? (Theme Song) ? ? Jesus is worthy ? 00:00:00.90\00:00:12.00 ? oh yes, he's worthy ? ? worthy of all... ? 00:00:12.00\00:00:18.96 ? all the praise ? ? (Music) ? 00:00:18.96\00:00:22.70 Pastor Byrd: My name is Dr. Carlton Byrd and I'm 00:00:22.70\00:00:24.53 the senior pastor of the Oakwood University Church here 00:00:24.53\00:00:27.50 in Huntsville, Alabama on the campus of Oakwood University. 00:00:27.50\00:00:30.33 I'm grateful to be here today and we're grateful that you've 00:00:30.33\00:00:33.43 joined to watch us today with our Breath of Life telecast. 00:00:33.43\00:00:37.50 I would like to invite you now to take your Bibles and turn 00:00:37.50\00:00:40.76 with me to the book of Acts, Chapter 1 and we will 00:00:40.76\00:00:44.60 begin reading at verse 8. 00:00:44.60\00:00:47.03 Acts 1:8. 00:00:47.03\00:00:51.66 If you have it let me hear you say Amen. 00:00:51.66\00:00:56.13 The Word of God says, "But ye shall receive'" 00:00:56.13\00:00:58.33 what, everybody? 00:00:58.33\00:00:59.10 Come on, ye shall receive what? 00:00:59.10\00:01:00.83 "Power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye 00:01:00.83\00:01:04.70 shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all 00:01:04.70\00:01:07.00 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of 00:01:07.00\00:01:09.76 the earth.' And when he had spoken these things, while 00:01:09.76\00:01:14.90 they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him 00:01:14.90\00:01:18.46 out of their sight. 00:01:18.46\00:01:20.23 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven 00:01:20.23\00:01:23.13 as he went up, behold," how many men? 00:01:23.13\00:01:25.70 Come on, how many men? 00:01:25.70\00:01:27.46 "Two men stood by them in white apparel; which also 00:01:27.46\00:01:29.10 said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing 00:01:29.10\00:01:33.26 up into heaven? 00:01:33.26\00:01:35.46 This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, 00:01:35.46\00:01:39.50 shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into 00:01:39.50\00:01:46.16 heaven.'" In harmony with the culmination of our 00:01:46.16\00:01:48.93 Back to School Revival here at Oakwood 00:01:48.93\00:01:51.63 our subject today is The Comeback, 00:01:51.63\00:01:56.30 The Comeback. 00:01:56.30\00:01:59.00 Lord God, right now come into this place, breathe your Holy 00:01:59.00\00:02:03.83 Ghost in this place, go beyond the printed page and, God, 00:02:03.83\00:02:09.00 speak to our hearts this day. 00:02:09.00\00:02:12.16 God, we be careful to give you the praise beyond the glory 00:02:12.16\00:02:14.53 and when the appeal is made, I pray that individuals respond 00:02:14.53\00:02:17.20 to your voice, oh, God, by the power of your Spirit 00:02:17.20\00:02:20.93 that they would give their life to Jesus. 00:02:20.93\00:02:24.06 It's in the name of Jesus we pray, let every blood-washed 00:02:24.06\00:02:28.03 soul say Amen. 00:02:28.03\00:02:29.30 And Amen. 00:02:29.30\00:02:31.56 The comeback. 00:02:31.56\00:02:35.50 The year is 1995, the place is the famous Madison Square 00:02:35.50\00:02:44.43 Garden in New York City, New York, New York. 00:02:44.43\00:02:47.96 Somebody knows it's so nice you have to say it twice. 00:02:47.96\00:02:53.00 The setting was game one of the Eastern Conference 00:02:53.00\00:02:57.73 Semifinals between the New York Knicks and 00:02:57.73\00:03:01.43 the Indiana Pacers. 00:03:01.43\00:03:04.13 Knicks fans, including Spike Lee, hated Indiana Pacer star 00:03:04.13\00:03:09.06 guard Reggie Miller so much that ESPN made this game the 00:03:09.06\00:03:14.13 subject of one of their Thirty for Thirty documentaries. 00:03:14.13\00:03:20.20 Some of you remember that disdain of Spike Lee and other 00:03:20.20\00:03:23.43 loyal Knicks fans. 00:03:23.43\00:03:25.96 Miller singlehandedly led his team to a stunning 107-105 00:03:25.96\00:03:34.10 comeback win over the Knicks in the Garden. 00:03:34.10\00:03:36.60 With 18.7 seconds left in the game the Knicks led 00:03:36.60\00:03:41.33 by six points. 00:03:41.33\00:03:42.33 Miller then hit a 3-pointer, stole the ensuing inbound 00:03:42.33\00:03:47.70 pass, dribbled behind the 3-point line and 00:03:47.70\00:03:52.16 hit another 3-pointer. 00:03:52.16\00:03:54.96 Miller went on later to hit two free throws to put the 00:03:54.96\00:03:57.50 Pacers ahead for the win and up 1-0 in the series. 00:03:57.50\00:04:02.23 This is considered by many as one of the greatest 00:04:02.23\00:04:07.66 comebacks in NBA history. 00:04:07.66\00:04:10.83 History was made in 2008 when Barack Obama was elected 00:04:10.83\00:04:17.46 the first African-American President of the 00:04:17.46\00:04:21.73 United States of America. 00:04:21.73\00:04:22.56 Are you hearing what I'm saying? 00:04:22.56\00:04:25.03 During his presidential campaign he made it clear that 00:04:25.03\00:04:28.86 one of his promises was to end the war in Iraq. 00:04:28.86\00:04:34.73 On December 16, 2011, despite the critics, despite the 00:04:34.73\00:04:42.36 naysaying, despite the political pundits, despite the 00:04:42.36\00:04:47.20 haters, American soldiers began arriving back in the 00:04:47.20\00:04:52.60 United States. U.S. soldiers, my friends, have been 00:04:52.60\00:04:56.96 deployed and they are out of Iraq. 00:04:56.96\00:05:00.23 This comeback is historic. 00:05:00.23\00:05:03.13 After the death of nearly 5,000 American troops and 00:05:03.13\00:05:06.30 injuries to thousands more, the troops have 00:05:06.30\00:05:09.80 come back home. 00:05:09.80\00:05:11.86 When they enter the airport people cheer. 00:05:11.86\00:05:17.30 When they walk up and down the streets, you smile and nod in 00:05:17.30\00:05:20.46 respect and admiration. 00:05:20.46\00:05:23.43 Our soldiers have come back. 00:05:23.43\00:05:27.06 The Bible also talks about comeback. 00:05:27.06\00:05:31.03 I take my Bible and I go to the book of Luke, Chapter 15 00:05:31.03\00:05:34.46 and Jesus tells the parable of the comeback, the parable 00:05:34.46\00:05:38.76 of the prodigal son. 00:05:38.76\00:05:40.93 A father has two sons, the younger son gets his 00:05:40.93\00:05:44.86 inheritance early and leaves home. 00:05:44.86\00:05:47.36 The older son remains at home and works. 00:05:47.36\00:05:50.20 The younger son spends his money on riotous, 00:05:50.20\00:05:53.50 foolish living. 00:05:53.50\00:05:54.53 He reaches his lowest point. 00:05:54.53\00:05:56.66 He feeds on what swine did eat. 00:05:56.66\00:05:59.76 He comes to himself. 00:05:59.76\00:06:02.43 He says he's going home to his father because he would do 00:06:02.43\00:06:06.26 better in his father's house as a servant. 00:06:06.26\00:06:09.63 He walks up the driveway to his father's house. 00:06:09.63\00:06:13.56 His father sees him afar off. 00:06:13.56\00:06:16.66 His father screams in excitement, bring my son the 00:06:16.66\00:06:20.86 best robes, bring the fatted calf, because this, my son, 00:06:20.86\00:06:24.70 was lost but is now found. 00:06:24.70\00:06:27.26 He was blind but now he sees. 00:06:27.26\00:06:30.56 This parable illustrates that when you come back to our 00:06:30.56\00:06:36.40 heavenly father he receives you with open, outstretched 00:06:36.40\00:06:38.16 arms and says, come back home. 00:06:38.16\00:06:40.76 This is spiritual comeback. 00:06:40.76\00:06:44.76 But the ultimate comeback will not be when the Pacers beat 00:06:44.76\00:06:49.36 the Knicks in the Garden, would not be when the American 00:06:49.36\00:06:52.73 soldiers come back on American soil, it will not be when the 00:06:52.73\00:06:56.40 prodigals return home. 00:06:56.40\00:06:58.60 The greatest comeback will be when the trumpet is going to 00:06:58.60\00:07:02.73 sound and Jesus comes back in the cloud. 00:07:02.73\00:07:07.60 When the Lord himself shall descend from heaven 00:07:07.60\00:07:10.76 with a shout. 00:07:10.76\00:07:12.00 When the voice of the archangel, the trump of God, 00:07:12.00\00:07:14.16 and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are 00:07:14.16\00:07:17.60 alive remain to be caught up together with him in the 00:07:17.60\00:07:20.50 clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we 00:07:20.50\00:07:23.13 ever be with the Lord. 00:07:23.13\00:07:24.36 This, my friends, is ultimate comeback. 00:07:24.36\00:07:28.80 The second coming of Jesus. 00:07:28.80\00:07:31.70 Yes, he's coming back. 00:07:31.70\00:07:34.40 No more crying, no more dying, no more sickness, no more 00:07:34.40\00:07:39.40 pain, no more cancer, no more arthritis, no more high blood 00:07:39.40\00:07:44.03 pressure, no more trials, no more tests, no more tears. 00:07:44.03\00:07:48.03 Somebody say, no more tuition. 00:07:48.03\00:07:50.90 Can somebody say, no more. 00:07:50.90\00:07:58.93 The former things are going to be passed away and all things 00:07:58.93\00:08:03.76 are going to become new. 00:08:03.76\00:08:06.30 Jesus is going to make a comeback. 00:08:06.30\00:08:09.46 Two thousand years ago my Lord, my Savior, my Shield, my 00:08:09.46\00:08:16.16 Buckler, my Life, my Salvation, my Jesus has just 00:08:16.16\00:08:22.00 ascended back to heaven to be with the Father. 00:08:22.00\00:08:24.73 His disciples, the record says, are troubled 00:08:24.73\00:08:27.40 by his leaving. 00:08:27.40\00:08:28.20 They don't fully understand his ascension and so they ask 00:08:28.20\00:08:31.00 in Acts, Chapter 1:6, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore 00:08:31.00\00:08:36.33 again the kingdom to Israel?" 00:08:36.33\00:08:38.23 But keep in mind, friends, who Jesus is. 00:08:38.23\00:08:41.26 The fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies of the 00:08:41.26\00:08:43.96 messiah, the anointed one who was to rule the earth from 00:08:43.96\00:08:47.06 Jerusalem unto the restored throne of David, they want to 00:08:47.06\00:08:51.90 know if Jesus plans to initiate this kingdom 00:08:51.90\00:08:55.86 and rule right now. 00:08:55.86\00:08:57.10 The disciples didn't yet understand the nature of 00:08:57.10\00:08:59.70 Christ's kingdom. 00:08:59.70\00:09:00.86 Jesus had not yet promised the sword of restoration 00:09:00.86\00:09:03.43 they were anticipating. 00:09:03.43\00:09:04.53 Christ does not give a direct answer to the 00:09:04.53\00:09:07.33 disciples' question. 00:09:07.33\00:09:08.53 But instead, Christ directs them to the future work 00:09:08.53\00:09:11.53 that they must do. 00:09:11.53\00:09:12.96 He gives them instructions to coincide with the great 00:09:12.96\00:09:15.80 commission found in Matthew 28:19-20, to "Go ye therefore, 00:09:15.80\00:09:18.86 and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name 00:09:18.86\00:09:22.10 of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 00:09:22.10\00:09:24.76 teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have 00:09:24.76\00:09:26.46 commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the 00:09:26.46\00:09:29.16 end of the world." He then goes on in Acts, Chapter 1 00:09:29.16\00:09:32.40 and says, I will not leave you comfortless because the 00:09:32.40\00:09:35.93 Holy Ghost is coming. 00:09:35.93\00:09:37.46 Acts 1:8 says, "But ye shall receive power, after that the 00:09:37.46\00:09:41.76 Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto 00:09:41.76\00:09:45.06 me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, 00:09:45.06\00:09:47.50 and unto the uttermost parts of the earth." In the text 00:09:47.50\00:09:50.66 Jesus tells his disciples to get ready for the move of the 00:09:50.66\00:09:56.10 Holy Ghost, get ready for the Holy Ghost to come. 00:09:56.10\00:09:59.56 Get ready, because the gospel is about to be preached. 00:09:59.56\00:10:02.76 The sick will be healed, the dead will be raised, the blind 00:10:02.76\00:10:06.60 will see, miracles will be wrought, and thousands will be 00:10:06.60\00:10:11.13 baptized in the name of the Father, the Son 00:10:11.13\00:10:13.53 and the Holy Ghost. 00:10:13.53\00:10:14.73 Now, let me be clear. 00:10:14.73\00:10:16.90 I'm a fifth-generation Seventh-Day Adventist 00:10:16.90\00:10:20.26 Christian, both paternally and maternally. 00:10:20.26\00:10:24.66 That means my mom and daddy and all their folk on both 00:10:24.66\00:10:28.70 sides are all Adventists. 00:10:28.70\00:10:29.80 Everybody matriculated here at Oakwood College, 00:10:29.80\00:10:31.83 now Oakwood University. 00:10:31.83\00:10:32.73 Understand, I tell people, you're not going to get more 00:10:32.73\00:10:36.53 Adventist than me. 00:10:36.53\00:10:41.16 I have eaten more Grillers and Vega-links than you. 00:10:41.16\00:10:47.53 I tell people all the time, some of you know, I said this 00:10:47.53\00:10:50.00 when I had a meeting with the church prior to my arrival as 00:10:50.00\00:10:52.80 senior pastor, I grew up in a home, Elder Thomas, 00:10:52.80\00:10:55.53 where I kept the Sabbath for 26 hours. 00:10:55.53\00:10:58.86 Of course, you know what I'm talking about. 00:10:58.86\00:11:03.73 That means you kept it for the 24-hour period, sunset Friday 00:11:03.73\00:11:06.46 to sunset Saturday, but, somebody understands, you kept 00:11:06.46\00:11:09.13 it an hour before the sunset came in and an hour after the 00:11:09.13\00:11:12.96 sunset went down because you were guarding the 00:11:12.96\00:11:15.53 edges of the Sabbath. 00:11:15.53\00:11:16.66 I wish I had a witness in this place. 00:11:16.66\00:11:20.36 But I've been an Adventist all my life and if there has been 00:11:20.36\00:11:23.83 a hindrance to the body of Christ it is not tapping into 00:11:23.83\00:11:28.73 the full power we have in God. 00:11:28.73\00:11:30.23 I don't know if you know it or not, but we are sitting 00:11:30.23\00:11:34.53 on a ton of dynamite. 00:11:34.53\00:11:37.00 We are sitting on a ton of power. 00:11:37.00\00:11:40.03 What am I talking about? 00:11:40.03\00:11:40.76 Let me remind you, when Jesus got up at Calvary, you will 00:11:40.76\00:11:44.60 remember that he was crucified, he did die, he did 00:11:44.60\00:11:47.73 rest in the grave on the Sabbath day according to the 00:11:47.73\00:11:49.63 commandments, and he did get up. 00:11:49.63\00:11:52.03 But when he got up, the Bible says he got up with all power, 00:11:52.03\00:11:56.50 and because he got up with all power in his hands there was a 00:11:56.50\00:11:59.23 transfer of that power from Christ to us. 00:11:59.23\00:12:03.60 Ellen White in the testimony says, the fullness of divine 00:12:03.60\00:12:06.26 power has been imparted to God's people that they might 00:12:06.26\00:12:08.93 impart to others like enjoin refreshing. 00:12:08.93\00:12:11.10 So in case you didn't know, we got power. 00:12:11.10\00:12:14.20 We've got Holy Ghost power. 00:12:14.20\00:12:16.40 What is this power? 00:12:16.40\00:12:17.83 Acts, chapter 1 opens by telling us of Jesus' transfer 00:12:17.83\00:12:20.93 of power to his disciples and his subsequent 00:12:20.93\00:12:23.30 ascension into heaven. 00:12:23.30\00:12:24.46 This power in verse 8 refers to God's power to exercise 00:12:24.46\00:12:27.30 his strength and his authority in our lives. 00:12:27.30\00:12:31.93 I've learned over my life that God can strengthen and 00:12:31.93\00:12:35.36 energize those who put their trust in him. 00:12:35.36\00:12:38.36 God is the source, my friends. 00:12:38.36\00:12:40.93 Not you, no me, but God is the source. 00:12:40.93\00:12:44.33 That means that you and me, we can't fight the devil 00:12:44.33\00:12:47.33 in our own strength. 00:12:47.33\00:12:48.33 I'm convinced that's why some people give up because they 00:12:48.33\00:12:51.70 fight the devil in their own strength. 00:12:51.70\00:12:55.43 But Paul says in Ephesians 6:10, 00:12:55.43\00:12:57.26 be strong in the Lord and the power of, not your 00:12:57.26\00:12:59.26 might, but his might. 00:12:59.26\00:13:00.60 The source of our strength is God. 00:13:00.60\00:13:03.13 The source of our strength is Jesus the Christ. 00:13:03.13\00:13:06.63 The source of our strength is the Holy Ghost. 00:13:06.63\00:13:09.76 But not only the source of our strength, but the scope 00:13:09.76\00:13:12.70 of our strength. 00:13:12.70\00:13:13.90 When a believer's faith is in Christ Jesus and God, then the 00:13:13.90\00:13:15.70 Lord's power becomes the power of that believer and when we 00:13:15.70\00:13:17.66 as a church grasp this truth, that we are as strong as that 00:13:17.66\00:13:21.06 in which we trust, we will revolutionize the world. 00:13:21.06\00:13:27.20 Let me see if I can help you understand this. 00:13:27.20\00:13:31.93 If you trust in yourself, you are as strong as you are. 00:13:31.93\00:13:34.26 But when you put your trust in God, you are 00:13:34.26\00:13:42.23 as strong as he is. 00:13:42.23\00:13:43.03 Are you hearing what I'm saying? 00:13:43.03\00:13:44.70 Let me illustrate it this way. I cannot fly. 00:13:44.70\00:13:48.90 I know my last name is Byrd, but I cannot fly. 00:13:48.90\00:13:53.06 I tried it as a child. 00:13:53.06\00:13:54.40 You know, some of you know how you jumped off of something 00:13:54.40\00:13:57.00 talking about, I know I can fly. 00:13:57.00\00:13:58.96 You knocked your head on the way down. 00:13:58.96\00:14:00.40 Do I have a witness in this place? 00:14:00.40\00:14:02.03 I learned as a little boy that the law of gravity is real. 00:14:02.03\00:14:07.53 What goes up must come down. 00:14:07.53\00:14:10.26 And so I cannot fly. 00:14:10.26\00:14:13.76 But when I put myself in an airplane and yield to its 00:14:13.76\00:14:19.40 power suddenly I have the ability to soar 36,000 00:14:19.40\00:14:23.50 feet in the air. 00:14:23.50\00:14:25.63 I cannot run 70 miles per hour. 00:14:25.63\00:14:29.30 I can run fast but not 70 miles per hour. 00:14:29.30\00:14:31.80 But when I get it my car and yield to its power then 00:14:31.80\00:14:34.53 suddenly I have the ability to achieve speeds that I could 00:14:34.53\00:14:37.66 never achieve on my own. 00:14:37.66\00:14:39.43 And so it is when my faith is in God and my faith is in his 00:14:39.43\00:14:44.36 power, then his strength becomes my strength, his power 00:14:44.36\00:14:47.80 becomes my power. 00:14:47.80\00:14:50.50 That's why the Bible says in Ephesians 3:20 that those who 00:14:50.50\00:14:55.70 live by faith, it says, "Now unto him who is able to do 00:14:55.70\00:14:59.53 exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, 00:14:59.53\00:15:05.26 according to the power that worketh in us." Because 00:15:05.26\00:15:08.66 greater is he that is in us, that is in the world. 00:15:08.66\00:15:11.16 Because understand I learned in math right here. 00:15:11.16\00:15:13.00 Dr. Blake knows what I'm talking about. 00:15:13.00\00:15:15.53 I learned in math, if you have a greater than you must have 00:15:15.53\00:15:18.26 a less than. 00:15:18.26\00:15:19.20 Somebody may get that. 00:15:19.20\00:15:20.56 I said, if you have a greater than, greater is he that 00:15:20.56\00:15:23.03 is in me than he that is in the world. 00:15:23.03\00:15:24.43 If you have a greater than, you must have a less than. 00:15:24.43\00:15:26.70 So whoever the greater is inside of you, then he that is 00:15:26.70\00:15:29.83 in the world is less than whoever is inside of you. 00:15:29.83\00:15:36.00 And the greater than he that is in you is the Holy Ghost. 00:15:36.00\00:15:38.30 Do I have a witness in this place? 00:15:38.30\00:15:40.13 The text continues. 00:15:40.13\00:15:41.80 Verse 9, Acts 1, "And when he had spoken these things, while 00:15:41.80\00:15:45.93 they beheld, he was taken up." 00:15:45.93\00:15:48.06 He was taken where, everybody? Up. 00:15:48.06\00:15:50.86 "And a cloud received him out of their" 00:15:50.86\00:15:52.73 what? Sight. 00:15:52.73\00:15:53.70 What a sight this must have been, seeing him 00:15:53.70\00:15:57.13 in whom they had believed. 00:15:57.13\00:15:58.20 He in whose company they had been. 00:15:58.20\00:16:01.00 He to whose tender, loving words they had listened. 00:16:01.00\00:16:03.70 He to whom they had forsaken with the hour 00:16:03.70\00:16:06.10 of his suffering had come. 00:16:06.10\00:16:07.40 He who had died on a cross, reckoned among evil doers. 00:16:07.40\00:16:10.13 He who rested in the tomb and was raised from the dead 00:16:10.13\00:16:12.63 by the power of God. 00:16:12.63\00:16:13.53 He would had been with them in a glorified human body and 00:16:13.53\00:16:16.10 manifested himself as resurrection of glory and 00:16:16.10\00:16:18.13 power was now taken up in a cloud and received 00:16:18.13\00:16:21.70 out of their sight. 00:16:21.70\00:16:23.73 Verse 10: "And while they looked stedfastly toward 00:16:23.73\00:16:26.86 heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them, 00:16:26.86\00:16:29.56 in white apparel. 00:16:29.56\00:16:32.13 Which also said," verse 11, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand 00:16:32.13\00:16:34.63 ye gazing up into heaven." 00:16:34.63\00:16:38.20 This same Jesus, wish I had time, this same Jesus which is 00:16:38.20\00:16:46.96 taken up into heaven shall also come in like manner just 00:16:46.96\00:16:50.76 as he has seen them go into heaven. 00:16:50.76\00:16:54.33 In other words, the angels said, look, fear not, because 00:16:54.33\00:16:56.53 this same Jesus is going to come back just like he left. 00:16:56.53\00:17:01.30 This same Jesus who locked the lion's jaw down in Daniel's 00:17:01.30\00:17:07.03 den is going to come back. 00:17:07.03\00:17:08.23 This same Jesus who provided air conditioning to those 00:17:08.23\00:17:13.16 three Hebrew boys is going to come back. 00:17:13.16\00:17:15.20 This same Jesus who made the Red Sea a dry highway 00:17:15.20\00:17:19.63 is going to come back. 00:17:19.63\00:17:20.66 This same Jesus who raised Lazarus from the dead 00:17:20.66\00:17:25.00 is going to come back. 00:17:25.00\00:17:25.80 This same Jesus who healed your afflicted body 00:17:25.80\00:17:29.86 is going to come back. 00:17:29.86\00:17:30.83 This same Jesus, when you were down to the last day of 00:17:30.83\00:17:35.50 registration at Oakwood and you went to the student 00:17:35.50\00:17:38.96 accounts office the day before and learned you had a balance 00:17:38.96\00:17:41.23 of $5,000. 00:17:41.23\00:17:42.10 You didn't think you were going to get into school this 00:17:42.10\00:17:44.00 semester, but some way or another you just happened to 00:17:44.00\00:17:45.90 go back to student accounts. 00:17:45.90\00:17:47.13 You asked them for your balance just to see if there 00:17:47.13\00:17:50.46 had been a change or a computer glitch and you 00:17:50.46\00:17:53.13 discover that your balance has been paid in full by an 00:17:53.13\00:17:57.46 anonymous donor. 00:17:57.46\00:18:00.53 Jesus has made a way out of no way. 00:18:00.53\00:18:04.40 This same Jesus is coming back. 00:18:04.40\00:18:06.06 Maybe you don't know what I'm talking about. 00:18:06.06\00:18:08.46 This applies to you. 00:18:08.46\00:18:09.36 You were at the checkout line at Publix or Kroger, 00:18:09.36\00:18:12.46 you had $20 to your name. 00:18:12.46\00:18:14.10 Ever been there? 00:18:14.10\00:18:15.66 You just needed to get a few things. 00:18:15.66\00:18:17.66 You put these items in your grocery cart, place your items 00:18:17.66\00:18:21.00 on the conveyor belt and your prayer, Lord, let me 00:18:21.00\00:18:24.83 have enough money. 00:18:24.83\00:18:27.50 You don't know if you're going to have enough money. 00:18:27.50\00:18:30.33 You're in the grocery line. 00:18:30.33\00:18:31.43 People are behind you and they're mean mugging you. 00:18:31.43\00:18:34.06 You don't want to be embarrassed. 00:18:34.06\00:18:37.33 The cashier rings up your groceries. 00:18:37.33\00:18:40.00 You have $20 to your name. 00:18:40.00\00:18:41.20 The cashier rings up your groceries, looks at you 00:18:41.20\00:18:44.43 and your total is, that'll be $19.99. 00:18:44.43\00:18:47.16 This same Jesus is coming back. 00:18:47.16\00:18:57.60 Hallelujah, somebody. 00:18:57.60\00:19:04.90 Could human language make it more clear? 00:19:04.90\00:19:08.56 It seems almost impossible that anyone could not grasp 00:19:08.56\00:19:10.36 the simple fact of his return. 00:19:10.36\00:19:11.73 The Bible, the text teaches that it will be personal, 00:19:11.73\00:19:15.40 this same Jesus. 00:19:15.40\00:19:16.73 That's personal, that's not an imposter, this same Jesus. 00:19:16.73\00:19:21.60 That the comeback would be visible. 00:19:21.60\00:19:23.93 The text say we have seen him go, this same Jesus. 00:19:23.93\00:19:26.63 It will be in the clouds because the text says, a cloud 00:19:26.63\00:19:29.63 received him, this same Jesus. 00:19:29.63\00:19:32.13 It will be certain because this text says, this same 00:19:32.13\00:19:36.33 Jesus shall come in like manner as we have seen 00:19:36.33\00:19:38.86 him go. This is what the life of a Christian is all about. 00:19:38.86\00:19:43.43 Looking forward to Jesus' comeback. 00:19:43.43\00:19:46.76 Looking forward to Jesus' second coming. 00:19:46.76\00:19:49.76 That's why we come in here, we sing our songs, we pray our 00:19:49.76\00:19:52.50 prayers, we give our testimonies, we listen to the 00:19:52.50\00:19:55.40 sermons because we want to be ready when Jesus comes back. 00:19:55.40\00:19:58.10 You don't believe me? 00:19:58.10\00:20:00.10 The name Seventh-Day Adventist espouses reality for 00:20:00.10\00:20:03.90 understanding that Seventh-Day Adventists, we're followers of 00:20:03.90\00:20:06.83 Christ, we're not a cult, we are a Christian community 00:20:06.83\00:20:11.70 that celebrates Christ. 00:20:11.70\00:20:13.30 The virtue of our name, Seventh-Day Adventist, we keep 00:20:13.30\00:20:16.30 the seventh day Sabbath holy and we are awaiting his 00:20:16.30\00:20:19.40 advent, the second coming, the second advent, the comeback 00:20:19.40\00:20:23.76 of Jesus Christ. 00:20:23.76\00:20:25.50 I am proud to be a Seventh-Day Adventist Christian. 00:20:25.50\00:20:31.43 This is what we look forward to. 00:20:31.43\00:20:33.60 And eyes have not seen, either ears have heard the things 00:20:33.60\00:20:37.00 that God has prepared for them. 00:20:37.00\00:20:38.63 So, get ready for the comeback. 00:20:38.63\00:20:40.96 I said get ready for the comeback. 00:20:40.96\00:20:43.63 But, Pastor Byrd, when is the comeback? 00:20:43.63\00:20:47.93 Let me teach you just a little bit because I'm finding we 00:20:47.93\00:20:50.30 think people know what we believe, but I'm learning in 00:20:50.30\00:20:53.00 my experience that people don't know what we believe. 00:20:53.00\00:20:55.90 So, I think we need to know what we believe, 00:20:55.90\00:20:58.10 why we believe it and where it's found. 00:20:58.10\00:21:00.06 When is the comeback? 00:21:00.06\00:21:03.33 Go to the book of Matthew. 00:21:03.33\00:21:04.10 What book did I say, everybody? 00:21:04.10\00:21:06.13 Matthew, chapter 24. 00:21:06.13\00:21:06.93 If you have your iPhone or whatever, look it up there. 00:21:06.93\00:21:09.33 Matthew 24 and I'm coming out of the King James version for 00:21:09.33\00:21:12.20 our viewing audience. 00:21:12.20\00:21:13.46 Matthew 24:36, the Word of God says, "But of that day and 00:21:13.46\00:21:18.80 hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, 00:21:18.80\00:21:22.50 but my Father only. 00:21:22.50\00:21:23.40 But as in the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming 00:21:23.40\00:21:25.56 of the Son of man be. 00:21:25.56\00:21:26.66 For as in the days that were before the flood they were 00:21:26.66\00:21:28.83 eating and drinking, marrying and giving in" what? 00:21:28.83\00:21:30.83 "Marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and 00:21:30.83\00:21:34.30 knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so 00:21:34.30\00:21:37.00 shall also the coming of the Son of man," what, everybody? 00:21:37.00\00:21:40.53 "Be." Verse 42: "Watch therefore: 00:21:40.53\00:21:43.03 for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 00:21:43.03\00:21:45.26 Verse 44: "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an 00:21:45.26\00:21:47.83 hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." I can't give 00:21:47.83\00:21:55.50 you the exact date of the comeback, but I know 00:21:55.50\00:22:00.33 it's real soon. 00:22:00.33\00:22:01.43 I know the comeback is real soon because Matthew 24 00:22:01.43\00:22:03.40 lets me know the signs of his coming. 00:22:03.40\00:22:05.13 Matthew 24:3: "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, 00:22:05.13\00:22:07.96 the disciples came unto him privately, saying, "Tell us, 00:22:07.96\00:22:09.70 when shall these things be? 00:22:09.70\00:22:10.46 And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of 00:22:10.46\00:22:14.23 the world?' And Jesus answered and said unto them, "Take heed 00:22:14.23\00:22:18.13 that no man," what, everybody? 00:22:18.13\00:22:20.83 Take heed that no man what? 00:22:20.83\00:22:22.63 "For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ; and 00:22:22.63\00:22:28.33 shall deceive many." You and I both know somebody walks 00:22:28.33\00:22:31.13 on this earth and says they are Christ, they are a boldfaced 00:22:31.13\00:22:33.70 liar from the pits of hell because the Bible just said in 00:22:33.70\00:22:36.20 Acts 1 that when Jesus left he left in the air which means 00:22:36.20\00:22:39.80 he's coming back in the air, his feet will never touch this 00:22:39.80\00:22:42.23 ground and you shall have war, rumors of war. 00:22:42.23\00:22:47.36 See that ye be not what? 00:22:47.36\00:22:48.73 Troubled. 00:22:48.73\00:22:49.63 For there all these things must come to pass but the end 00:22:49.63\00:22:53.23 is not yet for nations shall rise against what? 00:22:53.23\00:22:56.73 Kingdom against what? 00:22:56.73\00:22:57.80 And there shall be famines and pestilence, and earthquakes in 00:22:57.80\00:23:00.46 divers places, meaning divers or different places. 00:23:00.46\00:23:02.83 All these are the beginning of what, everybody? 00:23:02.83\00:23:05.16 "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall 00:23:05.16\00:23:08.13 kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my 00:23:08.13\00:23:09.50 name's sake." That's why, understand, that in the cause 00:23:09.50\00:23:12.20 of Christ sometimes you're going to be hated on. 00:23:12.20\00:23:14.73 Jesus said that would happen just before his comeback. 00:23:14.73\00:23:17.26 Keep on reading. 00:23:17.26\00:23:18.23 The Word of God says in verse 10: "And then shall many be 00:23:18.23\00:23:20.80 offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate 00:23:20.80\00:23:22.83 one another. 00:23:22.83\00:23:23.73 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 00:23:23.73\00:23:33.90 And because iniquity shall abound, the love 00:23:33.90\00:23:36.56 of many shall wax cold. 00:23:36.56\00:23:37.63 But he that shall endure unto the end." Thank you, Jesus. 00:23:37.63\00:23:40.00 "He that shall endure unto the end, the same," not might, 00:23:40.00\00:23:42.16 not perhaps, not possibly, "But the same shall be saved. 00:23:42.16\00:23:45.40 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the 00:23:45.40\00:23:48.63 worldÖand then shall the end come." I don't know exactly 00:23:48.63\00:23:52.20 when he's coming back, but I do know he's 00:23:52.20\00:23:54.80 coming back soon. 00:23:54.80\00:23:55.56 I know that when Jesus comes back it will be in the same 00:23:55.56\00:23:57.56 manner in which he left. 00:23:57.56\00:23:59.00 He left in a cloud, will return in a cloud. 00:23:59.00\00:24:02.53 Left in the air, will return in the air. 00:24:02.53\00:24:04.63 His feet will not touch the earth. 00:24:04.63\00:24:06.26 The Bible also lets me know in Revelation, Chapter 1:7, that 00:24:06.26\00:24:09.03 when he makes his comeback every eye, every living eye, 00:24:09.03\00:24:11.83 is going to see him. 00:24:11.83\00:24:14.70 Which means those in Huntsville, we're going 00:24:14.70\00:24:17.46 to see him. 00:24:17.46\00:24:18.93 Those back I left in Atlanta, we going to see him then, too. 00:24:18.93\00:24:22.26 Those in New York and L.A. 00:24:22.26\00:24:23.96 are going to see him. 00:24:23.96\00:24:25.13 But Jesus is not a national God, he's an 00:24:25.13\00:24:28.03 international God. 00:24:28.03\00:24:29.33 Those in Africa are going to see him. 00:24:29.33\00:24:32.16 Those in Asia are going to see him. 00:24:32.16\00:24:33.90 Those in Antigua are going to see him. 00:24:33.90\00:24:35.86 Those in Jamaica are going to see him. 00:24:35.86\00:24:37.96 Every eye is going to see him. 00:24:37.96\00:24:40.53 Christianity gets excited about his comeback. 00:24:40.53\00:24:44.80 But some within the ranks of Christianity have made a 00:24:44.80\00:24:48.56 mistake about his comeback. 00:24:48.56\00:24:50.53 Let's be clear. 00:24:50.53\00:24:52.10 When Jesus makes his comeback there'll be four primary 00:24:52.10\00:24:55.76 groups on earth. 00:24:55.76\00:24:59.00 Notice the word primary. 00:24:59.00\00:25:00.80 Four what kind of groups? 00:25:00.80\00:25:03.13 Now understand, I'll teach you a bit. 00:25:03.13\00:25:05.80 Four primary groups. 00:25:05.80\00:25:07.23 Because Revelation 1:7 says that those who even pierced 00:25:07.23\00:25:10.43 him will see him, because Ellen White said there will be 00:25:10.43\00:25:13.30 a special resurrection for those who pierced Jesus. 00:25:13.30\00:25:18.13 But there will be four primary groups when Jesus comes back 00:25:18.13\00:25:21.53 for the second time at his comeback. 00:25:21.53\00:25:24.06 Group number one. 00:25:24.06\00:25:25.23 Everybody say the righteous dead. 00:25:25.23\00:25:27.86 Come on, say it like you mean it. 00:25:27.86\00:25:30.13 Say righteous dead. 00:25:30.13\00:25:31.13 I'm getting you ready for evangelism, righteous dead. 00:25:31.13\00:25:35.83 1 Thessalonians 4:16: "For the Lord himself shall descend 00:25:35.83\00:25:38.63 from heaven with a" what? 00:25:38.63\00:25:39.80 "Shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump 00:25:39.80\00:25:41.46 of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise," what? First. 00:25:41.46\00:25:45.33 When Jesus comes back for his second coming, the Bible is 00:25:45.33\00:25:49.06 clear that the dead in Christ shall rise what? First. 00:25:49.06\00:25:51.66 Group number two. 00:25:51.66\00:25:54.43 The righteous living. 00:25:54.43\00:25:55.83 Group number one is the righteous what? Dead. 00:25:55.83\00:25:59.96 Group number two is the Living. 00:25:59.96\00:26:05.20 Let's keep reading. 00:26:05.20\00:26:07.00 1 Thessalonians 4:17: "Then we which are alive and remain 00:26:07.00\00:26:09.56 shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to 00:26:09.56\00:26:12.93 meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be" what? 00:26:12.93\00:26:19.46 Come on, so shall we ever be with what? With the Lord. 00:26:19.46\00:26:23.26 The Breath of Life gift offer this week is "Surprised by 00:26:23.26\00:26:26.33 Love" by pastor and international speaker 00:26:26.33\00:26:28.30 Elizabeth Viera Talbot. 00:26:28.30\00:26:30.03 Find out how people in the Bible were surprised 00:26:30.03\00:26:32.00 by God's love. 00:26:32.00\00:26:33.03 Adam and Eve were surprised, the deceitful serpent and the 00:26:33.03\00:26:36.10 Pharisees were surprised. 00:26:36.10\00:26:37.60 It surprised the disciples and even the heavenly angels. 00:26:37.60\00:26:41.20 And God's surprises of love continue all around us today. 00:26:41.20\00:26:44.56 Join with Elizabeth as you get a fresh view of the greatest 00:26:44.56\00:26:47.43 story ever told, from the kidnapping of God's children 00:26:47.43\00:26:50.60 to the rescue, from the ransom to the reunion. 00:26:50.60\00:26:53.66 "Surprised by Love"is yours for a gift of $5 or more. 00:26:53.66\00:26:56.83 Call our toll-free number 877-BOL-OFFER. 00:26:56.83\00:27:01.00 That's 877-265-6333. 00:27:01.00\00:27:05.00 Please have your credit card ready when you call. 00:27:05.00\00:27:07.56 Or you may write us to request your copy. 00:27:07.56\00:27:10.06 Just send a check to Breath of Life, 00:27:10.06\00:27:11.63 P.O. Box 340, Newbury Park, CA 91319. 00:27:11.63\00:27:16.16 Get your copy of "Surprised by Love" today. 00:27:16.16\00:27:20.73 Be encouraged and touched by the unexpected rescue 00:27:20.73\00:27:23.20 of God"s children. 00:27:23.20\00:27:24.20 PB: Thank you very much for tuning in and watching Breath 00:27:24.20\00:27:26.53 of Life today. 00:27:26.53\00:27:28.46 We do hope that you were blessed by our ministry and 00:27:28.46\00:27:30.96 that we gave a healing word in a hurting world. 00:27:30.96\00:27:34.66 In order for Breath of Life to continue ministering, 00:27:34.66\00:27:38.80 we need you. 00:27:38.80\00:27:39.60 We need your prayers. 00:27:39.60\00:27:40.86 We need your support. 00:27:40.86\00:27:42.63 We want you to know that any and all donations, small or 00:27:42.63\00:27:44.63 great, they are sincerely welcome and appreciated. 00:27:44.63\00:27:48.26 To contact us or to make your donation, please feel free to 00:27:48.26\00:27:52.80 give us a call at 877-BOL-OFFER. 00:27:52.80\00:27:59.53 Or you may write to us at Breath of Life, P.O. Box 340, 00:27:59.53\00:28:06.63 Newbury Park, CA 91319. 00:28:06.63\00:28:08.43 Feel free to log onto our web site at www.breathoflife.tv. 00:28:15.60\00:28:23.56 ...If my faith is in his power then his strength becomes 00:28:24.30\00:28:27.86