Music...
00:00:01.36\00:00:19.45
I feel like I've got my
partner with me... Leasa Hodges,
00:00:19.48\00:00:26.29
she's going to tell us
what happened this summer
00:00:26.32\00:00:29.26
in Colorado.
00:00:29.29\00:00:30.63
You know, I can't believe
it's been... how many years?
00:00:30.66\00:00:33.16
1999... almost... any
Math people out there?
00:00:33.19\00:00:38.33
It's like 19 years...
it's so hard to believe,
00:00:38.37\00:00:43.30
we started right
here in Orlando in 1999
00:00:43.34\00:00:46.57
and it's been a
huge blessing in my life
00:00:46.61\00:00:49.48
and when I stepped
away two years ago,
00:00:49.51\00:00:52.35
I thought I was finished...
00:00:52.38\00:00:53.72
but, you know,
00:00:53.75\00:00:55.25
this program has affected
so many young people's lives
00:00:55.28\00:00:58.15
and parents and kids
were calling and saying,
00:00:58.19\00:01:00.82
"We need to have Youth for Jesus
00:01:00.86\00:01:02.92
and I couldn't leave
Eden Valley and so I thought,
00:01:02.96\00:01:07.40
"Well, why don't I just do
a small one at Eden Valley?"
00:01:07.43\00:01:09.70
So we did.
00:01:09.73\00:01:11.07
We just started with ten
young people and one site
00:01:11.10\00:01:13.94
and we called it:
D'SoZo Youth Outreach
00:01:13.97\00:01:17.51
and we had a wonderful time.
00:01:17.54\00:01:20.58
We had just one site
which was Eden Valley Church,
00:01:20.64\00:01:24.08
we had two Bible Workers
00:01:24.11\00:01:25.58
and we did some
wonderful things,
00:01:25.61\00:01:27.98
I don't know if they... we
have to have some pictures...
00:01:28.02\00:01:29.68
we had... we had... this
is some of our campus kids
00:01:29.72\00:01:33.89
but we had a
health fair in the park
00:01:33.92\00:01:36.59
where we had one
person coming through every...
00:01:36.62\00:01:39.63
one-and-a-half persons coming
through every five minutes.
00:01:39.66\00:01:42.46
We did a cooking
school and 51 people came
00:01:42.50\00:01:45.60
and we did a lot of
pre-work and so, we were busy
00:01:45.63\00:01:53.07
and then we just
held a two-week meeting
00:01:53.11\00:01:56.38
and this is Jake
and Bayli Graybill
00:01:56.41\00:01:59.68
and they were two
of our young people
00:01:59.71\00:02:02.35
who came to
ASI... I'm so thankful
00:02:02.38\00:02:04.92
and I would like Bayli
to share her testimony...
00:02:04.95\00:02:08.82
her testimony about
her experience there.
00:02:08.86\00:02:13.83
So, Bayli, you've grown
up in a Homeschool situation
00:02:13.86\00:02:17.87
so, all of a sudden,
you're with a lot of...
00:02:17.90\00:02:20.74
well, not a lot... but
nine other young people
00:02:20.77\00:02:23.41
what was that like?
00:02:23.44\00:02:24.77
It was an amazing experience
00:02:24.81\00:02:26.78
so, I was part of the D'SoZo
Outreach Program this summer,
00:02:26.81\00:02:30.15
and I was able to work with the
kids... it was my favorite part
00:02:30.18\00:02:34.88
and me being homeschooled...
00:02:34.92\00:02:36.79
going to this, you
know, you have like amazing...
00:02:36.82\00:02:40.16
you get so many new friendships
00:02:40.19\00:02:42.22
and then you
also get to reconnect
00:02:42.26\00:02:43.93
with some old
friends that you meet, also.
00:02:43.96\00:02:46.53
So, you worked in the
Children's Department...
00:02:46.56\00:02:49.06
can you share a testimony from
something that happened there?
00:02:49.10\00:02:52.57
Yeah, so we had this family
that came to our cooking school
00:02:52.60\00:02:56.04
and they really
enjoyed it so much
00:02:56.07\00:02:58.31
and their daughter
loved the kids program
00:02:58.37\00:03:00.44
and she just wanted to
come and come and come more
00:03:00.48\00:03:03.18
and they're like, "What is
the next event that you have?"
00:03:03.21\00:03:06.05
And we told them... we
have a Prophecy Seminar next
00:03:06.08\00:03:09.72
and they decided to come
00:03:09.75\00:03:11.59
and they enjoyed it so much
00:03:11.62\00:03:14.76
and the parents
took very intense notes
00:03:14.79\00:03:17.26
and the daughter
kept wanting to come
00:03:17.29\00:03:19.66
and I encouraged
their parents to come also
00:03:19.69\00:03:21.56
and it was a real blessing.
00:03:21.60\00:03:22.93
Thank you, you know,
00:03:22.96\00:03:24.90
a little child
shall lead them, right?
00:03:24.93\00:03:28.24
so, we've had
wonderful testimonies
00:03:28.27\00:03:31.47
of... of children
that came to the meeting
00:03:31.51\00:03:34.11
and the parents... after
they heard the Sabbath Message
00:03:34.14\00:03:36.34
or something like that...
they don't want to come anymore
00:03:36.38\00:03:38.51
but then, the kids
want to come so bad
00:03:38.55\00:03:42.88
and they... let's
say strongly encourage
00:03:42.92\00:03:44.59
and sometimes throw tantrums
00:03:44.65\00:03:47.09
to come back to
the children's programs
00:03:47.12\00:03:49.29
and the parents or grandparents
end up getting baptized
00:03:49.32\00:03:52.73
because they keep
coming to the meetings
00:03:52.76\00:03:54.63
so children's
programs are very important.
00:03:54.66\00:03:56.46
Jake was one of our participants
00:03:56.50\00:03:59.33
and Jake, you had
quite a few experiences
00:03:59.37\00:04:03.07
you can share about that.
00:04:03.10\00:04:04.54
Yeah, so, I had a lot of
experiences that happened to me,
00:04:04.57\00:04:08.98
I absolutely loved the
D'SoZo Youth Outreach Program.
00:04:09.04\00:04:13.11
I had actually done some
Literature Evangelism work
00:04:13.15\00:04:17.19
before I came to the
D'SoZo Outreach Program
00:04:17.22\00:04:20.76
but something that I
like about the D'ZoZo Program
00:04:20.79\00:04:24.59
is how we are able
to connect with people
00:04:24.63\00:04:27.63
and so, during the
day we would go out...
00:04:27.66\00:04:30.60
we would knock on doors...
we would pass out flyers...
00:04:30.63\00:04:33.10
we did some canvassing as well
00:04:33.13\00:04:37.11
and inviting
people to the meetings
00:04:37.14\00:04:39.97
and then at night, we
had these Evangelistic Series
00:04:40.04\00:04:43.28
and we would get to
mingle with the people
00:04:43.31\00:04:45.81
and talk with the people and
I'll just share a quick story
00:04:45.85\00:04:49.35
of two of the people
that came to our meetings.
00:04:49.38\00:04:51.85
They actually found out about
the meetings at a Christian...
00:04:51.89\00:04:57.39
it was actually an
Adventist Health Food Store
00:04:57.43\00:05:00.53
and they picked
up one of the flyers
00:05:00.56\00:05:03.00
and the lady was
really interested
00:05:03.06\00:05:05.47
in coming to the meetings
00:05:05.50\00:05:06.84
but she wasn't...
00:05:06.87\00:05:08.20
she wasn't really sure if she
could get her husband to come
00:05:08.24\00:05:10.41
and so we really prayed for them
00:05:10.44\00:05:12.24
and we really were praying that
they would come to the meetings
00:05:12.27\00:05:14.81
and the first night,
they showed up to the meetings
00:05:14.84\00:05:17.18
and she brought
her husband and...
00:05:17.21\00:05:19.48
They sat on the back row...
they were a little bit skeptical
00:05:19.51\00:05:24.45
and so, the next
night, we prayed again...
00:05:24.49\00:05:26.96
we wanted them to come
back so we prayed again
00:05:26.99\00:05:29.19
and they showed up
again... a second time...
00:05:29.22\00:05:32.09
they actually ended up
staying at the meetings
00:05:32.13\00:05:34.73
the rest of the week
00:05:34.76\00:05:36.10
and they're actually
still there right now.
00:05:36.13\00:05:38.20
Leasa: And they
moved up to the third row.
00:05:38.23\00:05:40.37
Yeah, they kept moving...
00:05:40.40\00:05:41.74
each night they would
move a little farther forward
00:05:41.77\00:05:43.54
and it was just a blessing
to see them come every night,
00:05:43.57\00:05:47.34
they were actually on vacation
all the way from Florida
00:05:47.38\00:05:51.11
they ended up
staying longer in Colorado
00:05:51.15\00:05:54.08
so they could
go to the meetings.
00:05:54.12\00:05:56.89
You know, this
couple, I have done...
00:05:56.92\00:05:59.59
with the Youth for
Jesus Program over the years,
00:05:59.62\00:06:02.02
I have gone through many,
many, many Evangelistic Meetings
00:06:02.06\00:06:06.23
and this couple's
reaction was just so amazing!
00:06:06.26\00:06:11.13
They were so...
just like a sponge...
00:06:11.17\00:06:14.47
they just soaked everything
up and they just would write,
00:06:14.50\00:06:17.77
you know, like, she
would write so many notes
00:06:17.84\00:06:19.87
and afterwards she
would go, "Oh my hand... "
00:06:19.91\00:06:22.68
and... and then
because they were on vacation,
00:06:22.71\00:06:25.45
they were staying
at these lodges nearby,
00:06:25.51\00:06:27.52
she would... I asked them,
00:06:27.55\00:06:29.52
I said, "What do you
guys do during the day?"
00:06:29.55\00:06:31.29
And they said, "Well, we
used to go the mountains...
00:06:31.32\00:06:32.82
we used to do this...
00:06:32.85\00:06:34.19
but since coming
to these meetings,
00:06:34.22\00:06:35.89
we have Bible
Studies in the afternoon... "
00:06:35.92\00:06:37.59
because we would
give them handouts
00:06:37.63\00:06:39.43
and they would
look at their notes
00:06:39.46\00:06:41.16
and they would do the
Bible Studies every afternoon
00:06:41.23\00:06:43.47
before they came back and
they just accepted everything.
00:06:43.50\00:06:47.00
The day that we did "Sabbath"
the sermon on Sabbath...
00:06:47.04\00:06:50.44
our Pastor John did the
sermons, what did they do?
00:06:50.47\00:06:53.84
Like, they were
supposed to come to...
00:06:53.88\00:06:55.88
Friday night we
presented the Sabbath message
00:06:55.91\00:06:58.41
and then Sabbath
morning was going to be
00:06:58.45\00:07:00.32
a regular Prophecy Seminar
00:07:00.35\00:07:01.68
but something
happened... they didn't show up,
00:07:01.72\00:07:04.02
do you remember why?
00:07:04.09\00:07:05.72
Yes, so, they
ended up not showing up
00:07:05.75\00:07:10.09
and we prayed for
them all that day...
00:07:10.13\00:07:13.06
they next day
they actually ended up
00:07:13.09\00:07:15.36
showing back up
to the meetings...
00:07:15.43\00:07:18.30
it was actually
on baptism that night
00:07:18.33\00:07:21.14
and so they wanted to
actually come up to the front
00:07:21.17\00:07:24.21
and check out the baptistery,
00:07:24.24\00:07:25.67
and they really
wanted to be baptized.
00:07:25.71\00:07:27.78
Yeah, but the reason why they
didn't come the Sabbath morning
00:07:27.81\00:07:30.68
was because in the
sermon we had said that...
00:07:30.71\00:07:33.21
"You just don't do the
things you do every day"
00:07:33.25\00:07:35.68
and they said,
"Well, we drive every day,
00:07:35.72\00:07:37.65
so we shouldn't drive
today to the meetings. "
00:07:37.69\00:07:39.69
So... so they didn't come...
00:07:39.72\00:07:42.02
but we explained to
them that that was okay
00:07:42.06\00:07:44.36
and... and so they showed
up the next Sabbath morning
00:07:44.39\00:07:48.76
and... and so you know when
a young person gets involved
00:07:48.83\00:07:53.17
in Frontline Evangelism...
soul-winning work...
00:07:53.20\00:07:56.24
and they see people at the door,
they invite them to the meetings
00:07:56.27\00:08:00.04
and they see people
coming to the meetings
00:08:00.08\00:08:02.74
and then they see
them accept the truths
00:08:02.78\00:08:05.41
and they see the Holy
Spirit working on their hearts
00:08:05.45\00:08:08.02
and they give
their lives to the Lord,
00:08:08.05\00:08:10.19
and they're baptized...
00:08:10.25\00:08:11.95
it does something
to that young person,
00:08:11.99\00:08:14.56
they know why they are
Seventh-day Adventists.
00:08:14.62\00:08:17.63
They know that the work...
the three angels' message
00:08:17.66\00:08:20.80
is not just for the
preachers to give...
00:08:20.83\00:08:22.96
but it's for them to give
00:08:23.00\00:08:24.80
and when they see the
lives being changed...
00:08:24.83\00:08:28.17
they know for themselves why God
has entrusted this work to us.
00:08:28.20\00:08:33.38
That's right and these kids
00:08:33.41\00:08:36.91
are learning
how to do evangelism
00:08:36.95\00:08:40.32
not only are they
learning to knock on doors,
00:08:40.35\00:08:43.12
they're learning to how
to give the presentations,
00:08:43.15\00:08:46.05
they're learning
how to cook the food,
00:08:46.09\00:08:49.19
they're learning
how to greet people,
00:08:49.22\00:08:52.26
it's all a part of the
plan and do you recommend this?
00:08:52.29\00:08:57.43
Would you say to
anybody that's young...
00:08:57.47\00:09:00.14
would you say,
"Come and do this?"
00:09:00.17\00:09:02.04
Yes, definitely, it's
just an amazing program,
00:09:02.07\00:09:04.94
and it's changed my
life in so many ways,
00:09:04.97\00:09:07.81
I actually had a...
00:09:07.84\00:09:09.18
a quote that I'd like
to read from Ellen White,
00:09:09.21\00:09:11.48
she says, "With such an
army of workers as our youth,
00:09:11.51\00:09:15.48
rightly trained,
mighty furnished,
00:09:15.52\00:09:18.29
how soon the message
00:09:18.32\00:09:19.99
of a crucified, risen,
and soon-coming Saviour
00:09:20.02\00:09:23.83
might be carried
to the whole world!
00:09:23.86\00:09:26.23
How soon might the end come,
00:09:26.26\00:09:28.80
the end of
suffering and sorrow... "
00:09:28.83\00:09:30.83
and I believe that this
Program has given me the tools
00:09:30.87\00:09:34.40
that now, I can go
back into my own community
00:09:34.47\00:09:37.04
and be a missionary
in my own community.
00:09:37.07\00:09:39.71
Amen... and you know
what they find out too?
00:09:39.74\00:09:42.34
That the work of
evangelism takes work.
00:09:42.38\00:09:45.41
These ten young people passed
out 2,000 flyers in ten days.
00:09:45.45\00:09:50.29
and so, if you have a
group of young people,
00:09:50.32\00:09:53.36
put them to
work... they can do it.
00:09:53.39\00:09:54.99
Thank you so much, thank you
00:09:55.02\00:09:57.23
and to God be the
glory, isn't that right?
00:09:57.26\00:09:59.86
Wasn't that exciting
to hear these testimonies
00:09:59.89\00:10:02.43
from these young
people in Colorado?
00:10:02.46\00:10:04.83
Okay, so those are two events
that have already taken place
00:10:04.87\00:10:08.64
but they're going to continue at
their churches with their people
00:10:08.67\00:10:13.14
so, that's exciting
that it isn't going to stop.
00:10:13.17\00:10:15.81
Well, now I have some more
people that are here with me
00:10:15.84\00:10:19.78
two ladies...
00:10:19.81\00:10:21.15
and when I read the
story that Julie sent me,
00:10:21.18\00:10:25.25
it brought tears to my eyes,
00:10:25.29\00:10:27.02
my husband and I read
this and it really and truly...
00:10:27.06\00:10:31.09
God was working before
all the pieces of the puzzle
00:10:31.13\00:10:34.93
were put together.
00:10:34.96\00:10:36.30
Julie, tell us who you are...
00:10:36.33\00:10:37.87
tell us what the
name of your Outreach is
00:10:37.90\00:10:40.94
and please tell
us what's happening.
00:10:40.97\00:10:42.94
I'm Julie McPherson
and this is Lara Albino,
00:10:43.00\00:10:47.21
I'm from the Yukon Territory
and she's from Los Angeles.
00:10:47.24\00:10:52.28
I got to tell you
how we got together,
00:10:52.31\00:10:54.78
but we have a baby ministry...
you might want to call it
00:10:54.82\00:11:01.16
and it's just begun
00:11:01.19\00:11:03.73
but actually the Lord has had it
in the works for quite a while
00:11:03.76\00:11:07.10
and I'm going to
tell you that story
00:11:07.13\00:11:08.46
a few years ago, I had
a burden put on my heart
00:11:08.50\00:11:12.77
and I believe by
the Lord and that is...
00:11:12.80\00:11:14.94
since I lived way up north...
00:11:14.97\00:11:17.14
in northern Canada,
00:11:17.17\00:11:18.91
the whole top of northern Canada
00:11:18.94\00:11:22.11
is pretty much
unreached territory.
00:11:22.14\00:11:25.18
As a matter of
fact, in Yukon Territory,
00:11:25.21\00:11:27.92
of the First Nations
people that live there,
00:11:27.95\00:11:30.59
there is not one Seventh-day
Adventist First Nations person
00:11:30.62\00:11:34.29
in the Yukon
00:11:34.32\00:11:35.76
and that really touched my heart
00:11:35.79\00:11:39.69
like, why... why
is there not that...
00:11:39.73\00:11:42.16
how come we're not
reaching this people group?
00:11:42.20\00:11:44.30
All across the northern Canada,
00:11:44.33\00:11:46.23
there are little communities...
00:11:46.27\00:11:47.80
some of them you
can reach by road
00:11:47.84\00:11:49.20
and some of them you cannot...
00:11:49.24\00:11:50.97
and somebody's got to reach them
00:11:51.04\00:11:52.71
and I know it's a
foreboding mission field
00:11:52.74\00:11:55.98
and so, I began to pray about it
00:11:56.01\00:11:58.45
but it was very daunting.
00:11:58.48\00:12:00.92
I didn't know how in the world
we were supposed to do this.
00:12:00.95\00:12:03.35
Anyway, I prayed and
I started to raise money
00:12:03.39\00:12:07.76
and the Lord provided.
00:12:07.79\00:12:09.42
He started providing money
00:12:09.46\00:12:12.19
and about 20,000
dollars Canadian came in.
00:12:12.23\00:12:16.30
I was like,
"Wow! praise the Lord,
00:12:16.33\00:12:18.20
He's really working. "
00:12:18.23\00:12:19.57
Then, I was like, "Okay, now,
00:12:19.60\00:12:20.94
let's go into the communities
and start doing something. "
00:12:20.97\00:12:23.04
And so, I started going into the
communities with some friends
00:12:23.07\00:12:25.24
and we couldn't
make any headway.
00:12:25.27\00:12:27.84
I was with the
North American Division
00:12:27.88\00:12:31.91
Native Ministries
Leader and he said to me,
00:12:31.95\00:12:35.25
"I want you to
know... because you are white,
00:12:35.28\00:12:38.55
they don't trust you
00:12:38.59\00:12:41.16
because so much abuse and
so much damage has been done
00:12:41.19\00:12:46.06
through colonialism
and all that kind of stuff
00:12:46.09\00:12:48.50
and it continues on
today with the Government
00:12:48.53\00:12:50.90
and they don't trust you. "
00:12:50.93\00:12:52.53
And while that
sits heavy on my heart,
00:12:52.60\00:12:56.91
I was like, "Lord,
there's something you can do
00:12:56.94\00:12:59.91
to reach these people
00:12:59.94\00:13:01.28
even if it's not me,
somebody can reach them
00:13:01.31\00:13:04.45
and let me be a tool in
your hand to make this happen. "
00:13:04.48\00:13:07.72
And so, I began to pray
for people with some color.
00:13:07.78\00:13:12.62
"Give me a team
that has some color. "
00:13:12.65\00:13:16.06
Well, let me tell you something,
00:13:16.09\00:13:18.19
A year went by
and nothing happened,
00:13:18.23\00:13:20.03
and I was
becoming very discouraged
00:13:20.10\00:13:21.83
but the pastor
called me up and he said,
00:13:21.86\00:13:25.33
"There's a group that's
come up here Los Angeles...
00:13:25.37\00:13:28.10
they're... "
00:13:28.14\00:13:30.54
well, first let me tell you what
the Lord had placed on my heart
00:13:30.57\00:13:33.98
He had placed on my heart
that we should do mission work,
00:13:34.04\00:13:38.01
Vacation Bible
Schools, Medical Missionary Work
00:13:38.08\00:13:42.08
starting in Kitwanga
00:13:42.12\00:13:44.19
and driving up the
Stewart-Cassiar Highway
00:13:44.22\00:13:47.42
all the way up to Inuvik
which is the end of the road
00:13:47.46\00:13:50.09
above the Arctic Circle...
00:13:50.13\00:13:52.06
bringing this kind of work
00:13:52.09\00:13:54.00
to all the native
communities as we went.
00:13:54.03\00:13:56.77
Well, this group was
coming up to our church
00:13:56.80\00:13:59.47
and he said, "Would you
host them in your house?"
00:13:59.50\00:14:02.17
And I said, "Sure"
and... and in the church
00:14:02.20\00:14:04.84
when they spoke on Sabbath,
00:14:04.87\00:14:08.18
I had no idea what
they were going to say
00:14:08.21\00:14:11.25
and it was her mother
who spoke and she said,
00:14:11.28\00:14:13.88
"The Lord has put it
in our heart to go north
00:14:13.92\00:14:16.42
and He has inspired us
that we should start a work
00:14:16.45\00:14:20.19
for the native
people starting in Kitwanga
00:14:20.22\00:14:22.86
and going up the
Steward-Cassiar Highway
00:14:22.89\00:14:25.46
with Vacation Bible School
and Medical Missionary Work
00:14:25.49\00:14:30.03
and reaching the
native communities
00:14:30.07\00:14:32.27
one by one all the
way up to Inuvik. "
00:14:32.30\00:14:34.10
Audience: Amen.
00:14:34.14\00:14:35.47
That's right, hallelujah
we've got 30 seconds left,
00:14:35.50\00:14:38.34
Lara, tell us what is
going to happen in your life.
00:14:38.37\00:14:41.31
My life...
00:14:41.34\00:14:43.55
well... once this
Convention is done,
00:14:43.58\00:14:47.02
we will be going to Inuvik,
00:14:47.05\00:14:50.05
we'll be driving
starting in Kitwanga
00:14:50.09\00:14:52.35
and we're going to drive
all the way until the road ends
00:14:52.42\00:14:56.36
and we will stop at the villages
and ask to pray with them
00:14:56.42\00:15:00.33
and eat with them
and sing with them
00:15:00.36\00:15:03.53
and just show these
people the true love of God.
00:15:03.57\00:15:06.90
Amen... to God be the glory.
00:15:06.94\00:15:09.84
Please remember them in
your prayers, thank you.
00:15:09.87\00:15:13.04
Music...
00:15:13.07\00:15:21.28
For 40 years, our countries
lived under the Communist regime
00:15:21.32\00:15:25.29
it was a time in our
history of religious oppression.
00:15:25.32\00:15:28.19
Communist ideology believes
religion is opium of the people.
00:15:28.22\00:15:32.19
This led to deep distrust
between people and churches.
00:15:32.23\00:15:35.60
The Czech
Republic is even labeled
00:15:35.66\00:15:37.83
as one of the most Atheistic
countries in the world.
00:15:37.87\00:15:40.37
Music...
00:15:40.40\00:15:42.00
Nevertheless,
there are young people
00:15:42.04\00:15:44.01
from an initiative
called Youth for Jesus
00:15:44.04\00:15:46.27
who dedicate a big part
of their summer holidays
00:15:46.31\00:15:49.28
to evangelization.
00:15:49.34\00:15:51.05
They want to share their
hope and faith in our Savior
00:15:51.08\00:15:54.22
on the streets of
Czech and Slovak towns.
00:15:54.25\00:15:56.42
During Health Expo,
00:15:56.45\00:15:59.15
they try to
raise public awareness
00:15:59.19\00:16:01.42
about healthy lifestyle.
00:16:01.46\00:16:02.79
They are pointing out the
importance of spiritual health
00:16:02.82\00:16:06.49
and that the only way to truly
have a full and healthy life
00:16:06.53\00:16:10.07
is through Jesus.
00:16:10.10\00:16:11.70
These young people
experience everything together,
00:16:11.73\00:16:15.24
concerts, exhibitions,
distributing literature
00:16:15.27\00:16:18.71
and evening Biblical
lectures called: New Beginnings.
00:16:18.74\00:16:21.74
Youth for Jesus is
also an integral part
00:16:21.78\00:16:24.48
of the long-term
missionary project called,
00:16:24.51\00:16:26.98
"Touch the Heaven"
00:16:27.02\00:16:28.35
which is
organized by the churches
00:16:28.38\00:16:30.05
of Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:16:30.09\00:16:32.05
in Czech and Slovak Republic.
00:16:32.12\00:16:34.02
In the ten years, the
Movement has been active
00:16:34.06\00:16:38.59
500 young people have
taken part in Youth for Jesus.
00:16:38.66\00:16:42.76
1,500 people have attended
the New Beginnings lectures,
00:16:42.83\00:16:46.94
10,000 citizens of
Czech and Slovak Republic
00:16:46.97\00:16:50.57
went through our Health Expo
00:16:50.61\00:16:52.37
and we gave away
70,000 missionary books,
00:16:52.41\00:16:55.68
DVDs and magazines.
00:16:55.71\00:16:57.95
We visited 22 towns
00:16:58.01\00:17:00.18
including capital cities
of Bratislava and Prague.
00:17:00.22\00:17:03.75
Music.
00:17:03.79\00:17:05.75
Please pray for us... we need
your prayers of intercession.
00:17:05.79\00:17:09.02
Music...
00:17:09.06\00:17:12.33
One of the most
important parts of ASI
00:17:12.36\00:17:14.96
is coming
together to be inspired
00:17:15.03\00:17:17.60
and to encourage each other
00:17:17.63\00:17:20.20
to share Christ
in our marketplace.
00:17:20.24\00:17:22.24
Isn't it inspiring to hear what
these young people have done?
00:17:22.27\00:17:25.47
Now, I have with me my
dear friend, Radim Passer
00:17:25.51\00:17:29.51
and Radim... he saw what
ASI was doing here in the U S
00:17:29.54\00:17:33.95
and Radim, what did you do?
00:17:34.02\00:17:35.58
Good evening ASI,
00:17:35.65\00:17:37.62
I'd like to thank you
and thank our heavenly Father
00:17:37.65\00:17:41.92
for Program... Youth for Jesus
00:17:41.96\00:17:44.13
which brings inspiration
and blessings in many countries
00:17:44.16\00:17:48.46
including Czech
and Slovak Republic.
00:17:48.50\00:17:52.03
I came first at
ASI Convention in 2003
00:17:52.07\00:17:55.54
and in 2005 Convention,
00:17:55.60\00:17:57.41
we decided to adopt
00:17:57.44\00:17:59.17
this Youth for Jesus
Program for our country
00:17:59.21\00:18:02.54
and I would like to thank
my brother in Christ, Juraj,
00:18:02.58\00:18:06.25
who is fully committed
00:18:06.31\00:18:09.02
for this ministry in
Czech and Slovak Republic.
00:18:09.05\00:18:12.39
Pause.
00:18:12.45\00:18:14.86
Thank you Radim, it's
big privilege to be here
00:18:14.89\00:18:17.83
in 2008, I was in Tampa...
part of Youth for Jesus Program
00:18:17.89\00:18:23.80
and it was very
important experience
00:18:23.83\00:18:27.17
for starting
Youth for Jesus Program
00:18:27.20\00:18:30.51
in Czech and Slovak Union.
00:18:30.54\00:18:32.67
Now, we would like to share...
to share very short testimonies
00:18:32.74\00:18:39.81
about the impact,
Daniel, you can continue please.
00:18:39.88\00:18:44.35
Hi, I am Daniel... it was
during my Theology Studies
00:18:44.39\00:18:47.96
when I came for the
first time to Youth for Jesus
00:18:48.02\00:18:51.56
and I got immediately excited
00:18:51.59\00:18:54.40
and during the years, I
was coming again and again back
00:18:54.43\00:18:58.70
and in the end, I
became one of the Leaders.
00:18:58.73\00:19:02.20
I had the
privilege to serve people...
00:19:02.24\00:19:05.57
I could learn many
things about mission,
00:19:05.61\00:19:09.14
about conducting
evangelistic meetings
00:19:09.18\00:19:12.61
and, you know, leading
young people to serve God
00:19:12.65\00:19:15.98
and other people
in the community.
00:19:16.02\00:19:17.85
Now, as I serve as a Pastor,
I have my own local churches,
00:19:17.89\00:19:22.36
I benefit from this experience
and it helps me with my work,
00:19:22.39\00:19:27.96
with lay
members and young people
00:19:28.00\00:19:30.83
and I'm glad that
even those young people
00:19:30.87\00:19:33.77
benefit from their
participating in the program
00:19:33.84\00:19:37.27
and even one of them
is going to be baptized
00:19:37.31\00:19:40.74
in the end of this month
00:19:40.78\00:19:42.31
and I'm really glad
for that and praise God.
00:19:42.34\00:19:44.85
Amen.
00:19:44.88\00:19:47.15
Hello, my name is Jakub.
00:19:47.18\00:19:48.52
God changed my life
through Youth for Jesus.
00:19:48.55\00:19:52.22
When I came there
for the first time,
00:19:52.25\00:19:54.72
I had a wrong view on God
00:19:54.76\00:19:56.29
so I told Him,
"God, if you're real...
00:19:56.32\00:19:58.99
if you're interested in me,
00:19:59.03\00:20:00.36
I want to... I want to seek You,
00:20:00.40\00:20:04.43
so I spent a whole
week by seeking God
00:20:04.47\00:20:08.50
and praying and reading Bible
00:20:08.57\00:20:11.71
and He showed me
His plan with my life
00:20:11.74\00:20:14.54
and since then, Youth
for Jesus has become...
00:20:14.58\00:20:18.38
every year part of my holiday
00:20:18.41\00:20:20.55
and every day God has become
every day... part of my life.
00:20:20.58\00:20:25.39
Amen...
00:20:25.42\00:20:26.76
I'm Emanuel...
00:20:26.79\00:20:29.52
I was 15 when I attended
00:20:29.56\00:20:32.86
Youth for Jesus
for the first time.
00:20:32.89\00:20:34.83
I was Christian but I
didn't know how to live
00:20:34.86\00:20:38.93
in close
relationship with Christ.
00:20:38.97\00:20:41.84
Youth for Jesus helped
me help live spiritual life
00:20:41.87\00:20:46.11
and I decided to be baptized.
00:20:46.14\00:20:49.24
Then I started to present
New Beginnings Presentation
00:20:49.28\00:20:55.18
in my home town.
00:20:55.22\00:20:56.79
My classmates
accepted the invitation
00:20:56.82\00:20:59.92
and they could hear
promise of God's kingdom.
00:20:59.95\00:21:03.22
I'm very thankful to God.
00:21:03.26\00:21:05.89
Amen.
00:21:05.93\00:21:07.26
Hello, I'm Patricia
00:21:07.30\00:21:10.03
and this year I
invited my classmate
00:21:10.07\00:21:13.64
who is not an Adventist to
our Youth for Jesus Program.
00:21:13.67\00:21:17.81
I prayed a lot for her
to feel God's presence.
00:21:17.84\00:21:21.94
All the time she spent with us,
00:21:21.98\00:21:25.38
she was open to listen
to Lord and to seek Him.
00:21:25.41\00:21:29.62
On her way home,
she sent me the message,
00:21:29.65\00:21:33.42
"Thank you for the
opportunity to get to know you
00:21:33.46\00:21:39.03
and your church better.
00:21:39.06\00:21:40.70
I want to start studying
my Bible every day as you do.
00:21:40.73\00:21:45.77
You showed me the way
00:21:45.80\00:21:48.20
how to build my true
relationship with Jesus.
00:21:48.24\00:21:51.84
Also, last year, I had my first
presentation about Sabbath.
00:21:51.87\00:21:58.41
My grandma... who
is not an Adventist
00:21:58.45\00:22:01.68
she was able to
hear the message.
00:22:01.72\00:22:05.19
I'm excited and
praise the Lord. "
00:22:05.22\00:22:08.42
Amen.
00:22:08.49\00:22:11.09
Hello, my name is
Timotej and Youth for Jesus
00:22:11.13\00:22:14.80
started to be a part of
my summer holiday in 2013
00:22:14.83\00:22:19.83
and I loved it
00:22:19.87\00:22:21.34
but I didn't understand how
to live in harmony with God.
00:22:21.40\00:22:26.17
There was always a struggle
between God's will in my life
00:22:26.24\00:22:31.01
and my own will.
00:22:31.05\00:22:32.48
Last summer, on Youth for Jesus,
00:22:32.51\00:22:35.08
through the four
weeks that we are there,
00:22:35.12\00:22:37.99
me and my friend spent
every morning and night
00:22:38.02\00:22:41.86
in prayer...
studying the Bible...
00:22:41.89\00:22:44.19
and the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:22:44.23\00:22:46.33
Holy Spirit was working on us
00:22:46.39\00:22:48.43
and I'm glad that
He didn't stop there
00:22:48.46\00:22:51.23
at the end of
that intensive month.
00:22:51.27\00:22:54.00
Every day, He's showing
me how to change my opinions
00:22:54.04\00:22:59.77
and shaping my perspective.
00:22:59.81\00:23:02.01
I'm very glad to
be in His presence
00:23:02.04\00:23:06.05
and see that He's leading
me to Christ's character.
00:23:06.08\00:23:09.55
One verse that stuck
with me from that time
00:23:09.58\00:23:14.06
is written in Psalm 51,
00:23:14.09\00:23:16.32
"Create a clean
heart in me, O God;
00:23:16.36\00:23:20.50
and renew a right
spirit within me. "
00:23:20.53\00:23:24.63
Amen.
00:23:24.67\00:23:26.40
Good afternoon, ASI,
00:23:26.43\00:23:29.37
I'm Nik Janek.
00:23:29.40\00:23:30.74
I could experience so
many amazing experiences
00:23:30.77\00:23:36.11
but most
importantly God's presence
00:23:36.14\00:23:38.61
and what is more than
God's presence, right?
00:23:38.65\00:23:41.68
But what I saw
on Youth for Jesus,
00:23:41.75\00:23:45.92
young people who grow
spiritually year after year.
00:23:45.95\00:23:51.39
There is growing
up new generation...
00:23:51.43\00:23:54.43
young people who love mission
00:23:54.46\00:23:57.70
and understand the
purpose of God's Remnant Church.
00:23:57.73\00:24:02.87
This project is as well
fulfilling the great work
00:24:02.90\00:24:08.01
named Revival and Reformation
00:24:08.04\00:24:10.95
which is emphasized in
Spirit of Prophecy books
00:24:10.98\00:24:15.02
as our greatest need, amen.
00:24:15.05\00:24:17.99
Amen.
00:24:18.05\00:24:19.62
Hello, my name is Therezie
00:24:19.65\00:24:22.16
and I attended my first
Youth for Jesus when I was 25.
00:24:22.19\00:24:26.80
I have already been
baptized for seven years
00:24:26.83\00:24:31.17
but that was a place
where I have experienced
00:24:31.20\00:24:35.54
my true conversion.
00:24:35.57\00:24:37.27
I regret I didn't start
attending this project before
00:24:37.31\00:24:42.21
because Youth for
Jesus is my lifestyle now.
00:24:42.24\00:24:46.38
It's a privilege for me
to be one of part of leaders
00:24:46.41\00:24:52.75
and serve God.
00:24:52.82\00:24:54.92
Amen.
00:24:54.96\00:24:56.62
Thank you ASI
family for being...
00:24:56.66\00:24:59.23
helping this wonderful project
00:24:59.26\00:25:01.76
and changing the
lives of these young people
00:25:01.80\00:25:04.43
and, you know, only
until we get to heaven
00:25:04.47\00:25:07.10
will we see the real results
of the efforts and the rewards
00:25:07.14\00:25:11.07
that we've seen of the
work that's been done here.
00:25:11.11\00:25:13.68
Thank you very much.
00:25:13.71\00:25:15.04
Pause.
00:25:15.08\00:25:19.71
Piano...
00:25:19.78\00:25:24.45
more piano...
00:25:24.49\00:25:31.99
Crown Him with many crowns,
00:25:32.03\00:25:35.86
the Lamb upon His throne,
00:25:35.90\00:25:39.43
Hear! how the
heavenly anthem drowns
00:25:39.47\00:25:44.07
all music but its own
00:25:44.11\00:25:48.14
Awake, my soul, and sing
00:25:48.18\00:25:52.61
of Him who died for thee,
00:25:52.65\00:25:56.89
and hail Him as
thy matchless King
00:25:56.92\00:26:00.92
through all eternity.
00:26:00.96\00:26:08.26
Piano...
00:26:08.30\00:26:11.73
Crown Him the Lord of love!
00:26:11.77\00:26:15.77
behold His hands and side,
00:26:15.80\00:26:19.21
those wounds, yet visible above,
00:26:19.24\00:26:23.48
in beauty glorified;
00:26:23.51\00:26:27.72
No angel in the sky
00:26:27.78\00:26:31.95
Can fully bear that sight,
00:26:31.99\00:26:35.86
But downward
bends His watchful eye
00:26:35.89\00:26:40.46
At mysteries so great.
00:26:40.50\00:26:45.30
Piano.
00:26:45.33\00:26:54.08
Crown Him the Lord of life;
00:26:54.11\00:26:57.81
The potentate of time,
00:26:57.85\00:27:01.98
Creator of the rolling spheres,
00:27:02.02\00:27:06.62
In effably sublime!
00:27:06.65\00:27:12.93
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
00:27:12.96\00:27:17.90
For Thou hast died for me;
00:27:17.93\00:27:22.40
Thy praise shall
never, never fail
00:27:22.44\00:27:26.94
throughout eternity.
00:27:26.98\00:27:32.28
Thy praise shall
never, never fail
00:27:32.31\00:27:35.85
throughout
00:27:35.88\00:27:41.76
eternity.
00:27:41.79\00:27:47.56
Audience: Amen.
00:27:47.60\00:27:51.87
I have the honor to introduce
the Speaker for tonight,
00:27:51.90\00:27:55.90
Pastor Ivor Myers.
00:27:55.94\00:27:58.21
Hold on to your seat
00:27:58.24\00:28:00.48
and get ready to take an
extreme ride through the Bible
00:28:00.51\00:28:04.38
capturing a fresh perspective
on your identity in Jesus Christ
00:28:04.41\00:28:08.95
but first let me tell you a
little bit about Pr. Ivor Myers.
00:28:08.98\00:28:13.46
In 1995, Ivor was part
of a four-man Hip-Hop Group
00:28:13.49\00:28:19.29
signed to EMI Records.
00:28:19.33\00:28:21.50
In that same year,
00:28:21.53\00:28:22.86
he had an encounter
with the Word of God.
00:28:22.90\00:28:25.40
He walked away from the Industry
00:28:25.43\00:28:27.97
and is now all
in serving the Lord.
00:28:28.00\00:28:30.81
He currently is pastoring
00:28:30.87\00:28:33.58
the Campbell
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:28:33.61\00:28:35.64
in San Jose, California,
00:28:35.68\00:28:37.31
where he lives with
his wife and four children.
00:28:37.35\00:28:40.18
As Speaker and Director of
Power of the Lamb Ministries,
00:28:40.22\00:28:44.45
as well as ARME Bible Camp,
00:28:44.49\00:28:46.99
Pastor Ivor and
his wife, Atonte,
00:28:47.02\00:28:49.72
have dedicated
themselves to spreading
00:28:49.76\00:28:52.19
the three angels' messages
00:28:52.23\00:28:54.10
and I have to just say,
00:28:54.13\00:28:55.96
if you haven't been
to an ARME Bible Camp,
00:28:56.00\00:28:58.60
you need to go.
00:28:58.63\00:29:00.14
Pastor Ivor and Atonte
co-host the Three ABN Program,
00:29:00.17\00:29:05.81
Battles of Faith
00:29:05.84\00:29:07.18
and he also
co-hosts the 3ABN Program,
00:29:07.21\00:29:10.01
Salvation in Symbols and Signs,
00:29:10.05\00:29:12.15
a 72-part study on
the book of Revelation.
00:29:12.18\00:29:15.95
Pastor Myer
seeks to uplift Christ
00:29:15.98\00:29:19.82
as the only hope of salvation
00:29:19.85\00:29:22.32
and to connect people
with the power of the Lamb
00:29:22.36\00:29:25.73
to become new
creatures in Christ.
00:29:25.76\00:29:27.86
You know, their ministry
is having a profound effect
00:29:27.90\00:29:31.43
on many people around
the world, including me
00:29:31.50\00:29:34.87
and so, in just a bit,
00:29:34.90\00:29:36.81
you will Jesus
speak to your heart
00:29:36.84\00:29:38.91
through Pastor Ivor Myers.
00:29:38.94\00:29:40.84
Pause...
00:29:40.88\00:29:44.25
more pause...
00:29:44.28\00:29:53.69
Amazing love
00:29:53.72\00:29:59.49
how can it be?
00:29:59.53\00:30:05.87
That Thou, my God
00:30:05.90\00:30:13.27
should die for me?
00:30:13.31\00:30:20.58
And can it be that I should gain
00:30:20.62\00:30:28.32
An interest in
the Savior's blood!
00:30:28.36\00:30:36.87
Died He for me?
00:30:36.90\00:30:41.17
who caused His pain!
00:30:41.20\00:30:44.87
For me? who him
to death pursued?
00:30:44.91\00:30:53.72
Amazing love! How can it be
00:30:53.75\00:31:02.66
That Thou, my God,
shouldst die for me?
00:31:02.69\00:31:10.70
Amazing love!
00:31:10.73\00:31:15.30
How can it be
00:31:15.34\00:31:19.84
that thou, my God,
shouldst die for me?
00:31:19.87\00:31:29.35
No condemnation now I dread,
00:31:29.38\00:31:37.89
Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
00:31:37.93\00:31:46.70
alive in him, my living Head,
00:31:46.74\00:31:54.98
and clothed in
righteousness divine,
00:31:55.01\00:32:04.42
bold I approach
the eternal throne,
00:32:04.45\00:32:13.83
and claim the crown,
through Christ my own.
00:32:13.86\00:32:22.07
Amazing love! How can it be
00:32:22.10\00:32:30.38
that thou, my God...
00:32:30.41\00:32:36.82
that thou, my God
00:32:36.85\00:32:40.22
that thou, my God,
00:32:40.26\00:32:46.59
shouldst die for me?
00:32:46.63\00:32:51.73
Amazing love!
00:32:51.77\00:32:58.11
How can it be
00:32:58.14\00:33:04.45
that thou, my God,
00:33:04.48\00:33:09.58
shouldst die
00:33:09.62\00:33:14.72
for me?
00:33:14.76\00:33:20.00
me...
00:33:20.03\00:33:25.23
Audience: Amen.
00:33:25.27\00:33:27.84
Pause...
00:33:27.87\00:33:34.04
Amen, Happy Sabbath everyone.
00:33:34.08\00:33:35.84
Audience: Happy Sabbath.
00:33:35.88\00:33:37.55
You don't sound
happy... Happy Sabbath...
00:33:37.58\00:33:39.31
Audience loudly: Happy Sabbath.
00:33:39.35\00:33:40.68
Amen, all right.
00:33:40.72\00:33:42.15
I am excited, how about you?
00:33:42.18\00:33:44.65
Audience: Amen.
00:33:44.69\00:33:46.02
Huh, wow, I am
excited, how about you?
00:33:46.05\00:33:48.62
Audience loudly: Amen.
00:33:48.66\00:33:49.99
Amen, let's pray
because we have limited time,
00:33:50.03\00:33:52.23
we need to get
right into the message
00:33:52.26\00:33:53.66
how many of you are ready to get
into the Word of God tonight?
00:33:53.70\00:33:57.20
Audience: Amen.
00:33:57.23\00:33:58.57
"Heavenly Father, bless us...
00:33:58.60\00:34:00.67
this is our prayer
in Jesus' name, amen. "
00:34:00.70\00:34:05.21
Audience: Amen.
00:34:05.24\00:34:06.71
Jesus is coming again.
00:34:06.74\00:34:09.34
Audience: Amen.
00:34:09.38\00:34:10.71
Amen.
00:34:10.75\00:34:12.08
Audience loudly: Amen.
00:34:12.11\00:34:13.45
Why did you laugh?
00:34:13.48\00:34:14.82
Pause...
00:34:14.85\00:34:19.22
Let's try that again,
Jesus is coming again, amen!
00:34:19.25\00:34:23.02
Audience very loudly: Amen.
00:34:23.06\00:34:24.43
Why did you laugh?
00:34:24.46\00:34:25.79
Pause...
00:34:25.83\00:34:27.70
more pause...
00:34:27.73\00:34:30.23
You guys are looking confused,
that's the title of the sermon.
00:34:30.27\00:34:33.40
Audience: Laughing.
00:34:33.44\00:34:34.80
Why did you laugh?
00:34:34.84\00:34:36.17
Have you ever laughed
at the promises of God?
00:34:36.20\00:34:40.18
Pause...
00:34:40.21\00:34:41.91
Come,
00:34:41.94\00:34:43.78
turn with me if you will to
the book of Genesis chapter 18,
00:34:43.81\00:34:46.68
Genesis chapter 18...
00:34:46.72\00:34:48.18
I'm going to give a
little bit of background.
00:34:48.22\00:34:52.12
In Genesis chapter 18,
00:34:52.15\00:34:54.09
Abraham is about
to be visited by God
00:34:54.12\00:34:56.96
and the Bible tells us
that it was God and two angels
00:34:56.99\00:35:01.46
that come to Abraham
00:35:01.50\00:35:02.83
and he fixes them a meal and
then they begin this discussion
00:35:02.86\00:35:06.50
and in verse 9, the Bible
says, "And they said unto him,
00:35:06.53\00:35:09.84
that is Abraham... Abram...
Where is Sarah they wife?
00:35:09.87\00:35:12.97
And he said,
Behold, in the tent.
00:35:13.01\00:35:17.08
And He said, I will
certainly return unto thee
00:35:17.11\00:35:19.95
according to the time of life;
00:35:19.98\00:35:21.32
and, lo, Sarah thy
wife shall have a son.
00:35:21.35\00:35:23.28
And Sarah heard it in the
tent door, which was behind him.
00:35:23.32\00:35:27.56
Now Abraham and Sarah were
old and well stricken in age;
00:35:27.59\00:35:31.26
and it ceased to be with
Sarah after the manner of women.
00:35:31.29\00:35:34.96
Therefore Sarah
laughed out loud... "
00:35:35.00\00:35:40.87
Pause...
00:35:40.90\00:35:45.61
Did Sarah laugh out loud?
00:35:45.64\00:35:47.14
Audience: Hmmm...
00:35:47.18\00:35:48.51
No, no, no, no, no...
"Sarah laughed within herself
00:35:48.54\00:35:51.75
saying, Am I...
after I've waxed old
00:35:51.78\00:35:54.58
shall I have pleasure,
my lord being old also?
00:35:54.62\00:35:57.59
And the LORD said unto Abraham,
Wherefore did Sarah laugh,
00:35:57.62\00:36:02.36
saying, I of a surety shall
bear a child, which am old?
00:36:02.39\00:36:06.90
Is anything too
hard for the Lord?
00:36:06.93\00:36:09.50
At the time appointed
I will return unto thee,
00:36:09.56\00:36:12.77
according to the time of life,
and Sarah shall have a son.
00:36:12.80\00:36:16.07
Then Sarah denied... "
and looked at him crazy...
00:36:16.10\00:36:21.78
"saying, I laughed
not; for she was afraid... "
00:36:21.81\00:36:26.95
because she was a
good Seventh-day Adventist
00:36:27.02\00:36:32.12
pause...
00:36:32.15\00:36:33.76
"and He said, "Nay;
but thou didst laugh. "
00:36:33.79\00:36:37.16
You see, we have Sarah here
laughing at the promise of God
00:36:37.19\00:36:40.73
and some of you might be saying,
00:36:40.76\00:36:42.86
"Well, you know, that's Sarah...
Sarah was Abraham's wife
00:36:42.90\00:36:46.13
but Abraham... you know...
he was the father of faith. "
00:36:46.17\00:36:49.37
Amen...
00:36:49.40\00:36:51.04
except if you go
one chapter back,
00:36:51.07\00:36:55.54
Chapter 17 verse 15,
"God said unto Abraham,
00:36:55.58\00:36:59.61
As for Sarai thy wife,
00:36:59.65\00:37:00.98
thou shalt not
call her name Sarai,
00:37:01.02\00:37:02.78
but Sarah shall her name be.
00:37:02.82\00:37:05.42
And I will bless her, and
give thee a son also of her:
00:37:05.45\00:37:08.19
yea, I will bless her,
00:37:08.22\00:37:09.56
and she shall be
a mother of nations;
00:37:09.59\00:37:12.16
kings of people
shall be of her. "
00:37:12.19\00:37:13.53
"Then Abraham... "
the father of faith
00:37:13.56\00:37:14.90
fell on his face
00:37:14.93\00:37:17.90
and laughed... "
00:37:17.93\00:37:21.00
You see, you have to
understand why Abraham laughed
00:37:21.07\00:37:24.97
because Abraham was 75 years old
00:37:25.01\00:37:27.51
when God first called
him and gave him this promise
00:37:27.54\00:37:30.31
that... that... that he and
Sarai were going to have a son
00:37:30.35\00:37:32.91
and I want you to imagine,
00:37:32.95\00:37:35.32
you know,
Abraham hears this news
00:37:35.35\00:37:37.12
and he is excited...
God's word has spoken...
00:37:37.19\00:37:40.12
"God said we're
going to have a son"
00:37:40.16\00:37:41.99
and so, you know,
eight months passed by
00:37:42.02\00:37:43.83
and guess what?
00:37:43.89\00:37:45.23
No son...
00:37:45.26\00:37:46.73
but you know, they're
like, "Hey, not a problem,
00:37:46.76\00:37:49.63
God's word always
comes to pass" amen.
00:37:49.66\00:37:52.60
Audience: Amen.
00:37:52.63\00:37:53.97
Another year passes...
00:37:54.00\00:37:55.34
"Hey, it may seem
that God is not on time
00:37:55.37\00:38:00.64
but trust us, God
is an on-time God"
00:38:00.68\00:38:03.45
somebody say, "Amen. "
00:38:03.48\00:38:04.81
Audience: Amen.
00:38:04.85\00:38:06.18
Four years passed...
00:38:06.21\00:38:07.55
Pause...
00:38:07.58\00:38:09.35
God's word will do what
it says it will do, amen.
00:38:09.38\00:38:12.62
Audience: Amen... thank you.
00:38:12.65\00:38:14.19
Ten years passed...
00:38:14.22\00:38:16.22
15 years passed...
00:38:16.26\00:38:19.09
20 years passed...
00:38:19.13\00:38:22.76
25 years passed...
00:38:22.83\00:38:26.43
and no son...
00:38:26.47\00:38:28.90
Abraham and Sarah
begin to doubt their name...
00:38:28.94\00:38:34.81
begin to doubt their identity.
00:38:34.84\00:38:37.68
That's Genesis chapter 18,
00:38:37.71\00:38:40.52
so... so let me give you
the context of this laughter.
00:38:40.55\00:38:43.22
In order to do that,
we're going to go back
00:38:43.28\00:38:45.55
to the very beginning
of the book of Genesis
00:38:45.62\00:38:47.99
and we know that in
Genesis chapter 1 through 5,
00:38:48.02\00:38:50.33
the Bible there summarizes
the... the... the... the...
00:38:50.36\00:38:53.46
the story of sin... and how
sin entered into planet earth.
00:38:53.50\00:38:57.10
That's Genesis
chapter 1 to chapter 5
00:38:57.17\00:39:00.00
but then you have
Genesis chapter 6 where...
00:39:00.04\00:39:04.14
where God speaks to a
man by the name of Noah
00:39:04.17\00:39:08.24
and He says to Noah,
00:39:08.28\00:39:09.61
"Noah, I'm going
to call you to preach
00:39:09.64\00:39:11.35
and you're going to
preach... " for how long?
00:39:11.38\00:39:12.71
120 years so check this out...
00:39:12.75\00:39:16.45
the first time
prophecy in the Old Testament
00:39:16.48\00:39:19.45
is the 120-year time
prophecy, are you with me?
00:39:19.49\00:39:22.59
All right, watch this
guys, in this time prophecy,
00:39:22.62\00:39:25.69
God says to Noah,
"You're going to preach,
00:39:25.73\00:39:28.70
I'm going to give
people a period of probation...
00:39:28.76\00:39:31.43
a period of mercy that's
going to last a 120 years
00:39:31.47\00:39:34.10
if they do not
accept the salvation
00:39:34.14\00:39:36.50
that is offered to them,
00:39:36.57\00:39:37.91
at the end of this
period, they will be cut off. "
00:39:37.94\00:39:40.81
Pause.
00:39:40.84\00:39:43.28
You're not feeling me...
00:39:43.31\00:39:44.78
you see, what happened
at the end of that 120 years
00:39:44.81\00:39:49.22
is that salvation
came through a man
00:39:49.28\00:39:52.75
who was lifted up
above the earth on wood.
00:39:52.82\00:39:56.46
I'm just going to
wait... I'm just going to wait,
00:39:56.49\00:40:00.56
I'm just going to wait.
00:40:00.60\00:40:01.93
Audience: Amen... amen.
00:40:01.96\00:40:03.30
And those who rejected this man
00:40:03.33\00:40:05.20
who had been lifted up
above the earth on wood...
00:40:05.23\00:40:08.04
they were cut off and
God raised up a new people
00:40:08.07\00:40:10.81
that were to be
fruitful and multiply...
00:40:10.84\00:40:13.07
hmmm...
00:40:13.11\00:40:15.04
yeah, that reminds me
of the 70-week prophecy
00:40:15.08\00:40:17.45
in the New
Testament how many of you...
00:40:17.48\00:40:18.91
does that remind you about?
00:40:18.95\00:40:20.52
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
the 70-week prophecy
00:40:20.55\00:40:23.08
which pointed to... to
Christ coming to this earth,
00:40:23.12\00:40:25.72
a period of mercy
being given to God's people
00:40:25.75\00:40:28.82
in the Old Testament,
00:40:28.86\00:40:30.19
"Listen, a man is coming...
00:40:30.23\00:40:31.56
He is going to be lifted up
on a cross above the earth...
00:40:31.59\00:40:34.26
He's going to be
lifted up on wood
00:40:34.30\00:40:35.63
and those who
reject Him, will be cut off
00:40:35.66\00:40:39.37
and I will raise up a new
people whose job it will be
00:40:39.40\00:40:42.44
to be fruitful and multiply.
00:40:42.50\00:40:44.84
That... that's Genesis chapter 6
00:40:44.87\00:40:48.94
all the way
through to chapter 10.
00:40:48.98\00:40:50.81
When we get to
Genesis chapter 11,
00:40:50.85\00:40:52.51
we find
something very interesting.
00:40:52.55\00:40:54.12
We find this...
this... this... this story...
00:40:54.15\00:40:57.25
of a man by the name of
Nimrod building this tower
00:40:57.29\00:41:00.52
and we call it
the Tower of Babel
00:41:00.56\00:41:03.63
and this Tower of Babel
was a symbol of rebellion
00:41:03.66\00:41:06.86
kind of reminds me of Babylon.
00:41:06.90\00:41:08.73
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
00:41:08.76\00:41:11.60
you know, that other prophecy
in the book of Revelation
00:41:11.63\00:41:14.10
which speaks about
this power called Babylon
00:41:14.14\00:41:16.57
during the Dark Ages
00:41:16.60\00:41:18.01
that sought to
exalt itself against God.
00:41:18.07\00:41:21.04
That time prophecy was
the 1,260-year prophecy.
00:41:21.08\00:41:27.55
Check this out guys,
00:41:27.58\00:41:28.98
Genesis chapters 6 through 10
reflects the 70-week prophecy.
00:41:29.02\00:41:32.75
Genesis chapter 11... we
find this rebellion taking place
00:41:32.79\00:41:36.46
at a place called Babel.
00:41:36.49\00:41:37.93
Hold on...
00:41:37.99\00:41:39.83
At the end of
Genesis chapter 11,
00:41:39.86\00:41:42.83
you have the story
of Abraham being called
00:41:42.86\00:41:47.97
out of Ur of the Chaldees...
00:41:48.00\00:41:51.44
pause...
00:41:51.47\00:41:55.48
you have Abraham
being called out of Babylon.
00:41:55.51\00:42:01.22
You guys... can you
think of a time prophecy
00:42:01.28\00:42:06.92
in which God's people
were called out of Babylon?
00:42:06.96\00:42:11.26
Yeah, yeah, come
on... come on... come on...
00:42:11.29\00:42:13.53
the 2,300-Day
prophecy... 1844...
00:42:13.56\00:42:17.47
did God raise up
a people in 1844?
00:42:17.50\00:42:20.64
Yeah... did God call Abraham...
00:42:20.67\00:42:23.74
Did God say to Abraham,
00:42:23.77\00:42:25.47
"Abraham, you are going
to produce a great multitude"
00:42:25.51\00:42:29.21
pause...
00:42:29.24\00:42:35.02
Beloved, check this out,
00:42:35.08\00:42:37.49
we are in the Bible...
00:42:37.52\00:42:39.35
pause... Audience: Amen.
00:42:39.39\00:42:41.19
You want to
know why I'm excited?
00:42:41.22\00:42:44.26
Because our
story is in the Bible.
00:42:44.29\00:42:47.26
Audience: Amen.
00:42:47.30\00:42:48.93
Who would have
thought that Genesis chapter 1
00:42:48.96\00:42:51.30
all the way to...
now, check this out...
00:42:51.33\00:42:53.54
wait, wait, wait...
00:42:53.60\00:42:54.94
that's Genesis chapter
12 where God calls Abraham
00:42:54.97\00:42:57.14
out of Ur of the Chaldees,
00:42:57.21\00:42:58.64
now, from Genesis chapter
12 all the way to chapter 17
00:42:58.67\00:43:02.48
or chapter 18...
what you have happening
00:43:02.51\00:43:04.91
is...
00:43:04.98\00:43:07.12
pause...
00:43:07.15\00:43:09.22
Abraham is waiting
00:43:09.28\00:43:12.39
for the promised son.
00:43:12.45\00:43:15.49
No... no... no...
let's re-phrase that...
00:43:15.52\00:43:17.56
Abraham is waiting for the
coming of the promised son.
00:43:17.59\00:43:23.47
Audience: Amen...
00:43:23.50\00:43:25.33
pause...
00:43:25.40\00:43:28.57
he's waiting for the advent...
00:43:28.60\00:43:34.84
1844 God called this
Movement into existence
00:43:34.88\00:43:38.85
and we were told that
Jesus was coming again
00:43:38.88\00:43:42.82
and our
response... "Amen... yes!"
00:43:42.85\00:43:45.22
Wooo...!
00:43:45.25\00:43:47.26
pause...
00:43:47.32\00:43:49.29
He didn't come...
00:43:49.32\00:43:50.93
1850... "Beloved you believe
that Jesus is coming again?"
00:43:50.96\00:43:55.66
Amen...
00:43:55.70\00:43:57.27
a hearty Amen...
00:43:57.30\00:43:59.87
pause...
00:43:59.93\00:44:03.17
1880... "Jesus is
coming again, amen"
00:44:03.20\00:44:06.88
Audience: Amen.
00:44:06.91\00:44:08.24
1920... "Jesus is
coming again, amen. "
00:44:08.28\00:44:14.45
Audience: Amen.
00:44:14.48\00:44:15.82
Yeah, you hear us
beginning to go down...
00:44:15.85\00:44:17.85
A... A... Amen...
00:44:17.89\00:44:20.32
1950... "Jesus is coming
again, A... A... A... Amen"
00:44:20.36\00:44:25.26
pause...
00:44:25.29\00:44:28.20
1999... Y2K...
00:44:28.23\00:44:31.13
"Jesus is really coming again. "
00:44:31.20\00:44:34.17
Audience: Laughter.
00:44:34.20\00:44:36.14
Pause...
00:44:36.17\00:44:38.04
2010...
00:44:38.07\00:44:40.38
2015...
00:44:40.41\00:44:43.04
2018...
00:44:43.11\00:44:45.68
and many of us
when we heard that...
00:44:45.71\00:44:48.12
tonight...
"Jesus is coming again"
00:44:48.15\00:44:50.49
you know what we did?
00:44:50.52\00:44:52.02
We laughed...
00:44:52.05\00:44:54.32
pause...
00:44:54.36\00:44:56.26
"I've heard this before, Pastor"
00:44:56.29\00:44:57.66
"My... my parents thought
Jesus was coming in their time
00:44:57.69\00:45:00.53
and their parents thought
Jesus was coming in their time
00:45:00.56\00:45:03.37
we've heard this before... "
00:45:03.40\00:45:04.73
and so, what begins
to happen is that...
00:45:04.77\00:45:06.10
our doubt begins to creep in...
00:45:06.13\00:45:07.64
we begin to doubt who we are,
00:45:07.67\00:45:09.30
we begin to doubt our
mission and our identity...
00:45:09.34\00:45:13.74
don't laugh...
00:45:13.78\00:45:17.38
because Jesus is coming again.
00:45:17.41\00:45:21.12
Audience: Amen.
00:45:21.15\00:45:22.48
We have not believed
cunningly devised fables.
00:45:22.52\00:45:26.92
Don't laugh...
00:45:26.96\00:45:28.72
you see, Beloved,
00:45:28.76\00:45:30.46
Satan wants to put doubt
in your heart and in your mind
00:45:30.49\00:45:33.03
and have us to
begin to doubt who we are
00:45:33.06\00:45:34.73
and to doubt our mission,
00:45:34.76\00:45:36.10
by-the-way, Abram's
name was changed to Abraham
00:45:36.13\00:45:38.60
because his
mission was in his name.
00:45:38.63\00:45:41.00
Pause...
00:45:41.04\00:45:42.60
God gave this church a name...
00:45:42.64\00:45:44.21
Seventh-day Adventist
00:45:44.24\00:45:46.47
and that name... it describes
who we are as a people.
00:45:46.51\00:45:50.91
Audience: Amen.
00:45:50.95\00:45:52.31
It's our
mission... it's our identity.
00:45:52.35\00:45:54.95
Pause.
00:45:54.98\00:45:57.19
So, I just gave you the
context of Genesis chapter 18...
00:45:57.22\00:46:00.26
that laughter... we see...
00:46:00.29\00:46:01.62
we follow this pattern
all the way from Genesis 1,
00:46:01.66\00:46:03.93
all the way into Genesis 18,
00:46:03.96\00:46:05.29
now, check this out,
00:46:05.33\00:46:06.66
remember, the last
thing we read in Genesis 18
00:46:06.70\00:46:08.76
was God telling Abraham,
"Listen, you will have a son...
00:46:08.80\00:46:12.63
the son will come... "
00:46:12.67\00:46:14.80
pause.
00:46:14.84\00:46:17.67
In the meantime, God rises,
00:46:17.71\00:46:20.94
and He's about
to leave Abraham...
00:46:20.98\00:46:23.04
pause...
00:46:23.08\00:46:25.55
you know if I get excited
all by myself for a second...
00:46:25.58\00:46:27.95
Audience: Laughter.
00:46:27.98\00:46:29.48
Because God is
about to do something...
00:46:29.52\00:46:31.62
so Abraham rises
with Him and the angels...
00:46:31.65\00:46:33.66
and God says, "Okay,
I got to tell Abraham
00:46:33.72\00:46:35.69
because I'm
about to do something"
00:46:35.72\00:46:37.06
so... so He says to
Abraham... "Abraham listen,
00:46:37.09\00:46:39.19
I'm going down to
Sodom and Gomorrah
00:46:39.23\00:46:42.43
to investigate... "
00:46:42.46\00:46:44.50
pause...
00:46:44.53\00:46:51.14
no... no... I
learned something...
00:46:51.17\00:46:53.04
I learned that in Adventism,
silence is the new excitement...
00:46:53.07\00:46:55.58
I learned that...
00:46:55.61\00:46:57.48
and it's taken me
many years to get that
00:46:57.51\00:46:59.28
but I'm getting the hang of it
00:46:59.31\00:47:01.08
so I'm going to be silent
with you just for a second.
00:47:01.12\00:47:02.65
Pause.
00:47:02.68\00:47:04.99
While Abraham is
waiting for the promised son,
00:47:05.02\00:47:08.22
God says, "Now Abraham,
00:47:08.26\00:47:09.79
I want to work on your character
00:47:09.82\00:47:11.63
so I'm about to
tell you something,
00:47:11.66\00:47:13.43
I am going down
to investigate...
00:47:13.46\00:47:15.80
there is going to be an
investigative judgment...
00:47:15.86\00:47:19.23
Abraham, I want to
see how you respond... "
00:47:19.27\00:47:24.54
pause...
00:47:24.57\00:47:26.98
and Abraham begins to
plead and intercede for...
00:47:27.01\00:47:31.01
listen to me...
for the enemies of God.
00:47:31.05\00:47:34.38
Pause...
00:47:34.42\00:47:35.95
more pause.
00:47:35.98\00:47:39.15
You want character change...
intercede for your enemies.
00:47:39.22\00:47:43.06
You see, Beloved,
God's trying to tell us
00:47:43.09\00:47:45.66
while we are waiting
for the second coming...
00:47:45.69\00:47:48.16
while we are waiting for
the promised Son to come,
00:47:48.20\00:47:50.77
we ought to be doing
something and that is...
00:47:50.80\00:47:53.64
we ought to be... we
ought to be interceding
00:47:53.67\00:47:56.27
for those who are the enemies
of God and our own enemies.
00:47:56.30\00:47:59.34
Pause.
00:47:59.37\00:48:01.18
Wow! wow... and Abraham
is pleading and pleading
00:48:01.21\00:48:05.21
listen to me, God
has given us the ministry
00:48:05.25\00:48:08.52
of reconciliation...
00:48:08.55\00:48:09.88
that's what we
ought to be doing.
00:48:09.92\00:48:11.25
That's why He called us,
00:48:11.29\00:48:13.15
God wants us to
reconcile the world to Himself.
00:48:13.19\00:48:17.39
Pause.
00:48:17.43\00:48:18.83
See, our problem in this church
00:48:18.86\00:48:20.30
is that we've been given
the ministry of reconciliation
00:48:20.36\00:48:22.96
but we cannot even
reconcile amongst ourselves.
00:48:23.00\00:48:26.10
So how are we going to
reconcile the world with God
00:48:26.13\00:48:29.20
when we cannot even
reconcile among ourselves?
00:48:29.24\00:48:32.91
Ministries
jealous of Ministries...
00:48:32.94\00:48:34.74
pause...
00:48:34.81\00:48:38.81
Ministers
jealous of Ministers...
00:48:38.85\00:48:40.75
pause...
00:48:40.78\00:48:42.58
Brother jealous of Brother...
00:48:42.62\00:48:44.09
listen to me... in the world...
00:48:44.12\00:48:45.52
in the world...
00:48:45.55\00:48:46.89
that term "Brother"
00:48:46.92\00:48:48.26
has a totally
different meaning in the church.
00:48:48.29\00:48:49.69
In the world, you
know, my... when I...
00:48:49.72\00:48:52.89
when I was in the world,
00:48:52.93\00:48:54.26
when you said
"Brother" to someone,
00:48:54.30\00:48:55.63
it was like "Yo,
Bro... Brother... Brother... "
00:48:55.66\00:48:57.67
Brother was like brother.
00:48:57.70\00:48:59.03
Pause.
00:48:59.07\00:49:00.94
In the Church, "Brother"
means, "prepare for rebuke. "
00:49:00.97\00:49:03.87
"Brother... "
00:49:03.91\00:49:05.24
Audience: Laughing.
00:49:05.27\00:49:09.01
"Brother, may I
have a word with you?"
00:49:09.04\00:49:10.38
Any time I hear "Brother"
00:49:10.41\00:49:11.75
I'm like, "Oh... what's that?"
00:49:11.78\00:49:13.11
that's a terrifying
word in Adventism...
00:49:13.15\00:49:15.18
"Brother... "
00:49:15.22\00:49:16.55
It should not be like that.
00:49:16.58\00:49:18.05
"Brother" should
actually mean brother
00:49:18.09\00:49:21.56
but it doesn't.
00:49:21.59\00:49:23.73
We pick at each other and...
and we police each other...
00:49:23.76\00:49:26.86
and we... we're looking for
how we can outdo one another
00:49:26.90\00:49:29.96
and Beloved, God cannot trust us
00:49:30.00\00:49:32.77
with the
ministry of reconciliation
00:49:32.80\00:49:35.30
when we can't
even do it in-house.
00:49:35.37\00:49:37.57
You see, Beloved, God
follows His own advice.
00:49:37.61\00:49:41.38
God tells in Matthew 18, if
you have ought with someone,
00:49:41.44\00:49:44.98
what do you do?
00:49:45.01\00:49:46.61
You go to them yourself
00:49:46.65\00:49:47.98
and if they won't hear
you, you send two witnesses
00:49:48.02\00:49:49.85
and if they won't hear them,
00:49:49.88\00:49:51.22
you bring them
before the church amen.
00:49:51.25\00:49:52.72
So let me ask you a question,
00:49:52.75\00:49:54.09
did Jesus have
ought with this world?
00:49:54.12\00:49:56.42
Yes, He did and
guess what He did?
00:49:56.46\00:49:58.99
He came to this world Himself.
00:49:59.03\00:50:01.50
Pause.
00:50:01.53\00:50:03.23
"Ah, Humanity, I
have an issue with you,
00:50:03.26\00:50:05.03
you sinned... "
00:50:05.07\00:50:06.47
pause...
00:50:06.50\00:50:09.90
"can we ah... can
we be reconciled?"
00:50:09.94\00:50:11.94
Humanity said, "No,
00:50:11.97\00:50:14.08
we're going to
put you on a cross"
00:50:14.14\00:50:16.28
that's the 70-week
prophecy, you know that right?
00:50:16.31\00:50:19.75
That's a... that's
pointing to Jesus' coming
00:50:19.78\00:50:22.32
the 70-week prophecy...
00:50:22.38\00:50:23.72
so they rejected
Jesus... so what does Jesus do?
00:50:23.75\00:50:25.89
He follows His own advice,
00:50:25.95\00:50:27.29
"If they reject me, I'm
going to send two witnesses"
00:50:27.32\00:50:30.49
pause...
00:50:30.53\00:50:35.06
"yeah, yeah, two witnesses,
Old and New Testament...
00:50:35.10\00:50:39.17
1,260 years.
00:50:39.20\00:50:41.97
Revelation 11...
00:50:42.00\00:50:44.71
how do they treat
the two witnesses?
00:50:44.74\00:50:46.88
They killed them.
00:50:46.94\00:50:49.51
So if they don't
hear the two witnesses,
00:50:49.54\00:50:51.21
the last chance
for reconciliation...
00:50:51.25\00:50:53.72
is you bring it
before the church.
00:50:53.75\00:50:56.18
Pause...
00:50:56.22\00:50:58.75
That final
prophecy, Beloved, 1844...
00:50:58.79\00:51:02.32
the 2,300-Day Prophecy
is God raising up a church
00:51:02.36\00:51:06.09
with the ministry of
reconciliation in mind
00:51:06.13\00:51:09.56
because He wants to win
the world back to Himself
00:51:09.60\00:51:14.44
and listen to me,
Beloved, you owe this to Jesus,
00:51:14.47\00:51:19.31
did you hear me?
00:51:19.34\00:51:21.41
You all didn't hear me...
00:51:21.44\00:51:22.81
how many of you
gave your life to Christ?
00:51:22.84\00:51:24.68
You gave your
life to Christ, amen,
00:51:24.71\00:51:27.08
all right, so you
know what happens?
00:51:27.12\00:51:29.45
You owe Jesus a testimony...
00:51:29.48\00:51:31.92
you owe Him your life,
00:51:31.95\00:51:34.36
listen, let me make it plain,
00:51:34.39\00:51:36.83
you see, what
happened in 1844 is... is...
00:51:36.86\00:51:41.70
in 1844... God
launched a special council
00:51:41.73\00:51:46.53
pause...
00:51:46.57\00:51:48.70
He launched a probe...
00:51:48.74\00:51:50.91
because He was
trying to... to... to...
00:51:50.94\00:51:53.94
the judgment was
about determining
00:51:53.98\00:51:56.88
who is guilty of
colluding with a foreign power.
00:51:56.91\00:52:06.15
Pause...
00:52:06.19\00:52:12.13
oh... yeah...
00:52:12.16\00:52:14.10
think with me
guys, think with me...
00:52:14.13\00:52:15.70
come on Man, keep your
mind spiritual right now,
00:52:15.73\00:52:17.87
please...
00:52:17.90\00:52:19.23
Audience:
Laughter. Pastor: Please...
00:52:19.27\00:52:20.97
don't come up
to me afterwards...
00:52:21.00\00:52:22.94
let's be
spiritual right now, okay.
00:52:23.00\00:52:25.94
The Investigative Judgment is...
00:52:25.97\00:52:28.88
is a probe by a
special council in heaven
00:52:28.91\00:52:31.21
and what that special
council is trying to... to...
00:52:31.25\00:52:33.68
is looking at is,
00:52:33.72\00:52:35.32
"Who is guilty of colluding
with a foreign power. "
00:52:35.35\00:52:39.55
Pause...
00:52:39.59\00:52:43.53
You see Beloved,
that foreign power
00:52:43.56\00:52:45.39
is none other than
Satan and his kingdom
00:52:45.43\00:52:48.46
and here's what God finds,
00:52:48.50\00:52:50.97
the Bible says,
00:52:51.00\00:52:52.33
"All have sinned and
fallen short of the glory of God
00:52:52.37\00:52:56.87
meaning, all of us
were guilty of collusion...
00:52:56.91\00:53:00.68
every last one of us
00:53:00.71\00:53:04.68
but guess what?
00:53:04.71\00:53:06.11
There is good news
because God offers a plea deal.
00:53:06.15\00:53:11.32
Audience: Amen.
00:53:11.35\00:53:14.86
God offers a plea
deal and it's a sweet deal
00:53:14.89\00:53:18.89
because that deal is,
"If you confess your sins...
00:53:18.93\00:53:22.63
He is faithful and just
to forgive us of our sins
00:53:22.66\00:53:26.37
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness"
00:53:26.40\00:53:28.24
and guess what? We
don't have to serve any time.
00:53:28.27\00:53:31.41
Pause...
00:53:31.44\00:53:33.61
It's a sweet deal...
00:53:33.64\00:53:35.34
you remember that guy
named David in the Bible
00:53:35.38\00:53:37.81
who colluded with the devil
00:53:37.85\00:53:40.65
when he had Uriah killed...
you remember that story?
00:53:40.68\00:53:43.59
and... and the
Bible says that...
00:53:43.62\00:53:45.52
that he was found out
and... and he repented, amen
00:53:45.55\00:53:49.89
and when he repented,
00:53:49.92\00:53:52.26
the prophet
Nathan comes and he says,
00:53:52.29\00:53:53.90
"Listen, you've
repented, you will live...
00:53:53.96\00:53:55.93
but the child you
have is going to die. "
00:53:55.96\00:53:57.90
What a messed up story
00:53:57.93\00:54:00.50
until we discover
that the child that died...
00:54:00.54\00:54:04.24
even though he
doesn't have a name...
00:54:04.27\00:54:05.77
he was a male child...
00:54:05.81\00:54:07.14
meaning, he was
the son of David.
00:54:07.18\00:54:09.04
Pause.
00:54:09.08\00:54:11.88
Yeah... no... no... no... no...
00:54:11.91\00:54:13.82
the son of David
having done no wrong...
00:54:13.88\00:54:16.22
you're not feeling me...
00:54:16.25\00:54:18.79
having done no wrong
00:54:18.82\00:54:21.26
dies that
someone else might live.
00:54:21.32\00:54:23.49
Beloved, that's the plea
deal, so when you accept Christ,
00:54:23.53\00:54:29.10
guess what?
00:54:29.13\00:54:30.47
It's a sign that
Jesus has flipped you...
00:54:30.50\00:54:33.27
pause...
00:54:33.34\00:54:39.54
and when He flips you,
you become His witnesses
00:54:39.57\00:54:43.95
pause...
00:54:43.98\00:54:47.42
and as His witnesses, you
owe it to Him to testify...
00:54:47.45\00:54:54.02
are you catching me?
00:54:54.06\00:54:57.06
God desires us to testify
00:54:57.09\00:55:00.10
and to testify means that we are
demonstrating before the world
00:55:00.13\00:55:04.07
the goodness of God
00:55:04.10\00:55:05.43
and what He has
done in our lives
00:55:05.47\00:55:07.50
pause...
00:55:07.54\00:55:09.10
because we now believe and know
00:55:09.14\00:55:11.71
that Jesus is coming again.
00:55:11.74\00:55:13.07
We understand the
purpose of our name,
00:55:13.11\00:55:14.84
Seventh-day Adventists.
00:55:14.88\00:55:16.98
We believe that
Jesus is coming again
00:55:17.01\00:55:20.55
and here's the problem, Beloved,
00:55:20.58\00:55:22.68
many of us have taken
that name for granted.
00:55:22.72\00:55:25.59
You see, many of us
don't know what it means
00:55:25.62\00:55:28.42
to be a Seventh-day Adventist.
00:55:28.46\00:55:30.03
What does it mean to be
a Seventh-day Adventist?
00:55:30.06\00:55:32.29
You believe in the Sabbath...
00:55:32.33\00:55:33.86
you believe in the second coming
00:55:33.90\00:55:35.36
and you believe in
the Sanctuary... amen.
00:55:35.40\00:55:37.80
Check this out, I
have a little time left,
00:55:37.83\00:55:40.07
I'm going to cover these three
00:55:40.10\00:55:41.44
and then we're going to
close this up, listen guys,
00:55:41.47\00:55:42.80
what does it mean to be
a Seventh-day Adventist?
00:55:42.87\00:55:44.47
Pause...
00:55:44.54\00:55:46.17
To be a Seventh-day Adventist
means you believe in the Sabbath
00:55:46.21\00:55:48.71
amen.
00:55:48.74\00:55:50.08
You're like,
"Pastor, we got that
00:55:50.11\00:55:51.68
move on to the next one... "
00:55:51.71\00:55:53.25
hold on...
00:55:53.28\00:55:54.62
you see, the
Sabbath is a celebration
00:55:54.65\00:55:56.58
of God's creative power, right?
00:55:56.62\00:55:58.62
How God created the earth, amen.
00:55:58.65\00:56:00.59
The problem is, many
of us stop right there.
00:56:00.62\00:56:03.59
We don't realize
that the Sabbath...
00:56:03.63\00:56:05.79
the celebration of the Sabbath
00:56:05.83\00:56:07.36
is more than about
the creation of the world.
00:56:07.40\00:56:10.03
You see Beloved,
when you come to Christ,
00:56:10.07\00:56:12.63
He makes you a new creation.
00:56:12.67\00:56:14.57
You started out in darkness
00:56:14.60\00:56:16.40
and then God said,
"Let there be light. "
00:56:16.44\00:56:18.77
And then, you were
baptized in the waters
00:56:18.81\00:56:21.11
and then you
brought forth new fruit
00:56:21.14\00:56:23.11
and then He brought
to you the greater light
00:56:23.14\00:56:25.75
and the lesser light
00:56:25.78\00:56:27.12
and then He made
you a fisher of men
00:56:27.15\00:56:28.85
and then He
re-created you in His image.
00:56:28.88\00:56:31.09
The Sabbath is a celebration
of a changed life in you.
00:56:31.12\00:56:35.92
So, if all we're celebrating
is God creating the world
00:56:35.96\00:56:40.70
6,000 years ago,
00:56:40.73\00:56:42.10
we have missed the
purpose of the Sabbath.
00:56:42.16\00:56:44.77
Pause...
00:56:44.80\00:56:46.47
You all didn't catch that...
00:56:46.50\00:56:48.30
if you have not
been re-created...
00:56:48.34\00:56:50.91
pause...
00:56:50.94\00:56:53.17
the creative power of God
is not working in your life,
00:56:53.21\00:56:57.18
you don't fully
understand what it means
00:56:57.21\00:57:02.68
to be a Seventh-day Adventist.
00:57:02.72\00:57:06.62