While we walk
the pilgrim pathway
00:00:20.28\00:00:24.72
Clouds will overspread the sky
00:00:24.75\00:00:29.06
But when traveling days are over
00:00:29.09\00:00:33.46
Not a shadow, not a sigh
00:00:33.50\00:00:37.67
When we all get to heaven
00:00:37.70\00:00:42.84
What a day of
rejoicing that will be!
00:00:42.87\00:00:47.74
When we all see Jesus
00:00:47.78\00:00:52.78
We'll sing and
shout the victory!
00:00:52.81\00:00:58.45
Let us then be true and faithful
00:00:58.49\00:01:03.19
Trusting, serving everyday
00:01:03.22\00:01:07.66
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
00:01:07.70\00:01:12.13
Will the toils of life repay
00:01:12.17\00:01:16.10
When we all get to heaven
00:01:16.14\00:01:21.18
What a day of
rejoicing that will be!
00:01:21.21\00:01:26.18
When we all see Jesus
00:01:26.21\00:01:31.19
We'll sing and
shout the victory!
00:01:31.22\00:01:37.56
Onwards to the prize before us!
00:01:37.59\00:01:42.70
Soon His beauty we'll behold
00:01:42.73\00:01:47.50
Soon the pearly gates will open
00:01:47.54\00:01:52.41
We shall tread
the streets of gold
00:01:52.44\00:01:56.78
When we all get to heaven
00:01:56.81\00:02:02.12
What a day of
rejoicing that will be!
00:02:02.15\00:02:07.46
When we all see Jesus
00:02:07.49\00:02:12.93
We'll sing and
shout the victory!
00:02:12.96\00:02:18.37
We'll sing and
shout the victory!
00:02:18.40\00:02:24.51
Amen. Thank you for singing.
00:02:31.48\00:02:32.85
You may be seated.
00:02:32.88\00:02:36.85
I have Dr. Trim joining me.
00:02:36.89\00:02:39.49
And, you know that our
theme is Business Unusual.
00:02:39.52\00:02:44.16
We have had that theme
for the last two years,
00:02:44.19\00:02:45.93
we've been talking about
00:02:45.96\00:02:47.80
what God is
putting on our hearts
00:02:47.83\00:02:51.63
to do in an unusual way.
00:02:51.67\00:02:53.77
Now this afternoon,
00:02:53.80\00:02:55.54
we're going to be
hearing some stories of...
00:02:55.57\00:02:58.87
And I'm calling
them unusual sacrifice.
00:02:58.91\00:03:03.24
Because this church,
00:03:03.28\00:03:06.45
our beloved
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:03:06.48\00:03:10.02
was started by
people who sacrificed.
00:03:10.05\00:03:14.89
We read the early history.
00:03:14.92\00:03:17.16
We have a lot of books really
00:03:17.19\00:03:19.73
about the early
history of our church.
00:03:19.76\00:03:22.16
But in addition to the
stories that are in those books,
00:03:22.20\00:03:25.03
there's a lot of stories
that just have not been told
00:03:25.07\00:03:28.57
about the sacrifice
00:03:28.60\00:03:30.11
that individuals
and families have made
00:03:30.14\00:03:33.54
in order to advance the gospel.
00:03:33.58\00:03:36.38
Dr. Trim is going to
be with us this afternoon.
00:03:36.41\00:03:40.18
Dr. Trim, just kinda
give us a teaser here.
00:03:40.22\00:03:44.22
What...
00:03:44.25\00:03:45.59
Just kinda open up for
us this window a little bit
00:03:45.62\00:03:48.09
on what we're going to be
doing this afternoon with this?
00:03:48.12\00:03:51.23
Steve, thank you.
00:03:51.26\00:03:52.59
This afternoon we
are going to be talking
00:03:52.63\00:03:53.96
about the stories
of all the missionaries
00:03:54.00\00:03:55.46
you have never heard of,
00:03:55.50\00:03:57.23
not the handful that
we always talk about.
00:03:57.27\00:03:59.47
We are going to be
talking about people
00:03:59.50\00:04:00.84
like Fred and Kate
Brown and their two children
00:04:00.87\00:04:04.17
in the late 1890's
living in Battle Creek Field,
00:04:04.21\00:04:07.08
called to go as
missionaries to India.
00:04:07.11\00:04:09.81
Took the train to New York,
00:04:09.84\00:04:11.41
sailed across the
Atlantic to London,
00:04:11.45\00:04:13.21
got another ship to Calcutta,
took them more than six weeks.
00:04:13.25\00:04:16.52
But then they got sent out
00:04:16.55\00:04:18.85
into the northern rural areas
00:04:18.89\00:04:22.99
and they'd only
been there a short time
00:04:23.02\00:04:24.43
when a small pox
epidemic broke out.
00:04:24.46\00:04:27.30
And all the British
colonial authorities say,
00:04:27.33\00:04:29.73
"We're leaving and
you should do the same."
00:04:29.76\00:04:31.60
If you were them,
what would you do?
00:04:31.63\00:04:35.17
Wait a minute.
00:04:35.20\00:04:37.51
You're not gonna
finish the story?
00:04:37.54\00:04:40.24
If I did that, no one would
come this afternoon, Steve,
00:04:40.28\00:04:42.48
so we need people to come back.
00:04:42.51\00:04:44.25
All right.
00:04:44.28\00:04:45.61
This afternoon,
00:04:45.65\00:04:46.98
come and hear the
conclusion of this story
00:04:47.02\00:04:48.35
and some other amazing stories
of families and individuals
00:04:48.38\00:04:51.89
sacrificing for
the cause of God.
00:04:51.92\00:04:55.36
We hope and pray you
join us this afternoon.
00:04:55.39\00:04:57.03
Please look in
your program guide
00:04:57.06\00:04:58.46
and make one correction.
00:04:58.49\00:04:59.83
The program
starts at 4 PM, not 5 PM.
00:04:59.86\00:05:03.57
There's one thing
in that program guide
00:05:03.60\00:05:06.03
that says 5 PM
00:05:06.07\00:05:07.50
but it's really 4
PM this afternoon.
00:05:07.54\00:05:10.07
Don't miss this
program Unusual Sacrifice.
00:05:10.11\00:05:12.81
Thank You.
00:05:12.84\00:05:14.28
Since I started
00:05:40.37\00:05:44.87
For the Kingdom
00:05:44.91\00:05:49.34
Since my life
00:05:49.38\00:05:53.25
He controls
00:05:53.28\00:05:57.92
Since I gave my heart
00:05:57.95\00:06:03.86
To Jesus
00:06:03.89\00:06:06.49
The longer I serve Him
00:06:06.53\00:06:10.80
The sweeter He grows
00:06:10.83\00:06:16.71
The longer I serve Him
00:06:16.74\00:06:21.41
The sweeter He grows
00:06:21.44\00:06:25.51
The more that I love Him
00:06:25.55\00:06:29.88
More love He bestows
00:06:29.92\00:06:34.16
Each day is like heaven
00:06:34.19\00:06:38.59
My heart overflows
00:06:38.63\00:06:43.20
The longer I serve Him
00:06:43.23\00:06:47.47
The sweeter He grows
00:06:47.50\00:06:51.07
Ev'ry need
00:06:58.38\00:07:01.78
He is supplying
00:07:01.82\00:07:06.79
Plenteous grace
00:07:06.82\00:07:10.09
He bestows
00:07:10.13\00:07:14.76
Ev'ry day
00:07:14.80\00:07:18.10
My way gets brighter
00:07:18.13\00:07:22.47
The longer I serve Him
00:07:22.50\00:07:26.61
The sweeter He grows
00:07:26.64\00:07:32.31
The longer I serve Him
00:07:32.35\00:07:36.48
The sweeter He grows
00:07:36.52\00:07:40.42
The more that I love Him
00:07:40.46\00:07:44.49
More love He bestows
00:07:44.53\00:07:48.50
Each day is like heaven
00:07:48.53\00:07:52.83
My heart overflows
00:07:52.87\00:07:57.07
The longer I serve Him
00:07:57.11\00:08:01.44
The sweeter He grows
00:08:01.48\00:08:06.38
The sweeter He grows
00:08:10.95\00:08:16.22
Well, good morning,
ASI, and our viewers.
00:08:32.14\00:08:35.28
It's a great pleasure
to be here this morning
00:08:35.31\00:08:38.21
and I feel a little bit
like a fraud in some ways.
00:08:38.25\00:08:42.88
I'm not necessarily
the greatest theologian.
00:08:42.92\00:08:45.79
But I do have a
passion for the lesson topic
00:08:45.82\00:08:48.22
and the series that
I have developed here,
00:08:48.26\00:08:51.16
and I know that many of
you with your ministries
00:08:51.19\00:08:54.23
could be standing up here today,
00:08:54.26\00:08:56.20
delivering the same message.
00:08:56.23\00:08:58.43
But in this week's lesson,
00:08:58.47\00:08:59.80
we are studying the
Old Testament prophets,
00:08:59.83\00:09:02.77
some of the most interesting
characters in the Bible,
00:09:02.80\00:09:05.81
their strong sense
of justice for the poor,
00:09:05.84\00:09:08.54
the marginalized, the forgotten,
00:09:08.58\00:09:10.75
the overlooked
and allowed voices
00:09:10.78\00:09:13.52
for reform and
restoration of the Mosaic Lord
00:09:13.55\00:09:17.15
and restoration of society
as God had planned it to be.
00:09:17.19\00:09:22.82
To a significant extent,
00:09:22.86\00:09:24.23
the Hebrew
prophets would quote him
00:09:24.26\00:09:26.53
response to the excess
00:09:26.56\00:09:27.90
of the kings of
Israel and Judah.
00:09:27.93\00:09:30.57
And to the
failure of God's people
00:09:30.60\00:09:32.43
to remain faithful to him.
00:09:32.47\00:09:35.14
And this was
practiced in two key ways,
00:09:35.17\00:09:38.37
in justice and exploitation
of the weak and vulnerable
00:09:38.41\00:09:42.91
and indifference to the plight
of the poor and the oppressed.
00:09:42.94\00:09:48.02
Increasing disparity
between the rich and the poor,
00:09:48.05\00:09:51.62
between strong and weak
00:09:51.65\00:09:54.79
where the markers of
the nation's departure
00:09:54.82\00:09:57.53
from the way that God
00:09:57.56\00:09:59.69
had had them
planned and of breakdown
00:09:59.73\00:10:03.30
of human
relationships in general.
00:10:03.33\00:10:06.53
Numbness or
apathy was not an option.
00:10:06.57\00:10:10.54
The suffering of those
who hurt excluded and excluded
00:10:10.57\00:10:14.51
had cosmic significance.
00:10:14.54\00:10:17.21
The harsh voice of the prophets
00:10:17.25\00:10:19.31
called people
back to their vision,
00:10:19.35\00:10:21.48
God had for how
human society ought to be
00:10:21.52\00:10:26.02
and for restoration
of their relationships.
00:10:26.05\00:10:29.72
You know, we can see here today
00:10:29.76\00:10:32.16
discussing the deteriorating
state of the world,
00:10:32.19\00:10:35.43
somewhat distanced
from some of the debauchery.
00:10:35.46\00:10:39.63
We can even maybe feel
00:10:39.67\00:10:41.00
a little self
righteous about it.
00:10:41.04\00:10:42.47
We can talk of the impact of sin
00:10:42.50\00:10:44.24
and look forward
to the return of Jesus
00:10:44.27\00:10:46.41
and the restoration of
His justice and His kingdom.
00:10:46.44\00:10:50.88
And all of these things
00:10:50.91\00:10:52.25
are valid things
for us to discuss.
00:10:52.28\00:10:54.92
But note, the prophets
also condemned the people
00:10:54.95\00:10:59.72
for their apathy.
00:10:59.75\00:11:02.56
You know many of us flew
00:11:02.59\00:11:04.59
to get here to Louisville today.
00:11:04.63\00:11:06.90
And most of us are
aware of the recent crisis
00:11:06.93\00:11:09.00
of the Indonesian
and Ethiopian airlines
00:11:09.03\00:11:12.03
closing the world wide
debate on whether buying
00:11:12.07\00:11:14.77
should have ever
allowed the 737 Max
00:11:14.80\00:11:18.77
to be put into commission.
00:11:18.81\00:11:20.41
The media have spent
00:11:20.44\00:11:21.78
many thousands of
hours discussing this
00:11:21.81\00:11:24.65
and many thousands
of pages of prints press
00:11:24.68\00:11:27.38
in debate in condemnation,
00:11:27.42\00:11:29.65
Boeing have spent
hundreds of millions of dollars
00:11:29.68\00:11:32.79
on researching a solution.
00:11:32.82\00:11:36.42
Why is it then, that
the number of children
00:11:36.46\00:11:38.89
who die each day
from preventable diseases
00:11:38.93\00:11:42.06
is equivalent to 100
passenger jets crashing,
00:11:42.10\00:11:46.23
killing all onboard every
day never reaches a press?
00:11:46.27\00:11:52.41
Never enters
into our conversation?
00:11:52.44\00:11:56.01
You know, when I was a
young man at university,
00:11:56.04\00:11:59.55
I was involved in
the conference youth club
00:11:59.58\00:12:03.22
and I grew up in
Adelaide in South Australia,
00:12:03.25\00:12:06.89
it was a smallish community.
00:12:06.92\00:12:08.29
We all knew everyone,
we'd gone to school together,
00:12:08.32\00:12:10.49
we did Power Pointers together,
00:12:10.53\00:12:12.36
we put on a Friday Night
Youth Rally once a month,
00:12:12.39\00:12:15.16
we put on a Saturday night
social activity once a month.
00:12:15.20\00:12:18.63
We put on a
Sunday sporting activity
00:12:18.67\00:12:20.74
once a month and
it came to camp time.
00:12:20.77\00:12:23.97
And so we'd plan
this event for camp.
00:12:24.01\00:12:26.64
We planned it so that, you know,
00:12:26.68\00:12:29.14
on Sunday we had
charted a fleet of small planes
00:12:29.18\00:12:33.08
to take young
people from Adelaide
00:12:33.11\00:12:35.18
across to a small
island called Kangaroo Island,
00:12:35.22\00:12:38.02
which is famous for
its flora and fauna.
00:12:38.05\00:12:40.32
And I was
looking forward to this.
00:12:40.36\00:12:41.86
And on Sabbath morning,
00:12:41.89\00:12:43.22
the conference
president sought me out
00:12:43.26\00:12:44.59
and he said,
"Jonathan, I've got bad news.
00:12:44.63\00:12:47.26
The conference youth director
was taken ill overnight,
00:12:47.30\00:12:50.10
developed appendicitis burst,
00:12:50.13\00:12:52.07
he's got peritonitis,
he's in surgery as we talk.
00:12:52.10\00:12:55.37
Would you stay
behind on Sunday morning
00:12:55.40\00:12:57.64
and run the beach
activities for the kids
00:12:57.67\00:12:59.77
who weren't going
to Kangaroo Island?"
00:12:59.81\00:13:01.34
And I was quite
disappointed by that.
00:13:01.38\00:13:03.31
So on Sunday, I went,
00:13:03.35\00:13:05.01
we ran the beach
activities, we came back,
00:13:05.05\00:13:07.95
everyone was sort of cleaning up
00:13:07.98\00:13:09.32
and getting ready for
the Sunday evening program,
00:13:09.35\00:13:11.65
the conference
president was kicking it off
00:13:11.69\00:13:13.76
with these mission talk
00:13:13.79\00:13:15.16
and his Bible
study on Sunday evening
00:13:15.19\00:13:16.86
and people began to dribble back
00:13:16.89\00:13:18.86
from Kangaroo Island
'cause it was all small planes,
00:13:18.89\00:13:21.13
and they were all
chattering back and forth,
00:13:21.16\00:13:23.73
and 10 minutes before
00:13:23.77\00:13:25.10
the conference
president stood up,
00:13:25.13\00:13:26.63
we got the news
00:13:26.67\00:13:28.00
that the last plane had crashed,
00:13:28.04\00:13:29.84
killing all onboard.
00:13:29.87\00:13:32.21
And along with the pilot,
00:13:32.24\00:13:33.74
we lost four of our young people
00:13:33.78\00:13:35.34
from a youth group.
00:13:35.38\00:13:36.95
One of those young people
00:13:36.98\00:13:38.31
was the president
of the youth group
00:13:38.35\00:13:40.72
and he was the
conference president's son.
00:13:40.75\00:13:43.89
And you can imagine
when he's preparing to get up
00:13:43.92\00:13:46.05
and give a Bible study,
00:13:46.09\00:13:47.89
but that whole
camp meeting series
00:13:47.92\00:13:51.13
was changed by that one event.
00:13:51.16\00:13:53.36
And now 40 years later,
00:13:53.40\00:13:54.73
when I go home to my hometown,
00:13:54.76\00:13:57.07
we still talk about that event.
00:13:57.10\00:13:59.00
But why is it that the
loss of four young people
00:13:59.03\00:14:02.80
is so significant in our lives,
00:14:02.84\00:14:05.01
when 30,000 young
children die every day
00:14:05.04\00:14:07.98
of preventable diseases?
00:14:08.01\00:14:10.01
But it never ends it
seems to our thinking.
00:14:10.05\00:14:12.01
Why is it that our
compassion for others
00:14:12.05\00:14:14.78
seems to be directly correlated
00:14:14.82\00:14:17.09
to where the people
are close to us socially,
00:14:17.12\00:14:20.16
emotionally, culturally,
00:14:20.19\00:14:22.26
ethnically, economically,
and geographically?
00:14:22.29\00:14:26.19
How might God
think about this issue?
00:14:26.23\00:14:28.66
Does He look at the
suffering of a child
00:14:28.70\00:14:30.37
in Cambodia or Malawi
00:14:30.40\00:14:32.20
with a certain sense
of emotional distance?
00:14:32.23\00:14:35.44
Does God have different levels
of compassion for children
00:14:35.47\00:14:38.37
based on their
geographical location,
00:14:38.41\00:14:41.74
their nationality, their
race or their parent's income?
00:14:41.78\00:14:46.68
Does He forget about their pain
00:14:46.72\00:14:48.28
because He is
preoccupied of other things?
00:14:48.32\00:14:51.39
Does He turn the offending
page to read the sports section?
00:14:51.42\00:14:55.19
Or is His heart broken
00:14:55.22\00:14:56.56
because each child
is precious to Him?
00:14:56.59\00:15:00.83
God surely grieves and weeps
00:15:00.86\00:15:02.23
because every one of
these children is His child,
00:15:02.26\00:15:05.90
not somebody else's.
00:15:05.93\00:15:09.60
In Amos in the
first two chapters,
00:15:09.64\00:15:12.71
it begins with a popular note
00:15:12.74\00:15:14.31
listing all the
crimes and atrocities
00:15:14.34\00:15:17.25
to God of Syria, Phoenicia, Moab
00:15:17.28\00:15:19.98
and other neighboring countries.
00:15:20.02\00:15:22.02
Then later in Chapter 2,
00:15:22.05\00:15:23.92
he moves on to their
southern neighbor Judah
00:15:23.95\00:15:27.09
and their rejection of
God, their disobedience,
00:15:27.12\00:15:30.29
and the punishments
that will come their way.
00:15:30.33\00:15:33.53
Now, in these
first two chapters,
00:15:33.56\00:15:35.20
the people of Israel are
feeling rather comfortable,
00:15:35.23\00:15:37.17
rather self-righteous.
00:15:37.20\00:15:38.53
Yeah, they all deserve it.
00:15:38.57\00:15:40.60
But then Amos turns on them
00:15:40.64\00:15:44.01
and he begins to tell them
00:15:44.04\00:15:47.14
about their
sins, about their evil,
00:15:47.18\00:15:50.05
their idolatry, their injustice,
00:15:50.08\00:15:51.98
their repeated
failures in the sight of God.
00:15:52.01\00:15:55.32
Oh, oh.
00:15:55.35\00:15:56.92
It just got real.
00:15:56.95\00:15:58.62
It hit hard.
00:15:58.65\00:16:00.86
How do we act as
God's people today?
00:16:00.89\00:16:03.83
Do we stand back
and criticize the world
00:16:03.86\00:16:05.89
for its immorality
and exploitative ways?
00:16:05.93\00:16:09.20
Or do we act out God's plan?
00:16:09.23\00:16:12.40
Allow me to quote
from the well-known
00:16:12.43\00:16:14.50
Christian author
and speaker John Stott.
00:16:14.54\00:16:18.11
"Our Christian habit
00:16:18.14\00:16:19.47
is to bewail the
world's deteriorating standards
00:16:19.51\00:16:22.51
with an air of rather
self-righteous dismay.
00:16:22.54\00:16:26.11
We criticize its violence,
dishonesty, immorality,
00:16:26.15\00:16:30.15
disregard for human
life, and materialistic greed."
00:16:30.19\00:16:34.09
"The world is
going down the drain,"
00:16:34.12\00:16:35.46
we say with a shrug.
00:16:35.49\00:16:37.46
Whose fault is
it? Who is to blame?
00:16:37.49\00:16:40.80
Let me put it like this.
00:16:40.83\00:16:42.56
If the house is dark
when nightfall comes,
00:16:42.60\00:16:45.73
there is no sense
in blaming the house,
00:16:45.77\00:16:47.97
that is what happens
when the sun goes down.
00:16:48.00\00:16:52.57
Similarly, if the meat
goes bad and becomes inedible,
00:16:52.61\00:16:56.04
there is no sense
in blaming the meat.
00:16:56.08\00:16:58.05
That is what happens
00:16:58.08\00:16:59.41
when bacteria are
left alone to breed.
00:16:59.45\00:17:01.92
The question to ask
is, "Where is the salt?"
00:17:01.95\00:17:06.12
Just so, if society deteriorates
00:17:06.15\00:17:08.39
and its standards
decline until it becomes
00:17:08.42\00:17:10.43
like a dark night
or a stinking fish,
00:17:10.46\00:17:13.09
there is no sense
in blaming society,
00:17:13.13\00:17:15.86
that is what happens
when selfish men and women
00:17:15.90\00:17:18.93
are left to themselves,
00:17:18.97\00:17:20.30
and human
selfishness is unchecked.
00:17:20.34\00:17:23.87
The question to ask
is, "Where is the Church?
00:17:23.91\00:17:28.71
Why are the salt and light
of Jesus Christ not permeating
00:17:28.74\00:17:32.28
and changing our society?"
00:17:32.31\00:17:34.75
It is sheer
hypocrisy on our part
00:17:34.78\00:17:36.72
to raise our eyebrows
or shrug our shoulders...
00:17:36.75\00:17:42.19
Sorry or ring our hands,
00:17:42.22\00:17:46.13
the Lord Jesus told
us to be salt and light.
00:17:46.16\00:17:50.63
If therefore darkness
and rottenness abounds,
00:17:50.67\00:17:53.60
it is largely our fault
and we must accept the blame."
00:17:53.64\00:17:58.81
That's powerful, isn't it?
00:17:58.84\00:18:01.04
But that's what
Allison calls us to be.
00:18:01.08\00:18:03.51
Not to be apathetic,
not to be removed from it,
00:18:03.55\00:18:07.45
but to take the responsibility
to be in part of the solution.
00:18:07.48\00:18:10.85
In the first
three chapters of Micah,
00:18:10.89\00:18:13.02
we read of
God's anger and sorrow
00:18:13.05\00:18:15.02
at the evil His
people have done.
00:18:15.06\00:18:18.29
But then in
Chapter 7 verses 18 to 20,
00:18:18.33\00:18:21.50
we see is shifting God's
anger and harsh messaging
00:18:21.53\00:18:24.83
and we know that He longs
to forgive and to restore them.
00:18:24.87\00:18:29.10
He will not
remain angry forever.
00:18:29.14\00:18:33.27
This accumulates
in our memory text.
00:18:33.31\00:18:36.24
Micah 6:8, a well
quoted piece of scripture,
00:18:36.28\00:18:40.78
a formula to live by.
00:18:40.82\00:18:43.39
"He has shown you,
O man, what is good.
00:18:43.42\00:18:47.49
And what does the
Lord require of you?
00:18:47.52\00:18:49.72
To do justly, to love mercy
00:18:49.76\00:18:52.53
and to walk
humbly with your God."
00:18:52.56\00:18:56.06
It's interesting to note
00:18:56.10\00:18:57.43
that as the people
moved further away from God,
00:18:57.47\00:18:59.87
their selfishness and
exploitive ways increased
00:18:59.90\00:19:03.51
and they became more unjust.
00:19:03.54\00:19:06.24
But as we are
drawn closer to God,
00:19:06.27\00:19:09.28
what we see is a greater concern
00:19:09.31\00:19:11.18
for our neighbor.
00:19:11.21\00:19:12.55
The marginalized is increased.
00:19:12.58\00:19:14.28
It is through
Christ that we are changed.
00:19:14.32\00:19:18.82
Justice and
mercy are not natural.
00:19:18.85\00:19:22.42
But if we walk
humbly with our God,
00:19:22.46\00:19:25.09
then that is what
actually changes us.
00:19:25.13\00:19:28.40
We often think of
repentances, confession
00:19:28.43\00:19:30.73
and turning away from
sin in our personal lives.
00:19:30.77\00:19:34.90
But have we considered that
00:19:34.94\00:19:36.27
this might also
include realizing
00:19:36.30\00:19:38.14
and acknowledging
our complicity with,
00:19:38.17\00:19:41.34
and sometimes even benefit
from larger evils in the world
00:19:41.38\00:19:45.95
with broken
systems and relationships,
00:19:45.98\00:19:48.88
and in seeking to reform them
00:19:48.92\00:19:51.42
as we have
influence and resources.
00:19:51.45\00:19:55.52
We often think of
Sodom as a city so full
00:19:55.56\00:19:57.96
of debauchery and immorality
that God had to destroy it.
00:19:57.99\00:20:02.90
And we think, we
could never be like that.
00:20:02.93\00:20:06.30
But then, let's read Ezekiel,
00:20:06.33\00:20:09.50
and in Ezekiel 16:49, he reads,
00:20:09.54\00:20:14.58
"Now this is the sin
of your sister Sodom:
00:20:14.61\00:20:18.48
She and her
sisters were arrogant,
00:20:18.51\00:20:22.35
overfed and unconcerned,
00:20:22.38\00:20:24.82
they did not help
the poor or the needy."
00:20:24.85\00:20:29.22
Not quite the sins
that come to our mind
00:20:29.26\00:20:31.46
when we talk about Sodom.
00:20:31.49\00:20:34.36
Ezekiel's focus here
was on economic injustice
00:20:34.40\00:20:38.40
and the lack of
care for the needy.
00:20:38.43\00:20:41.77
How do we equate
that with today's society
00:20:41.80\00:20:44.64
where $6 billion is required
00:20:44.67\00:20:47.24
to provide basic
education for all,
00:20:47.28\00:20:50.05
yet it never happens.
00:20:50.08\00:20:51.85
But Americans spent $8
billion per year on cosmetics.
00:20:51.88\00:20:57.35
It would take $11 billion
00:20:57.39\00:20:59.99
to provide water
and sanitation for all,
00:21:00.02\00:21:03.02
yet it never happens.
00:21:03.06\00:21:04.93
But Europeans spend $11
billion per year on ice cream.
00:21:04.96\00:21:11.27
It would take $13 billion
00:21:11.30\00:21:13.90
to provide basic health
care and nutrition to all,
00:21:13.94\00:21:17.31
yet it never happens.
00:21:17.34\00:21:18.87
But globally,
00:21:18.91\00:21:20.24
we spend $780
billion per year on military.
00:21:20.28\00:21:25.11
How about values in this?
00:21:25.15\00:21:27.52
I would like to point out
00:21:27.55\00:21:28.88
that I am a strong
believer in a power of prayer.
00:21:28.92\00:21:32.22
But too often we
find it easier to pray
00:21:32.25\00:21:35.02
that the poor
friend's needs might be met.
00:21:35.06\00:21:39.03
When God placed us
here to be the solution,
00:21:39.06\00:21:42.36
and gave us the
resources to be the solution.
00:21:42.40\00:21:46.53
Ezekiel in Chapter 34
00:21:46.57\00:21:48.34
compares the
corrupt ladies of Israel
00:21:48.37\00:21:50.67
with God's own shepherding,
00:21:50.71\00:21:52.31
giving us an
insight into the difference
00:21:52.34\00:21:54.28
from the way that men rules
00:21:54.31\00:21:56.11
and how God would
use us, have us served.
00:21:56.14\00:22:00.05
Now you know, in
all of the prophets
00:22:00.08\00:22:01.62
that we've studied is
probably stronger things
00:22:01.65\00:22:04.45
that I could use for the text.
00:22:04.49\00:22:06.42
But this section of scripture,
00:22:06.45\00:22:07.79
I think, just
gives us the comparison
00:22:07.82\00:22:10.39
between man's way and God's way,
00:22:10.43\00:22:12.56
and the way that
He would have us.
00:22:12.59\00:22:14.46
So reading in
Ezekiel Chapter 34,
00:22:14.50\00:22:17.43
starting in verse 1,
00:22:17.47\00:22:18.80
"The word of
the Lord came to me:
00:22:18.83\00:22:21.60
'Son of man, prophesy
against the shepherds of Israel,
00:22:21.64\00:22:25.37
prophesy and say to them:
00:22:25.41\00:22:27.28
'This is what the
Sovereign Lord says:
00:22:27.31\00:22:30.28
Woe to the shepherds of Israel
00:22:30.31\00:22:32.08
who only take
care of yourselves!
00:22:32.11\00:22:34.35
Should not shepherds
take care of the flock?
00:22:34.38\00:22:36.89
You eat the curds,
00:22:36.92\00:22:38.25
clothe yourselves with the wool
and slaughter the choice lambs,
00:22:38.29\00:22:41.66
but you do not
take care of the flock.
00:22:41.69\00:22:45.59
You have not
strengthened the weak
00:22:45.63\00:22:47.06
or healed the sick
or bound up the injured.
00:22:47.10\00:22:50.20
You have not
brought back the strays
00:22:50.23\00:22:51.77
or searched for the lost.
00:22:51.80\00:22:53.47
You have ruled them
harshly and brutally.
00:22:53.50\00:22:56.64
Therefore, you shepherds,
hear the word of the Lord:
00:22:56.67\00:23:00.64
As surely as I live,
declares the Sovereign Lord,
00:23:00.68\00:23:03.45
because my
flock lacks a shepherd
00:23:03.48\00:23:07.02
and so has been plundered
00:23:07.05\00:23:08.78
and has become food
for all the wild animals,
00:23:08.82\00:23:12.22
and because my shepherds
did not search for my flock
00:23:12.25\00:23:15.36
but cared for themselves
rather than for my flock,
00:23:15.39\00:23:18.36
therefore, you shepherds,
hear the word of the Lord:
00:23:18.39\00:23:22.36
This is what the
Sovereign Lord says:
00:23:22.40\00:23:24.37
I am against the shepherds
00:23:24.40\00:23:26.10
and will hold them
accountable for my flock.
00:23:26.13\00:23:28.34
I will remove them
from tending the flock
00:23:28.37\00:23:31.61
so the shepherds can
no longer feed themselves.
00:23:31.64\00:23:34.88
I will rescue my
flock from their mouths,
00:23:34.91\00:23:37.28
and it will no
longer be food to them.
00:23:37.31\00:23:40.15
For this is what
the Sovereign Lord says:
00:23:40.18\00:23:42.25
I myself will
search for my sheep
00:23:42.28\00:23:44.92
and look after them.
00:23:44.95\00:23:46.55
As a shepherd looks
after his scattered flock
00:23:46.59\00:23:49.16
when he is with them, so
will I look after my sheep.
00:23:49.19\00:23:52.69
I will rescue them
from all the places
00:23:52.73\00:23:55.16
where they were scattered
00:23:55.20\00:23:56.53
on a day of clouds and darkness.
00:23:56.56\00:23:59.57
I will bring them
out of the nations
00:23:59.60\00:24:01.14
and gather them
for the countries,
00:24:01.17\00:24:02.94
I will bring
them into their land.
00:24:02.97\00:24:05.24
I will pasture them on
the mountains of Israel,
00:24:05.27\00:24:07.58
in the ravines,
00:24:07.61\00:24:08.94
in all the
settlements of the land.
00:24:08.98\00:24:11.31
I will tend them
in a good pasture,
00:24:11.35\00:24:13.62
and the mountain
heights of Israel
00:24:13.65\00:24:15.08
will be their grazing land.
00:24:15.12\00:24:16.79
They will lie down
in good grazing land,
00:24:16.82\00:24:19.69
and they will
feed in a rich pasture
00:24:19.72\00:24:21.59
on the mountains of Israel.
00:24:21.62\00:24:23.32
I myself will tend my
sheep and have them lie down,
00:24:23.36\00:24:26.80
declares the Sovereign Lord.
00:24:26.83\00:24:28.73
I will search for the
lost and bring back the strays.
00:24:28.76\00:24:32.03
I will bind up the
injured and strengthen the weak,
00:24:32.07\00:24:35.04
but the sleek and
strong I will destroy.
00:24:35.07\00:24:39.04
I will shepherd the
flock with justice."
00:24:39.07\00:24:43.81
Powerful words when you look
at the contrast, aren't they?
00:24:43.85\00:24:46.95
How do we rule?
00:24:46.98\00:24:48.32
God has called
us to be shepherds
00:24:48.35\00:24:50.39
but not to be shepherds
00:24:50.42\00:24:51.85
as in the world
would have us lead,
00:24:51.89\00:24:54.29
but to be true shepherds
in a manner that He is.
00:24:54.32\00:24:58.79
Isaiah starts off the same
00:24:58.83\00:25:00.73
as the other prophets
mourning what has been lost.
00:25:00.76\00:25:03.53
He urges the people to remember
00:25:03.57\00:25:05.10
what God has done for
them and offers them hope
00:25:05.13\00:25:07.80
for what God wants
for them in the future.
00:25:07.84\00:25:11.67
Starts in Isaiah
1:2 with a cry...
00:25:11.71\00:25:15.34
"Listen, O heavens!
00:25:18.61\00:25:21.08
Pay attention earth,
this is what the Lord says,
00:25:21.12\00:25:25.12
'The children I
raised and cared for
00:25:25.15\00:25:28.06
have rebelled against me.'"
00:25:28.09\00:25:30.76
You get the
urgency of the call here.
00:25:30.79\00:25:33.03
In verses 16 and 17,
"Wash yourselves to be clean.
00:25:33.06\00:25:37.80
Get your sins out of my
sight, give up your evil ways,
00:25:37.83\00:25:41.80
learn to do good, seek
justice, help the oppressed,
00:25:41.84\00:25:46.81
defend the cause of the orphans,
00:25:46.84\00:25:49.04
fight for the
rights of the widows."
00:25:49.08\00:25:52.28
In Chapters 58 and 59,
00:25:52.31\00:25:54.32
Isaiah specifically returns
to the concerned for justice.
00:25:54.35\00:25:58.65
He again describes the society
00:25:58.69\00:26:00.42
in which justice is driven back,
00:26:00.46\00:26:02.72
righteousness
stands at a distance.
00:26:02.76\00:26:05.16
Truth is stumbled in the street.
00:26:05.19\00:26:07.70
Honesty cannot enter.
00:26:07.73\00:26:09.96
He describes the faith community
00:26:10.00\00:26:11.93
that concerns itself
with rituals of worship,
00:26:11.97\00:26:14.77
but lacks the
conviction of true worship
00:26:14.80\00:26:17.51
which transforms them
00:26:17.54\00:26:19.04
and gives them
responsibility to the care
00:26:19.07\00:26:21.78
for the
marginalized and the lost.
00:26:21.81\00:26:24.45
But he also affirms
that God will rescue them,
00:26:24.48\00:26:29.52
that ultimately
the Redeemer will come.
00:26:29.55\00:26:32.89
He proclaims the Messiah as one
00:26:32.92\00:26:35.32
who ultimately reestablished
God's reign on earth
00:26:35.36\00:26:39.16
and will bring
justice, mercy, healing
00:26:39.19\00:26:42.20
and restoration with Him.
00:26:42.23\00:26:44.50
When we all look
at the brokenness
00:26:44.53\00:26:46.13
that we see in a world,
00:26:46.17\00:26:47.50
we just long for that
healing that's coming, don't we?
00:26:47.54\00:26:50.74
You know all of us
has assembled here today
00:26:50.77\00:26:53.17
are here because we've
heard the cries of the poor,
00:26:53.21\00:26:56.04
the oppressed
00:26:56.08\00:26:57.41
and those in need
of the healing touch
00:26:57.45\00:26:59.45
that only God can bring.
00:26:59.48\00:27:01.88
Yet for all our good
works and faithfulness,
00:27:01.92\00:27:03.92
we are still
overwhelmed with the enormity
00:27:03.95\00:27:06.79
of poverty and brokenness.
00:27:06.82\00:27:09.32
If not for the
promise that God does hear,
00:27:09.36\00:27:12.03
the God does care,
00:27:12.06\00:27:14.23
and in the end, His
justice will prevail.
00:27:14.26\00:27:19.03
And all we would may
knew we would be discouraged.
00:27:19.07\00:27:22.74
As humans we
tend to limit things
00:27:22.77\00:27:24.57
to our resources, our skills,
00:27:24.61\00:27:28.71
but it is only when
we learn to trust in God
00:27:28.74\00:27:31.48
that we find peace in
knowing that He has a plan.
00:27:31.51\00:27:36.79
You know, the reason
00:27:36.82\00:27:38.15
for developing
this lesson series
00:27:38.19\00:27:39.52
was to address
the perceived divide
00:27:39.55\00:27:41.36
between Matthew
28 and Matthew 25.
00:27:41.39\00:27:45.46
There is no true
gospel or a social gospel.
00:27:45.49\00:27:50.10
There is only one gospel
00:27:50.13\00:27:52.17
and it brings
complete healing to all,
00:27:52.20\00:27:55.24
restoring all relationships.
00:27:55.27\00:27:58.37
We are one in a body of Christ.
00:27:58.41\00:28:01.04
We may bring different skills
and ministries, some will sow,
00:28:01.08\00:28:04.61
some will heal, some will reap.
00:28:04.65\00:28:07.38
When I walk through
the exhibition hall here
00:28:07.42\00:28:09.62
at the ASI Convention,
00:28:09.65\00:28:10.99
I'm impressed by the
wholeness of the gospel
00:28:11.02\00:28:13.86
and the oneness that we all find
00:28:13.89\00:28:15.52
by being joined
together in the body of Christ.
00:28:15.56\00:28:19.29
Different parts just as the body
00:28:19.33\00:28:20.80
has different parts
and different organs
00:28:20.83\00:28:22.86
that all perform
a different service,
00:28:22.90\00:28:25.63
but as together
that we create one body
00:28:25.67\00:28:28.40
ascended in Christ.
00:28:28.44\00:28:30.61
But you know, we have
spoken a lot this morning
00:28:30.64\00:28:33.04
about the cries of the
prophets and drawn parallels
00:28:33.07\00:28:36.34
between the
excesses of the societies
00:28:36.38\00:28:38.38
of the Old Testament
and society of today.
00:28:38.41\00:28:41.98
But let me share with you a
story of the reality of today
00:28:42.02\00:28:46.09
and put a phase to all
that we've talked about.
00:28:46.12\00:28:51.13
The window is my
favorite place to sit.
00:28:51.16\00:28:54.66
I like to watch the
kids on their way to school.
00:28:58.37\00:29:04.24
Best of all, I
get to be the first
00:29:04.27\00:29:07.84
to see my mama when
she comes back for me.
00:29:07.88\00:29:12.15
Mama said, "I
have to be a big girl."
00:29:52.92\00:29:56.52
I wonder when I
can go to school.
00:30:00.90\00:30:04.83
Maybe, I will go
to big city instead.
00:30:04.87\00:30:08.90
Maybe, I will be
surrounded by beautiful dresses.
00:30:20.25\00:30:25.25
And maybe, when I'm older
00:30:28.82\00:30:31.53
I will get to wear one
of those beautiful dresses.
00:30:31.56\00:30:36.13
And maybe, one day
00:30:50.61\00:30:53.28
I will find a
family to care for me.
00:30:53.31\00:30:56.32
And maybe, I will
even find my mother again.
00:31:02.16\00:31:08.93
And maybe, I won't have to
wait by the window anymore.
00:31:08.96\00:31:14.64
Or...
00:32:02.32\00:32:03.65
maybe...
00:32:03.69\00:32:05.49
Maybe I will have a new family.
00:32:05.52\00:32:08.22
And I will have my own bed
00:32:14.93\00:32:20.04
and new clothes to wear.
00:32:20.07\00:32:24.67
And I will finally go to school.
00:32:24.71\00:32:27.34
Apinya!
00:32:30.95\00:32:35.12
And I will get
many books to read
00:32:35.15\00:32:40.19
and many
beautiful dresses to wear.
00:32:40.22\00:32:44.93
And I will have a safe place
00:32:44.96\00:32:47.80
to discover what I love to do.
00:32:47.83\00:32:53.67
And I will learn
00:32:53.70\00:32:55.14
that girls have rights, too.
00:32:55.17\00:33:00.68
And one day, I will even go
to the big school in the city.
00:33:00.71\00:33:06.65
And after that,
maybe my path will lead me
00:33:11.65\00:33:16.22
to big dreams in faraway place.
00:33:16.26\00:33:21.66
And maybe my story will
touch lives wherever I go.
00:33:21.70\00:33:27.37
But no matter what happens,
00:33:27.40\00:33:30.47
I will always
come home to my family.
00:33:30.51\00:33:33.17
You know, I don't know about you
00:33:56.03\00:33:58.17
but often when I see
inspirational stories
00:33:58.20\00:34:02.14
like that, I think,
00:34:02.17\00:34:04.51
"So what's
happening to them today?"
00:34:04.54\00:34:07.21
"Where are they right now?"
00:34:07.24\00:34:09.44
And so I'd like to
invite Apinya and Sunita
00:34:09.48\00:34:13.92
who's the coordinator for
the Keep Girls Safe program
00:34:13.95\00:34:16.42
to come onto stage.
00:34:16.45\00:34:17.79
Apinya, tell me about
your life at Keep Girls Safe?
00:34:25.93\00:34:29.66
I have learned many things.
00:34:33.87\00:34:35.30
I have learned to live
with many ethnic minority group
00:34:45.38\00:34:49.85
at Keep Girls Safe.
00:34:49.88\00:34:51.45
Example they are
from Hmong, Akha, Lahu.
00:34:51.49\00:34:55.72
And I'm from Akha tribe.
00:34:59.76\00:35:01.96
And I've also learned
life skill at Keep Girls Safe.
00:35:05.63\00:35:11.14
And so when you reflect
on your time at the center,
00:35:11.17\00:35:14.84
what do you see as a
most beneficial thing
00:35:14.88\00:35:16.95
that you've got
from living there?
00:35:16.98\00:35:18.35
The Keep Girls Safe project
is like a second home to me.
00:35:23.52\00:35:28.46
It's a safe home for me.
00:35:28.49\00:35:30.26
I have a chance to study
and it give me bright future.
00:35:34.30\00:35:38.33
The most important
thing is I learned to know God
00:35:43.10\00:35:47.78
and I learned to
know him each day.
00:35:47.81\00:35:52.51
And so, Apinya, I understand
00:35:52.55\00:35:54.78
that also that you
took a decision for baptism?
00:35:54.82\00:35:58.29
Yes, I was baptized
when I was 12 years old.
00:36:02.09\00:36:08.46
And so, Apinya,
00:36:08.50\00:36:10.20
what is your
life hold for you now?
00:36:10.23\00:36:12.00
What are you doing right now?
00:36:12.03\00:36:13.54
Currently, I'm
studying in university
00:36:23.65\00:36:26.65
at Greater Mekong University
in Chiang Rai Province.
00:36:26.68\00:36:29.88
I'm taking accounting.
00:36:29.92\00:36:31.79
Wow.
00:36:31.82\00:36:33.15
And also the Keep
Girls Safe project
00:36:37.26\00:36:39.23
also find a
sponsor to support me
00:36:39.26\00:36:41.66
to university degree.
00:36:41.70\00:36:44.57
And thank you all
for your generosity
00:36:44.60\00:36:46.30
to make that possible.
00:36:46.33\00:36:47.67
So, Sunita,
00:36:52.87\00:36:55.88
what do you see is the impact
00:36:55.91\00:36:57.55
for programs
like this in Thailand?
00:36:57.58\00:37:01.88
The program like this
is a big impact for us.
00:37:01.92\00:37:06.29
And the problem in Thailand
is really big, is even bigger
00:37:06.32\00:37:11.43
and the life that we
save the girls like Apinya,
00:37:11.46\00:37:17.20
is even rewarding to us.
00:37:17.23\00:37:22.40
And so, you know,
you have left the project
00:37:22.44\00:37:25.14
and you've come back
to it at a few times,
00:37:25.17\00:37:27.01
you started it, what
keeps drawing you back?
00:37:27.04\00:37:30.61
Yes, I have left the
project several times
00:37:30.65\00:37:33.62
and to Bangkok,
00:37:33.65\00:37:36.12
to the city where I think
I can earn a lot of money,
00:37:36.15\00:37:40.36
but that is not what I want,
00:37:40.39\00:37:42.56
so when there is a
call for this position,
00:37:42.59\00:37:48.40
I just applied for ADRA again.
00:37:48.43\00:37:50.97
And this project, I
would say, Jonathan,
00:37:51.00\00:37:53.50
is very close to my heart,
00:37:53.54\00:37:56.00
and I started this
project about 14 or 15 years ago
00:37:56.04\00:38:02.24
when the problem is
very bad in Thailand,
00:38:02.28\00:38:04.85
in northern of Thailand
00:38:04.88\00:38:06.55
where in the faraway
00:38:06.58\00:38:10.39
remote hill tribe
00:38:10.42\00:38:14.12
because of poverty,
00:38:14.16\00:38:16.66
they don't have the money
00:38:16.69\00:38:20.13
to fend for themselves,
00:38:20.16\00:38:22.16
so they sells their
daughter to the big cities
00:38:22.20\00:38:26.50
so they work as a
prostitutes or work at...
00:38:26.53\00:38:30.57
You can see in the
videos either child labor.
00:38:30.61\00:38:34.18
So that's make me very sad
00:38:34.21\00:38:36.85
and then I want to come back
00:38:36.88\00:38:38.21
and help this project.
00:38:38.25\00:38:42.48
You yourself have a
story and a journey,
00:38:42.52\00:38:44.85
you weren't always an Adventist.
00:38:44.89\00:38:46.22
And tell us a little bit
00:38:46.25\00:38:47.59
about what actually
drives you personally?
00:38:47.62\00:38:52.09
I myself, I'm not a
Seventh-day Adventist,
00:38:52.13\00:38:56.33
but my aunty is a
Seventh-day Adventist,
00:38:56.36\00:39:00.80
and I'm from a broken home
00:39:00.84\00:39:03.04
and my aunty took me
00:39:03.07\00:39:07.74
to her home.
00:39:07.78\00:39:10.18
And...Yeah.
00:39:10.21\00:39:14.58
And she gave me this opportunity
00:39:14.62\00:39:17.22
that I can study English
00:39:17.25\00:39:20.16
and then come back to
Thailand and help the girls.
00:39:20.19\00:39:23.09
Yeah.
00:39:23.12\00:39:24.46
And so this is the journey.
00:39:24.49\00:39:26.73
This is the
journey started for Sunita
00:39:31.77\00:39:34.60
from coming from a broken home
to being left with a relative
00:39:34.64\00:39:39.44
who was an Adventist
lady who influenced her,
00:39:39.47\00:39:42.08
who helped her to
find and discover God.
00:39:42.11\00:39:44.65
And then with the
change that takes place
00:39:44.68\00:39:46.41
within each of us
00:39:46.45\00:39:47.78
when we discover that
and make our commitment
00:39:47.82\00:39:50.25
drove her to
look for other girls.
00:39:50.29\00:39:53.25
And that's what motivates
all of us really, isn't it?
00:39:53.29\00:39:55.72
So, Sunita, we
just wanna thank you
00:39:55.76\00:39:57.49
for the great passion,
00:39:57.53\00:39:58.86
the vision that
God's placed in your heart,
00:39:58.89\00:40:00.76
the way you've
heard His message,
00:40:00.80\00:40:02.13
in a way you
have touched the lives
00:40:02.16\00:40:03.50
of so many girls.
00:40:03.53\00:40:05.13
And, Apinya, your story
is so inspirational to us.
00:40:05.17\00:40:08.24
But, you know,
00:40:08.27\00:40:09.60
we can give people opportunities
00:40:09.64\00:40:10.97
that doesn't mean that
they take those opportunities
00:40:11.01\00:40:13.17
and when someone
allows us in their life,
00:40:13.21\00:40:16.01
it's a precious gift to allow us
00:40:16.04\00:40:17.75
to be part of a person's life.
00:40:17.78\00:40:19.75
And so we just wanna
thank you for allowing us
00:40:19.78\00:40:22.15
to be a part of
your life as well
00:40:22.18\00:40:23.75
and thank you, both of you.
00:40:23.79\00:40:25.12
Thank You.
00:40:25.15\00:40:26.49
You know, I would like to invite
00:40:35.43\00:40:37.20
each of your
attending here today
00:40:37.23\00:40:38.83
to drop by the ADRA booth.
00:40:38.87\00:40:41.74
And we have a
free copy of this book
00:40:41.77\00:40:44.71
"For The Least of These"
00:40:44.74\00:40:46.07
for you, it's
the companion guide
00:40:46.11\00:40:47.78
to this quarter's lesson,
00:40:47.81\00:40:49.41
so please drop by
and for those of you
00:40:49.44\00:40:52.31
who are
watching on the TV today,
00:40:52.35\00:40:54.68
if you are from
the United States,
00:40:54.72\00:40:57.22
you can go to
adra.org/least-book,
00:40:57.25\00:41:01.59
and request a copy of that
and we will send that to you.
00:41:01.62\00:41:06.16
You know, this is an
issue which I believe for us
00:41:06.19\00:41:08.36
as a world
church, we need to study.
00:41:08.40\00:41:11.37
You know, we don't want
to be complacent such as,
00:41:11.40\00:41:14.60
you know, the
children of Israel,
00:41:14.64\00:41:16.74
the churches in the past,
00:41:16.77\00:41:18.14
we don't want to be
the victims of society.
00:41:18.17\00:41:20.68
It challenges us
to be in a solution.
00:41:20.71\00:41:24.21
That's what,
what challenged to be,
00:41:24.25\00:41:25.58
not to be apathetic,
not to be spectators,
00:41:25.61\00:41:28.25
but to be part of the solution.
00:41:28.28\00:41:30.42
And in closing, I
would like to remind you
00:41:30.45\00:41:32.15
that our church is being blessed
00:41:32.19\00:41:33.86
by a modern prophet
00:41:33.89\00:41:35.42
who threw her
sermons and writings
00:41:35.46\00:41:37.23
like the
prophets of old calls us
00:41:37.26\00:41:39.46
to step away from the selfish,
00:41:39.49\00:41:41.26
exploitative ways of the world
00:41:41.30\00:41:43.50
and become agents of hope
and healing to the brokenness
00:41:43.53\00:41:48.27
of the societies
in which we live.
00:41:48.30\00:41:50.71
Ellen White in her Thoughts
00:41:50.74\00:41:52.34
From the Mounts
of Blessing says,
00:41:52.37\00:41:54.24
"The standard of the Golden rule
00:41:54.28\00:41:56.01
is a true
standard of Christianity.
00:41:56.04\00:41:58.51
Anything short of
it is a deception.
00:41:58.55\00:42:01.15
A religion that leads men
00:42:01.18\00:42:02.52
to place a lowest
met upon human beings
00:42:02.55\00:42:05.12
who Christ is
esteemed to such value
00:42:05.15\00:42:07.52
as to give himself for them.
00:42:07.56\00:42:09.39
A religion that would lead us
to be careless of human needs,
00:42:09.42\00:42:12.29
sufferings, or rights,
is a spurious religion.
00:42:12.33\00:42:16.06
In slighting the
claims of the poor,
00:42:16.10\00:42:18.10
the suffering, and the sinful,
00:42:18.13\00:42:19.80
we are proving
ourselves traitors to Christ.
00:42:19.83\00:42:22.74
It is because men
take upon themselves
00:42:22.77\00:42:24.91
the name of Christ,
00:42:24.94\00:42:26.27
while in life they
deny His character,
00:42:26.31\00:42:28.78
that Christianity
has so little power
00:42:28.81\00:42:32.08
in the world."
00:42:32.11\00:42:34.88
Challenging words, aren't they?
00:42:34.92\00:42:36.82
Elder A G Daniels
who would spend much
00:42:36.85\00:42:39.09
of his ministry career in
partnership with Ellen White
00:42:39.12\00:42:42.32
at her funeral speaking
of her life and her writings,
00:42:42.36\00:42:45.63
said this, "No
is the social status
00:42:45.66\00:42:48.70
of the human
family lost sight of.
00:42:48.73\00:42:51.23
Slavery, the caste
system, unjust racial prejudice,
00:42:51.27\00:42:55.34
the oppression of the poor,
the neglect of the unfortunate
00:42:55.37\00:42:58.97
are set forth as
unchristian and a serious menace
00:42:59.01\00:43:02.98
to the well being
of the human race.
00:43:03.01\00:43:05.58
And as evils which
the church of Christ
00:43:05.61\00:43:07.85
is appointed by
her Lord to overthrow."
00:43:07.88\00:43:13.02
Powerful challenge,
00:43:13.05\00:43:14.39
a lasting legacy
that she left with us.
00:43:14.42\00:43:17.06
You know in closing,
00:43:17.09\00:43:18.43
I would like you to contemplate
this anonymous quote,
00:43:18.46\00:43:22.46
"Sometimes I
would like to ask God
00:43:22.50\00:43:24.70
why he allows poverty,
suffering, and injustice
00:43:24.73\00:43:28.47
when he could do
something about it?"
00:43:28.50\00:43:31.01
"So why don't you
ask him," you say?
00:43:31.04\00:43:33.41
Well, because I'm afraid
00:43:33.44\00:43:36.14
he would ask me
the same question.
00:43:36.18\00:43:39.81
Let's bow our heads in prayer.
00:43:39.85\00:43:43.22
Father, we pray this morning
that our hearts might be broken
00:43:43.25\00:43:46.49
by the things
that break Your heart.
00:43:46.52\00:43:48.96
In our brokenness,
00:43:48.99\00:43:50.83
we ask that Your
healing and restoration
00:43:50.86\00:43:52.59
might fill us and restore us.
00:43:52.63\00:43:55.03
But our prayer this morning
is not just for ourselves.
00:43:55.06\00:43:57.83
Lord, we desire to do
justice and to love mercy.
00:43:57.87\00:44:02.67
But we realize
that we cannot do that
00:44:02.70\00:44:04.41
if we don't first
humbly walk with You.
00:44:04.44\00:44:07.54
So here this morning,
00:44:07.58\00:44:08.91
we dedicate
ourselves to you, Lord.
00:44:08.94\00:44:11.65
We ask that You might come
in, that you might shape us,
00:44:11.68\00:44:14.18
that you might mould us
to be more in Your image.
00:44:14.22\00:44:17.65
We know that this is not
part of our normal nature.
00:44:17.69\00:44:22.12
And, Father, I thank You
for all the wonderful ways
00:44:22.16\00:44:24.56
that You've
blessed the many ministries
00:44:24.59\00:44:26.43
represented here today,
00:44:26.46\00:44:28.90
and those that are not able
00:44:28.93\00:44:30.27
to be here today
00:44:30.30\00:44:31.63
and pray for your
continued blessing.
00:44:31.67\00:44:33.74
We dedicate ourselves
00:44:33.77\00:44:35.10
to being your
agents of hope and healing
00:44:35.14\00:44:37.84
and look forward to the
day that You will return,
00:44:37.87\00:44:41.68
that Your justice will prevail
00:44:41.71\00:44:44.28
and all will be
made new in Your image.
00:44:44.31\00:44:48.42
And until that time, Father,
00:44:48.45\00:44:50.85
we just think of the
brokenness that exists,
00:44:50.89\00:44:53.19
we think of the
brokenness that exists
00:44:53.22\00:44:56.02
even in this
room today of people
00:44:56.06\00:44:57.53
who've come to
see healing, Lord.
00:44:57.56\00:44:59.49
Make us Your agents of healing.
00:44:59.53\00:45:01.43
Open our eyes to
the possibilities
00:45:01.46\00:45:03.43
that You have before us, Lord.
00:45:03.47\00:45:05.17
Help us to be
able to be your agent
00:45:05.20\00:45:08.80
is our fervent prayer, Lord.
00:45:08.84\00:45:11.37
Amen.
00:45:11.41\00:45:12.74