Welcome to Anchors Of Truth,
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live from the
3ABN Worship Center.
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Hello friends and welcome
to 3ABN, the worship center.
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We're live here in Thompsonville
or West Frankfort, Illinois.
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We're right on that
line between the two towns.
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But welcome to Anchors Of
Truth with Pastor Wes Peppers.
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It's been a blessing.
It's already program number 5.
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And it's hard to
believe. It's gone by quickly.
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And today's message is called,
The Second Coming, Squared.
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Now he has some neat titles
to his sermons, I have to say.
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Now he's the
senior pastor of the
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Lansing
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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And he and his wife
are a fantastic team.
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It's been a blessing
having them here at 3ABN.
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Amen, I know Greg and myself
knew Pastor Wes and his wife
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just in passing.
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Meeting them at ASI,
GYC, something like that.
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But getting to know them here,
they're a precious dedicated
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couple; dedicated to
the Lord Jesus Christ,
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dedicated to
ministry, and to evangelism.
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I think Pastor Wes has
a heart for evangelism.
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It comes
through in his messages.
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And each one of the
messages that he has presented,
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the Holy Spirit has brought
conviction to my own heart.
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And just to realize
we are in the end times
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and Jesus is about
ready to come again.
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So we're excited about the
message he has for us today.
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The Second Coming, Squared.
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Before he will
present the word of God,
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Marion will be singing again.
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And her song is
entitled, When Love Was Slain.
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And it's a beautiful
thing, because the music
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prepares our hearts in a
special way for the message.
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Before she sings and
before he brings the message,
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let's bow our heads in prayer.
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Father in heaven, Lord,
we're grateful again for
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Your holy Sabbath day.
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Lord, this is Sabbath afternoon
here and, Lord, we just
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thank You for being
with Pastor Wes as he has
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brought us the
messages over this past week.
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Lord, we just pray for a
continued blessing upon him
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as he brings us
the message today.
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Lord, that it would not
be his words but it would be
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Your words, Lord, through him.
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He is the vessel.
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And Lord, we just all
want to be clay, Lord,
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that we want You to be
the Molder, Lord, of us.
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We don't want to be in
the way or stand in the way.
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So Father, as Your
words prick our hearts,
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Lord, that we would listen
and, Lord, that we would obey.
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We thank You again
for Your love for us.
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We thank You for Jesus Christ
and the gift of salvation.
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Lord, thank You that we
can turn to You at any moment,
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and You hear us, and we
know You answer our prayers.
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- In Jesus' name
we pray, amen. - Amen.
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This world is not my home,
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oh, this world is not my home.
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My home's been
made by heaven's throne;
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this world is not my home.
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This life is not my own,
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oh, this life is not my own.
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I am His and His alone;
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this life is not my own.
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I was bought
when Love was slain;
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what I cost to pay death's wage.
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Now ransomed, I
am freedom's slave;
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my Jesus raised
me from the grave.
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Come now and walk with me,
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oh, come now and walk with me.
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Together we the Lord shall meet;
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come now and walk with me.
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I was bought
when Love was slain;
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what I cost to pay death's wage.
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Now ransomed, I
am freedom's slave;
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my Jesus raised
me from the grave.
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Oh, I was bought
when Love was slain;
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what I cost to pay death's wage.
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Now ransomed, I
am freedom's slave;
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my Jesus raised
me from the grave.
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Soon Lord, very soon,
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oh, soon Lord, very soon,
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You'll come to
take me to be with You.
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Soon Lord, very soon.
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Good greetings again, friends.
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How are you today?
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It is good to be back with
you once again for our final
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meeting of Anchors Of
Truth for this series.
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And what a beautiful song, amen?
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When Love Was Slain.
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The ransom that was
paid for your life and mine
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that we might spend eternity
with our Lord and Savior.
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Aren't you so thankful
today for the redeeming grace
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that Jesus so freely
offers to each one of us?
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The price that He
was willing to pay.
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And you know, I was
reading just the other day,
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yesterday I believe it was,
in the book, Desire Of Ages.
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And I can't even
remember which chapter it was.
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Actually it was, The
Foreshadowing of the Cross,
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was the chapter I read.
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And the very first
couple of paragraphs mentioned
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that Jesus saw, even before
He stepped down to this earth,
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Jesus saw every wound
that He would receive,
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every ill word
that was spoken to Him,
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every time that someone
would speak something that would
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slight His heart, He saw
every single one of those times
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and He felt the pain of it.
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And yet He was
still willing to step down
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and come and die for us.
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What a beautiful
Savior we have. Amen?
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A precious wonderful Savior.
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Well our subject is,
The Second Coming, Squared.
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Somebody may say, "Well,
what does that have to do?"
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Well you're going
to find out, right?
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I always have these titles,
but the Lord always promises
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a precious
revelation from His Word. Amen?
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So let's just bow our
heads together and ask for His
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blessing one more time.
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Father, we thank You
so much that once again
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we can gather here
together for Anchors Of Truth
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and to open Your Word and
to study the true messages
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that You have for us.
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Lord, we have seen indeed that
we are living in the last days.
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We have seen that we are
a theater to the universe,
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that the whole
universe is watching
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and really
essentially cheering us on
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as we are transformed
back into the image of Jesus.
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And Lord, we want to pray
today that the second coming
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would be the hope and
the center of our lives,
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and that it would be
our focus and our thoughts
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on a daily basis.
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We ask just now that You
would send Your Holy Spirit
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to guide and direct our
hearts, to direct our minds,
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as we open Your Word.
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And we ask Your blessing.
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In Jesus' name we ask, amen.
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A beautiful passage that many of
us, I'm sure, are familiar with;
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Titus 2:13.
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Now in our last presentation,
we saw that the entire
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universe, essentially, through
the story of the prodigal son,
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the entire universe is
waiting for God's people
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to come back together. Amen?
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And I made that appeal
for those folks who maybe
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have left the church,
who have been watching online
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or have still been wrestling
with that, to come back.
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And that's what
Jesus is looking for. Amen?
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He's waiting for us to
come back to be one body
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and one people.
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And also I believe that
the whole universe is watching
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and waiting for that
second coming of Jesus.
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They are eagerly anticipating
the moment when God's people
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will finally be back with
Him face to face for eternity.
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How many of you, friends, are
looking forward to that time?
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Look with me in the
Bible at Titus 2:13.
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A beautiful passage that
we're very well familiar with.
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The Bible says,
"...looking for the blessed hope
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and glorious appearing
of our great God and Savior
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Jesus Christ, who
gave Himself for us,
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that He might redeem
us from every lawless deed
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and purify for Himself
His own special people,
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zealous for good works."
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Verse 15 says,
"Speak these things, exhort,
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and rebuke with all authority.
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Let no one..." What?
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"...despise you."
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And I believe today, friends,
that it has been the vision
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and the excitement of
the second coming of Jesus
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that has driven the
Adventist church into mission,
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and really into existence.
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And all the success that we've
had over the last 150 years
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as a church has all been
centered and focused around,
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yes Jesus dying on the cross,
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but also Jesus
coming again. Amen?
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But you know, it seems like
in the last days we have become
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a bit lethargic with our
vision, our hope, our belief
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that Jesus is
coming back to this world.
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You know, I hear people
talk all the time and they say,
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"Oh well, you know,
I've been hearing all my life
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that Jesus is coming back again.
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And I've heard all my life
that He's coming back soon.
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People told me
not to get married.
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People told me
not to go to college.
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People told me
not to have children.
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Because Jesus is coming soon.
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But time passed,
and Jesus has not come."
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Is it really true
that Jesus is coming again?
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What do you think, friends?
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Based upon what we've
already studied in our series,
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I believe that the
time is getting near.
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One thing we can be sure of,
one thing we can be certain of,
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is that every
single day that passes
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draws us one day closer
to the return of Jesus. Amen?
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It will come in His time.
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And you know, another passage
that I wanted to share with you
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that kind of illustrates
this, if you go with me
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to 2 Peter chapter 3.
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2 Peter chapter 3.
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And it's a very
powerful passage that I believe
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actually describes the day
in which we are now living.
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2 Peter chapter 3, and
notice what the Bible says here.
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We're going to start in verse 3.
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Peter here says,
"...knowing this first:
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that scoffers
will come..." When?
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"...in the last days,"
it says, "walking according
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to their own lusts, and
saying, 'Where is the promise
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of His coming?
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For since the fathers fell
asleep, all things continue
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as they were from the
beginning of creation.'"
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Isn't that interesting?
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Doesn't that sound like you've
heard people say that before?
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"Oh you know, I've
heard Jesus is coming,
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but He still hasn't come."
00:13:09.25\00:13:10.69
Well the Bible says
that we should be careful
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not to fall
into that temptation.
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Because when we begin
to fall into the temptation
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of believing, "Oh
we've been saying a long time
00:13:19.19\00:13:21.10
Jesus is coming, but
He's still not yet come.
00:13:21.13\00:13:23.47
All things are as
they were since before,"
00:13:23.50\00:13:25.73
we fall into the temptation
of getting comfortable.
00:13:25.77\00:13:31.31
And I believe
that's what has happened
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to many in the church today.
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We've become comfortable,
we've become settled,
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we've become eased.
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We've become just not
pilgrims in this world anymore,
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but we've become
citizens of this world.
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And Jesus tells us, "Do not
become citizens of this world."
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Do not join yourself,
as from our last talk,
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to the citizen
of this far country.
00:13:55.33\00:13:57.53
But align yourself
and look to another time
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when Jesus will come.
00:14:01.44\00:14:02.77
We should live every
day by faith that Jesus
00:14:02.80\00:14:05.07
is coming soon. Amen?
00:14:05.11\00:14:06.54
Because even if Jesus
doesn't come in our lifetime...
00:14:06.64\00:14:09.28
I think He probably will.
00:14:09.31\00:14:11.15
We don't know that for sure.
00:14:11.35\00:14:12.68
But even if He
doesn't come, that time for us
00:14:12.85\00:14:16.95
is going to come soon, isn't it,
when we pass from this earth.
00:14:16.99\00:14:20.39
And so we should always
be living with the vision
00:14:20.42\00:14:23.53
of the second coming before us.
00:14:23.56\00:14:25.13
And that's why I've
entitled this message,
00:14:25.16\00:14:28.43
The Second Coming, Squared.
00:14:28.46\00:14:30.73
Because I believe that
as we have lost our vision,
00:14:30.77\00:14:34.47
not completely lost
it, but as we've kind of
00:14:34.50\00:14:36.71
gotten lackadaisical and
sleepy in our vision of Jesus
00:14:36.97\00:14:41.48
coming soon, we need it to
come back exponentially. Amen?
00:14:41.51\00:14:46.11
We need it to come back.
00:14:46.15\00:14:47.48
You notice that's squared.
00:14:47.52\00:14:48.85
If you take two and
there's two squared,
00:14:48.88\00:14:51.32
that means you
multiply two by itself, right?
00:14:51.35\00:14:53.89
Two squared is four. I
think I got that right.
00:14:53.92\00:14:56.19
I was not so great in math.
00:14:56.29\00:14:58.33
Three squared I think would
be nine, or something like that.
00:14:58.36\00:15:01.50
Six, something along the lines.
00:15:01.53\00:15:03.23
It's nine, I believe it is.
00:15:03.26\00:15:04.87
I was never a math major.
00:15:04.97\00:15:06.70
But we need the vision of
the second coming of Jesus
00:15:06.90\00:15:10.87
to come back exponentially.
00:15:11.07\00:15:13.64
Not just in the church,
but in our hearts, amen?
00:15:13.68\00:15:17.48
In our lives.
00:15:17.51\00:15:18.91
And that every decision
that we make in this life,
00:15:18.95\00:15:21.98
as we are surrendered to Jesus,
we are making that decision
00:15:22.02\00:15:26.09
based upon the fact
and the context that Jesus
00:15:26.12\00:15:30.16
will one day come back.
00:15:30.19\00:15:31.56
We make a lot of
decisions, I believe, friends,
00:15:31.76\00:15:34.10
that are not eternal.
00:15:34.13\00:15:35.46
Just like I talked about my
truck, I backed into the tree.
00:15:36.13\00:15:40.67
And my friend said to
me, "That's not the truck
00:15:40.90\00:15:43.67
you're going to take to
heaven with you, is it?"
00:15:43.71\00:15:45.07
Right? Sometimes we make
these decisions in our lives
00:15:45.11\00:15:47.81
that are just very
earthly and temporally based.
00:15:47.84\00:15:50.58
But Jesus is calling us by
faith to look beyond this world
00:15:50.68\00:15:54.58
to what yet is to come.
00:15:54.62\00:15:56.45
Beyond what is seen
to what is unseen. Yes?
00:15:56.65\00:15:59.52
Now I find one of
the most beautiful books
00:15:59.92\00:16:03.36
on the second coming is actually
the book of 1 Thessalonians.
00:16:03.46\00:16:08.36
And you find a very beautiful
picture, a very consistent
00:16:08.40\00:16:13.67
picture, that the apostle Paul
gives us throughout the book
00:16:13.70\00:16:17.54
on the second coming.
00:16:17.64\00:16:18.97
So if you would,
turn there with me.
00:16:19.01\00:16:20.71
And that's where
we're going to spend most of
00:16:20.74\00:16:23.85
the rest of our time.
00:16:23.88\00:16:25.21
1 Thessalonians chapter 1.
00:16:25.48\00:16:29.08
And what you find throughout
the book of Thessalonians,
00:16:29.45\00:16:32.39
it's a very interesting
thing how this worked out,
00:16:32.42\00:16:35.06
but at the end of every chapter
in the book of Thessalonians
00:16:35.26\00:16:39.93
Paul gives us a
picture and a vision of the
00:16:40.03\00:16:44.20
second coming of Jesus.
00:16:44.23\00:16:45.70
And he gives some
aspect from that chapter
00:16:45.73\00:16:49.44
on how we need to be
ready for Jesus when He comes.
00:16:49.47\00:16:53.98
So are you ready to go
on this adventure today
00:16:54.01\00:16:56.18
talking about the second coming?
00:16:56.28\00:16:57.61
Are you ready for that?
00:16:57.65\00:16:58.98
Those of you watching,
are you ready for that?
00:16:59.01\00:17:00.75
We welcome you
as well, by the way.
00:17:00.78\00:17:02.12
I'm sorry I forgot
to do that earlier.
00:17:02.15\00:17:03.55
But we welcome you as well.
00:17:03.59\00:17:04.92
We're glad you're here with us.
00:17:04.95\00:17:06.29
We're going to go to 1
Thessalonians chapter 1.
00:17:06.32\00:17:10.16
Notice what the Bible says,
we're going to start in verse 5.
00:17:10.19\00:17:14.03
Paul the apostle speaking here
says, "For our gospel did not
00:17:14.23\00:17:17.90
come to you in word
only, but also in power,
00:17:17.93\00:17:21.64
and in the Holy
Spirit and in much assurance,
00:17:21.97\00:17:25.27
as you know what kind of men we
were among you for your sake."
00:17:25.31\00:17:29.01
Let me ask you a question
as we pause for just a moment.
00:17:29.04\00:17:32.41
Does the gospel have
power? Yes or no, friends.
00:17:33.01\00:17:36.18
When we experience the power
of divine grace upon our life,
00:17:36.69\00:17:41.29
it changes us, does it not?
00:17:41.32\00:17:43.56
It took me from a
hardcore alcoholic, drug using,
00:17:43.76\00:17:48.63
and all kinds of
other stuff using, maniac
00:17:48.66\00:17:53.80
and God transformed my heart,
00:17:55.60\00:17:57.34
and He transformed my life.
00:17:57.97\00:17:59.67
And friends, those
of you watching today,
00:18:00.31\00:18:02.11
He can do the same
for each one of us. Amen?
00:18:02.14\00:18:05.21
I'm nobody special.
00:18:05.25\00:18:06.61
But there's a power in the
gospel when we yield our lives
00:18:06.92\00:18:10.92
to the Lord Jesus.
00:18:11.15\00:18:12.79
He takes us wherever we
are and He begins to shape us,
00:18:12.82\00:18:16.86
and He begins to mold us,
and He begins to transform us
00:18:16.89\00:18:20.40
day by day, moment by moment.
00:18:20.43\00:18:23.73
And there is power
in the gospel. Amen?
00:18:23.77\00:18:27.44
There is power in
Christ working in our lives.
00:18:27.64\00:18:30.81
And I am living proof of that.
00:18:30.91\00:18:32.77
And you can be too.
00:18:32.81\00:18:34.24
And verse 6 says, "And
you became followers of us
00:18:34.58\00:18:37.81
and of the Lord, having received
the word in much affliction,
00:18:37.85\00:18:42.18
with joy of the Holy Spirit,
so that you became examples
00:18:42.22\00:18:46.59
to all in Macedonia
and Achaia who believe.
00:18:46.62\00:18:49.69
For from you the word of
the Lord has sounded forth,
00:18:50.13\00:18:53.60
not only in Macedonia and
Achaia, but also in every place.
00:18:53.63\00:18:57.27
And your faith towards
God has gone out, so that we
00:18:57.47\00:19:00.30
do not need to say anything."
00:19:00.34\00:19:02.20
And watch this
in verses 9 and 10.
00:19:02.24\00:19:04.31
"For they themselves declare
concerning us what manner
00:19:04.51\00:19:08.24
of entry we had to you, and
how you turned to God from idols
00:19:08.28\00:19:14.78
to serve the living and true
God, and to wait for His Son
00:19:14.88\00:19:19.89
from heaven, whom He
raised from the dead,
00:19:19.92\00:19:22.82
even Jesus who delivers
us from the wrath to come."
00:19:22.86\00:19:27.53
Here, Paul paints a
beautiful picture of the gospel
00:19:27.73\00:19:32.23
and the second coming of Jesus.
00:19:32.27\00:19:34.14
And he says that it
was the power of the gospel
00:19:34.17\00:19:37.24
and the hope of the
second coming of Jesus,
00:19:37.27\00:19:40.08
that Jesus would return from
heaven, that broke the power
00:19:40.11\00:19:44.35
of idols in the
lives of the people whom he
00:19:44.55\00:19:48.18
was ministering to.
00:19:48.22\00:19:49.55
How many of you are thankful for
that power of the gospel? Yes?
00:19:49.58\00:19:52.45
And so we're going to
look at several points
00:19:52.65\00:19:54.86
from this chapter.
00:19:54.89\00:19:56.22
And the first point that
I want to look at is this:
00:19:56.26\00:19:58.36
That the hope of the
second coming of Jesus...
00:19:58.46\00:20:01.40
Amen?
00:20:15.74\00:20:17.08
Now every single one
of us, whoever we are,
00:20:17.11\00:20:19.95
if we are not serving
and living for Christ,
00:20:19.98\00:20:24.02
we are serving idols...
00:20:24.22\00:20:25.75
...of some kind.
00:20:26.49\00:20:28.02
And you know, many
times we think about idols as
00:20:28.39\00:20:31.66
being these statues,
these things that people would
00:20:31.69\00:20:35.16
bow down and worship.
00:20:35.20\00:20:36.53
And surely that was the case
back in more primitive times.
00:20:36.56\00:20:40.07
But today, idols very
much still exist, do they not?
00:20:40.27\00:20:45.24
There are still
idols everywhere.
00:20:45.61\00:20:47.54
And some people
might ask the question,
00:20:47.58\00:20:50.35
"Well, what exactly is an idol?"
00:20:50.38\00:20:52.21
An idol very simply is this:
00:20:52.25\00:20:54.32
Anything that we choose to
put in first place before God
00:20:54.35\00:20:59.75
becomes an idol in our lives.
00:20:59.79\00:21:01.52
Anything that takes our
affection away from Christ
00:21:01.72\00:21:05.49
and places it on something or
somebody else becomes an idol.
00:21:05.53\00:21:10.37
And those idols, when we
begin to give the affection
00:21:11.37\00:21:14.60
to those idols, they
begin to have a power over us.
00:21:14.64\00:21:18.57
Do they not?
00:21:18.61\00:21:19.94
Whether it's electronics,
whether it's entertainment,
00:21:20.14\00:21:23.14
whether it's a
boyfriend, a girlfriend,
00:21:23.24\00:21:25.58
whether it's our houses,
our jobs, our bank accounts,
00:21:25.61\00:21:29.38
our vehicles,
whatever it may be in our lives
00:21:29.42\00:21:32.55
that we give affection to
and we'd rather spend time
00:21:32.59\00:21:36.22
with that thing
than with the Lord,
00:21:36.26\00:21:38.16
that thing becomes
an idol in our lives.
00:21:38.19\00:21:40.06
What do you think?
00:21:40.10\00:21:41.43
Now idols are not necessarily
always bad, are they?
00:21:41.46\00:21:46.50
Bad things.
00:21:46.80\00:21:48.14
Some people think, well
idols are usually like drugs
00:21:48.20\00:21:51.17
or alcohol, or
something like that.
00:21:51.37\00:21:53.91
But we can actually make idols
out of good things, can't we?
00:21:53.94\00:21:57.01
We can make
idols out of children.
00:21:57.31\00:21:59.28
You know, my wife and I,
we have seen a lot of people
00:22:00.62\00:22:03.75
make idols out of children.
00:22:03.79\00:22:05.12
And sometimes, many
times actually, the temptation
00:22:05.15\00:22:08.52
is for us to do the same.
00:22:08.56\00:22:10.33
You know, when a child disobeys,
and they need to have that
00:22:10.59\00:22:16.13
loving guidance and correction,
sometimes it's so easy
00:22:16.16\00:22:20.44
when they disobey and they
look up and give you that smile
00:22:20.47\00:22:23.51
to just let that
thing slide, right?
00:22:24.34\00:22:26.94
But we don't often
realize that in doing so,
00:22:27.58\00:22:30.45
when we think, "Oh, I don't have
the heart to discipline them,"
00:22:30.65\00:22:35.78
or, "It's just so
cute, I just can't resist,"
00:22:35.82\00:22:39.39
we don't realize
that when we do that,
00:22:39.42\00:22:41.72
it begins to
damage their characters.
00:22:41.99\00:22:44.99
Are you with me?
00:22:45.53\00:22:46.86
Makes sense.
00:22:46.90\00:22:48.23
And so we often will
let those things slide.
00:22:48.26\00:22:50.00
And children can
even become idols.
00:22:50.03\00:22:53.44
And we don't want
children to become idols, do we?
00:22:54.14\00:22:56.00
But it can; the devil
will use anything he can.
00:22:56.14\00:22:58.74
Any relationship, anything
that we attach ourselves to.
00:22:58.77\00:23:02.28
But Jesus wants to break
the power of idols in our lives.
00:23:02.48\00:23:06.11
He wants us to love
our children, but He wants
00:23:06.15\00:23:08.88
us to teach them the
ways of the Lord. Amen?
00:23:08.92\00:23:11.62
So idols can be something
that are very close to us,
00:23:11.65\00:23:14.52
or something
animate or inanimate.
00:23:14.56\00:23:17.66
So we can make
idols out of good things.
00:23:17.79\00:23:20.40
And here's a
principle that I have found.
00:23:20.43\00:23:22.73
When we compromise truth in our
lives, in our Christian walk,
00:23:23.30\00:23:27.77
in our witness before
the world and before others,
00:23:27.80\00:23:30.74
when we
compromise truth in our life,
00:23:30.77\00:23:34.64
we lose divine
power in our lives.
00:23:34.68\00:23:37.81
Yes or no?
00:23:37.85\00:23:39.18
Because when we compromise
truth, our wills and our
00:23:39.21\00:23:42.88
decision making
processes become weaker.
00:23:42.92\00:23:46.09
And it becomes easier to say
"yes" to sin and "no" to God.
00:23:46.29\00:23:51.23
Right?
00:23:51.26\00:23:52.59
That's why when the Bible says
to be on the strait and narrow,
00:23:52.63\00:23:55.20
Jesus wants us
to be on that walk.
00:23:55.30\00:23:58.67
And to deviate one direction
or another, even one degree,
00:23:58.70\00:24:02.74
can lead us on a path that will
take us further and further away
00:24:02.77\00:24:07.01
from God's ideal for our lives.
00:24:07.04\00:24:09.74
And Jesus says, "You
need to stay on that path,
00:24:09.98\00:24:12.71
you need to stay on that
track, on that pathway that
00:24:12.75\00:24:16.55
leads to life, and
not allow ourselves to go
00:24:16.58\00:24:19.29
to the left or to the right."
00:24:19.32\00:24:21.42
Because the more choices...
00:24:22.46\00:24:24.59
Sometimes we think, "Well, this
decision is not really going to
00:24:24.63\00:24:27.80
make that big of a difference."
00:24:27.83\00:24:29.50
But every decision
has the opportunity
00:24:31.70\00:24:34.64
to have eternal impact.
00:24:34.67\00:24:37.11
What do you think?
00:24:37.14\00:24:38.47
Very much so.
00:24:39.41\00:24:40.74
When we make something an idol,
we are serving it over Christ.
00:24:43.35\00:24:49.15
And idols of men have no
power except to enslave us
00:24:49.72\00:24:56.02
to a meaningless
and purposeless life.
00:24:56.12\00:24:59.26
What do you think today?
00:24:59.29\00:25:00.63
But Jesus, through
the power of the gospel
00:25:00.73\00:25:03.16
and the hope of the
second coming, wants to free us
00:25:03.20\00:25:06.30
from these idols.
00:25:06.40\00:25:07.74
What do you think?
00:25:07.77\00:25:09.10
How many of you have
ever had an idol in your life?
00:25:09.14\00:25:10.54
Those of you watching, maybe
you've had idols in your life.
00:25:10.57\00:25:12.81
Maybe today, even right now,
there's an idol that you know
00:25:12.84\00:25:16.21
God has been touching your
heart, speaking to your heart,
00:25:16.24\00:25:19.28
to release to
Him, to let go to Him.
00:25:19.31\00:25:24.02
And you've been battling,
and you've been struggling,
00:25:24.05\00:25:26.89
and you've been
wrestling with that thing.
00:25:26.92\00:25:28.96
And you know that God is
convicting you to let it go.
00:25:28.99\00:25:32.13
But you hang onto it
as if it's going to do
00:25:32.16\00:25:34.33
something good for you.
00:25:34.36\00:25:35.70
Well friends, if it
was going to do something
00:25:35.73\00:25:38.63
good for you, Jesus would
never ask you to give it away.
00:25:38.67\00:25:42.00
He only asks us to give
away and to surrender to Him
00:25:42.84\00:25:46.84
those things which He
knows are going to be a
00:25:46.88\00:25:49.71
curse to us in the end.
00:25:49.74\00:25:51.21
And so the Spirit of God
lovingly every day leads us
00:25:51.51\00:25:55.78
to the foot of the cross.
00:25:55.82\00:25:57.59
And He can so fill our
hearts with the love of Jesus
00:25:57.62\00:26:02.22
that there becomes no more
room for idols in our lives.
00:26:02.26\00:26:06.66
How many are
thankful for that today?
00:26:06.70\00:26:08.20
What a powerful promise.
00:26:08.30\00:26:09.96
People ask me all the time,
00:26:10.00\00:26:11.70
"How do I get rid
of idols in my life?
00:26:11.73\00:26:14.64
How do I let go of
my love for the world?
00:26:14.67\00:26:18.17
How do I get rid of
these desires to do the things
00:26:18.21\00:26:21.64
that I know are
contrary to God's will?"
00:26:21.68\00:26:23.85
It's very simple, friends.
00:26:23.88\00:26:25.55
It's not to resist
wholly the temptation.
00:26:26.11\00:26:30.15
Now we have to resist
in the power of Christ.
00:26:30.19\00:26:32.02
I'm not saying that
we're not to do that.
00:26:32.05\00:26:34.02
But the way is to not stand
up and fight that temptation.
00:26:34.92\00:26:38.16
The way to do it is to
fill your life with Jesus,
00:26:38.39\00:26:42.23
to fill your
heart with His presence.
00:26:42.56\00:26:45.00
And as Jesus comes
into the heart, and we kneel
00:26:45.10\00:26:48.74
before Him, and
we plead with Him,
00:26:48.77\00:26:50.64
and we say, "Lord
Jesus, give me a love for You
00:26:50.67\00:26:54.41
that surpasses the
love for the world,"
00:26:54.94\00:26:57.58
He will begin to do this.
00:26:57.88\00:26:59.25
I know this for a fact,
because when I entered into the
00:26:59.28\00:27:02.72
Christian journey from
atheism, it's not been all roses
00:27:02.75\00:27:06.29
and pomegranates.
00:27:06.32\00:27:08.36
You understand?
00:27:08.46\00:27:09.79
It's been difficult,
there's been ups and downs.
00:27:10.13\00:27:12.36
And there's been times
when I've loved the world.
00:27:12.39\00:27:14.63
And I plead with God and I
say, "Give me a love for Jesus
00:27:14.66\00:27:18.10
that surpasses the
love for the world.
00:27:18.13\00:27:20.44
Give me a love for Your Word
00:27:20.57\00:27:22.27
that surpasses the
love for entertainment."
00:27:22.30\00:27:24.87
And every single
time, without fail, Jesus
00:27:24.91\00:27:28.04
has answered that prayer.
00:27:28.08\00:27:29.61
And He will do it for you too.
00:27:30.18\00:27:31.51
He will do it for you too.
00:27:31.71\00:27:33.05
So as the love for
Jesus comes into our hearts,
00:27:33.08\00:27:36.35
it will squeeze out
the love for the world.
00:27:36.45\00:27:39.99
And as the love of
Christ fills our hearts,
00:27:40.02\00:27:42.12
there will become no
room for love for the world.
00:27:42.16\00:27:45.86
Aren't you so
thankful today for Jesus?
00:27:45.89\00:27:48.66
So the Spirit of God
leads us to search our hearts
00:27:48.70\00:27:51.93
and to search His Word,
and to gracefully change
00:27:51.97\00:27:55.24
in our life that which is not in
harmony with His Word and will.
00:27:55.27\00:27:58.77
Is there something today that
needs to change in your life?
00:27:58.81\00:28:01.44
Is there something that
you need to let go to Jesus?
00:28:01.94\00:28:04.25
Is there some idol
that's holding you down,
00:28:04.28\00:28:06.48
that's preventing you from being
all that God wants you to be?
00:28:06.58\00:28:09.55
Jesus invites you today
to surrender that to Him.
00:28:09.72\00:28:14.16
Charles Spurgeon made
the statement, he said...
00:28:15.09\00:28:18.43
Amen?
00:28:25.03\00:28:26.37
When we make Jesus our
all, we shall find all in Him.
00:28:26.40\00:28:30.31
All His promises can
begin to come true in our lives.
00:28:30.34\00:28:34.11
All His hopes and dreams,
His complete transformation
00:28:34.14\00:28:38.21
of our lives, all these
things and more become ours
00:28:38.25\00:28:43.12
when we make Jesus our all.
00:28:43.69\00:28:46.32
Friends, there is not room
in the heart for two masters.
00:28:46.35\00:28:51.39
Jesus told us this.
00:28:52.46\00:28:54.30
There is not room in
the heart for two masters.
00:28:54.50\00:28:57.40
And we must choose.
00:28:57.43\00:28:59.40
You see, some people enjoy
their life sitting on the fence.
00:28:59.43\00:29:04.67
You know what I mean by that?
00:29:05.37\00:29:06.88
There's a phrase, "Don't
sit on the fence," right?
00:29:06.91\00:29:09.11
And I say to you today,
you cannot sit on the fence,
00:29:09.64\00:29:12.71
because the
devil owns the fence.
00:29:12.75\00:29:15.62
And if you sit on the
fence, he owns you. Right?
00:29:16.02\00:29:19.09
So get off the fence and
get on the side of Jesus. Amen?
00:29:19.32\00:29:22.96
Point number two comes
from chapter 2 verses 19 and 20.
00:29:23.86\00:29:29.93
Notice what this says.
00:29:29.96\00:29:31.43
Chapter 2 verses 19 and 20.
00:29:31.73\00:29:33.64
"For what is our hope, or
joy, or crown of rejoicing?
00:29:33.67\00:29:38.11
Is it not even you
in the presence of our
00:29:38.41\00:29:41.68
Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
00:29:41.71\00:29:44.61
For you are our glory and joy."
00:29:44.85\00:29:49.35
What's the second
point from these verses
00:29:49.52\00:29:51.35
about the
second coming of Jesus?
00:29:51.39\00:29:52.79
It is that the
transforming power...
00:29:52.82\00:29:54.62
Amen?
00:30:04.47\00:30:05.80
It gives us a passion
for soul winning and mission.
00:30:05.83\00:30:09.60
And the more that we think about
the second coming of Jesus,
00:30:09.64\00:30:12.81
the more it burns
within our hearts that others
00:30:12.84\00:30:16.54
would be ready
to meet Him as well.
00:30:16.58\00:30:18.55
How many of you want your
friends and family to be in the
00:30:18.58\00:30:20.75
kingdom of God
eternally with you?
00:30:20.78\00:30:22.72
And Jesus wants us
to develop that passion,
00:30:22.95\00:30:25.85
He wants to place
that in our hearts,
00:30:25.89\00:30:28.16
to share the gospel
with those around us.
00:30:28.19\00:30:31.83
And so the Holy Spirit...
00:30:32.06\00:30:33.40
This is very important, friends.
00:30:33.43\00:30:35.06
The Holy Spirit
desires to lead us to a place
00:30:35.16\00:30:39.47
where we value the
salvation of others
00:30:39.50\00:30:43.67
more than their opinions of us.
00:30:43.97\00:30:47.61
Think about that
for just a minute.
00:30:49.04\00:30:50.51
Because often times God
will impress us to say this
00:30:51.08\00:30:56.85
or to say that to somebody.
00:30:56.95\00:30:58.65
And we will say,
"Well, I don't know, Lord.
00:31:00.09\00:31:02.09
Because if I say that,
what will they think of me?"
00:31:02.82\00:31:06.49
You know, I find it very
interesting that there's a
00:31:07.23\00:31:10.07
certain class of people who
don't want to answer to anybody,
00:31:10.10\00:31:14.37
they don't want to
come under any authority,
00:31:14.60\00:31:17.17
they don't want
to have to answer to
00:31:17.27\00:31:21.61
the choices that they've made.
00:31:21.81\00:31:23.35
They want to be free.
00:31:23.45\00:31:25.25
And yet at the same time
they spend their whole life
00:31:25.58\00:31:28.88
worrying about what
other people think of them.
00:31:29.28\00:31:31.25
They say, "I don't
care what people think,"
00:31:31.72\00:31:33.05
but really they do, don't they?
00:31:33.09\00:31:34.56
And sometimes
the Lord impresses us
00:31:35.06\00:31:37.99
to do something instrumental
for the salvation of others,
00:31:38.09\00:31:41.86
and we cringe back and we say,
"Oh Lord, what would happen if
00:31:41.90\00:31:46.70
I said that to them?
00:31:46.74\00:31:48.07
They might think badly of me.
00:31:48.10\00:31:49.44
Or maybe it's
not the right time."
00:31:49.47\00:31:51.34
And so we hesitate.
00:31:51.37\00:31:53.41
Because we value their opinion
more than their salvation.
00:31:53.74\00:31:58.48
And the Lord says, "No."
00:31:59.45\00:32:01.08
He says, "You must awaken
and trust that I am leading
00:32:01.45\00:32:05.02
your life when I
impress upon you to speak."
00:32:05.05\00:32:08.56
Pray for divine appointments.
00:32:09.72\00:32:11.06
You know, I've got
to tell you, friends.
00:32:11.09\00:32:13.70
It is incredible,
incredible, what happens
00:32:13.90\00:32:18.53
when I pray for
divine appointments.
00:32:18.73\00:32:21.74
It's amazing.
00:32:22.00\00:32:23.34
Because every single time I
pray for a divine appointment,
00:32:23.37\00:32:27.31
the Lord gives
me one right then.
00:32:27.34\00:32:30.05
Maybe not at that
moment, but that day.
00:32:30.08\00:32:32.38
You know, just the
other day I prayed.
00:32:32.81\00:32:34.58
I was picking up my
suits from the dry cleaner,
00:32:34.82\00:32:36.85
and I was praying, I
said, "Lord, give me a
00:32:36.89\00:32:38.39
divine appointment today."
00:32:38.42\00:32:39.89
I walk into the place
and the lady served me,
00:32:39.92\00:32:44.33
and she was playing
Christian music on the radio.
00:32:44.36\00:32:47.16
And I said, "Is
that Christian music?"
00:32:47.20\00:32:48.53
And she said, "Yes."
00:32:48.56\00:32:49.90
And I said, "I really always
appreciate Christian music."
00:32:49.93\00:32:53.27
And I said, "Are
you a Christian?"
00:32:53.30\00:32:54.64
She said, "Yes." I said, "Wow."
00:32:54.67\00:32:56.27
And I had some GLOW
tracts in my pocket.
00:32:56.30\00:32:59.37
And I said, "Well, you
might enjoy one of these."
00:32:59.67\00:33:01.94
And she said, "Do you
mind if I have one of each?"
00:33:01.98\00:33:04.68
And I said, "Amen, no problem."
00:33:05.01\00:33:06.58
So I actually laid
them out on the counter
00:33:06.61\00:33:09.05
and they were
all spread out there.
00:33:09.25\00:33:10.69
And she was taking
them all, and she said,
00:33:10.72\00:33:12.29
"Do you have any more?"
00:33:12.39\00:33:13.72
I said, "Actually, I
have some more different
00:33:13.76\00:33:15.62
ones in my vehicle."
00:33:15.66\00:33:16.99
So I went out to my
car and I got that packet
00:33:17.03\00:33:19.33
and I brought it
back in and I laid it out.
00:33:19.36\00:33:21.16
And she took one
of each of those.
00:33:21.20\00:33:22.83
I said, "What makes
you so eager to understand
00:33:22.86\00:33:26.27
God's will for your life?"
00:33:26.43\00:33:27.77
I said, "Do you
study the Bible?"
00:33:27.80\00:33:29.14
She said, "Actually, yes."
00:33:29.17\00:33:30.74
She said, "Four months
ago my father passed away."
00:33:30.91\00:33:34.84
And she said, "And since
that time, my daughter and I
00:33:35.38\00:33:38.31
every day have
been reading the Bible."
00:33:38.35\00:33:40.72
And I said, "Well
have you understood
00:33:40.75\00:33:42.28
everything that
you've been reading?"
00:33:42.32\00:33:43.65
She said, "Not always."
00:33:43.69\00:33:45.02
And I said, "Well, would you
like to understand it better?
00:33:45.12\00:33:48.59
Would you like to have somebody
do Bible studies with you?"
00:33:48.62\00:33:50.63
She said, "I would love that."
00:33:50.66\00:33:52.26
Got her name and number,
took it to one of the ladies
00:33:52.36\00:33:54.30
in the church, they're doing
Bible studies together. Amen?
00:33:54.33\00:33:57.30
Every single time
God will work this out.
00:33:57.40\00:34:00.10
A couple of months
ago I was at Sam's Club
00:34:00.60\00:34:02.50
and I met this young
man at the gas station.
00:34:02.54\00:34:06.94
And he started talking to me.
00:34:06.98\00:34:08.44
And I started
asking him some questions.
00:34:08.61\00:34:11.75
And I actually had on
an Amazing Facts shirt.
00:34:12.08\00:34:14.55
I use to work at Amazing Facts.
00:34:14.58\00:34:15.98
And he said,
"What's Amazing Facts?"
00:34:16.02\00:34:17.45
And I said, "It's a Christian
radio and television ministry."
00:34:17.65\00:34:20.46
He said, "You're a
Christian?" I said, "Yes."
00:34:20.49\00:34:22.56
He started telling me
about his journey with God
00:34:22.66\00:34:25.66
and how God had brought
him out of this and that and
00:34:25.69\00:34:28.16
all these different things.
00:34:28.36\00:34:29.70
And I said, "Wow."
00:34:29.73\00:34:31.07
And he said, "Well,
where do you go to church?"
00:34:31.10\00:34:32.73
And I said, "Well, I'm
a Seventh-day Adventist."
00:34:32.77\00:34:35.37
We shouldn't be
ashamed of that, should we?
00:34:35.40\00:34:37.21
We should be excited
about it because we believe
00:34:37.44\00:34:39.47
Jesus is coming soon.
00:34:39.51\00:34:41.04
And I said, "Well, I'm
a Seventh-day Adventist."
00:34:41.24\00:34:43.14
And he says, "You're a
Seventh-day Adventist?"
00:34:43.18\00:34:45.61
And I said, "I
am." He said, "Whoa."
00:34:45.91\00:34:48.85
He said, "I recently
listened to some talks
00:34:48.88\00:34:52.95
by a man named Roger Morneau."
00:34:53.05\00:34:55.42
And he said, "And I've
been waiting, I've been wanting
00:34:55.69\00:34:58.99
to meet a
Seventh-day Adventist."
00:34:59.09\00:35:01.43
And he looked at me and he said,
"You're the first real live
00:35:01.46\00:35:04.00
one I've ever met."
00:35:04.03\00:35:05.37
I got a kick out of that.
00:35:05.40\00:35:06.74
I'm the first
real live one, right?
00:35:06.77\00:35:08.40
And so we got to talking.
00:35:08.64\00:35:10.01
And he just opened
up, and the Lord had done
00:35:10.21\00:35:13.31
so many things in his life.
00:35:13.34\00:35:14.94
We started Bible studies.
00:35:14.98\00:35:16.61
And he is studying now,
preparing, wants to be baptized.
00:35:16.64\00:35:20.08
And God is good. Amen?
00:35:20.18\00:35:22.28
When I studied at his
house, we'd be studying
00:35:22.88\00:35:25.35
and there were times he
would jump up off the couch
00:35:25.39\00:35:29.02
and say, "Man, that
makes more sense than anything
00:35:29.12\00:35:31.86
I've ever known
in my whole life."
00:35:31.89\00:35:33.23
He says, "I've been waiting
my whole life to understand
00:35:33.26\00:35:36.10
truth like this."
00:35:36.30\00:35:38.17
It's the wonders
of the Bible, amen?
00:35:38.20\00:35:40.07
The wonders of God's Word.
00:35:40.10\00:35:41.44
It transforms our lives.
00:35:41.47\00:35:43.20
So friends, pray
for divine appointments.
00:35:43.24\00:35:46.14
Share literature,
share your testimony.
00:35:46.17\00:35:48.58
Be burdened for souls
to be in God's kingdom.
00:35:48.68\00:35:52.71
Because the hope of
the second coming leads us
00:35:52.75\00:35:55.08
to want others
to be saved. Amen?
00:35:55.35\00:35:58.12
I think of a young lady
named Vera who I met in Ukraine.
00:35:58.29\00:36:03.06
And Vera was a teenage
girl, she was 17 years old.
00:36:03.09\00:36:07.20
And she was ready
to give up on God.
00:36:07.40\00:36:11.77
And she was actually
getting some medical treatment
00:36:12.03\00:36:14.97
for a problem with
her back in Ukraine,
00:36:15.00\00:36:17.64
and she was
actually going to move away.
00:36:17.67\00:36:20.91
But because of her
back pain, it kept her there
00:36:20.94\00:36:23.88
in the town.
00:36:23.91\00:36:25.35
And so she was
walking to the doctor one day
00:36:25.45\00:36:28.02
and one of our students,
our missionary students,
00:36:28.05\00:36:31.15
handed her an invitation
to the series of meetings
00:36:31.25\00:36:35.72
that I was doing
right there in the city.
00:36:35.76\00:36:37.83
And she looked at that
invitation and she said,
00:36:37.93\00:36:39.93
"Well, since I'm
going to be here anyway,
00:36:39.96\00:36:43.40
I might as well give
God one more opportunity,
00:36:43.43\00:36:47.60
one more chance
to prove Himself."
00:36:47.64\00:36:49.70
So she started
coming to the meetings,
00:36:49.74\00:36:51.37
and she came to the
meetings every night.
00:36:51.41\00:36:53.34
And she was so excited
about what she was learning.
00:36:53.51\00:36:56.34
And on her way, it was
about a week into the meetings,
00:36:56.44\00:36:59.65
on her way to the meetings
she was crossing the street.
00:36:59.75\00:37:02.82
And as she was crossing
the street, she said a car
00:37:02.85\00:37:05.55
came out of nowhere and
it was going to strike her
00:37:05.59\00:37:08.49
right in the side.
00:37:08.52\00:37:09.92
And she said, "I only had enough
time in just a few moments
00:37:10.06\00:37:13.93
to say a prayer."
00:37:14.16\00:37:15.50
And she said, "Lord
Jesus, please save my life."
00:37:15.53\00:37:18.93
And she said, "Instantly,
it was like a hand just
00:37:18.97\00:37:21.24
stopped that car."
00:37:21.27\00:37:22.67
And it stopped one inch from
striking her right in the side.
00:37:22.70\00:37:27.44
It was that night
that I preached on Jesus
00:37:27.71\00:37:30.95
and His love and
His gift of salvation.
00:37:31.35\00:37:34.52
And she accepted Jesus
into her heart that night.
00:37:34.55\00:37:37.02
When she went home...
00:37:37.35\00:37:39.05
She rode the bus
about 40 miles each night
00:37:39.95\00:37:43.53
to come to the
meetings. Amazing.
00:37:43.56\00:37:45.09
When she went home, she told
her mother about the meetings.
00:37:45.13\00:37:49.26
Her mother began to come
to the meetings with her.
00:37:49.30\00:37:51.17
And together, they
were actually both baptized.
00:37:51.20\00:37:54.40
And they both were with
joy. I think we have a picture.
00:37:55.50\00:37:58.71
I don't know if we
can get that picture up.
00:37:58.74\00:38:00.44
There it is, there
they are getting baptized.
00:38:00.64\00:38:02.61
Well after that,
she was very excited
00:38:02.71\00:38:05.38
about her new faith.
00:38:05.48\00:38:07.15
And so she went home and she
actually came back in the fall
00:38:07.18\00:38:10.39
as a missionary student.
00:38:10.42\00:38:11.95
And she brought her sister
to the next series of meetings.
00:38:12.12\00:38:15.39
I think we have a
picture of that as well.
00:38:15.42\00:38:17.16
She brought her sister to
the next series of meetings.
00:38:17.19\00:38:20.03
And her sister studied the Bible
and she was baptized as well.
00:38:20.06\00:38:23.67
And this girl was so on
fire that she went out knocking
00:38:23.97\00:38:27.40
on doors inviting
people to do Bible studies.
00:38:27.44\00:38:29.60
And she met an
elderly man named Eugene.
00:38:29.64\00:38:32.51
I think we have a
picture of him as well.
00:38:32.54\00:38:34.04
There he is.
00:38:34.08\00:38:35.41
And if you notice that newspaper
that he's holding in his hand.
00:38:35.44\00:38:38.61
That newspaper is an article
about him from 15 years prior.
00:38:39.35\00:38:43.75
He had been
diagnosed with fatal cancer.
00:38:44.09\00:38:47.39
He was going to die from cancer.
00:38:47.49\00:38:49.12
And the doctors said to
him, they said, "Look, there's
00:38:49.16\00:38:51.86
nothing else we can do for you.
00:38:51.89\00:38:53.53
Go home and prepare to die."
00:38:53.73\00:38:55.50
He went home and he was
not satisfied with that answer.
00:38:55.70\00:38:58.70
So he got on his knees
and he began to plead with God
00:38:58.73\00:39:02.27
to bring healing to him.
00:39:02.37\00:39:03.71
And he began to fast
and pray and read the Bible.
00:39:03.74\00:39:06.78
And he was suppose to
die within a few months,
00:39:07.08\00:39:09.31
and 15 years later
he was still alive.
00:39:09.34\00:39:12.38
How many of you can say amen?
00:39:12.41\00:39:13.75
I don't know how
God worked that out,
00:39:13.78\00:39:15.12
but God knew,
and He did something.
00:39:15.15\00:39:17.02
And that young girl
knocked on his door and gave him
00:39:17.05\00:39:19.25
an invitation
to study the Bible.
00:39:19.29\00:39:20.96
And he began to study the
Bible, he came to the meetings,
00:39:20.99\00:39:23.86
he gave his life to Christ, and
he joined the Adventist church.
00:39:23.89\00:39:26.93
How many of you can say amen?
00:39:27.03\00:39:28.36
How much today do
we spend asking Jesus
00:39:28.90\00:39:33.77
to bring somebody into
our life to witness to?
00:39:33.80\00:39:36.60
How much?
00:39:37.74\00:39:39.07
Sometimes we might be
afraid of what will happen
00:39:39.37\00:39:44.48
if we did pray that prayer.
00:39:44.51\00:39:45.88
Dear friends, if we believe
in the second coming of Jesus,
00:39:47.32\00:39:50.82
we must ask God to
give us a burden and a heart
00:39:51.19\00:39:56.09
to see souls saved
for the kingdom. Amen?
00:39:56.42\00:39:59.73
It is not an option.
00:39:59.96\00:40:01.60
The heart that is
transformed wants to tell others
00:40:02.03\00:40:05.53
about the Friend that
they have found in Jesus.
00:40:05.57\00:40:09.14
It ought to
always be on our minds.
00:40:09.30\00:40:11.31
It ought to
always be on our hearts.
00:40:11.51\00:40:13.31
Because it is always
on the mind and the heart
00:40:13.51\00:40:17.71
of God Himself. Amen?
00:40:17.91\00:40:19.58
His entire existence exists
to see His children saved. Amen?
00:40:19.65\00:40:24.59
And we ought to
follow that example.
00:40:24.85\00:40:26.72
The third thing that
I want you to look at
00:40:26.76\00:40:29.12
from Thessalonians
about the second coming.
00:40:29.16\00:40:30.99
Go to chapter 3 verse 12.
00:40:31.03\00:40:34.00
Notice what the Bible says.
00:40:34.10\00:40:36.06
It says, "And may the Lord
make you increase and abound
00:40:36.23\00:40:39.50
in love to one another and
to all, just as we do to you..."
00:40:39.53\00:40:46.51
You know, the Bible
tells us that the hope of the
00:40:47.31\00:40:49.61
second coming gives us a
deep love for each other. Amen?
00:40:49.64\00:40:54.58
You look at the book
of Acts and the love that
00:40:54.85\00:40:57.55
they displayed for one another.
00:40:57.59\00:40:58.92
They laid down their
lives for each other.
00:40:58.95\00:41:01.92
They ate together,
they lived together,
00:41:01.96\00:41:04.29
they slept together.
00:41:04.39\00:41:06.26
In the same
house, you understand.
00:41:06.36\00:41:08.06
You know what I'm talking about.
00:41:08.63\00:41:09.96
Appropriate sleeping, right?
00:41:10.00\00:41:11.47
They were together.
00:41:11.57\00:41:12.90
They were in one mind
and one heart and one unity.
00:41:12.93\00:41:16.67
And they had this
deep love, an agape love,
00:41:16.77\00:41:20.81
that Christ had placed in
their hearts for each other.
00:41:20.84\00:41:23.51
We need that kind of love, amen?
00:41:23.55\00:41:25.81
When we have the
hope of the second coming,
00:41:26.01\00:41:28.38
when we see our
fellow church members...
00:41:28.42\00:41:30.62
Sure maybe they said
something nasty to us.
00:41:30.65\00:41:33.02
Sure they may have
scoffed us or blown us off
00:41:33.22\00:41:35.52
at some point or another.
00:41:35.56\00:41:36.89
But we see them with the eyes
that Jesus sees them with. Amen?
00:41:36.93\00:41:41.30
We don't see people as they are,
we see them as they can become.
00:41:41.40\00:41:45.23
Because that's
how Jesus sees us.
00:41:45.50\00:41:48.84
Amen?
00:41:49.10\00:41:50.44
That's how Jesus sees us.
00:41:50.47\00:41:51.97
When He looks at us, He
doesn't see us as we are,
00:41:52.01\00:41:55.18
but as we can
become by His grace.
00:41:55.21\00:41:58.75
We need a deeper love
for one another, don't we?
00:41:58.91\00:42:01.08
We need that heart's plea
to make us brothers and sisters
00:42:01.12\00:42:06.86
in Christ that we'll lay
down our lives for one another.
00:42:06.89\00:42:10.79
Well if you look at the
next verse, verse 13, it says,
00:42:11.33\00:42:18.37
just continuing on from
verse 12, "...so that He may
00:42:18.73\00:42:22.30
establish your
hearts blameless in holiness
00:42:22.34\00:42:26.51
before our God and
Father at the coming of our
00:42:26.71\00:42:30.65
Lord Jesus Christ
with all His saints."
00:42:30.68\00:42:34.58
Let me tell you, friends,
that God wants His people
00:42:34.68\00:42:39.55
to be holy.
00:42:40.02\00:42:41.36
God wants His
people to be spiritual.
00:42:42.02\00:42:45.59
And that can
sometimes become a taboo word,
00:42:45.86\00:42:50.77
or a word that we
reflect upon and we think,
00:42:50.80\00:42:54.30
"Oh, you know, that's
very difficult and no one
00:42:54.34\00:42:58.41
can achieve
perfection," and whatever else.
00:42:58.44\00:43:01.04
I like to view it this way:
00:43:01.24\00:43:02.94
God has an ideal
for our lives. Amen?
00:43:03.38\00:43:06.51
He wants to complete us
and He wants to restore us
00:43:06.82\00:43:10.75
back into the
image of His Son Jesus
00:43:10.79\00:43:14.36
before He comes to heaven.
00:43:14.46\00:43:15.92
So that way,
borrowing from a friend of mine,
00:43:15.96\00:43:18.29
the language, that way we
don't just get into heaven,
00:43:18.33\00:43:21.80
but we will fit
into heaven. Amen?
00:43:22.00\00:43:24.33
Because He wants us to
adopt the culture of heaven
00:43:24.50\00:43:28.40
here on earth.
00:43:28.50\00:43:29.84
Earth once had heaven's
culture, but it's been lost.
00:43:29.87\00:43:32.51
And Jesus says, "Before
My people can spend eternity
00:43:32.54\00:43:35.18
with Me, that culture
must be returned to the church.
00:43:35.21\00:43:39.08
But it must be
taking place in our hearts
00:43:39.11\00:43:42.22
and in our minds." Amen?
00:43:42.32\00:43:43.92
And so God wants
us to be transformed.
00:43:43.95\00:43:46.39
And so I believe today that the
transforming grace of the gospel
00:43:46.42\00:43:50.43
and the hope of the
second coming gives us a desire
00:43:50.46\00:43:53.50
to place God first in our lives
and gives us a love for Him
00:43:53.70\00:43:57.93
so deep that we
don't want to sin anymore.
00:43:57.97\00:44:02.60
Amen?
00:44:02.64\00:44:03.97
If we can put the
vision of Jesus before us
00:44:04.01\00:44:06.27
every single day, it can, I
believe, lead us to the place
00:44:06.31\00:44:10.18
where we reject
sin in our lives.
00:44:10.21\00:44:13.08
What do you think; do you
think that's a possibility?
00:44:13.11\00:44:15.12
If Jesus Christ is
living within us by faith,
00:44:15.38\00:44:19.85
as He has promised to do
when we open our hearts to Him,
00:44:19.89\00:44:22.69
then tell me, friends,
what sin it is in our lives
00:44:22.89\00:44:26.29
that He cannot
gives us victory over?
00:44:26.49\00:44:28.33
There is none.
00:44:28.63\00:44:29.96
Because Jesus' power, the
resurrection power of Christ,
00:44:30.13\00:44:34.50
is greater than any
power of sin and death
00:44:34.54\00:44:38.57
that can be in our hearts.
00:44:38.61\00:44:39.94
What do you think?
00:44:39.97\00:44:41.31
And wherever Jesus
goes, wherever Jesus enters,
00:44:41.34\00:44:44.55
He brings light and joy and
peace and power to overcome.
00:44:44.58\00:44:49.28
What do you say, friends?
00:44:49.32\00:44:50.65
What do you say, watching today?
00:44:50.69\00:44:52.69
I believe, friends,
that the power of God
00:44:52.79\00:44:55.36
is stronger than
the power of sin.
00:44:55.46\00:44:57.19
The power of sin.
00:44:57.56\00:44:58.89
The Bible tells
us in Titus 2:11-14,
00:45:00.80\00:45:05.13
I'm going to read this, it
says, "For the grace of God
00:45:05.17\00:45:09.40
that brings salvation
has appeared to all men,
00:45:09.44\00:45:12.91
teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts,
00:45:13.27\00:45:17.25
we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly
00:45:17.35\00:45:21.62
in this present age..."
00:45:21.82\00:45:24.19
You see, friends,
we've got to make the choice
00:45:24.92\00:45:27.72
to surrender our sins to Jesus.
00:45:28.42\00:45:30.73
We've got to make the decision
and be determined about it.
00:45:31.86\00:45:35.60
But even though
we're determined,
00:45:36.67\00:45:38.00
it doesn't matter
how determine we are,
00:45:38.03\00:45:39.80
we still don't have
the power to do it, do we?
00:45:39.83\00:45:42.30
But He has the power. Amen?
00:45:42.57\00:45:44.77
He has infinite power
of heaven to cast away
00:45:45.01\00:45:49.01
anything in our lives that
would separate us from Him.
00:45:49.04\00:45:52.25
But we have to want it.
00:45:52.28\00:45:53.72
He doesn't just
give it flamboyantly.
00:45:54.48\00:45:56.35
He doesn't just
give it haphazardly.
00:45:56.38\00:45:58.79
He only gives it to
those who truly hunger
00:45:58.82\00:46:01.66
and thirst for righteousness.
00:46:01.69\00:46:03.39
And friends, you may be
thinking to yourself today,
00:46:03.43\00:46:05.79
"I really don't have
that hunger and thirst."
00:46:05.83\00:46:08.83
Pray for it.
00:46:09.03\00:46:10.37
Pray for it, and
watch and see God gradually
00:46:11.13\00:46:14.70
increase it in your life.
00:46:14.74\00:46:16.91
Increasing it in your life.
00:46:16.94\00:46:19.47
Someone once said that, "God
is becoming so beautiful to me
00:46:19.51\00:46:24.18
that I never want to sin again."
00:46:24.68\00:46:26.61
Amen?
00:46:26.72\00:46:28.05
I want you to
notice this statement in,
00:46:28.18\00:46:29.85
Testimonies for the
Church, volume 4, page 625.
00:46:29.88\00:46:33.66
Notice this statement
here, it's very powerful.
00:46:33.69\00:46:35.69
Now notice that.
00:47:05.39\00:47:06.72
A couple of things here.
00:47:06.76\00:47:08.09
It says that there must
be a continual reliance.
00:47:08.12\00:47:12.26
Sometimes we rely sometimes,
sometimes we rely most times,
00:47:12.29\00:47:17.57
sometimes we rely a lot.
00:47:17.60\00:47:19.83
But it says there
must be a continual.
00:47:19.93\00:47:22.40
Which means, an unbroken
reliance upon the merits
00:47:22.44\00:47:27.04
and the blood of Jesus,
because that's the only thing
00:47:27.08\00:47:30.48
in this world that
has power over sin.
00:47:30.51\00:47:34.18
What do you think today?
00:47:34.22\00:47:35.55
Now she also says
that when the Holy Spirit
00:47:35.78\00:47:38.79
is breathing upon the soul.
00:47:38.82\00:47:40.42
That's another word for bringing
conviction to your hearts.
00:47:40.46\00:47:44.03
Okay?
00:47:44.13\00:47:45.46
When the Holy Spirit
is convicting the heart,
00:47:45.49\00:47:48.00
she says, that man, or
I will add, that woman,
00:47:48.03\00:47:51.33
must respond to its influence.
00:47:51.43\00:47:54.60
If we don't respond to
the convicting power of the
00:47:54.64\00:47:57.87
Holy Spirit in our lives,
there will be no transformation.
00:47:57.91\00:48:01.21
You understand?
00:48:01.24\00:48:02.58
When the Spirit
convicts and we resist,
00:48:02.61\00:48:05.48
our moral abilities
and our moral nature
00:48:05.51\00:48:08.88
becomes more weakened.
00:48:09.08\00:48:11.05
But when we
respond, God injects in us,
00:48:11.45\00:48:14.76
our hearts and
minds, divine power;
00:48:14.79\00:48:17.03
and we find
strength and victory.
00:48:17.13\00:48:18.73
I've seen it happen.
00:48:18.76\00:48:20.10
You know, I remember
just a few months ago,
00:48:20.13\00:48:25.43
I was wrestling
with this temptation that
00:48:26.03\00:48:28.64
Satan had brought to me.
00:48:28.67\00:48:30.01
Yes, pastors have temptations,
and they wrestle too.
00:48:30.04\00:48:32.11
And I was wrestling,
and I just sensed myself
00:48:32.67\00:48:36.28
growing weaker
and weaker and weaker.
00:48:36.31\00:48:40.18
And I was just about to
the point where I was going to
00:48:40.98\00:48:43.79
yield to that temptation.
00:48:43.82\00:48:45.92
And I heard my
little boy, 3 years old,
00:48:47.39\00:48:50.66
in the very moment...
00:48:51.36\00:48:52.69
I'm telling you,
friends, this was divine.
00:48:52.73\00:48:54.46
In the very moment I was about
to yield to that temptation
00:48:54.50\00:48:57.47
and give in, he
began to sing the song,
00:48:57.50\00:49:00.64
"Jesus loves me, this I know;
00:49:01.40\00:49:04.14
for the Bible tells me so.
00:49:04.61\00:49:06.91
Little ones to Him belong;
00:49:07.21\00:49:09.41
they are weak,
but He is strong."
00:49:09.64\00:49:14.48
And it was in that
moment that I gathered myself
00:49:14.85\00:49:18.15
and I said, "Lord Jesus,
take this thing from me."
00:49:18.19\00:49:20.79
And He gave me power
over that temptation,
00:49:21.46\00:49:24.46
and I did not yield.
00:49:25.03\00:49:26.80
It was all His glory and
His power and strength, amen?
00:49:27.16\00:49:30.57
We need that.
00:49:30.67\00:49:32.00
How much time do we
spend each day asking God
00:49:32.03\00:49:35.57
to give us the
power of the Holy Spirit?
00:49:35.60\00:49:38.74
We need to pray that
prayer every day, friends.
00:49:38.77\00:49:40.98
Pray that prayer every day.
00:49:41.01\00:49:42.34
Lord Jesus, give me more
and more of the Holy Spirit
00:49:42.38\00:49:45.38
until I'm completely transformed
into the image of Christ Jesus.
00:49:45.41\00:49:50.59
We're going to go now to
1 Thessalonians chapter 4,
00:49:51.12\00:49:54.06
and we're going to
read verses 16 through 18.
00:49:54.16\00:49:57.16
We're going to
look at our next point.
00:49:57.19\00:49:58.66
Verses 16 through
18, the Bible tells us...
00:49:58.76\00:50:01.90
This is a passage that
as Seventh-day Adventists,
00:50:03.10\00:50:05.67
we know very well, don't we?
00:50:05.70\00:50:07.34
Verse 16, "For the Lord
Himself will descend from heaven
00:50:07.87\00:50:11.14
with a shout, with
the voice of an archangel,
00:50:11.17\00:50:14.24
and with the trumpet of God.
00:50:14.28\00:50:15.71
And the dead in
Christ will rise first.
00:50:15.74\00:50:18.31
Then we who are alive and remain
shall be caught up together
00:50:18.48\00:50:21.48
with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air.
00:50:21.52\00:50:24.05
And thus we shall
always be with the Lord.
00:50:24.15\00:50:27.22
Therefore comfort one
another with these words."
00:50:27.32\00:50:32.16
Do those words bring
comfort to your heart today?
00:50:32.19\00:50:34.23
They bring comfort to our heart.
00:50:34.50\00:50:35.83
And I believe today,
friends, that the hope of the
00:50:35.86\00:50:37.73
second coming gives us
a comfort in our hearts
00:50:37.77\00:50:41.94
that can keep us through the
darkest times of our lives...
00:50:41.97\00:50:45.91
If we keep the vision and
the hope of the second coming
00:50:50.31\00:50:53.21
ever before us, Jesus
will guard our hearts.
00:50:53.25\00:50:57.15
He will draw close
in the darkest time.
00:50:57.19\00:51:00.22
But you know, friends,
some people tell me, they say,
00:51:00.26\00:51:02.19
"You know, it's all
nice and well that we would
00:51:02.22\00:51:04.76
have the hope of Jesus in
the future, but what about
00:51:04.79\00:51:07.00
the present, Pastor Wes?
00:51:07.03\00:51:08.36
What about the here and
now when my heart is aching
00:51:08.40\00:51:11.57
and it's breaking, and the
dark clouds have surrounded me?
00:51:11.60\00:51:14.77
What about this moment?"
00:51:14.87\00:51:16.57
Never fear, friends.
00:51:16.91\00:51:18.24
For the Bible says we
have a great High Priest
00:51:18.41\00:51:21.31
who intercedes for us.
00:51:21.58\00:51:23.08
And He says you can come
boldly to the throne of grace
00:51:23.11\00:51:26.65
in time of need.
00:51:26.75\00:51:28.88
When we draw close to
Jesus in our darkest hour,
00:51:28.98\00:51:32.29
He will draw close to us. Amen?
00:51:32.39\00:51:35.02
The hope and the
assurance of His presence
00:51:35.16\00:51:37.99
is always with us,
even to the end of the age.
00:51:38.09\00:51:42.70
How many of you can say amen?
00:51:42.96\00:51:44.30
He promises to never
leave us, nor forsake us.
00:51:44.60\00:51:49.20
What a great God
that we serve. Amen?
00:51:49.24\00:51:51.31
He is with us now,
He is with us tomorrow.
00:51:51.41\00:51:54.14
He is with us every day
until we see Him face to face
00:51:54.24\00:51:57.15
in the clouds of heaven.
00:51:57.18\00:51:58.51
We can take heart,
we can be encouraged,
00:51:58.55\00:52:01.05
in those dark
moments of our life.
00:52:01.15\00:52:02.68
What do you say today?
00:52:02.72\00:52:04.05
Our last point for this
message is found in chapter 5,
00:52:04.79\00:52:13.26
and it is in verse 23 and 24.
00:52:13.53\00:52:17.37
Paul the apostle gives a final
vision of the second coming.
00:52:17.40\00:52:21.37
He says, "Now may
the God of peace Himself
00:52:21.64\00:52:24.54
sanctify you completely;
00:52:24.57\00:52:27.38
and may your whole spirit, soul,
and body be preserved blameless
00:52:27.58\00:52:31.61
at the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:52:31.81\00:52:34.62
He who calls you is
faithful, and also will do it."
00:52:34.85\00:52:42.59
Isn't that a
beautiful promise, friends?
00:52:42.66\00:52:44.49
That He would
sanctify us completely.
00:52:44.76\00:52:47.73
It's His power, not ours.
00:52:47.76\00:52:49.53
It's His grace,
not our own strength.
00:52:49.56\00:52:51.97
It's His works on
the cross, not our own.
00:52:52.07\00:52:55.00
It's He that
sanctifies us completely.
00:52:55.17\00:52:58.61
And our last point is
that the transforming grace...
00:52:58.77\00:53:01.58
All the joy of
Jesus living within, amen?
00:53:14.32\00:53:16.93
The joy of Jesus living within.
00:53:17.09\00:53:19.53
He has power over every sin
that can come into our lives.
00:53:19.56\00:53:24.80
I want to come to
this quote from the book,
00:53:25.63\00:53:28.94
Acts of the Apostles, page 507.
00:53:28.97\00:53:31.44
Notice this, friends.
00:53:31.47\00:53:32.81
Who will stand, friends?
00:54:31.73\00:54:33.47
We need an exponential
vision of the second coming of
00:54:34.57\00:54:38.81
Jesus in our
hearts and minds, amen?
00:54:38.84\00:54:40.91
An exponential vision.
00:54:41.38\00:54:44.41
There was a young man who
had strayed away from God.
00:54:45.85\00:54:51.82
And he was in Ukraine.
00:54:51.85\00:54:53.99
And he told his father,
who was a pastor, he said,
00:54:54.02\00:54:57.09
"I want you to
give me your apartment,
00:54:57.13\00:54:59.63
or I'm going to kill you."
00:54:59.66\00:55:02.36
He actually told him this.
00:55:02.40\00:55:03.73
So his father
moved out, he moved in.
00:55:03.77\00:55:06.07
And one night he was sitting
there after a party that he had
00:55:06.70\00:55:09.80
thrown in his house, and
he was sitting there about
00:55:09.84\00:55:12.71
three in the
morning smoking a cigarette.
00:55:12.74\00:55:15.08
And he said, all of a
sudden a vision of the door
00:55:15.28\00:55:20.35
became just bright as the sun.
00:55:20.55\00:55:23.08
And he said that someone
stepped through that door,
00:55:23.39\00:55:27.86
and his face was so bright
he could not even look upon him.
00:55:28.19\00:55:31.69
And he said to him, this
happened just a few years ago,
00:55:31.73\00:55:34.46
"If you only knew
how much I love you
00:55:35.00\00:55:37.60
and how much I care for
you, and how soon I am returning
00:55:38.27\00:55:43.07
to the earth," he said,
"You would not be throwing away
00:55:43.10\00:55:47.11
your life like this.
00:55:47.14\00:55:48.48
Won't you come back to
me before it's too late?"
00:55:48.51\00:55:54.08
The person stepped
back through the door
00:55:55.45\00:55:57.55
and it returned to normal.
00:55:58.29\00:55:59.82
He said that it so shook him up
that he came back to the church
00:56:00.76\00:56:05.63
and he was re-baptized.
00:56:06.16\00:56:07.86
And he said, "I believe
that Jesus is coming soon."
00:56:08.23\00:56:12.30
Dear friends, are we
really ready for Jesus
00:56:12.33\00:56:15.37
to return to this earth?
00:56:15.40\00:56:16.84
Have we really
surrendered our lives?
00:56:17.01\00:56:19.47
Have we asked Jesus to take
away the idols of our lives?
00:56:19.67\00:56:24.38
Have we asked Jesus to
give us a transforming love
00:56:24.48\00:56:28.52
for others in the
church and for the lost?
00:56:28.55\00:56:31.75
Have we asked Jesus to
completely sanctify us?
00:56:31.95\00:56:35.32
Are we trusting in Him in
the darkest times of our lives?
00:56:35.36\00:56:39.26
Are our lives
totally surrendered to the
00:56:39.29\00:56:41.76
living Christ
who is coming soon?
00:56:41.80\00:56:44.63
Is every decision that we
make and everything that we do
00:56:44.67\00:56:47.90
in this life, dear friends,
is it centered around the fact
00:56:47.94\00:56:51.07
that Jesus is
returning to the earth today?
00:56:51.17\00:56:54.11
He's asking us to
surrender our lives to Him.
00:56:54.64\00:56:57.41
He's asking you today,
dear friends that are watching,
00:56:57.51\00:57:00.08
He's asking you,
He's inviting you,
00:57:00.35\00:57:02.38
to make that decision to
make a complete surrender to Him
00:57:02.58\00:57:06.49
and to allow that
work of grace in your heart
00:57:07.09\00:57:10.13
to prepare you
for His soon return.
00:57:10.23\00:57:13.19
Friends that are
watching, friends here locally,
00:57:13.40\00:57:15.43
will you make
that decision today?
00:57:15.46\00:57:17.17
Is that the
desire of your hearts?
00:57:17.20\00:57:18.53
Would you make that decision
and heed the voice of Jesus?
00:57:18.57\00:57:20.67
Let me see your
hands. Let's pray.
00:57:20.70\00:57:23.14
Father, we thank You so much
for the hope of Jesus' return.
00:57:23.17\00:57:26.47
And we pray, dear Father, that
our hearts would be transformed
00:57:26.68\00:57:30.45
and changed by the
power of Your glory
00:57:30.78\00:57:33.18
and the power of Your grace,
and we will be standing with You
00:57:33.21\00:57:36.38
when You return in
the clouds of heaven.
00:57:36.42\00:57:38.12
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
00:57:38.32\00:57:41.02