Welcome to Anchors Of Truth,
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live from the
3ABN Worship Center.
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Well we welcome you tonight
as you were just welcomed
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by our announcer,
but we welcome you again.
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And we're happy that
you could be with us,
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those of you that are
here in the auditorium
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and those of you who are joining
us by television tonight.
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I'm really looking
forward to this Anchors series.
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We always bring in people from
the outside, but occasionally
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one of our own will do one.
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John Lomacang's
series is probably our most
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requested series
that's been done so far.
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I did a series.
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Actually, my series was filling
in for someone who had to
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cancel at the last minute.
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And so that's kind of
the way that I ended up
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doing a series here.
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But this is a series that
we have been looking forward to
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and planning on for some time.
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Pastor C.A. Murray,
who is a man we all love
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here at 3ABN.
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He's God's man. He's a preacher.
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He has an
infectious spirit about him.
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And I have grown to, not
only appreciate his ministry,
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but to very much
appreciate him as a friend.
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I look forward very
much to this series.
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The title of this series
is, A River Runs Through.
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And tonight's subject
is, Cry Me By A River.
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And I'm looking
forward to that subject.
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C.A. Murray, I
believe, is a brand that was
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plucked from the burning.
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As a young boy, about 7
years old, a neighbor across the
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street was going
to Sabbath school.
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And one way or the other,
maybe C.A. will share some time
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with us how that happened,
he secured an invitation
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to go with them.
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And he's been in
Sabbath school ever since.
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He was the first member of
his family to become a part
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of the remnant church.
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And later was able to be used
by God to lead other members
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of the family into
the remnant church.
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So his story is
very interesting.
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And I thrill when I think about
it, how God used some neighbors
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to witness to him and how
he was open to the message
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and ready to listen.
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Before he comes tonight, we
are going to enjoy some music.
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And one of those that
is participating tonight
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is a grandson of C.A. Murray.
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Marcus Gonzalez.
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And he is being
joined by Farrah Barry,
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And I am looking
forward to their doing this song
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by Ralph Carmichael,
which is a favorite of many.
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And it's
entitled, A Quite Place.
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After the music,
Pastor Murray will come.
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He will precede his
message with a prayer.
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And then he will be
presenting the message,
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Cry Me By A River.
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They were at the house
Sabbath afternoon practicing.
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And last evening Irma was
trying to encourage Marcus
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to practice more.
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And she said, "If you
practice, you will get better.
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And don't practice just
enough to do the performance,
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but practice to get better."
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And she said, "If
you keep on practicing,
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you can be a Yo Ma-Ma."
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And she meant, Yo-Yo Ma,
but she said, "Yo Ma-Ma."
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But Marcus is a good student,
and we are encouraging him to
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keep on practicing because
he does play the cello well.
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And he and Farrah, temperament
wise, are a good match.
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And when she's with him,
Farrah is a little more driven,
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and she's driven
to play the piano,
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and they practice, and
practice, and practice,
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and practice, and practice.
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And we said, "You know,
you ought to put that practice
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to good use."
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So we asked them to come.
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And they did a fine job.
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And we thank them.
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This week's
Anchors deals with water.
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And the idea hit me
actually when we were in Israel
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a couple of years ago.
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I didn't know that
there was a theology of water
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in the Hebrew economy.
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I know about the ecclesiology,
the churchiness of water.
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I knew that synagogues
were always built near water,
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and on water, or
near access to water.
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I thought it was for
basically hygienic reasons.
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And it was.
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But there's so much more in
the Hebrew, the Semitic mindset,
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as respects water.
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And I didn't really get a
handle on it until we started
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going to Israel and
going to ruins of synagogues
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and seeing how they were
always built on or near water.
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And there was always the
mikvas, the rituals baths,
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that were always there.
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And the cleansing
and the washing was an
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integral part of their faith.
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And so the idea of water
and the things that happened
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at water or near
water kind of intrigued me.
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I wanted to do a series
on the micro aspect of water,
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but I found out that I
wasn't theologian enough
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to plumb that depth.
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So I went to the
macro aspect of water;
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rivers, lakes, streams, ponds.
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Those kinds of things.
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And there was time to do that.
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But just about any
topic you pick in the Bible,
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if you study it long enough
you will come up with gold,
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because there's so much.
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The more I study of the
Bible, the more I realize
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the less I know about the Bible.
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Because there is so much
to know about the Word of God.
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And I didn't think
there was so much on water
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as respects the gospel
until I began this study
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in earnest just a few years ago.
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So I began writing
just a few days ago,
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and I was amazed at some of the
things that God was showing me.
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So tonight's message
is, Cry Me By A River.
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And tomorrow is,
Abana and Pharpar.
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Followed by, You Gotta Get Wet.
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And then, A River Within.
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And finally, Then
He Showed Me A River.
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And we are hoping and praying
that the Spirit of God will
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be here for all of these
messages, and that we can
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give you some encouragement
as together we take
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one more step along the
road that leads to glory.
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I've got to thank Irma, because
for the past several nights
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she would go into the
room and say, "Are you coming?"
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And I'd say, "No, I've got
to stay up a couple of hours."
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And then she'd wake
up and come by and say,
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"Are you coming now?"
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"No, I've got to
have a couple more hours."
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So she has been
very patient with me.
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We don't like to sleep
without each other in the bed.
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So if someone is in the house,
they ought to be in the bedroom.
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So it kind of disturbs her
when I'm in the dining room
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at the table with a stack
of books maybe a meter high
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and she's trying to sleep.
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So I need to
thank her very much.
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Turn with me, if you
will, to Psalm chapter 137.
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The 137th
division of the psalms.
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Then we'll pray and watch forth.
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Psalm 137.
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I want to thank
Jim for his kind words.
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We have become great friends.
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And I almost apologize for
what I'm going to do to him
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on tomorrow
evening, I think it is.
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I have a couple of stories
to tell you about Jim Gilley.
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And I'll return his
kindness with ill will.
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But I love him greatly
and appreciate his ministry.
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Shall we pray.
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Father God, we call upon
You now to be the honored Guest,
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but also to be the
Teacher, because we need to hear
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a word from the Lord.
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The hour is late in
the history of this world,
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and Christ is soon to come.
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We would be
prepared for that day,
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and we ask You even now
to fill us with Your Spirit
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and to teach us those things
that You would have us to know.
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And we thank You
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:14:00.57\00:14:04.41
I'm reading from Psalm 137.
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And we will read
the entire chapter.
00:14:09.44\00:14:15.42
Beginning in verse 1,
"By the rivers of Babylon,
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there we sat down; yea, we
wept when we remembered Zion.
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We hung our harps upon the
willows in the midst of it.
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For there, those who carried us
away captive asked of us a song,
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and those who plundered
us requested mirth, saying,
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'Sing us one of
the songs of Zion.'
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How shall we sing the
Lord's song in a foreign land?"
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I reading from
the New King James.
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"If I forget you, O
Jerusalem, let my right hand
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forget its skill.
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If I do not remember you,
let my tongue cling to the
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roof of my mouth; if
I do not exalt Jerusalem
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above my chief joy.
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Remember, O Lord,
against the sons of Edom
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the day of Jerusalem, who
said, 'Raze it, raze it...'"
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That means, tear it down.
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"'...to its very foundation.'
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O daughter of Babylon,
who are to be destroyed,
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happy the one who repays
you as you have served us.
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Happy the one who takes
and dashes your little ones
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against the rock."
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Many times in the Word of
God you will see the designation
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in your Bible before a
given or particular psalm
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the words, "A song of David."
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You will note that
this particular designation
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does not appear
before this psalm.
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"Why?" you might ask.
00:16:10.07\00:16:11.40
Well the answer is simple.
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David did not write it.
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The incident that is
recorded in this song,
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the incident that
the writer is describing,
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took place some 200 plus
years after the death of David.
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So David could not
have written this song.
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The psalms are a
collection of verses and tunes
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and worship chants
that are gathered together
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most, but not
all, written by David.
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The psalms are
divided into five books,
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each ending with
a short doxology;
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a short hymn of praise to God.
00:16:56.24\00:16:58.61
Each doxology starts with
the words, "Praise the Lord."
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That's when you can tell
that you're moving from one book
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in the psalms to another.
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"Praise the Lord;"
that doxology will be there
00:17:08.02\00:17:10.33
to divide the books.
00:17:10.36\00:17:11.73
So though the psalms is a whole,
it is actually a collection
00:17:11.83\00:17:15.43
of five different
books, each containing
00:17:15.46\00:17:18.53
a doxology at its end
to make that division.
00:17:18.73\00:17:22.00
Now most Jewish scholars say and
agree that dividing the psalms
00:17:22.04\00:17:27.18
into five books
is no coincidence,
00:17:27.38\00:17:30.38
because it parallels
the five books of Moses;
00:17:30.85\00:17:34.42
The five books of the
law, the Pentateuch, the Torah.
00:17:34.82\00:17:38.95
But it is this, shall I
say, anachronistic psalm,
00:17:39.49\00:17:44.39
this psalm out of
place, that may be the one that
00:17:44.43\00:17:48.43
draws the most
sympathy by the reader.
00:17:48.46\00:17:51.87
So Psalm 137 is
not a Davidic psalm.
00:17:52.67\00:17:56.87
Psalm 74 is not a Davidic psalm.
00:17:57.11\00:18:00.58
They were
written by someone else.
00:18:00.61\00:18:02.41
And we don't know
precisely who wrote them.
00:18:02.44\00:18:05.91
There is some scholarly debate
as to who wrote the psalms,
00:18:05.95\00:18:09.52
but we know that David
could not have written them
00:18:09.55\00:18:11.95
because this incident
takes place long after David
00:18:11.99\00:18:15.56
was dead and buried.
00:18:15.76\00:18:18.36
And yet there is much to learn
from this particular psalm,
00:18:20.46\00:18:23.33
even in its, and I'll
use the term, imprecatory,
00:18:23.37\00:18:27.30
or negative aspects.
00:18:27.34\00:18:28.97
This psalm, as you read it,
has a little different flavor
00:18:29.00\00:18:33.64
than the other psalms.
00:18:33.78\00:18:35.11
There's some
negativity in this psalm.
00:18:35.14\00:18:37.25
There's some
backbiting in this psalm.
00:18:37.45\00:18:39.91
There's a little
revenge asking in this psalm.
00:18:39.95\00:18:43.35
So it has what scholars
call, an imprecatory nature.
00:18:43.39\00:18:46.69
You heard about
imprecatory prayers?
00:18:46.72\00:18:48.72
That's the latest
thing in some places.
00:18:49.06\00:18:50.69
An imprecatory prayer is a
prayer where you're praying
00:18:50.73\00:18:53.13
against somebody.
00:18:53.16\00:18:54.50
"Lord, I hope
she breaks her neck."
00:18:54.53\00:18:56.63
That's an imprecatory prayer.
00:18:56.67\00:18:58.30
Well this psalm has some
imprecatory aspects to it.
00:18:59.17\00:19:02.50
There's some
negative things here.
00:19:02.54\00:19:04.27
"Lord, I hope Babylon suffers
for what they've done to us.
00:19:04.31\00:19:07.81
I hope their babies get
dashed against the stones
00:19:07.84\00:19:10.05
for what they've done to us."
00:19:10.08\00:19:11.41
So there's some negativity
in this psalm that is not really
00:19:11.45\00:19:14.75
reminiscent of the
overall theme and flavor
00:19:14.78\00:19:18.32
of the rest of the psalms.
00:19:18.35\00:19:19.69
So whoever this writer
was, he was an ultra orthodox
00:19:19.72\00:19:25.99
kind of mean
spirited guy who believed in
00:19:26.33\00:19:29.90
payback, Pastor John.
00:19:29.93\00:19:31.50
And he puts that into his psalm.
00:19:32.40\00:19:34.07
So the Jews are God's people.
00:19:35.60\00:19:38.17
They are
captured, they are enslaved,
00:19:39.27\00:19:44.05
their nation was destroyed,
their walls torn down,
00:19:45.21\00:19:49.82
their temple
incinerated and left in ruins.
00:19:50.29\00:19:54.62
All of this at the hands
of the hated Babylonians,
00:19:55.19\00:19:59.63
these Chaldeans that were
viewed almost as the devil.
00:19:59.66\00:20:05.20
And now to make matters worse,
these demons in human form
00:20:06.17\00:20:12.31
are asking that we sing a song.
00:20:12.81\00:20:15.94
They want us to be
happy after what they've done
00:20:17.25\00:20:21.38
to our kingdom.
00:20:21.42\00:20:22.82
I read some years
ago by Elden Chalmers,
00:20:23.59\00:20:27.29
great Adventist psychologist,
he said that song singing
00:20:27.32\00:20:32.46
is something a person does
when they're happy and content.
00:20:32.49\00:20:35.36
Dr. Chalmers told
us in the seminary that
00:20:36.10\00:20:38.33
if you pass by the kitchen
and your wife is singing a song,
00:20:38.37\00:20:43.37
you're going to
eat good that night.
00:20:43.67\00:20:45.37
Because song
singing is something you do
00:20:46.71\00:20:48.94
when you're happy or content,
unless you're singing the blues.
00:20:49.04\00:20:52.48
But these Babylonians are
saying to their Jewish captives,
00:20:54.62\00:20:58.59
their Jewish slaves, "Sing
us one of the songs of Zion.
00:20:58.62\00:21:02.39
Sing us something that
you use to sing to your Lord.
00:21:02.42\00:21:05.59
We want to hear some little
ditty that use to keep you
00:21:05.63\00:21:08.80
on cold winter nights."
00:21:08.83\00:21:12.03
They certainly
didn't feel like singing.
00:21:14.24\00:21:18.57
And so their
response was, "How can we sing
00:21:19.87\00:21:24.08
the Lord's song
in a strange land?
00:21:24.65\00:21:28.45
How can we sing to
our God among you people?
00:21:29.68\00:21:35.16
Why should we waste
our breath and our time
00:21:36.46\00:21:40.70
praising God in front of you?"
00:21:41.03\00:21:44.27
It's interesting, the
question is almost rhetorical.
00:21:46.23\00:21:48.80
Because the answer is,
"How can you not sing?"
00:21:50.31\00:21:53.01
Let's examine the
"why" of this situation.
00:21:54.94\00:21:58.45
Why they're in a strange land.
00:21:59.11\00:22:01.08
Why they are in
this state of affairs.
00:22:01.48\00:22:03.82
Why are they thus?
00:22:03.85\00:22:06.52
I refer you to,
Desire of Ages, page 28.
00:22:08.72\00:22:11.59
Ellen White gives us
some insight into the Jewish
00:22:12.49\00:22:15.26
economy and history.
00:22:15.30\00:22:16.63
She says, "The
Israelites fixed their hopes
00:22:16.67\00:22:19.90
upon worldly greatness.
00:22:20.30\00:22:22.74
From the time of
their entrance into Canaan,
00:22:24.21\00:22:27.38
they departed from
the commandments of God
00:22:28.04\00:22:30.75
and followed the
ways of the heathen.
00:22:30.78\00:22:33.88
It was in vain..."
00:22:35.22\00:22:36.82
I looked up the word,
"vain," just to make sure that
00:22:37.05\00:22:38.95
I knew what she
was talking about.
00:22:38.99\00:22:40.96
"Vain," means, ineffectual,
unsuccessful, and futile.
00:22:40.99\00:22:44.49
Waste of time.
00:22:44.53\00:22:45.89
"It was in vain that God sent
them warnings by His prophets.
00:22:46.70\00:22:51.23
In vain they
suffered the chastisement
00:22:51.63\00:22:54.14
of heathen oppression."
00:22:54.24\00:22:55.90
God tried
everything that He knew.
00:22:56.00\00:22:59.14
He tried
blessings, He tried cursings,
00:22:59.34\00:23:03.61
He tried pats on the
back, He tried punishment,
00:23:04.01\00:23:08.18
but nothing ever
seemed to work for very long.
00:23:08.42\00:23:11.99
Ellen White says every
time they took one step forward,
00:23:12.02\00:23:15.49
they took two steps back.
00:23:15.52\00:23:17.46
And for nearly a thousand years,
God suffered with His people.
00:23:18.66\00:23:23.47
Isaiah 1:2, "Hear, O
heavens, and give ear, O earth.
00:23:24.57\00:23:30.67
For the Lord has spoken, 'I
have nourished and brought up
00:23:30.97\00:23:35.14
children, and they
have rebelled against Me.'"
00:23:35.18\00:23:39.41
You know, there's
no book in the Bible...
00:23:39.51\00:23:41.08
If you want to really get
a flavor of how God labored
00:23:41.12\00:23:46.76
with His people,
read Isaiah and Jeremiah.
00:23:46.79\00:23:51.26
If you really want to know the
lengths that God will go through
00:23:51.86\00:23:55.16
to save somebody, just walk
through Isaiah and Jeremiah.
00:23:55.20\00:23:58.83
You see, I was telling Jim
the other day, we were talking,
00:23:58.87\00:24:01.60
I said, you see a God
who is almost schizophrenic
00:24:01.64\00:24:04.91
in His desire
to save His people.
00:24:05.64\00:24:07.94
In one breath He says,
"Listen Isaiah, tell them,
00:24:07.98\00:24:12.25
'Find another God.'
00:24:12.58\00:24:13.92
Tell them, 'Don't look
to Me, don't pray to Me,
00:24:14.28\00:24:16.79
don't talk to
Me, don't come to Me.
00:24:16.82\00:24:18.75
When you suffer and fall
down and scrape your knee,
00:24:18.79\00:24:21.26
I'm going to laugh at you.
00:24:21.29\00:24:22.62
I'm going to
turn My back on you,
00:24:22.66\00:24:23.99
I'm going to
walk away from you.'
00:24:24.03\00:24:25.36
Oh by the way,
tell them I love them."
00:24:25.59\00:24:27.76
You see an almost
schizophrenic God.
00:24:29.13\00:24:31.23
You almost feel kind of
sad for God, because He's
00:24:31.27\00:24:33.74
pouring out His soul, His all,
for a people that just will not
00:24:33.77\00:24:39.21
listen and will not obey.
00:24:39.24\00:24:41.54
And you see that in Isaiah,
and you see that in Jeremiah.
00:24:42.41\00:24:44.98
"The ox knows its owner, the
donkey knows its master's crib,
00:24:46.61\00:24:52.32
but Israel does not know;
My people do not consider."
00:24:52.55\00:24:57.16
This is God talking.
00:24:57.19\00:24:58.53
If you want to
understand the depths that God
00:25:00.80\00:25:03.23
will go to save
Israel, technically Judah,
00:25:04.17\00:25:07.87
if you want to see how
far they had sunken down,
00:25:08.77\00:25:10.74
just read some of
the passages in Isaiah.
00:25:10.77\00:25:13.27
It will literally bring tears
to your eyes to see what God
00:25:13.48\00:25:17.48
is doing to save His people,
00:25:18.21\00:25:20.62
and the length to which
He will go to try to get them
00:25:20.92\00:25:23.89
to turn from their
pernicious wickedness.
00:25:23.92\00:25:27.52
Ladies and gentlemen,
the truth is, God tried.
00:25:28.56\00:25:31.89
And God is trying.
00:25:34.20\00:25:35.76
For a thousand years He tried.
00:25:36.36\00:25:38.53
Just like He's trying today
for the last two thousand years
00:25:38.73\00:25:41.94
since the death of Christ.
00:25:41.97\00:25:43.30
Seven thousand years of trying.
00:25:43.34\00:25:46.51
He says, "Behold, I
stand at the door and knock."
00:25:48.64\00:25:50.98
You know, I wish sometimes God
could just kick the door down.
00:25:51.01\00:25:53.95
I really do.
00:25:55.78\00:25:57.12
Because I see people
who are bound for hell
00:25:57.65\00:26:00.79
and they just
won't change their way,
00:26:00.82\00:26:02.76
and God is standing at the
door rubbing His knuckles raw
00:26:02.79\00:26:06.39
knocking and knocking
and knocking and knocking.
00:26:06.43\00:26:08.80
I'm glad I'm not God,
I'd kick the door down.
00:26:08.83\00:26:11.60
Seven thousand years knocking.
00:26:15.30\00:26:18.64
Page 28, again in the
book, Ellen White says,
00:26:21.11\00:26:25.78
"They were brought
into subjection to Babylon,
00:26:26.05\00:26:28.38
and scattered through
the lands of the heathen.
00:26:28.72\00:26:31.22
In affliction many renewed their
faithfulness to His covenant...
00:26:31.52\00:26:35.89
The heathen systems of
sacrifice were a perversion
00:26:36.86\00:26:40.60
of the system
that God had appointed;
00:26:40.63\00:26:43.03
and many a sincere
observer of heathen rites
00:26:43.06\00:26:46.33
learned from the Hebrews
the meaning of the service
00:26:46.53\00:26:50.54
divinely ordained,
and in faith grasped the
00:26:50.84\00:26:54.88
promise of a Redeemer."
00:26:54.91\00:26:56.48
You see, when God
forced Israel into other lands,
00:26:56.51\00:27:00.08
it wasn't just punishment.
00:27:00.12\00:27:01.52
He was forcing them to do
what He had called them to do.
00:27:02.12\00:27:05.95
He said, "If you don't
want to go on your own,
00:27:06.29\00:27:08.26
I'm going to make you go."
00:27:08.52\00:27:10.06
And you can see a long line
of heathen kings and princes,
00:27:10.56\00:27:14.76
and just plain ole common
folk, who, because they rubbed
00:27:14.80\00:27:17.97
shoulders with Hebrew
slaves, found out about God,
00:27:18.00\00:27:23.30
gave their hearts to God.
00:27:23.51\00:27:24.87
But God had to do in war
what He wanted to do in peace.
00:27:24.91\00:27:28.58
You see, when you
read the Bible, the blood
00:27:29.21\00:27:31.98
and guts and gore,
this didn't have to be.
00:27:32.01\00:27:35.72
These 39 books of trial
and test didn't have to be.
00:27:36.79\00:27:40.89
This was not God's
will for His people.
00:27:40.92\00:27:43.83
Could have been
written differently
00:27:44.83\00:27:46.29
had they just learned to obey.
00:27:46.70\00:27:50.33
Rahab, Ruth,
the Syro-Phoenician;
00:27:53.54\00:27:57.07
these are individuals,
they are samples of individuals,
00:27:57.31\00:28:00.94
who through contact with godly
people gave their lives to God.
00:28:01.18\00:28:06.88
But why did it have to
be in war when God wanted it
00:28:07.62\00:28:12.72
to be in peace?
00:28:13.05\00:28:14.39
God had to force them to do
what He had called them to do,
00:28:15.29\00:28:18.93
what they were
indeed created to do.
00:28:18.96\00:28:22.76
Ladies and gentlemen,
may I submit to you that
00:28:23.83\00:28:26.37
we at the end of
time run the same risk.
00:28:26.40\00:28:28.90
As nice as it is in
this house, and in churches,
00:28:30.81\00:28:37.05
17,000 to 18,000 in
number, all across the world,
00:28:37.35\00:28:40.28
that's not where
the work of God is done.
00:28:41.02\00:28:42.95
The work of God is
done outside the church.
00:28:44.79\00:28:47.16
We come together just long
enough to get encouragement,
00:28:48.32\00:28:51.19
and then we go out and
we spread the love of Jesus.
00:28:51.86\00:28:55.30
How can we sing the
Lord's song in a strange land?
00:28:56.83\00:28:59.40
Prophets and Kings, "Many of
the exile suffered persecution.
00:29:00.40\00:29:03.67
Not a few lost their
lives because of their refusal
00:29:04.17\00:29:07.08
to disregard the Sabbath and
observe the heathen festivals.
00:29:07.11\00:29:11.78
As idolaters were
roused to crush out the truth,
00:29:11.95\00:29:15.48
the Lord brought His
servants face to face with kings
00:29:15.52\00:29:18.62
and rulers, that they and their
people might receive the light.
00:29:18.65\00:29:24.06
Time after time, the greatest
monarchs were led to proclaim
00:29:24.49\00:29:28.76
the supremacy of the
God whom their Hebrew
00:29:28.80\00:29:31.83
captives worshiped."
00:29:31.87\00:29:33.64
Nebuchadnezzar,
Xerxes, Ben-Hadad, Naaman,
00:29:34.44\00:29:42.34
who we will talk about
on tomorrow, I believe.
00:29:42.38\00:29:46.11
They learned from their slaves.
00:29:47.12\00:29:50.55
And the gospel
went to these kingdoms
00:29:50.89\00:29:53.86
because of the Hebrew slaves
that were faithful to God.
00:29:53.89\00:29:57.03
But it didn't
have to be that way.
00:29:57.06\00:29:58.53
It was never
suppose to be that way.
00:29:58.56\00:30:00.63
Had they lived for God and
obeyed God and followed God,
00:30:01.06\00:30:05.10
God would have made them
the head and not the tail.
00:30:05.40\00:30:09.40
We are told, brothers and
sisters, this is going to happen
00:30:12.31\00:30:15.61
again before the end of time.
00:30:16.24\00:30:18.01
Some of you sitting
here, or some of you watching,
00:30:19.11\00:30:21.32
or some of you listening,
may be called before a judge,
00:30:21.35\00:30:24.69
or a prelate, or a king, or a
president, or a prime minister,
00:30:24.89\00:30:30.53
who will say to you, "Why do
you believe what you believe?"
00:30:30.93\00:30:37.40
And you better be ready
to give a reason for the hope
00:30:38.60\00:30:42.17
that is within you.
00:30:42.20\00:30:43.54
Because that's your
chance to stand up for Jesus.
00:30:44.37\00:30:47.91
It happened
before, it'll happen again.
00:30:48.31\00:30:51.41
So we need to study to
show ourselves approved.
00:30:52.08\00:30:55.62
Now get this, "Had
Israel been true to God,
00:30:55.65\00:30:59.19
He could have accomplished
His purpose through their honor
00:30:59.65\00:31:02.99
and exaltation.
00:31:03.02\00:31:04.93
If they had walked in
the ways of obedience,
00:31:05.96\00:31:09.23
He would have made
them 'high above all nations
00:31:09.43\00:31:14.04
which He hath made, in praise,
and in name, and in honor.'"
00:31:14.07\00:31:20.38
That's why God called them.
00:31:20.41\00:31:23.28
He could have glorified them.
00:31:24.31\00:31:26.11
He could have exalted them.
00:31:26.38\00:31:27.85
He could have had all people
of the earth coming to them
00:31:28.08\00:31:30.69
for a knowledge of God.
00:31:30.72\00:31:32.39
But they failed
in their mission.
00:31:32.62\00:31:34.89
Said Moses, "All
people of the earth shall see
00:31:35.96\00:31:40.86
that thou art called
by the name of the Lord;
00:31:41.43\00:31:44.60
and they shall
be afraid of thee."
00:31:44.93\00:31:47.10
"But because of
their unfaithfulness,
00:31:47.34\00:31:50.17
God's purpose could only
be wrought through continued
00:31:50.21\00:31:54.31
adversity and humiliation."
00:31:54.34\00:31:56.18
Did you get that?
00:31:56.21\00:31:57.55
Because of their attitude,
God's purpose could only be
00:31:58.85\00:32:04.49
wrought through
adversity and humiliation.
00:32:04.62\00:32:08.89
So God, as it were, had to
stand over them with a whip
00:32:10.33\00:32:13.43
to get them to do
what He called them to do.
00:32:13.46\00:32:15.90
You see, God's purpose is
going to get accomplished.
00:32:15.93\00:32:19.37
Amen?
00:32:19.40\00:32:20.74
Going to get done.
00:32:20.77\00:32:22.10
Somebody is going to be warned,
the truth is going to get out,
00:32:22.14\00:32:25.14
God's people will be warned.
00:32:25.17\00:32:27.51
Either you're in
it or you're not.
00:32:27.54\00:32:30.71
Either you're part of
the building committee
00:32:30.75\00:32:32.68
or the wrecking crew.
00:32:32.71\00:32:34.22
Either you're on
God's side or the devil.
00:32:34.25\00:32:36.85
But God's ship is
going to go through.
00:32:36.89\00:32:39.52
The question is, will you?
00:32:39.59\00:32:41.42
And for nearly a thousand years,
God labored with His people.
00:32:43.59\00:32:46.66
And the truth is, they
never really got it right.
00:32:47.13\00:32:53.13
God wants to use you,
us, to lift up His name.
00:32:55.84\00:33:02.24
The question is,
will you, us, do it?
00:33:03.28\00:33:07.75
Sadly, the only thing that will
move you, us, is humiliation.
00:33:09.85\00:33:16.79
God has got to, Jim,
cattle prod us sometimes.
00:33:18.29\00:33:23.87
As I said before, God
had literally to stand over
00:33:26.20\00:33:28.64
God's people with a
whip to get them to move.
00:33:28.67\00:33:33.54
God called Israel,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:33:34.71\00:33:36.64
brothers and
sisters, for one reason only.
00:33:36.68\00:33:39.25
That's to spread the
news and warn the world
00:33:39.61\00:33:43.42
of the coming of the Lord.
00:33:43.45\00:33:45.35
Now what is the difference
in how and what and why
00:33:45.39\00:33:49.06
He called them, and how
and what and why He calls us?
00:33:49.09\00:33:52.63
What's the difference?
00:33:52.66\00:33:54.00
Amen.
00:33:55.33\00:33:56.67
Forgive my pejorative English.
00:33:56.73\00:33:58.33
Ain't none.
00:33:58.37\00:33:59.70
There's no difference.
00:34:00.84\00:34:02.17
We are called
like they were called.
00:34:02.20\00:34:04.04
For the same mission
that they were called.
00:34:04.07\00:34:06.07
God called them to
spread, to live, to share.
00:34:06.74\00:34:09.94
God calls us to
spread, to live, to share.
00:34:09.98\00:34:12.81
No difference.
00:34:12.88\00:34:14.22
Now the question we
need to ask ourselves is,
00:34:14.25\00:34:15.95
how we doin?
00:34:15.98\00:34:17.42
Either we is or we ain't.
00:34:23.39\00:34:27.20
Amen.
00:34:28.50\00:34:29.83
Or, ouch.
00:34:30.23\00:34:31.57
Let me beg my point.
00:34:36.37\00:34:37.71
Let me give you a little flavor
and tenor of the relationship
00:34:38.87\00:34:41.61
between God and Israel, His
chosen people, at this time.
00:34:41.64\00:34:45.05
I'm in Jeremiah 15:1.
00:34:45.08\00:34:47.32
The book of Jeremiah 15:1.
00:34:47.75\00:34:50.39
"Then the Lord said to
me, 'Even if Moses and Samuel
00:34:52.95\00:34:57.59
stand before Me, My
mind will not be favorable
00:34:57.63\00:35:01.83
toward this people.'"
00:35:01.86\00:35:03.40
That's pretty
strong language, isn't it?
00:35:04.00\00:35:05.60
"If Moses and Samuel
came and begged for Israel,
00:35:06.74\00:35:10.14
I'm not going
to change My mind."
00:35:10.37\00:35:11.71
"Cast them out of My
sight, and let them go forth.
00:35:12.07\00:35:15.94
And it shall be, if they say
to you, 'Where shall we go...'"
00:35:16.11\00:35:20.88
Jeremiah 15:2, "...tell
them, 'Thus says the Lord,
00:35:21.65\00:35:24.85
"Such as for death, to death;
00:35:24.89\00:35:26.69
such as for the
sword, to the sword;
00:35:27.06\00:35:31.39
such as for famine, to famine;
00:35:32.03\00:35:34.96
such as for
captivity, to captivity."'"
00:35:35.46\00:35:38.53
So God explained to
them what's going to happen.
00:35:38.57\00:35:41.97
"Some of you are
going to be killed,
00:35:42.00\00:35:43.47
some of you are
going to starve to death,
00:35:43.51\00:35:45.27
some of you are
going to become slaves,
00:35:45.31\00:35:46.88
some of you are going to
die of pestilence and disease."
00:35:46.91\00:35:50.35
You see, they had forgotten God.
00:35:52.11\00:35:54.05
The leaders had
turned their backs on God.
00:35:54.38\00:35:57.45
And now God was giving
them the recompense of their...
00:35:58.39\00:36:02.19
And I need to say this.
00:36:02.22\00:36:03.83
You know, I was
listening the other day to
00:36:03.86\00:36:06.19
someone on 3ABN.
00:36:06.23\00:36:07.56
And they were saying, "We
have a Christian school here.
00:36:07.66\00:36:11.53
And some of the
students, by the way they act,
00:36:11.97\00:36:15.67
say to us they don't
want to be in this school.
00:36:16.00\00:36:18.07
We've never kicked
anybody out of school.
00:36:18.17\00:36:21.51
We don't send anybody home.
00:36:21.94\00:36:23.45
Your conduct tells us
if you want to be here."
00:36:24.31\00:36:27.98
That make sense? "We
don't throw people out."
00:36:29.05\00:36:31.39
He said, "We
have a set of rules.
00:36:32.29\00:36:34.06
If you obey
those rules, you stay.
00:36:34.52\00:36:37.96
But if you flaunt those rules
and work against those rules,
00:36:39.13\00:36:43.47
you are saying to us,
you don't want to be here.
00:36:43.50\00:36:46.40
So what we do is
give you what you want."
00:36:46.90\00:36:50.47
Amen.
00:36:51.61\00:36:52.94
That's what God is saying.
00:36:54.01\00:36:55.34
"I've got a set of rules.
00:36:57.31\00:36:59.01
I've got a way
that is the best way.
00:36:59.61\00:37:03.82
And your
response to Me determines
00:37:04.65\00:37:09.99
how I can respond to you."
00:37:10.56\00:37:12.16
It's like, you have two children
and you love all your children.
00:37:12.19\00:37:15.80
But you know that if one
child obeys and does everything
00:37:16.63\00:37:22.30
mommy says and
pretty much follows you,
00:37:22.34\00:37:25.34
you can do more for that
child than you can for the one
00:37:25.74\00:37:30.91
that simply
doesn't want any part of
00:37:30.95\00:37:33.01
anything you have to say.
00:37:33.05\00:37:34.38
It doesn't many you
love one more than the other.
00:37:34.42\00:37:36.35
It means you can help
one more than the other,
00:37:36.38\00:37:38.52
because the one who
cooperates gets the goodies.
00:37:38.55\00:37:41.92
There's no way to get around it.
00:37:41.96\00:37:43.29
If you say, "Go to bed at
nine so you can get up at five,
00:37:43.32\00:37:46.33
so you can do your work," and
the child goes to bed at nine,
00:37:46.36\00:37:48.23
gets up at five, and one
says, "I'm not going to bed
00:37:48.26\00:37:49.93
until midnight," and then
you try to get them up at five,
00:37:49.96\00:37:53.94
and they don't want to
hear it, and they don't want to
00:37:53.97\00:37:55.60
be bothered, because
they didn't get enough sleep.
00:37:55.64\00:37:59.31
So you can help that one
child more than the other
00:37:59.51\00:38:03.35
simply because
they listen and obey.
00:38:03.38\00:38:06.18
Well it's the
same way in heaven.
00:38:06.68\00:38:08.98
If God says, "This is
the way, walk ye in it,"
00:38:09.48\00:38:12.42
and you walk in that way,
there are a series of blessings
00:38:13.12\00:38:17.16
that come from
walking in that way.
00:38:17.19\00:38:19.49
Amen.
00:38:19.73\00:38:21.06
But if you say, "I'm
going to make my own way.
00:38:21.10\00:38:23.77
I'm going this way,"
well there's a series of steps
00:38:23.80\00:38:26.40
that come from walking that way.
00:38:26.43\00:38:28.50
If this way is paved
and smooth and well worn
00:38:28.54\00:38:32.97
because God has
smoothed it out for you,
00:38:33.01\00:38:34.84
and this is stony and rocky and
you've got briers and bristles
00:38:34.88\00:38:38.51
and everything over here,
and you want to hack your way
00:38:38.55\00:38:40.88
through the jungle, well...
00:38:40.92\00:38:42.25
You're making your own way.
00:38:44.05\00:38:45.75
And there are things
that come from going that way.
00:38:46.09\00:38:49.32
And God may or may
not help you there.
00:38:50.29\00:38:57.27
But if He leaves you on
your own, God cannot be blamed.
00:38:57.67\00:39:00.94
Now I'm going to come back
to that in just a little bit
00:39:01.50\00:39:03.30
and you'll see
what I'm talking about.
00:39:04.07\00:39:06.07
So it boils down to this.
00:39:06.98\00:39:08.31
Let's go to Jeremiah 16 and
I'll pick it up in verse 10.
00:39:08.34\00:39:13.78
I got a brand new Bible when
I was at ASI a couple weeks ago.
00:39:15.35\00:39:18.95
Super huge print. I love it.
00:39:19.75\00:39:22.79
But you know what
happens with new Bibles?
00:39:22.82\00:39:24.43
The pages stick together.
00:39:24.89\00:39:26.39
"And it shall be, when you show
this people all these words,
00:39:29.40\00:39:34.10
and they say to you,
'Why has the Lord pronounced
00:39:34.30\00:39:36.81
all this great disaster upon us?
00:39:36.84\00:39:39.64
Or what is our iniquity?
00:39:39.84\00:39:41.61
Or what is our sin that
we have committed against
00:39:41.64\00:39:44.85
the Lord our God?'
00:39:44.88\00:39:46.21
then you shall say to
them, 'Because your fathers
00:39:46.65\00:39:49.82
have forsaken Me,' says
the Lord, 'they have walked
00:39:49.85\00:39:53.15
after other gods and have
served them and worshiped them,
00:39:53.19\00:39:57.36
and have forsaken
Me and not kept My law.
00:39:57.39\00:40:00.43
And you have done
worse than your fathers,
00:40:00.83\00:40:03.40
for behold, each one follows the
dictates of his own evil heart,
00:40:03.43\00:40:08.97
so that no one listens to Me.'"
00:40:09.00\00:40:11.27
You know, you
almost feel bad for God.
00:40:11.31\00:40:13.48
You know, if
you're dating somebody...
00:40:14.74\00:40:16.98
Jim, you're dating Camille.
00:40:18.08\00:40:19.41
And I know you broke
up for a little while
00:40:20.18\00:40:21.52
and got back together.
00:40:21.55\00:40:22.88
John and Angie, I
know your history.
00:40:22.92\00:40:24.25
Because I was there for that.
00:40:24.29\00:40:25.62
But if you date a girl
and you're constantly loving
00:40:26.52\00:40:30.26
and showing love,
and buying presents,
00:40:30.36\00:40:32.46
and giving all you can,
and she thumbs her nose at you,
00:40:32.76\00:40:37.67
you've got two choices.
00:40:38.10\00:40:39.43
You can stay there
and become a door mat,
00:40:40.00\00:40:42.30
or you can go someplace else.
00:40:42.34\00:40:44.44
You know, you can
try it for a while.
00:40:46.94\00:40:48.44
And after a while,
it gets kind of old.
00:40:48.64\00:40:50.65
"I love you, I love you.
00:40:51.85\00:40:53.18
Here's some candy,
here's some flowers.
00:40:53.21\00:40:54.55
Here's the keys to my car."
00:40:54.58\00:40:55.92
So you go someplace
else where you're loved.
00:40:58.59\00:41:00.32
Amen.
00:41:01.06\00:41:02.39
That's just common sense...
00:41:04.03\00:41:05.43
...to everybody but God.
00:41:06.46\00:41:09.40
Ever thought of that?
00:41:10.67\00:41:12.00
He has no place else to go.
00:41:12.50\00:41:14.04
He can't do anything but love.
00:41:15.47\00:41:17.21
He cannot change.
00:41:17.97\00:41:19.77
Always makes you feel a
little sad for God, doesn't it?
00:41:20.94\00:41:23.45
Whether you
accept Him or reject Him,
00:41:24.31\00:41:26.31
He's still there
knocking at that door.
00:41:26.35\00:41:29.92
And He knocked on the
door of Israel's heart
00:41:30.65\00:41:33.96
for almost a thousand years.
00:41:33.99\00:41:37.13
They never got it right.
00:41:39.03\00:41:40.40
And He says here, "You've
done worse than your fathers.
00:41:42.80\00:41:45.93
And I've tried."
00:41:46.77\00:41:48.10
When you boil it
down, two particular sins:
00:41:51.04\00:41:55.61
Sabbath breaking and idolatry.
00:41:56.81\00:41:59.68
Same sins of today.
00:42:00.92\00:42:02.42
Not giving God His
time, and putting everybody
00:42:02.98\00:42:06.35
and everything before God.
00:42:06.39\00:42:08.19
Those things were
written aforetime;
00:42:09.76\00:42:11.56
written for our admonition.
00:42:12.19\00:42:14.90
Same sins of today.
00:42:15.40\00:42:16.73
Not giving God His time,
and then putting everything
00:42:18.07\00:42:22.30
we can before God.
00:42:22.34\00:42:24.24
The sins of the former are
now the sins of the latter.
00:42:24.87\00:42:27.78
You know, I wish I
knew who wrote Psalm 137.
00:42:28.64\00:42:31.81
Because as I said
before, it seems almost a little
00:42:32.31\00:42:34.78
out of bounds.
00:42:34.82\00:42:36.38
They're crying over Jerusalem.
00:42:37.25\00:42:38.89
But ladies and
gentlemen, brothers and sisters,
00:42:40.26\00:42:41.72
Jerusalem
wasn't their salvation.
00:42:41.76\00:42:43.79
Neither was the temple.
00:42:45.09\00:42:46.43
Jehovah God was.
00:42:47.80\00:42:49.33
They're crying when we
fought about Jerusalem.
00:42:50.73\00:42:52.93
Well what about God?
00:42:52.97\00:42:54.70
We're crying when we
think about the temple.
00:42:57.04\00:42:58.71
What about the
God of the temple?
00:42:59.37\00:43:01.11
The reason you're in
Babylon is because when you were
00:43:01.84\00:43:05.81
in Jerusalem,
you forgot about God.
00:43:05.85\00:43:09.12
Your salvation
is not in Jerusalem.
00:43:09.15\00:43:11.42
Your salvation
is in Jehovah God.
00:43:11.45\00:43:13.92
And those of us who call
ourselves Seventh-day Adventists
00:43:15.49\00:43:17.53
need to remember the same thing.
00:43:17.56\00:43:19.19
You don't get saved because
you're a Seventh-day Adventist.
00:43:19.73\00:43:22.03
You get saved
because you're in Jesus.
00:43:27.57\00:43:29.44
I said it before,
I'll say it again.
00:43:30.61\00:43:31.97
Every Christian ain't
a Seventh-day Adventist.
00:43:32.01\00:43:35.01
Um-hmm.
00:43:36.51\00:43:37.85
And every
Seventh-day Adventist...
00:43:38.25\00:43:40.08
Uh-hmm.
00:43:42.75\00:43:44.09
They're crying over Jerusalem.
00:43:46.72\00:43:48.32
Well what about God?
00:43:49.02\00:43:50.49
So number one, you sing
because even in good times
00:43:52.09\00:43:57.90
and in bad times, God
is worthy to be praised.
00:43:58.43\00:44:03.61
That's why you sing.
00:44:04.14\00:44:05.47
Amen?
00:44:05.94\00:44:07.28
While probation still
lingers, every calamity,
00:44:08.34\00:44:11.51
every catastrophe, is still
mingled with the mercy of God.
00:44:11.55\00:44:14.78
In short, even though it's
bad, it could have been worse.
00:44:14.82\00:44:18.49
That's a reason to sing.
00:44:20.49\00:44:21.82
I've been to car accidents
where the car has been mangled
00:44:24.26\00:44:28.23
and flattened, and
people walked away.
00:44:28.26\00:44:30.67
That's a reason to sing.
00:44:32.10\00:44:33.44
My roommate in college,
I'm going to talk about him
00:44:34.94\00:44:36.57
again tomorrow night,
my roommate in college
00:44:36.60\00:44:38.27
had a lime green Volkswagen.
00:44:39.07\00:44:42.41
Took Susan
Truste up on Monte Sano,
00:44:43.14\00:44:45.08
and lost his mind and his
brakes, and flattened that car.
00:44:46.95\00:44:49.85
And when I came back to
the room, he's laying bed
00:44:50.95\00:44:53.72
sore but still in one piece.
00:44:53.99\00:44:56.36
Crying over that Volkswagen.
00:44:56.46\00:44:58.09
And the dean came
in, Dean Butler came in,
00:44:58.13\00:45:00.56
and said, "Man, you okay?"
00:45:01.06\00:45:02.53
He said, "Yeah, but my car."
00:45:03.03\00:45:04.77
He said, "What
are you crying about?
00:45:05.43\00:45:07.07
You're in one piece.
00:45:08.37\00:45:09.70
You can buy
another cheap Volkswagen."
00:45:10.14\00:45:12.17
Every
catastrophe, every calamity,
00:45:14.01\00:45:17.11
mingled with the mercy of God.
00:45:17.48\00:45:18.81
So as bad as it is,
it could have been worse.
00:45:18.85\00:45:22.28
That's a reason to sing.
00:45:23.12\00:45:24.45
That's a reason to sing.
00:45:26.69\00:45:28.02
Two, you sing
because God can find you
00:45:28.92\00:45:32.63
as easily in Babylon
as He can in Jerusalem.
00:45:32.66\00:45:36.36
Amen.
00:45:37.90\00:45:39.23
You may lose sight of Him,
He will not lose sight of you.
00:45:39.37\00:45:42.60
So though you're in Babylon,
there's something for you to do
00:45:43.10\00:45:46.31
in Babylon.
00:45:46.54\00:45:47.88
Amen.
00:45:48.04\00:45:49.38
God can find you in Babylon
just like He can in Jerusalem.
00:45:49.41\00:45:52.58
So you ought to
sing even in Babylon.
00:45:54.65\00:45:56.55
Time is running, let me
go to Jeremiah 24 real fast.
00:45:58.75\00:46:01.49
Jeremiah 24.
00:46:01.86\00:46:03.19
I knew this was going to happen.
00:46:03.93\00:46:05.26
Jeremiah 24.
00:46:05.29\00:46:06.63
Maybe I'll just
summarize it for you.
00:46:08.50\00:46:10.43
No, I've got to read it.
00:46:10.47\00:46:11.80
"The Lord showed me, and
there were two baskets of figs
00:46:11.83\00:46:16.64
set before the temple of
the Lord, after Nebuchadnezzar
00:46:16.67\00:46:20.88
king of Babylon had
carried away captive Jeconiah
00:46:20.91\00:46:23.91
and his son Jehoiakim, king of
Judah, and the princes of Judah
00:46:24.01\00:46:30.25
with the craftsmen, and
smiths, from Jerusalem..."
00:46:30.52\00:46:32.89
Now I want to
jump down to verse 5,
00:46:32.92\00:46:35.49
and I want to read it in three
different versions real quick.
00:46:36.76\00:46:39.39
The NIV, the Clear
Word, and the New King James.
00:46:39.43\00:46:43.43
"This is what the Lord God says,
00:46:44.53\00:46:47.30
'Like these good figs, I regard
as good the exiles from Judah,
00:46:48.37\00:46:54.31
whom I sent away from
this place to the land
00:46:54.51\00:46:57.91
of the Babylonians.
00:46:57.95\00:46:59.28
My eyes shall watch
over them for their good,
00:46:59.31\00:47:02.18
and I will bring
them back to this land.'"
00:47:02.22\00:47:04.85
That's NIV.
00:47:04.89\00:47:06.25
Clear Word, "Some of the
people who were taken captive
00:47:06.52\00:47:09.52
to Babylon are
like these good figs.
00:47:09.72\00:47:12.83
I will watch over
them and treat them gently.
00:47:12.93\00:47:16.06
I will bring them
back to their land."
00:47:16.30\00:47:19.30
Now here's the New King James.
00:47:19.33\00:47:20.80
"Thus says the
Lord God of Israel..."
00:47:21.10\00:47:23.17
Now when you see, "Lord God,"
like that, that's the formal
00:47:23.20\00:47:26.07
entrance into the King.
00:47:26.17\00:47:27.51
That's Yahweh, Elohim.
00:47:27.54\00:47:29.91
That's as good as it gets.
00:47:29.94\00:47:31.68
That's, take it to
the bank, guaranteed.
00:47:31.81\00:47:34.18
"I call..."
00:47:34.28\00:47:35.62
Ummm, let me jump over that.
00:47:35.65\00:47:37.12
Ummm, let's see.
00:47:37.59\00:47:38.92
"Like these good figs,
so I will acknowledge those
00:47:39.52\00:47:43.32
who are carried away
captive from Judah, whom I have
00:47:43.36\00:47:46.86
sent out of this
place for their own good,
00:47:46.90\00:47:49.76
into the land of the Chaldeans.
00:47:49.86\00:47:51.87
For I will set My
eyes on them for good."
00:47:52.07\00:47:56.30
You see, when
you serve the Lord,
00:47:56.34\00:47:59.11
can I say it, even
bad stuff turns out good.
00:48:00.51\00:48:04.91
Amen?
00:48:05.41\00:48:06.75
Everybody had to go to Babylon.
00:48:07.02\00:48:10.62
But God said, "I
know those that are Mine.
00:48:11.25\00:48:15.19
And I'm going to take
care of mine even in Babylon.
00:48:15.42\00:48:19.86
I know the good from the bad.
00:48:19.89\00:48:22.30
And the good, I've
set My eyes upon them.
00:48:22.50\00:48:25.63
I will watch out for
them even in Babylon."
00:48:25.67\00:48:28.37
So my point is again,
God can find you in Babylon
00:48:28.40\00:48:32.04
just like He can in Jerusalem.
00:48:32.07\00:48:33.91
And just because
you're in a hard place
00:48:33.94\00:48:36.08
doesn't mean that God has
lost you or forgotten about you.
00:48:36.11\00:48:39.81
God can take care
of you in Jerusalem,
00:48:39.85\00:48:41.88
and God can take
care of you in Babylon.
00:48:41.92\00:48:43.92
Amen?
00:48:43.95\00:48:45.29
So you ought to sing because
the same God who is there
00:48:45.32\00:48:47.72
in Jerusalem is right
by your side in Babylon.
00:48:47.76\00:48:50.66
That's something to sing about.
00:48:50.69\00:48:52.19
So even bad stuff turns out
good when God is by your side.
00:48:55.73\00:49:00.64
They ought to sing, because
even if everybody is singing
00:49:00.67\00:49:05.54
rock, or rap, or
reggae, or rhythm and blues,
00:49:05.57\00:49:08.58
and you're the only
one singing for Jesus,
00:49:08.61\00:49:10.95
God hears it.
00:49:10.98\00:49:12.31
And sometimes God
puts you in a strange place
00:49:13.38\00:49:16.35
just so you can sing.
00:49:16.38\00:49:18.92
You ought to sing because
you never know who's listening
00:49:19.25\00:49:22.99
for your song.
00:49:23.02\00:49:24.36
I'll tell you a true story.
00:49:24.49\00:49:25.83
I went to a funeral when I was
pastoring the Ephesus church.
00:49:26.39\00:49:29.76
One of our wealthy,
well to do, snowbirds...
00:49:29.80\00:49:33.57
That's a person who
goes north in the summer
00:49:33.60\00:49:36.04
and south in the winter.
00:49:36.07\00:49:37.41
It was in Miami, a repast.
00:49:37.61\00:49:38.94
And he flew me down, along
with a bunch of individuals,
00:49:38.97\00:49:42.24
on a plane to do his funeral.
00:49:42.28\00:49:44.01
I preached the funeral.
00:49:44.05\00:49:45.38
He flew this choir down.
00:49:45.41\00:49:47.22
And we had a
wonderful big, huge, five hour
00:49:47.32\00:49:51.65
funeral down there in Miami.
00:49:51.69\00:49:53.02
Well, they had rented
this very swank restaurant
00:49:53.05\00:49:56.12
for the repast after.
00:49:56.79\00:49:59.09
So we all, with our
Bibles and our black suits,
00:49:59.19\00:50:01.43
piled into this
really swank restaurant.
00:50:01.46\00:50:03.60
And we were kind
of over by ourselves,
00:50:03.63\00:50:05.47
and I noticed there was this
guy kind of hanging around us.
00:50:05.50\00:50:09.24
And he was kind of
irritating us a little bit.
00:50:09.44\00:50:11.44
Because first of all,
everybody was suit and ties,
00:50:11.47\00:50:12.91
a suit and tie restaurant;
maître d', he had the thing.
00:50:12.94\00:50:15.24
You know, you've got
to check for your name,
00:50:15.28\00:50:16.78
and then they call your
name and you walk to your seat.
00:50:16.81\00:50:18.91
And there's this guy in a
shirt and he had a jacket on,
00:50:19.71\00:50:22.82
but kind of rumpled.
00:50:22.85\00:50:24.19
He just kept hanging around us.
00:50:24.22\00:50:25.55
And someone said,
"Why is that guy hanging
00:50:25.69\00:50:28.66
around us like that?"
00:50:28.69\00:50:30.03
And I said, "I don't know,
he's not bothering anybody."
00:50:30.06\00:50:31.79
Just kept hanging around.
00:50:31.83\00:50:33.16
And we were talking about the
Lord and all kinds of things,
00:50:33.19\00:50:34.83
and he just kept listening
in and hanging around us.
00:50:34.86\00:50:37.80
But he was disheveled.
00:50:37.83\00:50:39.47
He wasn't
dirty, but he wasn't...
00:50:39.50\00:50:41.47
This was a pressed
restaurant. You know, folk...
00:50:41.54\00:50:43.51
The maître d' has a little white
cloth over his arm, you know,
00:50:43.54\00:50:46.68
and walks like this, and stripe
on the pants, and what not.
00:50:46.71\00:50:48.91
This is a very
high-class, swanky restaurant.
00:50:48.94\00:50:50.85
Here's this disheveled
guy kind of hanging around us,
00:50:50.88\00:50:53.18
like, "Why is he
hanging around us?"
00:50:53.21\00:50:54.68
So it was time, the
food came, and someone said,
00:50:55.62\00:51:02.09
"Well, pastor, why
don't you pray for the food."
00:51:02.12\00:51:04.19
And so I said,
"Okay, let's bow our heads."
00:51:04.63\00:51:06.33
And we all
grabbed pinky fingers.
00:51:06.43\00:51:07.80
If you know Erma and I,
we do the pinky finger thing.
00:51:07.83\00:51:09.93
I picked that pinky
finger thing up years ago.
00:51:09.96\00:51:12.33
So we all grabbed
our pinky fingers.
00:51:13.07\00:51:14.40
And as I was about to pray, this
guy in his disheveled suit said,
00:51:14.44\00:51:18.57
"Alright, let's be quiet.
00:51:18.87\00:51:20.38
The pastor is going to pray."
00:51:20.41\00:51:22.04
This is a
high-class restaurant, pastor.
00:51:25.28\00:51:28.12
This is, you know,
21. This is a big deal.
00:51:28.15\00:51:30.85
And this
disheveled guy is screaming.
00:51:30.99\00:51:32.55
So I figured I got the floor,
because the place got quiet.
00:51:32.59\00:51:34.96
You know, everybody got quiet.
00:51:34.99\00:51:36.32
So I prayed,
"Lord, bless the food.
00:51:36.42\00:51:39.26
Bless all of these people here.
00:51:39.39\00:51:41.10
May they
receive..." And I milked it.
00:51:41.23\00:51:43.06
"May they receive strength
from their food, may they eat."
00:51:43.10\00:51:45.90
And announced that one
day Jesus is going to ask
00:51:45.93\00:51:47.64
for an account of their lives.
00:51:47.67\00:51:49.07
And Christ is coming soon.
00:51:49.10\00:51:50.74
I figured, I've got the floor.
00:51:50.77\00:51:52.11
This is my time
to preach a sermon.
00:51:52.14\00:51:53.51
And you know, I
preached a long time.
00:51:53.78\00:51:55.58
"In the name of Jesus, amen."
00:51:55.61\00:51:57.91
And the guy walked away.
00:51:59.38\00:52:02.32
And I found out later
that he was a co-owner
00:52:03.59\00:52:08.16
of the restaurant.
00:52:08.19\00:52:09.52
Dressed like a bum, but
he's co-owner of the restaurant.
00:52:10.73\00:52:13.16
And he knew that a party of
Adventists was coming in there,
00:52:13.19\00:52:18.33
and he was just hanging around,
just trying to get something.
00:52:18.37\00:52:22.44
And I found out from
another Adventist in town
00:52:22.47\00:52:27.04
that about two weeks
before, his daughter died
00:52:27.14\00:52:31.01
in a boating accident.
00:52:31.05\00:52:32.45
And his son was
driving the boat,
00:52:32.61\00:52:35.08
and she hit
something in the water.
00:52:35.25\00:52:37.09
And so now his son
is in the hospital.
00:52:37.12\00:52:39.62
He's going through some
mental stuff because he feels
00:52:39.72\00:52:42.29
responsible for
his sister's death.
00:52:42.32\00:52:46.23
And this fellow was
asking the Lord on that day,
00:52:46.33\00:52:52.57
"Lord, I just ain't got it.
00:52:54.07\00:52:56.00
Can you do something for me?"
00:52:56.60\00:52:58.17
And then in comes
this party of Adventists.
00:52:58.47\00:53:00.41
And he makes the
whole restaurant shut up
00:53:01.34\00:53:03.11
so they can hear me pray.
00:53:03.14\00:53:04.78
See, you sing the Lord's
song because you never know
00:53:05.55\00:53:09.12
who's out there who
needs to hear that song.
00:53:09.15\00:53:11.45
You never know who's
there, who, on that very day,
00:53:12.35\00:53:15.72
needs to hear
something from you.
00:53:15.76\00:53:17.43
Because maybe
they're in a strange land.
00:53:17.83\00:53:19.69
Maybe they're
in a strange place.
00:53:19.73\00:53:21.26
I've got a good
friend I baptized.
00:53:21.30\00:53:22.86
An ambassador, I
better not say the country,
00:53:22.90\00:53:24.83
from the United Nations.
00:53:24.87\00:53:27.44
And when I was Bible
studying with him, he told me,
00:53:29.70\00:53:32.81
"You know, the Lord is so good.
00:53:32.84\00:53:35.21
When I was an ambassador
for the UN, I didn't care about
00:53:37.78\00:53:41.68
the Lord, I didn't
care about anything.
00:53:41.72\00:53:43.42
But the Lord took my job,
and I was in a strange land.
00:53:43.45\00:53:48.52
I was in the unemployment
line for six months.
00:53:48.79\00:53:52.26
No job. Can't pay my bills.
00:53:52.53\00:53:54.53
Wife looking at me
funny. Two kids, you know.
00:53:54.56\00:53:57.40
And it was during that
time that I found Jesus."
00:53:58.50\00:54:01.30
He said, "I cherish the
time that I was out of a job,
00:54:02.27\00:54:07.04
because that's
when we found Jesus."
00:54:07.08\00:54:09.28
He got a job with
Metropolitan Life,
00:54:11.35\00:54:13.62
became the northeast regional
director of Metropolitan Life.
00:54:13.65\00:54:17.12
Move to Atlanta and became
the southeast regional director
00:54:17.15\00:54:22.19
of Metropolitan Life.
00:54:22.22\00:54:23.56
He was in a strange land, but he
sang the song and he found God.
00:54:24.29\00:54:27.76
And now God is allowing
him to rise on high places.
00:54:27.80\00:54:31.10
So you sing, because
sometimes God puts you there
00:54:31.20\00:54:35.47
because there's somebody there
who needs to hear your song,
00:54:35.50\00:54:38.34
who needs to hear
what you have to say,
00:54:39.27\00:54:40.84
who needs to hear of
the goodness of the Lord
00:54:40.88\00:54:43.88
even in bad times.
00:54:43.91\00:54:46.75
David said, "I've
been young; now I am old.
00:54:47.52\00:54:52.32
Never, never, seen
the righteous forsaken,
00:54:52.99\00:54:59.49
or His seed begging bread."
00:55:00.40\00:55:03.06
That's something to sing about.
00:55:03.90\00:55:05.23
So when you go to the cupboard
and the cupboard is low,
00:55:06.30\00:55:11.14
sing for Jesus.
00:55:12.04\00:55:13.38
Because He's got
something for you,
00:55:16.21\00:55:18.55
and someone needs
to hear your song.
00:55:18.85\00:55:22.08
Let me close
quickly with a story.
00:55:22.68\00:55:24.35
Sister Ina Lee Kitchen.
00:55:25.05\00:55:26.39
I'm pastor of the
Springfield Gardens
00:55:26.42\00:55:27.76
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:55:27.79\00:55:29.12
When I pastored her,
she was 102 years old.
00:55:31.03\00:55:33.66
She told me about the years
when she joined the church.
00:55:33.70\00:55:37.03
She said, and I've
got to hurry up with this,
00:55:37.47\00:55:38.87
she said, "One day
my husband lost his job
00:55:38.90\00:55:43.30
because of the Sabbath.
00:55:43.34\00:55:44.67
We had no food in
the house what so ever.
00:55:44.71\00:55:46.04
And he was pacing up and down.
00:55:47.08\00:55:49.01
I went to the
window, opened up the window,
00:55:49.04\00:55:51.11
pulled my rocking chair
to the window, and just sat
00:55:51.15\00:55:53.15
in the chair and
rocked and sang."
00:55:53.18\00:55:55.02
She said, "I knew God
was going to do something.
00:55:55.98\00:55:57.49
I just rocked and sang."
00:55:57.95\00:55:59.29
She said, "In
about 40 minutes..."
00:56:01.02\00:56:03.69
This is sister Ina Lee
Kitchen, 101 years old.
00:56:04.26\00:56:07.46
Don't need to lie
when you're 101 years old.
00:56:07.63\00:56:09.70
She said, "There
floated through my window,
00:56:10.77\00:56:12.60
just as pretty as you
please, a one dollar bill.
00:56:12.63\00:56:15.60
It landed right there in
front of my rocking chair."
00:56:18.17\00:56:20.04
She said this was
back in the 1930's.
00:56:20.31\00:56:23.24
She was 101 years old.
00:56:23.45\00:56:24.78
She said, "A dollar
could go a long way.
00:56:26.15\00:56:27.58
You could get
bread and milk and eggs,
00:56:27.62\00:56:29.68
and have a couple
of pennies left over."
00:56:30.25\00:56:31.85
She said, "My husband
went up on the roof to see
00:56:32.19\00:56:34.62
who lost a dollar.
00:56:34.66\00:56:35.99
While he's on the
roof, I was making a beeline
00:56:36.73\00:56:38.96
for the grocery store."
00:56:38.99\00:56:40.33
She said, "I
remember that to this day;
00:56:42.83\00:56:44.90
that God will
never forsake His own."
00:56:45.17\00:56:48.47
See, that's why you can sing.
00:56:49.44\00:56:51.17
Because even when
you are not at your best,
00:56:51.77\00:56:55.18
God is.
00:56:55.74\00:56:57.08
He's faithful. He
cannot deny Himself.
00:56:58.21\00:57:00.95
So you can sing in the sunshine,
00:57:01.32\00:57:03.32
and you can sing in the rain.
00:57:04.02\00:57:05.45
And you can sing
in the good times,
00:57:06.15\00:57:07.76
and you can sing in the bad.
00:57:08.49\00:57:09.96
You can sing when
you've got friends,
00:57:10.59\00:57:12.66
and you can sing
when your friends are few.
00:57:13.13\00:57:15.26
Because even if
you have no friend,
00:57:15.73\00:57:18.83
you've got one Friend.
00:57:19.10\00:57:21.40
And that Friend
sticks closer than a brother.
00:57:22.14\00:57:24.81
And wherever you
go, and whatever you do,
00:57:25.17\00:57:28.28
that Friend is with you.
00:57:28.68\00:57:31.05
That's something, ladies
and gentlemen, to sing about.
00:57:31.58\00:57:35.52
Father God, we praise
You and thank You for Jesus;
00:57:36.38\00:57:40.06
the Author and
Finisher of our faith.
00:57:40.56\00:57:43.76
Help us, Lord, to
put a song on our lips
00:57:44.66\00:57:47.60
and the love of
Christ in our hearts,
00:57:48.10\00:57:50.50
and to sing the
Lord's song wherever we are.
00:57:51.20\00:57:56.40