Four years ago, last January
00:00:21.08\00:00:24.02
I met a young man at
the door of a Romanian
00:00:24.05\00:00:27.39
Adventist
Congregation in Atlanta.
00:00:27.42\00:00:30.96
But he spoke not
a word of Romanian.
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And less than a minute
into our brief conversation,
00:00:34.43\00:00:36.67
the Spirit nudged me and said,
00:00:36.70\00:00:38.87
"Pray with him right now."
00:00:38.90\00:00:42.27
Well, I'm a Yankee,
a New England Yankee.
00:00:42.30\00:00:46.81
And that's not the way we
do things where I come from.
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So I brushed the thought aside
00:00:51.28\00:00:52.91
and tried to continue
with the conversation,
00:00:52.95\00:00:55.45
but the Spirit persisted,
"Pray with him right now."
00:00:55.48\00:01:00.62
Well, I had heard
since I was a child
00:01:00.66\00:01:03.12
that resisting the
impressions of the Holy Spirit
00:01:03.16\00:01:06.39
was the essence of
the unpardonable sin.
00:01:06.43\00:01:09.43
And so finally I
drew a deep breath
00:01:09.46\00:01:12.43
and looked at
this stranger and said,
00:01:12.47\00:01:15.54
"Could I pray
with you right here?"
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He stared at me in amazement.
00:01:18.91\00:01:21.31
But the words that
came out of his mouth were,
00:01:21.34\00:01:23.91
"Yes, please."
00:01:23.95\00:01:27.78
So two strangers
prayed at the door
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of a Romanian
Adventist Congregation.
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That's how I met Jared
Thurmon, our speaker tonight.
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And it's really a good indicator
00:01:36.52\00:01:38.09
of the personal
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and the
professional relationship
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that's grown up between
us over the last four years.
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Meeting in Atlanta
was a divine appointment.
00:01:44.10\00:01:47.50
Beginning to work
together seven months later
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was the result of
dozens of conversations,
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and hours of prayer, and
weeks of strategic planning
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about the future of
Adventist Review Ministries.
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Our speaker tonight is
not, as scripture says,
00:02:01.58\00:02:06.25
a man of like passions to us.
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Let me the first to say it,
00:02:09.29\00:02:10.83
Jared Thurmon is more passionate
00:02:10.86\00:02:12.83
than most of us.
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He wears his faith, as
they say, on his sleeve.
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And it's a sleeve that by age 35
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had gotten very busy
in earning and giving away
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vast sums to mission in India,
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and the Caribbean,
and Downtown Atlanta.
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His creative work
00:02:32.05\00:02:33.38
with developing
for profit businesses
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that have a missional
focus has made him sought
00:02:35.88\00:02:39.39
after as a
consultant by church leaders
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around the globe.
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And his savvy
with cultural trends
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and digital marketing
and building relationships,
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yes, I can say this,
has literally changed
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the face of the
oldest brand in Adventism.
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You may
actually want to rent out
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the back half of that
seat you're sitting in tonight
00:02:59.74\00:03:02.38
because you're
not gonna need it.
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After our musical
interlude, you'll hear tonight,
00:03:05.25\00:03:08.85
a man of deep
commitment to this movement
00:03:08.88\00:03:12.05
and this message, a
man I have spent much time
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praying with, a friend,
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a colleague, a
brother in Christ.
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How firm a foundation
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Ye saints of the Lord
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Is laid for your faith
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In His excellent word
00:03:48.52\00:03:52.43
What more can He say
00:03:52.46\00:03:55.13
Than to you He hath said
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To you who for refuge
00:03:59.13\00:04:02.84
To Jesus have fled
00:04:02.87\00:04:05.44
Fear not, I am with thee
00:04:11.38\00:04:14.88
Oh, be not dismayed
00:04:14.92\00:04:18.25
For I am thy God
00:04:18.29\00:04:20.92
And will still give thee aid
00:04:20.96\00:04:24.69
I'll strengthen thee, help thee
00:04:24.73\00:04:28.13
And cause thee to stand
00:04:28.16\00:04:32.80
Upheld by My righteous
00:04:32.83\00:04:36.37
Omnipotent hand
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When through the deep waters
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I call thee to go
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The rivers of sorrow
00:04:53.36\00:04:57.16
Shall not overflow
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For I will be with thee
00:05:01.46\00:05:05.20
Thy troubles to bless
00:05:05.23\00:05:08.70
And sanctify to thee
00:05:08.74\00:05:12.41
Thy deepest distress
00:05:12.44\00:05:15.54
When through fiery trials
00:05:19.05\00:05:23.22
Thy pathway shall lie
00:05:23.25\00:05:26.76
My grace, all sufficient
00:05:26.79\00:05:29.92
Shall be thy supply
00:05:29.96\00:05:33.63
The flame shall not hurt thee
00:05:33.66\00:05:36.97
I only design
00:05:37.00\00:05:40.37
Thy dross to consume
00:05:40.40\00:05:43.20
And thy gold to refine
00:05:43.24\00:05:48.98
The soul that on Jesus
00:05:49.01\00:05:52.51
Hath leaned for repose
00:05:52.55\00:05:55.98
I will not
00:05:56.02\00:05:57.92
I will not desert to his foes
00:05:57.95\00:06:02.56
That soul, though all hell
00:06:02.59\00:06:05.06
Should endeavor to shake
00:06:05.09\00:06:08.23
I'll never, no, never
00:06:11.53\00:06:17.37
No, never
00:06:17.41\00:06:22.84
Forsake
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Tonight,
00:06:43.23\00:06:44.87
I don't have smooth
words to share with you.
00:06:44.90\00:06:50.67
In fact, it won't
be easy to listen to
00:06:50.71\00:06:54.64
and it will be even
harder for me to say.
00:06:54.68\00:06:59.01
After realizing the message
00:06:59.05\00:07:00.82
I was feeling
impressed to share tonight.
00:07:00.85\00:07:03.79
Like Jonah, I
started to think of ways
00:07:03.82\00:07:06.99
in which I could
subtly back out of this,
00:07:07.02\00:07:10.43
so as not to
disappoint some of you
00:07:10.46\00:07:12.79
and infuriate others.
00:07:12.83\00:07:16.87
But here I am.
00:07:16.90\00:07:19.23
And here we go.
00:07:19.27\00:07:21.30
I was raised
00:07:21.34\00:07:22.67
in the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:07:22.70\00:07:25.31
I experienced 16 years
of Adventist education.
00:07:25.34\00:07:31.08
I was active in Pathfinders.
00:07:31.11\00:07:34.25
I'm headed to
Oshkosh next weekend.
00:07:34.28\00:07:38.19
For more than four years,
00:07:38.22\00:07:40.59
I've had the honor
00:07:40.62\00:07:41.96
of serving the world church
at the General Conference,
00:07:41.99\00:07:46.36
sitting on numerous committees,
00:07:46.39\00:07:49.66
working on many projects,
00:07:49.70\00:07:52.33
and giving my all to
the Adventist Review.
00:07:52.37\00:07:57.17
And last but not least,
00:07:57.21\00:07:59.47
I serve as a
volunteer lay pastor
00:07:59.51\00:08:02.74
of a wonderful church
in Adairsville, Georgia.
00:08:02.78\00:08:07.38
I tell you all of that,
00:08:07.42\00:08:09.65
so that you can
see, I'm a lifer.
00:08:09.68\00:08:14.19
And I'm committed to
Jesus and this movement.
00:08:14.22\00:08:17.59
But as I look back
00:08:23.13\00:08:26.63
at the individuals,
00:08:26.67\00:08:28.04
many of which I grew up with...
00:08:28.07\00:08:30.27
there's a sad reality.
00:08:33.48\00:08:35.44
Too many of them are missing.
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These are my friends,
your classmates, your sons,
00:08:43.85\00:08:48.39
your daughters, your
nieces, your nephews,
00:08:48.42\00:08:51.83
your grandchildren,
00:08:51.86\00:08:54.83
large numbers of which
don't attend church anymore,
00:08:54.86\00:09:00.00
at least not a
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:09:00.04\00:09:01.84
And I'm sad to say that
I don't think many of them
00:09:01.87\00:09:04.77
want anything to do with it.
00:09:04.81\00:09:09.78
And it's led me to a
prayerful conclusion.
00:09:09.81\00:09:15.65
The church I want to
belong to is terrible.
00:09:15.68\00:09:20.09
Now that you know
00:09:24.13\00:09:25.46
I've checked my
timidity at the door,
00:09:25.49\00:09:29.43
I'm going to practice
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something you'll hear me
preach about often candor.
00:09:30.83\00:09:35.40
Max De Pree said the
first role of a leader
00:09:35.44\00:09:41.01
is to describe reality.
00:09:41.04\00:09:45.38
And so each of us
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in at least one
sense is a leader.
00:09:47.02\00:09:51.15
We lead a home, a ministry,
00:09:51.19\00:09:54.22
an institution,
a company, a child.
00:09:54.26\00:10:00.00
As a new dad, I
have this huge amount
00:10:00.03\00:10:03.80
of new appreciation for moms.
00:10:03.83\00:10:07.24
And for many of us,
00:10:07.27\00:10:08.60
we lead on
multiple levels of life.
00:10:08.64\00:10:12.24
And so as a leader,
00:10:12.27\00:10:14.34
I'd like to describe
00:10:14.38\00:10:15.71
what I see as
our reality tonight.
00:10:15.74\00:10:21.38
The world by most accounts,
both secular and religious,
00:10:21.42\00:10:26.49
is a ticking time bomb.
00:10:26.52\00:10:30.29
From sermons on
Sunday sacredness
00:10:30.33\00:10:33.36
to chance on
climate catastrophe,
00:10:33.40\00:10:36.90
Louisville, we have a problem.
00:10:36.93\00:10:40.80
Whether it's the
destruction of the family,
00:10:40.84\00:10:44.21
growing
intolerance to free speech,
00:10:44.24\00:10:47.88
ever increasing
tribalism and racism,
00:10:47.91\00:10:51.45
draconian surveillance,
00:10:51.48\00:10:54.68
the rapidly growing tension
between the rich and the poor,
00:10:54.72\00:10:59.92
or the countless attacks
00:10:59.95\00:11:01.79
on the moral code
given to us on Sinai.
00:11:01.82\00:11:06.66
We need no more
evidence that we are living
00:11:06.70\00:11:09.40
in the last moments of time.
00:11:09.43\00:11:12.87
And Ellen White's
words are truer than ever,
00:11:12.90\00:11:17.21
"Thinking men and
women of all classes
00:11:17.24\00:11:20.18
have their attention
fixed upon the events
00:11:20.21\00:11:23.41
taking place around us.
00:11:23.45\00:11:25.91
They recognize that
something great and decisive
00:11:25.95\00:11:29.28
is about to take place,
00:11:29.32\00:11:31.55
that the world is on the
verge of a stupendous crisis."
00:11:31.59\00:11:37.66
But the Bible says
00:11:37.69\00:11:39.79
that final events
are being held back
00:11:39.83\00:11:42.36
until something dramatic,
00:11:42.40\00:11:44.50
climactic and
terribly disruptive happens
00:11:44.53\00:11:48.54
with the remnant
of Bible prophecy.
00:11:48.57\00:11:52.97
And in Revelation 7:3,
00:11:53.01\00:11:55.14
we hear a warning
through some angels,
00:11:55.18\00:11:57.85
"Hurt not the earth or the sea
00:11:57.88\00:11:59.75
or the trees
until we have sealed
00:11:59.78\00:12:02.38
the servants of our
God on their foreheads."
00:12:02.42\00:12:06.96
But that ceiling, that
settling into the truth,
00:12:06.99\00:12:10.76
both
intellectually and spiritually
00:12:10.79\00:12:13.16
so that we cannot be moved,
00:12:13.19\00:12:16.13
has been stalling as of late.
00:12:16.16\00:12:20.00
And the temptation for
leaders on every level,
00:12:20.04\00:12:24.14
for whom numbers
determine position, personnel,
00:12:24.17\00:12:29.44
power and pay is to use
00:12:29.48\00:12:32.98
whatever number sounds
good, so long as it achieves
00:12:33.01\00:12:36.95
the end goal of
creating a picture
00:12:36.99\00:12:39.89
that helps and does not hurt me,
00:12:39.92\00:12:44.49
my team, my company,
my church, my conference,
00:12:44.53\00:12:50.43
my union, my division,
00:12:50.47\00:12:53.87
my delegates, and my reelection.
00:12:53.90\00:12:59.27
And it's tempting to share
00:12:59.31\00:13:00.68
graphs of the millions
of visitors to our websites,
00:13:00.71\00:13:05.98
or the tens of
millions of followers
00:13:06.01\00:13:09.08
on our social media accounts,
00:13:09.12\00:13:12.79
or the hundreds of
millions of dollars
00:13:12.82\00:13:15.39
in our bank accounts, offerings,
00:13:15.42\00:13:18.13
endowments, and reserve funds,
00:13:18.16\00:13:22.83
or the national news stories
00:13:22.86\00:13:24.20
about how Seventh-day Adventist
00:13:24.23\00:13:25.57
live longer than the
rest of the population.
00:13:25.60\00:13:29.44
How we're the most diverse,
fastest growing denomination
00:13:29.47\00:13:33.84
in the United
States, or even the success
00:13:33.88\00:13:37.35
of our health care and
educational institutions.
00:13:37.38\00:13:40.92
We could then end this slideshow
00:13:40.95\00:13:42.88
with a few pictures
00:13:42.92\00:13:44.25
of soccer
stadiums full of believers
00:13:44.29\00:13:46.92
in line for baptism.
00:13:46.96\00:13:48.89
But I have a duty
as you have a duty
00:13:52.73\00:13:55.73
as a leader to
describe what I see.
00:13:55.76\00:14:00.24
And here are a few examples
00:14:00.27\00:14:02.24
from the recent
global church members survey
00:14:02.27\00:14:06.31
by the General Conference.
00:14:06.34\00:14:08.88
The growing disparity between
00:14:08.91\00:14:11.15
numbers of members on the books
00:14:11.18\00:14:13.48
and those who
attend services each week.
00:14:13.52\00:14:17.39
Fewer than half of
Adventists feel satisfied
00:14:17.42\00:14:20.56
with the state
of the local church.
00:14:20.59\00:14:23.76
The number of people
joining and leaving or worse,
00:14:23.79\00:14:28.13
joining and staying,
00:14:28.16\00:14:30.17
who don't
understand our message,
00:14:30.20\00:14:33.54
or the growing
doubt among Adventists
00:14:33.57\00:14:35.54
about a literal creation week,
00:14:35.57\00:14:37.77
a heavenly judgment,
00:14:37.81\00:14:39.64
or what really
happens when we die.
00:14:39.67\00:14:44.18
Recent data showing
that as a global body,
00:14:44.21\00:14:47.38
most of us have
pushed off our belief
00:14:47.42\00:14:50.62
in the imminent Second Coming
00:14:50.65\00:14:52.69
to a date
decades into the future
00:14:52.72\00:14:57.73
or the growing
reality that fewer of us
00:14:57.76\00:14:59.93
go out of our way to
witness and share our faith.
00:14:59.96\00:15:04.60
Now we could look
at this data and say,
00:15:04.63\00:15:08.37
"Well, many other faith groups
seem to have it figured out.
00:15:08.40\00:15:11.01
What are the
denominations around us doing?
00:15:11.04\00:15:13.48
Can we focus less
on our distinctives
00:15:13.51\00:15:15.48
and more on what
we have in common?"
00:15:15.51\00:15:18.48
And my personal opinion is no.
00:15:18.51\00:15:24.39
Friends and church family,
00:15:24.42\00:15:27.56
we have a problem.
00:15:27.59\00:15:31.59
We have a crisis of leadership.
00:15:31.63\00:15:35.63
And the crisis is
not who is in leadership,
00:15:35.66\00:15:40.37
it's a lack of
courage in leadership.
00:15:40.40\00:15:44.61
We have a crisis of courage.
00:15:44.64\00:15:46.71
Where are the men and women
00:15:46.74\00:15:48.48
willing to stand for the
right though the heavens fall?
00:15:48.51\00:15:53.45
Where are those who are true
00:15:53.48\00:15:55.02
to duty as the
needle to the pole,
00:15:55.05\00:15:57.99
unafraid to call
sin by its right name,
00:15:58.02\00:16:02.82
unafraid there
to lay their careers
00:16:02.86\00:16:05.46
on the line to do what is right?
00:16:05.49\00:16:10.87
I believe this is still
the greatest one of the world.
00:16:10.90\00:16:15.20
But Israel also had
a crisis of courage.
00:16:15.24\00:16:18.47
And the tribes
finally got what they wanted.
00:16:18.51\00:16:21.91
A king like the
nations around them,
00:16:21.94\00:16:25.28
they wanted to blend
in and Saul even though
00:16:25.31\00:16:27.42
he was a head
taller than everyone else,
00:16:27.45\00:16:29.88
he blended right in because
he wasn't a courageous leader.
00:16:29.92\00:16:35.86
So the Lord tells
Samuel the Prophet,
00:16:35.89\00:16:38.26
"Go to
Bethlehem to Jesse's house
00:16:38.29\00:16:41.30
and find Me a
man with some courage
00:16:41.33\00:16:43.83
and conviction."
00:16:43.87\00:16:46.43
And so Samuel the
original kingmaker arrives,
00:16:46.47\00:16:50.47
"Who will be the next king?"
00:16:50.51\00:16:52.44
And one by one,
00:16:52.47\00:16:53.81
the sons of
Jesse come before him.
00:16:53.84\00:16:58.38
"Ah, this must be the one."
00:16:58.41\00:17:02.65
All the degrees,
00:17:02.68\00:17:04.75
all the right
letters after his name,
00:17:04.79\00:17:08.66
the rich all of skin
tone, the experience,
00:17:08.69\00:17:13.19
and he looks the part.
00:17:13.23\00:17:16.60
But the Lord says, "No.
00:17:16.63\00:17:19.60
I have refused him.
00:17:19.63\00:17:21.70
I don't see as man sees.
00:17:21.74\00:17:23.54
Man looks at the
outward appearance,
00:17:23.57\00:17:25.94
but I look at the heart."
00:17:25.97\00:17:30.65
And we learned here that
appearances can be deceiving.
00:17:30.68\00:17:35.12
Humans often look for
00:17:35.15\00:17:36.72
all the wrong
qualities in a leader.
00:17:36.75\00:17:40.96
A title does not make a leader.
00:17:40.99\00:17:44.36
A pedigree does
not make a leader.
00:17:44.39\00:17:47.90
The color of one's
skin should never be
00:17:47.93\00:17:51.13
the differentiating factor.
00:17:51.17\00:17:55.50
Many today
follow those with titles
00:17:55.54\00:17:57.54
because they
believe they have to,
00:17:57.57\00:17:59.84
not because they want to.
00:17:59.87\00:18:03.08
And we need
leaders who fear nothing,
00:18:03.11\00:18:05.58
who crave duty, and
pick up responsibility
00:18:05.61\00:18:08.98
for such a time as this.
00:18:09.02\00:18:12.22
So finally Samuel runs
out of strapping young men
00:18:12.25\00:18:15.29
to anoint as king.
00:18:15.32\00:18:17.33
"Jesse, anymore?"
00:18:17.36\00:18:18.69
"Well, yeah, one
out in the pasture."
00:18:18.73\00:18:21.46
And David is
anointed king and told,
00:18:21.50\00:18:24.83
he will one day be
the leader of Israel.
00:18:24.87\00:18:30.97
But he goes back to
doing what he loves.
00:18:31.01\00:18:33.94
One of the two
things Ellen White says,
00:18:33.98\00:18:36.01
are most favorable
for character development,
00:18:36.04\00:18:40.42
caring for animals.
00:18:40.45\00:18:44.99
And so he spends his days
caring for sheep, composing,
00:18:45.02\00:18:48.82
and playing music,
and slinging rocks.
00:18:48.86\00:18:53.90
But Saul meanwhile,
Saul's back at the palace,
00:18:53.93\00:18:56.50
and he's miserable.
00:18:56.53\00:18:58.43
And his counselors realized,
00:18:58.47\00:19:00.34
"We got to do
something for this guy."
00:19:00.37\00:19:02.74
Well, we know about
the power of music on mood,
00:19:02.77\00:19:06.04
and how the
right music can conjure
00:19:06.07\00:19:08.18
or conquer demonic spirits.
00:19:08.21\00:19:10.85
So David is
called in, and it works.
00:19:10.88\00:19:15.52
And Saul is at peace.
00:19:15.55\00:19:20.96
But the future leader of Israel
00:19:20.99\00:19:23.99
is exposed to a toxic culture
00:19:24.03\00:19:27.96
of leadership firsthand,
00:19:28.00\00:19:31.20
at the highest
levels of the movement.
00:19:31.23\00:19:36.20
What happens when young
aspiring followers of Jesus
00:19:36.24\00:19:40.04
are exposed to self-absorbed,
00:19:40.08\00:19:42.38
self-serving leaders?
00:19:42.41\00:19:46.38
They inevitably get discouraged.
00:19:46.41\00:19:51.65
We're told in
Scripture that you will know
00:19:51.69\00:19:54.02
a tree by its fruit.
00:19:54.06\00:19:57.33
And Saul was an
unkind impatient coward,
00:19:57.36\00:20:00.30
who made excuses.
00:20:00.33\00:20:02.60
Is it possible that
when people come around us
00:20:02.63\00:20:04.93
as leaders in
the Advent movement,
00:20:04.97\00:20:07.07
they see these trees
producing abundant flowers,
00:20:07.10\00:20:11.01
but instead
yielding bitter fruit.
00:20:11.04\00:20:16.24
Ellen White wrote,
00:20:16.28\00:20:17.65
"Men may profess
faith in the truth,
00:20:17.68\00:20:21.38
but if it does
not make them kind,
00:20:21.42\00:20:24.89
sincere, patient, forbearing,
00:20:24.92\00:20:28.86
heavenly-minded,
00:20:28.89\00:20:30.49
it is a curse to its possessors,
00:20:30.53\00:20:33.86
and through their influence,
it is a curse to the world."
00:20:33.90\00:20:37.57
Insincere and timid
leadership is a curse,
00:20:40.77\00:20:44.74
was a curse to ancient Israel.
00:20:44.77\00:20:46.74
And insincere, timid
leadership is a curse
00:20:46.78\00:20:49.28
to God's people today,
00:20:49.31\00:20:50.98
at every level, and
ultimately to the world.
00:20:51.01\00:20:56.65
You know, sometimes
God takes us down a path
00:20:56.69\00:20:59.39
that we would not
choose for ourselves.
00:20:59.42\00:21:03.36
And so as He did with
David in the court of Saul,
00:21:03.39\00:21:07.10
there are many times
when we're exposed to leaders
00:21:07.13\00:21:10.40
and organizations
from whom we learn.
00:21:10.43\00:21:14.27
Brace yourselves, what not to do
00:21:14.30\00:21:17.67
when our time
comes around to lead.
00:21:17.71\00:21:22.24
And that is a bitter experience.
00:21:22.28\00:21:27.12
And we're told after
his days in the court,
00:21:27.15\00:21:29.22
David loved to go
back home to the pastures
00:21:29.25\00:21:32.65
under the azure of firmament
00:21:32.69\00:21:34.49
to see the stars
staring down at him.
00:21:34.52\00:21:38.29
But a day of
decision was coming.
00:21:38.33\00:21:41.06
Israel was on the
verge of a time of trouble
00:21:41.10\00:21:43.97
such as never was
with God's enemies.
00:21:44.00\00:21:47.90
And for nearly 40 days,
00:21:47.94\00:21:49.27
Goliath had been taunting Israel
00:21:49.30\00:21:51.97
and everyone was
filled with fear.
00:21:52.01\00:21:56.44
But just then the shepherd
and the singer, the fighter,
00:21:56.48\00:21:59.88
and the slinger strolls
into the camp of Israel.
00:21:59.91\00:22:04.39
And he hears the
taunts of this Philistine.
00:22:04.42\00:22:08.09
And he asks why men
00:22:08.12\00:22:10.76
who were
supposed to be warriors,
00:22:10.79\00:22:13.56
the watchman in Israel,
00:22:13.60\00:22:16.77
were standing around
00:22:16.80\00:22:18.13
and letting him
say these things.
00:22:18.17\00:22:21.54
"Aren't you gonna do
something about this?"
00:22:21.57\00:22:26.78
And there are vibrant
spirits among us today,
00:22:26.81\00:22:31.11
those who see a
different reality
00:22:31.15\00:22:34.12
than the one often
painted by leadership.
00:22:34.15\00:22:39.12
And they have
every right to ask,
00:22:39.15\00:22:42.16
"Why are you standing there,
00:22:42.19\00:22:44.19
in that
position with that power,
00:22:44.23\00:22:47.10
and doing nothing?
00:22:47.13\00:22:49.63
Why don't you do something?"
00:22:49.66\00:22:52.50
Well, this is the
way we've always done it,
00:22:52.53\00:22:54.60
will not work anymore.
00:22:54.64\00:22:56.81
Well, this is
in the policy book,
00:22:56.84\00:22:58.51
section 13, paragraph 4,
00:22:58.54\00:23:00.74
is not gonna lead
anyone into battle.
00:23:00.78\00:23:04.25
We're told if God
abhors, hates one sin
00:23:04.28\00:23:09.48
above another
00:23:09.52\00:23:11.15
of which His people are guilty.
00:23:11.19\00:23:14.02
It is doing nothing,
in a case of an emergency.
00:23:14.06\00:23:18.89
Indifference or
neutrality in a religious crisis
00:23:18.93\00:23:22.36
is regarded of God
as a grievous crime
00:23:22.40\00:23:25.07
and equal to the very worst type
00:23:25.10\00:23:28.67
of hostility against God.
00:23:28.70\00:23:30.91
But David has come to
the kingdom for this moment.
00:23:33.91\00:23:37.28
He knows this is the time
to speak a word for the Lord
00:23:37.31\00:23:41.28
and to fight
back the temptation,
00:23:41.32\00:23:44.39
like many of us
face to keep silent.
00:23:44.42\00:23:48.92
This is no time for indifference
00:23:48.96\00:23:51.83
and the status quo.
00:23:51.86\00:23:53.80
It is time for disruption.
00:23:53.83\00:23:58.73
Israel was in a
crisis of leadership.
00:23:58.77\00:24:01.94
Saul didn't have
the courage to do
00:24:01.97\00:24:03.77
what was needed and
right in that moment.
00:24:03.81\00:24:07.74
But God had a
leader waiting in the wings
00:24:07.78\00:24:10.75
and those wings were the
wings of some mighty angels.
00:24:10.78\00:24:15.32
And Ellen White counsel,
00:24:15.35\00:24:16.69
"To stand in defense
of truth and righteousness
00:24:16.72\00:24:20.56
when the majority forsake us,
00:24:20.59\00:24:22.82
to fight the battles of the Lord
00:24:22.86\00:24:24.29
when champions are few,
00:24:24.33\00:24:26.59
this will be our test.
00:24:26.63\00:24:29.30
At this time we
must gather warmth
00:24:32.30\00:24:34.94
from the coldness of others,
00:24:34.97\00:24:37.64
courage from their cowardice,
00:24:37.67\00:24:40.21
and loyalty from their treason."
00:24:40.24\00:24:43.95
And when David gains
an audience with the king,
00:24:43.98\00:24:46.85
he explains his
concerns about the status quo.
00:24:46.88\00:24:53.39
And he shares with the
king his awesome resume.
00:24:53.42\00:24:58.06
"I kill bears and lions,
00:24:58.09\00:25:00.20
and this giant will
be like one of them."
00:25:00.23\00:25:03.77
And true to
form, Saul surrenders.
00:25:03.80\00:25:08.27
And David is given some armor,
some methods for doing things
00:25:08.30\00:25:12.27
as they always have been done.
00:25:12.31\00:25:17.85
And he's tempted to
fight in another's armor.
00:25:17.88\00:25:22.38
But then he turns
back into the tent.
00:25:22.42\00:25:25.99
And I'm sure he
heard some whispers,
00:25:26.02\00:25:27.66
has fear gotten the best of him.
00:25:27.69\00:25:31.69
But for too long God's
people have been responsive,
00:25:31.73\00:25:37.13
reactive on the defense.
00:25:37.17\00:25:40.84
And David says, "Oh, no,
this is time for offense.
00:25:40.87\00:25:45.61
I don't need shields and armor.
00:25:45.64\00:25:48.14
I need lightness and speed."
00:25:48.18\00:25:50.15
And he walks out of that
tent with a stick and a sling.
00:25:50.18\00:25:53.62
There was a reason
though that Israel was afraid.
00:25:59.19\00:26:03.63
In order to
compete with the world,
00:26:03.66\00:26:07.46
to be players
on the world stage,
00:26:07.50\00:26:09.66
to be respectable,
00:26:09.70\00:26:11.97
they actually had to go to
the world to the Philistines
00:26:12.00\00:26:14.97
to get their weapons.
00:26:15.00\00:26:17.41
And those weapons
were foreign to them,
00:26:17.44\00:26:19.97
and they did not
know how to fight.
00:26:20.01\00:26:22.88
But the leaders
who had been schooled
00:26:22.91\00:26:25.05
in the west point of fear,
00:26:25.08\00:26:27.32
and in the
classroom of cowardice,
00:26:27.35\00:26:29.55
told them, "This is
the way the world does it."
00:26:29.58\00:26:34.39
Real leaders have the courage
to stand against the crowd,
00:26:34.42\00:26:39.46
even their own crowd.
00:26:39.49\00:26:42.30
They don't need approval,
they just need a calling.
00:26:42.33\00:26:45.50
They don't do what's
easy, they do what's necessary.
00:26:45.53\00:26:50.57
And David walks
into that valley,
00:26:50.61\00:26:52.04
fully confident in his God
00:26:52.07\00:26:53.88
and then the
methods God had taught him.
00:26:53.91\00:26:57.25
But I think something else
00:26:57.28\00:26:58.61
was going through David's mind,
00:26:58.65\00:27:00.88
as he walked towards
this impending crisis.
00:27:00.92\00:27:06.35
You think David was
proud of what Israel
00:27:06.39\00:27:08.49
God's people had become?
00:27:08.52\00:27:12.39
Or is it possible
that the demons of doubt
00:27:12.43\00:27:15.83
and discouragement
tried to whisper in his ears,
00:27:15.86\00:27:20.74
"What's the point?
00:27:20.77\00:27:23.27
Why risk your life,
your career, your reputation?
00:27:23.30\00:27:28.01
Just wait until you're retired
to say that, write that."
00:27:28.04\00:27:31.71
But in that moment of
destiny, David realized that
00:27:35.08\00:27:37.69
God had been preparing him
00:27:37.72\00:27:39.69
his entire life for this moment.
00:27:39.72\00:27:43.53
He did not like
what Israel had become,
00:27:43.56\00:27:46.49
a commune of cowards.
00:27:46.53\00:27:49.40
But what Israel could become.
00:27:49.43\00:27:51.83
This was what illuminated
his sanctified imagination.
00:27:51.87\00:27:56.50
The Israel he
wanted to belong to.
00:27:56.54\00:28:00.14
That's what drove him forward.
00:28:00.18\00:28:02.04
Faith in what
could be not in what was.
00:28:02.08\00:28:06.72
And Ellen White warned
us, "Unless the church,
00:28:06.75\00:28:10.32
which is now being leavened
with her own backsliding,
00:28:10.35\00:28:14.72
shall repent and be converted,
00:28:14.76\00:28:18.26
she will eat the
fruit of her own doing,
00:28:18.29\00:28:23.06
until she shall abhor herself."
00:28:23.10\00:28:27.54
And I just wonder,
00:28:34.58\00:28:36.58
if we are eating the
fruit of our own doing.
00:28:36.61\00:28:39.08
Is it just me or is
anyone else concerned about
00:28:42.58\00:28:46.45
what we have become?
00:28:46.49\00:28:50.86
Are we that nation in Isaiah 58
00:28:50.89\00:28:53.03
who believes
they're doing righteousness,
00:28:53.06\00:28:55.80
wonders why God
is not noticing them
00:28:55.83\00:28:57.80
or hearing their prayers?
00:28:57.83\00:29:00.17
Stay with me, allow me
00:29:00.20\00:29:02.04
to describe a
little more reality.
00:29:02.07\00:29:05.51
Today we see a movement
00:29:05.54\00:29:07.31
in which so many
of our young adults
00:29:07.34\00:29:09.48
go through Adventist schools,
00:29:09.51\00:29:11.25
only to be inoculated
00:29:11.28\00:29:13.15
against our mission and message.
00:29:13.18\00:29:18.75
This is a tragedy that deserves
our immediate attention.
00:29:18.79\00:29:23.96
Lucifer has been put on notice.
00:29:23.99\00:29:28.46
If we did some soul
searching with the fruit,
00:29:28.50\00:29:32.97
with the results,
00:29:33.00\00:29:34.50
with the reality of
our educational system,
00:29:34.54\00:29:38.77
would we be
proud of what we see?
00:29:38.81\00:29:41.84
Data from church
surveys consistently show us
00:29:48.88\00:29:53.02
that nearly 70%
of our young people,
00:29:53.05\00:29:57.29
our best, brightest,
00:29:57.33\00:29:59.16
our future leave us as
soon as they are no longer
00:29:59.19\00:30:03.67
under our immediate care.
00:30:03.70\00:30:07.44
And before the crisis broke,
00:30:07.47\00:30:09.20
Saul and Israel
thought they were fine.
00:30:09.24\00:30:14.38
All was well.
00:30:14.41\00:30:15.84
After all, they
were God's chosen people,
00:30:15.88\00:30:20.02
weren't they?
00:30:20.05\00:30:22.28
But we know that character
is revealed in a crisis.
00:30:22.32\00:30:27.82
And the message Ellen White
00:30:27.86\00:30:29.19
shared more than a
century ago applies to us today.
00:30:29.22\00:30:33.96
The message to the Laodiceans
00:30:34.00\00:30:35.83
is applicable to
Seventh-day Adventist
00:30:35.86\00:30:39.70
who have had great light
00:30:39.73\00:30:41.07
and have not
walked in the light.
00:30:41.10\00:30:43.44
It is those who have
made great profession,
00:30:43.47\00:30:45.94
but have not kept in
step with their Leader
00:30:45.97\00:30:48.44
they will be
spewed out of His mouth
00:30:48.48\00:30:50.88
unless they repent."
00:30:50.91\00:30:54.95
But what is really receiving
that message look like?
00:30:54.98\00:30:58.15
What is the
metric that we will know
00:30:58.19\00:31:01.32
God's people are
starting to receive the message?
00:31:01.36\00:31:04.89
This testimony if
received will arouse to action
00:31:04.93\00:31:09.13
and lead to self abasement
00:31:09.16\00:31:12.33
and confession of sins.
00:31:12.37\00:31:15.97
It will lead us to
begin to think differently
00:31:16.00\00:31:19.41
and to do differently.
00:31:19.44\00:31:21.88
True repentance and confession
00:31:21.91\00:31:24.68
are more than words, votes,
00:31:24.71\00:31:27.32
documents, and coalitions.
00:31:27.35\00:31:31.05
The great sin in
Christ day was the belief
00:31:31.09\00:31:35.22
that a mere assent to the truth
00:31:35.26\00:31:37.79
constituted righteousness,
00:31:37.83\00:31:40.30
that because we think
right, we must be right.
00:31:40.33\00:31:43.30
Friends and church family,
00:31:52.67\00:31:55.61
we cannot keep
silent any longer.
00:31:55.64\00:31:59.48
We cannot keep
touting that we are rich,
00:31:59.51\00:32:02.62
increased in membership,
and in need of nothing.
00:32:02.65\00:32:08.36
We can't keep claiming that
00:32:08.39\00:32:09.89
this is great
Adventism that we have built.
00:32:09.92\00:32:15.30
Because we all know too well,
00:32:15.33\00:32:18.23
far too well, that's something,
00:32:18.27\00:32:20.64
something isn't right.
00:32:20.67\00:32:24.71
If the winds of
prophecy are being held back
00:32:24.74\00:32:27.94
because Jesus loves
00:32:27.98\00:32:29.74
His remnant too
much to see them lost,
00:32:29.78\00:32:34.05
then what are we to do?
00:32:34.08\00:32:37.15
I believe when we
recognize what we have become.
00:32:37.19\00:32:41.46
When we admit the impossibility
00:32:41.49\00:32:44.09
of putting a good face
00:32:44.13\00:32:45.86
on everything we do.
00:32:45.89\00:32:48.73
And then by God's grace,
00:32:51.83\00:32:54.64
confess it to the
world and to the Lord.
00:32:54.67\00:32:57.61
We are miserable, wretched,
poor, blind, and naked.
00:32:57.64\00:33:03.04
We have gloried in ourselves
00:33:03.08\00:33:05.45
rather than hidden in His glory.
00:33:05.48\00:33:08.12
That we have heaped up
00:33:08.15\00:33:09.48
the blessings of
heaven for ourselves.
00:33:09.52\00:33:14.59
And I'll admit, in my own life,
00:33:14.62\00:33:15.96
I came to a point
where I nearly gave up
00:33:15.99\00:33:17.86
on the Advent movement.
00:33:17.89\00:33:19.56
I felt
overwhelmed by discouragement
00:33:19.59\00:33:23.43
because I would read the Bible
00:33:23.47\00:33:25.23
and The Spirit of Prophecy,
00:33:25.27\00:33:27.57
and I would look at
the reality around me.
00:33:27.60\00:33:32.67
Something doesn't line up here.
00:33:32.71\00:33:35.44
Do I give up on
the testimony of Jesus?
00:33:35.48\00:33:39.58
Or do I give up on
the movement itself?
00:33:39.61\00:33:42.78
And like Jesus disciples,
00:33:42.82\00:33:46.35
I asked, "Where
else would I go?"
00:33:46.39\00:33:48.06
I have friends, you have
sons and daughters, classmates,
00:33:55.36\00:34:00.50
nieces, nephews, grandchildren
00:34:00.54\00:34:04.64
who have left this movement.
00:34:04.67\00:34:09.24
Their absence
keeps me up at night.
00:34:09.28\00:34:13.28
I tossed and turned in my bed
as I think about my friends...
00:34:13.31\00:34:18.35
dozens of classmates that
no longer walk with the Lord
00:34:21.86\00:34:25.36
or the remnant, and I asked,
00:34:25.39\00:34:27.16
"Why did they leave
and why am I still here?"
00:34:27.20\00:34:33.10
And from that tossing
in the middle of the night,
00:34:33.13\00:34:36.04
a thought has emerged.
00:34:36.07\00:34:39.07
I don't think those friends,
sons, daughters, classmates,
00:34:39.11\00:34:44.15
nieces, nephews,
00:34:44.18\00:34:45.51
and grandchildren
left the remnant church.
00:34:45.55\00:34:48.98
It left them.
00:34:52.09\00:34:56.02
It left them thinking that
00:34:56.06\00:34:57.79
the current state of the church,
00:34:57.83\00:35:00.23
the Church of Laodicea
00:35:00.26\00:35:02.83
is the remnant
foretold in prophecy.
00:35:02.86\00:35:07.07
And what they
learned to call Adventism.
00:35:07.10\00:35:11.01
Jesus weeps over as Laodicea.
00:35:11.04\00:35:16.98
So why do I stay in
this movement declared
00:35:17.01\00:35:19.95
by its prophetic messenger
to be enfeebled and defective?
00:35:19.98\00:35:24.55
Because I've read her past.
00:35:27.56\00:35:29.02
I've read the
future in those red books
00:35:33.19\00:35:35.86
that sit on my library shelf.
00:35:35.90\00:35:39.03
I've seen glimmers of hope,
00:35:39.07\00:35:40.77
not from what I see,
00:35:40.80\00:35:43.61
but from what I read,
00:35:43.64\00:35:45.61
from conversations I have,
00:35:45.64\00:35:47.84
and from moments like this.
00:35:47.88\00:35:49.91
I proudly call myself
a Seventh-day Adventist
00:35:49.94\00:35:53.38
not because of what is
00:35:53.42\00:35:57.15
but because of what can be.
00:35:57.19\00:35:59.19
I fear sometimes that we
have done nearly everything
00:36:04.23\00:36:09.90
God warned us not to.
00:36:09.93\00:36:11.83
But I also know
He hasn't given up
00:36:16.40\00:36:18.11
on this movement.
00:36:18.14\00:36:20.78
His bride, His church,
00:36:20.81\00:36:22.14
this remnant people is
the only object on earth
00:36:22.18\00:36:26.55
upon which He
bestows His supreme regard.
00:36:26.58\00:36:31.09
And it is still the
theater of His grace.
00:36:31.12\00:36:37.29
Look at God's goodness.
00:36:37.33\00:36:39.53
If it is the goodness of
God that leads us to repentance,
00:36:39.56\00:36:44.13
there is a lot of goodness.
00:36:44.17\00:36:46.67
We live longer.
00:36:46.70\00:36:48.50
We know how to prevent disease.
00:36:48.54\00:36:50.41
We know how to reverse disease.
00:36:50.44\00:36:51.84
We pretty much
know all the answers
00:36:51.87\00:36:53.84
to the problems
this world is facing.
00:36:53.88\00:36:57.95
And yet, I'm afraid that
00:36:57.98\00:36:59.68
we have put those
things in a vault,
00:36:59.71\00:37:03.45
locked it, and
thrown away the key.
00:37:03.49\00:37:06.49
And we're sitting on
this diamond mind of truth.
00:37:06.52\00:37:12.63
Now we owe it to
the world to open it up,
00:37:12.66\00:37:17.27
live it, and
share it with everyone
00:37:17.30\00:37:20.07
we can come in contact with.
00:37:20.10\00:37:23.14
I've read about the church,
I wanna belong to, a living,
00:37:23.17\00:37:27.38
breathing movement that
keeps moving closer and closer
00:37:27.41\00:37:30.95
to the calling
that Jesus has for her.
00:37:30.98\00:37:35.35
And as that rock
left David sling,
00:37:35.38\00:37:37.39
all heaven rejoiced at
the courage of one man.
00:37:37.42\00:37:41.72
In a moment, the fate of Israel,
00:37:41.76\00:37:43.99
the culture of Israel,
00:37:44.03\00:37:45.59
and the trajectory of
God's movement forever changed.
00:37:45.63\00:37:50.63
Never forget how
one man, one woman,
00:37:50.67\00:37:55.07
one young adult,
one leader like you
00:37:55.10\00:37:59.07
can make a difference.
00:37:59.11\00:38:01.28
I still believe
this movement can pivot.
00:38:01.31\00:38:05.01
And that its
great decisive pivot
00:38:05.05\00:38:07.92
will forever change
the course of history.
00:38:07.95\00:38:11.45
I still believe a
divine disruption is coming.
00:38:11.49\00:38:16.42
But
00:38:16.46\00:38:19.93
it's going to require
us to confess our personal,
00:38:19.96\00:38:25.80
collective, and
corporate sin and selfishness.
00:38:25.83\00:38:30.04
And until this happens,
00:38:33.14\00:38:34.51
I question if
anything will change.
00:38:34.54\00:38:39.18
By the grace of Jesus,
00:38:39.21\00:38:42.95
we can do this.
00:38:42.98\00:38:45.82
David had the faith of Jesus.
00:38:45.85\00:38:47.79
He saw what could
be not just what was.
00:38:47.82\00:38:50.76
He saw possibilities,
not just impossibilities.
00:38:50.79\00:38:54.93
And with that in mind,
00:38:54.96\00:38:56.30
I wanna share two
things on my heart.
00:38:56.33\00:38:59.00
First, with Jesus, I weep...
00:38:59.03\00:39:01.60
over what we have become.
00:39:04.91\00:39:09.18
And I wanna confess
my sin and my selfishness
00:39:09.21\00:39:12.91
in any and every
way that has brought us
00:39:12.95\00:39:15.52
to this point.
00:39:15.55\00:39:17.19
And I hope that more leaders,
00:39:17.22\00:39:18.75
leaders like you
will do the same.
00:39:18.79\00:39:22.22
Second, there are
countless individuals
00:39:22.26\00:39:26.43
in this movement
00:39:26.46\00:39:27.80
who are
desperately looking for hope.
00:39:27.83\00:39:32.20
And tonight, I'd like
to begin a conversation
00:39:32.23\00:39:34.60
about what can be.
00:39:34.64\00:39:38.87
If what we have
been told is true,
00:39:38.91\00:39:41.68
one day we will recognize
00:39:41.71\00:39:43.65
how God qualifies men and women
00:39:43.68\00:39:45.98
by His Spirit
and not by our votes,
00:39:46.01\00:39:50.62
and not by our degrees.
00:39:50.65\00:39:55.12
One day, we will
see a mighty movement
00:39:55.16\00:39:56.89
such as the world
has never witnessed.
00:39:56.93\00:39:59.46
One day, we will
stop building programs
00:39:59.49\00:40:01.90
and infrastructure
for our reputations.
00:40:01.93\00:40:07.67
And we will go into
the cities and do a work
00:40:07.70\00:40:11.24
to relieve the
suffering of humanity around us.
00:40:11.27\00:40:15.74
We will do this
not for our own glory,
00:40:15.78\00:40:18.41
but for the glory of
Him who sits on the throne.
00:40:18.45\00:40:23.39
One day, we will remember
00:40:23.42\00:40:26.62
our first calling to prevention
00:40:26.65\00:40:29.99
and education in health care.
00:40:30.03\00:40:35.26
One day, we will get
back to true education,
00:40:35.30\00:40:39.00
teaching young men
and women how to think,
00:40:39.03\00:40:42.24
and not be mere reflectors
of other men's thoughts.
00:40:42.27\00:40:46.47
One day, more of us
will be unashamed to preach
00:40:46.51\00:40:49.51
about the giant of our
day, the culture of Babylon,
00:40:49.54\00:40:54.38
and her crumbling
system of selfishness.
00:40:54.42\00:40:58.49
One day, those who
identity with a remnant movement
00:40:58.52\00:41:02.09
will be the most
kind, most patient,
00:41:02.12\00:41:05.76
most unselfish
people on the earth.
00:41:05.79\00:41:10.37
And one day,
Jesus will stand up,
00:41:10.40\00:41:13.13
and He will say, "Well done.
00:41:13.17\00:41:16.81
My people are ready.
00:41:16.84\00:41:18.64
They've held nothing back.
00:41:18.67\00:41:20.01
They finally invested
their treasure in heaven."
00:41:20.04\00:41:22.24
A world has been
warned, and many have been won
00:41:22.28\00:41:25.05
to the remnant,
the bride of Christ.
00:41:25.08\00:41:30.52
But I realize that
day may not be today.
00:41:30.55\00:41:36.36
But it will be one day.
00:41:36.39\00:41:39.56
So I'm going to wait
and pray for the patience
00:41:39.59\00:41:43.03
of the saints,
00:41:43.06\00:41:44.97
until the day when the Lord lays
00:41:45.00\00:41:48.80
our glory in the dust
00:41:48.84\00:41:52.51
and does for us what it is not
00:41:52.54\00:41:55.18
in our power to
do for ourselves.
00:41:55.21\00:41:57.58
And my prayer is this.
00:42:01.75\00:42:04.05
"Lord, we have
gloried in our growth,
00:42:04.09\00:42:08.86
yet, so many we
love have walked away.
00:42:08.89\00:42:14.36
We've gloried in our rightness
00:42:14.40\00:42:18.00
and not Your righteousness.
00:42:18.03\00:42:20.84
Lord, help us to glory in this
00:42:20.87\00:42:24.27
that we know You.
00:42:24.31\00:42:27.18
Lord, please forgive us.
00:42:27.21\00:42:30.21
Please bring Your glory back
00:42:30.25\00:42:33.15
to this movement.
00:42:33.18\00:42:36.82
Lord, we wanna
look forward to that day
00:42:36.85\00:42:38.75
when we joyfully
inhabit not just the church
00:42:38.79\00:42:42.19
I wanna belong to,
but the one our friends,
00:42:42.22\00:42:45.46
and families, and classmates,
and sons and daughters
00:42:45.49\00:42:49.00
want to belong to as well.
00:42:49.03\00:42:52.00
Lord, we wanna be a
part of that movement
00:42:52.03\00:42:54.44
of where Solomon writes,
00:42:54.47\00:42:56.91
"Who is she that
looks forth as the morning,
00:42:56.94\00:43:01.14
fair as the
moon, clear as the sun,
00:43:01.18\00:43:04.48
and terrible as an
army with banners?"
00:43:04.51\00:43:08.52
Lord, the church
00:43:08.55\00:43:09.88
I want to belong to is terrible.
00:43:09.92\00:43:13.22
Amen.
00:43:13.25\00:43:14.59