Welcome to Anchors Of Truth,
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live from the
3ABN Worship Center.
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Good evening and
welcome to Anchors Of Truth.
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We're at night number
two of our five part series.
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We're coming to you live
from the 3ABN Worship Center.
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And we just want to
welcome you at home.
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Thank you for joining us.
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Thank you for tuning in,
for watching, or for listening
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on 3ABN radio.
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And for everyone who is
here tonight, so glad that
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you are here tonight.
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And we were blessed
last night, weren't we?
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It was incredible.
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I know my heart was
ministered to and blessed,
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and I took a lot of notes.
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We have Pastor Wes
Peppers here with us for this
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five part
Anchors Of Truth series.
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And the overall
title that he has is,
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Before Men and Angels:
Theater of the Universe.
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And last night's
message was incredible.
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He took his main text
from Genesis chapter 22,
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talking about Abraham and
when he was called to sacrifice
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his son Isaac.
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And He called each one of us.
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Are we willing to give
up everything, everything,
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for the Lord Jesus Christ.
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And he said, when
we give up everything,
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we are able to truly see
the wonder and power of God.
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And I know I'm looking
forward to tonight's message.
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It's entitled, Comfortable
Culture Versus Fireproof Faith.
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Before he comes to speak
we'll have a word of prayer,
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and then we're going to hear
from his wife, Marion Peppers.
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She's singing a
beautiful song entitled,
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Your Grace Still Amazes Me.
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But first, let's bow our
heads and have a word of prayer.
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Father, we come into Your
presence in the name of Jesus.
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And we thank You
for Your presence.
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We just open up
our hearts right now.
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Give us ears to hear
what You desire to speak
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through Your Word and
through Your manservant,
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Brother Wes Peppers.
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In the precious and
holy name of Jesus, amen.
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Right now we're going
to hear Marion Peppers
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sing that beautiful song,
Your Grace Still Amazes Me.
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And then the next voice you
will hear is that of our pastor
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and friend, Wes Peppers.
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My faithful Father,
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enduring Friend,
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Your tender mercy's
like a river with no end;
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it overwhelms me,
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covers my sin.
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Each time I come
into Your presence
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I stand in wonder once again.
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Your grace still amazes me,
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Your love is still a mystery.
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Each day I fall on my knees,
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because Your
grace still amazes me.
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Your grace still amazes me.
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Oh, patient Savior,
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You make me whole.
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You are the Author
and the Healer of my soul.
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What can I give You?
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Lord, what can I say?
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Every time I look in Your eyes,
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I am amazed by Your grace.
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Your grace still amazes me,
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Your love is still a mystery.
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Each day I fall on my knees,
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because Your
grace still amazes me.
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Your grace still amazes.
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It's deeper, it's wider,
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it's stronger, it's higher.
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It's deeper, it's wider,
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it's stronger, it's
higher than anything
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my eyes can see.
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Your grace still amazes me,
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Your love is still a mystery.
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Each day I fall on my knees,
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because Your
grace still amazes me.
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Your grace still amazes me.
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Good evening, friends.
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It's good to see each one
of you here back again tonight.
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And for those that are
watching online or on 3ABN,
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we want to welcome you as well.
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We're so glad that
you have joined us again
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for night number
two of Anchors Of Truth.
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And I've so been
blessed by wife's singing.
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How about you?
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I'm so thankful for her, and we
believe that we have a ministry
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team together.
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And we are so grateful
to be able to just share
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what the Lord has done
for us with each one of you.
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And I am excited
about our subject tonight.
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I hope that you were
blessed last night as we kind of
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laid the foundation
for our five part series.
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And tonight's
subject, it's a tongue twister,
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Comfortable Culture
Versus Fireproof Faith.
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And we're going to see
from the Bible, tonight might be
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a little bit of
a stronger message.
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And so I hope that
you're ready for that.
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But we believe the Lord gives us
strong messages in love, amen?
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And He draws us to Him.
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And He wants to
continue to transform our hearts
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day by day until we
become just like Him.
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We want to be more
and more like Jesus
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until we are just like Jesus.
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Amen?
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That's our desire, that's
our hearts prayer, tonight.
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So before we begin this evening,
we're going to just bow our
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heads once again and ask the
Lord's presence to be with us.
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If you would, bow
your heads together.
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Father in heaven, we
thank You so much tonight
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that we can be here for another
night of Anchors Of Truth.
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We are excited, Lord,
about what Your word will
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speak to our
hearts this evening.
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We pray tonight
that You would bless us,
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that Your
presence would draw near,
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that Your Holy Spirit would
open our eyes and our hearts
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to the truth that You want
to speak to us this evening.
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Be near us now and
transform our hearts.
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And may we not be
the same people when we
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leave as when we came.
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We ask this in
Jesus' precious name, amen.
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I want to tell you a
story tonight about a young lady
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that was in my
church a few years ago.
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I won't tell you which church.
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But she came to the
church almost every Sabbath
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very faithfully.
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And one day we got to talking.
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And she told me that she
had grown up in the faith,
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she had been
born into the church,
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and she was now in
her early twenties.
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But she finally realized in
her life that she really didn't
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understand, really didn't
know exactly what she believed.
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She said, "I've been
raised in the church,
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I am familiar with
the churches beliefs,
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but I don't know if
it's really a part of me."
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She said, "I follow the
truth, I believe the truth,
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but I'm not sure that I really
have that element of faith
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that will save me in
earth's final moments."
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And so we talked about that.
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And she told me that
she had never studied the
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book of Revelation, she had
never studied Bible prophecy.
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There were the
spirit of prophecy books,
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a number of books; The Great
Controversy and Desire Of Ages.
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And she told me that she
had never read those books.
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And so we were actually,
ironically, I believe it was
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divine intervention,
that we were actually having a
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Revelation seminar
coming up in about one month.
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And so I encouraged
her to come to that seminar
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and learn about the truths that
she had always wondered about.
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So it's amazing to me
that someone can grow up
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in a church, and become
even an adult in the church,
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and still not
know what they believe.
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Have you ever met
somebody like that?
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Friends, I meet
them all the time.
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And so she came to
the Revelation seminar,
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and she was blown away.
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Previous to that, in that
same conversation, she told me,
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she said, "I'm not
really sure that I even belong
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in this church.
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I'm not even sure if
this church is right for me."
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And so she came to
the Revelation seminar,
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and she said, "Man, this
stuff just blew me away."
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She said, "I never
knew that this is what
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our church believed."
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She heard the beautiful
message of the three angels
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of Revelation chapter 14.
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She heard the
gospel for the first time.
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And she told me
that she had had a dream
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at one point in her life
that Jesus was coming back
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to this earth, and as He came
back, she had the sudden terror
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that she was not ready
to meet Jesus when He came.
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And she said, "I saw His face
coming in the clouds of heaven."
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And she said, "I was not ready."
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And she said, "I
woke up in a sweat,
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and it scared me to death."
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So I encouraged her to
go down to the book store
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and by a copy of, The Great
Controversy, which she did.
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And she read through that book,
and she was absolutely amazed
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at what she learned.
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And she said, "Through that book
and through studying the Bible,
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through studying the
prophecies that reveal Jesus
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and His plan for this
world and our lives," she said,
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"I now have confidence
that I have, not just a culture,
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but a true Bible
believing eternally saving
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faith in Jesus Christ."
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Amen?
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And that's what we're going
to talk about this evening.
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You see, there's
always been a war, a battle,
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since the Garden of
Eden, since Adam and Eve
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took that first bite
of that piece of fruit,
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there has always been a war
between faith and the world.
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Yes or no?
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Isn't it true?
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Always been a battle
between what is spiritual
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and what is fleshly,
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what is righteous
and what is unrighteous.
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There has always been
that struggle in the world.
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But there is actually a growing
crisis in these last days
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that promises to leave
many, I believe, unprepared
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for the soon return of Jesus
if there is not a transformation
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that takes place in their lives.
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God's church has always
suffered attacks from the world,
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the outside world.
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The world has always
sought to influence the church,
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influence God's people.
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But this is not
actually the battle that I'm
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talking about this evening.
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There is a deeper,
sinister, I believe, deception
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that is creeping upon
God's church in these last days.
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And it's a very, very
dangerous thing for God's people
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in these final
moments of earth's history.
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There are those, this battle is
those who have a biblical faith
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versus a biblical
culture adopted in their lives.
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Now we could go a bit
further, and I will tonight,
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by saying, an Adventist faith
versus an Adventist culture.
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And before I go any
further, I want to make plain
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that I'm not saying
that there's anything wrong
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with Adventist culture.
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Can we make sure that
we understand that, okay?
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But if an Adventist
culture is not rooted in an
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Adventist faith,
that's a big problem.
00:14:39.97\00:14:43.24
Now some people say, "Well,
what does it mean, 'Adventist'?"
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What does that
mean? Very simple.
00:14:46.58\00:14:48.18
An Adventist simply means,
someone who clings to the Bible
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and believes that
Jesus is coming soon.
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In fact, the word, "Adventist,"
means, someone who is looking
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for or waiting for
someone to return or to arrive.
00:14:57.23\00:15:01.00
And as Seventh-day Adventists,
we are Bible believing
00:15:01.03\00:15:04.17
Christians, we
believe in the true gospel,
00:15:04.20\00:15:06.80
and we believe that
Jesus is coming back
00:15:06.84\00:15:09.20
to the earth for His people.
00:15:09.24\00:15:10.81
How many can say amen to that?
00:15:10.84\00:15:12.17
So today there's this challenge,
there's this struggle within
00:15:12.37\00:15:16.64
God's church between those
who have an Adventist culture
00:15:16.68\00:15:20.48
and those who have
an Adventist faith.
00:15:20.58\00:15:22.52
Is that clear so far?
00:15:22.55\00:15:24.09
Alright, so we're going to
dive into that this evening.
00:15:24.32\00:15:27.59
Alright, this
division is not a new one.
00:15:28.26\00:15:30.96
And we're going to go to
a story tonight all the way
00:15:30.99\00:15:33.43
back in the book of Genesis.
00:15:33.46\00:15:34.80
We're going to the book
of Genesis again tonight.
00:15:34.83\00:15:36.23
We'll be going to several places
in the Bible this evening.
00:15:36.26\00:15:38.73
But if you would join
me in Genesis chapter 25,
00:15:38.93\00:15:41.87
there's an ancient old struggle,
and we're going to see how this
00:15:41.97\00:15:46.61
struggle has played
out down through time,
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and how it's playing out in our
church today in the last days.
00:15:49.11\00:15:53.15
Genesis chapter 25.
00:15:53.18\00:15:55.02
And it's the
story of Jacob and Esau.
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Jacob and Esau; we're
going to begin in verse 21.
00:15:59.42\00:16:03.02
So we're in Genesis 25:21.
00:16:03.06\00:16:05.59
The Bible tells us, "Now
Isaac pleaded with the LORD
00:16:06.19\00:16:08.86
for his wife,
because she was barren;
00:16:08.90\00:16:11.37
and the LORD granted his plea,
and Rebekah his wife conceived.
00:16:11.40\00:16:15.27
But the children
struggled together within her."
00:16:15.37\00:16:18.77
Notice that
phrase. What did they do?
00:16:18.81\00:16:20.78
It says that the
children struggled within her.
00:16:21.11\00:16:25.28
"And she said, 'If all is
well, why am I like this?'
00:16:26.72\00:16:29.92
So she went to
inquire of the LORD.
00:16:29.95\00:16:32.02
And the LORD said to her,
'Two nations are in your womb.
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Two peoples shall be
separated from your body;
00:16:37.09\00:16:40.83
one people shall be
stronger than the other,
00:16:40.93\00:16:43.83
and the older shall
serve the younger.'"
00:16:43.87\00:16:46.30
And I want to propose tonight
that it wasn't just simply
00:16:46.33\00:16:49.84
two nations or two different
people, but there was actually
00:16:49.87\00:16:53.54
two different
natures in those young men.
00:16:53.58\00:16:57.28
One was spiritual and one
was fleshly, of the flesh.
00:16:58.25\00:17:03.62
We're going to continue here.
00:17:04.25\00:17:05.59
It says in verse 24, "So
when her days were fulfilled
00:17:05.75\00:17:08.76
for her to give birth, indeed
there were twins in her womb.
00:17:09.19\00:17:12.69
And the first came out red.
00:17:12.73\00:17:14.73
He was like a
hairy garment all over;
00:17:14.76\00:17:16.93
so they called his name Esau.
00:17:16.97\00:17:19.60
Afterward his brother came
out, and his hand took hold of
00:17:19.77\00:17:23.24
Esau's heel; so his
name was called Jacob."
00:17:23.27\00:17:26.64
Which means
deceiver or supplanter.
00:17:26.68\00:17:30.05
Now why was that the case?
00:17:30.38\00:17:32.45
Because he had
reached out his foot.
00:17:32.48\00:17:34.18
Already from the
womb that struggle began
00:17:34.22\00:17:36.65
of who would become what?
00:17:36.69\00:17:38.49
First, right?
Who would be first.
00:17:38.52\00:17:40.72
It says, "So the
boys grew," in verse 27.
00:17:41.02\00:17:43.39
"And Esau was a skillful
hunter, a man of the field;
00:17:43.43\00:17:46.46
but Jacob was a mild
man, dwelling in tents.
00:17:46.49\00:17:50.17
And Isaac loved Esau
because he ate of his game,
00:17:50.43\00:17:53.17
but Rebekah loved Jacob."
00:17:53.20\00:17:54.87
Now the Bible tells us
about these two young men.
00:17:55.44\00:17:58.37
And it's very interesting,
as you study through
00:17:58.41\00:18:01.94
this passage you
find very similar
00:18:01.98\00:18:04.41
characteristics
about the young men.
00:18:04.45\00:18:05.88
I'm going to name those.
00:18:05.91\00:18:07.25
Number one, both were raised
in the church, so to speak.
00:18:07.62\00:18:11.02
How many of you
understand that phrase?
00:18:11.05\00:18:12.95
"We were raised in the church."
00:18:13.05\00:18:14.82
And both were raised in
the church and in the faith.
00:18:14.99\00:18:18.16
Both knew the truth.
00:18:18.39\00:18:20.83
You know that
phrase as well, right?
00:18:20.86\00:18:22.60
Both had the
same knowledge of God,
00:18:22.96\00:18:26.07
and both sons
were the prince of God.
00:18:26.33\00:18:30.17
They were both set
to be princes, right?
00:18:30.27\00:18:32.57
Yet Esau, very interestingly,
sold his birthright
00:18:33.27\00:18:38.21
for a very
temporal satisfaction,
00:18:38.55\00:18:41.45
even though he was
still in the house of faith.
00:18:42.22\00:18:47.26
Think about that
for just a minute.
00:18:47.79\00:18:49.39
Esau was still in the house
of faith under his father's
00:18:50.03\00:18:55.70
direction, under his father's
roof, and yet while being
00:18:55.73\00:18:59.77
in the house of
faith, in the church,
00:18:59.80\00:19:03.20
he sold his birthright.
00:19:04.01\00:19:06.74
Think about
that. Let that sink in.
00:19:07.64\00:19:09.88
So my question would be then,
is it possible that there are
00:19:10.15\00:19:12.61
many within the church today
who are members of the church
00:19:12.65\00:19:16.48
who have sold their birthright
00:19:16.72\00:19:19.65
as the sons and
daughters of God?
00:19:19.95\00:19:21.89
What do you think, do you think
that's a possibility tonight?
00:19:21.92\00:19:24.39
I think it's more
than a possibility.
00:19:24.49\00:19:26.19
I think it's a fact.
00:19:26.23\00:19:27.70
Now let's keep
reading here, verse 29.
00:19:28.00\00:19:29.96
It says, "Now
Jacob cooked a stew;
00:19:30.00\00:19:32.10
and Esau came in from
the field, and he was weary.
00:19:32.13\00:19:34.70
And Esau said to Jacob,
'Please feed me with that
00:19:34.80\00:19:37.57
same red stew, for I am weary.'
00:19:37.77\00:19:39.97
Therefore his
name was called Edom.
00:19:40.18\00:19:41.94
But Jacob said, 'Sell me
your birthright as of this day.'
00:19:41.98\00:19:44.98
And Esau said,
'Look, I am about to die;
00:19:45.08\00:19:47.58
so what is this
birthright to me?'
00:19:47.62\00:19:49.52
Then Jacob said,
'Swear to me as of this day.'
00:19:49.98\00:19:52.65
So he swore to him, and
sold his birthright to Jacob.
00:19:52.69\00:19:55.36
And Jacob gave Esau
bread and stew of lentils;
00:19:55.39\00:19:58.59
then he ate and drank,
arose, and went his way.
00:19:58.69\00:20:01.36
Thus Esau
despised his birthright."
00:20:01.56\00:20:04.73
This man, at the first
temptation outside of his
00:20:04.77\00:20:10.24
religious upbringing,
to satisfy a fleshly urge,
00:20:10.27\00:20:15.68
he sold his birthright
that God had given to him
00:20:15.88\00:20:20.62
for a bowl of soup.
00:20:21.18\00:20:22.55
That may sound
silly to some people.
00:20:23.42\00:20:25.79
But the reality is that there is
a very, very important lesson.
00:20:26.59\00:20:30.43
Because often
times the people of God,
00:20:30.59\00:20:34.66
the sons and
daughters of God, you and I,
00:20:34.70\00:20:36.90
we sell our birthright
and we sell our blessing
00:20:36.93\00:20:40.97
over to Satan for some
earthly, fleshly pleasure.
00:20:41.17\00:20:46.68
How often do you think
that breaks the heart of God?
00:20:49.04\00:20:51.98
I think it breaks the
heart of God on a regular case.
00:20:52.78\00:20:55.32
In Genesis 27, Jacob
deceives Isaac into giving him
00:20:56.99\00:21:02.72
the blessing.
00:21:02.76\00:21:04.09
So there was some
deception going on with Jacob,
00:21:04.13\00:21:07.00
wasn't there?
00:21:07.03\00:21:08.36
But it's very interesting,
because even though Jacob
00:21:08.40\00:21:11.40
was deceitful in the
way he went about it,
00:21:11.43\00:21:14.74
there was a difference
between Esau and Jacob.
00:21:15.00\00:21:17.47
Because Esau didn't really care.
00:21:17.51\00:21:19.77
He said, "What is
that birthright to me.
00:21:19.81\00:21:21.44
I don't really care about it.
00:21:21.48\00:21:22.81
It doesn't really
impact me that much.
00:21:22.84\00:21:24.75
It doesn't really matter."
00:21:24.78\00:21:27.08
But Jacob, even
though he was deceiving,
00:21:27.25\00:21:29.88
he was seeking that blessing.
00:21:29.92\00:21:33.19
He was seeking that birthright.
00:21:33.22\00:21:35.26
Now he had a little conversion
to go through, you see.
00:21:35.29\00:21:37.89
Because he didn't go
about it the right way.
00:21:38.09\00:21:39.89
But the thing he was seeking
was the right think, yes or no?
00:21:40.03\00:21:43.16
It was the right thing.
00:21:43.26\00:21:44.60
Jacob, though Esau
sold his birthright, Jacob,
00:21:49.67\00:21:55.21
when Jacob stole his
birthright, it altered
00:21:55.24\00:21:59.88
the course of
the rest of his life.
00:21:59.91\00:22:01.98
It's very interesting, friends,
because when we give in,
00:22:03.15\00:22:05.55
when we sell ourselves
out for an earthly desire
00:22:05.59\00:22:10.16
or an earthly gain, it becomes
very difficult to get back on
00:22:10.19\00:22:15.90
the right track, doesn't it?
00:22:15.93\00:22:17.37
And that one decision,
one moment of pleasure,
00:22:18.87\00:22:21.80
one moment of
unsanctified indulgence,
00:22:21.84\00:22:25.27
can actually change
the course of our lives
00:22:25.31\00:22:28.18
for the rest of our lives.
00:22:28.28\00:22:30.01
And yet, how often do we fling
that off just like Esau did?
00:22:31.11\00:22:34.98
Yet Jacob found a life altering
power through a new birth
00:22:35.75\00:22:41.59
experience from his faith
and submission to God at Bethel.
00:22:41.62\00:22:46.33
Once he fled his
home, he went to Bethel.
00:22:46.36\00:22:49.40
And there he was transformed,
there he was converted,
00:22:49.43\00:22:54.27
and he had a new heart.
00:22:55.77\00:22:57.31
And that's the experience that
we have, amen, that we need.
00:22:58.11\00:23:01.18
So between Esau and
Jacob there was this wrestling,
00:23:01.31\00:23:03.65
there was this challenge,
between culture and faith.
00:23:03.68\00:23:06.58
And they both started out with
the same spiritual foundation.
00:23:06.61\00:23:10.19
They were both in the church,
they were both in the truth,
00:23:10.42\00:23:12.45
they were both in
their father's house,
00:23:12.49\00:23:13.82
So what made the difference?
00:23:13.86\00:23:15.19
Very simply, Esau was immersed
in the faith of his father
00:23:15.22\00:23:18.49
as a child, but he preferred
the culture of his faith
00:23:18.53\00:23:23.30
rather than
possessing faith itself.
00:23:23.77\00:23:26.77
Think about that
for just a minute.
00:23:28.00\00:23:29.40
Esau preferred the blessings and
the earthly gain of the culture
00:23:29.64\00:23:34.54
rather than actually
having his father's faith.
00:23:34.64\00:23:38.98
Jacob sought the opposite.
00:23:39.01\00:23:41.82
So Esau sought the blessing
of God and the benefit of the
00:23:41.85\00:23:45.95
earthly culture simply for the
personal gain that he would get.
00:23:45.99\00:23:50.59
Do you think it's possible
today that there are many
00:23:51.73\00:23:55.30
within the church who
are having the same mindset
00:23:55.33\00:23:59.07
and the same temperament?
00:23:59.73\00:24:01.07
What do you think?
00:24:01.10\00:24:02.44
Let's keep going. Go
with me to Matthew chapter 3.
00:24:02.50\00:24:05.41
Matthew chapter 3.
00:24:05.87\00:24:07.34
And we're going to see
another story that illustrates
00:24:07.68\00:24:10.58
this same point.
00:24:10.61\00:24:11.95
Matthew chapter 3.
00:24:11.98\00:24:13.52
And the Bible is very powerful,
this is a very powerful chapter.
00:24:13.82\00:24:17.29
And I'm going to
start in verse 1.
00:24:18.15\00:24:21.46
The Bible says, "In those days
John the Baptist came preaching
00:24:21.82\00:24:25.33
in the wilderness of
Judea, saying, 'Repent, for the
00:24:25.36\00:24:28.36
kingdom of heaven is at hand!'
00:24:28.40\00:24:30.20
For this is he who was spoken of
by the prophet Isaiah, saying,
00:24:30.40\00:24:33.84
'The voice of one
crying in the wilderness:
00:24:33.87\00:24:35.67
"Prepare the way of the
LORD; make His paths straight."'
00:24:35.90\00:24:38.61
Now John himself was
clothed in camel's hair,
00:24:38.71\00:24:41.64
with a leather
belt around his waist;
00:24:41.68\00:24:43.55
and his food was
locusts and wild honey.
00:24:43.58\00:24:45.98
Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and
all the region around the Jordan
00:24:46.11\00:24:49.62
went out to him and were
baptized by him in the Jordan,
00:24:49.65\00:24:52.29
confessing their sins.
00:24:52.39\00:24:53.99
But when he saw many of
the Pharisees and Sadducees
00:24:54.02\00:24:57.03
coming to his baptism, he
said to them, 'Brood of vipers!
00:24:57.06\00:25:01.00
Who warned you to flee
from the wrath to come?
00:25:01.20\00:25:04.40
Therefore bear fruits
worthy of repentance...'"
00:25:04.50\00:25:09.17
Now this is not exactly
something that you would
00:25:09.20\00:25:11.91
want to say to your
baptismal candidates when they
00:25:11.94\00:25:14.28
come to church to
be baptized, right?
00:25:14.31\00:25:16.31
They came to be baptized,
and he said essentially,
00:25:16.81\00:25:20.05
"You dirty little
snakes in the grass.
00:25:20.08\00:25:22.62
Who told you to come
down here and get baptized?
00:25:22.65\00:25:25.35
You need to bear
fruits worthy of repentance."
00:25:25.39\00:25:28.06
Oh that a minister would
have the ability to read the
00:25:28.29\00:25:31.59
hearts of those people,
right, when we baptize them.
00:25:31.63\00:25:34.53
Because sometimes they do
need fruits of repentance.
00:25:34.56\00:25:37.30
But it's very interesting
that if you consider the
00:25:37.77\00:25:41.97
life of John,
John is kind of like
00:25:42.00\00:25:45.07
a mini final
generation of people.
00:25:46.51\00:25:49.41
Does that make sense?
00:25:49.74\00:25:51.08
John was sent to bear a
special message to the people
00:25:51.11\00:25:54.12
of the earth in his
day; that Jesus was coming
00:25:54.15\00:25:56.38
for the first time,
correct, as a Man upon the earth
00:25:56.42\00:25:58.82
to live His life
perfectly and then to
00:25:59.02\00:26:01.16
die on the cross for our sins.
00:26:01.19\00:26:02.59
Correct?
00:26:02.62\00:26:03.96
And God's final people have
a message, the three angels'
00:26:03.99\00:26:08.90
message, that includes
the everlasting gospel;
00:26:08.93\00:26:11.43
that Jesus lived,
died, and rose again.
00:26:11.87\00:26:14.60
We proclaim that message.
00:26:14.64\00:26:16.10
But that He's also coming
back to this world very soon.
00:26:16.20\00:26:19.34
And that in this hour we
are living in the judgment,
00:26:19.37\00:26:23.51
the final judgment
of earth's history.
00:26:23.75\00:26:25.81
Correct? Do we have a message?
00:26:25.85\00:26:27.35
Now John dressed a
certain way, didn't he?
00:26:27.68\00:26:30.82
Isn't it interesting?
00:26:31.25\00:26:32.59
It says that he
wore a leather tunic.
00:26:32.62\00:26:35.56
Not a tunic, but he was
clothed with camel's hair,
00:26:35.59\00:26:38.86
and a belt around his waist.
00:26:38.89\00:26:40.63
Very simplistic,
simple, modest dress, yes or no?
00:26:40.66\00:26:45.63
Now it also says that his
food was locusts and wild honey.
00:26:46.03\00:26:50.11
So he also had a very
simple diet, yes or no?
00:26:50.14\00:26:55.24
Now there are some people...
00:26:55.41\00:26:56.75
Now does God call His last
day people to have that same
00:26:56.78\00:26:59.71
message, yes or no?
00:26:59.75\00:27:01.08
He has, hasn't He?
00:27:01.18\00:27:02.52
He's called us to live
simple lives, He's called us to
00:27:02.55\00:27:05.39
eat a certain way,
to dress a certain way,
00:27:05.42\00:27:07.49
to live godly lives in light of
earth's final judgment, correct?
00:27:07.52\00:27:11.33
Now it's very interesting,
because I meet people today
00:27:11.59\00:27:14.30
who say, "Oh well, you
know, if I dress a certain way
00:27:14.33\00:27:18.50
or I eat a certain
way, people are going to
00:27:18.53\00:27:21.14
think that I'm weird."
00:27:21.17\00:27:22.70
Ever had people
tell you that before?
00:27:23.67\00:27:25.17
"Oh, we can't do that.
00:27:25.67\00:27:27.08
We have to do
as those people do,
00:27:27.11\00:27:29.94
as the people of the
world do as Christians,
00:27:30.05\00:27:32.28
because if we don't,
we're not going to fit in."
00:27:32.38\00:27:35.02
Now let's see what happened
to John when he did this,
00:27:35.85\00:27:39.35
when he stood out in the crowd.
00:27:39.39\00:27:41.02
The Bible says he
had that camel's hair.
00:27:41.32\00:27:43.73
I'm not suggesting that we wear
camel's hair, you understand.
00:27:43.76\00:27:46.43
And he was eating
locust and wild honey.
00:27:46.86\00:27:48.53
I'm not suggesting that we
eat only locust and wild honey.
00:27:48.56\00:27:51.13
I'm sure he ate other things.
00:27:51.17\00:27:52.50
But the Bible says in verse 5...
00:27:52.73\00:27:54.17
Even though John didn't
fit in to the popular culture
00:27:54.20\00:27:59.34
of the day, look what happened.
00:27:59.37\00:28:01.78
"Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and
all the region around the Jordan
00:28:01.98\00:28:05.28
went out to him and
were baptized by him..."
00:28:05.38\00:28:08.75
They went out to
hear John's preaching.
00:28:08.78\00:28:10.72
And why did they
do this? Very simple.
00:28:10.75\00:28:13.39
Because despite how he
looked, despite how he ate,
00:28:13.42\00:28:18.23
despite how he
stood out in the crowd,
00:28:18.26\00:28:20.73
there was such a
power in his preaching,
00:28:20.83\00:28:24.03
there was such a
power in his message,
00:28:24.23\00:28:26.97
because he proclaimed
Christ, he lived Christ,
00:28:27.00\00:28:30.91
and he breathed Christ,
and he believed in Christ.
00:28:30.94\00:28:34.68
And Christ was exuberating
through him to the people.
00:28:34.71\00:28:38.21
And because of that,
there was a power in his message
00:28:38.25\00:28:42.45
and in his life that
drew the people to him
00:28:42.48\00:28:46.32
despite the fact
that he looked different,
00:28:46.35\00:28:48.79
he ate different,
he lived different.
00:28:48.82\00:28:50.63
How many of you can say amen?
00:28:50.66\00:28:51.99
And that same truth
is true for us today.
00:28:52.39\00:28:54.90
If we live our lives faithful
to God in every circumstance
00:28:54.93\00:28:59.63
that we can, God is
going to give us a power,
00:28:59.67\00:29:03.20
He's going to give us a
sweetness about our life,
00:29:03.24\00:29:06.44
a kindness, a love, and a
directness that's going to
00:29:06.47\00:29:09.91
draw people to the
Savior through our lives.
00:29:09.94\00:29:13.52
How many of you want
to have that experience?
00:29:13.55\00:29:15.75
We must submit
ourselves to God, amen?
00:29:16.25\00:29:19.15
So John comes and
he says to the people,
00:29:19.69\00:29:22.29
to the Pharisees
and Sadducees that came,
00:29:23.63\00:29:26.49
and he said, "Brood of vipers!
00:29:26.53\00:29:27.96
Who warned you to flee..."
00:29:28.00\00:29:29.33
And look in verse 9.
00:29:29.80\00:29:31.13
Here is the
point of the culture.
00:29:31.63\00:29:33.44
He says, "...and do not
think to say to yourselves,
00:29:33.80\00:29:36.87
'We have...'" Who?
00:29:36.91\00:29:38.24
"'We have
Abraham as our father.'
00:29:38.41\00:29:41.01
For I say to you that God
is able to raise up children
00:29:41.04\00:29:43.78
to Abraham from these stones."
00:29:43.81\00:29:45.95
The Pharisees and the
Sadducees were relying upon
00:29:48.58\00:29:51.45
their religious
culture rather than having
00:29:51.49\00:29:55.09
true godly simple
earnest faith in Christ Jesus.
00:29:55.12\00:30:03.23
And John the Baptist
said, "Don't even think about
00:30:04.73\00:30:08.40
saying that, 'We are
the sons of Abraham.'"
00:30:08.84\00:30:12.54
And you know,
there are people today
00:30:13.91\00:30:15.91
in God's church who will say,
"Well I'm a fifth generation
00:30:16.95\00:30:21.45
Seventh-day Adventist."
00:30:21.48\00:30:22.95
"I'm a fourth generation."
00:30:24.92\00:30:26.55
"I'm a direct descendant
of..." Fill in the blank.
00:30:26.82\00:30:31.09
And sometimes people, I
think, have this exuberant
00:30:31.59\00:30:34.70
pride about that.
00:30:34.73\00:30:36.40
And they think to themselves
that somehow because they
00:30:37.03\00:30:40.07
have a cultural
ancestral genetic connection
00:30:40.10\00:30:44.64
or multi-generational lineage
that it somehow gives them
00:30:44.84\00:30:49.64
a ticket into heaven.
00:30:50.88\00:30:52.21
But let me tell you what,
friends, and don't forget this,
00:30:54.55\00:30:57.32
God does not have grandchildren.
00:30:58.69\00:31:02.22
God does not have grandchildren.
00:31:06.09\00:31:08.93
He only has children.
00:31:10.07\00:31:12.67
How many can say amen?
00:31:13.64\00:31:15.00
We cannot get
into heaven based upon
00:31:16.64\00:31:19.77
the coat tails of our parents
faith, or our grandparents,
00:31:21.68\00:31:25.31
or whoever.
00:31:25.35\00:31:26.68
Only by knowing Jesus
Christ ourselves personally
00:31:27.42\00:31:31.15
and being transformed
by His grace personally
00:31:31.62\00:31:33.92
will we find
our way into heaven.
00:31:33.96\00:31:35.46
Are you with me?
00:31:35.86\00:31:37.19
Someone, a wise
pastor, told me once,
00:31:39.56\00:31:42.43
and it's a powerful statement,
00:31:42.63\00:31:45.20
he said, "Being born
in the truth is not the
00:31:45.53\00:31:49.67
same as being true."
00:31:49.70\00:31:51.67
"Being born in the truth is
not the same as being true."
00:31:52.84\00:31:56.81
There's only one
way to be true, friends.
00:31:56.85\00:31:58.98
And that's to
look to the true God
00:31:59.35\00:32:01.15
and to have faith in
what His Son has done
00:32:01.58\00:32:04.42
and can and
will do in our lives.
00:32:04.45\00:32:06.86
By putting our faith
and trust wholly in Him
00:32:06.89\00:32:09.69
and nothing
else, and no one else.
00:32:10.13\00:32:12.29
Now let's go
quickly to John chapter 6.
00:32:13.76\00:32:16.20
John chapter 6, another powerful
story here that illustrates
00:32:16.30\00:32:20.34
the difference
between faith and culture.
00:32:20.37\00:32:23.84
John chapter 6, Jesus had
just fed the five thousand.
00:32:24.11\00:32:30.15
Right? You know the story?
00:32:30.55\00:32:32.08
In verses 1 through 14,
He feeds the five thousand.
00:32:32.25\00:32:36.65
And then later in the
chapter He comes back and He's
00:32:36.69\00:32:40.46
speaking to the folks again.
00:32:40.49\00:32:42.19
And He says in verse 26,
"Jesus answered them and said,
00:32:42.39\00:32:47.30
'Most assuredly, I say to
you, you seek Me, not because
00:32:47.33\00:32:51.20
you saw the signs,
but because you ate of the
00:32:51.23\00:32:54.74
loaves and were filled.'"
00:32:54.77\00:32:56.74
And then He says, "Do not labor
for the food which perishes,
00:32:58.17\00:33:01.24
but for the food which
endures to everlasting life,
00:33:01.28\00:33:04.45
which the Son of
Man will give you..."
00:33:04.75\00:33:07.55
What a beautiful promise.
00:33:08.32\00:33:09.82
"'...the Son of Man will
give you because God the Father
00:33:10.39\00:33:14.79
has set His seal upon Him.'
00:33:14.82\00:33:16.99
And then they said to
Him, 'What shall we do,
00:33:17.73\00:33:19.63
that we may work
the works of God?'
00:33:19.66\00:33:21.10
And Jesus answered and said to
them, 'This is the work of God,
00:33:21.13\00:33:26.33
that you believe in
Him whom He has sent.'"
00:33:26.74\00:33:31.11
And then He goes
on, down in verse 31,
00:33:32.11\00:33:34.44
they begin to argue with Him.
00:33:34.48\00:33:36.01
And they say, "'Our fathers
ate the manna in the desert;
00:33:36.21\00:33:38.85
and He gave them
something to eat.'
00:33:38.95\00:33:40.42
Then Jesus said to them,
'Most assuredly, I say to you,
00:33:40.45\00:33:42.38
Moses did not give
you the bread from heaven,
00:33:42.42\00:33:44.75
but My Father gives you
the true bread from heaven.
00:33:45.09\00:33:47.36
For the bread of God is
He who comes down from heaven
00:33:47.46\00:33:51.46
and gives life to the world.'"
00:33:51.66\00:33:54.46
That's the true bread.
00:33:55.86\00:33:57.20
That's the true thing
to have faith in, amen?
00:33:57.23\00:33:59.73
Then the beautiful words
that He says in verse 35,
00:34:00.07\00:34:03.07
"And Jesus said to
them, 'I am the bread of life.
00:34:03.10\00:34:06.31
He who comes to Me
shall never hunger,
00:34:06.34\00:34:08.24
and he who believes
in Me shall never thirst.
00:34:08.44\00:34:12.11
But I said to you
that you have seen Me
00:34:12.38\00:34:15.95
and yet do not believe.'"
00:34:16.55\00:34:19.49
Very interesting.
00:34:19.52\00:34:20.86
The Jews in Jesus' day,
they were following a culture
00:34:20.89\00:34:23.73
because it had
brought great prosperity,
00:34:23.76\00:34:26.76
but they missed the point
that the culture that they lived
00:34:26.80\00:34:29.90
was to lead them to have faith.
00:34:29.93\00:34:32.63
And they didn't have
the faith, but they were
00:34:33.94\00:34:35.70
boasting in the culture.
00:34:35.74\00:34:37.37
And when the essence of
all faith came and stood
00:34:37.51\00:34:40.98
in their midst, they
did not recognize Him.
00:34:41.01\00:34:43.81
They did not know Him.
00:34:44.11\00:34:45.45
Is it possible today
that some are so enriched
00:34:45.48\00:34:48.95
in an Adventist
culture that we have forgotten
00:34:48.98\00:34:52.52
the One whom we worship
and the One who's coming soon?
00:34:52.55\00:34:55.82
We've forgotten the very
purpose and the very essence
00:34:55.86\00:34:58.63
and the very reason
that we exist as God's church
00:34:58.83\00:35:02.10
in the last days; is
to proclaim to the world
00:35:02.13\00:35:05.03
to have living faith in
the Christ who died for them
00:35:05.07\00:35:08.00
and who is coming
again soon in the clouds of
00:35:08.04\00:35:09.90
heaven to take them home.
00:35:09.94\00:35:11.27
Have we forgotten this?
00:35:12.04\00:35:13.48
They follow Jesus because
of the loaves and the fishes,
00:35:13.98\00:35:18.25
not for His
presence in their lives.
00:35:18.45\00:35:21.58
They ate from His
hands but not from His heart.
00:35:22.82\00:35:27.86
And dear friends, we must
partake of the heart of Jesus.
00:35:30.03\00:35:36.10
Because in His heart is
the place where you and I
00:35:37.57\00:35:42.14
are to spend eternity.
00:35:43.71\00:35:45.17
There's only one you,
and there's only one me.
00:35:46.57\00:35:50.21
No one else can take
your place in God's heart,
00:35:51.41\00:35:56.25
in God's kingdom.
00:35:56.69\00:35:58.09
We must have that
personal connection with Him.
00:35:58.79\00:36:01.62
But the Jews followed
Jesus to have their stomachs
00:36:03.32\00:36:05.99
filled with the bread
rather than their hearts
00:36:06.03\00:36:08.93
filled with His spirit.
00:36:08.96\00:36:10.43
And I pray to God, and I
know that there are many today
00:36:10.97\00:36:14.30
who are having
that same experience
00:36:14.70\00:36:17.04
while looking at the
Scriptures and saying,
00:36:17.24\00:36:19.71
"How could those
Jews possibly do that,"
00:36:19.74\00:36:22.78
while they themselves
are living the same lie.
00:36:22.88\00:36:26.35
And when He revealed who the
bread really was, they scoffed.
00:36:28.32\00:36:33.69
They scoffed.
00:36:33.96\00:36:35.29
And they wanted to make Him
king because He would feed them
00:36:35.99\00:36:39.49
and fill their
bellies, not because He could
00:36:41.20\00:36:45.13
change their hearts.
00:36:45.17\00:36:46.94
That is not what they wanted.
00:36:47.37\00:36:48.87
Religious culture, dear friends,
wishes to sit at Jesus' feet,
00:36:49.70\00:36:52.91
but only to be fed conveniently
in this life without any
00:36:52.94\00:36:57.41
discomfort or
preparation for the next life.
00:36:57.45\00:37:01.55
If we embrace a
culture without the faith,
00:37:03.35\00:37:05.15
this is what we will do.
00:37:05.19\00:37:06.52
There are those who wish
to be fed in this life only
00:37:06.79\00:37:09.32
while sitting at Jesus'
feet, and they want Jesus
00:37:09.36\00:37:11.56
to feed them physical
bread but not spiritual.
00:37:11.59\00:37:14.73
And biblical faith,
true biblical faith,
00:37:15.13\00:37:17.67
true Adventist faith,
will seek the spiritual bread
00:37:17.70\00:37:21.94
even at the expense
of the temporal bread,
00:37:21.97\00:37:25.47
of the earthly bread.
00:37:26.11\00:37:27.44
People who are truly hungry,
people who are truly thirsting,
00:37:29.01\00:37:32.58
will even reject the
physical bread, if need be,
00:37:32.68\00:37:36.18
to embrace that
which is spiritual.
00:37:36.95\00:37:38.85
How many of you want to
have that kind of mindset?
00:37:39.65\00:37:41.69
Dear friends, some of
us are earthly and fleshly.
00:37:41.89\00:37:44.46
I know myself, if I
don't stay close to the Savior,
00:37:44.49\00:37:47.20
it doesn't matter
that I'm a pastor,
00:37:47.23\00:37:49.06
I will begin to drift.
00:37:49.10\00:37:50.67
Pastors have no special power.
00:37:50.70\00:37:53.07
They have no special
ability, no special connection.
00:37:53.10\00:37:56.44
We have the same
connection that Jesus had.
00:37:56.64\00:37:59.11
If Jesus had no
advantage over us, then how does
00:37:59.14\00:38:02.34
the pastor have any advantage?
00:38:02.38\00:38:03.71
You understand?
00:38:03.75\00:38:05.08
We must seek
that spiritual bread.
00:38:05.11\00:38:06.45
And it must become the priority
and the number one thing
00:38:06.48\00:38:09.52
that consumes our lives.
00:38:09.62\00:38:10.95
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33,
"Seek ye first the..." What?
00:38:10.99\00:38:15.66
"...the kingdom and
all His righteousness,
00:38:15.76\00:38:17.73
and all these things
will be added unto you."
00:38:17.76\00:38:21.00
And now we draw to the
bottom; our time today.
00:38:21.40\00:38:25.60
We went from
Genesis, to the gospels,
00:38:25.63\00:38:29.14
and now our time today.
00:38:29.34\00:38:31.17
In Matthew chapter 25, if
you will turn there with me,
00:38:31.34\00:38:35.58
Matthew chapter 25 tells
the parable of the ten virgins.
00:38:35.84\00:38:40.55
And these virgins...
00:38:40.72\00:38:42.05
I will just paraphrase this,
but you can read it on your own.
00:38:42.08\00:38:45.39
Matthew chapter 25, these
ten virgins took their lamps out
00:38:45.42\00:38:49.49
to meet the bridegroom.
00:38:49.52\00:38:50.86
And it's a symbol of
God's people in the last days
00:38:50.89\00:38:53.43
who are preparing for the second
coming of Jesus, you understand.
00:38:53.60\00:38:57.77
It says that they had their
lamps and went out to meet him.
00:38:57.93\00:39:00.67
"Five were wise
and five were foolish.
00:39:00.97\00:39:02.87
And those that were
foolish took their lamps
00:39:02.90\00:39:04.54
and took no oil with them.
00:39:04.57\00:39:06.07
But the wise took oil in
their vessels with their lamps.
00:39:06.21\00:39:08.64
And while the
bridegroom was delayed, they all
00:39:08.68\00:39:10.61
slumbered and slept.
00:39:10.65\00:39:11.98
And at midnight a cry was heard,
00:39:12.01\00:39:13.62
'Behold, the
bridegroom is coming;
00:39:13.65\00:39:15.28
go out to meet him!'
00:39:15.38\00:39:16.95
Then all those virgins
arose and trimmed their lamps.
00:39:17.09\00:39:19.45
And the foolish said to the
wise, 'Give us some of your oil,
00:39:19.49\00:39:21.96
for our lamps are going out.'
00:39:21.99\00:39:23.83
But the wise answered saying,
'No, lest there should not be
00:39:23.96\00:39:27.10
enough for us and for you;
but go rather to those who sell,
00:39:27.13\00:39:31.23
and buy for yourselves.'
00:39:31.57\00:39:33.23
And while they went to
buy, the bridegroom came,
00:39:34.07\00:39:36.14
and those who were ready
went in with him to the wedding;
00:39:36.17\00:39:39.01
and the door was shut."
00:39:39.57\00:39:41.14
These ten virgins are
a symbol of God's church
00:39:41.51\00:39:44.15
in the last days, very simply.
00:39:44.18\00:39:45.68
The lamps they carry,
in Psalm 119 it says that,
00:39:45.71\00:39:48.98
"Thy word is a lamp unto my
feet and a light unto my path."
00:39:49.02\00:39:52.99
The lamp is a
symbol of the word of God
00:39:53.02\00:39:55.02
that they had in their hand.
00:39:55.06\00:39:56.39
And if you noticed
that all ten of the virgins
00:39:56.42\00:40:00.46
had lamps, yes or no?
00:40:00.50\00:40:02.00
All ten had lamps.
00:40:02.53\00:40:03.87
So in other words, all
ten had the word of God.
00:40:03.90\00:40:06.43
In other words, all of
God's people knew the truth
00:40:07.70\00:40:10.77
in the last days.
00:40:10.81\00:40:12.14
But only five had
oil, five did not.
00:40:12.17\00:40:14.64
Oil being a symbol of
the Holy Spirit, correct?
00:40:14.68\00:40:18.11
It's very interesting.
00:40:18.65\00:40:19.98
It prophetically describes the
distinct division that exists
00:40:20.42\00:40:25.05
between God's
people in the last days.
00:40:25.09\00:40:27.39
And dear friends, there is a
division in the church today.
00:40:27.59\00:40:30.19
I mean, our churches are
united on the core beliefs,
00:40:30.66\00:40:32.89
but there are
different divisions that
00:40:32.93\00:40:35.03
take place in the church.
00:40:35.06\00:40:36.46
But just because we
have difference of opinion
00:40:36.50\00:40:38.47
doesn't mean
we're not united, right?
00:40:38.50\00:40:40.50
But this is
talking about a division of
00:40:40.84\00:40:42.50
faith versus culture.
00:40:42.54\00:40:44.14
Very interesting.
00:40:44.51\00:40:45.84
There are those Adventists
today, and I would call them
00:40:46.04\00:40:49.54
cultural Adventists,
cultural Christians...
00:40:49.58\00:40:52.68
No matter what faith they are,
there's always true and false
00:40:52.71\00:40:55.82
in every bunch, isn't that true?
00:40:55.85\00:40:57.95
Cultural Adventists who
have secluded themselves
00:40:58.59\00:41:01.09
from the world have
understood truth but still enjoy
00:41:01.12\00:41:06.19
the world's pleasures.
00:41:06.23\00:41:08.13
They have forgotten that
we are pilgrims in this world.
00:41:12.70\00:41:17.57
In this world as
Christians, we are simply
00:41:18.71\00:41:21.54
passing through.
00:41:21.88\00:41:23.65
Yes or no?
00:41:23.75\00:41:25.08
We are passing through.
00:41:25.11\00:41:26.45
We are not making roots,
we are not making anchors.
00:41:26.48\00:41:29.08
How ironic,
Anchors Of Truth, right?
00:41:29.12\00:41:31.12
We are not putting
anchors in this world,
00:41:31.15\00:41:33.32
but we are passing through.
00:41:33.36\00:41:35.06
And so if we are
passing through, we need not
00:41:35.16\00:41:38.33
anything that is
weighing us down, yes or no?
00:41:38.36\00:41:41.26
Nothing that's weighing us down.
00:41:41.46\00:41:43.16
Those who profess Christ
without having a testimony
00:41:43.50\00:41:49.34
of a changed life by
divine grace can truly only
00:41:49.54\00:41:54.78
testify that they are
a part of a nice culture
00:41:54.81\00:41:58.68
rather than a divine faith.
00:41:59.18\00:42:01.08
And let me tell you, friends,
I have met many of them.
00:42:02.98\00:42:05.12
You probably have too.
00:42:05.45\00:42:06.79
Sometimes they may
appear to be drinking from the
00:42:08.49\00:42:12.06
water of Gilboa, the hills
of Gilboa, but they're as dry
00:42:12.99\00:42:17.07
as the valley of dead
bones and as whitewashed
00:42:17.63\00:42:21.60
as the tombs and the
Pharisees that Jesus called
00:42:21.87\00:42:25.97
whitewashed tombs.
00:42:26.01\00:42:27.51
I hope tonight that none
of us fall into that camp.
00:42:28.54\00:42:31.35
But there may be those,
and I know that there are those
00:42:32.75\00:42:35.65
within in the church,
because in every church
00:42:35.88\00:42:37.39
in every age there have
been them, who have been dry,
00:42:37.42\00:42:41.16
who have been unconverted,
who have not sought repentance
00:42:41.52\00:42:45.46
and true faith in Christ.
00:42:45.49\00:42:47.36
They've embraced a nice culture,
but they have not embraced
00:42:47.46\00:42:50.73
the living Christ.
00:42:50.77\00:42:52.10
And we need to
have that experience.
00:42:52.13\00:42:53.47
What do you think tonight?
00:42:53.50\00:42:54.94
So without an entire
surrender of the will,
00:42:55.17\00:42:57.51
we do not experience Christ.
00:42:57.54\00:42:59.47
And without this,
they neither come to Christ
00:42:59.51\00:43:02.94
nor deny themselves
to lead others to Christ.
00:43:03.04\00:43:06.31
You know, friends, one
of the greatest evidences
00:43:06.35\00:43:08.95
of a transformed changed
life is someone who will tell
00:43:08.98\00:43:12.55
someone else about Jesus.
00:43:12.59\00:43:14.72
To be able to
witness and to testify of His
00:43:15.26\00:43:17.69
goodness in your life.
00:43:17.73\00:43:19.06
To be able to share the truth,
to be excited to share the
00:43:19.09\00:43:21.96
truth with those around them.
00:43:22.00\00:43:23.37
That is a fruit
of a converted life.
00:43:23.40\00:43:26.13
And I find many people...
00:43:26.17\00:43:27.50
Now it's okay,
sometimes people are shy, amen?
00:43:27.54\00:43:30.17
You can still be shy
and excited about sharing
00:43:30.27\00:43:32.97
Jesus in some way, amen?
00:43:33.01\00:43:34.78
But if people are, "Well, you
know, I don't know if I'm..."
00:43:35.04\00:43:37.48
No, friends, when we are changed
and we have the grace of God
00:43:37.65\00:43:40.38
in our lives, we want to share
Jesus with others, don't we?
00:43:40.42\00:43:42.88
We are excited and we
are thrilled to do this.
00:43:42.92\00:43:46.02
This is very interesting
that a culture wants deliverance
00:43:46.55\00:43:50.83
from evil but not from sin.
00:43:50.86\00:43:56.43
Think about that.
00:43:57.80\00:43:59.13
And consequently, when
this happens they seek their own
00:44:00.84\00:44:03.27
kingdom rather than God's.
00:44:03.30\00:44:05.04
Rather than God's.
00:44:06.34\00:44:07.68
The new heart actively seeks
to share Jesus in everything.
00:44:09.21\00:44:15.95
It actively seeks to promote
His kingdom and not our own.
00:44:16.05\00:44:19.22
The new heart is
filled with the power of God
00:44:22.42\00:44:24.56
and the power of grace
because it is under the
00:44:24.59\00:44:26.46
direct leadership of Christ.
00:44:26.49\00:44:29.46
What about your life tonight?
00:44:30.17\00:44:31.80
Whoever you are or
wherever you're watching,
00:44:33.00\00:44:34.87
what about your life?
00:44:34.90\00:44:36.27
Which camp do you fall into?
00:44:37.57\00:44:39.51
I pray today that we
have all searched our hearts
00:44:41.31\00:44:44.95
and we know
which place we're at.
00:44:45.68\00:44:48.12
And if we find ourself
in the camp of culture only,
00:44:48.22\00:44:52.22
that we will flee to
Christ and seek repentance.
00:44:54.12\00:44:58.19
Amen?
00:44:58.23\00:44:59.56
True biblical faith uses
God's commandments and counsel
00:45:04.13\00:45:06.90
not merely as church
rules, but as beautiful truth
00:45:06.94\00:45:11.27
from Christ Himself, amen?
00:45:11.31\00:45:13.04
Because Jesus is the Word.
00:45:13.27\00:45:14.78
It will also accept the
plain truth of the Bible and the
00:45:15.34\00:45:18.98
spirit of prophecy with
joy, recognizing that sometimes
00:45:19.01\00:45:22.48
God's gives us direct rebukes
and He brings cutting truth
00:45:22.52\00:45:26.65
to our hearts because He
loves us and He wants to set us
00:45:26.69\00:45:30.63
on the right path.
00:45:30.73\00:45:32.06
How many of you
are thankful for that?
00:45:32.09\00:45:33.43
There are some people that
see the direct rebuke from God
00:45:33.50\00:45:38.07
or a hard thing, and they
say, "Man, that's too hard.
00:45:38.10\00:45:41.20
Surely we serve a God of
grace, and He doesn't believe in
00:45:41.24\00:45:44.74
those kind of
hard things anymore."
00:45:44.77\00:45:46.61
Well we're told in,
Testimonies For The Church,
00:45:46.94\00:45:49.64
that one of the last deceptions,
one of the last attempts
00:45:49.84\00:45:53.21
of the enemy in the last
days is that he will try to get
00:45:53.25\00:45:56.48
people to believe that
the requirements of God
00:45:56.52\00:45:59.72
are not as stern and
strict as they once were.
00:45:59.75\00:46:03.29
Very interesting.
00:46:03.93\00:46:05.26
But through the power of grace,
through Jesus living within me,
00:46:05.29\00:46:08.73
is it not possible to live
by every word that precedes
00:46:08.76\00:46:11.70
out of the mouth of God?
00:46:11.73\00:46:13.07
If Jesus truly
lives within me by faith,
00:46:13.10\00:46:16.00
then nothing is
impossible in my life.
00:46:16.04\00:46:18.77
What do you think?
00:46:18.81\00:46:20.14
And if Jesus lives within, that
means I'm surrendered to Him.
00:46:20.31\00:46:23.78
Anything less, dear
friends, of these things
00:46:24.38\00:46:27.88
is a sure indicator that one
is merely a cultural Adventist,
00:46:28.58\00:46:34.46
a cultural Christian, that does
not possess Adventist faith.
00:46:34.49\00:46:40.33
We need
Adventist faith, don't we?
00:46:41.96\00:46:43.80
Not just a culture.
00:46:44.33\00:46:45.67
Now I have a chart here
that's very interesting.
00:46:45.70\00:46:47.57
I want to share it with you.
00:46:47.80\00:46:49.14
And we're going to go through
some of the different tenants
00:46:49.50\00:46:52.71
of culture versus faith.
00:46:52.74\00:46:54.48
Are you ready for this?
00:46:54.51\00:46:55.84
They're going to be
on the screen as well.
00:46:55.88\00:46:57.21
The Adventist culture will
say, "I believe in the Bible."
00:46:57.28\00:47:00.62
It sounds good, doesn't it?
00:47:00.72\00:47:02.05
The Adventist faith will
say, "The Bible has changed me."
00:47:02.78\00:47:06.49
Adventist culture will say...
00:47:07.79\00:47:09.19
The Adventist faith will say...
00:47:10.96\00:47:12.29
An Adventist culture will say...
00:47:25.27\00:47:26.84
But an Adventist faith says...
00:47:32.91\00:47:34.25
How many of you can say amen?
00:48:15.16\00:48:16.59
I hear people all the time say,
00:48:22.66\00:48:24.00
"I'm so
thankful for my Sabbath."
00:48:24.03\00:48:25.70
And I'm not saying that's
necessarily wrong or evil.
00:48:26.17\00:48:29.04
You understand?
But it's the mindset.
00:48:29.07\00:48:31.17
But an Adventist
faith will say...
00:48:31.34\00:48:32.84
We're all sinners. Amen?
00:49:00.50\00:49:03.17
Not amen.
00:49:04.21\00:49:05.54
But amen that Jesus
gives us the victory, yes?
00:49:05.71\00:49:08.51
Amen. Alright.
00:49:08.54\00:49:09.88
"He knows my heart.
00:49:12.25\00:49:13.58
I don't have to worry
about all these things."
00:49:13.65\00:49:15.55
But an Adventist
faith will say...
00:49:15.58\00:49:16.92
"He owns me, He knows me."
00:49:18.69\00:49:20.86
I might say, "faith,"
when I should say, "culture."
00:50:04.73\00:50:07.34
You'll forgive me.
You'll know what I mean.
00:50:07.37\00:50:09.37
Culture will say, "I
am not into prophecy.
00:50:48.61\00:50:51.21
I don't really care for it.
00:50:51.25\00:50:52.81
I don't like it,
it's scary to me."
00:50:52.85\00:50:55.08
But faith says...
00:50:55.12\00:50:56.45
Dear friends, there is
a big difference between
00:51:35.52\00:51:39.03
culture and faith
living in these last days.
00:51:39.06\00:51:43.16
An Adventist
culture is worthless
00:51:43.73\00:51:47.17
in the judgment of God.
00:51:47.94\00:51:50.11
It cannot give an answer
for your sins in the judgment.
00:51:51.34\00:51:56.24
An Adventist culture
does not empower us to live
00:51:56.98\00:52:00.08
above the world, but
only comfortably in it.
00:52:00.12\00:52:04.02
But an Adventist faith in
Christ Jesus and Him alone
00:52:04.62\00:52:08.46
can take us to new heights and
give us victory after victory
00:52:08.66\00:52:12.83
in our lives when we
place our lives and our wills
00:52:12.86\00:52:15.76
in God's hands.
00:52:15.80\00:52:17.30
A culture sits in the pew week
after week not being changed
00:52:19.07\00:52:22.77
or seeking to help others.
00:52:23.20\00:52:25.01
And a culture will
ultimately deny Christ.
00:52:25.04\00:52:29.31
A culture knows it
should trust completely in God,
00:52:31.61\00:52:33.95
but a faith actually does it.
00:52:33.98\00:52:35.82
A culture is
indifferent to the church,
00:52:37.39\00:52:40.02
and sometimes maybe will
just come for Sabbath church
00:52:40.06\00:52:45.29
and not Sabbath
school, or whatever.
00:52:45.33\00:52:48.20
We don't come to prayer meeting.
00:52:48.50\00:52:49.83
We're just kind of hunky-dory.
00:52:49.86\00:52:52.07
We just kind of
float through life.
00:52:52.10\00:52:54.80
But a living faith has
the deepest interest of the
00:52:56.40\00:52:59.14
church in mind in every decision
that we make in this life.
00:52:59.17\00:53:03.55
Sometimes we can say,
"I'll just take my nap
00:53:07.85\00:53:12.02
in the afternoon on Sabbath.
00:53:12.52\00:53:14.22
I'll pay my tithes.
00:53:15.89\00:53:17.49
I'll do my duty.
00:53:18.53\00:53:19.89
And then I'm done."
00:53:21.96\00:53:23.30
Let me remind you, dear friends,
that there's nothing wrong with
00:53:25.27\00:53:30.44
biblical culture, Adventist
culture, as long as it is
00:53:30.47\00:53:34.94
driven by Adventist faith.
00:53:34.98\00:53:37.31
And if we have faith in Jesus,
and Jesus by faith is living
00:53:38.18\00:53:43.12
within us, our
faith will be fireproof.
00:53:43.15\00:53:47.46
And there is nothing that
Satan can bring against us
00:53:47.86\00:53:51.06
that will prosper, amen?
00:53:51.23\00:53:52.89
Nothing at all.
00:53:53.63\00:53:54.96
For many of us today
we are living in Laodicea,
00:53:55.46\00:53:58.13
and we need a
powerful revival in our lives.
00:53:58.17\00:54:01.14
How many of you want to
have revival in your life?
00:54:01.17\00:54:03.07
How many of you want
to look to Jesus first?
00:54:03.61\00:54:05.84
And dear friends, that is
the only thing that's going to
00:54:06.04\00:54:08.64
pass us from
this life to the next.
00:54:08.68\00:54:11.18
So are you experiencing
today merely a culture
00:54:11.21\00:54:16.32
or are you experiencing
living faith in your life?
00:54:16.69\00:54:19.55
Are you walking with Jesus
day by day as we are marching
00:54:19.59\00:54:23.43
one step and one
step into eternity?
00:54:23.73\00:54:28.53
It's my prayer today that
we are having that experience.
00:54:29.73\00:54:33.20
And our answer today
is of eternal consequence.
00:54:34.24\00:54:38.87
You see, to have an Adventist
faith, to have a living faith,
00:54:39.67\00:54:42.21
to be in Jesus' presence
daily, this is the remedy
00:54:42.68\00:54:47.65
for Laodicea today.
00:54:47.68\00:54:49.08
To be renewed, to be
revived, to be re-energized
00:54:49.85\00:54:53.69
by the Holy Spirit coming into
our hearts and transforming us
00:54:53.72\00:54:57.96
by divine grace.
00:54:58.16\00:54:59.73
We must have it.
00:55:00.03\00:55:01.36
Is that your experience today?
00:55:03.06\00:55:05.20
I pray tonight that it is.
00:55:05.60\00:55:07.00
And if it's not, dear friends,
there is great hope, amen?
00:55:07.04\00:55:10.71
Because we can
flee to the Lord Jesus.
00:55:10.97\00:55:13.88
And if we flee to Him, He will
bring that faith into our hearts
00:55:13.91\00:55:19.01
and He will transform our lives
into all that He wants us to be,
00:55:19.05\00:55:22.75
if we will just come to Him.
00:55:22.78\00:55:24.12
So if you find yourself in
that camp tonight, and you say,
00:55:24.15\00:55:26.92
"I've had just
culture, I don't have faith.
00:55:26.96\00:55:29.52
I don't know what to do.
00:55:29.56\00:55:30.89
I'm unsure
about what I believe."
00:55:30.93\00:55:33.29
Just take a step
to Jesus tonight.
00:55:33.33\00:55:36.33
Just reach your hand
out to Him wherever you are,
00:55:36.53\00:55:39.60
whatever circumstance you're in.
00:55:39.63\00:55:40.97
You may have been in the
church for 30, 40, 50 years.
00:55:41.00\00:55:44.21
There is a man one time
in the church, and he said,
00:55:44.37\00:55:47.31
"You know," he went
to the pastor and said,
00:55:47.34\00:55:49.78
"I'm afraid I'm not converted."
00:55:49.88\00:55:51.51
And the pastor
said, "Yes, I know.
00:55:51.55\00:55:52.91
I've been praying
for you for many years."
00:55:52.95\00:55:54.75
And that day he found Christ.
00:55:54.78\00:55:56.79
Just take one
step towards Jesus.
00:55:56.82\00:55:58.79
He'll take a step towards you.
00:55:58.82\00:56:00.42
He'll reach you where you're at.
00:56:00.46\00:56:01.79
Reach out your
arm in faith to Him
00:56:01.89\00:56:04.03
and He'll take you by
the hand and He won't let go.
00:56:04.06\00:56:05.99
I remember, friends,
when I sick with cancer.
00:56:07.70\00:56:10.23
I was on my deathbed.
00:56:11.60\00:56:12.93
I told you that
story last night.
00:56:12.97\00:56:14.54
And after God healed me,
I went about and I thought,
00:56:15.00\00:56:18.91
"You know, God, You raised
me up to preach Your word,
00:56:18.94\00:56:22.48
to preach Your message."
00:56:22.51\00:56:23.91
And then later I read a
letter that was to a man,
00:56:24.65\00:56:27.35
and the letter said that God...
00:56:27.38\00:56:30.15
It was to another man
who had been on his deathbed.
00:56:30.69\00:56:32.89
And the letter said, "God
did not raise you up because of
00:56:32.92\00:56:35.46
any virtue in
yourself, but because you were
00:56:35.49\00:56:38.76
unprepared to die.
00:56:38.79\00:56:41.20
And there was only
by the mercy of God
00:56:41.76\00:56:45.13
that He saved your life."
00:56:45.47\00:56:47.00
And when I read that letter,
friends, I wept and I cried.
00:56:47.64\00:56:52.24
And I poured my
heart out to God.
00:56:52.34\00:56:54.88
And that day, He
changed my life forever.
00:56:54.91\00:56:58.51
I knew what it meant to
have a living faith in Christ.
00:56:58.81\00:57:02.12
My whole life was
dependent upon Him.
00:57:02.38\00:57:04.22
How about you tonight?
00:57:04.25\00:57:05.59
Do you want your life to
be totally dependent upon
00:57:05.79\00:57:08.92
the Lord Jesus and
nothing else, nothing less,
00:57:08.96\00:57:13.03
than Christ Himself?
00:57:14.33\00:57:15.66
Is that your desire?
00:57:15.70\00:57:17.03
Let's pray tonight.
00:57:17.07\00:57:18.40
Father, we thank You so much
for the promise of living faith,
00:57:18.43\00:57:21.34
for the hope of eternal life.
00:57:21.37\00:57:22.70
I pray tonight
that wherever we are,
00:57:22.74\00:57:24.87
whoever is
watching this evening,
00:57:24.91\00:57:26.24
they would put their
faith and their trust in You,
00:57:26.27\00:57:28.71
and You would give them that
living faith that we all need
00:57:29.28\00:57:31.51
to pass in the judgment.
00:57:31.55\00:57:33.21
This is our prayer tonight.
00:57:33.31\00:57:34.65
We pray it in Jesus' name, amen.
00:57:34.68\00:57:37.19