:
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Number one: when
you're going into a battle
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you must know who your enemy is.
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Makes sense, doesn't it?
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You've got to know
who you're fighting.
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Number two: you must
know where your enemy is.
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Number three: you must
know or assess his strength.
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Number four: you must also
have some idea of his ability
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to attack you.
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You must also know
his ability to maneuver...
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to get away from you.
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You must know and
assess his tenacity.
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How hard will he fight?
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You need to have some
idea of what it will take
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to make him surrender.
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You must know
who's giving the orders,
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who's on top,
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who's running the show.
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And then... the most important:
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never underestimate
your enemy's power.
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Never underestimate
your enemy's power.
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But late in 2010,
General David Petraeus -
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then the commander of
our troops in the Middle East
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and in Afghanistan -
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admitted that many of
these classic military paradigms
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don't work any more
in our modern world...
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particularly since 9/11/2001
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and since we've
gone into Afghanistan.
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On Christmas Day, 1979,
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Soviet
paratroopers invaded the land
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of the country of Afghanistan.
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Ten years later they left
having accomplished very little.
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On October 7, 2001,
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a coalition led by
United States forces
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also invaded Afghanistan.
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And now ten years
later the jury is still out.
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We don't know if we're winning;
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we don't know if we're losing;
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and as one top general said:
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"We don't always even
know who we're fighting. "
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So things have changed
in these last few years.
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We found out that
they are very tenacious.
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They don't give up easily.
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They are highly maneuverable.
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They have almost
unfettered ability to attack us
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and they just don't surrender.
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I want to give you a quote from
the book Maranatha page 660.
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Ellen White says:
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Satan is afraid
when you resist him.
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Praise God!
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Weakest saint.
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Amen. Isn't that powerful?
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Weakest saint
through divine strength.
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So if you've got to go
toe to toe, arm to arm,
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blow to blow with
Satan, in Jesus you can do it!
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Amen.
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You don't have to be defeated.
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The weakest saint
is more than a match.
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Therefore... I continue...
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By batteries... his armaments,
his guns, his bullets.
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So Satan's not
coming in big and bold
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because he will scare
you into the arms of Jesus.
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He's going to slip in, masked,
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because he wants you to
stay asleep, stay drowsy.
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The last place he wants you
is running and hiding in Jesus.
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You know back in the
days they used to say
00:14:00.70\00:14:02.78
you know you're hiding behind
your mother's apron strings
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or skirt tails or you know...
You don't want to do that.
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You know, that
means you're a coward.
00:14:09.54\00:14:10.71
But to me the best place
to be is hiding behind Jesus.
00:14:10.91\00:14:15.25
Amen. You know
that story of the woman?
00:14:15.35\00:14:18.24
Hi Steve and Samantha...
00:14:18.44\00:14:20.53
That woman caught in adultery?
00:14:20.73\00:14:22.10
They came and drug her and
threw her at the feet of Jesus.
00:14:22.30\00:14:24.88
Now where else
better would you want to be
00:14:25.18\00:14:28.95
but at the feet of Jesus?
00:14:30.47\00:14:31.86
If you've got a problem with me,
00:14:32.16\00:14:34.67
take me to the feet of Jesus.
I have no problem with that.
00:14:34.87\00:14:37.76
No place better in the world
to be than at the feet of Jesus.
00:14:38.97\00:14:44.47
And that's the last
place Satan wants you to go.
00:14:44.71\00:14:47.09
I want to
affirm something today.
00:14:51.00\00:14:52.96
Living victoriously in Christ
00:14:53.26\00:14:59.00
is not avoidance theology.
00:14:59.30\00:15:02.71
Did you hear me?
00:15:03.11\00:15:04.76
Living victoriously in Christ
00:15:05.16\00:15:09.41
is not avoidance theology.
00:15:09.61\00:15:13.28
The Word of God says:
00:15:13.78\00:15:16.58
"Resist the devil
and he will... " What?
00:15:16.88\00:15:21.62
"flee. " It doesn't
say appease the devil.
00:15:21.92\00:15:25.18
Doesn't say avoid the devil.
00:15:25.48\00:15:28.18
Doesn't say
negotiate with the devil.
00:15:28.48\00:15:31.40
Ellen White says our
strength comes when you face him
00:15:31.70\00:15:36.67
in Christ Jesus.
00:15:36.87\00:15:38.61
That's what the Army says.
00:15:39.01\00:15:41.25
Don't run from the
enemy... face him and fight him
00:15:41.55\00:15:46.42
and defeat him in Christ.
00:15:46.72\00:15:50.06
The Bible says
"resist" in James 4:7.
00:15:50.36\00:15:53.36
You resist and he will flee.
00:15:53.56\00:15:57.42
That Greek work for
resist is annisthemi.
00:15:57.73\00:16:03.35
It's an interesting Greek word.
00:16:03.65\00:16:05.92
It is an aggressive verb
00:16:06.22\00:16:10.12
in the imperfect tense.
00:16:10.42\00:16:12.46
Now the imperfect
tense in that Greek tense
00:16:12.76\00:16:15.89
that indicates do it
and keep on doing it.
00:16:16.09\00:16:19.52
Amen. So the Bible is saying
00:16:19.82\00:16:22.37
resist him and
keep on resisting.
00:16:22.57\00:16:25.69
Fight back.
Annisthemi is not a passive...
00:16:25.99\00:16:31.00
a passive word. It's an
active aggressive tense.
00:16:31.20\00:16:36.42
So it doesn't say just hold
your ground against the devil.
00:16:36.72\00:16:40.17
Annisthemi says
"attack the devil.
00:16:40.37\00:16:44.28
Go out and get him.
Go out and fight him.
00:16:44.48\00:16:47.30
Beat him up! Don't
just hold your ground.
00:16:47.60\00:16:51.58
Don't just resist
passively... fight back!
00:16:51.88\00:16:55.37
Fight back and he will flee. "
00:16:56.76\00:16:58.60
You know it is that
way with most cowards.
00:16:58.63\00:17:00.46
You get enough nerve to punch
them, they'll usually back down.
00:17:00.76\00:17:04.17
Um-hmm.
00:17:04.47\00:17:06.46
So you punch the
devil in Jesus' name.
00:17:06.76\00:17:08.54
He'll back down.
00:17:08.94\00:17:11.27
In fact, the Bible
says he will "flee. " Amen?
00:17:11.47\00:17:13.73
Resist the devil
and he will flee.
00:17:14.03\00:17:17.93
Fight and keep on
fighting. How do we do that?
00:17:20.45\00:17:23.44
The answer is right there
in the text: James chapter 4.
00:17:23.74\00:17:27.26
Go to James chapter 4
real quick. Let's do that.
00:17:27.36\00:17:29.08
James chapter 4.
00:17:29.18\00:17:30.46
We're looking at verses 6 and 7.
00:17:34.03\00:17:36.39
James. I'm in
James. I'm in chapter 4
00:17:39.02\00:17:40.89
and we are at verse 6.
I'm in the New King James.
00:17:41.09\00:17:43.65
Um, look at verse 6.
00:17:43.95\00:17:45.82
"Resist the devil and he
will flee. " And so the text
00:18:00.85\00:18:03.98
actually gives
you your methodology.
00:18:04.18\00:18:06.62
Submit to God;
humble yourself before God.
00:18:06.92\00:18:11.85
God will draw near
and the devil will flee.
00:18:12.15\00:18:18.05
Make sense? You see,
there's nothing about you -
00:18:18.36\00:18:21.51
nothing you
have, nothing you are -
00:18:21.71\00:18:23.90
that the devil fears.
00:18:24.10\00:18:26.06
He fears your boss.
00:18:26.66\00:18:29.76
So if Satan draws near
00:18:30.26\00:18:35.04
and Christ draws
near, Satan steps back.
00:18:35.24\00:18:40.09
So draw near to God and
God will draw near to you
00:18:42.23\00:18:45.64
and Satan
doesn't dare come around
00:18:45.84\00:18:47.72
while God's got your back.
00:18:47.93\00:18:49.81
The Bible says He
"gives more grace. "
00:18:51.38\00:18:53.50
Grace is an interesting thing.
00:18:53.80\00:18:54.97
You get grace, Shelley, to obey
00:18:55.18\00:18:57.73
and then you get
grace for obeying.
00:18:57.93\00:19:01.80
Um-hmm.
00:19:02.40\00:19:04.33
You get grace to obey.
00:19:04.63\00:19:07.48
You get grace for obeying.
00:19:07.59\00:19:10.53
You get grace from obeying.
00:19:10.83\00:19:13.62
Then you can be
strong in the Lord.
00:19:16.44\00:19:18.84
But the Bible
says the word hupotasso
00:19:19.14\00:19:22.59
means to be under obedience.
00:19:22.79\00:19:24.70
Means to be under obedience.
00:19:24.93\00:19:26.35
You know it's interesting...
in these last days
00:19:26.55\00:19:28.31
one of the signs of
the last days, Pastor John,
00:19:28.51\00:19:30.87
it's getting hard to
get folks to work together
00:19:31.07\00:19:34.82
and to be
submissive to each other.
00:19:35.02\00:19:36.76
That's a sign of the last days.
Any pastor will tell you that.
00:19:37.06\00:19:41.21
Hard to get
folks to work together.
00:19:41.61\00:19:44.47
This one don't want
to work with this one
00:19:44.77\00:19:46.53
and this one doesn't
want to work with this one.
00:19:46.73\00:19:48.02
This one doesn't want to...
It has to do with obedience
00:19:48.32\00:19:51.23
and submission. No one
wants to be in submission.
00:19:51.43\00:19:53.30
I remember back in 1980?
00:19:53.50\00:19:55.65
Let's see: I
pastored Bethesda from...
00:19:55.85\00:19:58.47
'82 to '85 so it had to be 1983.
00:19:58.67\00:20:01.10
One of my very first weddings.
00:20:01.40\00:20:03.45
I remember it very, very
well for a couple of reasons.
00:20:03.65\00:20:05.68
Number one: the wedding
took place 3-1/2 hours late.
00:20:05.88\00:20:08.84
Bride didn't show.
00:20:09.04\00:20:10.29
Two: while we were
waiting in the pastor's study
00:20:10.59\00:20:13.65
a little mouse got
into the pastor's study
00:20:13.95\00:20:16.43
and the wedding
almost became a funeral.
00:20:16.63\00:20:18.25
But before the wedding
while we were going through the
00:20:22.16\00:20:25.80
wedding planning. You know,
you're planning the wedding.
00:20:25.91\00:20:28.39
You're planning going
through... We had gone through
00:20:28.59\00:20:29.95
all of the tests. We'd gone
through the Luscher Color Test.
00:20:30.16\00:20:32.65
We had gone through Milwaukee.
00:20:32.85\00:20:34.46
We had gone through Cincinnati.
00:20:34.66\00:20:36.34
We had gone through all of
those tests that are supposed to
00:20:36.54\00:20:38.03
spot and detect potential
problems in a marriage.
00:20:38.20\00:20:41.39
We went through all of
that stuff. Everything was fine.
00:20:41.49\00:20:43.58
We're planning the wedding,
and those of you who know me
00:20:43.88\00:20:46.33
I always write out my own
homily. I write individual
00:20:46.53\00:20:49.17
homilies for
individual weddings.
00:20:49.27\00:20:50.83
I tend to be pretty
standard when it comes to
00:20:51.03\00:20:54.08
the vows. So we're
going over the vows
00:20:54.28\00:20:57.79
and the bride
says: "Wait a minute.
00:20:57.99\00:20:59.75
We are not going to put in
that love, honor and obey stuff.
00:20:59.95\00:21:02.76
We decided we're
not putting that in. "
00:21:04.16\00:21:06.27
And I said: "Why? "
00:21:07.43\00:21:08.88
She said: "Because it
makes me sound subservient. "
00:21:09.18\00:21:12.62
"It makes me
sound sycophantal. "
00:21:14.17\00:21:17.17
"Makes me sound like a slave
so we're taking that out. "
00:21:19.35\00:21:24.15
And I noticed she was doing all
the talking so I looked at him.
00:21:24.35\00:21:27.22
And he said: "Hhhhh... "
00:21:28.56\00:21:31.74
So I said: "Well why
don't we just put it in
00:21:36.32\00:21:38.35
for both of you?
You say it and he say it
00:21:38.45\00:21:40.43
so that you're mutually being
subservient each to the other. "
00:21:40.63\00:21:46.33
She said: "Nope!
Not putting it in
00:21:46.63\00:21:48.68
because I'm not
going to always obey
00:21:48.98\00:21:51.71
and if he says something
stupid I'm not obeying. "
00:21:53.04\00:21:56.37
So I said: "Do you
want to get married? "
00:21:58.24\00:22:00.67
"Yeah I do... but
we're not putting that in. "
00:22:03.94\00:22:06.72
So I looked at him
00:22:07.02\00:22:08.61
and he said: "Hhhhh... "
00:22:09.94\00:22:13.77
And so 3-1/2 hours later
and one mouse they got married.
00:22:19.67\00:22:24.23
You know how long
that marriage lasted?
00:22:24.53\00:22:27.94
Thirty years.
Going on right now...
00:22:29.90\00:22:33.77
because the year after
when they had their first
00:22:34.07\00:22:37.50
Down syndrome
child she found the Lord.
00:22:37.70\00:22:43.14
And if you ask her now
about what she was then
00:22:43.44\00:22:48.48
and what she is
now she will tell you
00:22:48.68\00:22:53.03
"I was not converted
and I didn't know Jesus
00:22:53.24\00:22:57.03
but this Down syndrome child
has introduced me to Christ. "
00:22:57.33\00:23:03.16
And so 30 years later
they're grandparents now.
00:23:03.46\00:23:08.09
Doing pretty good.
00:23:08.30\00:23:09.97
But my point is: it's
tough to get people to submit
00:23:10.27\00:23:15.17
in these days. And yet the
secret of your battle with Satan
00:23:15.47\00:23:21.12
is submission to Jesus Christ.
00:23:21.33\00:23:23.44
You can't defeat the
devil without Christ.
00:23:23.74\00:23:27.56
Just not going to happen.
00:23:29.29\00:23:30.95
We are called now to
defend the kingdom of light
00:23:32.07\00:23:35.78
and not only resist but
attack the kingdom of darkness
00:23:35.98\00:23:40.39
and bring back
prisoners of war. Amen?
00:23:41.69\00:23:44.65
We are all POW's.
00:23:44.98\00:23:46.92
Everyone here is a POW.
00:23:47.22\00:23:48.68
We've been snatched
from the camp of the enemy.
00:23:48.71\00:23:51.44
In fact, Paul uses this
prisoner of war metaphor
00:23:51.64\00:23:55.69
many times in his writings.
00:23:55.89\00:23:57.88
In Ephesians
chapter 3 he uses it once.
00:23:58.08\00:24:00.79
Ephesians chapter
4 he uses it again.
00:24:00.99\00:24:03.34
II Timothy chapter 1
he uses it a third time
00:24:03.55\00:24:06.46
and two times in
Philemon he introduces himself
00:24:06.66\00:24:10.51
as a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
00:24:10.71\00:24:13.56
And the word is interesting.
00:24:13.86\00:24:15.42
There are 1, 2, 3
words for prisoner...
00:24:15.63\00:24:18.32
actually two words for prisoner.
00:24:18.42\00:24:20.52
One is translated
a passive prisoner
00:24:20.72\00:24:26.60
languishing in a cell.
00:24:26.80\00:24:28.53
That's not the word
Paul chooses to use.
00:24:29.73\00:24:31.60
He uses the
prisoner word that means
00:24:31.90\00:24:36.30
one who is chained to his guard.
00:24:36.51\00:24:39.31
Very interesting.
00:24:39.61\00:24:41.36
So Paul says: "I'm a prisoner
of Jesus. I'm not languishing
00:24:41.66\00:24:44.91
in a cell... I'm
chained to Christ. "
00:24:45.01\00:24:48.51
You see the difference? "So
that wherever Christ goes I go.
00:24:48.81\00:24:52.56
Whatever Christ does I do.
00:24:52.76\00:24:55.17
I'm chained to Jesus.
00:24:55.37\00:24:57.84
Not languishing in a
cell... I'm chained to Him. "
00:24:58.14\00:25:01.76
The Old Testament
calls it a brand or a burning
00:25:02.06\00:25:05.25
snatched from the fire.
Zechariah chapter 3 verse 3.
00:25:05.45\00:25:07.79
You know that text. We
are... We are brands as it were
00:25:07.89\00:25:11.55
plucked from the fire and placed
into the camp of Jesus Christ.
00:25:11.75\00:25:14.97
You've been snatched as it
were from the jaws of hell.
00:25:15.27\00:25:19.56
Let me tell you something.
00:25:22.52\00:25:24.22
When you see someone
00:25:26.46\00:25:30.58
walking around
rejoicing in the Lord -
00:25:31.97\00:25:35.55
walking around with...
and I'm going to embarrass her
00:25:36.05\00:25:41.45
and use this term - a "Jill
Morikone smile" on her face
00:25:41.65\00:25:46.14
there are at least three things
you are not supposed to do.
00:25:51.34\00:25:55.30
Now I use that...
I use Jill because -
00:25:55.50\00:25:58.45
and I told her
this some time ago -
00:25:58.65\00:26:00.07
I actually got a letter
as producer of the Today show
00:26:00.27\00:26:03.15
that someone asked: "Would
you please tell Jill Morikone
00:26:03.45\00:26:09.39
not to smile so much. "
00:26:09.59\00:26:11.56
It's true.
00:26:13.27\00:26:15.27
"She just smiles too
much... just too happy. "
00:26:17.08\00:26:19.95
And it occurred to me
as I wrote that person back
00:26:24.06\00:26:26.41
you can't smile too much.
00:26:26.61\00:26:28.28
Now you can
smile inappropriately.
00:26:29.39\00:26:31.48
You know, you can. Someone
tells you how their dog got hit
00:26:31.68\00:26:35.46
by a car and you...
00:26:35.56\00:26:38.06
That's inappropriate.
00:26:38.36\00:26:39.46
But you can't smile too much.
00:26:42.87\00:26:45.03
So when you see one
smiling all the time
00:26:49.38\00:26:52.68
there are at least
three things you ought not do.
00:26:52.71\00:26:56.56
Amen.
00:27:05.17\00:27:06.92
We're going to come back
to that in just a moment.
00:27:07.22\00:27:09.58
Amen.
00:27:19.37\00:27:20.77
Just because a person smiles
00:27:21.07\00:27:23.63
doesn't mean they
don't have problems.
00:27:23.83\00:27:26.71
Because even if
you're not like that
00:27:34.45\00:27:39.38
you can be. Amen?
00:27:39.58\00:27:44.08
Don't get mad.
Don't get discouraged.
00:27:44.38\00:27:47.47
Don't think they
don't have any problems.
00:27:47.67\00:27:50.15
And even if you're not
like that, you can be...
00:27:50.35\00:27:55.45
because if they've
got joy you can get joy.
00:27:55.75\00:28:01.10
Amen?
00:28:01.40\00:28:03.36
If they've got
victory, you can get victory.
00:28:03.66\00:28:08.70
If Jesus loves
them, well guess what?
00:28:10.00\00:28:14.16
Loves you too.
00:28:15.79\00:28:17.50
"Behold what manner of love
the Father has bestowed on... "
00:28:18.00\00:28:23.14
them? "us that... "
00:28:23.34\00:28:28.36
they? "we should be called
the children or sons of God. "
00:28:28.57\00:28:34.49
So don't get upset
00:28:34.79\00:28:38.07
because if you
really want that kind of joy
00:28:38.27\00:28:41.25
you can have it.
00:28:41.55\00:28:43.54
Don't think that they
don't have any problems.
00:28:44.14\00:28:47.28
Listen ladies and
gentlemen, brothers and sisters,
00:28:47.48\00:28:49.04
smiling in the face of
pain is a learned behavior.
00:28:49.44\00:28:53.96
It's not natural
but your can learn it.
00:28:54.26\00:28:59.88
So if you're not
painting on a phony smile
00:29:00.18\00:29:02.74
you really do have
joy in the midst of trial.
00:29:02.94\00:29:06.31
You can smile
through the struggle.
00:29:06.61\00:29:09.06
You can smile when
inside you feel like crying
00:29:09.36\00:29:13.18
through Jesus Christ.
00:29:15.26\00:29:16.60
So just because people smile
00:29:18.40\00:29:20.39
do not think they
are free from trouble.
00:29:20.69\00:29:23.58
I'm in I John
chapter 4 verses 16 and 17.
00:29:23.78\00:29:27.44
I John chapter 4:16-17.
00:29:27.54\00:29:31.79
I like this one.
00:29:32.09\00:29:33.40
Now that is basically saying
you can live like, love like,
00:30:15.28\00:30:20.92
act like Christ here and now!
00:30:21.43\00:30:26.62
You can have the joy
of Jesus in this world
00:30:27.12\00:30:31.12
in preparation for
the world that is to come.
00:30:31.43\00:30:35.72
You can be like
He is here and now.
00:30:35.92\00:30:39.18
So don't think they
don't have any problems.
00:30:40.45\00:30:42.58
Jill's got problems.
00:30:42.68\00:30:44.18
Amen.
00:30:45.60\00:30:47.51
She's got Greg!
00:30:47.81\00:30:50.39
Greg is all
right... Greg is a great guy.
00:30:52.47\00:30:54.15
But any time you put two people
together you're going to have
00:30:54.45\00:30:56.65
some issues. Greg's not a saint.
00:30:56.75\00:31:01.06
Close to it... but he's not.
00:31:01.26\00:31:03.76
Amen.
00:31:04.06\00:31:05.83
So she smiles
00:31:08.29\00:31:10.85
because along with
the joy she's got Jesus.
00:31:11.15\00:31:16.12
So people who smile
are just living like Jesus
00:31:19.02\00:31:21.54
in the here and now.
00:31:21.64\00:31:23.02
And God puts those
smiley people in your path
00:31:23.22\00:31:26.68
not to get on your nerves
00:31:26.88\00:31:29.75
but to make you jealous. Um-hmm.
00:31:29.95\00:31:33.68
God wants you to be jealous.
00:31:34.08\00:31:36.45
Next time you see
somebody going along...
00:31:36.75\00:31:42.74
God wants you to be jealous.
00:31:42.87\00:31:44.18
Don't just be
jealous... get Jesus... -
00:31:44.68\00:31:48.86
Amen? -
00:31:49.16\00:31:51.15
and then you'll smile.
00:31:51.45\00:31:53.85
That's why God puts
those people in your path.
00:31:55.54\00:31:57.70
That's part of
your victory fight.
00:31:58.00\00:32:01.35
Romans chapter 11 verse 14.
00:32:01.66\00:32:03.55
The book is Romans
chapter 11 verse 14.
00:32:03.75\00:32:06.00
Paul says:
00:32:06.10\00:32:07.39
That's why I took
it from the Clear Word
00:32:29.12\00:32:30.29
because it makes it so plain.
00:32:30.39\00:32:31.84
So Paul says: "I'm living a
life so that when my own family
00:32:32.14\00:32:37.35
sees me they will
say 'I want that for me.
00:32:37.55\00:32:41.42
I want what he's got. ' "
00:32:41.72\00:32:45.44
And that's why God has you
live next to and work among
00:32:45.75\00:32:49.79
the Jill
Morikone's of the world.
00:32:49.99\00:32:52.34
And they're
everywhere ladies and gentlemen
00:32:52.64\00:32:55.19
because everywhere
there are people who have joy.
00:32:55.49\00:32:59.82
So when you see
them don't get mad
00:32:59.92\00:33:04.21
get jealous.
00:33:04.41\00:33:06.25
And then when you
get jealous get Jesus.
00:33:06.55\00:33:10.46
The Bible says in
I Corinthians 12:31:
00:33:11.89\00:33:14.20
"Covet earnestly
the best gifts. "
00:33:14.30\00:33:17.57
In the song we used
to sing as children:
00:33:17.87\00:33:19.86
Oh the best
friend to have is Jesus.
00:33:20.06\00:33:24.51
Now let me give
you some weapons.
00:33:25.62\00:33:27.54
Let me give you
some stuff to fight with
00:33:27.84\00:33:29.91
in this battle if
we're going to win this war.
00:33:30.21\00:33:32.48
I'm reading from the
book Selected Messages
00:33:32.78\00:33:35.34
pages 242 and 243.
00:33:35.54\00:33:38.83
This is encouragement
from Ellen White. She says:
00:33:39.34\00:33:45.05
So she says: "Press forward... "
00:34:07.61\00:34:09.69
Press forward with the knowledge
that God's hearing your prayers.
00:34:09.99\00:34:13.21
And so even when
you're depressed go forward
00:34:23.36\00:34:27.84
because depression
never comes from the Lord.
00:34:28.14\00:34:33.36
Said it before...
will say it again:
00:34:33.66\00:34:35.81
God sends many things your way
00:34:36.01\00:34:37.70
but He will
never send depression.
00:34:37.90\00:34:39.42
That comes from the devil.
00:34:39.62\00:34:40.92
When you get to the "nobody
knows the trouble I've seen"
00:34:41.12\00:34:43.47
"I can't take
another step... I quit! "
00:34:43.67\00:34:46.46
that's not God. That's Satan.
00:34:46.86\00:34:50.31
That comes from the devil.
00:34:50.61\00:34:52.44
She says: "Fight
depression like the plague. "
00:34:52.74\00:34:55.70
Find a friend who
talks positive. Sing a song.
00:34:56.00\00:34:59.18
Read the Word.
00:34:59.38\00:35:00.95
Get out of your gloomy
room and get into some sunlight.
00:35:01.15\00:35:03.82
But don't stay there and
let the devil beat on you
00:35:04.02\00:35:07.77
with depression 'cause it
doesn't come from the Lord.
00:35:07.97\00:35:10.57
Never, ever, ever
comes from the Lord.
00:35:10.77\00:35:12.65
Now, we've got to find our
place and go back and finish it.
00:35:12.85\00:35:14.96
"I tell you as one who knows"
00:35:17.45\00:35:20.09
Of course she knew. You
know, Ellen White had 4 boys
00:35:20.29\00:35:21.76
and lost 2 of them.
00:35:21.87\00:35:23.24
Her husband,
James, had five strokes.
00:35:23.64\00:35:26.89
Five. And every stroke
changed his personality
00:35:26.99\00:35:31.21
and took him
into a darker place.
00:35:31.41\00:35:33.12
So she had to live with a
man that one time she said
00:35:33.33\00:35:36.01
to a friend of hers: "You
know sometimes I don't know if
00:35:36.11\00:35:38.66
my husband is even sane. "
00:35:38.86\00:35:41.04
Ellen White said that
00:35:41.34\00:35:42.69
because that last
stroke altered his personality.
00:35:42.99\00:35:46.82
And sometimes
James could get mean.
00:35:47.12\00:35:49.62
But it wasn't
him... it was the stroke.
00:35:49.92\00:35:52.78
So she says: "I'm telling
you this as one who knows. "
00:35:53.08\00:35:57.17
Lost two children.
Have an invalid husband
00:35:57.37\00:36:00.15
who worked himself
in the cause of Christ
00:36:00.35\00:36:02.81
almost to death. Five strokes...
and the last one killed him.
00:36:03.01\00:36:06.08
Let's go back.
00:36:07.65\00:36:09.28
So just keep pressing forward
whether you see the end or not.
00:36:24.51\00:36:28.67
Walk as if you
know where you're going
00:36:28.87\00:36:32.38
even when you don't
because God knows where you're
00:36:32.58\00:36:36.16
going and God knows
where He is leading you.
00:36:36.30\00:36:40.75
That's how some people can
smile in the midst of trial.
00:36:40.95\00:36:46.34
Amen?
00:36:46.64\00:36:47.92
Now I'm in II
Selected Messages page 243.
00:36:48.22\00:36:51.43
II Selected Messages 243.
00:36:51.73\00:36:54.28
So talk faith... talk positive.
00:37:17.06\00:37:20.58
You know... rehearse these
things, affirm these things
00:37:20.88\00:37:23.40
in your life. Talk about
the things you know you have.
00:37:23.70\00:37:26.71
Sure you've got problems
but you've also got Jesus.
00:37:26.91\00:37:29.75
"You are not alone, so rejoice
in the things you have. "
00:37:31.12\00:37:35.26
Now she's talking about
the power of positive speaking.
00:37:35.46\00:37:40.39
Some people
complain all the time.
00:37:40.90\00:37:43.96
Complain, complain,
complain, complain, complain.
00:37:44.26\00:37:46.45
Heard a Spanish
pastor. My wife translated...
00:37:46.75\00:37:48.79
we were listening to...
we listen to 3ABN Latino
00:37:48.99\00:37:52.37
quite a bit at our house.
00:37:52.67\00:37:55.05
And one day we were listening
and I wasn't getting everything
00:37:55.35\00:37:58.05
and Irma said: "Ah! "
00:37:58.25\00:38:00.17
And I said: "What'd he say?
What'd he say, what'd he say? "
00:38:00.37\00:38:02.98
And the pastor was saying:
"You know, some of you people
00:38:03.18\00:38:05.47
get mad and want to
turn your back on the church
00:38:05.67\00:38:08.67
and leave the church like the
devil has treated you so good. "
00:38:08.87\00:38:12.66
What are you
leaving the Lord for?
00:38:16.36\00:38:17.64
Devil hasn't
done anything for you.
00:38:17.74\00:38:19.33
Better stick with Jesus.
00:38:23.34\00:38:25.99
So if you're complaining
all the time that's not Jesus.
00:38:26.39\00:38:29.17
Number one: it attracts
gloom and it's like putting a
00:38:29.38\00:38:32.25
"for rent" sign on your heart.
00:38:32.35\00:38:34.15
Complaining all the time.
00:38:34.65\00:38:36.48
The devil loves people
who complain all the time.
00:38:36.68\00:38:38.30
You just opened up and said
"Come on in and live here. "
00:38:38.60\00:38:41.86
Constant
complaining depresses you,
00:38:42.17\00:38:45.40
discourages those around you,
00:38:45.60\00:38:48.34
even those who agree with you.
00:38:50.22\00:38:53.31
Depressing
00:38:53.61\00:38:56.98
and it glorifies Satan.
00:38:59.22\00:39:01.04
Jude 16 talks about
grumbling and speaking
00:39:01.34\00:39:06.36
and rumblers and complainers.
00:39:06.57\00:39:08.80
Psalm 77 David says: "I
complained and my spirit
00:39:10.80\00:39:14.83
was overwhelmed. "
00:39:14.93\00:39:17.09
If you want to win the
war and defeat the devil,
00:39:17.39\00:39:22.84
we've got to stop
giving him ammunition.
00:39:23.04\00:39:26.58
Does that make sense?
00:39:26.88\00:39:28.82
You give the devil bullets
he's going to shoot at you.
00:39:29.12\00:39:31.99
If you want to win the war,
you've got to stop giving him
00:39:34.20\00:39:37.30
ammunition. Now I'm
in II Selected Messages
00:39:37.40\00:39:39.96
again 243.
00:39:40.07\00:39:41.34
Amen?
00:40:02.48\00:40:04.21
If you believe in Jesus,
you ought to walk like Jesus.
00:40:04.51\00:40:07.58
You ought to talk like Jesus.
00:40:07.88\00:40:09.22
You ought to live like Jesus.
00:40:09.42\00:40:10.64
You ought to love like Jesus.
00:40:10.95\00:40:12.29
Now I'll say this
again as if you didn't know:
00:40:12.89\00:40:16.60
"the hardest, the
longest, the toughest battle
00:40:16.90\00:40:21.47
you will ever fight
is against yourself. "
00:40:21.67\00:40:25.93
Amen?
00:40:26.23\00:40:28.02
Toughest battle.
00:40:28.33\00:40:29.64
You've got to resist
in the imperfect tense
00:40:29.94\00:40:33.85
and keep on resisting.
00:40:34.05\00:40:36.01
First volume of the
Testimonies or rather
00:40:36.31\00:40:39.87
3rd volume of the
Testimonies page 106
00:40:40.07\00:40:42.11
Ellen White
talks about a Bro. S.
00:40:43.46\00:40:46.72
3T 106... she says:
00:40:47.22\00:40:52.91
So if God said: "Sic 'em"
00:41:16.08\00:41:19.63
to somebody else, no problem.
00:41:19.83\00:41:22.27
How many know this is true?
00:41:40.96\00:41:42.74
Yeah. If the Lord says: "Go
to Shelley Quinn and tell her
00:41:43.81\00:41:47.43
how bad she is... " "OK, Lord. "
00:41:47.63\00:41:51.36
But when God says: "Hold up a
mirror and examine yourself, "
00:41:52.70\00:41:58.40
"Oh, I don't want to do that. "
00:41:58.70\00:42:01.37
Huh? I think we've got a little
bit more. Let's bring it back.
00:42:01.48\00:42:05.13
Doesn't want to do that.
00:42:12.34\00:42:13.91
Sadly, many of us
are losing that battle.
00:42:22.95\00:42:28.57
In the 7th volume of the
Bible Commentary page 947
00:42:31.17\00:42:36.82
she says this:
00:42:37.12\00:42:39.20
"As long as Satan reigns
00:42:39.50\00:42:44.19
you will have to
fight that battle. "
00:42:44.49\00:42:48.92
So you never get any rest.
00:42:49.22\00:42:52.04
You never get any vacation.
00:42:52.34\00:42:54.14
You never get any time off;
you never get any comp time.
00:42:54.44\00:42:58.13
You've got to fight that
battle as long as you live.
00:42:59.73\00:43:01.96
Amen?
00:43:02.26\00:43:04.41
Ministry of Healing page 105
00:43:04.71\00:43:07.17
we are told: "Angels
are in the fight with us. "
00:43:07.47\00:43:10.63
Praise God!
00:43:10.73\00:43:11.77
In the book Sons and
Daughters of God page 160
00:43:12.07\00:43:15.13
"Christ is in
the fight with us. "
00:43:15.33\00:43:17.70
Praise God!
00:43:17.90\00:43:18.94
In Desire of Ages page 280
00:43:19.24\00:43:21.26
"God is in the fight with us. "
00:43:21.46\00:43:23.75
So all heaven is there.
00:43:23.95\00:43:25.93
And the Holy Spirit
is in the fight with us
00:43:26.23\00:43:28.79
so you're not fighting alone!
00:43:29.09\00:43:32.01
And when you've got
that team on your side
00:43:32.31\00:43:34.75
victory is won!
00:43:34.95\00:43:36.72
Now if you want to know
how you're doing in the battle
00:43:39.44\00:43:43.17
it's time for your stress test.
00:43:43.47\00:43:46.81
Now this only works if you're
brutally honest with yourself.
00:43:47.67\00:43:52.72
You ready for your stress test?
00:43:54.15\00:43:55.87
You know, when God gives a
test it's not very complex.
00:43:56.17\00:43:58.59
It's really very simple.
00:43:58.80\00:44:00.52
Not tough at all.
00:44:00.82\00:44:02.95
It is inspired
by Pauline theology
00:44:03.25\00:44:08.15
and Ellen White.
00:44:08.45\00:44:10.20
Think back to the
last time you were really
00:44:12.89\00:44:17.60
disappointed.
00:44:18.00\00:44:19.99
You really wanted
something and didn't get it.
00:44:20.39\00:44:24.60
Or rather, the last
time somebody did something
00:44:25.66\00:44:31.16
that really got on your nerves.
00:44:31.36\00:44:35.60
Family member?
Acquaintance? Co-worker?
00:44:37.27\00:44:41.21
Now I'm not talking about some-
thing that mildly annoyed you.
00:44:41.51\00:44:45.83
I want you to think back to the
last time someone did something
00:44:47.18\00:44:50.76
that pushed your buttons.
00:44:50.96\00:44:54.04
That ticked you off.
00:44:54.34\00:44:58.73
That made you
come dangerously close
00:44:59.03\00:45:04.02
to doing or saying something
you know you had no business
00:45:06.85\00:45:10.78
doing or saying.
00:45:10.98\00:45:12.34
Get that in
your mind. Resolve...
00:45:14.56\00:45:17.07
Or rather, wrap
your mind around that.
00:45:17.37\00:45:20.14
The last time you got really mad
00:45:20.44\00:45:23.93
because of something someone did
00:45:24.23\00:45:27.64
or said or is doing or is saying
00:45:27.84\00:45:31.08
and you got that close...
00:45:34.26\00:45:39.27
My question is:
00:45:44.29\00:45:45.97
how did you respond?
00:45:47.78\00:45:49.67
What did you do?
00:45:50.17\00:45:54.22
What did you say?
00:45:54.62\00:45:57.83
And perhaps
equally as important:
00:45:58.13\00:46:02.03
what did you think?
00:46:02.33\00:46:04.40
Now for this to work you must be
brutally honest with yourself.
00:46:04.90\00:46:09.73
No varnish; no wax; no veneer;
00:46:10.03\00:46:13.49
no
polyurethane... the naked truth.
00:46:13.79\00:46:16.17
How did you respond
when you got squeezed?
00:46:16.47\00:46:21.98
When they stepped on your toes
or assassinated your character?
00:46:22.38\00:46:27.76
Or told a lie on you or
backed you into a corner?
00:46:28.06\00:46:31.81
Or misrepresented you or let go
a confidence that you told them
00:46:32.11\00:46:37.11
to keep sacred. What did you do?
00:46:37.31\00:46:40.21
How did you react?
00:46:40.41\00:46:41.80
What did you think when
you got squeezed or pressed?
00:46:42.00\00:46:45.45
What came out?
00:46:46.79\00:46:48.60
Was it the blood of Jesus
00:46:50.46\00:46:52.71
or foul air?
00:46:54.52\00:46:57.38
And when you resolved it,
if indeed you resolved it,
00:47:00.01\00:47:03.03
did the person on the other
end of your angst and anger...
00:47:03.23\00:47:08.64
could they say: "You know,
I really saw Jesus in them. "
00:47:08.84\00:47:14.25
Or did you act like
99.99% of the world tends to act
00:47:16.01\00:47:21.20
when they get pressed?
00:47:21.50\00:47:23.69
How did you respond
00:47:23.99\00:47:26.45
when your toes got stepped on?
00:47:27.72\00:47:29.52
When you got passed over?
00:47:29.82\00:47:31.61
When you got disrespected?
00:47:31.91\00:47:33.49
And lastly: how hard was it
00:47:36.66\00:47:41.21
to apologize?
00:47:41.41\00:47:43.37
If you answered
those questions truthfully,
00:47:46.87\00:47:50.47
that's where you are in Jesus.
00:47:50.77\00:47:55.05
If you have not
answered it this day,
00:47:57.35\00:48:00.92
one day you will have
to answer that question.
00:48:01.22\00:48:04.88
II Corinthians
chapter 2 verses 14 and 15.
00:48:07.92\00:48:10.97
Paul says to the
Corinthian church:
00:48:12.65\00:48:15.75
"Thanks be to God.
" I'd better find it.
00:48:16.15\00:48:19.00
"Now thanks be to God who
always leads us in triumph
00:48:21.39\00:48:25.79
in Christ and through
us diffuses the fragrance
00:48:25.99\00:48:30.56
of His knowledge in every place.
00:48:30.76\00:48:33.89
For we are to God
the fragrance of Christ
00:48:34.19\00:48:36.80
among those who are being saved
00:48:36.90\00:48:38.25
and among those
who are perishing. "
00:48:38.45\00:48:40.52
So when you got
squeezed, what came out?
00:48:40.72\00:48:45.37
I heard someone say years ago
00:48:47.74\00:48:51.33
"Forgiveness -
grace - is the fragrance
00:48:51.83\00:48:57.77
that a rose emits
00:48:57.97\00:49:01.01
when it is crushed underfoot. "
00:49:01.31\00:49:04.90
That's forgiveness.
00:49:06.47\00:49:07.68
So when you got crushed
00:49:08.91\00:49:12.96
what was your fragrance?
00:49:13.26\00:49:14.70
In the first book of
Selected Messages page 387
00:49:17.65\00:49:20.72
we are told that the love of
self is active in the church.
00:49:20.92\00:49:25.97
You know, I said this
I think two nights ago.
00:49:26.27\00:49:28.23
Satan has one set of guns
and weapons for the world.
00:49:28.43\00:49:31.81
He has another totally separate
and distinct set of weapons
00:49:32.11\00:49:37.62
for the church.
00:49:37.82\00:49:39.01
He doesn't use some of
the obvious things he uses
00:49:40.45\00:49:42.60
in the world. In
the church it's pride...
00:49:42.80\00:49:45.03
Um-hmm...
00:49:45.23\00:49:47.44
and ego and self.
00:49:47.74\00:49:52.29
And those are just as deadly
00:49:52.49\00:49:56.46
as any bomb ever dropped.
00:49:56.56\00:49:59.34
They are the hardest to diagnose
00:50:01.19\00:50:04.88
and almost impossible
to eradicate without Jesus.
00:50:05.08\00:50:10.47
And in Steps to
Christ page 71 she says:
00:50:10.77\00:50:14.77
You can't keep Christ
and self in the same place
00:50:20.70\00:50:25.31
at the same time.
00:50:25.52\00:50:26.61
You will lose your battle.
00:50:28.20\00:50:30.56
James says in
James chapter 1 verse 8:
00:50:30.86\00:50:33.29
"A double-minded man is
unstable in all his ways. "
00:50:33.49\00:50:37.13
NIV says: "In
everything that he does. "
00:50:37.33\00:50:40.86
So if you want some
victory in the fight
00:50:42.22\00:50:45.31
Philippians chapter 2
verse 5 tells you how.
00:50:45.61\00:50:48.31
What mind is that?
00:50:56.90\00:50:58.70
Well the key is in verse 2.
00:50:59.00\00:51:02.18
We are told: "Let nothing be
done through selfish ambition
00:51:03.34\00:51:09.06
or conceit... "
So what's that mind?
00:51:09.36\00:51:14.89
That's the mind of
Christ. Act as Jesus acts.
00:51:15.19\00:51:20.48
Verse 8 same chapter same book:
00:51:20.78\00:51:25.28
You see, that ladies and gentle-
men is the mindset of Christ.
00:51:41.80\00:51:45.64
That's the mentality
that assures victory.
00:51:45.94\00:51:49.36
Victory for Christ
was sealed at the cross
00:51:49.66\00:51:53.45
but it was secured in
the garden when Jesus said:
00:51:53.75\00:51:58.07
"Nevertheless not My
will but Thy will be done. "
00:51:58.37\00:52:02.55
Once Christ had settled
that, had made that statement,
00:52:02.85\00:52:05.82
once He decided whatever
God wants I'm willing to do -
00:52:06.02\00:52:09.18
"not My will, Thy will" -
00:52:09.48\00:52:11.73
that's when
Satan's knees got weak
00:52:11.93\00:52:14.07
because Christ
was willing to die.
00:52:15.38\00:52:17.69
And a person who
is willing to die
00:52:17.99\00:52:21.21
is a dangerous
person for the enemy.
00:52:21.41\00:52:25.00
Satan knew that.
00:52:25.41\00:52:27.19
That's why in World War II
the American Navy was so afraid
00:52:27.49\00:52:31.68
of those kamikaze pilots.
Because when you don't care
00:52:31.88\00:52:34.27
about your own life you
are certainly not going to care
00:52:34.47\00:52:36.42
about mine. And a
person who is willing to die
00:52:36.62\00:52:40.16
is an incredibly
dangerous person.
00:52:40.36\00:52:42.99
That's why we are so
afraid of and cannot understand
00:52:43.29\00:52:45.48
this idea of the suicide bomber.
00:52:45.68\00:52:47.65
That someone will
have a baby on their back
00:52:47.85\00:52:50.38
and a bomb on their belly
00:52:50.48\00:52:51.93
and walk into a
place full of people
00:52:52.13\00:52:53.92
and blow themselves
up. It doesn't make sense!
00:52:53.93\00:52:56.72
But when a person is willing
to die, the only way you can
00:52:57.02\00:52:59.93
stop him is kill him.
00:53:00.03\00:53:01.30
But if you've done that,
you've given him something
00:53:02.62\00:53:05.11
he's already prepared for.
00:53:05.31\00:53:07.37
So when Pontius
Pilate threatened Christ
00:53:07.67\00:53:12.34
and said: "Don't you
know I could take Your life? "
00:53:12.54\00:53:15.37
Christ had to
stop him in his tracks.
00:53:15.47\00:53:17.17
"You're not taking
anything from Me. "
00:53:17.47\00:53:19.11
"I'm giving it. "
00:53:20.66\00:53:22.91
"Giving my life; I came
into the world for this. "
00:53:23.21\00:53:26.30
So when you're willing to die,
00:53:29.56\00:53:32.07
when you're willing to
give up your life rather than do
00:53:32.37\00:53:36.42
anything to wound Christ,
00:53:36.52\00:53:38.47
you are a powerful
person and Satan knows it.
00:53:39.58\00:53:44.40
When you say: "Lord not
my will but Thy will be done.
00:53:44.70\00:53:49.19
I'd rather go to
death than disappoint You, "
00:53:49.39\00:53:53.17
bottom line... you won!
00:53:53.38\00:53:56.52
And Satan understands that.
00:53:58.10\00:54:01.63
I Thessalonians 4:16-17.
00:54:04.20\00:54:06.34
Let me read you the
contract. You know this text.
00:54:06.45\00:54:08.69
Give me a moment to find it.
00:54:13.55\00:54:15.47
I Thessalonians 4:16.
00:54:15.77\00:54:18.30
Did 117 funerals, so I
know this one by heart.
00:54:18.70\00:54:21.71
I remember it in the King James.
00:54:29.84\00:54:32.01
"Wherefore comfort one
another with these words. "
00:54:43.93\00:54:46.15
That, then, is the contract.
00:54:46.35\00:54:48.94
You live in Christ;
you die in Christ...
00:54:50.76\00:54:53.95
you live forever.
00:54:54.25\00:54:56.97
Anybody here ready to die?
00:54:58.58\00:55:01.56
It's a tough question to ask.
00:55:05.10\00:55:06.60
But when you're ready to die
00:55:08.21\00:55:10.65
that's when you
really begin to live.
00:55:10.85\00:55:13.42
Fourth volume of the
Testimonies page 147.
00:55:15.48\00:55:20.35
Amen?
00:55:38.31\00:55:39.74
God will either
take it out of the way
00:55:39.94\00:55:41.85
or give you the
power to climb it.
00:55:41.95\00:55:45.85
Amen.
00:55:46.05\00:55:47.11
In other words, God will make
sure that you can deal with it.
00:55:47.32\00:55:51.57
He will either remove
it or give you strength.
00:55:51.87\00:55:55.11
Let's go back.
00:55:55.31\00:55:56.37
Amen?
00:56:29.18\00:56:30.92
When you get to the
point where you say:
00:56:31.23\00:56:34.59
"Lord, I give You everything.
00:56:34.69\00:56:37.63
I'm willing to die
if You want me to, "
00:56:37.83\00:56:41.26
God says at that point:
"I'll work miracles through you.
00:56:41.57\00:56:44.84
That's when I can
really work for you,
00:56:44.87\00:56:47.34
with you, to you,
and through you. "
00:56:47.54\00:56:49.37
When you get to that
point where you'd rather die
00:56:49.57\00:56:52.02
than offend the Word of
God, that's when you become
00:56:52.22\00:56:55.41
a powerful, powerful weapon.
00:56:55.51\00:56:58.68
And Satan himself knows that...
00:56:58.88\00:57:03.13
that when you say that you'd
"rather die than offend God"
00:57:03.33\00:57:07.36
he knows as far as
your case is concerned
00:57:07.56\00:57:11.43
the battle is over
and his dominion is lost.
00:57:11.63\00:57:15.92
When you're willing to
die, that's when you live. Amen?
00:57:17.10\00:57:23.01
And that's when you gain
victory in the cause of Christ
00:57:23.31\00:57:28.22
and you become a
champion for Jesus.
00:57:28.52\00:57:31.93