Isn't this a
wonderful, wonderful convention?
00:00:19.71\00:00:22.72
Yes.
00:00:22.75\00:00:24.09
I can't tell you how
sad I am on the one hand
00:00:24.12\00:00:27.52
that it's going to
be over this evening.
00:00:27.56\00:00:30.09
And on the other
hand, it's been a marathon
00:00:30.13\00:00:32.83
in so many ways.
00:00:32.86\00:00:34.53
And we just praise the Lord
00:00:34.56\00:00:36.23
for the wonderful,
wonderful convention
00:00:36.26\00:00:38.37
that we've had,
00:00:38.40\00:00:39.73
and I know this evening is
going to be a real blessing.
00:00:39.77\00:00:43.00
And we want each
and every one of you
00:00:43.04\00:00:45.81
to continue to
carry the spirit of ASI
00:00:45.84\00:00:50.01
as you go home in
your separate areas.
00:00:50.05\00:00:53.52
I ask you one more time
00:00:53.55\00:00:54.88
to please stand as
we have our prayer.
00:00:54.92\00:00:57.29
Gracious, kind, heavenly Father,
00:01:00.96\00:01:03.46
what a blessing it has
been to spend time together
00:01:03.49\00:01:07.73
to see our old friends
and to meet new friends.
00:01:07.76\00:01:11.60
You have been so
good to us, Lord,
00:01:11.63\00:01:13.64
and we thank you
for the Sabbath day
00:01:13.67\00:01:15.64
that You have given us
00:01:15.67\00:01:17.01
and the many
blessings that we have had
00:01:17.04\00:01:19.17
throughout this convention.
00:01:19.21\00:01:21.34
We pray that as we continue
throughout the Sabbath evening,
00:01:21.38\00:01:25.81
and as we go our
separate ways tomorrow
00:01:25.85\00:01:28.72
that we will
carry the spirit of ASI
00:01:28.75\00:01:31.92
that we will share
00:01:31.95\00:01:33.62
and be able to be a
witness to each and every person
00:01:33.66\00:01:36.93
that we come in contact
with throughout the year ahead.
00:01:36.96\00:01:40.96
Give us Your Holy Spirit,
Lord, and continue to bless us.
00:01:41.00\00:01:45.00
Be with each and every one
00:01:45.03\00:01:46.37
that's participating in
the program this evening,
00:01:46.40\00:01:49.37
and pour out Your Holy
Spirit upon them as well.
00:01:49.40\00:01:52.57
We thank You and
praise You and ask this all
00:01:52.61\00:01:55.71
in Jesus' holy name, amen.
00:01:55.74\00:01:58.45
Amen. Please be seated.
00:01:58.48\00:02:01.28
On day one of our
convention for those of you
00:02:01.32\00:02:03.65
who are here on
our opening night,
00:02:03.69\00:02:05.02
Wednesday night,
00:02:05.05\00:02:06.59
we took the
opportunity to introduce
00:02:06.62\00:02:09.29
a couple of new
members of our team,
00:02:09.32\00:02:12.26
Dr Philip Batista, our
new secretary treasurer
00:02:12.29\00:02:15.33
for ASI was introduced,
00:02:15.36\00:02:17.03
and that was a
blessing that he's coming to us.
00:02:17.07\00:02:20.74
And also Sharon Robertson
00:02:20.77\00:02:23.47
who will be our new
event planner for us,
00:02:23.51\00:02:26.14
event
coordinator, event planner.
00:02:26.17\00:02:28.31
But tonight, we're
taking an opportunity
00:02:28.34\00:02:30.35
to say our thank yous.
00:02:30.38\00:02:32.05
We're not saying goodbye
00:02:32.08\00:02:33.42
because Sharon is
not going anywhere,
00:02:33.45\00:02:35.68
I'm sure she's going to be
here at ASI in future times
00:02:35.72\00:02:40.16
because she's
very connected to ASI.
00:02:40.19\00:02:43.22
I asked Sharon before we came.
00:02:43.26\00:02:44.59
I said, "What
is the one thing...
00:02:44.63\00:02:46.46
What is the one thing
about this ASI experience
00:02:46.49\00:02:49.20
that probably you take
away more than anything else?"
00:02:49.23\00:02:53.97
And she said,
00:02:54.00\00:02:55.34
"It's about the friends
that I have here at ASI."
00:02:55.37\00:02:58.84
And ASI gets to be
like a family, doesn't it?
00:02:58.87\00:03:01.08
I don't know how
you feel about it,
00:03:01.11\00:03:03.21
but I know for me,
it's just like a family.
00:03:03.24\00:03:05.35
You come, you are
associating with each other,
00:03:05.38\00:03:08.02
and God is
blessing in so many ways,
00:03:08.05\00:03:10.39
and it's just
like family, isn't it?
00:03:10.42\00:03:13.86
So tonight, Sharon
is going to be retiring
00:03:13.89\00:03:18.56
after this convention
in the process of that.
00:03:18.59\00:03:21.56
And so we just wanted
to say thank you to Sharon,
00:03:21.60\00:03:24.33
11 years of service to ASI.
00:03:24.37\00:03:27.04
Amen?
00:03:27.07\00:03:28.40
We have two
things for you tonight,
00:03:32.94\00:03:35.68
and we're going to give
unto you in an illogical order.
00:03:35.71\00:03:39.45
First of all,
I'm gonna ask Donna
00:03:39.48\00:03:40.82
to give you this gift,
00:03:40.85\00:03:42.18
and while I'm talking,
I want you to open it up.
00:03:42.22\00:03:44.95
And then we're
gonna give your flowers
00:03:44.99\00:03:46.92
'cause you can't juggle a gift
and a flowers at the same time.
00:03:46.96\00:03:49.76
That's gonna create problem.
00:03:49.79\00:03:51.13
So again, it
becomes like family.
00:03:51.16\00:03:54.90
Sharon has done a
great job over the years of
00:03:54.93\00:03:57.90
helping to select venues
and putting contracts in place
00:03:57.93\00:04:01.64
and solving
problems for all of us
00:04:01.67\00:04:03.97
that we wouldn't
want to have to deal with.
00:04:04.01\00:04:06.07
Think of all the
meals that have been served
00:04:06.11\00:04:08.54
over the last 11
years to our ASI family
00:04:08.58\00:04:11.78
under our leadership of Sharon
00:04:11.81\00:04:15.62
as she has
provided those contacts
00:04:15.65\00:04:18.95
and attended tasting events
00:04:18.99\00:04:20.89
and just on and on
with all of the things
00:04:20.92\00:04:24.53
that an event planner has to do.
00:04:24.56\00:04:26.80
It's an amazing
series of opportunities,
00:04:26.83\00:04:30.07
and patience, and
diplomacy in an every other way.
00:04:30.10\00:04:34.44
She has been a
great person for this job
00:04:34.47\00:04:37.41
and has really
helped us over the years.
00:04:37.44\00:04:39.71
So, Sharon, we want to say
a special thank you to you.
00:04:39.74\00:04:43.41
And I know you're
trying to get this out
00:04:43.45\00:04:46.68
and struggling with it.
00:04:46.72\00:04:48.52
It's a world globe
sitting inside of a glass case
00:04:48.55\00:04:53.15
that kind of balances
itself in there and rotates.
00:04:53.19\00:04:57.79
And to remind you
00:04:57.83\00:04:59.56
that you have had an opportunity
00:04:59.59\00:05:01.63
to impact the world
through the work of ASI.
00:05:01.66\00:05:05.00
So, Sharon, thank you.
00:05:05.03\00:05:06.77
May God bless you.
00:05:06.80\00:05:09.50
And in your years of retirement,
00:05:09.54\00:05:13.58
we pray that you will
continue to return to ASI
00:05:13.61\00:05:16.34
and be a blessing
to many more folks
00:05:16.38\00:05:18.25
through your
association with us.
00:05:18.28\00:05:20.12
We have some flowers
here for you this evening.
00:05:20.15\00:05:22.68
And again, our deep appreciation
00:05:22.72\00:05:26.25
for all that you have done
00:05:26.29\00:05:28.36
and all that you will
yet do for the ASI family.
00:05:28.39\00:05:32.53
Is there anything you would
like to say to our ASI family
00:05:32.56\00:05:36.13
or are you speechless?
00:05:36.16\00:05:38.43
Yeah, I'd say, I'm
pretty close to speechless
00:05:38.47\00:05:40.34
and that usually
never happens to me
00:05:40.37\00:05:42.10
but the only one
word I can really say is,
00:05:42.14\00:05:45.91
thank you everybody for
making ASI success every year
00:05:45.94\00:05:50.41
because without you,
00:05:50.45\00:05:52.21
we would be
struggling here with no success.
00:05:52.25\00:05:54.45
So we are so thankful
00:05:54.48\00:05:55.82
that God has
blessed ASI every year
00:05:55.85\00:05:57.55
for the last 11
years and beyond.
00:05:57.59\00:06:00.76
Thank you,
Sharon. May God bless you.
00:06:00.79\00:06:02.86
Thank you to our team.
00:06:02.89\00:06:04.23
I just wanted to mention,
00:06:04.26\00:06:05.79
we have on the
stage with you tonight
00:06:05.83\00:06:07.53
every president
that she has served
00:06:07.56\00:06:09.90
under with the exception of one.
00:06:09.93\00:06:11.27
Norm couldn't be
here this weekend
00:06:11.30\00:06:13.10
but otherwise all the presidents
00:06:13.13\00:06:15.10
she has served with are here.
00:06:15.14\00:06:16.91
And thank you so much.
00:06:16.94\00:06:18.41
And, Kyle, last
couple of years has,
00:06:18.44\00:06:21.94
you know, been the
secretary treasurer
00:06:21.98\00:06:23.65
so thank you, Sharon, again.
00:06:23.68\00:06:25.61
May God bless you.
00:06:25.65\00:06:26.98
Thank you.
00:06:27.02\00:06:28.35
I have the privilege tonight
of introducing our speaker.
00:06:34.82\00:06:40.83
My first
interaction with Taj Pacleb
00:06:40.86\00:06:44.33
was when I was 15-years-old
00:06:44.37\00:06:48.27
which was
actually about 13 years ago
00:06:48.30\00:06:49.84
for those of you
who are wondering
00:06:49.87\00:06:51.81
if it was last year.
00:06:51.84\00:06:53.21
I was 15-years-old,
00:06:56.41\00:06:57.75
sitting in the
cafeteria of my high school,
00:06:57.78\00:07:00.42
Monterey Bay Academy,
00:07:00.45\00:07:02.18
and he was with
a group of people
00:07:02.22\00:07:04.45
recruiting us for literature
evangelism that summer.
00:07:04.49\00:07:09.46
He was also talking
about a mission trip
00:07:09.49\00:07:11.16
he was going to to Ethiopia.
00:07:11.19\00:07:12.96
And I remember when
he told me about it.
00:07:12.99\00:07:15.86
The Holy Spirit just moved
down my heart as he explained
00:07:15.90\00:07:19.73
what they would be doing
00:07:19.77\00:07:21.30
as they would be preaching
00:07:21.34\00:07:23.41
to hundreds of
people in Ethiopia.
00:07:23.44\00:07:27.31
And God worked it out
for me to go on that trip,
00:07:27.34\00:07:31.68
and I had a
life-changing experience
00:07:31.71\00:07:34.65
because of that invitation.
00:07:34.68\00:07:36.79
After that summer...
00:07:36.82\00:07:38.59
After that trip,
I went that summer
00:07:38.62\00:07:40.79
to another majorly
life-changing experience
00:07:40.82\00:07:46.09
which was Youth Rush,
00:07:46.13\00:07:48.40
a literature evangelism program.
00:07:48.43\00:07:51.03
And Taj and
Wati were my leaders.
00:07:51.07\00:07:53.84
They taught me
how to share my faith
00:07:53.87\00:07:55.84
going door-to-door.
00:07:55.87\00:07:57.21
I still remember Taj
00:07:57.24\00:07:58.97
running with me door-to-door
00:07:59.01\00:08:01.34
as we talked.
00:08:01.38\00:08:05.08
You know, it's hard not to cry
00:08:05.11\00:08:07.78
thinking about the influence
that they've had in my life.
00:08:07.82\00:08:11.25
And I actually
know that many people
00:08:11.29\00:08:13.19
have had that experience.
00:08:13.22\00:08:15.26
Taj and Wati have mentored
00:08:15.29\00:08:18.16
and trained
hundreds of young people
00:08:18.19\00:08:21.86
all over this division
in literature evangelism
00:08:21.90\00:08:25.13
and in all of
types of evangelism.
00:08:25.17\00:08:27.34
And I'm so privileged
to be one of those people.
00:08:27.37\00:08:29.90
I remember
listening to Taj's worships
00:08:29.94\00:08:33.04
every morning,
00:08:33.07\00:08:34.41
and my heart would
be breaking for Jesus
00:08:34.44\00:08:37.91
as a 16-year-old
00:08:37.95\00:08:40.18
as I heard about
the Jesus who loved me.
00:08:40.22\00:08:45.92
And I remember,
00:08:45.95\00:08:48.22
just loving their zest for God
00:08:48.26\00:08:51.69
and for life,
they were real people,
00:08:51.73\00:08:54.80
and yet they love Jesus so much.
00:08:54.83\00:08:57.37
I would go on to
be his Bible worker
00:08:57.40\00:08:59.23
for three
back-to-back evangelistic series
00:08:59.27\00:09:02.34
and was able to see
even more of the dedication
00:09:02.37\00:09:05.14
and deep
spirituality of Taj and Wati.
00:09:05.17\00:09:08.18
And since that time,
00:09:08.21\00:09:09.54
they've become my
friends and my role models,
00:09:09.58\00:09:11.25
and I can genuinely say
that God placed them in my life
00:09:11.28\00:09:15.38
to help build the
foundation for who I am today.
00:09:15.42\00:09:19.75
I know countless
people who can testify like me
00:09:19.79\00:09:22.42
how God has used them
00:09:22.46\00:09:24.49
to draw them into a
greater experience with Him.
00:09:24.53\00:09:28.10
Taj worked for the
Central California Conference
00:09:28.13\00:09:31.33
as the conference
evangelist for several years.
00:09:31.37\00:09:34.17
And then in 2015,
they stepped out in faith
00:09:34.20\00:09:37.77
to start
Revelation of Hope Ministries.
00:09:37.81\00:09:40.98
Revelation of Hope is
a faith based worldwide
00:09:41.01\00:09:44.58
evangelistic
ministry based in Hawaii,
00:09:44.61\00:09:47.15
and its mission is to
change the population of heaven
00:09:47.18\00:09:50.29
by sharing Christ in the context
00:09:50.32\00:09:52.95
of Three Angels'
Messages in all the world.
00:09:52.99\00:09:56.59
I know from experience
00:09:56.62\00:09:57.96
that the greatest
desire of Taj's heart tonight
00:09:57.99\00:10:00.96
is that you would consider
the words of God through him
00:10:01.00\00:10:04.63
and that you wouldn't admire him
00:10:04.67\00:10:06.27
for his eloquence or fame,
00:10:06.30\00:10:08.60
but that you would listen
00:10:08.64\00:10:09.97
to the words of
the Spirit of God,
00:10:10.01\00:10:12.14
and that you would open up
your hearts in a special way
00:10:12.17\00:10:15.01
and allow Jesus to draw you
00:10:15.04\00:10:17.15
into a closer
relationship with Him tonight.
00:10:17.18\00:10:20.22
God bless you.
00:10:20.25\00:10:21.58
Aloha!
00:10:25.49\00:10:28.19
Aloha! Aloha.
00:10:28.22\00:10:30.63
How many of you
been to Hawaii before?
00:10:30.66\00:10:32.96
All right.
00:10:32.99\00:10:34.33
How many of you wish
00:10:34.36\00:10:35.70
you'd been
through Hawaii before?
00:10:35.73\00:10:37.40
If I had the
power to make a motion
00:10:37.43\00:10:40.20
that we have ASI in
Hawaii one of these years,
00:10:40.24\00:10:43.10
how many of you
would check-in that?
00:10:43.14\00:10:45.57
All in favor, say amen.
00:10:45.61\00:10:47.21
Amen! All right.
00:10:47.24\00:10:48.58
I talk to Brother
Steve back stage and he said,
00:10:48.61\00:10:50.71
"Let's make it happen."
00:10:50.75\00:10:52.38
We do have a
convention center there,
00:10:52.41\00:10:54.48
and I know many
people think of Hawaii
00:10:54.52\00:10:55.85
as the place of vacation
00:10:55.88\00:10:57.22
but really, it's an
awesome mission field.
00:10:57.25\00:10:59.49
People who are
hungering and thirsting
00:10:59.52\00:11:01.39
for the truth of God's Word.
00:11:01.42\00:11:03.22
By the way, we brought a
lot of evangelistic resources
00:11:03.26\00:11:05.76
and DVDs and we don't
want to take it back to Hawaii.
00:11:05.79\00:11:08.76
So after this service is finish,
00:11:08.80\00:11:10.67
we want to invite
you to come visit us
00:11:10.70\00:11:12.27
at our Revelation of
Hope Ministry's booth
00:11:12.30\00:11:14.77
to get some of those free DVDs.
00:11:14.80\00:11:17.04
It's always an
undeserved privilege
00:11:17.07\00:11:19.57
and a high honor to
share God's Word tonight.
00:11:19.61\00:11:22.31
And I just want to thank
God for that opportunity.
00:11:22.34\00:11:25.01
I invite you to take
your Bible and turn with me
00:11:25.05\00:11:26.68
to the Book of
Isaiah Chapter 58,
00:11:26.72\00:11:29.98
Isaiah Chapter 58.
00:11:30.02\00:11:32.52
As we open God's
Word for the final charge
00:11:32.55\00:11:34.86
of this powerful
weekend together,
00:11:34.89\00:11:37.43
the message I
want to share with you
00:11:37.46\00:11:38.79
is very simple,
stay on the wall.
00:11:38.83\00:11:42.66
We're going to
Isaiah Chapter 58.
00:11:42.70\00:11:45.27
It's a chapter that it's written
00:11:45.30\00:11:46.63
especially for those of us
00:11:46.67\00:11:48.00
who are living during the time
of the investigative judgment,
00:11:48.04\00:11:51.47
during the
antitypical Day of Atonement.
00:11:51.51\00:11:53.71
And in this
series and solemn time,
00:11:53.74\00:11:55.78
it's not going to
be business as usual.
00:11:55.81\00:11:58.45
For it is a solemn
time for a very solemn work,
00:11:58.48\00:12:01.58
a time for us to
search our hearts
00:12:01.62\00:12:03.18
and afflict our souls
00:12:03.22\00:12:04.55
in preparation
for the last days.
00:12:04.59\00:12:06.69
And it's the time for us to
be engaged in that special facts
00:12:06.72\00:12:12.43
of unselfish ministry to others.
00:12:12.46\00:12:15.03
And in the
climax of this chapter,
00:12:15.06\00:12:17.53
we find the prophetic role
00:12:17.57\00:12:19.03
that God would have us
to play in these last days.
00:12:19.07\00:12:22.20
We're in Isaiah
Chapter 58, if you're there,
00:12:22.24\00:12:24.31
would you please let
me know by saying amen?
00:12:24.34\00:12:25.94
Amen.
00:12:25.97\00:12:27.31
And notice what
it says in verse 12.
00:12:27.34\00:12:29.91
Dear Lord, we've
opened Your Word.
00:12:29.94\00:12:32.15
Now open our heart, speak to us.
00:12:32.18\00:12:35.32
And we pray that the
conviction will result
00:12:35.35\00:12:37.55
in a deeper
conversion of our lives
00:12:37.59\00:12:40.69
that You'd truly bring revival
00:12:40.72\00:12:42.69
that would result
in the reformation
00:12:42.72\00:12:44.56
and the restoration of humanity.
00:12:44.59\00:12:47.40
Please speak now is our prayer,
00:12:47.43\00:12:48.76
in Christ's name, amen.
00:12:48.80\00:12:50.27
Amen.
00:12:50.30\00:12:51.63
Bible says in Isaiah 58:12,
00:12:51.67\00:12:54.30
"And they that shall be of thee
00:12:54.34\00:12:55.70
shall build the
old waste places:
00:12:55.74\00:12:58.57
thou shalt raise
up the foundations
00:12:58.61\00:13:00.34
of many generations,
00:13:00.38\00:13:02.14
and thou shalt be called..."
00:13:02.18\00:13:03.51
Let's finish it together.
00:13:03.55\00:13:05.11
"The repairer of the breach,
00:13:05.15\00:13:07.55
and the restorer
of paths to dwell in."
00:13:07.58\00:13:11.99
Here in this very
popular well-known passage,
00:13:12.02\00:13:15.96
we find that the primary role
00:13:15.99\00:13:17.63
that God would have us
to play in these last days
00:13:17.66\00:13:20.70
is that of rebuilder,
repairer, and restorer.
00:13:20.73\00:13:25.43
But something only
needs to be restored
00:13:25.47\00:13:27.70
or rebuild if it's broken.
00:13:27.74\00:13:30.21
Now how many of you know
something about brokenness?
00:13:30.24\00:13:34.24
I don't know about you,
but I grew up in a broken home,
00:13:34.28\00:13:37.05
dysfunctional family.
00:13:37.08\00:13:38.68
We never went to a church.
00:13:38.71\00:13:40.38
Growing up, I had no idea
what was God or who was God.
00:13:40.42\00:13:43.32
And without a
solid foundation of faith
00:13:43.35\00:13:45.35
and the walls of
truth to protect me,
00:13:45.39\00:13:47.62
I started making
terrible decisions
00:13:47.66\00:13:49.36
at a very young age.
00:13:49.39\00:13:50.99
I didn't know what SDA
was or ASI or GYC or ABC
00:13:51.03\00:13:54.86
or these other letters
that mean so much to us.
00:13:54.90\00:13:58.53
Totally ignorant
of the things of God.
00:13:58.57\00:14:00.87
And as a result, my
life, like the text says,
00:14:00.90\00:14:02.94
became an old waste place.
00:14:02.97\00:14:05.34
Wasting my time and
wasting my mind on drugs,
00:14:05.37\00:14:08.74
searching for something
to fill the void within.
00:14:08.78\00:14:11.71
That was me when
I was 16-years-old.
00:14:11.75\00:14:13.95
But in that lost condition,
00:14:13.98\00:14:15.98
someone came and
knocked on my door,
00:14:16.02\00:14:18.02
invited me to a
Bible prophecy seminars,
00:14:18.05\00:14:20.39
spirit-filled, Bible-based
lay led evangelistic outreach.
00:14:20.42\00:14:25.16
And I'm standing
before you here tonight
00:14:25.19\00:14:27.30
because in those meetings, God,
the God of restoration found me
00:14:27.33\00:14:31.23
and I've never
been the same since.
00:14:31.27\00:14:33.54
And I want to share
with you, friends, tonight,
00:14:33.57\00:14:34.94
you may be in the
midst of brokenness,
00:14:34.97\00:14:37.37
a broken marriage, a
broken home, a broken body,
00:14:37.41\00:14:40.04
a broken mind,
a broken ministry,
00:14:40.08\00:14:41.84
a broken church.
00:14:41.88\00:14:43.21
But thank God that our
God is the God of restoration.
00:14:43.24\00:14:46.41
And if you're thankful
for the God of restoration,
00:14:46.45\00:14:48.22
say amen?
00:14:48.25\00:14:49.58
Amen.
00:14:49.62\00:14:50.95
He is the one that restores
what the enemy has broken.
00:14:50.99\00:14:54.76
And thank God that His
work is not to tear down
00:14:54.79\00:14:59.73
but to restore.
00:14:59.76\00:15:01.10
And as we allow the Lord to
repair the brokenness in us,
00:15:01.13\00:15:04.97
it's then that He will repair
00:15:05.00\00:15:06.33
the brokenness of
the world through us,
00:15:06.37\00:15:08.50
for this verse
not only describes
00:15:08.54\00:15:10.21
our natural
condition without God,
00:15:10.24\00:15:12.67
but it also describes
00:15:12.71\00:15:14.04
our supernatural
commission for God
00:15:14.08\00:15:16.44
to repair the
brokenness of humanity,
00:15:16.48\00:15:18.81
the brokenness of truth.
00:15:18.85\00:15:20.85
And so it tells us
00:15:20.88\00:15:22.38
that the primary prophetic role
of God's people is rebuilder,
00:15:22.42\00:15:26.65
restorer, and repairer.
00:15:26.69\00:15:28.72
The book Desire of Ages tells us
00:15:28.76\00:15:30.86
that the very essence
of the gospel is what?
00:15:30.89\00:15:35.36
Is restoration.
00:15:35.40\00:15:36.77
And so those of us
00:15:36.80\00:15:38.13
who are recipients of the gospel
00:15:38.17\00:15:39.90
are called to be participants
00:15:39.93\00:15:41.64
in their very unusual
special work of restoration.
00:15:41.67\00:15:45.54
But, friends, I want
you to consider with me
00:15:45.57\00:15:47.71
that it takes no
skill to tear down,
00:15:47.74\00:15:50.88
but it requires
unusual and great wisdom,
00:15:50.91\00:15:53.88
commitment, and
love to build up.
00:15:53.92\00:15:57.12
Some of you may know
that earlier this year,
00:15:57.15\00:15:59.75
my family were victims of arson.
00:15:59.79\00:16:03.63
A thief came in the night
00:16:03.66\00:16:05.49
and my family home
was destroyed by fire.
00:16:05.53\00:16:08.83
It was a terrible
devastating experience.
00:16:08.86\00:16:11.30
The fire caused
over $700,000 of damage.
00:16:11.33\00:16:15.00
It could have
easily taken our life.
00:16:15.04\00:16:16.64
That's the fire that
our home was destroyed by.
00:16:16.67\00:16:21.58
And it was tragic.
00:16:21.61\00:16:22.94
We made it out just
in the nick of time.
00:16:22.98\00:16:26.05
It could have
easily taken our lives.
00:16:26.08\00:16:27.42
And I thank God, we're all safe,
00:16:27.45\00:16:28.78
we all made it out,
00:16:28.82\00:16:30.15
and everything
that can be replaced
00:16:30.19\00:16:31.52
is going to be replaced.
00:16:31.55\00:16:32.89
Thank God for fire
insurance too, amen?
00:16:32.92\00:16:35.12
But there is so many
blessings in the blaze.
00:16:35.16\00:16:37.99
One of the blessings
00:16:38.03\00:16:39.49
is that I was able to speak
to the entire state of Hawaii
00:16:39.53\00:16:43.40
across three
television news stations
00:16:43.43\00:16:45.93
about 50 minutes after
the fire was extinguished.
00:16:45.97\00:16:48.77
I was on live TV,
00:16:48.80\00:16:50.14
and because I
knew there was live TV,
00:16:50.17\00:16:52.31
I knew they wouldn't cut me off.
00:16:52.34\00:16:53.94
So I just kept
talking and talking
00:16:53.98\00:16:55.64
and talking about Jesus.
00:16:55.68\00:16:58.01
I was saying, you
know, it's a mess in there
00:16:58.05\00:16:59.98
but God take a mess
and turn it into a message.
00:17:00.02\00:17:03.05
We're victims but
God can take a victim
00:17:03.08\00:17:04.95
and make them a
victor in Christ.
00:17:04.99\00:17:07.19
You know what I said?
I said, you know what?
00:17:07.22\00:17:08.72
By the way, this whole world,
one day, is gonna be on fire.
00:17:08.76\00:17:11.46
But the Bible says,
00:17:11.49\00:17:12.83
"He that does God's
will will abide forever."
00:17:12.86\00:17:14.43
Amen? Amen!
00:17:14.46\00:17:17.47
Now I never thought
when I went to bed that night
00:17:17.50\00:17:22.27
that in a few hours,
00:17:22.30\00:17:23.64
three or four
o'clock in the morning,
00:17:23.67\00:17:25.01
I'd have the chance to
speak to my entire state
00:17:25.04\00:17:26.91
but God does wonderful things.
00:17:26.94\00:17:28.28
Amen? Amen.
00:17:28.31\00:17:29.64
And by the way, you can
see the whole news report
00:17:29.68\00:17:31.15
if you go on
our YouTube channel.
00:17:31.18\00:17:32.51
Just type in
Blessings from the Blaze,
00:17:32.55\00:17:36.02
and you can see the whole thing.
00:17:36.05\00:17:37.39
It's a powerful
thing of the Lord.
00:17:37.42\00:17:38.75
What the enemy meant for evil,
God turned it around for good.
00:17:38.79\00:17:40.92
And it just gave us more fuel
00:17:40.96\00:17:42.76
that if a devil is
gonna bring destruction to us,
00:17:42.79\00:17:44.86
we need to bring
destruction to his kingdom.
00:17:44.89\00:17:47.50
And the only way
we can do that is
00:17:47.53\00:17:48.86
by lifting up Christ.
00:17:48.90\00:17:50.23
Amen?
00:17:50.27\00:17:51.60
And so right now, we're
in the rebuilding process,
00:17:51.63\00:17:53.00
the restoration process.
00:17:53.03\00:17:54.74
And I learned that restoration
is a process in two phases,
00:17:54.77\00:17:59.37
demolition and rebuilding.
00:17:59.41\00:18:02.38
You see, before the
home can be rebuilt,
00:18:02.41\00:18:04.45
the damaged
interior of the house
00:18:04.48\00:18:06.45
needs to be torn down.
00:18:06.48\00:18:08.28
And it took the
demolition crew just one week,
00:18:08.32\00:18:11.42
but it's gonna
take the rebuilding crew
00:18:11.45\00:18:13.49
several months.
00:18:13.52\00:18:14.86
My friends, it takes
no skill to tear down,
00:18:14.89\00:18:18.73
but it requires great
wisdom, commitment, and love
00:18:18.76\00:18:21.90
to build up and that's the same
00:18:21.93\00:18:24.13
with the
restoration work of God.
00:18:24.17\00:18:25.83
My friends, in our world today,
00:18:25.87\00:18:27.64
there are many spiritual
walls that must be torn down,
00:18:27.67\00:18:31.17
walls of selfishness
and sin and spiritual lies
00:18:31.21\00:18:34.51
that separate us
from God and one another.
00:18:34.54\00:18:36.81
As Protestants, God is
calling us to cry aloud
00:18:36.85\00:18:39.68
and spare not and to lift
up our voice like a trumpet,
00:18:39.71\00:18:43.05
and call sin by its right name.
00:18:43.08\00:18:45.42
And the reason why
00:18:45.45\00:18:46.79
is because before the
truth can make us free,
00:18:46.82\00:18:48.69
we first must know the lie
that holds us in captivity.
00:18:48.72\00:18:53.03
There are many spiritual
walls that need to be torn down.
00:18:53.06\00:18:56.03
But, friends, you realize
that there's some ministries
00:18:56.06\00:19:00.37
within the church.
00:19:00.40\00:19:01.97
Has spend most of
their time in tearing down
00:19:02.00\00:19:05.24
and they spent
little time in building up.
00:19:05.27\00:19:08.71
People who are so
consumed with the counterfeits
00:19:08.74\00:19:12.25
that they rarely
talk about the truth.
00:19:12.28\00:19:14.38
People who are so
focused on the beast,
00:19:14.42\00:19:16.72
they end up
losing sight of the lamb.
00:19:16.75\00:19:19.22
Sometimes, we can emphasize
all the rules and the reforms
00:19:19.25\00:19:22.29
without pointing
to the relationship
00:19:22.32\00:19:24.16
that gives us the power.
00:19:24.19\00:19:25.89
We forget that our religion
is not a negative religion,
00:19:25.93\00:19:29.90
consisting in
various prohibitions,
00:19:29.93\00:19:32.13
ours is a positive
religion that offers
00:19:32.17\00:19:34.50
something better than
what the world offers.
00:19:34.54\00:19:36.91
Amen? Amen.
00:19:36.94\00:19:38.27
And that's the
watchman of Christianity
00:19:38.31\00:19:40.21
of all true
education, something better.
00:19:40.24\00:19:44.15
But then there are
those who like to err out
00:19:44.18\00:19:46.95
all the dirty
laundry of the church
00:19:46.98\00:19:49.25
for the world to see on YouTube.
00:19:49.28\00:19:51.52
Ministries and individuals
00:19:51.55\00:19:52.89
who seem to
rejoice over the evils
00:19:52.92\00:19:54.99
that they see and they're eager
to publish it to the world.
00:19:55.02\00:19:58.19
They're in the
business of tearing down
00:19:58.23\00:20:00.90
instead of building up.
00:20:00.93\00:20:02.56
These are end time Pharisees
00:20:02.60\00:20:04.60
who live to criticize the folks
00:20:04.63\00:20:07.00
and the mistakes of others.
00:20:07.04\00:20:08.90
And unfortunately,
00:20:08.94\00:20:10.27
they use it as an opportunity
to line their pockets
00:20:10.31\00:20:12.21
with tight money,
00:20:12.24\00:20:13.61
thinking that
they're doing the work of God
00:20:13.64\00:20:15.41
and yet they're revealing
the fruits of the enemy
00:20:15.44\00:20:18.11
who seeks to divide us,
00:20:18.15\00:20:19.61
deter us and distract us
from the work of restoration.
00:20:19.65\00:20:23.15
Friends, listen,
especially those of you
00:20:23.18\00:20:24.89
who live in Orlando,
00:20:24.92\00:20:26.39
not everything
that glitters is gold,
00:20:26.42\00:20:29.32
not every rainbow
represents the promise of God,
00:20:29.36\00:20:32.93
not every preacher
is telling the truth,
00:20:32.96\00:20:35.03
not every church
is the church of God,
00:20:35.06\00:20:37.17
not every biblical counselor
will offer you biblical counsel
00:20:37.20\00:20:40.54
and keep your business a secret.
00:20:40.57\00:20:43.14
My friends, God has
called us not to tear down
00:20:43.17\00:20:47.44
but to build up.
00:20:47.48\00:20:48.81
And not every worker for God
00:20:48.84\00:20:50.25
is doing the
work of restoration.
00:20:50.28\00:20:53.21
God has called
us to do that work.
00:20:53.25\00:20:55.35
Amen? Amen.
00:20:55.38\00:20:56.92
And so what does that mean
00:20:56.95\00:21:00.52
practically and prophetically?
00:21:00.56\00:21:03.19
If our primary
work is not to tear down
00:21:03.22\00:21:05.33
but to build up,
what does that mean?
00:21:05.36\00:21:07.50
It takes no skill to tear down,
00:21:07.53\00:21:09.33
it requires great
commitment to build up.
00:21:09.36\00:21:11.20
What does it mean
prophetically and practically?
00:21:11.23\00:21:14.17
I want to look at
that little bit deeper.
00:21:14.20\00:21:16.17
As we consider the context
of this Isaiah 58 commission,
00:21:16.20\00:21:21.91
as the sacred record tells
us but the context is this.
00:21:21.94\00:21:26.31
Because of the
abominations of Israel,
00:21:26.35\00:21:29.28
the kingdom of
Babylon would invade Jerusalem
00:21:29.32\00:21:31.69
and bring
desolation to the city.
00:21:31.72\00:21:34.02
The walls were
breached, the temple was burnt.
00:21:34.06\00:21:37.16
And God's people were
enslaved in Babylonian bondage.
00:21:37.19\00:21:40.63
But after many
decades of desolation,
00:21:40.66\00:21:42.36
God opened the way
for a brand new beginning.
00:21:42.40\00:21:45.50
After 70 years,
Babylon is fallen.
00:21:45.53\00:21:49.40
And now God was calling
His people to come out of her.
00:21:49.44\00:21:53.68
It was time to
go back to Jerusalem
00:21:53.71\00:21:55.98
to be engaged in
the work of restoration.
00:21:56.01\00:21:59.35
And so they went
back, you know the story.
00:21:59.38\00:22:02.32
Eventually, the
temple was rebuilt
00:22:02.35\00:22:04.59
but there was still
a breach in the wall
00:22:04.62\00:22:06.89
even after
three Persian decrees,
00:22:06.92\00:22:09.62
the work was not yet finished.
00:22:09.66\00:22:11.29
There was a breach in the wall.
00:22:11.33\00:22:13.73
And for a time, God's people
ceased the work on the wall,
00:22:13.76\00:22:17.07
the work had begun
but it wasn't finished.
00:22:17.10\00:22:20.84
My friends, as we think
about this ancient story,
00:22:20.87\00:22:23.84
let us remember,
the Bible tells us,
00:22:23.87\00:22:25.44
"That which has been
is that which shall be."
00:22:25.47\00:22:29.08
There is deep prophetic
significance of this story
00:22:29.11\00:22:32.48
for us in these last
days where in the year 1844,
00:22:32.51\00:22:37.02
a mighty
prophetic movement began.
00:22:37.05\00:22:40.82
The first angel began to cry out
00:22:40.86\00:22:43.73
that the hour of
God's judgment is come.
00:22:43.76\00:22:46.06
In that prophetic year,
00:22:46.09\00:22:47.43
the first angel
gave that message,
00:22:47.46\00:22:49.36
the time had come for
the sanctuary in heaven
00:22:49.40\00:22:51.77
to be cleansed and restored.
00:22:51.80\00:22:54.70
It was time to follow Jesus
00:22:54.74\00:22:56.81
into the most
holy place experience.
00:22:56.84\00:22:59.71
But as that message went out,
00:22:59.74\00:23:01.08
those who rejected that
message and did not follow Jesus
00:23:01.11\00:23:04.58
into that experience,
00:23:04.61\00:23:06.28
they ended up falling
into Babylonian confusion.
00:23:06.31\00:23:09.88
And when that happened,
00:23:09.92\00:23:11.25
the second angel began to sound.
00:23:11.29\00:23:12.85
The second angel said,
"Babylon is fallen, is fallen."
00:23:12.89\00:23:17.59
God was calling His people
00:23:17.63\00:23:18.96
to come out of the
fallen churches of Babylon
00:23:18.99\00:23:20.73
that had rejected the
first angel's message.
00:23:20.76\00:23:23.87
And those who came out,
00:23:23.90\00:23:26.47
you know, when you
come out of something,
00:23:26.50\00:23:28.67
simultaneously, you're coming in
00:23:28.70\00:23:31.44
to something else.
00:23:31.47\00:23:33.01
Coming into what?
00:23:33.04\00:23:34.41
The final
prophetic movement of destiny
00:23:34.44\00:23:36.75
that God had risen up
for such a time as this,
00:23:36.78\00:23:39.18
to finish the work
of rebuilding the breach
00:23:39.21\00:23:42.25
in the wall of truth.
00:23:42.28\00:23:43.62
And so the third angel
began to cry after that.
00:23:43.65\00:23:46.39
The third angel saying,
00:23:46.42\00:23:47.76
"Here is the
patience of the saints.
00:23:47.79\00:23:49.52
Here are they that
keep the commandments of God
00:23:49.56\00:23:51.89
and the faith of Jesus."
00:23:51.93\00:23:55.10
Here's the movement,
00:23:55.13\00:23:56.50
a church called
to preach the pure,
00:23:56.53\00:23:59.60
complete gospel
message of restoration
00:23:59.63\00:24:02.34
in all of the world
like the Jews of old.
00:24:02.37\00:24:06.61
It was a movement called
to rise up out of Babylon,
00:24:06.64\00:24:09.48
to rebuild the sacred temple
of God's sanctuary message,
00:24:09.51\00:24:13.28
and to finish the
unusual work of restoration.
00:24:13.31\00:24:17.29
And so in 1844,
the wonderful work
00:24:17.32\00:24:21.76
of the last days began.
00:24:21.79\00:24:23.83
Our forefathers of faith
00:24:23.86\00:24:25.66
laid a solid foundation
of truth for our feet.
00:24:25.69\00:24:28.53
They began to
publish and preach it
00:24:28.56\00:24:30.07
to whomever would listen,
00:24:30.10\00:24:31.67
and from humble beginnings
00:24:31.70\00:24:33.60
this movement spread
rapidly to every nation,
00:24:33.64\00:24:36.00
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:24:36.04\00:24:37.44
The walls of truth
were being rebuilt,
00:24:37.47\00:24:39.74
and the prophetic
paths were being restored.
00:24:39.77\00:24:43.55
But 170 years have
gone by since then,
00:24:43.58\00:24:46.95
and there is still
unfinished business.
00:24:46.98\00:24:50.39
The work is not yet done.
00:24:50.42\00:24:52.52
There is still a
breach in the wall,
00:24:52.55\00:24:55.72
and Jesus has not yet returned.
00:24:55.76\00:24:57.96
Our faith has
yet to meet our eyes.
00:24:57.99\00:25:00.53
And we are still waiting
for the return of King Jesus.
00:25:00.56\00:25:03.57
But here's the
good news, friends.
00:25:03.60\00:25:05.10
What the three
angels failed to finish
00:25:05.13\00:25:07.40
in the 1800s and 1900s,
00:25:07.44\00:25:09.70
the fourth
angel of Revelation 18
00:25:09.74\00:25:11.94
will bring to completion.
00:25:11.97\00:25:14.28
Is this, is the
fourth and final decree
00:25:14.31\00:25:17.11
that will finish
the work upon the wall?
00:25:17.15\00:25:20.25
And so it's in this context
00:25:20.28\00:25:23.49
that God rose up a
man of opportunity,
00:25:23.52\00:25:26.22
a simple layman used by God
00:25:26.25\00:25:29.42
to initiate a powerful revival
00:25:29.46\00:25:31.76
that would bring the finishing
of the work upon the wall.
00:25:31.79\00:25:35.30
And, my friends, his
story, his story points us
00:25:35.33\00:25:39.33
to three essential
things that we need
00:25:39.37\00:25:42.20
for a finished work now.
00:25:42.24\00:25:44.41
And those three things,
00:25:44.44\00:25:45.77
I want to give
you right up front.
00:25:45.81\00:25:47.14
The three things are these,
00:25:47.18\00:25:48.51
focus, fusion, and faithfulness.
00:25:48.54\00:25:52.51
Focus, fusion, and faithfulness.
00:25:52.55\00:25:55.95
For the sake of time, we
will summarize his story.
00:25:55.98\00:25:59.52
His name, Nehemiah, it
means Jehovah comforts.
00:25:59.55\00:26:03.26
He was the spiritual
giant amongst the people.
00:26:03.29\00:26:06.03
He wasn't a
prophet, he wasn't a priest,
00:26:06.06\00:26:07.86
he wasn't a king,
he was a simple layman,
00:26:07.90\00:26:10.50
one of the
thousands of Hebrew captains
00:26:10.53\00:26:12.87
exiled as a
stranger in a foreign land.
00:26:12.90\00:26:15.50
But divine
providence had led him
00:26:15.54\00:26:17.17
to the place of
privilege and position
00:26:17.21\00:26:20.28
in the kingdom of Persia.
00:26:20.31\00:26:22.21
He was the king's cupbearer,
00:26:22.24\00:26:23.88
a position of great
responsibility and trust.
00:26:23.91\00:26:26.48
He was granted the
privilege of living
00:26:26.51\00:26:28.25
in the comfortable
palace of the king.
00:26:28.28\00:26:31.32
But in that comfortable palace,
00:26:31.35\00:26:33.32
Nehemiah could not be comforted.
00:26:33.36\00:26:35.46
The luxuries of royalty
00:26:35.49\00:26:36.93
and the financial
securities of the kingdom
00:26:36.96\00:26:39.43
offered to him no rest at all.
00:26:39.46\00:26:41.93
For how can he rest
when his city was in ruins
00:26:41.96\00:26:45.10
and his people enslaved.
00:26:45.13\00:26:47.14
And so the comfortable palace
was not a place to be desired
00:26:47.17\00:26:51.84
while his people were lost.
00:26:51.87\00:26:53.84
My friends, Jesus
feels the same way about you
00:26:53.88\00:26:56.64
and me today.
00:26:56.68\00:26:58.31
And so Nehemiah, I can imagine,
he began to think to himself,
00:26:58.35\00:27:01.48
"There's got to be
more to life than this."
00:27:01.52\00:27:04.42
He began to think to himself,
00:27:04.45\00:27:05.95
"I'm sick and tired
of business as usual."
00:27:05.99\00:27:09.22
He began to sense a higher,
holier calling upon his life.
00:27:09.26\00:27:12.63
He began to
realize that he was created
00:27:12.66\00:27:14.73
for something more
than what he was doing,
00:27:14.76\00:27:17.53
more than just
living in the palace
00:27:17.57\00:27:19.93
and giving juice to the king,
00:27:19.97\00:27:21.60
and the fact that
00:27:21.64\00:27:22.97
he was not living
out his divine purpose
00:27:23.00\00:27:25.31
and reaching his full potential
00:27:25.34\00:27:27.58
was a heavy burden on his heart.
00:27:27.61\00:27:29.81
And, my friends,
as we think about
00:27:29.84\00:27:31.18
the life of this layman of old,
00:27:31.21\00:27:32.91
the question
comes to us tonight.
00:27:32.95\00:27:35.12
What burdens you?
00:27:35.15\00:27:37.22
What keeps you up at night?
00:27:37.25\00:27:39.85
What troubles you?
00:27:39.89\00:27:41.62
Do you have a burden for
the unfinished work of God?
00:27:41.66\00:27:44.73
Or are you burdened by things
00:27:44.76\00:27:46.16
that don't really
matter in light of eternity?
00:27:46.19\00:27:49.10
Concerned with
your own comforts,
00:27:49.13\00:27:51.40
absorbed in your own agenda,
captivated by your own career,
00:27:51.43\00:27:55.57
engrossed with your own goals
00:27:55.60\00:27:57.74
while all the
while the house of God
00:27:57.77\00:27:59.81
and the walls of
truth are broken down.
00:27:59.84\00:28:02.51
My friends, listen carefully.
00:28:02.54\00:28:04.45
We were created to live
00:28:04.48\00:28:05.81
for something
more than our selves.
00:28:05.85\00:28:07.92
We were created to live
00:28:07.95\00:28:09.28
for something more than
just the nine-to-five job,
00:28:09.32\00:28:11.72
the status quo,
the typical, the usual,
00:28:11.75\00:28:13.86
the ordinary, and the common.
00:28:13.89\00:28:15.32
Desire of Ages tells us
00:28:15.36\00:28:16.69
that higher than the
highest human thought
00:28:16.73\00:28:18.86
can reach is
God's ideal for you.
00:28:18.89\00:28:23.80
We're created
for the glory of God
00:28:23.83\00:28:26.10
and the blessing of others.
00:28:26.13\00:28:27.67
And this divine call
was placed upon our lives
00:28:27.70\00:28:30.34
at the moment of conception.
00:28:30.37\00:28:32.47
Somebody said like this,
00:28:32.51\00:28:34.04
"Your job is
what you're paid for,
00:28:34.08\00:28:35.94
but your calling is
what you're made for."
00:28:35.98\00:28:38.31
Don't allow your job to be
an excuse to neglect your call,
00:28:38.35\00:28:41.95
but allow the
Lord to use your job
00:28:41.98\00:28:43.95
as a means to fulfill
that call of glorifying God,
00:28:43.99\00:28:47.69
blessing others,
00:28:47.72\00:28:49.06
and rebuilding
the walls of truth.
00:28:49.09\00:28:51.29
For only as we
live out that call,
00:28:51.33\00:28:53.80
we truly find comfort,
rest, and satisfaction in life.
00:28:53.83\00:28:58.10
Amen?
00:28:58.13\00:28:59.53
So Nehemiah
understood that he wasn't called
00:28:59.57\00:29:02.67
simply to stay in and enjoy
the luxuries of the palace.
00:29:02.70\00:29:06.31
He wasn't called to do something
00:29:06.34\00:29:08.61
that the irreligious
could have easily done.
00:29:08.64\00:29:11.45
And as the conviction
of his call grew stronger,
00:29:11.48\00:29:14.45
his spiritual
focus grew clearer.
00:29:14.48\00:29:17.45
He began to focus
on living for a cause
00:29:17.49\00:29:20.26
that was greater than himself.
00:29:20.29\00:29:22.22
And by the way,
friends, he didn't need a title,
00:29:22.26\00:29:24.89
or position, or a
paycheck to do it.
00:29:24.93\00:29:27.26
All he needed was simply
a greater cause to live for,
00:29:27.30\00:29:30.97
and even a cause
that was worth dying for.
00:29:31.00\00:29:33.37
Can you say amen? Amen.
00:29:33.40\00:29:34.94
My wife and I have
the privilege of traveling
00:29:34.97\00:29:36.57
and doing
evangelism all over the world,
00:29:36.60\00:29:38.67
and it's a wonderful privilege.
00:29:38.71\00:29:40.38
But before we started
00:29:40.41\00:29:42.01
our supporting ministry of
the church a few years ago,
00:29:42.04\00:29:45.11
we were blessed to
work in the conference
00:29:45.15\00:29:47.12
as conference evangelists
00:29:47.15\00:29:48.48
and doing literature ministries,
00:29:48.52\00:29:49.85
and we were there
for at least 12 years
00:29:49.88\00:29:51.25
and had a wonderful time.
00:29:51.29\00:29:53.12
About 10 of those 12 years,
00:29:53.15\00:29:54.49
we were on the ordination track,
00:29:54.52\00:29:56.32
but unfortunately
00:29:56.36\00:29:57.69
because of
certain church policies,
00:29:57.73\00:29:59.06
we were not able to be ordained.
00:29:59.09\00:30:00.56
And you know, for a
while, that bothered me
00:30:00.60\00:30:02.50
but I began to realize
that God can use all of us,
00:30:02.53\00:30:06.13
and we don't need a
title, position, or paycheck,
00:30:06.17\00:30:08.67
we just need
something to live for,
00:30:08.70\00:30:10.44
and God is going to
do something special,
00:30:10.47\00:30:12.77
very unusual in the last days.
00:30:12.81\00:30:14.98
He's gonna call
11th hour workers
00:30:15.01\00:30:17.35
from the plow to the
pulpit to do a mighty work.
00:30:17.38\00:30:20.18
And as the book
Great Controversy tells us,
00:30:20.22\00:30:22.25
these will not be qualified
by literary institutions
00:30:22.28\00:30:25.79
but rather by the
unction of the Holy Spirit
00:30:25.82\00:30:28.26
and that's what
we need now, friends.
00:30:28.29\00:30:30.59
And Nehemiah understood that.
00:30:34.73\00:30:36.50
And so just like a bald eagle
00:30:36.53\00:30:38.80
whose eyes were
fixed on his prey,
00:30:38.83\00:30:40.87
Nehemiah began to
focus on living for a cause
00:30:40.90\00:30:44.81
that was greater than himself.
00:30:44.84\00:30:46.44
And as a humble layman,
00:30:46.47\00:30:48.08
he did a work that
others had neglected to do.
00:30:48.11\00:30:51.18
Friends, I want
to be like Nehemiah.
00:30:51.21\00:30:52.55
How about you? Amen?
00:30:52.58\00:30:54.35
So Nehemiah did two things.
00:30:54.38\00:30:56.65
Number one, he
knelt down in prayer.
00:30:56.69\00:30:59.22
And then number two,
he got up off his knees
00:30:59.25\00:31:02.46
and he offered himself
00:31:02.49\00:31:04.03
as the answer to his own prayer.
00:31:04.06\00:31:06.90
My friends,
00:31:06.93\00:31:08.26
Nehemiah didn't
wait for somebody else
00:31:08.30\00:31:10.07
to move before he did.
00:31:10.10\00:31:11.60
He took the
responsibility upon himself.
00:31:11.63\00:31:14.20
Nehemiah knew that
when prayers go up,
00:31:14.24\00:31:16.84
wisdom, and power,
and blessings come down.
00:31:16.87\00:31:19.77
He had a "Here I am,
send me" kind of attitude.
00:31:19.81\00:31:23.71
And like Nehemiah,
today, perhaps you feel like
00:31:23.75\00:31:25.81
there's nothing
happening in your local church.
00:31:25.85\00:31:28.28
Perhaps the
services are lifeless
00:31:28.32\00:31:30.05
and the sermons are stale,
00:31:30.09\00:31:32.09
or maybe the attitude of
some of the church members
00:31:32.12\00:31:34.29
are as cold as an Arctic winter,
00:31:34.32\00:31:36.42
or maybe the
outreach of your local church
00:31:36.46\00:31:38.23
only extends to the
borders of the church property.
00:31:38.26\00:31:41.36
Oh, friends, when you
look upon the broken walls,
00:31:41.40\00:31:43.67
you just got two options.
00:31:43.70\00:31:45.73
Either you're going to sit
down and complain about it,
00:31:45.77\00:31:49.07
or you're going to kneel down,
00:31:49.10\00:31:51.14
then stand up and
do something about it.
00:31:51.17\00:31:54.54
God calls us to do the latter.
00:31:54.58\00:31:56.95
He is looking
for someone, friends,
00:31:56.98\00:31:58.68
who are dissatisfied
with business as usual.
00:31:58.71\00:32:01.78
He's looking for
just one who will stand up
00:32:01.82\00:32:04.12
and be an agent of
change in their community.
00:32:04.15\00:32:06.45
And so, my friends,
00:32:06.49\00:32:07.82
if there's a work
to be done, do it.
00:32:07.86\00:32:10.06
If there's something
that needs to be said, say it.
00:32:10.09\00:32:13.09
If there's a message
to be given, give it.
00:32:13.13\00:32:15.76
If there's a need that
needs to be supplied, meet it.
00:32:15.80\00:32:18.77
If there's a check that
needs to be written, write it.
00:32:18.80\00:32:21.37
If there's a position
00:32:21.40\00:32:22.74
that needs to
be filled, fill it.
00:32:22.77\00:32:24.31
If there's a promise
00:32:24.34\00:32:25.67
that needs to be
claimed, claim it.
00:32:25.71\00:32:27.44
And that's
exactly what Nehemiah did.
00:32:27.48\00:32:30.21
He knew that if God
would open the doors,
00:32:30.25\00:32:32.91
He would also provide the means
00:32:32.95\00:32:34.98
because if it's God's
will, it's God's bill.
00:32:35.02\00:32:37.35
Amen? Amen.
00:32:37.39\00:32:38.72
And indeed, the doors were open,
00:32:38.75\00:32:40.66
the means were provided.
00:32:40.69\00:32:42.26
And so he went back
00:32:42.29\00:32:43.63
to reveal the
broken walls of Jerusalem.
00:32:43.66\00:32:45.69
I want to be like
Nehemiah, how about you?
00:32:45.73\00:32:48.10
And upon arriving in Jerusalem,
00:32:48.13\00:32:49.53
Nehemiah did
something interesting.
00:32:49.56\00:32:51.90
He didn't begin
the work right away.
00:32:51.93\00:32:54.67
The sacred record
tells us that Nehemiah
00:32:54.70\00:32:56.54
took the first
three days simply to pray,
00:32:56.57\00:33:00.34
to observe the condition of
the work and simply to pray,
00:33:00.38\00:33:03.55
because Nehemiah understood
00:33:03.58\00:33:05.28
that this was no
ordinary endeavor,
00:33:05.31\00:33:07.55
it was an unusual work
00:33:07.58\00:33:10.22
that required
unusual wisdom and power.
00:33:10.25\00:33:12.62
And so when
Nehemiah came to Jerusalem,
00:33:12.65\00:33:14.76
you have to understand
00:33:14.79\00:33:16.12
that he came
invested with the authority
00:33:16.16\00:33:18.96
of the king of Persia.
00:33:18.99\00:33:20.40
He had the
power and the position
00:33:20.43\00:33:22.46
and the resources to begin
00:33:22.50\00:33:24.50
to order the people
of God to start working.
00:33:24.53\00:33:27.67
But Nehemiah wasn't a dictator
nor was he a micromanager.
00:33:27.70\00:33:31.41
He was a true lay leader.
00:33:31.44\00:33:33.34
He did not use his
position or his resources
00:33:33.38\00:33:37.15
to boss people around.
00:33:37.18\00:33:38.98
Instead of giving
dictatorial commands,
00:33:39.01\00:33:41.88
he simply gave an
appeal to the heart.
00:33:41.92\00:33:44.25
Why?
00:33:44.29\00:33:45.62
Because Nehemiah understood
the second thing that we need
00:33:45.65\00:33:48.42
for a finished work now,
not only individual focus,
00:33:48.46\00:33:51.83
but Nehemiah understood that
00:33:51.86\00:33:53.19
in order for the
work to be finished,
00:33:53.23\00:33:54.56
there had to be
corporate fusion.
00:33:54.60\00:33:58.27
Not only focus, but fusion.
00:33:58.30\00:34:02.04
He knew that the work
could not be completed
00:34:02.07\00:34:04.14
from the top down but
rather from the bottom up.
00:34:04.17\00:34:06.98
The people needed
to catch the vision,
00:34:07.01\00:34:09.21
they needed to own the endeavor.
00:34:09.24\00:34:11.41
So instead of
enforcing their hands,
00:34:11.45\00:34:13.88
Nehemiah sought
to win their hearts.
00:34:13.92\00:34:16.25
Why?
00:34:16.28\00:34:17.62
Because the union
of hands and heart
00:34:17.65\00:34:20.72
between the laity and the clergy
00:34:20.76\00:34:23.06
was essential
for a completed work.
00:34:23.09\00:34:25.43
The same is true
for us today, friends.
00:34:25.46\00:34:27.93
My beloved,
brothers and sisters,
00:34:27.96\00:34:29.80
we need one another in
order to finish the work.
00:34:29.83\00:34:33.17
Our mission is
called the Great Commission,
00:34:33.20\00:34:36.17
not the great competition.
00:34:36.20\00:34:38.07
And the word
commission is two words.
00:34:38.11\00:34:39.67
It's a mission that
requires the cooperation
00:34:39.71\00:34:43.24
of two or more parties.
00:34:43.28\00:34:45.21
As self-supporting ministries,
00:34:45.25\00:34:46.61
we need the
support of the church.
00:34:46.65\00:34:48.32
And as a church,
00:34:48.35\00:34:49.68
we need the work of
self-supporting ministries.
00:34:49.72\00:34:51.15
We can't do it
alone, we need one another
00:34:51.19\00:34:53.56
because the
fiery fusion of unity
00:34:53.59\00:34:56.49
result in spiritual synergy
00:34:56.52\00:34:58.69
that will finish
the work, friends.
00:34:58.73\00:35:00.80
That's what we
need to be praying for.
00:35:00.83\00:35:02.90
There's some
people that I can reach
00:35:02.93\00:35:04.27
that you may not
be able to reach.
00:35:04.30\00:35:06.03
Surely, there are
people that you can reach
00:35:06.07\00:35:07.40
that I can't reach.
00:35:07.44\00:35:08.84
But if we work together,
we can reach the whole world.
00:35:08.87\00:35:11.37
Amen? Amen.
00:35:11.41\00:35:12.74
United we
stand, divided we fall.
00:35:12.77\00:35:15.64
And so, friends, let
us stand upon the wall
00:35:15.68\00:35:19.05
and let's do it together.
00:35:19.08\00:35:20.42
Amen? Amen.
00:35:20.45\00:35:21.78
So Nehemiah got
connected to God vertically.
00:35:21.82\00:35:24.79
And then when he
went to Jerusalem,
00:35:24.82\00:35:26.82
he got connected
00:35:26.86\00:35:28.19
with the people
of God horizontally.
00:35:28.22\00:35:30.16
And, friends, when
there's a vertical connection
00:35:30.19\00:35:32.66
and a horizontal
connection, what do you have?
00:35:32.69\00:35:35.43
You have a cross.
00:35:35.46\00:35:36.80
This is what I'd like to
call cross-centered unity.
00:35:36.83\00:35:39.83
It's not an ecumenical unity.
00:35:39.87\00:35:41.50
It's a cross-centered unity.
00:35:41.54\00:35:44.37
And, friends,
wherever there's a cross,
00:35:44.41\00:35:46.34
there is death to
self, selfishness, sin,
00:35:46.37\00:35:51.45
and spiritual pride.
00:35:51.48\00:35:53.01
And it is cross-centered unity
00:35:53.05\00:35:55.38
that is the
prerequisite for finished work
00:35:55.42\00:35:58.19
because it's the
self sacrificing love
00:35:58.22\00:36:00.09
demonstrated upon the cross
00:36:00.12\00:36:01.89
that's going to win
the world for Christ.
00:36:01.92\00:36:03.99
And so the record tells
us that the people of God
00:36:04.03\00:36:06.49
began to work as one man,
00:36:06.53\00:36:08.76
a mighty movement
to finish the work.
00:36:08.80\00:36:11.57
But then the record tells us
00:36:11.60\00:36:13.84
that there was
a three-fold union
00:36:13.87\00:36:17.07
that united together
00:36:17.11\00:36:18.74
to try to stop the
work upon the walls.
00:36:18.77\00:36:21.54
You can read it in
Nehemiah Chapter 6,
00:36:21.58\00:36:23.91
their names,
Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem,
00:36:23.95\00:36:26.35
a three-fold union.
00:36:26.38\00:36:27.72
They came
together, and they united,
00:36:27.75\00:36:29.88
and they tried to get Nehemiah
to come down from the wall.
00:36:29.92\00:36:33.89
They said to Nehemiah, come,
00:36:33.92\00:36:35.26
let us meet in
such and such a place.
00:36:35.29\00:36:37.49
It seemed like they
wanted diplomatic relations,
00:36:37.53\00:36:40.73
an ecumenical truth so to
speak but the real agenda,
00:36:40.76\00:36:45.13
get Nehemiah off the wall
and cause the work to cease.
00:36:45.17\00:36:49.77
But the Bible
tells us that Nehemiah
00:36:49.80\00:36:51.87
would not be
called down by compromise,
00:36:51.91\00:36:54.41
he allowed nothing to
distract him from his duty.
00:36:54.44\00:36:57.21
Faithfulness was more important
00:36:57.25\00:36:59.65
than
compromising with the enemy.
00:36:59.68\00:37:01.85
And so he simply said, "I can't.
00:37:01.88\00:37:03.55
I'm doing a great work.
00:37:03.59\00:37:04.92
I can't come down.
00:37:04.95\00:37:06.62
Why should I come down
and cause the work to cease
00:37:06.65\00:37:08.79
while meeting with you?"
00:37:08.82\00:37:10.23
And so he continued
faithfully upon the wall.
00:37:10.26\00:37:12.79
And the record tells us
00:37:12.83\00:37:14.16
that the wall was
finished in 52 days.
00:37:14.20\00:37:16.53
How many days?
00:37:16.56\00:37:18.50
Because there was no
breach in their unity,
00:37:18.53\00:37:21.80
there was no breach in the wall.
00:37:21.84\00:37:24.71
My friends, what does
this have to do with us today?
00:37:24.74\00:37:27.51
Listen very carefully.
00:37:27.54\00:37:30.51
Today, there are
multitude of forces
00:37:30.55\00:37:33.92
both seen and unseen
that are uniting together,
00:37:33.95\00:37:37.35
seeking to get God's
people off of the wall of truth,
00:37:37.39\00:37:41.99
the wall of mission,
and the wall of love.
00:37:42.02\00:37:44.66
Coalitions are uniting to
call us down and compromise
00:37:44.69\00:37:48.00
so that the walls of
truth may be demolished.
00:37:48.03\00:37:51.40
And in this age of
compromise, I urge you, friends,
00:37:51.43\00:37:55.34
don't fall, stay on the wall.
00:37:55.37\00:37:58.27
Just as there was
a three-fold union
00:37:58.31\00:38:00.28
that united against Nehemiah,
00:38:00.31\00:38:02.08
so too does the
Book of Revelation
00:38:02.11\00:38:03.48
predict a three-fold
union that's going to unite
00:38:03.51\00:38:06.18
to try to stop God's
work, the dragon, the beast,
00:38:06.21\00:38:09.58
the false prophet, that
Spiritualism, Catholicism,
00:38:09.62\00:38:12.62
and apostate Protestantism,
00:38:12.65\00:38:14.52
and friends,
these are the movements
00:38:14.56\00:38:16.56
that are
already united together.
00:38:16.59\00:38:19.19
An ecumenical movement
00:38:19.23\00:38:20.56
that mistakenly looks
upon the walls of truth
00:38:20.60\00:38:23.43
as divisive and
a barrier to unity.
00:38:23.47\00:38:26.63
The loud cry of the apostate
churches of the world is
00:38:26.67\00:38:29.64
tear down this wall.
00:38:29.67\00:38:32.34
"Forget about
absolute doctrinal truths,
00:38:32.37\00:38:35.34
just give us love," they say.
00:38:35.38\00:38:38.31
"We don't need the truth
00:38:38.35\00:38:39.68
as long as we have the spirit, "
00:38:39.71\00:38:41.58
but it's a counterfeit spirit
00:38:41.62\00:38:43.32
that leads to a
counterfeit truth.
00:38:43.35\00:38:45.15
And, my friends, as we see
the prophecies of Revelation 13
00:38:45.19\00:38:47.86
being fulfilled
before our very eyes,
00:38:47.89\00:38:50.49
and as the
world gathers together
00:38:50.53\00:38:52.06
and is following the
beast, I urge you, my friends,
00:38:52.09\00:38:55.00
don't fall, stay on the wall.
00:38:55.03\00:38:58.27
Today, we live in a
world where human reason
00:38:58.30\00:39:00.74
is being exalted
above divine revelation,
00:39:00.77\00:39:03.91
a time where humanism
00:39:03.94\00:39:05.27
is getting a
foothold in many churches
00:39:05.31\00:39:08.01
where church
members are rejecting
00:39:08.04\00:39:09.98
absolute doctrinal truths,
00:39:10.01\00:39:11.91
and they're replacing it
00:39:11.95\00:39:13.28
with subjective
personal experiences
00:39:13.31\00:39:15.05
that the devil
can easily manipulate.
00:39:15.08\00:39:18.29
A time when
emotionalism is taking the place
00:39:18.32\00:39:20.99
of deep searching of heart,
00:39:21.02\00:39:22.69
a time when
theatrics are taking the place
00:39:22.72\00:39:25.06
of the preaching of
the pure Word of God.
00:39:25.09\00:39:27.60
And, friends, as
we see multitudes
00:39:27.63\00:39:29.50
being swept away by the
current of religious relativism,
00:39:29.53\00:39:32.77
I urge you today, friends,
don't fall, stay on the wall.
00:39:32.80\00:39:37.77
Today, we live in a world
of mass media distraction,
00:39:37.81\00:39:41.74
internet and
television and social media,
00:39:41.78\00:39:43.98
all of these sound
bites and flashing lights,
00:39:44.01\00:39:46.72
demanding our time and diverting
00:39:46.75\00:39:48.78
our attention from
what Jesus is doing for us
00:39:48.82\00:39:51.15
in the sanctuary above.
00:39:51.19\00:39:52.52
And as the enemy
seeks to desensitize us
00:39:52.55\00:39:55.19
by worldly
attractions and distractions,
00:39:55.22\00:39:57.56
I urge you, friends,
don't fall, stay on the wall.
00:39:57.59\00:40:02.26
Then there's the virus
00:40:02.30\00:40:04.83
of dry religious
formalism infecting the church.
00:40:04.87\00:40:08.47
Religious distracters,
the major and the minors,
00:40:08.50\00:40:12.11
and minor and the majors,
00:40:12.14\00:40:13.64
and they forget the weightier
matters of the law like love,
00:40:13.68\00:40:16.91
justice, and mercy.
00:40:16.95\00:40:18.41
In the land of Laodicea,
00:40:18.45\00:40:20.52
many people are becoming
comfortable in complacency,
00:40:20.55\00:40:23.52
lazy, and lukewarmness,
00:40:23.55\00:40:25.89
and are rigid in
self righteous formality.
00:40:25.92\00:40:29.59
We boast that we
have the right answers,
00:40:29.62\00:40:31.59
but all the while we
lacked the right spirit.
00:40:31.63\00:40:34.13
Our heads are full
with the theory of truth,
00:40:34.16\00:40:36.60
but our hearts are
empty of the person of truth.
00:40:36.63\00:40:39.13
And we're like
the Pharisees of old.
00:40:39.17\00:40:42.77
Sometimes bringing that
adulterous woman to Jesus,
00:40:42.80\00:40:46.31
calling sin by its right
name, wanting to accuse her,
00:40:46.34\00:40:50.21
quoting the law,
calling sin by its right name,
00:40:50.25\00:40:54.05
while all the while
00:40:54.08\00:40:55.42
their own
hearts were more guilty
00:40:55.45\00:40:56.99
because of their pride
and self righteousness,
00:40:57.02\00:40:59.92
more guilty than the one
00:40:59.95\00:41:01.72
that they're ready
to throw stones at.
00:41:01.76\00:41:04.56
My friends, as the devil
is trying to knock us down
00:41:04.59\00:41:07.30
into the ditch of legalism,
I urge you, don't fall,
00:41:07.33\00:41:12.47
stay on the wall.
00:41:12.50\00:41:14.07
Then there's that
other equally dangerous ditch
00:41:14.10\00:41:16.81
on the other side of
the wall called liberalism,
00:41:16.84\00:41:20.08
the idea that
God is not particular
00:41:20.11\00:41:22.04
and that he has no standards.
00:41:22.08\00:41:23.91
It is the gospel that cheapens
the expensive grace of God
00:41:23.95\00:41:27.15
and makes it a license to sin.
00:41:27.18\00:41:29.15
It is a one-sided preaching,
00:41:29.18\00:41:31.55
one-sided programs and projects
00:41:31.59\00:41:33.99
that try to divorce
God's love from God's law.
00:41:34.02\00:41:37.53
It tries to
separate Jesus from prophecy
00:41:37.56\00:41:39.93
and prophecy from Jesus,
00:41:39.96\00:41:41.50
mercy from justice
and justice from mercy.
00:41:41.53\00:41:44.17
But these two
should never be separated.
00:41:44.20\00:41:46.53
What God has joined together,
let no man put asunder.
00:41:46.57\00:41:50.01
And so as the devil is
trying to knock us down
00:41:50.04\00:41:52.94
into the ditch of liberalism,
I urge you today, friends,
00:41:52.97\00:41:56.38
don't fall, stay on the wall.
00:41:56.41\00:42:00.82
As the devil seeks to
divide us with rigid legalism
00:42:00.85\00:42:05.32
and loose liberalism,
00:42:05.35\00:42:06.96
the solution is not to
try to avoid one another
00:42:06.99\00:42:09.82
on either side of the wall,
00:42:09.86\00:42:11.49
but for each of
us to come up higher,
00:42:11.53\00:42:13.63
to let Jesus lift us up
on the wall of divine love.
00:42:13.66\00:42:17.27
For it is upon the wall of love
00:42:17.30\00:42:18.97
that we learned the
perfect blend and balance
00:42:19.00\00:42:21.30
with justice and mercy,
00:42:21.34\00:42:23.91
a beautiful balance
of spirit and truth.
00:42:23.94\00:42:27.21
And so, my beloved church,
00:42:27.24\00:42:28.58
let's stay on the wall together.
00:42:28.61\00:42:30.55
Let us love one another,
00:42:30.58\00:42:32.41
let us work
together to finish the work.
00:42:32.45\00:42:34.48
Like Nehemiah,
let it be our cry,
00:42:34.52\00:42:37.15
"We will not come
down from the wall."
00:42:37.19\00:42:39.72
When someone mistreats you,
00:42:39.75\00:42:41.39
and you feel like getting angry,
00:42:41.42\00:42:42.76
stay on the wall.
00:42:42.79\00:42:44.39
When there are
tears in the church
00:42:44.43\00:42:45.76
that make you feel like leaving
the church, stay on the wall.
00:42:45.79\00:42:48.76
When you go through tragedy
and you don't understand why,
00:42:48.80\00:42:51.70
stay on the wall.
00:42:51.73\00:42:53.07
When life becomes overwhelming
and you feel like giving up,
00:42:53.10\00:42:55.47
stay on the wall.
00:42:55.50\00:42:56.84
When your own carnal flesh
00:42:56.87\00:42:58.37
is pulling into
forbidden waters,
00:42:58.41\00:43:01.01
remain on the wall.
00:43:01.04\00:43:04.15
My friends, as we finish
ASI and get ready to go back
00:43:04.18\00:43:07.98
to our respective fields,
00:43:08.02\00:43:09.75
let us remember
00:43:09.78\00:43:11.12
that a finished
work in this generation
00:43:11.15\00:43:12.95
requires three things.
00:43:12.99\00:43:14.76
Number one, unusual focus.
00:43:14.79\00:43:17.36
Number two, unusual fusion.
00:43:17.39\00:43:19.96
And number three,
unusual faithfulness.
00:43:20.00\00:43:22.56
How many of you
see your need today
00:43:22.60\00:43:24.37
of God's focus,
fusion and faithfulness?
00:43:24.40\00:43:26.57
How many want to say,
00:43:26.60\00:43:27.94
"Lord, help me to
remain on the wall"?
00:43:27.97\00:43:29.57
Now as we close,
00:43:29.60\00:43:30.94
what enables us to
remain on the wall?
00:43:30.97\00:43:33.71
My friends,
00:43:33.74\00:43:35.34
is because Jesus
remained on the wall for us.
00:43:35.38\00:43:40.85
While the walls of humanity
were broken, like Nehemiah,
00:43:40.88\00:43:44.45
Jesus could find no
rest in the heavenly palace.
00:43:44.49\00:43:47.86
So he came to the world
to rebuild the broken walls.
00:43:47.89\00:43:51.06
But in the garden
of the olive press,
00:43:51.09\00:43:53.36
Jesus was pressed
to come off the wall,
00:43:53.40\00:43:56.10
tempted to abort his mission
00:43:56.13\00:43:57.73
and return to
the heavily palace,
00:43:57.77\00:43:59.63
but just Jesus
remained on the wall.
00:43:59.67\00:44:01.40
What he said, "Not my
will, Thy will be done."
00:44:01.44\00:44:05.21
But then upon Mount Calvary,
00:44:05.24\00:44:07.38
Jesus was tempted
to come off the wall.
00:44:07.41\00:44:09.58
Notice what it says, Matthew 27,
00:44:09.61\00:44:11.91
"Those who passed
by blasphemed him,
00:44:11.95\00:44:14.85
wagging their heads and saying,
00:44:14.88\00:44:16.22
You who destroy
the temple and," what?
00:44:16.25\00:44:19.12
"Build it in three
days, save Yourself.
00:44:19.15\00:44:22.49
If you're the Son of God,
come down from the cross."
00:44:22.52\00:44:25.76
My friends, what was
Jesus doing on the cross?
00:44:25.79\00:44:28.43
He was building something,
00:44:28.46\00:44:30.23
He was rebuilding the
broken walls of humanity.
00:44:30.27\00:44:33.77
And as humanity
00:44:33.80\00:44:35.14
was tearing down
divinity of the cross,
00:44:35.17\00:44:37.34
divinity was
rebuilding humanity.
00:44:37.37\00:44:39.87
You see, it takes
no skill to tear down,
00:44:39.91\00:44:42.21
but it requires great
wisdom and love to build up.
00:44:42.24\00:44:44.81
That's what Jesus
demonstrated at Calvary.
00:44:44.85\00:44:47.92
And then they began
00:44:47.95\00:44:49.28
to attack His
faith in His Father.
00:44:49.32\00:44:50.92
Matthew 27:43
says, "He trusted in God.
00:44:50.95\00:44:54.79
Let Him the Father
deliver Him that is the Son,
00:44:54.82\00:44:58.39
if He the father
would have Him the Son,
00:44:58.43\00:45:01.10
for He said 'I am
the Son of God.' "
00:45:01.13\00:45:03.50
My friends, you understand
what they were saying here.
00:45:03.53\00:45:06.07
What they were saying was this.
00:45:06.10\00:45:07.47
Not only do we not want
you, not even God wants you.
00:45:07.50\00:45:12.54
If God wants you,
He would deliver you,
00:45:12.57\00:45:14.44
but the fact he's not shows
that even God has forsaken you.
00:45:14.48\00:45:18.95
God hates you,
God has cursed you.
00:45:18.98\00:45:21.75
He despises
you, He has left you,
00:45:21.78\00:45:23.79
He's given upon you.
00:45:23.82\00:45:25.15
So you might as
well give up on Him
00:45:25.19\00:45:27.56
and come down from the cross.
00:45:27.59\00:45:29.62
Save yourself,
save self, save self.
00:45:29.66\00:45:33.53
Has the devil ever whispered
that in your ears, friends?
00:45:33.56\00:45:37.47
This was the
agonizing temptation of Christ.
00:45:37.50\00:45:41.00
We will face a
similar temptation
00:45:41.04\00:45:42.84
in the last days,
00:45:42.87\00:45:44.24
a time where we as God's people
00:45:44.27\00:45:45.84
will be forsaken by man
and seemingly forgotten by God,
00:45:45.87\00:45:49.44
a time when the whole
world will be against us
00:45:49.48\00:45:51.51
and heaven will be silent.
00:45:51.55\00:45:52.88
And in that crisis
hour that which we need
00:45:52.91\00:45:55.92
to remain on the wall
is the faith of Jesus.
00:45:55.95\00:46:00.56
What was the faith of Jesus?
00:46:00.59\00:46:01.92
Listen, listen, listen.
00:46:01.96\00:46:03.39
Christ understood
that in tempting Him
00:46:03.43\00:46:06.96
without realizing it,
00:46:07.00\00:46:08.83
they were actually
fulfilling Bible prophecy.
00:46:08.86\00:46:12.93
When they said,
00:46:12.97\00:46:14.30
"He trusted in God,
let God deliver Him."
00:46:14.34\00:46:16.67
They were actually quoting
from a Messianic Prophecy
00:46:16.71\00:46:19.34
in Psalms 22:8.
00:46:19.37\00:46:22.81
"He trusted on the Lord
that He would deliver Him:
00:46:22.84\00:46:25.45
let Him deliver Him,
seeing He delights in Him."
00:46:25.48\00:46:29.22
And so as the people tempted
Christ by quoting verse 8,
00:46:29.25\00:46:33.59
Jesus overcame that
temptation by quoting verse 1.
00:46:33.62\00:46:39.16
He said in verse 1,
He quoted this verse,
00:46:39.19\00:46:42.53
"My God, My God,
00:46:42.56\00:46:45.37
why hast thou forsaken me?"
00:46:45.40\00:46:50.11
You have to understand, friends,
00:46:50.14\00:46:52.01
that that was
both an interrogative
00:46:52.04\00:46:54.48
and a declarative statement.
00:46:54.51\00:46:57.08
Jesus was asking His
Father, why He had forsaken Him
00:46:57.11\00:47:00.22
because that's
exactly how He felt.
00:47:00.25\00:47:03.28
But in asking that question,
00:47:03.32\00:47:04.65
Jesus was also declaring
00:47:04.69\00:47:06.19
that even though I feel like
You have forsaken Me, Father,
00:47:06.22\00:47:09.19
I will not forsake You.
00:47:09.22\00:47:11.06
Jesus didn't say,
00:47:11.09\00:47:12.43
"God, God, why
have You forsaken me?"
00:47:12.46\00:47:14.03
He said, "My God, My God."
00:47:14.06\00:47:18.50
In other words, "Father,
00:47:18.53\00:47:19.87
even though it seems
like I am no longer Yours,
00:47:19.90\00:47:22.44
You are still my God.
00:47:22.47\00:47:26.01
Even though it seems
like You have left me,
00:47:26.04\00:47:28.24
I will not leave You.
00:47:28.28\00:47:29.84
I will not give up on You.
00:47:29.88\00:47:31.51
I will stay on the wall."
00:47:31.55\00:47:35.18
It was as if Jesus was
saying, "I'm doing a great work.
00:47:35.22\00:47:38.89
I cannot come
down from this wall."
00:47:38.92\00:47:41.72
And so Jesus clung
to the old rugged cross.
00:47:41.76\00:47:44.69
And by doing so,
00:47:44.73\00:47:46.06
He was guaranteeing
the finishing of the work
00:47:46.09\00:47:47.76
of rebuilding broken humanity.
00:47:47.80\00:47:49.60
And if you're
thankful for the Lord Jesus,
00:47:49.63\00:47:51.17
let me hear you say amen.
00:47:51.20\00:47:52.53
Amen.
00:47:52.57\00:47:53.90
And guess what
happened 52 days later.
00:47:53.94\00:47:57.24
How long did it take
Nehemiah to finish the wall?
00:47:57.27\00:48:00.34
Guess what happened
52 days after the cross.
00:48:00.38\00:48:03.31
The day of
Pentecost was fully come
00:48:03.35\00:48:05.95
and power was poured out
on the early Apostolic Church.
00:48:05.98\00:48:09.48
And because there was
no breach in their unity,
00:48:09.52\00:48:12.52
there was no
breach in that wall.
00:48:12.55\00:48:15.86
Jesus remained
on the wall for you.
00:48:15.89\00:48:18.43
Will you remain
on the wall for Him?
00:48:18.46\00:48:20.86
I want to stand
up and be counted.
00:48:20.90\00:48:22.23
How about you? Amen?
00:48:22.26\00:48:23.60
Amen.
00:48:23.63\00:48:24.97
Allow me to finish
with some good news
00:48:25.00\00:48:27.57
and some bad news.
00:48:27.60\00:48:29.07
The bad news is this.
00:48:29.10\00:48:30.84
Our adversaries are
great, our obstacles are many,
00:48:30.87\00:48:35.34
our resources are
limited, our numbers are few,
00:48:35.38\00:48:38.91
our faith is weak,
our doubts are strong,
00:48:38.95\00:48:41.32
and our carnal
flesh is powerful.
00:48:41.35\00:48:43.39
But here's the
good news, friends.
00:48:43.42\00:48:44.79
Our God is almighty,
His power is unlimited,
00:48:44.82\00:48:49.82
His wisdom unmatched,
His resources are infinite,
00:48:49.86\00:48:53.03
His grace is
sufficient, His love is eternal,
00:48:53.06\00:48:56.23
and His presence is with us.
00:48:56.26\00:48:57.70
And so we can't lose
when Jesus we choose.
00:48:57.73\00:49:01.27
We have no reason to
fear when Jesus is near.
00:49:01.30\00:49:04.14
And we will not
fall from the wall
00:49:04.17\00:49:06.68
where upon Jesus we
call and surrender our all.
00:49:06.71\00:49:10.61
And so today,
if you want to say,
00:49:10.65\00:49:11.98
"Lord, help me to
remain on the wall,"
00:49:12.01\00:49:13.55
I invite you to
stand to your feet
00:49:13.58\00:49:14.92
where you are quickly.
00:49:14.95\00:49:17.49
As we close in prayer,
00:49:17.52\00:49:19.75
why don't you put your arm
around the person next to you,
00:49:19.79\00:49:23.19
and let's make a
wall of prayer, shall we?
00:49:23.22\00:49:25.49
Let's hold one another as God
holds us as we close ASI 2018.
00:49:25.53\00:49:30.37
And our prayer
simply tonight is this.
00:49:30.40\00:49:31.90
"Lord, forgive me for my fall.
00:49:31.93\00:49:34.74
Help me to live out my
call and give me courage
00:49:34.77\00:49:38.37
to remain upon the wall."
00:49:38.41\00:49:40.21
Let us pray.
00:49:40.24\00:49:41.64
Father in heaven,
thank You so much, Lord,
00:49:41.68\00:49:45.28
for Your amazing grace
and Your marvelous mercy.
00:49:45.31\00:49:49.08
Thank You, dear God,
00:49:49.12\00:49:52.05
You sent Your beloved Son.
00:49:52.09\00:49:55.52
And that You, Lord Jesus,
00:49:55.56\00:49:56.89
were willing to
leave the comforts
00:49:56.93\00:49:58.49
of the heavenly palace
00:49:58.53\00:50:00.63
to rebuild broken humanity.
00:50:00.66\00:50:03.40
And thank You, Lord,
00:50:03.43\00:50:04.77
that You did not
come off the cross.
00:50:04.80\00:50:06.20
You remained on the wall for us.
00:50:06.23\00:50:10.97
Now, dear Lord, we pray
that You please forgive us
00:50:11.01\00:50:13.84
for the time that we
have come off the wall,
00:50:13.88\00:50:16.38
the times that
we were so absorbed
00:50:16.41\00:50:18.91
in building our own houses,
00:50:18.95\00:50:21.52
and the work of the
gospel wasn't finished.
00:50:21.55\00:50:25.52
Lord, I pray, we pray
that You give us focus,
00:50:25.55\00:50:30.73
You give us the fire of fusion,
00:50:30.76\00:50:33.73
and You give us
unwavering faithfulness.
00:50:33.76\00:50:38.27
Thank You, Lord Jesus.
00:50:38.30\00:50:39.87
We commit
ourselves to You again.
00:50:39.90\00:50:42.00
Give us
strength now as we leave,
00:50:42.04\00:50:44.24
keep us in Your grace.
00:50:44.27\00:50:46.17
In Jesus' name, we pray
that all of God's end time,
00:50:46.21\00:50:49.51
Nehemiah say.
00:50:49.54\00:50:51.51
Amen. Amen.
00:50:51.55\00:50:53.05
God bless you, friends.
00:50:53.08\00:50:54.78
Aloha and Maranatha.
00:50:54.82\00:50:56.75
We're pilgrims on the journey
00:51:17.57\00:51:21.71
Of the narrow road
00:51:21.74\00:51:25.68
And those who've gone before us
00:51:25.71\00:51:28.98
Line the way
00:51:29.02\00:51:33.96
Cheering on the faithful,
00:51:33.99\00:51:37.69
Encouraging the weary
00:51:37.73\00:51:41.63
Their lives a stirring testament
00:51:41.66\00:51:45.70
To God's sustaining grace
00:51:45.73\00:51:51.91
Surrounded by so great
00:51:51.94\00:51:55.31
A cloud of witnesses
00:51:55.34\00:51:59.31
Let us run the race
not only for the prize
00:51:59.35\00:52:07.06
For as those
who've gone before us
00:52:07.09\00:52:10.93
Let us leave to those behind us
00:52:10.96\00:52:15.00
A heritage of faithfulness
00:52:15.03\00:52:18.67
Passed on through godly lives
00:52:18.70\00:52:23.94
Oh may all who come behind us
00:52:23.97\00:52:27.94
Find us faithful
00:52:27.98\00:52:31.61
May the fire of our
devotion light their way
00:52:31.65\00:52:38.95
May the footprints that we leave
00:52:38.99\00:52:43.09
Lead them to believe
00:52:43.12\00:52:46.49
And the lives that
live inspire them to obey
00:52:46.53\00:52:53.77
Oh may all who come behind us
00:52:53.80\00:52:58.17
Find us faithful
00:52:58.21\00:53:03.11
After all our hopes and
dreams have come and gone
00:53:10.62\00:53:17.93
And our children sift
through all we've left behind
00:53:17.96\00:53:25.23
May the clues that they discover
00:53:25.27\00:53:29.10
And the memories they uncover
00:53:29.14\00:53:33.04
Become the light that leads them
00:53:33.07\00:53:36.68
To the road we each must find
00:53:36.71\00:53:42.02
Oh may all who come behind us
00:53:42.05\00:53:46.19
Find us faithful
00:53:46.22\00:53:49.92
May the fire of our
devotion light their way
00:53:49.96\00:53:57.10
May the footprints that we leave
00:53:57.13\00:54:01.44
Lead them to believe
00:54:01.47\00:54:04.74
And the lives that
live inspire them to obey
00:54:04.77\00:54:11.61
Oh may all who come behind us
00:54:11.65\00:54:15.78
Find us faithful
00:54:15.82\00:54:19.59
May the fire of our
devotion light their way
00:54:19.62\00:54:26.86
May the footprints that we leave
00:54:26.90\00:54:31.13
Lead them to believe
00:54:31.17\00:54:34.57
And the lives that
live inspire them To obey
00:54:34.60\00:54:41.88
Oh may all who come behind us
00:54:41.91\00:54:46.98
Find us faithful
00:54:47.02\00:54:51.02
Amen.
00:55:04.03\00:55:05.37
May all who come
behind us find us faithful.
00:55:05.40\00:55:08.00
Amen.
00:55:08.04\00:55:09.37
What a blessing it's
been for our ASI 2018
00:55:09.40\00:55:12.47
International Convention
here in Orlando, Florida.
00:55:12.51\00:55:15.71
Just want to say thank you
00:55:15.74\00:55:17.08
to all of you
for coming tonight.
00:55:17.11\00:55:19.41
And, Philip, I was just thinking
00:55:19.45\00:55:20.92
as we're coming out.
00:55:20.95\00:55:22.58
I wonder what business unusual
00:55:22.62\00:55:25.82
each one of us will
do this coming year.
00:55:25.85\00:55:28.79
You know, this
is a two-year theme.
00:55:28.82\00:55:30.63
Right.
00:55:30.66\00:55:31.99
So next year,
we're going to be where?
00:55:32.03\00:55:34.53
We'll be in Louisville, Kentucky
00:55:34.56\00:55:37.40
from July 31 to August 3.
00:55:37.43\00:55:41.77
In fact, we'd like you
to take out your phones
00:55:41.80\00:55:43.91
or take out your calendars
00:55:43.94\00:55:45.51
and put it in there right now
00:55:45.54\00:55:47.64
because we want
to see you next year
00:55:47.68\00:55:49.78
in Louisville, Kentucky
from July 31 to August 3.
00:55:49.81\00:55:55.05
Yeah, we don't want any
mistakes in your calendars,
00:55:55.08\00:55:57.12
so just to clear that out.
00:55:57.15\00:55:58.49
I've got it in mine already.
00:55:58.52\00:55:59.85
All right, Philip.
00:55:59.89\00:56:01.22
Good man has it in
his calendar already.
00:56:01.26\00:56:02.59
Absolutely.
00:56:02.62\00:56:03.96
And I hope and
pray that we can see
00:56:03.99\00:56:05.33
each one of you
there next year with us.
00:56:05.36\00:56:07.73
And the theme next
year, still business unusual,
00:56:07.76\00:56:10.13
it's a two-year theme.
00:56:10.17\00:56:11.50
Absolutely.
00:56:11.53\00:56:12.87
And so we're
inviting you to think about
00:56:12.90\00:56:14.24
what you can do this year
that will be business unusual.
00:56:14.27\00:56:18.47