¤ ¤
00:00:01.46\00:00:19.98
I just feel like when I come
to ASI I get some wind under my
00:00:20.02\00:00:24.69
wings. How about you Mark?
00:00:24.72\00:00:26.05
Amen. All the way. I'm just
very very thankful to be here.
00:00:26.09\00:00:29.76
We've been coming to ASI
actually as a family for a long
00:00:29.79\00:00:33.56
time. Probably 20 years plus.
00:00:33.60\00:00:35.86
And it's been such a blessing
for our children. They just kind
00:00:35.90\00:00:40.90
of grew up as ASI kids. So we're
glad that you're here and we
00:00:40.94\00:00:46.27
just pray that you will receive
a blessing at this last meeting.
00:00:46.31\00:00:51.61
Yes, I was in the exhibit
hall earlier and there are many
00:00:51.65\00:00:55.42
aspects to the convention that
are not just in this room. So
00:00:55.45\00:00:58.62
the exhibit hall, the dining
room and the visiting that goes
00:00:58.65\00:01:01.76
on and the children's divisions.
are just awesome. Well I
00:01:01.82\00:01:05.13
mentioned to our neighbor
00:01:05.16\00:01:07.26
in the next booth it's so nice
to be around so many nice people
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Amen. And the enthusiasm really
comes from God because that's
00:01:12.07\00:01:16.07
the root of that word and it's
just inspiring and that's the
00:01:16.10\00:01:19.74
root of that word too. The Holy
Spirit is here and we want the
00:01:19.77\00:01:23.41
Holy Spirit to go
with us as we go home.
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Amen. You know when I come to
ASI it's such a blessing to be
00:01:26.41\00:01:30.92
around God's people and to see
the Holy Spirit working in your
00:01:30.95\00:01:35.59
lives and to hear what God
is doing through you and in you.
00:01:35.62\00:01:40.03
It kind of sets my course for
the whole year so I just want
00:01:40.06\00:01:44.43
to thank you for being here.
00:01:44.47\00:01:46.97
Okay. So as you can bow your
heads with me. We'd like to open
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again and ask God's special
blessing on our meeting tonight.
00:01:51.51\00:01:55.74
Father in heaven, we thank
you for being a source of the
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blessings this weekend. We thank
you for, as Patty said, being
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the wind under our wings to lift
us up and encourage us and I
00:02:04.49\00:02:08.86
know the efforts put into for
making this convention what it
00:02:08.89\00:02:13.46
has been have been to that
end so that we cannot only enjoy
00:02:13.50\00:02:17.83
this time but be inspired to
go home and do more for you with
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full commitment and the blessing
of you going before us by your
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Holy Spirit not only here but
the rest of our lives until you
00:02:27.44\00:02:31.55
come. So we thank you and we
know that prayer is not just a
00:02:31.58\00:02:37.39
form but it is a real life
infusing event that we need to
00:02:37.45\00:02:43.09
take part of every single day,
every moment. So please bless
00:02:43.12\00:02:48.73
this evening as we pray
in Jesus' name Amen. Amen.
00:02:48.76\00:02:52.87
Before you go, good evening ASI
family. We just want to say a
00:02:52.93\00:03:00.94
special word of thank you
to Patty. For those of you who
00:03:00.98\00:03:04.21
don't know, she's been backstage
the whole convention running the
00:03:04.25\00:03:08.75
program from back there and for
the previous 10 months we have
00:03:08.78\00:03:13.62
been spending on the telephone
doing hour and two-hour phone
00:03:13.66\00:03:18.16
conferences selecting speakers,
arranging seminars and doing all
00:03:18.19\00:03:22.66
of those things and we just
wanted to take this opportunity
00:03:22.70\00:03:26.50
Patty and Mark both. I know Mark
has sacrificed that you can do
00:03:26.53\00:03:30.51
this. So thank you guys so much
for what you've done and we're
00:03:30.54\00:03:34.78
praying for God's blessing upon
you and appreciate your work on
00:03:34.81\00:03:39.05
behalf of ASI.
00:03:39.08\00:03:40.42
Thank you so much. It's been
a pleasure. It really has. Thank
00:03:40.45\00:03:43.92
you so much. (Applause)
00:03:43.95\00:03:50.99
I have the privilege this
evening of introducing a very
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special person in this world
and in my life. The secretary
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treasurer of ASI Pastor
Kyle Allen. Born and raised in
00:04:02.00\00:04:07.48
Tennessee Kal is what he is
frequently called his family was
00:04:07.51\00:04:13.18
introduced to Adventism when he
was five and since a young age
00:04:13.21\00:04:18.85
he's had a heart for God.
As a young boy he remembered
00:04:18.89\00:04:22.79
attending an evangelistic series
by Mark Finley and feeling so
00:04:22.82\00:04:27.93
excited to receive a Bible
signed by him. Little did he
00:04:27.96\00:04:32.03
know that one day he would
be sharing a stage with him and
00:04:32.07\00:04:36.40
many other dedicated leaders
in the church. As Kal grew
00:04:36.47\00:04:41.08
older he wrestled with his
calling in life taking political
00:04:41.11\00:04:45.71
science in the hope of
one day becoming a lawyer and
00:04:45.75\00:04:49.28
simultaneously completing his
degree in religion just in case
00:04:49.32\00:04:53.69
God was really calling him into
pastoral ministry. He finally
00:04:53.72\00:04:59.16
gave in to God's calling in his
life and he went to seminary at
00:04:59.19\00:05:03.70
Andrews and accepted a call
after that as a youth pastor in
00:05:03.73\00:05:07.54
California and then senior
pastor of the Mentone church.
00:05:07.57\00:05:11.61
Three-and-a-half years ago
he was called to serve as the
00:05:11.64\00:05:16.71
Secretary-Treasurer of ASI
at the North American Division
00:05:16.75\00:05:21.52
and he felt humbled to serve
such a powerful ministry. Kyle
00:05:21.58\00:05:26.62
is a lover of God and as
exemplified in his life genuine
00:05:26.65\00:05:31.23
commitment to the service of
Christ. For all the talents he
00:05:31.26\00:05:36.26
possesses and the opportunities
give to him, he is extremely
00:05:36.30\00:05:41.20
humble praising God for using
broken vessel like him. As he
00:05:41.24\00:05:45.54
shares from his heart tonight
my prayer is that our ears will
00:05:45.57\00:05:49.68
be open to hear what the Spirit
has to say to each and every one
00:05:49.71\00:05:53.82
of us through the servant
of Christ. Pastor Kyle Allen.
00:05:53.85\00:05:57.42
¤ ¤
00:05:57.45\00:06:12.30
¤I walked today where Jesus
walked in days of long ago¤
00:06:12.33\00:06:25.31
¤I traveled down each path
he knew with reverent steps and¤
00:06:25.35\00:06:37.83
¤slow. Those little lanes,
they have not changed. A sweet¤
00:06:37.89\00:06:50.01
¤peace fills the air. I
walked today where Jesus¤
00:06:50.04\00:07:02.05
¤walked and felt his presence
there. My pathway led through¤
00:07:02.08\00:07:18.07
¤Bethlehem. Ah, memories
ever sweet. The little town of¤
00:07:18.10\00:07:32.88
¤Galilee that knew those
childish feet. The Mount of¤
00:07:32.91\00:07:47.60
¤Olives, hallowed scenes that
Jesus knew before. I saw the¤
00:07:47.66\00:08:00.28
¤mighty Jordan roll as
in the days of old. ¤ ¤
00:08:00.31\00:08:24.83
¤I knelt today where Jesus knelt
where all alone he prayed. The¤
00:08:24.87\00:08:37.78
¤Garden of Gethsemane. My
heart was unafraid. I picked my¤
00:08:37.81\00:08:51.83
¤heavy burden up and with him
by my side, I climbed the hill¤
00:08:51.86\00:09:04.94
¤of Calvary, I climbed the hill
of Calvary, I climbed the hill¤
00:09:04.97\00:09:21.82
¤of Calvary where on a cross
he died. I walked today where¤
00:09:21.89\00:09:38.71
¤Jesus walked and
felt him close to me. ¤
00:09:38.74\00:09:58.79
Thank you so much Juan Carlos.
Good evening everyone. Have you
00:09:58.86\00:10:05.83
had a blessed Sabbath? God has
been good to us here at ASI. I
00:10:05.87\00:10:11.61
just have to say that I couldn't
start my sermon after Ranella
00:10:11.64\00:10:15.41
introduced me without saying
she's the most beautiful woman
00:10:15.44\00:10:19.18
in the world and I love her and
I'm so privileged and blessed to
00:10:19.21\00:10:24.12
have her as my girlfriend.
I'm glad you guys can't make any
00:10:24.15\00:10:29.66
comments right now because I'm
all the way up here. God is good
00:10:29.69\00:10:35.20
and I believe with all my heart
that Jesus is coming soon. We
00:10:35.23\00:10:41.87
are here at ASI 2017 the
70th anniversary celebrating our
00:10:41.90\00:10:48.48
well not celebrating but looking
at our 70 years and hoping that
00:10:48.51\00:10:52.21
we're not here another 70
because Jesus needs to come.
00:10:52.25\00:10:57.25
Amen? Tonight I have a burden
on my heart that I want to share
00:10:57.29\00:11:03.83
with you as we close this
convention but before I do that
00:11:03.86\00:11:09.30
I invite you to bow your heads
with me as we pray. Father in
00:11:09.33\00:11:14.14
heaven tonight Lord we come
before you pleading with you
00:11:14.17\00:11:18.87
that you would send your Spirit
into this auditorium. Father I
00:11:18.91\00:11:22.81
pray that you would hide
me behind the cross that Jesus
00:11:22.84\00:11:26.45
would be lifted up and that you
would speak to our hearts what
00:11:26.51\00:11:32.42
you would have us to do as we
close this ASI convention. Lord
00:11:32.45\00:11:38.69
Jesus, please come to be with
us here right now. We ask this
00:11:38.73\00:11:45.20
in your name. Amen. I don't know
about you but I loved hearing
00:11:45.23\00:11:50.34
stories from my grandpa and I
especially loved hearing stories
00:11:50.37\00:11:55.44
when he was talking about
his experiences in the war.
00:11:55.48\00:11:59.05
I remember as a kid I would
listen to him talking about
00:11:59.08\00:12:02.58
what it was like when he was in
the Marines and going to battle.
00:12:02.62\00:12:06.69
My one grandpa, my mom's dad,
had a harder time talking about
00:12:06.72\00:12:11.26
it though because he went
through some very hard times in
00:12:11.29\00:12:15.76
war. And when he did talk about
it, it was hard for the words to
00:12:15.80\00:12:18.80
come out and often tears would
come into his eyes and he would
00:12:18.83\00:12:21.80
just clam up and stop talking.
But there were a few times
00:12:21.84\00:12:25.47
when I remember him talking
about his experience in the
00:12:25.51\00:12:29.11
battle of Iwo Jima. One of the
bloodiest battles of World War
00:12:29.14\00:12:33.92
II. Twenty-five thousand
men died in a nearly month long
00:12:33.95\00:12:37.45
struggle for that small Pacific
Island. I remember my grandpa
00:12:37.49\00:12:41.69
telling me what it was like when
they stormed the beach. When
00:12:41.72\00:12:46.63
that ramp opened you didn't have
a decision at that point. You
00:12:46.70\00:12:50.73
had made your commitment. You
were going through the water and
00:12:50.77\00:12:54.57
going on that beach. And I
remember him telling me that the
00:12:54.60\00:12:58.31
bullets were flying by and the
guys around him, guys he knew
00:12:58.34\00:13:02.94
were falling. They had just one
mission and that was to take the
00:13:02.98\00:13:06.72
Island. They were committed to
their mission even if it meant
00:13:06.75\00:13:11.59
paying the ultimate price. You
know a number of years ago the
00:13:11.62\00:13:16.12
Marine Corps actually had a
slogan, a slogan to recruit new
00:13:16.16\00:13:20.40
young people into the Marine
Corps and that slogan said
00:13:20.43\00:13:24.60
No applications,
only commitments.
00:13:24.63\00:13:27.64
No applications here. If you
want to be a part of the Marine
00:13:27.67\00:13:31.57
Corps, you are going to be
committed, committed totally
00:13:31.61\00:13:37.18
even to possible paying the
ultimate price. You know some
00:13:37.21\00:13:41.65
have called that generation of
my grandfather, the generation
00:13:41.68\00:13:46.15
of my grandparents, the greatest
generation. But today we often
00:13:46.19\00:13:50.73
look around the world and when
we see the society that we live
00:13:50.76\00:13:55.23
in it's hard to find commitment
is it not? In our families, in
00:13:55.26\00:13:58.60
our communities and yes even
in the church it can be hard to
00:13:58.63\00:14:01.97
find commitment. George Barna
in a study of few years ago said
00:14:04.87\00:14:11.05
that less than one half of
the people who call themselves
00:14:11.08\00:14:13.92
Christians say they're
absolutely committed to their
00:14:13.95\00:14:16.32
faith. Tonight as we close this
2017 ASI convention I want to
00:14:16.35\00:14:22.96
ask you this question: Are
you and I fully and totally
00:14:22.99\00:14:28.56
committed to this message? Are
you and I fully committed to the
00:14:28.63\00:14:33.87
mission that Jesus has given
us as soldiers of the cross? So
00:14:33.90\00:14:39.14
tonight turn with me in
scripture. We're going to look
00:14:39.17\00:14:41.81
at a couple passages that
talk about commitment and we're
00:14:41.84\00:14:44.88
going to see what the Lord
wants us to know as we leave
00:14:44.91\00:14:48.55
this ASI convention. Turn
with me to Luke chapter 5, Luke
00:14:48.58\00:14:52.12
chapter 5 starting with verse 1.
We're going to just look at this
00:14:52.15\00:14:55.89
story, the calling of the
disciples. Now you remember
00:14:55.92\00:14:59.29
Jesus is at the Sea of Galilee
and he's teaching the people
00:14:59.33\00:15:02.30
and but there's so many people
that he has to get into Simon
00:15:02.33\00:15:05.03
Peter's boat and he pushes out
a little bit from land and he's
00:15:05.07\00:15:07.77
teaching and then as soon
as he's finished he tells Peter
00:15:07.80\00:15:12.77
put out the boats and put down
your nets. And they go and they
00:15:12.81\00:15:15.58
put down their nets and they
catch more fish than they can
00:15:15.61\00:15:18.81
even hold in that boat. So they
pulled the next boat over and
00:15:18.85\00:15:22.62
Peter is so overcome by the fact
that Jesus knew where the fish
00:15:22.65\00:15:26.39
were. I mean, he had been
fishing all night and hadn't
00:15:26.42\00:15:28.06
caught anything. But Jesus tells
him where to go and his boat is
00:15:28.12\00:15:31.39
overflowing and he's convicted
that Jesus is the Son of God.
00:15:31.43\00:15:35.96
And at that moment Jesus comes
to him and in verse 10 of Luke
00:15:36.00\00:15:41.90
chapter 5 Jesus says to Simon
do not be afraid. From now on
00:15:41.94\00:15:46.74
you will catch men. And the
Bible says in verse 11, So when
00:15:46.78\00:15:52.31
they had brought their boats
to land they forsook all and
00:15:52.38\00:15:57.85
followed him. The call of Christ
This is a call not from human
00:15:57.89\00:16:05.33
beings. This call to Peter,
James and John came from the
00:16:05.36\00:16:08.50
Son of God. Now why would they
simply leave their fishermen's
00:16:08.53\00:16:14.17
nets. Jesus just comes along and
they leave. Why? Because they
00:16:14.20\00:16:19.64
sensed in Jesus one whose vision
was so great, one whose mission
00:16:19.67\00:16:25.08
was so broad, so much bigger
than anything in their lives.
00:16:25.11\00:16:28.68
There was more to God's plan for
their lives than catching fish.
00:16:28.72\00:16:34.06
Nothing wrong with catching fish
but they had a higher calling.
00:16:34.09\00:16:36.49
Similarly tonight Jesus comes to
you and to me here at ASI and he
00:16:36.52\00:16:42.90
says I have called you. I know
you. I've seen you working hard.
00:16:42.96\00:16:47.97
I know you know how to
make money. You know how to be a
00:16:48.00\00:16:49.97
banker, you know how to be a
doctor or a lawyer or a nurse or
00:16:50.01\00:16:54.14
an entrepreneur. You know how to
catch fish. But he comes to you
00:16:54.18\00:16:58.31
and he says tonight I have
called you and I have chosen you
00:16:58.35\00:17:03.55
I have chosen you to take
my message to the world. I have
00:17:03.59\00:17:09.52
chosen you to fish for men. You
may know how to have a career
00:17:09.56\00:17:14.46
but our lives mean so much
more than a career. That is the
00:17:14.50\00:17:19.47
mission of ASI because as
lay people we are called, we are
00:17:19.50\00:17:23.07
chosen to have a higher purpose.
Jesus says to you tonight, I
00:17:23.10\00:17:27.64
have called you to take
the Gospel, the three angels'
00:17:27.68\00:17:31.08
messages to the world in this
generation. And there is always
00:17:31.11\00:17:36.92
a call. When Jesus gives a
call there's always a call to
00:17:36.95\00:17:40.49
something and a call from
something. In this case, Jesus
00:17:40.52\00:17:43.99
is calling all of us, Jesus is
calling us to witness. Jesus is
00:17:44.03\00:17:47.76
calling us to a vision greater
that ourselves and he's calling
00:17:47.80\00:17:51.80
us away from something as well.
He's calling us away from our
00:17:51.83\00:17:55.40
nets, away from our boats, away
from... Nothing wrong with the
00:17:55.44\00:17:59.37
nets and the boats but away from
a preoccupation with secular
00:17:59.41\00:18:03.28
employment. He's calling
us to live a life of complete
00:18:03.31\00:18:08.58
commitment to the things of
eternity. But you say well Kal
00:18:08.62\00:18:12.52
I know God has called. We
always talk as pastors about
00:18:12.55\00:18:15.26
how God called us.
00:18:15.29\00:18:16.62
I mean Ranella shared a little
bit of my testimony and I wish I
00:18:16.66\00:18:18.86
could share it here tonight.
It's been a struggle for me to
00:18:18.89\00:18:22.36
know what God called me to do
in my life. But one thing I've
00:18:22.40\00:18:25.83
been convicted of as time has
gone on is that the reality is I
00:18:25.90\00:18:29.10
may be called to have been a
pastor but each one of you is
00:18:29.14\00:18:34.24
just as called. Do you believe
that tonight? The call comes to
00:18:34.28\00:18:37.91
each one. I want you to look at
this statement from Prophets and
00:18:37.98\00:18:41.58
Kings, page 22,
powerful statement:
00:18:41.62\00:18:44.05
Every enterprise in which
we engage should be a means to
00:19:18.52\00:19:21.89
spreading the three angels'
messages. What do you say
00:19:21.92\00:19:25.23
tonight. But you say Lord that's
scary. I know how to make money,
00:19:25.29\00:19:28.90
I know how to run my business,
but I don't know how to witness.
00:19:28.96\00:19:33.50
Jesus says to you just like he
said to Peter, what did he say?
00:19:33.54\00:19:39.07
He said don't be afraid. Do
not fear because I am with you.
00:19:39.11\00:19:44.55
Jesus understands. He is the one
who called you and he is the one
00:19:44.58\00:19:47.78
who will empower you to fulfill
the mission he has given you.
00:19:47.82\00:19:52.42
Remember James was the first
disciple who was martyred. John
00:19:52.45\00:19:56.56
was on that boat that day. The
longest living disciple. Wrote
00:19:56.62\00:20:00.70
Revelation but suffered a
life of persecution and Peter
00:20:00.73\00:20:03.57
crucified upside down. But none
of them ever lost sight of the
00:20:03.60\00:20:10.74
fact that Jesus was always with
them. There's a story of a self
00:20:10.77\00:20:15.68
supporting missionary that I
wanted to share with you tonight
00:20:15.71\00:20:20.05
It's such a powerful story that
I had to share it. A guy named
00:20:20.08\00:20:24.39
Abram La Rue. How many of
you have heard of Abram La Rue?
00:20:24.42\00:20:27.22
Okay, I see a few hands. Some
of you have. I've got to tell
00:20:27.26\00:20:30.29
this story. He was a seaman.
He had traveled around the world
00:20:30.33\00:20:34.30
but in his 50s he settled in San
Francisco and he invested all
00:20:34.33\00:20:38.27
of his life savings into
his property. He bought some
00:20:38.30\00:20:40.64
property there only the have it
destroyed by fire a short time
00:20:40.70\00:20:44.71
later. He lost all of his
savings. So discouraged and
00:20:44.74\00:20:49.14
penniless he moves out of the
city but God had a plan for this
00:20:49.18\00:20:52.71
man because just a few months
later someone gives him a Bible
00:20:52.75\00:20:56.05
tract, the Signs of the Times.
And he reads the tract and he
00:20:56.08\00:20:59.25
gets so excited about what he's
reading, he starts reading his
00:20:59.32\00:21:03.09
Bible and he's converted. And
not only is he converted, he is
00:21:03.12\00:21:06.19
so on fire now he wants to go to
the mission field. There's only
00:21:06.23\00:21:09.43
one problem, he's in his 60s
and he feels, well other people
00:21:09.46\00:21:12.63
think he's too old. He writes
to the General Conference and he
00:21:12.67\00:21:16.40
says please I really have a
burden. I have a burden to go to
00:21:16.44\00:21:19.97
China to share with the
Chinese people the three angels'
00:21:20.01\00:21:23.75
messages of the gospel. And you
know what the brethren say? They
00:21:23.78\00:21:28.05
said Um thank you for your
commitment, thank you for your
00:21:28.08\00:21:32.32
interest. Why don't you... I
forgot to say that he had been
00:21:32.35\00:21:34.49
serving a little bit of time
in Hawaii as a colporteur. Why
00:21:34.52\00:21:37.33
don't you just stay in the
islands of the Pacific, thinking
00:21:37.36\00:21:41.56
he'd just stay in Hawaii. Well
he said okay I'll tell you what.
00:21:41.60\00:21:45.23
He looked at a map, islands
of the Pacific. He saw that Hong
00:21:45.27\00:21:48.67
Kong was an island in the
Pacific. It was a little bit on
00:21:48.70\00:21:51.71
the edge but it was right next
to China so he said let me go to
00:21:51.74\00:21:55.51
Hong Kong. So he goes to Hong
Kong. He opens up a mission by
00:21:55.54\00:21:58.71
himself, by the way. He begins
passing out tracts, studying the
00:21:58.78\00:22:01.88
Bible with people. He converts
the soldiers and sailors there
00:22:01.92\00:22:05.49
in Hong Kong. Some of these
sailors by the way go back to
00:22:05.52\00:22:09.59
England, take the Gospel and
start work in places where it
00:22:09.62\00:22:12.89
hadn't started in England. All
over the world people carried
00:22:12.96\00:22:16.87
the tracts that Abram La
Rue had given them in Hong Kong.
00:22:16.93\00:22:21.64
Fourteen years he labors, from
1888 until 1902 when the next
00:22:21.70\00:22:25.64
missionaries come. And shortly
after those next missionaries
00:22:25.67\00:22:30.01
come nine people were baptized.
And just a year later in 1903
00:22:30.05\00:22:34.88
Abram La Rue passed to his rest.
A committed Christian, he stood
00:22:34.92\00:22:38.35
alone. Fourteen years in
a distant land carrying on a
00:22:38.39\00:22:42.36
self-supporting work. This was
a true ASI missionary. The power
00:22:42.39\00:22:46.09
that urged him onward was his
firm belief in the soon coming
00:22:46.13\00:22:50.37
of Jesus. A few days before he
died he gave the little money he
00:22:50.40\00:22:54.14
had to the work in China.
Totally committed to following
00:22:54.17\00:22:57.71
the call of the Savior. Friend
it doesn't matter how old you
00:22:57.74\00:23:01.54
are. You can be young, you
can be old. Jesus is calling you
00:23:01.58\00:23:05.91
tonight. Jesus is calling you.
Jesus is calling each one of us
00:23:05.95\00:23:10.19
to a life of commitment. So
Jesus calls us. Christ called us
00:23:10.22\00:23:15.16
and also Christ calls us to
commitment and I want us to turn
00:23:15.19\00:23:18.16
to our next passage, Luke
chapter 9 and we're going to
00:23:18.19\00:23:22.23
look quickly here at Luke
chapter 9 because the problem is
that when we get the
00:23:22.26\00:23:26.80
call sometimes we make excuses
don't we? Sometimes we make
00:23:26.84\00:23:31.27
excuses. And Jesus speaks about
this in Luke chapter 9. In this
00:23:31.31\00:23:34.78
story Jesus meets three men
on the road and he gives three
00:23:34.81\00:23:38.31
responses that shed light on
the excuses we often give that
00:23:38.38\00:23:42.55
keep us from living a committed
life. Verses 57 and 58 say: Now
00:23:42.58\00:23:46.02
it happened as they journeyed
on the road that someone said to
00:23:46.05\00:23:50.33
him, Lord I will follow you
wherever you go. And what does
00:23:50.36\00:23:54.53
Jesus say? He says to him, foxes
have holes and birds of the air
00:23:54.56\00:23:59.33
have nests, but the Son of
Man has nowhere to lay his head.
00:23:59.37\00:24:05.01
He calls this man to a
commitment of sacrifice.
00:24:05.04\00:24:07.68
The call of Christ to the human
heart is the call to make the
00:24:07.71\00:24:12.35
sacrifice. Jesus is saying the
things of eternity far outweigh
00:24:12.38\00:24:16.58
the things here on earth. There
is something that you give up.
00:24:16.62\00:24:20.82
There's a surrender that
you make. Martin Luther... We're
00:24:20.86\00:24:23.56
celebrating 500 years since the
reformation. Martin Luther said
00:24:23.59\00:24:27.03
a religion that gives nothing,
costs nothing and suffers
00:24:27.06\00:24:30.33
nothing is worth nothing. One
of the former vice presidents of
00:24:30.37\00:24:36.44
the general conference was
traveling far back in a mountain
00:24:36.47\00:24:40.98
region of Asia. As he's there
he's talking to two pioneer
00:24:41.01\00:24:44.35
missionaries traveling
from village to village. They're
00:24:44.38\00:24:47.65
preaching the gospel and as he's
talking to them he asks them a
00:24:47.68\00:24:49.98
question. He says, is there
anything you need? They look
00:24:50.05\00:24:52.89
at each other. They put their
heads down and they say well
00:24:52.92\00:24:55.69
there's one thing very important
to us. He says, well how can I
00:24:55.72\00:25:00.73
help you. He says well we
only have one pair of shoes. So
00:25:00.76\00:25:05.07
whoever walks to the furtherest
village gets the shoes for that
00:25:05.10\00:25:09.94
day. Well pastor if we only had
one more pair of shoes so both
00:25:09.97\00:25:14.11
of us could have shoes. And
yet that didn't stop them from
00:25:14.18\00:25:18.55
sharing the gospel. This is the
commitment of those who follow
00:25:18.58\00:25:22.95
Christ. No excuses. Willing
to make sacrifices. The Bible
00:25:22.98\00:25:27.59
continues in verse 59 of Luke
chapter 9. Jesus said to another
00:25:27.62\00:25:32.09
man follow me. But he said
Lord first let me go and bury my
00:25:32.13\00:25:36.53
father. And Jesus said, let the
dead bury their own dead but you
00:25:36.56\00:25:39.90
go and preach the kingdom of God
Now some of you say well that's
00:25:39.93\00:25:43.37
strange. Why would Jesus respond
like that? Well think about this
00:25:43.41\00:25:46.84
for a minute. If the man's
father was dead he wouldn't have
00:25:46.88\00:25:49.74
been there. Because in Jewish
culture when a person died they
00:25:49.78\00:25:53.65
were buried that same day. You
see what the man was saying was
00:25:53.68\00:25:57.39
let me wait until my father is
dead and buried and then I will
00:25:57.42\00:26:00.72
come and follow you Jesus. Just
let me go back and care for the
00:26:00.76\00:26:04.03
affairs of my father whether it
be six months or a year, however
00:26:04.09\00:26:07.50
long, and then I will follow you
In other words, he was putting
00:26:07.53\00:26:11.30
off what Christ wanted him to
do. And often times we make that
00:26:11.33\00:26:15.07
excuse. We won't commit because
there are other things that come
00:26:15.10\00:26:18.81
first. First let me do this,
first let me do that. Friends
00:26:18.87\00:26:21.68
Jesus needs us to commit to
being available when he calls
00:26:21.71\00:26:25.61
us. So commitment not only
requires sacrifice, it requires
00:26:25.65\00:26:29.48
availability. Now number
three in this passage in Luke 9.
00:26:29.52\00:26:32.65
Another man said to Jesus, verse
61, Lord I will follow you, but
00:26:32.69\00:26:35.66
first let me go and bid them
farewell who are in my house.
00:26:35.72\00:26:40.76
But Jesus said to him, No one
having put his hand to the plow
00:26:40.80\00:26:46.03
and looking back is fit for the
kingdom of God. For this excuse
00:26:46.07\00:26:51.31
the man is saying that he is
occupied primarily with other
00:26:51.34\00:26:54.44
things. Nothing wrong with
taking care of your family,
00:26:54.48\00:26:57.55
right? Right? But the problem
is when the things in your life
00:26:57.58\00:27:01.55
begin to overshadow the greater
purpose to which we are called,
00:27:01.58\00:27:05.49
even if they are good things,
they can become problems in and
00:27:05.52\00:27:09.92
of themselves. Jesus called him
to have an undivided heart. So
00:27:09.96\00:27:14.10
commitment requires sacrifice,
it requires availability and it
00:27:14.13\00:27:18.83
requires and undivided heart.
When I think of a story that
00:27:18.87\00:27:23.47
talks about people that have no
excuses, nothing could be better
00:27:23.51\00:27:27.81
than the story that we heard
this afternoon. I don't know if
00:27:27.84\00:27:31.21
you were here but we talked
about the history of ASI and the
00:27:31.25\00:27:34.65
history of self-supporting work.
When I think of the story in
00:27:34.68\00:27:38.09
particular of Sutherland
and Magan, the men who founded
00:27:38.12\00:27:42.02
Madison College who were the
founders of ASI. They were so
00:27:42.06\00:27:45.59
committed to God's work, they
were so committed to leaving the
00:27:45.63\00:27:48.80
comforts of normal life. They
knew God's plan for education
00:27:48.83\00:27:52.33
they were committed to following
it wherever it lead. They were
00:27:52.37\00:27:55.80
committed to whatever
sacrifice it took. You know it's
00:27:55.84\00:27:59.01
interesting, and I read that
book God's Beautiful Farm. Have
00:27:59.04\00:28:01.78
you guys read it. I encourage
you to pick it up before you
00:28:01.81\00:28:04.38
leave. We have it still at the
booth. But in that book there
00:28:04.41\00:28:06.95
are a few stories that stand out
and one of them that stands out
00:28:06.98\00:28:09.98
is when they first moved the
college to Andrews, what is now
00:28:10.02\00:28:13.79
Andrews in Berrien Springs, that
first winter you know they were
00:28:13.82\00:28:16.96
trying to be out in the country
and have a more rural setting
00:28:16.99\00:28:20.63
for the college. They endured
a winter in those cabins without
00:28:20.70\00:28:24.43
heat. Can you imagine Berrien
Springs without heat. I've been
00:28:24.47\00:28:29.10
there with heat and it's still
freezing. They were willing to
00:28:29.14\00:28:33.27
follow wherever God led them
because they were so committed.
00:28:33.31\00:28:37.45
But once they got the work
established at Andrews they
00:28:37.48\00:28:39.91
felt the call to Madison
and they went there even though
00:28:39.95\00:28:43.82
there were severe trials.
Even Percy's wife got sick and
00:28:43.85\00:28:47.62
passed away. And yet Percy could
still say in 1903 I know that
00:28:47.66\00:28:51.79
these trials are sent to us not
to bring bitterness out of our
00:28:51.83\00:28:55.86
characters but to bring all the
fragrance that God can possibly
00:28:55.90\00:28:59.87
bring into our lives. That
didn't stop these two men of
00:28:59.90\00:29:05.37
faith. They were committed to
following God no matter what the
00:29:05.41\00:29:08.68
sacrifice. And they heard the
call of Jesus to leave Emmanuel
00:29:08.71\00:29:12.55
Missionary College and to found
Madison College and you know
00:29:12.58\00:29:16.15
it's such an incredible story
but the particular scene that
00:29:16.18\00:29:19.65
stands out in my mind is that
moment when the boat breaks down
00:29:19.69\00:29:23.36
and they have to go out the
boat and it happens to be at the
00:29:23.39\00:29:26.26
property where Ellen White
had seen in vision that this was
00:29:26.29\00:29:29.03
where the school needed to
be. But Sutherland and Magan did
00:29:29.06\00:29:32.03
not want to have the school
at this place. It looked too
00:29:32.07\00:29:35.04
foreboding, too hard. There
were rocks and there were old
00:29:35.07\00:29:38.37
buildings and they struggled
with it. And yet Ellen White was
00:29:38.41\00:29:42.34
telling them, boys, this is the
place. And they didn't, oh they
00:29:42.38\00:29:46.05
struggled in their hearts.
But as the story goes they knelt
00:29:46.11\00:29:49.85
down and they agonized with
God in prayer and they both knew
00:29:49.88\00:29:53.52
that they needed to follow the
counsel of the servant of the
00:29:53.56\00:29:56.79
Lord. And in end, after prayer,
they were convicted that they
00:29:56.83\00:30:00.70
must commit to following it and
to accepting the sacrifice that
00:30:00.73\00:30:04.77
would come. And so they said
yes and we know the rest of the
00:30:04.80\00:30:08.94
story. God blessed them beyond
measure. It was a hard road, it
00:30:08.97\00:30:12.51
was a difficult road, but it was
worth it because it was the road
00:30:12.54\00:30:17.71
Jesus had called them to take.
Jesus said if anyone wishes to
00:30:17.75\00:30:22.92
come after me let him deny
himself and take up his cross
00:30:22.95\00:30:27.12
and follow me. Luke chapter
8. And in Help With Daily Living
00:30:27.16\00:30:32.49
page 477 this quote speaks to my
heart. The servant of God says
00:30:32.53\00:30:37.87
So my friends tonight we've seen
the call of Christ. Each of us
00:30:53.78\00:30:58.05
is called to a vision greater
than ourselves, taking the
00:30:58.09\00:31:01.49
gospel to the world in
this generation. We've seen the
00:31:01.52\00:31:05.13
commitment to Christ. Christ
calls us to commitment. It
00:31:05.16\00:31:08.70
requires sacrifice,
being available and having an
00:31:08.76\00:31:10.70
undivided heart. But now let's
look at the motivation for all
00:31:10.77\00:31:13.17
of it which is the cross
of Christ. Ultimately what
00:31:13.20\00:31:17.11
motivated Sutherland and Magan,
what motivated Abram La Rue and
00:31:17.14\00:31:21.18
what motivated Peter, James and
John to take the gospel in their
00:31:21.24\00:31:25.25
generation was the cross of
Christ, the one who gave us the
00:31:25.28\00:31:29.12
greatest example of commitment.
The only one who can enable us
00:31:29.15\00:31:34.32
to live a life of commitment.
The preeminent ASI member, Jesus
00:31:34.36\00:31:39.53
a self-supporting missionary.
He worked in a carpenter shop in
00:31:39.56\00:31:44.30
Nazareth, supported by donations
His life reveals the ultimate
00:31:44.33\00:31:49.04
example of commitment and
because he was committed to you
00:31:49.07\00:31:53.88
and to me as Philippians chapter
2 says, he humbled himself and
00:31:53.91\00:32:00.12
became obedient to the point
of death, even the death of the
00:32:00.15\00:32:05.12
cross. In Luke 23 we read
the story of the crucifixion and
00:32:05.15\00:32:09.56
just to draw our minds to the
sacrifice of Christ tonight I'll
00:32:09.62\00:32:14.73
just look at verse 33 and verses
44-46. The Bible says when they
00:32:14.76\00:32:19.87
came to the place called the
Skull they crucified him along
00:32:19.90\00:32:24.27
with criminals, one on his
right and the other on his left.
00:32:24.31\00:32:28.44
Verses 44-46, the Bible says,
now it was about the sixth hour
00:32:28.48\00:32:31.55
and there was darkness over all
the earth until the ninth hour.
00:32:31.58\00:32:34.75
The sun was darkened. The veil
of the temple was torn in two
00:32:34.78\00:32:37.95
and when Jesus had cried
out with a loud voice, he said
00:32:37.99\00:32:41.26
Father into your hands I commit
my spirit. Having said this he
00:32:41.29\00:32:46.39
breathed his last. The cross
reveals more clearly than any
00:32:46.46\00:32:51.40
other place in scripture
the self-sacrificing ministry of
00:32:51.43\00:32:56.30
Jesus. It shows the depth that
heaven would go to to redeem you
00:32:56.34\00:33:01.04
and me. What is it about
the cross that leads us to
00:33:01.08\00:33:04.58
commitment. Jesus was committed
not only to death in this life,
00:33:04.61\00:33:09.38
he was committed to giving up
his life for eternity for you,
00:33:09.45\00:33:14.19
for me. I can't fathom that.
He believed it was worth it to
00:33:15.69\00:33:19.83
cease from existing so we could
have a chance at eternal life.
00:33:19.86\00:33:23.67
The sacrifice of Christ on the
cross reveals the true value of
00:33:23.70\00:33:28.14
each one of us to God. In the
light of this sacrifice can we
00:33:28.17\00:33:33.41
do anything less. The commitment
of Christ should stir us to a
00:33:33.48\00:33:39.18
deep desire to be committed
to him. Jesus said in John 17
00:33:39.21\00:33:44.89
verse 4...
00:33:44.92\00:33:53.76
Jesus was committed to the work
that the father had given him to
00:33:53.80\00:33:59.20
do to the very end. When we come
to the end of our life will we
00:33:59.23\00:34:04.61
be able to say God I was
faithful to finish the work you
00:34:04.64\00:34:09.18
have given me to do. This
week some of you may have heard
00:34:09.21\00:34:13.35
little snapshots of a life
of someone named Vera Oncobo.
00:34:13.38\00:34:17.62
Vera was a personal friend
of mine, close friend of my
00:34:17.65\00:34:22.52
girlfriend Ranella. She
was a modern day, 21st century
00:34:22.56\00:34:27.06
Enoch, committed to the
calling of God in her life. A
00:34:27.10\00:34:31.53
nurse by trade and by ministry
she grew up in a loving home,
00:34:31.57\00:34:36.24
spiritual home and yet in
her senior year in college she
00:34:36.27\00:34:40.84
wrestled with questions about
the true nature of God. But she
00:34:40.88\00:34:44.51
began to study the Bible and she
began devouring the Bible and
00:34:44.55\00:34:47.92
particularly she loved the book
Revelation Speaks by Mark Finley
00:34:47.95\00:34:52.19
Every day she would read it. God
captivated her life. Every day
00:34:52.22\00:34:56.02
she would pray and pour over
the scriptures and God began to
00:34:56.06\00:35:00.56
change her heart and from there
the Lord continued to grow this
00:35:00.60\00:35:04.43
young woman and gave her many
missionary opportunities. She
00:35:04.50\00:35:08.27
began to do travel nursing so
that she could have more money
00:35:08.30\00:35:12.44
so that she could less and work
more for Jesus. At one point in
00:35:12.47\00:35:16.18
her life she was so convicted
by the words of Ellen White to
00:35:16.21\00:35:19.25
do literature evangelism
she would work three days of the
00:35:19.28\00:35:22.08
week as a nurse and the
remaining four days every day
00:35:22.12\00:35:24.72
she would take 12 people
with her door to door to do
00:35:24.75\00:35:27.26
literature evangelism. And
then on Sabbath she would train
00:35:27.32\00:35:31.69
church members. She continued
this for over seven years.
00:35:31.73\00:35:35.86
Through the faithful efforts
of this woman churches grew and
00:35:35.90\00:35:39.83
church members were revived to
a life of witnessing. The church
00:35:39.87\00:35:43.74
never paid her but she was
committed to Christ and the
00:35:43.77\00:35:48.44
calling that he had given
her. Most recently she was a
00:35:48.48\00:35:53.11
volunteer Bible worker at a
church in Michigan. She lived in
00:35:53.15\00:35:55.62
the basement of some friends'
house so she could pay off the
00:35:55.65\00:35:58.35
last year of her debt and she
wanted more than anything to go
00:35:58.39\00:36:01.72
be a missionary in the Middle
East. She commuted an hour and a
00:36:01.76\00:36:04.99
half to work every day to the
hospital she worked at working
00:36:05.03\00:36:08.50
the night shift. The family that
lived with her said sometimes
00:36:08.53\00:36:11.97
they wouldn't see her until
2 p. m. and she would come to
00:36:12.00\00:36:15.10
sleep for a few hours and then
drive right back to the hospital
00:36:15.17\00:36:18.54
that evening. When asked where
she was the whole morning she
00:36:18.57\00:36:21.51
would say that she and developed
Bible study contacts in that
00:36:21.54\00:36:25.45
area and she couldn't come back
until she gave Bible studies.
00:36:25.48\00:36:29.35
She was totally sold out
and committed to living God's
00:36:29.38\00:36:33.15
calling in her life. Vera
touched the lives of people she
00:36:33.19\00:36:36.79
had known for years, months
or even minutes. I know. She
00:36:36.83\00:36:40.33
touched my life. Many people
knew that when she looked at you
00:36:40.40\00:36:43.60
she didn't see what you looked
like, what your social status
00:36:43.63\00:36:47.44
was or educational background.
All she saw was a soul for whom
00:36:47.47\00:36:51.57
Jesus died. Less than two weeks
ago my girlfriend Ranella was on
00:36:51.61\00:36:55.71
a brief phone call with
her asking her to co-speak at a
00:36:55.74\00:36:59.71
seminar at ASI, Total Member
Involvement. She agreed, she was
00:36:59.75\00:37:03.39
very excited. She wanted to
be here this weekend. Little did
00:37:03.42\00:37:07.16
any of us know that less than a
week later she would be lying on
00:37:07.19\00:37:10.99
a hospital bed fighting for her
life. The doctors tried all day
00:37:11.03\00:37:14.03
and into the night to get her
heart to beat again but it had
00:37:14.06\00:37:17.27
suddenly stopped that morning
and it was over. She was only
00:37:17.30\00:37:22.54
36 year old. And now after her
sudden death those of us that
00:37:22.57\00:37:26.81
knew her and interacted with her
knew that this was bright light
00:37:26.84\00:37:31.01
that the world had lost. But
perhaps the good that God will
00:37:31.05\00:37:35.15
bring out of it here on earth
is the fact that her legacy of
00:37:35.18\00:37:38.85
commitment to Christ lives
one. The bright light is still
00:37:38.89\00:37:42.02
shining and God is shining
her example into your hearts
00:37:42.06\00:37:45.19
tonight to tell you this one
thing. When it is all said and
00:37:45.23\00:37:49.43
done at the end of the day, if
we take our last breath here on
00:37:49.46\00:37:53.47
earth before Jesus comes the
only thing that will matter and
00:37:53.50\00:37:56.81
that will live on is a life of
sacrificial commitment that we
00:37:56.84\00:38:00.28
live for others and the Savior
we love. The only thing that
00:38:00.31\00:38:04.88
will matter are the souls that
we win for Jesus. Vera's life of
00:38:04.91\00:38:09.48
selfless service, the love
that she exuded for others, her
00:38:09.52\00:38:12.39
devotion to Jesus that led her
to give away almost all of her
00:38:12.42\00:38:14.96
salary before her death, all
of this is a testimony to the
00:38:14.99\00:38:17.49
power that shakes the world when
God's people pledge their lives
00:38:17.53\00:38:20.23
to him holding nothing back.
What would happen if we all
00:38:20.26\00:38:24.70
lived like Vera? What would
happen if we all lived like
00:38:24.73\00:38:29.50
Jesus? How soon would Jesus
return? How much of Christ's
00:38:29.54\00:38:34.24
love would penetrate the darkest
parts of the earth until the
00:38:34.28\00:38:38.08
earth is lighted with the glory
of God and we would see Vera and
00:38:38.11\00:38:41.28
our loved ones who have passed
away in then sin and death and
00:38:41.32\00:38:47.02
suffering and separation from
God would be no more. Here is a
00:38:47.06\00:38:52.76
woman who was unselfishly
committed to Christ and his
00:38:52.79\00:38:55.20
service. My friends tonight you
and I don't know what's around
00:38:55.26\00:39:01.47
the corner. We never know what's
going on in our bodies from a
00:39:01.50\00:39:06.37
health standpoint. I mean many
a person has felt well and then
00:39:06.41\00:39:11.25
the next day they go to the
doctor and they find out they
00:39:11.28\00:39:15.22
have cancer. We don't know
what's around the corner. Vera
00:39:15.28\00:39:19.15
didn't know what was around the
bend. God calls us to commitment
00:39:19.19\00:39:24.66
now. God calls us to commitment
tonight, to faithfulness tonight
00:39:24.69\00:39:30.63
to service tonight. You may not
have another ASI convention. I
00:39:30.67\00:39:36.54
cannot guarantee you that
tonight. But today is the day
00:39:36.57\00:39:41.34
that you can say with all of
your heart Lord Jesus I've been
00:39:41.41\00:39:43.95
here at ASI. I've heard these
messages, I've been convicted
00:39:44.01\00:39:46.58
by your Spirit to do something
for you. Please help me to live
00:39:46.61\00:39:50.12
for you. Help me to lay aside
the sin that so easily ensnares
00:39:50.15\00:39:53.86
me and to run the race that you
have called me to run. Thinking
00:39:53.89\00:39:58.99
back to my grandpa and those
Marines who fought to take the
00:39:59.03\00:40:02.60
beaches of Iwo Jima, you know
they had a mission. They were
00:40:02.63\00:40:07.24
committed to their mission
no matter the cost. But how much
00:40:07.27\00:40:12.17
greater is our mission, our
mission to take the gospel to
00:40:12.21\00:40:16.54
every nation and kindred and
tongue and people. My friends
00:40:16.58\00:40:19.58
the grandest mission ever
entrusted to human beings is
00:40:19.61\00:40:22.55
given to you to take the three
angels' messages to the ends of
00:40:22.58\00:40:27.66
the earth in this generation.
ASI tonight Jesus is calling you
00:40:27.69\00:40:31.86
Jesus is calling me. The work
of God on this earth will never
00:40:31.89\00:40:36.20
be finished until each and every
one of us does all we can by the
00:40:36.23\00:40:41.34
power of God uniting together
to take the gospel to the world.
00:40:41.37\00:40:47.28
This was Vera's mission. Her
story reminds us of the need for
00:40:47.31\00:40:53.15
total commitment to Christ. Just
want to say as I ask you to pull
00:40:53.18\00:40:58.65
out this appeal card tonight.
You were handed this as you came
00:40:58.69\00:41:05.76
in. Sometimes it's hard to make
a commitment. I struggled with
00:41:05.79\00:41:12.13
commitment in my own life. I
wrestled with the cost, but I
00:41:12.17\00:41:18.57
can tell you tonight that I
am so grateful because Jesus
00:41:18.64\00:41:24.98
promises, like he said to Peter,
that he will be with us. He is
00:41:25.01\00:41:30.39
with you. Jesus is calling you
tonight to give your heart to
00:41:31.39\00:41:35.69
him. I want to invite you as we
close just take a look at this
00:41:35.72\00:41:39.96
card and if you want to
surrender your plans and your
00:41:40.00\00:41:44.10
heart and your life to God
for the first time tonight, just
00:41:44.13\00:41:49.44
check that box. If you look
at the second box on the card it
00:41:49.47\00:41:53.68
says I long to have a renewed
focus on heaven and I desire to
00:41:53.71\00:41:57.38
recommit my life to Jesus again
tonight, check that box, make
00:41:57.41\00:42:01.92
that decision tonight. And the
third box is for you. I want you
00:42:01.95\00:42:05.49
to take this card and put it in
your Bible and pray over it as
00:42:05.52\00:42:09.72
you go home. As you have been
here at ASI undoubtedly the Holy
00:42:09.76\00:42:13.16
Spirit has been speaking to your
heart and he has said to you
00:42:13.19\00:42:18.10
John or Mary or Ranella,
you need to do something for me.
00:42:18.13\00:42:22.60
You need to volunteer in that
ministry. You need to work for
00:42:22.64\00:42:26.44
me in this field, you need to
just maybe sell your business.
00:42:26.47\00:42:30.25
I don't know what it is,
but Jesus is calling you to
00:42:30.28\00:42:32.35
something tonight and I want you
to write that on this card and
00:42:32.38\00:42:37.32
pray over it as you go home.
Tonight I want to ask you this
00:42:37.39\00:42:42.16
question because I know there
are some of us here tonight that
00:42:42.22\00:42:47.16
need to make a change in our
priorities. We recognize that
00:42:47.20\00:42:52.13
Jesus has called us and we
recognize that we need to make a
00:42:52.17\00:42:55.10
change. I want to make a simple
appeal tonight, two appeals
00:42:55.14\00:42:59.51
actually for us. Firstly
there may be some here who have
00:42:59.94\00:43:07.72
served Christ. You've been
committed to his work but you
00:43:07.75\00:43:09.28
realize tonight that you need to
make some changes as you go home
00:43:09.35\00:43:12.35
You need to rearrange
you priorities to be totally
00:43:12.39\00:43:15.46
committed. You want to go home
different. Would you just raise
00:43:15.49\00:43:23.37
your hand. I want to pray
for you. Put them down. Secondly
00:43:23.40\00:43:31.21
there also may be someone
here tonight you have not been
00:43:31.24\00:43:34.08
involved in service but during
this ASI convention you have
00:43:34.11\00:43:37.25
heard Jesus saying to you follow
me and I will make you a fisher
00:43:37.28\00:43:41.58
of men. And the Spirit is
speaking to you tonight. For the
00:43:41.62\00:43:45.35
first time you realize that
you need to give your life in
00:43:45.39\00:43:49.46
service to your master. You
cannot go home the same. You
00:43:49.49\00:43:53.60
need to make a radical turn
in the direction of your life.
00:43:53.63\00:43:55.90
Would you raise your hand
tonight if that is you. I want
00:43:55.93\00:44:04.61
invite you as we hear this song.
If you have heard God speaking
00:44:04.64\00:44:14.35
to your heart tonight and during
this ASI convention, if you want
00:44:14.38\00:44:18.72
to say to the Lord Jesus, Lord
Jesus I want to commit my life
00:44:18.89\00:44:23.53
to your service. Take my life
and let it be consecrated Lord
00:44:23.56\00:44:27.66
to thee. If that is your prayer
tonight I want to invite you
00:44:27.70\00:44:31.87
forward during this song and
we're going to have a prayer of
00:44:31.90\00:44:36.07
dedication and
commitment at the end.
00:44:36.10\00:44:38.11
¤ ¤
00:44:38.14\00:44:52.52
¤Take my life and let it
be consecrated Lord to thee¤
00:44:52.55\00:45:09.14
¤Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.¤
00:45:09.17\00:45:28.86
¤Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee.¤
00:45:28.89\00:45:48.54
¤Take my voice and let me
sing only glory for my King.¤
00:45:48.61\00:46:03.99
¤Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee.¤
00:46:04.03\00:46:23.38
¤Take my silver and my gold
not a mite would I withhold.¤
00:46:23.41\00:46:34.62
¤Not a mite would I withhold.¤
00:46:34.66\00:46:46.50
¤Take my will and make it Thine
it shall be no longer mine.¤
00:46:46.53\00:47:07.82
¤Take me heart, it is Thine own,
it shall be Thy royal throne.¤
00:47:07.86\00:47:29.11
¤ ¤
00:47:29.14\00:47:46.36
Father in heaven tonight we have
seen that the greatest example
00:47:46.39\00:47:56.60
of commitment that any of us
have ever known is you. You gave
00:47:56.64\00:48:05.91
the ultimate sacrifice. You made
the ultimate commitment to us.
00:48:05.98\00:48:12.19
A commitment and a sacrifice
that we can never understand but
00:48:12.22\00:48:17.99
for which we will be eternally
grateful. Lord Jesus thank you
00:48:18.06\00:48:23.87
for giving your life to save us.
Thank you for calling us and for
00:48:23.90\00:48:29.60
choosing us and for enabling us
to be committed to you. O Father
00:48:29.64\00:48:34.81
forgive us for we have often
made excuses, we have often been
00:48:34.84\00:48:39.18
distracted, we've often had
a divided heart but tonight we
00:48:39.21\00:48:42.75
want to come to you and those
who have come forward and those
00:48:42.78\00:48:46.29
who are in their seats
Lord we recognize that we're not
00:48:46.32\00:48:51.16
guaranteed tomorrow and like
Vera we want to live a life of
00:48:51.19\00:48:56.30
total commitment. We want others
to know that Jesus you are
00:48:56.36\00:49:00.97
number one, that your mission
is the most important thing to
00:49:01.00\00:49:05.04
us. Lord, we lay it all on the
altar tonight. There is someone
00:49:05.07\00:49:09.64
here tonight that is sensing
the call of God. Empower them by
00:49:09.68\00:49:13.98
your Spirit to go from this
ASI convention to where you have
00:49:14.02\00:49:19.09
called them to go. Help us to
rearrange our priorities so that
00:49:19.12\00:49:25.66
you are number one. Oh Lord, we
long to see you come. We long to
00:49:25.69\00:49:30.43
be reunited with our loved ones
that we have lost. We long to
00:49:30.47\00:49:34.74
see everyone on this earth know
you. We long to see this world
00:49:34.80\00:49:38.74
lighted with the glory of God.
Lord Jesus, please empower your
00:49:38.77\00:49:42.68
church. Help us to take the
three angels' messages to the
00:49:42.71\00:49:45.58
world in this generation. We
can't do it on our own. We don't
00:49:45.61\00:49:48.78
have the strength but by your
power and by your grace we know
00:49:48.82\00:49:52.45
that you can finish this work.
Help our church Lord. Please,
00:49:52.49\00:49:56.09
we pray. Pour out your Spirit
upon this generation that this
00:49:56.12\00:50:01.00
may be the generation that
finishes the work and we will
00:50:01.03\00:50:05.83
give you all the praise when we
see you coming in the clouds of
00:50:05.87\00:50:09.70
heaven. Oh Lord, keep us
faithful, keep us committed,
00:50:09.74\00:50:16.14
keep our eyes on you. We pray
this in the name of Jesus Christ
00:50:16.21\00:50:21.32
our Savior, our Lord
and our coming king. Amen
00:50:21.35\00:50:27.52