Good evening, ASI.
00:00:21.28\00:00:22.62
Amen.
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You know, it's truly
an honor for me tonight
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to introduce our
speaker for the evening.
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And I'd just tell you one thing,
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I have spent many
hours on the phone
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with our speaker tonight.
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But one thing is
very interesting,
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whenever, often
times when I call him,
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I'll pick up the
phone and I will hear
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something going
in the background,
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either a chainsaw, or a hammer,
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or some other type
of mechanical device
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because Steve Dickman
is always doing something.
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As the president of
Harbert Hills Academy,
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he is as I asked him, I said,
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"Steve, how do you
want me to describe you."
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And he said, "Well, just
say I'm a back cooperator."
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Steve is an enterprising man.
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He teaches students there,
fixes the air conditioners,
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does just about everything
it takes to run a school,
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but more than that
he is a humble man.
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And those of you who know him,
he is always helping people.
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Always there to
do whatever he can
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to make something happen.
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And as they say
he's the kind of guy
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who would give you
the shirt off his back,
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he even lent me this tie tonight
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because I didn't have one.
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So Steve spent,
has spent 26 years
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at Harbert Hills Academy
and serves as the president
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of that great
school in Tennessee,
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and he also
serves as the chairman
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of the E.A Sutherland
Educational Association,
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and as the chairman
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of Outpost
Centers International.
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And there is no one that I know
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that is more
committed to the work of ASI
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who has such a burden for
supporting ministries in US
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who has a passion
for finishing the work.
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And as of this evening,
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I am happy to once again say
that he is the newly elected,
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newly reelected
president of ASI.
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And Steve, more
than any of that,
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he is a father of
two children and two,
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a grandfather of two grandkids.
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His lovely wife
Brenda is by his side.
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And I just have to say
that he truly models the example
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of servant leadership.
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A good leader
gets in the trenches
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and fights along those he leads.
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And I cannot say anything
less of my friend Steve Dickman,
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whether it's
traveling in the bush of Africa,
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and Steve and I
have been to Kibidula,
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whether it's navigating
the streets of Russia,
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or visiting our many ASI members
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across this division.
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I've had the privilege
of seeing Steve in action.
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And above all, his passion
is to see Jesus come soon.
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And so the next
voice you will hear
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after our special music will
be that of our ASI president,
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Steve Dickman.
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Holy Spirit,
living breath of God
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Breathe new life
into my willing soul
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Let a presence of the risen Lord
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To renew my
heart and make me whole
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Cause Your Word
to come alive in me
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Give me faith
for what I cannot see
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Give me passion for Your purity
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Holy Spirit,
breathe new life in me
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Holy Spirit, come abide within
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May Your joy be seen in all I do
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Love enough to cover evr'y sin
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In each thought
and deed and attitude
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Kindness to the
greatest and the least
00:05:01.43\00:05:08.04
Gentleness that
sows the path of peace
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Turn my striving
into works of grace
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Breath of God,
show Christ in all I do
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Holy Spirit,
from creation's birth
00:06:06.83\00:06:13.57
Giving life to
all that God has made
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Show Your power
once again on earth
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Cause Your church
to hunger for Your ways
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Let the fragrance
of our prayers arise
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Lead us on the road of sacrifice
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That in unity the face of Christ
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Will be clear for
all the world to see
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Thank you for that
beautiful music tonight.
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It's a blessing to
be here at ASI with you.
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I just like to
ask you this evening
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if you would just
bow your heads with me
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as we begin?
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Oh, Father, in
heaven we're here tonight.
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We're asking that You
would pour out Your Spirit
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upon each person here
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that we may hear Your voice.
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And not just
hear Your voice, Lord,
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but that we would
respond to Your call.
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In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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I know some of you
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may have brought
your Bibles this evening,
00:08:07.88\00:08:10.09
at least I hope you
did, and if you didn't
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maybe you have your
Bible on your phone.
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We're going to be
looking for a few moments here
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at Mark 13.
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Jesus, the context here is that
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Jesus is
talking to His disciples
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about what the future is
holds, what the future holds.
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It says that in
verse 1 of chapter 13
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that "He went
out from the temple,
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and one of His
disciples said unto Him,
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Master, see
what manner of stones
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and what buildings are here."
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And then Jesus privately began,
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when He got to
the Mount of Olives,
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He privately began to
explain to His disciples
00:08:50.93\00:08:54.20
the end of the story,
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and whether or not
you know it, this evening
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we are living in the
time of the end of the story,
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and so we read this
with great interest.
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We read this
00:09:07.44\00:09:08.78
what Jesus was saying
here with great interest
00:09:08.81\00:09:10.65
because Jesus was talking
00:09:10.68\00:09:12.41
not just to His disciples,
He's talking to us today
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because we are living
actually the end of the story.
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He says something
interesting here in Mark 13:24,
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he says, "But in those
days after that tribulation,
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the sun shall be darkened,
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and the moon shall
not give her light."
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Let me ask you a
question tonight,
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has this happened?
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Yes. Okay.
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So we're now
entering the stream of time,
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we find
ourselves living in a time
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when prophecy is not
something in the future,
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but it's something that
has already been fulfilled,
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is that true?
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So the sun has been darkened,
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the moon would
not give her light.
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And verse 25,
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"The stars of heaven shall fall,
00:10:00.20\00:10:01.83
and the powers
that are in the heavens
00:10:01.86\00:10:03.40
shall be shaken."
00:10:03.43\00:10:04.77
Has this happened? Yes.
00:10:04.80\00:10:06.20
Okay, so, again
we're talking now
00:10:06.23\00:10:08.60
about a part of the
scripture that we recognize
00:10:08.64\00:10:12.31
it didn't happen in my day,
00:10:12.34\00:10:13.88
it happened
actually before I was born.
00:10:13.91\00:10:18.11
So that means if
we're marking time,
00:10:18.15\00:10:21.15
it happened now.
00:10:21.18\00:10:24.45
And then I come on the scene,
00:10:24.49\00:10:26.09
I'm living
after these prophecies
00:10:26.12\00:10:28.89
have all been fulfilled.
00:10:28.92\00:10:31.76
Verse 26, the next verse,
00:10:31.79\00:10:36.26
"And then shall
they see the Son of man
00:10:36.30\00:10:40.70
coming in the clouds
with great power and glory."
00:10:40.74\00:10:47.61
Now this is what?
00:10:47.64\00:10:48.98
This is the next verse.
00:10:49.01\00:10:51.61
This is the next verse.
00:10:51.65\00:10:55.38
And verse 27, "Then
he shall send his angels,
00:10:55.42\00:10:57.82
and shall gather together
his elect from the four winds,
00:10:57.85\00:11:00.66
from the
uttermost parts of the earth
00:11:00.69\00:11:02.22
and from the
uttermost parts of heaven."
00:11:02.26\00:11:04.49
In verse 28, "And now learn
a parable of the fig tree."
00:11:04.53\00:11:07.93
And so Jesus now
begins to emphasize
00:11:07.96\00:11:10.57
what He just said by
telling a couple of parables,
00:11:10.60\00:11:13.17
so He tells the
parable of the fig tree
00:11:13.20\00:11:14.57
and He says here.
00:11:14.60\00:11:16.00
When you see the fig tree
and its branch is yet tender,
00:11:16.04\00:11:18.81
and it putteth forth leaves,
00:11:18.84\00:11:20.51
you know that summer is where?
00:11:20.54\00:11:23.71
"Summer is near."
00:11:23.75\00:11:26.11
So verse 29,
00:11:26.15\00:11:27.78
"In like manner,
00:11:27.82\00:11:29.45
when ye shall see
these things come to pass,
00:11:29.48\00:11:32.82
know that it is
nigh, even at the doors."
00:11:32.85\00:11:38.96
Verse 30,
"Verily I say unto you,
00:11:38.99\00:11:41.40
this generation shall not pass,
till all these things be done.
00:11:41.43\00:11:45.27
Heaven and
earth shall pass away:
00:11:45.30\00:11:46.97
but my word
shall not pass away."
00:11:47.00\00:11:50.61
And then He goes to
give this little warning,
00:11:50.64\00:11:53.07
He says, "But of
that day and hour" what?
00:11:53.11\00:11:58.11
"Knoweth no man,
00:11:58.15\00:11:59.48
no, not the angels
that are in heaven,
00:11:59.51\00:12:01.68
neither the
Son, but the Father."
00:12:01.72\00:12:05.55
Verse 33, so He
says, I'm telling you
00:12:05.59\00:12:09.02
when you see
these things happen,
00:12:09.06\00:12:11.49
you should know that it
is near even at the door.
00:12:11.53\00:12:15.56
And then he tells
this little parable
00:12:15.60\00:12:17.97
and then He says
00:12:18.00\00:12:19.73
but "Take heed, watch and pray:
00:12:19.77\00:12:26.57
for you know not
when the time is."
00:12:26.61\00:12:32.98
So Jesus here is saying
something very interesting.
00:12:33.01\00:12:35.15
He says, you can
know when the time is near
00:12:35.18\00:12:37.69
but you're not going
to know when the time is.
00:12:37.72\00:12:43.12
Well, for me I'm
looking at the clock,
00:12:43.16\00:12:46.16
I'm thinking
it's getting close to,
00:12:46.19\00:12:48.93
let's just say it's
getting close to noon,
00:12:48.96\00:12:50.73
12 o'clock.
00:12:50.77\00:12:52.10
I watch the clock
00:12:52.13\00:12:53.47
and I see the
hands moving around.
00:12:53.50\00:12:55.04
I can see that we're
getting close to 12 o'clock
00:12:55.07\00:12:57.97
and I know how long
it is until 12 o'clock
00:12:58.01\00:13:00.41
because the hand keeps moving
00:13:00.44\00:13:03.45
and I say that's
two minutes to 12,
00:13:03.48\00:13:05.58
it's one minute to
12, it's 30 seconds to 12,
00:13:05.61\00:13:08.78
and I can gauge how long it is,
00:13:08.82\00:13:11.09
but Jesus said,
00:13:11.12\00:13:12.45
He give us a
little warning here says,
00:13:12.49\00:13:13.82
you're going to
know that it's near
00:13:13.86\00:13:15.19
but you're not going
to know the exact time.
00:13:15.22\00:13:18.39
He says, your job is
to watch and to pray.
00:13:18.43\00:13:23.77
Watch and pray, that
sounds pretty simple.
00:13:23.80\00:13:25.63
I keep my eyes
open, I stay on my knees,
00:13:25.67\00:13:28.14
I'm good to go, right?
00:13:28.17\00:13:31.91
Well, we should
read the next verse.
00:13:31.94\00:13:35.11
Verse 34 at
this point, verse 34,
00:13:35.14\00:13:38.31
"For the Son of Man..."
00:13:38.35\00:13:40.42
Now Jesus tells
another little short
00:13:40.45\00:13:42.42
one sentence parable here.
00:13:42.45\00:13:44.32
He has clued His disciple
that there's some danger ahead,
00:13:44.35\00:13:48.56
you're going to
know when it's near,
00:13:48.59\00:13:49.99
but you're not going
to know the exact time.
00:13:50.03\00:13:52.06
I want you to be on the alert.
00:13:52.09\00:13:53.43
I want you to watch and pray,
00:13:53.46\00:13:55.43
"For the Son of Man is
as a man taking a" what?
00:13:55.46\00:14:01.70
"A far journey,
who left his house,
00:14:01.74\00:14:05.81
and gave
authority to his servants,
00:14:05.84\00:14:08.94
and to every man his work,
00:14:08.98\00:14:13.95
and commanded
the porter to watch."
00:14:13.98\00:14:18.15
Now let's review here,
what we've learned so far.
00:14:18.19\00:14:21.12
Jesus said in verse 33,
"Take heed, watch and do" what?
00:14:21.16\00:14:26.46
"Pray."
00:14:26.49\00:14:27.83
And in verse 34, He says,
00:14:27.86\00:14:30.27
I want you to not
only watch and pray,
00:14:30.30\00:14:32.83
I want you to know
00:14:32.87\00:14:34.20
that I am going
to a far country,
00:14:34.24\00:14:35.64
is going to be some
time before I return,
00:14:35.67\00:14:38.21
and I want you to watch
and pray while I am gone,
00:14:38.24\00:14:40.38
but I don't want you to
stop by watching and praying,
00:14:40.41\00:14:42.94
I want you to
work because He says,
00:14:42.98\00:14:45.45
He has given to
every man His work.
00:14:45.48\00:14:51.05
Now let me ask
you what every means?
00:14:51.09\00:14:53.42
Does every mean every, or
does every mean only some?
00:14:53.46\00:14:59.83
If you are within the
hearing of my voice tonight
00:14:59.86\00:15:03.80
and you can
understand what I am saying,
00:15:03.83\00:15:06.30
then you are
included in this idea
00:15:06.33\00:15:09.57
that God has given
to every man His work.
00:15:09.60\00:15:12.97
I am included in that idea
00:15:13.01\00:15:14.88
that God has given
to every man His work.
00:15:14.91\00:15:18.41
This is part of what Jesus
is saying to His disciples,
00:15:18.45\00:15:22.95
He says, "Yes, I
want you to watch
00:15:22.98\00:15:24.99
and I want you to pray,
but I also want you to work."
00:15:25.02\00:15:31.09
There is something for us to do.
00:15:31.13\00:15:34.03
There is something
that God has given us
00:15:34.06\00:15:37.33
not just corporately,
for surely He did that.
00:15:37.37\00:15:40.44
In the Great Commission, He
told His disciples, He says,
00:15:40.47\00:15:44.21
"I am on my way, and
I'm going to give you
00:15:44.24\00:15:47.48
this great commission."
00:15:47.51\00:15:49.01
Matthew 28, "Go ye
therefore and do" what?
00:15:49.04\00:15:54.08
"Teach all
nations, baptizing them
00:15:54.12\00:15:56.25
in the name of the
Father, and the Son,
00:15:56.28\00:15:57.65
and the Holy Spirit."
00:15:57.69\00:15:59.02
And that commission
is for God's family,
00:15:59.05\00:16:01.22
for His church and
for us individually.
00:16:01.26\00:16:05.93
God has given
to us a work to do.
00:16:05.96\00:16:08.93
God has not left us
wondering what we should do.
00:16:08.96\00:16:12.33
He has given to us a
specific and certain work to do.
00:16:12.37\00:16:17.84
I'm thinking that this is
not the only place in scripture
00:16:17.87\00:16:21.61
where we find this,
00:16:21.64\00:16:23.55
Jesus was
talking to His disciples.
00:16:23.58\00:16:29.18
And He told
them another parable.
00:16:29.22\00:16:30.95
Actually in Matthew
20 you find this parable
00:16:30.99\00:16:34.52
that Jesus is
sharing with His disciples,
00:16:34.56\00:16:36.99
and He tells them the
story about the vineyard owner
00:16:37.03\00:16:42.06
who went to get some
workers for his vineyard.
00:16:42.10\00:16:44.37
And he went down to the place
00:16:44.40\00:16:45.83
where the workers were
hanging out and he said,
00:16:45.87\00:16:47.67
"Hey, at 6
o'clock in the morning,
00:16:47.70\00:16:49.40
I need a few workers."
00:16:49.44\00:16:50.87
Some of the guys
said, "Yeah, we'll go."
00:16:50.91\00:16:53.14
And later he comes back
and he find some more workers,
00:16:53.17\00:16:55.94
and he keeps coming back
and finding more workers,
00:16:55.98\00:16:58.41
and finally he comes
back at the eleventh hour
00:16:58.45\00:17:01.82
which is according to the way
they reckon time at that point,
00:17:01.85\00:17:06.25
it is one hour
before the end of the day,
00:17:06.29\00:17:08.79
it's the last little bit of time
00:17:08.82\00:17:10.93
that workday is
going to be complete
00:17:10.96\00:17:13.26
and then you're
off, then you're done.
00:17:13.29\00:17:16.93
And he comes back
at the eleventh hour
00:17:16.97\00:17:18.60
and he find these guys
standing around and he says,
00:17:18.63\00:17:22.27
"What are you doing here."
00:17:22.30\00:17:24.94
And their response
was, "No one hired us."
00:17:24.97\00:17:29.38
And his response was,
00:17:29.41\00:17:32.01
"Go to my
vineyard and go to work."
00:17:32.05\00:17:36.99
I would suggest to you
tonight that we are living
00:17:37.02\00:17:39.32
in the eleventh
hour of this story,
00:17:39.35\00:17:41.79
and God is still
calling for workers
00:17:41.82\00:17:43.96
to enter the vineyard.
00:17:43.99\00:17:47.26
Maybe we're living
past the eleventh hour.
00:17:47.30\00:17:49.76
Maybe we're living
closer to the twelfth hour.
00:17:49.80\00:17:52.40
Maybe we're living
in the last few moments
00:17:52.43\00:17:54.67
as it were in earth's history,
00:17:54.70\00:17:56.40
and Jesus is still
calling for workers
00:17:56.44\00:17:59.04
to enter His vineyard.
00:17:59.07\00:18:02.54
Until you take your last breath,
00:18:02.58\00:18:04.31
until Jesus comes,
00:18:04.35\00:18:05.95
there is a work
for every man to do.
00:18:05.98\00:18:08.95
There is a work allocated
00:18:08.98\00:18:11.12
that cannot be
shifted to another.
00:18:11.15\00:18:15.49
What God has called you
to do, no other man can do.
00:18:15.52\00:18:18.76
What God has called you
to do, no other woman can do,
00:18:18.79\00:18:22.40
because God is very
specific in His calling.
00:18:22.43\00:18:24.93
Did you know that God knew you
00:18:24.97\00:18:27.14
before you were
formed in your mother's womb,
00:18:27.17\00:18:29.40
that's what the Bible says.
00:18:29.44\00:18:33.04
We find recorded in scripture
00:18:33.07\00:18:35.48
certain
individuals found out the fact
00:18:35.51\00:18:38.15
that He had called
them before they were born
00:18:38.18\00:18:40.55
to do a certain work.
00:18:40.58\00:18:42.15
And I believe
that, that is not a story
00:18:42.18\00:18:45.49
that is without
significance to my own life
00:18:45.52\00:18:48.66
because I believe
that God has called
00:18:48.69\00:18:50.36
every single one of us
before we were even born
00:18:50.39\00:18:53.16
God knew who we were.
00:18:53.19\00:18:54.63
He knew what He
fashioned in the womb,
00:18:54.66\00:18:56.77
and He knew that He had
a certain job for us to do,
00:18:56.80\00:19:00.64
and He has called
us to do that work.
00:19:00.67\00:19:03.74
Our theme for these
two years has been what?
00:19:03.77\00:19:08.38
Called, Chosen and Committed.
00:19:08.41\00:19:11.75
To every man has
been given His work to do.
00:19:14.85\00:19:18.35
Now we find some
other interesting stories
00:19:18.39\00:19:19.99
in the Bible.
00:19:20.02\00:19:21.36
For instance we could
review the story of Jonah.
00:19:21.39\00:19:23.93
Now Jonah had a call, right?
00:19:23.96\00:19:26.96
God said, "I want you
to go to a certain city
00:19:27.00\00:19:29.86
called Nineveh, and I
want you to preach there
00:19:29.90\00:19:32.37
to those people that the
end of their city is near.
00:19:32.40\00:19:37.41
In fact they have how many?
00:19:37.44\00:19:40.14
Forty days and then
Nineveh will be destroyed.
00:19:40.18\00:19:44.25
Now, Jonah had a better
idea than God, and he said,
00:19:44.28\00:19:47.92
"Hmm, I think I'll
go the other direction."
00:19:47.95\00:19:50.95
I wonder if any
of us have ever tried
00:19:56.49\00:20:02.70
to escape from the
work that God has called us
00:20:02.73\00:20:07.54
to do specifically.
00:20:07.57\00:20:11.77
Jonah tried it,
didn't turn out too well.
00:20:11.81\00:20:14.41
I don't advise it.
00:20:14.44\00:20:16.51
Okay, if you want to
know my recommendation,
00:20:16.54\00:20:18.11
I don't advice Jonah's approach.
00:20:18.15\00:20:20.55
I advice that we should
cooperate with God's calling
00:20:20.58\00:20:24.39
instead of rebelling
against God's calling.
00:20:24.42\00:20:27.09
I think of another
individual, Elijah.
00:20:27.12\00:20:30.56
He was called by God to
go to Ahab and to tell him,
00:20:30.59\00:20:34.10
it's not going to rain
in Israel until I say so.
00:20:34.13\00:20:39.47
Well, finally after
three and a half years,
00:20:39.50\00:20:42.30
the attention of the
people had been sufficiently
00:20:42.34\00:20:46.14
gotten interested in
actually getting some rain
00:20:46.17\00:20:48.58
that they said, maybe
we should do something
00:20:48.61\00:20:51.01
and God sent Elijah to
the top of Mount Carmel
00:20:51.05\00:20:55.15
and he, a great
victory was won for God there.
00:20:55.18\00:20:58.72
He preached a sermon
00:20:58.75\00:21:00.09
and thousands of
people were converted,
00:21:00.12\00:21:02.29
and the priest of Baal
00:21:02.32\00:21:04.93
who had led the people
astray in were destroyed,
00:21:04.96\00:21:09.00
and it was a great
victory for the cause of God
00:21:09.03\00:21:12.20
and He led the
king back to the palace
00:21:12.23\00:21:15.57
and He laid down
there and a messenger came
00:21:15.60\00:21:18.51
and he became afraid.
00:21:18.54\00:21:21.84
If you read the story
in the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:21:21.88\00:21:25.31
it says that he became fearful,
his human nature was tired,
00:21:25.35\00:21:29.58
he was worn out
and his human nature
00:21:29.62\00:21:31.35
just kind of took
over and he became afraid
00:21:31.39\00:21:34.32
of what might
happen there that night.
00:21:34.36\00:21:37.29
And it, but it says there
also that if Elijah had stayed
00:21:37.33\00:21:44.30
that there would
have been a victory
00:21:44.33\00:21:46.50
that God would have
brought judgment upon Jezebel
00:21:46.53\00:21:49.50
and there would
been this amazing victory
00:21:49.54\00:21:51.77
but he didn't, he became afraid,
00:21:51.81\00:21:54.28
he began to run
00:21:54.31\00:21:55.64
and he didn't run
just a little bit,
00:21:55.68\00:21:57.05
it says that he ran
until he got so weary,
00:21:57.08\00:21:59.88
the angels had to feed him.
00:21:59.91\00:22:01.45
And they fed him
some really good stuff
00:22:01.48\00:22:03.15
because after that
he ran for 40 days,
00:22:03.18\00:22:05.52
and he came to the mountain
00:22:05.55\00:22:07.12
and he got alone there
with God in the mountain,
00:22:07.16\00:22:09.72
and God asked him a
question in the mountain.
00:22:09.76\00:22:12.19
And the question that He
asked Elijah in the mountain
00:22:12.23\00:22:14.96
I think is the same question
00:22:15.00\00:22:16.63
He may be asking
some of us tonight,
00:22:16.67\00:22:19.07
"What doest thou here?"
00:22:19.10\00:22:23.44
God had sent
Elijah on a mission.
00:22:23.47\00:22:25.47
He hadn't sent him on a
mission to this departed point,
00:22:25.51\00:22:29.24
He had sent him on a mission,
00:22:29.28\00:22:30.61
He expected him to
stay engaged in his mission.
00:22:30.65\00:22:33.31
Elijah became weary,
abandoned his mission
00:22:33.35\00:22:35.65
and began to run,
00:22:35.68\00:22:37.05
and God asked him
this simple question,
00:22:37.09\00:22:40.02
"What doest thou here?"
00:22:40.06\00:22:44.23
And tonight if I
don't miss my mark,
00:22:44.26\00:22:46.33
some of us are being
asked that same question by God,
00:22:46.36\00:22:52.13
"What are we doing?"
00:22:52.17\00:22:54.54
Review and
Herald, 1893, December 12,
00:22:58.47\00:23:02.61
this is what it says,
00:23:02.64\00:23:04.61
"To every one
work has been allotted,
00:23:04.65\00:23:12.55
and no one can
substitute for another."
00:23:12.59\00:23:18.26
Now I have noticed that I like
to get people to do my work,
00:23:21.76\00:23:26.27
I don't know about you,
00:23:26.30\00:23:27.84
but sometimes it's
kind of makes things easier
00:23:27.87\00:23:32.31
when I can find
somebody else to do the job,
00:23:32.34\00:23:34.21
especially if it's a tough one,
especially if it's a hard one,
00:23:34.24\00:23:37.41
I would like to find
somebody else that can do it,
00:23:37.45\00:23:39.68
and I might even say, listen,
00:23:39.71\00:23:41.62
I will pay you to
do this work for me.
00:23:41.65\00:23:45.59
Especially if
it's a hot sweaty job
00:23:45.62\00:23:47.16
and it's a hot
day, I might say, hey,
00:23:47.19\00:23:48.92
listen, you know,
I'll give you 20 bucks
00:23:48.96\00:23:50.89
if you'll do this work for
me, whatever it is, you know.
00:23:50.93\00:23:55.46
God does not allow us
00:23:55.50\00:23:57.90
to have someone
else do our work for us.
00:23:57.93\00:24:00.14
We cannot even hire
people to do our work for us.
00:24:00.17\00:24:03.71
I've heard some people
say, I'm going to stay at home
00:24:03.74\00:24:07.68
and I'm going to
just support people
00:24:07.71\00:24:09.81
to do the work.
00:24:09.84\00:24:13.65
It's a good idea,
00:24:13.68\00:24:15.22
but it is not an option
00:24:15.25\00:24:19.45
if God is
calling you personally.
00:24:19.49\00:24:23.12
Now, for some folks
00:24:23.16\00:24:24.49
He may call them to sit
at home and support things,
00:24:24.53\00:24:27.10
and that's wonderful.
00:24:27.13\00:24:29.00
But what I read
here, it says that
00:24:29.03\00:24:31.40
no one can be a substitute
00:24:31.43\00:24:33.70
for what God
has called me to do,
00:24:33.74\00:24:36.20
and no one can be a substitute
00:24:36.24\00:24:38.24
for what God has
called you to do.
00:24:38.27\00:24:43.04
Each one, goes on to say,
00:24:43.08\00:24:44.41
each one has a mission
of wonderful importance.
00:24:44.45\00:24:50.95
Wonderful importance.
00:24:50.99\00:24:52.95
God has something important
for every single person
00:24:52.99\00:24:58.79
on planet earth to do.
00:24:58.83\00:25:00.63
No one is excluded.
00:25:00.66\00:25:02.43
The child in its early years
00:25:05.50\00:25:09.57
has a work to do for God.
00:25:09.60\00:25:12.54
Those who are older...
00:25:12.57\00:25:14.88
Some are even what
we would call elderly
00:25:14.91\00:25:18.08
still have a work to do for God.
00:25:18.11\00:25:20.68
Five Testimonies,
page 462 says this,
00:25:29.36\00:25:32.89
"God never designed
00:25:32.93\00:25:36.13
that the lay
members of the church
00:25:36.16\00:25:38.70
should be excused
from labor in His cause."
00:25:38.73\00:25:44.87
Now, the reason I am saying that
00:25:44.91\00:25:47.94
is because some of us would say,
00:25:47.98\00:25:50.51
listen, you don't have to worry,
00:25:50.55\00:25:52.61
we've got a great
preacher at our church
00:25:52.65\00:25:54.65
and he works really hard.
00:25:54.68\00:25:56.45
I mean, we pay the guy.
00:25:56.48\00:25:58.25
Think about this, we pay him,
00:25:58.29\00:26:00.02
he is the one who takes
care of pretty much everything,
00:26:00.06\00:26:03.56
and he works
hard and we're happy.
00:26:03.59\00:26:06.26
We can sit in the pew,
00:26:06.29\00:26:07.93
he will go out and
give the Bible studies.
00:26:07.96\00:26:10.00
He will go out and
take care of these things
00:26:10.03\00:26:12.33
and isn't that the
way it's supposed to work.
00:26:12.37\00:26:18.31
According to what I read
here, the answer to that is no.
00:26:18.34\00:26:20.98
If the church members
00:26:24.75\00:26:26.08
do not individually
take hold of this work,
00:26:26.11\00:26:29.32
then they show that they have
00:26:29.35\00:26:31.79
no living connection with God.
00:26:31.82\00:26:38.29
If the church members
00:26:44.27\00:26:45.90
do not individually
take hold of this work,
00:26:45.93\00:26:52.37
then they show that
they have, how much?
00:26:52.41\00:26:55.38
No living connection with God.
00:26:55.41\00:27:01.52
Their names are
registered as slothful servants.
00:27:01.55\00:27:06.65
She goes on to ask the question,
00:27:09.89\00:27:11.69
"Can you discern the reason
00:27:11.73\00:27:13.90
why there is no
more spirituality
00:27:13.93\00:27:16.23
in our churches?
00:27:16.26\00:27:19.27
And then she answers
her own question by saying,
00:27:19.30\00:27:22.50
it is because
00:27:22.54\00:27:24.71
you are not
co-laborers with Christ.
00:27:24.74\00:27:29.34
That's a wake up call.
00:27:32.71\00:27:35.18
We wonder
00:27:35.22\00:27:36.55
why is it that our church
is struggling spiritually.
00:27:36.58\00:27:39.09
Why don't we have more,
you know, things going on here?
00:27:39.12\00:27:42.82
It's because we have chosen
00:27:42.86\00:27:45.36
individually not to
take hold of the work God
00:27:45.39\00:27:47.93
has given us to
do, instead we have...
00:27:47.96\00:27:52.90
We've been
registered as slothful servants.
00:27:52.93\00:27:57.04
Kyle used this quote
earlier this evening,
00:28:01.71\00:28:04.98
and this is one of my favorites
00:28:05.01\00:28:08.85
because it
gives us as lay people
00:28:08.88\00:28:12.59
our marching orders.
00:28:12.62\00:28:15.12
It says that the
work of God on this earth
00:28:15.16\00:28:17.46
can never be
finished until men and women,
00:28:17.49\00:28:22.33
that's us, that's the laity
00:28:22.36\00:28:24.63
comprising the church membership
00:28:24.67\00:28:26.97
rally to the work
00:28:27.00\00:28:29.14
and unite their efforts
00:28:29.17\00:28:30.84
with those of the
ministers and church officers.
00:28:30.87\00:28:34.24
If that's not a rallying
call to help finish God's work,
00:28:34.28\00:28:37.51
I don't know what would be.
00:28:37.55\00:28:39.78
It says that
the work will, what?
00:28:39.81\00:28:42.25
Never be finished.
00:28:42.28\00:28:44.35
Let me ask you a
question tonight.
00:28:44.39\00:28:45.95
Are you interested
in seeing Jesus come?
00:28:45.99\00:28:49.32
How many of you
tonight want to be alive
00:28:49.36\00:28:51.79
when Jesus comes?
00:28:51.83\00:28:53.16
It can't happen,
00:29:03.44\00:29:06.31
it won't happen
00:29:06.34\00:29:07.71
according to this statement
00:29:07.74\00:29:10.55
until we engage as laypeople,
00:29:10.58\00:29:16.12
the men and women who
are members of the church,
00:29:16.15\00:29:21.76
and not just kind
of wander in and say,
00:29:21.79\00:29:26.43
well, I know I'm
a little late today
00:29:26.46\00:29:29.73
but I'm here.
00:29:29.76\00:29:32.27
I know I don't,
not really with it.
00:29:32.30\00:29:34.94
I don't have as much energy
as maybe I should have today
00:29:34.97\00:29:37.97
but I'm here, and
I'm going to help out,
00:29:38.01\00:29:41.11
and our steps are
slow and our thinking is,
00:29:41.14\00:29:46.61
maybe confused.
00:29:46.65\00:29:48.55
This statement says,
we've got to rally to the work.
00:29:48.58\00:29:52.59
Now, what happens when
you rally to something?
00:29:52.62\00:29:54.72
Let me ask that question?
00:29:54.76\00:29:56.09
Is that something
00:29:56.12\00:29:57.46
where it just kind
of moves along slowly?
00:29:57.49\00:30:00.23
Now, to me what it's saying is,
00:30:00.26\00:30:02.36
listen, we've got to
get going on this thing.
00:30:02.40\00:30:05.30
We've got to make
some progress here,
00:30:05.33\00:30:07.30
and we've got
to make it quickly.
00:30:07.34\00:30:10.77
Some of you probably
have watched a game or two
00:30:10.81\00:30:14.64
of some kind of sport thing.
00:30:14.68\00:30:17.38
Basketball game,
or a football game,
00:30:17.41\00:30:19.95
or something, you say,
00:30:19.98\00:30:21.32
"Boy, my team,
00:30:21.35\00:30:22.68
they had to rally
right down near the end.
00:30:22.72\00:30:24.12
The clock was two
seconds to quitting time,
00:30:24.15\00:30:26.86
and they made two
touchdowns in two seconds"
00:30:26.89\00:30:29.39
or whatever happened,
that's rallying, right?
00:30:29.42\00:30:32.56
Well, it's time for
us to rally to the work.
00:30:32.59\00:30:34.86
It's time for us to do something
00:30:34.90\00:30:36.97
that God has already
been calling us to do,
00:30:37.00\00:30:39.43
but to do it in a different way
00:30:39.47\00:30:40.94
and with a
different level of energy,
00:30:40.97\00:30:42.74
and with a
different level of passion,
00:30:42.77\00:30:44.74
and individually
to do things for God
00:30:44.77\00:30:47.04
that might even be hard,
00:30:47.08\00:30:48.51
that it might even
require self-sacrifice,
00:30:48.54\00:30:51.01
that it might even
drain our bank account,
00:30:51.05\00:30:53.01
that it might
even drain our energy,
00:30:53.05\00:30:54.98
that it might even be dangerous,
00:30:55.02\00:30:57.05
but God is calling us,
00:30:57.09\00:30:58.92
and He's
calling us individually,
00:30:58.95\00:31:00.36
so I cannot stand here
tonight and tell you what to do.
00:31:00.39\00:31:04.23
I cannot give you
your marching orders
00:31:04.26\00:31:06.43
because there's only one person
00:31:06.46\00:31:08.26
in charge of what you should
do and that should be God.
00:31:08.30\00:31:13.10
And if somebody
else tries to tell you
00:31:13.13\00:31:15.07
what your marching orders are,
00:31:15.10\00:31:16.74
you should say, excuse me,
00:31:16.77\00:31:18.11
let me ask God about that
because God knows the answer.
00:31:18.14\00:31:22.94
The problem is that sometimes
00:31:22.98\00:31:24.95
we are not listening
or we don't want to listen
00:31:24.98\00:31:28.58
to what God is asking us to do
because we have our own plans.
00:31:28.62\00:31:35.02
The work of God
needs men and women
00:31:35.06\00:31:37.66
who have some faith.
00:31:37.69\00:31:39.09
Men and women who
have some courage.
00:31:39.13\00:31:41.26
You can read through the Bible,
00:31:41.30\00:31:42.73
I've been reading
in the Book of Joshua,
00:31:42.76\00:31:46.00
and I am empowered
00:31:46.03\00:31:47.37
when I read about Joshua
00:31:47.40\00:31:48.84
because it gives
Joshua instructions.
00:31:48.87\00:31:51.74
God came down,
00:31:51.77\00:31:53.11
He says, just have
courage and be strong
00:31:53.14\00:31:57.21
because you're
going to take the land,
00:31:57.25\00:31:59.81
and I'm going to drive
the people out before you
00:31:59.85\00:32:02.92
and God is in charge.
00:32:02.95\00:32:07.82
And Joshua with
the courage and faith
00:32:07.86\00:32:11.63
that God has imparted
to him, he steps forward.
00:32:11.66\00:32:16.43
And when it's time to
cross the Jordan River
00:32:16.46\00:32:19.60
and the flood waters are raging.
00:32:19.63\00:32:24.04
He commands the priest,
00:32:24.07\00:32:25.41
He says, I want
you to get started.
00:32:25.44\00:32:26.78
We're going to follow you,
00:32:26.81\00:32:28.14
and God is going to open the way
00:32:28.18\00:32:29.64
before us as we go, but
we've got to get started.
00:32:29.68\00:32:33.18
And the priest put
the ark on their shoulders
00:32:33.21\00:32:35.32
and they begin to walk forward,
00:32:35.35\00:32:37.29
and they get to
the edge of the water
00:32:37.32\00:32:38.99
and the water still there,
and they step into the water,
00:32:39.02\00:32:42.32
and when they
step into the water,
00:32:42.36\00:32:43.96
then God does something.
00:32:43.99\00:32:45.53
Have you ever had that
experience in your life
00:32:45.56\00:32:48.40
where God has
called you to do something?
00:32:48.43\00:32:50.00
You think this is
impossible, I can't do this.
00:32:50.03\00:32:52.43
Look, there's a big river
here God think about this,
00:32:52.47\00:32:54.64
You've got to imagine
my circumstances, God,
00:32:54.67\00:32:57.24
I can't get across the river.
00:32:57.27\00:32:59.27
And He is yet
urging you to go forward,
00:32:59.31\00:33:02.68
that is an act of faith,
00:33:02.71\00:33:04.25
that's what God
is calling us to.
00:33:04.28\00:33:06.15
He's calling us
00:33:06.18\00:33:07.52
to acts of faith
in this generation
00:33:07.55\00:33:09.82
I believe that if...
00:33:09.85\00:33:11.35
We were reading there in Mark
and I kind of skipped over this
00:33:11.39\00:33:13.62
but I would
like to go back to it
00:33:13.66\00:33:15.16
for just a second.
00:33:15.19\00:33:16.99
Verse 30 it says,
"Verily I say unto you,
00:33:17.03\00:33:19.33
that this
generation shall not pass,
00:33:19.36\00:33:21.60
till all these things be done."
00:33:21.63\00:33:24.00
Listen, I want to be a
part of this generation
00:33:24.03\00:33:26.94
where it's not going to pass
till all these things get done.
00:33:26.97\00:33:31.94
I want to be able to say,
00:33:31.97\00:33:34.88
yes, I was
alive when Jesus came.
00:33:34.91\00:33:37.51
I had the opportunity to look up
00:33:37.55\00:33:39.35
with great joy and say, lo,
00:33:39.38\00:33:41.55
this is my God, I
have waited for Him.
00:33:41.58\00:33:44.69
Do you want to
experience that? Yes!
00:33:44.72\00:33:46.99
Amen.
00:33:47.02\00:33:48.36
But God is waiting still
for us to respond to His call.
00:33:48.39\00:33:53.36
He forces no one.
00:33:53.40\00:33:55.46
He calls, He chooses
00:33:55.50\00:33:58.33
but He waits for us to commit.
00:33:58.37\00:34:02.67
The world tonight,
00:34:13.82\00:34:15.85
I don't know if
you've noticed this
00:34:15.88\00:34:17.65
but the world is in disarray.
00:34:17.69\00:34:20.09
I haven't lived that long,
00:34:24.36\00:34:26.03
but I'll tell you a little thing
00:34:26.06\00:34:27.90
and that is I have
never personally seen
00:34:27.93\00:34:30.77
as much disarray in this
world as I have seen recently.
00:34:30.80\00:34:35.70
I'll say recently,
00:34:35.74\00:34:37.07
it just seems like things
keep getting worse and worse.
00:34:37.11\00:34:39.81
They don't get
better and better,
00:34:39.84\00:34:41.18
they get worse and worse.
00:34:41.21\00:34:42.58
Nations are in turmoil.
00:34:46.11\00:34:49.05
The society is so
confused, it doesn't even know
00:34:49.08\00:34:51.62
the difference between
a man and a woman anymore.
00:34:51.65\00:34:54.62
I'm telling you,
we're really confused.
00:34:54.66\00:34:57.73
And Jesus is calling
every single one of us
00:35:00.96\00:35:05.93
to take the message of salvation
00:35:05.97\00:35:10.17
to this
confused and dying world.
00:35:10.21\00:35:16.54
And He's waiting
for us to do that.
00:35:16.58\00:35:21.62
I don't know if you
read the recent review,
00:35:21.65\00:35:24.62
but there was an article there
00:35:24.65\00:35:26.02
and I excerpted
a couple of things.
00:35:26.05\00:35:28.12
We know these, we
know these statements
00:35:28.16\00:35:30.53
but I said, yes,
this is powerful.
00:35:30.56\00:35:35.76
Desire of Ages, page 633,
00:35:35.80\00:35:39.13
"By giving the
gospel to the world,
00:35:39.17\00:35:41.20
it is in our power to" what?
00:35:41.24\00:35:44.07
"Hasten our Lord's return."
00:35:44.11\00:35:47.38
Listen, if you want
Jesus to come sooner,
00:35:47.41\00:35:49.21
then get to work.
00:35:49.24\00:35:51.95
Yes, there's a place to watch
and there's a place to pray,
00:35:51.98\00:35:54.48
but there's a place to work too,
00:35:54.52\00:35:56.58
and God has
given us a work to do,
00:35:56.62\00:35:58.92
and He's given it
to us individually.
00:35:58.95\00:36:01.92
I want to take you
to the Book of Judges
00:36:09.46\00:36:12.50
for just a
minute, Judges 4 and 5.
00:36:12.53\00:36:15.67
If you have your
Bibles, you should read this.
00:36:15.70\00:36:22.34
It's a story that
challenges our thinking.
00:36:22.38\00:36:28.35
And here's what happens.
00:36:28.38\00:36:29.98
In Judges 4,
00:36:30.02\00:36:31.69
it begins with
this amazing statement.
00:36:31.72\00:36:33.66
Verse 1,
00:36:33.69\00:36:35.02
"And the children of
Israel again did" what?
00:36:35.06\00:36:39.79
"Evil in the sight of the
Lord, and when Ehud was dead."
00:36:39.83\00:36:45.80
So they had a king
00:36:45.83\00:36:49.00
who was evidently
on the right track
00:36:49.04\00:36:51.07
and when he died, they did what?
00:36:51.11\00:36:55.28
Evil in the sight of the Lord.
00:36:55.31\00:36:57.45
Verse 2, "And the Lord sold them
00:36:57.48\00:36:59.01
into the hand of
Jabin king of Canaan,
00:36:59.05\00:37:01.28
that reigned in Hazor,
00:37:01.32\00:37:02.82
the captain of
whose host was Sisera,
00:37:02.85\00:37:04.89
which dwelt in
Harosheth of the Gentiles."
00:37:04.92\00:37:08.69
So Israel had
strayed from God's purposes.
00:37:08.72\00:37:13.33
They had failed
to follow God fully,
00:37:13.36\00:37:15.83
and what happened?
00:37:15.86\00:37:17.80
They got sold
into the hand of Jabin.
00:37:17.83\00:37:21.60
And so they cried out to God.
00:37:21.64\00:37:22.97
Verse 3, "They cried out to God,
00:37:23.00\00:37:25.21
and they said, 'Lord, help us.'"
00:37:25.24\00:37:30.85
Makes a little
footnote here in verse 3,
00:37:30.88\00:37:32.35
it says, they were concerned
00:37:32.38\00:37:34.25
because Sisera had 900 chariots.
00:37:34.28\00:37:38.62
They were facing to
them an impossible situation.
00:37:38.65\00:37:43.89
And they had been
oppressed for 20 years.
00:37:43.93\00:37:46.13
So God sends a
message to Deborah,
00:37:46.16\00:37:48.33
the prophetess,
and He says to Deborah,
00:37:48.36\00:37:51.27
"Go call Barak,
00:37:51.30\00:37:52.63
I want him to do
something for Me,
00:37:52.67\00:37:54.00
and I'm going to help him."
00:37:54.04\00:37:56.20
Barak shows up. He
says, you said what?
00:37:56.24\00:38:00.51
Listen, he says to Deborah,
I'm not going unless you go.
00:38:00.54\00:38:05.51
Deborah says, well, I'm going
00:38:05.55\00:38:07.52
but I'll tell you something
00:38:07.55\00:38:08.88
if I go, the
glory is going to go
00:38:08.92\00:38:10.25
to someone else besides you
00:38:10.29\00:38:11.89
because you're not
willing to step out in faith.
00:38:11.92\00:38:14.42
The battle ensues,
Barak is victorious.
00:38:14.46\00:38:17.79
The battle is won.
00:38:17.83\00:38:19.29
And in chapter 5, we
find Deborah singing a song,
00:38:19.33\00:38:24.53
it's called the Song
of Deborah and Barak.
00:38:24.57\00:38:27.37
Verse 2, "Praise ye the Lord
for the avenging of Israel."
00:38:27.40\00:38:31.34
And when the people
willingly offered themselves,
00:38:31.37\00:38:34.44
why did God help them?
00:38:34.48\00:38:38.28
What does it say
here, the people did what?
00:38:38.31\00:38:41.35
They willingly
offered themselves.
00:38:41.38\00:38:43.72
This is the first
statement in this song
00:38:43.75\00:38:45.82
talking about the victory.
00:38:45.85\00:38:47.59
It says, God helped us
00:38:47.62\00:38:48.96
because we
willingly offered ourselves
00:38:48.99\00:38:51.19
to do something for Him.
00:38:51.23\00:38:54.30
He goes on down through this
00:38:54.33\00:38:56.00
and she's
singing about the things
00:38:56.03\00:38:59.20
that are amazing
there, that have happened,
00:38:59.23\00:39:02.50
and she says in verse 18,
00:39:02.54\00:39:04.11
"Zebulun and Naphtali
were a people that jeopardized
00:39:04.14\00:39:08.18
their lives unto the death
00:39:08.21\00:39:10.15
in the high
places of the field."
00:39:10.18\00:39:12.38
She says, there's
a couple of people
00:39:12.41\00:39:14.12
I want to mention here
who had courage for God.
00:39:14.15\00:39:17.25
They were called to
do something for God,
00:39:17.29\00:39:19.59
and they had
courage for God in the fact
00:39:19.62\00:39:21.72
that they even laid
their lives on the line to do
00:39:21.76\00:39:25.33
what God was calling them to do.
00:39:25.36\00:39:27.20
But in verse 23,
00:39:34.70\00:39:39.07
we find a sad
statement recorded.
00:39:39.11\00:39:43.65
It says here in
her song of victory,
00:39:43.68\00:39:47.35
she mentions one thing,
00:39:47.38\00:39:49.88
she says, "Curse ye Meroz,
said the angel of the Lord,
00:39:49.92\00:39:54.39
curse ye bitterly
the inhabitants thereof,
00:39:54.42\00:39:57.23
because they came not
to the help of the Lord,
00:39:57.26\00:40:00.00
and to the help of the
Lord against the mighty."
00:40:00.03\00:40:05.20
So there was a
blessing for those
00:40:05.23\00:40:07.04
who responded to God's
call and there was a what?
00:40:07.07\00:40:11.27
There was a curse for
those who didn't respond.
00:40:11.31\00:40:13.17
Deuteronomy 11, you
find the story there,
00:40:13.21\00:40:15.84
and what's being offered
there is a curse or a blessing,
00:40:15.88\00:40:20.88
you can go and read it.
00:40:20.92\00:40:22.25
Our time is running out,
00:40:22.28\00:40:23.62
we're not going to be
able to read it here tonight.
00:40:23.65\00:40:24.99
There's a curse or
a blessing offered.
00:40:25.02\00:40:26.65
If you obey,
you will be blessed.
00:40:26.69\00:40:28.62
If you don't respond and obey,
00:40:28.66\00:40:30.39
you will be cursed.
00:40:30.43\00:40:32.89
Unfortunately tonight,
00:40:36.00\00:40:38.63
it's possible that some of us,
00:40:38.67\00:40:43.41
if they were to sing a song
00:40:43.44\00:40:46.34
about this process
of this great victory,
00:40:46.37\00:40:49.81
we might be in
the wrong category.
00:40:49.84\00:40:54.32
God requires of each
members of His church
00:40:54.35\00:40:58.35
to engage in the work
that He has called us to do.
00:40:58.39\00:41:01.52
In Testimonies volume
2, page 165, it says this,
00:41:01.56\00:41:05.49
"It is not left
with you to decide
00:41:05.53\00:41:08.13
whether it is best for
you to obey the call of God."
00:41:08.16\00:41:11.97
What? It's not my
decision. That's what it says.
00:41:12.00\00:41:16.71
It is not left
with you to decide
00:41:16.74\00:41:19.11
whether you
obey the call of God.
00:41:19.14\00:41:20.84
Obedience is required,
00:41:20.88\00:41:23.61
and unless you obey
00:41:23.65\00:41:24.98
you will stand on
worse than neutral ground.
00:41:25.01\00:41:27.52
You need to go home.
00:41:37.26\00:41:39.29
Go to your hotel room
00:41:39.33\00:41:42.66
and you need to study
some of the references
00:41:42.70\00:41:45.27
that are associated
with this Curse ye Meroz.
00:41:45.30\00:41:49.64
Ellen White mentions
00:41:49.67\00:41:51.01
it almost 50
times in her writings.
00:41:51.04\00:41:53.61
One little
statement in the Bible,
00:41:53.64\00:41:54.98
it's mentioned one place
she uses this as an example
00:41:55.01\00:41:57.65
over and over and
over again about people,
00:41:57.68\00:42:00.72
or individuals,
or church members
00:42:00.75\00:42:03.49
that were unwilling to engage
to respond to the call of God.
00:42:03.52\00:42:07.52
God needs us in His
work today not so much.
00:42:07.56\00:42:11.03
And this is pointed out
as you read and study this.
00:42:11.06\00:42:13.40
Not so much for the, what?
00:42:13.43\00:42:15.36
He wants us to do for Him,
00:42:15.40\00:42:16.73
but more what He
wants to do for us.
00:42:16.77\00:42:18.80
The work that He has
designed for us to do
00:42:18.83\00:42:20.74
is not only for the
salvation of other people,
00:42:20.77\00:42:23.41
it is for our own salvation.
00:42:23.44\00:42:25.61
And unless we engage
00:42:25.64\00:42:26.98
in responding
to the call of God,
00:42:27.01\00:42:28.91
we could be lost over this.
00:42:28.94\00:42:31.01
Honestly, we could be lost
00:42:31.05\00:42:32.51
because we failed to
engage in doing the work
00:42:32.55\00:42:35.62
that God set before
us and we became lazy
00:42:35.65\00:42:39.05
because we thought,
00:42:39.09\00:42:40.42
well, everything's
okay, I'm pretty good.
00:42:40.46\00:42:41.99
You study this out,
00:42:42.02\00:42:43.36
you'll find this is
pointed out over and over again.
00:42:43.39\00:42:47.90
You know the question
I have for us tonight is,
00:42:47.93\00:42:50.50
will we fully commit
ourselves to doing God's work?
00:42:50.53\00:42:53.13
Are we willing to fully
and completely without reserve?
00:42:53.17\00:42:57.14
Now, that's a pretty
comprehensive statement,
00:42:57.17\00:42:59.47
so I want you to think about it.
00:42:59.51\00:43:00.84
I don't want you
just to jump up and say,
00:43:00.88\00:43:02.21
yeah, I'm going to do that.
00:43:02.24\00:43:03.58
I want you to think about.
00:43:03.61\00:43:04.95
I want you to pray about it
00:43:04.98\00:43:06.31
over this weekend as
while we're here together.
00:43:06.35\00:43:07.68
You're going to
hear some stories.
00:43:07.72\00:43:09.05
You're going to be
challenged by people
00:43:09.08\00:43:10.95
who are giving seminars
00:43:10.99\00:43:12.32
and talking and
speaking about the passion
00:43:12.35\00:43:14.22
that they have for doing
it and finishing God's work.
00:43:14.26\00:43:17.16
And God is going to
tap you on the shoulder,
00:43:17.19\00:43:18.66
and He's going to give you
00:43:18.69\00:43:20.03
some kind of
call I believe that.
00:43:20.06\00:43:21.76
That's why we have ASI,
that's why you come to ASI,
00:43:21.80\00:43:25.13
because you want to hear
what God is asking you to do.
00:43:25.17\00:43:27.90
It may happen in
the exhibit hall.
00:43:27.94\00:43:29.67
It might happen
around the dinner table.
00:43:29.70\00:43:31.61
It might happen in a
private conversation,
00:43:31.64\00:43:33.61
but God is going to
ask you to do something
00:43:33.64\00:43:35.71
and the question is,
00:43:35.74\00:43:37.08
are you committed enough to do
what God is calling you to do.
00:43:37.11\00:43:40.68
So tonight, I want to
end with this question.
00:43:44.45\00:43:49.62
And it comes from
Review and Herald,
00:43:49.66\00:43:51.13
October 17, 1882.
00:43:51.16\00:43:55.36
It says, "Oh, must
Christ, the Majesty of Heaven,
00:43:55.40\00:44:01.24
the King of glory,
bear the heavy cross,
00:44:01.27\00:44:05.94
and wear the thorny
crown, and drink the bitter cup,
00:44:05.97\00:44:09.01
while we recline at
ease, glorify ourselves,
00:44:09.04\00:44:14.05
and forget the
souls He died to redeem."
00:44:14.08\00:44:18.55
I want you to
just think about that.
00:44:18.59\00:44:20.36
Jesus came here
from the heavenly kingdom
00:44:20.39\00:44:22.92
and He laid his
life on the line.
00:44:22.96\00:44:25.89
She answers this
rhetorical question with this.
00:44:31.87\00:44:35.70
No, let us give
while we have power.
00:44:35.74\00:44:41.94
Let us do while
we have strength.
00:44:41.98\00:44:44.81
Let us work while it is day.
00:44:44.85\00:44:47.18
Let us devote our time
00:44:47.22\00:44:48.75
and our means to
the service of God
00:44:48.78\00:44:51.25
that we may have His approbation
00:44:51.29\00:44:53.12
and receive His reward.
00:44:53.15\00:44:57.16
Tonight as you leave this place,
00:44:57.19\00:44:59.59
ask God what He wants you to do.
00:44:59.63\00:45:02.63
And then get down on your knees
and say, God, I am willing.
00:45:02.66\00:45:06.67
I may not know
everything but I'm willing.
00:45:06.70\00:45:09.20
I challenge you
during this weekend
00:45:09.24\00:45:10.84
to be willing to do
what God calls you to do.
00:45:10.87\00:45:15.18
And to answer yes instead of no.
00:45:15.21\00:45:19.35
Amen.
00:45:19.38\00:45:20.72
There in heaven's gates above
00:45:51.05\00:45:54.55
The angels sway to hear about
00:45:54.58\00:45:58.42
Jesus' plan
00:45:58.45\00:46:00.26
To save all mankind
00:46:00.29\00:46:05.99
When they heard
what would be done
00:46:06.03\00:46:09.20
It left them all
dumb clearly stunned
00:46:09.23\00:46:13.00
Why should
00:46:13.03\00:46:14.74
Jesus die?
00:46:14.77\00:46:20.08
We are the reason
that He gave His life
00:46:20.11\00:46:26.45
We are the reason
that He suffered and died
00:46:26.48\00:46:32.05
To a world that was lost
00:46:32.09\00:46:34.66
He gave all He could give
00:46:34.69\00:46:38.69
To show us the reason to live
00:46:38.73\00:46:45.53
On a dark and gloomy day
00:46:45.57\00:46:49.07
It was time for Christ to pay
00:46:49.10\00:46:52.31
The greatest
gift anyone could get
00:46:52.34\00:46:59.25
He gave His life
and saves the lives
00:46:59.28\00:47:02.42
Restored us and
cleanse our hearts
00:47:02.45\00:47:05.95
Could it be from
sin we're all free
00:47:05.99\00:47:12.23
We are the reason
that He gave His life
00:47:12.26\00:47:18.50
We are the reason
that He suffered and died
00:47:18.53\00:47:24.14
To a world that was lost
00:47:24.17\00:47:26.47
He gave all He could give
00:47:26.51\00:47:30.35
To show us the reason
00:47:30.38\00:47:32.98
To live
00:47:33.01\00:47:39.05
I've finally found
00:47:39.09\00:47:42.22
The reason to live
00:47:42.26\00:47:46.33
I tell the story
00:47:46.36\00:47:49.06
What Jesus did
00:47:49.10\00:47:56.57
We are the reason
that He gave His life
00:47:56.60\00:48:02.68
We are the reason
that He suffered and died
00:48:02.71\00:48:08.18
To a world that was lost
00:48:08.22\00:48:10.55
He gave all He could give
00:48:10.59\00:48:14.49
To show us the reason to live
00:48:14.52\00:48:21.00
We are the reason
that He gave His life
00:48:21.03\00:48:27.07
We are the reason
that He suffered and died
00:48:27.10\00:48:32.84
To a world that was lost
00:48:32.87\00:48:35.18
He gave all He could give
00:48:35.21\00:48:38.98
To show us the reason to live
00:48:39.01\00:48:45.29
To show us the reason
00:48:45.32\00:48:51.13
To live
00:48:51.16\00:48:57.47
Will you stand with
me for the benediction?
00:49:08.98\00:49:10.95
Our Heavenly Father,
00:49:16.22\00:49:17.55
we have been truly
blessed this evening
00:49:17.59\00:49:19.29
to hear these testimonies
00:49:19.32\00:49:21.62
of how You're
going about Your work
00:49:21.66\00:49:23.39
in these last days.
00:49:23.43\00:49:25.66
We are grateful
that You're using us,
00:49:25.69\00:49:28.36
that You're using
people around the world
00:49:28.40\00:49:30.70
to accomplish Your task.
00:49:30.73\00:49:33.27
Father, we thank You so much
00:49:33.30\00:49:34.64
for what You've done
00:49:34.67\00:49:36.00
in sending Your Son
Jesus to die for us,
00:49:36.04\00:49:38.54
and so we thank You Father.
00:49:38.57\00:49:40.31