Welcome to Anchors Of Truth,
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live from the
3ABN Worship Center.
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Hi, I'm Brian Hamilton.
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It's my privilege to welcome
you into the worship center of
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Three Angels
Broadcasting Network
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for another
Anchors Of Truth series.
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Every once and a while,
about every month and a half,
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we interrupt our
normal broadcasting schedule
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to present
usually a five part series
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in each of these presentations.
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And we call it,
Anchors Of Truth.
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We are headed on the home
stretch to the end of this
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earth's history, and there's
certain things that we need
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to understand and know about
the times in which we live.
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And each one of our
Anchors presents one of those
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messages dealing with the
important truths that we need
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to understand for the
time in which we live.
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And our particular
series this time is entitled,
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Almost Home.
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And how
appropriate that message is.
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Almost Home.
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We're not in the
beginnings of earth's history,
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we're not in the
middle of earth's history.
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We are headed toward the
very end, the finish line,
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of earth's history.
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So welcome to Anchors
Of Truth, Almost Home.
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Our presenter for
this particular series is
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Pastor Taj Pacleb.
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And Pastor Pacleb has
recently pastored in the
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Central California Conference.
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And now he and his wife
have launched into their own
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ministry called,
Revelation of Hope.
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If you want to know
more about it, you can just
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Google it on the web.
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I did it today, and it worked.
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And I found their
website, a beautiful website.
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You can find out more about,
Revelation of Hope Ministries,
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with Pastor Pacleb and his wife.
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The series, Almost
Home, is five parts.
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This is part
three of the five parts.
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And our title for the
presentation tonight is,
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Rebuilding the Walls.
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Well what have we missed?
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If you're just tuning
in for the very first time,
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you have missed, The
Face Behind the Veil,
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and number two,
Champion of Love.
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What do we have
to look forward to?
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Number four will
be, The Smitten Rock,
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and, Highway to the Upper Room,
will end this five part series.
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You don't want
to miss one of them.
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And if you have missed
them, you can always call 3ABN
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or email us, and we can
provide the whole series.
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Or any particular message
that you would like to have,
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we can make sure
that you get that.
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I'm going to
have a word of prayer.
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And then following my
prayer, we're going to have the
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proclamation of the gospel
through a very special medium.
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And that is music.
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You know, you can
present the gospel in a number
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of different ways.
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One of the ways
would be through preaching.
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And there will be
preaching tonight.
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Another way is through
teaching, personal testimony.
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But I think the way
that's most effective
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at touching the
heart is the proclamation
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of the gospel through music.
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And Jacqueline, she
goes by Jackie, Jewel
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will be accompanying herself.
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And I don't have a
clue how they can do that
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and sing at the same time.
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But she will.
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She'll accompany herself and
be singing, Because He Lives.
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So following my
prayer and Jackie's song,
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the next voice you'll
hear will be God's servant,
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Pastor Taj Pacleb.
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Bow your heads
with me for prayer.
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Father in heaven, thank
You so much that You have
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given us Your Word so
that we would not be ignorant
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about the way to gain
salvation, the way home.
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And we're almost home.
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And as Your servant
opens the Word to us tonight,
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we pray that You'll give him
clarity of mind and of speech,
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and that You'll open
our hearts and our minds
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to receive the message that he
has prepared to share with us.
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Holy Spirit, speak to our
hearts, speak to our minds,
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pluck our heart
strings with the emotion
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that would move us in the way
that You would want us to go.
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Thank You so much.
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In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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God sent His son,
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they called Him, Jesus;
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He came to love,
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heal and forgive.
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He lived and died
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to buy my pardon;
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an empty grave is there to prove
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my Savior lives!
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Because He lives,
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I can face tomorrow.
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Because He lives,
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all fear is gone.
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Because I know
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He holds the future.
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And life is worth the living
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just because He lives.
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How sweet to hold
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a newborn baby,
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and feel the pride
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and joy he gives.
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But greater still
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the calm assurance,
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this child can
face uncertain days
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because He Lives.
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And then one day
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I'll cross the river,
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I'll fight life's final
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war with pain.
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And then as death
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gives way to victory,
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I'll see the light of glory and
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I'll know He lives.
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Because He lives,
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I can face tomorrow.
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Because He lives,
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all fear is gone.
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Because I know
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He holds the future.
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And life is worth the living
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just because He lives.
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And life is worth the living
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just because He lives.
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Amen.
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God lives. Amen?
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I want to welcome you to
another night here at the
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Anchors Of Truth broadcast.
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I want to wish each one
of you a very happy Sabbath.
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Aloha as well.
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We've been going over
the theme, Almost Home,
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which is one that
reminds us that this world is
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truly not our home.
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We're just passing through
on our way to the Promised Land.
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And we've been dealing with
messages that are calculated
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to stir us up with
Holy Spirit conviction,
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to arouse us from
spiritual sleepiness,
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and to make us
better prepared to go home
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when the Lord Jesus returns.
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Our message tonight is
entitled, Rebuilding the Walls.
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I hope you're ready to
study the Word of God tonight.
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I hope you have your Bibles,
notebook, and a writing utensil.
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I invite you to take your
Bible and open with me to the
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book of Isaiah, and
we're going to start in the
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58th chapter tonight.
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Isaiah chapter 58, as
we study the topic tonight,
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Rebuilding the Walls.
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Isaiah 58
beginning with verse 11.
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Lord, please speak to us and
give us ears to hear Your voice
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through Your Word tonight.
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This is our prayer.
In Jesus' name, amen.
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Isaiah chapter 58
beginning with verse 11.
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The Bible says this...
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Here in this
powerful prophetic passage
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we read the description
of both our natural condition
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of the lives that we
have lived without God.
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For, friends, without God
our lives are characterized
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as an old waste place.
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Wasted life, wasted youth,
wasted time, wasted money,
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wasted influences.
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A life lived for self is
truly a wasted life indeed.
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For without God,
we have no foundation.
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And without the foundation,
our lives have been breached
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by the enemy
and broken by Satan.
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But here's the
good news, friends.
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God is able to repair
and restore that which sin
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has breached and broken.
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Can you say amen?
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Perhaps tonight the condition
of your lives is just like that.
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You have been breached
and broken by the enemy.
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Maybe there's a
breach in your health.
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You've been diagnosed
with cancer or diabetes,
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or some type of deadly disease
that is just stripping you
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and sucking the life out of you.
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Maybe there's a breach
in your finances tonight.
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You're a young person
overwhelmed with school loans
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that you have to repay.
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Maybe you're
unemployed and you need a job.
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Maybe your finances are
out of order and you have bills
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and burdens and these
loans that you need to repay.
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Well friends, I want you to know
that our God is the God that
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restores that which sin
has breached and broken.
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Maybe there's a breach
in your marriage tonight.
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Maybe the love and the
respect that you once had
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with your spouse has
been stripped by the enemy.
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There is no peace
in your household.
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Maybe you're a single
parent trying to do your
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best to raise your children.
00:13:26.27\00:13:27.60
Maybe you've gone
through a devastating divorce
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and there's a breach in
your emotional experience.
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Maybe there's a breach
in your ministry tonight.
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Maybe you're a pastor or
you have some type of ministry,
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and yet you feel like there
is no fruit in your ministry.
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Your sermons are
powerless and you're wondering,
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"God, why is there no fruit?
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Where's the fire that I
once had when I first believed?"
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Well friends, no matter
what condition you find yourself
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in tonight, we serve a God
that restores that which sin
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has broken down.
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And as we allow the Lord to
repair the brokenness in us,
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it's then that He will be
able to repair the brokenness of
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the world through our lives.
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He wants to do it in us first
so that He can do it through us
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in all the world.
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And let me tell you, friends,
there is a lot of brokenness
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in the pews, as well as in
the pulpits, of our world today.
00:14:14.42\00:14:17.65
But thank God that we
serve a Lord that is in the
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business of restoration.
00:14:19.95\00:14:21.56
And that's what this
verse is talking about;
00:14:21.59\00:14:23.16
how God wants to
repair the breach.
00:14:23.39\00:14:25.16
He wants to
restore that old pathway.
00:14:25.19\00:14:27.90
But friends, this verse not only
describes our natural condition
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without God, is also describes
our supernatural commission
00:14:32.37\00:14:36.50
in the last days.
00:14:36.54\00:14:37.87
For we serve a God
that wants to use us
00:14:37.91\00:14:41.14
to fix the brokenness of
the world that we live in.
00:14:41.24\00:14:44.61
The divine Carpenter
is calling us to restore
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the foundation of faith,
to repair the paths of peace,
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and to rebuild that
which sin has broken down.
00:14:52.02\00:14:55.99
But the question I want to
ask this evening is simply this:
00:14:56.02\00:14:59.13
What exactly is this
breach that needs to be repaired
00:14:59.16\00:15:03.47
in this wall?
00:15:03.57\00:15:04.90
What is this prophetic
passage pointing us to?
00:15:04.93\00:15:08.30
Well friends, before we
can know what the breach is,
00:15:08.84\00:15:12.17
we first have to
know what the wall is.
00:15:12.31\00:15:15.48
And what is the
purpose of a wall?
00:15:15.78\00:15:18.38
Is a wall there to restrict us,
00:15:18.95\00:15:21.42
or is a wall
there to protect us?
00:15:21.62\00:15:23.79
Well friends, it depends
on what kind of wall it is.
00:15:24.05\00:15:26.29
And it also depends which
side of the wall you're on.
00:15:26.45\00:15:29.89
For those who are within a
prison wall, the purpose of
00:15:30.33\00:15:34.66
that wall is to
protect those on the outside
00:15:34.70\00:15:38.43
from those who
are on the inside.
00:15:38.77\00:15:41.50
But if you have a fence
or a wall around your house
00:15:41.87\00:15:44.97
or around your property,
the purpose of that kind of wall
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is to protect those on
the inside from the dangers
00:15:47.98\00:15:51.31
of those on the outside.
00:15:51.35\00:15:53.18
I'll never forget going to Asia.
00:15:53.48\00:15:55.45
I've been to many
different countries there.
00:15:55.48\00:15:56.99
And I took some
pictures of the walls.
00:15:57.22\00:15:59.79
I noticed that on
top of many of the walls
00:15:59.82\00:16:01.49
in the neighborhoods in Asia
there are broken pieces of glass
00:16:01.52\00:16:04.96
on the top of the walls.
00:16:04.99\00:16:06.53
And the purpose of that, that's
their manmade barbed wire,
00:16:06.63\00:16:09.26
you can say, in those
third world countries.
00:16:09.30\00:16:11.33
It's a deterrent to
keep the thieves out.
00:16:11.37\00:16:14.57
It's to protect
those who are inside
00:16:14.67\00:16:17.11
from the dangers of
those who are outside.
00:16:17.14\00:16:19.87
A few months ago, my wife
and I got the chance to go to
00:16:20.08\00:16:22.51
the beautiful country of Fiji.
00:16:22.54\00:16:24.68
We held some meetings
there in the Novatome Dome.
00:16:24.88\00:16:27.92
It was a big stadium and
there was over 6000 individuals
00:16:27.95\00:16:31.25
there on the inside.
00:16:31.29\00:16:32.62
And as many as on the inside
was on the outside as well.
00:16:32.65\00:16:35.29
And we preached a
few messages there,
00:16:35.32\00:16:37.29
and it was a very
beautiful experience.
00:16:37.33\00:16:38.83
But while we were there in
Fiji, we got the chance to visit
00:16:38.86\00:16:41.90
the new Fulton College.
00:16:41.93\00:16:43.63
They gave us a tour around
that Adventist institution.
00:16:43.67\00:16:46.94
And they brought us to the
girls dorm, I'll never forget.
00:16:46.97\00:16:49.30
And I took this picture
of the wall or the fence
00:16:49.50\00:16:52.37
that was
surrounding the girls dorm.
00:16:52.41\00:16:54.51
And it was interesting
that on the top of those
00:16:54.64\00:16:56.71
fences were spikes.
00:16:56.75\00:16:59.21
Now I had to ask our
tour guide, what in the world
00:16:59.25\00:17:01.35
are those spikes for?
00:17:01.38\00:17:02.98
And basically, it's
for one of two reasons.
00:17:03.22\00:17:06.49
It's either to keep the girls
in or it's to keep the boys out.
00:17:06.72\00:17:12.26
How many of you think
it's to keep the girls in?
00:17:12.76\00:17:14.73
How many of you think
it's to keep the boys out?
00:17:15.96\00:17:17.90
Well how many of
you think it's for both?
00:17:18.77\00:17:20.84
Well that really
depends on what kind of boy
00:17:21.40\00:17:23.47
and what kind of girl you are.
00:17:23.51\00:17:25.47
You see, friends, the
purpose of a wall is not so much
00:17:25.57\00:17:29.94
to restrict, but to protect.
00:17:29.98\00:17:32.91
However, if we are a
slave to sin, and we're going to
00:17:33.18\00:17:37.12
look upon the wall of God
as something that restricts us,
00:17:37.15\00:17:41.09
something that binds us,
something that holds us back
00:17:41.12\00:17:44.29
from the stimulations of sin.
00:17:44.53\00:17:46.29
But if we are free in
our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:17:46.76\00:17:50.37
we will view God's wall, not
as something that restricts us,
00:17:50.40\00:17:54.27
but rather
something that protects us
00:17:54.30\00:17:56.24
from the evil results of sin.
00:17:56.27\00:17:58.41
You see, friends, there's
no problem with the wall.
00:17:58.44\00:18:00.94
It all depends on which
side of the wall you're on.
00:18:01.18\00:18:04.48
And in this passage, God wants
to build a wall of protection
00:18:04.81\00:18:08.52
around our
family, our relationships,
00:18:08.55\00:18:10.95
our health, our
finances, our lives.
00:18:10.99\00:18:13.96
And I want to be on
the right side of the wall.
00:18:13.99\00:18:15.96
And I'm sure you do as well.
00:18:15.99\00:18:18.19
So according to this
prophecy in Isaiah 58,
00:18:18.29\00:18:20.90
there is a breach in
the wall that must be fixed.
00:18:21.36\00:18:25.13
And to know what this
breach is, we have to go back
00:18:25.17\00:18:28.64
to examine an ancient
story of which this verse
00:18:28.67\00:18:32.07
is an echo of.
00:18:32.11\00:18:33.58
This verse takes our
minds back to a sad time
00:18:33.74\00:18:36.34
in Israel's history.
00:18:36.38\00:18:37.71
A time when
spiritual apathy and apostasy
00:18:37.75\00:18:40.62
and abominations were the norm.
00:18:40.65\00:18:42.55
It was during the days
of Zedekiah, king of Israel,
00:18:42.58\00:18:45.95
that the wickedness began
to intensify to another level.
00:18:45.99\00:18:49.06
And because of the abominations
that God's people were
00:18:49.09\00:18:51.59
committing, it brought
about desolation to their city
00:18:51.63\00:18:55.30
and their temple.
00:18:55.33\00:18:56.67
And if you're to study
the story, you'll notice
00:18:56.70\00:18:58.43
that there were
two cardinal sins
00:18:58.47\00:19:01.20
that God's
people were committing,
00:19:01.24\00:19:03.30
two terrible
abominations that brought about
00:19:03.34\00:19:06.27
desolation to their city.
00:19:06.31\00:19:07.91
And those two abominations,
number one was Sabbath breaking.
00:19:07.94\00:19:12.01
You can find that
in Jeremiah 17:27.
00:19:12.05\00:19:15.92
God's people were
breaking the Sabbath.
00:19:16.08\00:19:17.72
And the second one was that
they were worshiping the sun
00:19:17.75\00:19:21.12
in the temple of God.
00:19:21.16\00:19:22.49
And you can find
that in Ezekiel 8:16.
00:19:22.52\00:19:26.46
So they were
breaking the Sabbath,
00:19:26.83\00:19:28.43
and they were worshiping
the sun in the house of God.
00:19:28.70\00:19:31.97
These were terrible abominations
00:19:32.00\00:19:33.74
that God's
people were committing.
00:19:33.77\00:19:35.20
And as a result of
these abominations,
00:19:35.24\00:19:37.07
desolations
came upon their city.
00:19:37.11\00:19:40.24
If you read the very next
chapter, Ezekiel chapter 9,
00:19:40.44\00:19:43.88
it talks about the close
of probation in that time.
00:19:43.98\00:19:47.35
The city was
saturated with blood.
00:19:47.38\00:19:49.45
Thousands of
people were slaughtered
00:19:49.48\00:19:51.32
and went to hopeless graves.
00:19:51.35\00:19:53.05
And it describes
those in Ezekiel chapter 9
00:19:53.09\00:19:57.43
who were able to endure
the desolation of that time.
00:19:57.63\00:20:01.70
I want you to
notice what it says.
00:20:01.73\00:20:03.30
Ezekiel chapter 9
beginning with verse 4,
00:20:03.33\00:20:05.70
the Bible says this, it says...
00:20:05.73\00:20:08.10
So here we see,
friends, a great abomination
00:20:37.27\00:20:40.97
took place amongst the people
of God in Ezekiel chapter 8.
00:20:41.00\00:20:44.61
They were breaking the Sabbath
00:20:44.64\00:20:46.01
and they were
worshiping the sun.
00:20:46.04\00:20:47.68
But then in Ezekiel 9 probation
closes, and the city is
00:20:47.88\00:20:51.71
saturated with blood.
00:20:51.75\00:20:53.08
Thousands of
people are slaughtered.
00:20:53.11\00:20:54.98
The Babylonians came
to destroy Jerusalem.
00:20:55.02\00:20:57.55
But then the Bible says
that before destruction came,
00:20:57.59\00:21:00.79
mercy came first.
00:21:00.82\00:21:02.16
God sent an individual to
put a mark upon the foreheads
00:21:02.19\00:21:05.99
of His people, those
who were signing and crying.
00:21:06.03\00:21:09.46
And those who received
God's mark were the ones that
00:21:09.50\00:21:12.47
were preserved and were saved
00:21:12.50\00:21:16.10
during that
great time of trouble.
00:21:16.30\00:21:18.27
And friends, notice, the
ones that endured the desolation
00:21:18.74\00:21:21.74
were those who were not
partaking in the abominations.
00:21:22.08\00:21:24.88
But they were giving a loud cry.
00:21:25.11\00:21:27.18
They were signing
and crying against it.
00:21:27.22\00:21:30.12
And friends, if we're going
to make it in these last days,
00:21:30.32\00:21:32.65
we too must sign and cry
for the abominations that we see
00:21:32.75\00:21:35.62
taking place in our world.
00:21:35.66\00:21:37.09
We need to pray, "Lord,
break my heart for the things
00:21:37.36\00:21:41.53
that break Your heart.
00:21:41.63\00:21:42.96
Lord, let me weep for the
things that cause You to weep.
00:21:43.16\00:21:46.70
Let me carry a burden
for that which burdens
00:21:46.74\00:21:49.44
Your infinite heart."
00:21:49.47\00:21:50.97
Because naturally, friends,
we are inclined to partake
00:21:51.01\00:21:53.94
of those abominations.
00:21:53.98\00:21:55.31
It takes a supernatural
miracle of the heart
00:21:55.34\00:21:57.91
for God to cause us
to cry aloud against it.
00:21:57.95\00:22:01.95
And only those who have
that heart transformation
00:22:02.05\00:22:05.32
will receive the mark of
God that will preserve them
00:22:05.35\00:22:08.19
in this great time of trouble.
00:22:08.22\00:22:10.46
And so we see, the city
of Jerusalem was in ruins.
00:22:10.83\00:22:15.13
And the wall
surrounding Jerusalem was broken
00:22:15.16\00:22:17.53
for many decades of desolation.
00:22:17.57\00:22:19.83
The chosen people of God were
scattered amongst the nations.
00:22:19.87\00:22:22.77
They were exiled
in heathen lands.
00:22:22.80\00:22:25.27
But then after 70 years
went by, God opened the door
00:22:25.67\00:22:29.64
for a brand new beginning.
00:22:29.68\00:22:32.31
At the decree of
Cyrus, many of God's people
00:22:32.51\00:22:35.02
went back to
Jerusalem to rebuild that which
00:22:35.05\00:22:38.49
the Babylonians had torn down.
00:22:38.52\00:22:40.92
To make a long story
short, the record tells us
00:22:41.09\00:22:44.23
that eventually
the temple was rebuilt.
00:22:44.26\00:22:46.56
But there was still
a breach in the wall.
00:22:46.83\00:22:50.00
And listen, friends, as
long as there was a breach
00:22:50.20\00:22:53.23
in the wall, God's
people could find no rest.
00:22:53.27\00:22:58.77
True Sabbath
keeping was impossible
00:22:59.31\00:23:02.28
as long as there was
a breach in the wall.
00:23:02.38\00:23:04.81
Because even if
they went to sleep,
00:23:04.85\00:23:06.78
they could not find any rest.
00:23:06.82\00:23:08.35
Because a breach in the
wall made them vulnerable
00:23:08.38\00:23:11.29
to the attacks of the enemy.
00:23:11.32\00:23:12.75
And so even though
the temple was rebuilt,
00:23:12.89\00:23:15.09
that breach in the wall caused
there to be a constant tension
00:23:15.12\00:23:19.06
and fear in the air.
00:23:19.09\00:23:20.70
Why?
00:23:21.13\00:23:22.46
Because an incomplete work
results in an incomplete rest.
00:23:22.50\00:23:27.14
You see, my friends,
it wasn't enough for the
00:23:27.17\00:23:28.97
work to be started.
00:23:29.00\00:23:30.97
The work had to be
finished in order for rest
00:23:31.34\00:23:35.04
to be realized to
the people of God.
00:23:35.08\00:23:37.65
And so it's in this
context that God rose up
00:23:37.91\00:23:42.02
a man of opportunity.
00:23:42.28\00:23:43.85
A lay person that God used
to initiate a powerful revival
00:23:44.02\00:23:48.62
that brought reformation,
restoration, and ultimate rest
00:23:48.82\00:23:52.96
to the people of God.
00:23:52.99\00:23:54.86
His name was Nehemiah.
00:23:54.96\00:23:57.23
He was a layman, a
servant in the king's court.
00:23:57.63\00:24:00.64
The king's cupbearer.
00:24:00.67\00:24:02.10
He wasn't a priest,
he wasn't a prophet.
00:24:02.14\00:24:04.21
He was simply a layman that
had a burden to finish the work.
00:24:04.24\00:24:08.74
And friends, I truly
believe that in these last days,
00:24:08.84\00:24:10.75
God is seeking to
raise up individuals
00:24:10.78\00:24:13.18
from the common
walks of life to stand up,
00:24:13.21\00:24:15.68
to carry a burden for the
finishing of the work of the
00:24:15.72\00:24:18.65
gospel in these last days.
00:24:18.69\00:24:20.26
God is looking for laymen
to finish the work, friends.
00:24:20.29\00:24:23.12
You see, the work of
God in these last days
00:24:23.29\00:24:25.23
is not going to be
completed from the top down,
00:24:25.33\00:24:27.86
but rather from the bottom
up as the clergy and the laity
00:24:27.90\00:24:31.37
join hand in
hand, working together,
00:24:31.40\00:24:33.84
moving forward
together to rebuild the walls,
00:24:33.87\00:24:36.94
so seal the breach, so
that ultimate heavenly rest
00:24:36.97\00:24:40.74
can be restored to
us in these last days.
00:24:40.98\00:24:44.18
And so I want to
encourage you, friends,
00:24:44.55\00:24:46.28
no matter who you are, if
you're a doctor or dentist,
00:24:47.32\00:24:49.95
a business or a laboring
man, no matter what walk of life
00:24:50.05\00:24:53.82
you are, God has
placed a most holy and sacred
00:24:53.86\00:24:56.56
calling upon your life.
00:24:56.59\00:24:57.93
If you have been a
recipient of the gospel message,
00:24:57.96\00:25:00.40
now you're called
to be a participant
00:25:00.43\00:25:02.66
in the gospel commission
in sharing that good news
00:25:02.70\00:25:06.67
to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people;
00:25:06.70\00:25:08.80
to rebuild the
walls, to seal the breach,
00:25:08.84\00:25:11.17
so that Jesus can come and
so that we can all go home.
00:25:11.21\00:25:14.44
The work is not going to
be finished by a few people
00:25:14.74\00:25:17.65
at the top, but rather
when all of God's people
00:25:17.68\00:25:20.88
take ownership of that
which already belongs to us
00:25:20.92\00:25:24.09
and we work together.
00:25:24.12\00:25:25.45
And friends, you don't
need a position or a title
00:25:25.99\00:25:28.39
to work for God.
00:25:28.42\00:25:29.76
You don't need so
much someone to lay their
00:25:29.96\00:25:32.09
hands on you, you
just need the Lord's hand
00:25:32.13\00:25:33.96
to be upon your life.
00:25:34.00\00:25:35.56
I want to read to you
from the book, Gospel Workers,
00:25:35.73\00:25:38.47
page 488-489.
00:25:38.97\00:25:40.77
It's a very
challenging statement.
00:25:41.14\00:25:42.80
It says this...
00:25:42.84\00:25:44.17
Can you imagine that?
00:26:03.89\00:26:05.23
Limiting the
omnipotent power of God?
00:26:05.26\00:26:08.03
And then it says...
00:26:08.06\00:26:09.40
Friends, I want you to
notice, it's a challenge for us
00:26:37.36\00:26:40.06
as a church.
00:26:40.10\00:26:41.43
Now please don't misunderstand
what I'm about to say.
00:26:41.46\00:26:44.00
I believe, friends,
that those who work for God,
00:26:44.13\00:26:46.53
those who are children of
God, should aim for excellence
00:26:46.57\00:26:49.34
in everything that we do.
00:26:49.37\00:26:50.97
Spiritual and moral excellence.
00:26:51.37\00:26:53.54
Excellence in our
finances, in our stewardship,
00:26:53.71\00:26:56.28
in our marriages.
00:26:56.31\00:26:57.65
Excellence in growing
and learning, in education.
00:26:57.68\00:27:00.75
But friends, I
sense, I sense that there is
00:27:00.78\00:27:03.99
an over-emphasis
on formal education,
00:27:04.42\00:27:08.39
to the point where if you
don't have a piece of paper,
00:27:08.49\00:27:11.96
that somehow you are
unqualified for ministry.
00:27:11.99\00:27:15.53
And friends, if
that mindset was true,
00:27:15.73\00:27:17.63
then Jesus and John the
Baptist would be unqualified
00:27:17.83\00:27:20.87
for ministry.
00:27:20.90\00:27:22.24
You see, friends, the
spirit of prophecy calls this
00:27:22.27\00:27:23.94
type of mindset unbelief,
limiting God, uncalled for,
00:27:23.97\00:27:28.74
distrustful, and unfair.
00:27:28.78\00:27:31.21
And I want to encourage
us, friends, that God is not
00:27:31.25\00:27:33.52
dependent upon our own
abilities, our resources,
00:27:33.55\00:27:37.12
our skills, and our education.
00:27:37.15\00:27:38.95
He's only dependent upon
our willingness to be used,
00:27:38.99\00:27:42.22
our humility, and our
availability to be used by Him.
00:27:42.26\00:27:46.49
God is looking for
some Nehemiah's to stand up
00:27:46.73\00:27:49.36
out of the status
quo and the comfort zone
00:27:49.40\00:27:52.03
to the finishing of the work.
00:27:52.27\00:27:54.30
And I want to read
to you from the book,
00:27:54.54\00:27:56.37
Acts of the Apostles, page 328.
00:27:56.40\00:27:58.77
Here's the strongest
proof that God has called one
00:27:58.81\00:28:02.04
to minister for Him.
00:28:02.08\00:28:03.41
Notice what it says.
00:28:03.45\00:28:04.78
I believe that in these
last days, God is looking for
00:28:16.29\00:28:19.46
end time Nehemiah's to
work with the end time Ezras
00:28:19.49\00:28:23.30
and Zerubbabels of the
last day to finish the work.
00:28:23.33\00:28:26.77
And so, friend, are you an
Ezra, an ordained minister?
00:28:27.04\00:28:29.97
Are you a Zerubbabel, a
priest in the house of God?
00:28:30.01\00:28:32.37
I want to encourage
you and challenge you,
00:28:32.41\00:28:34.54
don't be afraid to utilize
the Nehemiah's in your church.
00:28:34.58\00:28:38.91
To activate the laity, to
empower them and give them
00:28:39.35\00:28:42.32
opportunities to
do the work of God.
00:28:42.35\00:28:44.65
I'll never forget when
I was converted when I was
00:28:45.02\00:28:46.89
16 years old.
00:28:46.92\00:28:48.99
I was a druggie.
00:28:49.22\00:28:50.56
I was slow of speech.
00:28:50.79\00:28:52.66
I stuttered a lot. My
English was very limited.
00:28:53.06\00:28:56.60
And I'll never forget, I
was on fire for the Lord.
00:28:57.40\00:28:59.87
I didn't know
much, but I knew Jesus.
00:28:59.90\00:29:01.70
I'll never forget my pastor,
the way in which he mentored me
00:29:01.80\00:29:04.47
and helped me grow spiritually.
00:29:04.57\00:29:06.37
Many times when I
would go to church,
00:29:06.47\00:29:08.41
right before he would
preach he would announce and
00:29:08.51\00:29:11.41
he would call me up
to the front, "I want Taj
00:29:11.45\00:29:13.15
to come up right now
and share a testimony."
00:29:13.18\00:29:15.08
He wouldn't give me warning
that he was going to do that.
00:29:15.32\00:29:18.05
He simply did it
every now and then.
00:29:18.49\00:29:20.69
And he did it often
enough to the point where
00:29:20.92\00:29:23.89
whenever I came to church, I
was ready to stand up and share.
00:29:23.93\00:29:28.00
He even, a few times, asked me
to give the sermon for that day
00:29:28.03\00:29:30.87
without giving me
a notice beforehand.
00:29:30.90\00:29:34.40
And friends, what that did
for me, friends, it grew me.
00:29:34.60\00:29:37.44
It put my mindset in such
a way where I went to church,
00:29:37.47\00:29:41.51
not simply to be
on the receiving end,
00:29:41.54\00:29:43.41
but be ready to
be on the giving end.
00:29:43.45\00:29:45.91
And that grew me
as a young person.
00:29:46.48\00:29:48.35
And I want to
encourage the end time Ezras
00:29:48.98\00:29:52.35
to do the same thing.
00:29:52.39\00:29:53.79
Don't be afraid to
utilize the Nehemiah's
00:29:53.99\00:29:56.69
that are under your leadership.
00:29:56.73\00:29:58.49
I was a mess, friends.
00:29:58.53\00:29:59.86
I was the least
likely candidate to preach.
00:29:59.89\00:30:01.76
But God took my mess and
turned it into a message.
00:30:01.80\00:30:04.73
Can you say amen?
00:30:04.77\00:30:06.10
And He can do that for
each and every one of us.
00:30:06.13\00:30:08.37
Are you a
Nehemiah in the last day?
00:30:08.70\00:30:11.17
A layman that has a
burden to work for God?
00:30:11.37\00:30:13.54
Well you need to support
the Ezras of the last day.
00:30:13.98\00:30:16.04
You need to support your
pastors and your leaders.
00:30:16.08\00:30:18.11
And you need to ask
them to put you to work.
00:30:18.31\00:30:20.38
You don't need a
title or position.
00:30:20.48\00:30:22.58
Just do the duty
that lies nearest
00:30:22.78\00:30:25.32
and be faithful in
that which is least.
00:30:25.35\00:30:28.26
God is not
dependent upon our abilities,
00:30:28.52\00:30:31.19
nor our lack of those things.
00:30:31.53\00:30:34.00
He's only dependent upon
our humility and availability.
00:30:34.10\00:30:37.30
You see,
friends, I love Nehemiah.
00:30:37.33\00:30:38.97
He's one of my superheroes.
00:30:39.33\00:30:40.77
He's there in the
comforts of the palace
00:30:40.97\00:30:43.30
as the king's cupbearer.
00:30:43.34\00:30:44.71
And yet, in that nice,
plush, comfortable position,
00:30:44.87\00:30:49.68
he had a burden for souls.
00:30:49.78\00:30:51.48
A burden to get out
of the comfort zone,
00:30:51.51\00:30:54.38
out of the palace,
and go back to Jerusalem
00:30:55.18\00:30:58.29
to finish the work.
00:30:58.32\00:30:59.95
And God is looking
for end time Nehemiah's
00:30:59.99\00:31:02.19
to do the same thing.
00:31:02.32\00:31:03.66
And friends,
I've experienced this.
00:31:03.93\00:31:05.56
My wife and I had
the wonderful opportunity
00:31:05.76\00:31:08.06
of working in the
Central California Conference
00:31:08.43\00:31:10.73
for the last 11
years of our lives.
00:31:10.77\00:31:13.34
And while we were there, we did
over 60 evangelistic seminars
00:31:13.54\00:31:16.74
throughout that time period.
00:31:17.24\00:31:18.77
And we've seen over 1200 people
baptized through our meetings.
00:31:18.81\00:31:22.44
And we had a
wonderful experience.
00:31:22.54\00:31:23.91
This is where the Lord grew us.
00:31:23.95\00:31:25.65
But in the last few
years, my wife and I have had
00:31:26.75\00:31:29.28
a growing conviction in our
hearts that we have saturated
00:31:29.32\00:31:33.05
the territory of
Central California Conference.
00:31:33.09\00:31:35.19
We've done so many meetings
in all the different areas.
00:31:35.22\00:31:37.59
And He was placing a
conviction on our hearts that
00:31:37.79\00:31:40.00
it's time to
broaden the territories,
00:31:40.03\00:31:42.36
it's time to take the
message into new fields.
00:31:42.40\00:31:44.83
It was a
difficult struggle for us.
00:31:45.20\00:31:47.14
But after much prayer, after
much counsel from many of our
00:31:47.47\00:31:50.97
spiritual mentors at the church
level and the conference level,
00:31:51.01\00:31:54.08
and even at the GC level, my
wife and I this past September
00:31:54.11\00:31:57.21
made the decision
to step out in faith.
00:31:57.25\00:31:59.18
We resigned from
our position there at
00:31:59.38\00:32:01.35
Central California Conference
with the conference's blessing
00:32:01.38\00:32:03.85
in order to start our ministry,
00:32:04.05\00:32:06.19
The Revelation
of Hope Ministries,
00:32:06.22\00:32:07.62
to take the message of
Jesus to every nation, kindred,
00:32:07.66\00:32:10.69
tongue, and people.
00:32:10.73\00:32:12.06
Not confined to the borders of a
specific geographical location.
00:32:12.09\00:32:16.13
Let me tell you, friends, it was
a challenging decision to make,
00:32:16.16\00:32:19.23
because we were very comfortable
receiving a consistent paycheck.
00:32:19.27\00:32:22.77
Very comfortable with
the conference insurance.
00:32:22.80\00:32:24.97
And so to turn that
away, to leave that,
00:32:25.01\00:32:27.61
it was truly a step of faith.
00:32:27.64\00:32:29.14
But I want to tell you, friends,
that if it's God's will,
00:32:29.18\00:32:31.75
it's His bill.
00:32:31.78\00:32:33.11
He will take care of you.
00:32:33.15\00:32:34.48
And I say that simply
to challenge each one of us
00:32:34.52\00:32:36.79
this evening, that if
you are in the comfort zone
00:32:36.82\00:32:40.52
and God is placing a burden
on your heart to do something
00:32:40.99\00:32:43.56
more than what you're
currently doing for God,
00:32:43.59\00:32:46.39
step out in faith.
00:32:46.49\00:32:48.00
It's an amazing
adventure of faith.
00:32:48.10\00:32:50.07
And God will
never lead us astray.
00:32:50.10\00:32:52.57
He will always take care of us.
00:32:52.60\00:32:54.04
And through your life, He
wants to touch many others.
00:32:54.07\00:32:57.51
We need to be good stewards
over the time and influences
00:32:57.54\00:33:00.48
that God has given to us
and make the most impact we can
00:33:00.51\00:33:04.68
in the little
time that we have left.
00:33:04.71\00:33:07.08
And that was Nehemiah, friends.
00:33:07.12\00:33:08.68
He left the palace of the
king, went back to Jerusalem.
00:33:08.88\00:33:11.85
And under Nehemiah's
leadership the wall was finished
00:33:11.89\00:33:15.36
in just 52 days.
00:33:15.39\00:33:17.19
And once the wall was
finished, true rest was restored
00:33:17.23\00:33:22.10
to the people of God.
00:33:22.13\00:33:23.47
Once the breach was
sealed, the enemy no longer had
00:33:23.50\00:33:27.34
access to steal away God's rest.
00:33:27.37\00:33:30.51
And friends, this
story is an object lesson
00:33:30.81\00:33:33.74
of our mission today.
00:33:34.08\00:33:35.41
For the same calling
that God placed upon Nehemiah
00:33:35.51\00:33:38.25
is placed upon you and me today.
00:33:38.28\00:33:40.08
We are called to
rebuild the wall.
00:33:40.12\00:33:42.18
We are called
to finish the work.
00:33:42.22\00:33:44.69
But what does this mean?
00:33:44.92\00:33:46.25
What is this wall
that will bring true rest?
00:33:46.52\00:33:50.23
Well friends, let me
ask you the question:
00:33:50.66\00:33:53.36
What wall has God given
to us to protect us from sin
00:33:54.00\00:33:59.33
but that many people,
even Christians, look upon
00:33:59.80\00:34:02.64
as restrictive and bondage?
00:34:02.90\00:34:05.67
Well it's none
other than the law of God.
00:34:06.14\00:34:09.34
Those who are slaves to sin,
they look upon the law of God,
00:34:09.51\00:34:12.01
the Ten Commandments,
as bondage, as restrictive.
00:34:12.05\00:34:14.92
But those who are free in
Christ, we understand that
00:34:14.95\00:34:17.29
God gave the Ten
Commandments, not to bind us,
00:34:17.32\00:34:20.26
not to restrict us,
but to protect us from the
00:34:20.29\00:34:23.19
evil results of sin.
00:34:23.22\00:34:25.53
You see, each one
of God's commandments
00:34:26.13\00:34:28.06
is a principle of liberty.
00:34:29.06\00:34:31.63
Ten principles of freedom.
00:34:32.73\00:34:34.50
When God says,
"Thou shalt not kill,"
00:34:34.54\00:34:36.60
it's because He's
trying to protect your life.
00:34:36.64\00:34:38.61
When God says, "Thou
shalt not commit adultery,"
00:34:38.64\00:34:40.74
it's not because He's
trying to restrict you,
00:34:40.78\00:34:42.68
but rather He's trying
to protect your marriage
00:34:42.71\00:34:44.91
and your home from adultery,
dysfunction, and divorce.
00:34:44.95\00:34:47.98
When God says,
"Remember the Sabbath,"
00:34:48.02\00:34:49.68
it's because He's
trying to protect your time.
00:34:49.72\00:34:51.75
"Thou shalt not steal;" it's
because He's trying to protect,
00:34:51.79\00:34:54.86
not restrict, but rather
protect your possessions.
00:34:54.89\00:34:58.59
You go down the list,
all of God's commandments
00:34:58.76\00:35:00.83
are there to protect us.
00:35:01.40\00:35:03.57
And so, friends, if
the wall is the law,
00:35:03.60\00:35:07.64
then what is the
breach in God's law
00:35:08.00\00:35:11.31
that He's calling us to restore?
00:35:11.34\00:35:13.58
Well we don't have to guess,
because the Bible tells us
00:35:13.88\00:35:16.14
in the very next verse.
00:35:16.18\00:35:18.11
We're in Isaiah 58.
00:35:18.15\00:35:19.65
Notice what it
says now in verse 13.
00:35:20.02\00:35:22.85
It tells us which
of the commandments
00:35:23.08\00:35:25.59
is breached and God
calls us to restore.
00:35:25.99\00:35:28.72
Notice what it says.
00:35:28.76\00:35:30.09
Verse 14 is the promise.
00:35:45.47\00:35:47.04
Here we find, friend, that the
breach in the wall of God's law
00:35:59.92\00:36:03.43
that He's calling us to
rebuild is none other than
00:36:03.63\00:36:06.33
the fourth commandment.
00:36:06.36\00:36:07.70
The Bible tells us that
we need to take our foot
00:36:07.76\00:36:09.96
off of the Sabbath.
00:36:10.00\00:36:11.33
You see, what God's people
were doing is that they were
00:36:11.37\00:36:12.83
trampling on the Sabbath.
00:36:12.87\00:36:14.20
They were breaking the Sabbath.
00:36:14.24\00:36:15.57
They were not
reverencing the Sabbath.
00:36:15.60\00:36:17.77
So God says, "Take your
foot off of My holy day."
00:36:18.17\00:36:20.81
You see, it was breaking the
Sabbath and worshiping the sun
00:36:21.48\00:36:24.31
that caused them
to go into captivity.
00:36:24.61\00:36:26.61
Thus the
restoring of the Sabbath
00:36:26.92\00:36:29.05
would bring them out.
00:36:29.08\00:36:30.42
Well friends, unless
the walls of humanity
00:36:30.65\00:36:33.42
are rebuilt, we will
never truly be at rest.
00:36:33.52\00:36:37.99
What does this mean
for us in the last days?
00:36:38.43\00:36:40.83
Friends, that which has
been is that which shall be.
00:36:41.13\00:36:44.93
And that which has been done
is that which shall be done.
00:36:45.23\00:36:48.64
There's nothing
new under the sun.
00:36:48.67\00:36:50.27
The Bible says, that
which was written aforetime
00:36:50.47\00:36:52.81
were written for our learning,
so that we, through comfort
00:36:52.84\00:36:55.81
and patience of the
Scriptures, might have hope.
00:36:55.84\00:36:58.78
You see, friends,
when you study the Bible,
00:36:58.88\00:37:00.82
you have to recognize
that many of the stories have
00:37:00.85\00:37:03.55
deep prophetic
typological significance.
00:37:03.59\00:37:06.62
And we must go beneath the
surface to see that the story
00:37:07.09\00:37:10.79
is just the tip of the iceberg.
00:37:10.83\00:37:12.46
There are many parallels
between what happened back then
00:37:12.79\00:37:15.36
and the mission that God
has called us to do today.
00:37:15.70\00:37:17.73
Notice the parallels.
00:37:17.97\00:37:19.30
What literal Babylon did to
the literal city of Jerusalem
00:37:19.33\00:37:23.94
is the same thing
that mystical Babylon did,
00:37:24.17\00:37:27.68
in Revelation, that they
have done to the law of God.
00:37:27.88\00:37:31.91
The Bible tells us that the
little horn, the antichrist,
00:37:32.11\00:37:34.15
Babylon, sought to change
God's times and God's laws.
00:37:34.18\00:37:38.82
The Bible tells us that
the little horn trampled
00:37:39.02\00:37:41.56
upon the Sanctuary.
00:37:41.59\00:37:43.06
So what literal Babylon
did to the literal Jerusalem
00:37:43.09\00:37:46.93
is what spiritual Babylon has
done to the spiritual Jerusalem,
00:37:47.13\00:37:51.13
or the truth of
God in these last days.
00:37:51.17\00:37:54.04
And so just as Nehemiah had to
leave the territory of Babylon
00:37:54.07\00:37:59.27
in order to rebuild the walls,
so to in the book of Revelation
00:37:59.31\00:38:02.64
God's end time Nehemiah's
have to come out of Babylon
00:38:02.68\00:38:08.05
in order to rebuild
the Sanctuary message
00:38:08.32\00:38:11.72
and the breach in
the wall of God's law,
00:38:11.92\00:38:15.59
the seventh day Sabbath.
00:38:15.69\00:38:17.03
You see, friends, one
of our main objectives
00:38:17.29\00:38:19.93
in these last days is to
rebuild the Sabbath commandment.
00:38:20.03\00:38:23.97
But here's the thing, friends.
00:38:24.27\00:38:25.67
For the past 150 years, we have
been successful as a movement
00:38:25.83\00:38:31.47
in pointing to
what day the Sabbath is.
00:38:31.71\00:38:35.71
Friday evening
to Saturday evening,
00:38:35.94\00:38:38.61
the seventh day Sabbath.
00:38:38.65\00:38:40.08
But I think that we have
fallen short in pointing to the
00:38:40.55\00:38:45.25
experience that the
day is to teach us about.
00:38:45.29\00:38:49.66
We have been telling people that
Saturday is the true Sabbath.
00:38:50.09\00:38:53.66
And rightly so. We
ought to make that plain.
00:38:53.70\00:38:56.33
The Bible is clear that
the seventh day is the Sabbath.
00:38:56.36\00:38:58.73
But sometimes we have
fallen short and we have failed
00:38:58.77\00:39:01.60
in pointing to the experience
that the day teaches us about.
00:39:01.64\00:39:05.31
And no wonder why the
world is still restless.
00:39:05.34\00:39:10.05
We've pointed out the day.
00:39:10.48\00:39:11.88
But more than that, we need
to point out the experience.
00:39:12.51\00:39:15.28
So what's the solution?
00:39:15.32\00:39:16.65
We need to continue
to preach the Sabbath,
00:39:16.99\00:39:18.95
but we need to do it more fully.
00:39:19.45\00:39:22.09
Notice what it says in the book,
Early Writings, and on page 33.
00:39:22.19\00:39:26.63
And the question I want
to ask this evening is this:
00:39:46.45\00:39:49.02
How do we preach and
proclaim the Sabbath more fully?
00:39:49.28\00:39:52.99
It's more than just pointing
what the correct day is,
00:39:53.15\00:39:56.36
but pointing to the God
that the day teaches us about.
00:39:56.46\00:40:00.60
And for a moment, I want us
to review some of the things
00:40:00.63\00:40:02.86
that we already
know about the Sabbath.
00:40:02.90\00:40:04.90
We need to teach
it as it is in Jesus.
00:40:04.93\00:40:07.50
You see, friends,
the Sabbath, number one,
00:40:07.54\00:40:09.37
reminds us that
God is our Creator.
00:40:09.40\00:40:12.14
In Genesis 2:1-3, the
Bible is clear that when God
00:40:12.31\00:40:15.58
made the world in six
literal days, He then set apart
00:40:15.61\00:40:18.78
the seventh day.
00:40:18.81\00:40:20.15
He rested upon it, He
blessed it, and He sanctified it
00:40:20.18\00:40:23.22
to remind us that
He is the Creator,
00:40:23.25\00:40:25.92
that we are made in His
image, formed in His likeness,
00:40:25.95\00:40:28.79
and that God designed
us with a divine purpose
00:40:28.82\00:40:31.69
and a heavenly intention.
00:40:31.73\00:40:33.36
And the Sabbath, my friends,
the true entering of this day,
00:40:33.40\00:40:36.93
is to settle the issue
of our origin, our identity,
00:40:36.97\00:40:40.74
and our purpose.
00:40:40.77\00:40:42.10
And so, friends, let us
cease from low self-esteem
00:40:42.14\00:40:45.97
and rest in the reality
of our infinite value to God.
00:40:46.17\00:40:50.78
Even though we are
messed up and marred by sin,
00:40:50.95\00:40:53.92
we still bear the image
of the Maker in our being.
00:40:53.95\00:40:57.35
And the whole plan of salvation
and the object of true education
00:40:57.39\00:41:01.62
is to restore the
image of God in humanity.
00:41:01.66\00:41:04.46
And that's what the
Sabbath is to teach us about.
00:41:04.49\00:41:07.33
Let us cease from thinking
that we're not important
00:41:07.56\00:41:10.77
and let us remember and
rest that God is our Creator
00:41:10.97\00:41:14.34
that made us with a purpose
and with a divine intention.
00:41:14.37\00:41:18.74
The Sabbath not only
reminds us that God is Creator,
00:41:18.97\00:41:21.41
it also points to the fact that
God is our wonderful Provider.
00:41:21.61\00:41:25.01
For in Exodus the 16th
chapter, we read how Israel
00:41:25.18\00:41:28.72
was wondering in the wilderness.
00:41:28.75\00:41:30.25
And they were hungry
and they were thirsty
00:41:30.39\00:41:32.52
for food and drink.
00:41:32.55\00:41:33.89
And God said, "I will
provide for your earthly hunger
00:41:33.92\00:41:37.09
by raining down
heavenly bread for you."
00:41:37.13\00:41:39.39
And by raining down the
manna from heaven, in Exodus 16,
00:41:39.49\00:41:42.40
God was
re-instituting the weekly cycle
00:41:42.43\00:41:44.93
and the forgotten Sabbath.
00:41:44.97\00:41:46.50
God provided bread
for the first six days,
00:41:46.90\00:41:48.74
a double portion on the sixth.
00:41:48.77\00:41:50.31
But none on the Sabbath. Why?
00:41:50.47\00:41:52.67
Because God did not
want His people to worry
00:41:52.81\00:41:55.54
about their physical necessities
on the seventh day Sabbath.
00:41:55.78\00:42:00.72
And so, friends, the
Sabbath reminds us that God
00:42:00.75\00:42:03.49
has obligated
Himself to take care of us.
00:42:03.52\00:42:06.62
The Sabbath is to assure us that
in our wilderness experience
00:42:07.26\00:42:10.99
our bread and our
water will be sure.
00:42:11.03\00:42:13.63
We don't have to be out there
in the world on the Sabbath
00:42:13.66\00:42:15.93
hustling and bustling
and trying to work to provide
00:42:15.96\00:42:18.17
for our physical needs.
00:42:18.20\00:42:19.53
All we need to do is rest in the
loving care of God towards us.
00:42:19.57\00:42:23.24
Let us cease worrying about
our future, and rest in the fact
00:42:23.27\00:42:28.78
that God knows all your needs.
00:42:28.98\00:42:30.81
And as I said, He
will provide heavenly bread
00:42:31.11\00:42:34.22
for our earthly hunger.
00:42:34.38\00:42:35.72
We never have to be
afraid of honoring God
00:42:35.78\00:42:38.82
and putting Him first.
00:42:39.02\00:42:40.36
The Bible says,
"The Lord is my Shepherd,
00:42:40.49\00:42:42.39
I shall not be in want."
00:42:42.42\00:42:44.79
The Sabbath not only
reminds us that God is
00:42:44.89\00:42:46.43
Creator and Provider, but
He's also our awesome Commander.
00:42:46.46\00:42:49.86
For in Exodus
20:8-11, He commands us
00:42:50.03\00:42:52.50
to remember the Sabbath.
00:42:52.53\00:42:53.87
And friends, each
of God's commands is a
00:42:53.90\00:42:56.14
promise of its fulfillment.
00:42:56.17\00:42:57.84
It is a covenant that
God is making with us,
00:42:58.04\00:43:00.34
our relationship based on trust.
00:43:00.38\00:43:02.44
It is the law that He
desires to write in our hearts
00:43:02.74\00:43:05.51
and in our minds so
that we do not forget.
00:43:05.55\00:43:07.48
And so the Sabbath is to
remind us, friends, of our
00:43:07.52\00:43:10.65
compassionate Commander
that always keeps His covenant.
00:43:10.69\00:43:15.42
That He is a God that is
not too big and not too busy
00:43:16.09\00:43:20.36
to want to spend
quality time with us.
00:43:20.40\00:43:22.93
So let us cease trying to be
the commander of our own lives
00:43:22.96\00:43:27.27
and let us rest in the
care of the covenant keeping
00:43:27.30\00:43:30.37
God of heaven.
00:43:30.41\00:43:31.77
Can you say amen?
00:43:31.81\00:43:33.14
Not only that, the
Sabbath reminds us that He is
00:43:33.17\00:43:36.04
also our awesome Liberator.
00:43:36.08\00:43:38.05
Deuteronomy 5:15
tells us, "And remember
00:43:38.25\00:43:42.28
that thou wast a
servant in the land of Egypt,
00:43:42.32\00:43:44.82
and that the LORD thy
God brought thee out thence
00:43:44.85\00:43:47.56
through a mighty hand
and by a stretched out arm:
00:43:47.59\00:43:50.13
Therefore the LORD
thy God commanded thee
00:43:50.16\00:43:52.73
to keep the Sabbath day."
00:43:52.76\00:43:55.06
The Sabbath is to remind
us of the bondage that God
00:43:55.53\00:43:58.93
brought us out of.
00:43:58.97\00:44:00.30
The God that breaks
the chains of bondage;
00:44:00.50\00:44:03.30
the bondage of non-stop work.
00:44:03.34\00:44:06.57
We are to remember, friends,
that the One that made us free
00:44:06.74\00:44:09.84
will keep us free.
00:44:09.88\00:44:11.21
So let us cease from spiritual
slavery and rest in the freedom
00:44:11.25\00:44:15.62
we have in Christ.
00:44:15.65\00:44:16.99
When we celebrate the Sabbath,
we're celebrating our Creator,
00:44:17.02\00:44:20.36
Provider,
Commander, our Liberator.
00:44:20.46\00:44:23.16
And then number five,
we're also celebrating
00:44:23.19\00:44:25.46
our awesome Sanctifier.
00:44:25.49\00:44:27.06
For in Ezekiel 20:12, the
Sabbath was a sign to remind us
00:44:27.10\00:44:31.20
that God is the
one that sanctifies us.
00:44:31.57\00:44:34.40
The word, "sanctify," means,
to set apart for holiness.
00:44:34.44\00:44:37.01
The same thing
God did with the day
00:44:37.11\00:44:39.31
in setting the day apart from
the rest of the common six days,
00:44:39.34\00:44:42.54
He wants to do
that in our lives.
00:44:42.58\00:44:44.65
He wants to set us
apart for holiness.
00:44:44.68\00:44:47.42
And the Sabbath is to remind
us that it's not something
00:44:48.95\00:44:51.65
we can do for ourselves.
00:44:51.69\00:44:53.15
We are powerless
to save ourselves.
00:44:53.19\00:44:55.62
So let us cease
trying to make ourselves holy
00:44:55.82\00:44:59.59
by our own offerings
and our own good works.
00:44:59.63\00:45:02.46
All our righteousness
are like filthy rags.
00:45:02.50\00:45:05.10
The Sabbath is to remind
us to rest in the holy work
00:45:05.13\00:45:08.50
that God is doing in us.
00:45:08.54\00:45:11.27
It's not something that we
do, but something we allow Him
00:45:11.31\00:45:15.14
to do for us.
00:45:15.18\00:45:17.21
That's what it means
when we celebrate the Sabbath.
00:45:17.51\00:45:20.25
The fact that God
is our Sanctifier.
00:45:20.62\00:45:22.62
And then number six, God
is also our gentle Healer.
00:45:22.82\00:45:25.89
For in Matthew
12:10-13, in that passage
00:45:26.12\00:45:30.03
the Lord healed a man's
withered hand on the Sabbath
00:45:30.06\00:45:33.29
and made it whole.
00:45:33.40\00:45:34.73
He is the God that came
to relieve human suffering
00:45:35.00\00:45:37.93
on the Sabbath.
00:45:37.97\00:45:39.30
So let us cease, friends,
trying to heal ourselves
00:45:39.33\00:45:41.90
with our own manmade remedies,
and let us rest in the God that
00:45:41.94\00:45:45.84
lifts us up out of the
pit that we have fallen into;
00:45:45.87\00:45:49.14
the God that hears us
from heaven and brings healing
00:45:49.18\00:45:52.58
to our lands.
00:45:52.61\00:45:53.95
When we celebrate the
Sabbath we're also celebrating
00:45:54.12\00:45:56.22
God our wonderful Redeemer.
00:45:56.58\00:45:59.05
In Luke chapters 23 and
24, it tells the story of the
00:45:59.52\00:46:02.42
death, burial, and resurrection.
00:46:02.52\00:46:03.93
The Bible tells us that
Jesus died on the sixth day,
00:46:04.33\00:46:07.03
the day of preparation.
00:46:07.06\00:46:08.40
That's the
sixth day of the week.
00:46:08.43\00:46:09.76
And when He hung
there on Calvary's cross,
00:46:09.90\00:46:12.33
He said, "It is finished."
00:46:12.73\00:46:15.77
He breathes His
last, then He rests in the
00:46:16.00\00:46:20.11
tomb on the Sabbath.
00:46:20.14\00:46:21.58
Friends, tell me, when was
the last time the Lord said,
00:46:21.61\00:46:24.95
"It is finished," on
the sixth day and then rests
00:46:24.98\00:46:29.12
on the seventh?
00:46:29.28\00:46:30.62
He did than when
He created the world.
00:46:30.69\00:46:32.95
After creating man on
the sixth day of the week,
00:46:33.25\00:46:35.66
the heavens and the
earth were finished.
00:46:35.79\00:46:38.29
Then God rested that
first Sabbath in Eden.
00:46:38.33\00:46:41.26
So what we see is this:
00:46:41.36\00:46:43.10
What God did at creation,
He repeats in re-creation;
00:46:43.13\00:46:47.70
what God did
for man in creation,
00:46:47.80\00:46:49.97
He repeats in the
redemption of mankind;
00:46:50.01\00:46:52.34
adding another beautiful
dimension to the Sabbath
00:46:52.37\00:46:54.58
that reminds us that our
God is our awesome Redeemer.
00:46:54.61\00:46:57.78
He paid for our
sins on Calvary's cross
00:46:57.81\00:47:01.45
and He rests in the
tomb on the Sabbath.
00:47:01.48\00:47:05.15
So let us cease trying
to pay for our own sins,
00:47:05.42\00:47:09.16
and let us rest in the
finished work of Christ
00:47:09.36\00:47:11.89
for us on the cross.
00:47:11.93\00:47:13.50
That's what we're celebrating
when we're celebrating
00:47:13.66\00:47:15.33
the Sabbath, friends.
00:47:15.36\00:47:16.70
And then number
seven, or number eight,
00:47:16.73\00:47:19.70
we're also celebrating
the fact that our God is
00:47:19.90\00:47:22.90
King of kings and Lord of lords.
00:47:22.94\00:47:24.74
In Isaiah 66:22-23, we've
been told that we're going to be
00:47:24.77\00:47:28.44
keeping the Sabbath
at the throne of God
00:47:28.48\00:47:30.15
even in heaven throughout
the ceaseless ages of eternity.
00:47:30.58\00:47:33.85
We're going to worship
our King and our Lord forever.
00:47:34.38\00:47:37.25
And so, friends, let
us cease seeking to be the
00:47:37.29\00:47:40.16
king and lord of our own lives,
and let us rest in the reality
00:47:40.19\00:47:43.73
that our King of
kings and Lord of lords
00:47:43.76\00:47:46.03
is coming soon to take us home.
00:47:46.06\00:47:48.03
You see, friends, when
we celebrate the Sabbath,
00:47:48.06\00:47:50.03
we must point
people, not just to the day,
00:47:50.43\00:47:53.27
but to the God that made the day
00:47:53.64\00:47:55.80
and the experience
with that God that the day
00:47:55.90\00:47:59.01
is to help us enter into.
00:47:59.04\00:48:01.21
We're celebrating and
testifying to the world
00:48:01.88\00:48:04.78
that God is our
Creator that made us,
00:48:05.01\00:48:07.55
He is our
Provider that feeds us,
00:48:07.88\00:48:09.62
He is our Commander that
makes a covenant with us,
00:48:09.82\00:48:11.95
He is our
Liberator that frees us,
00:48:11.99\00:48:13.69
He is our
Sanctifier that transforms us,
00:48:13.72\00:48:16.06
He is our Healer
that restores us,
00:48:16.09\00:48:18.13
He is our
Redeemer that saves us,
00:48:18.16\00:48:19.83
and He is our King and
Lord that is coming back for us.
00:48:19.86\00:48:23.33
And friends, I truly
believe with all my heart
00:48:23.37\00:48:25.23
that when we present the
Sabbath truth in that light,
00:48:25.27\00:48:28.60
it becomes irresistible.
00:48:28.64\00:48:30.67
People are not
going to turn it away.
00:48:31.27\00:48:32.97
They're going to
say, "Wow, that's what the
00:48:33.51\00:48:34.84
Sabbath is about?"
00:48:34.88\00:48:36.21
And they're going to
want it, because it points us
00:48:36.24\00:48:38.88
to our marvelous
Maker, our Lord of love,
00:48:38.91\00:48:41.65
our God of grace,
our Prince of peace,
00:48:41.68\00:48:43.95
our compassionate
King, our sweet Savior,
00:48:43.99\00:48:46.62
and our faithful Father.
00:48:46.65\00:48:47.99
This truth, friends, is so
important in these last days.
00:48:48.02\00:48:50.99
Because we've been told
that this is the final test
00:48:51.03\00:48:55.50
that will be brought
to bear in the world.
00:48:56.06\00:48:58.53
Now I want you to
notice, as we turn now to the
00:48:58.73\00:49:00.57
end time significance, in
the book, Great Controversy,
00:49:00.60\00:49:04.04
page 605, it says this...
00:49:04.71\00:49:07.48
That's the breach in
the wall of God's law.
00:49:15.18\00:49:17.35
So notice, friends, we've been
told that this Sabbath issue
00:49:40.58\00:49:44.41
is what's going to polarize
the world into two camps.
00:49:45.11\00:49:47.78
All those who are going
to be saved in the last days
00:49:48.35\00:49:50.49
are going to receive the
seal of God in their foreheads.
00:49:50.59\00:49:53.29
But all those who are going
to be lost in the last days
00:49:53.42\00:49:55.72
will receive the
mark of the beast.
00:49:55.76\00:49:58.76
This issue, friends,
is a life and death issue.
00:49:58.93\00:50:03.06
And if it's that important, then
we have to know this evening
00:50:03.47\00:50:07.50
what exactly is the seal of God,
00:50:07.54\00:50:10.41
and how is it
connected to the Sabbath truth?
00:50:10.74\00:50:14.51
The Bible tells us
in Revelation chapter 7
00:50:15.01\00:50:18.35
beginning with verse 1,
notice what it says there.
00:50:19.35\00:50:21.18
Revelation chapter 7 describes
those close of human probation.
00:50:21.22\00:50:24.39
And it describes angels holding
back the winds of strife,
00:50:24.82\00:50:27.76
the winds of desolation
from blowing upon the earth.
00:50:27.79\00:50:30.39
Notice what it
says, Revelation 7:1...
00:50:30.43\00:50:33.33
Those winds represent
desolation and destruction.
00:50:58.35\00:51:00.96
The angels that are holding them
back are holding back the time
00:51:01.42\00:51:04.03
of the final tribulation.
00:51:04.13\00:51:05.79
You can read
that in Proverbs 1:27.
00:51:05.83\00:51:07.96
The wind represents strife.
00:51:08.00\00:51:09.80
It's a whirlwind of
desolation in the last days.
00:51:09.83\00:51:13.27
And these winds will not be let
loose, probation will not close,
00:51:13.47\00:51:17.51
until God's people are
sealed in their foreheads
00:51:17.54\00:51:20.68
with the seal of God.
00:51:20.71\00:51:22.04
The seal is what preserves
them in that time of trouble.
00:51:22.28\00:51:26.25
Friends, whatever the
seal of God is, I want it.
00:51:26.72\00:51:29.18
Can you say amen?
00:51:29.22\00:51:30.55
We need that seal in order to
make it through the last days.
00:51:30.59\00:51:34.26
But what is this seal?
00:51:34.82\00:51:36.32
The seal of God, friends,
is what fortifies our minds
00:51:37.06\00:51:39.96
from the final attacks of Satan.
00:51:40.00\00:51:41.83
The seal of God is like the wall
that protects and preserves us.
00:51:41.93\00:51:45.50
What is the seal?
00:51:45.53\00:51:46.87
Well friends, we
don't have to guess.
00:51:46.90\00:51:48.24
All we need to do is
compare the Bible with itself,
00:51:48.27\00:51:51.17
because the Bible
interprets itself.
00:51:51.21\00:51:53.17
So what else does God
want to place in our foreheads?
00:51:53.21\00:51:56.28
We're going to see
that there are three things.
00:51:56.31\00:51:57.95
Number one, the
seal; number two, the law.
00:51:57.98\00:52:01.68
In Hebrews 8:10,
the new covenant says,
00:52:02.45\00:52:04.55
"I will write My law in
your mind and in your hearts."
00:52:04.59\00:52:08.66
So God places His seal
and His law in our minds.
00:52:08.89\00:52:12.79
Which shows that the
seal of God and the law of God
00:52:12.93\00:52:15.36
is connected.
00:52:15.40\00:52:16.73
In Isaiah 8:16,
the Bible says...
00:52:16.97\00:52:19.80
So we see that God's
seal, or His preserving wall,
00:52:25.77\00:52:28.98
is actually found in the law.
00:52:29.01\00:52:31.21
Now Satan knows this.
00:52:31.45\00:52:33.18
Thus, he's trying to keep a
breach in the wall of God's law.
00:52:33.52\00:52:37.85
He's trying to maintain
an entry wedge so that he can
00:52:38.15\00:52:41.72
infiltrate and destroy
us in that time of trouble.
00:52:41.76\00:52:45.16
But what God is doing,
He's seeking to seal the gap
00:52:45.19\00:52:48.40
and to fix the breach.
00:52:48.43\00:52:49.80
So what exactly
is this seal then?
00:52:50.30\00:52:52.23
Well friends, every official
government, including God's,
00:52:52.73\00:52:54.84
has an official seal.
00:52:54.87\00:52:56.27
And a seal is basically
the evidence of authenticity.
00:52:56.60\00:53:00.68
A seal upon a document
will invest that document
00:53:04.21\00:53:08.35
with power and authority.
00:53:08.38\00:53:10.15
The seal is the proof
that it's not a counterfeit,
00:53:10.19\00:53:13.05
that this is genuine.
00:53:13.09\00:53:14.42
It's the real deal.
00:53:14.46\00:53:15.79
And so as God
places His seal upon us,
00:53:15.82\00:53:18.19
it's God's sign that we have an
authentic religious experience.
00:53:18.23\00:53:23.47
Now what gives us an
authentic experience?
00:53:24.07\00:53:27.60
Who is the one that seals us?
00:53:27.90\00:53:29.60
The Bible tells us
in Ephesians 4:30...
00:53:29.64\00:53:33.27
The Bible says that the
Spirit is what seals us.
00:53:40.12\00:53:42.45
But how does the Spirit seal us?
00:53:42.92\00:53:44.79
2 Thessalonians 2:13 tells us,
00:53:44.99\00:53:47.42
"But we are bound to give thanks
always to God for you, brethren,
00:53:47.46\00:53:50.69
beloved of the Lord, because..."
00:53:50.73\00:53:52.46
You see, the seal of
God, the Holy Spirit,
00:53:59.43\00:54:01.97
seals us by sanctifying
us through the truth.
00:54:02.00\00:54:05.24
When our head knowledge
becomes a heart experience
00:54:06.88\00:54:10.65
by personal
application, the word and truth
00:54:10.85\00:54:14.82
we know in our mind
begins a sanctifying experience
00:54:14.85\00:54:18.05
in our lives.
00:54:18.09\00:54:19.42
It's more than
just head knowledge,
00:54:19.45\00:54:20.86
it's more than lip service.
00:54:20.89\00:54:22.39
We're serving God in
spirit and in truth in reality.
00:54:22.42\00:54:26.59
And when we are
sanctified by the truth we know,
00:54:26.63\00:54:29.43
God sees that He can
place His seal upon us.
00:54:29.46\00:54:32.63
It's a sign of
legitimacy, it's an evidence of
00:54:32.67\00:54:35.44
authenticity, that
we're not just doing something
00:54:35.47\00:54:37.77
once a week, we're not
just going through the motions,
00:54:37.81\00:54:39.94
we're not just lip
service or head knowledge,
00:54:39.97\00:54:42.28
but we have an
authentic experience.
00:54:42.31\00:54:44.31
Because the truth
we know in our mind
00:54:44.35\00:54:45.95
is transforming
our lives completely.
00:54:45.98\00:54:48.85
And thus, God
places His seal upon us.
00:54:48.88\00:54:52.02
Well that's what
I want in my life.
00:54:52.79\00:54:54.46
I don't want to go
through the motions.
00:54:55.19\00:54:56.73
I want to have a real
experience with the Lord.
00:54:57.23\00:54:59.56
The outward sign of this inward
seal is the Sabbath, friends.
00:55:00.63\00:55:04.60
Ezekiel 20:12 says...
00:55:04.80\00:55:06.77
It's not something
we do for ourselves,
00:55:15.44\00:55:17.51
but rather it's
resting in the work that God
00:55:18.01\00:55:20.22
is doing in our lives.
00:55:20.25\00:55:21.68
This is God's
mark that authenticates
00:55:21.72\00:55:23.69
our experience is genuine.
00:55:23.72\00:55:25.05
And listen very carefully,
don't miss this point.
00:55:25.09\00:55:26.89
It is the Sabbath truth
that seals the breach in the
00:55:26.99\00:55:31.53
theological wall of God's law.
00:55:31.56\00:55:34.16
However, it's the
Sabbath experience that seals
00:55:34.66\00:55:38.40
the breach in
the experiential wall
00:55:38.43\00:55:41.60
of our minds and our hearts.
00:55:42.10\00:55:44.54
You see, when we keep
the Sabbath, it's not just
00:55:45.07\00:55:46.94
outward physical rest.
00:55:46.98\00:55:48.51
It's resting in the reality
of the Savior's love for us,
00:55:48.78\00:55:51.91
the love which is the
fulfilling of the law.
00:55:52.41\00:55:54.45
It's trusting God to do
for us what's it impossible
00:55:54.55\00:55:57.65
to do for ourselves.
00:55:57.69\00:55:59.05
For we do not have it
within us to save ourselves.
00:55:59.09\00:56:02.86
And that's why
Isaiah 30:15 says...
00:56:03.29\00:56:05.79
You see, friends, it is in
resting in what God is doing
00:56:16.17\00:56:20.31
that we experience salvation.
00:56:20.68\00:56:22.34
Here in is the wall that
protects and preserves us
00:56:22.88\00:56:26.38
in the time of trouble.
00:56:26.61\00:56:27.95
I want the seal of
God in my forehead.
00:56:28.38\00:56:30.52
There's one last thing that God
wants to place in our forehead.
00:56:30.99\00:56:33.72
And that is His name.
00:56:34.12\00:56:35.59
In Revelation 14:1, it says,
"Then I looked, and behold..."
00:56:35.86\00:56:38.89
My friends, when you
put your name on something,
00:56:46.17\00:56:49.14
it's a sign of ownership.
00:56:49.47\00:56:50.84
When you write
your name on something,
00:56:51.04\00:56:52.37
you're claiming it as your own.
00:56:52.41\00:56:54.28
It's like putting a wall
around something; this is yours.
00:56:54.31\00:56:57.81
And so, my friends, that's
what God wants to do for us.
00:56:57.85\00:57:00.52
If the world has forsaken you,
00:57:00.88\00:57:02.58
if your friends have
turned their back on you,
00:57:02.78\00:57:04.69
your children are
disrespecting you,
00:57:04.72\00:57:06.49
your co-workers
are talking about you,
00:57:06.52\00:57:08.22
your parents abusing
you, your spouse has left you,
00:57:08.26\00:57:10.93
know in your
heart of hearts tonight
00:57:10.96\00:57:12.69
that you are
accepted in the Beloved.
00:57:13.36\00:57:15.86
The Sabbath truth
teaches us about this.
00:57:16.33\00:57:18.77
God wants to rebuild
that wall in your experience.
00:57:19.07\00:57:22.54
You are accepted in the Beloved.
00:57:22.64\00:57:24.97
Let's accept the
rest of Jesus tonight.
00:57:25.07\00:57:28.18