Welcome to Anchors Of Truth,
00:00:13.27\00:00:15.04
live from the
3ABN Worship Center.
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Hello friends, welcome
to the 3ABN Worship Center
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for this final
message in a five part series
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brought to us by
Pastor Taj Pacleb.
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Now in the prior program, I
had a lei around my shoulders
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and neck, which was an
indication of the diversity
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of our speaker here today.
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A young man that is from Hawaii.
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He has so many nationalities;
Filipino, German, Mexican.
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His wife is Tongan and Fijian.
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And the message, however,
is not so much focused on
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where they are from, but
the message focuses us on
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where we are all headed.
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This afternoon's
message is entitled,
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Highway to the Upper Room.
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We are reminded of how important
it is to trust the Lord
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in difficult times of
hardship, how important it is
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to lean on the Rock,
Christ Jesus, that never
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disappoints us,
never forsakes us.
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And as we recount our past,
we can see that He has always
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provided for the road we
have taken, and He is faithful
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for the road
that is ahead of us.
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What happened in the upper
room on the day of Pentecost
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is so imperative for us
as we think about the power
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that is available to
live this Christian life.
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And I know that
we're going to be blessed
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as the manservant of
the hour, Pastor Taj Pacleb,
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is going to be
presenting the sermon entitled,
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Highway to the Upper Room.
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But we've also been blessed
by the music of a young lady
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by the name of Jackie Jewel.
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I have to say, she is
a jewel of a musician.
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And she's going to bless
us with this song entitled,
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Your Grace Still Amazes Me.
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After which, the next voice that
we will hear will be that of
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of our presenter,
Pastor Taj Pacleb.
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My faithful Father,
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enduring Friend.
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My faithful Father,
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enduring Friend,
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Your tender mercy is
like a river with no end.
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It overwhelms me,
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covers my sin.
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Each time I come
into Your presence
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I stand in wonder once again.
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'Cause Your grace,
it still amazes me;
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Your love, it's still a mystery.
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And each day I fall on my knees,
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'cause Your
grace still amazes me.
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Your grace still amazes me.
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Oh patient Savior,
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You make me whole.
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You are the Author
and the Healer of my soul.
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What can I give You?
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Lord, what can I say?
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I know there's
no way to repay You;
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only to offer You my praise.
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'Cause Your grace,
it still amazes me;
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Your love, it's still a mystery.
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And each day I fall on my knees,
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'cause Your
grace still amazes me.
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Your grace still amazes.
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It's deeper, it's wider,
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it's stronger, it's higher.
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It's deeper, it's wider,
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it's stronger, and it's higher
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than anything my eyes can see.
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Your grace, it still amazes me;
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Your love, it's still a mystery.
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And each day I fall on my knees,
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'cause Your
grace still amazes me.
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Your grace still amazes me.
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Good evening, everyone.
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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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It's been a wonderful
experience being here in these
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last few days.
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On behalf of our ministry, the
Revelation of Hope ministries,
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we want to thank 3ABN
and this powerful outreach
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they have here in this
area and all over the world.
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It's been a great joy.
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And now we've come to
our final presentation.
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I want to thank all of
those who have been joining us
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online and at home.
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We trust that God has another
rich blessing in store for us
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as we study the
message tonight entitled,
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Highway to the Upper Room.
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I invite you to bow your
heads as we pray together.
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Father in heaven,
please speak to our hearts
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in a personal and
intimate way tonight.
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And give us spiritual
ears to hear Your voice
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as we open Your Word.
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Open our hearts that we
might receive this last message
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for this hour.
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This is our prayer.
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In Jesus' name, amen.
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I invite you to take your Bible
and open with me to the book of
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Revelation, and we're going
to begin in the 12th chapter
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as we begin our
study tonight entitled,
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Highway to the Upper Room.
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In the 12th chapter of
the book of Revelation,
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we find a very powerful prophecy
that describes the countdown,
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the final showdown,
between a demonic dragon
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and a beautiful beloved bride.
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Notice what it says in
Revelation 12:17, it says...
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Friends, according to
these solemn words of prophecy,
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we see that the dragon is
filled with wrath and rage
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against a woman.
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Now we know according
to verse 9 that the dragon
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is none other than Satan.
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And according to
prophecy, a woman is a symbol of
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God's church, the
beloved bride of Christ.
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And for those who
need the Scriptures,
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you can write it
down; Ephesians 5:25,
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Jeremiah 6:2, 2
Corinthians 11:2.
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And many other
passages make it clear
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that in a prophetic
context a woman is a symbol
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of the church.
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So here we read in this prophecy
that Satan is angry with
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the church, a
specific woman which has
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specific characteristics.
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And I want us to note it
carefully, friends, that the
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devil is not
angry at every church.
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He is only angry at a
church that is a threat
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to his kingdom.
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And here is a woman, a
church, that excites the wrath
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of the dragon,
because it's this woman
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who is filled with the spirit
of Jesus, her heavenly Husband,
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that will usher in
the demise of the devil.
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And so in these last days,
Satan is focusing all of his
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weapons of mass
distraction against the woman,
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this Bible believing,
Christ following, faith walking,
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commandment keeping,
Sabbath resting, advent waiting,
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spirit filled, gospel
preaching people of God.
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And that's who we are, amen?
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And friends,
according to this verse,
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Satan is angry at this woman
for at least three reasons.
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Number one, because
this is the beloved bride
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of his enemy, Jesus Christ.
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Satan is also angry at
this woman because this woman
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keeps the commandments
of his enemy, Jesus Christ.
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And this woman also has
the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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In other words,
Jesus, through His bride,
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is testifying against the
false accusations of Satan
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in this great controversy
between good and evil.
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And Satan hates
the testimony of Jesus.
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He wants to
silence that testimony.
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And the way in which
he's seeking to silence the
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testimony of Jesus is by
trying to silence the bride,
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the woman, that has it.
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But the question
is, what exactly is
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the testimony of Jesus?
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Well the Bible tells
us in Revelation 19:10.
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And friends, the spirit
of prophecy is what gives
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to the woman her
message and her mission,
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as well as her methods,
in spreading that message
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and fulfilling that
mission in all the world.
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And friends, we have
to understand that the
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spirit of prophecy, which
is the testimony of Jesus,
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is not just one
prophet in the last days,
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but it's Jesus' testimony
speaking through all of the
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prophets from the
very beginning of time
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all the way to the end of time.
00:11:21.21\00:11:23.38
For notice what Jesus said
in the book of John chapter 14.
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Jesus made it clear that the
Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit,
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testifies, or simply
repeats the words that
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He received from Jesus.
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In John chapter 14 and
beginning with verse 26,
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Jesus said...
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So once again,
friends, the testimony of Jesus
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is the spirit of prophecy.
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The Holy Spirit only gives that
which Jesus had spoken Himself.
00:11:58.61\00:12:02.18
In fact, if you notice in
chapter 16 of the book of John,
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chapter 16 and
verse 12, Jesus said...
00:12:05.35\00:12:08.26
So Jesus made it clear
that the Spirit doesn't speak
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of His own authority.
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He takes that which is
Jesus' and He gives it to us.
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Again, the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy,
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which is the Holy
Spirit speaking through all
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the prophets of God
from the beginning of time
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all the way to the end of time.
00:12:48.26\00:12:49.80
If that's clear,
would you please say amen?
00:12:49.83\00:12:52.23
Now I want us to notice,
Jesus said that when that Spirit
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comes, He will
guide us into all truth.
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Not just some of it,
not just a part of it,
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but all truth.
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In other words, the job
description of the Holy Spirit
00:13:02.18\00:13:04.71
is to fill us in on everything
Jesus wants us to know
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and everywhere
Jesus wants us to go.
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And that word, "guide,"
denotes that there is a journey,
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a pathway, a destination.
00:13:16.42\00:13:18.83
A "guide" denotes that
we're being led along a way
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that we naturally know not.
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It implies that there's movement
from point A to point B.
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We're heading to
a specific destiny.
00:13:28.34\00:13:30.34
We're not staying still
in spiritual stagnation,
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but we're moving
forward, upward, and onward
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into an
understanding of all truth;
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which is the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:13:38.95\00:13:41.15
And friends, the chief
characteristic of a movement
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is that they're moving.
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Amen?
00:13:45.69\00:13:47.02
A movement that's not
moving is not a movement at all.
00:13:47.06\00:13:49.62
And friends, we're more
than a church, we're a movement.
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And we're not just a
conversation, friends.
00:13:52.59\00:13:54.96
Some people say, "Oh we're just
here to have a conversation."
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No friends, we're a movement.
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God wants us to move forward.
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But the question I want
to ask this evening is this:
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Where is God calling
this remnant movement to go?
00:14:03.34\00:14:07.61
Which way do we go?
00:14:08.08\00:14:10.35
Well friends, in order
to know the way in which
00:14:10.71\00:14:12.91
God is calling us
to go, we must go back
00:14:12.95\00:14:15.85
and study the characteristics
of the early apostolic church.
00:14:16.32\00:14:20.06
Because that early
church, those early Christians,
00:14:20.16\00:14:22.82
were known as the
people of the Way.
00:14:22.86\00:14:26.73
So in order for us to know
the way in which we need to go
00:14:26.83\00:14:29.86
as the remnant, we have
to study to know where the
00:14:29.90\00:14:32.43
early church went.
00:14:32.47\00:14:33.80
Because this word,
"remnant," in Revelation 12:17,
00:14:33.84\00:14:37.01
simply means, that which remains
and is just like the original.
00:14:37.34\00:14:43.51
You see, this
woman in Revelation 12
00:14:43.71\00:14:46.35
is the early apostolic church.
00:14:46.45\00:14:48.38
The dragon is angry at her
but is seeking to take out his
00:14:48.55\00:14:53.36
wrath, not on the woman,
but rather upon the remnant
00:14:53.39\00:14:56.73
of her seed.
00:14:56.76\00:14:58.09
And the reason why is
that the early apostolic church
00:14:58.16\00:15:01.03
at this point in the
prophecy is past off the scene.
00:15:01.13\00:15:04.30
However, she has a remnant.
00:15:04.33\00:15:06.53
And as I mentioned, the
word, "remnant," means...
00:15:06.57\00:15:08.20
Or those in the last
days who remain original.
00:15:11.87\00:15:14.91
They have the same pure
faith just like the early
00:15:14.94\00:15:17.68
apostolic church.
00:15:17.71\00:15:19.05
They keep all the commandments
00:15:19.08\00:15:20.42
just like the
early apostolic church.
00:15:20.45\00:15:22.05
They have all the gifts of
the Spirit and the same mission
00:15:22.08\00:15:25.05
just like the
early apostolic church.
00:15:25.09\00:15:27.89
And so friends, as we
lay the foundation for our
00:15:27.92\00:15:29.92
study tonight, in order
to know the way in which we
00:15:29.96\00:15:32.93
as a remnant must go, we
have to go back to the past
00:15:32.96\00:15:36.63
to see how the Spirit moved
the first church yesterday.
00:15:36.80\00:15:40.77
For what happened
back then is a glimpse
00:15:41.04\00:15:44.37
of what God is seeking
to do today in our midst.
00:15:44.41\00:15:47.94
Pentecost is going to be
repeated at the end of time.
00:15:47.98\00:15:50.98
And we want to discover
tonight what is the prerequisite
00:15:51.08\00:15:54.88
for the power of Pentecost?
00:15:54.92\00:15:57.25
Because in order to have their
results on the day of Pentecost,
00:15:57.39\00:16:00.76
we first have to
have their experience.
00:16:00.96\00:16:02.96
It was an experience
they had that brought profound
00:16:03.09\00:16:06.39
results that they experienced.
00:16:06.59\00:16:08.50
And so, what was it
that they experienced
00:16:08.53\00:16:12.00
that we need to today?
00:16:12.03\00:16:13.67
I want to
summarize it with two things.
00:16:14.00\00:16:16.37
Perhaps more, but surely
not less, than these two things.
00:16:16.84\00:16:19.74
Two things that those
early apostles experienced
00:16:19.77\00:16:23.65
that we must experience.
00:16:23.75\00:16:25.08
I want to summarize
it with just two words.
00:16:25.11\00:16:27.22
A road and a room.
00:16:28.08\00:16:30.69
A road and a room.
00:16:31.45\00:16:33.82
So let's go back to
the day of Pentecost
00:16:34.16\00:16:36.76
and trace it backwards
from effect to its cause.
00:16:36.99\00:16:41.30
And then we'll
review from cause to effect.
00:16:41.33\00:16:44.13
Before Pentecost could
take place, the disciples first
00:16:44.53\00:16:47.84
had to go to the upper room.
00:16:47.87\00:16:49.80
And it was in that upper
room experience that they were
00:16:49.84\00:16:51.97
unified, not just in
spirit, but spirit and in truth.
00:16:52.01\00:16:55.44
It was there that
they made wrongs right
00:16:55.48\00:16:57.71
as they humbled
themselves before one another
00:16:58.05\00:17:00.18
and humbled
themselves before the Lord.
00:17:00.22\00:17:01.85
They prayed together
and they pleaded for the
00:17:01.88\00:17:04.35
power of the Holy Spirit.
00:17:04.39\00:17:05.79
And as a result of
those powerful prayers,
00:17:05.82\00:17:08.12
the healing rain of
God's power and love
00:17:08.16\00:17:10.83
fell upon and flowed
through the early apostles.
00:17:10.86\00:17:14.26
And its ripple effects
grew into a tsunami of revival
00:17:14.30\00:17:17.83
that brought spiritual
revolution to the whole world.
00:17:17.87\00:17:21.20
And what happened back
then is to be repeated again.
00:17:21.40\00:17:24.74
But first, we've got to go
to the upper room, friends.
00:17:25.04\00:17:28.14
How many of you see your need
of an upper room experience?
00:17:28.31\00:17:30.78
We come together,
and God unifies us.
00:17:31.18\00:17:33.35
But friends, I want to
submit to us this evening
00:17:33.62\00:17:35.52
that many of God's people are
not ready for the upper room.
00:17:35.85\00:17:39.32
There's a previous preparatory
experience that comes
00:17:40.32\00:17:44.23
before the upper
room that we must have
00:17:44.26\00:17:47.16
in order for the upper
room to even make a difference.
00:17:47.20\00:17:50.00
You see, the reason
why there was power in the
00:17:50.03\00:17:53.00
prayers of the apostles
in the upper room is because
00:17:53.03\00:17:56.00
they had this experience
we're talking about tonight.
00:17:56.04\00:17:58.97
This experience, in
other words, was the foundation
00:17:59.21\00:18:01.98
for the upper room.
00:18:02.01\00:18:03.35
You see, before they could
be filled with the Spirit...
00:18:03.48\00:18:06.48
In other words, when you
study the Bible carefully,
00:18:12.95\00:18:15.46
there was a road that
led to the upper room.
00:18:15.49\00:18:19.29
And friends, many of us
are not ready for the room
00:18:19.69\00:18:22.86
because we're not
walking on this specific road.
00:18:23.16\00:18:26.90
And friends, the lessons that
the apostles learned on this
00:18:27.00\00:18:29.74
road is what prepared
them for the upper room.
00:18:29.77\00:18:32.14
And so, it is on this
road I would invite you
00:18:32.17\00:18:35.01
to walk with me upon today;
00:18:35.04\00:18:37.35
this upper road that
led to the upper room.
00:18:37.55\00:18:40.45
This road that we're
referring to is found in the
00:18:40.88\00:18:43.99
book of Luke chapter 24.
00:18:44.02\00:18:45.79
And so take your Bible
and open there with me.
00:18:45.82\00:18:48.42
Luke 24 is a
very familiar story.
00:18:48.52\00:18:50.89
Jesus had
resurrected from the grave.
00:18:50.93\00:18:53.13
This is the first day of
the week, early Sunday morning.
00:18:53.36\00:18:57.20
Jesus came forth from the grave.
00:18:57.40\00:18:59.60
And then we find the
story of two disciples
00:18:59.63\00:19:03.10
walking away from
Jerusalem, the city of peace.
00:19:03.14\00:19:06.84
They're leaving just
after they celebrated the great
00:19:07.01\00:19:09.44
feast of the Passover.
00:19:09.48\00:19:11.01
And as they're walking on
this road that leads to Emmaus,
00:19:11.05\00:19:15.08
I want us to notice as we
read about the cogitations
00:19:15.12\00:19:18.25
of their mind and the
meditations of their heart,
00:19:18.29\00:19:20.62
these disciples are discouraged.
00:19:20.66\00:19:22.56
They're walking
away from Jerusalem.
00:19:22.59\00:19:24.36
They're walking away
from the city of peace.
00:19:24.39\00:19:26.49
Notice what it says.
00:19:26.76\00:19:28.10
Luke 24:13, the
Bible says this...
00:19:28.20\00:19:31.83
Now friends, we have
to understand the mindset
00:19:45.65\00:19:47.45
of these disciples.
00:19:47.48\00:19:48.82
The sun of hope had gone
down, and now the night of woe
00:19:49.25\00:19:52.95
had settled upon their hearts.
00:19:52.99\00:19:54.52
These disciples were
absorbed in gloom and grief.
00:19:54.56\00:19:58.16
They were utterly
hopeless, bitterly disappointed,
00:19:58.19\00:20:01.66
crushed by
confusion, and drowning in
00:20:01.76\00:20:03.87
despondency and despair.
00:20:03.90\00:20:05.37
And the reason why is
because they had just witnessed
00:20:05.47\00:20:08.07
with their own eyes the one
they thought was the Messiah
00:20:08.10\00:20:11.27
being nailed to a
cruel Roman cross.
00:20:11.31\00:20:15.64
And as believers in Him,
they thought that perhaps
00:20:15.68\00:20:18.85
they would meet
the exact same fate.
00:20:18.88\00:20:21.68
And so the future seemed
dark and uncertain for them.
00:20:21.88\00:20:24.55
There was no light in sight.
00:20:24.59\00:20:26.12
They were standing in
the dark shadow of the cross,
00:20:26.15\00:20:28.66
and it was unbearable.
00:20:28.69\00:20:30.16
You see, they
had seen the cross,
00:20:30.19\00:20:32.79
but they did not understand it.
00:20:33.06\00:20:35.23
And friends, I wonder,
could it be possible that we,
00:20:35.56\00:20:38.37
the Christian
community, have seen the cross
00:20:38.57\00:20:41.60
but we really don't understand
its true significance of it.
00:20:41.70\00:20:45.87
That's these two disciples.
00:20:46.01\00:20:48.41
They represent all who have
suffered disappointment in life.
00:20:48.84\00:20:51.75
These two disciples represent
those whose faith has faltered
00:20:51.98\00:20:55.12
and whose commitments
have cooled down due to the
00:20:55.22\00:20:58.05
cares of this life.
00:20:58.09\00:20:59.42
But notice what Jesus does for
those who are plagued with pain
00:20:59.45\00:21:03.43
and feel so far
away from His peace.
00:21:03.63\00:21:06.09
The next verse,
the Bible says in 15,
00:21:06.13\00:21:08.56
"And it came to pass that
while they communed together
00:21:08.60\00:21:10.97
and reasoned, Jesus Himself
drew near and went with them."
00:21:11.00\00:21:16.54
Oh friends, I'm so
thankful that when we feel the
00:21:16.57\00:21:19.51
farthest away from God, that's
when God is closest to us.
00:21:19.54\00:21:24.31
Can you say amen?
00:21:24.35\00:21:25.68
These two disciples
were absorbed in darkness,
00:21:25.71\00:21:28.55
and yet the Light of
the universe drew near
00:21:28.58\00:21:32.15
to penetrate the darkness
of their discouragement.
00:21:32.19\00:21:35.32
Friends, I want you to
know, you may feel so far away
00:21:35.52\00:21:37.49
from God right now.
00:21:37.53\00:21:38.86
You may have messed up and
sinned greatly, even today.
00:21:38.89\00:21:42.70
And you feel like
heaven is so far away.
00:21:42.86\00:21:45.27
The farther away you feel from
God, that's the closer He is.
00:21:45.67\00:21:48.80
He's right outside the
door of your heart knocking.
00:21:49.00\00:21:52.04
That's how close.
00:21:52.24\00:21:53.58
And I want to appeal to you, my
friends, open the door of your
00:21:53.61\00:21:56.34
heart and let
Jesus come in today.
00:21:56.38\00:21:59.01
Christ draws near
to these disciples.
00:21:59.21\00:22:01.38
And He's wanting to lift
them up out of the valley
00:22:01.65\00:22:05.62
of discouragement on
the mountain top of hope.
00:22:05.65\00:22:08.19
You see, these disciples
were leaving Jerusalem,
00:22:08.36\00:22:10.66
the city of peace, and
they were headed to the
00:22:10.69\00:22:12.99
village called, Emmaus.
00:22:13.03\00:22:14.56
Now that word, "Emmaus,"
if you look it up in the
00:22:14.60\00:22:16.40
original language,
it means, "warm baths."
00:22:16.43\00:22:20.70
And their
destination, Emmaus, warm baths,
00:22:20.74\00:22:23.57
was a reflection
of their experience.
00:22:23.67\00:22:25.64
As they're walking
away from Jerusalem,
00:22:26.01\00:22:27.78
their commitment has cooled
down and now they're settling
00:22:27.81\00:22:30.71
into a somewhat
Laodicean lukewarm experience.
00:22:30.75\00:22:34.95
Maybe they were just trying
to head home to take a nice
00:22:35.02\00:22:38.32
warm bath and
forget about their troubles
00:22:38.35\00:22:40.79
and forget about
their disappointment.
00:22:40.82\00:22:42.69
But when you read the story,
by the time Jesus is finished
00:22:42.72\00:22:45.39
with them, from being
lukewarm in warm baths,
00:22:45.43\00:22:48.60
they are on
fire as they testify,
00:22:48.63\00:22:51.20
"Did not our
hearts burn within us
00:22:51.23\00:22:54.70
when He walked
with us by the way?"
00:22:55.00\00:22:57.07
You see, friends, the fire
of Pentecost actually began
00:22:57.11\00:23:01.04
right here in this upper road
when their hearts became hot.
00:23:01.08\00:23:04.95
That's when the baptism of
fire started to begin, friends.
00:23:05.18\00:23:08.72
The reason why is
because on that road to Emmaus,
00:23:09.08\00:23:12.65
the upper road
experience I call it,
00:23:12.69\00:23:14.79
they heard the
testimony of Jesus,
00:23:14.96\00:23:18.56
which is the spirit of prophecy.
00:23:18.73\00:23:21.06
So Jesus draws near to
help these disciples understand
00:23:21.30\00:23:26.00
the prophetic
significance of the cross.
00:23:26.03\00:23:29.60
But how Jesus does it
is absolutely unremarkable
00:23:30.01\00:23:34.44
to human eyes.
00:23:34.64\00:23:35.98
Notice what He does
in verse 25, Luke 24:25.
00:23:36.01\00:23:40.08
Friends, I want you to notice,
on this upper road experience
00:24:02.47\00:24:06.07
Jesus helped them to understand
the significance of the cross,
00:24:06.17\00:24:10.15
but He did it by
expounding, giving a systematic
00:24:10.18\00:24:14.35
sequential
exposition on Bible prophecy.
00:24:14.38\00:24:19.42
He pointed to the
Scriptures, friends.
00:24:19.55\00:24:21.26
Now the approach of Christ is
very peculiar and very unique.
00:24:21.29\00:24:24.93
It would have been a
lot easier and a lot faster
00:24:24.96\00:24:27.63
for Jesus simply
to appear to them.
00:24:27.66\00:24:30.17
Maybe perform some
miracle, demonstrate His power,
00:24:30.30\00:24:33.47
reveal Himself, and the
disciples would have been
00:24:33.57\00:24:35.70
satisfied instantly.
00:24:35.74\00:24:37.07
But instead of doing
that, Jesus took the long route
00:24:37.11\00:24:40.11
in breaking down Bible prophecy
and showing how prophecy
00:24:40.14\00:24:44.68
is all about Himself.
00:24:44.78\00:24:47.02
Instead of appealing to
their feelings, their senses,
00:24:47.42\00:24:50.45
or the emotions, Jesus
appealed to their reason
00:24:50.49\00:24:53.39
as He helped them to
understand Bible prophecy.
00:24:53.42\00:24:55.86
And here's the
reason why, friends.
00:24:55.89\00:24:57.23
I want you to notice
what it says in the book,
00:24:57.26\00:24:58.59
Desire Of Ages, page 796.
00:24:58.63\00:25:01.53
You see, Jesus did not
want their faith to rest upon
00:25:19.31\00:25:21.88
some outward demonstration,
some sign or wonder,
00:25:21.92\00:25:24.62
or some type of
burning in the bosom.
00:25:24.65\00:25:26.49
He wanted their faith to
rest solely and completely
00:25:26.59\00:25:29.69
upon the greatest
evidence for our faith;
00:25:29.72\00:25:32.16
and that is the prophetic
Scriptures, the Word of God.
00:25:32.19\00:25:36.13
Can you say amen?
00:25:36.16\00:25:37.50
And so what Jesus is
doing here is amazing.
00:25:37.53\00:25:39.60
It was Christ's first work to
help them understand the cross
00:25:39.93\00:25:44.67
in the context of prophecy.
00:25:44.84\00:25:47.61
In fact, friends, listen,
it was cross-centered prophecy
00:25:47.68\00:25:52.78
that made all the
difference in their lives.
00:25:52.95\00:25:55.15
This is what caused
their hearts to grow hot;
00:25:55.18\00:25:58.32
when they saw Jesus in prophecy.
00:25:58.42\00:26:00.62
And shortly after
that, you read verse 44,
00:26:00.66\00:26:02.96
Jesus appeared to the rest
and did the exact same thing.
00:26:02.99\00:26:06.29
He explained current
events in the light of
00:26:06.39\00:26:09.90
Christ-centered prophecy.
00:26:09.93\00:26:12.50
And because they first
understood Christ-centered
00:26:12.53\00:26:15.40
prophecy, now they were
ready for the upper room.
00:26:15.44\00:26:18.11
Now they knew how to
pray in the upper room.
00:26:18.14\00:26:20.81
And that's why their
prayers were effective.
00:26:20.84\00:26:22.88
Because those prayers
were based upon sound theology,
00:26:22.91\00:26:26.98
founded in the
Word, focused in Christ,
00:26:27.02\00:26:29.98
framed in prophecy,
and filled with the Spirit.
00:26:30.02\00:26:33.32
And because they were
led by the Spirit on the
00:26:33.36\00:26:36.02
upper road to the upper room,
now they were ready to be filled
00:26:36.06\00:26:39.23
with the Spirit in
that upper room experience.
00:26:39.26\00:26:43.16
And friends, listen, the
remnant will have the exact
00:26:43.20\00:26:47.27
same experience.
00:26:47.30\00:26:49.07
For, friends, the remnant
are those who are just like
00:26:49.10\00:26:52.24
the original.
00:26:52.27\00:26:53.61
You see, the point that
I'm making tonight is this:
00:26:53.64\00:26:55.51
Many of us are not ready
for the upper room experience
00:26:56.21\00:26:59.58
because we've
failed to learn the lessons
00:27:00.18\00:27:02.48
on the upper road.
00:27:02.68\00:27:04.29
We have failed to see
how Jesus and prophecy
00:27:04.55\00:27:07.66
are not two separate things,
but they are together, friends.
00:27:07.72\00:27:12.23
For the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
00:27:12.26\00:27:17.93
That's the unity that
God wants us to experience.
00:27:18.13\00:27:21.10
It's the true unity.
00:27:21.40\00:27:22.87
Remember, friends, for
every truth that God has,
00:27:22.90\00:27:25.97
Satan has a counterfeit.
00:27:26.14\00:27:27.94
Do you realize, friends,
that there is a counterfeit
00:27:28.04\00:27:30.65
upper room experience
that's sweeping across
00:27:30.68\00:27:33.92
the Christian world today?
00:27:33.95\00:27:35.35
It's a room without the road.
00:27:35.88\00:27:38.82
It's a destination without
a clear way of arriving to it.
00:27:39.15\00:27:43.12
And friends, if you
don't have a clear road
00:27:43.16\00:27:45.26
or a clear way of
arriving, you just might end up,
00:27:45.29\00:27:48.33
not in the upper
room, but a séance room
00:27:48.36\00:27:51.30
or some type of other room.
00:27:51.33\00:27:53.54
And friends, that's what
we're seeing in a general sense
00:27:54.34\00:27:56.47
in the religious world today;
00:27:56.50\00:27:57.84
where people,
Christian churches, are saying,
00:27:58.91\00:28:01.24
"Let's put aside all
our doctrinal differences
00:28:01.38\00:28:05.21
and let's just
come together and pray."
00:28:05.25\00:28:07.68
What they're saying is,
"Let's unify in the spirit."
00:28:08.65\00:28:11.85
And it sounds good, friends.
00:28:12.15\00:28:13.69
But it is at the sacrifice
and the cost of the truth.
00:28:13.89\00:28:17.19
They're saying, "Let's
put aside the doctrines,
00:28:17.23\00:28:19.13
let's put aside truth, and let's
just come together and pray."
00:28:19.16\00:28:22.83
But friends, we've
been told in prophecy
00:28:22.93\00:28:26.80
that this is not a true unity.
00:28:27.34\00:28:29.30
God cannot bless a union that
is not in harmony with His Word.
00:28:29.64\00:28:33.17
And tragically,
there's a watering down of the
00:28:33.38\00:28:36.08
true gospel of
Christ in the world today.
00:28:36.11\00:28:38.35
And the true everlasting gospel
is being replaced by a false,
00:28:38.45\00:28:41.98
counterfeit, greasy
grace, cheap, prosperity gospel.
00:28:42.02\00:28:45.19
In Christianity, friends,
we're seeing that there is
00:28:45.35\00:28:47.62
actually a crisis of theology.
00:28:47.66\00:28:49.92
An ecumenical apostasy
that prophecy has predicted
00:28:50.33\00:28:54.10
is emerging all over the world.
00:28:54.20\00:28:57.13
And even in some
pockets of the remnant church
00:28:57.23\00:29:00.54
we're hearing
messages that are downplaying
00:29:00.57\00:29:03.10
our distinctiveness.
00:29:03.14\00:29:04.47
There's a lot of one-sided
preaching that's throwing
00:29:04.54\00:29:07.81
God's people off balance.
00:29:07.84\00:29:09.38
Friends, let's never forget
that the upper road experience
00:29:09.41\00:29:12.41
is strait and narrow.
00:29:12.45\00:29:14.48
And Satan in these last days
is seeking to get God's remnant
00:29:14.68\00:29:18.75
church off track, off of
the upper road, the narrow road,
00:29:18.79\00:29:22.52
into one of two separate
ditches that are on either side
00:29:22.56\00:29:28.56
of this narrow road.
00:29:28.66\00:29:30.00
And friends, Satan
does not care which ditch
00:29:30.03\00:29:33.27
we fall into as long as he
knocks us off the upper road
00:29:33.47\00:29:38.64
that leads to the upper room.
00:29:38.67\00:29:40.18
And these two ditches, I want to
focus on with you this evening.
00:29:40.21\00:29:43.38
One ditch on the
right, the ditch of legalism.
00:29:43.55\00:29:48.22
And then another ditch on the
left, the ditch of liberalism.
00:29:48.32\00:29:52.85
And friends, these are the
two ditches, the two extremes,
00:29:53.05\00:29:56.93
that Satan wants
God's people to fall into.
00:29:57.03\00:29:59.23
Let's deal with the first one;
00:29:59.43\00:30:00.80
the ditch on the
right, the ditch of legalism.
00:30:01.23\00:30:03.83
I want you to notice
what it says in the book,
00:30:03.87\00:30:05.20
Gospel Workers, and on page 156.
00:30:05.23\00:30:07.90
It says this...
00:30:07.94\00:30:09.27
Oh friends, what a tragedy.
00:30:39.50\00:30:40.97
When we dwell upon the
law and not upon Christ,
00:30:41.50\00:30:44.94
who is the schoolmaster,
to bring us to the...
00:30:44.97\00:30:48.31
...dwell upon the law,
which is the schoolmaster,
00:30:49.74\00:30:51.58
to bring us to Christ.
00:30:51.61\00:30:52.95
You see, friends, we've been
told that Christ-less sermons
00:30:53.31\00:30:56.25
are the offerings of Cain.
00:30:56.28\00:30:57.85
When you think about
the offering of Cain,
00:30:58.15\00:30:59.89
there was no fire
that fell upon the altar.
00:31:00.36\00:31:02.59
There was no light and
no warmth from that worship.
00:31:02.79\00:31:05.59
Because even though Cain
offered something in sincerity,
00:31:05.76\00:31:09.30
he offered the wrong thing.
00:31:09.33\00:31:10.83
Instead of giving
the lamb that is slain,
00:31:10.87\00:31:13.13
he gave the fruit
of his own labors.
00:31:13.17\00:31:15.77
Salvation by works;
that was his offering.
00:31:15.80\00:31:18.77
And there was no
fire, there was no warmth,
00:31:18.81\00:31:21.38
there was no light, because
it was missing the essential
00:31:21.41\00:31:24.38
ingredient; the
blood of the lamb.
00:31:24.41\00:31:27.08
Cain's offering was centered
in what he was giving to God;
00:31:27.38\00:31:31.89
the works and
fruits of his own labor.
00:31:32.12\00:31:34.66
But friends, Christianity is
not about what we give to God,
00:31:35.12\00:31:39.33
it's about what God
is seeking to give to us.
00:31:39.43\00:31:42.23
Can you say amen?
00:31:42.26\00:31:43.60
And that is His very life.
00:31:43.63\00:31:45.03
That's why Abel's
offering was accepted.
00:31:45.07\00:31:47.37
Because it was centered, not
in what man was giving to God,
00:31:47.57\00:31:50.34
but rather in what
God was giving to man;
00:31:50.37\00:31:52.64
His very own life, typified in
that lamb whose blood was shed.
00:31:52.67\00:31:58.11
Christ-less
sermons; offerings of Cain.
00:31:58.78\00:32:01.68
The reason why there's not
a lot of fire in many pulpits
00:32:01.72\00:32:04.99
of the world today
is because it's missing
00:32:05.02\00:32:07.12
the blood of Jesus Christ.
00:32:07.22\00:32:09.49
And then that same
quotation continues.
00:32:09.59\00:32:11.69
"This truth, with
others, included in the message
00:32:25.47\00:32:29.14
is to be proclaimed."
00:32:29.18\00:32:30.51
Can you say amen
to that, friends?
00:32:36.85\00:32:38.52
We need to give the whole
truth and nothing but the truth.
00:32:38.62\00:32:41.72
But we need to make
sure that it's all centered
00:32:41.79\00:32:44.33
and founded in the
center of attraction;
00:32:44.36\00:32:47.03
that is Jesus Christ.
00:32:47.06\00:32:48.40
Let us never forget, oh my
beloved brothers and sisters,
00:32:48.43\00:32:50.70
that Jesus is the
content and the context
00:32:50.73\00:32:53.77
of our communication.
00:32:53.80\00:32:55.14
Jesus is the focus and
foundation of all true faith.
00:32:55.17\00:32:58.07
Jesus is the purpose and
the premise of all prophecy.
00:32:58.11\00:33:02.18
Because it's not about what
we know, it's about who we know.
00:33:02.21\00:33:06.08
And too many times, friends, we
as a people, we know the "what,"
00:33:06.35\00:33:10.22
but we don't know the "Who."
00:33:10.25\00:33:11.59
Our heads are full,
but our hearts are empty.
00:33:11.62\00:33:14.62
Many times we preach
prophecy without Christ.
00:33:14.86\00:33:18.19
And as a result, we have
people serving God out of fear
00:33:18.23\00:33:21.06
instead of love.
00:33:21.10\00:33:22.43
People focusing so
much on the beast that they
00:33:22.46\00:33:24.70
lose sight of the Lamb.
00:33:24.73\00:33:26.07
Yes, friends, as
faithful watchmen, were are to
00:33:26.10\00:33:28.04
understand the signs so that we
might give that solemn warning.
00:33:28.07\00:33:31.01
But at the same time,
when we point out the signs,
00:33:31.04\00:33:33.31
let us quickly point to the
Savior and the refuge we have;
00:33:33.34\00:33:36.85
the shelter in our
times of storm. Amen?
00:33:37.05\00:33:39.65
Too many times we've preached
standards without Christ.
00:33:39.95\00:33:42.62
And as a result, we have
placed a Christ-less cross
00:33:42.65\00:33:46.72
upon the shoulders of people.
00:33:47.22\00:33:48.86
And many have been
crushed by this legalistic
00:33:48.89\00:33:51.33
and loveless religion.
00:33:51.36\00:33:52.76
And many people
have given up their walk.
00:33:52.79\00:33:54.60
Why? Because it's
impossible to live the standard
00:33:54.63\00:33:57.83
without first loving the Savior.
00:33:57.87\00:34:00.80
Christ-less preaching
has created many fanatics
00:34:01.07\00:34:04.24
and legalists who
are constantly judging
00:34:04.27\00:34:06.54
and criticizing
and condemning others.
00:34:06.57\00:34:08.91
All the while,
they're filled with spiritual
00:34:08.94\00:34:11.18
pride and hypocrisy.
00:34:11.21\00:34:12.55
Remember, friends, that
health reform, education reform,
00:34:12.58\00:34:15.25
dress reform without Christ
are nothing but empty forms.
00:34:15.28\00:34:19.19
We need to make sure,
friends, that our message
00:34:19.22\00:34:21.92
and our methods and
our mission is always
00:34:22.29\00:34:25.49
Christ and cross-centered. Amen?
00:34:25.53\00:34:27.83
Sometimes we preach
doctrines without Christ.
00:34:28.36\00:34:30.83
And as a result, we have
people whose heads are full
00:34:30.93\00:34:33.37
with the right answers,
but whose hearts are empty
00:34:33.60\00:34:36.71
and they have
the wrong experience
00:34:36.74\00:34:38.11
and the wrong attitudes.
00:34:38.14\00:34:39.47
We have people who
know the Word of God,
00:34:39.51\00:34:42.08
they can tell you the truth,
but they don't know the God
00:34:42.11\00:34:45.75
of the Word and
He who is the truth.
00:34:45.78\00:34:48.45
And friends, I remember
when I was first converted
00:34:48.65\00:34:50.65
when I was 16 years old.
00:34:50.69\00:34:52.02
I wasn't brought up in
this or any other church.
00:34:52.05\00:34:53.86
And I heard the
message for the first time
00:34:54.59\00:34:56.86
and I was excited
about it; it made sense.
00:34:56.89\00:34:58.79
And the Lord Jesus Christ won
my heart and conquered my soul.
00:34:58.83\00:35:02.86
I will never forget, friends,
I use to be just like this
00:35:02.96\00:35:05.67
when I first started.
00:35:05.70\00:35:07.04
My zeal for the truth
sometimes pushed people away.
00:35:07.27\00:35:11.14
But as I continued to
grow in the love of God
00:35:11.47\00:35:13.78
I spent more time at
the foot of the cross,
00:35:13.98\00:35:15.61
and my dear Lord
showed me a better way.
00:35:15.64\00:35:17.75
And now my greatest
desire in our ministry
00:35:17.98\00:35:20.32
is to point people to Jesus
and to help people understand
00:35:20.42\00:35:23.79
that prophecy is a
revelation of hope.
00:35:23.82\00:35:27.09
It is the
revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:35:27.12\00:35:29.52
You see, friends, doctrine
without the love of Jesus
00:35:29.56\00:35:32.43
is irrelevant.
00:35:32.46\00:35:34.00
Prophecy without the
love of Jesus is scary.
00:35:34.26\00:35:37.57
Standards without the
love of Jesus are oppressive.
00:35:37.60\00:35:41.07
However, doctrine with the
love of Jesus is important.
00:35:41.17\00:35:45.01
Prophecy with the
love of Jesus is exciting.
00:35:45.04\00:35:48.01
And standards
with the love of Jesus
00:35:48.38\00:35:50.88
is a blessing and a delight.
00:35:51.08\00:35:53.31
Amen?
00:35:53.35\00:35:54.68
And so let us not fall into
the ditch of legalism, friends.
00:35:54.72\00:35:57.69
Let's stay on that
strait and narrow upper road
00:35:57.85\00:36:00.39
that leads to
the final upper room.
00:36:00.49\00:36:02.56
I want you to notice in
this quotation in the book,
00:36:02.96\00:36:05.23
Lift Him Up, page
98, it says this...
00:36:05.26\00:36:08.33
Can you say amen to that?
00:36:33.59\00:36:34.96
And so, my brothers and
sisters, we need to give the
00:36:38.33\00:36:41.26
message in Revelation.
00:36:41.30\00:36:43.67
We need to share all the
truth and not water it down
00:36:43.77\00:36:46.13
and cut corners, and
flower and fluff it up.
00:36:46.17\00:36:48.77
But we need to make
sure that it's centered
00:36:49.07\00:36:51.27
and founded in Jesus Christ.
00:36:51.31\00:36:53.31
Can you say amen?
00:36:53.34\00:36:54.68
So let's avoid the ditch on the
right, the ditch of legalism.
00:36:54.71\00:36:57.91
But friends, there's
another ditch on the left
00:36:58.25\00:37:01.02
that is equally as dangerous.
00:37:01.25\00:37:02.85
It's the ditch of liberalism.
00:37:02.88\00:37:05.29
Soft, sweet,
fluffy, but no substance.
00:37:05.62\00:37:09.29
The best thing I can use to
illustrate it is cotton candy.
00:37:09.46\00:37:12.66
You've eaten cotton
candy before, right?
00:37:13.09\00:37:15.06
What is the
characteristic of cotton candy?
00:37:15.43\00:37:17.50
It's nice, it's colorful,
it's sweet, it's fluffy.
00:37:17.80\00:37:23.67
But when you put it
in your mouth, it melts.
00:37:23.77\00:37:26.21
There is no substance.
00:37:26.31\00:37:27.78
And it gives you absolutely
no spiritual nourishment.
00:37:27.81\00:37:31.21
That's what I like to
call, cotton candy Christianity.
00:37:31.25\00:37:34.35
It's nice, it looks
good, it feels good,
00:37:34.38\00:37:37.09
but there's no substance in it.
00:37:37.12\00:37:39.05
It gives people a
sugar rush, a spiritual high,
00:37:39.15\00:37:42.32
but it leaves people
biblically malnourished.
00:37:42.42\00:37:45.76
You see, friends,
this is dangerous.
00:37:46.29\00:37:48.13
There is a subtle deception
that Satan has introduced
00:37:48.63\00:37:52.47
within the remnant church today.
00:37:52.77\00:37:54.70
And that's where we hear
people saying things like this:
00:37:55.24\00:37:57.97
"I don't want to hear doctrine.
00:37:58.37\00:38:00.11
I don't want to hear prophecy.
00:38:00.91\00:38:02.58
Let's just talk about Jesus.
00:38:03.01\00:38:06.05
Let's get together and
have a conversation about Jesus.
00:38:06.61\00:38:09.55
It's all about Jesus."
00:38:09.95\00:38:11.55
And friends, listen,
I believe that statement
00:38:11.59\00:38:13.36
is a true statement.
00:38:13.39\00:38:14.72
It is all about Jesus.
00:38:14.76\00:38:16.26
However, there's a
subtle implication that many
00:38:16.89\00:38:20.56
people have in
making that statement.
00:38:20.60\00:38:23.23
And the implication is
a faulty deceptive one.
00:38:23.63\00:38:26.80
The implication is
that doctrine and prophecy
00:38:27.04\00:38:30.57
somehow is not about Jesus.
00:38:30.81\00:38:33.17
"So let's not worry about those.
Let's just focus on Jesus."
00:38:33.51\00:38:35.58
But friends,
here's the question:
00:38:35.61\00:38:37.28
Is it biblically possible to
separate Jesus from prophecy?
00:38:37.31\00:38:43.32
Now friends,
listen, it's possible,
00:38:44.02\00:38:46.82
but it's not
biblically possible.
00:38:47.32\00:38:49.22
People do it all the time.
00:38:49.59\00:38:50.93
They talk about
prophecy without Jesus.
00:38:51.29\00:38:54.30
They talk about
Jesus without prophecy.
00:38:54.33\00:38:57.17
People are trying to
separate that which is
00:38:57.40\00:38:59.40
indelibly joined together.
00:38:59.43\00:39:01.00
It's possible, but
according to the Bible,
00:39:01.17\00:39:03.20
it's not biblically possible.
00:39:03.24\00:39:04.87
And here's the
reason why, friends.
00:39:04.91\00:39:06.31
Because Jesus is the Word.
00:39:06.34\00:39:08.28
The Logos.
00:39:08.61\00:39:10.05
Jesus is the way,
the truth, and the life.
00:39:10.18\00:39:13.05
And every prophecy, every
doctrine, every principle,
00:39:13.08\00:39:16.52
every standard is to
bring us closer to Jesus.
00:39:16.55\00:39:19.59
You see, Christ said, "Out of
the abundance of the heart..."
00:39:19.62\00:39:22.79
What happens?
"...the mouth speaks."
00:39:22.82\00:39:24.76
In other words, the heart
is made known by the words.
00:39:24.79\00:39:28.16
And so if we ignore the words of
Jesus, the testimony of Jesus,
00:39:28.26\00:39:32.30
which is the spirit of prophecy,
that which God has revealed
00:39:32.67\00:39:35.40
through all the prophets
from the beginning to the end,
00:39:35.44\00:39:37.57
if we put aside
the words of Jesus,
00:39:37.81\00:39:40.24
we're not going to
be able to know the
00:39:40.28\00:39:41.61
true heart of Jesus.
00:39:41.64\00:39:43.95
It's not biblically possible,
friends, to separate Jesus
00:39:44.05\00:39:47.98
from His own words.
00:39:48.22\00:39:49.55
Now friends, it's true, we can
preach doctrine without Christ,
00:39:49.92\00:39:54.19
but we cannot truly
preach Christ without preaching
00:39:54.56\00:39:58.19
everything that
He taught as well;
00:39:58.23\00:39:59.93
doctrines and
prophecy and standards.
00:40:00.10\00:40:02.26
And here's the reason
why. Allow me to illustrate it.
00:40:02.30\00:40:04.37
Every doctrine, and standard,
and prophecy, and principle
00:40:04.60\00:40:07.30
is like a camera lens
that magnifies an object.
00:40:07.34\00:40:12.34
You see, the
function of a camera lens...
00:40:12.57\00:40:14.74
I'm an amateur photographer.
00:40:14.78\00:40:16.41
I have different
lenses in my collection.
00:40:16.44\00:40:18.51
Different lenses
that do different things.
00:40:18.71\00:40:20.52
And the purpose of a lens is to
magnify and clarify an object.
00:40:20.78\00:40:25.52
Jesus is the object, friends.
00:40:25.85\00:40:28.39
The different lenses are
the doctrines and prophecies.
00:40:28.76\00:40:31.96
Now obviously the object is
more important than the lens.
00:40:31.99\00:40:35.40
However, when you remove the
lens of doctrine and prophecy,
00:40:35.43\00:40:39.53
you can't
clearly see the object.
00:40:39.57\00:40:42.70
It's blurry.
00:40:42.90\00:40:44.24
And the blurrier
your picture of God is,
00:40:44.27\00:40:46.98
the more easily Satan
can introduce an antichrist.
00:40:47.01\00:40:51.88
And you're looking, but
because you removed the lens of
00:40:51.91\00:40:54.65
prophecy and doctrine, you think
it's the real Jesus Christ.
00:40:54.68\00:40:58.45
And the devil can
easily deceive you.
00:40:58.49\00:41:00.69
You see, friends,
this is what has happened
00:41:01.19\00:41:04.23
in the religious world today.
00:41:05.13\00:41:06.56
Liberalism is sweeping
many people off the cliff
00:41:07.13\00:41:11.00
of ecumenism.
00:41:11.03\00:41:12.47
The daughters of
Babylon are turning back
00:41:12.80\00:41:14.70
to the mother church because
they've removed the lens of
00:41:14.74\00:41:17.67
doctrine and prophecy.
00:41:17.71\00:41:19.04
Now Satan has
introduced an antichrist.
00:41:19.07\00:41:21.21
You see, it's the lens
that helps us to see the
00:41:21.24\00:41:23.31
true Jesus Christ, and
by contrast to recognize
00:41:23.35\00:41:26.72
who the antichrist really is.
00:41:26.75\00:41:28.65
Well friends, allow me
to remind us all what is the
00:41:29.25\00:41:32.65
primary purpose of prophecy.
00:41:32.69\00:41:34.42
Notice what it
says in 2 Peter 1:19.
00:41:34.46\00:41:38.39
Friends, what is the
primary purpose of prophecy?
00:41:51.27\00:41:54.04
The Bible said it right there.
00:41:54.58\00:41:55.91
It's so that the Day
Star can arise in our hearts.
00:41:55.98\00:41:59.28
Who's the Day Star?
00:41:59.48\00:42:00.82
It's Jesus.
00:42:01.08\00:42:02.42
You see, those who say, "I don't
want to hear about Revelation,"
00:42:02.55\00:42:05.95
they don't realize it but
what they're really saying is,
00:42:06.79\00:42:08.89
"I don't want to
hear about Jesus."
00:42:08.92\00:42:10.69
Because the Revelation is
a revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:42:10.96\00:42:15.56
It's not just a
revelation from Jesus,
00:42:15.60\00:42:18.00
it's a revelation of Jesus.
00:42:18.27\00:42:19.83
So you never want to say,
"Forget about Revelation."
00:42:20.17\00:42:23.27
What you're really
saying is, "Forget about Jesus."
00:42:23.47\00:42:25.74
You see, those who say,
"Oh I don't want to hear the
00:42:25.87\00:42:27.68
three angels' messages,"
what they're really saying is,
00:42:27.71\00:42:30.11
"I don't want the
everlasting gospel."
00:42:30.15\00:42:31.91
Because the three
angels' messages are called,
00:42:32.11\00:42:34.58
the everlasting gospel.
00:42:34.62\00:42:37.22
And it's all
about Jesus, friends.
00:42:37.25\00:42:39.69
Those who say, "Oh I don't want
to hear the spirit of prophecy,"
00:42:39.79\00:42:42.39
what they're really saying
is, "I don't want to hear the
00:42:42.42\00:42:44.86
testimony of Jesus."
00:42:44.89\00:42:46.59
To silence the
spirit of prophecy
00:42:47.26\00:42:49.16
is really to silence Jesus.
00:42:49.76\00:42:51.63
"For the testimony of Jesus
is the spirit of prophecy."
00:42:51.83\00:42:55.70
Not one prophet in the last
days, but all of God's prophets
00:42:55.74\00:42:59.14
from the very
beginning to the end of time.
00:42:59.37\00:43:02.11
Those who say, "I
don't want to hear doctrine,"
00:43:02.34\00:43:04.31
what they're really saying is,
00:43:04.35\00:43:05.68
"I don't want to
hear about Jesus."
00:43:05.71\00:43:07.05
Because Jesus is the doctrine.
00:43:07.08\00:43:08.42
He is the Logos.
00:43:08.45\00:43:09.78
He is the Word and the truth.
00:43:09.82\00:43:11.85
You see, the Sabbath
teaches us about Jesus.
00:43:11.89\00:43:14.12
The 2300 days, the Sanctuary,
the state of the dead;
00:43:14.36\00:43:16.76
all the doctrines that the Bible
teaches all come from Jesus.
00:43:16.79\00:43:20.83
And each and every one of
those are a beautiful lens
00:43:20.86\00:43:23.60
that magnifies the
beauty of Jesus Christ.
00:43:23.63\00:43:26.43
Don't take away
the lens, friends,
00:43:26.47\00:43:28.57
because you won't know
who the true Jesus really is.
00:43:29.00\00:43:31.94
You'll have a picture,
but it might be blurry.
00:43:32.17\00:43:34.21
The lens magnifies the object.
00:43:34.48\00:43:37.08
I want you to notice
in the book, Evangelism,
00:43:37.38\00:43:39.08
and on page 195, it says
this, notice what it says...
00:43:39.61\00:43:43.72
The Root and Offspring of David,
the Bright and Morning Star.
00:43:57.53\00:44:00.74
Friends, we need to let
Daniel and Revelation speak.
00:44:00.77\00:44:03.14
Don't keep them
silent. Let them speak.
00:44:03.17\00:44:05.64
But in every phase,
point to Jesus. Amen?
00:44:06.04\00:44:09.78
And then in, Evangelism,
page 196, it says this...
00:44:10.85\00:44:14.02
Friends, I believe that one
of the reasons why evangelism
00:44:33.50\00:44:37.01
is growing dim and weak,
and faith is growing weak,
00:44:37.04\00:44:40.58
and love is growing
cold, is because sometimes
00:44:40.61\00:44:42.98
we've fallen into the
ditch of trying to replace,
00:44:43.01\00:44:46.72
supplement, water down
Christ-centered prophecy.
00:44:46.82\00:44:52.12
We're trying to separate
Jesus from His own words.
00:44:52.15\00:44:55.52
And listen, friends,
when we try to separate Jesus
00:44:55.56\00:44:58.19
from prophecy, and
prophecy from Jesus,
00:44:58.23\00:45:00.63
we are essentially
neutralizing the power
00:45:00.66\00:45:04.23
of the everlasting gospel.
00:45:04.27\00:45:05.97
We're giving an
incomplete message.
00:45:06.50\00:45:08.24
And that's exactly
what the devil wants.
00:45:08.27\00:45:11.41
Please don't let it happen.
00:45:12.24\00:45:13.84
Oh my beloved
brothers and sisters,
00:45:14.28\00:45:16.18
my church family,
my fellow workers,
00:45:16.75\00:45:19.41
don't let it happen.
00:45:19.61\00:45:20.95
Let's move forward together,
both in spirit and in truth.
00:45:20.98\00:45:25.75
Let's avoid either ditch on
either side of the narrow road.
00:45:25.79\00:45:29.66
Let's walk the strait
and narrow with Jesus.
00:45:29.69\00:45:32.73
But here's the thing, friends.
00:45:32.76\00:45:34.26
There is also a
danger of overcorrection.
00:45:34.76\00:45:38.17
You see, when you study the
history of our beloved church,
00:45:38.60\00:45:41.24
we see that the
theological pendulum swings
00:45:41.57\00:45:44.91
back and forth from
one generation to another.
00:45:44.94\00:45:48.61
Swinging from
legalism to liberalism,
00:45:48.84\00:45:51.68
then from
liberalism to legalism.
00:45:51.71\00:45:53.82
And friends, as human
beings, our natural tendency
00:45:53.85\00:45:56.95
is to overcorrect.
00:45:56.99\00:45:59.05
In other words, what
I mean by that is this:
00:45:59.85\00:46:01.96
Children who grow up
in a legalistic household
00:46:02.36\00:46:05.43
many times will raise their
children in a liberal household.
00:46:05.69\00:46:09.50
Children who grow up
in a liberal household
00:46:09.86\00:46:12.30
many times will
raise their children
00:46:12.33\00:46:13.67
in a legalistic household.
00:46:13.70\00:46:15.40
The pendulum continues
to swing back and forth,
00:46:15.44\00:46:18.31
and back and forth.
00:46:18.34\00:46:19.67
And just like
driving down a highway,
00:46:19.71\00:46:21.48
overcorrection can
lead to a serious accident.
00:46:21.51\00:46:24.88
And unfortunately,
that is what has happened
00:46:25.38\00:46:27.28
in many churches
and institutions.
00:46:27.62\00:46:29.58
Many have caused spiritual
wrecks on the narrow road
00:46:29.82\00:46:33.36
due to overcorrection.
00:46:33.39\00:46:34.86
And there are those who try
to pit Jesus against doctrine.
00:46:35.19\00:46:40.96
They're creating a straw
man that's distracting us
00:46:41.26\00:46:44.33
from our mission
that God has given us
00:46:44.37\00:46:47.74
to accomplish in the world.
00:46:47.77\00:46:49.44
Friends, let us put a
stop to the pendulum swinging
00:46:49.60\00:46:52.21
in our church and in our lives.
00:46:52.41\00:46:54.14
Can you say amen?
00:46:54.18\00:46:55.51
Let us never forget,
there are two ditches on both
00:46:55.54\00:46:57.91
sides of the narrow
road; legalism and liberalism
00:46:57.95\00:47:00.85
So as we avoid those,
let's choose the right way;
00:47:00.92\00:47:03.95
the way of love.
00:47:03.99\00:47:05.95
And what does that look like?
00:47:07.39\00:47:08.76
The way of love looks like this:
00:47:09.02\00:47:10.59
We serve a God that
will take us just as we are
00:47:11.56\00:47:15.16
no matter what
condition we're in.
00:47:15.56\00:47:17.20
Amen?
00:47:17.23\00:47:18.57
But at the same time, He
will never leave us as we are.
00:47:18.60\00:47:21.84
He will change us.
00:47:22.00\00:47:23.34
We serve a God that
says, no condemnation;
00:47:23.37\00:47:26.34
but at the same time
He says, no compromise.
00:47:26.91\00:47:29.44
He's the one that
said to the woman that was
00:47:29.61\00:47:31.41
caught in adultery,
"Neither do I condemn you."
00:47:31.45\00:47:34.05
And that was beautiful.
00:47:34.08\00:47:35.42
But immediately after that, He
then said, "Go and sin no more."
00:47:35.45\00:47:39.05
The perfect
balance, the way of love.
00:47:39.09\00:47:41.16
"I don't condemn
you. Go and sin no more.
00:47:41.19\00:47:43.29
I accept you just as you are,
00:47:43.32\00:47:44.93
but I'm not going to
leave you in that condition.
00:47:44.96\00:47:47.06
I will do the
change in your life."
00:47:47.10\00:47:49.10
The perfect balance,
the way of love, says,
00:47:49.46\00:47:51.60
God says, "I will come down
to meet you where you're at,
00:47:51.63\00:47:56.14
but then I will lift you
up to bring you where I am at,
00:47:56.60\00:48:01.24
that you might sit with
Christ in heavenly places
00:48:01.28\00:48:04.28
even as you continue in
the wilderness of this world."
00:48:04.31\00:48:06.85
You see, my friends, love
is the fulfilling of the law,
00:48:06.88\00:48:10.65
not the breaking of the law.
00:48:10.69\00:48:12.35
Jesus said, "If you love
Me, keep My commandments."
00:48:12.55\00:48:15.76
The perfect
balance, the way of love.
00:48:15.79\00:48:17.93
When you look at the cross,
the cross reveals that God
00:48:18.39\00:48:21.66
hates sin with a perfect hatred.
00:48:21.70\00:48:23.60
But at the same time, God loves
sinners with a perfect love.
00:48:23.90\00:48:27.37
At the cross you see
that God is 100% just
00:48:27.40\00:48:30.81
and 100% merciful
at the very same time.
00:48:30.84\00:48:33.91
For at the cross Jesus met
the just demands of the law,
00:48:33.94\00:48:37.18
but at the same time
extended mercy and grace
00:48:37.21\00:48:40.15
to whoever wants to receive it.
00:48:40.18\00:48:42.85
This is the way of love.
00:48:43.15\00:48:44.95
And so, friends, I believe that
this is the generation that will
00:48:44.99\00:48:48.09
finally connect the dots.
00:48:48.12\00:48:50.56
We just got done
doing meetings two weeks ago
00:48:50.89\00:48:54.30
in the beautiful
islands of Hawaii.
00:48:54.46\00:48:56.06
And we had a four
week meeting there.
00:48:56.56\00:48:59.17
The Lord blessed in
a very beautiful way.
00:48:59.20\00:49:01.07
And I just want to
share a short story.
00:49:01.10\00:49:03.30
One of my aunties
came to those meetings.
00:49:03.41\00:49:05.77
Now this is an aunt
I'm very, very close with.
00:49:05.97\00:49:07.88
Aunty Helen is her name.
00:49:08.61\00:49:09.94
And she never really
went to church before.
00:49:10.41\00:49:13.08
This was the first
time she actually attended
00:49:13.55\00:49:15.15
my meetings consistently.
00:49:15.18\00:49:16.58
And she came
almost every single night.
00:49:16.62\00:49:18.69
Now she had been
religious in her younger years,
00:49:18.72\00:49:21.69
but when she became an adult,
I remember I would get into
00:49:21.89\00:49:24.09
arguments with her.
00:49:24.13\00:49:25.46
She said that
there is no absolute,
00:49:25.49\00:49:26.83
everything is relative.
00:49:26.86\00:49:28.20
There's no such thing as evil.
00:49:28.23\00:49:29.56
And I would argue with her
and I couldn't get anywhere.
00:49:29.60\00:49:31.53
But I just decided I needed to
shut my mouth and pray for her.
00:49:31.57\00:49:35.20
Amen. That's what we
need to do sometimes.
00:49:35.90\00:49:37.27
We need to shut our mouths
and get on our knees, amen?
00:49:37.31\00:49:39.71
And let our life do the talking.
00:49:41.41\00:49:43.01
And so I've been praying
for her for the last 16 years
00:49:43.28\00:49:46.35
since I've been a Christian.
00:49:46.38\00:49:47.72
And a couple weeks ago
when we had those meetings,
00:49:47.98\00:49:50.59
she came night after night.
00:49:50.62\00:49:52.55
And I'll never forget, we talked
about Christ-centered prophecy.
00:49:52.75\00:49:57.36
We uplifted the beauty
of Jesus in the prophecies.
00:49:57.46\00:50:00.23
And her heart was so moved.
00:50:00.33\00:50:01.70
And the thing that
moved her the most, she said,
00:50:01.73\00:50:03.87
"Now I finally understand
what the cross really means."
00:50:04.07\00:50:08.84
Her heart was moved.
00:50:09.54\00:50:10.87
And just last night
she sent me this text
00:50:11.01\00:50:14.61
I want to share with you.
00:50:14.64\00:50:15.98
Because when I read
this text, I fell on my knees
00:50:16.01\00:50:18.91
and I wept with joy.
00:50:18.95\00:50:20.82
Here's what she said.
00:50:20.85\00:50:22.18
She said, "I have not
drank a single drop alcohol
00:50:22.85\00:50:29.42
nor smoked since
before Thanksgiving weekend.
00:50:29.52\00:50:32.29
God is good."
00:50:32.33\00:50:34.20
Amen?
00:50:34.96\00:50:36.30
And then I said,
"Well, that's awesome Aunty.
00:50:36.46\00:50:38.27
What a wonderful
victory. Praise the Lord."
00:50:38.30\00:50:39.93
Then this text that she said.
00:50:39.97\00:50:41.70
She said, "Amen. I do
crave, but it's wiped out
00:50:41.74\00:50:45.87
when I focus my
mind on His greatness.
00:50:45.91\00:50:49.04
I see the light."
00:50:49.28\00:50:50.88
I see the light.
00:50:51.48\00:50:53.01
Amen.
00:50:53.75\00:50:55.08
Then she gave me not just one
high-five, she gave it high-ten.
00:50:56.62\00:50:59.49
Right there, you see it?
00:50:59.52\00:51:00.86
Christ-centered prophecy.
00:51:01.86\00:51:03.49
Yes, we are tempted.
00:51:03.96\00:51:05.59
Our flesh cries
out for stimulation.
00:51:05.83\00:51:09.20
But those cravings are
removed when we focus our mind
00:51:09.86\00:51:13.13
on His greatness.
00:51:13.17\00:51:15.04
And it's then
that we see the light.
00:51:15.70\00:51:18.47
Oh my beloved
brothers and sisters,
00:51:18.64\00:51:20.58
there are people all
around us in the world
00:51:20.68\00:51:22.61
that must hear the message
that God has given to us.
00:51:22.64\00:51:25.58
And let is preach
it, the whole message,
00:51:25.75\00:51:27.62
but let us do it
Christ and cross-centered.
00:51:27.65\00:51:30.75
Can you say amen?
00:51:30.79\00:51:32.12
I believe that this is the
generation that will finally
00:51:32.55\00:51:34.49
connect the theological dots;
00:51:34.52\00:51:36.52
to see the connection
of the altar of sacrifice
00:51:36.62\00:51:39.76
there in the outer
court where Jesus died,
00:51:39.79\00:51:41.70
the connection with
that to the Most Holy Place,
00:51:41.73\00:51:44.10
the ark of the covenant,
where the law of God is.
00:51:44.13\00:51:46.30
To realize that both
the altar of sacrifice
00:51:46.33\00:51:48.67
and the Most Holy
Place ark of the covenant,
00:51:48.70\00:51:50.64
those two places is
where mercy and justice
00:51:50.67\00:51:54.58
kiss and embrace.
00:51:54.68\00:51:56.95
We're not to stop
at the outer court,
00:51:57.15\00:51:59.08
at the altar of
the cross, friends.
00:51:59.11\00:52:00.95
Nor are we to skip all
the way to the Most Holy Place
00:52:00.98\00:52:03.32
and deal with the law.
00:52:03.35\00:52:04.69
We need to walk the
path in its entirety.
00:52:04.72\00:52:07.16
This is the upper road
leading to the upper room.
00:52:07.29\00:52:10.83
And how do we do this?
00:52:11.59\00:52:12.93
Here is how.
00:52:13.29\00:52:14.63
Isaiah 30:21.
We're almost finished.
00:52:14.66\00:52:17.17
It says...
00:52:17.53\00:52:18.87
How do we attain this
balance? Here's what it says...
00:52:18.90\00:52:20.70
Human nature is prone to
fall into the ditch on the right
00:52:33.42\00:52:36.28
or the ditch on the left.
00:52:36.32\00:52:37.65
But God promises us
that when we open our ears
00:52:37.85\00:52:40.26
and hearts and minds to
Him, that we'll hear that voice
00:52:40.29\00:52:43.26
behind us teaching us how
to walk the strait and narrow.
00:52:43.29\00:52:46.66
This is the voice of
Jesus, the testimony of Jesus,
00:52:46.70\00:52:49.86
the spirit of prophecy.
00:52:49.90\00:52:51.23
And that was the voice
speaking to the disciples
00:52:51.27\00:52:54.10
on the road to Emmaus.
00:52:54.30\00:52:55.87
It was taught by Jesus.
00:52:56.47\00:52:58.01
We can't go to the
upper room, friends,
00:52:58.74\00:53:01.14
until we first walk
the upper road with Jesus.
00:53:01.41\00:53:05.31
This is the reason
why Christ broke down
00:53:05.35\00:53:07.42
prophecy on that road.
00:53:07.62\00:53:09.35
True unity must be
founded upon sound theology.
00:53:09.38\00:53:12.89
This is what prepares us
for the final upper room.
00:53:12.92\00:53:15.96
You see, the apostles,
as well as us, we need to
00:53:15.99\00:53:19.26
see clearly first in order
to preach and pray correctly.
00:53:19.29\00:53:25.03
And as we close tonight, that
which the disciples experienced
00:53:25.57\00:53:29.34
on the upper road is actually
illustrated in the Sanctuary.
00:53:29.37\00:53:33.38
The Bible says in Psalm 77:13...
00:53:33.44\00:53:35.71
You see, when you
look at the Sanctuary,
00:53:39.18\00:53:40.75
there is actually a
road that leads to a room.
00:53:40.78\00:53:44.49
Look at the Sanctuary, friends.
00:53:44.89\00:53:46.65
There's a road, there's a
path, and it leads to two rooms.
00:53:46.69\00:53:49.62
Listen carefully, it was
the upper road experience
00:53:49.66\00:53:52.49
on Emmaus that led the early
church from the outer court,
00:53:52.53\00:53:56.60
the altar, into the
Holy Place experience.
00:53:56.63\00:54:00.27
But it's that same road
that leads the remnant church
00:54:00.30\00:54:03.61
from the Holy Place
into the Most Holy Place,
00:54:03.64\00:54:06.47
the secret place of the
Most High, that we might receive
00:54:06.51\00:54:09.41
the full light of
truth and the rain might fall
00:54:09.44\00:54:13.65
with fire upon us, that
we might lighten the world
00:54:13.68\00:54:18.09
with the glory of God.
00:54:18.12\00:54:20.26
This is where the
true remnant are being led.
00:54:20.69\00:54:22.46
So if we want to
be truly progressive,
00:54:22.49\00:54:24.19
let's not go outside the court.
00:54:24.23\00:54:25.99
Let's go to the upper room.
00:54:26.03\00:54:27.36
That's what true
progressivism is, friends.
00:54:27.40\00:54:29.80
You move forward
into the upper room,
00:54:30.13\00:54:32.40
to the Most Holy Place.
00:54:32.43\00:54:34.40
And it's that
experience that's exciting
00:54:34.90\00:54:37.51
the wrath of the dragon.
00:54:37.54\00:54:38.87
That's what gives power
to the testimony of Jesus,
00:54:39.31\00:54:42.24
the spirit of prophecy.
00:54:42.51\00:54:43.85
So what are we to
proclaim to the world?
00:54:43.88\00:54:46.05
We are to proclaim the
present truth as it is in Jesus.
00:54:46.48\00:54:51.59
And what is the present truth?
00:54:51.95\00:54:53.39
Jesus said, "I am the
way, the truth, and the life."
00:54:53.76\00:54:58.89
He said, "I am." That's present.
00:54:58.99\00:55:00.56
Not, "I was," or, "I will be."
00:55:00.63\00:55:01.96
"I am," present, "I am truth."
00:55:02.00\00:55:04.00
What's the present truth?
00:55:04.10\00:55:05.43
It's Jesus, but
specifically, the present truth
00:55:05.47\00:55:08.10
is wherever Jesus is presently.
00:55:08.14\00:55:11.31
And where is Jesus
presently right now?
00:55:12.17\00:55:14.81
He's in the upper room, friends.
00:55:15.41\00:55:18.45
He's in the Most Holy Place.
00:55:18.81\00:55:20.75
The Sanctuary is a
road that leads to the room.
00:55:21.42\00:55:25.32
And that's where
God is calling us to go.
00:55:25.52\00:55:27.46
So let's go there, shall we?
00:55:27.72\00:55:29.09
Let's go there in three ways.
00:55:29.46\00:55:31.13
Number one, we need to go to
the upper room theologically.
00:55:31.53\00:55:34.00
Let us never downplay or
de-emphasize our message.
00:55:34.10\00:55:36.63
Let us study these things
that we might understand it,
00:55:36.73\00:55:39.23
the concepts of the courtyard
and the experience in the Holy
00:55:39.33\00:55:42.60
and the Most Holy Place.
00:55:42.64\00:55:43.97
Let us never turn away from the
present truth in the upper room.
00:55:44.01\00:55:46.78
Let's go to the
upper room theologically.
00:55:46.88\00:55:48.68
Number two, experientially.
00:55:48.71\00:55:50.51
Let's go into that
intimate place with Jesus.
00:55:50.55\00:55:53.15
The place where we
are at one with Christ,
00:55:53.31\00:55:55.68
where we receive
the full atonement.
00:55:55.72\00:55:57.35
The place that we
receive the everlasting
00:55:57.39\00:55:59.35
righteousness by faith.
00:55:59.39\00:56:00.72
And then number three.
00:56:01.76\00:56:03.09
Let's go to the upper room
theologically, experientially,
00:56:03.19\00:56:06.23
and evangelistically.
00:56:06.26\00:56:07.83
Let us give to the
world the complete message
00:56:07.96\00:56:10.70
that points people to,
not only what Jesus did for us
00:56:11.00\00:56:13.44
in the outer court, but
what He's doing for us right now
00:56:13.47\00:56:16.00
in the Most Holy Place.
00:56:16.04\00:56:17.44
To give the
complete testimony of Jesus.
00:56:17.47\00:56:20.11
And when we do that,
the world will come to know
00:56:20.91\00:56:22.61
the real Jesus,
not the anti-Jesus.
00:56:22.64\00:56:25.38
How many of you see your need
of more of Jesus in your life?
00:56:26.21\00:56:29.48
And that's, by
the way, what it means
00:56:30.45\00:56:33.32
when we use the
expression, "Jesus. All."
00:56:34.12\00:56:37.63
What does that mean, friends?
00:56:39.43\00:56:40.76
It's Jesus through all
that the prophets had spoken.
00:56:40.80\00:56:44.23
Let's not settle for
anything less than all.
00:56:44.73\00:56:48.64
Our pray is,
Lord, give me all of You
00:56:48.94\00:56:51.21
as I give You all of me.
00:56:51.87\00:56:53.38
Let's move forward together.
00:56:53.78\00:56:55.11
Shall we, friends?
00:56:55.14\00:56:56.48
Let's take the complete
everlasting gospel to the world.
00:56:56.58\00:56:59.71
Because we're almost home.
00:57:00.08\00:57:01.42
We need to give that message
so that people can be ready
00:57:02.72\00:57:04.89
so that Jesus can come.
00:57:04.92\00:57:06.25
So that we can go home together.
00:57:06.29\00:57:08.06
Oh my friends, it's been
a pleasure being with you
00:57:08.16\00:57:10.23
these last few days.
00:57:10.26\00:57:11.59
I look forward to
meeting you personally one day.
00:57:11.93\00:57:14.30
But if not in this world, I will
meet you in the Promised Land.
00:57:14.80\00:57:19.50
Don't you be missing, friends.
00:57:19.83\00:57:21.30
And when we get there, it's then
that we will be home at last.
00:57:21.34\00:57:25.47
Home at last.
00:57:25.87\00:57:27.21
Home at last.
00:57:27.38\00:57:28.71
Thank God Almighty,
we'll be home at last.
00:57:28.74\00:57:31.81